I write to you from a plane on my way from Atlanta to Chicago! From there we will fly to Tokyo (13 hours) and then on to Indonesia (8 hours). Yay for travel days!! I have spent the past few days in Atlanta for the final few days of training before heading out to begin the World Race. We have been in multiple training sessions, expanding our knowledge of leadership, growth, and some logistical aspects of the year ahead. We gained some amazing insight, but I am so glad the day has finally come when I get to launch into the nations!
Saying good-bye to my family, friends, and boyfriend was hard on my heart. I deeply value the relationships I have and it hurt my heart to put those on hold for a year. However, even amidst that sadness, I also experienced incredible peace and comfort that can only come from the Father. He drew near to me and showed me that this is absolutely His plan for my life. And I know that His plan is far better than anything that I could ever think up for my own life.
So what will we be doing in Indonesia??
This month our ministry looks a little different than it typically will. We are doing an ATL month!! This stands for “Ask the Lord”. Basically, we will land in Jakarta, Indonesia and stay the night at a hostel there. Then, we pray. We ask the Lord where He wants us to serve, who He wants us to connect with and encounter, and where we will stay. We have a limited budget to stick to, but have a God with unlimited power guiding our steps.
To be completely honest, when I first found this out, my tummy turned a little. It’s a frightening thing to be dropped halfway across the world with no plan. However, once I took time to pray and see what the Lord had to say about it (He’s usually pretty helpful), I got more excited and more expectant of where He will lead us! My team is incredible (go follow them, they’re awesome!) and we have already been seeking out what God has for us this month. I have such a peace and joy and thrill for what this month will hold!
Extra Tidbit:
Here are some of my goals for this year. I wanted to share them because you are more likely to actually achieve your goals when you have accountability (so don’t be afraid to ask me specifically about them!):
-see others first through a lens of love instead of a lens of judgment
-boldly follow where I feel the Lord leading
-hear the audible voice of God
-grow in at least three new spiritual discipline
-uncover at least one new spiritual gift
-adapt a selfless mindset
These goals will take a lot of intentionality and time spent with God, but what a better year to grow! I can’t wait to see what God has in store and know He will just blow my mind.
I will update everyone as often as I can, which will hopefully be at least once a week. 🙂 Love you all!
