Friends and family,
I hope this blog post finds you well! I wanted to do a little life update. This year started out by wrapping up something that has been a big part of my life throughout junior high and high school. Livestock. That is all. I don’t want to cry right now. In May, I GRADUATED high school! Or the equivalent of that for a homeschooler I shall say. It was complete with an intimate graduation ladies luncheon at Café Homestead. My sweet Momma planned and organized the entire thing and to no surprise it was amazing. Thank you Jesus for giving me her! This summer has been jammed packed with work, summer college courses, a Florida beach trip, a Royal Caribbean cruise, sweet time with old and new friends, and LOADS of spontaneous adventures. This summer has been bustling, but I have found time amongst the bustling to think, to evaluate, and to continue to reconnect with God, my Savior. It has been nothing short of amazing. Intimacy with Christ is something I am finding myself increasingly thirsty for this summer. I am so pumped about this new growth in my life and would love to share this wild story with you! Soo.. to the reason I now have a blog.. drum roll please. I have been accepted to go on a short-term mission trip to the Philippines with World Race:Semesters!!!
What are you going to do in the Philippines?
The exact mission I will be helping with in the Philippines is still undecided. At this time, serving in the nursery, building relationships with kids, tutoring, assisting with the daily distribution of food and medicine, leading devotions with the youth, assisting with disaster relief work, helping the team identify kids and people who need medical care, and serving in the birthing clinic (wowza. yes I’m stoked), are the potential ways my team and I may be serving the people in the Philippines.
Why do you want to go?
I’m going to be honest and vulnerable. It has been a rocky couple of years. Life is hard y’all. I learned that trusting God does not make life less hard. However, trusting Jesus gives me hope, He gives me grace, and allows me to give myself grace as well. I made it to a peak point of brokenness and sin in my life and man was it hard, but it was one of the BEST things that could’ve happened to me because I had to choose. I’m choosing Jesus and it’s impossible to express in words how life altering this has been for me. I have been praying as I begin this new chapter of life for God to stretch me and mold me into the person He wants me to be. God has been sculpting me this year in sooo many ways. Ask me! One way God is stretching me is by opening the door and laying a desire to explore and serve internationally. So here I am.. if it’s your will God, send me.
How can I help?
The best way you can help me is to pray. Pray for the people in the Philippines, my squad, and me. Pray for our hearts. Pray for whatever it is that God calls you to pray for! I would love to build up a community of prayer partners. Second, I am praying for people to financially support me as I embark on this short-term adventure. Adventures In missions is super organized and makes it easy to donate directly towards my trip by clicking the “donate now” button at the top of my blog page or you can donate directly to my Venmo @graceklauderdale.
I am inviting you all on this journey with me! I am unsure of what my future holds, but I am sure of one thing, who holds my future. For now, I’m trusting God and striving to obey and follow the things God is placing on my heart. Friends and family, thank you for being you, supporting, and loving me so well. Until next time!
xoxo
-grace
