Ask me to put this year in one word and I would scoff at you…that is simply impossible. Too much has happened and seriously I have yet to fathom it completely.
But I wanted to share 11 things that I have observed about myself and life looking back at the past 11 months of my life:
1. ADOPTION: I have a heart for adoption! Spiritually, God wants more children and I’m willing to help bring in more of his children through love! Physically, I eventually want to adopt children in life if the Lord will let me, I want to show a child that they are loved no matter where they come from.
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(Tati & Me, the little girl who stole my heart in Mozambique, Month One)
2. ADVENTURE: I’ve learned to never settle for anything less than adventure, to always pioneer new frontiers, and to keep pushing past the comfortable to get to your dreams. God has so much more if we are willing to put ourselves aside and go along for the ride!
(The day Morgan & I climbed a mountain in Swaziland, Month 2)
3. WOMEN: I was first put on an all girls team, and I was pretty excited! This is what I wanted to start out the race in, but I didn’t think I would end up all year long on one! Little did I know that this would awaken some things in me that had been laid somewhat buried.
God has placed within me a desire to work with, minister to, and empower women to be all that God calls them to be. Whatever culture and whatever role they play, single, wife, mother, worker, whatever, God has so much for His daughters and I want to help women seek that out and live it out to the fullest potential! Women bring a different side of God to everything they do! When women are women, then men can be men, and vice versa!
(First team GFI in South Africa, Month 3)
4. NURTURE: Love is strong. I am a vessel of that love and no matter what the circumstance I should always love and love fiercely. I don’t know what kind of impression I leave, but I know I want to leave a good one. I truly learned that love is patient, consistent and should be present no matter how hard it is to pour it out the moment it is needed.
(Faith & Me singing and playing in India, Month 4)
5. Perseverance: No matter how hard it is on my body or my heart, sharing God’s love is never worth not hurting. Being uncomfortable or not feeling well should never stop me from proclaiming that God is good. Even in the hardest months, God is still good. He always uses what we go through for His glory and I should always be thankful.
(Christel, Cici,& me in a village of Nepal, sharing God’s love with women and children, Month 5.)
6. FAMILY: No matter what denomination, background, culture, or whatever separates us, we as believers are family. We share a common factor, we all have a personal relationship with Christ. We should be unified instead of divided. Living in community with many different people, I’ve learned that we all can get along well and accomplish much when we realize we’re all on the same side, and it’s beautiful. We are family.
(Praying over the passport girls in Thailand before they headed home, Month 6.)
7. LIGHT: God’s light can shine through the darkest and thickest night. It’s powerful and we need to know that we as lovers of Christ cannot shy away from the hard things or the dark places. We are light, created to illuminate the dark. You were created to shine!
(Brittney & I playing with Cambodian children at the Genocide Museum, Month 7.)
8. WHOLEHEARTEDLY: Be whole in Christ so that you can give out all of who you are. When you pour out who you are in Christ onto people, they benefit. You may grow weary and tired, but lean into Him more. Be all of who you are, don’t hold back, you will only rob people of the blessing that you are! YOU ARE A BLESSING!
(Lam helping me with my headband, Vietnam Month 8)
9. INVITE: Invite people on your journey! Month 9 my mom got to come out to Thailand and see what I have been doing for most of the year, and it was a blessing. She understands me more and was blessed by ministering in Thailand. People want to be part of the story, invite the ones you love into what the Lord is doing, they will be blessed by it!
(My mom & I in the red light district in Thailand, Month 9)
10. ACCEPTANCE: People you will encounter will be different than you, but they’re difference will bless you. They will bring out in you things you never knew laid in your heart, for the betterment of you and your character. They will test you sometimes, but overall different people are a BLESSING! They bring a new way of thinking and doing!
(Part of my community living it up in Malaysia, Month 8/9 debrief)
11. MOLD-ABLE: God has a lot for us as His children. Be ready to embrace whatever He brings to you. Whatever He is telling you, do it! Go for the crazy things! Do the hard things! Embrace the uncomfortable! Be open to be molded by God, its really the only way to transform. It’s hard and its painful, but you will never regret what He does, like EVER!
GOD IS GOOD!
I still need $1,818.34 to be fully funded! I am at the end of this journey and really just need your help. How I end this season is how I begin the next, please help me start the next season with no debt! You support me by clicking the Support Me link on the left hand menu and donating! THANKS!
