Happy Friday to all of my favorite people 🙂
I cannot believe how fast Winter has crept into our lives! I don’t recall having this much snow in mid-November in a long time. While driving and walking my family’s tiny pug can be more problematic with the white precipitation, I can’t help but feel the spirit of Christmas in the air. My favorite part of snow is how bright it can make a room, from the natural light’s reflection. I remember leaving the library at midnight in college, walking to my car and feeling like it was 6pm! One time during finals week a friend and I actually went on a run at 2am because we were pulling an all-nighter and thought why not get some natural energy! I need to treasure the fluff now though, because come January I will be going back to Asia!!
I’m elated to share that I have been placed on the Semesters route to Southeast Asia, which goes to Thailand and Cambodia! Last February I traveled to Cambodia and it ended being my favorite country of the whole race! My heart came alive there in a new way. I saw hope, love and joy emulate a similar level to that of Jesus Christ in the gospels. The majority of my time was spent in a rural village accompanied by the local pastor. We sat and did life with the children and women of the village. We prayed for healing, shared the good news of the gospel for their lives, and even camped out a night in tents. This community carried so much brokenness and had little to share materialistically, but man they loved so hard!! They inspired me to truly commit to living a life less for myself and more for God and His kingdom.
Coupled with my shear excitement for this next adventure, I also find myself a little overwhelmed with the uncertainty that comes with these leap-of-faith decisions. I feel that I am walking down a hallway with this beautiful door swung wide open, smiling but also peaking over my left shoulder, at the doors that have closed themselves this past year. I’m sharing this because I don’t want to paint the picture that I am a ‘perfect’ Christian or missionary. I love and wouldn’t trade my relationship with God for anything, but being obedient to Him has caused some short-term heartache, and will continue to. I have hope though. So much of it. Hope is trust; the action of faith.
When I finally gave into His call for me to lead this trip, it was a moment of total surrender. He’s making a way to fulfill all of my material needs in this season and I have that hope that He will fulfill the spiritual ones come January.
To all who have prayed for me, bought a scarf, or donated to my trip… thank you. I truly see God in all of you.
Have a wonderful weekend.
xo, Hannah
