It all seems so crazy. At the beginning of this week, I woke up in Cambodia. The next time I woke up, I was in Georgia. Now I’m on my way back to North Carolina. Back to everything I left 2 months ago. I ask myself how could this journey go by so quickly? How could 2 months seem so long, but go by in the blink of an eye? How could I just leave the family I spent this summer with this morning? It seems so weird to not be in a different country without all my friends around me. It feels weird to be in America in general. And it’s so weird that this World Race Semesters trip is over, right?
Here’s the best part: it’s not over. From the very beginning, since Training Camp, we were told that ministry is life and life is ministry. So just because the World Race is technically over, the ministry is continuing. I spent a month long mission trip in Thailand. I then went to spend another month long mission trip in Cambodia. Today, I’m on my way to start my mission trip in North Carolina. I don’t know how long I’ll be here yet. My guess is I’m gonna stay here for a good bit. I spent 2 months ministering to people I’ve never met and may never see again. Now it’s time to minister to those I’ve known for years on end.
Tonight on the 31 of July, I get to see friends and family I haven’t seen for a while. How will I act? Will they see the change that God put in me? Will I keep the promises I made to the Lord? I can’t tell you the answer, I can only hope what that answer could be.
But here’s the thing, God DID change me. I feel so much peace. I feel so much joy and happiness. I feel like I’m living in Him, and Him in me. Praying and worshipping have so much more affect on me. The Holy Spirit is now allowed to speak to me in ways to make me uncomfortable. I’m learning so much about God and who I am to Him. One main thing I learned in this 2 month long journey is this: He is the God of the impossible. He can change you when you feel unchangeable. He loves you when you feel unlovable. He can use you if you are willing to be used. The things that we could never do, He can do multiple times. If it weren’t for this trip and for my team, I would’ve never learned these things. My life wouldn’t be the way it is now. And my heart wouldn’t feel so much love for people as much as it does now.
So…
To the World Race:
Thank you for this opportunity for people like me to be able to change our own lives by helping to change others lives. Thank you for the vision you have for missions. Thank you for walking us through the process of going and the process of coming back. Without you and this vision you all have, my life, and many others’ lives, wouldn’t be the way they are. So thank you.
To my team:
I have yet to write about you all and I’m already shedding tears. Every single one of you have touched my heart multiple times. I see God in each of you. I’ve seen God work through you in so many occasions this summer. I’m so blessed. So privileged. So honored to know each of you. To be friends with you all. To have spent my summer with amazing people. And most importantly, to have a family in you all. I will be praying for each of you daily as we all go our separate ways into our lives. I’m never going to forget you and what you all taught me. Thank you to each of you. For everything. I love you all. And I will always love each of you.
