Only 19 days until I leave the country!!! And Almost 75% Funded!!!
(SO CLOSE TO 100%!)
With less than a month away from launch, I’ve been asked more times than I can count, “How are you feeling so close to your launch date?” and I’ve given almost everyone the same exact answer, “I’m so excited to go, but sad to leave.”
I’ve gone countless weeks trying to sift through my emotions…
Some days I’m sad. Some days I feel at peace. Some days I’m so excited I can’t focus on the task at hand. And some days I’m so busy I don’t even think about it until I lay my head down at night. Some days I sit and think…
How am I supposed to feel?
What I’ve realized is that I don’t know and I can’t know how “to feel” because I have never done this before. I have never left the Country for 323 days and traveled to 11 different countries. I have never worked with 11 missionary hosts and ministries and experienced all the things I will experience for the next 11 months… and I have never had to say goodbye to my loved ones for more than two weeks at a time. Don’t get me wrong there are moments I’ve found myself wiping tears away, but as I write this I feel so much gratitude, joy, and peace.
I am so blessed to have a family, the BEST friends and a loving community that I have to leave and not one that I am running away from. The Lord has been so so good to me.
So here is a post to those who have been a blessing and all the ones I’m leaving
(just for a short-while)
To All that have supported me:
I cannot thank you enough for the overflow of prayers, encouraging words and from some, the gracious financial gifts. Every single one of you have been an important part of my journey, which began to unravel over a year ago (CRAZY)! Some of you have personally come to me and have told me that you’ve been praying for me and some even shared their testimony of how God called you to give even when money was tight. Please know your pennies are not and will not be wasted but are helping to further His Kingdom! I’m praying so hard that He will bless you more than you can imagine. (Trust me, He will, I’ve experienced His provision immensely myself.)
Please continue to pray for my team and myself! Make sure to subscribe to my blog to stay connected and hear weekly stories of how God is moving around the world (and let me know you’re reading by commenting at the bottom of my blog post, I will love to hear from you while I’m away!)
To my very best friends:
Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself sometimes(most of the time). Thank you for supporting me since DAY ONE when this was all just a dream. Thank you for listening to me verbally process every single thought that I’ve had about this trip… and then some. You both have loved me so intentionally for so long that it would take a thousand pages to even begin to tell you how much I appreciate you. It is a FACT that without your support and encouragement I would not have found my confidence to go on this missions trip. God has used you to instill His confidence and calling in me more than you will ever know. I’m already looking forward to the day I get to sit down and verbally process EVERYTHING with you. I’m going to miss you more than I’m prepared for…I love you guys.
To my love:
Dillon, part of me used to wish we met sooner, but Jesus knew what he was doing. You entered my life at the perfect moment. And since then, you have taught me to pursue my relationship with Jesus deeper and deeper. You have been a living testimony of how to know the Holy Spirit so intimately, and have taught me to chase after Him with arms wide open. You have taught me grace, love, and patience in ways I have never known before. And you have shown me a glimpse of how Jesus passionately pursues me by passionately pursuing me.
Thank you for being selfless and ready to send me off into the world and even in my weakness, thank you for only pushing me towards the World Race and “not getting in the way of where Gods calling me,” as you would say.
Thank you for putting Jesus before me.
To my nieces and nephews:
For all the birthdays, holidays and games that I’ll miss, I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you when I come home… after I get a job ha. I can’t wait to tell you guys all the crazy stories and all that God is doing in this BIG world! I pray everyday you will know Jesus more and more everyday and love Him greater than I ever have! Auntie Jeorgi loves you all so much more than you will ever know! P.S. Stop growing up until I come home. I want to be able to fit you all into my arms at once when I hug you!
To my siblings:
Even though I may always be the little sister who is super “needy,” I will never take your much needed advice for granted. I need all that I can get. Literally without you guys, well I’d be in a hole…that’s how important you are to me…lol
You all have supported me more than I could have ever asked for. I prayed and prayed before I told everyone about my trip that you guys wouldn’t be mad at me for leaving. But never once did you express anger, it was always love. God used you three to pour his provision into my life. Emotionally, you’ve always been there for me to talk to, worry to, and you’ve helped me organize my life in order to even be leaving the country(thank you). Financially, you’ve given me more than enough…Physically, you have given your time and even homes to help me fundraise for my trip. You guys have been not only one answered prayer but many. I am so thankful to have siblings who love so well. I am going to miss you more than you will ever know…
To my parents:
I am blessed to be your child. Through the many “downs” in my life time, the “ups” have completely out ruled all else. One of those “ups” has been the relationships I’ve been able to create with you both individually throughout this year.
Dad, When I first told you guys I wanted to go on this trip, I was surprised to see how much support you were ready to give. I saw a new side of you come out, a passion for this world and for the love of Jesus to be spread throughout it. You’ve given so much to missionaries world wide, but I got to learn so much more of the “why” behind every written check. I hope you get to go overseas soon and not only support those who serve, but be one of the hands that serve. Thank you for giving me tough love when I need it and thank you for encouraging me to obey The Lords calling on my life. I’ll never forget the phone call I made to you, panicking in the airport preparing to miss my flight to training camp, you calmed me down and after getting to my gate on time you told me how proud you were of me. I will never forget that. I love you.
Mom, ohhhh mom. I imagine you’re already crying by this point. I love you so much. I’m not proud of it, but sometimes I’m so “tough” because I don’t want to show how weak I really am. I’m going to miss you so much… Thank you for “letting me go.” Thank you for supporting me every single step of the way, literally until the very end. Thank you for raising me with an unconditional amount of love. I can’t begin to imagine how hard this is for you and it takes so much bravery. So with that bravery, while I’m gone this year, I pray you do something so out of your comfort zone that you experience God in a HUGE way! And when you come visit me, I can hear all about it. I love you so much.
Mom and Dad, thank you for all you have sacrificed for me from the moment I entered into this world. Thank you for teaching me who Jesus was at a young age and in your imperfections thank you for never giving up on the future God had and still has for our family. I am so proud to call you my parents and I thank God for you both everyday.
If you have made it to the end of this, you now know how important my people are. You know all that I’m leaving behind for the the Glory of God. And I hope you know that Jesus is so worth it all. I believe with everything I have that He has asked me to go into this world and spread the good news that Jesus died for all peoples sins and loves us so deeply that he defeated death to have a relationship with us.
If you believe this too, please consider joining my journey by subscribing to and/or sharing my blog. I don’t “gain” anything by you doing this, but if the testimonies of God’s love for this world can reach people here at home and change lives, its worth it.
Last, but not least, I am almost FULLY FUNDED! I am at $13,239 of $18,200 which is over 70%!!! Please pray and consider helping me become fully funded!
Thank you for reading!
