15 days… It’s hard to believe that I leave for launch in exactly two weeks from tomorrow. I remember when the countdown was at 2 months, and then at 1 month, and now I’m sitting here at practically two weeks from hopping on a plane and leaving Colorado for almost an entire year. People have started asking me if I’m more nervous or more excited, and to that question, I can only answer “Yes.” The season that I’m standing in right now is historically one of my least favorite types of seasons: a season of goodbyes. I was talking to a friend about this (she was leaving her job at the same school where I had student taught this past semester) and she looked at me and said, “Jo, you’re going to be saying a LOT of goodbyes these next few weeks. Allow yourself to feel each and every one of them, and remember that cutely obnoxious Winnie the Pooh quote about having people that make saying goodbye so hard.” If you think to pray for anything throughout these next two weeks, please pray that I would leave well. Please pray that I would be intentional about letting people know just what they mean to me, and take the time to show people that I will truly miss them, even if it means spending a little extra money or helping them wrap their Christmas presents. I know how it feels to have people leave poorly, so please pray that I would have Jesus-like love for people as I prepare to start this next chapter of my life half a world away.
[financial update]
We made my December goal! Thank you so much to all of those who have helped me reach $10,000. This means that I can and will be hopping on a plane to India with the rest of my team on January 11th!
In order to stay on the field, I need to reach $13,500 by February 28th. Trying to fundraise while on the field is a little overwhelming and scary, because I can’t simply go have dinner or coffee with a potential supporter. In this season of tax returns and Christmas gifts, would you pray about either starting or continuing to financially support me? I cannot stay on the field without your help! God has already done some amazing things through you all, as evidenced by the fact that we are this far into my total fundraising goal! To those of you who have supported me, THANK YOU, and to those who are considering it, please let me know if you have any questions about where your money is going or what I’ll be doing!
[heart update]
I’m so thankful that our hope and assurance is in the Lord. Satan has been attacking my entire squad this past month, and I know that the Bible assures us that if we hope in the Lord, we will run and not grow weary, but these attacks have been exhausting. On my third-to-last day at my host school, my cell phone was stolen off my desk by some students and was never returned. I spent the next week both without a phone and begging God that He would give me the strength to love my students well until the very end and that He would not let me become jaded by the actions of a few. Thankfully, I now have a new phone, and am officially moved back home to Colorado Springs. But these past two days, my mind has been so full of doubt and frustration at myself. Do you ever feel like you’re doing something absolutely crazy? This past week, that’s how I’ve felt about the World Race. I’ve been beating myself up for agreeing to go do something like this… for agreeing to “take a year off of real life” when I should be looking for a house and a job and starting to “adult”.
BUT I know that this is the devil, because God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a strong mind. And sometimes, God’s plans look crazy! Look at Noah, who built an ark when it hadn’t rained in years. Look at David, who went sling-first to a battle for blood against a giant. Look at Mary and Joseph, who agreed to care for a baby that they didn’t create themselves and welcome the Son of God into their physical homes. The Bible is riddled with examples of God’s plans looking crazy. And more importantly, look at how God always takes care of those who walk with full confidence into the plans He has for them.
That’s my prayer for myself; that I will walk with full confidence into the (crazy) plans God has for me.
