Yes, I am home safe and sound!!
Two weeks ago today I arrived back in Texarkana. I was met that evening with my meal of choice (velveeta and rotel queso, hash brown potato casserole, medium rare steak, and pineapple upside down cake), clean clothes that awaited after my shower, and the family that made it all possible. I got to reunite with my little man. Elijah my 2 almost 3-year-old nephew remembered me, but you could tell he was hesitant to fully trust me. By the end of the night he would run to hide and whenever I found him he would run give me a big hug.
Talk about a full heart.
After making it to bed that night tears uncontrollably came to my eyes. A combination of extreme tiredness from jet lag and all the emotions from the last week had hit me. They were undoubtedly tears of thankfulness. As all the things I had seen, experienced, and heard about this past year ran through my head, not to mention all the goodness that came with returning home, it was easy to feel nothing but grateful as I laid in bed.
I had officially entered a season of recounting God’s blessings. To go along with this, in God’s perfect timing I had begun a study over Deuteronomy. A book where Moses is reminding the Israelites of all the Lord had done for them (Deuteronomy 4:32-35 & 6:20-23). As I have been reading through the last two weeks, I could not help but remember all the ways in which I have seen God move in power this year. He was a miracle working God back then and He is a miracle working God today. Moreover, we are in a season of remembering God’s greatest miracle and His greatest gift to the world, who would ultimately become His greatest revelation of love to us, the birth of Jesus.
Combine all these things together and what would appear to be a fairly mundane two weeks of working and spending time with family has been quite a whirlwind and at times an over stimulating readjustment. With all that, I owe many out there a huge thank you. I can still remember taking off from Atlanta on my first flight almost a year ago. I recall feeling an overwhelming comfort, I can only describe the feeling as literally being wrapped in prayer. I knew I was safe to go out into the world because I knew I had prayer warriors lifting me up. Thank you to all who played a part in my journey whether in prayer, donation, or both. I pray in this Christmas season that you would reflect on the many things the Lord has blessed you with. The biggest of which being Jesus, who is in fact the reason for the season.
Finally, I cannot help but to look ahead. I have another five months out on the field (traveling to Japan, Taiwan, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan) that are fast approaching. In the short time of being home I’ll admit the itch to get back out there has hit a time or two. As I prepare to go back out, I can’t help but think of my new squad. This time last year I was in the same position, and while we all have different stories I can imagine the combination of excitement, apprehensiveness, and even confusion they’ll be feeling in some form or another.
In the coming few weeks I would ask for prayer for my upcoming squad, myself, and co-leaders, that hearts would be prepared for the many wonders God has awaiting. Prayers that there would be comfort and overwhelming peace as this season ends and as we transition into the next.
On a side note I am now only $400 short of reaching my fundraising goal of $3,500. If you feel called to donate to my next journey, simply click on the fundraising bar at the top of this page.
Being picked up from the Clinton National Airport by my momma (pops was there too haha)
Currently Colorado bound for a brother ski trip!
