Fundraising, rejection, surprises, grace, training camp, more fundraising, anxiety, pressure. The list goes on and on with emotions and events filled with love and joy and also doubt and worry. When I was first accepted to this trip, it felt like it was so far away from happening. From the very start there was all kinds of questions, the main one being able to raise $16,000!! Even though I am not yet fully funded, I have found a complete peace from God that He WILL provide. With all of these things happening, I failed to realize how fast time was going by. It feels like just yesterday that I applied for this amazing trip, and now, IT IS HERE!!!! The whole process leading up to leaving for the trip has been life changing in itself. God has truly taken a new form in my heart and has truly affirmed that this trip is my distinct call for this season in my life. I have been absolutely blessed with an amazing team to experience this with (which is a story in itself how I came to this squad). I feel like I am all over the place with this blog, but it is hard to describe the emotions I am going through at this moment. I have feelings of sadness because I am leaving my family and friends behind for a year. The main emotion that I am experiencing of course is excitement. Not only excitement for the help we can bring to the beautiful people of these countries and the obvious exciting things, but I am also excited for the hard times. That may sound different to some people, but the reason I am excited for hard times is because that is when I expect God to really show up and tear down layers of whatever it is and mold me more into the man I am supposed to be in Christ. In about 5 hours I will be leaving this country to build the kingdom of God and reach the unreached. It was so affirming when the last scripture talked about at church, the day before I left for Atlanta was this: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'” (Romans 10:14-15) For the next year I get to be the hands and feet of Christ, and when I return, for the rest of my life. This experience has really affirmed me that missionary work is really where my heart lies and I could not have been able to experience all of this, and what is to come, without all of the emotional, spiritual, and financial support. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and every person who has made this trip possible! Please make sure to subscribe to my blog updates and follow my journey that I am starting TODAY!!! Love you all and God bless
