Wow, long time – literally no blogs.
Sorry it’s been so long. I’m realizing that I’m so much better about writing in my journal, than I am about writing blogs. But thats okay. I decided today to just write a little update on where I’m at currently, both globally, and mentally/spiritually.
We are in Pomorie, Bulgaria. It is literally one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. Sometimes in the morning when I look out my window, I have to remind myself that I’m not on vacation. In fact, it’s far from vacation. But this place looks like a place my parents would love to take us on vacation. The water is the most beautiful blue you could imagine, the food is great, the sunset views are breathtaking, the beaches are many and they are amazing.
View out of our window in the early morning!
However, this month we have a lot of downtime. Like, a lot. Our host is amazing and she is such an advocate for us. There just isn’t a ton planned for us to do other than go to a few churches throughout the week and on Sundays to speak about what we have been doing, and what the Lord has done through this experience on the World Race. We did go to the mountains for a youth camp this past week and that was a really cool time for us to be active and get to know the youth in the community we are living in. In the downtime we have, though, it has caused me to really reflect and in some ways fixate on what is to happen after the Race. I found myself the other day making a countdown on an app on my phone counting down to PVT (Parent Vision Trip) when my parents come to visit, a countdown for Christmas Eve Eve, because if you know me, this just makes sense. And I even made a countdown for titled “Back on American Soil”. Now please don’t get me wrong. I’m truly not trying to wish my time on the World Race away. Not by any means. I am growing, and thriving, and the Lord has been doing insane things here in me and in the community around me. But I want to let you inside my head for a little bit and just help you to understand where I’m currently at right now.
At the end of this month, we head to the capital of Bulgaria (Sofia), where we have a Debrief. This debrief will be kind of like the debrief we had in Cambodia where they switch up teams again. We were actually able to give our input on these team changes this time. Leadership asked us to give them four people that we would like to be on a team with. Two people we would like to pour into, and two people we would like to learn from. It was really cool this time getting to have a say in the changes. However, this is going to be a huge adjustment as we enter in to the last three months of the Race…in AFRICA. I think I have been so in my head lately about what Africa is going to be like, and what my expectations look like. I have dreamed of going to Africa for years. But I’ve heard so many negative things about Africa, in that it is going to be SO hard, and after being in Eastern Europe, which is the closest we could get to being back home in America on our route, it’s going to be difficult. The enemy has been really pressing that into my head. “Keeley, you’re going to struggle so hard in Africa. I’m going to do everything I can to make you wish you were home right now.” Literally, I haven’t been homesick since the middle of Thailand. But the enemy keeps just showing me all of the things happening back home, whether good, or bad, and telling me I’m missing out, or I’m doing an injustice to my family and friends being away this long. I have to constantly remind myself of something a pastor from Passion City Church said in one of my favorite podcasts.
He’s talking about the passage in Psalm 23. Specifically in verse 5 where it says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. The Lord prepares a table for ME and HIM. The enemy has no room at that table. And although he may come and walk around it, and try to have a seat, it’s my responsibility to tell him he is not welcome. There are some times that without thinking, he walks around it, and I buy into what he is saying, and he invites himself to have a seat but I let him. The Lord is helping me to remember more and more to kick him to the freaking curb. He has destroyed way too much, and the LORD is my shepherd. HE is the one who leads me beside still waters. HE is the one that is there to comfort me, even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. HE is the one whose goodness and love will follow me all of the days of my life. I’m really determined to make the rest of this month and Africa incredible. Because they will be nothing short of that if I allow the Lord to take me to the places that He wants to take me, and do not allow the enemy to have a seat at the table that the Lord has prepared for me.
I have been actually really allowing myself to be excited about the fact that I will be going home in the fall, which is my favorite time of year. I’m so excited to have my brother home from school around that time because he will be on Thanksgiving break. I’m excited to see all of my family. I’m excited to be able to enjoy the build up to Christmas with my family and putting up the tree so soon after I get back. Not to mention the amazing home cooked meals that come with those holidays, and all the hot cocoa and apple cider! I’m excited to help my best friend plan her wedding for next year! And I think it’s okay to be excited for those things. But I’m really trying to keep a level head, and make sure I don’t allow my mind to allow too much room for those things so that I am staying present exactly where the Lord has me right now.
I am really trying to take advantage of the downtime the Lord has blessed us with this month to really process the past 8 months. I want to really be intentionally processing all that the Lord has done in and through me this year. And I want to cast vision for the next few months. I get to see my parents soon!! They will be meeting me in Swaziland, Africa in 43 days! It does not seem possible how fast time is flying by. I can’t believe that we are already on our way to Africa in about two weeks!
Prayer Requests!
-Please be praying for my heart as we are coming up to all of these transitions and changes.
-Please be praying that I will stay present and not fixate on what is to come.
-Please be praying for my family back home. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.
-Please be praying that I would be able to really rely on the Lord in what He wants for my future, and not what I want for myself. As I enter into home in a little over than 3 months, I have no idea what I am going to do, or what the future holds. Please pray that He will reveal some things to me, and that I would be patient enough to sit down and actually listen.
I love you guys so much!
Love and peace,
Keeley
PS. In case you were wondering, there are officially 130 days until Christmas Eve Eve! (:
