I have spent the entire day unexpectedly bursting into tears (of the best kind) and grinning from ear to ear. I imagine this is how most people feel on their wedding day. The feeling of knowing you’re finally beginning the portion of your life you’ve always dreamed of is the most overwhelmingly joyful thing I have ever experienced, I think.
All of my formative years were spent cutting out pictures from the travel section of the Sunday Times and stowing them beside my bed or taping them on my wall, reading travel guides, and faking sick (yes) so I could stay home and watch the travel shows that air on PBS in the middle of the day. I’ve obsessed over places that have nothing to do with me for as long as I can remember, and have been on a constant mission to get the best of the world here at home because I’ve never seen a plausible way to start travelling. Because, you know, travelling costs money.
A lot of money.
So travelling has always taken a backseat to me paying my bills, my rent, feeding myself, and living in the only way I've known how. There has always been considerable fear and doubt living among the romanticized visions of these places in my mind, and, truth be told, as the years have passed, I had really begun to wonder whether or not the deep desires I've always had to see the world and experience new cultures firsthand (while doing some good for the world) would ever be met.
But, as He always does…God found a way. He proved, once again, to be a heck of a lot more powerful than me and my doubts and ever so politely said something along the lines of, "Oh hey, child whom I love a LOT, you know that thing you've always really wanted to do? Here's this PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to do it while making disciples and bringing the Kingdom there, now. Pretty rad, right? You totally have to do this." I'm paraphrasing, though.
Fear and doubt can keep people from doing a lot of really important stuff, and I am well aware of this in my own life. I asked Him to break down the walls they have built between me and the things I need to do, and like the ultimate dude He is…He did just that, and I have never felt more confident about anything. This? This is the type of stuff I was meant to do. I really believe that.
The Holy Spirit has been nudging me toward this (the mission field) for awhile (see: years), and I couldn't ignore it any longer. I just couldn't do it. Turns out incessant nudging yields excellent results. To know now that this is happening, for real…is just unreal. I am a very simple person living a very simple existence, and I get to do this grand thing that I assumed I would only ever dream of. See, I'm crying again! I am just immeasurably grateful.
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Romania, Ukraine, Swaziland, Mozambique, South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Count 'em.
That's eleven countries. Wild, yeah? I still can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that these places exist outside of photos and travel essays, and that I'll get to see them with my very own eyes and be completely transformed in the process. God has work to do in in me, and the potential for change and growth and learning on this trip is just…so vast. It takes my breath away just thinking about it. I can only imagine what's in store for me and my team.
That all being said…travelling still costs money, and this trip is not free. I need to raise $15,500 in order to go and I am going to need help, as I still have to pay rent and my bills and buy myself food, all while preparing to leave. You can support me by clicking the "Support Me!" link to your left, or by keeping in contact with me over these next six months as I will surely be holdling multiple fundraisers and events to try and come up with the cash for this trip. Also…I have a flute I am trying to sell. So if you've ever wanted a flute, I'm your gal. Fulfill your dreams! Impress your friends! Buy my flute!
I will also be sending out an official support letter through the mail, so be watching out for that as well. Well, don't watch out for it…it's not going to bite you or anything. Just be looking for it.
If you cannot support me financially, please support me in prayer, which is equally (if not more) important. Knowing you are lifting me up as I embark on this journey will be incredibly valuable and vital to my success in it.
That's it for now. I hope this was a good blog post, because I don't really know what a good blog post looks like.
Your friend, or at least your acquaintance,
-Kelley
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:17
