One year ago today my life looked 100% different from what it looks like today. One year ago I was celebrating Mother’s Day with my family along with my Grandparents at a Mexican restaurant in Wisconsin. Mother’s Day was shared with my college graduation day. It was a landmark in my life- I had spent four years of my life working extremely hard towards one goal which I had finally achieved. I celebrated my achievement by walking across the stage with my sorority stole draped around my neck and collecting my diploma (which was really just a nice leather binder) and it all took a matter of 5 seconds before my moment of fame was over. I was full of excitement, sadness, and pride. I was really just feeling overwhelmed with the fact that my college days were officially over and that I was moving out of my well-loved college house that I had shared with my dearest friends for a year and moving back home with my parents. I was afraid because I had absolutely no idea what the next chapter of my life would look like. I knew that I wanted to something more, something bigger than just jumping into a job in my career despite the fact that I had just spent 4 years and thousands of dollars for the opportunity to do just that.
If you would have told me that I would be sitting in Stambolovo, Bulgaria in just one years’ time from my college graduation I do not think I would have believed you. But nevertheless here I am! I am in Bulgaria on my 5th month on the World Race being a Missionary to 11 countries in 11 months. This month in Bulgaria my team and I are partnering with an amazing couple from Canada to help renovate their property to make it into a retreat center for future Missionaries. Along with working hard outside on their property we have had the opportunity to visit an orphanage for children with special needs and do some work at the local church they are a part of. Bulgaria definitely takes some getting used to, for starters communication is so different here- shaking your head means yes and nodding your head means no. Since I do not know much Bulgarian I default to nonverbal communication and hand signals and it gets VERY confusing when you are asking people questions and they are nodding their head for no. It makes me think twice before I understand what people mean. Learning cultural differences as I go is a process but it is a lot of fun even when I get it wrong.
My life is better than I could of ever imagined it to be one year ago on graduation day. I have this amazing opportunity to travel the world, help people who are in need, share Jesus with people, and learn and grow personally. I am so blessed this month and every month I spend on this journey.
I also have my final fundraising deadline in 6 weeks! I have $3,700 left to raise to be fully funded. Fundraising is another area that I have grown in, I am trusting God to provide for all of my needs.
(It’s just a drop in the bucket!)
