July 4th,
2010: The Start of The World Race
This Blog was written a few minutes after boarding the plane for Florida when I was leaving my home behind…so I just wanted to share it with you all.
Well, I’ve
just taken off on my flight to Ft. Lauderdale and I am such a mix of emotions
it’s not even funny. I just had to say goodbye to my family, and what I
realized is you never really know how much people mean to you until you have to
say goodbye for such a long time. I am so blessed by my family it’s ridiculous.
This year I am going to realize that more and more I’m sure, and that will
change a lot of relationships and how I relate to the people I love. I can’t
believe I am not going to see any of my family or friends for a whole year!!
It’s scary but definitely something that I need to go through to be challenged
and shaped. And I think it will be
good for some people to be without me for a year also. That might sound weird,
but I believe God has other plans and people that He wants my friends and
family to be close to and love this year. I understand that I can’t be replaced
of course J haha
but His plans are sovereign and God wants me to be somewhere else this year.
And that somewhere else is apparently ALL over the place!!
So once the
tearful/bittersweet goodbyes were done I had to walk through a long line in
security and everyone was packed together so I felt the need to dry up those
tears pretty quick when everyone I walked past looked at me. But at the same
time I didn’t care because I’ve needed to cry about this whole thing for a long
time now and it felt so great. I was pretty late for boarding (those stinkin’
lines) and kinda rushing but I think I needed that to settle me down faster.
And now as I
sit on the plane typing on my Mac (that I decided to take at the VERY last
minute instead of my little netbook -we’ll see if I regret that heavy decision
: ) …my eyes are a little swollen, I just read the sweetest letter from my
daddy that he wrote me before we left…I feel excited and happy again. I know
without a doubt that this is right! And I really wasn’t stressed until last
night and this morning a little. Otherwise I fee l peace and anticipation, and
a little pain from my way to heavy backpacks haha. I’ve already been thinking
about what I need to get rid of…oh boy….I thought I “needed” everything.
Wells
Friends, this journey has begun and I’m so glad you are all a part of the work
that God is doing already!!
Some
expectations of my trip are:
I expect
Jesus to move in the most incredible, crazy, mind- blowing ways because that’s
who He is and what He does.
I also expect
Him to reveal Himself in ways and through people that I would never anticipate.
I want to see
the nations falling on their knees in worship and adoration (myself included)
I can’t wait
for the changes to take place in my whole squads hearts.
I expect to
see people healed, loved, broken -then lifted up because of Christ, more alive
than I have ever seen people live.
…people who
have nothing yet have everything. Miracles, dreams, asking the Lord and hearing
/seeing Him answer in incredible ways. And so much more…
I expect to
be challenged by… people, food, environments, safety, all my comforts taken
away, new relationships,, walking in a new way, the unfamiliar, the hurting,
the children, those struggling spiritually and the spiritually strong, the
unexpected, the adventure, languages, cultures. And at the same time– even
though these might be challenges I expect to learn from them and for Christ to
win and conquer all those challenges. I know the power of Jesus name and He is
in battle for us- so praise Him!! It’s through His strength-not my own that I
go into the world to preach His name.
I pray
for…the fruits of the spirit to be manifested in ways I’ve never understood,
safety, challenges, dreams, power through Christ, a strong stomach, growth in the Lord, Love to abound more and
more, a soft and moldable heart, a thankful spirit, a glad heart, joy, the
light of Jesus to shine in my eyes, new perspectives, my family and friends,
hearts to open, beautiful friendships, people I have never met, my team, my
squad, angels to guard us, power over lies in my life….and overall a life
changing adventure with Jesus to the people He loves that are in need of things
that Jesus knows all about but we don’t yet know. I can’t wait to spend a year
of Love with my Lord- I know it will be really difficult at times but in my
life the hardest things and things that were tough to go through led me so much
closer to Him and gave me more joy than all the enjoyable selfish things I can
do for myself.
I am a
servant first and foremost this year and I can’t wait to understand what that
fully means…this year and the rest of my life.
Thank you for
your prayers and excitement of this awesome experience you and I are a part of!
I love you all and can’t wait to share the journey with you.
