So I know that I have been bad about writing blogs. So I am going to try to do one before we head to Africa. I am currently sitting in a Gloria Jeans coffee shop in a mall in Bucharest Romania. I am surrounded by some awesome people that now consist of a new family for me. I am growing spiritually just by being near them. Currently Kyla Cornelius, Jake Van Norman, Sara Hansen and Tara Reed. Tara is the team leader I am working with next month. She is going to help me grow into a stronger and more obedient child of God. We know that we are going to be in a town called Zomba, Malawi. We are working with a ministry called HIM. This is the first time for a lot of us going to Africa and a dream for many including myself! I am so pumped about being in the place and being able to see so much of this world God has created. As many of you know, I am now a team leader and have a team of 7 including myself. I am growing in so many ways I can honestly say I don’t even know them all. The ones I do know are boldness, perception and initiative. Boldness is the aspect that I am a people pleaser by nature, but I need to learn to be bold and call things out. And call things out in Love. Perception in the aspect that I need to be more perceptive to ALL needs. Mine, the team and contact needs. And Initiative so that I am walking the the path of wanting and NEEDING to do all that I can. Not to let others come to us and give us tasks, but to pursue them and put the ball in their court.
Also, the future is becoming something of an awesome thing. I am not looking forward to things, but starting to see some things that God is putting in front of me. Pretty exciting to see that someone like me, not doing what I could have been doing for the majority of my life, can change and can be used to the FULLEST extent for the remainder of my days. GO JESUS!
We, the guys Jeremy Harris, Colby Gardner, Jake Van Norman, Daniel Durick and myself, went on quite the EPIC man weekend. We rented a car and headed out. First stop was Bran castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle. We climbed up a mountain and saw one of the most beautiful scene I have ever scene. We went back into town and found a random place and camped out in the middle of the woods. I believe it got down to 0 C. Cold but nice. Then we got up and 3 of us hiked BACK up the mountain to witness such an awesome sunrise. (yes I got pics, but since my computer is out for the count, I have to wait to use others computers to edit photos). So beautiful to be with a couple guys and bond by just sitting in awe. Then we headed to the Transfagarasan road. This is dubbed the BEST road to drive by the show Top Gear. (http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transf%C4%83g%C4%83r%C4%83%C8%99an) use google chrome to translate that or search that road back home so the page wont be in Romanian. This road was AWESOME! There ARE pics of this on FB. Check it out. But it was such a great time. Just us guys out and about and at times you forget that you are on the World Race. Thank you Jesus.
So right now that is about it for now. I know there is more, but I can’t think of it right now.
Oh one more thing…..christmas plug….if you would like to get me something….you can give me money have someone deposit it into my account….my dad knows how and the Upton grandparents! So that would be an amazing way to help me out and bless me. The reason I am saying that now, is that I am not sure how internet is going to look for the next 3 months. I assume I will have SOME. but not sure how much. I have been praying for NONE, or maybe once a week that requires a drive, so that we have no other things to do expect for pour into each other and the people around. So that is that.
So prayers for me are that I lead in the way God wants me to and not by what I think is the way. To be more bold and to seek out my time with God. I am ADHD, I know I know that is a surprise to some of you, but I tend to get caught up in things and forget about the most important thing of all. But I know that Tara will help me see that and show me what that looks like. Just learning to “be”.
Well I think that is it for now.
Also I have people on my team and squad that NEED prayer and support. aliciahodges.theworldrace.org and laurennewborn.theworldrace.org are my 2 teammates that need about $1800 a piece. So if you can help, PLEASE pray about it and see if you think God is allowing you to support them. We need ALL these people around us. We are a family now and we all work together to bring the Kingdom to the world.
So now that I have said that is about it and then continued to have more stuff, it shows that I need to blog more, but sometimes this is the best way. To just….have all these things come out all at once. So I will do what I can to blog in Africa…..I CAN’T BELIEVE I AM GOING TO AFRICA!!!!
LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE
Missing you guys during the holiday times. I know that you all will be having great times! But not to rub it in, but I am ringing in the new year in Africa! Find out what God is calling you to do. He IS telling you something and don’t think that you don’t have something to offer. You do and when you let him, he will show you what that is. LISTEN. It is hard to do with all the things going on in the world. I know this first hand, but there are ways of getting “out” of that world. Hmmm…..crazy huh? To find out that there is something MORE than what you are doing. To find out that you were intended for MORE. To find out that there is MORE to God that what we have thought. That we NEED to HAVE MORE of God to fully live and be us. Take chances. Love openly the way our savior did when he was here. He did is by just being. I challenge you to pray DANGEROUS prayers. Like “god wreck me to rebuild me in YOUR image” or “god show me what it is to be your child, to love and be obedient”. But beware…he WILL answer those and it may not be what YOU thought would be the answer……but I assure you, it is the answer you need and if you take that step to listening and trusting, he will bless you beyond your WILDEST dreams! But don’t take my word for it…..try it out for yourself..or read up on some blogs on theworldrace.org and see all the amazing stories of God and his LOVE for his children.
