Quick update before I get into what I want to blog about:
At the end of this week I will be heading to Albania for my first month on The World Race! I know, I know I told you Ireland and then that changed…then I told you Turkey but the civil unrest in the country has lead us in a different direction to Albania! Your prayers and support are so greatly appreciated because probably just like you, I know little to nothing about this country except that it has an extremely high Muslim population! So excited 🙂
Update ended.
So in case you didn't know…I like telling stories! As a camp director one of my favorite things to do is captivate an audience of 9-14 year-olds and get them to the point where they actually feel like they are present in the story! There is nothing like being so enveloped into a story that you forget your surroundings and lose yourself in the moment. The imagination is an amazing thing! It can take you places you have never been and it can help you dream bigger than you could ever dream!
My goal this year with this blog is not to merely update you on all the stuff that is going down on the field…I want to share an ongoing story of the unknown and of the adventure that God has blessed me with! As my faith increases, I want your faith to increase. As I see miracles happen, I want you to be inspired to see the same things happen where you are at! As I face hardships and struggles I want you to know and understand that you are not alone!
So here it goes…
Imagine this…
The moment has come and you are standing in the driveway hugging your siblings for the last time for 11 months. You knew this moment would come but just not this fast! You're sister is holding you tightly and you can feel the hot tears wetting your shirt as she whispers in your ear, "I know God has called you to this but 11 months is a long time! Don't leave me!" As you're struggling to hold back tears you move on to give your brother, your best friend in the whole world, a hug goodbye. You look into his eyes and you see huge tears welling up and at that point…lets be honest…your heart breaks!
You finally tear yourself away and head quickly to the car because you know that if you stay in that environment one more moment you will change your mind and end up staying home!
You drive away…the struggle is real!
Imagine this…
You arrive in Atlanta. It's hot and muggy but the excitement is so strong that you don't really seem to notice that much! You are met with huge smiles and even bigger hugs! As you re-acquaint yourselves with the people you will be with 24/7 for the next 11 months you can see it in their eyes, a hint of apprehension, a smidge of the fear of the unknown (because let's be honest there are a lot of unknowns!) but overshadowing both of those is a sense of adventure and obedience to the call of God! The adventure is beginning! God has provided all that you need to bring you to this point. He has increased your faith through fundraising! He has destroyed all sense of holding on to comfort and torn down the walls to expose the real you with vulnerability through training camp. And now He has brought you to launch! It's time to go! What may be ahead…only God knows…
But the journey has finally begun!!!
To be continued….
(I can't wait to see what God has in store for these next 11 months! I just want to thank everyone who has been so gracious and so giving to support me financially and in prayer for this mission! I have enough to launch but in order to be fully funded I need $8,000 more! If you feel led to support me click on the SUPPORT ME tab on the left side of the screen! I would love to have you be a part of this journey with me as i update my blog with stories of all the amazing things God is going to produce through this year! Subscribe to my blog 🙂 Love y'all and see ya next year!)
