I am currently sitting on a plane that is heading to CHINA!!!
I can’t believe that just a few days ago I was home, and then in Atlanta for Launch…Our squad was split into two flights for Tuesday morning, and of course I got the earlier of the two: “Meet in the lobby at 3:30 am!” At least I had done the same not three days ago, so my body was still familiar with…unfamiliar wake-up times. We flew from Atlanta to Dallas (2ish hours), had an hour layover, then flew to Los Angelos (2.5ish hours) then had a TWELVE hour layover. We fit in a sqaud nap in one of the seating areas, and ventured into the industrial surroundings of the airport to find In-and-Out Burger and to escape the airport vibe for a while – because we weren’t even half-way into our journey yet…
Finally, we got onto our flight to Guangzhou, China! So far we’ve been flying on this plane for about 11 hours – just a few more to go! Between watching a few movies, attempting to sleep sitting-up, and having delirous conversations with those in the seats next to me (due to the course of 3 time changes and no more than 20-minute naps here and there in the last 36 hours), it’s been an adventure already! When we arrive in China, we’ll have a 6 hour layover, then be on our way to Phnom Penh, Cambodia! Our entire squad will be staying there overnight, then our teams will split up the following day to meet up with our ministries. My team (Burning Joy) will be about a 5 hour bus ride from the capital, in Sisophan… and THEN after about FOUR days of travel in total, we’ll have arrived at our first destination of the World Race.
Over the course of Lanuch, we had a bunch of different sessions on things varying from last minute packing advice (a.k.a how to make your pack no more than that 50 lb limit!) to safety and scenarios, to the importance of team feedback, positive attitudes and most importantly, open minds and hearts going into each ministry we’ll be serving with.
Last week, when I was still at home and a few friends had come over to hang out ONE more time before I left, we ended up watching Dreamworks’ Prince of Egypt when we got too tired to chat anymore. There have been countless times in the last week that I’ve replayed in my head that burning bush scene of Moses with God. If you haven’t seen this movie, I HIGHLY recommend it. Though it takes creative license on a few fronts, it tells the story of Moses in the book of Exodus. Besides the music and animation being super great, it just really helps me picture this time in the Bible SO clearly. The burning bush scene is what gets me most – I get shivers even picturing the scene now. Basically, God calls Moses to go to Egypt and set His people free. But Moses has a bad rep in Egypt – even the people he’d be freeing wouldn’t want to listen to him. Moses was comfortable with his life the way it was, and didn’t think he’d have the skills necessary to carry out what God was asking of Him. But God, in all His authority says, “I AM WHO I AM.” Moses is terrified…but God says that He will be going before Moses. He even TELLS Moses that the Pharaoh won’t do as Moses says, but that God will use His power and that Moses should know that he’ll never be alone.
When we were singing at Launch, one of the praise leaders brought up Moses and immediately I felt so comforted. I decided to read through the story in Exodus. Each time I start to doubt that I’ll be able to do this crazy year, or that I don’t have the skills to contribute to anything I’ll encounter abroad, I remember Moses. And I remember God saying, “I AM WHO I AM.” That doesn’t mean I will never be scared, or be exhausted and feel like going home, or be unsure what God wants from me – but it DOES mean that I don’t HAVE to be scared. That I can find rest in God. That I can always come to God with any uncertainties and that He will ALWAYS answer when we call out to him.
It’s so surreal that I’m officially starting this journey overseas. I’m thinking of all of you at home – but mainly, because I’m pumped to share with you the incredible things I’m learning and experiencing on this adventure.
