Time flies. If you didn’t know, I fly out to Atlanta, which is Adventures in Missions headquarters, in about 4 days. We have around a 3 day training session to get prepared to leave and then we fly out to Haiti on the 15th. These past few weeks have been a crazy combination of Christmas, New Years, and trying to balance the time spent between family, friends, and my girlfriend. Back when I applied for the World Race around the end of December 2016, it seemed so far away that it was almost surreal. Because of this, I was able to delay my thoughts of fundraising, saying goodbye to all my relationships back home, and everything else that comes along with leaving for this amazing 11 month missions trip. It wasn’t until this past weekend when the thought of leaving and saying goodbye to everyone finally began to sink in. Saying goodbye, even for only 11 months, is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do… and I haven’t even done it yet… I feel like there is so much I still have to do but so little time. I know that God will help me through it and in the end, He is GOOD and everything will work out according to His will, and that is a comforting thought.
Overall, I am so crazy excited for this once in a lifetime opportunity that is in front of me. I have been keeping in touch with one of my teammates, Chandler Whidden (subscribe to him as well if you get the chance, he’s awesome!), and asked him for some encouragement and to help keep me focused on everything coming up and to pray for me to not feel discouraged about leaving everyone I know and love behind. He encouraged me and helped me to look forward to everything that God has in store for us. I am looking forward to being able to not worry about all of the pressure of the U.S. to find a job, be successful, and to thrive in social status. The thought of being able to strengthen my relationship with the Lord by serving and devoting all of my time to Him is something that I, and everyone else, need. The thought of furthering God’s Kingdom on Earth is so amazingly exciting to me. Getting to see the world and do crazy things with my team along the way is just a bonus.
This renewed vigor for the Race is something that I very much needed before I go. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20). I would like to thank everyone who has donated or subscribed to me so far to follow me on my trip. I really appreciate it and can’t wait to see how God uses me in these countries. God bless.
