So I'm home during my winter break right now, and it's just a couple days after Christmas, and a few days before New Years. Let me tell you, I've had a LOT of time to think. And the more I think, the more anxious I get about a lot of things, particularly the World Race. It seems to be a common worry factor amongst all my teammates as well. Obviously the biggest issue is the money. It costs a lot. We get it. But as a friend of mine told me, God already has the money ready for me, its just a matter of unwavering faith and time. But aside from that, I've been thinking a lot about Christmas. This year, I get to be with my family and friends in my warm house, laying in my comfy bed, opening lots of gifts, and watching A Christmas Story marathon. I get to drink hot chocolate, play with my puppies, have mom cook for me (she loves it, i know…), and lounge around the house as I please.
But next year, I'm not gonna be here for that. I wont have my parents. I wont have my home. And more likely than not, I won't have a tree with lots of gifts under it. Like a lot of members on my squad, it's probably the first time ever that we'll be spending Christmas away from home. Even crazier, we'll be in a strange and foreign country that's probably the farthest thing from what we're use to. Yikes.
What did I get myself into. Who does that??
Well, let me tell you.
My 70 teammates or so will be my family (they already are, actually. its pretty amazing). Someone in that country will be receiving us into their own home (or field… or church… or orphanage), and although it may not be like my house, it will still have a lot of love. I may not sleep in late in a big comfy bed, but I'll get to wake up early to get ready for a hard day of work for the Lord. I may not get to watch my favorite movie all day, but I'll get to sit and admire the world around me away from modern day society. I may not get any gifts this next year, but I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to serving others and showering them with all the love I can give and that Christ can give through me. I get to spend 11 months with some of the most awesome, God-fearing people that I could have ever been blessed with.
Now THATS gonna be a Christmas break I'll probably never forget.
2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
