Since it was just my birthday, I wanted to give a quick reflection of
30 new things I learned:
1. I love animals. I used to spend too much energy talking about how I’m not an “animal person”. Now I just pet every cat, dog, horse, goat, monkey and reptile I see.
2. I can eat/consume a whole lot less. And I’m not even worried about it. (Matt. 6:25). He truly provides in abundence. Check out this Moroccan couscous: 
3. I learned to play uke. I’m not bad! I wrote some parodys. (I will have to show you individually in person.) (Ps. 144:9)
4. God likes me to laugh and be silly with Him, even when other people are being serious. –I am His sunshine!!!
5. He is my number one Defender.
I don’t feel a whelming desire to defend myself anymore. I don’t need to. Not to say I dont have more pride to gooooo.
(Isah. 58:8 & Deut. 31:8)
6. HOPE has meaning & depth. God gave me so much hope this year for my dad’s cancer recovery. MY GOD IS good. Please continue to partner with me in prayer for my dad’s full recovery. He is currently cancer free but in the hospital with pneumonia.
7. GOD is in control more than I had realized.
8. Prayer is Powerful. (James 5:16) I have stories!!!!
9.Basically a much deeper heart and experiential understanding of how God’s word is so sharp and so true true (Heb. 4:12 , John 1:14)
10. To speak less. (prov. 10:19)
11. To Get still. I am better at it than I used to be. Maybe it has partly to do with 30 and 70 hour bus rides. (Ps. 4:4)
12. How to draw feces.. I mean faces. (Prob. wont do it a lot since it requires being still. But its a fun gift to give to people. Thanks Ari. ) here is my beautiful squad mate:
13. Fear of the Lord. (Prov. 9:10)
14. To repent Quickly. To others and God. It’s freedom!!!
15. To better guard the Well Spring of life-
I desire to make tighter all around boundaries for myself because I want & love to.
16. I am worthy of an incredible Godly husband. (God told me this one, I don’t have an immediate scripture to back it up, but I can find one.)
17. I can have my way so much less and still be soo content. It’s been a challenge this year, but I’m ready for more.
18. I could do long-term missions in a 3rd world country and have the time of my life. I enjoy the adventure of sleeping in random dirty places and liveing without knowing what tomorrow holds. (But I kinda already knew that).
19. I don’t need a calling but I’m already called. (Deut. 7:6)
20. I have more confidence and boldness in who I am. Because of the great I Am.
21. When walking down the street, I learned to unackwardly look into a woman’s eyes who has everything but them covered. My Burka wearing cousins.
22. Learned to just ask. You never know until you do.
23. Learned to surf in Morocco.
24. Learned to better and more frequently give my worries, burdens, and desires (ouch) to God.
25. GOD speaks in so many ways, because He is God, He is not confined to the bounds of our box. A glimpse of Him can be found in everything. Mini miracles happen every day. Be thankful and rejoice in Him always!!
26. He gives the desires of my heart. In short, I get so excited when I get to tell someone about real Love and Joy. That is a deep desire and God brings people along my path all the time!
27. People around the world (especially what I experienced in Indonesia, China and Morocco) are hospitality extremeists. Strangers treat you like family!! I have a natural nack for Hospitality.. cooking food and having guests… but this year has prompted me to want to greet and treat people with abundance. Excited to put it into practice in America. Excited to get more extravagant.
28. To say “hello” and “thanknyou” in 9+ languages!
29. I am not as tough in my own strength as I thought I was. I recently got a root canal and at the beginning of the year had a heat stroke and parasites that caused water dihereah for 10days!!
30. I have less FOMO. (Philip. 4:11-12)
So…I traveled the world for a year. What a true privlage and honor it has been. I spent time in community, I partnered in service to the least of these, and I got more in tune with our Creator.. I’m planning to do it for the rest of my life. May what I have learned be used and multiplied.
