So in about two weeks I will be leaving Africa and heading to Thailand, it is hard to believe that is already the middle of October, and that I have been in Africa for almost 3 months. Seems like only a weeks ago I was boarding a plane in Houston, and heading off on this journey.
This month in Rwanda has in many ways been a period of change, as the leaves change colors in the fall, so my life and my teammates lives have been going through a process of change, turning more and more into reflections of what God has done in our lives thus far. Looking back at who I was only a few months ago, I don't feel like the same man I was as I boarded that plane in August, and I guess in many ways I'm not.
Some changes are easier than others, in a couple of weeks we will be going through a lot of changes as a squad. The potential team changes means, that the group of six people(Andrea, Drew, Emily, Kayla, Sabrina, and Sarah) that I have had the opportunity to serve with, live in community with, and grow in faith with, may changing to a completely new group. In addition to team changes, we will be changing squad leaders, the squad leaders are a people who travel to all the different teams in each country we travel to and are the leaders of all 44 people in our squad. In addition to changing teams we will be changing continents, traveling from Africa to Asia, this will be a definite change in culture than I've experienced over the last few months. I'm excited to see what these changes will mean for each team, and for the various leaders, but it is still a bittersweet feeling to be ending this chapter of the race.
I'm confident that the spirit of God is setting in motion these changes, in order to bring new growth and to do some pruning in my life, and in the lives of our entire squad. I'm finding that in the same way that leaves fall from a tree to make room for new growth, I've had to let things go, and let aspects of my life fall off, in order to make room for what God wants to bring out of my life in this new season.
**SUPPORT UPDATE!**
I can't thank all of you enough for the support you have given me as I make this journey. I'm humbled by the fact so many of you have been willing to give financially towards this trip.
As of today October 18, I have $10,358.50 in my account. The next support deadline is Nov. 1 and the amount needed is $10,500.00. The final needed by January 2012 is $14,800.00. I know that many of you are giving monthly towards my trip, and know that I would not be here without your support. With the monthly pledges I have now, I'm very close to the total goal of $14,800.
