I Am Here.
As the train bumps along the tracks into the setting sun somewhere between Kiev, Ukraine and Budapest,Hungary, I'm traveling into what will be my tenth country and tenth month of this journey. It seems that not too long ago I was sitting in my tent at training camp wondering what I just got myself into.
I am confident that I had no idea what I was signing up for, but the journey has been better for that fact. I've seen new born babies and shared a meal and a time of worship with a man who is over a century old all in the same day. I've cried harder and laughed more sincerely in the past nine months than I can ever remember.
The Lord has broken away barriers and taken away a lot of fear from my life, and has built my faith and given me a whole new sense of boldness. Christ has also given me new passion for life in place of a mindset of timidity and apathy.
Along the way I've given more of myself, shared more of the gifts that God has given me, and been blessed by people spanning three continents and over nine countries so far.
More photos have been taken, more journal entries have been written, more true worship has taken place, more prayers have been spoken, more openness has been displayed, more time has been spent on a plane, bus, van, train, tuk tuk, boda boda, or any other type of transpiration. More time away from home, family, and the familiar, than anytime in my life by far…and I am thankful for all of it. This is not something that many people have the chance to do in their life, and I will not take this for granted.
While lately it has been easy to get caught up in what is next, I'm constantly having to remember that this is a once and a life time opportunity and that all of what I'm experiencing now will not be here in the same form in a mere two months time. So my daily prayer is that I will be here, and see what God has for me today.
I am here. In the presence of the living God.
I am here. In a better spirit personally than ever before.
I am here. In a position of leadership and that is a privilege not a right.
I am here. Learning new things everyday.
I am here. Trusting God for my future.
I am here. Seeking Christ for my today.
I am here. Thanking God for my story.
I AM HERE.
Today I'm in Romania serving with a Baptist camp called Seven Springs, helping get their camp ready for the summer season and having the chance to wake up to a beautiful view of the small village of Lipova every morning. Whatever is next I must trust that God has control, and that today is all I'm promised.
