So, as the time approaches to go... my mind has been racing with all different situations that can arise on this trip. I'm headed into the unknown, to foreign countries, new cultures, meeting people with different perspectives on life, and values. That can be extremely overwhelming and scary. Anything can happen. But... I continue to remind myself that I am going with Jesus! The ultimate authority in heaven and on earth!
I recently read Psalm 121:
"I lift my eyes up to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
We have no clue what will happen in the future, but I do know God is always with me and I trust him here, there, everywhere.
For example, I would have never expected this to ever happen...
Check out these pictures... I will never forget this moment. Tonight, during my frisbee game, a tornado formed right next to the fields! We all watched as the clouds were billowing over us, the winds started racing and the tornado formed and traveled down a line of houses across the street! The black specs in the sky are not from a bad camera lens- its roofing from the houses! This was so crazy!
Adventured to Aspen, Colorado last weekend! Drove 4 hours to
Aspen after work, stopped to check into the Glenwood Springs Hostel, then flew
down to Aspen to see Bassnectar at the Belly Up bar. AWESOME!
Rave-Techno-Awesomeness!
It was so much fun to totally be out of my element and
loving every moment of it! Took me back to junior and senior year in Athens, GA
tearing up the dance floor and praying the whole time for the people around me.
I felt like a stronger warrior last night jumping, dancing, praying and getting
soaked up in the music instead of getting bogged down for the people around me
with drunken, blank, sagging faces.At UGA, my friends and I heard of a group overseas that would go out to
clubs to dance and pray the whole time. The owners loved them and let them in
for free because there were less overdoses and deaths the nights they were
there. I want to start going out, dancing with friends, and praying for Jesus
to love on the people around me and for them to know him. I know I'm His strong
warrior that can power through the crazy stuff happening around me to persevere
in prayer for his Kingdom to come in clubs. Ha! Dancing with all my heart,
praying with all my heart... who's in? So pumped! It's going to happen!
The World Race is an incredible endeavor! I heard about this
mission through my awesome friend from UGA, Bill Bush, who is on the trip right
now! Check out his blog too! When I was a senior at UGA this past year, he
encouraged me to apply and go. At that point, looking forward to graduating but
without a job or plan lined up, I could not imagine the amount of money that is
required to go. AND he was raising funds for the World Race and another mission trip! He is the man!
God has given me huge dreams to travel the world for several
years now. I love meeting people from different backgrounds and I am always
excited to learn about different cultures and countries. God has already placed
it on my heart to possibly live abroad for a period of time and possibly raise
a family over seas. Mom, Dad- you guys ready to whip out your passports for
adventure?
One Sunday night, Adam and I were spending time with friends
and telling them our awesome idea of applying for The Amazing Race on CBS; Season 17 Team
Awesome Domination! Rejection! In response, our friend Whitney shot that down and encouraged
me to apply for the World Race. I had decided before that night, I was not
going to let any amount of money allow me to hesitate and not apply for any
mission trip, program, or organization I was thinking about trying. The next
day, I applied to the World Race, I had my interview on Tuesday, and found out
on Friday that I had been accepted! AWESOME! Complete life changing week!
The following week, I didn't spend a lot of time with the
Lord. I was nervous about talking to him about this trip, because what if he
was going to tell me that this is not the plan he had in mind. Finally the
following Saturday, I sat down with him and put it all on the table. In my
journal I wrote, "God, I am totally up for whatever you have. If you don't want
me to go, I am ok with that. But, if you do want me to go, I ask that I will
receive financial support this week," but in my mind at the same time that I
wrote "week," I was thinking "today." Trying to cover my bases... who am I
kidding though? He knows my every thought! Ha!
That evening, I was on my way to Colorado Springs to
visit Adam and on my way down on the phone Adam mentioned that his boss wanted
to support me. WOAH! Thank you God for this opportunity!
Then, when I got home from Colorado Springs, I had a card
from my friend Maggie in who is in dentistry school. There was a check inside for $16!
1/1000th of what I would need to go. Maggie, taking the time and
sacrifice to help support me meant the world to me! The amount of funds I need
to start this adventure seems impossible to do in less than three months, but
anything is possible with God. I have complete faith in him that he wants me to
go and will make it happen! I'm so humbled that I get to be a part of this journey and get to share his love with my team and people around the world!
