My very first blog…

Wow. That’s the only way I can really think of to start this blog. I am so excited and blown away at what God is doing every day in the preparation for this trip. So, “Wow” has become something I say quite frequently. It’s not doubt that He’s working in this, but wonder in His continued workings. It is just an amazing feeling to sit back and say, “Wow God, I see You working. I see You carrying out the plan you have for me, the plan you have for Africa.”

One of the biggest things that has impacted me in this way would be watching our team come together. Some of us have a lot of things in common. Some of us have few things in common. But what we all have, is a firm belief in Christ, a passion to “..preach the kingdom of God to other cities..” (Luke 4:43), and a will to be used in any way that He would see fit on this journey.

Another thing that really affected me was the opportunity to speak in my Dad’s Sunday School class. It was the first time I had ever spoken to a group that wasn’t full of children. I was, to say the least nervous. The reason was, I kept thinking, “What am I going to say? Am I really prepared to get up and speak about my trip?” The problem was that I had made the whole thing about me. Yes, I am going to Africa, but I am going for God and not for me. Yes, I do need financial and prayer support, but it is for the work of the Father and not for my work. I had written down all these things that I wanted to say, thinking that I had prepared quite nicely. However, I was amazed that when I stood in front of that class, I mentioned nearly nothing that I was going to say. As I was speaking, it almost felt like I was merely rambling on. In reality, it was because I was not the one speaking, but the spirit through me. God was giving me the words that He wanted me to say. Once I realized that, I wasn’t nervous anymore. I felt relieved and grateful. It was truly an amazing feeling and it reminded me how, all-too-often we forget to give even the “little things” up to God. I personally worry about most things easily, and usually they’re the little things. To me it seems odd that it’s easier to worry about those small, everyday details, than it is to worry about the large, life-changing ones.

Now, I feel like I have begun to ramble on a bit so I’ll finish this up.. I have sent out all my support letters, had the opportunity to speak in one class (and others should be coming up soon), and am praying daily for the continued preparation for myself and my fellow team members.

~Thank You for joining this journey