A friend recently asked me what it is that I want to learn over the course of this next year. When I look back at various points throughout the year, I want to ask myself if I am trusting God fully or am I trusting in myself. I want to experience what trusting God fully looks and feels like. As I prepare to leave, there are very few knowns about what this year is going to look like. I am a person who likes to be in control (let`s be honest, who doesn`t????) and I am already learning to seek peace in the presence of Jesus. I have been beyond blessed and in awe at the generosity of friends, family and people in my church community in terms of my finances. I have had to come up with about $11,000 (I don't know how much I have received in total, but from what I have seen, I have been blown away) and right from the beginning of the process, I have had to trust that God is going to take care of things - big and little. I haven't even left yet and I am already seeing God speak through people. I feel affirmed and blessed.
The second thing I want ask myself throughout the year is, am I loving people the way Jesus would love people? I fully realize that there will be moments where teammates and people I meet will drive me absolutely crazy, but I want to learn and desire to love people the way Jesus does. There is an excitement that bubbles inside of me when I think and dream of the type of relationships I will make this year. I want people to see glimpses of Jesus in me.
So, as I trek through the year ahead, I will be taking inventory regularly and asking myself,
- Am I trusting God or am I relying on myself? and
- Am I loving others the Jesus would?
I hope that these questions will keep me accountable to those around me. Thank you for journeying with me. This blog will be a place to update on how God has been working in me and to update you on my adventure through pictures. It's going to be an amazing journey.
