Not Your Normal Graduate

    This past Saturday, I graduated from college. The whole day was beyond exciting as up until this point my goal and purpose in life was to graduate. I'll tell you though, even as I celebrated with my friends and family the success of all those years of hard work, my mind was far from my small-town school... far from the orange and black that I've grown accustomed to sporting... far from the ceremony that honored our accomplishments. My mind was on my future. As the speakers talked about the people that were leaving the university and going out to become doctors, lawyers, film directors, teachers,  athletic trainers, and so many more great jobs, I found myself feeling like I was against the odds. You see, my destination won't make me big bucks (or any bucks for that matter), I won't have a wardrobe filled with "work clothes", I won't even have a flushing toilet come to think of it, but I will be filled. I will be happier than a bird with a french fry. I will be full of life, love, and purpose.

     Sunday morning my mom greeted me with words that ring true in my heart, "You did it Hannah. You graduated. Now nothing stands between you and your dreams, you and your purpose. Welcome to the rest of your life." Mom somehow put into words everything that I had been feeling the day before--Graduation day.

     I am now only 80 days away from flying off. I have confirmed my date and found my ticket. Later this week I'll make it official by making the big purchase. I have a feeling butterflies will be a'flyin when I confirm my seat. In other exciting news, I'm 75% funded. That could be a post in and of itself. My prayers have shifted now to praying that I have enough to go, to praying that God will continue to call people to give above and beyond allowing me to serve longer.

This week, please keep these things in your prayers:

• Mission Training: I am heading to Mississippi for training the first week in June. Please pray for energy for the trip and safe travels as it will take about 12 hours to get there. Pray that God will use that time to fill me with the knowledge that I need to enter the mission field of Ethiopia. Pray that the fellowship with other missionaries will be impacting and meaningful. While in Mississippi I'll get to train alongside the co-founders of The Forsaken Children (the brother and sister-in law of the family I'll be living with) as they are preparing to return to Ethiopia full time later this year. I'm very excited to spend time with them and get to hear many of their experiences.  

• Pray that fundraising continues to go swimmingly. God has blown me away with the generosity of His people. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be fully funded in the coming weeks. My prayer now, as mentioned before, is that God will far exceed my fundraising goal and allow me the opportunity to stay in service longer. I am so excited to see how far above $14,000 we can get. Please pray that people continue to give generously.

     Thank you for your continued support. As always, I thank God for each of you and your prayers daily. This experience has been a blessing beyond any I could have imagined. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! Join with me in praising Him for the post-graduation adventure He has called me to.