Zero to Sixty

     Zero to sixty. That's how things feel like things are moving with all of my plans. A little over two weeks ago I was in a position where the whole mission trip thing was real, but it still seemed to be in the abstract. I knew that I was going, but I did not know much else. Since then frequent emails back and forth to Ethiopia have turned this abstract dream into a very REAL reality! Each and every email makes me feel closer and closer to the life God has called me to. With each new message I get a better peak into what my life will look like at this time next year. It is amazing to me how quickly life can change. This time last year, I only had a faint idea of where I would be heading after graduation (and as you already know, those plans bit the dust). I look at my life now, my life a year ago, and even my life two weeks ago and am in awe of how quickly we come to encounter newness. Though I am one who hates change and struggles daily with fear of the unknowns in life, I have a peace about perhaps the biggest change I have ever faced. At this point, I have no fears about what is to come, just a calm that can only come from the One who holds my future in His hands.

     In the Christmas season, as I think about how life can go from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye (or two weeks as my case may be), I cannot help but think of Mary. At this time of year we celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus to a virgin woman called by God to mother the savior of the world. Talk about zero to sixty! One day she is going about her everyday life, and the next she is preparing to be the mother of Jesus. Was she afraid? Did she experience a sense of calm? Did she have any idea what her future held? That winters night as she and Joseph ventured to Bethlehem, she was still dealing with the abstract idea of what God had called her to, and yet later that evening she brought Jesus into the world, and all of the sudden her life was changed forever. Her abstract became a reality.

     This year, perhaps more than others, I can appreciate her side of the story. My situation is about night and day from hers. I'm following God's call to Ethiopia, not mothering the savior of our world. Yet, to some degree I feel like I can relate to Mary. Her life changed overnight, she faced the unknown and yet was still willing to trust His plan. I can only hope to follow God with the same grace and faith as Mary.

     I am sure that there will be bumps in the road, in fact, I rest assured that there will be hiccups along the way, but for now I am enjoying this phase of discovery and newness as I learn a little bit more each and every day about what the future looks like for me.

Welcome!

     Welcome to my mission blog, thank you for stopping by! I am so excited to share my journey with you. Let me start with a few basics on what I'm doing here.

     My main goal in keeping this blog is YOU! I want to share my experiences with you. For those who are currently supporting me, and for those who are considering joining the team, I want you to be a part of this journey and see what is happening through my eyes. I could not do any of this without you, and I want you to be able to experience a piece of what your support has made possible! Great things are and will continue to happen because of my prayer worriers and financial sponsors-- sit back and enjoy the ride along with me! I want to remember my experiences, remember how God is working, and be able to look back down the road and see how this amazing journey played out.

     You'll notice along the top of the screen there are some tabs that will take you to different pages. Be sure to check them out! The first tab, and perhaps the most important one for you to read is "My Story". Here you can read all about how God brought me to this point in life, along with the ups and downs that came along with the call. I have shared this story with many of you, but here you'll find perhaps a more in depth look at how the story has unfolded thus far. The next tab is "Giving 365". The basis of this tab is ways you can help. I will be gone for 365 days, so a fun goal for people who want to give is a breakdown of donations in increments of 365. I of course appreciate and can use any and all donations, the 365 is just a fun way to challenge people. Check it out, there are some fun ways you can help out!

     I am very excited about sharing my journey. Be sure to check back in often, and see what is going on. Keep up with prayer requests, find out how close we are to reaching my support goal, watch how God continues to work, and see how He chooses to use me when I reach my destination. The story is only just beginning, and I'm so glad you have chosen to be a part of it. Happy reading!