Right Where I Belong

"Nothing's going to hold me back...I'm alive to live for You." -Holding Nothing Back by Tim Hughes

Saying goodbye to Drew with my two
sisters Bri (middle) & Gracie (right)

I can't believe tomorrow is my last full day before I leave for Africa. I've barely started packing and feel like I have a million things to do in 24 hours. I've already started saying some of my goodbyes to some friends and family. One of the hardest goodbyes I had to make was to my boyfriend, Drew. I'm already a pretty emotional person, but when I realized that this was the last time I was going to see him for the next six and a half weeks I was a basket case. I know he loves me because he said he still thought I was pretty when I was ugly crying; I mean nose dripping, can't catch my breath, body shaking crying. As the minutes turned into an hour and a half he finally left. When he did though, I wasn't sad anymore. I had fully expected to be wallowing all night, but I had and still have this amazing peace within me. I know that I'm supposed to be in Africa; that's exactly where the Lord wants me. The quote at the beginning of this post is from a song that played yesterday during the service at Journey Church. As I was singing these words I further realized that this is part of God's purpose for me. He has given me this amazing opportunity to spend six beautiful weeks in Africa learning how to bring people closer to him through the medium of sports. I get to fellowship with other Christians that are my age and develop relationships with young African girls and boys. Of course I'm still going to miss Drew, my sisters, parents, friends, etc. but I'm not sad. I'm incredibly optimistic because I know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. My dad shared some insight with me today. He read Acts 1:1 which says, "The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach," He told me that Theophilus was a wealthy man that provided Luke with the funds he needed to go out into the land and talk/learn about Jesus. I am a modern day disciple, he said. I want to provide all of those that helped support me, my own Theophilus's, with updates about the things the Lord is doing in my life and in Africa. My biggest prayer is that I am a blessing to every one that I meet. I want to grow closer than I ever have been to the Lord. He has been so incredibly good to me and I am so grateful that He wants in South Africa this summer.
Thank you Lord for giving me peace about this trip that has been on my heart and mind since last August. Thank you for giving me loved ones that have been so supportive emotionally, financially, and most importantly spiritually. I can't wait to see all of the amazing things You are going to do this summer and how they carry out into my life when I return to the States. You are amazing.

I hope your day is brighter now than before, if anything you've just read has inspired or encouraged you thank the Lord; for it is His Spirit that flows through my body, my heart, and through my fingertips as I wrote this. Bless you.