It's not a dream anymore, it's actually happening.
Tomorrow at this time I will be in an airplane headed for Paraguay! Like the boy scout motto says "Be Prepared", and I think I can finally say my bags are packed and ready to go.
If my carry on bag has to get searched I think security will either laugh or call me a suspicious person as they would find a box of pancake mix, roll of toilet paper, camera, and Spanish/English Bible and notes, just some miscellaneous things that didn't fit in my regular suitcase. "Be Prepared."
It seems weird to think that I will be out of the USA for 5 weeks, I guess that part hasn't hit me yet, I'm just so excited to finally be going!
Over the course of the next 5 weeks I will probably experience some life changing things and grow in unexpected ways. I'm really excited to see what the Lord has for me and my team in Paraguay! I'm also really excited to have you following me and praying for me as I go on this missions journey. Speaking of prayer, that is going to be one of the most vital things you can do for me during my trip - Pray. A few things especially you can pray for:
- My host family: Atilano and Astella, they have 3 kids in the home - Jessica (15), Carolina (16 who is their adopted daughter), Jasmin (12), 2 other boys who live in different towns, and an older daughter Jaquline who has a couple young kids and lives close by. My family owns a store close to their house and work there, they are also neighbors to the McKissicks -the missionary family-. They have not been to any church functions the McKissicks have invited them to before.
- My team: Me, Tarra, Liz, Austin, Andy, and Drew, - that we stay strong in our faith and not just be any old candle light, but a bonfire of light in all the places we go and shine to the glory of God. Also, that we would take steps of faith and let God work through us even if we are scared. That our character would reflect our creator and we would be a blessings to our host families, the McKissicks, and the people we will be interacting with.
- My God: that he will be glorified in everything I do.
I will only have 1 opportunity to update my blog while I'm in Paraguay, and I don't know when that will be, so you can be looking forward to that. (It will actually be the only time I will have access to the "outside world" while I'm gone.) I can't wait to share what will have happened between now and that time. :) I thank you for all your many prayer and blessings in advanced, it's amazing what God does with the prayers of faithful believers.
As I look out my window at the last North American sunset I will see for a while, I am reminded of God's beauty He has created, how awesome He is, and how much He cares for people all across the world that He would send His only Son to die for. "!Vaya con Dios!" is a phrase a friend told me meaning "Go with God!", and at this point that is exactly what I am intending to do taking the good news of his gospel to the uttermost parts of the world.
P.S. Have I mentioned how excited I am? :)
"But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth" Acts 1:8 (KJV)
