Happy New Year!
I don’t know what you expected at the beginning of 2015, but by December things looked a lot different from how I thought they would. Instead of adjusting to life in London, I’m home for the holidays with a completely different team, location, and launch date and still raising the support to head out. Looking back, I can clearly see God’s hand through the whole year, but only hindsight is 20-20; actually going through it was rough. Not always, but I definitely got knocked down hard a few times. But oh the lessons and growth with God I've gained! And the whole process has been cushioned by lots of encouragement, patience, and love from family and friends, old and new.
Amidst all the setbacks and waiting, I’ve grappled with hope. Hope in God’s goodness vs. despair over my failings and hope for the light at the end of a very long tunnel. After a few weeks of seriously wrestling with that, I just decided that my feelings are going to fluctuate on the daily and that's ok, so long as I don't make that my guiding star. "True north" is the knowledge that this is what God is calling me to, so even if getting overseas takes far longer than I ever thought, it will happen. Nothing will trump God's plan and it's in the waiting that tenacious hope is forged. I've also been reminded that this temporary goal isn't the end goal, that our hope is eternally grounded. As I read 1 Peter 1:3-9 (part of which is figured in the picture to the side), I remembered life isn't about "going to this place, doing that thing, winning this medal, achieving that plan"; it's knowing, loving and reflecting the Savior. If I'm moving toward that, then everything else is just part of the holy adventure God's crafting and I can go forward with confidence, peace, and excited expectation.
So what are my hopes for 2016? I hope to trade familiarity for the honor of sharing life with future friends and neighbors in a country and culture very different from my own. I hope to join a team of selfless people already giving their lives to serve the least seen, least cared for, least reached. My heart is full to bursting to play whatever small part I can in seeing people’s lives infused with healing and hope. I am eager for the day that hope becomes a reality, but I'm going to enjoy each day until then, because "this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."