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24

Posted on Sunday, November 4, 2018

 

I’m turning 24 this week. No one is more surprised than me that I’ve made it this far. About this time last year, I was simultaneously relearning what it felt like to be happy and trying to sort out my own wobbly compass.

I had a litany of struggles. I was burdened with immense sadness and experiencing mysterious, painful temporary paralysis of my legs and arms coupled with extreme fatigue that my doctors theorized were lesions in my brain. I collapsed at work due to lung problems and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. I had pneumonia. I was in a nearly fatal car accident. I was kidnapped.

Yet, I lived. I didn’t even break anything. Though I don’t typically celebrate my birthday, I do like to reflect over the year. What I’m reminded of every year is that almost anything is survivable except scurvy and cigarettes. Those just kill you.

Consequently, I’m not dying, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. The would-be brain lesions turned out to be an extreme allergic reaction to mammalian meat. I traveled a bit and went to some really fun concerts. I graduated from John Brown with honors and immediately walked into a job that I love with wonderful French people. I attend a really life-giving bible study and have the best friends in the world. Most significantly, I’ve been preparing to move to France to participate in ministry work that I’m incredibly excited about.

Someone told me the other day that they felt my name, especially my middle name, Alexandra, was important. Alexandra means “conqueror.” If anything can be said about this past year is that it was quite a fight to be won. My favorite verse Joshua 1:9 rings ever true: “Be strong and courageous do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” My courage to conqueror each new challenge comes from God. Even though I might not know how they are going to work out just yet, it’s going to be okay. He can conquer anything, even fundraising for France.

Right now, I’m preparing to leave the country. I’m trusting that the last of the support I need will be provided. Though I haven’t sorted everything out for the coming year, God has, so I know that 24 is going to be pretty spectacular.

 

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