BEEF.

I would like to dedicate this post to beef. It doesn't have a lot to do with this post. I'm just going to miss it and I thought I would pay my respects. Today was a great day of exploring the Paseo Arts Festival with some wonderful friends. We basically sweated our faces off-it was glorious. Oh, and this is my last (of all two of them) post from the good ole US of A. It will probably be a little all over the place so my apologies. GUYS. I had my last burger for a long time today, compliments of Kaisers- SO good. most precious diner I've been to and they won my heart by playing some of my very favorite oldies. An overall good day. many laughs and good times (cookie, anissa, and kaiti;)) I don't know if I would recommend the vanilla bean ice cream at Kaisers though. I'll leave it at that.

I came home to a family friend who couldn't stop telling me how great it is that we're going to India and how excited she is for me. So many encouraging words, and they couldn't have come at a better time. To each and every one of my supporters- THANK YOU. I can not say how much it means to me that you believe in me and in what God is doing in India. I could seriously talk about it all day- I'm beyond grateful for the love and encouragement. I can't wait for God to bless your giving and to see its fruit this summer. I'm sort of ridiculously happy just thinking about it. Surprisingly I haven't really experienced fear of going and sharing the Gospel in India. I know God has used the Word and the incredible people in my life to give me the assurance that I need. I have just had random moments of nervousness and God has reminded me that He has equipped me for this. I read about spiritual gifts this week and I love that we all have our own special gifts that we can choose to use and when we do, we thrive(1 Corinthians 12:4-12). 

I'm so excited to be going on this exciting adventure with the incredible people on my team. When I look at my team there is not a doubt in my mind that God hand picked us all for this and it shows me even more that He knows exactly what He's doing. I can not wait to spend time with them, get to know them, serve them, and learn from them. Not everyone gets to be surrounded by such wonderful people with a heart for God and the boldness to share it. I can't wait to see how God uses all of our gifts in different ways for the same purpose. Do I really get to be a part of all this?! So blessed, so encouraged, so excited. Hey, I packed today. Bam. I really am going to India for six weeks. wait....what?!

visualize the moon.

hello world! 

I guess this is my official entrance into the blogging world. I'm excited about it! this blog was started so I could share all of my adventures and experiences in India this summer, but the preparation period before leaving is important too-vital, actually. I have never been in a place where the name of Jesus is not heard of or revered by the vast majority. this will definitely be a new and challenging experience where I need to stay connected to my roots in the Word. that will truly be my only source of rejuvenation in such a spiritually dry and dark place. unfortunately, I'm lacking in the discipline area, but God has really been strengthening that in me the past few weeks. I started a daily devotional on "Living a Divinely Inspired Life," and it has been so great. I wanted to share what God showed me in today's readings from Genesis 13.

In this chapter God makes the beautiful promise to Abraham that He will make his offspring "like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, than your offspring could be counted." That, people, is you and I. I love this promise and the fact that we are a product of it! But that's not what stood out the most to me. In the chapter, Abraham and Lot part ways because Lot chooses to purse a more fertile land- Sodom and Gomorrah. But Abraham remains in Canaan and stays faithful to God. God tells Abraham to look and see His promises before living them out-this takes so so much faith to do. this was great for me to read because it is the same way going into this 3rd world country that is so spiritually dark. God showed me that there has to be visualization before realization. That seeing God's purpose for my life empowers me to be expectant of the end result. 

"You must be able to visualize your moon before you can aim for it and walk on it to leave your footprints."