Yesterday I received the itinerary for our trip!
There are still 64 days left until I leave my comfortable home to meet some of the poorest people in the world. I'm not really sure how to verbalize my thoughts at this point. I am eager, anxious, nervous, excited, and humbled, along with many other emotions.
I can hardly wait to wrap my arms around the sweet faces that I see on my fridge each day.
I can't wait to talk to Simon and tell him how much we love him. I want him to know that he is precious and that God has an amazing plan for his life. I can't wait to play soccer with him and help him to see that although his mother is not present in his life, for reasons I have not yet learned, I love him like my own son. I can't wait to hear his wonderful English as we talk about our own worlds.
I can't wait to see the beautiful smile of our precious Mary, who we have been privileged to sponsor for over four years now. It has been a pleasure to witness her growth through pictures and letters, but it will be so much more real to laugh with her and see her face to face. I am looking forward to learning more about her family, and sharing more about mine.
There are so many more details on this trip that I am looking forward to:
The beauty. The hope. Changed lives. God's presence.
But I also know that I will be witnessing poverty at its worst. AIDS, slums, sewage. I don't know if there is a way to fully prepare myself for the devastation that I will see. My heart is heavy just thinking about it.
And yet...there is a greater purpose in this trip than just seeing heartbreaking sights. God is going to use this trip to change more lives, including my own.
This trip is something that I believe that God has been preparing me for since I was a child. I do not know the exact reason(s) why a piece of my heart has always been in Africa, but I do know that I am supposed to go there.
For now, I believe that my role is to trust. And listen. And obey.
Even when the road ahead seems scary and uncertain.
