Unspeakable JOY!

Goal number TWO: SMASHED!

The $8,000 mark has been reached!  I’m currently 69.8% funded at $8,378.51!! Praise the Lord!    

God’s been especially speaking to me about this next season and the word I hear is “Joy”.  I received a hanging sign this year from a friend and it said, “spread joy”.  She told me that when she thinks of me out there in the mission field, that’s what she envisions me doing.  I also received a Christmas ornament saying, “Joy to the world”.  Joy also just so happened to be the theme of the Christmas tree in my church. 

When you look at joy from the Greek (chara), it describes a feeling of inner gladness, delight or rejoicing.  It is vastly different than happiness, which often comes from self-pleasure of worldly things.  In 2019, I learned my identity.  I learned who I truly was in Christ. I learned the characteristics of my Father.  I believe that you can only experience true joy instead of happiness when you know who you are in Christ, and when you are in true communion with your Father. 

On the race “I knew what it was to be in need, and I knew what it was to have plenty. I learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. And I could only do all I did through Christ who gave me strength”. (Phil 4:12-13)  And because of that experience, because I know that my joy lies in the knowledge and love of my Father, each and every day (whether a fantastic day or a hard day), I can proclaim, “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

I’m taking these lessons with me.  This time around will be different.  In less than TWO WEEKS, I’ll be boarding a plane by myself.  Thankfully, I’ll meet up with my friend Ashley during a connecting flight and we will travel to Rwanda together.  We’ll be together in Rwanda for the first two months but then she leaves.  I won’t be surrounded by my squad and I won’t be poured into by my leadership team (although, I’m pretty lucky to spend 2 weeks with some lovely ladies helping with Hearts of Hope, and time with Glenda and the Dream Team).  There will be a lot of unknowns in my day to day ministry and life (which might seem scary to you, but I’ve learned that it opens up a lot of space for God to move!)  This means that my prayer life is crucial.  Surrendering is essential.    

I will board a bus or plane alone to go to Kenya.  In Kenya, there will be a lot of time spent in a village that is far from luxurious.  The food will probably be pretty plain and consisting of bread, ugali, beans, greens, rice, and chapati.  Meat will probably be for special occasions.  Electric and running water might be hard to come by.  At the school I’m helping with, you have to walk at least 10K to get water.  But God is a good Father who gives good gifts and works good for our lives, “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose” Romans 8:28 (TPT).  There are a lot of unknowns, but I know one thing: He has called me to this and I’m JOYFUL to follow Him wherever He may lead!

I want to thank all of you again for your prayers, loving comments, and financial support for my last trip and this current one.  I am honored and blessed to be able to follow God’s call around the world.  I know this isn’t for everyone—and if you asked me 8 years ago, I probably would have said the same thing.  However, God is moving in my life and heart. I’m ready to not just survive, but THRIVE with the unspeakable joy of my Father. <3