I suppose I could call it this.

There is a beginning, today I started cleaning out everything that I’ve collected over the past 9 months, including notes from America, journals, notebooks, maps, currencies, books, and lots of ministry materials.

It was really fun to look back on all the notes that were sent my way by some of you, it made me really thankful to see how a lot of you have done your best to encourage me from a distance. Most of those notes came during one of my hardest times, in October and November. Looking back on that, I just see God paving the way for me to understand His grace, His mercy, and how He wanted me to experience what losing community was like so I could appreciate it all the more when I gained it.

I find that I have so much that I want to write about and yet nothing at all. Most of this hinges on the fact that God is tuning my ear close to his heartbeat, and wanting me to experience the rhythms and patterns of grace. It’s just that, I don’t want to, I want to know now, but I’ll wait.

If you think of it you can pray for me to experience the love of Jesus today. In so many ways the past few weeks have made me see how burnt out I have become over the course of the semester, so I cut back, and will continue to do so. My walk with God is way more important than my “output” of ministry.

I want to update you in the next few posts on my trip to Venice, the upcoming trip to Serbia and how you can pray, what I think returning to America might look like, and my next steps (especially as I find out more).

Thank you for your prayers.

And there is an end, at least to this chapter, 27 days from now I fly out of this country I’ve grown to love.

Today is mothers day and yet I spend it thousands of miles away from her. As I’ve grown into an adult I’ve come to love and appreciate mom more than I could ever really express. She supports me through life, the ups and downs of the staff experience, I have the assurance that she is always a phone call away to help with anything from cooking to a deep question about life and my future. She loves me and tells me often. She calls me every Saturday (well most Saturdays, unless she is out shopping or with Aunt Carolyn). She’ll do anything for me or Kirby, loves to take us shopping and she is the most wonderful cook in the world (aside from Dad, they are the top 2 best cooks that I know). I’m thankful for you mom, and if you figure out how to read this blog (just kidding) I hope you’ll know that I wrote it with a heart full of love. I can’t wait to be there with you, to hug your neck (and even to scratch your back if you want). I miss you! You are the best mom to me and Kirbs. I love you momma.