One or two years ago

One year ago

One year ago today, this day May 30th, I got on a plane with one of my favorite people, Steph Saufley, in the JFK airport to fly into Moscow which led to Vienna, Austria where we waited on another of my favorite people, Beth Summay, to pick us up. We waited for maybe 2 hours after we landed because of some traffic complications in Vienna but what a welcome sight it was to see Beth walking towards us. All the while of course I could have looked online with the complimentary internet service that the Vienna airport provides to see that they were running a little late. Silly me.

Then we drove many-a-mile through Hungary where Steph, Beth, and myself were very much without a personal bubble in the backseat of the Summay's Astra. We made a little map stop on the way through Hungary, but it all went well because another woman I wouldn't mind hugging again, Liz Crittendon along with Cindy Cobb (who I also wouldn't mind hugging again) got us to BiH by sunrise and all was well. 

Two years ago

Two years ago today, this day May 30th, I was still in Kentucky in training for my first experience of BiH. It was the first week I met and got to know Beth face to face, as well as my fellow teammates and the other interns who were going various places in the world. Even Steph was there to coach the Spain team, who knew a year later she would be going to Bosnia with me and I would be, in a small way, coaching her for a week. Being in Kentucky on this day I can't exactly remember what we did, so much happened that week, but I know that it felt like we had all been friends for a very long time, and by today, two years ago, we had only known each other for five days. 

Both years I also walked into my terminal at the beginning of each adventure with a heavy heart because I was walking away from some of my most favorite people, my family, my mom, dad, Annie, Brian, Katie, and Dave. But there is a certain peace that God gives you in situations such as these. The heart that was heavy turns into total faith because that's all you really have when you leave most everything you know behind. It's a faith that you can't ignore, one that you can't help but be thankful for in times when you suddenly feel sharp instances of fear only to be calmed and reassured by the only One who can soothe the soul.

Soon enough I'll be setting off on a new adventure, one that will go on longer than just a summer, one that will no doubt be hard yet thrilling all at the same time. 

You all have been an integral part in these last two years in regards to ministry and future ministry. I am truly thankful for your ongoing prayers and your ongoing gifts of financial sacrifice and I am excited to share in this next endeavor with you. I hope you will get on the plane with me next year.

All to God