a penny for your selfie?!

so when you travel for 40 hours, you have to make a game of it...therefore the friends i traveled with decided a selfie an hour was the appropriate distraction. here's a glimpse of my progression towards east asia and my digression of energy/appearance! hope you enjoy a little glimpse of my travel experience :)  

(starting 5 AM last monday...we finally made it at 2 AM wednesday morning)

needless to say, we made it to east asia! i am THRILLED to be here-what a privilege to get to do life in this culture and start making friends. praying that i will be refined daily as i press into the uncomfortable and discover the abundance that awaits. more to come soon on life as we settle in! 

Brief.

I left home Tuesday morning to embark on this new adventure. With quivering lips and much-anticipated steps, I said my goodbyes and boarded the plane. Before heading to my final destination, I took a required respite in Chicago for pre-trip "briefing". I was honestly not excited for this week as I just wanted to reach my new home--yet this week was exactly what I needed: the perfect transition. A brief rest; a brief time of change; a thorough briefing of the year ahead. Of course the Lord knew that...I wish I'd stop being so surprised by His abundance in provision. As I've said my final goodbyes, I've recounted my three take-aways from this week to many of you. If I haven't had a chance to call, I hope you might enjoy some insight into how I would define this week:

• Emotionally Stabilizing: If you know me well, you know I hate goodbyes. I'm never very good at them, and they often end in tears. My year-long goodbye was no different: I was an emotional mess sitting in the Nashville terminal-confident in His plans for me but so overwhelmed at how it would look. This week I have enjoyed the transition to life with my friends-turning-family: we've laughed a LOT, dug deep, and are quickly becoming obsessed with one another. I have also felt so grounded in my purpose in going. I am PUMPED for what this year will look like!
• Spiritually Enriching: This week was meant to be a time to "fill our tank" spiritually--it has been just that. We have enjoyed corporate worship and been able to see the Body of Christ coming together in the truest sense of the word--it is a glorious thing. I feel privileged to walk into this call and am expectant as we step out.
• Informationally Equipping: Tomorrow I board a plane for a country I've yet to step foot into; with that comes incessant questions and wonderings. This week has been jam-packed with practical information about how to live and work effectively in East Asia. Although some questions linger, I feel as prepared as I could be for what ensues. 

I am excited to have you joining me in this journey. It has been a brief time of transition, but I am thankful for His sweet promises coming true in each step. Praying that I experience the wonder of a brand new place TOMORROW and each day in the coming year!

1 Week and Counting...

It's been awhile since I've blogged (more like 2 years)...I think of a blog as a public journal of sorts and like to share when life takes me to exciting places. In just one week I will be embarking on a new adventure, and I can't wait to see what all the Lord holds for me in East Asia. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have never mentioned this as a possibility-it's funny how God takes our plans and reorients them for His purpose. So here I am, one week out from spending a year in a totally foreign place with brand new friends trusting that the Lord is sovereign over my steps.

I've been exposed to new cultures before but always on a limited timeline. My emotions are mixed between excitement, angst, wonder, and anticipation for what a year in a country I've never even stepped foot in will look like. Before I know it I will be eating unfamiliar foods, following new customs, and adapting to cultural norms that I'll never quite find normal. I am praising the Lord for His provision of community in the coming year: I am traveling with eight peers and joining a team of long-term staff. I often hear that the most daunting element of living abroad is a lack of community...looks like we've overcome that already as God has just paved the way with like-minded friends. I cannot wait to see how these once-acquaintances that are moving into friendships will soon turn to family. I'm praying for unity as we journey together.

Meanwhile I'm trying to enjoy all things "home" before I go. This means daily trips to Chick-fil-A, some sweet days at the lake, a lot of chocolate in every form, and seeking to spend intentional time with my family and friends (and even little Max) before I go! What's not to love, right?! This has been my longest season of living back at home, and I am more in love with the city of Nashville than ever before. It has been fun to rediscover the place where my roots remain, my foundation was formed, and my family favors.

I'm honored to have you joining me on this journey. I would ask for you to shower me in prayer for the many transitions and changes I am about to face. If you're wanting to check back, my plan is to blog weekly as I am able. This will be a great form of communication for me, and I hope it will provide a bit of insight into our lives in EA. I can't wait to "experience the wonder" that awaits...