Well, I do know I am VERY late on getting this blog posted! I keep forgetting this blog exists! But I will be doing a lot better with these!

 

I expect my life to be totally, completley, and utterly changed. What one of my biggest problems is trusting God COMPLETLEY! And by going on this trip, I am doing exactly that. I originally wanted to join the peace corps, but I am going on this trip on account of the countless convictions from God to get my butt to South Africa!!! Don't get me wrong, I am totally pumped for this,  but this wasn't my original plan. And you know what, I am glad this wasn't my original plan. Why?! Because just getting accepted and doing the research strengthened my faith because I had no idea what God wanted for me, I just followed his lead...and HERE I AM!

 

I plan to be challended...in general. I don't know how, yet, and I can only imagine. This whole team of Godly men and women will be challenged in ways we can't even comprehend. I think it is exciting what God is expecting from us!

 

I am the type of person who will do anything to take pain from someone. On this trip, I plan to take the emotional pain of not having Jesus as their Savior from the people. I just feel like I understood Jesus later than I would have liked in my childhood, and these children deserve the opportunity to meet him NOW...and I expect to give that to them. Also, I plan to shower these kids with all the love that God gives me. I'm just going to need to be strong when it comes to that, because I love every person so much and it hurts when they don't understand that they are already loved!

 

I plan to be totally molded in God's hands. I am not sure how he plans to use me, exactly, but I hope he uses me with the children because that is where I am passionate most. I hope my relationship with God is molded, also. I pray that I will learn on this trip, or while preparing for it, to surrender my desires, emotions, life, everything to God and that I will not be afraid. This whole trip is planned, and nothing will be a coincidence, and I need to understand that.

 

I expect my faith to be tested. Tested while I am raising money for this trip. Tested while I wonder if I can handle the horrible things that happened to the people there. Tested while I am thousands of miles away from my comfort zone. And in many other ways that I can't think up right now.

 

And another "silly" expectation I have is having a problem with eating. I am vegetarian. I haven't eaten beef since I was 15 or 16, or poultry since I was early on 17. I know I have some changes to make in that department, and that my body might have some trouble...but I am just dreading the conversion to eating meat again.

 

And if you all could keep me in your prayers while I prepare for this trip. I know there are changes happening in me for this trip, and I just would like prayers that by the time I leave here I am the woman God planned for me to leave as.

 

AND...Thank you, all of you, who are supporting me. You all make my heart smile everytime I log onto my account. And you will be in my heart the whole time I am away because you helped me get there!!