Wow friends! So excited to be coming to you from Gainesville, GA!

It has been more than a year since I began this journey and started the process of fundraising and preparing to launch on the World Race. Not only can I say I have stepped into this next part of the journey by actually launching but I also get to share with you how week one of the World Race has been!

This week has been filled with so much. From incredible time in the word, sessions and intentional times getting to know my team and squad. I would like to say I have enjoyed every minute of it. However, I do have to admit the transition was harder than I expected. The first couple of days I really missed home and struggled knowing how to connect with my team-mates. This was an incredible time to seek out the Lord and rest in him. When I felt alone and so far from home I was encouraged by the fact that I am never alone because the father is always with me. I do not have to question if I am know, loved or accepted because the father knows me more than I know myself. His love for me is unfathomable and not only has he accepted me but welcomed me into his arms. 

It was during this time that I began reflecting and reminding myself of why I am on the World Race. And the Lord simply laid on my heart, "to serve, love and know him more". This is a season where I get to fully focus on serving Gods people, loving his people and growing in my knowledge of the father. Although Gainesville, GA is not where I expected to be in this season, the Lord has shown me what a blessing it is to be here for the first three months of this gap year. I expected to be serving God's people in Romania however he is teaching me how important it is for me to learn how to serve my community and love them well before going out into the world to serve the people in his kingdom. This is also a season where I get to fill up, learn and grow in my relationship with the Lord before pouring out come January. I get three whole months to focus on the Lord and build community! What a joy and blessing. One of the mornings we had the opportunity to share our why with our teams. It was a neat to know I have people along side me on this journey with the same why! To serve, love and know God more! A world race phrase used around here often is, "Thanks God". What more could I possibly say. 

During this first week we have enjoyed sessions on topics such as, Falling in Love with the Word, The Church, learning about building community by setting healthy boundaries, discussing the topics of Gossip and Honor, Feedback and vulnerability. We enjoyed devotional time in the mornings to personally sit with the Lord, incredible worship and spent our evenings getting to know our teams.

We take bucket showers, live in tents and hand wash our clothing. This season is about living life simply and our only responsibility being seeking and loving the Lord. If I haven't already made it known, I am so excited and thankful for this season! I can not wait for all that these next couple months have in store.