Jesus. Jesus changed my life.

You don't realize what you're missing until you have it. I was propelled into a community of the most amazing people. Each one with unique strengths and attributes, drawing me upwards and stretching me in different ways while allowing me to pour out my own strengths in whole new ways. Iron sharpens iron.

I got to experience the harsh realities of what being a missionary abroad can look like. The unromanticized truths. Not everyday will be an exciting adventure, you won't always like community, you’ll sweat, you’ll cry, you’ll be tired, you will at times want to leave it all.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me”. Philippians 2:14-18

The Lord took my stone heart, crushed it into dust, added His water and molded it into a new one. A better one. One that looks more like His. 

Through the trials and tribulations we laughed, we celebrated, we let Him fill us up and we came to the table to commune and speak truth over each other. We loved hard.

The whirlwind that is The Race picked me up and shook me like a rag doll. Bruised, scraped, healed and smiling. He landed me on my two feet and I am so grateful.