Jan. 8th-Dec. 1st
328 days
16 flights
8 buses
10 countries
7 COVID tests
14 books read
20+ entry and exit forms filled out
21 different beds slept in
16 teammates
Soo many hellos and too many goodbyes.
With many lessons learned, and innumerable memories.
Good long days, hard long days and too short of days. Days that I wish I could stay right where I was forever, and other days wishing I was else where, sabbath days that I wish lasted longer. Many very long hours spent on planes, buses, and in airports. Jumping time zones, and passing the hours listening to podcasts, reading a book, playing card games, praying, trying to sleep, or just staring out the window.
Laying my head down to rest many different places, these numbers not even including the planes, airports, and buses I’ve slept(or at least tried to). 16 teammates. We did the ins and outs of life and ministry together. We traveled together, ate together, went to war in prayer together, studied the word together, shared small spaces, and one bathroom together. We fought and made up, got on each others nerves, disagreed and hurt one anothers feelings. We loved each other, and celebrated one another, cried together and rejoiced with one another. Worshiped together. Listened to each other. And had highs and lows, giving each other space when needed. Inside jokes, and lots of laughter together. Made it through really long and hard ministry days together. Community. The most hard thing for me this year, but also such a beautiful thing that taught me a lot.
Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa. With layovers in Mexico, Switzerland, and London; so that makes 13 countries in all.
As much fun and cool all the places I went, things I did, and saw were. One of the most beautiful things about this year was all the people I met. From our ministry hosts to the locals, and my squad mates. Strangers who became friends so quickly. So many hellos, and lots of goodbyes; or as my good friend Tito from Cost Rica would say “I’ll see you later, if not here, in heaven”. Some places it was easy to leave, others not so much as you realized it might be goodbye forever, and you wouldn’t be back. Some places, hoping and praying that you would get the opportunity to return to one day.
Countless memories and moments that I will never forget.
So many things I saw and experienced, many takeaways and things learned throughout these past 11 months on the mission field. Things I learned about my self that I never knew before, about living in community, different cultures and many languages.The importance of really knowing the Word and what it says, always being ready to give an account for the hope that is within me(1 Peter 3:15), and how very important it is to be discipled and to disciple others. To show love even when you aren’t getting it in return. About living in community. Gods great love, faithfulness and goodness. To give myself grace, as I also extend grace to others. Greater revelations of who God is and what He does. God broke my heart for what breaks His. A year of pruning, self sacrifice and discipline. the Lord peeling back layers bringing me closer to Him. Seeing His Church across the nations, watching the lost get found, and getting to play a small part in all that He is doing around the world. So many things to take away into the next season of life that I will never forget.
IT WAS WORTHWHILE
For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Psalm 33:4
To all of my amazing supporters, prayer warriors, friends, mentors, family, and faithful blog readers. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, words can’t even express my gratitude to you for all of your support. I pray that this blog has been an encouragement to you. Thank you for following along on the journey!!
Signing off for the last time,
Steph
