Chasing My Dream

So in July I packed my bags.....

...and sat on a plane for entirely too long staring at this little screen.....

...and slept under a net. 

And next month, I'll do it all again. 

That's right......

I AM GOING BACK TO AFRICA. 

October 17-26, I will be headed to Malawi with Clean Water for Malawi as a part of my internship with them. 

To say I'm excited is an understatement. 

I never dreamed I'd be headed back to Africa just three months after first stepping foot on African soil. 

I wasn't looking or searching for a way back; God just dropped this opportunity in my lap. 

And I could not be more grateful. 

Three years ago, Africa wasn't even on my radar. 

It wasn't something I thought about regularly. 

I even remember one time when I was dreaming of places I'd like to go one day, 

and Africa didn't make the cut. 

And then, God got a hold of my heart and opened my eyes. 

And nothing has been the same since.

My dream now?

To help the people of Africa in whatever way God sees fit.

Not everyone understands my desire to serve people I've never met whose world is so very different from the one we know. And if I didn't KNOW it was God's will for me right now, that would probably hurt my feelings. There's nothing 'fun' about having people question what you're doing with your life. There's nothing 'fun' about watching people's eyes get big and their expression change when I say I've quit my job to chase my dream.

 I think they think I'm crazy. 

Maybe I am. 

But if this is what crazy feels like, and if this is the kind of peace and reassurance that comes with being crazy, sign me up and save me a room. 

I'm all in. 

The bottom line is: I've never been MORE SURE that I'm right where I'm supposed to be. 

Period. 

And for every person who thinks I've totally lost it, God has given me someone to cheer me on. 

For every negative comment, I've received an even stronger encouraging one.

 He continues to send people into my life who get it, who understand. 

And for that I could not possibly be more thankful. 

Africa is my dream. 

I can only hope you'd choose to follow yours. 

So, Malawi, in a month and six days, I'll be headed your way. 

And I could not be more excited. 

And in case you're wondering, there will be no t-shirts or canvases or hair-ties for this trip.....only Noonday. If you'd like to support my trip and help get me to Malawi, consider doing a little Christmas shopping or scheduling a trunk show. In just over a week since I started scheduling shows, I already have FOURTEEN booked between now and Christmas; God is oh so very, very good.

 I would LOVE to book another one with you....fifteen may be my new favorite number. 

I've been thinking a lot about the verse that inspires Noonday:

"....when you satisfy the needs of the oppressed, your night will become like the noonday."

Isaiah 58:10

Those words ring true in my heart; nothing makes me happier than serving others. 

And I am so, so thankful that God has given me another opportunity to serve people in a place I so love.