Butterflies, Blogging and Boarding Passes

Okay, so crazy to think, but the day is actually approaching when I leave for Nepal. Last week I bought a one way airplane ticket to Kathmandu. I take off at the crack of dawn on Monday, July 29th and head to Los Angeles, CA to spend a couple days with my Aunt Mary and then from there I head to Guangzhou, China and then finally arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal on August 3rd! Then I will proceed to sleep for the next two weeks recovering from all the traveling. It's the strangest feeling, since I have talked about and envisioned this for so long and then to finally see the day approaching. I think the entire monarch population isn't actually declining, they just ended up in my stomach.

Well, this is the point when most normal people would proceed to tell you of all the things they have planned, exactly what they will be doing in Nepal, what organization they have partnered with and their five year plan. I, on the other hand, have nothing to share on those matters. This is a complete stepping out into the unknown for me. I don't have work when I get there, I don't have an organization that I am planning on serving with and I have no clue what the next five years will be like. The only thing I know for certain is that Christ goes ahead of us and He is good, He will never leave us nor forsake us.

When I get there I will be staying with some Nepalese families until, hopefully, I find work teaching English as a second language, or until they get sick of playing Ticket to Ride with me (whichever comes first). I have been so amazed as how God has provided so many contacts and connections for me in Kathmandu. I have had over five Nepalese families contact me, offering me a place to stay, so no cardboard box homes for me. I'm really hoping that when I arrive in Nepal I can spend some time at first learning the language, understanding the culture and seeing how God is already at work and what He is doing there.

So let's just say the last week has been a whirlwind of emotions. Other than feeling at times completely inadequate, terrified and knowing it's going to hurt so much to leave the ones I love and care for so deeply, God still calms my emotions with an overwhelming sense of peace. I think of all my fear and weaknesses and then I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take [the thorn] away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." I tell you about my fears and weaknesses, so that none of you would think I am doing something courageous or bold, but instead that you would know the power of Christ.

Okay, I know I'm getting long-winded (or long-typed?), but there is one last and very important thing for me to share with you. If you are reading this it's probably because you have been a significant part of my life. I give credit first to God for how has renewed me, but also realize how He has placed each of you in my life for His own purpose. That He has used you all to challenge me, to spur me on and most likely to play board games with. You will never know how much you mean to me and how your lives have impacted mine. I am forever grateful to God for bringing each of you into my life. I love each of you dearly.