Life update: preparing for Malawi
Hey Friends!On a previous blog post I touched on an adventure that was always coming up/in the future and this weekend its actually happening! Currently trying to find calm amidst all the nerves and excitement as I prepare to get on that big jet plane and head out for a two week mission trip to Malawi, Africa. This post is definitely more personal in the fact that I don't share a lot about my life, but I am so excited to today as I prepare and process all that is to come.For some perspective my husband and I live in a sweet farm house surrounded by fields, lots of outdoor kitties, and a beautiful big lawn that my husband so kindly mows.. thanks bud! Anyway this is my bubble/home/safe place and the thought of leaving that comfort and most importantly the husband that made this place home has been super hard. So here I am preparing to go beyond all my comforts and learning to think beyond my personal needs and the bubble.Truth is it is so hard to not think about yourself, which is so selfish, but I quickly realized this problem when all my discomforts were falling into the same category of all that I would be missing from home. It didn't account for all the ways I could serve, grow, and be strengthened, that was all overshadowed by what I thought was my needs, but was actually just the wants and desires of my comfortable life.Around the same time I was first looking into different opportunities to serve, we had a visiting pastor at my church who was from Syria and talked about comfort zones. How it's good to be uncomfortable because so often those uncomfortable situations lead to so many incredible opportunities for growth that we wouldn't even know could happen. My advice for myself is to focus on those words, focus on the why and everything learned already, and finally look for the good when fear and doubt comes creeping in. The realization is that I will truly never know unless I try it, and knowing myself I will never learn unless I pursue an opportunity that forces me to prepare.So thank you to all those who have supported me, encouraged me, prayed for me, believed in me, and especially to my husband who is just incredible in so many ways and is always there for the good, the bad, and the ugly versions of myself as I process through all these things. And finally thank you for all your support and for showing up by being here. If you have anything that you are wrestling with, any questions about this experience/ process, or even some advice comment down below! I would love to hear from you. Also it means so much to me that you took the time to read this, so as a reward you get to see the newest additions to our cat colony!!Meet Marco and KarlaCan't just say I'm going for a walk gotta combine going for a walk and exploring with a parade of kitties - I call it catventures. :)Have a blessed day!