all things new

If last year had a name, I'm not sure what I would call it. A thousand words come to mind, but none of them really seem to suit it best. So in spite of them all, I carry on lightly. A brand new year is upon me and my heart and head are exploding over all the possibilities, opportunities, roads, ideas, and new things that will appear in this new chapter of my life. I bid last year farewell with good riddance and embrace the hope and expectation of the unknown that is ahead of me.

In just four fleeting days, I will travel thousands of miles away to Kampala, Uganda to minister to the locals there whose lives have been saved and transformed by the service and gracious hand of Sozo Children. I cannot say what I am thinking right now just days out from my long journey, but I know that my thoughts are soaring through the air. It is really hard to imagine that I depart on Friday. It feels like yesterday that this whole thing was just a distant thought in my mind and now it is more than a reality. In the spring 2008 I saw something that opened my eyes and heart for the continent of Africa. I never knew if I would actually go to Africa or when. I'm not sure how much I seriously thought about it after that until years later. I never knew what it was exactly that grabbed hold of my heart that day in the Jeff State computer lab, but I think I know today. I now understand why the Lord planted that seed in my heart. I never knew how I would go or whom with, but God did. Even back in 2008, the Lord was building a way for me to go. He has known all along that in April 2016, I would become the sponsor of a 17-year old Ugandan girl and that I would begin my journey there in just months. I have seen His hand in this entire process leading up to this trip--He has provided in more ways than I would ever have imagined and I am so incredibly grateful to those who have supported me through both monetary means and constant prayer.

As I approach the day of Epiphany in the next few days and embrace the season of new beginnings, I see how much the birth of Christ was a new beginning for those in that day and still remains a new beginning and hope for us today. When God came down from heaven and appeared before us in our likeness, He came to be our new life and beginning, peace, light, love, hope, and redemption. In our darkness, brokenness, and trespasses of sin, Christ gave us the gift of new life--His mysterious grace poured out to revive and redeem our lifeless souls and hearts. In our brokenness, He shines and lives within us. On this second day of the year, I use this season of quiet time, restoration, hope, and anticipation and look boldly ahead to the known and the unknown. As I say goodbye to a rather trying year and greet a new year with confidence, I am certain that He is making all things new.