One week.

I leave in a week. One. Week. I cannot believe how time has completely flown by for this trip. I cannot believe that in a mere seven days, I’ll be on a plane headed halfway around the world. I am completely undone by the goodness of God. I wish I could sit down and explain to each of you how He has moved in my life this year. I wish I could share how this trip came to be and how all the details unfolded. This place I am headed — I have never had less doubt about where I am supposed to be. It has been absolutely amazing.

With that being said, I need to ask for some specific prayers from my trusted friends. Will you pray that the remaining funds needed for my trip come in before I leave? I’m almost to my goal, and I’m trusting the Lord to provide. Will you pray for discernment on this trip? The verses I’ve prayed over are Ephesians 1:17-18, which focus on a spirit of wisdom and revelation and requests my eyes be open to Him and His calling, open to the future He has for us. Will you join me in praying over these thoughts as I listen to how God is calling me. I’ve shared my heart with you before, and if that dream can begin on this trip, it would be wonderful. But above what I want, I pray for His will, and I pray that I will see it clearly.

I’m sure you’ve noticed, but I haven’t mentioned where I’m going. That’s because I can’t. So as you pray for me in the coming days, would you also pray that my tongue be guarded? That I speak cautiously and carefully, that I allow the Lord to speak through me. Pray for safety and protection, both from physical danger as well as from spiritual danger? That as I hear things, I’m able to discern what is scripturally sound and what is from the enemy? God is definitely in this trip, and I can feel Him moving. When that happens, there’s always a danger of warfare. I’ve already seen some, and I am prepared for more. But on this trip, I just want to love people. I want to extend God’s goodness and His grace on others through my actions of service, my actions of teaching.

And from the diabetic front, I would appreciate another prayer — for my diabetes. I’m taking a loaner pump with me, and of course, I’ll have plenty of supplies. Will you pray that nothing serious goes wrong while I’m traveling? That I don’t need medical attention, that nothing breaks and that my blood sugars cooperate? I’m not sure what food I’ll be eating, but I’m told I’ll be having lots of carbohydrate action. Multiple days of carbs for every meal can do a number on my blood sugar, so I’m praying for steady readings. I also drop significantly when I fly, and there are two VERY long flights involved in this trip, so no insulin reactions on a plane would also be nice. And though I’m asking for these things specifically, I have every faith God will come through. He’s called me to this place, so I trust He will meet every need.

And lastly, would you pray for the people I’ll be serving? This is perhaps the most important thing you could pray for right now. Will you lift these people up in your prayers before I leave, while I’m gone and even after my return? Will you pray that their hearts and minds to be open and receptive to the word and to the Lord? God is doing great things in this place, and I’m in awe that I’m able to play a small part.

One week. Wow. I can’t believe it’s almost here. Thank you for your prayers!

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints.” -Eph. 1:17-18