An Update

An update: I won’t be going to Africa in September. Due to the nature of COVID, countries still being closed, and international travel being suspended, Adventures in Missions has decided it is best to delay international launch until January or later. So what does this mean for me?

              Adventures in Missions has given us a few different options in order to make our gap year the best experience possible. The main contingency plan includes staying at AIM headquarters in Gainesville, GA from September to mid-December. While there, we will partake in discipleship training, leadership development, and missional living. While growing and learning, this won’t be like a college or school setting but rather hands on growth through various things including evangelism, community development, outreach, growing with squadmates, partaking in worship, spending lots of time in the word, and more. Countries for the international part of this gap year are still being determined based on safety, whether or not countries are open, and availability of ministry hosts, so I don’t know if I would be set to go to the same countries my route originally included. Either way there is a high likelihood that international launch would be possible in January.

              The second option includes partaking in a 6 month gap year set to launch internationally in January. These will be separate routes and squads than the ones we are currently in, and the countries will be determined in the coming weeks or months depending on the same factors.

              My last option would be to defer to a Gap Year 2021 trip, which would leave in September and be fully international as my trip was originally planned. Because routes are not listed until later in the year, I don’t know countries I would be going to or the main focus of the routes.

              Either way, by partaking in any of these options, I will be able to use all of the funds I have already raised. My fundraising goal for this year’s contingency plan would stay the same as the cost of living in the U.S. is more than it would be overseas. For the six month trip, my fundraising goal would be slightly less, and if I defer to a 2021 trips goals will probably be similar but possibly not the same. That being said, I am still fundraising.

              You’re probably wondering which option I’m choosing and how I feel about this shift overall. I am currently unsure as to what option I will be choosing, but I will continue forth with one of these three plans. I will be getting more information about each option in the coming days and spending time in prayer about this big decision. Please pray for discernment as I continue with this unexpected process. I highly value you all as my supporters, and I highly value good communication. I will update you all once I have reached a decision and have more details. Subscribing to my blog (this page) is one of the best ways you can stay updated!

              Obviously, this isn’t what I had planned, and this isn’t necessarily what I signed up for. Am I disappointed? Yes and no. I’m disappointed because as we frequently do, I put my hope in expectations instead of God’s will and him alone. I’m learning to not be disappointed in situations like this but rather being expectant for him to move, regardless of how and what that looks like. I’d be foolish to say I’d rather have it my way, because I have firsthand seen his goodness- even in the hurt, confusion, surprises, mundane, and ups and downs, I’ve seen him continue to use every situation for his glory and I know this year won’t be any different. I am just as expectant that God will work wherever I am at in September as he would have in Swaziland. I am thankful for this season of unexpected events and the growth that has came out of it. I am thankful I can place my hope in a God that never fails or changes instead of the tangible things of this world. So I will embrace His will over mine. I will choose expectancy over expectations. And I will continue to glorify his name.