Life Update

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

Corrie ten Boom

A week ago I hugged one of my former team members. She and I ended up becoming more closer after our trip to South Africa. She wrapped her arms around me tightly. I felt a silence surround me and my heart started to hurt. I could hear the sound of her tears coming and a moment later I could feel the water in my eyes start to stream down my face..

You would think after a trip the people you became closest to and spent the most time with, would be the ones you stay connected with, but I learned in life that doesn’t always happen. Don’t underestimate the impact someone can have in your life in such a short time.

A couple weeks ago my trip got pushed back due to Covid, but last week I still went to the training. And let me tell you, it was way harder than I thought it was going to be (as you probably already could tell). Seeing the smiles of familiar faces, getting again to embrace the warmth of their hugs and the bittersweet emotions of having to say goodbye to them again was hard. But my heart is joyful, knowing these beautiful people are going out into the world to love others and to follow God’s plan for their life.

Yesterday I was happy to receive an email of the itinerary for the Holy Land. I’m stoked to say I’m leaving Monday, February 7th.

These past couple weeks I’ve experienced God’s funny humor as well as His surprises. Being home has not only given me a lot of time to do what I love, running; but also to do a lot of college searching. I’ll be going to Utah to visit a college and it’s the week before I leave.. I know! Let me tell you, if you know me, you know this is not something that I do at the last minute. But somehow God opened the doors that I needed for this to happen. I don’t know where God wants me next after the Holy Land but my prayer is that He would make it clear to me if college/specifically this school is where He wants me or if He wants me to continue to pursue the mission field.

I continue to ask that you would pray for me. Pray that God would open my heart to whatever He has for me in the Holy Land and for the next part of my life. And as always, thank you to everyone’s continual prayers and support and for joining me as I start this next adventure.

Caili