This is it.
August 31 at 6:35 AM. The pressure is on. There are only seven days till my flight for Denver takes off. After two days of getting everything together in Denver, my team will leave for our twelve month stay in Cote d’Ivoire.
I can’t explain to you my joy and excitement for having the opportunity to go and experience an entire new culture- things that I have never even thought of. I am excited to meet people exactly where they are at and my prayer is that Jesus will meet us there also. I am excited to learn and grow through my team and all of the people I will get to work alongside while I am there.
I am doing my best to have as few expectations as possible because, well nothing is ever quite the way that we plan. I am expecting growth- in faith, maturity, strength and knowledge. I am expecting joy- from the smiles on the people’s faces and from the memories that will be made. I am expecting different- a different environment from what I already know and a different me when I return to the states.
But, until the 31st at 6:35, it’s preparation. For the past twelve months, I have been planning and preparing for this new Journey in my life and I have come to the point where I am ready to actually GO. But, through all of the shopping trips, shots, pharmacy visits, information faxing, presentations, and moments of feeling quite whelmed; God has been there and has shown me the importance of each day and each step. It is slowly teaching me to be more patient and allow God to be the sovereign God that He is.
Today is my last Saturday at 'home', so I did what most teenage girls would do on a typical Saturday- I shopped! I spent the afternoon running around picking up the last bit of toiletries that I will need while I am away. Spending the afternoon with my boyfriend Alec's mom was such blessing. She was able to help me spend my money wisely and just keep me company as the days dwindle and the stress rises. After our long day of shopping, we went back to their house and are now enjoying cheesy eighties movies that make us cry. I am going to miss my boyfriend immensely, but I am going to miss his family just as much. They have welcomed me into their home and called me family since day one. I can't imagine going through this experience without them right by my side. I am truly blessed.
This next week is going to be so exhausting and will likely go by quicker than I would like it to. I have several coffee dates planned, a couple of Skype dates arranged, and much needed time with my best friend Rachael set aside. There will be many late night talks, quite a few tears shed, and hopefully some great last minute memories made (:
My request is that you would all be in devoted prayer for not only me, but my entire team. We have all been facing some spiritual warfare one way or another; and that can only mean that we are doing good things for the Kingdom. Please pray for Laura, Shasta, Suzi, Hannah, Katie, Richard, Crystal, and the four Germans that will be on our team Christina, Nathalie, Rebekka, and Stephan.
August 31 at 6:35 AM. The pressure is on. There are only seven days till my flight for Denver takes off. After two days of getting everything together in Denver, my team will leave for our twelve month stay in Cote d’Ivoire.
I can’t explain to you my joy and excitement for having the opportunity to go and experience an entire new culture- things that I have never even thought of. I am excited to meet people exactly where they are at and my prayer is that Jesus will meet us there also. I am excited to learn and grow through my team and all of the people I will get to work alongside while I am there.
I am doing my best to have as few expectations as possible because, well nothing is ever quite the way that we plan. I am expecting growth- in faith, maturity, strength and knowledge. I am expecting joy- from the smiles on the people’s faces and from the memories that will be made. I am expecting different- a different environment from what I already know and a different me when I return to the states.
But, until the 31st at 6:35, it’s preparation. For the past twelve months, I have been planning and preparing for this new Journey in my life and I have come to the point where I am ready to actually GO. But, through all of the shopping trips, shots, pharmacy visits, information faxing, presentations, and moments of feeling quite whelmed; God has been there and has shown me the importance of each day and each step. It is slowly teaching me to be more patient and allow God to be the sovereign God that He is.
Today is my last Saturday at 'home', so I did what most teenage girls would do on a typical Saturday- I shopped! I spent the afternoon running around picking up the last bit of toiletries that I will need while I am away. Spending the afternoon with my boyfriend Alec's mom was such blessing. She was able to help me spend my money wisely and just keep me company as the days dwindle and the stress rises. After our long day of shopping, we went back to their house and are now enjoying cheesy eighties movies that make us cry. I am going to miss my boyfriend immensely, but I am going to miss his family just as much. They have welcomed me into their home and called me family since day one. I can't imagine going through this experience without them right by my side. I am truly blessed.
This next week is going to be so exhausting and will likely go by quicker than I would like it to. I have several coffee dates planned, a couple of Skype dates arranged, and much needed time with my best friend Rachael set aside. There will be many late night talks, quite a few tears shed, and hopefully some great last minute memories made (:
My request is that you would all be in devoted prayer for not only me, but my entire team. We have all been facing some spiritual warfare one way or another; and that can only mean that we are doing good things for the Kingdom. Please pray for Laura, Shasta, Suzi, Hannah, Katie, Richard, Crystal, and the four Germans that will be on our team Christina, Nathalie, Rebekka, and Stephan.
Other prayer requests:
- I would be fully and wholly devoted to being in the Word and spending quality time with the Lord this week especially. It is SO easy to make excuses- He needs to come first!
- Prayer for my health. Often as I get stressed out and anxious, my body tends to shut down. Please pray that I get enough rest to sustain through my travels and adapting to the new environment.
- Please pray that our sovereign and great God would overwhelm me with great amounts of peace and comfort. The thought of leaving my sweet and loving boyfriend hurts me, but we both KNOW with all our hearts that I need to be in West Africa. Please pray for Alec's heart as he adapts to me being away and learning new ways of communicating with me.
- Pray for safe travels. It will be a looooooong trip. I get anxious flying so please pray that God will comfort me and encourage me through my team.
This is the real deal and I am excited to have you all beside me on this Journey of a life time. Thank you for your commitment in praying for me. God truly is up to something.
Blessings,
Tiffany Marie Johnson.
Blessings,
Tiffany Marie Johnson.
