Traveling along the way

Traveling along the way... 
A brief recap of my travels in the past couple of years. Time has absolutely flown by in these last three years.  Starting in May 2012 (Graduation) to March 2015 returning to the U.S.A.
* I will be writing again shortly to give current updates about what is now and what is next.

   What have I been up to?

     I graduated from College with my B.A. in Elementary Education in May of 2012, and since then I have been very blessed with some opportunities to travel and do mission work in four different countries. Each trip, and country was unique, and rewarding. I'm so thankful for each person who helped make this season possible. Thank you to each family member, friend and individual.

      I was in Japan for the longest, about two in a half years total.  I served in Japan from October 2012 through March 2015 with some travel back and forth with-in that time. I was teaching elementary English at a private Christian school in Japan. My experience of living in Japan was incredibly challenging but also very rewarding. I grew and was stretched in ways I never knew possible. God's grace is more than sufficient for each of us. I had many "first" to get used to, plus living in another country.  Despite the challenges, my time in Japan was an incredible opportunity that I will cherish and benefit from for the rest of my life.

     Last summer, August 2014, I also had the chance to visit a continent that I have wanted to go to since I was a child, Africa. I was only able to go for a extremely short visit, only 9 days total, for this trip. I went on a short term mission trip to South Africa and Swaziland with an amazing group called "Children's Cup." Children's Cup is an organization that helps entire communities by focusing first on the Children's needs, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With Children's Cup I served at a project site, which serves as a church, and feeding program. (AND now a preschool) I helped with a lot of service projects to help the campus and the children.   A  second big part of my trip to South Africa was reconnecting with my fabulous missionary friends who are serving in South Africa (Mitch and Charlotte Hildebrant). It was really awesome to get to see first hand the work they are doing down in that area. The Hildebrants are growing and doing some really exciting adventures as they serve the Lord in South Africa.  (The trip to Swaziland was EXTREMELY short, only about two days. Our team crossed the border and met with some missionary families and spent our last time as a group together with some fellowship and debriefing activities.

      My finial trip, before returning to the U.S.A., was also a quick one. I spent about one week on a short term mission trip to the Philippines. This trip was hosted by my Japanese church young adults group. The purpose of my trip to the Philippines was primarily to spend time in prayer and worship for this nation, as well as to fellowship with the believers in the Philippine churches which are connected to Church of Praise International in Japan. My trip to the Philippines was a wonderful way to gracefully serve one last time before transiting back to America. This trip was especially unique, because most, if not all of my previous mission trip experiences had been service oriented and usually also very focused on children and/or evangelism.  It was a special honor to serve on a mission trip with my Japanese church, one last time before God called me onto leaving Japan and returning to the States.

        All of my travels all over the world have been unique and wonderful. I am INCREDIBLY blessed to have had so many experiences in so many different places. I have met some outstanding people along the way and been impacted personally in some way from every nation I have visited. But of all the places and exciting things, the best part is always the people and seeing their love for the Lord. Probably one of my most favorite parts of traveling anywhere in the world is meeting new people and as a Christian, sharing our passion for God. Worshiping together with others, who don't speak the same language but clearly serve the same God, is a treasure so incredibly priceless.

 

*If you have any questions please feel free to ask me and I will be happy to share. :)

**This turned out to be more of a newsletter update than a blog. I plan to start sending a Newsletter hopefully monthly, and then doing more writing on this blog as well. My next post will be more about what I am doing now and possibilities of what comes next. Thank you for your continued prayers as I seek to follow in the footsteps the Lord has already planned for me.