One year ago, I began my junior year of high school, and I ended that year as a graduated senior. God redirected my path in December of 2021. It is now easy to say it was "redirection," but those months of mental and spiritual warfare were not easy. My world felt like it was falling apart daily. I had to juggle ten classes, a sport, and my social life, so I didn’t really have time for God. Thankfully he always had time for me. During those months of struggling with school and trying to understand why He took away certain relationships, I could not help but resent God for not following MY perfect life plan. However, God put people in my life that helped me understand that HIS plan was my perfect life plan. If I had not experienced some heartbreak I would not have graduated early, and if I had not graduated, I would not have encountered this amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip to Africa. My life was never falling apart, it was falling into place, and it is so exciting being on the other side of that.  

I have been told that these four months of the mission are going to be so hard that I will want to go home, I have also been told that I will fall in love with the mission and never want to return home. I am not sure what emotions I will experience while I am abroad. However, I do know that whatever God plans for me; whether that is to come home after those four months or stay in Africa for the rest of my life, it will be His perfect plan, and I could not ask for anything better. I cannot wait to experience every part of it and am humbled to get the opportunity to seek disciples in other nations. Every day is a race to tell more and more people about the Lord, so no matter where you are or where you go, make disciples. You never know how God will speak through you and will change someone else’s life. Our plan does not and will not ever compare to God's plan.