The time has arrived...on the eve of my 22nd birthday I find myself packed, prepared for a teary goodbye, and very ready to be in Kazakhstan! I don't know how many people actually look forward to getting to the Atlanta airport, but this is one girl who most certainly is! I can't say that I am looking forward to the next few days and all the goodbyes that are approaching. However, I am so very thankful for all the blessings God has given me!
1) I am so thankful that God has given me a place to live. He has blessed me with the privilege of living with some dear family friends, Tim and Lori Byars, for the past 8 months. They have treated me as their own daughter and I have been so grateful for their love and care of me!
2) I am very thankful for my church. It has challenged me so much! Several months ago our pastor challenged us to pray about moving into an area of downtown Birmingham to be able to better serve the people in that area. One of the girls in my small group was looking for a place at the time and thought, why not? So she moved into East Lake. We have started meeting there once a week for our Bible study, and the past month we have been doing a kids Bible study for the kids in the neighborhood. I've loved getting to spend time with these kids, and I'm sad to leave them, but so excited to hear about all God's gonna do there!
3) I am so thankful for my small group. The girls in that group have become some of my dearest friends. I don't know what I would have done the past few months without them! We have shared so much joy and struggle! We have laughed and laughed with each other, shared awkward moments, and made memories that will last forever!!! I will miss them so much. I am already praying that God will prepare some great relationships in Kazakhstan, because he has blessed me so much with this group...they will be terribly missed!
So...here I am...with so much to be thankful for as I look to what lies ahead!
All my bags are packed, and I'm ready to go!!!
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