It has been quite some time since I have returned from my trip. I would like to say that I haven’t written in a while because I have been so flooded with faces and activities, which is slightly true, but mostly I have been trying to work up the courage to sit down and sum up the monster of a trip I just embarked. Yet at this moment, all of the memories, the smiles, and the tears seem daunting, as they stare back at me, each with their own story to tell. My mind quibbles at the thought of bringing each one of those memories justice in recalling their importance, so instead of trying to assign my last year with a theme, a word, or season of the year as us Christians enjoy doing, I would like to offer the only thing I feel I am able to say after returning, the only response evoked after standing in such awe of the Lord, Thank you.
I wish I could stand face to face with each one of you who joined me in support from afar on this journey, hug and thank you each personally for making this life-changing trip possible, but alas a blog seemed to be the best way to reach all of my supporters in their multitude, in which I feel so blessed.
To all of those who supported me financially, I cannot say in words how much I appreciate you. I rejoice because I have seen how God provides for his children and when full trust is put in what is truly believed to be his will, he is faithful to fulfill that good work. Traveling to breathtaking countries, living with beautiful families, and doing what I love with 6 sisters by my side sometimes felt like you were paying me to be on vacation, but be confident in the fact that your finances were used to change lives. Whether you were feeding our team or providing bibles for students, transporting our group to hospitals, churches, homes, and orphanages or blessing long-established missionaries, your dollars have been used to love people across this world, and I pray in return the Lord will bless you. For the call to go to the nations could not be answered apart from your generous hearts and for that, my gratitude and thankfulness explodes.
To all of those who dedicated time to prayer for my team, strangers I wrote about, and for me, your words did not fall flat. I have been very aware of your prayers for protection and guidance, for justice and truth, and they have not gone unanswered. If I learned anything while doing ministry, it is that The Lord has fiercely gone before us and firmly, he stands behind. The most important thing that we can do is pray. For in prayer, we meet the fullness of God’s power and goodness. To intercede for others to know and have that fullness whether it is his love, his mercy, his justice, or his might is the greatest act of love that we can impart, or so my slightly experienced 19 year-old self has come to believe. Thank you for loving me in this way and thank you for loving those whom you only read about in the same Christ-like way. For your hearts are large and truly have a desire to see the kingdom here on Earth, and a heart for God’s will always approaches his throne boldly and confidently, and how sweetly is he faithful to respond. Each one of your prayers have shaped me and moved those whom I have met along the way. It was your prayers that went before and your prayers that stood behind. Your prayers that paved our way and your prayers that anchored us. It was your prayers that lifted our songs and your prayers that comforted our tears. Your prayers that fed the orphaned and your prayers that healed the broken hearted. Thank you for partaking on this long journey with my many mountains and many more valleys.
Be confident that your prayers worked because I made it back to the other side, which was more than my mother expected, so for that she would like to thank you as well.
And lastly, for anyone who would like to continue to follow me in my travels across Europe with my sister Hanna and good friend Abby, I will still try to blog a bit. I can’t promise it will be as important or profound, but then again, was it ever? I will also be doing my best to hit up the instagram scene with Euro trendy pictures. My instagram name is madel1nepaige. And if all of you prayer powerhouses are still game, Hanna, Abby, and I are in want and need of intercession for ourselves and for the countries we travel to:
Denmark
Germany
France
Austria
Switzerland
Italy
Great Britain
Scotland
Ireland
I am eager for this next journey ahead and all the plans The Lord has for us.
Thank you again for all of the ways you have loved me, and I hope I can reciprocate even half of that same love through interesting pictures, good writing, and maybe a few decent ideas here and there. And maybe I’ll see you back in America one day!
….most likely not, the Alps are breathtaking. Sorry mom.
