I am sitting in Chicago airport right now, waiting for my flight, wondering what to write this blog about. I am so overwhelmed with thanksgiving, joy, peace, and clarity. There are so many new and exciting things. It just feels so right and so normal and I am so thankful.

As I sit here, the thanksgivings of this season run through my head and I want to share them with you!

• I am thankful for my job this season! It's been fun being a barista and a new friend to so many people. To truly be myself and to reflect the joy of the Lord!!
• I am thankful for the opportunity to go on this journey! To be filled with joy as i share and to let the spirit lead
• I am thankful for my world race team and I am so excited to meet them all! 
• I am thankful for all the kids young and old that I've worked with this year! It’s so sweet to see growth and to serve and minister to each of them in different ways!
• I am thankful for those who are praying for me and with me! That means so much to me. I am learning about the power of prayer. God is so good
• I am thankful for the 70% of funding that I have received! God is so good. He has provided through others generosity. Even when i doubt i know he is in control and he is there 
• I am thankful for the opportunities to ask questions and to grow with curiosity
• I am thankful for friends. For planning fun get togethers and loving on one another with our time
• I am thankful for the weather! It's starting to feel like fall!
• I am thankful for my family who has been so supportive and prayerful in this season. I really couldn’t do it without them!
• I am thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ who help me grow and point me in the right direction. God has provided such sweet spiritual mentors!
• I am thankful for sweet goodbyes, well more like see you laters. What an answered prayer to have people to say goodbye to. 

I could go on and on, but these are only a couple! 

Leaving and goodbyes are hard. They are more of a bitter sweet because I know I will see many of you later. I want to thank those who have prayed for me, encouraged me, loved me, and donated to me this season! I will miss you all!

During my travels I plan to disconnect so I can connect with those around me and lean more into the Lord. I am excited to use this blog to strengthen my writing and grow to trust the Lord more in how I write. I'm so excited to share what God will do and will update as much as I can! 

Training camp starts in less than a week and I am so excited to meet the team! Continue to keep us in your prayers as we go through two weeks of training camp and then head off to Guatemala. 

I am so expectant and so ready for what God is going to do and I thank you for being here!

Here's to the first blog and the journey to come! In Him, Sydney <3