boxes

monday afternoon found me on I-65 headed down an all-too-familiar route to auburn. i have taken this trip numerous times over the past four years, but this trip was different. this time my car wasn't full of groceries my wonderful parents bought me or a weekend bag of clothes from a visit at home, this time i had four cardboard boxes ready to be shipped to hong kong. it was/is crazy to think that the next time i open those boxes i'll be in hong kong serving alongside some of the most incredible people i've ever known. i am confident that God has great things in store for the people of Hong Kong, and I pray that He would do more than we could possibly ask or imagine in the hearts of people there.

tuesday night most of the team, family and friends had dinner together at conerstone to connect and pray with one another. one of my favorite parts of the night was when matt took time to share the heartbeat of grace campus. it was in those moments that the Lord drew my heart deep into His own all over again and reminded me of His desire to see the nations return to His throne. it's totally bizarre apart from the gospel to have a burden for people that you've never seen much less interacted with, but my heart is breaking for hong kong. i can not wait to be there. i can not wait to be a part of God's story in that city. i can not wait to see how He grows and connects our team as we serve alongside one another. i can not wait to experience the joy He will bring as Chinese students come to know His perfect love. whatever challenge or circumstance we meet along the way, i have faith that God is making us more like Jesus as we turn to Him for comfort and rest and peace.

wednesday morning our team met at the dean's with our boxes. after boxes and furniture had been numbered from 1 to 230. we [let's be honest. "we" translates into "the guys". p.s. thank you for working so hard wednesday, y'all did a great job] lined up the boxes in a duct tape layout of the crate and got everything ready to be packed. wednesday by 4, our boxes began the journey to hk. we're one step closer and more excited everyday.

i can't wait to open those boxes.