Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to read this! A lot of you have known for a while that I am taking a three month gap semester and traveling to Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Africa. What a lot of you don’t know is how this came about.

I’ve always wanted to go on a mission trip for years, but it never worked out with my schedule as a three sport athlete. After talking with my parents about what I wanted to do, I just kept coming back to the fact that I had not gone on a mission trip yet. Then my mom mentioned about maybe going on one before I start school. My mom remembered donating to a girl from our church who did a gap year through The World Race. So we decided to look into it and we found many different opportunities. For days, I would just read blog posts and watch videos of people going on these type of trips and my heart was softened and eager to go. After countless prayers, I felt like this was my calling before I step into the world of college. After looking with my mom at the different routes I could choose from, South Africa stood out to me in a different way. I just fell in my heart like that was the place I was supposed to go. So I submitted an application on Saturday night! The next morning, while sitting in church, they brought out a worship band from South Africa. The church had never done this before and what are the chances they were at my church the next morning after submitting my application. I remember me and my mom looking at each other and we both started to cry. My mom said to me, “this is your sign from God that you made the right decision.” from then on, so many doors were opening, and God was giving me so many little hints that South Africa is where He is was leading me! I have felt so at peace knowing this is where God is calling me to go!

As the days are getting closer, I am a little nervous, but mainly very excited! I have gotten a chance to connect with some of the girls going on my trip already, which has allowed for less nerves! I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for me in South Africa and I can’t wait to keep you guys updated as I go!