in the grand scheme of things, i expect a lot from God. 

recently i have been thinking about my route and my team, and what it all entails. i really want things to be perfect and like i have seen on social media. i keep asking racers what i should EXPECT from certain countries. 

and i am starting to realize i am getting it ALL wrong. 

i am boxing God and all His abilities up in a box and deciding for myself, what the race is going to look like for me. i ASSUME my day to day in swazi will look like care points and quiet times and perfect community all bundled up with a bow. sure, these things will come with the experience, but that's not why i am doing this, and it most definitely is not reality. 

i can't just dismiss the fact that this is going to be HARD. that some days it won't seem worth it, i am not going to always want to buy into the community around me, and it just isn't going to be easy... at all. 

i recently had a conversation with a racer in swazi who had some wifi for the first time in a while, i asked her this exact question: "swazi is on my route! what should i expect from this country?" and the answer i got was exactly what God has been trying to knock down my door with. this girl poured over words of wisdom into me about throwing ALL expectations out and leaning into Him. swazi is not going to be some wild adventure, it's going to be slowwwww days sitting with God most the time. 

from now on, i am deciding to BUST down the walls i have tried to trap God in. He knows exactly what is going to happen in swazi, ethiopia, and cambodia. He has divine appointments set up and days picked out for some sweet rest. i am ready for rough storms and calm winds. give it ALL to me Jesus, and i pray i feel comfort in not expecting anything but life change and growth in you. 

alright y'all, just wanted to put this out to you as i sit with the Lord and learn some things. 

please be in prayer over these:

-my squad! more people join every week and i love getting to know them slowly but surely (happy late birthday ella !!)

-a community, strong and encouraging. in the bible my good old friend, job, is in times of trial and has some friends willing to come around him and pour words of encouragement, even when job isn't willing to listen. pray my squad and team would be strong like this!

-my friend kenni! she is currently fundraising on the field!!! She needs all her money in before January so if you are interested in helping her out message me!

-and lastly, my fundraising! hoping to reach my goal of $1,000 before october is over! and $5,000 before december is over! please pray over your calling to give financially, and if called there is a donate button above my blog and my venmo is gretchenwaters. feel free to message me!

lots of love,

gretchen