Processing

Hey Family..
I realize that I have been silent for a while now and I apologize for that. You are never far from my mind, I have just been trying to get settled.

About 10 days after I wrote you my last update, I left Napa, CA and moved my 2 suitcases, backpack, and myself 3 hours north to my new adventure with the Lord. Being in Redding, CA has been filled with lots of new experiences, lessons, and relationships. I have met so many great people already and have come across lots of people who have my same heartbeat for Africa. The 3 girls I'm living with have been amazing to me (Gabrielle, Heather, and Micaela). They have made me feel comfortable in my living situation and have been a ginormous blessing to me as I get ready to go to school. I also have the privilege and honor of being able to share this new season with 2 of my best friends. God is positioning me for His best, as always, and I can feel my spirit jumping and leaping for all He will do in me and my heart in the next 9 months. School starts Sept. 15th and I am looking forward to it. I've had A LOT of down time for the last couple of months...something I'm not used to. But God has been teaching me through it.

This move has come with some difficulty as well. I feel like I am just now allowing myself to process all that happened in me while I was in Africa. I think I lied to myself and told myself that it's not ok to miss the life that I started to build there and the relationships I made. I keep telling myself that I have to be strong and not get emotional....and when I do, I feel guilty. But those things are lies. If God created me, then He created my emotions as well and I need to feel those emotions to climb this mountain. I need to remember all the things I saw and experienced in Africa and allow myself to miss my babies and my family there. It's ok. Being a missionary is what God has created me for, so OF COURSE I'm going to be feeling like this. Don't get me wrong, I have never doubted the decision that I have made for my current season, I know this is what my spirit needs right now, but no one said it would be easy. Sometimes we have to forsake all to follow Jesus.

So its with many tears over the past couple of weeks that I tell you I miss Africa terribly, but I look forward to the day in the near future that I will return there stronger, bolder, and a more confident leader/revivalist. The tears and sadness for Africa are making my calling clearer and clearer to me. I look forward to sharing with you all God is going to reveal to me and through me over this next season.

God's love has been a warm embrace and my most favorite companion. I hope that each of you are daily coming in contact with the love that Father God has for you. I know that He is going to continue to pour out blessings all over you for all you have done to support me in prayer and financially. Thank you and much love to each of you.

Continuing to process,
Gina :)