A Tear Provoking Sonic Trip

Saturday morning I was preparing for my last A Perfect Injustice jewelry show before the big move, when a crazy craving came over me. I wanted a sonic sweet tea so incredibly bad!

Many of you know this about me: sonic has always been my pick-me-up. Not that I only go when I am in need of a pick-me-up, but every time I do go, it does bring me a lot of joy. I wrote, "someone please bring me a sonic sweet-tea," on facebook a ridiculous amount of times during those stressful evenings at work, during high school. (and Susan Brown so often came to my rescue!)

So, I got ready as fast as I could and off I went.... to sonic. Half way there I remembered that I didn't even like sweet tea anymore. Especially Sonic's. Somehow my taste-buds changed, and drinking it now seems like drinking a cup of syrup.

Then I got there and stared at the menu confused, because all I really wanted was a cup of water. I did however order a diet-coke (really exciting, right?) but did not even drink half of it.

So why in the world was I dying to have sonic? Later that day I had a epiphany: it wasn't sonic I was missing, it was all the memories that are somehow connected to that place.

I was missing that first time all of us Ecity folks miss - the first day we successfully pulled into a sonic parking spot after getting our learners permits, and the joy and success we felt because of it.

I was missing  the first few months after getting my drivers license when I chose to park on the cool-side of sonic, and it actually made me feel cool. (I recently parked on the uncool side for the first time and it was so liberating, ha).

I was missing the daily 3:35pm fight to find a space - because it was just what you did when school got out.

I was missing all those silly boys showing off their big trucks all night long, every weekend, at sonic.

I was missing that day me and Lauren became best friends at sonic during free root-beer float day, as we circled around and around parking in new spaces each time to see how many free floats we could get (even though neither of us even like root-beer floats). I was missing that ridiculous amount of laughter that occurred that night. (seriously completely convinced this is why we are friends, Lauren.)

I was missing the night lauren and I met at Sonic to say goodbye before she moved to Korea. The same night she couldn't figure out how to fit that big Suburban into a space, so after multiple times (of embarrassment), she got out and let me do it for her.

I was missing the many times Ms. Susan surprised me with a sweet tea at work, and completely made my day.

I was missing that fact we (Kristie, Michelle, and Janna) would drive there all the way from Weeksville at ridiculous hours of the night, because we literally had nothing better to do. (OHHH, how I miss that amount of free time.)

I was missing that ridiculous day while living in Orlando when I was so upset and homesick and completely convinced that Sonic was the only thing that would make me feel better - so I drove around for three hours trying to find one.

I was missing home. I was missing my friends. I was missing my family. I was missing my lack of responsibilities. I was missing being a kid.

Then came Sunday. As I sat in church Sunday morning, I was looking around at the hundreds of people who have impacted my life over the past four year. I simply thought, "wow - I am thankful for this church - and I am really going to miss it," and that was all it took to make the tears start flowing!

All this to say, the "I am about to move to a different continent" emotions have officially began. I am feeling extremely sentimental. Just like my sonic-era of life ended, this phase of life too is coming to an end. People always say, "college is the best years of your life," and I couldn't agree more. This makes it really hard to let it end.

More than feeling sentimental, I am feeling thankful. Not for sonic, but for all of the other sources of pick-me-up's and joy that as filled my life the past four and a half years. I have the most amazing family, friends, community, and church family any girl could ever ask for - and I will miss each of you so much for the next 7 months of my life!

So here goes nothing: 30 more days in Raleigh and 60 more in the U.S.

If you wanna come reminisce at any point during the next two months, I am totally down!

Thankful for you all,

J

Oops. I Forgot To Tell Ya: I Am Leaving the U S of A tomorrow.

A moment ago, I realized I forgot a really important detail. I don't have a suitcase. After two trips to Africa and back and a handful around the states, mine is toast. Maybe this wouldn't really matter - except I leave the country TOMORROW.

Then, I realized I forgot something even more important than the absence of a suitcase. I forgot to tell almost all of my family and friends that I was even going.

.................

Tomorrow morning at 5am, I will be arriving at RDU airport to depart for Toronto, Canada to serve with Trinity Life Church. It will be a similar experience to the one you read about last March (and still can read about).

I am going to leave you with no details of the trip except for I am going - and I need your prayers!!!! Pray that God speak through me (and our team) as we minister to the people of Toronto. Pray that God's love shine straight through us. Pray for traveling mercies. Pray for our unity as a team. Pray for energy - emotionally, physically and spiritually. Also, you might want to pray for my mouth to stay shut or for my team to have patience with me - because I REALLY hate cold, and tend to complain a lot about it. Or better yet - - you could just pray for warm weather (this is a joke) (kind of).

One thing I learned from day one of my last trip to Toronto, is that I desperately needed the Lord to work through me - because works without Him were of no use. Trusting He WILL do big things this next week through my life!

So thankful for the many people in my life who are faithful to pray for me. Know that my life reflects your prayers.

I will blog as much as possible while I am there, from the basement of my hostel! : )

All my love,

J
xoxo

SO EXCITED to rekindle my love for Tim Hortons and maple flavored EVERYTHING. 

100 days.

100 days. That is all. In 100 days I will board a plane to Uganda.

That number seems so small, and tomorrows 99 even smaller. As the numbers decrease my need for dependence on God increases. I am so excited to be living in the Lords will, but that doesn't mean it is easy. 

When I talk about Africa, I talk about all the amazing opportunities I will have and all the awesome ways I will get to serve. I talk about the little boys that have a big part of my heart and the fact I am so excited to show them love. 

I don't talk about how much it terrifies me to be away from those I love here in the States, or the pain I feel when I make a list of all the events I will not get to be present at. 

I talk about the great amount of money God has provided for me through generous people, but I don't talk about the humility it has taken me to ask support, and the great amount of pride in my life that I have become aware of during this process. I talk about how thankful I am for the great response to my ministry, but don't talk about the great amount of doubt I have in my heart that I have to daily fight - in believing God will provide for me, every cent. 

The list goes on. The truth is, though I would like to think my decision to pack up and move to Africa makes me brave, I have never felt so weak. 

I am scared of what happens in 100 days - yet so so excited to let God lead me through this journey. My weakness is just another reminder that this journey is not about me. I can do nothing beneficial for not a single person in Uganda - but God can through me! 

Please be in pray for me the next 100 days. Specifically: 

• 100% of completed support raising and for my confidence in God that He will provide. 
• I am in need of things for ministry such as a laptop. Money is one of the hardest things to trust the Lord with - but I am praying that He will provide. Join me. 
• Spiritual preparation - that I know Him better, to be able to teach about Him better. 
• My wacked out emotions - that I be comforted by the Lord. 

I am so thankful for the amazing amount of support, prayers, and love I have been shown. I am so excited for you to be part of this journey with me. 

Much love, 

J

xoxo

P.S.  Happy Independence Day, Uganda! : )