Oh the places you'll go...

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

I never dreamed that I would be heading out on an adventure like this alone. If you had asked me, I would have "confidently" said that I wouldn't or couldn't do a trip like this on my own... and yet, here I am. Ready or not world... here I come!!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself 
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, 
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

Through encouragement from family & and friends, and faith & trust in Jesus Christ I am choosing to walk without fear into the heart of my calling. Into the wilderness and beauty of Kenya. To Kijabe. With wisdom and a discerning spirit I'm taking this step forward to blaze a new trail.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

Without a doubt, this trip is going to change me. I will grow, be challenged, be stretched, be blessed, be a blessing and learn SO many things. A trip like this has to change you... there really isn't any other option. If it doesn't change me, then somewhere along the way I've missed it.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Something I have learned in the past year is that, when I stop comparing myself to others (peers, family, friends) the pressure is gone. And I have the freedom to live my life to the absolute fullest without feeling the weight of expectations. As I step into this adventure, I stand firm in the identity of who I am in Christ and where he is calling me. I trust him completely, knowing that he would not, is not sending me into a situation that we cannot conquer together. I'm never alone, and as I walk faithfully into my calling, allowing myself to by led by the Spirit... without a doubt... I'm the best of the best. 

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

That being said, it does not mean that I won't face challenges, but the blessing comes in knowing that I do't face them alone.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

(Unless, of course, you have the King on your side!)

...

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up 
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's 
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Yes... I will move, climb, run, love and embrace many mountains on the adventure. There will be challenge (for starters trying to figure out how to type on a touch screen without auto correct!? Sorry for all the type-o's! Good grief! This post has taken me AGES to write... I miss my laptop already), triumphs, joys, tears and mighty victories.

I'll do my best to post blogs and updates as much as I can, but I have no idea what kind of internet access I'll have while I'm there. You might just have to wait for me to come home to hear all my stories. I'll try to get another lil update when I land in Toronto.... but for now, I shoulf probably try to get some sleep.... try being the key word there. My nerves are runnung wild and I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep.