Less than a month away!

I will leave for Los Angeles on June 21st, which is less than a month away. As I think about that fact, a range of emotions hit me, the strongest of which are excitement and nervousness. I am really excited about all that the Lord will teach me and show me this summer, because I'm sure I will learn new things every day I'm there! I won't be surprised if I learn more this summer than during the past semester of school (sorry to any of my professors who may be reading this)! I'm excited to see and experience this new city (new to me), excited to make new friends, excited to help make a difference for Christ in this city full of hurt!

However, what I learn during my time in L.A. may not (and probably will not) come easily. It can be so easy for me to become nervous about my safety, nervous about what people will think of me, nervous about whether I'll actually be able to make a difference in a place with so many needs. It's also so difficult for me to prepare for situations I'll encounter, when I have very little idea what those will be. I don't even know what our residence will look like! It's difficult for me to feel that this trip is really happening when I can't even visualize my surroundings there.

So while I wait to go to Los Angeles, I am relying on the Lord to prepare me for this journey as I learn about the city and, most importantly, learn about Him. A Scripture verse that I memorized last year seems so fitting in this situation: Philippians 4:6-7.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.

I am thankful for this opportunity to serve the Lord in inner-city Los Angeles, and I am grateful for your continued prayers in this time before I leave and while I am there. Thanks for reading and please check back in for more updates. I can't promise any regular schedule of blog posts, but I will do my best to keep you informed, especially once I get to Los Angeles!