"I'd be so scared If I were you."

As the time for my departure to Uganda draws near (3 weeks from today!), I hear more and more from people who are excited for me, which gets me more excited to go. However, their excitement is almost always followed by "but I'd be so scared/nervous to go," or "are you scared/nervous?" Can I blame them? Of course not! I do not, nor will I ever. It is totally understandable to have that reaction/feeling.

I am travelling 8,000 miles away.

I will be living in a country surrounded by countries in the midst of years of bitter turmoil.

There is still a lot about the trip that I do not know yet.

It is SO FAR AWAY.

It is a country where AIDS is so widespread and rampant.

I should be terrified, right? I should be running for the hills. I should have never signed up for this. But I am not scared. Or nervous. Or running away. I did sign up for this, and I am beyond excited for the trip of a lifetime.

Let me be clear though: This excitement, bravery, peace, whatever you want to call it, is NOT from me. If it was up to me, I would be student teaching in some high school in Cobb county, living in my nice apartment in Kennesaw, and continuing on with my life as normal.

But God had another plan.

In my previous post, I wrote my story and how God's plan for me has worked out so much better than anything I could have dreamed of myself, and He makes me brave.

Despite all of the facts that could (and should) cause someone to fear, I do not. I am 100% at peace about the entire trip, regardless of what happens.

A couple of weeks ago at church, we sang a new song, called "You Make Me Brave," and I have been listening to it on repeat ever since. It explains exactly the comfort that I have been feeling throughout this experience. Some of my favorite lyrics from the song are below.

"You make me brave
You make me brave
You called me beyond the shore
Into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now 
The promises You've made"

Now, I understand that the song writer was most likely referring to a figurative shore and figurative waves, but I cannot help but take that so literal right now. God has called me beyond the shore, and it is He who makes me brave, and no fear whatsoever could hinder the promise He made in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."