I am back from creation, the road trip and it was amazing! God worked through all of us and we met some crazy awesome people. The trip is just about a month away, which is freaking me out. I'm excited, I'm nervous, I feel like I'm dipping my toes into something to make sure it's safe. When I say nervous I don't mean that I'm scared for my safety or doubting, in fact just the opposite. I'm nervous because I'm doing something 100% new. New place, new people, new things, new. And that's the beauty of it.

There are a lot of little things that go into longer trips that you don't necessarily think about. Like for some reason I thought all of Colorado was going with me to Africa. Crazy right? I think what really made this set in is when I had to say my first goodbyes. Ya I'm cheesy, get over it. My cousins from California visited us for about three weeks and when they were leaving I gave them each a hug and my cousin Stuart in the cutest way possible said "It's not a big deal, we'll be here for thanksgiving." That's when it hit that I won't be here for thanksgiving. Then we had a family bar-b-que (or however you spell it) and I won't see a lot of that family before I leave.
I'm starting to see the effects of God taking me out of my element, completely.

But then I start to think about the disciples. They left everything. They didn't have a year to plan it, or get to meet the other disciples on the interenet. I mean John didn't myspace Peter and see what's up. God is showing me something completely new. 
He's taking me out of my element to build me up in one that is completely about Him. Sweet
.
  

On the trip I really felt like God was revealing a lot  to me. People ask me all the time if I'm going to college next year and y answer is "That's the plan."  Like I've sort of said to God:
"God, ok I'll go with your plans for this year to Africa, but I'm going to start my track as soon as I'm done with yours ok, ok." 

 That didn't fly over with the Big Guy too well. He kind of responded:
"Chelsea, you put me  back in the same box you had me in before. When are you going to get the big idea that I have soemthing a whole lot better for you. There may be college, there may not. Be still and know that I AM GOD!" 

I am truly giving and He is truly taking my future and I'm sorry but that scares the whatever-can-be-scared out of me! I mean giving Him nine months is different than giving over all of my plans, right? 

So I say
"Wait a minute..."

 He ever so not-rudely interuppts:
"When have I ever not taken care of you? You asked me what high school to go to and look at the beautiful things that happened of out of that? You asked me where to go in Mexico and look at the minsitry I opened up for you? You asked me what to do after high school and I think I did pretty well with Africa. Trust me."  

I feel like I keep sending out a dove and He responds with an olive branch, telling me that one day I'll see the whole tree. So for now I'm done building boxes  and trying to shove God in one. He doesn't fit very well and I hear He might be a little claustrophobic. I have no idea what will happen when I step into camp Sept. 12th. I have no idea what will happen when I step off the plane in May. And I have no idea what will happen in between those two steps, but know God has an idea, a big one and right now, I may be nervous and excited and a little scared but I'm just going to keep sending out doves.