I have been thinking about my expectations for this trip a lot lately, and I've come to realize that they have gone through a radical transformation from when I first applied.

 

Around January, a friend of mine introduced me to Adventures In Missions and emailed me the link to their Ambassador mission trips.  I began to pray fervently, asking for guidance.  I have always struggled with being humble and selfless, and I wanted to make sure that my decision to join wasn't out of greediness.  After talking with church leaders, I felt like I needed to apply.  Something they told me was, "If you have not heard from God yet, just go ahead and apply.  If He doesn't want you to go, He'll make it clear." ... So I did.  Although I had been feeling that God was calling me to Asia for a long time, I didn't know whether it was supposed to be sooner or later.

 

For a month of so, I didn't know what to think of my decision, except that I hoped it was the right one.  I didn't have many expectations except that my team and I would share God's love with the Filipinos and with one another.  Other than that, I tried not to think about the trip except for in my prayers, because I didn't want to start being selfish about it.

 

A little later on, God began to bring instances of supernatural experiences (spiritual gifts, miracles, etc) into my life, through World Race blogs, friends, and strange coincidences.  I've had no personal experience so far, but I have never heard of this so much as I am now.  I think God is preparing my heart for what I may experience in July, and is slowly prying it open to the possibility of a personal experience.  I don't know what's going to happen, but I think I'm going to go deeper with God on some level.  Either in worship, prayer, meditation, miracles, or even just a change in my heart.  I feel like God is going to burst out of my box during this trip.

 

It's funny, how at first I was scared to have any expectations, because God definitely has BIG plans.  I feel like He's telling me it's ok to be excited about the personal changes that will happen in my own spirit.  In fact, he already began the process.  He started the day I was born and will continue until the day I die, as He is doing with each of you.  

 

Now, with full confidence, I can declare my hopes.

 

I hope to laugh and cry with my team members.

I hope to grow deeper in the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father.

I hope to gain a renewed love for missions.

I hope to step outside my comfort zone.

...And I expect to change in the process.