2 Big Trips in 1 Month

The month of September will be a wild ride for my family! Last week Clint went on a mens wilderness trip to The Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada. This was his 7^th (I think) trip up there. This is a trip that Clint needs to go on simply for his spiritual health. It is a week of healing and time with God.

While Clint was gone on this trip I heard about an opening for a ladies trip to the Algonquin. I had wanted to go on a trip like this but haven’t had the opportunity until now. I needed to wait until Clint came home in order to talk it through with him and make a decision. So … I am going to The Algonquin Park on a ladies wilderness trip this coming Friday the 7^th!

This was not a random decision, it was a God decision. Even as Clint was gone, I was asking God what I should do with this opportunity. He never said that I shouldn’t go; he simply showed me ways that he’s prepared me for this.

Spiritually, I need to reconnect with Him again. I love being in His creation and know that it’s a great way to connect with him. I’ve been on the dry side for too long.

Emotionally, I need more healing of my heart. I’ve had a lot of healing that I’ve experienced in the past 10 years but I have a strong sense that He wants to do something different with the healing on this trip. I don’t know what it will look like; I just know it’ll be good.

Physically, I feel like God has been preparing me physically for this trip. I’ve been doing kickboxing 2-3 times a week since the beginning of June plus other workouts in addition to kickboxing. I’ve also been able to lose some weight which was needed. I’m also doing better hormonally since I’ve changed some eating habits and taking supplements. My energy level is better than it has been in months. Even as I say all this I know that no workouts or training will be enough for the physical part of this trip. I will be stretched in this area!

Mentally, I’ve been able to handle stressful situations better recently. Being able to push through the physical workouts has strengthened my mental abilities, but I do know that my mental abilities will be tested in a big way.

Even as I’ve been prepared in some ways for a week in the wilderness, I know that I will be stretched in ways like I’ve never been stretched before. Backpacking is what I enjoy so I’m not concerned about this at all. Canoeing, well, I’m not necessarily a fan of water, much less paddling across a lake in a little boat that can tip at any time. This will be all mental for me! I’m not excited about this part of the trip. The camping part will be ok for me.

Another part of the trip is being blindly led through the wilderness! I like to know what’s happening, where we are going, where we are at the moment and how we are going to get there. I will not know anything except for the fact that we will be going through the Algonquin via foot and canoe! This will be a trust issue for me. Do I trust the leaders of this trip? Yes!

This will be a trip to remember! As you all are sleeping in your cozy beds remember to pray for me as I sleep in a tent each night. J Seriously, I would appreciate your prayers as I go through the week of learning dependence on the God of the Universe. It’s going to be me and God for 7 days.

Also pray for Clint and the kids as they navigate through the week without me here to manage the home.

I will then come home for 9 days and then leave for Uganda and South Sudan for 9 days. What am I thinking to go on two big trips in one month? God. All I know is that if I don’t do what God has put in front of me and has called me to do, I will regret it for a very long time. I don’t want to be in that kind of position. I do not want to be disobedient to my God! I’ve been there and it’s not worth it to say no to Him.

This month, September 2012, will be a month of being a part of God working in me and my family and of seeing him do work in others around me. What an adventure! What a privilege to be a part of what God is doing. I’m so glad doesn’t leave me alone and consistently pursues me!