Somehow, this day just crept up on me.

The day I’ve been looking forward to for the past four months is finally here! In just a couple of hours, I’ll be meeting my squad for the first time. I have said some hard see you later’s, spent months preparing, fundraising, praying, packing, and getting ready for what I truly believe is going to be an adventure of a lifetime. And now it’s actually here. I genuinely cannot believe it.

It feels like just yesterday I was getting off the plane from Guatemala and saying goodbye to some of my best friends, and now I’m about to meet 18 new people who are going to become like family over the next eight months. That is so crazy to think about, and honestly, I’m just so excited to see what the Lord is going to do.

But before we jump into all of that, I know it’s been a minute since my last update, so let’s get into some summer updates!

I spent most of my summer nannying and babysitting, which has been one of the most rewarding things ever. I’ve gotten to love on so many kids and families, and it has reminded me that ministry doesn’t always have to look like getting on a plane and traveling across the world. Sometimes ministry looks like playing with a kid on the floor, helping with homework, making lunch, listening to someone, or just being present. I get to love others because He first loved me, and I get to shine His light through His grace wherever He has placed me.

I also found myself spending a lot of time in the house of the Lord this summer. I’ve had a lot happen in my home life that isn’t something I’ll get into here, but I would really appreciate it if you would keep my family in your prayers as we step into this next season of new chapters. This past season has been a challenging one in a lot of ways, but it has also been so rewarding to feel so close to the presence of the Lord through it all.

I’ve found myself growing closer to Him every single day, and that is exactly what I want in life. I don’t just want to know about God. I want to know Him. I want to grow closer to Him, recognize His voice, trust Him more, and become more like Him every day. Even when I find myself in the fire, He is right there next to me. He has continued to remind me that He is faithful, even when I don’t understand what He is doing.

I know some of you are probably thinking, “Well, this is all awesome and exciting, but what are you actually going to be doing in each country?” Well, I’m so glad you asked!

Here’s a little breakdown of what we will be doing in each country. Some ministry opportunities are probably still up in the air and may change once we get there, but this will hopefully give you a little idea of what we’ll be doing and, more importantly, what you can be praying for!

JAPAN

Japan is one of the least-reached nations on earth, and this part of the trip is going to be an invitation to slow down, listen, build relationships, and faithfully make Jesus known. We’ll be partnering with a local church in Northeast Tokyo through relational evangelism, children’s ministry, worship, and media outreach. Tokyo is filled with people from every walk of life, including local families, business professionals, students, tourists, and people who may have never had a meaningful conversation about Jesus.

Rather than treating ministry like a project, we want to love people well, serve the local church, and trust God with every conversation and relationship. Please pray that hearts would be open, that the church would be strengthened, and that we would have humility, courage, and genuine love for the people God puts in our path.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea is one of the great missionary-sending nations of the modern church, and this part of the trip will give us an opportunity to witness what a thriving, praying, sending church culture can look like. We’ll have time to debrief, worship, pray, and intentionally seek the Lord for what ministry can look like in the seasons ahead. I’m really excited not only to experience another part of the global church, but also to learn from believers who have seen God move through generations of prayer, discipleship, and missions.

Please pray that this time would shape the way we think about missions long after this trip is over and that the Lord would give us a deeper heart for His Church around the world.

VIETNAM

In Da Nang, we will serve across three different ministry sites, each giving us a unique opportunity to build relationships and point people toward Jesus. This includes teaching at Vision English Center, joining English clubs and church outreach through Da Nang International Fellowship, and participating in university ministry.

Please pray for meaningful conversations with students, families, and young adults, for wisdom for the local teams, and for the Holy Spirit to open doors that no human plan could create.

NEPAL

In Kathmandu and throughout the Himalayas, we will partner with High Adventure Ministries in a setting where village-to-village ministry can bring the name of Jesus to people who may have never heard. This portion of the journey will include trekking from village to village, city evangelism, and time alongside local believers in a nation that is overwhelmingly Hindu.

However, this part of our trip could look different than originally planned because of everything that has been happening in Nepal. We recently received an update from our host in Nepal, and it was incredibly heartbreaking to hear about all of the different churches and believers who have been impacted, along with the villages and families who have been affected.

Because of that, there is still a lot we don’t know about what our time in Nepal will look like. Please keep Nepal especially close in your prayers right now. Pray for the churches and believers, pray for the villages and families who have been impacted, and pray for our hosts as they navigate everything that is happening. Whatever our ministry ends up looking like, I know that the Lord is already there, and I trust that He will lead us exactly where He wants us to be.

THAILAND

In Thailand, we will serve alongside YWAM Thailand across Bangkok and Khao Lak, where the vast majority of the country still does not personally know Jesus. Ministry will look different from place to place and may include kids and youth ministry, home visits, worship, sports, and caring for the local church.

From urban slums to rural hill tribe communities, the goal is to meet people where they are, serve with humility, and reflect the love of Christ in practical ways while sharing the hope of the Gospel. We are asking God for compassion that sees people rather than projects, courage to step into unfamiliar places, and a heart that supports the long-term work of local believers.

INDONESIA

Indonesia will be a short but strategic week in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. This will be a time to debrief, intercede, encourage, and learn how to carry the Gospel with wisdom, humility, and boldness in a context where following Jesus can look very different from what many of us know at home.

I’m praying that this experience would deepen our understanding of how to love and serve people across cultural and religious differences while remaining faithful to Jesus. More than simply seeing another country, we want to listen, learn from local believers, and allow the Lord to shape the way we participate in His mission.

AUSTRALIA

We’ll finish our journey in Australia with YWAM Brisbane’s Rural Town Ministries. We’ll be serving local churches in country and coastal towns through practical work, kids ministry, worship, and outreach to youth and backpackers. I’m especially excited for this final part of the trip because it will be a chance to encourage local believers, build relationships, and serve wherever there is a need.

It will also be a really meaningful time to slow down, worship, and process everything God has done throughout the journey. I’m praying that our team leaves Australia not only grateful for everything we experienced, but ready to carry everything God has taught us into whatever He has next.

So there you have it! A little glimpse into what these next eight months could look like. There is still so much that we don’t know, and I think that’s part of the beauty of it. Some plans will change, some ministry opportunities may look completely different than we expect, and I’m sure there will be plenty of moments where we have to simply ask the Lord,  What’s next?

And as I’ve been preparing to leave, I’ve realized that a lot of my preparation hasn’t actually been about packing my bags or figuring out what I’m going to be doing in each country. A lot of it has been about preparing my heart. I’ve found myself comparing this trip to my last trip A LOT throughout the summer.

But the Lord has been reminding me that this trip was never supposed to be a repeat of my last one. The people will be different, the countries will be different, the ministry will be different, the challenges will be different, and I will be different.

The Lord has called me to THIS trip, and because He has called me, I know He is going to be right there with me everywhere I go. He is going to be in the midst of the relationships, He is going to be in the midst of the ministry, He is going to be in the midst of the uncomfortable moments, and He is going to be in the midst of the fire.

I’ve been reminded of Isaiah 43:19, where the Lord says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” And I want to walk into this season with open hands. I don’t want to spend the next eight months wishing this trip looked like my last one. I want to be fully present for what the Lord is doing right in front of me.

I have no idea what these next eight months are going to look like, but I do know Who is going with me. And that is enough.

I’m not going because I have everything figured out or because I know exactly what every day will look like. I’m going because I believe Jesus is worth saying yes to. My job isn’t to know every detail. My job is to be obedient to the One who does.

I also have an AWESOME fundraising update! I am officially 35% FUNDED!! Praise God!!

I am so incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, prayed for me, shared my updates, or simply been there for me every step of the way. Every donation, prayer, encouraging message, and act of support has meant more to me than I could ever explain.

The Lord has already shown me so much of His faithfulness through this process, and I know He is going to continue to provide exactly what is needed. He has been faithful, and I know He is going to continue to be faithful! If you feel led to support there will be a support button below!

I’m going to try my hardest to write blog updates once a week throughout this season, sharing ministry updates, life updates, things the Lord is teaching me, funny stories, and everything in between. Of course, life might get in the way sometimes, but I’ll do my best to keep you updated and bring you along for the journey!

As I officially begin this new chapter, here are some things I would love for you to be praying over.

My squad: Pray as all 19 of us meet, begin building relationships, and learn how to live life together for the next eight months. Pray for unity, grace, patience, and friendships that point each of us closer to Jesus.

Peace: Pray for peace over all of us as we leave what is comfortable and step into something completely new and unfamiliar. Pray that we would trust the Lord even when we don’t know what is coming next.

Our flight to Tokyo: We have a 11 hour flight, so please pray that it would be smooth, safe, and feel like it goes by FAST!

Nepal: Please especially be praying for Nepal right now. Pray for the churches and believers who have been impacted, as well as the villages and families who have been affected by everything happening there. Pray for protection, provision, strength, and peace over our hosts and everyone they are serving. Pray for wisdom as we figure out what ministry will look like when we arrive, and that the Lord would use us exactly where He wants us.

Safety: Pray for safety over all of us as we travel, serve, and lean into this experience. Pray that we would be willing to step into unfamiliar places and trust the Lord with whatever He puts in front of us.

Our families back home: Pray for our families as they send us out for these next eight months. Pray that they would feel supported and encouraged and that they would trust that the Lord is taking care of us even when they can’t be right there with us.

And finally, pray that we would say yes. Yes to the uncomfortable, yes to the unexpected, yes to the people God puts in front of us, yes to the ministry opportunities we didn’t plan for, yes to the hard days, yes to the joyful days, and yes to whatever the Lord wants to do in and through us.

Thank you guys SO much for all of your support. Seriously. Thank you for praying, giving, encouraging me, reading these updates, and choosing to be a part of what the Lord is doing. I may be the one getting on the plane, but I know I’m not going alone. I’m carrying the prayers, support, and love of so many people with me, and most importantly, I’m stepping into this knowing that the Lord has gone before me.