I want my life to make a difference. I want to leave this world a better place. And I want to enjoy doing it.

Is that so much to ask?

I think to accomplish this, it comes down to finding how my purpose, that is God-given and God-fueled, is combined with my heart-filling and joy-giving passions and talents. So, yes, I am once again talking about how I can combine my education degree with my desire to get out there and experience the world and take it in through the lens of my camera.

With a lot of grace and by His will alone, I will be able to get out there and change the world, if only for one soul.

This all comes from the fact that I have spent this last week preparing for a paper that I had to write for my missions class that is all about teaching overseas. Basically I spent the entire week looking at beautiful places and hearing about incredible opportunities and doing all I can not to look at plane tickets to these places. It was really good to do some research and look at both the pros and cons and the hurdles I will have to overcome in the next few years. It was such an exciting thing to look into further but it has also required me to really dig deep, spend some quality time in the Word and prayer and really try to attempt to understand the Lord's will for my life.

I think the jury is still out on that last little bit because I honestly have no idea if I will actually get the incredible opportunity to go teach in another country but the possibility is still very exciting. I think the conclusion that I am coming to now is that I need to grow where I am planted and let the Lord mold, grow and prepare me for all the work He has for me.

My prayer now is that I won't be so antsy to get out and go and see but rather that I can be content and joyful in serving right where I am. I am looking forward to the next few years in my life and all the learning I will be blessed enough to experience. I praise God for the work He has done in my heart and will continue in the next few years and I am excited to see what He will do with my willingness to go and serve the Nations.

Pray for me... :)