In Honor of Ruth

Today one of my dear friends from Colorado leaves on an amazing and epic 11 month mission trip called The World Race.  11 countries in 11 months, in a team of six, following Jesus where He takes them...so awesome!!!

Check out her blog, show some love, and pray for her and her teammates.

I have sorely missed Ruth since leaving the West, she plants herself in deep in friendships and is incredibly open with people.  I am so excited for the journey she is going to be on, one that steps outside of comfort and ease.  Ruth allows people, strangers and old friends alike, in quickly, her heart wider than the always expectant hugs she gives with greetings and goodbyes.  We were able to snatch a quick phone call since my return to Virginia, and to hear talk about the upcoming year, what God is teaching her in the period of preparation and readiness, even as she sniffed her way through the conversation with being sick....she is ready.  She is ready to lay herself down, soften her heart, and surrender to this call.  It is a beautiful thing.

I learned so much from Ruth, how to extend hospitality to new faces, how to love more deeply, how to share the harder parts of life with others....and how to set up a two person tent.  One night before she left for training camp, we took out her little tent that could potentially be her home for the next year depending on their locations, and struggled to figure out how to put this "easy to set up" tent together.  But with another roommate's help, we were soon christening the tent with a rousing game of Scrabble.

So to our sweet Ruth, blessings on your adventure. We'll be praying for you to learn, give, love, stretch, and grow deeper in love with Jesus.  Come back with stories....we'll be waiting for them!!! Love, amy