A Warm Welcome

Readers, hi! 

    Who ever you may be, welcome. I'm so excited you're here and interested - blogging is something that has been on my heart for a little while now. After all, I am the daughter of an amazing woman, my mom, a blogging legend. Being able to pull up and browse through old memories on her blog has always been a huge inspiration to me, more than she probably knows. So thank you, Mom, for documenting and capturing memories throughout each of your children’s lives. Your electronic diary is something I often look back on and smile softly at. Such blissful memories that will never be forgotten.

    A little bit about me... I am currently writing from a comfy, brown, leather couch in a dorm room full of seven lovely women, based in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. What am I doing here, you ask? Great question - I am still figuring it out myself, day by day. But here's what I *do* know. This past June, I graduated from the Practical Nursing Program at Lambton College - woo hoo! Those were two long, hard years, but it flew by so incredibly fast. In the last two months, I had a placement in the Operating Room at our local hospital, where I was offered a job nearing the end of my time there. Though I loved my coworkers and the environment, I wasn't ready to settle into my career quite yet. I have always had trouble staying in one place, and I knew adventure was calling - I just didn't know where it would take me.

     After carving out time to attend Lakeshore Community Church on Sunday mornings, I became curious and wanted to dive deeper into my faith a little more. A little more turned into in a lot more, and before I knew it, I was having conversations with my parents about applying for missions. YWAM (Youth With A Mission) was always an organization I knew about, however it was never something I expected to become a part of my own life. I ended up submitting an application form and received an interview a couple days later. After my interview, I felt peace trusting that if I were accepted, then I had no excuse but to go. Sure enough, nearing the end of June, I received an acceptance call that I knew would surely change my life forever. 

    But even then, I remember struggling in silence, battling whether or not this was the right decision for me. Could it be a coincidence? Could there have been a mistake? Why me God? I am just learning to know you again, what good will I do there? I remember the weeks before leaving so vividly. One morning in particular, I sat down to calculate my finances, figuring out what I had and how much more I needed to raise. The weight of it all became overwhelming and I felt so small, unsure of how I could possibly make it work. As I sat there wondering how I could come up with a solution, something incredible happened. I received a message from an old friend informing me that they would be making a large contribution toward my trip. I was completely stunned - overwhelmed by the generosity and timing. It was as if God had spoken through them reminding me, "I am taking care of you, and you are exactly where you are supposed to be." With that, I had everything I needed. All there was left to do was go. 

    Now, all of that has led me to this present moment. I have officially been in Hawaii for a week and a day, and it has been such a whirlwind. Arrival day was challenging, and reoccurring thoughts of doubt often flooded my mind. Between jet lag and trying to learn so many names and faces, it was nothing short of chaotic and overwhelming. It took some time to settle in and adjust. I am writing from a place of contentment now, fully caught up on sleep and confident in the relationships I have formed thus far. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for this beautiful land and the Hawaiians’ love for not just their home but for one another and for the Lord. We're nearing the end of our first week of classes, and I have learned so much. One experience in particular stands out: Monday Ministry Night. This is a night where all the schools on campus gather in a breezy, open room to worship Jesus together. There is nothing like worshiping with people who share the same passion—it was electric.
    The speaker that night shared his testimony and emphasized how little it matters where each of us were before YWAM. He then took a minute to invite anyone who was ready to surrender their life fully to Jesus to come forward. To surrender means to give up my entire being and trust that no matter where I am, all needs will be met because I have an identity in Christ. As people slowly began to step forward, my roommate ahead of me did the same. Although I felt timid, a sense of boldness washed over me and I confidently followed, knowing that I wanted to be unapologetically consumed by Christ in this moment. As I got to the front, I began to kneel and weep with my hands outstretched, praising Jesus for giving me something greater to live for. During these couple of minutes, there was nothing more I could have wanted in the entire world. This was it. For the next while we kneeled and worshipped, soaking up the Lord's presence. 

    Coming from someone who has experienced life on "both sides of the track," I can confidently say that this feeling was more powerful and captivating than anything else I've ever known - beyond anything I could have imagined. I sat there envisioning Christ on the cross, picturing Him being beaten and tortured by the Romans, with only one thought filling His mind, "worth it, worth it, worth it." I humbly reminded myself that nothing in this world could ever come close to the love Jesus Christ has for each of us, individually and personally.

    I feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity, and I can't wait to share my experiences through pictures and blog posts. As I continue on this journey, my hope is to inspire and connect with each one of you, sharing the highs and lows along the way. Looking forward to having you follow along with me!!

Love Layla