The future! O futuro!

Se você fala português, no fim!

Hey everyone!  Long time on read, write, speak?  Regardless, it has been FAR too long.  The past few months have been fantastic.  I am cooking more and more and having more responsibility than I want, but it has stretched me and caused me to grow so much.  I absolutely love the kitchen and cooking here.  It has been fantastic.  However, this is not what I feel God calling me to for my next season.  So on August 3rd I will be flying "home" to the USA.

 I consider Harpenden my primary home (sorry Lindstedts!)  My time here has been irreplaceable. The amount of growth, experience, responsibility, struggles, challenges, frustrations, joys, have been more than I could ever have thought.  The past 3 years in England have absolutely changed me, transformed me, and set me on the path God has chosen for me.  I came to England an awkward, insecure, unattractive, kind of not fun young kid.  I am now able to leave extremely secure in my identity with God, much better looking I think (goodbye hair and beard!), and a huge joy to be around.  I am still quite awkward though.  I guess I need some faults.

The family/friendships I have made here will be with me forever and I will always try to come back here to see where God is taking the base and the people here.  I can't stress enough how fundamental this place has been for my growth.  I wish you could all visit and see beauty and wonder of God in this place.

I guess you are all wondering "Colin!  What's next?!  What will you do?! Where will you go?!"  Well.  Let me answer that for you all!  After I get back to the USA, I will be spending the first few weeks readjusting.  I am going to be in a wedding and helping with all that entails and just spending time with friends and family.  After that I hope to get a job and work somewhere to save money and prepare for the next step.  Which is.  I am going to be moving to Brazil and joining YWAM there early next year.  I don't think this is a big surprise for anyone, but it is still what I feel God calling me to do!  So I will be learning the language, going through the visa process, and raising support to prepare myself for the next journey.

Have no doubts, this will be the biggest step of faith I have ever taken.  I am terrified, nervous, worried, excited, expectant, joyous, impatient, happy, and so many other conflicting emotions.  It is like cliff jumping.  You get to the top of the cliff and your heart is freaking out.  You look over the edge into the water and get that feeling inside your stomach.  The "Don't jump but you need to jump!" Feeling.  The thrill.  Adrenaline.  And it is so awesome and so worth it.  I can't wait to see what God will do in my life and where He will take me there, but I am so happy with where He has already taken me that I have complete trust and faith in Him.

Feel free to ask me any questions and I will answer them as best as I can.  I can't wait to see you all and I hope God blesses you as much as He has blessed me.

Oi!  Tudo bem?  Porque o meu português não é bom, isso vai ser curto.  Em agosto, eu estou indo para os Estados Unidos.  Em seguida, no ano que vem, eu vou estar se movendo para o Brasil para trabalhar com a JOCUM.  Eu não sei onde ainda, mas quando eu sei, eu vou lhe dizer.  Eu amo vocês!