reLAXing... finally

So the last week has been pretty much non stop. By non stop, I mean literally one thing after the next. In fact, it was so packed full of not so fun things to do that I didn't even start packing till 6 pm (Thursday).

But alas, after a night of stress, terror, and machines not doing their one simple task (printers not printing boarding passes, copiers not copying passports) here I am, in LAX, and its 2:30am. Admittedly, it's probably a bad time to write my inaugural blog post as I just posted this to my Facebook "Got to the airport wayyyyy early. like 4 hours early, just to avoid bin laden or his ghost if he is indeed dead) making it difficult for me in customs. Turns out tickeing and check in doesnt open till 4:30am which so I have to wait to check my bad and go through customs until an hour and a half before i leave. time to reLAX". I honestly feel like I shouldn't be alive, much less awake. 

Here I am sitting on a bench watching a young lady systematically yawn every 30 seconds while she posts photos of an empty LAX to FB(which I will not do because 1. it seems way to cliche and trendy 2. I am lazy), and I am confronted with a solid 3 hours to prepare for the 48 hour journey which will take me to Chicago, Frankfurt, Istanbul, then finally Iraq where I will abide for the next 10 weeks. It seems so crazy that I was nonchalantly telling people over a year ago that I wanted to go to Iraq, and now that day has come! The difference is that back when I initially wanted to go, it was truly me just wanting to go. Me wanting to escape and to something fun. Now I know it is what God wants for me. I cannot ignore it. 

In the past 6 months he has radically changed my heart, and my mind. He has brought some incredible revival, discipleship, and brotherhood into my life, and has set me on a new course. He has given me a skillset to use for him (design), and now an opportunity to bless other people through it! I have never been so excited in my life! It feels like everything I am has been leading to this point. Something special is going to happen. This is the crossroads of my existence.

My goals for this trip:

Serve whole-heartedly and selflessly, that I might gain the spirit by giving my all.

Make an impact on the people of Iraq and the world by means of design for the Preemptive Love Coalition

Design practical products that can help spread awareness and support for the 30,000 kids ailing from literally broken hearts in Iraq

Create an art piece that reflects the culture and people that Preemptive Love is focused on that can be sold or auctioned to raise funding.

Finish reading the Bible.

Maintain an open mind.

Anyways, I am going to praypare for my journey. My goodness the puns.