Living Inspired.

"I Trust You, Lord"

  Wow. I can't believe I'm actually home in Knoxville after three months. It's a great feeling to be sitting near the fireplace with your pet shih-tzu at your side. Home has never felt so welcoming. 

Let me re-cap on the adventures of getting back to the U.S. of A. It was rough.

Thursday morning was spent looking at a vehicle for one of the family's close friends. Thankfully, he ended up purchasing the car which is wonderful because Ruslan and Archie are planning to buy his old vehicle. Oh, I forgot to mention that winter hit Ukraine like a ton of bricks that day; heavy snowfall and icy roads. So, Ruslan and I got to the airport and my flight was delayed and hour. My stomach started to tangle up in knots. It seems like no big deal, but I had only 45 minutes to get to my connecting flight in Paris (to go home to Atlanta). I put it in the back of my mind so I wouldn't become overly anxious about the situation.

Thank you Ruslan, for your awesomely thoughtful prayer. I couldn't help but tear up a little when he said things like, "I pray that all of Raegan's family and friends stay well so they can spend as much possible time with her while she is home." Isn't that awesome? Anyway, I'm off on my way to a (very) long journey back home. Even though I boarded on time, I sat in the plane for another hour due to weather conditions. Crap. When I left Ukraine, I KNEW I had missed my flight in Paris. However, I stayed as optimistic as possible. When I arrived in Paris, I ran to my gate. When I got to the security checkpoint, they informed me that my flight was long gone. Problem? There were no other flights to Atlanta that day. I had missed the last one.

An overwhelming sense of disappointment, fear, and heartache all rushed in at once. Even though tears were collecting in my eyes, I bucked up and said out loud, "I trust you to get me home, Papa. I will be reunited with my family and friends." I stood in line for three hours with many disgruntled travelers trying to get another flight home. Thankfully, they put me in a hotel and gave me a meal voucher to use in the airport. I took some time to walk around the airport, purchase all my cheesy Paris souvenirs, and make a quick phone call to my family. While I was on the phone with my Mama, I began to cry. I told her that I was completely fine until that moment when I was talking to her. I was afraid. Here I am. A 19 year old girl. completely alone in another country. She left me with a verse that I repeated over and over until I landed in the Atlanta airport- "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." (Psalm 56:3, NIV)
You know what's really ironic? The week before I left Ukraine, I wrote in my Jesus journal-"I trust you to get me back to my home." Maybe it sounds super preacher's daughterish, but I felt like Peter. I had to walk out into the unknown, trusting that He would meet me there.
...“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

   “Come,” he said.

   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”--Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV)