Wow! Launch is here! It’s my last day in the United States of America for 11 months! I’m nervous and excited, but at peace. I’m currently sitting in the airport in Atlanta, getting ready to fly first to London for a short layover, then to Romania! We have been here since 11am and we fly out at 9:45pm, giving us the whole day to rest and bond with each other playing games, talking, petting dogs, etc. Our bags are packed, our passports checked, and our Covid tests are negative, well most are… 17 out of our 26 are able to fly and the rest will join us as soon as they can! Please pray for healing and rest for them and quick recovery to be able to join us!
I stepped into Georgia last weekend thinking about all the people and the life I left behind with sadness but also excitement. Being home in Minnesota the past two months has been a time of sweet rest and reconnecting with friends and family. My life was full of coffee dates and time with friends and family; working on my own schedule; independence in being able to do whatever I wanted and at whatever time; and freedom, rest, adventure, solo travel, etc. These next 11 months will be full of adventure and responsibility, but also learning to live in community again and traveling with a group. It has been a long preparation to get to this point. One of the hardest parts about leaving were the things I know I’ll be missing with my people. Birthdays, holidays, family vacations, best friends’ weddings, etc. I’m an enneagram 7, of course I have fomo (fear of missing out.) And my brain is often scattered and unfocused. And I know I am a rebellious person, I don’t like to be told what to do or when to do it. I like to do what I want and not be told what to do but He calls me to be higher and to be in unity with other believers. He’s teaching me to be humble and be under leadership. And I’m learning how to understand His timing and to not always have to do all the things. It comes down to knowing who God is and who I am in Him. To know Him and be known by Him. To rest in His presence. And soak in the love and care from others. This song by Lauren Daigle has always hit my heart pretty hard, I don’t want to be in resistance to Him or running away any more.
Rebel Heart by Lauren Daigle
Lord I offer up this rebel heart
So stubborn and so restless from the start
I don’t wanna fight You anymore
So take this rebel heart and make it Yours
Father I no longer wanna run
You’ve broken my resistance with Your love
And drowned it underneath the crimson spill
So bend this rebel heart into Your will
If you read my blog at the end of November, ( check it out here! ) you can learn about the last few months of my life in the United States and the trials of being sick and learning to surrender to God. To rely on His strength, for when we are weak, He is strong, (2 Corinthians 12:10). We should boast of our weaknesses to show the strength of our Father. In our pain and weakness, we often experience God’s greatest blessing. Becoming sick in Hawaii and moving home earlier than expected, brought so much more time to rest in God and spend time with my family and friends… such a sweet blessing!
2 Corinthians 11:30 says, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
So I will boast in my hurt and pain and sickness, that it brought me closer to God and I learned to feel His presence even in the trials. He is our gracious healer and protector.
Please be praying for our team as we head across the ocean and into Romania!
And if you are able and feel led, below are a few options you can support me!
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Directly through Adventures in Missions, click the donate tab on my blog home or click HERE! (It’s also tax-deductible.) There you will have the option for the amount you wish to give and the occurrence in which you can give. So, if you want to donate a certain amount but can’t at one time, you can donate a smaller amount monthly.
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If you prefer to give directly to me, these are the best ways.
Venmo: @clleverich
Paypal: @clleverich
Check: Fill out to Adventures in Missions but please indicate who you are donating to, Clara Leverich, and send to Adventures in Missions P.O. Box 742570 Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
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Lastly, I made this super sweet design and partnered with Bonfire to put it on t-shirts, long sleeves, and sweatshirts! HERE! is the link to the website to order your own!
Thank you so so much for all your support to help me get this far! May God bless you!! Talk to you on the other side! Next blog should be coming from Craiova, Romania!
Love, Clara
