June 22

Today we leave Bologna, Italy, and board a train and head to Innsbruck where we’ll have six minutes to catch another train to our final destination near Garmish, Germany. It will be in Edelweiss country, in the Alps. Everyone who knows it says it will be spectacular.

It’s our last stop before we head back to US on Tuesday. We’ve been many places and seen spectacular things. South Sudan was wonderful and is at the top.

What I’ve enjoyed most, what I’ll remember and what my heart will deeply long for is the incredible presence of God throughout this journey.

I couldn’t have done very much on my own without him. My ham-handed, stubborn approach would have been a recipe for failure. But not to worry.

I’ve never felt alone, even when I was alone. God prepared people along the way–every day–for me. Maybe he knew I’d need him with his “A” game to get me through all of this.

My faith has grown these five weeks: so rich and deep and constant. I felt God’s call to see and document the world I’ve never seen before I left. It has been affirmed again and again and my faith has grown from there.

When I return home, I’ll have memories, photos and videos to enjoy and share with others.

But the greatest treasure is one I’ll work hard, and pray hard, to keep: my relationship with the father, son and Holy Spirit.

No matter where I walk, he will be with me always. Through faith, I will drop what I must and join him.