So. Today, the journey begins…
Today, I board a plane that will take me across the world to a different place. And I am so ready for what the Author of Life has planned for this next chapter in my life.
In a few hours, I will board with my team, 
,and thirty hours after that, I will reunite with my suitcase filled with sweaters, leggings, and gloves in Wellington, New Zealand. In case you are unaware, (as I was when I felt called to this trip), this "summer" in New Zealand is actually winter.
So God is literally bringing me into a new season. HA. But though today is technically the beginning of this new season, God has been working in my heart in preparation for today for a while.
As I head to New Zealand, I am leaving the little town of Toccoa, Georgia, where my team spent the past weekend at Training Camp.
Though the waterfall at the campus we stayed at was beautiful, 
the past few days have made me a little antsy (since I just want to be in New Zealand), I know that they were necessary. I needed the time to bond with my teammates, and spend quiet time with Jesus to focus on what this summer entails.
Honestly, this past weekend has revealed much more to me than I expected. I realized that the enemy is already nervous for what God is going to do in New Zealand this summer. He was already placing doubts and fears into my mind, such as "Am I ready, let alone worthy to go on this trip? Was it God's plan or my plan?"
In the midst of the doubts, I prayed to God, "Let your voice be louder than the rest."
And God has answered me loud and clear.
NO. I, Calah caballero -in the flesh- am not able or worthy. But MY GOD IS ABLE, and MY GOD IS WORTHY. I need to stop living for the approval of God, and start living out of the approval He has already given me with His spirit when he made me his child, and heir of his kingdom. If I start to truly believe what God calls to be in his scriptures, then I might start walking it that. Seriously, listen to what God says about who I am and who I am called to be in Christ.
1 Peter 2:9
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God"
Ephesians 1:4-5
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Ephesians 2:10
We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
John 1:12-13
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an HEIR.
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Colossians 3:12
…God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved
Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever-do not abandon the works of your hands.
Romans 8:14-15
because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.
Ephesians 2:19
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,
Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13
"You are the salt of the earth."
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:6
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
SORRY if this is wordy, but I LOVE THAT IT IS WORDY. Look at all the things we are in Christ! How can I have doubts when this is what my identity is?!
God is equipped. He equips those who are willing follow. He is in New Zealand. His kingdom is ready for workers to go out with His spirit dwelling inside of them to build it.
With that in mind, this weekend, I learned that I need to surrender.
I need to surrender CONTROL. This is a tough one for me. I like to plan, but I need to like God's plan more. I need to surrender my PRIDE, and humble myself completely to His glory.
All this to say, I can't wait to experience that glory is New Zealand. As I'm sitting here writing this blog, I have my ipod on shuffle. And Phil Wickham basically just summed up my feelings as he sang what my heart desires for my time in New Zealand.
"I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song."
Lord, let's do this. I am so happy to walk step by step with you these next two months with you guiding me.
I can't help but picture the essence of God's majesty depicted in the green pastures and hills of New Zealand. I can't help but feel the chill of the morning winter air. My soul is getting restless as I wait here in this airport. I CAN'T WAIT to join with the angels and sing of God's glory to the other end of the Earth.
Lord, let's do this. I am so happy to walk step by step with you these next two months with you guiding me. Get ready Kiwis. You and I are about to get flooded with God's never ending and overflowing love.
Much Love,
Calah, the daughter of a risen king
