On this day last year we were at the Toronto Pearson Airport boarding an Air Canada flight that would take us thousands of kilometers away from home and that would drop us off in Lima, Peru.

I remember that trip to the airport so clearly. It was so hard to say goodbye that day even though I was so excited to go to Peru. All I remember as I walked through security was leaning on Jesus for strength and trusting that he would get me through. Boy has he been faithful. He has done way more in my life this past year than I ever he imagined he would on October 16, 2014.

Jesus has made this year so beautiful. He has taught me so many lessons; so much about who he is, about his grace and about who I am. He has taught me to just trust in him and he will be faithful because he knows what I need. He taught me to give everything over to him and he taught me that sometimes I need to give up everything just so I can know him.

In February, he showed me that he knows me intimately and that he is faithful when he sent me back to Canada to serve at camp.

In September he taught me about true friendship and showed me how if I ask, he will make me brave even when fear paralyzes me.

This is just a small snap shot of everything he’s revealed to me this past year. Were I to write it all down, we’d be here all day.

Now, he continues to teach me about his grace, that I don’t always have to have it together, that he loves me more than I could ever fathom and that he is faithful until the end.

This year has been so fun and exciting and filled with adventure but it hasn’t been easy in any sense. Through the brokenness I’ve seen so much beauty and the only person to thank for that is Jesus alone.

And now I am getting adjusted back to life here, finishing high school, thinking about the future and ramping up for the home to open soon.

It’s a good life, thank you Jesus.

This post is part of a 31 day series. If you’d like to see the rest of the series, click the photo above.