Throughout our travels, God has consistently reassured us with the message, “You are needed wherever you go.” While we prayerfully consider our destinations, our choices have been less about where and more about trusting that He will reveal how we are needed wherever we are. Often, it’s in the smallest and most unexpected ways that we discover what is truly needed. Sometimes, it’s as simple as sharing our journey—our testimony of faith and trust in the Lord—that enables us to do what we’re doing. More often, it’s the connections and conversations, rather than the physical actions we take, that make the biggest impact. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we made a covenant to consecrate our time and talents to building Gods Kingdom on this earth. As our travels started from the place of faith in following the guidance of the spirit, I feel as though we put of practice of consecration on a daily basis. Throughout this process, I’m learning to be more open to how the spirit is guiding us. Even when we can’t see or fully understand the impact in the moment, it’s more important to listen, stay present, and follow the impressions we receive.

This is exactly what led us back to Georgia. Phil and I were debating how to spend our time between leaving England and heading to Peru, as the flight prices were higher than we’d like. We figured that waiting a bit might help us find something more affordable. Our initial idea was to spend time with family, but before making any concrete plans, we prayed about it and felt a clear and distinct impression to reach out to our friends back in Georgia. After speaking with them we knew this is where we needed to go next and everything else fell into place.

It’s been a faith-strengthening experience for me to witness how deeply involved God is in the details of each of His children’s lives. During a layover in Istanbul on our way back to Atlanta, a woman with two young boys approached me, asking for help finding her gate. It happened to be in the same terminal as ours, so we gave her directions. She didn’t speak much English and struggled to understand, and as we headed to our own gate, we noticed she was getting lost. I felt a strong urge to stay close to her. After several redirections and encouraging her to stick with us, she finally decided to trust us, and it turned out our gates were right next to each other. I could only imagine what this mom was feeling, traveling alone with her boys and not understanding the language. She had singled us out in an airport filled with travelers. I’m grateful we were approachable and that God allowed us the opportunity to help her.

The world is full of constant distractions, but I believe that if we take the time to slow down, stay present, and remain open to where we are needed, God will guide us to be in the right place at the right time, allowing us to be instruments in His hands.

GEORGIA

We’re so excited for our friends and the progress they’ve made on their beautiful property and home. Phil and I stayed in a cabin 20min away from the property, even with our closer proximity, they still arrived sooner than us most mornings.

On the days we weren’t working at the property, we enjoyed some good “us” time- driving through Blue Ridge, stopping at Julias grave, seeing family and friends, trying our first Impossible burger, and Phil experienced his first drive in movie.

It’s such a delight to reunite with our Georgia friends! Our kids also got the opportunity to reconnect with a few friends, former schoolteachers, meet their newest cousin, and spend time with family before heading off to Texas.

TEXAS

There’s nothing better than getting time with Grandpa and Grandma. Phil’s parents graciously offered to take our kids while we helped our friends. The girls have taken on a service project making heart tokens for foster children, while Gavin picked up a few mowing jobs. They’ve also kicked off a new school year—Gavin in 9th grade, Claire in 6th, and Hallie in 2nd. Their cousin started homeschooling this year, which means more time for playing and exploring with one of their favorite cousin. Because of the colder climates we’ve stayed in this summer, I think the kids finally felt like they were getting the traditional summer break they’re used to, even though it included school and projects.

After a few weeks in Georgia, Phil and I joined our kids in Texas. It was so great to be reunited with them again and let them share with us all the new things they have been learning and working on in our absence. It didn’t take long after our arrival that we dove right into another project. We (mostly Phil) helped construct a large storage shed/chicken coop for the purpose of supporting solar panels. The kids helped with the cement foundation before we arrived, so we could get started on the outer walls. This was a huge undertaking that I don’t think we were fully prepared for, but we’re glad we could help his parents move forward with their goals and dreams.

After two weeks of hard work from dusk till dawn most days, Phil surprised me with the best birthday surprise…he flew Bryson and McKenna to Texas to celebrate with us! It also worked out to have their help with the last few rows of solar laying too. It was the best weekend having all my kids together, the laughter, games, and just enjoying their presence. We haven’t all been together since our trip to Isreal this past March, so seeing them was a real treat for everyone! Our kids all get along so great together and it warms our heart to see their special bonds and interactions again.

I got some personal time with Bryson, then on our birthday, McKenna and I had the entire to spoil ourselves. She’s always been my favorite birthday buddy and to be with her to celebrate her 20th was extra special. We met up with family for a delicious Mexican dinner then dessert. And to top it off, Phil organized a family photo shoot!

The next day, we all flew our separate directions, with Bryson and McKenna back to Utah and Phil, the kids, and I on our way to Peru. As much as we enjoyed seeing family again, we have missed our simpler traveling lifestyle.