For all pictures, please look on my facebook page. (Monica Murphy)

September, Tuesday 14th:

I am sitting in the car with my dad, headed to O'Hare Airport. This will be the last time that I will see my dad for 3 months. He is coming to see me during my Christmas break.

Starting in high school, I became involved in a lot of activities, which helped both in my faith growth and in my service calling. These activities allowed me to explore my gifts and talents in great ways. Furthermore, these activities and many experiences that I have had in my life provided me with the ability to explore a part of myself. What was God calling me to do, and how would He use my gifts to help others? I have seen Him use me in wonderful ways. I have really appreciated the moments in my life where I have really stepped back from the busyness and loudness of the world, in order to reflect and hear the whisper of God.

I have learned a lot about myself through my life experiences. I have learned a lot about people because I have taken the time to listen to their stories. It is amazing to me how you begin to see new glimpses of life through interaction. This world is filled with graceful beauty, newfound wisdom and surrendering compassion.

Because I have had my fair share of busyness and worry, I am taking this Ireland journey as an opportunity to let go and simply appreciate. For once in my life I am leaving all of my writing projects behind, and all of the activities behind. (Just for this year, so that I can really reflect on growing as a person).

This journey will be a chance to really allow God to fill my heart with His desired callings for my life. I think that I need this time for bigger self-discovery. My greatest hope and prayer is to take these 9 months to study, travel, and appreciate the culture and people around me.

Studying--being in a classroom with other Irish students will be an experience of its own. I cannot even begin to imagine how insightful and profound this experience will be. The education system is structured differently compared to education in America.

I truly believe that one cannot be fully educated until they step into another culture. The heart of full understanding is captured through moments like this. I am hungry to see how other students think. I am thirsty to see how teachers teach.

When it comes to traveling, I am up for any venture. The power of Gods beauty is embodied in the most precious scenery or by looking at some of the oldest sites grounded on this earth. I often think, "Wow, God has created this all." --and I have not even seen close to half of his design. I even think about how God uses all of these different aspects and ways of life in order to appreciate Him more fully.

Traveling provides me with a sense of peace and a happiness that fills a certain emptiness. 

I just want to really understand people. I want to learn more about the heart and desire of the human soul. I crave to listen to the stories of the many people that I will meet on this journey. Learning about their life styles, their goals, and their dreams and challenges will hopefully make me appreciate mine even more.

I hope to come back to America and bring the experiences that I had, to share with others.

Often, something holds people back from seeing the world. Sometimes it can be the fear of unfamiliarity; while other times it simply can be because of the lack of resources. 

I want my experience--my journey of finding God in a whole new light, to be shared with others. My greatest ordained goal is to provide people with the most heart-felt and detailed glimpse of this experience. 

Although I think I know what God has laid on my heart in the future, I may come back to America with a total and completely different calling. 

Living in the moment is hard for people to do. Why? Because we are raised to be busy, to strive with passions for the future and with this comes a lot of worry.

I can testify to this. I know that it is hard to live in the moment; especially with the life that I have.

Although it is hard, I believe that if we reach for the moment; if we make that effort; we can then become the best versions of ourselves. Unknown possibilities begin to transpire. Problems are turned into ways to strive. Worry is turned into love. 

Living in the moment will be my biggest challenge on this trip--on this journey. It is about the adventure, about the moments that will make this trip truly special.

Going with uncertainty is a great portion of this journey--so is unfamiliarity. But these two things make us strong, make us more alive. I do not know what to expect, but I will attempt all things with greatness. And so, the venture begins. I will travel with a deep consciousness of God.