To the YLMHK Senior Girls, Class of 2019:
You’re almost there. The beginning of a big beginning. The conclusion of one chapter, the start of a new one. In this next chapter, you’ll change in a million ways. There will be conflict. There will be times you laugh so hard you cry and/or pee yourself. There will be times you’re so stressed, the only thing that makes it better is a late night ice cream run and crying. What I want you to know more than anything is this: you are made to make an impact for the Kingdom of God.
As you all know, I’m on this eleven month journey, the World Race. One of the reasons I didn’t want to go was because I’d miss your senior year. Your last first games, your last games, your senior prom, your graduation, your last weeks home. It was hard to leave, but God told me to trust Him with you all. So I left.
The fruit I’ve seen in some of your lives since I left floors me. I was afraid to leave you all because I didn’t know what would happen. You have dove into the Word. You have pursued Jesus and chased Him with friends. It’s been a beautiful thing to watch from afar.
He still has more for you. He has more and better. He has so much more than you can imagine.
Say yes to the dreams that scare you. Take the jump. God will be there and He will catch you and lead you. My story of being on the Race is a testimony to that. Yes, I’m older than you. But I have squadmates who are just four years older than you, and God has taught me so much through each one of them. They said yes to something scary. You can, too.
I love each of you so much, and I wish I could be there to watch you walk across that stage. I’ve seen each of you conquer giants in your lives, allowing Christ to fight for you and carry you through. You fought to get to where you are. And I’m so proud to have seen your growth over the past 5 years. Everything you’ve walked through, Christ has been with you every step.
He won’t leave you when you move. When hard times come the next four years in college, and far beyond, Christ will be there. He’s your most consistent friend and constant companion. He will be there for you through it all.
You are bold leaders. You have the gift of influence. You have the gift of shifting environments. Use that. Steer others to Christ. Share your faith in boldness. Be different. You were made for it.
Some of you will be in Manhattan when I get home, and I can’t wait to see you all and catch up. Some of you will have moved to the settings of the next chapters of your stories. I hope to see you when you’re home again.
MHKYL, class of 2019: go do big things. It’s what you were created to do. Go love big in a world that badly needs true love. Real, raw, through thick and thin love. You have it. I’ve seen it and heard about it since I’ve been gone.
I’m proud of every single one of you. I wish I could list all of the reasons why. But this letter has to close. I’ll be watching from somewhere in Costa Rica as each of you walk across the stage, ugly crying and cheering for you, because the world doesn’t know what’s coming at it. Universities will shift, people will turn [back] to Christ because you boldly proclaim your faith in Him and love people with His love. You are all amazing.
Stay true to who you are. Don’t allow others to tell you who you should be. You already have the foundation. Keep allowing God to build on that foundation. You’ll never be disappointed.
LOVE YOU ALL BIG.
Go be the powerhouses I know you are, and God crested you to be.
Prayers and hugs from Costa Rica,
XOXO,
Vickie
PS: Let me know where you’re going, what you’re doing, and how I can pray for you this summer and fall. I love you all a LOT. I’m really glad that God chose us to be characters in one another’s stories. I’ve learned more from you than you will ever know. Thanks for teaching me to be a student again.
