Dear Journal

Dear Journal,

As I finish writing the last word that can fit in your contents, I am overcome with gratitude for you. These past four months that I have been with you have been instrumental to the rest of my life. In your contents you hold the people I have met forever etched in your memory, the revelations from God that are hard for me to remember, drawings of various degrees of talented, copious amounts of notes. You have traveled four countries, through two debriefs, two quarantines, and all my time with Team Bloom.

I am so thankful for these pages and the words they keep. What a gift it is to write down my every thought and ask questions to God then transcribe His responses forever to keep.

---

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

-Luke 2:19

---

I can’t help but think of you as an extension of my heart as you have helped me treasure and ponder often what God has said to me. Thank you for being a part of my heart.

Flipping back through your pages, I’m reminded of our first flight to Costa Rica:

“I am here on a flight going to Costa Rica for the first leg of our trip. WE ARE DOING IT!! God I am so thankful that you are so much bigger and better than my plans. You keep bringing this Hosea6:6 ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” 

August 12,2021

---

A teaching for inner healing from the amazing Amy, our mentor from our first debrief in Jaco. I always reference back to this:

September 16,2021

---

In Nicaragua when the mundane of painting was wearing on my one morning and I couldn’t possible think you had insight for me:

“My daughter, I love your laugh and humor. I love your desire to learn and do better. Even the desire to learn to stop learning so much. I love how no matter where your head is your heart is always singing mu praises. My daughter I love Swamp Creek and I cant wait to teach you more and also relax with. My daughter, I am so excited for today! For it is a day we can sing joyfully, laugh, and pray. I love how you pray and how often. Daughter I am not counting how many times you don’t pray, but I enjoy every time you do. Daughter, I know you are nervous about being homesick. I know you see some hard times, but I didn’t give you sight ahead to worry about the road ahead. One driving the car and sees a road ahead broken doesn’t continue to drive towards a wreck. For after a wreck is never a good time to prevent or prepare for one. No, the driver will see and assess the best call for action. They will look at the one in the passenger seat and ask what they think. Daughter, as long as I am always your passenger you will always respond to road dangers well and good. So please my daughter, my friend, my roadtrip buddy always keep me as your passenger.”

September 30,2021

---

 The times I yelled in Colombia for God to do something or move in me because of the circumstances I couldn’t predict:

 November 3, 2021

October 31

---

And today when you prompted worship for the squad to tell each other words that reflected Jesus from them:

December 10,2021

---

Bottom line Journal you are really good at remembering my moments and what I have treasured and pondered. You are always there to chat and hear what I’m learning in the bible that day. When I need to focus God’s voice your paper and my pen are always good vessels. Thank you for the service of these past four months and may I never forget what you say.

You see I think it is no coincidence that you came into my life as a gift from a friend. For you are not the only gifted leather bound journal, with a  letter from the gifter in the front while I’m on a missions trip. My first journal was given to me from Molly Clark before I traveled Europe for a month going to two separate missions trips. You, my second came from Deb Titus who said she just had to get it for my World Race trip. The next one, comes from my teammate Dana Salesman for the rest of this extravagant trip with Jesus. Observing these similarities, I can’t help but see God’s hand all over my journals. I hear through the gifts of these journals God’s confirmation that I am where I need to be, talking to Jesus. So keep talking to Jesus.First page and all dedications go to Deb Titus.  

Sincerely, 

Morgan Corrigan

---

P.S. I am sorry the amount of coffee, water, and other things I have spilt on you. The way I stuff my bags I’m sure you have felt claustrophobic at times. But all these translate to how important you are to me and how I needed you at all times in many different environments.

Art work credit to Stephanie. This is my favorite page!