It is officially go week. I leave for the Gainesville, GA for training camp in four days.

Since my last post I have been finalizing all the little details around my life including getting all my supplies in, finishing payments on lots of things, saying goodbye to most of my people, and tons of praying in the weeks leading up. I cannot begin to explain the emotions that I have been feeling recently. I have experienced lots of happiness, peace, and excitement for the journey to come and my life in general, about 95 percent of the time. But it is that 5 percent of the time that makes me so grateful that I have happy tears. I have the strongest community backing that I have had in my whole life.

I want to take a second to thank essentially everyone that has played a role in my life over the last few years since I came back to Christ, and all of those who brought me back to the church, and those who continue to push me to be a better man and hold me accountable for my actions.

I want to first and foremost thank my parents because without them I wouldnt be here, literally. I want to thank them for supporting my decisions and always loving me no matter how crazy or abrupt those decisions may seem, because I couldnt imagine having to deal with me for 19 years. They have been two of the biggest influences on my life and I owe lots of my character traits and habits to them.

I want to thank my church for never ceasing to amaze me in how they trust and love so effortlessly. I am by no means worthy of their love, trust, or backing, but they love so close to how Jesus did for us that I know they will prosper for years to come. I want to thank all of the volunteers, senior and student pastors, interns, directors, coaches, small group leaders, parents, and the students who show up because without all of these people I would have no clue where to turn with all of my questions and comments on His word. I dont think that words can truly express the monumental change that has happened in my life since I came back to the church when I was 16 years old.

I want to thank my blood related family. My older brother, my grandparents, my aunt and uncle, and cousins for always being there on holidays and big games and just to have laughs with and awkward moments with. I couldnt have asked for a better family.

I want to thank my non blood family. My family dinner crew for being the highlight of most of my weeks. You all truly have been a home for me and a safe place where I can bring myself fully as I am, and not be judged for anything I have done or am struggling with, but rather I am embraced for being open enough to share these hard things with them. I do not take lightly how these people protect my heart when I am at my most vulnerable. Yall truly are home.

I want to thank my in-laws and people who my mom and dad love so deeply. I want to thank yall for treating my mom and dad right and for cherishing them in ways that I cannot. They both deserve so much love and I am glad that they receive that from two wonderful individuals and their families.

I want to thank my friends from guest services from IO weekend, the students and leaders at TLR in the spring and summer, and the young men in a bible study that was run out of a students house and now out of a church. Seeing college students praise and worship, and pray together, and be curious about the Lord together is one of the most prized sights to see. These students are participators and not spectators. They go out of their way to love you as you are, where you are.

I want to thank all of my guys from the years growing up. Keeping me on my toes and making me laugh. For all the late nights, the poker games, the park runs, the bowling, the mini golf, the actual golf, the escape rooms, the movies, and many other things. I have been blessed to have some of the same friends for 14 years, but also have friends that I have met in the last few that have meant the world to me as well.

I want to thank all the coaches who believed in me and pushed me to the point of exhaustion physically, mentally, and emotionally because I learned what discipline and hard work really meant. I want to thank all of the people that didnt believe in me because I honestly probably worked harder for those people than the ones who did sadly.

There are hundreds of more individuals that I could say thanks to and who I know by name that have been at least a small part of my life. So thank you to the ones who cared for me, to the ones who loved me, to the ones who picked me up when I fell, to the ones who humbled me when I was too prideful, and to the ones that just smiled and dapped me up whenever, without even needing to say a word.

My life has looked different every year that I have been on this earth, but it has all been in the same general area. I am leaving everything that I have known for the longest time that I ever have and I am so grateful to get this opportunity. Every night that I have slept in a different country, it has been on mission and raised through generous donations and I am so thankful. Spreading his kingdom and his name has been my purpose since the start of 2026, and I hope to continue this through 2027 and my whole life.

I am also roughly 600 dollars away from being fully fundraised so if you feel led here is my link.

https://adventuresinmissions.servicereef.com/events/adventures-in-missions-3/2026-world-race-gap-year-26g0903-copy/participants/andrew-yankowsky

Little piece of wisdom for the day: People only compromise because they arent trusting Gods plan. Once we learn to lean on him and his plan for our life, our path becomes clearer. It wont become easier, rather it will most likely contain more obstacles that you need to overcome. But this will bear so much fruit for your future. Settling on something that is easy, will lead to an unfulfilled life. Make the decision, do the hard thing, because the moment that you put the plan for your life in your rear view mirror, the more content and fulfilled you will be.

Everything is from God.

I have about 3 weeks until I am overseas but will update this blog probably twice before I go. I love and thank each and every one of you who read this and to the billions who didnt. God has a plan for you.

-Andrew Yankowsky