Oh The Places I Have Been

I thought I might reminisce about the places the God has taken me in the past few years. 

First was Mexico. But I don't have a picture for that.  It was all the seniors in our youth group.  It was a blast.  We stayed at the all expense paid resort.  They servers kept trying to give us alcohol.  I think we may have accidentally had some.  It was so relaxing, and a ton of fun.  It was also the only time I left the country and it wasn't a mission trip. (not counting when we went to Canada to visit my mom's peoples)

And then there was FRANCE, of which I have many pictures.  So here are just a few

Notre Dame Cathedral

Me at the Eiffel Tower

I went to France on a choir tour in 2008.  We spent 3 days in Paris and then 4 days in Nice and anywhere we could drive to within the day.  It was a jam packed tour of "let's see everything we possibly can and then sing."  We sang in some of the most beautiful cathedrals.  The sound was mesmerizing.  They had to sit us all down before our first performance just to make sure that we wouldn't lose focus during the performance.  

Next came Sierra Leone, West Africa!

This was my first overseas Mission trip.  But wasn't going to be the last.  while I was there I got to teach the girls in the village how to play soccer.  I gave my testimony.  We walk a ton! Mainly because the van kept breaking down. :)  In the picture above we are standing on the side of the road because the radiator in the other vehicle cracked.  Apparently it's a common thing.  But it gave us some extra time to get to know our African teammates.  The African girl standing right next to me is Katie.  I got pretty close with her even though she was only with us for a couple days.  We still keep in contact and everything. 

And of course we had to stop in London on the way home for two days.

I couldn't believe it when they told us that staying in London for two days would actually make the trip $500 cheaper.  of course we jumped on that.  we mostly did sight seeing and touristy things that didn't cost any money.  most of us didn't really have any more money with us excet for food and a couple souveniers.

Next was Haiti.  This trip came and went quicker than the time I knew I would go.  My college pastor asked me if I would seriously consider going on the trip if they helped out a bit.  I told him all my focus was on support raising for Thailand.  But by God's sovereignty in my life and working out some little details, I ended up in Haiti for spring break.  We worked with some churches there.  We taught the kids some fun songs and bible stories.  Then played soccer with them.  I would post some pics, but I have a video of my Haiti experience already on the blog.  You should check that out. 

 

And then, finally, was Thailand.  I know there's already a few pictures from there, but I thought I'd put up a few more. 

The two things I really wanted to do before I left was go to the zoo, and do Flight of the Gibbon.  It's a zip lining course through the jungle.  it was SO MUCH FUN.  I didn't get a chance to go to the zoo, but they had a nice little cardboard cut out scene at the air port. So we decided to take a picture in front of it with some of my friends.  So then the trip was (Kinda) complete. 

Well there we go.  all my overseas trips put into one post.  Enjoy

Pondering of Today.

I'm happy to day that we are starting our study on Hebrews 11.  Our church has been studying Hebrews for about a year now, and we are finally to chapter 11.  I has been so........ enlightening and challenging.  The writer of Hebrews made it a strong point to show that we are not saved by anything we do.  Christ is the priest and the sacrifice.  He is the Ruler of the nations and we share His inheritance!  But why do we get to share anything or be saved by this Christ.  Because God is love.  His gifts are many, and worth more than anything on Earth.  Gifts like salvation, fellowship with the Father, and our Faith.  I've enjoyed being reminded today that my Faith is not my own.  Just like after becoming a believer we are continually being sanctified-not that our works through the sanctification process are credited to us for any worth except for us to grow closer to Christ- our faith is a gift given to us by God that will grow stronger as we grow weaker in ourselves and stronger in Christ.  Faith produces works that glorify God, but none of those things we do because of our faith will earn us anything.  All we have are gifts from the Lord.

Breathing Easy Now.

I looked up the word "home" today.  I was hoping to find some inspirational definition that we've forgotten about, but I found the opposite.  All of the definitions spoke about the physical nature of what a home is, but none of them said anything about the emotion behind "home"  Home is a place where you live, sure, but when you really feel like you're home....  It's so much more than a place.  it's the people, the atmosphere, the things in the community.  "Home is where the heart is."  I guess that's an overused cheesy phrase but it holds true.  Home is when you are right where God wants you.  I don't think there's a better feeling than knowing you are where you are supposed to be.  And right now, I'm supposed to be in Fayetteville, AR.  Waiting for God's timing and direction on my life.

So I'm finally home and have been getting readjusted this past week.  My first few days I was spending time with family in TN.  I have missed them enormously!  I got to visit with my amazing Grandmother!  She is so amazing.  She's got the best personality.  So independent but still very dependent on the Lord.  If I could pick someone to be my hero here on Earth, it'd be her.  She has the most amazing stories of how she became the woman she is today.  Sadly she can't tell you these stories now.  Each time I see her she forgets more and more.  So I try to visit whenever I can so that she is reminded that her family loves her.

I got to visit some other ailing family members too.  It's hard being away from them when I know that any day could be the last.  So I'm very thankful that I've gotten to visit with them and tell them I love them.

I'm back in Fayetteville now.  We just had this cool event called Bikes Blues and BBQ.  basically a lot of Harleys and some great BBQ.  I think having all the bikers around freaked my roommates out.  They were on edge all weekend.  I love that I'm finally settled back into my home here.  Fayetteville really feels like home, and my friends feel like family.  So I've missed them just as much as my biological family.  And I love them just as much.  I've spent the past few days spending time with my roommates and our closer friends.  It has been.......surreal.  Like I can breath easier now that I'm settled back here.  being in a new place and around new people makes you conscious of everything you do and say, and how you act.  But since I've been home I have felt so comfortable showing my friends who I am now after all the changes I've had over the summer.  And we live together so easily that it feels like breathing.  

Breathing easy now.