Summer Adventures

I'm going to take a break from my usual deep/spiritual/emotional post and just give you an update on my life. Because a lot is happening at once these days, and you may start wondering if I dropped off the face of the earth here sometime soon. I assure you, I have not. But here's what's up:

Last week I went to Senior High camp at Faith Bible Camp. It rocked my socks. God moved like no other. Friendships were formed and relationships were strengthened. I dove into the book of Philippians and fell in love. I shared tears with a girl who lost her dad at the age of 8 from a drug overdose. I made friendship bracelets for some beautiful girls and was really encouraged by God's elements of surprise and perfect timing. He knows what He's doing. Camp was amazing.

Tomorrow begins the first day of Cornerstone week. My lovely friend Erin is coming to stay with me for the week and experience the fest for the first time. I'm really excited about this. I'm really excited about how powerful God has always been at Cornerstone. I'm ready to be stripped down and broken for God. I'm ready for mud pits and mosh pits and free ramen noodles. But most of all I'm ready for the Holy Spirit to MOVE. Be praying for the fest, friend.

I went to the doctor today to talk about a lot of Ethiopia stuff. I got a prescription for malaria and learned how to pop my ears so they don't explode on the airplane. I got 4 shots last week and almost passed out. I don't do well with needles. I have to get 2 more shots next week and I am not excited about it. Yellow fever and typhoid...which apparently can have some nasty side affects. I always get every side affect. So pray for that too.
As far as our trip goes...fundraising is going well. We still have a few hundred dollars left to reach our goal. But we are SO thankful that God has provided so much for us! He has been incredible and you guys have been incredible in supporting us. We are beginning to collect donations to take over there. Childrens clothes, multivitamins, stickers, small toys, toothbrushes/toothpaste, etc. We've had some stuff come in already and are praying that more will come. We would love to take an extra suitcase of donations...but this will cost another $200. If the money comes in, you know we will be doing that!

On July 9th we will be having a pillowcase dress making days with some of the ladies from my church. It should be a wonderful time and I can't wait to see the children's faces in Africa when they get a brand new dress! This will be an exciting time.

I could really go on with details on our Ethiopia trip for a long while. Perhaps I will try to make another post about that.

College. That is happening. I got registered for classes at WIU at the beginning of June. I'm pretty satisfied with my schedule. I met my roommate, too. Her name is Kate and she is an answer to prayer! She is such a blessing. God has definitely brought us together for His Glory. I can't wait to share my college years with this beautiful, Jesus-loving girl. God is so good.

God has provided for me abundantly financially for college. I am going to do my best to use it all for His glory. This is such a blessing. I am so thankful.

Due to my financial stability, I am going to be sponsoring a Compassion International child at Cornerstone this next week. We've sponsored a girl named Kiriti as a family for several years now. I am really excited about being able to do this on my own now! Be praying for me and for the child I sponsor. I will post information about him/her as soon as I can.

In mid-July I am going back out to Faith Bible Camp to counsel 3rd-5th graders. It's a pretty awesome experience. I love it a lot, really. Those kids keep me busy! And God is so wonderful in giving me the opporunity to teach them.

Lindsey and I leave on July 25th for Ethiopia. We will return on August 8th. And on August 20th I will be moving into my dorm on campus!

So....my summer is kind of crazy. And kind of amazing. I am loving every minute of it. God has given me soooo many opportunities to serve Him. He is so faithful and so holy. He is my joy and my righteousness.

Thanks for being a part of this beautiful life, dear friend.

Now if  I don't post for a couple of months...you will know why.
I'm doing that stuff^^.

Be a Firefly

I caught a firefly tonight.
First one of the summer.

The thing about fireflies is
they are actually around all day,
they just don't have any reason
to shine in the daylight.

When the darkness comes
they reveal their light,
and then it's impossible
to not notice them..

And the other thing about fireflies is,
the darker the world around them,
the brighter their lights shine.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. --Matthew 5:14-16



Fear Not, My Love

We had a guest speaker at church this week. I don't remember his name or where he was from. But, I do remember that he had a really powerful message, and he was full of passion and the Holy Spirit. I know that he was legit about Jesus Christ.
I got up and shared about my trip to Ethiopia in front of the congregation on Sunday for a few minutes. I guess that's all that guest pastor knew of me. I didn't talk to him or tell him my life story. I didn't share with him how I was feeling about Africa and college and growing up. ...But I guess he figured it out anyway. I guess God must have filled him in. Because, he came up to me after the service and blessed me with this wonderful verse:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
--Isaiah 41:10

And I guess I didn't recognize until right then....how scared I really was. Because when he started talking to me about not being afraid, my eyes began filling up with tears -- unexpected tears. So then I sat there and starting thinking about it. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how scared I really am. And the more I realized how scared I was, the more that verse continued to bless me and fill me with peace. And the more I was filled with peace about my fears, the more I found myself in awe of the greatness of God.

Yeah, I am scared.
I'm scared of being fully surrendered and heading to a country halfway across the world with no idea what to expect. I'm afraid of a 14 hour plane ride. I fear being completely out of my element and not knowing how to reach the people there. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the utter poverty that I'm going to face. I'm scared that my own pride is going to get in the way of my ability to share God's love. I'm afraid of not being able to make the impact that I'm supposed to make there. I fear that Africa will not meet all the hype -- that I will come home disappointed and exhausted.

I'm afraid of coming home and having my life completely flipped around, trying to figure out how to deal with what I've just experience in Africa...and then having to pack up right away and move away from home and start this college thing. I'm afraid I won't be the same person I am when I left, and at the same time I hope Africa changes me. I fear I'm trying to take on too many life altering things at one time. I'm afraid of college being ridiculously more than I can handle. I'm scared that the crazy college world will suck me in and corrupt me into someone who I am not. I'm scared of not being able to find that solid group of Christian friends that I am going to need for support. I'm scared of not knowing what to say when my psychology professor lectures on humanism and how there is no way to possibly know the meaning of this life. I'm afraid of wasting my time day after day...not doing enough for the Kingdom of God.

I feel like I'm probably going to have some sort of epic, super-spiritual breakthrough sometime soon. Sometime between intimate cabin devotions at camp, falling on my knees at cornerstone, and giving a poverty-stricken boy his first pair of new shoes...I feel that God is definitely going to take hold of me and teach me something ridiculously powerful. How could he not?

I talked to a man who spent some years in Africa. I told him about my trip. He told me this:
"Don't go to Africa and not expect to be changed."

So that scares me, and also is pretty exciting.

I guess the whole point of this post is that I didn't realize how scared I was until someone told me not to be scared. And then God worked in a pretty awesome way. Because He will strengthen me and help me and uphold me with His righteous right hand.

And when I meditated on that promise, the fears began to fade away.
God says, "Don't be afraid."
Don't be afraid of failure or illness or the days to come. Do not be afriad of life or death or any trial you may face. Because He is with me.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 8:38-39

And as I start worrying about the trials ahead, the Lord comforts me in speaking these words:

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
--James chapter 1

Take that psychology professors, scary plane rides, and intimidating circumstances.

I have a crown waiting for me.

Cardinal Baby

This little guy has been hanging out in the bush by my porch for a couple of weeks now.
First, in gray spotted egg form.
And just 2 days ago, in mutant baby bird form.
Just give it some time, guys.
I think he'll look a lot cuter real soon.
I noticed today that he's starting to grow little tiny feathers!
Isn't life just so cool?