Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and advice about my trip to Mexico. This has been a really stressful couple of weeks trying to decide what to do, but the Lord's provision and mercy on the situation has been so awesome! I just wanted to share a few things that have happened in the last few weeks...
First, I spent a lot of time praying about whether I should go. I finally felt a peace about two things: 1. That I should honor my parent's wishes on the subject. If they asked me not to go, I had decided not to go. I very much felt led to make this commitment. 2. That if, at any point before leaving on the trip, I felt uneasy about anything the church was or was not doing regarding safety, that I would not go. However, I was going to reassess the situation after our final meeting (which was today).
I prayed intently, talked to several people not involved in the trip or the church, and did extensive research on the violence in Mexico. Our last meeting was this morning after church, and if you had asked me even last night if I felt like the church was doing all that it needed to do to help with safety, I would have said no. This was mainly because they weren't sending any information about what they were doing. I (wrongly) interpreted this to mean that they were not doing anything. Going into the meeting, I had several things that I had established as "must-haves" for them to address in order for me to feel that they were taking appropriate steps toward safety. They were: 1. Already contacted the US Consulate in Tijuana and registered our trip. 2. Canceled the plan to go to the mercados in Rosarito on the final day. 3. Give instructions on what to do in case of emergencies while we are there.
Honestly, I didn't think this was all going to happen and I didn't really believe that I would be going on the trip. BUT...they addressed all of these things and more!! I was totally blown away and THRILLED that all of my concerns had been fulfilled above and beyond what I had prayed for!! Going into the meeting, I had prayed that I would have either an undoubted peace about the situation or a definite feeling that I should not go. Peace was granted!!!
I talked to my parents about it, and while they're a little nervous, they are also supportive. They were very happy with how the church handled the situation.
So...I will be going to Mexico on Saturday!! I am really excited and just blown away at how this has come together above and beyond what I could have asked or imagined. I am still a bit nervous, but I very much have a peace about the situation and can't wait to leave!!
Sorry this was such a long story...I am pretty amazed with the whole thing, if you can't tell :-)
Please continue to pray for safety for our team while we're in Mexico, for continued peace about the situation, and that we can really be Christ to the people we will be serving in Tijuana.
Showing posts with label mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mexico. Show all posts
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Grandparents Visit, Mexico Trip, and School
So, it's been quite a week for me.
First of all, I will begin with a prayer request. As you probably know, I will be traveling to Tijuana, Mexico two weeks from today to work with orphans. However, this week the US State Department has issued a travel advisory for all Americans traveling to Mexico. Tijuana was specifically named as a hot-spot for violence. This week, I have spent a massive amount of time researching the violence, meeting with the leaders of the trip, seeking advice on how to proceed with the trip, and praying continuously for wisdom on what to do. As of now, I fully intend to continue with the trip as planned. I have a great sense of peace about going. While I am still fearful of what the situation may be like, I am confident that the leaders of the trip will take appropriate actions to help ensure our safety. Please be in prayer for our safety, wisdom, and fear as the trip gets closer!
On to fun news, my Maw-maw and Paw-paw and Aunt Ann are here visiting me this weekend! They came in from New Orleans and Colorado, respectively. Unfortunately, it has been raining all weekend, so we had to scratch a trip to the mountains, but we are still having a great time. Last night, we went to dinner at Calhoun's on the River and then took a short driving tour of downtown Knoxville. Today, after a quick trip to the doctor for Paw-paw's ear, we went on a tour of campus, then had lunch at Moe's on the strip. Tonight my roommates and I made dinner for them (Thanks so much, guys! You're the best!!). We also had a cake for Maw-maw's 80th birthday. Roomie A did the fabulous decorating job!
School is absolutely crazy right now. Midterms are this week and next, I have papers due, and two groups projects this week and next! I definitely won't be getting a lot of sleep the next couple of weeks, but then it's on to Mexico for Spring Break.
And just for fun, here's a couple pictures of Roommate A and I after Wacky-Tacky Club at YOKE. I have to say that's definitely the most colors I've ever had on my body at one time.
First of all, I will begin with a prayer request. As you probably know, I will be traveling to Tijuana, Mexico two weeks from today to work with orphans. However, this week the US State Department has issued a travel advisory for all Americans traveling to Mexico. Tijuana was specifically named as a hot-spot for violence. This week, I have spent a massive amount of time researching the violence, meeting with the leaders of the trip, seeking advice on how to proceed with the trip, and praying continuously for wisdom on what to do. As of now, I fully intend to continue with the trip as planned. I have a great sense of peace about going. While I am still fearful of what the situation may be like, I am confident that the leaders of the trip will take appropriate actions to help ensure our safety. Please be in prayer for our safety, wisdom, and fear as the trip gets closer!
On to fun news, my Maw-maw and Paw-paw and Aunt Ann are here visiting me this weekend! They came in from New Orleans and Colorado, respectively. Unfortunately, it has been raining all weekend, so we had to scratch a trip to the mountains, but we are still having a great time. Last night, we went to dinner at Calhoun's on the River and then took a short driving tour of downtown Knoxville. Today, after a quick trip to the doctor for Paw-paw's ear, we went on a tour of campus, then had lunch at Moe's on the strip. Tonight my roommates and I made dinner for them (Thanks so much, guys! You're the best!!). We also had a cake for Maw-maw's 80th birthday. Roomie A did the fabulous decorating job!
School is absolutely crazy right now. Midterms are this week and next, I have papers due, and two groups projects this week and next! I definitely won't be getting a lot of sleep the next couple of weeks, but then it's on to Mexico for Spring Break.
And just for fun, here's a couple pictures of Roommate A and I after Wacky-Tacky Club at YOKE. I have to say that's definitely the most colors I've ever had on my body at one time.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Week (or two) in Review
Things have been rather mundane around here lately. Insanely busy, but nothing really important. A few highlights:
1. I chaperoned a middle school Valentine's Day dance. It was a good reminder of why I would never want to be in middle school again. I also got to deal with children who decided to get into a fight right in front of me. That was exciting (as in terrifying).
2. Our apartment is in a little bit of a prank war at the moment. Yesterday Roommate A got out of the shower to find that her bed was missing from its rightful place in her bedroom. It was later discovered in the living room. It's weird how those things can sometimes happen without any apparent cause or explanation. On Valentine's, Roommate S came home to a Christmas tree next to her bed. It stayed there for several days before it made its way back into a box. I have come home to a messed up closet, missing dishes, and rearranged picture frames on my walls. They are winning, so you can e-mail you fantastic prank ideas to me at any time.
3. I leave for Mexico in less than three weeks!! I am so excited. I have raised most of my money for the trip already and it has been really cool to watch it all come together. God's provision really is awesome!!
4. I am continuing to explore different avenues for a year overseas working with orphans. I don't have a specific country or even part of the world in mind, but I am trying to stay open to wherever the Lord would like to send me. It's an exciting, while terrifying time!
That's all for now. I have to go read, study, and write some papers. Sounds fun, right?
1. I chaperoned a middle school Valentine's Day dance. It was a good reminder of why I would never want to be in middle school again. I also got to deal with children who decided to get into a fight right in front of me. That was exciting (as in terrifying).
2. Our apartment is in a little bit of a prank war at the moment. Yesterday Roommate A got out of the shower to find that her bed was missing from its rightful place in her bedroom. It was later discovered in the living room. It's weird how those things can sometimes happen without any apparent cause or explanation. On Valentine's, Roommate S came home to a Christmas tree next to her bed. It stayed there for several days before it made its way back into a box. I have come home to a messed up closet, missing dishes, and rearranged picture frames on my walls. They are winning, so you can e-mail you fantastic prank ideas to me at any time.
3. I leave for Mexico in less than three weeks!! I am so excited. I have raised most of my money for the trip already and it has been really cool to watch it all come together. God's provision really is awesome!!
4. I am continuing to explore different avenues for a year overseas working with orphans. I don't have a specific country or even part of the world in mind, but I am trying to stay open to wherever the Lord would like to send me. It's an exciting, while terrifying time!
That's all for now. I have to go read, study, and write some papers. Sounds fun, right?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
25 Things
I think this is a little weird, but I'll go ahead and do it anyway because now I have been "tagged" on Facebook and through another blog. And mainly because my roommate keeps bugging me about it. So Anne, here are 25 random things about me, in no particular order:
1. I hate chocolate. The smell and taste.
2. I have lived in 4 different states.
3. I really hate when hair gets on me. I don't think hair is gross, but I freak out if it gets on me and it's not attached to a head.
4. My biggest fear about going to Mexico in March is that I will get lice in the orphanage. I worry about this a lot. Everyone else worries about the drug cartels. I know it's weird.
5. I absolutely refuse to drink milk out of a plastic cup. This one time, my roommates hid all the glasses from me and I tried drinking my milk from a plastic cup. I couldn't and poured out the rest of my milk.
6. J.P. Prince is my favorite UT basketball player. I pretty much think he's amazing.
7. My biggest passion is orphans. I talk about orphans/adoption all the time. I am planning to work with orphans oversees for a year after college. I don't know where yet.
8. Going along with #7, one of my biggest dreams is to adopt children. Probably from Russia or Ukraine.
9. I want to have 7 children (some of them adopted).
10. All of my clothes face the same way in my closet. Always.
11. I have had 19 broken bones in my life. Yes, as in 1-9.
12. I love Italian food.
13. The 4th of July is my favorite holiday.
14. I have 2 metal rods in my back.
15. I drink coffee every morning. I am currently working my way down to decaf.
16. I am planning to run a 10k in May. Probably in Washington D.C. Let me know if you want to run too!
17. I think middle-schoolers are hilarious and I volunteer with a middle school ministry.
18. I like the smell of gas stations.
19. My favorite TV show of all time is Alias. It's seriously awesome. Sydney Bristow is still my role model.
20. One of my life goals is to learn 3 languages. I currently know English, some ASL, and a tiny bit of Spanish. When I live abroad next year, I am hoping to become proficient in something else, depending on where I live.
21. I hardly ever cry.
22. I push snooze every single morning. Now I have a note on my alarm that says "Discipline" and I feel guilty if I push it more than once.
23. In second grade, we hatched chicks at school. I got to keep one as a pet. Her name was "Chubby."
24. My favorite singer is Steven Curtis Chapman. He is an awesome adoption advocate and an awesome musician.
25. I can't sleep with clothes touching my feet, legs, or arms. I roll up my pants, sleep without socks, and only wear t-shirts to bed.
1. I hate chocolate. The smell and taste.
2. I have lived in 4 different states.
3. I really hate when hair gets on me. I don't think hair is gross, but I freak out if it gets on me and it's not attached to a head.
4. My biggest fear about going to Mexico in March is that I will get lice in the orphanage. I worry about this a lot. Everyone else worries about the drug cartels. I know it's weird.
5. I absolutely refuse to drink milk out of a plastic cup. This one time, my roommates hid all the glasses from me and I tried drinking my milk from a plastic cup. I couldn't and poured out the rest of my milk.
6. J.P. Prince is my favorite UT basketball player. I pretty much think he's amazing.
7. My biggest passion is orphans. I talk about orphans/adoption all the time. I am planning to work with orphans oversees for a year after college. I don't know where yet.
8. Going along with #7, one of my biggest dreams is to adopt children. Probably from Russia or Ukraine.
9. I want to have 7 children (some of them adopted).
10. All of my clothes face the same way in my closet. Always.
11. I have had 19 broken bones in my life. Yes, as in 1-9.
12. I love Italian food.
13. The 4th of July is my favorite holiday.
14. I have 2 metal rods in my back.
15. I drink coffee every morning. I am currently working my way down to decaf.
16. I am planning to run a 10k in May. Probably in Washington D.C. Let me know if you want to run too!
17. I think middle-schoolers are hilarious and I volunteer with a middle school ministry.
18. I like the smell of gas stations.
19. My favorite TV show of all time is Alias. It's seriously awesome. Sydney Bristow is still my role model.
20. One of my life goals is to learn 3 languages. I currently know English, some ASL, and a tiny bit of Spanish. When I live abroad next year, I am hoping to become proficient in something else, depending on where I live.
21. I hardly ever cry.
22. I push snooze every single morning. Now I have a note on my alarm that says "Discipline" and I feel guilty if I push it more than once.
23. In second grade, we hatched chicks at school. I got to keep one as a pet. Her name was "Chubby."
24. My favorite singer is Steven Curtis Chapman. He is an awesome adoption advocate and an awesome musician.
25. I can't sleep with clothes touching my feet, legs, or arms. I roll up my pants, sleep without socks, and only wear t-shirts to bed.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Back to School
Well, this is the first full week of classes and I am already exhausted. Classes officially began last Wednesday, which for me was an 8 AM Spanish class (and I don't speak Spanish!). My classes are actually surprisingly enjoyable (with the exception of one psycho teacher) and I am really looking forward to this semester.
I guess the only exciting news I have to report is that I'm going to Mexico for Spring Break with the college ministry at my church here in Knoxville. I am super excited. We will be gone a full week (Saturday to Saturday) and will be working primarily in an orphanage and a battered women's shelter. I had really been praying for a mission opportunity and this was a really awesome answer to prayer! There's a lot to do before I go, including raising support, but I truly can't wait to see what the Lord does with our time in Mexico!!
I also decided to try and do YOKE again this semester. I haven't done it in awhile because of class schedule and then surgery, but I really feel like it's something I should do again while I'm still in college. I'm going to call tomorrow and see if they still need help.
That's all for now. I'm going to try to go to bed early for a change.
I guess the only exciting news I have to report is that I'm going to Mexico for Spring Break with the college ministry at my church here in Knoxville. I am super excited. We will be gone a full week (Saturday to Saturday) and will be working primarily in an orphanage and a battered women's shelter. I had really been praying for a mission opportunity and this was a really awesome answer to prayer! There's a lot to do before I go, including raising support, but I truly can't wait to see what the Lord does with our time in Mexico!!
I also decided to try and do YOKE again this semester. I haven't done it in awhile because of class schedule and then surgery, but I really feel like it's something I should do again while I'm still in college. I'm going to call tomorrow and see if they still need help.
That's all for now. I'm going to try to go to bed early for a change.
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