Perspective

These last few months have been absolutely exhausting. Working full time, volunteering, preparing for Africa, and working in the college ministry at my church are just a few of the things that have kept me busy. This past weekend I had really begun to lose sight of WHY I was doing all of these things and had gotten caught up in just how busy I've been. It took a conversation with a child to help me remember.

I was babysitting for two sweet girls ages 9 and 6. They had asked me tons of questions about Africa the whole night. Then one of them asked why I was going. Instead of answering, I responded, "Why do you think I'm going?" Her response? "Well actually, I know why you're going. It's because the kids in Africa need you to tell them about Jesus so we can all be together in heaven one day." Such a simple answer, yet she got it exactly right. That's the reason. The only reason.

I get this question a lot these days, but my answer is never so simple. It always involves an explanation of the worldwide orphan crisis, the AIDS pandemic in Africa and Eastern Europe, the rampant political corruption that allows these problems to continue, the list goes on... My answer includes Jesus too, but it's not all that people hear. But it needs too be all. I want it to be.

The truth is, I'm not going because the orphans need me to bring them food, water, and clothing. I will help them with those things, but the thing they need most is Jesus. It's the thing we all need most.

It took a child's simple comment to remind me of that.

“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

The Reason I'm Going to Africa...

Do Something Now from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

Florida Vacation

Just got back from a fabulous week of family vacation at Fernandina Beach, Florida. It was my first time ever in Florida and I definitely don't know how I survived 22 years without ever going there. It was absolutely wonderful and I will definitely be returning as soon as possible! Highlights:

• Got to spend LOTS of family time. This has become increasingly more important to me as I now live far from them and, come January, there will be an ocean separating us.


• Layed on the beach for hours every day. Boogie-boarded, swam, played volleyball and bocce ball, and walked along the beach searching for crabs at night.


• We saw dolphins every day, including one day where they jumped up out of the water almost 20 times. It was truly incredible.


• Went sailing-another first for me. Super relaxing. Except for when a disoriented bat flew out of one of the sails and started flying around the boat. That was a little more stressful...but memorable!


• We visited the historic town of St. Mary's and spent the day walking around, eating seafood, and touring a historic home.


• Celebrated my 22nd birthday!

Here are some pictures of the week:

This is what I woke up and saw every morning - fabulous!

Me and the younger brother. He's a little tall.

Taking a walk on the sand dunes.

Sailing!

Our little friend who sailed with us.

At some historic house in St. Mary's.

Family picture on the beach.

Dad and the girls.

I really have no idea...

Moving!

In January, I'll be picking up and moving. Where, you ask?

Africa, of course!! Seriously. I'm moving to Africa in January. I'll be there until the end of July.

I've been praying about an opportunity to go oversees to do orphan-care work for over a year now. I thought that I would be going to Russia. God had other plans.

I will be going to either Swaziland or Kenya. Mostly likely Swaziland, but there's a possibility of Kenya as well. Swaziland is a small, land-locked country located almost completely within South Africa (the eastern side is Mozambique). Over 40% of the population is infected with AIDS, resulting in a HUGE number of orphans. It is very common to have child-headed households. Here are a few pictures that some friends of mine took on their recent trip to Swaziland with Children's Hope Chest. The thing that strikes me most about these pictures is that, in spite of the fact that these most of these kids don't have shoes or know with certainty when they will be eating again, they all have joy in their eyes. I love that!

The few details I know:

I will be going through Adventures in Missions. I leave January 4th for Matamoros, Mexico, where I will go through extensive training for eight weeks. I will then spent five months in-country. My time will be primarily spent feeding, caring for, and lovin' on these kids. I return to America July 24th. I truly feel privileged to have the opportunity to share Jesus with the "least of these."

Please be praying for me and my team (who I don't know yet) as we prepare for this trip. I do have to raise support for this trip and if any aspect of the trip causes me stress, it's that!

I will keep you updated on all that happens in the next few months! Thanks so much for your support.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." - James 1:27

If only I lived like this...

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made- I'm a disciple of his. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions are few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give till i drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me. And, when he comes for his own, he will have no problem recognizing me... my banner will be clear!"

-A note found verbatim in the office of a young Zimbabwe preacher after he was martyred for his faith in Christ Jesus

Conner's Visit

Conner came in last Thursday and stayed until Tuesday morning. We had a great time! He got to meet most of my friends, we did lots of fun activities, and ate a massive amount of junk food.

On Friday we went tubing down the Little River in Townsend, TN, just outside of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The water was absolutely FREEZING!!! I spent most of the time trying not to touch the water. There were a few areas of pretty good rapids, which was a lot of fun. We both really enjoyed it and it was nice and relaxing for the most part.

After that, we went camping with 5 of my friends in Elkmont Campground. That was also great fun. Conner and two others braved the approximately 50 degree water temperatures and swam in the river that runs along the campground. It took him over an hour to warm up after! We got to see a bear, which was my first since moving to Tennessee and took an easy hike up to a waterfall on Saturday morning...overall a very successful camping venture.

Sunday night we played disc golf, made cupcakes, worked out, watched a movie, and took quizzes on his iTouch. The quizzes were hilarious. The questions were things like: "Would you rather listen to music by eating CDs or see bands in concert by licking those in the concert around you?"

The movie was absolutely horrible. We rented "Knowing" with Nicholas Cage. It was creepy and pointless and it was a very good thing we lightened the mood with the quizzes before going to bed.

Making cupcakes was quite entertaining for all involved. It began with expired eggs, which, according to the Internet, are still good as long as they don't float in water. Problem solved. Cupcakes could be made. The egg dilemma also brought on a bet between Anne and Conner that it's impossible to break an egg with your bare hand by squeezing it. That's true, by the way. You should try it. Conner lost the bet.

Before going to play disc golf. The level of excitement is a little disproportionate in this photo.

Finally, this is Conner being the drill sergeant for Anne and I. You should see our muscles after this intense workout.

I wish I had more pictures, but I just forget to take them. Plus, some of them got deleted off the camera somehow.

Washington D.C. for the 4th

I got a chance to go up to Washington D.C. on the 4th with 3 friends. We went and stayed with another friend of ours for 3 nights and had a great time! We drove up after work Thursday, explored the city Friday, watched fireworks from the Capitol lawn on Saturday, and drove back on Sunday. It was a quick trip, but very worth it. It made me miss living up there! Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

Mallory and I at the Lincoln Memorial.

Matt, me, Mallory, Joel, Clay, and Daniel with the Washington Monument in the background.

Daniel, me, Clay, Matt, and Joel at the Capitol Building. This was Friday and we got to watch some of the performers rehearse for the concert the next day. It was awesome because we were so close and hardly anyone else was there!

Different view of the Capitol.

The Washington Monument or "The Pencil" as we used to call it.

Waiting for the Metro on the 4th. Quite an experience.

Matt's sisters, Mallory, and me waiting for the Metro.

Waiting for the fireworks. I think we had 4 hours left right here.

Conner's in town right now. We went camping last night and had a fabulous time! I'll try to get some pics posted soon.