leaving on a jet plane...

well i did it. i booked my plane for uganda back on august 8.

i am leaving for "the pearl of africa" on september 26.

in 5 weeks....35 days...

i will pack it all up here in cleburne, texas and head east to the beautiful continent of africa that has always held a part of my heart.

it is surreal everyday now to think i will be walking the streets, interacting, conversing, praying with, dreaming with, teaching, mentoring, being taught, learning from and being challenged by those of another country, another race, another culture, another nation, another tribe...but in that, there is such beauty for we were created for just that. i can wait to experience ALL of what God has in store.

so from this day until i climb onto the plane, i will be doing the best i can in preparing my heart, my mind, and my spirit for the task ahead. i am beyond thankful for the community i have established here. for the support. for the prayers. for the love i have received.

my cup overflows...

wow. almost a month has gone by since i have put words down on this blog. i can't tell you how many times i would sit down ready to post and i would have writers block. maybe its because life has been a whirlwind of CRAZY and my mind can't focus on one thing. my goal today is to spend the afternoon writing about the past month. the events, everyday life, emotions i've been going through, things i'm processing, and everything else in between. i have got to get better about posting every couple of days. i'll be in uganda, africa in 5 weeks (ahhh!!) and i want to share every experience with whoever is reading this!

so get ready for updates galore....happy blogging to me...and to you! :)

a longing fulfilled

i'll be honest with you (or whoever is reading this). i've been afraid to dream sometimes. not because i don't want to or that i don't have dreams at all. i am afraid that i will be called foolish. i am afraid i won't be supported. not encouraged. or not challenged to go for it. i am also afraid that my dreams won't come full circle. that i will start an idea but then won't have enough creativity to carry it through or actually make it happen. 

i know that is my flesh waring against me in every way. this is satan's way of trying to pry me away little by little of dreaming dreams that God has actually planted inside of me. 

and so i return to read this scripture and bold statement...

"I know what you need before you ask Me, 

so dream big, pray big and believe big." 

the more i speak out the dreams i believe God has planted inside of me. the more real they become. and the more excited and alive i become.

one dream in particular is truly becoming reality...the dream of returning to Africa and serving the people there. it is coming to fruition this year. yes...this year! :) to make a long explanation short...i will be moving there the end of september to be a private tutor to a ugandan child. i will be living with the american family who adopted him. i will also have the greatest privilege of partnering and working alongside ROWAN. 

i still can't believe it. God is soo good. He has known the longing in my heart. He has heard my cry. He has heard their cry. He has answered in His perfect timing. this is His beautiful story He is writing and i just get to be a part of it. 

thank you, O Lord, for allowing me to

 be involved in what you are doing.

 may you be exalted! may others see You 

and may they be drawn to You! Amen 

Happy July...part 2

july 10-16th : Camp Fuego in Bethany, LA

i had an opportunity to go work a week of youth camp in louisiana. i wasn't sure what it would entail and if there would be space. i actually didn't know for sure until just a few days before students came.

after my parents and i drove 10hrs back to fort worth from new mexico, i jumped in my car and drove another 3 1/2 hours east to louisiana. i love road trips, but this one was really long. it was so worth it though! i met up with kevin (the boy in my life) and he began introducing me to a lot of fuego staff. it was a bit overwhelming, but by the end of the week we all became best friends.

camp fuego is set up just like any other student life camp. churches bring their youth group and we as the staff facility their time at camp. we had large group sessions with worship and teaching of the word. we had small group sessions (aka..."DG" [discussion group]). we had recreation activities. fuego fun. and late night staff games (mafia and signs)!

my DG for the week was 11th graders, both boys and girls. my co-leader was john and we had an incredible group of kids. our DG time was amazing. one of my favorite things is sitting with students and talking about life. it is powerful and encouraging for both parites.

2 precious girls i hung out with ALOT at fuego

1st pic @ fuego w/kevin

DG #21

kevin and i with some of his old students from river valley church

-we ate just about every meal together

my roommates for the week: 

Ann Marie, Lauren, and Meg

2 more beautiful friends i made at fuego..

last day @ fuego

we all lost sleep that week, but to be in great fellowship and community with these people was worth every minute. i now have a new family of friends in which i am beyond blessed to have!