Take the Shackles off My Feet So I Can Dance!!

4 months. 4 months. For us. 1 and a half years for others. 3 and a half for some. That's how long we served on this island. This island without seeing anyone leave their false idols and come to know the Father. But today...this day...the angels will rejoice in Heaven!! Praise the "Lord of heaven and earth [who] does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things." -Acts 17:24-25. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!

Just Around the Riverbend

So I've been trying to figure out my next step in life. I want the Father to lead me but so far, I haven't felt much of a pull except to continue to follow him overseas. I've thought seriously about seminary several times and still am thinking about it. For now my summer will take me to New Jersey and the fall will have me working in S.C. It will be good to stay at home for a while and spend time with my family, something I haven't done in almost 4 years. But there is still this restless desire in my heart that has been telling me that next spring I'm supposed to do something different. I've been looking all through the organization's website for something to do next spring. Really anything anywhere that is for more than a week or two. But strangely enough nothing has come up. I've even broadened my search to doing something in America. Nothing. Working at a boarding school for MK's. Nothing. Then one of my girl friends currently serving in South America sent me an e-mail about something she is planning on doing starting in Oct. I don't want to put it out there yet, but I went ahead and looked it up. It is something that I am highly interested in and am now praying fervently about. I ask that you all pray as well that if this is where the Father is calling me to be, that He make it so obvious I have no other options in life. Thanks in advance for your prayers.

Concerning where I am now, it's pretty much over. We are winding down with just 3 days left here. Then we will be in the Philippines for a few days then back to the states. It's been quite the adventure and it's been hard. After reading my friend's blog (same one mentioned above) and seeing how much the Father is working in her area and using her, I started to think my time here was a waste. We haven't seen hardly anything happen. But then He spoke to me and said, "You were obedient, that's enough." So I know that He has used us and though I might not visually see the outcome, I will see these people when I reach Heaven.

Can't wait to hug you all!!

Water falls are just another stepping stone

About to head back up north for our final week there!! This is crazy! It's almost over! But that just means there needs to be an extra amount of lifting up. We plan to hang out with a university friend tomorrow, we've already been able to share a little with her, so the Father willing, we will get to share more. Then we are going to just walk our city one day. Another day involves going to the touristy part of our region and trying to talk to some of the merchants, they are always super sweet when they realize we aren't tourist and we can speak the language.
The next two days after that will be spent in the village...our last two days with our Bapek and Memek and saudara...sadness!! But they are going to make up a bunch of casava chips to bring home! Those are my favorite, I hope they don't get bad before we get home, if they do, I guess I'll just have to eat them all by myself. haha, but our bapek tried to tell us that we couldn't go home because he said that we weren't allowed and we had to listen to our dad. haha!! That will probably be the hardest part of leaving here, leaving our family.
Thursday night will be our last college night for teaching english. Then friday we pack and sat. head back down south. It's going to flyyyyyy by! Don't let me get lazy this week Father! Push me and make me anxious!!!!

Married Life

Well being here in Indonesia has taught me that I need to get married. Haha, the Indonesian believers prayed that all us single girls would find husbands soon. Not to mention I just hit the 22 mark, which means my plan of being married by 25...hopefully 24...is getting closer and closer!! I'm not sure if I can stand this pressure! To add to that, the new NewSpring series that we have just started watching is called "Don't Get Married Until..." and it's all about what to look for in a marriage. (NewSpring is my church in America). Oh the signs are EVERYWHERE!!!!!
Then of course our "daddy" here is constantly giving us advice on future mates...his most helpful advice so far...just say what you mean. See I always thought guys just enjoyed the whole, "well I think I like this person...it may or may not be you...I don't know, maybe I don't really like this person...how do you feel about that?" You know the whole subtle approach.
Then we went to dinner the other night with one of the other married couples we worked with and we had a really good talk about marriage and dating and such. They said the person you marry is not going to change, so if you think that by marrying them things will get better you are wrong. Crap, I planned to just marry the next guy that came along and then make him into who I wanted, I guess that's out now. They also talked about not marrying someone with a different calling, that's my biggie. And in response to that PLEASE GUYS, START WANTING TO DO OVERSEAS WORK!!!!!! How am I supposed to find a husband to live overseas with me if they all want to stay in America! Come on guys, help a lady out!!! They also gave the advice that a guy wants to pursue a girl and not have the girl pursue them, ok done.
In conclusion I have realized that I will never find a husband and that I might as well just buy a dog that is willing to travel the world with me.

There's No Time for UNDERWEAR!!!!!!!

So some pretty awesome stuff has been going down here and I truly believe it's thanks to all the people lifting up myself and the people here. I just want to say THANK YOU first off. The Father is hearing your words and He is working to change lives here. First one of the girls that I have already mentioned here has said that she knows the Son is real in her head, but she isn't sure in her heart. We had a lot of opportunities to share with her this weekend when we went down south with her. She has been asking some good questions.
Another pretty awesome thing is that my partner and I teach English class every thursday night. Now we are both getting worn down and ready to go home. We were expecting to be down south this thursday, so we didn't think we would have to teach. But we ended up being home, so against our personal desires, we decided to go ahead with the English class for the night. We always use a story from the Word. Anywho, we started talking about which story we should use for the night and it popped into my head to use the time when a student was asked 3 times if he loved his Teacher. Funny enough, my partner just so happened to have read that story that morning. So we figured it was what we were supposed to use. So we went ahead and wrote it out, usually we summarize, but it was so short we pretty much just used what was in the Book. We made copies and on our way home I started to feel pretty sick. Then when we got home I got pretty sick. Luckily I have an amazing partner and she decided she was going to do the class by herself. A working couple came over to check on me and help her out, but they allowed her to lead the class as normal and didn't try to take it over. This was especially good for my partner b/c she isn't predisposed to leading, but she did it and she did it great! The students asked a lot of questions and she boldly answered. I know that I wasn't supposed to be there because she needed this opportunity to present the Word without me getting in the way. It was great to just hear after wards how the Father set this all up and how well it worked out!!
We know the enemy is trying to distract us with disappointments here and with the desire to go home, but as is said in 2 Cor. 2:11 "for we are not ignorant of [Satan's] intentions." Continue to lift us up!! Love you all

A Call We Can't Deny

"For if I preach the G, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the G! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship." - 1 Cor. 9:16-17

It is necessary that we realize that the task we have been entrusted with is not something we "feel called to" or something we need motivation for. Whether I am in America or a million miles away, the task is the same. Speak the truth, tell people about the only one who can save them, and act lovingly at all times.

"My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the spirit and power." -1 Cor. 2:4

Time is going by somewhat faster now that time to leave is fast approaching. It's weird to think it's only been 3 months because I feel like I've been here forever. The enemy is trying to tempt me into spending all my time reflecting on America and how badly I want to be there, but I have work to do here. Lift me up in this please, just that my anxiousness for home will be transformed into an anxiousness to see these people in my final home. The Father is already working at my heart and allowing me to see these people similar to how He sees them, I could not bare to see how He fully views them, my heart would completely break. But we do have one girl in particular named Kembar...which means twin so it's not really a name. She is saying that she really like the son and that when she reads His word it makes her feel better all day long. She believes in one Father, but she thinks that all beliefs will lead to him and that's where our Father has to show her that there are other things, but He is the only real, good Father. I hope that is understandable...so lift her up in that please!

Saya rindu kalian banyak dan saya mau pulong sekarang tapi harus tinggal disini dan lakukan kerja!!! Sayang kalian!!!!!!

[I miss you all a bunch and I want to come home now, but I have to stay here and do work! I LOVE ya'll!!!!!]

Oh The Places We will Go

So just for some light hearted fun, I feel that everyone should know of a current adventure my partner and I embarked on. You see, about a 45 minute bike ride from our house is a touristy little spot where lots of the Indonesians speak a fair bit of English. We have wanted to go out there for the longest time, not really as tourists but as people living in indonesia who just wanted to talk. So we went about 2 weeks ago and it was a good time, we met a few ladies that we were hoping to go back and talk to.
Today we decided to make the trip again, after many time consuming things had held us back from going. So we wake up an hour late at 8 instead of 7...haha and that is actually a pretty late wake up for us!! oh how indonesia has changed me!! Anywho, we pack up a book bag and head out into the heat of the day. Now the first time we made this bike ride, we stopped twice to get some energy. Today we were just going along, and it didn't seem like we had been biking for that long when Brette stops me to ask if we have passed our destination. I was still looking for one of the places we had stopped at the first trip, so I figured we were only about 1/2 way there. But as we continue to go, i realize that nothing looks familar, so we turn around. Sure enough, we had passed the place.
So we pull in and begin to chain up our bikes, luckily just to each other and not a pole or anything. You see normally, I grab the bike chain, but today, Brette grabbed it. As I was putting the chain on, I was thinking to myself, "self, I don't think this is the right bike chain, but maybe Brette found the keys we lost." So I chained up the bike and had the idea to try the keys...after the bike was locked. Turns out, Brette had not found the keys, we had just grabbed the wrong ones. so now, we are a 45 min. bike ride away from home with bikes that are chained together. I say, "it's fine we'll just call our friends and have them pick us up." To which Brette replies, "I didn't bring the phone." ADO!!! Luckily though, she did accidentally bring her phone!! So we were saved by our two friends who drove out and picked us up with our bikes. It did turn out good b/c we convinced them to eat breakfast with us and the guy made a friend. So yay!!! The End.

His name WILL be know

It's time, if you are reading this please be lifting this island up constantly!! The Father has put it on my heart, these people have to know! Darkness can't reign here any more! He is far more powerful! Let your heart be torn!

I am Giving you the work of the Priesthood as a GIFT!!

-Numbers 18:7

Remember that the Father allows us to serve Him, not for His benefit, but for our own!

So I had planned to write out a few blogs telling of the adventures I've been having here, but i just got a few e-mails telling me that one of my good friends from Disney passed away and all these other things just seem so insignificant. The thing is I had the chance to share with this guy and I let it pass me by. I watched as he drank and laughed with him. From what i heard he fell from a 10 story balcony, how different could that have turned out if I had shared the truth with him. He might not have been drinking on that balcony (which is all i can assume). Now I'm not trying to blame myself in any way for this, but it just reminds me of the task I have not only here but in every aspect of life. The Father calls us to speak His Word to all! Even here I am not being brave enough, not bold enough and this is all I'm here for! Please lift me up and ask The Father to show me HOW to speak to these people and get this Truth known to them! I can't save but I can plant! Please lift up Bali! It is referred to as the Island of Demons and just fully so. I can feel the darkness and spiritual war fare taking it's toll and these people need to know about something better!! Thanks in advance!

Be Courageous! I Have Conquered the World

- John 16:33

Sorry it's been so long since I last wrote. We haven't had much internet time. Nyepi was interesting, the night of they turned off all the outside lights of the hotel we were staying at. It was really creepy, but you could see the stars so clear. Reminded me that even though we are surrounded by this darkness, The Father is here and using us to shine His light.

On a higher note, my partner and I met an American! Go America! Haha, he was from California. He was a larger guy with a deep tan, could tell he wasn't aware of the hole in th e ozone layer thing. Anywho, we met him at an ATM machine down south and he was friendly, wanted to tell us all about his surfing adventures in Indo. Then when he went to pull money out he asked for our help in exchange rate. Being experts in the money by now, you know 2 months of experience, I told him that he was correct in assuming that 50,000,000 rupiah was about the same as $500. Then I said good by and left. As my partner and I were walking to find the rest of the group, it occurred to me that I had told him to add one too many zeros. So I had to guy take out $5000. I felt sooo bad!! I was the cause of his financial downfall!!
Luckily however, I was told you can only take out about$300 at a time. Whew! I just hope he didn't keep taking out $300 till he reached $5000. ADO!!!

When the Darkness Closes in Lord...BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!!!

So this week is a holiday for the people here called Nyepi. It is a day of silence for the people here. They are not supposed to use electricity, eat, do any activities, go outside or talk for a whole day from 6pm to 6am. The funny part, however, is that most of them don't know why they do it. "It's just tradition." One person told us that it is to purify the environment to appease the gods. We have also heard that it is meant to deceive the spirits into thinking that there is no one on the island, but most people say that is not true. Anyways, it's a big deal here so we are going to a hotel because tourist are allowed to move around within hotel grounds. So we are doing that. But it will definitely be a time of darkness and lifting up, so please be lifting these people up constantly over the next few days.

"You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods." -Exodus 20:5

We helped make some of the offerings for a ceremony about a week ago. I felt guilty about it at first, but then it opened up opportunities for questions. We were able to explain the reason for us lifting up and to explain that our father is capable of feeding himself. We have been trying to figure out why they have to leave out food for a "god", if he is a true god he should be able to make the food himself. But most of them don't know why they do it, so they can't really give an explanation.

It's sad to see these people follow nothing. No one is certain of what they believe, they all have different ideas. They just do what is "tradition" and what they are told to do. Lift them up, let it break your hearts and lift them up!!!!

"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause"

Oh yes I give you cheap price darling

Okay so this week we have gotten to be tourists down south. It has been really fun and we still have a few more days. The first day we went to this really touristy, artsy place. There was a monkey forest and the monkeys jumped all over us. The second day we went to a really famous temple, it was gorgeous and right on the ocean. The best part of that day was that Brette and I held this HUGE python!! haha and we got to go touristy shopping which we had been dying to do. The beaches here are such a work of art on God's part. But the sellers are sooo annoying, Brette has to keep me in check because most of the time I am really rude to them because they bother me so much. We were eating lunch at an outdoor restaurant and they just kept walking up and trying to sell us stuff and they won't go away when you say 'thank you'. Patience...patience...patience!

Picture Perfect

Here are some pictures for ya'll to look at, hopefully I'll be able to add more this week!!

So here is a description of the pictures in order as you scroll down. First is from our first ceremony, all this was set up to the "god". We teach the kids English. I'm sitting on my bed. The place with the food is our favorite restaurant and really cheap!! They dressed us in traditional clothes. I KILLED A CHICKEN!! Our first hiking adventure, and last I'm mowing the lawn.

Summer Nights!!

Just got back from a girls afternoon at the pool. Yes I heard 49 of the 50 states got snow and I got a sun burn. Wish I could say I was upset...but definitely loving this, minus the no AC. Anywho...

So since we aren't in America, Brette and I are having to learn to cook the Indonesian way. It certainly was not something I thought about when heading this way, but we are extremely privileged in the states to have microwavable meals, frozen food and packages with all the ingredients ready for you. Here we are having to learn how to cook from scratch. Let me explain...if I want tacos, (which I would probably have to substitute tofu for the meat), I would first have to make the flour tortillas-not quick- then mix the spices for the flavoring of the tofu. Not to mention that sour cream and cheese are pretty much out of the question b/c hey are expensive. What is even more difficult is that our kitchen consists of a portable stove top where the only heat settings are boiling and burn...not literally but the lowest setting boils water in about 10 seconds. We are extremely lucky that the couple we are living next to has a somewhat normal kitchen and the wife is teaching us a lot. So far we have learned to make biscuits, sausage and as a team we are still perfecting fried chicken. We also are learning to make casava chips, kinda like potato chips. We will be expert from scratch cookers soon...feel free to donate any from scratch recipes!!

"Earth, Earth, Earth hear from the word of the Lord." -Jeremiah 22:29
Our Father is so faithful! We have been thinking hard about the people in our village. We want them to have dreams and ask questions. So far two of the workers here were able to share the truth of the son's work with Bapek and the brother. We have also had several opportunities to share. We ask them to correct us as we read our Indo version of the book. Today the kids were asking the difference between us and them while reading. So that has opened the door to share more with them. WE have also thought a lot about meeting new people in the village and again our thoughts were heard. We have been invited to visit a few new homes and we have met some new people. Sometimes being a Boolay is a good thing!!

This week in the village showed us how much our family likes us. We didn't spend the night b/c we didn't want to be a burden, but every day they told us to just sleep there and stop driving back and forth. They were much more willing to let us help too. It took us one time or asking and they let us climb into muddy rice paddies and pick the rice. One day, as soon as we got there the sister asked if we wanted to sift sand with her. Another thought answered b/c we want to be considered a part of the family and j\not just visitors.

I want to encourage some, if not all of ya'll to be bolder in your walk. Maybe look into overseas work. It's really been put on my heart of how Global the message is meant to be:
"Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe, they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for [the Father]." - Crazy Love pg.77

"As for me, here I am in your hands, do with me what you think is good and right. But know for certain that if you put me to death,k you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city and on the residents, for it is certain the Lord has sent me to speak all these things directly to you." -Jeremiah 26:14-15
Be Bold. Be Unafraid. Don't let your fear hold you back, but the courage of the One carry you through.

The World Will Know His Name

"Let the people turn to you, but you much not turn to them." - Jeremiah 15:19
This culture here is very artistic and strong. The people in our village make souvenirs for Spain! They are a beautiful type of mosaic work, some in the shape of bulls and some that look like you could put mirrors in them. We are going to try to make one each to bring home, we've already been helping them with the ones for Spain!! haha!!

"You must walk in every way I command you so that it may go well with you." -Jeremiah 7:23b
This week we walked with the brother of our family up the mountain and got to look down on the city that we stay in and some of the surrounding areas. It was beautiful! We went back up two days later just to write and Brette drew, it is a very relaxing place. We also went hiking this week to some different waterfalls, actually it was today. It was pretty fun, we got a little lost, but we found our way. The water was freezing but the work out was nice!! Brette and I successfully rode our bikes on the streets here this week!! We made it to Hardy's (the "grocery" store) and back without dying!

So my most exciting adventure of the week happened Tuesday. First I had to wake up at 5:45 AM, not my best time of day. Our Indonesian friend picked me up on her motor bike and we rode to a local market. There we bought two live chickens for 75,000 rupiah (about $7.50). I thought they would be brought out in separate cages, silly me, I'm in Indonesia!! They were brought to me tied together at the feet and hanging upside down. So I held them upside down beside the motor bike on the ride home. I was sure they would die!! But they didn't and that night our family taught me how to potong ayam (slaughter a chicken). I thought we were just going to chop the head off, but instead we sawed at the neck and let the blood drain out. I felt like a murderer!! Haha! Then we plucked the chicken and I got to cut it up. Then we ate chicken for dinner and the next night Brette killed her chicken, she did much better!

"They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious." - Jeremiah 8:11
We went to our first ceremony this week and I really didn't expect to feel anything during it. It was really small just us and 4 others, but as soon as the grandma started burning incense to their "gods" my heart just sank. It hit how real this is to these people, my heart is broken for them. The whole time I just wanted to leave. I felt sick to my stomach, I wanted to cry and all I could do is watch as these people prayed to nothing or even worse to Satan. After we walked outside and this old man was dying and they were just calm like it was a normal occurrence. Brette and I had to walk away. She prayed and I cried and to think I hadn't even thought I would feel anything. Please lift the people of Indo up continuously!! I have finally seen the seriousness of their wound.

"Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods! Therefore I will teach them- this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is Lord." - Jeremiah 16:20-21

Sebab upah dosa ialah maut, tetapi karunia Allah ialah hidup yang kekal dalam Kristus Yesus, Tuhan kita

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord." -Romans 6:23

So we just got back from our first four days in the village. Actually we are going back out tomorrow. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The three of us stay in a small room with a mattress on the floor. I'm allergic to the room apparently because I couldn't stop sneezing and my eyes were itchy the whole time we were there. We will definitely be taking Benadryl this time! Every day we walked up the mountain to the garden so watch Bapek (dad) feed the cows. We are trying to convince him to let us go cut the food with him, but they all want to treat us like royalty. The food was...um a lot of rice. It wasn't all bad, but I definitely can't wait to get back to America for food.
The family is trying to teach us the Indonesian language and the Bali language at the same time. Ado!! It makes my head hurt because they will all be telling us stuff at the same time and once you've been learning for about an hour your head can't take much more in!!!!! haha, there is a little girl in the village that is terrified of white people, but I think we are slowly winning her over. A little boy there about 3 LOVES Brette and I, he cries when they take him away from us. He is so cute!!
So everyone here bathes like three times a day, but we have to walk to one "shower" and the other is in the kitchen without a door, so we wash our hair in the morning, then walk up and wash our bodies in the afternoon. And the bathroom is up the stairs too, and these are outdoor like up the mountain, not far at all, but it's just weird that there isn't a bathroom in the house. They haven't let us help very much, but we are trying to be bold and hoping they will let us kill chickens this week!!!!
On one of our days off we went to some waterfalls and did some jumping. Yes a 30 foot waterfall, I jumped from it!! It was crazy!

But keep lifting us up here and the people. Last night i felt the presence of darkness and to think that these people probably deal with that on a regular basis is pretty scary! So I'll try to write again when we get back! Love you all and miss you terribly!!

Saya tidak bisa bicara bahasa Indonesia

"I do not speak Indonesian"

Haha!! Yes one of the first sentences I learned!! Everything is going great so far. I am in my town now and I am sharing a duplex with a couple from America. My partner Brette shares a room with me. No AC, no flushing toilet and no shower...and to think we haven't even made it to the villages yet...haha!!! Tomorrow starts our first journey into a village, it's only for 4 days, then we will go again next week for 4 more days. I'm very excited to learn about the culture and hopefully pick up the language.

The people here lead a very different life that us in America. They have small temples and shrines every where. They make offerings to these at least once a day and we see them everywhere as we walk through the streets, on cars, even on the computer desk. These people live in fear of their "gods" and the demons that go with it. "But their idols are silver and gold, made by hands of men.They have mouths but can't speak, eyes but they cannot see, they have ears but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell, they have hands but cannot feel, feet but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them and so will all who trust in them." - psalm 115: 4-8

They say they believe in one god and that all others are just a version of the main one. But they have over 3 million... "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder." - James 2:19

It is heart breaking to know that a people live in fear instead of hope, but don't know any different..."My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols. Be horrified at this, heavens be shocked and utterly appalled." -Jeremiah 2:11-12

Please lift us up and our spiritual safety in this environment that the enemy won't be able to break through our beliefs or turn us against one another as we enter into the villages and learn more about this culture.

Yesterday on our drive to our town we saw monkeys on the side of the road...sooo cool!! haha, yes we got excited!! The pace of life here is much slower than that in America, but apparently it starts very early, at least in the villages. I guess you have to beat the heat. Please lift us up that we will not melt away!! The food so far hasn't been too bad. But we've had Americans catering to our American needs or at least looking out for us and keeping us from anything we might not like. These next few days will probably determine how much weight I will lose here!! haha!! I miss everyone dearly and i hope to keep you updated. If you comment please be weary of the fact that I am learning the culture and not to say anything offensive to the culture or way of life here...you never know who might see this!!!

Selamat Pagi

Okay so it's day three in Manila and it's been a lot of orientation. Yesterday we had a small home church with just the few of us. Then we went into the city to a small Filipino church, they were singing normal praise songs that we all know! It was really fun, and the preacher would go between English and Tagalog. Then we learned about the whole catholic religion and how it is here in the Philippines. It was so crazy how different the religion is compared to what I thought. We visited a Catholic cathedral and it was pretty sad seeing all these people that were lost. But to get there we rode a train kinda like a subway and went through what I can only describe as a flea market. It was so packed, we had to hold arms so we wouldn't lose each other!! haha! Then we went to the Mall of Asia for dinner, one of the biggest malls in the world. The first night we saw fireworks at the mall, felt like I was back at Disney!!
Today we stayed in for the most part. We talked a lot about the Hindu religion and how they have all these different gods. We learned that there are a lot of forces over there that people actually encounter and it was so awesome to hear about. One of the guys here was talking to us and telling us that we can't be afraid because God has control over our bodies and that demons have no right over us. It was so awesome and I got so pumped up!! I'm just so ready to see this culture. Dad came today, so we got to go to dinner, I'll try to let you guys know more about what I've been learning if I have time tomorrow!! Love you all!!!

Here I am

Well I'm officially in Manila!! I just had a lunch of Lasagna made by a Filipina lady, haha, it was sooo good. We have started orientation and it is finally sinking in that I'm about to spend 4 months in a country where I am the minority. I'm currently with 7 other girls, 3 who will be with me and the four others will be staying in the philippines. Every one is so sweet and super excited to serve! So I'll keep you updated as much as I can. Not much to report about other than the 20 hour plane flight ended up only being 14 hours and then 3 hours. We stopped in Japan and got off the plane for an hour. But they served us lots of food and it was a loooong flight! Love you all tons!!

Here I Go Again!!

So in two days and less than 48 hours I will be on a plane headed to detroit, then to Manila!! That's in the Philippines in case you were wondering. I can not believe that I am about to embark on a 5 month long journey to the other side of the world with 3 people I have never even met before. But I can not wait. After Manila I'll be heading to the Pacific Rim and starting my life of living in villages. Yes, pottying in a hole in the ground, bathing from buckets, and sleeping on floors with clothes as my pillows. I feel like I should be dreading this, but the excitement is killing me!! It still hasn't sunk in that this isn't just an idea any more, it's going to happen and REALLY soon.
I'm going to try my hardest to keep this blog going while I'm over seas so ya'll will know how He is working and what all is going on. I have to admit that right now I'm not sure why I was chosen for this task. I am not saying this out of any kind of humbleness, but simply out of remorse for the sins that I have committed, not far in my past but still very recently. I know that He uses the least of us to do some of the most spectacular things and I do believe that He has chosen just that. In that sense I know great things will happen, not from my own abilities. I just don't feel that it is right for me to go over seas and people think that I am doing this great deed and am this wonderful person when the truth is that I have spent months away from my Love and have endorsed the world. I feel selfish to think that I have been chosen for this trip for my own self growth, since that is not the point of this trip, but it is meant for others. I did not feel that I could enter into a trip of service with all this on my back and confessing the sins that I have committed before I went. So though I do not find it fitting to list them here, I did feel the need to let it known. Please pray for me, not only that I will be given opportunites and open hearts, but also that long lasting change will occur. I love you all and I hope to keep you well updated on the impact whether small or large!!