little buggers....

It is amazing to me how much you can learn from two little kids...man! So for a couple days this week I have been playing "mommy" not really but babysitting these two stinkers. I love them so much...they are awesome kids, but man are they hard work! haha It has been great, dont get me wrong I would do it again in a heartbeat- but I am worn out! They surprise me everyday I see them with new words and fun things to do...tonight during "bath time" we were coloring with their new crayons and we were all laughing so hard...why? I'm not really sure, but their smiles break me. I have to remember daily to thank God for them and their family, my family, my friends, etc. in my life because they are so important to me and God has blessed me with them. What a great gift!

God is Good...

But...am I just saying that because He provided a house? This is such a hard question to answer...I would like to say No, that God is good because He is worthy of all praise. So, would I be saying God is good if He didn't provide a place here but a place at home? interesting...good question though.

So school is almost over-my junior year, came and is going, going, pretty much gone! I cannot believe how fast it is going. I remember when I was in middle school, my school not being far from the local High school at all. I would watch the High schoolers leave class and walk through the halls with their text books in their hands, thinking wow! they are so cool...then high school came and left before I could blink my eyes...and now college is almost over. I was at the FGCU softball game the other night and a fond memory came to my random head- I remember going to USF softball games with my Daddy when I was playing ball and thinking how old those girls were and man, I would never be that good- CRAZY! I know I totally just went off subject, but I am thinking through different "bullets" in my relationship with Christ. I look at when I first gave my life to Him about 4 1/2 years ago and relate it to now. God is Good! From my last post, I had to look back and think about the last clear direction He gave to me, which was to come down to FGCU and play ball. Well, softball ended soon after that because of an injury, but the plan God has made for me and the way it has shown itself in my life the 3 years I have been down here is so hard to comprehend. Man!

I will go...

I cannot even begin to explain what has been going on. I was challenged, very very challenged, the other day at Staff meeting. We were talking about Samuel in 1 Samuel about saying, Yes, Lord. Is that your response to everything? Boy- this wasn't my answer. Ill try and make this short...I am trying to find a place to live for the summer and next year...I have found roommates, some have started to back out, others have stayed in, and others are half in half out...it is frustrating, Im not going to lie. But in these situations should be easy to say, Ok God do what you will in this situation, but for me, its not so easy. I feel like things keep falling through-so I say well its obviously not God's plan...so I search for more. Taking control of it and not letting God put his plan to practice...so as I wait and wait and wait I need to say Yes, Lord I will go... take me there.... so this is my response..

Desperation Band from Everyone Overcome © 2007.

Let Your kingdom come on earth. Let Your will be done
Let every kingdom of this earth bow.

Let the sinners sing for joy, we are saved by grace
Let every saint break through these doors and shout

You’re calling out, “who will go?”

I will go. I will live the life. I’ll give it all for Jesus Christ.
I’ll tell the world that You are God.
I will go. Hear my battle cry. Give me wings so I can fly
and tell the world that You are God.

Here am I, here am I, I will give all that is mine.
Here am I, here am I, Jesus come and spend my life.

I will go. I will live the life.
I’ll give it all for Jesus Christ. I’ll tell the world that You are God.
I will go. Hear my battle cry.
Give me wings so I can fly and tell the world that You are God


GOD- my response is for you...Lord it is so hard for me, and you know I don't want to leave this area that I am at/in right now. Lord but If you want me to I will go. If that means go back home, I will, if it means go to china, I will go. I trust you and you alone! I love you

ants on a log....

ha ha this is called ants on a log....it's celery with peanut butter and rasins....interesting I have to say
Definitely a fun snack...woooo
I am trying to eat healtheir....haha

The little ones...

Man these little ones were so cool! Even with the huge language barrier, God's love still shines through! Woooooo!
A piece of my heart was left with them for real! When can I go back? :)

LiFe ChAnGe

So I am back from Juarez, Mexico...still hurting from the time change. I cannot even begin to explain how views, defintions or "churchy" words, mental pictures, thoughts, feelings, etc have changed and been broken from this amazing experience. I do not think I have fully encompassed everything I came incontact with or things brought to my attention. I know I am being vague, but it is hard to think through it and see how it is going to play out in my life. So- I will begin by saying that I am in love, literally in love, with word study- That is studying the Word, by defining words throughout scripture. The first night there we were challenged to define poverty. So, think about it, what is your definition of poverty? Is it just the "poor" people around you in your area? Or does it go to the extent of individuals in Africa? There are so many definitions of this powerful word...and my question was, do I know how powerful it is? When I began to think about poverty and how I would define it- I began thinking about the homeless people in Ft. Myers. That is the last thing before this trip that I had been in contact with, that had "nothing." After being in this area of Mexico for the period of time I was, I began to think what the definition of nothing is....honestly, every single person has something...and more than likely, a lot of things. Whether they are relationships, cars, a house, a friend, a cup of water, a meal a week....think about God-saying in the word that He will be there always- All-present! Wow!

There are more definitions brought to my attention- compassion,hope, joy, peace, happiness, surrender, love and more. I was shown by this trip a little picture of each of these ideas. The trip opened my eyes- to many good things and then some hard things....I remember talking to my mom when I got back and saying this exact statement, "Mom, I should never tell you again that I NEED something." These people do not have all access to doctors, stores, malls, water, food, etc. Man my heart goes out to each and every one of them.

Another thing I was truly convicted of was the idea of compassion. I have read it and heard about it over and over, but to be truthful, that is one of the words I just use to pass over. Todd (our college pastor) was reading scripture to us one night. He was reading out of Matthew and Jesus having compassion on others. That statement hit me hard- I began to think about our trip as a whole, even at the very beginning at the airport. A couple of us arrived super early in the morning- right when we got there to check in our bags, we hit a bump- one suitcase was overweight and so we asked them to hold one of the other ones so we could move stuff around...and they put it on the belt. (not a huge deal) but we all took direct defense, got upset at the lady and started talking about how rude that was....INTERESTING...no compassion there...so I spoke up- I realized that everyday of our lives we go around showing compassion to people we want to show it to-people we care about and care what they think about us. I honestly do not know one person that walks every day of their lives showing compassion to everyone they come in contact with or even think about. It may be a lot to ask, or see in someone, but its true. So I said that idea and then came back with explaining that I have seen every single person in the group that went show compassion to every individual we met or came in contact with on the trip. When we knew we had more, or knew that people could tell we were on a mission trip...interesting. That is my first challenge for coming back- beinging myself to a place, or should I say allowing the Spirit to work in my life to where I show this compassion to others, not just chosen people by me, but everyone...hard I know- but do-able! So I hope as a brother or sister in Chirst, that you can call me out when you see me not following through with this in my life. I proved it to myself that I can do it while I was in Mexico. So call me out- for real! Its only going to make me stronger...

Joshua 1:9

MEXCIO!!!!!!

AHHHH so I leave in less than a day for Mexico- then adrenalin has started....
getting a little nervous. I was reminded of this verse...Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD you God is with you wherever you go. SO GOD HERE I GO!!!

Please pray for our safe travels and for what God is going to do in Mexico! GOD is good!