...summer plans...

Today I have quite a long list of things that I need to get done. Meg and I will be leaving for Shepherd of the Ozarks (Soto) Wednesday morning and I'm getting so excited. We will be there all summer except when I go to training in New York and when she goes to Ethiopia. 


Soto is a wonderful place. Its a place where I have felt true heart ache and true joy. Soto has been an escape for me. Yes, as an intern I work all the time and get to relax a little here and there, but my time there with the Lord refreshes me so much. I cannot imagine a better place to go to prepare my heart for future struggles in Hungary. I'm trying not to be naive about all of this. I know its going to be very hard my first year. I know teaching will push me and stretch me farther than ever before. I know that all my struggles  with homesickness and security won't vanish when I'm in another country. I know reality will hit me when I'm finally there. Hopefully, with my training in June, I will have a better perspective of just what I'm getting into. If everyone could be in prayer about training I would greatly appreciate it. I fly to New York on June 25 and fly back to Little Rock July 8. 


Pray for:

• confidence
• my eyes to be opened to what its like to be an MK
• my heart and mind to be teachable
• safe travel

Another thing that I love about Soto are all the opportunities to build relationships with people. I work on the high ropes course and I love helping people overcome their challenges. There are just too many ways to bring God into the conversation- its amazing. I tell people all the time that God is with you even now as you climb the pamper pole, you can always ask Him at anytime to give you courage. Trusting God on the ropes course is a lot like trusting God during life. When you fall God is always going to catch you and He is always going to be there with through everything you face. Many things on a ropes course just naturally relate to whats going on in people's lives. Even now I can look back at things I've said to people and see that I need some one to say those things to me at times. 

Just a little update for everyone. I'm now at 43%! God is faithful. I thank Him for everything He has done. 

Well, remember that long list I was telling you about? Its calling my name........bye for now!

Be Encouraged My Friends!

Right now I'm happy because I've been fishing with two sweet little boys and we caught a lot of perch out of the lake today. And now I'm sitting at my computer smelling a little fishy and scratching my toes because some Texas fire ants just wanted in on the fun we were having.  


I have been wanting to update everyone on my financial situation because I have been feeling so encouraged by what God has provided. I just praise and thank Him so much for the lessons He has been teaching me through raising support. I have now almost all that I need for all my initial costs! This is wonderful and such a sweet thing because there have been and are a lot of one time costs. As for my monthly support, I am roughly around 35% of the 2000 I need per month. A friend recently encouraged me to speak out about what my needs are. Right now, I need people to commit to giving gifts each month. Please pray or continue praying for this to come about. I know I can trust the Lord with this.


 I am so encouraged by the body of Christ and the way God has moved the hearts of some of my family members and friends to support me. I pray daily that the Lord continues to take care of me...I know I will until the very last moment before I buy a ticket and board my plane for Hungary. I will trust Him still. It is He that makes all of this possible. 


August is not that far away, but I know the team I'm on and He is for me.

These are sweet days...

The Lord just has this crazy habit of surprising me. Each time I try to come up with an amount that I hope will be reached, the Lord just goes way beyond. I'm so very thankful each time I look at my account and see God's work. I have learned so much about prayer these last few weeks. Prayer is so important and each day I am surprised how easily I forget to pray. It has been sweet to grow in this area.


Needless to say, the barn dance went wonderfully. So many young people came, and while dancing was on their minds, they listened to me give a quick talk about teaching in Hungary and prayed with me. Like all barn dances, it takes a little while for the boys to get brave enough to ask that pretty girl to dance. Anne and I always joke with the boys and threaten to embarrass them if they don't start asking. Many parents and people who are like my second mother and father were there too. It was such a blessing and a neat memory.


That next week I traveled back to my Alma Mater, UMHB, and visited some friends and celebrated graduation. I was so blessed to attend my sweet friend Erika's voice recital. Her voice just blew me away. 


It was kind of weird being back at UMHB. I looked around campus and just thought of all the times I was racing across the quad to get to class. I remember all the times I spent at the library studying on the second floor and looking out the big glass windows to the sky. I can remember daydreaming about teaching and what kind of teacher I was going to be and what my life was going to look like. Those were sweet days.


Mother's day was wonderful. My mom's parents and my Uncle Brian and Aunt Kay and cousin Rachel came down for lunch at the barn. We had a good time visiting and finished it off with my absolutely favorite dessert...vanilla ice-cream with sugared black berries on top. I like to call it summer-in-a-cup.


Later on that day I packed my bags again and headed to New Braunfels to spend a couple days with my sister/best friend Erin. Our activities included a trip to Canyon Lake, frozen custard, good conversation, a short trip to Tanger Outlets, coffee, A Walk In The Clouds, floating the Comal river, omelets, and a neat time at their Biblestudy. Their small group just finished Crazy Love and I recommend reading this book. And you haven't read Radical yet by David Platt I suggest this one to everyone as well. 


It was a good time of rest before I head off for a busy summer working at camp. Each day I get a little more excited about working this summer. I tend to think more about Hungary and my life this next school year. I need to focus on whats in front of me and thank the Lord for this time before I leave. 


So whats in front of me this week? Well, emails, essays, and Meg's graduation. Yay!