The word "excited" really doesn't even cover how I'm feeling about the upcoming mission trip to Guatemala.

For those of you who don't know, a group of us from my youth group (along with some adults) are going on a mission trip to Guatemala in August. We are headed to Antigua, and will be working with kids 4 years old and under at a malnutrition center, as well as fixing up the facility and bringing as many supplies as we can.

Last night David let youth group out a little early, and those of us going on the trip met with a man named Ron Gunter, who is putting our trip together. He is the Vice President for International Childcare at Florida Baptist Children's Homes, and has made this trip a million times! (Okay, not literally, but still...)

Before, I was excited and everything, as we worked to raise money for the trip, but now that we have details of exactly what we'll be doing, I'm ecstatic! Ron gave us a little packet that had our itinerary in it, as well as other information that we need to know about. He also gave us all a really nice "travel journal" to use for the duration of the trip. That's really cool, although even if he hadn't given them to us, I would still journal everything I could.

I simply cannot wait to go and pitch in. Ron described what the children will look like, seeing as how malnourished they are, and it scares me...I'm nervous that when I get there and see those kids I won't be able to stand it. We'll see.

Also, I'm SO excited that we're going to a spanish-speaking country this year. I don't know how much I'll be able to understand and say, but I am certainly planning on pushing myself to try the entire time...I want to be fluent, and both years I've taken spanish with Mrs. Hernandez, she's told me I will be. Lol, I can't let her down.
;]

Well, I'll be back soon with more details. Summer camp in Daytona Beach is next Monday through Friday, so I might not be back until after then.

Oh, and before I go...I still need almost $300 for Guatemala. Would you join me in praying that God will provide that? For the rest of the group as well...
Thanks so much!

Goodnight.
=]


CHECK THESE LINKS OUT:
Florida Baptist Children's Homes site: http://fbchomes.org/index.html
Florida Baptist Children's Homes blog: http://fbchinternationalchildcare.blogspot.com/

Oh man...I thank God so often that I have friends and family who care about and can relate to how I feel about things, and I'm thankful that God has given me writing as an outlet to express myself. Some people have music or speech, art or whatever, but writing has been the only consistant thing that helps me explain myself. Without it, I don't think people would know me as well as they do.

Tomorrow I send off my $200 enrollment and housing deposit. Up until this point the preparations have just seemed like more steps along the path, but actually sending off money and waiting to see who my roommate will be makes it all the more real! I really am excited. I'm excited to get out of Lehigh, and to meet new people, and to learn in such AWESOME-sounding courses! I'm excited to test my faith and see what I'm really made of and how much I can really handle. Yes, I'm still concerned about leaving Val and my family and friends behind, but I try to remind myself that Lakeland is NOT that far away.

I'm waiting to see the rest of my financial aid packet for Southeastern. So far it's looking pretty good--no loans. We'll see what else I can get from them. Edison, on the other hand...I need to call tomorrow to find out if they're really done reviewing my financial information. So far they're saying that all I'm getting from them is Bright Futures, which is not good. The state changed how much money you get, so instead of getting 100% of community college, I will get $78 per credit hour. That's close, but doesn't quite cover tuition. Then there's books, still...so, yeah. We'll see. I should look for a job. Haha. You know, I laugh, but I really should. It's just extremely difficult. I don't want to be making excuses or anything, but without a car I'm confined to Lehigh, and of course in this economy I haven't heard of anyone in Lehigh hiring. It's tough, and I hate having to rely so much on my parents for stuff. Val's great too--he spoils me! Without him offering to pay for me, I'd never go out or do anything with him! Lol

Well, I'm out for now. Goodnight!

What To Title This...

Ohhh, I am dreading January.
It's going to be so hard.
I will miss my family so much, but
I know that I will always have them.

What if Val gets tired of me not being there?
He says he won't, but maybe he's wrong.
How does he know?

I don't want to lose him because of that.
Well, I don't want to lose him at all.
These thoughts just make me want to
stay here in Lehigh.

God, comfort me please.
I love you, and I know that
when all else fails, You are
STILL THERE.

=[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

I never do anything 6th period at school. I'm an aide for a history/psych teacher that I had last year, but for the past month or two I'm rarely in that class. I usually go into Mr. Toms' room and chill with him and whoever else is in there, ESPECIALLY these last couple weeks. Last Tuesday a couple guys started a 500-piece puzzle in Toms' lab, and when I started helping I realized that I had forgotten how much I love puzzles. So, on Thursday, I went in there to work on the puzzle during 6th period. It was just me and Toms and his aide, and so while I was concentrating, we started talking about church and Christianity and stuff.

I thought it was a really neat opportunity to hear what he thinks, and to be heard in return. We both were able to voice our opinion and have an uninterrupted conversation. I really enjoyed it! We talked a lot about Toms' past in relation to the Catholic church, and a lot about hypocrisy. He mentioned how he hears kids debate whole evolution vs. creationism deal, yet turn around and live NOTHING like they should based on what they just defended. He told me that I seem like I live out what I believe, and I'm glad that he at least sees that I'm trying. We talked about how easy it is to say that there is a God in control when things are good, but how do you explain all of the bad stuff--it's a turn-off, basically is what he said.

In all, I'm REALLY glad that I had that chance to talk to him. I LOVE hearing people's opinions about things--I really do. And for him to bring it up and chat with me about it for a good 45 minutes was awesome. I can only pray for more one-on-one moments like that with people.



Thank you Jesus for that chance to tell him about you! It may not have made a difference at the time, but I pray that someday down the road it will. Whether he believes it or not, Mr. Toms needs you. Lord, show him who you are and the love you have for him, and send someone else my way I can share you with! I love you, God

Oh, Hershey.

I read one of those silly myspace surveys this morning, and one of the questions was something like "Have you ever kissed someone who's name begins with an M or an R?" The person's reply was "Not sure".

That saddens me. It makes me so glad that I can say I've only kissed one guy so far in my 17 years. It shows how special I think they are. (I'm talking about the kisses, not the guy, although the guy is pretty special too. Lol)

I think it's a sad thing when someone can't remember the names of all the people they've kissed, even at 17 or 18 years old.

That's all.