my house mates and I sent out annual Christmas cards during college (this picture is from Christmas Card 2009…our Senior year!)
So tomorrow is my best friend, Heather’s first day at her
first real “big kid” job. We went out with two of our good friends and watched
LOST and while I was dropping her off in my car, we were talking about what a
huge change it’s going to be for her to have to get up every day for a real job
and have a “salary” not just an “8 bucks an hour” kind of gig…it’s amazing!!
She is going to do amazing things for this world and I am so excited to see
what God has in store for her!! My beautiful friends and loved ones are getting
jobs right out of college and especially in this economy, I am soooo proud of
them all!! PRAISE JESUS FOR JOBS!! I am truly thankful that the Lord is
providing for my upcoming financial needs as well as the financial/career needs
of the amazing people in my life.
Speaking of provision…I am sooo thankful to report that I
have received nearly $6,000 in donations to this upcoming mission adventure!!
HALLELUJAH!! The LORD is truly providing for all my needs in HIS time and it’s
magnificent to see it all unfold before my eyes!! This support raising
experience has showed me so many things and I have grown so much in my faith
and trust in Jesus that He will show up and come to my aid whenever I need Him.
This has also shown me what a priceless church family I have in my blessed home
of First Presbyterian Church in Greeley. I have been truly, truly touched by
the support that’s been given to me. The congregation, FPC mission committee
and Presbytery, and FPC Staff have truly been there for me 110% and through
their support, encouragement, love and prayers…I have realized that I don’t
just have “fellow FPC church members”… I have other moms, dads, brothers,
sisters, aunts and uncles in the church that are lifting me up and setting me
out into the Kingdom to spread the Gospel!! I am so thankful for all of you at
FPC. My supporters are not limited to just my FPC family, but they extend to
family and friends from all walks of life and all places of the US and the
world. I cannot tell you all how blown away I am by your support and donations,
too!! You have truly blown me away by your generosity…you know who you are.
It’s wonderful to see people from all areas of my life, whether it’s social,
religious, academic, family, neighbors, or all of the above coming together and
partnering with me on this mission trek around the world!! Thank you
supporters, one and all!!!
I had my graduation party yesterday with two wonderful
people: my sister, Sarah, who graduated from high school and her best friend,
Alex (who’s been like a brother to me the last 18 years). It was so special for
me to be apart of their party and the three of us graduates had a blast with
all the family and friends that came out to help us celebrate!! I am one
fortunate girl to have such phenomenal people in my life. Our good family
friend, Jan Fall, came from Texas for Sarah’s/my graduation party and to see
all her friends in Greeley. It was so special seeing her and getting to catch
up and love on her in person. If graduation is anything other than nostalgic…it
sure is a time where people can finally get together after not seeing one
another for long periods of time!! Most definitely wonderful, graduation
celebrations…I hadn’t seen some people in yeeeears and yesterday it was so neat
for us all to be under one roof.Thanks to all who attended…you are all such an inspiration
and encouragement to me.
It’s funny living back with my parents, now that college and
graduation and everything is over. Little things like, making sure to come in
quietly if I’ve been out late or having to tell my dad a couple hundred times
where I’m going and who I’ll be with have definitely been a significant change
in my every day life. I truly do have the best parents in the entire world.
They are fantastic in every way…and I am so thankful they have “taken me back
into the nest” for a little while. I am so glad to be home until October…and I
know the more time I can spend with my precious family before I leave for a
year, the better. I just hope I remember not to lock my cat in bedrooms where
she is without her litter box and thus has to defecate all over the bedroom
because of my stupidity…oh yeah, it happened. But the only true horrific part
of moving home has been the packing and unpacking parts. I HAAATE PACKING AND
UNPACKING. I have decided I am, without a doubt…a hoarder. Throwing things away
and giving things to the ARC and Salvation Army has been very liberating for me
and when I look at my room now, in my parent’s house, and see all the crap in
there I don’t need…I can’t help but feel a sense of power and freedom when I
realize the only thing I’ll be packing and unpacking for an entire year is a
little backpack. How invigorating is that?!?! I am soooo excited to be living
out of just a backpack for a year. It will be such a life experience,
especially for someone who has grown up in such a consumer-driven society with
gadgets and products for absolutely everything.
Tomorrow I celebrate my 6-month anniversary with the most
amazing boyfriend, Marshall King. I have to say, out of all the men in the
world…he is the best of the best and such a keeper. What kind of guy would tell his girlfriend to go on
a mission trip, being completely supportive and encouraging, all the while
knowing that he won’t get to see her for 11-months? The best guy…and one that
trusts and honors the Lord and His will for our lives. What a beautiful man of
God he is and I am so excited to see what the future holds for the two of us! I
am sooooo blessed by his love, prayers, support and I am truly a better person
today because he is in my life. Marshall, thank you for being so supportive of
this calling the Lord has on my life. You are incredible and I thank God every
day for putting you in my life!
My sister, Sarah and my best friend, Heather have made peace
with the fact that I am “a ruined girl, completely broken and yearning to be in
the world”…atleast for a little while. They both realize that with Skype,
Facebook and global phones…I won’t be too far away. J I
Everyone has made their “peace” with me leaving for a year, and I am a thousand
times grateful for their comfort and ease during this entire scary process!!
One of my middle school girls, Annie, included me in her
letter to our Compassion child we sponsor, saying how excited she is for me to
spread the love of Jesus to kids like him all over the world. I was so touched
I nearly started bawling during Sunday school. I am going to miss ALL the youth
at FPC so much next year, but I am so proud of what growth and strength they
have received in the Lord these past few years working with them. I know they
will continue to make me proud and do amazing things for Jesus while I’m gone
and when I get back! I have been honored to have worked with and for such
wonderful people these past few years. Donny, our Youth Minister, has been like
a big brother to me and I so dearly admire him. Someday I hope I will be able
to mix the theology with the comedy, like Donny can, all the while organizing
fellowship events and continuing to learn more and more about the Lord from
scripture and Christian authors. Donny has been such a role model in my life
and I am so thankful to him for showing me “the ways of the youth ministry”. If
I ever do make it as a youth minister some day, I will be completely indebted
to him and all his help these past few years.
There was a quote that someone said at our graduation
commencement that’s been sticking with me this whole month. With all the chaos,
hard work,sadness, frustration, joy and anticipation that’s been going on
during this hectic month of May, this quote has been something I’ve meditated
on and I feel it really resonates all the power and purpose God has for my life
and the lives of my loved ones. Enjoy!
“People are often
unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people
may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and
sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years
creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and
happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have,
and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it
is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
-Mother Teresa
