Hi friends,
As I have quickly realized since being away for 40 days is this: Blogging is not my go-to form of sharing testimonies and stories. I have found that, just as in the States, I am most comfortable sharing my life and what the Lord is doing through my instagram page. Because of this, I have not been faithful in posting blogs about my ministry and experience in Chiang Mia, Thailand.
Because I want to keep you, my friends, in the loop, I am going to post on here a few of my pictures and captions that have been on my gram recently! If you don’t follow me on instagram, this is a time you can catch up on my life! Thank you all so much for following my journey thus far!
SEP 13 2019
I look super happy and excited in this picture, and I was, it was an incredible day learning about Monks and Buddhist beliefs. Fascinating mindsets and values. Kind humans. Striving every single day for peace and tranquility. Reaching for it with their every being. Meditation is their hobby. We had the opportunity to speak to the Monks, like actually sit down, at a table, open conversation, questions being asked, jokes being made, kindness being shared. I can honestly say that time with one of the monks,( I am not going to use his name, out of respect for him ) has impacted me so much more than I expected it to. I had to leave for the emotions that were arising within me. He smiled a lot but could not name not one think that he said brought him joy. When asked what he would wish for if he had one wish, he responded with “a better life.” I respect this guy so much. He answered every one of my questions with honesty and smiling eyes. Aren’t we all similar to monks in the sense that we are chasing peace? I can relate to this friend. Before I met Jesus, I chased peace of mind in what people thought of me. It wasn’t until after I began a relationship with Jesus that I began to even be aware of what my exploration towards peace even was and why it always seemed to leave me empty handed. I pray you find Jesus. I pray that for the friend I met today. I asked if people often return to visit him and become his friend and he said “I already consider you as friends this day!” I already can tell that this journey is one that will not be easy for me. My passion for Jesus and people often cause my mind to spiral when meeting people who are passionate about other practices. But I’m trusting that Jesus carries me, he is my HOPE, He provides opportunities! Even if you are only at a place for two months, He provides positions where seeds can be planted. Learning to be okay with being the seed thrower and not the harvester. Maybe even accepting the fact that I’m a ground tiller. Either way, it’s a blessing to work in the garden.??
SEP 21 2019
SEP 22 2019
Did y’all know we serve a FUN God? For a while I think I have had the wrong view of what ministry looks like…. I felt as if in order to show God we love Him and we are His kids we need to work diligently and all the time. Hard work. Days off are filled with guilt and restlessness. I was nervous to come on the race because of the stigma that it’s a Christian girls vacation. ‘Two “rest/free” days in a week?! That scares me, I came for ministry!!’
But God works on the weekends! Matter of fact He shows up and joins in! He is what makes it fun! He send people your way! He has a sense of humor! He gives us hugs throughout the day! He isn’t just at the 9-5 job I have at the orphanage, he is there as we play street basketball and go to church with locals and watch movies and bond in our hostel. He’s in the fun. Right in the middle of it. Wow.
SEP 25 2019 
The first picture explains orphanage ministry days so well. Awkwardness. Screaming. Laughing.
When these kids greet me each day I get butterflies!!! I love them so much. They are so precious. God, is this how you feel about us? Wow!??
SEP 26 2019 
GUESS WHO IS GETTING ADOPTED AND GAINING A FOREVER HOME IN GERMANY?! YAH WEEEEEEEN DATS WHO ! My heart is so happy! It was broken thinking he would grow up in an environment where he would be limited to attention and intentional interaction with people playing the roles of loving parents. (The orphanage nannies are AWESOME, but there is something so beautiful able living in a home with a loving mom and dad) I’m so excited for his journey! Thankful more than anything!
OCT 6 2019 
He is definitely my favorite neighbor after this event. Today we went to a little shop near our hostel to print some copies for our visa renewals and the name who owned it asked if we were Christians, we told him “yes!!!?” He said “I knew it! I have heard the song Amazing Grace come from the rooftop of your building! I am Christian too!” Then right there in the middle of our seemingly formal interaction, we became a family. He got out the guitar, we sang all different forms of amazing grace and ended with some Josh Turner (?????) I’m here for this! Definitely my favorite neighbor as of month one.
OCT 7 2019 
Life’s a dance you learn as you go, sometimes you lead, sometimes you fall!!! Ohhhh!
We are now famous on the low in our town I do believe. Small crowds all night. A few people joined our dances, many just clapped from the sidelines but hey we’ll take it! Many laughs were laughed. A daddy and daughter copied some of our moves and honestly did them much better than we did. All the moto drivers at the red light were enthusiastic about the show as well…. subtle flex tbh.
So I’ve been posting on social media a lottttt recently. I just can’t believe He got me here. To Thailand. Sometimes I get these weird moments where I feel like I’m supposed to go to class or work in the morning and then I remember I am in Asia, where the only thing that’s expected of me is to LOVE people and tell them about JESUS. He called me on this journey. He sent me to Asia when I so badly wanted something different. He knew this culture doesn’t wear shoes in ANY building and He KNEW I LOVE being barefoot. He knew I would want to dance on this suspiciously empty concrete slab with the giant speaker on it. He has it all planned out. As I do life in Asia I feel like I’m just on this beautifully orchestrated journey that is full of highs and lows and so so many lessons. I meet the people He places in my path. I know He sent them. I’m grateful I just get to play a small role in His great plan.
OCT 14 2019 
The other day I got a dm from a girl asking a question about “Yah Ween”, she said her and her friend were in a debate and they were asking if this one pic I posted was of him or not because they could not tell…. I can’t tell you how much time I spent thinking about that dm. That a girl I have never met took the time to consider an orphan boy she had never met nor will meet and her friend and her were conversating about him. It blew my mind. It made me aware of what an honor it is to share these kids lives with you. What an honor it is to have you follow me in general. I’m going to be real, I used to not really know how to feel about social media. I felt unworthy of the platform God provided for me and I often dismissed thinking about it or talking about it in an attempt to be “humble”. But I’m here, out of the country, with needs and stories to share. And you, my followers are the loyal ones who care to listen and care to know. I can’t even believe it. I had people I didn’t even know praying for my wisdom teeth, I had DMs with opinions and suggestions of solutions. I am funded and able to be here because of you guys. My mind is constantly blown by each and every one of you, many of you I’ve never even had a conversation with and you bless me with your love and support. I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you. Whether you are someone I know and hang out with, or someone who simply found me from twitter, I love you. Thank you for caring about the work God is doing in my life, thank you for looking at pictures of orphans from Thailand and village kids from Guatemala and remembering their names. Your love is changing lives, it’s changing mine.
OCT 16 2019 
I’ve felt an INCREDIBLE amount of love today. I got to work at my favorite ministry all day with my favorite kids with my favorite friends and this evening i was thrown a SURPRISE PARTY?! Excuse me WHAT?! A friend did my dishes this morning another friend bought me coffee another friend wrote me letters, friends gave me flowers, hugs, large carrots, lots of encouragement. My mom even packed a birthday card in my bag in advance. God you have given me a better 21st birthday than I could have EVER even imagined asking for. There is brownie batter in the freezer!! A guy on my squad made chocolate cake balls?!!! I’m in tears with gratitude! I am drenched in sweat because I was just in the kitchen (where my frat themed party was) screaming the lyrics to Carrie Underwoods Before He Cheats with a passion as if I was truly very hurt by someone awful but honestly I haven’t been filled with this much joy in a while. I don’t deserve this love. Thank you for the birthday wishes !
