Mary Parker Eastland. The name of a quirky high school senior from “Snel-vegas” Georgia who is fueled by spontaneity, and the revival power of Jesus.
I value intentional relationships, and genuine conversations. I strive to attain a certain level of individuality that sets me apart from my perception of the ordinary. Because I so highly value intentionality, I tend to empower others by the simple act of listening to them. This, in turn, affirms their value and lets them know they are worth being heard.
I am a barista at Grayson Coffee House, a local coffee shop in my town. I love the fact that coffee is an art that can constantly be perfected, and the fact that I can be relational and intentional with every customer I encounter.
Rock climbing? Backpacking? Spontaneous trips? Count me in!
My mom and I are free spirits that just go. Weather it’s a road trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, or a trek through the National parks of Utah, we are driven by the spontaneity of the unknown.
I am passionate about extinguishing preconceived stigmas placed on a person or people group. This desire has been fueled by my investment in Kosovo, a predominately muslim culture. Society has placed a fear based stigma on people groups such as muslims, which, in turn, has degraded the way muslims see themselves. I strive to affirm value in a person based on how The Lord sees them, and not the world. I work to bring reconciliation between differing religious and people groups through the name of Jesus.
Throughout 2018, I have undergone situations and relationships that put my worth into question. I have never put a second thought into questioning my value until this year. I have gone through seasons of heartache, pain, and loneliness. For a long time, a refused to recognize and be transformed through the truth of who I am in The Lord. While I now know my worth to the Lord, my perspective on life has been altered because of situations I have gone through this year. I present myself as independent and self reliant, in order to hide insecurities and doubts about who I am. In reality, I desire to be cared about and chased after. I have loved watching God transform me through this pressing year, and He is not done yet.
My prayer for myself recently has been redemption. Redemption in my life. That the Holy Spirit would captivate my soul and enter into the depths of my heart. That my mind would be changed. That I would walk in the newness of life through the resurrection and the power of the Father. That I would not fall back into the passions of sin, but have the courage to put my shame aside, and present my entire broken self to the Father,
so I my be used as an instrument of righteousness in the nations!!
God is doing big things and I could not be more excited and honored to be apart of this wild and beautiful journey.
