My Blog

Goodbye???

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:43:57 -0500

Hey everyone! Well it looks like our travels in Europe are coming to a close. Its crazy to think I’ve lived in 10 different cities, 5 different countries, and with the same 5 people for 32 days. What’s even crazier to think is that tomorrow I fly home! This past week in Switzerland has been an amazing time for our teams to meet back up and share all about the people we’ve met, places we’ve seen and the funny happenings along the way. All of this accompanied with the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. Pictures do not do this place justice!

I am looking forward to the good ole’ US of A though. Laura Ashley and I have been talking about things like ice in drinks, free re-fills, Chic-fil-a, driving, and our own beds. Things we both miss and are looking forward too. All of us are ready to see our families and tell in person about our amazing trip. But I’m not sure I’m %100 ready to head back. I’m not ready to say good-bye to swiss hot-chocolate, friendly Italians, or Laura Ashley waking me up in the mornings (HA!). But I know one thing. I don’t have to say good-bye to some of the people we’ve met. It is very easy to keep up with people with facebook and email these days. I’ve already touched base with a couple of people, and ask that you would pray that God would open doors in future conversations with them.

Another thing I won’t say good-bye to is the life-style I’ve had for the last 32 days. I’ll be honest, before this trip I can’t say I had the mind set everyday of “God use me today. Bring someone across my path that I can share with about You”. It’s been hard to die to myself on this trip and let that be my prayer (and I haven’t always succeeded). This trip has challenged me everyday and made me more full of faith, more dependent on God, and more conscious of the lost. I pray as I go home that I never forget this month and how much it has changed my life.

Again, thank you to all of you who prayed, supported, and encouraged my team and I. We can’t wait to share with you at home and to see what God will do in the coming months through this trip!

Next stop: good ole US of A!! bye!!

Forgetting David

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 08:40:40 -0500

During our 2 days in Florence we were able to go and see the famous David statue by Michaelangelo. The line was long and the museum pricey, but it was worth it. The statue was way bigger then I ever expected and the detail of it all was incredible: from pupils in the eyes to veins in the feet. After a while I also realized that David is holding a sling over his shoulder and a rock in his hand. Immediately I was struck that this grand statue is of the shepherd boy David. Over the rest of the day I kept going back to that. I finally went to the Old Testament and read the whole story of Samuel anointing David as king up until he killed Goliath. If you read the description of Jesse’s son it says over and over that he was young and ruddy. The statue David depicts anything but a young or small boy. Michealangelo did a great job, but got it all wrong.

Here is a similar situation. Laura Ashley got to talk to a girl in our room named Kelly. Kelly is catholic and explained her faith to Laura Ashley. She talked about how she was able to pick a saint as “her saint” and that this saint prays to God for her. This lead to a discussion among our team later on how we are so thankful that Christ is the one interceding for us.

During these things happening I had a friend email me and remind me it is my goal to be forgotten (thanks Chris). God has started to reveal to me how man has distorted godly people of the past. I’m sure David, Mary (the mother of Jesus), Peter, or Paul never said, “Man I hope people remember all the things I did.” or “One day statues will built of me!”. They would have wanted to be forgotten and Christ remembered. If anything, that their lives would point to the Lord.

Another friend sent me a verse to look up (thanks Greg),
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of grace of God.” Acts 20:24

So that’s been my prayer, that I would be forgotten to the people I meet on this trip and they remember the Lord I serve. Please pray that for our team as we finish our trip. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers!

Friends in Florence

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 08:42:10 -0500

Hello friends! I know all of you are dying to know what’s going on over here but I promise these blogs are getting to you as fast as possible! The last two cities have absolutely flown by. Cinque Terre was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and our first look at Italians is exactly what you would think. They are loud, passionate, and so friendly and welcoming. Our hostel was run by this older couple who were the cutest thing! Our time in this little village was very much needed as it gave us a time to get to know each other better and relax a little bit from the big cities.

Florence was next on our list and our hostel was great! It was a great place to meet people and Laura Ashley and I got a little special treatment because we’re girls (a towel and toiletry kit!). We met all of our roommates within the first five minutes and were able to bring along two of them on most of our daily travels. Their names were Mackenzie and Kelly. Mackenzie and I were able to talk a little bit on a tour set up by the hostel. She said she really doesn’t go to church unless she is at home with her parents. I was able to talk to her about UM being a private school and how it is still diverse. She actually left the same day we did and headed to Cinque Terre to meet up with Neal’s team. I take it that she enjoyed being around us which we all know is not us, it’s the Lord! Pray that we have an opportunity to keep in touch with her!

Some more shout outs~
Momma and Daddy: thanks for always encouraging me no matter what crazy ideas I come up with (like backpacking through Europe for a month). I love you!
Kris, Alison, and baby Logan: Thanks for letting be crash at your house before and after this trip. Yall are the best adopted family ever!
Chip, Donna, Dennis,the Applebys, the Colbeys, and CBC college ministry: Yall are the best! I am so blessed to be apart of such an awesome group. This summer is going to be awesome!

Irish Ladies, Southern Belles, and Cameron

Sat, 30 May 2009 01:54:53 -0500

Well, today is a favorite day of our teams... travel day! Ok so it’s not our favorite. It’s usually filled with lots of questions, directions, being lost, getting sweaty and carrying our huge packs. But it does give us the opportunity to catch up on reading, writing in our journals and blogging. I’m really starting to like riding on trains and the scenery is beautiful.

The past five days seem like a whirlwind. We were in Barcelona, Spain for two days and then traveled to Nice, France for another two days. While in Barcelona we stayed in a room with some lively roommates. Five of them were med students from Ireland and we were able to talk to them for a good bit. Honestly, I think we just loved hearing each other’s accents, ha! Laura Ashley and I took a night and did laundry again, which took one of our new Irish friends by surprise. His name was Jared and he asked, “You are doing laundry for the guys?” We said yes, and that it wasn’t a big deal, we didn’t mind. He said you would never see an Irish girl doing that. We replied that’s just what we southern girls do, and he laughed. Throughout our two days with our new friends, Jared seemed to notice anytime we did anything for each other. I think he noticed that there was something different about us. I’ve realized through this experience and several others that we might be the closest thing to Jesus that some people have seen. That blows my mind and breaks my heart all at the same time. Please pray that I would die to myself and let Christ show though.

Another instance of this happened when we arrived in Nice. I have to admit that my attitude and mind set was not right at all when we arrived. We had been on trains all day (literally from 8:30 am to 8 pm), and I was tired of carrying my pack. We got to our hostel and realized we were all together in a six bed room, so of course that leaves only one bed free in our room. We walk in and there is a shirtless man sleeping in the bed under me (Laura Ashley and I have come to realize that males don’t like to wear clothes in general). I was not thrilled to say the least. We dropped our stuff and went to get dinner and came back and the man is STILL sleeping and is now snoring. I was not a happy camper. The next morning I was eating breakfast with Laura Ashley and this Australian guy comes up to us saying, “Are you guys the one staying in my room?” We quickly recognized our shirtless friend from the night before. We said yea and apologized if we woke him when we came in. After some introductions, we learned his name was Cameron and he is from Melbourne, Australia (Matt and Ben!!). We sat around talking for a good bit and the guys joined us shortly. From that point on Cameron was a part of our group. Literally, he was with us our whole two days, and even seemed to look out/after Laura Ashley and I after the first day. He seemed to take to us and we took to him. He is one of the nicest and funniest guys I’ve ever met. I was able to tell him about my family (which I love to do) and show him pictures. I found myself praying for him more then I have for anyone else we’ve met. He plans to possible visit us in the States and offered us a place to come if we ever come to Melbourne.

Side note** We went to the beach to hang out some and got a European tan :). Plus Laura Ashley, Rusty, Chase, and I went parasailing!! It was awesome!
I know this is a long blog but I have to end with some shout outs that are long over do. *First to the rest of the Fab 4: MG, Beth, and Brit thank you for praying for me! You’re encouragement for this trip from the very beginning has meant more then you know. Have fun at the wedding!
*Aimee(LA misses you!), Carissa, Alana, Mary, Kasey, Danielle, Malorie, Michelle, Diana, Amanda A., Adrienne, and Jaye: You girls are the best! I don’t know what I would have done without all of your friendships this past year and during this trip. I miss you!
*Jared, Greg, Blake, Dustin, Evel, and Chandler: Thank you all for your prayers and for being the big brothers I’ve always wanted. These European guys don’t have anything on yall :).
I’m sure there will be more of these later on so stay tuned, you may have a shout out next!

Lost and Found

Sat, 30 May 2009 01:51:51 -0500

Hello from the beautiful seaside of Nice, France! I know it’s been awhile so let’s see if I can catch you up. Warning, this way be a long one...

Our second day in Madrid started out having a picnic in front of the Royal Palace. It was a pretty day so we all took our time taking pictures, reading, and talking to a friend that we brought along. I decided to take my bible off and read for a little while. I thought I had left my day backpack with TJ and Laura Ashley, but when I got back, it was gone. Yes, my day backpack had been stolen.

Of course, I was very upset and immediately thought about what I had just lost. The blessing of it all is that my passport, all important documents, and the bulk of my money was locked up at the hostel. Also I had my room key, sunglasses, and bible on my person and Laura Ashley had my camera. The few things I lost will be replaced with insurance. I have to say that Laura Ashley was and has been a God send. She kicked into Mommy-mode immediately and was calming me down. We also did a little retail therapy afterwards (for the guys, that means we went shopping). I found a purse and a new journal. Laura Ashley also was the one to point out that if whoever took my bag looked into it and read my journal they might just find the Lord. I thought about what I had wrote in it and I remembered one verse I had written out. It was,

“I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.”
Jeremiah 24:7

Who knows what the Lord will do, but I am definitely praying for whoever felt the need to take my bag.

So that’s what I lost but let me tell you what I found that afternoon! Actually it’s what the Lord brought across my path. I was in Laura Ashley and I’s room when one of our roommates walked in. Her name was Lynn and she is from Singapore. After talking to her a bit, i found out she just graduated from Duke with her Masters Degree and was traveling with friends. We started talking about all kinds of things: where we had been, schools, studies and our families. When I told her that I was one of eight she was baffled. She asked, “How do your parents manage?” I replied that my parents (and I) depend on God’s strength to make it everyday. That through their relationship with Him, they make it work. I must have fumbled my words at one point, because she said, “yea and God’s grace.” After some more talking I came back to that phrase. I asked her if that was something she thinks we all need (God’s grace that is). She said yes so I then asked, “So what do you believe?” Her answer was beautiful, and music to my ears. She said, “I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and He is Savior of my life.” I was thrilled to meet a fellow believer! We swapped our stories and I told her about our trip. All it took was for me to get out of my comfort zone and go deeper in conversation with a person. I know I’ve talked about community before but never was I so glad to meet a sister in Christ after the day I had had.

God always knows what we need even before we do and it amazes me every time.