ch ch ch changes

So I have been totally slacking here lately on the whole blogosphere, and I have a big excuse why: I have had a lot of big changes happening lately and have not had the chance (or desire, to be honest) to sit down and blog about everything. Have you ever gotten so far behind in something that just the thought of trying to catch up seems super overwhelming and intimidating? That's exactly  how I have been feeling.

So first off, let me tell you that I have officially moved back to Alabama from Oregon. The timing was right and a lot of things fell  into place at the right time for me to move on; so I did. I am so forever grateful for all the friends and experiences that I gained during that chapter of my life and I will never regret moving there, and so far I don't regret moving back. I officially moved June 2 to come home, but I've only been back in Bama since June 6 because we had a mini vacation in Nashville after I flew in on the 2nd. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing family and friends again and I am looking forward to jumping head first into ministry at Lifepoint. Man, I have missed that place. I went back for the first time this past Sunday and it was like I never left. Like a breath of fresh air after feeling like I was sinking for so long.  With all of that being said, my blog will be going through some major changes in the next few days/weeks. For starters, I'm still technically considering myself a part of The Crash team, but I am not currently with them in Oregon. I hope to join back up with the officially again wherever they head to next. I am kind of tossing around the idea of a blog name change, and while I contemplate that decision, I will be making some layout changes and possibly making new buttons(if I end up changing my blog name, obviously.)

One thing I ask is that you all please just hang in there with me as I make this transition into a new beginning of a new chapter in my life.

What will I do now? Good question. I do know that I will be going to Mexico in July(thank You, Jesus! I sure do miss that place!) and then I plan on getting a job in my hometown for the summer, going back to school in the fall to finish my Religious Studies degree(only one more semester!), and going to India in December. After that, good question. One thing I do know, it's all in God's hands from here!

Where have I been?

via

Have you missed me? 

I have been totally absent from the blogging scene lately... and that includes reading the blogs I keep up with as well. I am partially to blame for this, but most of the blame goes to a ferocious stomach virus that attacked our house over the weekend and the first of the week. Deci started on Saturday followed by Audrey on Saturday night. Journey ended up sick by 3:30 Sunday morning and I woke up sick on Monday. Today is the first day I feel normal since then, although my stomach is still a little uneasy. On top of that, my business class ended this week so I had that final to study for. I had a test on Buddhism in World Religion due, as well. Also, I am working on the Crash newsletter for the month of February (whew! That sounds like I am a lot busier than I feel!) So, needless to say, blogging has been the farthest thing from my mind this week, but I am ready to get back on track!

So, a few praise reports this week! 

I've been learning a lesson on patience and waiting on/trusting the Lord this week.

Those of you who know me personally or who have been reading my blog for a while know that I have been searching for a job since August to no avail. I have had interviews and such, but no job offers and it was beginning to get frustrating. Have you ever felt like you are praying and praying and God is just sitting up there twiddling His thumbs(His mighty big thumbs, if I had to guess)? I HATE to admit that is how I had been feeling. A few posts back, I talked about how I had an interview at my favorite frozen yogurt place (Vanilla Jill's) and then later on how they called me in for a second interview. Well, I received an email Sunday evening saying I HAVE BEEN HIRED! I know, I know, it's about time! That's what I felt like I was saying to God as I thanked Him for answering my prayers! I felt so silly afterwards for not fully trusting in Him 1000%. I am so thankful to serve a God who sees my life in eternity when I am faced with the curse of only seeing the "right now." 


Another way the Lord has reminded me He is in control is through my India mission trip planned for January 2013. My $500 deposit is due this week(which I was going to have to mail in 2 days before in full in order for it to arrive on time) and as of Saturday I did not even have half of the money. I had already had the conversation with Kerrie(she's in charge of the trip) about getting my money back if I wasn't able to finish paying the deposit. Well, Saturday morning came along and I went to a conference on leadership. Sitting next to me was a guy that has joined us in our ministry here in Oregon who wrote me a check for $100. Next thing I know, my friend Alec is giving me money he already owed me for a knit hat I made him. He keeps throwing(literally) cash my way and it ends up totaling $39. So, at this point I needed only around $50 more to reach my deposit and an anonymous donor gave me $100 more! Which put me $42 OVER the deposit amount of $500! (I had a check already on it's way for $100 from Kerrie's dad as well) I was able to send the money into TREC, International in time for the money to arrive before the deadline! 
Isn't our God amazing?! 
It's taken these small reminders from Him for me to remember that I am safe in His arms. Always. I don't have to worry with tomorrow or even yesterday anymore. 

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" 

Luke 12:25

"Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what the day will bring." Proverbs 27:1

Thank You, Jesus for Your promise to never forsake me... that You wish to give me a future and a hope, and as long as I trust in You and seek Your face, I don't have to worry about what that looks like because You are writing my story. And thank You  for always being faithful and answering my prayers even though I am less than faithful on a daily basis. 

life update.

Happy Sunday, folks! Hope you all have had a fantastic weekend! I didn't do much at all other than relax a little bit! 

So, I basically just wanted to update on things even though there isn't a great deal going on in my life right now. 

I still haven't heard from the job interview I had last Monday at Vanilla Jill's. Hoping I hear from them soon. Either way, I have plans to go out and apply at other places probably on Tuesday. 

School is getting ridiculous, and I am also in the middle of doing scholarship stuff for my transfer school (New Hope Christian College in Eugene.) 

(Me and Sharee in front of my future school!)

This week God is teaching me to have a softened heart. I am too negative about life and people in general. I am quick to anger and slow to show mercy and love. And I have to admit, I have a little problem with gossip, which can really hurt people. So, God is helping me overcome that problem. I have been reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (which is coming out as a movie soon!) and he said that after he became a Christian he struggled with the fact that he wasn't "good" in God's eyes even though he seemed, to himself, to be quite good. He said he tried for one week to not say anything bad or negative in any way about a person and then he really realized how bad he really was. I have been challenging myself to write down every bad or negative thought I have... not so I can show people, but so I can realize just how bad I am in that area of my life. 
I hope this helps bring awareness to my hard heart.

I am selling knit hats and crocheted dishcloths for my India mission trip. Read my guest post from last week to find out more and to see pictures! There are also several ways you can donate to my trip: buy a hat or dishcloth, click the "Donate" button to the left of this post, go here to donate another place online, or stay tuned because I am about to start making super cool jewelry to sell as well!
Anyways, I also want to say thank you to all of my friends who are on this journey called life with me. I truly have an amazing support system, and I want you to know I am thankful for all of you!

*Hasta luego!

Just Visiting.

Today I am guest blogging over at Q&A. 

I am talking about my upcoming trip to India in January 2013! 

Click over to read about it!

Thanks a million!Happy Monday!

Help me get to India in January 2013! Donate online here! 

Mission: India and Mexico

We are all called to be Missionaries. I fully believe that with all of my heart and soul. Actually, so does God. Don't believe me? Well check out Matthew 28:19 which says,

Go therefore and make disciples of ALL NATIONS,

 baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This does not mean some people need to go and make disciples, or most people need to go, or only the ones that God calls should go... this means all people. All of us are called to go and all of us are called to go to all nations. No excuses. 

This summer I am taking a trip to Mexico. I believe it will be my 7th or so trip. I have begun to lose count. To see a video about what we do in Mexico and to read an awesome blog by the missionary family that our Mexico team considers our own family go here.
 Anyways, I am also planning on making a trip to India in January of 2013 with Lifepoint which I a TOTALLY STOKED about. It will be first of many overseas mission trips I take. 

Please be in prayer for me as I prepare spiritually and physically for these trips. It takes a lot of preparation to go on mission trips, including raising funds and making travel arrangements, and since I live across the country from Lifepoint, I have to do all of that myself where Kerrie (who does a WONDERFUL job) plans all of that for the people there joining the trips. It can be a stressful experience while planning and preparing, but I know without a doubt that God is calling me..... and you, for that matter, to GO. I know it will all work out, because He will provide! Also, please be in prayer starting now for the people that we will come in contact with, whether they accept Jesus during our trip or not, pray that seeds will be planted. Also, pray that everyone who is making the trip will find the means to get there and will be changed for the better because of the trips. 

And He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, 

but the workers are few. 

Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord

of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Luke 10:2