High Five for Friday!

{one} I have been fighting varying sickness the past couple of weeks, most likely due to a lowered immune system. Thankfully I have had no Crohn's flare ups, but I have faced other stomach bugs and infections. It can be hard because I feel like it's constantly something...and if it's not one thing, it's another. An adjustment for sure. My hair is still falling out, but thankfully I am the only one who can tell {I can feel it is thinner, but it doesn't look like it. Yet.} I have started taking some vitamins in an effort to combat the loss, but now I have these fun, new-growth baby hairs that make the top of my head look CrAzY. Medicine is awesome...until it's not. Haha. But through it all, I am constantly reminded of God's grace and care in my life. And I am still very thankful that the bad Crohn's symptoms seem to be at bay.

{two} I got to have an impromptu lunch date with my sweet sister-in-law this week. I am just so thankful for her. Having an awesome sister is fun :)  I love when we can find time to catch up, though this may be the last lunch date {at least for a little while}, as her due date is quickly approaching. By the end of this month, we should get to meet our new niece!

{three} Last night, we had our dear friends David and Kristina over for dinner. They are home from Nicaragua for the summer, and it's always good to see them. Mike has known them for most of his life, and I had the opportunity to get to know them better on my trip to Nicaragua. I am always so encouraged by their faith and commitment to serving Jesus in Managua. We enjoyed catching up over some fish tacos, and then headed to downtown McKinney for a dessert night-cap. I just love summer nights with friends :)

{four} It's wedding month for my sweet friend Laura, and I couldn't be MORE excited to celebrate with her! She is finishing up the last minute details, and I am really looking forward to all the joys and excitement of the wedding week leading up to her and David's big day. Definitely will be blogging about that later...

{five} And the BEST part about this particular Friday is that it's my last work day before a week of vacation!! Sometimes the preparation for a vacation can be tough at work...but I am so thankful that my boss let me take the time off, even in the midst of the busy season. Mike and I will celebrate our 2 year anniversary, and I wil be helping Laura get married...it's going to be a GREAT week! :)

On Health & Doctors

First, I have to say that I am extremely thankful for my health. It's something that I all too often take for granted. But I am reminded every now and then how frail and broken our bodies really are/can be. I get sick or have some medical issue come up that reminds me that a) I am getting older haha and b) every day of good health is a blessing from the Lord.

Second, I am also very thankful for health insurance. I realize that is something that my American upbringing certainly takes for granted; I have known no different. I may not have always had the best health insurance...but I have always been covered in some way. And the Lord has always provided.

Last Wednesday I finally saw a doctor regarding the stomach/intestinal pains I have been having. With a family history of gallbladder disease, I knew I needed to stop googling my symptoms and actually go see a a doctor of internal medicine. Or rather, my sweet husband told me to stop googling my symptoms and actually go see someone :)

But of course, it was only step 1 of the process, so I had to go back yesterday for some tests. They first did a sonogram to check for gall stones. And then they did an Upper GI (which basically means I drank this nasty white goop that made my intestines glow). The good news is that it's not my gallbladder. This is actually fantastic news; all of the women in my family have had their gallbladders removed, and I am just so thankful that I am not facing surgery. The second piece of good news is that we think we have figured it out, and it seems to have a simple solution.

As it turns out, I tested positive for something called H. Pylori. Never heard of it? Me either. But apparently it is a bacteria that can cause ulcers and in some cases, stomach cancer. 50% of the world's population has this bacteria, but most never experience any symptoms. I guess I am one of the lucky few ;) If the bacteria causes infection, like in my case, it can cause gastritis symptoms, i.e. the stomach/intestinal pain I have been experiencing.

The thing that is really interesting to me (and was fascinating to my doctor haha) is that it is something that is usually seen in developing countries and can be contracted through contaminated food or water. Remember Nicaragua? As crazy as this sounds, this diagnosis makes perfect sense to me. I have said over and over that my insides have never been the same since returning from Managua. While we can't know for sure, it is very likely that I got the bacteria while on my trip.

I am just so thankful that we finally have answers and that it's {hopefully} only going to take a heavy dose of antibiotics to fix. And I am thankful that I have access to doctors and tests and medicines to get better. But there is a part of my heart that breaks, thinking that the sweet babies that I met in Nicaragua could experience these symptoms and not have the same benefits. And I don't really know what to do with that. So for now, I praise Jesus for His blessings and pray that He will show me how my new knowledge can help others later. No wasted circumstances, right?

In Chains: A Documentary Project

Since my trip to Nicaragua, the Lord has been doing some amazing things! He has kept Nica on my heart, and I have been so blessed to see so much accomplished through the ministries and people I had the opportunity to serve with (and continue to partner with). From the continued work of the Refuge Project, to my friend Clint using his gift of photography to create awareness, and to my friend Laura moving down to Managua to serve at House of Hope...it's so exciting to see the Lord move!

The newest exciting project is close to home because it's within my new family. My brother-in-law Bryan is a media producer and is the founder of 617 Production Group, which provides media solutions for businesses and non-profits. Bryan has a passion to use his media talents to serve the Lord and create awareness. In hearing the stories of the sex trafficking epidemic in Nicaragua and the ministry of House of Hope, he has decided to pursue producing a documentary that will depict the reality of the women and children caught up in the industry. The hope is to inspire and empower others to do what ministries like House of Hope and The Refuge Project are already doing: rescuing women and children from a life of prostitution and helping solve the sex trafficking issue in Nicaragua.

Please be in prayer for this project. They only have a few short weeks to raise the money they need in order to pursue this project. To learn more about the In Chains project, you can check out their fundraising website.

The story that Bryan wants to document is a tragic one; but it is one, I believe, that is near to the heart and compassion of God. I am excited about how the Lord is working in Nicaragua. I am humbled by the fact that He allowed me to be a part of, if even for a brief moment, the precious lives that He loves and knows by name in Managua. I am thankful for those who have heard the stories, witnessed the need, and resolved to put their faith in action. I look forward to seeing how this documentary sheds light on an ugly reality, but inspires others to action and is used to bring hope and healing to those who need it.

Nica Laura

Today my sweet friend Laura Minjares is moving to Managua, Nicaragua. Laura was one of the first people I met at Woodcreek. The moment I met her, I instantly liked her. Laura has the incredible ability of making people laugh. I can hardly recount a conversation with Laura where my side did not hurt from laughter. She has the BEST stories :) We served together in the 20s group, she helped me with training Sasha, and I have been so blessed to call her friend.

Laura was also one of the team members I had the privilege of serving alongside on the trip to Nicaragua in June 2010. On that trip, the Lord began to whisper to her heart about moving to Nicaragua. I remember her telling me even on the trip that she could live in Managua. At the time, she laughed and moved on, but over the next year, I had the opportunity of witnessing her steps of obedience and preparation for the mission the Lord was calling her to.

Everything about this photo makes me smile :)

Over the next 2 years, she will be working with the women and ministry of House of Hope. I am going to miss my sweet friend, but I am so excited for her! I cannot wait to see how the Lord grows her closer to His heart as He uses her to love those she is called to serve in Nicaragua. The joy and energy she brings to those around her is contagious, and I know it will be an incredible blessing to the women at House of Hope.

So if you think about it today, please pray for my friend Laura as she leaves her friends and family to walk in faith and obedience. Pray that she is able to make Nicaragua her "home" quickly and that she easily adjusts to her new life at House of Hope. Pray for the women she will be ministering to. Pray for the Lord to show Himself to Laura in new and incredible ways, that she would be able to walk in deeper intimacy with her Savior. Pray that the Lord is glorified through her ministry.

Roof for the Refuge

A few weeks ago, I asked for prayers for Nica. One of the prayers I mentioned was for the Refuge Project, a ministry run by One by One. This project is meant to rescue children from abuse and sex trafficking. This harsh reality was something that really impacted me while I was in Managua. It's one of those things that you hear about in passing (maybe), but something that not many people talk about. If something that terrible really happens, it happens someplace else. Out of sight, out of mind. It's a difficult thing to think about, and it's not an everyday reality for those of us in our comfortable little suburbs. But when you meet the precious little ones that have been forced into the trade...hold their hands, hear their stories...your life is never the same.

"The problem of child prostitution is a global problem with an estimated 1.2 million children trafficked each year. That equates to 2.3 children being trafficked every second. Child prostitutes service between 2 and 25 clients per day equaling 830 to 9,150 clients per year. Nicaragua is affected heavily by this global sex-trade. 60% of the human trafficking victims from the Western Hemisphere are exported from Nicaragua. In Managua alone there are at least 11 brothels that offer the services of children. These brothels keep the children locked away during the day so they are unable to escape. Unfortunately, the brothels aren’t the only ones offering sexual services of children in Nicaragua." (from the Refuge Project website)

My heart broke when I was faced with this reality on my trip to Nicaragua. But I was so blessed by the people I met while I was there, and I praise God for faithful servants who are in the trenches every day fighting on behalf of these children. You and I may not have the opportunity to physically rescue these little ones on a day to day basis, but there is something we can do to help. We can definitely be in prayer for these ministries and the children they seek to rescue. But we can also support these ministries financially. One by One has the opportunity to purchase a house that is adjacent to their offices, which they plan to use to house the children they rescue. They are currently raising money to purchase that house, but they still need to raise $20,000 by the end of January in order to make that possible.

Roof For The Refuge from One by One on Vimeo.

Would you consider supporting this ministry and helping them raise the money they need to buy the house?

You can give directly to the Refuge Project, or if you are still looking for some Christmas gifts, you can purchase some really cute jewelry from one of the One by One staff members who makes the jewelry as a way to support herself and her family. She has decided to give 10% of the profit from each item to benefit the Refuge Project, and for one of the kinds of earrings she sells (pictured above), she gives 100% of the profit to Refuge. You can see the rest of her gallery here on Facebook. If you find anything you like, let me know by Saturday, December 11th so that our missionaries can bring them back on their trip home to the States. Prices and reference numbers are listed below each picture on the site.

Prayers for Nica

Many of you know that this past June, I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua. I think about that trip often and find myself missing Nica- I feel so blessed to have been able to partner with One by One and House of Hope. I was there for only a week, but the trip changed me in so many ways; Nica will forever be on my heart. I keep pictures from the trip around my apartment and at work, so that I am constantly reminded of the things God taught me while I was there and to keep Nica in my prayers. I do my best to keep up with the ongoing ministries- through newsletters, blogs, and emails, and even through my friend Laura who went back to Nicaragua with the women's ministry this past October and will be going back again in December.

I wanted to share some of the current things that are going on with the varying ministries, and I would like to ask that you join me in prayer over the work that God is doing in Nica and over the urgent needs that have come up:

Chase and Julie
They are moving into a new apartment soon, so please pray that the process is enjoyable and not too complicated or draining. Also, please pray that God would give them wisdom in some difficult situations they have faced recently. They experience both great encouragements and discouragements in ministry, so pray that God is their refuge and strength, their joy and peace.

The Refuge Project
The newest ministry for One by One is the Refuge Project, a ministry to rescue children from abuse and slavery. The Lord has provided an incredible opportunity for them to buy the house directly next door to their current church building to use as the home for the Refuge Project. In order to do so, they need to raise $30,000 by January. Please pray that God provides in abundance for this project and that they would be able to have the home ready for children to move in this February. If you are interested you can make a donation here.

Alma

Alma is an 11-year old girl who lived at House of Hope, and one of the girls I was able to meet when we were in Nicaragua. She was the girl who was found chained up because she had refused to comply with customers. House of Hope found her and rescued her, and the Lord had begun the long process of healing in this precious little girl. We just learned from one of the staff interns that she was taken from House of Hope by her father and grandmother, supposedly to be brought to the U.S. for a better life. The scary reality is that she was probably only told that so that she would go with them willingly. Please pray that either she is actually safe with her family or that House of Hope hears of her whereabouts quickly so that they can rescue her again. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done at this point, except to wait and pray. My heart breaks for this little girl, and I cry out to God for His protection and mercy on her life. I know He is in control and can wrap His loving arms around her, wherever she is.

Missing Nica...

Today I woke up wishing that I was back in Nicaragua. That may be because I am heading home this weekend to share about the trip with a group of friends and family. My parents are awesome and are hosting a dessert fellowship of sorts so I can talk about all that the Lord did on the trip. I worked this week on a PowerPoint presentation (I couldn't help myself- it's what I do haha) so everyone can see pictures from the trip. I am so excited to share all of the prayer God answered, how He is being glorified through the ministries in Managua, and what He taught me. I am really praying that God uses the time to not only provide additional support for the ministries (which would be awesome!), but also to draw people toward His heart.

Preparing for this weekend has just caused me to want to be back in Nicaragua. I pray that the Lord gives me an opportunity to go again. I miss serving with brothers and sisters in Christ, playing Tiburónes y Pescaditos with the kids, learning Spanish from 5-year-olds, just loving the kids there...but most of all, I miss this sweet face...

Photo Taken By: Clint Brewer

Viva Nica '10!

So Nicaragua was AMAZING :) I am so grateful for all of the prayers and support that enabled me to even be a part of this trip. It was such an incredible week! This post might be ridiculously long...but I LOVE talking about my experience in Nicaragua and want to have a record of the trip anyway. And I unfortunately did not take a single picture the whole trip, but our team photographer Clint Brewer is really gifted and got some incredible photos of the week. So most of the pictures you see are his.

It's really hard to put into words all that the Lord taught me while I was there; I am still processing a lot of things. I just felt so blessed to be a part of the trip to begin with- to be a part of the ministries for the week and have the opportunity to serve with the missionaries from our 20s group and those that we met throughout the week. And just being able to spend time loving on the kids was a joy to my heart. Being able to laugh and play with them and share Christ's love was a really humbling opportunity.

I was frustrated at the beginning of the week because of the language barrier. I was disappointed in my severe lack of Spanish-speaking skills, but God still chose to use me despite my shortcomings. Mostly I was just upset with myself for not being more disciplined in remembering/practicing my Spanish skills. Señora Portillo would be so disappointed…But the Lord really worked on my heart early in the week to essentially get over myself- haha- and just focus on Him and the tasks He set before me- language barrier or not.

ONE BY ONE...
We spent the first day helping the One by One staff host a summer camp for kids. We were able to play Luz Rojo/Luz Verde (Red Light/Green Light), Tiburónes y Pescaditos (Sharks and Minnows), Pato, Pato, Ganso (Duck, Duck, Goose), and other fun games. We sang songs (some of which I actually remembered from my mission trips to Mexico way back in middle school!), had a craft time (courtesy of the lovely and talented Kelsey Jensen), and just had fun playing with the kids for the day.

BEACH DAY...
The second day we spent as our rest day as a team. I know it seems too early in the week for that- we had just arrived! But we were trying to work around the missionary schedules so that they all could be a part of a day of rest. We spent the day at the beach, which was really fun despite the fact it rained the whole time. We hung out under the cabana, played Mexican Train, ate a yummy lunch (I ate a fish that still had its head- haha), and some ventured out into the rain to boogey board and ride horses. It was fun to hang out with the Russells and our 2 translators- Kathy and Gerson. They were with us the whole week, so it was a great opportunity to get to know them and see how the Lord is going to use them for His glory in their own country.

HOUSE OF HOPE...
We spent the next couple of days at House of Hope, which is essentially a refuge home for women and young girls who have been victims of human trafficking and prostitution. House of Hope not only goes into the brothels to get girls out of desperate situations, but it provides a safe place to live, food, an education, and training to find an alternate source of income through jewelry- or card-making or sometimes a microgrant to start a tortilla or fruit business. They offer Bible studies and classes on sexual trauma, and more than that, they share the love of Christ and hope. They have such an incredible ministry, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it and help even in a tiny way.

While we were there, we did some work projects. Their ministry is growing, so they need to extend their dining hall. So I helped work on the project for that. For 2 days, we installed rebar and mixed/poured cement. Another group worked on building a cover for their trash pit, and I was able to help paint lacquer on it to finish the project. It was hard work, but definitely a blessing to be able to help them with their project.

While we were hard at work most of the time we were there, we still had moments where we could steal away for a break and play/talk with some of the kids. I was really blessed by a little boy named Dilan who thought sunglasses were the coolest thing. Whenever I could, I would sit with him and let him play with my glasses and attempt to talk with him in my broken 5-year-old Spanish. It was a good thing he was only 5 :) I definitely wanted to bring this little boy home with me haha. I will try to find a picture of me and him to post later.

At lunch, we were able to hear some of the testimonies from the girls living at House of Hope. I can't even describe in words the stories we heard of these sweet ones. Just to hear of the evil that lives and breathes in this world made my skin crawl. And my heart just broke as girls told their stories. One girl was kidnapped from her home and forced into the trade; another was told to begin prostituting herself because she needed to help feed her brother; yet another was being sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend- and when she finally had the courage to tell her sister about what was happening, her sister sold her into the trade; and another was found chained up. A lot of times, these women/girls feel as though they have no other choice but to prostitute themselves just so they can feed their families.

Although child prostitution is technically illegal in Nicaragua, there is still a high demand for it. The "legal" age is 18, but it really translates to about 15. And the system is so corrupt- police and important heads of state are often the best customers. Even typing this information out makes the anger well up inside. The founder/director of House of Hope, April, mentioned how groups come through all the time and look around to see how young the girls are and think "surely not that one." And yet the heartbreaking reality is that they wouldn't be there at House of Hope if it were not the case. The youngest living there is 7. Again, the reality of sin and evil hit me in a new way while I was there. To look into their sweet eyes and think about the horrific things they have experienced...my heart literally ached. But to know that the love and power of the Savior I follow and serve can heal those wounds and still provide abundant life and hope in such immense darkness is completely overwhelming.

On a little lighter note, that evening we were able to spend with the Russells at their home. It was Kristina's birthday, so it was fun to celebrate with her with cake and a game of Catch Phrase. I was incredibly blessed to spend time with all of the Russells- David, Kristina, and little Beckett, and Chase and Julie. I wish I could have spent more time getting to know them while I was in Nicaragua, so I am excited that they will be here in the states for the next few weeks. Here is the group with the Russells!

LA CHURECA...
On Friday, we visited La Chureca- the city dump. I am not even sure I can describe what that was like. We started driving in, but the mud/muck was too thick for our van, so we had to hop out and get into a different vehicle. When we got out of our van, we were hit with a wall of stench that I can't describe in words. The absolute worst thing I have smelled in my life; it literally burned my lungs to breathe. And it's not the kind of smell that you would get used to after awhile. As we drove through the dump, there was just mounds of trash as far as the eye could see. Those who had been on the trip last year said that it looked better and was improved in a year's time; from what I was seeing, it was hard to imagine that things were better. Buzzards filled the sky, and all around adults and children were digging through the trash looking for things to salvage, eat, or recycle. Families are drawn to live here because of extreme poverty and lack of employment in Nicaragua.

From our way of thinking, it's hard to imagine people living in a dump. But it's not an unreasonable option for them, considering that it's what they feel they have to do to feed their families. Along with the filth of La Chureca there is a strong presence of drugs, glue sniffing, alcohol abuse, and prostitution. It is such a picture of the utter helplessness and darkest depths of despair of humanity. And in the midst of this dark world there is a sliver of light- of hope- that exists inside La Chureca: a school that provides food and schooling to the children who live there. This school is run through a ministry called Open Hearts. It operates like any other school, with bells and class and recess and a principal who wears dress pants and heels.

At this point in the trip, I had already begun to get sick, so this day was really difficult for me, even aside from what I was seeing and smelling. While we were visiting the school, I was literally willing myself and desperately praying that the Lord would prevent me from vomiting (haha- sorry for the gross details). But I share that with you because, while my stomach hated me at that time, it was the most memorable moment for me on the trip. The Lord answered my prayer and allowed me to sit and hold and love on a little girl named Maria. It was only a short time, but she grabbed my hand the moment I walked into the school and just wanted to be hugged. And despite where she lived, she was all smiles. I again attempted to talk in my broken Spanish, and I was completely blessed and broken in that moment with her. Nothing else mattered at that point. And while I eventually got worse over the next couple of days, I can say that that one moment was worth being sick; meaning, if it meant me getting sick to have that moment, I absolutely praise the Lord for it. It was so hard to leave that sweet face, and I know that I will never forget it or the experience of La Chureca. It's impossible to walk away from that unaffected or unchanged. It's been really difficult to come home and go back to "normal" or life as I have known it. That's a part of what I am still processing.

CAMINO DE VIDA...
Saturday I was really sick, so I was unable to join the team as they went to the Camino de Vida kids program that One by One does every week. I was really bummed I couldn't be a part of it. I was able to venture out and attend the youth program later that evening, which I was really grateful for. I was able to see and say good-bye to some of the House of Hope girls that we had spent time with throughout the week, and I got to hear my friend Laura give her testimony in Spanish. While being sick was not exactly how I had planned the trip to end, the Lord was incredibly good to provide in so many ways. It's hard to understand the purpose in getting sick, but the entire week was an incredible blessing from the Lord, and I wouldn't trade any part of it.

REFLECTIONS...
I am just so grateful I could be a part of this trip and serve. Being able to go to another country to share Christ's love is just different from doing that here. I was blown away by all of the stories I heard this week...it made a lot of things in my life seem so trivial, just hearing and seeing the sufferings of others. My heart was broken a little each day as I witnessed the poverty, heard the stories of the girls at House of Hope, and just learned more of the things that are on the heart of God. Definitely humbling and convicting as I examined my own heart to see if they matched with the Lord's. It was such an encouragement and blessing for me to see each of the One By One and House of Hope staff serving in the places that God has obviously called them to serve. And it is such a challenge to me of how much they have each been willing to sacrifice in order to follow God's leading and share the gospel in Nicaragua. I feel as though the Lord is working in my heart, trying to reveal the things that I would be willing to do for Him. It's a little scary and humbling, but I am confident that the Lord will continue working on my heart as I seek to follow His leading in my own life. I think I have more questions than answers now on what that actually looks like, but He's working...

Viva Nica ;)

Just a Teaser...

Ok- so I am working on scripting a blog post for the trip...but for now, check out this awesome teaser video that our leader Jon Lilley created!



Enjoy! More to come on Nicaragua 2010...

Home and Recovering...

Nicaragua was incredible. God is good. I promise to update soon about the trip...I ended up pretty sick at the end of the trip and have spent this week recovering. I am feeling much better than when I stepped off the plane on Sunday, but am still pretty weak and trying to regain an appetite. As soon as I have some more energy, I promise to share all that God did on the trip. I am still processing a lot of the things He whispered to my heart, but I will do my best to share what I can.

Thank you for all of your prayers! We serve a mighty and beautiful God :)

Nica Bound!

I'm all packed and ready to go to Nicaragua. And now I am just twiddling my thumbs, waiting to head to the airport. Haha- I am going to be waiting awhile though, since I don't have to be there for another 13 hours :) I guess you could say that I am excited to finally go!

If you would like to follow our team while we are serving in Managua, you can check out our blog!

I am so thankful to everyone who offered both prayer and financial support for me to go to Nicaragua. So many people were extremely generous and sent such sweet and encouraging messages in support of my trip. God was so good to provide for our entire team- and in His true character, He provided in abundance! We are all looking forward to serving Him by serving with the missionaries at OneByOne.

We would definitely covet your prayers!

• For safety and health of our team
• That God would be honored and glorified in everything that we do and say
• For boldness and love as we share the gospel of Christ
• That we would be open to every opportunity for ministry placed before us
• For our team to be unified with one purpose and one Spirit
• That our team can be an encouragement to the OneByOne staff
• That God would break our hearts for the things that break His
• That God would move in hearts to draw people into an intimate relationship with Him

Viva Nica! :)

Hello Summer!

My crazy schedule has officially come to an end :) BSF is on break for the summer, my big work projects/meetings are over, and I am done with studying!!! I took my CPCU exam on Monday, and I cannot tell you how relieved I am for it to be behind me. When I arrived at the testing center, they got me all checked in and then informed me that the internet was down so I would not be able to take my exam and would have to reschedule for next week. Two problems with that: my testing window closes on the 15th (meaning I have no choice but to take it before that date) and I will be in Nicaragua next week. So I spent the morning on the phone, trying to find a compassionate soul to help me reschedule at another testing location that same day. God was so good and put me in contact with a sweet lady who went out of her way to help me. I thought I was going to have to wait 4-6 weeks to find out my grade, but I think that because of all the hassle it took for me to even take my exam on Monday they took pity on me and graded it early. And I passed! Even though I am leaning toward not moving forward with my CPCU designation, it is still nice to know that the long months of studying were not in vain. I had prayed for a miracle, and it's still nice to pass :)

Now that everything is done, I am really excited about the summer. Someone asked me the other day what I plan to do this summer. I shared about my trip to Nicaragua, then said that after that, I am not planning anything :) I am most looking forward to not having any set plans for the summer and just taking the opportunity to rest, spend time with the Lord, hang out with friends, catch up on reading, make some trips home to see my family...whatever comes up! The thought of no scheduled plans is simply wonderful!

So next up: Nicaragua! I am definitely looking forward to this trip. I can't believe it's already here and we leave on Sunday! This trip is the culmination of a lot of work the Lord has been doing in my heart over the past year, so I am excited to finally be able to go and serve. I look forward to the ministry opportunities we will be a part of while we are there and to being used by God in any way He chooses. I have been praying for the Lord to prepare my heart for the things He will teach me and show me while we are there. I just feel so blessed to be able to take part in His work in supporting the missionaries who have given up their own comforts to serve and love the people in Nicaragua.

While we are there, we will be working alongside OneByOne ministries. Their goal is to reach Nicaragua's children and youth with the gospel of Christ, and then provide them with a strong education to improve their lives. We will also have the opportunity to work with House of Hope, which is a vocational center for women wanting to leave prostitution. Our team plans to blog about our time in Nicaragua, so if you would like to follow us, please click here. We would appreciate your prayers for the Lord to be glorified in all that we do and say.

Countdown to Nica: 3 Days!

I Think I Can...

21 days until until I get the blessing of enjoying this...

41 days until my CPCU exam- yikes!

47 days until I get to serve here...

And in between there's Go and Be, Nica Team meetings, baby showers, leaders' meetings, intro nights, communion dinner, BSF, seminars, mentor lunches, fellowships, presentations, parents' night out, friend time, Nica garage sale, Mother's Day, singles nights, Memorial Day...

A lot of really GREAT things going on, but I am definitely looking forward to some time of rest. I am praying for the strength to finish well, the patience to endure the endless schedule, the wisdom and selflessness to love those around me in the process. Just a few more weeks...I think I can...I know the Lord can...

March Madness

So my poor little blog has been slightly neglected in recent days...my life could be summed into one word these days: BUSY. I have been busy before, so it's not something new. I think I am just a different kind of busy. A good busy :) I knew this semester was going to be tough, as I am trying to juggle two very time-consuming ministries. I am so blessed by both, but am just feeling the pressure of both commitments. It's really hard sometimes because I really want to serve well in both places...and because my time is so limited, it's not always easy to do that. But I press on, and I praise God for the blessings He is providing- both in strengthening me to finish well, and in the relationships I am forming through the work He has called me to.

Here's a look ahead at some fun things coming up in March...I have lots of work and studying stuff going on too, but I'd rather focus on the fun stuff anyway haha. And as far as March Madness goes...I doubt I will have time to enjoy the real NCAA March Madness, but hopefully I can catch a game or two in the midst of the craziness ;)

Communion Dinner- I know I have said this before, but this is one of my favorite things in the 20s group! I love spending time with this sweet group of friends, taking time to fellowship and pray together as we remember our Lord's sacrifice. It's one of the things that I sit and revel in the idea that this is how church was meant to be. This month is Mexican-themed, so I need to figure out what dish I am going to take.

Singles Hockey Game- This weekend, the singles group is heading to a hockey game! We're going to see the Allen Americans take on the Mississippi Riverkings! I'm not much of a hockey fan- to be honest, I have a hard time following the stupid puck-lol. But I think this should be fun! The guys are hoping for a fight, and I am just hoping I can stay warm :)

Phantom of the Opera! I am SO excited to finally see this play! I have wanted to for a long time, but have never been able to. But it's here in Dallas, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to go. I'm going with a group of people, and we're planning to get dressed up and make a fun night of it; I have already been serenaded the soundtrack, and I can't wait!

Pine Cove Work Crew Weekend! The singles are heading to a work weekend at Pine Cove Camp in Tyler, TX. I have been with the 20s group before, but this trip is specifically for our singles group. I am really looking forward to this- I think it's going to be a good thing for our group. The other leaders and I are working to make sure that we take the time to focus on why we hang out and where we want our group to be in terms of our relationship with God and with each other. There's just something about serving together and being out in the woods with a group of friends to help solidify friendships and draw people closer together.

Josh Turner Concert :) I have shared with you in recent posts about my love for country music. And I have tried to see Josh Turner in concert for some time now. And I found my chance....he will be at Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth at the end of this month and I am going!!! I cannot tell you how excited I am! I am going with a couple of sweet friends (Laura and Lindsey), and I can't wait for it to get here :)

First Nica '10 Meeting! I haven't mentioned this yet, but we will be having our first team meeting in a couple of weeks, so now is as good a time as ever to announce it. This summer, I will be going on a mission trip with our 20s group to Nicaragua! We will be going to serve with missionaries from our 20s group who are serving in Managua. I participated in mission's trips with my high school youth group, but have not done any since then. I have felt the Lord laying it on my heart to go on another trip for some time now, and I am excited about this one. I can't wait to see how God prepares our team for this trip!

First Day of SPRING!!! I just have to say it. I am SO looking forward to SPRING. I have never liked cold weather- I live in Texas for a reason ;) Moving to Dallas, winter is definitely longer and more severe than way down in San Antonio. I know I don't know what cold is...I have friends that have endured the winters of Chicago and Virginia. But again....I live in Texas. We're not supposed to have cold weather- lol. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed our snow day, but I am just done with cold weather. Enough already. I am ready for some sunshine and warm weather! :)