Blog Tag?!?!

Well, Randy blog tagged me, whatever that is... HAHA. So 7 things you don't know about me. Pretty sure no one still reads this, but we will see.

1. I have dreams about living in Africa... Real dreams, I wake up and am disappointed I am in comfortable bed in comfortable America.

2. I would rather play with kids, making less money than work at a real job.

3. I have a strange obsession with Grey's Anatomy... To the point where I sometimes think it is real life... weird I know.

4. I would love to see every major league baseball stadium. I have seen a few, but I have a lot more to go!

5. As much as I hate living in Midland, it is the place I feel most comfortable.

6. I used to have a dog, her name was Abby. I went to summer camp and when I came home, my parents had given my dog away. I am still a little traumatized.

7. I am joining Stonegate and getting baptized in September!

I would tag someone else, but I don't know anyone else who has a blog. I guess it ends with me!

90 Days of Prayer

I am a little late on this, but I am listening to the sermon Patrick preached on this 90 days of prayer. I haven't written in a while because to be real honest I have been so discouraged. I have been feeling like I am at rock bottom, with no real way out of the valley. I am struggling with the things the Lord has dealt me. I am 22, I am looking at 4 back surgeries this summer, for a while there was no hope for a job, and on top of it I had no close friends. There are people in my life that I hang out with, but no real support in the things I am dealing with. In this time I should have been looking to the Lord for my encouragement and support, but instead I was mad at Him. I didn't understand why this was happening to me. I still don't. I miss the life I had before all of this, my friends in College Station, a healthy spine, etc. This 90 days of prayer is encouragement. I am excited about hopefully diligently praying about something and getting answers, even if it isn't what I want to hear. I hope that those that are a part of Stonegate, and those that have just heard about this will participate. You can watch this sermon on the internet by going to www.stonegatefellowship.com and clicking on SGTV.

MYSTERY WEEKEND 2007!!

WOW! Can you believe it is 2007?? That is crazy to me. It seems so far away at Fish Camp before my freshman year at A&M when we had a cheer that said something about us being the class of 2007! Who woulda thought then that I would graduate early and be living at home again... haha... but onto Mystery Weekend.
I feel like so many times we sign up for things like mystery weekend and mission trips to help others, but I always feel like I come away with so much more than I gave. I was on Randy's security team... What a good help I was... I mean I'm sooo mean and all, and I could take a kid.... if my back weren't broken... but it was a blast! I was able to hang out with my Teen CBS girls and get to know them a little bit more which was great. Those girls are AMAZING!
My parents have been pressuring me lately to figure out what it is I want to do with my life, so I began praying harder about my direction and purpose. In the process I decided to come up with a mission statement for my life. It is still kind of in the preliminary stages, but I know more whatI am here on this earth for. One of the speakers from this weekend has a children's home in Kenya. I was able to talk to him about my experiences in Africa and also see what his purpose was in Kenya. He had pictures and it is so crazy to me how everytime I see an African child my heart jumps. They are so beautiful.
The theme this weekend was identity. It made me think a lot. I find myself describing different characteristics of myself, when all that really matters is that I love the Lord. I am a Christ-follower, what else matters? I am often times hard on myself for things I have done in the past, but God doesn't even remember those things. This year has been such an amazing time in my life. I have grown in the Lord and am in the process of Him making me whole, of finding happiness in every part of my life and being content with Jesus romancing me. Its an amazing freedom I have found. I have known the Lord, I have known eternal life for longer than that, but my relationship was stale. I was a Sunday christian, if even that. I'm learning there is an intimacy with the Father that is better than any worldy friendship.
I am so blessed to have been a part of this weekend. It was an amazing time of complete intimacy and pouring into others. God is so faithful to his children, I am so blessed to be called a child of God!

Blood Diamonds...

I can't even collect my thoughts right now. Blood Diamonds and Invisible Children are probably the 2 movies that have been the hardest for me to sit through. I'm not even going to pretend like I can write anything profound right now, because honestly I have not even begun to process the things I just saw. It was a good movie... A few things that were definetly Hollywood inspired, but overall pretty good. Accurate setting, authentic accents, true story from what I can tell. All these things seem to be blowing up in Africa, there is so much attention there, yet is anything really being done? This movie was done after the war stopped, I know I was young at the time this was going on (1999), but I didn't hear one thing about it, not in the news, not in History class. It's kind of ironic that this mornings sermon talked about trials, and knowing God is there in the trials. I walked away this morning so encouraged, and thought it was a really great sermon, but on my drive home I caught myself asking God where He was and how He could allow this to happen. Exactly the opposite of what Patrick told us this morning, and I know this, but why do we seem to run from God before we accept that he is in control. I hope I am not the only one that at the sight of something horrific asks God how he lets these things happen. I want to be in a point in my faith where I can go straight to the Lord and pray for his will to be done in all of these things... but for some reason I always question before trusting.
Seeing this movie made me miss Africa more. It is where my heart is, and I want to be there so badly. I am content in Midland, but I long to be back with the people of Africa.
Jesus, I lift up to you the people who have been in some way affected by the illegal diamond smuggling. I pray that you will be with those people, comfort them, and give them hope Lord. I pray that everyday the situation gets better Lord. I pray that they use the diamonds for legite business to further the economy, not a few selfish people. I pray for families that lost loved ones, boys who were taken from their homes, handed a gun and were told to shoot people. Please Lord heal these boys, help them to live normal lives Lord, help them to sleep and not dream of blood or murder. Help families reunite Jesus. Be with the people of Africa. Comfort them, protect them, and Lord help them to feel your love. I love you Lord.

Prayer Request

My dad's best friend, Tom, who lives in Kansas called this afternoon. His son, Will, who is my age and his girlfriend, Paige (also my age) had a baby last month. Since Grayson has been born he has suffered. He has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and have told the family it is only a matter of time until he passes. They have been running all sorts of tests on the baby to try and figure out exactly what it is, and the doctor has come to the conclusion that if Will and Paige have other children, they will also have this disorder, therefore, medically they will not be able to have healthy children. obviously God is so much bigger than that.
Tom was obviously upset when he called this afternoon. They met with the doctor yesterday and the condition of Grayson is getting much worse. They are giving him one more week before they take him off of the machines. I ask that you pray for Will and Paige as they are struggling with trying to balance work, school, and a dying child. Also that their relationship become stronger through this and that it does not seperate them. Paige's parents are going through a divorce right now, so that is added stress on this girl. For Will as he is out of vacation time, so he cannot go and visit the baby everyday. Also Will's parents, Tom and Jane as they are losing their first grandchild and trying to be there for Will. They have 2 other children, so that they would be able to support the other 2 as well, so that they do not feel neglect. These are the things that are coming to mind, but there is so much more that goes on with losing a baby, so please pray for this family. Thanks guys!

Pictures anyone??

School Children

Outside Pastor Wesley's House. His 2 youngest boys, Robert and Moses, with 2 of our new friends.

Church

Megan with her friend at church!

Karen with her beautiful granddaughter! The twins will be home very soon!!!

All the Children and caretakers at Greater Love Children's Home! Actually, now there are 7 more little faces!!

The Brown kids, who are now officially Sommers! I am sooo excited!

These are a few pictures from Liberia. A video will be coming soon, as soon as I figure out how to do it!

God's Perfect timing...

I realized once more last night how blessed I am. Patrick came to speak at the young adults bible study, and his lesson was on God's timing. This week I have had an awful attitude about my job. Patrick taught us last night that while in waiting God uses us in situations we don't think we should be in. We have to be the lowest on the chain of command and learn to serve others before you can ever become a leader. He made the point that God has probably already spoken his will for our lives, and we are in waiting now for Him to mold us and prepare us for whatever he wills us to do. All this to say that, God is molding me, using me to serve others, and preparing my heart for the journey I have before me. I am not more certain than ever that Africa is where I am supposed to be. that has been revealed to me, and this job I am in now is me serving others. I went this morning with a completely different attitude, I pray now that in the next week I can show the love of Christ to those I work with through my attitude and my joy.

My best friend from college is here!! We are having a great time. It's so great that she gets to see where I grew up! Michael gets home tonight, I am so ansy I can hardly stand it! I think like the whole church is going to be at the airport. I'm glad Meg gets to meet him too! That's all for now!!