A New Adventure

As many of you folks know I have had a burning desire and call to spend my life on the mission field. I find joy, fulfillment, and happiness pouring my life into others, sharing the love of Christ, and enpowering people to help them improve their lifestyle and situations. For His glory, not mine. To see the kingdom expand. To share the hope and peace that lives in me, that deserve to know about. In 2009 I went on a mission trip to Cluj,Romania for roughly a week. As me prior to this trip what I wanted to do with my life I probably would've said to be an RN or own my own cafe/bakery (still a dream!). Coming back from this trip my world was rocked, and God continued to change my perspective on life and started showing me glimpses of what my future held.

In 7 months, 28 days (not that I'm counting) I will be leaving the good ole US of A to embark on a new adventure. I will be heading to Guatemala for 2 months to minister to prositutes, rescue them, feed the hungry that may be living in garbage dumps, clothe them, and much much more. I'm so excited to see people's lives changed, falling on their faces worshipping God, and turning their lives around for the better. This is just the beginning of what God has planned for me, my team, and the people of Guatemala.

Cupcakes, moving, and insight

It's literally been forever since I last blogged but I'm back at it again :) So what have I, Melanie, been up to the past few months? Well I went to California on vacation, climbed Half Dome at Yosemite, got a wisdom tooth out and still dealing with my battle scars from the IV, oh and I'm moving tomorrow. It's off to school I go. The past few weeks since getting back from vacation have been busyish, but I've still managed to have time to read a few books and get some last minute baking in! I'm actually finishing up some chocolate ganache cupcakes. I got the recipe from DC Cupcakes, and man I haven't tried them yet, but the batter is fabulous!

Anyway, it's back to reality I go. I'll be spending my days as a typical college sophomore would. Which I'm not sure what that all entails, but I do know that I will be cooking this year and have a full kitchen so that excites me. Hey, maybe I'll just turn my apartment kitchen into a bakery and not be poor after all!

Let us not forget as Christians we have a duty, the duty has been listed numerous time throughout the New Testament, you may know this as the Great Commission. As Jesus once said, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. If you're a college student who is a Christian I urge to follow through with this command and share the gospel with friends, professors, and other faculty you may come in contact with this year. It can be a very scary thing, but the Holy Spirit will guide you through it. Blessings and may you have a good school year!

Stop Making Excuses Part 1

True or False: All people are guilty before God? True. How is it possible that all 6+ billion people on planet Earth are guilty before God? Well it is, according to Paul when he wrote Romans. Paul states in Romans 3:23 that ALL have sinned and fallen short of God, therefore we are guilty. Paul also gives a clear example of people, Gentiles, falling short of God in Romans 1:18 to 2:16 and then continues with showing how merciful and gracious God is. God doesn't show favortism, he shows love. A love that we don't deserve, yet we're given at the cost of Jesus dying for us on the cross.
Whether you're a student who's just trying to get by without going into a large sum of debt, or a parent who's trying to good, you stand guilty before God. Yes, even the so-called innocent people in this world that haven't even heard of Christ Jesus. In David Platt's book 'Radical' he answers an important question he has been asked numerous times.  
       "What happens to the innocent man in the middle of Africa who dies without ever hearing the gospel?" Platt answers by saying "I  believe he will undoubtedly go to heaven. There is no question in my mind."
Do you get what Dr. Platt is implying here, nobody is innocent, not even those who haven't heard the gospel? If this man was innocent before a holy God he wouldn't need a Savior to come and rescue him from his sins because he's already innocent. Sadly enough these "innocent" people don't exist anywhere. We've all fallen short of God. It goes back to Adam and Eve in the garden when they took of the fruit they weren't suppose to eat. So we can thank them. Because of the fall of man there are people all over the world that stand guilty and not innocent. We need a Savior and the gospel.
      Platt ends this truth with this "All too often we view heaven as the default eternal state for humankind. We assume that our race simply deserves heaven, that God owes heave to us unless we do something really bad to warrant otherwise."

Stay tuned for part 2.

The Pearl

In every oyster there lies the ability

to produce something rare.

Truth like a grain of sand will produce

the pearl that is hidden there.

Young woman you are often mocked and scorned.

And told you never should have been born.

You want to run away, to hide your heart.

Your heart is wounded, bleeding and torn.

God makes not mistakes

every life is special,

every life is planned.

Seeds can sprout in sand.

Open yourselves up to the Spirit of God

Grow in grace and maturity

Be what He wants you to be

Your beauty your strength lies deep within you.

Young woman, young girl,

open yourselves up to God.

Allow Him to reveal your pearl

~Sylvia Hannah, Becoming a Lady of Virtue

Living in 2011 (2 blogs in 1)

So what have I been up to lately? Well I'm glad you asked! I've been working, being lazy, and working more. It's summer so it's perfectly okay to be lazy! But as summer has continued to go on I've become more aware of the society I am living in. What I mean by that is, I've become more aware of modern day issues (history is repeating itself), I've noticed why people don't like Americans through my observations at work, and I've began to realize who I am as a person and who I want to be.

The American Society:
1. We're very impatient.
2. We think people can read our minds.
3. The majority of our food isn't healthy.
4. We're a soda drinking country beyond compare.
5. If someone messes up, it's likely to ruin our day.
6. It's weird if someone offers to do a good deed for you.
7. Calling yourself a Christian in America is a lot different than if you were in Asia, or somewhere where Christianity is illegal.

So why am I writing about the American society? I don't have a specific reason, it is just some things I have noticed the past few weeks I've been working. I think often times people get too caught up in themselves and forget that we are merely just humans, mistakes happen, and we shouldn't get worked up about it.

I'm currently in the slow process of reading 'Crazy Love' and watching Andy Stanley's sermons on 'The new rules for Love, Sex, and Dating.' Through this God has taught/shown me some awesome things. Some of my closest friends are in serious relationships, aka close to getting married. They're just about 2 years older than me and it is so crazy be we're still young. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely happy for them and am glad God has blessed them with such amazing men in their lives. God has also blessed me with some amazing single girls, which is great. But through listening to Stanley's sermons it's come to my realization how much I am longing to know who I will one day marry. With my friends talking about wedding stuff and me not having much response it's made me a little jealous. Sometimes it's hard to be around them because we're just in completely different points in our life, but this has all made me realize something; I'm not ready to settle down and get married. I'm spending my time being single, growing in God, becoming satisfied with where I am in my life, and becoming the person who I am looking for to spend the rest of my life with. With all of this, I'm learning it's perfectly fine to be single, my happiness shouldn't be found in a guy, but rather in Christ himself. I need to learn to become satisfied with the people who are in my life now, the situations I'm in, and not worry about what the future holds. I can't tell you how many people have told me, 'stop worrying about the future, God has a plan.' But to me, it's so much more than that.

What are some things that you are holding onto? Have you figured out the direction your life is headed? I challenge you to seek God in absolutely everything you do. He gives us guidence and direction.

Untitled (Potentially Part 1)

I started reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, probably 3 or 4 months ago. I got to about the fourth chapter or so and stopped reading it. I could say I stopped reading it because I got 'busy', but in reality I stopped reading it because it was convicting. Really convicting actually. It got so convicting to the point that I was questioning whether I was truly a Christian and if I was living my life for myself or for God. So I put the book down feeling convicting and hoping all of this would go away. Maybe I was feeling convicted because I was angry at God for taking away someone that was special to me. Maybe it was because I knew I had lost my 'spiritual high' after coming back from Passion. Or maybe it was because I was lacking motivation and just didn't feel like loving God. However, today I decided to pick the book up again. I decided it was okay to feel convicted and guilty. While reading and once yet again feeling super convicted, I thought about a mission trip I went on 2 years ago. It was to Cluj, Romania. For a week I was surrounded by extremely poor, starving people. I went through an extreme reality check and culture shock. I witnessed poverty and hopelessness right before my eyes. Then remembered I wrote a poem about this trip Senior year of High School. I wrote it for my honors English class, and also as a reminder for me to realize how I have changed, for the better. This poem may not make much sense to you in this post, but to me it's a great reminder of who I should be living for.

As the American's arrive

Tears of joy fall like a river

To them we bring hope and love

Neither of us speak one anothers language

We only know 'hello' and 'thank you'

Luckily communication survives

Muddy, torn clothes is all they have

Scarped feet, and dirty skin

Running water is nonexistent

They draw their unclean water from a well

Playing soccer is what they love

We try to teach a new kind of love

We sing songs and share our faith

Some listen. while others cry in fear

My perspective on life has changed

I don't need materials to live

We've only been together for a few hours

But everyone is smiling

And wanting to play "Rata rata gasca!"

All we have to give is Christ's love and a hug

As the American's leave

Tears fill their eye, their hope is gone til we return

So I ask: Who are you living for? Do you really need to keep up with the Jones'? Is Jesus who you're living for, or is it you or someone else? Is it time for a reality check on your spiritual life? Just some food for thought.

I am FREE to Live

This is why I'm here on Earth: I am hope to the hopless. God will use me to give people hope. People who ran out of hope long ago. God will use me to love children that have never been loved before. Chilren who are seen as "unloveable" because they have HIV/AIDS, children who were abandoned at birth, children who literally starving and sell themsevles for food. God will use me in my life to proclaim his name for His glory! A revival is upon my generation, we're apart of it, our actions are following the words we speak. They're not just being said in hopes of a revival happening.

Over 300,000 children in the U.S. alone are slaves. The polite word, or rather 'politically correct' word in todays society for slavery is Human Trafficking. These 300,000 children are prostitutes, clothes makers, and food harvesters. Whatever happened to the 13th ammendment that abolished slavery? I mean that was the reason behind the Civil War right? So what has happened since then? People are still slaves. Their natural born rights have been stripped from them. They no longer have the freedom to live. These slaves are beaten, given food just barely enough to survive, and are rarely paid any amount of money. They are sold for as much as a $100. They are treated like animals, not human-beings. Americans are uneducated about massive, illegal problems that are happening in our own backyard. Just the other day I watched a video my friend had posted on her Facebook wall talking about a brothel that was busted up in Indy. That's just an hour and half away from me. But the even scarier thing about human trafficking is it's not just happening in America. 1.2 million people a year are becoming slaves. Women are selling themselves for what they thought was work, but in reality they've become part of an industry that pleases men. Children are becoming part of forced labor and getting beaten for not getting the job done quick enough. This is a huge issue and a solution must happen now, not later. There isn't any time for later.

Tonight my mom and I went to the 'Free to Live' worship service tonight over in Louisville. We worshipped. We listen. God spoke to us. His spirit was alive and present. And we responded. God spoke to me, He told me I was hope. Hope to this world of broken and hurting people. One day I will bring hope to someone. Their life could change for forever, in Jesus' name.

Isaiah 58: 6-7 says this "No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Choices, choices, choices

I have a choice. 
I can continue being pessimistic/ negative Nancy.
 or
I can quit and start being optimistic.

I vote for optimism. I say I have this choice because lately I've been quite negative. Negative about being home for the summer and taking a summer class. While I like being home, if it was my choice I'd still be in Evansville. My friends are there, I'd probably have a job by now, and it's where I feel comfortable. I don't mind being at home, but my friends aren't here, and I don't like being in a place that I don't like.

Most people enjoyed their high school years, I however didn't. I went to a school for snobby, rich kids. I didn't feel welcomed, and I often found myself missing California. I had a choice then, but decided to just be negative about the situation.

So while I've learned that being negative gets me nowhere, literally, it's time for a different outlook. I've thought about how I can be positive about a situation I don't like and the results are much better than having a pity party for myself. Taking this summer class will allow me to press onward with my goal of graduating early, it will keep my mind off missing Evansville, and I will be thankful to get a silly class out of the way next semester when I'm taking 18 hours.

So I challenge you. What things in your life are you being negative about? Maybe you should try changing your perspective. Ask God to allow you to be more optimistic about situations you don't like.

So You're Not Perfect, huh

Everywhere I look there are advertisments about "#1 dermatologist recommended" or "lose 10lbs in 2 weeks" or better yet "these Reebok shape-up shirts and pants really work, just try for yourself!"

Everywhere I go I am reminded I'm not "perfect", atleast that's what society is telling me. It's on TV, billboards, magazines, and even in the mall. I'm not a size zero, so therefore I'm fat. I'm not tan, I have freckles, therefore I stick out and look weird if I dare to show my pale legs. (If we still lived in the 1800's and early 1900's a woman wasn't suppose to be tan, it meant they had been working out in the sun) My hair isn't blonde, or stick straight, it's dark brown and curly. My skin sometimes resembles that of a young adolescent, therefore it's not perfect. It is sometimes oily, and has acne on it. I'm not wearing the latest trend, so therefore I'm not fashionable.  There's things about me I don't like, mainly because I used to get picked on about it. But I've overcome my 'imperfections' and learned to be confident. I'm not saying I walk around thinking I'm this gorgeous person, by anymeans. I just try to stay positive and not let what society says get to me. For example, it seems like everytime I turn around someone is mentioning how 'pale' I am and that I should go to the tanning bed. The fact is, I like how my skin looks, and even if I did try to fake bake, it doesn't happen. It rarely bothers me anymore, but why would someone even say that to a person? I guess that's just how the world works. Let's be honest, we're not "perfect", atleast by what society says. So does this mean we're not beautiful? Of course not!

I hate turning on the TV to find another diet commercial on, or some other commercial talking about how to improve your body and looks. Proverbs 31 says, "Charm and beauty are deceptive, but a woman (or man) who fears the Lord is worthy to be praised. Society says we may not be perfect or beautiful, but I promise you are. Nobody should ever tell you different.

Someone who sees you for you truly are will know that you're beautiful. If a guy truly loves you, it will go far beyond your outward beauty, and they will see your heart of gold (inward beauty). What you're passionate about, and who you truly are. So next time you look in the mirror rather than staring at the things you dislike about yourself, look at the things you do like and realize that you are beautiful, even if society says you're not.

Listen to this: Don't you know that you're beautiful

The Time Has Come

....to say goodbye to Evansville.
I'll be back in 3 1/2 months or so to start the Fall semester.  I really liked my first year of college, after getting over the huge transition from high school. So what will I be doing between now and August? Good question. I'm not really sure to be honest. I will be taking one summer school class (lucky me!), going to see Hillsong United in concert with a friend, climbing Half Dome at Yosemite in California, and visiting my best friend in California. I hope to be going back to grand ole Chick fil A as well. I'm going to miss my friends here, bible study on Wednesdays, and of course my church!
So goodbye Evansville, I'll be back one day, and miss you dearly in the meantime.

Just Take a Chance

The other day my friend, Hannah and I were suppose to go over to her house to study. But little did we know something else was about to happen. Hannah and I went to go walk her dog because she had been in her crate all day long.We ran into a lady that was walking her dog and started up a conversation. After the conversation I told Hannah I really felt like we should've invited her to church and tried to witness to her. God keeps handing me these opportunites to witness to people and I walk away in opposite direction due to fear and the potential of it being an awkward conversation. Hannah and I decided we weren't going back to her house till we had witnessed to someone and invited them to church. (eekk!)
So we walked down to the waterfront and took Maggie with us as bait because most people want to pet a dog or ask about it. We passed this guy and Hannah told me I should go talk to him, but I got really nervous and said 'no that could be a sketchy situation', haha. We continued to keep walking and quite a few people kept coming up to us and asking to pet the dog. But none of the conversations were long enough to say anything. After about 20 minutes or so we turned back around and saw the same guy sitting on the bench. We decided to sit down on the bench next to him and just try to start a conversation. After about 10 minutes or so he started asking about the dog and then asked where we went to school, etc. We responded and asked about his life, and he said he was looking for a house to buy in the downtown area. Well lucky him cause Hannah's house is for sale in the downtown area and so they were able to talk about it. The conversation kept going and we ended up getting on the topic about God and going to church. He said he's been Catholic for 10 years but it just wasn't fulfilling to him. He didn't get much out of it and wanted more in life! To God be the GLORY! We continued sharing Christ to him and I asked him if we could pray for him in any way. His eyes lit up and he got really excited. He shared his prayer requests and was shocked when I asked if we could pray for him right there. He even started tearing up. He agreed and we prayed. I felt the holy spirit rush through me and God was totally speaking through Hannah and I. I can barely remember what I said. I just stood there with words coming out of my mouth and shaking nervously. He thanked us for everything and felt really inspired. I told him we hoped to see him sometime at Bethel and he said 'it's not if I come, it's I will come!' Hannah and I left that situation in complete shock and felt like we could do anything God threw at us from that point forward. The man also thanked us for our boldness and willing to talk to him. The whole afternoon was crazy and I'm still in complete awe! I'm so grateful for this boldness God's given me and I now know that with God anything is really possible. I knew that before, but now I have this experience and it's amazing.
I challenege you. Are you walking away from the opportunites to share your faith, or ask someone to church because you're scared of the outcome, it being uncomfortable/awkward, or not knowing the words to say? I was, and still am. But because God spoke through me and provided me with the words to say, I know it's possible! Try asking for boldness. See where it leads you. We should be jumping for joy, we have a risen and alive Savior who lives in us. Who wouldn't want to share that, especially with the people we love!

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. -Acts 4:29-30
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:13

The Way I See It

I sit here at my desk. I'm a 19 year old college student studying to be a social worker. I'm currently putting off studying and spending my time not on Facebook (my roommate changed my password so I'd stop procrastinating), but reading blogs about people that are all over the world spreading the gospel. If we're being honest here it makes me jealous. People are on the world race or spending their semester  in another country. I love people and helping them. I love learning about different cultures. (Why I've chosen social work, who knows.) I love learning about religions (I'm currently fascinated by LDS and Fundamentalist Mormons). I love hearing life changing stories and seeing God work in miraculous ways. I love traveling and always have. There's so much more to this amazing world than living in the U.S. In fact it's my dream to one day live outside the U.S., and hopefully more than one country.
Last night I watched a sermon from Louie Giglio, it was the last session at Passion and he was talking about carrying names. We carry names on the clothes we wear, the things we buy. Giglio talks about how my generation we're good at this, and that carrying the name of Jesus shouldn't be any different. But it really is. It's hard to start a conversation about this man who died for our sins, and rose on the third day. A man who walked on this earth a hundred percent man, but also a hundred percent God as well. A man who was tempted and had his own desires but took the high road and entered through the narrow gate. It's intimidating and makes my stomach do somersaults just thinking about it. I've done it before on mission trips, but never really on my own. My passion for people, helping the helpless, traveling, and serving God all makes sense to me because I know that's what I'm here on this planet.
This year at college I've been challenged in so many different ways. The first few weeks living here in Evansville I finally experienced the real-world. I was no long hearing about it from my parents or others, but I was living in it. My eyes were opened to a place of darkness, people with different beliefs, and opinions. I was challenged to figure out what I believe and why. I needed to be prepared to defend my faith and not just say 'well it's biblical', but actually dig deep into scripture and make note of it. The way I see it God has been preparing me for something huge. I wish I knew what it was, it could be numerous different things. I'm still digging deeper and learning more than ever about Christianity and taking it to heart. I'm tired of conforming to what the world says and it's time to take the high road. I'd rather not be in college right now (that seems selfish), I'd rather be living with the poor and learning from them. I've spent the last 13ish years of my life learning, learning about history, math, English, government, etc. While yes I'm grateful for it beyond imaginable, I'm tired of learning in a school. I'd love to spend my time learning in the real-world, with real people. Not just seeing pictures and hearing about it from other people. The way I see it one day I'll be married and have kids and not be able to do this. The world says I should be married by at least 24 and have kids a few years afterwards. I don't want to waste this precious time I have now, where I'm free to do whatever. So here's to taking every opportunity and spending my free time wisely.

What's the problem?!

I admit, I'm shy. It's kind of annoying to me. I meet new people and find myself struggling to start a conversation. And then once a conversation gets going I find myself struggling to keep it going. Moving to Indiana and starting at a school where I didn't know anyone, along with moving to Evansville and starting college this has become quite apparent to me. It's something I worry about and waste time thinking about. The bigger problem that I face is sharing my faith. Yep, I know I'm not alone when it comes to this, but I want to share my story I just don't know how to bring it up really.
I wear things that stand out, are different, and have an important meaning to me. I wear a bracelet that says, "I AM SECOND", meaning God comes first in everything I do, I put him above all else, and I put myself second.  A few people have asked me about it, but I find myself struggling to share my story and the love of God.
I wear a ring on my left ring finger that says, "True Love Waits". It reminds me how important my purity is, that it's a gift for my husband, and to never ever ever give it away till I get married. Once again a few people have asked if I'm engaged, or have children (weird) and I just politely respond saying 'no'. Yet again I could respond by saying no but this is what it means to me....
So what's the problem? That I'm shy and can't bring myself so share something so exciting and life-changing. Yup. I've been given this boldness and happiness that others need to hear and I'm holding it in. I hope that one day I'll overcome my fear of talking to others that I don't know and just share my story. May God give you the same boldness that I long for.

Learning to Fall in Love

I love me some girl time, it's simply amazing, and it's something I'm learning that is a necessary part to my life. God's blessed me with some amazing girls and I'm beyond thankful for them. Today my friend Haley and I were talking about dating and our thoughts on it. In that conversation she shared with me this prayer (posted below) that God has for us. As humans we normally choose to pick what our heart desires, not Gods. Lately God has been revealing to me a lot about past relationships I've been in and what my heart should desire.And that is to love God alone. I need to learn to fall completely in love with God before someone else.

Wait until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me alone,

with giving yourself entirely, unreservedly to Me alone.

I love you, My child, but until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another as you desire to be until you are united with Me, exclusive of anything or anyone else; exclusive of other desires and belongings.

I want you to stop planning and stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan that exists-one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the very best. Please allow Me to bring it to you.

Just keep your eyes on Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing that satisfaction of knowing that I AM. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you.

You must be patient.

Don't be anxious.

Don't worry.

Don't look around at the things others have done.

Don't look at the things you want.

Just keep looking at Me, or you will miss what I want to give you.

And then, when you are ready, I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than you could ever dream. You see, when you and the one I have for you are ready, when you are both satisfied exclusively with Me, and your relationship relflects your relationship with me...this is perfect love.

I hope that I will never forget the plan God has for my life. His ways are higher. His ways are better than I can ever dream of. He has a plan for me, the perfect guy for me, so in the meantime I will fall head over heels for my Father in heaven. I will worship and sing him praise. I will get lost in His ocean of love.

Helping the helpless

1st FashionABLE scarf!

Note from Meselu

It happened around the time of my junior year. I started looking at colleges I wanted to go to and was trying to figure out what I wanted to major in. I knew from going to Cluj, Romania in 2009 that God had called me to do something huge! He called me to take a risk, try something different that most people wouldn't be interested in doing. Around this time people started asking me what I wanted to do with my life. Well I think the question was more detailed to, "So what are you planning on majoring in?" My response was, "I don't know. But what I do know is that God's called me to do something big. He's called me to the mission field."
The reaction from most people when I say that is either "Oh that's cool." (But you can tell they don't think that, or think that a 19 year old girl know what she wants to do with her life.) The other reaction is, "That's awesome!" << And I can tell when they mean that because they further conversation about missions work, helping people, and how this all came about.

To this day I still get that question, I guess because it's a good conversation starter, rather than talking about the weather. But it never gets old to me, I love talking about what I want to do with my life and to see what God has in store for my life!

So as you can see that I have posted two pictures to the right. The first one is me wearing this awesome new scarf my mom and pops got me for my birthday. Below it you will find a note from Meselu, the woman who handmade it.

If you have ever spent about an hour or so around me, I would hope you know how passionate I am about helping this world that is broken, hungry, thirsty, etc for anything and everything. It breaks my heart to know that there are people in this world that don't have clean drinking water, children die because they lack nutrients in food they can't get because it's too expensive, and girls are sent to brothels to "work" and can't ever escape.

I know I'm still in college and young, but that hasn't stopped me before to try and do something good.  1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Don't let anyone look down upon you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. May this be the prayer of your heart if you are young like me and have dreams. Meselu is able send her son Eyob to school because she has learned a new skill. FashionABLE creates sustainable business for women in Africa. These scarves are handmade and allow women to become a vital part to a developing economy.

Thanksgiving

This past weekend I went home for my birthday. I knew if I didn’t go I would most likely be in hot water with my mother, so I went. I brought with me my roommate, my roommate’s twin sister (Haley), and my suitemate (Leah).  It was an awesome weekend and was really good to be back home. 

On Saturday we went to the mall in Louisville because Haley wanted to go to Forever 21. I had heard about how the store had been remodeled and was now two stories. So I was thinking you know just your average JC Penny’s store, nope. It was massive. The store contained so many different kinds of female clothing that I didn’t even know could exist. But it did, trust me. As soon as we walked in I felt extremely overwhelmed. I didn’t know where to start looking or if I even wanted to. But I did. About 2 hours or so later I walked out of the store with four things. It was that time in the store and day I realized how thankful I am. 

I'm thankful for:

awesome parents who are making me go to college (I don't want to)

the amazing girls I've become friends with

the storms God sent me and continues to

living in a country where I'm free to worship (may I never take that for granted)

this list could continue on for forever, but I'll save you from that.

This year has been off to a pretty rough start, minus going to Passion, but it's the trials and tribulations I've gone through that have made it into a good one. I'm excited to see where I'm headed in life, how I will contribute to making this world a better place, and most of all, serving an Almighty God. 

May you carry the name of Jesus wherever you go!