Last Post

Wow, it's actually really embarrassing that my last blog entry was eight months ago. In light of that fact I'm thinking about just shutting this blog down. At least for now. Maybe one day I'll start it back up again. Maybe when I'm living where I want to. Like somewhere in Great Britain. Am I the only person who feels torn between two dreams? As always praying for God's direction.

A new realization

I'm not sure what made me think of this or for that matter what took me so long to realize this, but I just figured out why I really don't have an answer to the question "What do you want to be or do with your life?"

And the reason is I'm already what I've always wanted to be and have been for quite a while now. Since I was really young I have wanted to be an Aunt. And right now I have eight nieces and nephews, plus five wonderful girls in Florida that I consider my nieces. So in total I have 13 nieces and nephews. =) And it is the best thing in the world to be their Aunt. God has certainly blessed me.

Some thoughts from my trip

Okay I'll try to write down some of my thoughts from my trip.

I love looking back at the pictures, because it just reminds me about how faithful God is. I was so discouraged when I left, because I was feeling miserable and I didn't get to spend as much time with the kids as I wanted to. I felt like everyone on my team had many more stories to tell or just had more time with the kids. Now in some ways all of that is true, but God has reminded me through the pictures that I did get to spend time with the kids, I was there for the big events and I was able to bond with my teammates.

I highly recommend reading the show hope blog. There are some posts from the trip up there, one of which I wrote. Although, it's not a very good post at all. Really wordy, oh well. I take comfort in the fact that not many people know who I am. :) But we were the first of many teams going to Maria's this summer and they keep updating on what's going on over there. It's so encouraging to read.

Right now I'm trying to process what do I do from here. I have seen something that I never thought I would see first hand, at least not before I actually adopted a child. I have seen the orphan crisis first hand, I have hugged, kissed and played with children that have no earthly family.

Of course the main thing is prayer. The greatest need these kids have is a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. I have to remember that, it's so easy to think that the most important thing these kids need is a loving family. It's also easy to lump all these kids into one category. But they all have individual needs just like everybody else. What's best for one kid might not be what's best for the another.

But just because we can't lump these kids all into one category doesn't mean that we sit by and do nothing. We are all called in James 1:27 to care for the orphans and widows. It could be through finances, prayer, short term trips, long term trips, foster care or adopting. I'm sure there are other things we could do as well. And even though I am giving some of my finances but for me personally that's not enough. I don't know if I can do much more right now, maybe I should go to school to become a social worker. I don't know, but it's something I'm praying about.

I can't forget the faces of these kids, they are permanently etched in my memory. Not only the kids at Maria's but also at the state run orphanage we went to.

When I get pictures online I'll share more stories, but for now this is what I'm thinking about.

Sleeping th day away

Today I was going to start putting my thoughts down and praying about my trip and where do I go from here. Apparently God had other plans. I fell asleep last night between 12:30 and 1am and I didn't wake up until 6pm this evening. I slept for 17 hours! Not sure what to do with myself now.

Early Wake up time..

Well my alarm is set to go off at 5am tomorrow morning. Sure hope I've remembered everything that I'll need.

I was talking with a friend tonight and I was telling her how I just realized that everything about this trip is completely out of my comfort zone! Not sure how I never thought of that before. Just shows that God is at work in my life and this trip. Praying that He continues to do great things during this trip.

Two Days

Well in two days I'll be on an airplane heading for China. Hard to believe the time has come already. Amazing how quickly time flies. I hope to do at least a couple posts while I'm over there. Looking forward to seeing how God uses this time.

Packing

I've started to put together a packing list and shopping list for my trip. The pressure is on to remember everything! I'm trying not to be a typical girl and over pack, but it's so hard not too. =) Lord willing I'll remember everything I need and learn to do without if I forget something.