Sorry its been so long since I've posted...its been a busy summer!
Well, I went to Hilton Head since I last posted--that seems like so long ago!! It was so much fun! A week of food, parasailing, laying out on the beach, swimming in the pool, seeing gators, dolphins, and manatees! It was a much-needed vacation!
The day I left for Nicaragua my little cousin was born (Cole's little sister). It was overwhelming, but I'm so glad I got to see her before I left!!
My trip to Nicaragua was a success. Our group worked with masons to build a house for a family that didnt have one. The family was so incredibly grateful to have a home the size of my bedroom. It was a unique, hard, glorifying experience. Although the experience and the place was completely different than last year, it was life-changing. We built the very small, one room house in 3 days. We worked hard, and without power tools. We stayed at a school, and therefore had plenty of time to play with the kids. I was overwhelmed by the mason's love for learning English, and quickly became the English teacher for the week, having English lessons on practically every break we got! We ate our body weight in rice and beans throughout the week, and had a unique shower and bathroom experience! Haha! ---If you want to see pictures of my trip, head to my facebook, or the facebook of Amanda Lough or Jennifer Riley-- God has opened so many doors for me in Nicaragua (kinda entangled, therefore very hard to explain). I know that my purpose is to go shine a light in Nicaragua, and I absolutely cannot wait to move there. I have people down there that are willing to help me and get me on my feet...which is a complete blessing. God has put just the right people in my journey. My heart is still in Cuapa, though, and that is where I plan to make my nest. Only a few short years until I'm fulfilling my calling. I cannot wait! <3
As for my next mission trips, I would love to go to Costa Rica in December with a group called Rice & Beans. Of course, this will only happen if its what God wants...because I sure do not have the money resources. And I also have a trip lined up with Exile International with a girl by the name of Bethany Haley to the Congo (yes, I do know it is one of the most dangerous countries in the world). There, we will help war-affected children (yes, KONY work...). Yet again, this trip is by the grace of God. Im doing my fair share of praying to see where He wants me. And, if you would like to donate to these wonderful trips, you are definitely welcome ;)
As for the rest of my summer, it has been filled with work, Senior pictures, college planning, getting ready for school to start, etc. Senior pictures should be done sometime next week and I'm excited to see them. These pictures are one of those things that seems so surreal...seems like only yesterday I was a Freshman. Ah, college planning. Well, I should have about 40 hours down before my Freshman year...I'm pretty proud. I'm taking 2-3 classes this fall and 3 in the spring at MSU. I plan to apply to four colleges: Murray State, UT Martin, Transylvania, and University of North Carolina. Most applications and even scholarships are due Nov-Dec, therefore I'm already overwhelmed and I can't even start yet! Haha. Oh, and the fact that I'm moving out in less than a year kinda makes me crazy!! Life is moving at the speed of light!
My goal for this school year is to slow down. This year is the last year of me being a "kid". I need to focus on Him...how much he has blessed me. I need to get myself knee-deep in the word, and let everything I do glorify Him. I need to slow down and focus on all the things He has blessed me with.
Blessings,
Faith
