HELLO AGAIN

Um Hello World!!!! I don't know where I have gone other than Waco, TX to a place where I have fallen into studying. I have fallen far away from everything I knew this summer, but yet I seem so close sometimes. It's been 2 and a half months since I have been back, wow longer than I was there. But, being back has been really good. It's been hard, but good, God has revealed a lot to me while I have been here.

In other news....it looks like China is somewhere I will be heading next in my journey I like to call life....hmmm China? Christmas time? Love it!

How beautiful

Wow, so here I sit in my own room in Amarillo, TX. As I begin to think back and process this summer it's hard, really hard. As I sat at church this morning, we sang some of our "normal" songs from the summer and read from Acts. I felt like I was back home with my brothers and sisters, except none of them were there to laugh with when we opened to Acts for about the hundreth time this summer, or to say bitte to when we were bored or couldn't focus. But, as I sat there I had to think about this family I was sitting with, a family that has seen me grow in my faith over the past 6 or so years. A family that I have grown so close to and that has supported me in everything I do. I do miss all of my brothers and sisters, but I am here NOW, not in Germany. As I talked to Tyler this morning and he asked how I was doing getting re-adjusted I almost cried, because I was telling him how hard the past few days have been without the 20 or so other inters that I spent my entire summer with, literally every waking moment with.
I miss our crazy late nights in the apartment. Linley telling everyone to leave and turn off the light in her room, Jordan coming into the bathroom with her cereal so she could talk with all of us, Chelsie talking in her sleep, and Kelli, my love, I miss all of our random conversations. I miss Tara being right downstairs and listening to everything. D and her Toby obsession. Laura and how she always would respond back to my hello love with a hey love and a hug. Sara with her beautiful smile. I miss Gina and Bew and everything she did for me this summer and every encouraging word she had for me. Lara and her winks and smiles she randomly threw across the room at me. Taylor for her encouragement and laughter. Jenn for always giving me hugs and making lovely faces at me. Jess for letting me sleep in her bed and her hugs. I miss the brothers, I miss Caleb and how I could say he was my little brother and he was always around. Josh and his mad guitar skills, especially playing us You Said a thousand times. Jerred and his role of being pops. Tony for being Tony and putting up with everything. Rassi for his crazy comments to things. Matt for just being Matt and being real. Spenser for just being there to listen to you even if he didn't want to. And Wes for always going places with me even if he didn't want to and for his lovely singing to his iPod.
What a summer, we went through some extremely hard times together, Satan tried to attack us, but in the end we prevailed through his attacks, by the grace of God. We were all placed in Koln, Germany together for a reason this summer. That reason was to bring God all glory and honor. Now as we all are spread out across the USA, I pray that we can still bring God all glory and honor in all we do. Jordan said it best in her blog, we are here now. We need to be asking God what is your will for me now?
I love all of my brothers and sisters and miss you all tons. But, we are here now for a reason, we were in Gemany for 2 months for a reason. I know we will all keep in touch, or most of us, and continue to lift each other up in prayer. I love you all! I miss you all like crazy, but we are where we are for a reason now! See some of you all soon!

I'm alive!!!

So, I just realized it has been about 3 weeks or so since I last updated. I am so sorry! I don't even know where to start where I last left off....

Artesia has come and gone. Through that week I built some amazing friendships. Maybe even a possible job opportunity. We shall see!
Lets see then we had mid-term break. I headed to Prague with Tara, Gina, and Taylor. It was definitely a site to see! It was gorgeous there. The 4 of us had a lot of fun together. But, I don't know if I would ever go to Prague again. It was beautiful, but definitely a very touristy place.
We came back and started to get ready for the next group of about 120 to come. They arrived this past Sunday and all left this morning. It was a great week! We experienced a lot of different things though. I have never really experienced spiritual warfare until this week. We saw satan attacking us so many different ways. But, at the same time we saw God winning the spiritual battle. We have two new sisters and a new brother. Which is something we didn't see at all last year. How exciting is that! Three new believers! I love it! I am definitely glad this week is over and we have an off week to relax. I thought I had experienced sleep deprevation in college, but it was nothing like this week....I have never been this tired. But, I would have traded the week for anything else.
Hopefully I become better at this so I don't have people asking me where I am....sorry about that Kristin! I love all of you! Thanks for the prayers, keep them coming!

HELLO!

Hello blogging world!

I know I know I have been awful about posting. But, I have a hard time understanding what things say on the computers in the internet café. Also, we aren’t supposed to be on the internet except for Fridays. But, we have now moved into our office in the Hostel, so we have more freedom to do things. So, here is a rough run down of what has been going on.

First off, I just got back Aachen, I was there doing a base camp/training for a church from Artesia, NM. There were 4 interns that went up to Aachen to lead this base camp. These students have blessed me tremendously and I am sad I don’t get to work with them during the ministry week.

Where do I even start about what God has been doing while I have been here. It is such a weird feeling. I can’t describe all of these feelings-it’s like I’m not quite comfortable here. But, we have been split from our 25 teammates into 4 or 5 teams and spread across the city. My team was placed where I was at last year. When I got to the north put of Mulheim I was never at ease. I felt that God was saying you did well last summer, but it is time for you to move on. So, my team and I started going to the park in the South part of Mulheim. It has been such a blessing to me. I have been at peace somewhat. But, I have found full peace at the University.

For now I am spending time in South Mulheim. It has been a crazy experience. That’s really all I can say about it. God is really breaking my heart for the nations, especially Germany. After sitting at a grill we had on Sunday my heart truly broke for the nations.

All we could think of that day is that the nations were gathered under one tree-Muslims, Turks, Americans, Germans, Kenyans.... Also, we could just see a church starting right where we were. How cool would that be?! Very cool in my opinion!

Now to the University...I went over there on Monday and was not as comfortable as I had been at South Mulheim, but I was at full peace. There’s really no way to describe the feeling other than this is where I am supposed to be. I know that is where my mission field is for the summer. Although for this upcoming ministry week I will be somewhere out of Koln. I’m not quite sure where yet, but as soon as I know I will post it. There is so much in store for all of Koln this summer. Something huge is going to happen and God is just going to surprise us! Personally I can’t wait to see what is going to happen.

Please pray for the people of the park we have met. Some are so close to knowing the Father!

Thank you all for prayers!

well.....

I AM SO SORRY I HAVE BEEN AWFUL AT UPDATING THIS!

So much has happened in the two weeks or so I have been here. There hasnt been enough time to send emails and update this....so the emails came first. But, things are going so well here. I plan to update this in a few days, when I can use my computer! But, God is doing such great works here. All of the plowing we did last summer is ready to be sowed and reaped this summer. God is using last summers works tremendously already this summer. We have one church group coming tomorrow for base camp and then ministry week starting Saturday. On Saturday we have two more groups coming in to start their ministry week. I am excited about finally getting one week teams in! I cant wait to see what is in store. God has huge plans for this summer and it is going to be amazing!

I am sorry this is so short. Hopefully I can update when we move into the hostel this week and while I am in Aachen for Artesias base camp!

Continue to pray for us! Thanks to everyone for the prayer and love!

One day and couting!

Tomorrow I head to Dallas for base camp and then Tuesday it's to Germany I go!! :) Woot! I can't what to get there and see God's hands already at work!

It's almost time

Last night as I sat and watched one of my best friend walk away from me for the next two months all I could think about is I would see her on August 1 either at DFW or at Dallas Love Field. She walked away from her "going away" party last night as she heads to Base Camp this morning and then on Tuesday flies to Japan for two months as an intern with iWitness. It brought some excitement back into me though.

For me the past oh month or so have been long....I have not been that excited about heading to Germany for some reason. It hit me. I left the friends I have spent the past 9 months with at Baylor. I left my dorm room, and it's likely I will never see half the girls from my hall again, let alone half the people I hung out with on campus because we were on campus. And I came home. I came home to my parents, my own bed, my own room, my 6 best friends, I came home. I didn't want to leave this. Now, now I am ready to go to the edge as Katlyn would say. My youth minister is like a little kid when I talk to him about going. We went last year for a week and then another week in East Germany. He's so excited for me, and I guess the excitement has rubbed off once again. All I keep hearing from him is please go eat at El Fenix and eat eis down the street at the good place by the University. I love it. I can't wait to get back now, to experience what God has in store. To get back in the life of a German and European. To sit and take in what God has ready for me to face. I can't wait. Two weeks. Two weeks and my team will all be together for the next two months. How exciting is that? Wow.

Home

This year flew by. I don't even know what to think. I am now back home for about 3 weeks, maybe a little more. And then off to Cologne, Germany I go for 2 months!

To be quite honest, coming home wasn't that exciting of a thought. I was not wanting to leave everyone, etc. And I am still sad that I don't see everyone from Baylor everyday like I did. Or the fact that I can't just walk down the hall to talk to someone or stress out to someone. But, being home has brought joy! I have gotten to see some of my best friends, yet some aren't home yet. I have also gotten to see friends from high school and kids from my youth group. It has been good! I love my friends. I have also gotten to have some good quality family time.

Summer....what a surprise it can be. I can't wait to spend the next 3 months in anticipation of God's works. Spending these 2 months in Germany is going to bring a lot of growth I feel. Spending time at home with my friends and youth group will bring some growth and even patience. I can't wait to see what this summer has in store.

One Year gone

So, these are the last few days as a freshman in college. This year has flown by so fast. I don't even know how to describe it. Kate said she can't put it into words and I'm pretty much there with her.

There have been so many ups and downs this year. But, I feel like this year has been a definite growing time for me. I have learned so much about myself while I have been here. I think I have grown stronger in my faith and my heart has been broken and open to so many new things. I would definitely not trade this year in for anything. Yeah there were some times I just didn't want to be here anymore, but I would be regretting going back.

I have met some of the most amazing people ever this year. Without this group of friends, I don't know where I would be. I have gained some of the greatest friends from my trip to Germany last summer too. But, while I have been here I have had so many answered prayers, especially with my friends.

God is so good and faithful.

This summer is going to be hard without everyone from Baylor around. I sometimes start to think about how much I want to be back from Germany already. I am ready to go, but I am sad about leaving everything here....Kelsey said it so well this morning, we are home here. I love you all!

Hmmm....

Well, after talking to a friend of mine tonight at dinner, I decided I was going to set up a blogspot to post on this summer instead of my Xanga.....sorry to my xanga readers, but you can still comment on here. Anyways, I actually should be studying right now, but I'm avoiding it yet again. Anyways, here I go with blogger to check it out since I enjoy posting on the JSI Hangout.