Adios

Well, in just a few short hours I will be loading a bus heading out on a mission trip to Mexico with about 16 other students. Simply stated- I am beyond pumped. It sounds like this is going to be an amazing trip, and I think God is going to work in some pretty big ways. We'll be driving all day tomorrow, staying in a border town in South Texas, then crossing over the border and arriving in our city in Mexico mid-day Saturday. We'll be partnering with a huge Mexican youth group, doing all sorts of things from street evangelism, construction labor/painting, and possibly going to an orphanage. On Wednesday we're taking a play day to go swimming/cliff jumping, doing ziplines, and possibly going to the market. We leave Mexico mid-day next Thursday and will arrive back home Friday afternoon.

Please keep our group in your prayers. Some things to pray for would be...

*That God would prepare the hearts and minds of the people we will be ministering to
*For safety traveling to, from, and while we are in Mexico (As you've probably heard there has been a lot of recent violence along the border. The city we will be working in is a good ways away from there, however we still have to pass through the border on the way there and back.)
*For the health of everyone in our group
*That we would be able to build strong relationships with each other as a team and with the people in Mexico
*That God would give us the right words to say, much needed energy, open minds, and that He would draw us closer to Him through this trip

Thank you so much for your support. Prayers really do make an impact, and are much appreciated! Hope that everyone has an awesome spring break. Talk to you in a week! :]

Ramblings..

So I leave for Mexico in less then 3 weeks... I am so excited. I haven't actually been on a mission trip to Mexico yet, just a vacation. We're leaving on Friday, March 13.. Eerie date but we'll live. ;) Sounds like we're going to be doing some pretty sweet stuff, though I don't know all of the details yet. We'll be partnering with a youth ministry down there, so it should be good.

Tonight I'm doing an Ethiopia presentation to about 75 people at our Church, mostly 3rd-6th grade girls. I've done plenty of presentations before, but I'm a little more nervous about this one. I think it's because I've only been to Ethiopia once- if it were about China or Ghana I think I would feel like I have more to say or more experience. I do live with an Ethiopian though, so I guess that counts as something.

Well tomorrow begins a brand new week... I missed every class this past week due to an annoying fever, so I'm kind of looking forward to heading back this week. Kind of.

Happy Sunday!

Blek

I'm currently laying on the couch, recovering from a stomach bug. Ew. Last night was terrible! Apparently it's going around pretty bad. About twenty people from a get-together we went to on Sunday all have the same thing! G-r-o-s-s. My Mom and Kyle both have it, too. Somehow these things always seem to happen when my Dad is away. When we were younger Kyle and I always seemed to spike a 106 degree fever when he was gone on business, or Kyle would break a finger or bust his head open while Dad's gone. Now 3 out of the 4 of us at home are all sick, and he's in Ethiopia. How does this work?? Beats me. But it sounds like he's having an amazing trip. Please keep him in your prayers. So far they've visited several orphanages and HIV positive clinic type places, and on Friday they are actually going to be having a meeting with the president of Ethiopia! Pretty amazing.

Thanks for your prayers.. Hope you don't catch whatever bug I had! Not fun.

A Miracle In The Making

I'm sitting here next to my 10 year old brother, Minte.

....Did you catch that?

Let me repeat that real quick: I'm siting here, next to my 10 year old brother from Ethiopia, Minte.

Isn't that such a miracle?!?!? How amazing is that?!? A year ago right now this precious little boy was sitting in an orphanage by himself, and now he's sitting in his family's living room. This is a little boy who has been through the unthinkable yet is the cutest, most joyful, and happiest human I know. Isn't God amazing?? Seriously, if I had been through just one of the things he has I'm pretty sure I would be in a mental institution right now. God has preserved this boy's heart for something special.. I can feel it.

Reality Check

It's interesting having an Ethiopian as a brother. Interesting in a good way, of course. There have been so many things to see Minte experience in his new lifestyle. Things that we sometimes take for granted- things like the pulley on the window blinds, escalators, elevators, practically an endless amount of food, and so much more. What has been probably the most interesting though, is seeing him realize how rich and spoiled America, as a country, truly is. This child came from a poverty stricken, famine ridden nation where everything he wore and played with were things others had donated.

One night we had been out to eat with a group of family friends after church, and after the kids had eaten they all got out their cell phones and iPod touches or whatever other technology they had and were playing games and taking pictures. When we got home that night Minte told my Mom, (And realize I'm writing this how he talks!)

"Mommy, in Ethiopia, children no have phones. Mommies and Daddies say, 'Oh my goodness!!!!!!! Look!! I have phone!!!! Wow!!! Thank you!!!!' but children no phones. America, children say, 'Yeah, I have phone. It's no good.' "

Isn't that the truth?? We live in the land where 8 year olds are getting iPhones, and he's coming from a lang where an 8 year old is lucky to have 3 shirts to call their own.

Or one day he said, "In Ethiopia, children have very little toys. One or two toys, no many. In America, everybody many many toys.. too much."

Very very true.

Another time (And I'm sure my Mom won't mind me telling this. ;D ) the sink was piled high in dishes and my Mom was getting ready to put them in the dish washer. She opened it up and realized it still had clean dishes in it. Sighing, she realized she would have to put those away first- this mean't another several minutes until the clean dishes were put away and the dirty dishes were being washed. About that time Minte walked by and said matter-of-factly, "In Ethiopia when mommies wash... ( he bends over, demonstrating washing dishes and riging clothes out) Mommies arms very very hurt.. work hard, make very tired. No have this. (points to the dish washer)"

Yet another thing America takes for granted- appliances! America's excess and all that we are spoiled with is crazy.