It has been a busy summer! So much has happened, I've met so many people and learned so many things. Since the theme for this summer is Know Treasure Follow, I want to try and share how I have learned what it means to know, treasure, and follow God over the course of the past two months.

Know - It is so easy for me to be self focused and to spend my time thinking about who I am and what my significance is. But I'm learning that God wants me to give myself to knowing who He is. It is only after I know God that I can begin to understand my own identity in Christ. I am learning more and more to seek out God's character in His Word.

Treasure - I want to love what I know! God is awesome and to know Him is beautiful, and He has made me to be completely satisfied in Him and Him alone. What a sweet thing that is that I have access to the only source one can bring me complete joy! I want to treasure God's greatness and His promises and commandments in my heart. I struggle with trusting God that He can be my complete satisfaction, my heart says that 'Jesus plus _____ will make me happy', but I have been learning that that is not true; trying to add other things to my happiness only pushes Jesus out and makes me more empty.

Follow - We have been learning a lot about the difference between a 'do' religion and a 'done' religion. If I think I have to do good things to please Jesus, then I don't understand that He has already done everything for me! I am learning that my good works should be a result of what Jesus has already done for me. If I really understand the gospel, that itself should be enough to push me forward and to center my life around doing God's will. So much of the time I don't do His will, but my prayer is that God would give me a heart after His own heart, so that I desire more and more what He desires.

Ministry - Switching jobs this summer because of a lack of hours at J crew made it a little harder to grow close to co-workers, but I was able to have a good conversation with one guy I worked with. At church last Sunday the preacher told us not to be discouraged when we don't see immediate fruit when we try and share; God is in control of the situation and He may just be calling me to plant a seed right now that someone later will be able to water and see grow. Although I would like to see the fruit of my labor, I am trying to trust God to do His will His way.

So those are pretty much the main things I've been learning this summer! Please keep praying for me as we start return training and get ready to go back (or for me, for the first time) to school.

I have only had to pay $230 of the money I made for project! It has been amazing to see how smoothly and quickly God has provided the money! Thank you so much to all of you who gave, this Summer Beach Project has been one of the best experiences of my life and you guys made it happen!

IT STARTED!!!

The time has finally come - the project is officially started! It feels like so much has happened already, and I only just got here! I came a few days early with Grace Bailey, who happens to be my room leader, so I was able to meet the staff and room leaders before project started; which is nice since most people going already know at least some of the staff. Yesterday after lunch, the project finally got here! There are three people in each D-group and two D-groups in each room, so I have enjoyed getting to know my 5 new roomies in our tiny, two room living space! Tonight we will have our first D-group, led by Grace, with me and a girl who also goes to Troy named Haley. I am excited! Today, Haley Grace and I went to find jobs - and we were successful! We now have jobs at J crew, along with three girls from another room. I am so excited to work my first American job! :) I am having a whole lot of 'orientating' right now - orientation for the project, and orientation for my job will start soon. I am so excited! Our little apartment, called the 'Sandman', does not have internet, so I have to go out to be able to work on this blog! But hopefully I will have plenty of chances.

Thanks to the sweet generosity of so many wonderful people, my support is at just over 50%. I may have to find a way to pay for some of the project myself, but that is ok, I know that God's plan is great and that He knows exactly what He's doing!

I do not have any particularly specific prayer requests quite yet, just please pray that I will begin to build good relationships, that I will be open to accountability with my D-group, and that God will prepare my heart to learn all the amazing things He is going to teach me this summer!

Visitations and Progress

Dear Friends and Family,
I have spent the first few weeks here in the states visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles, great aunts and great uncles, and cousins that I haven't seen in two or more years. It has been so good to see family, and I am excited to visit old friends once I get up to Birmingham.
Beach Project support is at 50%!! I am so thankful to those who have given, it is such a huge blessing to have people helping me as I make this huge transition! I am so excited to be starting the project soon, and I am praying that the support comes in all the way! Preparing for the project and college has been fun and enlighting - moving away from home, it is strange to start thinking about buying the simple, everyday things like detergent, cleaning supplies and groceries.
I have been discovering that there are actual rules in the States when you drive, such as stopping at stop signs and taking turns at an intersection without lights (I have to say, watching people take turns still amazes me every time!) Even with these discoveries, getting a license in the States is SIGNIFICANTLY easier than getting one in Thailand!
One thing that I am really really excited about when I start college (I know it may sound a little dorky) - Having my own postal address! I cannot wait to receive my own mail in my own box!! :)

Question of the day: Should I give in to peer pressure and pick up a southern accent???

Across the World

I packed for the third time today. You would think that after a lifetime of flying to America and back repeatedly, I would be an expert by now. Then again, I have never flown with a one-way ticket.

Yesterday was my last Sunday here. It is so weird to say goodbye. It was a rather strange day for everyone, I think. Four people were there for the last time - Will and I to go to Troy, Jens who came to teach is leaving, and finally Kara, who has been on staff for many years is moving since she just got engaged (I'm so happy for her!).

I've slowly been saying goodbyes. It hasn't sunk in yet that this actually is goodbye, but then again I have purposely not spent much time thinking about it.

Support for the project is slowly coming in. God will provide, I'm just excited to see how! I am so thankful for all the people who have offered to pray for me over this summer! I am sure that God will do amazing things with so much prayer!

Four days until my flight! My emotions are so mixed I can hardly write how I feel right now, but I will try and write more clearly when I sort through them. :)

Beach Project

Counting down the days until the project starts! I am so excited to be a part of this years SBP! The more I think about it, the more I realize that I couldn't have been provided with a more perfect transition into my new life in America. Just thinking of all the ways the project could help my transition fills me with encouragement. To be able to get to know other people who will be at Troy, to be able to work a job since I couldn't do so here in Thailand, to learn how to evangelize in a country so different from the one I grew up in, and to continue to learn more about my heavenly Father and discover His will for me among other Christians - what a perfect situation.

Support is starting to come in - so far people have given me a total of 7.5% of the $1500 I must raise. I am so thankful for the thoughtfulness of those who have given!

Please pray for my heart, that I will trust in God's leadership and timing as I plan and raise support.

Tickets and Troy!

We bought my first ever one-way ticket. It's the strangest thing to be leaving Thailand without knowing when I am coming back, what will I will be doing in the next couple of years, or even what my life will look like in the next couple of months. But no matter how hectic it may seem, my Father told me: "I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

The date on the ticket is April 22nd, and after a 24 hour plus plane ride, I will arrive in Grand Rapids Michigan on April 22nd as well. It's amazing how that works. This will probably be about my 6th time to have a 48 hour day.

Anyway, it has been so amazing to see God provide for my needs, financially AND spiritually! After being accepted at Troy University, I applied for the Chancellors award, which is a scholarship that covers full tuition. During the long wait in which Troy made its decision concerning the award, I spent a lot of time praying that God would help me get it. One morning, however, God really laid it on my heart to pray a different prayer: that He would give me the grace to trust in Him to provide for my needs, whether I got the scholarship or not. The letter arrived that day at lunch, telling me that I had been given the scholarship. Our provider does not just satisfy my needs here on earth, but uses these momentary trials to draw me in and teach me how to depend on Him more!