FAMILY!!!! I have missed you!

Me and My Core Advisor, Corrie

This past week I have been on my first ever Mission’s Trip (with Global Expeditions). This was an entirely new experience. Everything I did this past week was new to me. I choose this trip initially because of the location; I did not want to travel out of state. However it ended up being a good pick for me. 

I was an MA (Missionary Advisor) on the Tyler Junior Trip. I had 5 girls in my MAG (Missionary Advisor Group, picture above). Ages ranged from 11-13. These girls were all very unique and very different from each other. (Right to left) Rayann was the drama queen especially when it came to physical pain; Emily was a typical 11 year old with the short attention span to go with it; Jordan was the quiet one but you could see her yearning for a passion for God; Gillian was the smart one with so much knowledge of God and the bible i was always impressed when she opened her mouth; And Cycan was so willing to please everyone but had the heart of a lion, willing to do anything. 

Leading these girls taught me a lot about myself. Probally the most important thing that I learned is that I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN!!!! There is so much about God that I do not know yet. It was diffidently a humbling experience. Most of the girls and boys on this trip (again 11-13 year olds) knew more about the bible then I did, i need to catch up.

Our mission site was in a home for children that had mental disorders. The boys were assigned there by the state of TX for braking the law, and for boys that did not have anywhere else to go. We had about 10 boys, ages 9-13. (Because of Texas State law, I was not allowed to take picture of them). Part of our time there we played games and just enjoyed each others company. About half of our time there we were doing VBS (Vacation Bible School).

Me and Naomi (another MA on my Trip)

The first day, out of the three that we were at the home, the VBS did not go very well. Unfortunately the main reason was because it was so incredibly HOT! Out whole group was directly under the sun and we were miserable. Fortunately the next day we moved our location to under the shade, which helped a lot! I think the kids really enjoyed the singing part because we made it into a competition of who could be the loudest. I really enjoyed getting to lead the songs for the kids because I love to sing. 

If we were not at the boys home, we were doing service projects. We did three altogether. We worked at the Texas Food Bank, worked at Salvation Army, and did yard work at The Children's’ Place (which is a home for children that were in abusive families). I extremely enjoyed doing the service projects! I am now motivated to go volunteer once a month. I cannot wait to go home and work with people in my city! I am so excited to make that a habit in my life.

Well, its month 7!!! I cannot believe how fast this year has gone. I honestly believe its been the shortest year of my life so far. I have learned so much but know i have so much more to learn. 

Last week i finished the book “A Heart Ablaze” John Bevere. I would defiantly recommend it. It gave me motivation to not be shy of the big dreams God has given me.  The next book on my list to read is “The Beauty of Christ in Brokenness.” I have herd a lot of good things about this book and I am really excited to read it. I check it out tomorrow! 

Because I was feed a lot of PB&J with chips (and I mean a LOT of chips) for lunches last week (on my Missions Trip), I have acquired a great desire to detox my body. I throughly enjoyed eating a vegetables and a salad for dinner today. And i am looking forward to start running again. Its been almost 2 weeks!!! I cannot believe it! I am very excited to get back into the habit of running. 

God blesses me in so many little ways. This last week i did not have a pen for one of my quiet times and i was extremely wanting to journal about some things (I write my prayers down in my journal, it helps me focus). And because i was not able to leave the location where i was at and i lent my bible out to a friend, i was kinda upset. So i went back through my journal and re-read some old prayers. and the second prayer i re-read, on March 18, 09, i had prayed about everything that i wanted to pray about that day! I felt so blessed! And it was not just a general prayer. There were specific people and things in my life that i wanted to talk to God about and they were all there! It brought so much JOY to my day. I just knew God was smiling with me as He blessed me that morning. 

 I miss you all and can't wait for pictures of the family vacation. Love you!

Michelle