The Trip

We are back home and have been for a few days. The past 3 weeks have been so busy and have gone by so quickly. Before the trip we were all worried about the van rides and how we would survive with 13 other people in the small enclosed van. I was praying about it for weeks in advance, but it wasn't even that bad. We all made it out to be worse than it was. I slept most of the time and although I got a little sick a couple of times, it was all good. The trip helped me get to know my team members more and know them on a more personal level.
The places we went were also very cool. I fell in love with the River Valley Ranch in Maryland. I would really like to (maybe, still praying about it) do my summer internship there. We also went to Atlanta for a few days, we went to the International House of Prayer and Northpoint Community Church. They were so different, but I am glad that we were able to experience both of them. We then went to River Valley Ranch and worked for a couple of days. We got to go horseback riding and also go down a huge zip line. I was so scared, but I went after the guy had to push me off. There was no way I was going to jump... We went to host homes the night after we left the Ranch. I stayed with a young married couple. They were so nice and hospitable and we were able to join their in home Bible study. It was cool to see how other churches, in different settings fellowship and learn together. Then we went to Phillidalphia, Jonathan's town. It was nice, we got to see Philly late at night and we got to help with the teen program on Friday night. It was a different setting, but it was good to be there even for a short amount of time. We went to Virginia after that and stayed with Sarah Beth's grandparents. I loved it. They were so nice and their house was very inviting. We went to a Korean Baptist church on Sunday and got to have a Korean meal afterwards. That was a new thing for me and I enjoyed so much the women of the church doting on us and wanting us to love their food. They were all so nice and that stop was probably my favorite. That night we went to a house church and got to be invovled with their Sunday night discussion. It was very homey and inviting. We then went to Jacksonville Beach and stayed right on the beach. It was gorgeous and I loved staying somewhere where we could chill and do whatever. It was such a good way to end the trip.
I learned a lot on the trip, but the one thing that stuck out to me the most was, the beauty of nature and the love of my God who created all of it. I am a Florida girl and I had never seen the fall leaves and the change that ocurred with the seasons. I loved it. All along the road the leaves were brillant colors. When we got to the ranch, the leaves were gorgeous and the area is serene and beautiful. At the beach, I woke up early the day we were leaving and watched the sun rise. It was spectacular and at night I was able to walk along the sand and see the thousands of stars that God had not only put up there, but named too. I couldn't help but think about the majesty of God and the way that He has everything under control. It helped me to see that no matter what was happening that day or what I had issues with, my Creator knew about it all and at the same time was keeping the world in motion. Our God is so big and powerful, and yet loves me for who I am.
I am glad to be back, but it was a good trip and I am thankful to all the people who fed and housed us.

Fall Ministry Trip

Tomorrow we will all load up into our 15 passenger van and drive to our first of many stops. Please pray for our group that we will learn and grow through this experience. Please pray that we will not have any problems getting to and from our destinations. Thanks for all of you who have already been praying.

I should probably get back to packing...
Love you all~

Prayer

I've been realizing more and more how important prayer is to my everyday life. During the first week or so, I started thinking about the different things that I don't ask God about or even mention to Him. If what I am doing is not a big decision, I felt like it wasn't something that I needed to talk to Him about. I realized then that I need to constantly be talking to my Creator about what is going on in my life. I have been working on that since, and already I feel a difference in my everyday life.
The other day Cameron mentioned something to the effect that he had done ministry that day and felt like he had not focused on God being apart of it. In that moment I realized that I have not been asking for God's blessing or presence as I go into the schools. I know that others on my team have been doing that, but I need to personally do it myself. I have also been trying to do this every time I go somewhere to minister to others.
Then yesterday in class, Pastor Randy said something that made me think even more about the way I talk to God. He said something like, you need God as much sitting here in class as you do when you go out into the schools to minister.
I realize now that growing in any area of my life is a process. I can't just say, I will pray constantly and about everything and everyone. I need to take it one step at a time and continue to try, even if in the first month I am not doing it right all of the time. I am learning a lot about myself through this process as well. I can already notice a difference. I hope that I continue to grow in that aspect.

Prophecy!

We are studying prophecy in Daniel and soon, Revelation.
In Isaiah 6, there is an amazing picture of worship and the steps to me in worship mindset. Worship starts when:

• We see God. (vs. 1)
• Repentance (vs. 5)
• Cleansing (vs. 7)
• Commitment (vs. 8)
• Sacrifice your agenda for God's (vs. 9 & 10)
• Guidance (vs. 11)

In Daniel, it is so cool because there are prophecies about the Babylonian empire ,the Medo- Persian empire, the Greece empire, and the Roman empire. It is mentioned in chapter 2 and also in chapter 8. All of the different visions that Daniel has, point to the empires in the future and the rise and fall of them. I will go into to detail in a later blog, but I need to go.
I am learning so much and am excited about learning more about the future and prophecy in general.