Support and God moments

It has only been five days since I flew back to Los Angeles from Texas and it that short amount of time I feel as though my life as been on a roller coaster. No, it isn't necessarily bad... just unexpected.

Support for my mission trip this summer has started to come in! :) Slowly but surely. For awhile I felt as though I wasn't meant to be on the team going to Japan. I hadn't received any support. But then I got an email and a call telling me that support was on the way. Praise the Lord! I still feel overwhelmed with the amount I still need to raise... but at least there is a start! While I was on the plane home I sat next to this great guy. He is looking to be a youth pastor and was visiting the church that I was visiting as well... small world? I don't think so! God is so good and has such great plans! (The key is letting Him be in control!) Anyways... as we left the plane the young man handed me a hundred dollar bill to be used for my trip for Japan!!! Can you believe that? I was speechless! Wow! It was the first support I had received, truly received! God works in ways you never even imagine and for that as well as many other reasons I am so thankful! Thank you to everyone who continues to support my summer project. I still have a lot to go but I know that if I am meant to be there than God will continue to provide the means.

I feel as though I have been on an emotional roller coaster. I don't really want to say goodbye to Carlsbad and yet at the same time I am excited to be moving to Texas. There were people and things still in California that I thought I was no longer attached to... but I am finding out that I still am - at least a small part of my heart is. Moving kinda sucks and then it doesn't... what ride!

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

I wrote this earlier... but I didnt want to pay for the connection at the airport...

Happy Birthday Dad!

What a great day so far! I was late leaving for the airport plus I had to stop to get my Dad’s present. I know… you’re thinking there is nothing like waiting till the last minute… but in my defense I was getting him Del Taco (they don’t have them in Texas) and that is a gift that is much better when it is purchased close to the time of consumption! So all three suitcases and a curbside check-in later I find myself with plenty of time to kill at the LAX airport. That is a good thing considering they changed our gate and it looks like it will be changing again soon.

Well last night was awesome! I went to the Campus Crusade for Christ meeting CRU 727. Last night was testimony night and three students shared how God is working in their lives. It was so cool to see how each speaker had a different story yet similar struggles – trusting God and giving it all to him! I think for some time I kept hearing testimonies where the person speaking had experienced struggles and had come to God and now their life was better for it. It appeared that was the end of the story and all that they would share – this pattern of it was hard and ugly but then I trusted God and now all is better. Is that the truth?Yes, it is better but is all better? I never connected with that. Yes, it was bad and ugly and now I have turned to God – but it is in no way all better. It is still hard for me. Moments in my life are still ugly (I know and trust that they will give way to something better). My life is the whole rose - thorns and all. I still struggle with completely trusting God. Last night it was a relief to hear that I am not alone in my imperfections. I was to a point where I felt like people kept mentioning to me that all my experiences, the hurts and joys, would add to my testimony and no offense I don’t want to wait to tell it I want to tell it now. I know that there is so much room for growth in my life and I am just thankful that I have been given this chance.

Oh another GREAT note!!! My friend Shyla was offered a Stint position in Japan for next year! I am so excited for her! I can’t wait to hear all that Japan has to offer her and all that she has to offer Japan. I think that I am going to hide things in Japan for her to find! Umm that might prove to be difficult but fun none the less! I am so happy for her and extremely thankful for her friendship.

People watching at the airport is incredibly interesting. There are so many differences among the crowd! It reminds me of the opening scene of Love Actually. Okay Boarding Call… I’m leaving on a jet plane…

Firsts

Okay... so I now have a blog! I thought about re-opening my myspace account and then thought twice... instead I have this! With all of the change happening in my life I felt a good way of keeping in contact and letting people know what was going on is through this blog!

So here is my first post :)

I am currently at USC and I fly out to Texas for my Dad's birthday tomorrow. It should be a lot of fun. My Grandparents are also back visiting and my cousin will be coming down from Dallas. I can't wait to see everyone.

As for other news... I am in the process of raising support for my trip to Japan this summer with Campus Crusade for Christ! If you would like to offer support just let me know. I am excited to see how it will all work out. :)

Okay... over and out!