Friends.

I love making new friends, especially if the person is like beyond cool! In this case, she is. I met her recently, and was able to spend a weekend with her. I enjoyed our time together, and I was sad when it came to an end. I just met this friend, but i feel as if i've know her WAY longer than I actually have.

On our ride over to our destination, we began to talk, she remembered my name right away, which was cool, no one ever remembers my name. She began to talk, and myself, and another friend engaged in conversation with her. I felt as it I had known her for as long as I had known my other friend, we hit it off right away.

On our second day, we were on our way back to where we were staying, and she began to tell my friend and me stories of boys, and how she had been hurt, and my heart broke, especially when her eyes began to well up. I had seen that hurt before, I had seen the pain a boy caused when something that precious is taken from you. I wanted to hug her, but I continued to listen. She spoke of how she has changed, and how now she is drawing closer to God, that the old.. is gone. She's not bad anymore as she put it.

I couldn't believe how much she told me that day. It amazed me even more because I had only known her two days. What she said next is what really got to me. She said she knew she could trust us, and that she knew her secrets were safe with us. I asked her why she felt she could trust us. She said she knew we were different, she knew we wouldn't treat her differently, and she knew this because we were different. I simply smiled and continued to listen. I thought it was pretty crazy, but it showed me when you follow God, and truly commit your life to Him, people will notice.

Live your life for Jesus, and people will notice.

La Posada

La Posada was pretty great. It was awesome being able to give all the kids gifts, and play with them. It was a blessing watching them smile, and laugh as we played with them, and gave them gifts that they were so thankful for. I went to La Posada not knowing what to expect. I heard one of the leaders say, "missions trips are often not for the people, but for you." He meant it as, you get something out of it, and I totally did. Everyone said this, but I realize how much I take my home for granted, how much I take having great friends for granted, how much I take having parents who tell me no for granted, just having parents.

I saw how much I truly had. Simple things, like a room for myself, a house, more than just a pair of shoes. As I sat on the bus behind Jazmin and Mariah I was looking out the window, I saw many houses, and many people, thats when it hit me. It was weird because it was literally from one second to the next. I just stared out the window until we got to the orphanage. When we got there we were greeted by two children who were pretty happy to see us. That was pretty cool because despite the fact that we were the fourth group that day, they all still played with us and had fun.

I made a new friend this weekend. I had seen her around church a few times, but had never spoken to her. She was there Friday night with Jazmin, and I introduced myself. I came to find out, she's pretty awesome! The three of us, along with Chris rode with Roy. We talked and laughed until about an hour into the ride when they fell asleep. Once the two of them woke up, we started again. I thought it was going to be weird since I was the only one in the truck who didn't know Mariah, but it wasn't. Before we even left, I felt as if I had known her for as long as I had known Jazmin and Chris. The three of us were pretty much always together. We stayed up almost all night Saturday talking about everything. it was totally worth being uncoordinated the next day.

I won't forget my first trip, there are way too many things to forget. The kids faces as they beat up Chris, drew on his face with Deco markers, played ball, got pulled/pushed in a toy car, and had fun with us. I won't forget the times with my friends either. Watching Chris swallow a whole jalapeno, yes, whole. Laughing with all the girls in our room, the talks I had with Mariah and Jazmin on the bus, and the all nighter Jazmin and I pulled.

Pray.

Last Sunday I was sitting in a small living room with many other girls for a Bible study, our leader was telling us we need to start applying our three pillars back into the group, as well as into our lives. The one that really stuck out to me was prayer. She continued to speak. She gave examples, I can hear her now. "Lord, help me, help me, help me, or Thank You, Thank You, Thank you." She reminded us that it didn't need to be anything fancy, super long, or choked full of SAT words.

The thing that really hit me was when she opened her Bible, and showed us an index card, and some post-it notes, which she loves. But thats not what was special about it. The index card was from a girls fellowship from almost two years ago. Our topic was prayer, and we were asked to write something we wanted, or needed prayer for. She still had it, and I know she still prays for that person, or for whatever they wrote down on that card. The post-its were from a small group on Ruth that she lead. It made me smile when she said she still had those, and that index card because she prays for us. For me, for Fuel, for the Genesis girls, for the church, I could keep going, but I think you get what I mean. She keeps them somewhere she's bound to see them.

It encouraged me to pray more. To remember those in need, to just say, "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You," or "help me, help me, help me," when I have no other words to say. I encourage you, as my leader encouraged me, to pray. Take time to thank God, take time to seek Him, and make time to be with Him. As I've heard her say, "Take time to make time, for the One who made time."

Here Goes Nothin'

I chose the name, simply because I'm doing this just because someone asked me to.

After a phone conversation with a leader, he said, "you should write a blog!" I told him I had one, but it wasn't out there for everyone to read, it was more of a place to vent, and write things I couldn't express verbally. He said, "you should so do it, I'm totally backin' it!" our conversation continued, and I continued to think about it. So I decided, "just because." you asked me to, I'd open it up, although you'd probably be the only one to read it, its okay. I might not write everyday, or very often, but I will write, and maybe one day, teach Moses to write. :)

So, since you "inspired" me, you get the first entry.

There's this one crazy leader. He's really crazy, but thats what I love about the guy. He's not just crazy, he's crazy for Jesus. Thats the cool part. He's got this amazing passion. He's an example to all of us, he pretty much has shown me that it doesn't matter if you're crazy, be crazy for Jesus. Now, when I use the word crazy, I'm not using it as he's lunatic. If you know who I'm speaking of, you know what I mean by, "crazy."

He calls me at random times. Not too often, but when he does, its always during second period. I'll pull my phone out of my pocket, and I see his name flashing across the screen. I smile, and put my phone back in my pocket. I become anxious, and can't wait for the bell to ring, simply because i get to check my voicemail, and i know its going to be him! He'll either sing a song, and replace a few of the words with my name, or leave me some kind of freestyle rap, I love it! when he calls me, I know something like that is coming. I get to break, pull out my phone, with the risk of getting it confiscated, and listen to my voicemail with a smile.

This crazy leader has been there for some of the most difficult times I've gone through. From Eighth grade to Senior year, he's been there. Through my grandpa having cancer, and him passing away from that, to best friend trouble, and everything in between. He's prayed for me, prayed with me, and done little things to encourage me along the way. He's told me he's proud of me, told me he's glad to see me, and always lets me know he loves me. I love that.

Thank you for all you've done for me, all you've taught me, and for just making me laugh. Oh, and for teaching me to dance, i love you!