Suthrn Stuff

We're hanging out in the South right now. Living it up, eating fried chicken, cajun food, and....sushi. :P Well, anyhow our food has been amazing and the meetings are AMAZING us! The church here is SO ready to dive into our ministry. God is overwhelming us with blessings :)

USA!!!!!

I'm finally headed back to the States after a year! I'm so excited!!! ...we don't land until the next day but I'm SKIPPING into Walmart and hugging that greeter with a yelp and a smile =D
Our travel itinerary looks like a crazy world-takeover plan-- a different city every night! But it will be great, I'm sure and I'll come home at about 200 pounds.... We'll drop my brother off at college to give him a breather, kinda.. At least I'll just be socializing while he studies.. lol
Had a great day today greeting our last group of the year =] It's going to be hard not to look to happy when their week ends.... hahah
I watched MegaMind tonight.. "Do you remember that night.. when you dumped me? In the rain.. alone? Did you ever look back?-- *head slams into windshield* OH MY GIANT BLUE HEAD!!!"
"Oh, I guess we're here =)" LOL
Gotta love it

Beauty in its Purest Form

Hundi-Aise

I'm writing a book. It's not something I thought I would ever write about, but the book has wrapped me up and I can't stop. It's about a girl who comes down here, oblivious to poverty or pain... a little naive, and a little lost. She's raised Christian, but wants nothing too personal with Someone who hasn't really seemed to pay much attention to her.
This is a lot more demanding than I thought it would be. I have to stay close to God so I can reenact her encounters with Him. I have to look at where I am through the eyes of someone that has never seen it. But I'm still so infused and connected to my own character because I put my flaws in her. My doubts and fears are hers. So when you read her overcoming them, I'm telling you how I got over them. It's a lot more personal than I planned but I'm not dropping it. I want it to be amazing beyond anything I could ever make. I pray that God uses my book to reach so many people that I may not even meet until Heaven....

Through the Eyes of a Youth

"Like Hannah, [Samuel's mother] I am not drunk but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. There is no other feeling than this. Your heart feels pink, raw, and exposed -- you can almost hear His. You can feel His hands close around your heart, protecting it. The pit of your stomach whirls, then settles and you can finally pause and breathe. Your heart insists it just ran a marathon and your mind is till trying to clarify. Your soul is on its face before Him, and you know He is all you need.
-- from my Journal, 4/17
Return unto Me. I will give you strength. Revel in My love once more and cherish My words. I would want you to trust Me wholly and in everything. If you sacrifice, do so in thanks to Me. Look for me in everything, that I may draw you near Me more.
-- from my Journal, 5/30
Why do we run from a love such as His? Does His endless, selfless love terrify us so much that we cannot accept it? His mercy is endless. He can forgive anything you bare before Him. He is love and He is just. No matter how far I stray, how far I try to get away from Him, no matter how many times I decline His presence, no matter how many times I ignore Him, how many times I tell Him my plan is better, how many times I break His heart by slapping Him in the face by sinning and driving a wedge between us.... No matter what I do, He won't let go. His hand won't release mine. His voice won't leave me alone. His pursuit for me never ends. His mercy is like the ocean. His love is confusing, miraculous, extravagant, rich, undeniable, simple, selfless, and right there for me to accept. How many times until I sin "too much"? Never. His mercy always welcomes me back into His arms. I'm broken, bruised, humbled, humiliated, and filthy. But He picks me up, brushes my tears away, kisses me and says "I missed you, beloved." ♥"
..... I wrote this way back when I was only 14. Isn't amazing what a child can see??

Lazy Bum in a Hammock

"No! You can never have it!!" I ran until my lungs were on fire and my eyes stinging with sweat. My body doubled over at the first possible pause. My vision was blurry as I scanned the hall. Safe. 
I shrill shriek sliced through the air and reverberated off the metal walls. My chest lurched with panic as I stifled a returning scream. My feet stomped down the walkway with overloaded adrenaline until I stopped before a deadly cliff. I felt my opponent claw at my shoulder for the treasure in my hands. I twisted away from her and felt five claws scrape my neck. I felt her vault me towards the edge, in order to sling me out of the way of her precious. I gripped onto her shoulders violently. She held my weight in a most uncomfortable position so she would not fall as well. I'm no feather, either. She began to claw desperately at my face and chest, not knowing I had expertly slipped the treasure into my pocket!
I-- What was that?? We both stopped, her hands in my hair and my nails indenting her skin. We listened.. 
"RACHEL!! GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED, IT'S QUARTER TILL EIGHT!!" We stared at each other in puzzlement. Suddenly, she released me and I was not aware. I felt my belly reacting to the fall and I looked up. She had my treasure in her hands.
I opened my eyes and saw my mom in the doorway. She had a look of exasperation in her eyes and her pointer finger was on her wrist. I don't know why; she wasn't wearing a watch. My mom ordered my out of the bed and left the doorway empty. I, on the other hand was lost, confused and a little disappointed. One, I had woken up late-- AGAIN. Two, my best friend stole my chocolate.




Anyways, past the drama of eight A.M., nothing all that exciting happened. The cable guys came and hooked up our TV.. That was not all that exhilarating, I admit. 

I went outside after school and watched my puppies. Those blood-thirsty carnivorous beasts almost licked me to death!! haha

                                 Abigail                                        Molly (this one's mine!)




Then, because I hadn't done much all day, I went to go do something productive. You know, like lie in the hammocks with your cat for over an hour. Productive stuff like that. Because homework is a BIG waste of time ;D lol jk, Mom!

                              I call this "THE HOUSE OF HAMMOCKSSS"

                                        this is my "lazy bum" buddy, Monk =]


Anyway, that's life in the middle of the jungle.

Sunday Morning, Sun is Shinin'!

What a spectacular morning to wake up to! The sky is a brilliant shade of turquoise, the clouds are fluffy and white and the birds are singing. I didn't wake up until about ten in the morning and I thanked the Lord for my especially dark room. =D I went to check on Facebook, asap, and I decided to catch up on my best friend's vlogs. Even though she hasn't been able to get my blog yet, I thought it only fair that I catch up on hers.
I went in and got an ice cold shower, much to my nerves's dismay, and sensed something.... I wrapped the towel around myself and glanced at the door. Right on cue, my mom popped in my room! "Breakfast is ready." she declared. "I KNEW you would come in!!.... oh! okay, coming!" =]  She made fried potatoes, toast and jam, and some eggs. Not what you normally eat, but that's what happens when it's left-over morning =P haha
Finally dragging myself out of my den, I went outside and took about 4 pictures. My camera then declared herself depleted and without much adeu, turned off for good. So I had to come back in after exactly 9 seconds in the sun. I'm not too depressed.

Here's the view from my back door. Not exactly your average suburban view..

They don't LOOK it, but those rocks are at LEAST 175 degrees--on the surface. I almost fried my finger when I leaned in to get this shot!


Anyway, that's life in the middle of the jungle.