The time has come the Walrus said, to speak of many things...

I am SO sorry for taking so long to update this! I have to admit things have been crazy. We have been getting ready for Thanksgiving the last month, in that we are trying to provide meals for over 400 families. That is a LOT of turkeys. Then of course I go to sleep at 9pm like a grandma! =P

First things first, the Lord has blessed me by providing $600 the last week! So I still need $5,690. If all of you would  be praying and asking the Lord if He would have you give in any way, it would be much appreciated. I know the Lord is going to provide, He has been faithful so far!

Today I got my FIRST package! Thanks to my wonderful boss, I got a package of vegan peanut butter chocolate chip cookies AND this awesome deck of old cards with some of my favorite authors on them. I was in heaven. On top of the package I have gotten letters from all my little brothers. They all contained humorous things that made me miss being around them and always having funny new stories to tell.

So in my bed room we have three tier bunk beds, Andrea is my bunk mate and we usually go right to sleep. However, two nights ago I was trying to go to sleep and all of a sudden her face is way to close and she starts talking to me in what we call the monster voice. It scared me so badly, partly because I was half asleep and partly because I sleep by a window and one of my greatest fears is someone looking at me from outside. *shiver*

I have AWESOME news that I can't believe I haven't shared yet! As you all know I have been dealing with a dairy allergy that has been getting progressively worse. Last time I had dairy in my system I got very sick and my throat started closing up. (YUCK!) So I had been in the place of total confidence since I got here that i WAS going to be healed. One night my friend Carli and I were out and about and she was eating a milk shake and for some odd reason I heard that quiet prompting from the Lord, "Take a bite." and of course being the rational person I am said, "Lord, I am allergic, remember? I'm not eating that." I had hardly finished thinking this to the Lord when Carli says, "I need a miracle." she sticks the milk shake in my face and states, "Eat this!" I hesitantly told her I would, if she would pray for me first. I took one bite, then two, I ended up eating the rest of the shake. Guess what? NO REACTION! I have now had dairy as a daily part of my diet for three weeks and have had NO side effects! Praise God! :)

So we have this thing that we do here called the Love Feast it was wonderful. Outside was decorated lovely and this big long table we all sat at. We had a wonderful dinner and the staff served us, then for dessert we had a fondue fountain. It was spectacular. After we finished eating we had a talent show, of sorts. It wasn't a win of loose, just a if you have something you want to share. A time of talking and appreciating each other, I loved it.

Carli and I

Alison and Carli

Alison and Jesper

So the last three weeks instead of going out on Wednesdays I have been helping with our children's progrom we have every week called Front Porch. All of the students are on a three week rotation. We live in front of the projects, government housing. So we walk through and pick up all the kids then bring them to the house. We do games and snack time and have bible stories. Last week two of the little girls gave their hearts to Jesus! I was reading my friend and roomie Hannah's blog and I thought I would share what she had to say:
  It is so awesome when you can see the fruits of your labor. During this last week I was put on the font porch crew, which means we have an hour long bible time/snacks/games/ and music time for the neighborhood kids. At the end of this last one one of the little boys was playing with chalk and came up to me and ask "How do you spell wild?" I preceded to spell it for him , then asking what he was writing. After a few more scribbles on the sidewalk he looked up and said..."God is wild about you." I looked over his shoulder down at this simple but oh so true statement and almost wept. What a reminded for you and me. So I will say this to you. God is WILD about you!!!~


Well, I love you all and I wish I could go on for hours about all the stories and everything that is life here in Monroe, North Carolina, but my laundry and homework are calling to me. As well as sleep. :)

MON-ROE North Carolina

Hey everyone!

As you can imagine the first week and a half here at YWAM has been more then a little bit crazy. My days rather then starting when ever I choose to roll out of bed now start promptly at 6:30am. Because of this I am now in bed around 9pm. Haha I feel like a grandma, but I get so much sleep it is wonderful! I fell into this schedule really easy because the night before I came I only had 2 hours or so of sleep, so I went to bed early.

The day I left Dad, Mom and the boys took me to the airport. Josiah's (6 year old) final goodbye was hand on his hip and a peace sign saying, "See ya" then hopping in the van. I'm not going to lie, there were tears. However the Lord was good and gave me people to talk to on the plane. I Skyped the family Sunday for the first time and it was so good to see all of their faces! Josiah, of course, was hogging the screen. If he couldn't have his face in it he was putting his arm in, or his stuffed dog. Everyone here is jealous of my wonderful family. I have to say they have reason. ;)

So, you might be wondering, what does a DTS look like? What does it consist of? Let me tell YOU.
I live in this big Victorian house with eighteen other girl students and four staff. There is a house across the lot where the boys live, and the rest of the staff are in houses throughout the neighborhood.

The first week was a time of developing relationships and getting to know one another through; working, having fun together and worship/prayer together. The first morning I woke up expecting classes and going right into the heart of what DTS was. Boy was I wrong! I woke up at 6:30am and made myself all cute went to breakfast at 6:45am. After having an hour of quiet time with Jesus I found out that I was going to be doing YARD WORK! Since a skirt isn't good for that I found myself walking back up the stairs to change. After changing I headed outside and started digging trench. Yes, digging, with a shovel - clumsy, tends to hurt myself just walking- digging. Here is the thing, I was pretty good at it, the soil is so hard, its basically clay. So as is the saying, "necessity is the mother of invention" I found it quite helpful to jump onto the shovel, hold on and shake it back and forth. As I was doing this I looked over at my new friend Allison, saw her doing the same and I couldn't help but laugh. We looked ridiculous. After digging a trench we planted pansies and rose bushes! I have never been stuck by thorns so many times. I laughed so much that day, I made a wonderful friend I already treasure so much, and I slept like a baby that night!

Later on in the week we were rewarded for all of our hard work. The YWAM base has two fifteen passenger vans so we all loaded up. Everyone laughed when I told them that a fifteen passenger is what I learned how to drive in. The vans pulled up to Krispy Kreme and I had my first ever hot doughnut! Then the staff took us to see Kung Fu Panda 2. I loved it. We were the only ones in the theater, so we were able to laugh as much as we wanted.

Also during the first week we had intercession and prayer times together. We had days of sharing our testimonies and asking the Lord's heart for each other, as well as what He has for us as a group. Every one has been so open with each other, because of this we are all so close already.

Our first Sunday

Sunday afternoon lounge time

Our second week started what I thought of as the first 'real' week. Classes full force, "Hearing the Voice of God" It has been so good. I feel like I am getting re-acquainted with Jesus, learning to hear His voice all over again. It has been wonderful. One day we went and worked with an after school program for kids from age six and I think the oldest there was four-teen that day. A lot of these kids are ones that don't get a lot of attention at home, sometimes only one parent. It was amazing for me to see how the younger ones just wanted to be loved, just wanted someone to spend time with, look in their face and say, "I'm listening to you". Then to look at the older ones and see how closed off they were, they just wanted to be left alone, but if you were willing to push a little bit, they really just wanted the same thing as the little ones. There was this little six year old, his name was Gabriel, he made me play pool with his five hundred times, and of course he ALWAYS won. I didn't mind though, just for a couple hours wanted to show him that he is worth spending time with, and giving my full attention.

Yesterday we had our first evangelism day, we went to downtown Charlotte to see who the Lord had for us to talk to. In case you guys didn't know, I have a hard time just going up to people and talking. This was by far the easiest evangelism day I have ever been part of. I think a big part of this has to do with the face that my fellow students and I have all been so open with each other and have in such a short time see the Lord move in all of us. We have seen him speak to several of us individually the exact same thing. In short, we have learned to trust Him and trust each other. When He says, "talk to her", or when one of us say, "that person". We know that the Lord is real and speaks to each of us.

So, I was wrong when I said that first day didn't go into the heart of what DTS was, I just didn't understand exactly what that meant yet. That first week was vital for us to function well in this second week. We have poured our hearts and struggles out to each other, so praying or asking questions in front of every one doesn't freak us out. We have worked together, laughed, cried and worshiped a God we all love. He is the reason each of us are here, and He was good enough to give us an amazing community, centered around family for this time of growing.

Anna, Carli and Nikki

Elizabeth

 Carli! :)

Melinda and Allison

Allison 

 Bus station where we did evangelism 

 The van got over heated so we were in a parking lot waiting for a while...

 Everyone had good attitudes! (Tina, Andrea and Nikki)

Ashlyn and Bryanna

Melinda, Victoria and Teirra 

Carli, Allison and Elizabeth

 Andrew our hero!

 Allison acting like she can fix it haaha

So this is what I have been doing my last (almost) two weeks. If you all could still be praying for me about finances. I still need a little over $5000. I know He is going to provide. I can't help but worry at times, the thought of not being about to go on outreach because I can't get the plane ticket TERRIFIES me. I have to remind myself on a daily basis that He is my provider and He is helping me grow in trust during this time. I know I will look back and say, "why did I ever doubt you?". I need prayers though, prayers for peace of mind, and prayer for the finances.

(Oh yes, the title. this is not Monroe like Marilyn. This is mON-ROE, with a deep southern accent. ;))

Leaving soon!

Oh my goodness! It has been forever since I wrote on here, I apologize.

So a run down of my last two months is in order! The last two months have been psychotic to say the least, but really good. I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off packing up my life and working a lot. As you all know I love working at Whole Foods, working there gives me the awesome privilege of working with some of my favorite people, but also I have acquired a lot of paid time off. I had almost two weeks worth of PTO so I was able to go to St. Louis and see friends, as well as spending a week at my Grandparents in southern Illinois. That was a really had week, seeing Pappaw so frail, but it was so good getting to spend time with him and Mammaw. When I came home they sent their truck home with me, so the last month I have had a vehicle which has been wonderful! The Lord is so good and so faithful in what He does and in His plans.

I also had a week that my dear friend Elizabeth came in from Michigan. I love when the Lord puts people in your life that have stuck with you through thick and thin and even though you may not see each other for an extended period of time when you get together your hearts are every bit as connected as they where when you saw each other on a daily basis.

I had my going away party on Friday night, it was a blast! We had lots of Fall weather food and had the fire pit blazing outside. It was so good getting a chance to love on everyone before I head out. I have to admit the last week the fact that I am leaving all of these people I love so much has been hitting me pretty hard. Then the Lord quietly reminds me of what I am doing and how it is a vital step in my calling, and six months will fly by. Last night I went over to Mom and Dad's we all sprawled out in the living room and watched Star Trek (yes, Star Trek.) and ate popcorn. I love my family so much, I am so blessed to have a family that loves me so well, and to have brothers that I see growing so much in the Lord! I love it.

Then there are finances, I had a yard sale last month and raised about $300, and at my going away party I had a donation jar and raised a little over $400, praise the Lord! :) I still need about $5,000 and I know that it is going to come through just in the Lords timing. He is so faithful to provide for those He love, and I KNOW He loves me. ;) I have been learning a lot about claiming the promises the Lord has made you even before seeing the results, so this is what I have been doing. Thanking the Lord in advance for ALREADY providing, because He has, He already knows how He is going to handle it. He doesn't need me fretting and freaking out about HOW its going to happen, He just wants me to come before Him in trust and keep walking on the path He is leading me in and He will meet me there. When I step out in faith He will prove Himself faithful to me. :)