India

I wanted to share with you a video that was sent to our team. It can help give a vision, purpose, and need for God's people in South Asia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCqQxbb2-jU

a year to remember.

So there was a big day the first of this month. I like to think of it as my favorite holiday (that might be a little selfish of me). You think you know, you are probably right...it was my BIRTHDAY! I was a little bummed at first because this was also the same time as our fall retreat in Rock Hill. Little did I know that I would feel more loved on that one day than I have felt in a while. My staff partner and good friend Kelly really went above and beyond.

The day started out with a surprise trip to Waffle House being greeted by the most "manly"  birthday song I had ever heard! Then all day was spent at Carowinds and the 20 people I that were with us sang happy birthday to me in every line that we stood in! Oh boy oh boy what a day! The day continued with more song at lunch and after our last retreat meeting and at the end of our Saturday party. Though I wasn't with all of my most dearest friends and wonderful family those that I were with made my day extraordinary.

Now I know what you are all wondering... "How old is this chick?" Well I turned 24... yes 24! To me this yes seems old, but gets me super excited. This is  going to be my golden year. At least that's what I'm telling myself. I am convinced that God has big plans for this year of my life! One of my previous pastors (who makes with God and hears directly from Him. I look up to this man greatly for all things of Jesus) has told me that this next year of my life something is going to happen. At first I wasn't sure if this made me nervous or excited?!? Well it's here and 24 has always been my most favorite number, so why not get excited!!

So start things off right I have taken up on the opportunity to go with a group of women from East Cooper Baptist Church to India! We will be there from December 2-12. I am so excited to see how the Lord is going to use us there and also how the Lord is going to change us through this opportunity! We will be working with children and women while there learning about how they live and their culture. Need less to say I so yes overwhelmed and nervous but thrilled to be going back over seas!

Fall is here!!

Oh how I love Fall! So many of my favorite things happen in this season! Pumpkins, pumpkin spice, cooler weather, falling leaves, and so much more!

Ministry at CSU is starting to really get moving, from football games to our fall retreat we are keeping busy!

A couple weeks ago we had our first home football game tailgate! So much work does have to go into these to plan but I really do enjoy them. Going to a school that didn't have football I have really come to appreciate the small program CSU has. Tailgates at the games give us an opportunity to fellowship with students we have been building relationships with and also meet some new students. We usually have a good turn out because free food to a college student is very enticing!

Keeping on with fall we just returned from our Fall Retreat. We went to Rock Hill, SC and on Saturday spent the day at Carowinds. CSU didn't have a huge number of students go with us but our time together was great. We were able to spend quality time together all day Saturday at Carowinds which allowed us to have great conversations as we waited for the next roller coaster!! 

Richard Harris, from Houston, TX was our retreat speaker and he simply explain the gospel to many non-believers and I pray that hearts were penetrated and lives were changed. 

Please continue to pray for us as we do ministry at CSU and stay tuned for more as I walk through this journey.

The best way to end the summer

On the last Sunday in August at East Cooper Baptist Church we had ocean baptisms! What a blessing to share with friends and students the joy of baptism! I was so encouraged by the number on students who stepped out in faith! 

What's really neat about this baptism is that it was done in the ocean. This has quickly become one of my most favorite things about going to church on the coast! Being born and raised in the Upstate all i've ever known is baptism in the pool at the church. 

I pray the Lord will keep His children close to Him and use them for His kingdom and glory. 

Back to it...

Well the first week back on campus is just about over and let me tell you we hit the ground running!! We had freshmen move in day Friday and events on campus just about every night since then. This year was my first freshmen move I. Day since my own about four years ago. To say the I felt old, but it can be refreshing when people told me they would have pinned me as a sophomore. I hear I'll be greatful for that one day. We have met some pretty cool freshmen and I'm looking forward to build friendships with these girls!

We also have been in the midst of figuring out discipleship groups. Please pray for those. My staff partner Kelly and I continue to ask for God's wisdom and discernment in this area. We have 20 girls we are trying to think for this semester. That's more girls than I have ever had to personally think for. I continually realize I cannot do it without my Heavenly Father.
Over the past few weeks I've been studying First Peter and for some reason the Lord keeps showing me where my character lacks... That's always a joy! But also keeps pointing me to Christ as my example and leading me back to my Cornerstone. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord is so faithful to us in and out of season and He reminds me of his love for me! Chew on that today the Lord loves you for you. And he wants good for you. But just maybe what's best for you in a season of darkness.
Oh and just thought I might add...my brother Jamie is engaged!!

Ending of the season

I'm back in Piedmont taking a breather before it's time to start the semester! We left Panama on July 23rd. Boy what a busy summer. It was a new experience for me seeing as for the first time it really had nothing to do with me. I was behind the senses for the majority of the summer. I had more responsibility than ever compared to my other summer projects.. Of course I had a blast it was just more exhausting than ever. It was so sad leaving everyone but I was most upset about our new friends from China. They told us that we were their favorite part about being in Florida. I pray to God that the Holy Spirit will lead them in their studies of scripture and they will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Just a little update...I GOT THE HOUSE!! I will be living beside the guys ministry house. I hope this does wonders for our community at CSU.

CSU staff and students

Lisa one of the girls in my discipleship group back on campus

 Pretty sunset on our last night at the beach

 My sweet friend Amanda! What a joy when she pulled in the motel resort for the last week!

She is going on staff at the Citadel with her husband Bradley this year

My girls this summer!

Some girls hanging out on the beach.



Unexpected Blessings

So while on the Summer Beach Project my focus has been towards the students; pushing them to Jesus, showing them Christ, and meeting them where they are at. I do enjoy so much being with the students here on the project, but oh how sweet that my Jesus knows my heart and knows how to give me blessings that I myself don't even know I desire. 

A few weeks a go at church Bentli met a few Chinese students who are here on a university exchange summer program. Bentli introduced them to me after sunday school and what a joy that was to me. That next week Bentli and I went and saw Shirley (one of the girls we met) at work and she was overjoyed that we came just to see her. We've tried to hang out with Shirley and the other girls more but our schedules are just so different it's been difficult. 

On Sunday Bentli invited them to our Tuesday night theme meeting and Candy said she wanted to come and would bring some friends. On Tuesday Bentli and I went and picked up Candy and Emmy. Not knowing how that night would go I prayed that the Holy Spirit would make sense of all conversation we would have with the girls. The car ride over was so fun yet so challenging. It has become so real to me how a language barrier can be so difficult. We were just having simple conversation and you have to think about everything you say before you say so it makes sense to everyone. We got to the meeting and tried to explain what was about to happen..i'm not sure they understood anything I said. Okay we're getting to the great part...So the meeting started to the girls were so excited as they watched the hype, skit, and testimony. They began to ask questions as things were happening and Bentli and I did our best to make sense of the craziness.  As Chris Kuzdale (one of the guy team leaders on the project) began his talk the girls were diligently trying to understand the words he was saying. They would try and translate the english words to chinese script on their cellphone. This is when Bentli and I both individually were able to share the gospel with both of the girls. The entire thirty minute talk was spent explaining who Christ was and trying to explain that we are all sinners. We gave them scripture and read it to them praying the word of God would pierce their hearts. I gave Emmy my Bible so maybe they would be able to read the scripture we left them with and the Holy Spirit would continue to soften their hearts. 

I am overjoyed at how the Lord has brought these girls into our lives and pray that the Lord will continue to be faithful in building a friendship with them these last two and a half weeks we are here in Panama.