tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11912013798658261672024-03-13T15:24:49.425-07:00Tales of a Curly Headed DominicanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-52209664500162946162015-09-04T20:10:00.000-07:002015-09-04T20:10:10.404-07:00Marina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The teacher of my class of whom I was assistant to became
such a significant part of this trip for me. So much so that I have to use an
entire post to talk about her. Her name is Marina, and she’s the best teacher
I’ve ever met. This was partly due to her experience as a middle school teacher
during the school year. For example, on the first day of VBS, me and Marina’s
niece and daughter (who were my two awesome helpers), set up the chairs in our
room in several rows. But when Marina saw this, she suggested that we put the
chairs in a half-circle around the room, so that we would basically stand in
the middle of the class. This proved to be a much better set up, because it
allowed us to interact at a more personal level with the kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> But her teaching
skills weren’t only due to her experience, they also had to do with her
character and her evident love for her students. Through her example, she
showed me how to engage the students in a bible lesson. The other teacher’s
assistants in my team kept telling stories about how rowdy their kids were, and
how hard it was to get them to sit still and listen. This is what made me
realize how amazing my teacher was. I mean, all the other teachers were
wonderful. But Marina seemed to have developed a special connection with the
kids in my class, because for the most part during the bible lesson, they were
enthralled. Even I was entranced by the bible lessons. She made them sound so
beautiful and thrilling. She had the skill of really capturing the awesomeness
of God in each lesson, and it made me so thankful she was there. No way could I
have taught the lessons in the same way. Besides her teaching skills, Marina
also radiated Christ through her actions. She showed love to me and every child
she talked to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She showed genuine care
and interest in my life by asking me how the trip was going, what was my life
was like at home, and helping me prepare my testimony when it was my turn to
share it with the children. She also encouraged me to pray more when I noticed
how every day, right before VBS started, she would shut herself into an empty
classroom and pray for about 10 to 15 minutes. Seeing this reverent action
reminded me who we were doing this for, and that we can’t do it without Him. It
made me realize that the secret to Marina’s success was simply Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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That's her.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-70620316711860144792015-09-04T19:56:00.000-07:002015-09-04T20:12:20.848-07:00My Class<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a few days of preparation, VBS week finally came. I’ve
gotta admit, I was nervous. I mean, how would the kids be? Would I be able to
communicate clearly with my Spanish? Would they just ignore me if I couldn’t
speak well? I was a teacher’s assistant, and my class would have about
seventeen 11 and 12 year olds. That was an important age, because it’s when you
start figuring out who you are and what you believe in. And I felt like at any
moment I could screw it up. I prayed A LOT that week. But from the very first
day, I found that when I spoke Spanish to these kids, even though I did speak
it poorly, they were super understanding. They actually HELPED me remember
words and phrases. And God actually used <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">them</i>
to help me get my point across. It was crazy because the people who I was
trying to help ended up helping me. It was very humbling to me, because I
realized that I was trying to be a perfect Spanish speaker. But on this earth,
there is no such thing as perfect. And my class understood that way better than
I did. As the week went on, I really got to know these kids. And the more I got
to know them, the more my heart ached for them. So many had grown up either
Roman Catholic or without any real beliefs at all. They grew up feeding on
lies. Most of them had no real exposure to the truth. When the teacher asked
how many had been to a church, most of them raised their hands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then when she said “A non-Catholic
church”, all of them except 2 lowered their hands. But what really made an
impact on my heart, was how they then seemed very confused at that point,
because they didn’t even know there was a difference. It really opened my eyes
to see the need for the love of Jesus and the true gospel to be spread in the
Dominican Republic. Catholicism has a strong hold on that country. And the need
for outreach is great.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LuYPdZfWfM/VepYD0DBrGI/AAAAAAAAAGI/HA073gm4Y1Y/s1600/SANY0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LuYPdZfWfM/VepYD0DBrGI/AAAAAAAAAGI/HA073gm4Y1Y/s640/SANY0039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
My two favorite girls<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5DIfB_82l0/VepYGHSAY3I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/sX75nU13It4/s1600/DSC_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5DIfB_82l0/VepYGHSAY3I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/sX75nU13It4/s640/DSC_0408.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-29158098402418821132015-09-04T19:46:00.000-07:002015-09-04T19:46:27.241-07:00The Orphans<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day after we arrived to the D.R., we spent the day with
a large group of endearing orphans. We did a bible program with them, preformed
a puppet show about Noah, made gospel bracelets with them, and shared a meal. Something
that caught me by surprise while we were with them, was how much they looked
out for one another. The older ones were always helping the younger ones. Those
who knew how to do the craft would help the ones who didn’t. I was moved by how
closely knit they all seemed, even though many of them came from rough backgrounds.
It was like despite the fact that many of them no longer had their own separate
biological families, they had all created their own giant family together. They
proved to me that to be family, you don’t have to be blood related. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My main
responsibility during that time with them, alongside my friend Katie, was to
help get some games going. In my head I pictured that game time going
perfectly: All the kids would be sitting in a perfect circle in a nice room,
eagerly listening and waiting for us to explain to them how to play a fun game.
And I would proceed to explain it to them in flawless Spanish. But what
happened was NOT at ALL what I was imagining. Instead, envision this: After a
few hours of sitting down all morning and evening, listening to bible lessons,
making crafts, and eating lunch, about 50 children from a variety of ages let
loose their energy and started running around on a large field, yelling and
horsing around under a hot sun. And Katie and I trying, though seemingly to be in
vain, to get them to play an organized game. And every time I tried to speak
Spanish, I would forget a bunch of words and forsake correct grammar all
together. Simply put, it was chaotic to me. That was reality in the D.R. And it
smacked me right in the face. I really lost confidence in that moment and
started to doubt whether I should do anything at all. But then, I felt
something inside me prodding me forward, as if the Holy Spirit was nudging me
and saying, “Come on Leslie, try.” So I did. And somehow, with my kindergarten
level Spanish skills, we got some of the kids to actually participate in a
game. And they ENJOYED it. So much so, that they actually wanted to play
another game! God used that whole ordeal to show me that if we can just set aside
our insecurities, put our trust in Him, and make some effort, we can bring joy
into the most chaotic moments. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-12517429048847352642015-09-04T19:40:00.001-07:002015-09-04T19:40:47.747-07:00My Host Family<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we got to the Dominican Republic, we split into groups
of 2 or 3, and were distributed to different homes to be hosted by members of
the church we were working with in Santiago. Each host family volunteered to
share their homes and take care of us for a few days until VBS week. At first I
was thinking, “I hope I don’t intrude on their lives or get in the way or
anything.” But when I entered the home of my host family, the Zapatas, I was
blown away. They were incredibly kind and generous hosts. They made us feel so
welcome and at home. I was most struck with their genuine care and
thoughtfulness. They made sure our food was always washed with purified water
so we didn’t get sick. They packed a generous lunch for us when we were out
working all day. Whenever we needed something, or even just kind of wished for
something, they would make it their top priority to get it for us. And I don’t
just mean for our physical needs, though those things were met famously. They
also cared about our lives. To them, we weren’t just a few bodies to keep alive
for a few days. They saw us as people with hearts, minds, and souls. Through
their example, they showed me what a difference you can make in a relationship
by intentionally reaching out and seeking to connect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember one night specifically, we were sitting
on the rooftop of their house, and they wanted to know all about our lives.
Like what we wanted to be in the future, what our lives in the U.S. were like,
what our interests were. They genuinely wanted to connect with us. It made me
feel loved, and showed me what it truly means when the Bible says to love your
neighbor as yourself. And now I feel like I’m a part of another family who
lives in the Dominican Republic, and that I left part of my heart with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The couple in the middle and their daughter in the blue dress are the Zapatas.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-32078404682929792802015-09-04T19:32:00.001-07:002015-09-04T19:35:11.799-07:00The Team<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This trip required TONS of preparation. With all the
fundraisers, lesson planning, supply preparations, memorizing skits, and
spiritual preparations, the mission team had a busy school year. And I quickly
learned how important it is to have a good team who’s willing to work. God
really blessed this trip with a wonderful team. I was truly struck by the great
attitudes of each member. I never heard a single complaint or grumble. Everyone
seemed to authentically enjoy serving in this way. During one fundraiser in
particular, we had to load, unload, and spread a ton of pine straw under the
hot sun. My entire body was aching by the end of it, and I was sweating out a
river. I was actually thinking to myself, “Man, I can’t wait to be done with
this.” But then I heard something. Was someone whining or even crying? No,
believe it or not, it was someone laughing. Several people actually. The other
team members were joking around, laughing, and ENJOYING the strenuous labor.
Watching them have joy in the midst of pain really encouraged me and convicted
me. It encouraged me to persevere, and it reminded me what and who we are doing
this for. It’s not for ourselves and our own comfort and pleasure. It’s for the
Lord, the giver of everlasting joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another thing that God showed me during all the preparations
is the importance of teamwork. During one of our regular meetings, we were
discussing all the money we needed to raise and the work we had to do for the
trip. And honestly, I felt kind of overwhelmed. How in the world were we
supposed to do all that in a few months? But God showed me that with prayer and
teamwork, great things can happen. During the yard sale fundraiser, we
basically had a giant pile of stuff to sort through and organize for the yard
sale. Seeing the amount of work there was, I figured we would be done
organizing everything sometime in the next decade. But once all the team
members, plus some volunteers, got busy sorting through it all, it was done in
no time! There was no possible way someone could’ve done it on their own. In
fact, none of the preparations could’ve been done by one person. But God didn’t
intend for us to be on our own. And after each fundraiser was set up, God
always provided more than enough funds to come through. And through that, God
showed me that if we plant the fields, He’ll grow the crops.</span></div>
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I'm the girl on the side with the pink skirt :)</div>
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One of our regular prep meetings</div>
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Yard Sale Prep (I'm the one with the chair)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-10176575979419229372015-09-04T19:16:00.000-07:002015-09-04T20:36:00.378-07:00My Community Service Learning Journey<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hey guys! Long time no post ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want to share with you an
experience I had this summer. These past few months I have been taking a course
called Community Service Learning. It’s a wonderful online course, and I would
recommend it to anyone who wants to grow spiritually and mentally, all while
earning college credit. It’s taught me what it really means to serve, and how
important it is. I’ve also learned a lot about myself through the process, such
as what some of my strengths and weaknesses are, and who God is calling me to
be. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this course, I needed a service project, in order to
practice and expand on what I’ve been learning about service. So I chose to use
a short term mission trip to the Dominican Republic that my church, Faith Bible
Church, alongside my parents, were planning. This mission trip has been done
several times before by my church, and its team members were always from the
youth group, with the exception of some. I have been on every single one of
these trips, largely because my parents are the main coordinators, but mostly because I love the D.R. :D Each of the
trips have been special and unique in their own way, and I always learn a lot
through each one. But the trip this year in particular was without a doubt the
most spiritually, emotionally, and mentally enlightening one that I’ve ever
been on. That was mainly because God used this course to make this trip really
impactful on my life. In these next few posts I am going to be sharing some things that I
learned on this trip and how they influenced my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-58577820285656512852013-09-28T19:16:00.000-07:002013-09-28T19:16:14.579-07:00This makes me want to live amongst the wildflowers and become a bee keeper.<br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/33205292">http://vimeo.com/33205292</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-50442018919767928722013-06-04T11:19:00.000-07:002013-06-04T17:35:03.002-07:00zen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JOcaWEfPRM8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOcaWEfPRM8&list=SP270B0DE5FA9A2C88&index=1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOcaWEfPRM8&list=SP270B0DE5FA9A2C88&index=1</a></div>
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I love this :)</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-89544290599279907412013-05-17T09:25:00.001-07:002013-05-29T10:12:53.821-07:00I'm eating Mnms as I write this.So now that this time of year has arrived, I'm hearing all these students' wails and cries of fear. Finals are here. And we start to contemplate life.<br />
My last week of high school was probably the worst week of my life so far. There were lots of tears and blood and sweat. I failed some tests, and I passed others. All I could see was a thick fog of words and paper, and I thought I might actually go into shock. But I got through it. My biggest problem was later when I bombed the SAT. When it happened I was kind of thinking, "What now?" I just bombed one of the biggest tests of my life, and the college I applied to didn't accept me because of it. Had I just ruined my education? My hopes for a good job? My life? I gotta admit I was pretty depressed. I tried to keep my chin up, but I felt like terribly stupid person. I didn't know what to do.<br />
But all this turmoil inside me happened because I had forgotten the most important thing.<br />
My life wasn't mine.<br />
It was God's.<br />
I was thinking that it was all up to me to be successful. Well, my version of successful. Which isn't truly successful to begin with. God's version of my life is very different and FAR better than my puny version. So if I tried my hardest and I still got a bad score and didn't get into college, then I know It wasn't meant to happen at that time. God had something better he wanted me to do. I wasn't planning for me to take a year off of school, but God was. And I can have confidence that everything is going to turn out great. Because that's what happens when you give your life to God. There's no way you can ruin your life when you're not even the one controlling it. And you can trust that God won't steer it wrong. He's the one who created it. His entire plan for you is the best plan there is. You can't lose.<br />
And even though I can't see the whole map or where the big X is, I can see a few landmarks that I've already passed through. Like Mexico. I doubt I would have been able to go if I had been in school these past few months. Oh yeah, btw, I'M BAAAACK!! Didn't get captured. Mexico was great. I learned a lot, met some great people, built a house, and spread some love. You all should go there. ANYWAYS, I've also learned a lot about living and people. And living with people. I learned how to run a home. I learned that you can find instructions for EVERYTHING. I learned how to drive better. I learned that without your license your life is basically pretty much nothing. I was able too be involved more in the Awana ministry. I learned you can make friends with anyone no matter who they are or what their age is, old or young. I started a blog. I figured out my passions. And I've learned that life is more than school. But don't get me wrong, a good education is priceless.<br />
But the point is, don't stress and let God do His thing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-61059808892241125462013-04-28T01:25:00.000-07:002013-04-28T01:25:26.444-07:00It is 3 a.m. right now. And I am currently on my way to Mexico. No I didn't get kidnapped. More like drafted. My sisters christian college group needed more people for their mission trip, so she asked me, and I said yes. So this morning I woke up at 2:10, and now Emily's driving on the interstate, and it's pitch black and raining. We're going to meet up with the rest of the group in Carrollton, pile up in a van, and hopefully leave by 4:30. I gotta be honest, I'm a bit nervous. This will be my first out of country experience to a country I'm really unfamiliar with. Not that I don't believe God is taking care of us, because I know it's all in His hands. I'm really just afraid of the unknown. But at the same time, I'm terribly excited. This will be quite an adventure. I'm hoping that when I come back, besides having done successful mission work, I'll know a bit more about life. And be a little wiser. Be a little more fluent in Spanish. Be a little stronger emotionally, spiritually, socially, or even physically. Maybe even be a little slimmer. ;) I'm hoping I'll comeback just a better person in general. Hopefully I won't get kidnapped, considering the Mexico crime rate. But I think I'll blend in pretty well. <br />
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thing, having breakfast in the middle of the night is.... weird. It's like you're not hungry, but you feel like you should eat something, but you feel like you shouldn't eat anything, and you feel like you are going to throw up either way. Coffee was extremely good this morning (night?) though. And anytime is good for good coffee so I'm good.<br />
Hopefully I'll get some good photos while I'm there. And hopefully I won't be mistaken for an illegal immigrant and be trapped in Mexico forever. Although if I end up falling in love with the country, or someone in the country, that might not be so bad. If I don't come back, I'd like to thank all you people who chose to read this pathetic baby blog of mine. You all have a special place in my heart.<br />
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"Yeah airplanes are safer, but road trips are more fun." - anonymous Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-3495496031631175862013-04-22T20:21:00.001-07:002013-06-21T20:06:20.837-07:00Happy Earth DayIT'S EARTH DAY!! I love earth day. It's a great reminder of how awesome the earth is. I was going to put a cool picture to give you an example, but instead why don't you go outside and see for yourself? And I know that some people just roll their eyes and say that earth day is for hippies, and I know some that just say the world is going to burn anyways, so why bother taking care of it so much? And you're right. The world is going to burn. So I guess that means we can just throw away the Mona Lisa. And all of Beethoven's music. And Shakespeare's plays. And my diploma. Because if you look at the world that way, everything is useless, and you won't see the big picture. The earth is God's masterpiece. It's the greatest work of art known to mankind. So why do we go to such great lengths to take care of miniscule paintings and petty papers of our own achievements, while we just toss our cigarettes and soda cans on the very ground we live on? That our Creator graciously provided for us? I see no reason why God would make such a wonderment called earth just so we could throw our trash everywhere on it and harmfully abuse it. Taking care of this world that God beautifully made shows our respect for Him and appreciation for all He does. And I seriously believe that it pleases Him when we do. <br />
I stumbled upon this beautiful poem today written by a person I don't the name of, and I thought it was both clever and motivating. <a href="http://turnoffyourm1nd.tumblr.com/image/48617375696">http://turnoffyourm1nd.tumblr.com/image/48617375696</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-42712954873563908452013-04-07T19:46:00.001-07:002013-04-08T06:26:38.539-07:00Bug BiteI found a bug bite on my arm the other day. I was just scratching my arm and I thought "What?" and looked down. And lo and behold, there it was. Most people might roll their eyes and be like "UGH, gross, an itchy red mound." But for some weird reason, it made my day. I smiled when I saw it. Because all of a sudden my insides turned into sunshine . And bike rides. And flying kites. And boating, swimming, tanning, wild flowers, river rafting, surfing, hiking, fireflies, barbecues, geo caching, yard sales, and watermelon. Laughter and family. And everything in between. Because what that bug bite said to me was, "Hey spring, hey summer! Let's go." <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454302109678200388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1191201379865826167.post-90911889038326985662013-03-28T12:44:00.001-07:002013-03-28T12:44:24.666-07:00The TruthI've always heard that the best relationships begin with honesty. Starting this blog kind of feels to me like starting a new relationship. So I'm going to test this theory and start with the flat out bare naked truth. So brace yourself. <br />
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The truth is that I'm not really the kind of person to do this kind of thing. I used to typically not be the one who liked to share her thoughts. Sometimes it was because I didn't think my thoughts were any good. Sometimes it was because when the moment came to speak, I had forgotten what I was thinking. Which isn't too rare of me. But the main reason was mostly because I was afraid. I was afraid that if people heard my thoughts, they might've thought they were stupid or senseless. I was afraid of what people would think. And I realized that I wasn't the only one who thought that way. There are a lot of people who are afraid to share any deep thoughts they have, because they don't want people to scoff or disagree with them. Or make them feel like idiots. Or think that they're trying to act above everyone else. And it made me realize a few things. People tend to be afraid of things that shouldn't be feared. Yes, for some things you should have caution. But not fear, because fear is really blinding. It prevents you from seeing the real deal.<br />
If no one ever shared their thoughts, ideas, or opinions, where would life be? No one would get inspired. Most of the inventions we have today wouldn't exist. Millions of people would have died in the slave trade that still would have been legal today. Rome or Greece would probably still hold the highest power on earth. My family would be part of an Indian tribe living in the Dominican Republic. Or we'd be Roman Catholics. Or both. No one would have any good music to share. Would we even have music? There definitely wouldn't be any museums of any sort. Probably half of the world would be non existent.<br />
Sharing what you have in mind is pretty much what's making the world go round. What kind of place would the world be if no one ever spoke their imaginations, stories, deep thoughts, what they've learned, or inspirations? It'd be a lot like this:<br />
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Empty, lifeless, pointless, stupid, bleak, annoying, the adjectives just go on and on. Well, maybe not that extreme. There might be a tuff of grass somewhere. And yes, I googled that picture. But you get the point. We'd still be living in the bushes had no one ever shared themselves. There'd be no inspiration. No motivation. So that's the main reason I'm doing this. I feel that it's my responsibility as a human being to share what's on my mind with the rest of you guys (a.k.a. the human race). Even if most of them end up being ridiculous, you never know if one will be worth it. Maybe I'll inspire someone someday somehow.</div>
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I'm also hoping this will give me motivation to do more in life. I'm not doing much right now and there's so much that can be done. There's so much potential. And the more you do, the more tales there are to tell. </div>
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYDNEY CECILIA MALONE!!!!!!!!! I dedicate this first post to that little girl. She's the one who gave me the title of this blog. Her big ol' B-day was yesterday and she's now been alive for two whole decades!!!!!!!! Way to GO!</div>
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