This is kind of at a odd time, but I decided I would do it anyways. Here is a photo montage of my life in 2011!
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January: Stayed out in the freezing cold to campout in Thompson Boling to support UT basketball's program agaist cancer
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February: My very dear friend Jess moved from NJ to TN in Jan and came and spent Valentine's weekend with me as her husband had just left for Afghanistan.
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March: Went to Haiti for the first time on Spring Break with Calvary
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April: Went to Ripley's Aquarium with my wonderful community group!
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May: Family vacation to Myrtle Beach!
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June: Had a full birthday week consisting of my first Braves game!
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July: Returned to Haiti!
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August: Square Dance to kick off the school year
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| September: Roadtripped with 35 of my friends to The Swamp! |
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| September: Went to Tuscaloosa to do disaster relief |
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| October: Pocahontas for Halloween! And won best girl costume! |
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| October: Cheered on my Vols! |
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November: Ran my first 5k!
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| December: Had more Christmas parties than ever imagined! |
2012 has had a great start! I began my year by attending Passion 2012! If you are unfamiliar with Passion it is a conference for 18-25 year olds held in Atlanta, GA. It began by Louis Giglio and Passion City Church. It is a movement toward changing the world with our generation and the mighty Lord. I had never been before and was stoked about being a part of it. This year 44k students gathered at the Georgia Dome to worship our Lord and grow.
One of my favorite parts of the week was the worship. It was indescribable to see 44k students yelling out praises with hands raised as we worshiped along the great Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman. I would stand in awe and the thought that there are this many students on fire and devoted to the Lord and what the world will look like once we leave and take that passion to our respected homes and schools.
"Do Something Now" is the project each year that the students are challenged with. This year it was Freedom. Freedom from slavery and human trafficking. What would you say if I told you that there are more than 27 million slaves in the world, more than any other time in history. How does that make you feel, to know we dwell on the wrongdoings of our forefathers when we are letting the same thing happen now but on an even bigger scale. 200,00 are right here in the U.S., Atlanta, Knoxville, all over. It made me sick. There are men, women, and children being sold for labor, sex, beaten and used. What are we going to do about it? What were poor college students going to do about it? We didn't stand for it! We are rising up and speaking out about this horrific part of our world. Louis told us he had been telling people that he wanted to challenge us with raising $1 million to end slavery. College kids and million dollars?! Only the Lord could do that. But he didn't. In a little over 72 hours 44k college kids gave everything they had and raised over $2.5 million. And inspired a adult couple to donate $500,000 which made out total over $3 million! Our God is mighty! Throughout the week we all were a part of constructing an outstretched hand covered in items made my slaves and written bible verses and encouragement as a visual reminder to the people of Atlanta what is happening. The last night at Passion all 44k students gathered outside around the hand in silence with a single lit candle praying and praising the Lord for what he is doing. Then let out a chant of FREE-DOM FREE-DOM!! Get ready world this generation is making a change and not taking no for an answer!
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| Waiting in line to give to Freedom! Made the giving much more meaningful not just throwing it in a bucket but actually waiting in long lines and saying how much you were giving. Yay for being proactive! |
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| Downtown Atlanta being lit up by 44k college students and an outstretched hand! |
Was definitely inspired and challenged already this year! School starts Wednesday, can't believe it's my last semester (hopefully). Stay tuned for more exciting tales about Mile 21!
