like whoa

Holy rice and beans Batman, I live in Haiti! Did you catch what I just said? I live in Haiti! And it's like a dream. I have been here for about three and a half weeks, but summer in Knoxville feels like eons ago. I don't even know where to begin, God is so great. Even in the midst of craziness, expectations, and adversity He is so great! This summer was completely packed with school, weddings, trips and in the middle of that trying to get ready for Haiti. A lot of things got in the way and tried to get me off balance from what needed to be done. Just a few minor freak outs, and a lot of love, patience, and help from dear friends and now I am in Haiti. One of my roommates decided a few weeks before I left that she would just come down with me. And that was more of a blessing than I ever thought. The first day I was in Haiti, I was completely overwhelmed. We had gotten in the night before so late that it had not hit me that I was here. It was a good overwhelmed, overtaken with the reality that I finally made it here, how little I deserve to be here, and the Lord's great love. He is moving and working in Haiti. I am beyond blessed to be asked to work alongside his great plan for Haiti, and the Spirit working in and through me. To God be all the glory!

Getting on the plane!

When we arrived in Haiti, there was a youth group from Tampa here. We did a VBS in the mountains area of Kenscoff, Haiti. I have never been to the mountains of Haiti before and it was absolutely beautiful! It was a very different part of Haiti, than the hustle and bustle of Port-au-Prince. We sang songs, made crafts, played outside, snacks, and had a Bible story everyday! We had nearly 100 kids everyday, which is amazing! One day some of the boys had a little band set up. One old bass drum which was being beat with a stick that had a tennis ball on it, and several dejangeled tambourines being hit with pencils and sticks from the ground, and a regular tambourine. They played all day singing and jamming! They made the most for what they had, and loved every minute of it. We started being funny and dancing around with the little kids, which turned into being in a dance off with all the older girls! It was hysterical. I literally danced for 45 minutes with different girls til I finally won the dance off! So much fun, and they loved it! Some probably laughing at me, but it didn't matter!

Chadasha has a beach property that will soon be an Orphanage Retreat Center! One day we took the kids from the Children's Home (Chadasha's orphanage/transition home) to the beach property. If you have been following me for awhile you will remember the CH from last year, and there are a lot of the same kids! They have never never really gone anywhere except the bad situation they were taken from and the Children's Home. Some of them were a little frightened by the water, but all in all they loved playing in the sand and eating coconuts, and slashing around in the water. It was definitely a task running around trying to keep up with all the kids and making sure no one drowned, but we had a good time seeing the kids so happy!

A few days later we were able to have the kids come over to our house for a sleepover!! And we thought the beach was intense! We had pizza, cupcakes, a movie and play time! We had 11 Haitian children running around and they only speak creole! It was super fun though, and the kids loved getting to do something different.

Another part of what I will be doing here is teaching English in a tent camp. Chadasha partnered with a nearby tent camp, and has english and bible classes for women, men, and kids. The classes are taught in old gutted school buses on the edge of the tent camp. It is a great ministry to bring up Haitian leaders that can take the gospel to their area. The interns teach the ladies and children's class. I am in the children's class. We have a range of ages from 3-15 (just a guesstimate) and have an average of 30-40 kids each class. We have a bible lesson first then an english lesson. The kids are really smart and want to learn. With so many kids and such a wide range it can get really difficult at times even with a translator helping us out. I am really excited about diving into teaching this class. Hopefully by the end of it they will remember to call me "Cheyenne" instead of "Hey you" or "Blan" (which is white in creole).

If you are new to Chadasha, their biggest ministry is pediatric heart surgeries. This was started in the DR years ago, and now we are doing that here in Haiti. A few times a year children are found with severe heart defects that need surgery for survival and taken to the DR where sufficient equipment an doctors are to perform the surgery. This time we had 5 kids that came to stay with us a few days before heading over to the DR. We took them to the dentist, played with them, and gave their mothers some rest time. Djoudly, Richama, Christman, Ciara, and Todd all were taken over to ahve surgeries! Richama was able to return home because her heart issue was minor and did not require surgery! Praise Jesus! The doctors said her heart would heal on its own just fine! Djoudly and Christman have had their surgery and are recovering great! Just waiting to hear when Todd is scheduled for his! Ciara's issue is too complicated for the team there and she is too high risk for the surgery. She is scheduled for the November round of heart surgeries. Please be in prayer for her that the right specialist and surgeon can come to perform the surgery, It is a miracle she has made it to age 4. I have been so blessed to be a part of this branch of the ministry even if it seems small. The kids are wonderful and so brave! Continue to pray for each of them!

Djoudly!

Ciara!

Todd!

Now I will share some of the more comical and intersting things that have have been going on in the life that is Haiti. (disclaimer: not for the faint at heart)

-So the sun and I have always been on good terms. Nice tan skin, no burning, no sunscreen, you know every girls dream. Well take away the humidity blocker we have in Tennessee and add a really big mountain, and a dash of you're in the Caribbean and really close to the equater, you get a very burnt Cheyenne. I have NEVER in my life experience something like that. My skin was literally rotting off my back (sorry I know that is gross). That was the first week I was here. I am better now, and skin doing just fine. But it was touch and go for a while there.

-Then I fell down a hill

-And even better I grabbed, will full force, a razor wire and sliced my finger open. And it bled A LOT! Good thing it was in Haiti where supplies are plentiful. Slapped a band aid on it, and went on my way. (For reference, most houses are surrounded with a concrete wall with broken bottles on top or wire, kind of like barbed wire but covered in razors)

-I have been able to work on my nursing resume in the last week. One of our dear Haitian translators and security burned his leg horrifically on a moto, and we have been doctoring it up each day. And when I say doctoring it up, it is not the most pain free or sufficient supplies way. But it has not been infected and healing!

Nurse in training!

-Somehow our water system got infested with thousands of tadpoles. The thing is the tanks are on the roof of the house and they were full of the little swimming critters. We had to bleach them out, and drain all the water out. And had no water for a couple days until the water guys came to fill it back up.

-I killed a tarantula in the kitchen!!

It was a baby tarantula, but I am sure mama is somewhere close!

 -When your life revolves around Creole, you find different ways for Jesus time. I am working on reading through the Bible, and so far have gotten through 15 books! Praise Jesus! Can't wait to see what the Lord reveals through these times. 

-I have never been bit my mosquitoes in Haiti til this trip. And it usually happens in the shower

-I was never that into track, just didn't know a lot about it. But watching the Olympics track with a two time Olympian track runner makes it the most exciting sport there is! And I love her dearly!

The great Wilna!!! Love her!!

We didn't get to watch much Olypmics but track, so we had to cheer America on somehow!

I know this has been long, and I hope not to go this long with out blogging. If you have made it this far without getting bored or passing out you are a champ! I appreciate all your love and support! Sending my love and prayers from Haiti!

Pita! 
Cheyenne

another one bites the dust

Actually a lot of them bit the dust! I have marked several items off my "101 List" (see tab above)! And I would like to share about them!


22. Lay on the beach
I have been apart of a Cru bible study for the past four years! And we wanted to do a last shindig after graduation all together. My parents so graciously allowed us to use their timeshare and we went down to North Myrtle Beach and just laid on the beach everyday! At night we would cook a meal together and chill in the hot tub. It was a spectacular week! Not everyone could come, but we had a lot of fun! So blessed to have these women in my life!

The gang with our new tanks!

Went to spend time with Jesus, then say goodbye to a friend on our last morning and this was the beautiful sunrise!

41. Have a photoshoot
This is probably one of my favorites I got to mark off! And the funny part is I can't even show you the pictures! Not yet anyways. Let's just say that two of my dear friends have been roommates for 4 years, and may or may not be getting married this summer (not to each other...to their fiances), and may or may not have wanted a "best friend's bridal shoot" :) Will post the real deal's after July 21st...but until then here are some very cropped teasers

54. Read all Harry Potter books
Okay do I didn't actually do this. And I am not going to mark it off yet, but I did manage a similar feat...kind of. Not only have I not read any of the Harry Potter books, but because I have not read the books I refused to see the movies. So basically I was the most ignorant person of my generation when it came to HP. Well back in January, Friday the 13th to be exact, some friends wanted to do a scary movie marathon, I didn't really want to do that so instead they said HP marathon. After a lot of convincing I gave in, so folks I watched all 8 Harry Potter movies in ONE WEEKEND! Talk about a lot of movie watching and bonding time! They were great movies and I cannot wait to read the series!


70. Help build a house
I had the coolest opportunity to be a part of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition when it came to Knoxville back in January! Me and a few friends signed up for a middle of the night time slot and helped empty out a building that the family was using for their ministry "Restoration House" to help single mothers. It was by far one of the greatest experiences I have had. It will be one of the final episodes of EMHE as it has been cancelled. Our episode is the Thanksgiving themed episode! We even had a mock Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade down in front of Neyland Stadium! Check it out when it airs in November!

Thanksgiving in January!

In the parade!

2 am in the rain and still all smile!

82. Ride in a car with someone
Okay, so I have no proof of this. So just trust me on this. For those of you that don't know me well might be a bit confused. So here is the short version, I don't ride with people. I have panic attacks, and get all freaked out. I was in a bad car accident my senior year of high school and I was not driving. It was by no means her fault at all, but it left its mark on me. 

So I don't ride with people. My parents and that is it. Especially while in college, and not knowing anyone I always drove. (I was taken to the hospital a couple times, but I don't count that) And it is always assumed that I am the one driving. I don't mind, I love driving people around! Back in August, just a few days after returning from Haiti the college ministry at Calvary was going tubing in Townsend. We were taking the van, and I was coming up with excuses that I needed to drive. None of them were valid, and my roommate forced me into the van. To make things better, I had no idea who the driver was. Never knew the kid existed until that moment (we eventually became great friends!). My roommate informed them of my issues and I rode. And no panic attacks, and never once feared for my life. Immediate trust! Wahoo progress! I still don't ride with people, but if ever they were the ones going wherever we were going, I would ride with them! Still not quite over my issue, but we are getting there!

90. Go to a wedding

I have gone and will be going to several weddings this summer! The first one and the one I am going to write about are my dear dear friends Charlie and Stephanie Edwards. I have known them most of my four years at Calvary, but didn't get close with them until this last year. Charlie lived next door to me at the boy's Calvary house, and I spent a lot of time hanging out there this past year. Steph interned with me last summer in Haiti, and there we realized we really failed the first three years of not being friends!! They are some of the greatest people, and I wish them so much happiness in their new life together!

92. Learn to swing dance

I love swing dance! It is a combination of 4-H and Cru's fault. Swing is the preferred dance to both of those organizations and being highly involved in both over the last several years. I learned some basics back beginning of freshmen year, when a lot of people in Cru knew how to. Then my last semester at UT I finally got into the Social Dance class! And we learned to swing! So much fun and probably my favorite type of dance to do!

That has caught you up to date on my conquering of the list! #48 has happened, but will require a entire posts devoted to it. Coming soon! 

#1,#3, #19, #33, #38, #56, and #74 are hopefully fulfilled here in the next month or so! Thanks for being a part of this journey! And now as I hit the next mile marker...22!

Haiti Round 3

They say home is where the heart is, well if that is the case then I am in the wrong place. This time last year I was a complete wreck, and now I am just a mature wreck. I am slowly starting to learn that it never goes away, the gut wrenching, take my breath away emotions that come with being truly affected by a people and a place, and a call from the Almighty. I have recently returned from a quick 7 day trip to Haiti. Spring Break 2012! Just a quick recap, if you are new to my life and my blog this is my third time to this place. My first trip was last spring break then I returned for 5 weeks as an intern this summer. It has been a long 7 months since August waiting for the chance to return. If I had it my way, I probably would have never left. But the Lord is in control and I have learned that his plan and purpose is far better than I could ever imagine. Being obedient is not always easy, which I think we all could vouch for when it came to obeying our parents at a young age. As much as ice cream and cookies for every meal seemed logical to us, it definitely was not the way to go. But I firmly believe that the Lord rewards in small or big ways for the obedience of his children. And I definitely am thankful for those moments.

Calvary Baptist Church where I go to church here in Knoxville took three teams to Haiti this year. Two different medical teams stayed in Port-au-Prince, and the other was a construction team out on the coast in Les Cayes building for a new ministry for disabled orphans (which in Haitian culture mentally/physically disabled children are cast out). The teams were made up of college students, pastors, and adults from the church. I was apart of The A Team! Which was the first medical team to arrive in PAP. We got to Haiti on Friday with the other team coming on Sunday. The PAP teams stayed at the same place, but had different agendas each day. 

Friday, March 16th

Bright and early Friday morning we met at the Knoxville Airport to depart for Miami! Knoxville airport is not a big place, but several planes flying out that day because there were a million people trying to get through! No worries we made it safe and sound to Miami! We had a long layover in Miami so we just wondered around, ate some lunch, and chilled out. When we got on the plane to PAP I was like a little kid! So excited to go back! When I saw the island below us, I was giddy! The PAP airport is not the most normal airport, but I just love it! For those of who haven't been though it, it is like a warehouse. And big doors leading outside and a sea of Haitians wanting to take your bags and help you so you will pay them. When I made it through immigration and got my bag and waiting on the team I looked over and at the door was Wilbur! Chadasha's airport guy who meets all teams at the door to get them to the vehicles to go to the Guesthouse! He waved big at me and I flipped out! I was finally in Haiti! I got antsy and went ahead to talk to him! We got our group and all our luggage and headed to the parking lot! Before I even took a step into the parking lot, I was attacked by my favorite 14 year old Ashton! The missionary kid that I have basically adopted as my little sister! So excited to see her! Then it was time to head to the Guesthouse and get settled in and eat some good Haitian food!

My favorite view!

                                     
Saturday, March 17th

Today was our first full day in Haiti! We went to a small and poor orphanage. Being on the medical team we have doctors and nurses with us to provide care to whoever we see. We set up a little clinic in their makeshift classrooms with triage, doctors, and pharmacy. We were able to see each child and the workers there at the orphanage. We brought a long the "Story Cloth" to be used to share the gospel in settings with children and adults. The kids were really precious! One child had the biggest smile on his face, and you could just see joy! He had some disabilities and we were told that in the beginning he was never supposed to walk, but he taught himself and was walking and dancing all over he place. We also met a child who was very underdeveloped. He had a condition where his legs and arms were not really functional and he was extremely dehydrated. We got him hydrated and Ashton just loved on him. We then find out a couple days later, that he was found in some bushes. He can't walk, so someone had put him there. This is just one example on the condition's and mindset that is happening everyday in Haiti.

Sunday, March 18th
 Sunday is one of my favorite days in Haiti! We get to go to church at First Baptist Church of Pernier (I know, it took me a while to get used to the fact there was a baptist church in PAP). I love this church! It is an amazing experience to worship in a hot, packed church and hear Haitians singing their hearts out in creole to the same God we worship here in the states. He is the God of all! The pews were packed tight, and it was hot and sweaty but absolutely wonderful. This weekend they were having a fair type event all day at the church, and to kick it off there was a pot-luck after church to raise money for FBCP. We were able to go and get food and eat with the congregation members! It was a cool experience and great great food! Later that afternoon, the remainder of out teams arrived! Getting ready for a kick-butt week for Jesus!

All ready for church!

Pot-Luck!

Yannick fixing some amazing chicken

Monday, March 19th
Today we went to a place I had been to a few times, and if I knew how to spell it I would write it.On the way there is the Mass Grave. I have visited the grave several times, and this time President Martelly had made some changes. Here at this site over 50 dump truck loads of bodies were dumped after the earthquake in 2010. There are approximately 130,000+ people buried in this grave. It is a surreal moment when you step out and see the vastness and heaviness of what happened here. For a long time there were rows and rows of wooden crosses, now Martelly has added a memorial, and will continue to add remembrances each year.                                                                                                      
                                
We then arrived at the destination! We actually did a clinic here last year too! It is a good sized school in this small community. There was a wide variety of ages of children being seen. We had some people outside playing with the kids, and the doctors and nurses set up in a classroom to begin seeing children. These kids were so sassy!! Mainly the older ones, but then the younger ones would just follow along. It made things a little difficult, having 50 kids not listen to you all at one time. But that's not anything different than in the states.  But like how everything else in Haiti is run, you adapt and adjust. We made it through and got all the children checked out! We thought them some dances, and they loved it. I don't know if they thought it was more fun to learn the dances or see a bunch of white girls dancing. It really could go either way.

Dr. Katie, and dear friend and translator Kessy checking the kids

Playing with the kids

After we had checked all the children and teachers, we set off to Chadasha's beach property! This is a lot of land on the coast that we have acquired to eventually build a Orphanage Retreat Center! Where orphanages can bring their kids, kind of like a camp/VBS all in one!! We now have the land, a gate, the land cleared out, a watchman, and now fundraising and getting paperwork ready to break ground! We stopped by to see the progress and hop in the ocean for a few minutes! We all jumped in with our scrubs on and had a blast! I got some pesky sea urchins stuck in my foot, and had to have Nurse Chelsey perform "surgery" to get them out!

Tuesday, March 20th

Today, our team split into three small groups. We had one team go into the clinic the church runs. The other two went on prayer walks through the town. My group was with Zeke. Zeke is the security, body guard, boss man, handyman, and in charge of the Guesthouse. He is the most sacrificial person I have ever met. He was in charge of our group, and we helped out with his ministry he has started. G.S.A, or God Supports Adults.  He had found families that have no male supporter and raises money to help fund their lives and checks on them on a consistent basis. He said we were going to go on a walk, and we basically climbed up the side of a mountain in the Haitian heat. It was a long trek but it was completely worth it. It was just amazing to think he takes this walk consistently and much longer because we could not see all of the people he supports. We had a doctor with us and some college students to go and pray for and check out the families. The first home we went to had two sisters in their mid 30s and a mother. One of the sisters had a severe bone problem and none of her limbs had developed correctly and she was in a great deal of pain. So her sister and mom had to completely take care of her while also providing for their family. The next family we met had a 46 year old mother who was confined to a wheelchair and three middle school aged daughters. She was absolutely adorable! After she was checked out by the doctor we got to talk to her, she said to us "I might have nothing, but I have everything. I have Jesus". It was just beautiful, and to look around and see she didn't have anything and living with so much uncertainty, it was a reality check. 

Afterwards, we met up with everyone at the Children's Home, Chadasha's Little Hands and Feet! One of my favorite places to go! It is a home for children Chadasha has started, majority of the children there are in the process of being adopted and this is like a transition home for them. And makes it easier to keep up with the kids. I spent A LOT of time here when I was in Haiti last summer! A lot of the children were babies, and there are some new older ones. BUT there are two precious boys who were still there. The best part was they had been asking about me and couple other interns, but didn't tell them when I was coming. So, when I walked in the door, their faces lit up and they cam running! I was almost in tears. Mathieu who is 5, just hugged and hugged my neck and laughed and laughed he was so excited! And Markenson is about 9 and he just stood there with his arms around my waist and didn't let go until we had to leave.I eventually couldn't hold them anymore and just fell to the ground and they didn't leave my lap! It was the most beautiful moment for me. I have missed them so much, it makes my heart ache. And even greater that they remembered me by name filled me with so much joy!

Wednesday, March 21

The boys went to do clinics into the prisons (they were unable to get it, but prayers for future visits), so it was just the girls. That afternoon we went to a orphange near the airport. I did not realize til we pulled up that I had been there once before last summer! The first team that came in while I was there was a part of Samaritan's Feet, an organization that shares the Gospel through giving new pairs a shoes after presenting the Gospel. Because they had more larger sizes we had taken the team here, which has more older kids (high school aged) than most orphanages. It was cool to recognize some faces from when I had been there. We set up a clinic with the doctors played games with the kids the rest the afternoon. Two very cool things happened while we were there. I was helping in the clinic part, and I noticed one of the girsl wearing a bead necklace. When I looked closely it was the same necklace the team from the summer before had brought in to make with the kids! I about flipped out! So cool to see that those team members were still making an impact after all this time! Toward the end there weren't may girls left to see the doctor, and one of the girls, who was about 15, asked if I would sit down with her. She knew some English, which was phenomenal, and I knew some Creole so we managed. This is the brief conversation we had:

Me: Hi, My name is Cheyenne

Girl: I know. (I just assumed she heard someone say my name) You been here before right? 

Me: (trying to contain my shock) Yes, I was here in the summer

Girl: I see you get out of the truck, and I say There is Cheyenne , she has come back.

Me: (now trying not to cry) I have come back, and I am so glad to see you. How old are you?

Girl: 15

Me: Do you have any siblings here?

Girl: Yes, but not here. But all of them (pointing to the orphans) are my brothers and sisters in Christ. You are my sister too.

Me: Yes! Yes I am. What do you want to be?

Girl: A pilot. (just then a plane flew over the orphanage)

Me: That is great! 

Girl: I really want to be a pilot. I know God will help me be a pilot, and if he does not then he will provide another way.

Me: Yes he will.

I left that day with emotions all over the place. I was completely overwhelmed that spending a few hours 8 months ago with some children would impact one of them as much as it did. It was a clear gift from God saying you are doing good, and you need to comeback. And her complete and utter trust in the Lord. She knew what she wanted, and if they did not happen it was what the Lord wanted. How many of us can say if we said that we would whole-heartedly believe it. Such an amazing day.

Necklace we made in July!

Precious girl from the convo above

Thursday, March 22

Today was our team's last full day in PAP. We went to a tent camp not far, that the other team had done a clinic earlier and were not able to see everyone. Chadasha has begun a great relationship with this place. They have started English classes and bible classes here. The UN guys were nice enough to let us use their building. Which made things so much easier! We were able to have much more crowd control that way. We saw as many patients as we could, and got play outside with the kids to keep them out of trouble. Girls love to play with hair, especially white people hair! We got out hair done Haitian style while we were there too...cornrows! 

Girl who did my hair!

It was a great week in PAP! It took a little longer to get home...as in it took 2 days! What an experience that was! This week was like a teaser, for what is to come. I waited 7 months to finally return, only to leave so fast. It will be exactly four months from the time I left Haiti til I return! Much better than 7, but still 4 months too long. I know the Lord has great things planned for me here in the states before I return to Haiti, for a much longer time.I know it has been a long post, but I hope you enjoyed my trip to my 2nd home!

And I have marked 2 more off my 101 list!! # 6 and #68!

keeping the faith

Corruption, hypocrisy, judgmental, close-minded, Mel Gibson. Think about these words for a minute. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? I bet nothing positive, or at least resembling any good feelings. What if I told you these were words used to describe a picture by my fellow classmates in an activity proposed by our professor? Anything new come to your mind? Now what if I told you that that picture was a cross? Go back and look at those words again, corruption, hypocrisy, judgmental, close minded, Mel Gibson, these are the first words that came to mind when our professor flashed the picture on the screen. This is not okay.

For those of you who do not know, I am getting a degree in Anthropology and the University of Tennessee. The anthropology program at UT is one of the top in the nation and therefore we have some of the greatest professors (who are really quite famous) teaching us. This particular class is Political Anthropology, which is the study of law, order, conflict, governance, and power across cultural contexts, time periods, and societies. The last several weeks we have looked at symbols and rituals in cultures and societies, and how they are the foundation to what we believe. Anyways, for one class out professor put up different pictures and the class called out the first thing that came to their mind. The first set were out of context, just a plain symbol, the next set were the symbols in context. 

As the she put up the picture of the cross, I was interested to see what people would say. This is a politics class so everyone is very opinionated. But as the words began being shouted out I was stunned. Not only were these words so negative, but there was a tone behind each word from the students expressing the feelings of this image. I didn't know whether to burst into tears or fume with anger at myself and Christians in general. Then my professor said how she was surprised no one said love. Love, the entire foundation of the cross and no one said it. Then she summarized the words and noted how "fairly unbalanced" the words were and they were predominately "negative". I could not even focus on the rest of the class, as these words were burning into my brain. Someone/something has happened that has caused these students so feel this way. I felt a little defeated sitting in the middle of a mission field that I had accomplished nothing. What was I leaving behind at UT? A room full of unbelievers, hurting, and because of people who claim to love the same God I do. My heart broke as the reality of that statement sank in. 

So many times as believers, we surround ourselves with other believers and check off the community the Lord calls us to have. And then we stop there, it is comfortable and convenient. We forget that the call of community is for the refilling and growing in Christ to go back out and be emptied again. I heard a story once of a three year old who got that far better than we do. She said you can't shine your light when it is already light around you; you need to go into the darkness. Wow. This kid gets it.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16

We can learn a lot from this girl, and indeed need to apply this concept to our lives on a daily basis. When we become a believer the Holy Spirit comes upon on and His light is what shines through us. His light bouncing off hisself is not as affected than when it illuminates an entire population full of darkness. Whether that is a remote village in Africa, the Anthropology department, or your own family; we are called to go out of our comfort zone, out to the areas and people we are surrounded by, and to the corners of the earth.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” –Acts 1:8


I am reminded of the Sunday School song that some of us know so well...

"This little light of mine, I am gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine! Hide it under a bush? Oh no! I'm gonna let it shine! Hide it under a bush? Oh no! I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine! Don't let Satan blow it out! I'm gonna let it shine! Don't let Satan blow it out! I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!


I will not let the enemy get me down, or tell me lies. Those words of hurt and unfulfillment from my classmates will not be a determent, but a boost to flip the switch on my light to shine even brighter in the dark corner of campus that I frequent. And I challenge you too, to find your darkness and illuminate it!

“I am sending you to them to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.” – Acts 26:18

end of 2011 and the start of 2012

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!

January: Stayed out in the freezing cold to campout in Thompson Boling  to support UT basketball's program agaist cancer

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.

March: Went to Haiti for the first time on Spring Break with Calvary

April: Went to Ripley's Aquarium with my wonderful community group!

May: Family vacation to Myrtle Beach!

June: Had a full birthday week consisting of my first Braves game!

July: Returned to Haiti!

August: Square Dance to kick off the school year

September: Roadtripped with 35 of my friends to The Swamp!

September: Went to Tuscaloosa to do disaster relief

October: Pocahontas for Halloween! And won best girl costume!

October: Cheered on my Vols!

November: Ran my first 5k!

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!

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!

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!