Haha, anyways. I'm in a weird mood right now. I finally found a wireless signal in Klamath Falls!!! Well, most people here have internet...most people but not my grandma. I love you grandma! ;) She's probably reading this since I've been telling everyone about my blog! I should have an agent, I feel like I've been trying to "sell" my blog, my trip, etc...to everyone! But hopefully you guys know me and know my heart :) I truly do appreciate how everyone has been so supportive, I think I've already said that a million times, but I really really do!
But speaking of selling...money...trip....you all know where this is going! :) I have officially begun the FUNDRAISING part of this venture...Oh joy, my favorite. Not really! But, it's necessary, and I know that God is going to provide, I'm just getting the word out there and asking all of you if you would honestly pray and consider supporting me in this, whether it's a one time donation or a commitment for one year of month to month sponsorship. If you would like to donate I have a link on Southlake's website now...it's http://www.southlakechurch.
Also, my best friend had an amazing idea and is putting on a fundraising/hear my heart/send off for me on October 12th, 7pm at Southlake. If you didn't get the evite....well you can still come I guess ;) But I honestly would just love to be with all of you who I love and be able to share my heart with all of you guys.
OK! That's enough selling!! :)
I have been very struck by the creativity of people lately, and I think it stems off of how amazing it is to see the creativity of God through all of us! I went to this little art fair with my grandma here and started conversations with the artists asking them questions like, when they started, why they started, etc...it was so interesting and I admired them SO much for having a dream and just going with it! It makes me wonder how much more I'm capable of if I just put myself out there more and stop worrying about whether or not I'll succeed. We also went to this old museum here in K Falls, (I love funny stuff like that) and THAT got me thinking (I swear my mind does not stop) about what I will be remembered for. All of these people who invented this or that, or just were living their lives during a crazy period of history had NO clue that their stuff or the story of their lives were going to end up in a museum one day, but they went for it, they were just acutely aware, I believe, that they were here for a greater purpose, and they were using everything that God gave them to use! Whether they understood that's what they were doing or not. Isn't it cool to think that, ya, it would be cool to be memorialized in a museum one day, but we have the ability to be even more remembered and effective than that! We have the opportunity every day in our everyday lives to exude Jesus and to live FULLY in who He made us to be. And therefore effect LIVES FOR ETERNITY, not just here on the Earth. Every desire we have was intended to glorify Him, whether that's knitting things for an art show or starting huge mega churches or starting underground churches in China, or becoming a professional athlete, these things aren't accidents, God made us this way! I've been trying to figure out how my love of fashion and socializing and my love of missions and Jesus goes together, and you know what? I'm done focusing on that. God will show me, and He made me this way so I think I can trust how He chooses to mesh those things together.
I went to church today at a place that is very connected to my past. The pastor lived with my dad when they were in college, my dad was a youth pastor there for a while, and my grandma (my dad's mom) goes there and every time I go there people meet me and find out who my dad was and immediately start talking about what an impact he made on their lives. I WILL NEVER TIRE OF HEARING THAT. Oh man it's great. My dad had no clue he was going to die at age 38, but he lived with everything he had. That's what I want to do, I want to live in a way that I stop wasting my time being afraid, or wasting my time JUDGING others instead of focusing on who God made me to be.
A lot of you guys know that it's always been hard for me to think that my dad might not get to see who I'm becoming, or how I'm serving God and I've always struggled with wanting my dad to be able to be proud of me. That's been a huge thing, I want my dad to be proud of me. Even though I know God is everything I need, and God is proud, it's still been a struggle. Well, today a very close amazing friend of not only my dad but my entire family was asking about my plans, and I was talking about my plans on moving to Nicaragua. And here's the big ol' guy (Hey Dave;)), who literally just starting crying, tears streaming down his cheeks, and just said "Your dad would be so PROUD". Definitely never going to forget that moment. I've been waiting to hear those words for a long time...
