Venezuela 1999

Maybe by blogging about this, I'll finally have my essay done.

Side note: I am a terrible procrastinator. I've got to get it together.

On to blogging...

It was the summer of 1999. I was fifteen years old and was going on my first mission trip. This was going to be the first time I would be away from my parents for more than a week. It was also the farthest I would be away from home. I think this was my very first adventure.

I went to Venezuela with Teen Mania Ministries:Global Expeditions which is located in Garden Valley, Texas. The mission statement of the ministry, according to their website, is "Our heartbeat is to provoke a young generation to passionately pursue Jesus Christ and to take His life giving message to the ends of the earth!" Global Expeditions sends thousands of teens all over the world every summer.

Before going into the country, I spent three days in Texas meeting with my team and learning the drama we would be presenting. The drama was about what people do to try and fill the emptiness in their lives. The ending scene in the drama shows that only Christ can provide us with the fulfillment that we are looking for. When we arrived in Venezuela, we spent about two days perfecting our drama and learning about the areas we would be in. We would spend about two of our three weeks in Venezuela in the major city of Maracaibo. The other week would be spent in a smaller town or village. My team's "village trip" was to Valencia.

While in Maracaibo, our base was at a local hotel. In my room were six other girls from all over the United States. My team traveled together in a bus all over the city to our ministry site destinations. Most of our sites were on the streets. A few times we were in elementary schools and once in a prison. Our main witnessing tool was the drama. Before the drama, we canvassed the area inviting people to come see what we were doing. We "broke the ice" by doing a funny skit, then one of my team members would give their testimony. Once we had their attention, we presented "The Journeyman". After that, one of the team leaders would share the gospel with the people. As a team, we would split into small ministry groups to talk with people who were still standing around. One person in the group would ask the people questions and share the gospel with them again. We presented the drama three to four times a day. We did this for the whole time while we were in Venezuela.

As a look back on that adventure, I can hardly believe it has been almost nine years ago. I remember when I first felt like I was supposed to go on a mission trip. I did not know where I was supposed to go; I just knew I should go. My first choice of country was actually Australia. Venezuela was my second, and I just happened to write it in the second blank because it was on the front of the missions brochure. As it would be, Venezuela was where I was supposed to be.

This mission trip forced me outside of my comfort zone. I spent four weeks with people I had never met before in a place I had never been to. I gained confidence in being able to approach unfamiliar people who speak a different language then I do. I learned what it was like to look at life through someone else's eyes. However, the biggest thing I gained was compassion for people. I saw a glimpse of what life is like in another country. It expanded my cultural vision. My heart was broken for these people, especially the children. Even though we could not always communicate, I loved being around them. I believe that this experience was just the beginning of my future. As I am currently involved with an urban education program, I see just how invaluable this summer experience was.

After that summer, I felt almost as if I had grown up. Teenagers are commonly defined as self-centered. I went of my own free will and gave up part of my summer to serve the people of Venezuela. It has been one of the most pivotal moments in my life.
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So, that's my essay. Probably not my best work, but it definitely came from my heart.

This is the product of all of the snow and ice we have gotten this season.
It started to melt a little over the weekend because we had temp.s in the 50's.
I'd guess it's about 10-15 feet high.
Way cool!

Quarter-life Crisis

I remember listening John Mayer's first album about 5 years ago and hearing the lyric about the quarter life crisis. I secretly hoped I would get my chance to have one. Well, here I am. Eleven months from the big 2-5. Still in college. It even gets worse: I'll still be a semester and a half from graduation when I turn 25. Twenty-five will be a big year. I'll FINALLY graduate college and then start my first job (teaching).

I used to beat myself up about not going to college right after I graduated high school. I still do occasionally..especially when most of my classmates are talking about partying it up for their 21st birthday. Geez, I feel old.

But I have chosen to view the the way my life has turned out at this point, so to speak, as the plan God has intended from before I was born. Yes, there are things I could have done differently, but if I could go back, would I?

Not a chance.

I know that I am in the exact place that God would have me be. What I am doing is stretching me. It is forcing me to figure out who I am and what I want to be. And it goes beyond just what I need to know to be a great teacher. I am being challenged to find my purpose and then allow that to drive what I do.

So, hit me with your best shot, quarter-life crisis. I'm ready.

But don't be too mean..please?

Fresh Start

It feels like the timing is right for a new start. I don't know what it is the start of exactly.

I think it is time for a change in thinking. A change in way things are done. It's no longer "business as usual" in my life. It is time to do things that matter. No more wasted time.

How that all works out..I have no idea.

I don't think I am supposed to have it all figured out. I just need to be moving in the right direction.