Bittersweet Goodbyes and Happy Beginnings

It’s hard to believe four months ago we were praying about going to Murray and an awesome internship opportunity and now I’m at Murray State University after spending the summer on the internship. Time flies by seriously fast. Too fast maybe.

It’s been hard transitioning from the summer to the school semester, but harder still adjusting to being alone again. I use “alone” loosely because I know we’re never really alone. God is always with us despite the times it feels like He’s no where to be found, His Word promises that. However, after being with six people 24/7 for 92 days straight then leaving them and learning to be alone again was harder than I ever imagined.

But, once again, God has shown me that He is my comfort. He’s my friend, provider, protection, and security when I’m completely insecure.

He’s amazing.

Classes are going well, and I love (!!!) writing for the newspaper- just praying for a staff position. Speaking of jobs, God has given me a fantastic job that works with my school schedule and allows me to work from Murray. Such a blessing.

My first week back home included:

• Moving into the dorm

• Going home and visiting mom and dad

• Getting caught up on classwork

• Church (and lots of hugs)

• C & C with Camillia, Whitt and Eric

• Disc Golf with Jesse and Joseph

• Cookies with Ben and Beth

• Lunch with Amanda

• Working out with Aimee and catching up

• Sleep. Lots of sleep.

This weekend is a big deal for me. Tomorrow we celebrate my mom’s birthday and Sunday is especially important. It’s the first Sunday of the month which means we have a fellowship meal after the morning service. For those of you who aren’t following this fantastic news let me spell it out for you: I’ve had restaurant food for the last three and a half months straight. First Sunday Fellowships means a whole buffet of homemade food made by the best cooks in the world- Church ladies! Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplins, fresh desserts and SWEET TEA. I CANNOT wait!

Below are some pictures from the end of the trip… We met the sweetest kids from the Dominican Republic and even though they didn't speak a bit of english it was as if there wasn't a language barrier at all. God has moved half of my heart from Africa to the DR… I want to go to both places now insanely bad. I just want to tell the world about the hope of Christ and the power of His cross and His love.


I pray you are experiencing that power in your daily life.

Laodi and I. He pitches 86 mph. He was so sweet.

Ethan and Hunter with Eduardo, Alex, and Laodi.

At the Orioles-Rangers game at Camden Yards.

On the way to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We met Amish people and I loved them!

New York scenery- it is SO pretty there. I'd be fine moving to Cooperstown.

Crossing the bridge into Manhatten!

At the Yankee-Red Sox game. Amazing!

Last night with the team...

 

I miss them so much!

"God's deliverance isn't always in taking you OUT of a situation, but preserving you through your situation."

Big News...

...that makes me smile real big.

It's official.

I'm going on a summer internship program with Dugout Media Baseball Youth Roadtrip. It's for the entire summer from Memorial Day (or sooner) until August 24th, at which time I'll join classes already in progress at Murray State University.

The internship is for writing and marketing experience as well as public relations and some sales. My major is journalism with a minor in marketing.

This is a God thing.

A big God thing.

The eight of us on a tour will be touring the country following Little League Baseball. Little boys 7-13 years old who love the game. I'm beyond excited. All expenses (travel, lodging, food, laundry, etc.) paid and in addition to that we'll receive a salary. 

I'm asking to be placed on the East Tour, but there is a chance I'll be on the West Tour.
East Tour stops: Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania.

West Tour stops: California, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska.

Some of the sponsors of the Roadtrip include ...

• Major League Baseball Players Association
• Disney Channel (Disney XD)
• Topps / Topps Attax
• Activision / Little League Baseball World Series 2010
• Louisville Slugger
• Atari / Backyard Sports Sandlot
• Fathead
• MLB Network
• Majestic
• New Era
• Major League Baseball teams

(We will be able to say we were employed by each of these sponsors on our resume's. Um, yes. God thing)

 This experience and mega-huge opportunity is something that God literally dumped in my lap, it is something that I never dreamed would happen (I didn't even know about it...) and yet, here I am planning my summer around this fantastic adventure.

Things I'll miss...

• My family. Duh. But seriously, three months is a long time. I've never been away that long, and especially from my little baby nephew that I adore with all of my insides.
• C & C. [Coffee & Conversation... this happens almost every morning with my sister, her husband and the baby (the baby doesn't drink coffee, don't worry)]
• My church family.(I will be keeping up with the sermons thanks to the podcasts available here, but I'll still miss the fellowship).
• Chiropractic adjustments.
• Singing at church.
• Waking up to notes from my dad.
• My bed.
• My shower.
• Shooting.
• Watching the Cardinals with my parents.
• Father's Day.
• Daddy's Birthday.
• Isaac's Birthday.
• Whitty's Birthday.
• A bunch of weddings. 
• A ton of things that haven't hit me yet.

Prayer Requests...

• First and foremost that God would protect us (physically, emotionally, spiritually).
• That He will use this time to minister to me and through me to others. This is a mission experience even if I'm not going to Africa.
• A laptop with a big HD. I'll be taking three online classes this summer while we're on the tour in order to graduate from the community college and go to Murray in the fall, a laptop is a necessity.
• That the people on the tour will be "good" people, and that there would be at least one true believer.
• That the online classes will go smoothly and that balance between work, school and free time will come easily.
• Not related to the internship but a prayer request nonetheless, that God will supply the finances for fall tuition (and every semester thereafter) at Murray. I know God wants me there so I know He will provide the means to make it happen. He never fails.
• Also related to finances in the fall, I pray that God would give me a good job that will work around school/newspaper.

Writing it all out makes it feel so much more official, and my excitement increases by the second. I'm so thankful for this opportunity from my heavenly Father whose ways are higher than mine, and whose thoughts are not my own... they are so much better. Thank You, God!