It's amazing.

I just can't believe how blessed I am.


Can you believe that I am going to serve for the next year as an artist and missionary, alongside my boyfriend and one of my best friends in michigan, not to mention all of the friends I've made at the YWAM base and all of the people I have yet to meet. It amazes me. Not only am I so extremely happy doing what I'm doing, I know that I'm growing and being challenged constantly in my relationship with God and relationships with others. 


I suppose it especially amazes me that I'm going back as a leader and living among all these people- given that I've always been somewhat shy. I was always very careful about who I opened up to and suddenly I find myself telling every dirty detail about my life to a room of 30 people. Weird. I know I'll be challenged a lot this year but I've come a long way. I shake peoples hands and introduce myself now. But I'm still horrible at small talk. I try really hard, but when things get awkward I just hate it. Maybe I need to build up a collection of small talk questions or something. 


Anyway, I'm going back in two days. My sister, Rachel, and her husband, Ross, are driving me. A mere 15 hours. If we don't stop. I'm excited even for the drive though....I like both of them a whole lot. Its been really nice to spend a bunch of time with them since I've been in Michigan, since most of my friends are away at school. We have watched a lot of Smallville. 


I'm excited to see what the dynamic of the base will be like when I get there. There's a whole lot of new people and a lot of people gone. 


I'm sad to be leaving Holland again though. I take the small pleasures of home so for granted. I love that I get free food. And that theres a billion thrift stores in a 5 mile radius. I love that I get to see my little sister every day. How is she 16 and so wise? Sheesh. I love that I've been able to paint and earn money. 


I love hearing about what others are doing in this area. 
Like Tyler and Hannah, who have a heart to build a community of christian college students in the area. Like my friends who are still in the area, Amanda, Ashley, Allen, and Emily, and how they just bring the presence of God wherever they go and stand strong in their beliefs. 
Like my friends who are part of Hope for the Voiceless. As scattered of a group as we are, we still have one common goal: to raise awareness about sex trafficking and especially the realities of supply and demand in the world of pornography and the comercial sex industry. It's really dark business. (sexandmoneyfilm.com)
And countless others who serve God day in and day out, the unrecognized local missionaries. 


Anyways. I love life.