Week 6.

Life is crazy. Exams, school ending, saying goodbyes, leaving for Africa...it's all happening so fast. In the midst of chaos, the Lord has been teaching me so much and I can only be thankful. 

[5] Journey 2011.
This summer I will be spending 8 weeks in Kenya with a group of about 20 people that I have never met. The Lord is about strip me of so many things. He's been preparing my heart for this all year. It's going to be hard. I'm going to have to learn how to fully rely Jesus. Completely. I'm going to have to be so in tune with the Holy Spirit that it drowns out all of my desires for things back home. My world is about to be ROCKED by Jesus. I couldn't be more ready!

Can't wait to love on these kids. 

[4] Emily Hunt Carswell.
Sista friend here is a SHINING STAR. Emmy made her debut this weekend as the baker's wife in the play, "Into the Woods." She rocked it. Emmy had a solo and everything, big deal...I know. I was literally in awe as I watched my baby sister, who is now 18, go on stage with so much confidence and nail her character. After all of these years of her older siblings not being supportive of her "acting career," she proved all of us wrong in one night. I am so thankful for my diva sister- on and off the stage. I am one proud big sister! 

I think it's obvious who got the pretty genes in the family. 

[3] Apartment 120.
To Catherine Cave, Leah Schroepfer, and Sarah Butts: I cannot believe this year has come to an end. Although we have had our fair share of power outages, broken sinks, and squeaky floors...we survived. It was such a blessing living with the three of you. I couldn't have imagined it going any better. I love that it was completely the Lord who put the four of us together. Thank you for the random treats on my bedside table, cooking me cinnamon rolls for breakfast, listening to me complain, putting up with my mess, and always being there. I am going to miss living with you three SO much, but I'm positive that it doesn't end here. 

Leah, me, Sarah, and Catherine. 

[2] The Master Plan of Evangelism.  
I'm not even going to say anything. Just buy it. Read it. Open your heart to Jesus and how He wants to use you. Surrender. You will be amazed. Major props to Robert E. Coleman. 

[1] Adventures. 
I could go on and on about this. Seriously. It's been so cool to see how everyone's summer plans have come together perfectly. We always freak out about how we're going to spend our summers and the Lord just sits there and laughs at us because He's had a plan this whole time and you bet your bottom dollar it's perfect. So many people are going on crazy cool adventures this summer. SO MANY PEOPLE. It's still crazy to me that the Lord is using us, tiny little human beings who don't have a clue, to go make His name known and share the good news to ALL nations. I chose this as one of my 5 things this week for multiple reasons: #1- JESUS IS SO FREAKING GOOD. He is sending us out! He is using us! I get so pumped up. My heart is SO FULL OF JOY! #2- I want to brag on my friends for being OBEDIENT. #3- They need prayers!!!! We've got to come together and be prayer warriors for them as they GO! 


Okay- I just picked 5 random people to put on here so if you're not on here, it's not because I don't love you. I literally had to close my eyes and chose people. I'm surrounded my SO many encouraging/awesome people in my life that it's so hard to pick only a few.

Sarah Smythe: room leader at Beach Project in Destin, FL all summer. One of the most encouraging people I've ever met. She has been chosen for this position and is FULLY ready and equipped to lead a group of girls even though she thinks otherwise. Jesus shines through her. I am so confident that she is going to be an amazing job this summer. Pump me up, Sarah!! 

Payton Agan: New Orientation Leader for Samford University. He gets to welcome the new freshman class of about 900 students to campus. Not only does he get to teach them all about their freshman year and all the joys that come along with that, but he gets to teach them about Jesus as well and I know his words and actions will do just that. 

Milcah Kirubel: She was chosen as a team member for Campus Outreach's CCP to THAILAND! Milcah's light is one of a kind and I'm so positive that the people of Thailand will see that this summer. Christianity represents 1% of the population of Thailand. I get giddy thinking about how much the Lord is going to use Milcah and her team to reach the lost! The Lord's faithfulness has been so evident in Milcah's story and I could not be more excited that He chose her to go to Thailand this summer!

Brittany Longosz: What a unique opportunity Brittany has been given! Britt will start her first semester of nursing school this summer in Tuscaloosa, AL. Not only will Brittany get the chance to invest SO much in the people she is surrounded by in class all day everyday, but she also gets to be a part of the restoration of Tuscaloosa. If you asked Brittany last summer if these were her plans for this summer she would say HECK NO, but the Lord's plans are so much greater and Britt is quickly learning that and will continue to this summer.

 Augusta Clark: She is literally living her dream life right now pretending to be just another "gator" with UF's Cru living in Paris, France for 5 weeks. The Lord took Augusta way out of her comfort zone of Samford University and threw her into a group of people she didn't know in a foreign country only to make His name known and to share His love. Augusta's obedience to her call has rewarded her with great success on her trip so far. Every time I talk to her about how things are going, she responds with, "God is so good." Yes, yes He is.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

John 14:27