Enjoy the Stories

Hmmmm...... I don't even know where to begin to be honest.
Lets start out with last Saturday.  Saturday there was a youth one-day event called fingerprint happening at the church.  It was for young adults and it was all about identity.  I hadn't been feeling well..... running a fever for three day.... but I really really wanted to go.  So I got dressed and was sitting in one of the rows when I couldn't hold back tears and the house leader came and got me and brought me back to the house.
I slept for a couple hours and then it was off to the doctor.  The doctor was not in his office so we went to the emergency room.... QUITE INTERESTING!!
Went into a small room with a nurse where she checked my temperature and everything.  I was running a 38.4 temp..... which is in celcius and meant absolutely nothing to me.... it is around 101.4 after taking fever reducer that morning.  They doctor then came in checked everything again and said that I had bronchitis.... she gave me a whole bunch on perscriptions and then the worst part of all AN INJECTION!! But you see not just any injection... rather an injection in my BUTT!!!! It hurt so bad and was terribly painful.  If any ever tells you to get a shot in you butt just turn away and run... I could barely sit and it hurt sooooo sooooo bad!!
After visiting the doctor I spent the next 5 days stuck in bed..  I WAS GOING INSANE!!!!
The rest of the students were off at work week working at this orphange place and I was stuck in my bed...... SO what else was I to do besides read some Calvin & Hobbes and Asterix & Obelix.  Amazing books if you haven't read them before.
I finally was out of bed Thursday and Friday, but I had to take it very slow.  No exercise or anything. 

After work week we were giving an off week-end... which means from friday afternoon till monday at 6 we were off to do whatever (within the boundaries lol).  So friday night we played this amazing game called murder in the dark.... which is really hilarious! 
Then Saturday began the Adventure of a life time to say the least!!
We left the house at 10 in the morning and went to go to this dam for a fun day.... BUT we made a few pitstops along the way... A festival, African curio shops, a snake exhibit, random statues, a ferris wheel, nandos and then finally the dam!! It was so much fun.  I now have enough feathers to last me forever... and some cherry coke.....which will have to do in the place of Dr. Pepper cause the store ran out. 

Then Last night we played murder in the dark again and I will explain now what that game entails...
You have between 1-3 killers, a sheriff, and towns people.  The killers tap you on the shoulder to kill you and if  you see someone die, or already dead you have to go get the sheriff... The point of the game is if your the killer to kill everyone and then kill the sheriff.  If your the sheriff it is to figure out who the killers are and save as many people as possible. If your a normal person it is to live as long as possible.  Such a crazy fun game to play with people!!

You know if there is one thing I have realized this week the most is to rejoice with others.
I know that sounds really simple, yet it is so much neglected.
I realized this week if I didn't participate in it, it was a lot harder to rejoice with others.... And I remember the first day I was in the bed and all the students came back with pictures and telling stories of the cool things they did that day... I just layed in bed and cryed and was so upset that I missed out on these things.........
And I was asking someone (a close friend) what I should do.  And I received simple yet really great advice.... He said enjoy their stories..... and at first I thought that sounded really silly yet the more thought I put into it the more I was paying attention to me instead of rejoicing and having fun and celebrating all the cool things the rest of my team got to experience.  So if there is one thing I could encourage you to do is to enjoy peoples stories..... Rejoice with them.....Celebrate all the fun things they got to experience and know that God had is all planned out!!

Thanks so much everyone for your prayers.... They have really made a difference!!
Hope everyone has a good week!!
LOVE YA!!

Lover of my Soul!

 This has been a great week!!! Tonight is my last night of LTS which is sad yet good! I have grown so much in the past month it is crazy.  My brain is on information overload.

Lets see if I have some funny stories....  Last Saturday we went to the Union building in Pretoria, SA and watched the sunset while drinking Dr. Pepper and eating Poo cookies. It was absolutely beautiful.  I am constantly reminded of how amazing God is with the people I am surrounded by and the natural beauty of creation!  Then we played mini golf which was fantastic (Morgan and I dominated.... not quite sure how that happened...Sorry Bryan and Kayla).  Been studying a lot and really trying to understand more and more.  OH we also went and played, Basketball/Soccer/Volleyball with a GIANT beach ball!! It was so much fun!!
LIFE HAS BEEN GREAT!!
I have to say I am making life long friends and I love them so much.  ( I GNAZY YOU.... YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) 

Had a terrible fever yesterday and last night.  Which leads to one more kinda funny yet serious story before I go all deep and PROFOUND on you....
I was burning up last night like crazy and couldn't sleep.  Around three in the morning I decided to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water.  After drinking I was going to go back to bed yet felt really really dizzy so I just sat in the hallway.  I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom so I went back to the bathroom and after using the toilet I was leaving the bathroom stall unlocking the door.....when about 10-20 minutes later I woke up lying in between the toilet and the wall. I had passed out in the bathroom.... Not only that but I banged my fingers some how and also broke the toilet seat with my head.   I have a little bruise on my face and yeah! That Is my legendary story for the day!!  TIA hahaha!!

Well now on a more serious note......

  Have you ever read Song of Songs all the way through?
Have you ever seen the beauty of His love for us through that book?
I was reading it this past week and It is so amazing to me.  The way He chases after us, How he longs for our love and affection. I always thought Song of Songs was just a love book... But look deeper into it. There is such a beautiful story there. About a girl who was put to work by her borthers and made fun of saying she wasn't pretty enough.  Then she found this guy who would ravish her with love and all she could do was blush for she didn't believe it! Then one day while talking with her girlfriends she realized that she longed for him and wanted to be with him!  He had to leave to go back where he came from, But he promised her that he would return.  Then one day as the girl was talking with her friends, they heard that the king was coming to the land.  They were all very excited about this for they had never seen the king.  When he arrived he step out to greet the people. She bowed down to him. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head. To her surprise the KING was the GUY. She couldn't believe it.  He told her  that he didn't tell her who he was because he wanted her love!
Such an amazingly beautiful story! Christ is doing that for us.  He is parading around saying look at me I am the King but rather serving for He wants our love!!

Let's Talk!

Life is so Beautiful.  It is amazing what you see and hear when you open your eyes and ears.  I know I haven't been writing as much as would like to but I believe that I have something important to say. 

 Let's start with something funny.  Sunday was probably the best day I have had in South Africa.  It was so wonderful.  After church Kayla, Bryan, Morgan, and I went to go get pizza and an adventure to say the least.  After pizza we found the most beautiful sight my eyes had laid hold of.... DR. PEPPER!!!  We got our drinks and went for a drive.  We went to a temple and it was absolutely beautiful. The funny thing was even though it was a temple for buddha and people were worshiping and idol.... I felt this amazing presence from God. He is so fantastic.  Then we went for a drive a little adventure. Pulled over on the side of the road and looked. Like really opened our eyes and saw.  Quick Question... Have you ever just looked at what God has made?  I was struck with beauty and couldn't wipe the smile from my face. 

It is really fun to see God work.  This past week our classes have been on hearing God's voice and it is the most beautiful thing ever.  I wish everyone could grasp how simple and amazing it really is.  I don't think I have ever been this joyful. It is such a beautiful thing.  Did you know you can hear God through the things you eat and touch and smell????  I don't think anyone has ever told me that before.  IT IS B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!!!  LOVE IT!
I dare you to just listen.  What's the worst that could happen?  Yesterday I couldn't stop smiling and laughing because I could feel Him and hear Him in everything that I did.  It was astounding.  So again I dare you to just listen.  What is He saying to you?

Well let's see what else can I tell you about South Africa.  The people are amazing and I am making some life-long friends that's for sure.  I do have to say the "G" haha or gerby is the bomb.  Georgia and Sonja always make me smile.  Morgan is a great joy to be around..... and I know that it will always be a blast when were together.... (I can't wait for Saturday..... My first official Dr. Pepper sundown.)

Anyways I love you guys very much and I am so thankful for you prayers and support.  This is such an amazing thing and I can't wait to pass on everything that I learn.  Please continue to pray lot's of people are getting over being sick. I believe God has great things in store, Now just listening and waiting!!

God my Daddy!!

WOW, What an amazing God we serve.  This week we have been doing LTS (which is Life training school) and it is wonderful.  My Perspective of who God is has really changed. He is first a Father. The reason He created everything was for me to enjoy.  He wants whats best for me and He is the best for me. If He is the best for me then He wouldn't do anything to harm or hurt me, He wouldn't drop me or let me fall.
We did a lesson called  the Fathers Hug and WOW that is all I can say.  I have never been so overwhelmed with His presence before.  I never thought in a million years I would need that hug.  I have an amazing earthly father to put it lightly.  He is so fantastic and has done such an amazing job fathering me. So I thought my image of God the Father was just fine. But they opened the altars and at first I just stayed in my seat and kept praying for others who needed to feel His touch. I was sitting and praying and I felt this slight tug at my heart to go forward. I didn' t understand why but I went forward.  I stood at the front and was praying when all of a sudden I received this hug that completely overtook me.  I could feel His presence, His love, I could smell His sweet fragrance.  I was kneeling on the floor and a lady came over to pray with me. She gently ran her fingers through my hair and I started to cry. I realized that is what God the Father, My Daddy, wants to do with me. He wants to sit and talk with me, Brush my hair, help me pick out my outfits, and decide which jewelry to wear. I know this might sounds silly to some of you but it was so eye opening to me.  I love MY DADDY!!! I am overwhelmed with the amount of love He has for me. It is so amazing. I encourage you to really seek after Him.  To let Him show you how much He loves you. Let Him overwhelm you this week.

I am now getting ready for morning devotions and then class. I am so excited to learn more. I love how I am learning new stuff and seeing old stuff revealed in new ways.
I will try my best to keep you posted and updated to the best of my ability!!
Thanks so much for following this and keeping me in your prayers.
Love you guys!!