i am dreaming of...

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summer nights.

in summer: night time walks. night time bike rides (famous in my home town). sno cones... even though I am known for not liking them. night time drives.

is is weird everything i love in summer happens in the night time?

day time: picnics. polaroids. sprinkler sessions or swimming. laying under the trees. reading outside. eating outside. ohhh man i love eating outside. popsicles... when they don't hurt my teeth.

sandals. shorts. sun dresses, probably my favorite. sunglasses.

coming home late. sleeping in. waking up early. watching movies. the river. chickasha. the drive in movies. classic 50s. pickle-os
(yes, new yorkers they exist)!

most of all: the sound of the cicadas at night.

mariana.

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This is my beautiful Filipino friend.
Her name is Mariana.

The week I went to the Philippines I was reassured of my purpose in being there because of this girl. She struggled with beauty. Sound familiar? I feel maybe that all of my struggles had led up to this. A week that I could pour into this beautiful girl and help her realize her beauty.

In Asia, non-stop, I encountered the idea that "white is right." Asian people try to be so pale they go to the extreme of putting bleach in their every-day body lotions. It is pure irony that we always want what we cannot have... in the states there is pressure to be tan, so many tanning beds and creams. On the other side of the world there is pressure to be white, whiting creams and sun umbrellas are quite prevalent.

So for the first time in my life I stepped into a culture where my pastey pale skin was the epitome of beauty. It may be hard that some pale white girl was trying to teach so many brown girls about their beauty, but I just pray that it would not be remembered at face value. I pray that the conversations I had with Mariana would be ingrained in her forever.

Pray for this beautiful girl to know exactly how beautiful she is.
After all, the One that made her also made the wonders of this world.

china.

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I spent two long long weeks in China. Off of facebook and blogging on account of the censorship of the Chinese Communist government.

So here I am, back in Canada. Brimming with stories to tell.

I spent one week teaching in a farming village called Fu Cheng. The best way I can describe this experience is similar to someone teaching at an inner city school. Fu Cheng is the ghetto. No one cares about these kids and most of them are seemingly stupid and misbehaved.

I will not lie. Fu Cheng was probably one of the hardest locations that our team goes, but we keep going back. Every year. I built some great relationships and had some unforgettable experiences with the people in Fu Cheng. Although it was hard,
it was also extremely rewarding.

Later, in China, I went to a city called Guilin. This is one of the most beautiful cities in China and is beautifully depicted on their 20 RMB bill. This week we had the opportunity to hang out with students from local universities and just share our lives with them.
China was a challenge. Because of the Communist government you cannot share your faith in Jesus without being prompted by someone. We could not tell people we were Christians or preach the good news in any way. We lived for meaningful conversations with individuals and prayed that through our actions the people of China could see the love of our savior.

chonburi.

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It has been a whirl wind of a change to leave my beloved Takua Pa team and enter into a new team dynamic. We are currently running a VBS and getting to know some kids at the local church. I am not going to lie, you can tell there is a bit of a lull before team days. I am having trouble staying awake... Currently, striving to eat mango every day. Team days are next week and I get to lay on a beach for two days with my besties. I cannot wait, let me tell you. Pray for team unity because it is not always easy with this team.

mall of asia.

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Left Banaue a day early and we are staying in Manila after a long night on a bus. The bus driver's movie selection: Albino Farm. Welcome to Asia.

I cannot believe ten days has come and gone. I will miss the mountains and terraces of Banaue so much but I am ready for the adventures that Thailand holds.

We had a going away party in Banaue with the kids at Noah's Ark, needless to say there was crying involved. I will miss those kids so much.

Bangkok tomorrow and then Southern Thailand.

Goal: eat as many fresh mangoes as I can.

Pray for us this week! I cannot wait to be reunited with the rest of my teams!!!!

philippines.

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Update (quick version).


We hiked the beautiful rice terraces of Banaue. This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my whole life. Cannot wait to share pictures.

We have been playing with kids non-stop.

We had a little scare with the earthquake in Japan but of course, by the grace of God, we are all untouched and Banaue is safe.

The method of transportation here is a trike. A motor bike with a side car and a roof over both. Yesterday I rode up the mountains on the roof while my amigos were inside. Can you say experience of a life time?

We have been doing a VBS which I normally dislike but with these kids it is great! God is doing amazing things in all of their hearts, so many have accepted Jesus.

I am in awe of what God is doing in my life already and I am so excited for what He has in store. It is such a family here at Noah's Ark and I am learning so much about Filipino culture. I met some girls who are around the age of 14 who I have been trying to hang out with. Many people here think that white is the only thing that is beautiful but I am trying to make them see that they are wrong, that God made us each differently for a purpose. Pray for these girls. Tonight I might be heading up a small group on finding your beauty in Christ, this is a subject that is very close to my heart, as many of you know.

Today we are baby sitting while the staff goes to a resort (their one day off a year..)

What else can I say? Well this is such an eye opening experience and when I look back at where I was last year at this time I am just amazed at how far God has brought me and what He is doing in my life today. I never thought I would be climbing rice terraces and flying up mountains on the tops of tricycles.

Pray for our team as we transition at the end of this week and just for strength and that we would be a blessing to the people and the missionaries here.

the moment has arrived.

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The moment I have been waiting for since I arrived in this ice box of a country, the moment I board the plane and travel to the distant land of Southeast Asia! I cannot believe that it is finally here.
I might be in half shock.
We leave tomorrow in the AM.

Please pray for our teams as we go out to Philippines, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China.

I will be trying to post about once a week on this blog except for the last two weeks when I am in China.
We leave tomorrow and return April 25.

It is so weird how far we have all come since we first began our journey in HMS.
I have made some of the best friends ever. I have done some of the craziest things ever.
And I am a better person for it.

I love every person on my team so much.
They have all helped me see a little bit more of who God is, in so many different ways.

PLEASE PRAY.
For Banaue, Philippines.
For Takua Pa, Thailand.
For Chonburi, Thailand.
For Fu Cheng, China.
For Bai Hai, China.
(this is the order of my trip)

Thank you.

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