23rd Birthday!

August 31.

My birthday.

Today I'm 23!

My 22nd year was an amazing year. It was a year of growth. I have changed in ways that I expected, and didn't expect. I have learned lessons, accomplished goals, conquered fears, made decisions, changed my outlook on life, and become stronger in my relationship with the Lord. I learned not to lean on my own understanding, but on the Lord. I got to experience the strongest faith I have ever seen while in Africa, and have a yearning to live it and see it here.

I still have to much that I want to do. I want to make my 23rd year, even better that my last one. I want to grow, learn, experience, accomplish and change, all for the better. I want to grow deeper in relationship with the Lord.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5

About 4 days ago, I made a big, exciting decision. The decision to work full time overseas. I want to work for a foreign aid organization, or an NGO. In order to get there, there are steps that I need to take first, in order to work overseas. Like school.  I want to take my global studies degree. I am going to register for classes this January. I never expected to go back to school, but I am incredibly excited.

I hope that on my 24th birthday, I can look back and say that my 23rd year was better than my 22nd.

So..
Here's to the future!

Created from Dust

The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7

Its amazing to think that we were created from dust.

Dust.

 Only a Creator with infinite ability, and measureless imagination could have looked at dust, and thought " I think I can make a new creation out of that. Maybe, I will start the human race from that little speck of dust."  much less, done it and succeeded.

But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

He has formed us. Molded us. Designed us. Created us. 

From dust.

How amazing.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future

Proverbs 31:25

I'm excited about the future.

London Calling

5 Things I liked about London

1. The architecture

2. The Underground

3. The museums

4. The shopping

5. All the history that the city has

5 Things I disliked about London

1. The amount of tourists

2. The cost of everything (Everything is doubled!)

3. People are unfriendly

4. Everyone is in a hurry

5. Everything is so extravagant

London was a very overwhemling time. I think going from any third world country to a first world country would be hard anytime, but London was extremely hard to go too. Everything there is so extravagant, and expensive. Its very crowded, and the people are not very friendly. Africa is completely the opposite.. except for the crowds.. Kenya is the most welcoming country that I have ever been to. London was not a very welcoming town. Chris-Ann and I didn't feel like doing anything touristy. I arrived there, and had no intentions to see any of the sights. I was emotionally and physically exhausted, and would have been happy to stay in our hotel.

Chris-Ann eventually convinced me to go out, and we found a few vintage stores, old book stores, and some really nice cafes. We decided to see a show, and saw Stomp.. which was incredible!! We also did a night bus tour. It was pretty fun, and I got some nice pictures of London all lit up. London have beautiful buildings, and such a rich history. We saw a bunch of castles, and cathedrals. I'm happy that we did go out on the town for a bit, it made for some good pictures.

 In the end,  I wish I could say that I loved London. I thought that London was going to be an extremely good part of our trip. I wasn't expecting to feel so overwhelmed. Culture shock took me off guard, and it kind of ruined London for me. I don't think I would go back to see more .. I would love to see the English countryside and seaside, and spend time in a small English town, but thats about it.

Some Pictures!

 Our "unimpressed with London" faces

 

In the Underground

Stomp

 National Portrait Gallery

 National Portrait Gallery

 National Portrait Gallery

 Yup.. we saw Harry Potter walking through a park.

 

 London night tour- London Eye

Parliament Buildings

On the tour bus!

Reflections on Africa

I'm not going to lie...Life since I got home, 2 weeks ago, has been hard.

I have gone straight into my old routine. I am back to work, hanging out with the same people, back to church, and doing the same old, same old.


Life isn't very busy..the hardest thing about being back, is all the time that I have had. Time to think about Africa. Time to miss the heat, the people, the food, the landscapes. Time to wish that I was back there. Time to dream about going back.

I had a couple preconceived notions about Africa. I thought that I would like Africa, I didn't think that I would love it. I was sincerely surprised by how strongly I loved it there. I also thought that going to Africa would help me clarify the direction to go with my life. It didn't help. If anything, it broadened my horizons, and has given me more choices.

I have realized that I can't dwell on the fact that I wish I was there instead of here. I am now trying to figure out what I want to do. I am looking at all my options.


For a while, I have been feeling like I should work with women. Something to do with human trafficking, prostitution, or women who are abused. In Africa, one thing that really stood out to me , was that there was a lot of orphanages, and children's organizations, but nothing for women, mothers, or widows. To help me try and figure out if working with women is "my thing", I signed up for a volunteer orientation at the local women's shelter. Its in September. I'm really looking forward to it.


I am also thinking about going back to school. I would be interested in either taking a global studies, or political studies. Both of these focus on social sciences, globalization, social justice, and tons of other subjects that I am interested in.


I also might go back to Africa in January. I was asked to come back and be a host, and I could possibly be there for a year. That's an option that I am definitely interested in.


I still want to to the World Race, and focus on human trafficking. Its not being offered for a while, so I could do something else in the mean time.

Needless to say, I have some decisions to make. I want to make the right decision for my life right now.. I can always change the way things are going. I am really seeking the Lords will. I want to do something that will make Him happy.

Even though I know that there is a lot on the horizon for me, I am still sad about not being in Africa. At least I can rest in the fact, that I know I'm not finished with Africa. I have had a taste of it, and want more, and one day it will happen.