It is finished...again!

Today I finally got done with my New Testament outlines. It was about half the work of the Old Testament, but we also only had about half the time. It's amazing to just realize how much there is in those 27 short chapters. I have learned SOOOO much just by outlining them it's not even funny. Today I started out the afternoon with only 20 to go and I figured I'd treat it like a band-aide and just get it over and done with even though they aren't technically due until Sunday. I sat down on my big ol'e exercise ball in my room, had my Nalgene bottle filled with water and my headphones on and as I jammed out to some songs that I may or may not be glad that my doors were closed and I was able to crank out the twenty remaining chapters I had in Revelation. I'm so thankful God has given me this opportunity and now just another 9 days and I'll be officially done and graduated, the only thing standing in my way is good old church history.

so many levels of wrong

So right now I'm a very thankful girl for the glorious invention of mosquito nets. I was finishing up working on some outlines (only 22 to go!) and I realized there were a rather large sum of bugs around me, come to realize they're just lake flies, but still... and when I came back into my room with my handy dandy Doom (amazing bug killer) I see a nice little blanket of them resting on top of my mosquito net, it's so n-a-s-t-y to see how many there are, too bad they're so small because I totally would have posted a picture, but it just wouldn't do it justice.

A little epiphany

I was looking at pictures today of an event with Vertical that I have gone to every year for the past seven years and this year, I didn't go (for obvious reasons). It's so weird at first I wanted to say that I should have been there, but then I look at where I'm at now and I see that I'm right where I'm supposed to be and I honestly am so taken back by that realization that words can't describe to you what I'm feeling right now. I look at the ministry I'm a part of and how God has grown me, especially in these past six months (in 11 days it'll be six months that I've been here) and I can honestly say without a doubt that I'm right where God wants me to be and I don't know if I've ever either really felt that before or just didn't realize it. I can think of all that I'm "missing out on" back home but really just as the scripture says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” I guess the (at times) difficult reality to face is that I can't keep looking back but I need to look forward to what I'm blessed to be a part of now realizing God has a different plan for each and every one of us and who am I to pout or doubt God's sovereignty because I'm not doing what I had grown accustomed to for so many years.

Hacer calor

I'm sitting in my room right now with my fan going full blast in a tank top and shorts and I still am unbearably hot. I'm still not quite used to the thought that in February it can be 90 degrees, but that how it goes. Thank God for the blessing of iced coffee, because that's exactly what the dr. ordered today to help get through this fun li'l heat wave.

Oh my!

Right now in SOM we're going through our Biblical counseling class and I honestly feel like I should have a fat lip and black eye after walking out of class each time because it's so intense just being reminded how imperfect I am that I feel each class is a time for me to be beaten up (in a good way). People come for me to counsel them, yet I still feel like I know absolutely nothing and my life is so far from being anything of an example of living a life pleasing to God, especially when it comes to the issues of the heart. I am so amazed that He uses someone as flawed as I am to be a part of His work! If anyone has ever thought I'm something special for being here, I would have to tell them that it's totally and completely nothing on account of who I am, but God wanting to use those who are furthest from perfection in order to receive the most glory.

Happy Valentines Day

So today is what some like to affectionately refer to as "Single Awareness Day" which is of course a little true, but honestly I can't complain about my day today. It was busy from the start studying for my teachings, painting and cleaning my soon to be little apartment, and then finally after youth group heading out to watch Lost with about six other people close to my age who are also missionaries here with various organizations. This is the second week we've done it and we're making it into a weekly thing which I don't mind one bit. Anyways, all that do say...this day truly was a happy Valentines Day.

My baby girl

Could she be any cuter? I think not!

A nice Thursday night

Right now I'm enjoying a beautiful night while drinkin' a li'l coffee, eating mint oreos, watching Zoolander, and playing Scrabble with Ryan, Ellen, and Judy. I honestly can't complain, of course I'm also trying to study for test tomorrow like a good girl.

pics

Photos from the our Christmas in February

Kid's Christmas

Finally!

Today I finally was able to distribute the presents for the kids that many of you helped get. They were so so so excited, it was so cute! They each loved it and their moms were so stoked about it to. It was such a huge blessing and thank you for blessing these kids!

my latest project

So after the school of ministry, I'm going to move into my own little wee apartment, I'm stoked to have a place of my own and I've been going crazy with all the ideas I have to make it my own. Today I really got started "Kellifying" the place. As you can see, my living room I'm painting green, then the kitchen a burnt yellow, my room an egg plant, and then I'm still deciding on the bathroom. Ryan made me get water-based paint because he knows me way too well. It's starting to look somewhat livable though, so I'm getting really really excited.