God, Stars, Laughter, Friends, Ocean, Stingrays, Diving.

Where to begin? Life in Belize is unfathomable. I'm here, in this place, at this moment, and I can't wrap my head around it. I suppose I should start by stating a fact. Our God is indescribable. His works and His paintings in the sky are indescribable. His people are indescribable. His love is jealous. His healing is intense. I could go on and on, for eternity, and never be able to describe anything that is Him or His. It's just too much.

Life here is overwhelming in the sense that God is everywhere. I love it! It's not overwhelming to the point of confusion or frustration. It just...is. The YWAM DP base is incredible, there is a front property, right on the beach, and a back property, which is across the road. In my school there are 14 students, 9 of which are girls, and 5 of which are guys. The guys live on the back property in the casitas, and us girls live up front in our little rooms, three of us to a room. I have amazing roommates, Joanie and Alicia (from Quebec City, and Colorado). I have never clicked with a group of friends this fast or this easily before! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we know we will be living together for about half a year, and that makes us want to get along, but I think it goes deeper than that. God definitely orchestrated this. He designed every student for this school, and He put us together in a way that no one else could have. We all have different senses of humor, but they all click, they all intertwine and we all somehow end up on the ground laughing, or holding onto something to keep from falling over from weakness and joy. We have formed a bond, even in these past two weeks, and have become family.

This past week our little family had the priveledge of being taught by Chris Toney, the base director. Our lecture this week was on World Views, and we learned about religions such as Islam, Catholicism, Mormanism, Hinduism, Rastafarianism, and a few others. We have had debates and disagreements and jokes and stories about intense times of need and brokenness. And it couldn't be better! Chris is a fantastic speaker. He gives his lectures in a way that challenges your mind to think hard about what is going on, but it is also very clear. (that doesn't make too much sense...but its completely true) He adds humor and tells things like they are. But what I love about Chris and his teaching methods is his immense amount of respect for other cultures, religions, people. He puts it in perspective, and God has given him the ability to gently and firmly get the point across that we are NOT here to judge. We are here to LOVE. And that is one of the most beautiful things ever.

Now we come to the fun part! I have been snorkeling, playing volleyball, spending nights out on the dock with my team laughing, praising Jesus, and talking about home and our dreams, goals, fears, life experiences. We have been playing cards a LOT; Uno, President, BS, Egyptian Rat Screw, and probably some others that I have forgotten about. I learned that I SUCK at volleyball, but it's fun to play with everyone because we joke and tease, and mess around while we play. I love it :)

Today I get to go open-water diving for the first time! Last sunday we took a diving course in the pool and learned a ton of stuff about it, and this week we have been working on our PADI diving books, and today is the day we get to put our knowledge into action! I am incredibly excited/nervous, but I know that it will all be good, and I can't wait to get 60 feet under the ocean surface at the reef, and see God's glory in a way that I have never experienced.

I need to wrap this up, but I want to let y'all (There's a Texan on our team...he's rubbing off on all of us.) know that I love you so much, and I am very excited to hear about what is going on at home, and in your lives. Know that God is keeping me in His arms and I am daily relenquishing control to Him. Pray that I will continue to do so. Thanks so much! 

Singing, Dancing, and Jon Foreman.

As of today, I only have two more weeks on this beautiful Island until I leave for Belize...

I can't believe how time has flown! I am excited for this school, but a bit nervous. I'm not nervous about the new people and the fact that I only know a few of them. I'm more worried about dealing with the preconcieved ideas that I know that I have, dealing with the hurts and habit that I have right now. Dealing with the things that I have bried deep, the pain and the hurts that I have ignored. I know that God has been preparing my heart to go through the healing process that is needed, and while I am not exactly ready for it, I know that this is coming at the perfect time for me. I know that whatever hurts I have will be dulled and that God will heal all the scars and tears that have stained my soul. And I cannot wait! I am so ready for this. So ready to meet Him where He is and to bask in His glory and His love and His healing arms.

I will write again soon, keep you all updated on my packing and emotional status in these next two weeks. Thank you for all of the prayers you have been sending out for me!

Nothing Is Too Big For You.

HURRAH FOR GOD!

As of yesterday, the Lecture Phase of my DTS in Belize is paid off! And I have +$75.36 towards my Outreach phase...HALLELUJAH JESUS! 

And that happened in two days. I say, there is nothing too big for God. And I have found that when I lean on Him and just trust Him, He delivers. Every time. Even if its not too evident at first!

I'll write more later....this was just exciting news! Thank you Jesus for carrying me through my doubts into Your truth. You are wonderful.

Learning to Dance.

Writer's block seems to consume me once again, and I'm not sure how to express all that's gone on in the past few weeks. I suppose starting at the beginning is the best way to go about this, as it is with all stories and tales.

I didn't raise enough money to go to Destination Paradise, in Belize, for the May school. I suppose after I learned I couldn't go to that school, I went into a downward spiral. The Pity Party, as we all well know, takes hold of an individual, this time me, and doesn't like to let go. I felt a bit dejected and depressed after not being able to go to Belize and the DP school in May, and so I shirked everything that I was supposed to be doing, and fell behind in updating others who had invested time, money, prayer, and emotion into my cause. It was not a pretty picture. People began to doubt that I was even going to make it in September. I began to doubt, to think I had no chance of raising enough money in the few months left before the September school.

And then God sent me a letter.

The most beautiful words I have ever read were, "Will you dance with Me?" These words came in the form of a letter that I recieved over e-mail, just when I was feeling at my lowest. And I believe, once I read that simple phrase, and those accompanying it, I heard a collective gasp from Satan and his cohorts...he wasn't holding me back any more.

I'm writing this to let everyone know that I am out of my dejected state of mind and have delved into the mid of a conqueror. I believe that I have the time and resources to gather the rest of the required money for my school. ($994.64 USD for the Lecture phase... Outreach Phase and Internship are unkown at this time, yet I would still like to start saving for them this summer, as well as for spending money.) I intend to use that time and those resources to pull out all of the stops on this fundraising trip!

I want to thank each and every one of you who has been reading this blog and keeping up with me, for your support. Without you, I would not have the energy and drive to be doing this. Thank you, family and friends! I will write again soon.


These trials have come that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...

1 Peter 1:7

Help!!!

Hi friends!! So, I have a dilemma. I am supposed to leave for a missions school in Belize in one and a half weeks, and I am short $2,743.64 exactly. I am going to be bold here. I am asking you to prayerfully consider pledging money to me, whether it is just once or monthly. It doesn't have to be much, but every bit adds up. I feel God is calling me to the missions field and I know He has great plans in store for me. I will be learning about His word, and growing closer to Him in the first few weeks. Then I will be taking what I have learned to the field, in an outreach. I need to raise this money in a week and a half, and I am calling upon you, my family, for help.

Your money will go directly to the organization that runs my school, Destination Paradise, which is a branch of Youth With a Mission (YWAM). Whatever funds I acquire will go towards missions and my schooling in the missions field.


If you want to keep in touch with me, or if you have questions, please e-mail me at:  friedchicken177@gmail.com

Sunshine Fills the Shadows.

One week. Six days. 8 hours. Thats when my flight leaves, with me one it, carrying me to Belize! Well, L.A., actually. But Belize isn't far ahead of that. These past few weeks have been full of fundraising, and getting everything together to head down to Belize. I turned 18 on the 10th of April, and my parents bought me a beautiful Healy backpack from Cabelas to bring down to San Pedro with me. I have flip flops, shorts, teeshirts and tanktops to bring with me.... and I think I'm basically set, except for a few select things.

I went to the health department last week and got my immunizations, along with some Typhoid pills that I took. I still need to get $2000 dollars to pay for the first phase of the school, but I am confident that it will come...and my friend and I are organizing a coin drive to help with that. Despite the money situation, I am so ready to go! I have become restless in waiting, though I know that I need to treasure every day home, since I am leaving in less than two weeks. God is so good!

I was reading Psalms 19 today, and it was saying how everything speaks of the glory of God. The sun is radiant in the day, the moon shouts it from the evening sky. If the SUN and the MOON can speak God's glory all day and night, if they proclaim His name for all to see, every day, tirelessly, why do we not? I am guilty of forgetting my own God. I become caught up in getting ready to go to Belize that I forget to read my Bible or pray, or just spend time meditating and listening for His voice. I'm working on not letting everyday life get in the way of being in the presence of my Creator. He deserves my all, and that is what I am working towards giving Him.

Smoothies.

It is almost time! Jusrt a few short weeks seperate me from Belize, and I still feel as if it's all adream. I know that it's not, however, because my friend Louise is heading back to Belize today and we didn;t say goodbye. Just a "See you soon!" hug was passed between us. How I love her! She has encouraged me and I am that much more excited to head to Belize because of her.


Well, here is an update on my activities of late: Saturday, the 26th of March, I hosted a rummage sale at my church to raise funds to head to Belize. It went extremely well, we sold over half of the things there, and I have the rest still sitting in the back of my truck, waiting to go to the thrift store. The rummage sale brought in enough money to pay for my acceptance fee, plus add to more of my overall fee! Praise Jesus!!!

Monday, the 28th, I headed over to the Everett Post office with my mom and Carly Simmons to apply for my passport. After waiting for two and a half hours, and listening to the remarks of one hilariously flustered passport agent/post office lady, I was informed that my passport would come within two weeks. Hurrah!!!

It's incredible to think that just a little while ago, it was December and I was just turning in the first part of my application, and now I am only a few weeks from leaving. I have four more sundays, four more youth groups, four more small groups. And I am completely, incredibly excited. I love that I am feeling no stress, I am feeling no worry about this, because I know that God is pulling everything together and knitting it together how He wants it to work out...and that is more comforting and exciting and thought-provoking that anything else.