no place i would rather be.

this song has been playing over and over in my head for days now and throughout the whole transition of saying goodbye to South Africa and my team.  as much as my heart aches to be with my family at home and my new YWAM family who is now scattered around the world, i want this to be my heart's anthem.

no place i would rather be

than here in your love

set a fire down in my soul

that i can't contain

that i can't control

i want more of you God

taking a deep breath...

in my heart it feels like this...

...but i'm actually in a completely different climate on the opposite of the world.

hello paris!  God has blessed me with a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation in this beautiful city.  after being in belize and south africa for the past five months at warp speed, it's amazing to be able to take a deep breath and reflect on the beauty that has happened within my heart.  so similar to the awe and wonder that comes with the sunrise...this is just the beginning.

what today and tomorrow will bring is still unknown, just as it always has been.  the difference now is that i used to always have a plan.  no details are established yet on what the next few weeks and months will look like.  no plane tickets have been purchased and the only thing i'm certain of is that God has called me to go on an {adventure} with Him.

south africa!

hey!  long time, no blog... keeping busy here in africa and loving it!  God has been doing amazing things in my heart and through my team. 

check out our team updates @ Spreading Light!

paradise.

with the exception of the mosquitoes...i would have to say that my new home is definitely paradise.  i'm constantly amazed at the beauty God created in my surroundings here both in nature and the people around me.  our team has meshed so well this month that reunions and get-togethers are already being planned as we dread the day that we part ways.

it has been cooler yesterday and today than it has been.  pants and hoodies are being worn as we drop to probably the mid 70s.  :o)  shoes are rarely worn and my feet are only covered in mosquito bites and sand except on fridays when we head into town.  if water is spilled on the floor, we leave it to evaporate.  pop is sold in glass bottles.  most things are a little expensive here on the island.  $1 US = $2 Belizian.  i have learned to love the smell of bug spray that i paid $11 US for...  oreos sound amazing but i have resisted buying them at $7ish dollars a box.

time here has flown by.  book reports, journaling, listening to speakers, work duties and enjoying the rest of the team takes up the majority of the time.  before leaving for belize, i prayed that we would be a group filled with laughter and that prayer has been answered BIG time.  :o)  though we have had some amazing times of depth, confession and prayer together...it seems like those times even ooze joy that is contagious.  not a day goes by without my heart feeling like it will explode with love for my YWAM family here.

i am 1/3rd of the way done with my lecture phase of my DTS.  i know it will only get better from here.  the end of november i am heading to SOUTH AFRICA with two leaders i have yet to meet (exciting!!), five amazing guys and six beautiful girls.  no details about what that may entail, but i am excited!

love and miss my family and friends at home...keep me posted on how life is going for you!

reality has not sunk in...

exhausted from traveling, combating emotions and just an overall lack of sleep. it still really hasn't hit me that this island is home. the air is thick with humidity but i found myself acclimating pretty quickly and even got a little cold tonight sitting at the end of a dock enjoying my company. i really can see how God is knitting us together and preparing our hearts for amazing things. we are heading to the YWAM base tomorrow. i am beyond excited to meet all the others and settle in to my new home!

and i'm off!

i'm currently sitting in the airport getting ready to board my plane. my blueberry muffin eating skills are lacking apparently...definitely have crumbs all over my lap. :o) the reality of this situation is hitting me in waves and i have yet to cry this morning. it is inevitable though. three hours of sleep + saying goodbye to my amazing family and friends is hard. i am so blessed. i am so ready for this adventure God has called me to but it's hard to say goodbye. can't believe this day has come. my stomach has butterflies and i am beyond excited to bury my feet in the warm caribbean sand. people who are strangers now will become like family soon. God has great plans that are yet to unfold. goodbye oregon!

a new hair style...

i saw this on a different blog and thought i would give it a try.  :o)  truthfully i don't know if i'll let you know how it goes... i'm sure if i like it you may see pictures of it at some point.  after tonight, there is ONE DAY UNTIL I LEAVE.  AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!