Africa trip 7/2011

It is officially 2012!! I had a great time bringing in the new year with friends and making memories :)

This past year i achieved alot of goals, experienced alot of things, trials and journeys God put me through. I grew Alot in my faith and in my relationship with God. im so thankful for that.

One thing i did this past year was visit Zambia, Africa with a mission team from my church. While there we worked with a community near Lusaka called the "grips community" a very poor and struggling group of people. We shared the gospel, worked with the children through bible school ministries and while there we helped the locals build a school there in the community to help better the education. It was an amazing experience.

So, this year, 2012.. we are going back. This time with a bigger group that plans to accomplish more than last time. There is an orphanage there we visited last year that really touched our hearts. a total of 8 or 9 kids who live there and the school which is the size of a small American living room, holding a total of around 50-60 children each day from the orphanage and the village surrounding. Our goal is to raise money to help these children with education and a safe and stable environment to live.

The Lord has opened so many doors through all of this, and i am so blessed to be a part of it. The plan of now is to leave the end of June and stay for 2 weeks. Hoping to reach goals and reach the people there with God's word. After visiting there once, part of my heart is there with these people. People who have nothing, who sleep on dirt floors and houses made of sticks and mud. People who are attacked with disease and watch loved ones die daily. People who have little food of which they grow themselves and slave to provide for their families.

These people are Happy, filled with joy and Hope. They arent told they need material things to find happiness. They understand the hardness of life and love, and find joy in 
little things. They are so greatful, and giving.
Going to Africa opened my eyes to alot of things, to Love, happiness, and true Faith. I am anxious to go back and see friends and do God's work, and share His love with people who share theirs!

Mark 16:15

12/21/2011

Its been a while since i posted anything. I graduated from medical assistant school this past week and now find myself with way too much free time. In that free time i have been stressing a little over what the next chapter in my life will be. I have been in Tyler Texas my whole life.. its home. But iv never felt like i really belong here. My heart has always been to go experience life and create my life according to wherever God takes me. One of my favorite songs is by Chris Tomlin, "Here am i, all of me, Take my life its all for Thee".. Ive had so many thoughts go through my head in the past few weeks of places i could go, or stay where im comfortable and have people that i love. My life is so good and easy here in Tyler. But i dont think i want easy..

So today has just been filled with God moving and working things out. It started this morning on my way to work i was thinking of what il be doing next year, and debating on moving or staying.. this and that. So like a typical girl i txt my best friend and asked her to be honest with me if she thought i should move or not. her reply was.. "i would miss and and i honestly dont want you to move, but part of me thinks it would be good for you. and sometimes i feel like Tyler is holding you back.." She was right. im just so scared to make a move and do something without knowing how it will turn out or being alone. I prayed about it alot..

Then tonight around 9:30 someone knocked on my door.. Kim Tunnell (the lady who led our mission team to Africa this july) and her husband came in and she sat me down to tell me that the zambia government has given "us" 430 acres of land and wants us to build missions and places to teach the people and help the country and communities to grow and learn to provide for themselves. now i dont know all the details and who all "us" is containing. but this is BIG NEWS!

First, for the governement to even give that much property, and then out of everyone known.. to give it to some people from Van texas.

The lease would be for 99 years and the land is all over parts of zambia. It would take alot of work and money to clear the land, build stuctures, ect.. But it is an amazing opportunity that could be a huge success if handled correctly.

God has plans for this, and i have no doubt that i am part of it. Kim went on to tell me that they are planning on going back this coming summer for another mission trip and for me to pray about this opportunity and follow what God lays on my heart. After all the prayers ive sent up to God about helping me decide my future He sure is moving fast and making things clear to me. I will continue to pray and see where this leads. God is so good and NEVER fails to amaze me and bless me, though i deserve nothing.

Nothing like encouragement

One of my favorite things is getting those random texts from friends that just lifts your day up and reminds you of whats important and that you are loved!
I got this in a txt this morning from a friend and strangly not knowing what was on my mind or anything from my past the quote she sent filled the exact place where i have been struggling and an answer to alot of things iv been praying about recently. so iwant to share it, hoping it helps someone else's spirit as much as it did mine :)

"A strange thing happens to the heart when its hurt. It actually grows back together stronger and with More Love- for itself and for others. What keeps us trapped is NOT our ability or desire to be loved, What holds us back is the story we tell ourselves about the pain we've experienced in the past."

Meet Bently

The newest part of the family!! This is what happens when two best friends go to the humain society together, thanks Baylie ;)

Always a Family

weekend of 9/10/11

Its not often that the family gets everyone together, but this weekend we had Amanda in from Lima Peru and Rebekah and the twins from Colorado. Nothing beats family time and being with people you love!

He Gives and Takes away

Iv seen God work in so many ways and bless people so much in this year. One thing we forget sometimes as christians is that God Does bless.. but he also takes away.
I think this year God has taken alot away from me.
Not to be mean or disscourage me, but to make me stronger.
And mostly i believe he is breaking me down so that when he does bless me i will be more greatful and in love with His blessings even more! Its all a growing experience.
Like one of my favorite songs says, "your trials in this life are His mercies in disquise."
There are people in this world that have a thousand times more trials and hurts than me.
So remember when your having a rough day or life seems to be falling down around you, that someone else is going through something more difficult, and that God is with each of you no matter how Big or small the problem. Its all part of a plan and a purpose!

to start things off

Being my first post on my blog i feel like i should have something amazing to write about, however my life isnt extremely exciting, but here is a little bit of who i am.

I am a small town girl from Van tx, i live way too far into the country and i love it. my family is my world and growing up being homeschooled with my younger sister i believe made me the person i am today. i know that sounds like a typical thing to say about your childhood. but its true! I enjoy drawing and doing artistic stuff, i get that from my mom. My friends are definately people i know were brought into my life for specific reasons. i love each of them so much and love to laugh and have fun with them. I like to travel, watch action movies, be outside, my favorite season is fall. and i love food!

I am now twentytwo, finishing up school soon and waiting to see what comes after that. iv changed alot in this past year. coming from a person who had to have alot of things in my life planned out and set. I have learned that no matter how much you plan your future and goals, you cant controle everything to go according to that plan. If you do, youl only end up with a huge mess and dissapointment. I know that should be obvious, but it took alot for me to finally realize this.
This is one reason my Blog has the name it does, liv by faith. Its one thing that God has shown me most through this year and the thing i believe i had most trouble with. having Faith.

I'v been raised in a Christian home and gone to church since i can remember. My parents were amazing role models growing up and i never doubted who God was or the things He did for me.

But faith is something that is easy to say you have, until its the thing you have to show through your actions and the way you live your life when things around you are so uncertain and sometimes scarry. I am by No means perfect at this or even close to being good at it. But i hope that by encouraging people and trying my hardest to work at this for myself, i can possibly be a help to the people around me.

Its amazing how God uses the stories of peoples lives to impact others lives around them! Im looking forward to sharing my stories memories and the things God impacts my life with.