Seeing from a Different View

Four years ago I began to raise money with five other people to go on a missions trip to the Philippines. As my parents were missionaries there for twelve years before I was born, we had a lot of extra opportunities. I met people that I had heard about since my childhood. I saw places that I had imagined over and over as my Dad told me stories. What I found there was people that I didn't want to ever leave. When I witnessed personally the selflessness they demonstrated I saw just how much the people back at home were missing. As a Christian, the other Christians opened their arms to me as if we had known each other our whole lives. I saw a way of life that I had read and heard about but could never have understood until seeing it with my own eyes. It was an experience that I can only describe the physical details as I remember them, but the actual experience can never be expressed until you've done it yourself.

I'll be writing about my trip often. There is no way I can sum it up in one post :)

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Why Do They Like ME!!!

When God first created the world, before Eve sinned and brought pain for all of us, I'm wondering what the purpose of mosquitos was? What did they eat back then? I sure know what they eat now. ME! There are lots of theories going around about what attracks these pesky overgrown vampire nats. Some say that dark clothing is the worst thing you can wear in the evening, others say that there are just some kinds of body chemistry that they swarm to. Apparently I am a perfect candidate for this theory. As long as I can remember, I have been prone to not just one or two bites but as many as fifty within just a few minutes.

I went on a mission trip to the Philippines three years ago and came back with 58 bites. Yes I did count them...I had to make it somewhat interesting because the constant itch consumed my every thought during the day and kept me awake at night. Now, here I am, covered yet again in bites. 19 of which are on my feet! I have found that bug spray makes it even worse for me. So what can I do? I now have not only the fear of itching and scarring but now I have the fear of West Nile? Well...while I attempt to patiently wait for scientists to come up with the cure for this disease, I will concentrate on the itching and scarring. I could spend hundreds of dollars trying every ointment out there or I could go with my most recent find...chapstick.

Chapstick costs any where from $0.99 to 2 or 3 dollars, and lasts for quite a while. It is a temporary relief but it does last longer than anything else I have tried. (Rubbing alcohol works but dries very fast and does not relieve near as long.)

If you have difficulty fighting off the mosquitos and their awful poison than at least relieve the itching and save some money.

For more tips click here.

Pray for Our Country

How many people do you know or have seen that sport a "Pray for Our Troops" magnet on their car? Or how about "God Bless America"? How many of those people that proudly bought that magnet and placed it on the back window, would you suppose actually do it? Sadly, I would venture to guess that very few pray genuinely for the safety of our troops, or the safety for our country. I would also guess that even less, ever consider praying for the President that is always caught in the middle of decisions that effect every one of our lives and are getting smacked in the face with new scandals trashing their name. Do you ever think about the dangers our soldiers go through not just on the battlefield but in their own circles? We live in an immoral world full of people trying to make excuses for their own actions by pulling others with them. I know that our soldiers are under that very same peer pressure ever second they are away. Do you ever pray for them? I believe our country is in danger. Not just the danger of terrorists or nuclear warfare...but the danger of the consequences of turning our back on God. If I could challenge my fellow Christian Americans I would say this, don't buy the bumper stickers and magnets if you aren't going to truly take that time out of every day and pray for those you claim to love and support. Those who are not believers in the one true God, why would you pray to the God you don't serve or believe in? Do not give reason to be called a hypocritical American or even worse a hypocritical Christian. These stickers are meant to be a reminder...a call to action. Wouldn't it be great to know that every car sporting these requests and proclamations about our country, was really praying and really cared? Pray for our country.

Study Tips

I was not exactly the best at studying in high school. I spent most of my life homeschooling, one year at a Christian school in second grade, 2 years in a public school in junior high and high school, and my very last year at a small Christian school. Still somehow I was never able to study as well as I needed to. Now, I've been pulling tips in from a lot of different people. There really is a great deal that depends on the kind of learner that a person is. For me, I'm mostly auditory, with a little of visual. It really helps me to be writing while I'm listening to someone. That works great for me during a class lecture but how can I incorrporate that into my homework? I was talking to someone after class the other day and she shared with me what her technique is.

- Get a recorder and record your study guide (An audacity program on your computer works great)
- Make one recording of the questions and the answers and listen to it when you are driving or just sitting around working on other projects.
- Make another copy with the questions only, and leave time for you to answer them between each question.
- Answer your questions verbally and sometimes write them out like you would on a test.

I've already tried this, and it actually was very effective for me. I was able to memorize a lot more imformation than I normally can.

For more tips click here.

Trying to be Healthy

I'm finding out lately that age has hardly anything to do with whether or not you are healthy. Working out everyday has proven to be a struggle for me. But not necessarily because I don't have time...I do. Its more of a mental struggle. The reality of simply not feeling like it. The funny thing is though, that after I do it...I really do feel like doing it again. As someone who is spending a lot of time in the books and at my computer I have to make a consious effort every morning to remind myself to make time for excersise. The way you feel is a great way to estimate how healthy you are. Your work out doesn't have to be 2 hours long our cause you pain. I'm learning to simplify it by just being active.

What is it?

Here it is! The most important aspect of my life; my faith. I believe in the One True God of the Bible. This is why I'm going to Bible college. I want to learn everything I can about God's character. I don't want to be ignorant. I want to be able to defend His name, not because He needs me to (In man's infalible and finite mind how can we attempt to explain or defend the God who created us and the universe? He does not need us to love Him, but He desires it) but because I want to Honor Him.

Classes, Work, Life, Love...

I'd like to think I'm not the only one who is learning how to balance these things. Not necessarily in that order. I'm finding that with every day comes a new challenge...the most recent is work. College schedules don't exactly make managing a full time job possible...at least in my case...so seeing as how my job at the resort was exactly that, I'm back on the hunt again. I've been told that the job that I want is usually what every graduate is searching for...an office job. I'm a people person, and I love to help someone work out problems, whether they are emotional, physical...or any other "al" there could be. My ideal work environment consists of people, computers, soft music, a coffee machine, and a to-do list. As is common knowledge, our economy isn't exactly catering to the "job of your choice" idea right now. This is probably being balanced carefully on one "hand" (since I can still stand on two feet when out of work...hard as it may be)

Classes...not much to say about college except...maybe one word that could describe it all: books. Lots and lots of reading. You hand me a good fiction thriller and I'll have it read in a few hours or will simply not be tempted by the most alluring distractions until I have finished. Hand me a book on systematic theology and my mind is a little more likely to wander...at the very least. Still, taking advantage of this lull in my work life, I read...a lot.

Love, this could include many things. Social life maybe??? Not so much...even though I love my friends. Family? A lot more than social life. While I have my parents around and a few siblings...being the youngest of eight, and now the only one left at home...I find that the lack of all my brothers and sisters being close by causes a sense of loneliness that I will only have to get used to. What is it then? Jayson. My boyfriend, my best friend, my phone bill, my dreams, my inspiration, my motivation...you could call him a lot of things. :) You could even call him "a thousand miles". God brought him into my life about 3 years ago. We've grown individually, and together in many ways but a little unconventionally. We met at a church meeting when my parents and I were traveling. With the exception of maybe 2 or 3 visits a year, we built our relationship over the phone and email. I wouldn't change this for the world. I got an advantage over most girls...he never got to impress me with actions or the people he knew. He impressed me with sincerity, poetry, spirituality, and reality.

I've told you about three major parts of my life as I see them right now. However, I've left out the one that is most important to me. I did it because it shouldn't be placed in the same category as the rest. It gets one all its own...