Growing up

I think it needs to be said that the Lord is up to something in my life. The last 6 months or so
have been crazy. Growing leaps and bounds in my faith and growing as a person.
The phrase that was a theme for me this summer was "it's time to man-up
and be a woman". I'm still growing in that one. I think some of it has to
do with growing up and the fact that I turned 24 this summer. But the majority
has to do with the fact that back in the spring I surrendered to Jesus as
Master and Lord of my life. I know what you’re thinking, wait, wait, say what?
I know, how could I have grown up in a Christian home, gone to church my whole
life and traveled in a ministry for 5 1/2 years and not have been saved? Well,
folks it's called going through the motions. I mean I wasn't trying to fake it
or anything. I knew how to live the Christian life. I knew the answers, how to
act and what to do, but I had no power. I was still fighting for control. I had
never fully surrendered to Jesus as Master and Lord of my life. There is just
such a difference in my heart. There's a joy, peace, hope, love, victory, and
understanding of the word that was never there before. There are still
struggles but I'm no longer wrestling with how to fix things. I'm just trusting
Christ and believing that He is sovereign and in control. It's so freeing! I am
so thankful that Christ is faithful and pursues me even when I didn't realize I
was lost. I am His and my life is for His glory. And I'm just in the process of
the learning what that looks like for me.

I head back on the road for next half of the year in a couple of days. Breaks been great. Busy but
good. Spent a lot of time with my parents and some friends. I feel so much more
stable now. I hadn't really thought about it but it's true. Circumstance aren't
easy right now but I rest in a sure foundation, Jesus Christ. Wow, that's cool!
Anyways...that was just off the top of my head! So yeah break...good. I've also
done a couple of pinterest projects, so fun. I love doing stuff with my hands
or I just like staying busy... I've also done some cooking and baking and
running with my dad. So fun! I'm so thankful for my parents, friends, and the
time to get a different perspective on life this break. Also, a little ready to
get back to my "normal" schedule of road life though. My life may be
crazy but I do love it! It's a new year and I'm excited to see what God has in
store. It's gonna be good...

FL, Old Lady & God at Work

We just finished up a summit here in Port Charlotte, FL. The weather here has been beautiful. My body has already registered that it is summer and I think it's gonna have a hard time adjusting to the fact that it's not...oh, well spring shall come and my tan will disappear. That's life!

This summit has been really great, 15 mins from the beach, host home with a pool, and 5 mins from the mall! I have also had a great host mom. She is 79yrs old and just spot on! When she told me how old she was I couldn't believe it! She has great memory, good style, and an amazing cook! I have really enjoyed her. She and I have had some really great talks about life, her kids, her marriage & divorce, her son that died 2yrs ago from alcohol and about the gospel and living out the Christian life. It has amazed me that I can relate with a 79yr old woman and she can relate and humbly ask me questions. We talked the other night about how we were both at a place in our life waiting on the Lord and open to whatever He has for us. Amazing! She has gone to a Lutheran church most of her life up until about 2 yrs ago when she got tired of the rituals and wanted something more. God was faithful to draw her to Himself and reveal Himself to her. She found a gospel centered church and now has an active and intimate relationship with the Lord and has a hunger and desire to see Him use her for His glory. She has been a challenged and encouragement to me.

The Lord has been doing a reviving work in my life this summit. I guess I'm always needing to be revived...guess it's good I'm in a Revival ministry! Thankful that the Lord is patient and always pursuing me. He is opening my eyes to areas of sin and self. I so often walk in the flesh. My thinking for the last month or so has been that I cannot walk in the spirit. That task seems daunting to me! I can't possibly walk in the spirit for the rest of my life! How foolish and ignorant I am. I have learned that really as long as I'm not sinning and living with the fruit of the 'spirit' than I am pretty much walking in the spirit! HELLO! That's crazy! With that mindset it totally seems possible. But if I do choose to walk in the spirit (which happens more than not) I can acknowledge that and ask for God's grace and then..LIVE. It's been such a helpful truth for me this summit. I can call out for His grace and in that I can have the fruit of the spirit. So simply yet often so difficult.

The next couple months are going to get busy. We head out this week for our next summit in High Point, NC aka furniture capital of the world! I will be staying with one of my favorite camp families I met this summer! After that we have a week off at a retreat place in the mountains (ok, so maybe things won't be that busy;)) But then we have a conference in Asheville, NC at the Cove which is always a crazy time for me. And then we head to Athens, GA...which is just an hour from home! We also have a lot to get ready for our summit in Canada. Please pray for God to meet with us and give us strength.

"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of your flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." -1 Peter 2:11-12

Life & Love

I think it definitely needs to be said that every off day I seem to have the intention of updating this blog but I don't quite ever get around to it. Or maybe I shouldn't have said that...just shows how lazy I am! Oh, well, at least I'm doing it now, right?!

Well, I guess I blinked. One more summit and the first half of this travel year is over. Things have been going really good. We have seen God do some great things in the churches we've been in this year. God is at work and He is using us in some powerful ways, I believe.

The Lord has blessed me this year with some great host homes. It's so neat to see how the Lord puts us exactly in the home we're suppose to be in, maybe not so much for us to bless them but for them to bless us. I know my life has forever been impacted by some of the families I've stayed with this year. Among the homes that are a blessing there are also those with there...unique twist! Like...staying in a halfway house..:) Needless to say the Lord has a sense of humor, although we may not always get it...ha..ha.

I am so thankful that the Lord is constantly pursuing us. The last 8 months or so have been some dry times spiritually. I have continued to seek the Lord but the desire & passion just hasn't been there like it had been. I've felt like every time I hear a message it's something life changing and I have to get it. I have to fix it. I have to change this problem of bitterness, anger, or not loving people and it's not working. I can't fix myself. Then this summit Steven Canfield came. He was filling in as our family revivalist this summit. He spoke to our team and brought everything back to the Gospel. Finally, the answer I've been looking for. We can accomplish nothing without the foundation, the power of the Gospel. It changes everything. The way we live for Christ is in the shadow of the Gospel. We have to constantly remind ourselves of the Gospel. What Christ has done for us. Then with that mindeset it gives us the desire & power to live for Him. To forgive, be patient, and love others because He first loved us. I definitely haven't gotten this down but I'm so thankful for the reminder. The Christian life is a process.

I'm looking forward to this Thanksgiving and getting to see my family. It's been almost a year since all of my siblings & I have been together. Grateful for the opportunity this year to get to be with my family for the holidays. Please continue to pray for me. The Lord is faithful but the enemy is at work too. Pray that I continue to seek the Lord and have wisdom, love for others & for safety as I will be doing lots of traveling over the holidays. Thank you for your prayers & support! Happy Thanksgiving!

Camp aka Summer Home

Things have been going pretty well here at camp. I worked four weeks of family camp in July and we are now in Staff Training. Family camp went really well. As part of working family camp each of us team members are paired up with a family each week and are their 'family assistant'. The Lord blessed me with some great families this summer that I truly enjoyed serving and getting to know. One of the things I love about serving in LA is being able to get in peoples lives. Not just on a shallow level but really going deep and talking about issues of the heart, getting to really know people & then just encouraging them in where their at. It was a blessing to build some good relationships.

After Family Camp all of the team members had to take a college class. LA brought in a professor from North Greenville University in Greenville, SC to teach us a semester course in one week! We took New Testament Survey. Those of you who know me well know college is not my thing! Although very challenging & a ton of information crammed in one week, now that the week is over I can say it was good & I did learn some things! Just in case you were wondering though, the Lord has confirmed once again that college is not what He has for me, at least at this point!

Each summer all of the staff at LA takes a week off to be refreshed. They bring in some speakers, worship leader & just take some time to seek the Lord and hear from Him for revival in our own lives, we call it Revival Week. This year they brought in Michael Catt, from Sherwood Church in Albany, Ga(The church that made the movies, Facing the Giants & Fireproof)Dave Butts, Chairmen of the National Day of Prayer, Kyle Martin, who is the radio host of a revival program in Texas & Josh Davis from Anchor! I believe if was one of the best Revival Weeks we've had since I've been here. The Lord truly met with us. Coming into the week I was dry & seeking direction for this next year and needing refreshment from the Lord. The Lord was faithful to meet with me. He opened my eyes to areas I haven't been faithful in and showed me some things in my heart that I didn't even know were there. One specific area was bitterness. I've heard plenty of messages on the subject and I feel like I worked through things but this week he showed me that I had been bitter at Him for my singleness. For as long as I can remember the desire for a mate has been on my heart. I've tried to work through it & really felt like I was content but the reality was the issue was always just beneath the surface. I'm so thankful the Lord opened my eyes and showed me the root of my sin. The root goes so deep that I don't know how I'll get to the bottom but by His grace I will get victory and I will not stay in the dungeon of bitterness I had put myself in.

"He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;" -Ps. 103:10-11

Please prayer that the work the Lord has started in me I will continue to seek Him for. Thank you for your prayers & support. God is at work.

Cupcakes, Paint & 23

I guess I get it from my mom. It was never a problem growing up but it definitely is now. If I have caffeine anytime like after lunch then I won't be getting to sleep til early in the morning. I like to think it's beneficial cause it keeps me drinking really only water but give me one sip or in this cause a chocolate cupcake with mocha butter cream icing and I'm done for. The instant coffee in the icing was even decaf! Oh, well I've been meaning to update my blog any ways. As well as the gift of caffeine sensitivity I also am an amazing procrastinator, I think I get that from my dad;) Hence the reason I'm updated my blog the day before I head back to Michigan! Ha.

This break has been pretty memorable. Why is it as soon as you get comfortable and connected you have to leave...maybe it's just me? And the fact that I'm always moving around? You think? I don't know. Anyways...memorable break, right!

I guess for starters I've had a good time bonding with my younger sister. She's been somewhat handicap the last two months, due to a softball accident she did some serious damage to her knee and has been on crutches. So, for the most part of break I've been taking care of her. She has progressed so much since I've been home and it's been so tender watching her learn to walk again! ...aww. The boys have been gone all summer so I guess that helps the bonding too!

I have done so many fun activities over break. My parents decided to paint the house. So out came the paint clothes and I got busy. My grandparents came down and so dad, papa, momma, and me did some remodeling to the front of the house. Well, mostly dad and papa, but I cocked and painted! Went to a Braves game with my parents & grandparents. There was a slight rain delay but we got to see the crew cover the field and try to keep the field dry. That was pretty entertaining. The game was good too, they won.

Got to spend some good times with old friends. So thankful for people that care about me and take time to listen. Spent some quality time with my Dad. We went on a white water rafting trip in North GA. Guide wasn't that great but we had fun and I only fell out once! We also jumped off some cliffs! Ok, well they were just rocks and it was only like 8ft up but still!! It was high! Had lunch on the rocks with hippies and no plates...

Lets see...celebrated my 23rd birthday! What? Yeah, I know sounds weird.. Some of my relatives came up and we went to Mimi's Cafe...got free chocolate mousse pie. Went to Fl and went to the wedding of some old family friend's daughter. We didn't know anybody at the wedding(besides the family) but mom and my sister and I had fun getting dressed up! We got ready in one bathroom in a mall and then changed in the car...haha! We headed down to my grandparents and hung out with some of our relatives for a few days. Abby and I laid out...and got burned! But Papa had a miracle cream and we could hardly feel we were burnt so bad! Went to the midnight showing of a movie...slept for 3hrs then hopped in the car for a 7hr drive home, Then we got home and got all dressed up and headed to downtown A.T.L. for dinner on the town and Phantom of the Opera at the Fox! It was amazing! We've had the P.O.T.O movie on the last two days! I have a new found appreciation for the arts!

Today..or umm, yesterday was my mom's birthday. Abby and I watched a cupcake bake off show on Food Network while down in FL so we decided to make mom some cupcakes for her b-day. As I said before, chocolate fudge with mocha butter cream icing. We decorated them all fancy and they tasted amazing! Cupcake desire-fulfilled. So, yeah...I think your pretty much up to date!

I head back up to Michigan Sunday. I will be working family camp til the end of July, after which training camp starts and then we hit the road some time around the beginning of September. Crazy days ahead! Trying to get mentally prepared for whats next. Break has been so great but I know I have to get back and get busy! Well, I think I'm tired now. Got a lot to get done before I head out. Thank you for your prayers and support! Enjoy your summer! And...goodnight!

Just finished our last summit of the year, here in Bloomington, IL. We head out to Iowa in a few days for a four day conference. After which we go to camp for the weekend, then I'm headed home around the 1st of June! Its been a great year and I can't believe the travel year is nearly over. But I'm also looking forward to summer and getting a little break. So much has been going down the last serval months and my picture posting skills have definitly been lacking! I'm hoping to catch up soon! Please pray for grace to finish strong & safety in travels. He is faithful!

Since my last update I've been in numerous states and already finished two summits and going on the second week of our third one since break! I'm not to good at keeping you up to date I know, I'm sorry! You know how fast life seems to fly by and before we know it it's almost March. But I do just want to give a brief update on life and what God is doing in me.

Our first summit after break was in Lynchburg, VA. It was a good summit and had a great group come back every night. I got sick for a few days from what seemed to be food poisoning or just some strange bug that hit me hard for a couple of days. Then just as I was starting to feel better I got sick again, I was then given a prescription that I didn't react to well to and it's messed me up for several days. I felt like a 70 year old lady trapped in a 22 year old's body. I hardly talked for 3 days, was wiped out and then could hardly walk(I mostly shuffled). I later realized it was from the medication and after going off of that I was much better! But after all of that it made me realize what a blessing it is that I can walk and talk!

After Lynchburg, we headed to Olive Branch, MS. What a great summit! The testimonies were some of the most honest & broken ones I have heard in a long time. And the people were so responsive. I had a really great host family & roommate! Which made it even better! They took us to downtown Memphis, we drove by Graceland and went to the Peabody Hotel where they have the ducks in the lobby. Fun times and great friendships developed!

I am currently still in MS, at a church that is about 2 miles from that last summit. I can't say that's ever happened since I've traveled. So, it's been a new experience being in one town for more than 3 weeks! Haha, but it is nice to know where everything is.

The Lord has been doing a work of revealing Himself to me in a new way recently. I am ready this book called "God of all Comfort" By Hannah Witall Smith. I would highly recommend it. It's about knowing who we are as Christians. She wrote the book because she said so many Christians aren't comfortable in there faith. The book just walks through who God is and some of His different names. It really has been such a comfort and encouragement to me. So often I think of God as someone far off and someone who just demands my goodness. But He is not like that at all. He is a Loving Father, a Good Shepard, which means He is looking out for me. He loves me and wants what's best for me. He is in control and I can rest in who He is. He is my rock and He is the Great I am! It's just been revolutionary for me and so encouraging to me! Rest in who He is!

Next week we are headed to Texas for a conference then headed to Chicago for a four day conference at Moody Bible Church in downtown Chicago! It's going to be pretty crazy but I'm really like Chicago and I'm really looking forward to it. Please be in prayer for me and the team. The next several weeks are going to be crazy. Pray for unity among the team and that God will use us for His glory and we will be faithful to serve how ever He chooses. God is at work and I am so thankful for the privilege to serve here and used in such a small way to further the Kingdom!

Watch Online

We are currently starting our last summit before break here in St. Cloud, FL. I wanted to let you know that we will be live streaming it online for the entire summit. Starting tomorrow morning at 9am. Service each night will be at 6:30pm. You probably won't see me but you could see what Life Action is about and what we do! Here is the link. You can also sign up for email reminders to watch each night! God is doing some great things through our team and we look forward to seeing what He has in store for Cornerstong Family Church in St. Cloud, FL!

Update #2

Greetings from the hills of Tennessee! We are finishing up our third summit here in Johnson City this Monday. The Lord is doing some great things here in this church. People are hungry for practical principles on how to live the Christian life. Marriages are being restored and lives are being changed!

Before this summit we were in mountains of Boone, NC. The leaves changed while we were there and it was really pretty driving into the church everyday. Although it was really foggy a couple of days so it got a little scary driving through the mountains! Anyways, it was a great church. We had great attendance and lots of college age kids that came. Cause we were like 10 minutes from Appalachian State University. Actually on one of our offs days someone got the whole team tickets and we were able to go to one of there football games! They got us all ASU hats and we had a blast as a team!

Bradly and I...the Anchorites!

The college class had a get together at a Christmas tree farm. They had a huge slide and then we went on a hayride.

Here are just a couple of testimonies of what God is doing...

“God showed me that I loved my wife more than Him (idolatry). Through Jeremiah’s messages, God showed me how to be my family’s spiritual leader by keeping Him #1 in my life and yielding control to Him.”
“I came here thinking or believing I needed genuine revival. Today I realized I needed genuine salvation. I realized that my pride has been standing in my way. I have given my life to Jesus today genuinely. He is my Lord and Master.”

“God is healing my marriage from the heartbreak of adultery. He has changed my husband in amazing ways. In many regards our marriage is better, stronger that is ever has been. However, when instructed to tell my husband that I will never divorce him, I knew I couldn't’t say it. Through prayer God showed me that was an attitude of pride - a sin. I surrendered again my life and my marriage to God and I will say to my husband, “I will never divorce you”.”

After we finish here we are headed to a retreat place in the mountains for a few days. To relax, refresh and just have fun hanging out with the team. It is beautiful there! Then we have a conference at the Cove in Ashville, NC. Please be in prayer for the conference and especially for me! I will be a very busy and possibly quite stressful time for me. But my rest is in the Lord and His grace is sufficient! But you can still pray! Haha.

I wish I could tell you all the things the Lord is doing in my life and how is showing Himself faithful and powerful on my behalf. Maybe at some other time. In the mean time thank you for your prayers and support!

Travel Year #4 Update #1

It's amazing how fast time flies. Blink and you miss it. I know I sound like an old lady! But I do want to take a moment to catch up and let you know what's going on in my life!

We are about to finish up our first summit here in Grove City, OH. It's been a really great summit. The church has been very responsive and open to our team as well as to the Lord's work in their life. Despite there hardcore love for Ohio State Football! We had testimonies Tuesday and Wednesday, and I heard some of the most honest testimonies I've heard in a long time. A man confessed to not being the spiritual leader of his home. He said his kids hadn't seen him read his Bible and that was going to change. A lady also shared that last Saturday she had written a letter to her husband telling him she wanted a divorce, she decided to rip up the letter because of the Holy Spirit's work! God is so faithful and patient with us. I've also had the privilege to talk and prayer with a couple if teen girls and a lady wrestling with her salvation.

Honestly, it's been pretty rough this summit. Getting back to our normal routine and adjusting to a new team and new team leadership. I have felt totally inadequate and undeserving to even be here but the Lord has shown Himself mighty on my behalf and showed me in such a real way that in my weakness He is made strong!

Next Friday we are headed to Boone, NC for our next summit. I'm excited to get to know the team better and see what God has in store for us. We have a great team this year. That has a heart for the Lord and a heart to serve. I think this is probably one of the most spiritually desirous teams I've traveled with. God has definitely brought us together for a purpose and I pray we are faithful to love and serve for His glory!

I cannot end this post without acknowledging the Lord's faithful in my life this year through His provision. I have already (I repeat, already) met my quota for the support I needed for Life Action! This is the first year that I have been on the road and already had all my support raised by the first summit! Except maybe my first year...but my parents helped me out! Although, I have met my needed amount for Life Action I am still believing God for another $700 or so to pay for my insurance. But I am still so grateful for what He has already done!

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matt. 6:33

Just a quick update:

Today I'm headed back to camp. It's been nice being home and it's hard to believe I'm already leaving. But I'm excited to get back into the swing of things. I'll be working family camp for the next couple of weeks then our training camp starts. Please pray for safety as I travel and also for grace for the next couple of months as we have family camp and then prepare for the road and get to know new team members. Thanks for your prayers, time to head out!

Love

I realize I don't really have the gift of communication through writing but it's an outlet and an opportunity to attempt to express what's on my heart and what's up in my life. My hope is for you to understand and somehow relate and know my heart. I try to use this site to give updates on my life through my ministry with Life Action but tonight I'm gonna head off topic and write about something that's on my heart.

Lately I've been struck with somewhat of a fear of relationships ending. No, I didn't break up with anyone, you have to be in a relationship for that to happen, right?! But there have been several people that I know and know of that have broken off/divorced someone. And it's gripped my heart with fear of relationships actually lasting and also brought up some questions.

What keeps a couple together? How do you know if the person you are dating is right for you? Why do you date someone you think your going to spend the rest of your life with but then it's doesn't work out. How do you avoid getting hurt when you realize it's not going to work? How do you make a relationship last? Where is commitment in marriage?

Lots of question I don't have the answers to. I wish there was a step-by-step list that fixed everything. Or maybe a neon sign that lights up and tells you what your suppose to do. Obviously those things aren't gonna happen. But there is hope!

Tonight I went to a college/singles worship service. They did a song that I've never heard but that was a good reminder. I don't know what the song was and I honestly don't even remember the lyrics but it talked about God's love. Fundamental truth to Christians. But so often over looked and forgotten. God's love is far greater than any love we could ever imagine. His love is constant and never changing. A while back I went through Psalms and decided to circle every time it said "steadfast love". I don't think I got 'em all but I know there was a lot. I also looked up steadfast and it means perfect.

Psalms 143:8 "Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust"

Psalms 145:8 "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

Psalms 147:11 "but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love."

The hope we have is in Christ and His perfect (steadfast) love. When the world is crumbling, relationships are rocky and failing, when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel He is constant. He is the supreme example of love and wants us to have the kind of love relationship were looking for here in this earth, with Him.

We finish up our last summit of the year this Sunday here in Union, KY! This year has flown bye. I feel like we just got on the road a month ago or something. I guess I'm just getting older.

Speaking of older I'll be 22 in less than a month! Now that's crazy! If you'd asked me a few years ago what I thought I'd be doing with my life at 22 it probably wouldn't have been this! Haha, but I would trade what the Lord has done in my life for anything!

I think I've been in like three or four different churches since my last post. Let's see I've been to Spring Hill, FL, Thomasville, GA, Peoria, IL, Manassas, VA, Prior Lake, MN, and here in KY. Along with a number of others states along the way. (I guess I was wrong about 3 or 4 churches...:)) The Lord has done some amazing things in each of the churches. So many people hungry for the truth and in need of refreshing. Spring Hill was an honest church full of deep issues but people humble enough to admit them and seeking the Lord for wisdom on how to deal with them. Thomasville was a 4-day conference a quick drop of the power of the gospel through the teaching of Steven Canfield. Peoria was a Presbyterian church, only the second one Life Action had ever been to. One of our best summits. The largest crowd full of people eager to return to there first love. Also a very giving church, we received our largest offering there. Which was a huge blessing for our ministry during these tough times. Manassas, was a different summit because our leadership Steve Canfield & Steven Canfield were gone and we had some fill in speakers. I had the opportunity to go to Washington, DC. Which was a lot of fun. Minnesota was a beautiful state and a good summit. The church was interesting, one church, two campuses. We had to set up and tear time I think around 15 times. We had our end of the year party with the team and got to go to the Mall of America! And last but not least KY. This church loves Life Action and has been eager to have and serve us which has been such a blessing. We went to the Creation Museum the other day. Such an amazing place. If you have the chance go! As you can see the Lord is at work. I wish I had time to tell you all that the Lord has done in each one of these churches. He is so faithful and His word is alive and transforming lives!

As an update on the home front. My family is finally moving into our new home this weekend. Please be in prayer that the Lord will continue to pour His grace on my family as the economy has hit our home pretty hard. He is faithful and His grace is sufficient.

Next I'm headed to camp for a couple of weeks and then I'm flying home June 13th for my summer break. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Serving Him

FL, Trips and Ministry Update

Hello Friends!

My how time flies! The Lord has been so faithful this year! Since Christmas break and coming back on the road the Lord has been teaching me a lot and showing me how He is faithful in my life and He will provide! I've been making a list of needs the Lord has provided for me recently and it is truly mind boggling. I am so thankful for His provision and care for the details of my life.

So much has happened recently it's hard to keep track! I am currently in Spring Hill, FL for our 3rd Summit of this year! Crazy! This church has had Life Action twice previously but are still hungry to hear from the Lord. I have been praying through some of the prayer cards and people are very specific and carry many burdens and struggles. Several marriages on the brink of divorce and people concerned for unsaved love ones. The issues people face are far beyond anything I've ever dealt with and I praise God but also seek wisdom as to how to encourage people through it all. I know through what issues I've gone through that His grace is sufficient and "there is not pit to deep that He is not deeper still."

I have again had the privilege to minister to the teens this year. Last summit I had the opportunity to teach the 'modesty session' for the teen girls! I really really enjoyed it! The girls were pretty attentive and I think really understood what I was saying. The time flew by though! I had so much I wanted to say! Oh well Lord knows what they needed to hear!

Last summit we were in Douglas, GA about 4 hours from my home. My family is in the process of moving and I had been praying about how I might could get home to help and nothing seemed to be working out. I found out that we had the third week of our summit off so I talked to my parents and figured out that I could ride a bus. So, the plan was the leave Monday morning @ like 5:30 in order to get to the bus station in time. Well, Sunday night after service I just happened to be talking to a couple in the church and for some reason I told them my plans for going home and that I was going to be helping my parents out for the week and all. Less than 5 mins after finishing that conversation with them, the man come up to me and asked me if I would rather drive a truck up to Atlanta? I was dumbfounded and said sure! So, they brought this super sweet Ford F150 Crew cab truck, filled up, handed me the keys and gave me gas money for the trip home!! What a blessing! I was able to help my family out and drive back Friday to meet up with the team!

We had to let Life Action know of our plans for next year a couple of weeks ago. As of right now, I am planning on returning for my fourth year! Hard to believe I've been here this long! I have a peace about returning and know this is where the Lord has me. Although, it seems every year as soon as I make the commitment to return for another I am overwhelmed with a feeling of discontentment. It's hard to explain but I've realized this year it's just attacks from the enemy in feeding me lies. Please pray that God will give me grace to be content here and to love and minister the people around me. It's battle and I have to be on guard!

Thank you for you prayers and support. I know I would not have made it this far without you! The Lord is faithful and I prayer His blessings on you!

Mandy

Pictures

So, I'm finally able to upload some pictures! Enjoy!



Blue Team '08 - '09



Meredith and I in Chicago. One a day a group of us took a day trip there.



Our friend Nishelle (in the red) came to visit!



One day I decided to make a pumpkin milkshake...soooo good!



In Mississippi a guy in the church took us four wheeling!



Some of us girls enjoying the outdoors!



Meredith and I at our team Christmas party



Some of us girls looking fine!



The guys decided to wear old Christmas Sweaters and slick back their hair...I'm not gonna lie I've never seen the guys look so bad!



Here is the whole team at our Christmas Party at the Lodge

Merry Christmas

So, I'm not as good at keeping this thing up as I would have hoped. I'm sorry for all two of you that read this! I'm kidding!

Another year half way done. Crazy. This year I think has flown by faster than any other year and I have no idea why. About half the team is new, so it's seemed to take longer adjusting to new people and letting them learn the ropes and how things are done on the road. But within the last month or so the team has really started to jell, which was an answer to prayer. We pray as a team a lot, when we arrive in the mornings, before meals and before service. But in the last month or so we started praying for an alotted time during the day and it was amazing to see how the team really started to connect more after that. There is definitly power in prayer!

This has been a really good year. God has really used this team to challenge me in a whole new way. I've been challenged more this year to make my faith my own and pursue my relatonship with Christ in a deeper way. I know I say that every year but it's so true and each year more real in it's own way.

I really wanted to post some pictures but we've been having internet issues and it's not allowing me to upload them. But I will try to post some soon. Have a Merry Christmas!

Update #2

Since my last post a lot has happened including finishing my first triathlon! I came in third place in the female category! I really enjoyed doing it! Just a few months ago I would never have thought that I would even WANT to do a triathlon let alone do it. I think it's just evidence of the Lord's work in my life and the fact that He CAN change us! Ha, or maybe I'm just turning over a new leaf.


We are about to wrap up summit #2. I feel like we've been on the road forever! Or maybe I'm just feeling three years worth of traveling. The Lord has been so faithful. I am so thankful for His unconditional love and His faithfulness to my life and not leaving me where I'm at but continually pruning me and drawing me to Himself.


The first summit of the year was in Northport, AL. About 10 minutes from the University of AL. The summit went really well considering it was our first one and half the team is new! It takes time to adjust to how a summit works, what we do day in and day out and all that it takes to get things rolling. As a revival based ministry we know we do not bring revival to a church. Despite all our hard work and preparation revival happens when God shows up. Which is the most rewarding thing about our ministry! While in Alabama many people confessed areas of bitterness and issues of clearing there conscience with people they had wronged. It was so neat just to see the joy on there faces as they experience the freedom from bondage.

We will be wrapping up our current summit on Sunday here in Cayce, SC. This church has been one of the best churches because they have fed us so good! We eat lunch and dinner at church just about everyday so you can imagine with all the churches we've been in how many different (or the same) meals we've had and how many paper plates, plastic silverware, and plastic cups we've used. So, when a church brings out real dishes you can know it's gonna leave a lasting impression! Not to mention the foods been amazing!

A lot has happened this last year in my life but the Lord has been faithful and drawn me closer than I could ever have imagined. As the Lord continues to uproot my life I'm reminded that the hard times bring us together in a way that comfort and convenience never could. I'm trusting in Him knowing that He has far greater plans than I could ever dream. In this time He is revealing His word to me and opening my spiritual eyes to be more like Him.

Please continue to pray that I will be faithful to do what He has called me to do. That I will serve Him not man. That I will love as God loves.

Things have been busy here at camp. I've been working on team clothing the last couple of weeks. I've been to the mall so many times people recognize me and I've had to explain what we do four or five times! It's been lots of fun and I've managed to stay happily busy. So, I finally recieved a copy of our teams schedule for the year...and here it is.

Sept. 7-21 --Northport, AL
Sept. 28- Oct. 12 -- Cayce, SC
Octr. 19- Nov. 2 -- Brandon, MS
Nov. 9- 23 -- Ferguson, MO

This is the schedule for the first half of the year. I will update in time as the positions fill. Well, life calls. Thanks for your prayers!

summer

Wow, so much has happened since my last post. I made it here to camp and had two amazing weeks of Family Camp. Both weeks I was family assisant. My first week I had a five year old little boy that was so cute. I really got attatched.

My second week I had four kids 15,13,11, & 8. I've never had teens so I was a little nervous but it was actually a lot of fun and so much easier since they can do everything themselves! They have a competition here at camp called the W.H.A.T competition. It's like a knock off of Survivor with multiple teams and each day we have challenges and two each teams get eliminated each day til the last day when two teams go head to head for the final challenge. My team older camp girls and a guy from my team decided to enter into the challenge and were very pleasantly surprised to be runners up!

This summer seems to be the summer of weddings. I can't even count on my hands how many people I know that were getting married or already have. This last year on the road there were three engaged couples on the team all of which got married this summer. I was able to attend two of them. Jayson and Majenta were married in Indiana and Steven Canfield did the service.

I flew out to California last Tuesday for Ross & Kyrsten's wedding. I was able to help with some of the photography among other things. It was a ton of fun! I was able to go to LA and see the Pacific coast! I saw the Walk of Fame, drove down Sunset Blvd. and saw the beautiful sights of southern California, definitly a place I would like to visit again!

I'm back at camp now. We have started staff training and all the new team members have come. It's crazy having to start all over and get to know a whole new group of people that I get to travel with for the year. I think it's going to be a good year. I've been busy helping with team clothing and whatever else I can find to do! Please be praying for our new team that we will grow together in unity and love for one another. This coming week is Revival week. Which is at time that Life Action and all the staff Pause and get refreshed though teaching, worship and prayer. It should be a good week. Thanks for your prayers and support!

update

I'm hoping to keep up this blog and let you know what's going on in my life. So here's a quick update...

I've been on break since June 7th. It's been a good break. I've really been able to relax and hang out with friends and family. I come into break bracing myself for the culture shock. It's like I slowly emerge from my nice little Life Action bubble and step into the 'real' world! It's been good though. I think the neatest thing is to see what God is doing at home and at church. A lot has happened this year at Anchor and it's neat to see how it's grown, especially in the singles class. I was pleasantly surprised by the honesty and openness of the life school class. It's cool to see God working even outside of my Life Action bubble.

I've also stayed busy at home 'training'. I am hoping to do a triathlon at camp in August. I've never done anything like this before so I'm excited. I've been running just about everyday. Which brings up a cool story. Last night I decided to go running at a park close to the house. I normally go with my mom but she didn't want to go, so I obviously went by myself. So, I drove to the park and grabbed my ipod, hid my purse, left my cell phone in the car and then attached my key to my shoe. After a little stretching I hit the trail. I had run about a fourth of a mile when I stopped and looked down and realized my key was gone. So, I walked back the way I came looking all over for it. The whole time I was praying I would find the key or the right person to talk to so I could call home or something. So, I got all the way back to my car and looked around it and still no key. It was starting to get dark which is when the park closed. I figured the cops or someone would come by. So, I waited for probably about 15 minutes when a couple walked up. I told them the situation and asked them if I could borrow there phone. They asked if it was a black Ford key and I was like yeah that's it. They told me where it was, so I was just going to go get it but they didn't think it was safe. So the guy went to go get it and I ended up talking to the lady. I told her what I did and turns out she was a christian and lived next to a couple in our church and goes to another church in town. She had four girls and home schooled, so we talked about the fact that I was home schooled and that kind of thing. It was so cool that God answered my prayer, brought a christian couple and got me my key back. I am thankful for the very obvious God moment and that I can trust in Him and His protection and provision over my life.

I head back to camp tomorrow morning where I will work two weeks of family camp. I'm really looking forward to going back to camp and seeing all my friends and getting back into the 'swing of things'. I head out early in the morning so I need to get packing.