where has the time gone??

HELLO!!!!!

Yes, yes, i have paused my quick-paced life in order to catch everyone up with what has been happening. Ever since the mission trip, i've been trying ever so hard to get back into the lull of things and just when i was about to blog about my awesome experience, an assignment or dag gone essay was due. but now, easter break is upon us and tomorrow is Good Friday, so i'm able to stay up a little later and blog!

Allow me to regail my El Salvador mission trip:

First off, thank you all who contributed to my Rock-A-Thon. The money you sent was most definitely a blessing. I was able to take the week before i left, off of work and thank Jesus i did because there was so much i had to get done! Shopping for skirts that were below the knee was a difficult task but my mom and i were able to snag 3 gypsy skirts (LOVED THEM!) and then bought a dress and another skirt, also some cute shirts.

So that friday, we left the school for Newark airport around 2:30am. i was pretty nervous about the plane because i've never flown before but the boarding process wasn't bad at all and my seat was with justin and timmy so i was in good hands (hahaha). no seriously, timmy tried ever so hard to freak me out without success HA! wouldn't you know though, it started snowing as soon as we left the school and by the time we boarded the plane, there was about 2 inches on the plane wings. So, they had to de-ice them which was a pretty cool process to watch (i scored the window seat!!) about 30 minutes later, we were up in the air.

We arrived in Houston about an hr later than expected and thankfully, our 80+ group of people made the majority of the plane heading to el salvador so it had to wait for us to board. we all hurried on and took off in this little jet. A rough landing in el salvador made me sick for a couple minutes but we were on the ground and just had to get through Customs. After that, we went outside and Garret, Castillo Del Rey's coordinator for the week, met us up, helped us load our luggage into the luggage truck. In two buses we went, climbing a mountain to Castillo Del Rey (our headquarters for the week).

How gorgeous it was! It's located in the middle of a volcano (don't worry it's done erupting!) and on this hugeeee hill was a prayer tower. Saturday night, we all went up there to pray. we formed a prayer line and i got such a touch from God, it literally felt like He wrapped me in His presence. No answers about college or anything were revealed but i got a sense that He was going to move in me that week. And He most certainly did. I was able to pray for people, pray in a way i've never prayed before. such strength in words and encouragement that were only through God. I was given courage, was actually led to pray for people. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and ultimately, i got what i went there for. I didn't go for answers, didnt go for fun, i was hungry for a closer, more mature relationship with God and I'm blessed and happy to say, I received just that. The children were amazing and i wish i couldve taken each and every one of them home with me, cleaned them, and given them a prosperous life. however, i know God will take care of them because they are His precious little ones. He provides for the birds, how much more will He provide the needs for such as these?

And now...PICTURES!!

poor living conditions in el salvador (on the way to Castillo Del Rey)

yes, we had horses at Castillo Del Rey!! i was in my element

SeRy dressed like a clown =)

He was so utterly adorable!!

Sonya and me--she was about six years old and she accepted Jesus into her heart that day ♥

Tommy (he's so crazy!) and me

brother and sister-oh they were so CUTE!

oh these girls were my favorite group!!

yes, we also had a monkey on campus named poncho!!

this little boy hugged me and would not let go so i took a picture with him ♥ ♥

Noe--he was one of our translators for Zone 6! WOO! (if you're wondering, this was taken our last day when we all went to a resort for the entire day!!)

Josh (Master's Commission student) and me--he's cool =)

take a seat

I've had this idea float around in my head and hasn't landed anywhere. I figured I would share with the many who read these posts::

It's a simple idea, an idea I actually took from that Kleenex commercial. You know, the one where a guy is sitting on a couch in the middle of the street, listening to people's stories, briefly stepping into their lives? Well, I got to thinking. Sure, it's just a commercial and the people who sit are hired professionals but what if someone actually took a couch and sat there, waiting for people to sit. What we don't realize is that, people have so much happiness and hurts they want to share with people; they just want someone to listen to them, but they have no one. My job would be to listen, free of charge, and maybe, if they wanted, offer a little advice.

This would be an awesome ministering opportunity for sure! Listen to someone, give your testimony, and show them Jesus' love abounds all things. Wouldn't that be amazing?! This has been on my heart for a few weeks now so maybe I am supposed to do something.

I've realized there are so many hurt people in the United States. We don't have to go to El Salvador to minister (though traveling there is very exciting and i'm ecstatic!). the truth is, we can minister right in our backyards!

Sometime in the near future i would like to see myself accomplish this. I'm here to listen, comfort, consult. Anyone can help and you don't need a PhD in psychology to do it.

So come on, bring your worries, your troubles, your happiness. Come and take a seat. Someone's here to listen

rock-a-thon

yesterday was the Rock-A-Thon. for those of you who dont know what a rock-a-thon is (non lcaers lol) basically we sit in rocking chairs and rock for money our sponsors so generously give us. =) i had to rise before the sun at 5:45am. fed the cats, threw on a pair of sweats and drove 20 minutes to lca. oh! my rocking chair had been hauled into the van the night before by my brothers. once we were all there, high school musical was popped into the big screen for the girls while the boys took over another corner of gym and played halo and call of duty 4. after about 5 hrs, we started doing our skits for the mission trip, ate, talked, played guitar hero. i rocked out by the way, beating about 3 people before justin killed me twice. yea, it sucks. even though my head was killing me this morning from lack of sleep, yesterday was definitely worth it. here are some pics!! Andrew and Timmy a bit too cozy haha

Nadia chilling out

Tommy being...Tommy

Justin and Anthony rockin out with Guitar Hero

Yup...that's about it. not many people were in rocking chairs. in teh beginning we were, but as the day drew on, skits were supposed to be practiced and no one felt like returning to their rockers so we all just stood and played games. haha

an awesome day spent

captivated...enchanted

tonight, i accompanied jill and beth anne to go see enchanted, the most wonderful film ever! Dempsey is diiiiviiiiine in this film and im not that too big of a fan of his. though, he did look dashing in that ensemble towards the end. the songs are adorable; hey, alan menkin was in charge of the music so it's gotta be good! enchanted is a cutesy movie and i am DEFINITELY buying it when it comes out on dvd. while me and my friends went to see our chick flick, my brothers went to see i am legend. austin said it was a bit scary but cool nonetheless. he'll probably want to buy that movie when it comes out on dvd.
im going to try to see 27 dresses (or whatever that title is) in theatres because it's too cute of a movie not to watch with friends. also, oyin wants to go see juno so we'll probably plan an outing for that. alvin and the chipmunks will wait for dvd as will P.S i love you. i know they'll be good!
we're all eagerly awaiting the opening of narnia 2. it looks really cool so hopefully, if i'm not broke by then (haha), me and my friends will go see it.

i've decided going to see movies at night is way better than going to see them in the daytime. even though, in burlington at night could be a little dangerous haha it's still fun. i dont know, the movie just seems a lot better. also, for a friday night, regal wasn't crowded at all! i liked it a lot. perhaps my parents will be a little lenient next time. adam went out with his girlfriend so my parents had the house to themselves. maybe they'll remember the peace and serenity of tonight and allow us to go more often.

so. a lovely night spent with friends and sibs. we laughed a lot too which was fantastic! haha. but seriously, if you're in the mood for a cutesy film, enchanted is the movie to see =)