Another one bites the dust

I think the travel bug bit me at a very young age. Being that my mother worked for Delta for 30 years, I took my first plane ride as an infant and have been hooked ever since. I have been to more cities, states, and countries at a young age than most adults. Needless to say, this wanderlust has seeped into my pores and refuses to go away. Movies, TV shows, books, and newspapers all conjure up images in my head of my next great adventure. I constantly find myself looking up fares on Delta.com just for fun. When I am lucky enough to go on a trip, I am already planning the next one on the trip home. The travel bug has indeed taken over me.

I would like to think that all of my travels have taught me something...mainly that we are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to love and be loved. We want to be happy and surround ourselves with loved ones. But, the beauty of travel is that you get to see how other people live their daily lives. You get to see what type of food they eat, the places they go to each day, and how their culture has shaped their lives. If you are really lucky, you might even get to walk a mile in their shoes.

I will never forget the first time I was in the Southern Hemisphere and looked up at the night sky. I was amazed at the constellations I was seeing for the first time. I marveled at the majesty of God's kingdom, and how He made it so spectacular for us to enjoy.

Unfortunately, I am not currently in the position to do much traveling, but I continue to go on countless trips in my head and in my dreams. I soar through the jungles of Costa Rica and hike the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. I sail through the waters of the Santorini islands and view a herd of elephants grazing in the plains of Africa. The 30 states and 12 foreign countries I have visited pale in comparison to the enormity of the world I have yet to see.

"I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."

(Mary Anne Radmacher)

Make it a great day

"Make it a great day!"

This was my tweet from this morning. A friend of mine re-tweeted it, and it inspired me to share this with you. YOU have the power to make today a great day. I know that you can't always control your life, and that quite often we end up in situations we don't want to be in. But, we can choose how we feel. A very wise friend of mine likes to remind me that despite the circumstances of our life, God is still God. He is still in control, and my faith should not falter just because I don't like what has happened to me. My personal happiness does not lie in what God does in my life, but who He is.

Therefore, I encourage you to take charge of your own life. You are the CEO of the journey of your lifetime. Choose to make today and every day a great day.

Carpe Diem

On this lovely Friday afternoon, I want to pose one simple question to you:

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

"I can do all things through Jesus Christ Who gives me strength."

(Philippians 4:13)

Better Together

"There are no well-worn paths ahead, together you will make a road that others will follow. Together you will accomplish what you could never accomplish alone."

One by One

As many of you know, I recently lead a mission trip to Cape Town, South Africa. What an amazing experience! Having gone on a mission trip to Cape Town last year, I was extremely excited to see how God has been working in the lives of my South African friends over the past year. Like my experience last year, it was a blessing and an honor to serve the Lord in a beautiful country filled with the most lovely people I have ever known.

While I was in Cape Town last year, I had the privilege of meeting James and Janet Senior and their family. They moved from England to Cape Town about five years ago to start Metro Kids Africa (http://www.metrokidsafrica.org/). Their goal and vision is to reach out to the children in the townships of Cape Town to transform their lives with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. James and Janet are amazing people, and they work tirelessly for their cause.

Part of Metro Kids Africa (MKA) is the One by One program. This program matches a child who attends MKA on a regular basis with an adult who becomes their pen pal. With just a $20 donation per month, this program helps keep MKA running (they hold weekly Sidewalk Sunday School events at all of their locations) and ensures a weekly visit with a staff member from MKA. I signed up as soon as I got home from Cape Town last year and have a pen pal named Inam (pictured above on my right).

While in Cape Town last month, I had the opportunity to meet Inam. She did not speak English very well and had a difficult time understanding me because of my "funny accent," but I would like to think that she enjoyed the visit as much as I did. God is at work in Cape Town. He wants to see His children there grow, prosper, and live their lives for Him.

I know that times are tough right now, and that money is tight. I encourage you to pray about how God might use you to transform a child's life in Cape Town...a child who might not have much of a chance without God's amazing grace, love, and mercy. If you feel lead, please contact me or James and Janet (via http://www.metrokidsafrica.org/) to either donate to MKA or sign up for a pen pal. I promise you that your life will also be changed as you help further God's magnificent kingdom. Mag God met julle wees.

At the end of the earth...literally :)

I am stealing this quote from a friend's blog (thanks Big Apple Angie!)...it is just too perfect :)

If adventures do not befall a lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad. -Jane Austen

It was quite windy at the Cape of Good Hope. Thank you Jesus for such an amazing view!