Unveiled Faces

March 8, 2011

Weirdest thing I did today: Accidentally peel off a scab on my elbow with a guitar string. Ewwww. Picture it. I was playing the guitar and SLICE. OW. So random.

At D group, we studied 2 Corinthians. It is BEAUTIFUL! It delights my heart!!! I HAD to share!

2 Corinthians 3

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

 4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

So GOOD!!!

One of my favorite parts is when it talks about how Moses had to place a veil over his face to hide that his face was loosing its radiance. But because WE are being transformed into the Lord’s likeness DAILY, we do NOT have to cover our faces!!! They reflect the LORD’s GLORY in ever-increasing increments!!!

 I am obsessed with the image of being set apart in a crowd of people not for reasons of vanity, but because I am so completely full of the Lord, that people can look at me, and say, “there is something different about her.” Have you seen those people? Maybe they have a radiating sense of peace, or quiet confidence? Or maybe, it’s the holy spirit.

I also love that there is freedom in the Holy Spirit, and in the Holy Spirit, there is the Lord, and in the Lord, there is FREEDOM. Freedom was a HUGE theme of my life on Sunday. To be free of fear, pain, confusion, and hurt, all I need to do is run to the Lord, who is here with me. That brings such a peace and comfort to my heart. 

A is for Alpha!

3/7/11

90% of the day was spent in class… We began yet another course, called Community Engagement. Basically, it’s training for service sites. We have class from 8-4. Yippeeeee.

Our professor, Francis, is a genius. I truly believe that. I love to listen to him. But as of now, I am having issues relating his information to my life.

Before class began, he and his wife ran up to me (they are deceptively SPRY!!) “I am SO sorry!!! Are you alrrrrrright? (<- Rolling RRRs.) I heard you took a spill down the waterrrrfall!”

What a guy. And he totally remembered my name ALL DAY. Props, man! You WORK those goat skin shoes! J

No matter how genius a professor is, 8 hours of class is a bit long to pay attention. So I spent much of my time writing encouraging notes and praying. I didn’t even feel guilty. When Jesus is involved, that is SO worth my time. Hmph.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand now…….

I am super excited to announce…….

I am going to be an ALPHA LEADER!!! Hurrah!!!!!

Can’t wait for God’s awesome plans!!! BAH!!! THIS IS SO GREAT!!!!

Sigh. I feel like God is truly going to use me and grow me. I am incandescently happy!

I realized that THIS life I’m living, the one where I go to APU, was an Ambassador, found amazing friends, am studying abroad in SOUTH STINKING AFRICA, survived a water fall fiasco, am growing and learning every day, and am now an ALPHA LEADER, has NOTHING to do with the life that I planned. Nothing AT ALL.

But you know what?

This is so much better.

This is my Hallelujah song.

This is one very happy Renna J

But I am not only excited for myself… Which is the COOL part!

CONGRATS to next year’s RA’s!!! Lindsay (trinity), Zach (trinity), Mackenzie (trinity), Colton (UP), Tyler (UV), Logan (UV), PJ (Engstrom), KATIE FITZPATRICK, YOU FRESHMAN YOU!!!!!!! (Engstrom)

You guys. SO great.

And congrats, other Alpha leaders!!!

Randoms:

*A+ on my Zulu midterm!!!

*My foot hurts worse.

*We have had the BEST meals recently! Pizza, Mac and Cheese, and enchiladas!! Why do I like these? Because they are ALL bread and cheese. Good one, Ren.

*I am starting to freak out about rooming for next semester. HELP, JESUS!!! SO stressful.

*I for sure am going to try for RA eventually J

*I am getting super fast (well… fast for me) on my crutches! BAM! Dude. My arms and one leg are getting RIPPED. I feel it. And I don’t even have to pay to go to the gym. What is this?! SO good J

*“As a man thinketh, so he is.” Provebs 23:7. What do you think? Do you ponder thoughts of greatness, encouragement and possibility? Or do you rest on thoughts of bitterness, unforgiveness, and disappointment?

A lpha

L ove

P riceless

H appiness

A wesomeness.

Keep Walking.

3/6/09

Hey guys.

So today.

There was kind of a miracle.

And by kind of, I mean, like, REALLY.

Church today. Totally struggling with SO many emotions. Mostly fear, confusion, possibly some anger…

Worhsip was so beautiful. God was MOVING. The theme of the service was freedom. One of the church members received a prophetic word from God: “I feel you are standing on a slippery slope. Do not fall into the water!” Um. A little late, God. This was the passage she read.

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,  I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live  and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” –Deuteronomy 30:15-20

In worship, we had sung a song about how “Jesus is alive!” All I kept thinking was, “I am alive because Jesus is alive.” There is SERIOUSLY no other explanation.

After church, two women came up to me.

“Can we pray for you?”

“Yes, PLEASE!” There is NO way I would turn down prayer.

“What’s wrong with your leg?”

“I fell off a waterfall.”

“OK. Let’s pray.”

The Holy Spirit was moving, guys. The ONLY thing these people knew about me was that I fell. They prayed for fear to leave me. They prayed I would be unafraid. Again and again. And then they prayed for JOY to fill the empty spaces where fear used to live. JOY!!!! I was bawling my guts out. I have never cried so MUCH or so unashamedly. They were praying for healing. They affirmed that God had big plans for me and this event would only escalate those plans.

All my life, I have heard a continuous phrase from God:

“I have big plans for you.”

The day after the accident, I was sitting at the bottom of the waterfall, crying out to God. And then came that whisper that was oh so familiar. But it was a little different this time:

“I still have big plans for you.”

I was crying SO hard. Once again, I was so completely HONORED that the Lord would speak to two strangers, tell them to come pray for me, and then give them words to say about what is REALLY going on with me!

They prayed for confidence.

I was wearing my boho headband around my head, super hippie status, and one woman said, “May I do something prophetically?” She slowly began taking off my headband. “This is your crown from the world. Release yourself from the expectations of the world, your family, your friends, even the expectations you place on yourself. God will give you a new kind of beauty that is based on his love for you. Trust in that. He will make you a holy crown of love.”

“I see Jesus writing his name on your forehead. You are His and He will use you.”

Lindsay saw a picture of a river of life flowing out of my mouth. But it wasn’t a rushing, rapid river. It was liquid words. The river had a melody!!! The river was singing a song of freedom!!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!

Then they told me to stand up. Um. What? Slowly, I stood.

“Put your foot down and stand on it.” WHAT??????! Okaaaayy…..

One woman began praying in tongues and the other was translating. At one point, one of the women said to me, “The Lord has given you a heavenly language. Open your mouth and speak.” I did. I had a certain feeling I have had many times before… it’s almost like my tongue is restless, if that makes sense. I began speaking. I don’t know if I spoke in tongues or not. But it was a release of whatever was inside of me.

And then they began praying for my leg.

“How does it feel?” they asked after they were done praying.

And I swear. My foot felt fine.

“Walk on it!” they urged.

I did! I walked fearlessly and painlessly!

I sat down again for some more praying. Unfortunately, my foot began to hurt again.

But you know what? For that time, no matter how small, I was HEALED. And I refuse to let God’s gift to me be cheapened by “time.”

I talked to Kara about it. She said it was a sign of inward healing. That wouldn’t surprise me.

My quick healing was an encouragement to be confident because, even if only for a moment, I walked without pain!

Before leaving me, they told me to keep walking. Figuratively, and literally.

After church, it was a pretty chill day. I hung out with Lindsay, Heather, and Liezel for a bit.

Worship practice was great. Each song holds new meaning for me now.

Happy Day

The greatest day in history,

Death is beaten

You have rescued me

Sing it out Jesus is alive

The empty cross, The empty grave

Life eternal

You have won the day

Shout it out Jesus is alive

He's alive

Oh happy day, happy day

You washed my sin away

Oh happy day, happy day

I'll never be the same

Forever I am changed

When I stand, in that place

Free at last, meeting face to face

I am Yours

Jesus You are mine

Endless joy, perfect peace

Earthly pain finally will cease

Celebrate Jesus is alive

He's alive

Happy day. That’s all I have to say. 

Tell Your Story.

March 5, 2011

Hey guys J

So I lost my alarm last night. I needed to take a shower QUTIE badly. What was I to do?! Debs was already asleep! SO obviously, the only answer I came up with was to leave a post it trail outside of Morgan’s room, telling her to wake me up J

Last night, however, epicness occurred. I woke up in a panic, thinking, “I CAN’T BREATHE!” So I sit up, throw something hard at Deb and say “DEB HELP ME!” She goes, “WHAT’S WRONG?!” It’s at this point I decide all I need is some water. So I drink some and fall back asleep.

Strangely, Debs does not remember this occurrence. It happened, I SWEAR. I was there J

My Post It trail was a complete SUCCESS!! Hurrah!!!

Taking a shower kind of sucked. My feet were BOTH super sore! But nevertheless, I prevailed! All was well!

Intercom final was super difficult. (Not.) I wanted to cry… until I realized I knew EVERY ANSWER. HA.

After killing that final, I Skyped Francesca and Danielle for a good long time and bawled my eyes out.

They helped me realize that I want to be ok with not being ok. And I need to ask for help.

I realized that I hate accepting things. Compliments, favors, deeds, gentlemen callers (JK), etc. So the fact that now I need people to help me with pretty much EVERYTHING sucks! PLUS. I feel like God rescuing me is a HUGE LIFE-AND-DEATH (LITERALLY!) favor. And I will NEVER be able to pay Him back.

SO how do I live in a way that glorifies Him? I have placed my identity in joy. But I don’t feel all that joyful at the moment. Grateful? YES. Joyful? I wish. But I think I am going to learn the difference between joy and happiness.

In talking to my lovelies this morning, I decided there are two ways to walk away from this:

1)    Be scared of everything. Hello, near death experience.

2)    Be scared of nothing. NOTHING, not even gravity, was able to rip me from God’s plans. So what have I to fear???!

But will I be able to choose a life of fearlessness? As much as I want to, it will be HARD. Like, super duper.

Zachariah cheered me up and taught me how to actually maneuver on my death traps (aka CRUTCHES.)

Had an awesome bonding time with Heather! SO excited to get to know her more!!! Love you, dear J

Heather and I helped PJ lead songs tonight for worship night! Woo! So fun! We did it bonfire style, out under the stars! What a win! It was such a beautiful time of pure thankfulness and enjoyment and freedom and rest.

Being a gimp and all, I have been carried by Zach, PJ, and Mackenzie today. Heather says this is the process of accepting unconditional love. I’m working on it. Thanks, guys!!!! Jesus will bless you in your kindness!!!

Lindsay came by tonight. THANKS FOR LISTENING!!! She is so beautiful. I am blessed to have her in my life!!! My new favorite phrase, courtesy of Lindsay: Tell your story. 

Because I have one now. 

I am super tired and looking forward to a skype date with Demaree tomorrow!!!!

Goodnight, moon. 

The Aftermath

March 4, 2011

Life, man.

Falling asleep last night was AWFUL. I think there was spiritual warfare involved. I fell asleep for like an hour and woke up feeling like I was going to die. I felt like my body was completely silent and like my blood pressure was freakishly slow… I was really scared. Then I couldn’t breathe. And my foot was SO RESTLESS AND I COULND’T MOVE IT BECAUSE IT HURT!!!

Deb prayed for me and read me Isaiah because I couldn’t; my eyes would not stay open. Then I played Pride and Prejudice on my computer, but didn’t watch a SECOND. I was out like a light.

Debster woke me up at 7 this morning, but I fell back asleep til 7:30, so I missed breakfast. Never fear! I am LOADED on granola bars and apples. I skyped my fam for a bit, and then began the oh so torturously long journey to chapel. (in actuality, it’s about a 30 second walk.) But today… oh, man. Luckily, SJ and Meghan found me right as I was about to tackle the super steep stairs. Thanks, guys!!

When I got to chapel, I didn’t stay long. As we opened in prayer, I started crying. It wasn’t really physical pain. I mean, YES, my foot HURTS, but it was mental trauma. I was crying through the first song. And once they got to the second song, the lyrics were “why are you crying.” At that moment, I was out. Karissa and Heather helped me hobble outside. SJ came too. I was BAWLING, feeling completely broken. Where I happened to be sitting was facing the waterfall. Ah.

I am still processing.

But one thing is for sure.

My mind is WAY more messed up than my body.

Which, I guess I should be grateful for…?

When I had somewhat calmed down, Heather, Karissa and I went behind the stage to listen to the sermon. I wanted to hear the message, but the LAST thing I wanted to do was distract people. Something positive? It was clean laundry day, so I was able to rest my foot on Kristina’s clean laundry! Hurrah!

After chapel, Kayla and Zach prayed for me. That was the best thing ever. It reminded me not to let my spirit be discouraged. I decided I wanted to try to let joy shine through everything- the trauma, the pain, the fear, the uncertainty, the confusion… Because joy is a CHOICE. It is not dependent on circumstance. And sure as heck, I wasn’t going to let the enemy rob me of my joy.  

This lead me to my decision to be excited for Reagan and Kristina take me to get X rays. I’ve never gone to a hospital for my own medical purposes, so WHY NOT be excited?!

What an adventure! Let me just say, I am SO THANKFUL FOR KRISITINA! Without her, I would have been flipping out. I hate paperwork and machines and doctors and hospital smell… Kristina, you are an angel. THANK YOU.

The three of us definitely bonded in the waiting room. So great J.

When I went back to get my x rays, the lady was… shall we say… not very gentle? She was HARASSING MY FOOT! I wanted to be all, “OW! DO YOU REALIZE THAT IS CONNECTED TO ME?!” But I was able to restrain myself. THEN she twisted my foot! AHHH my goodness… She made me cry. Then we were excused. “THANKS, ma’am. Have a great day. I hope one day you fall off of a waterfall and someone abuses your foot, too! Blessings!”

Did I mention I have wonderful self-restraint? J

Well. There is nothing wrong with my foot. AT ALL. That in itself is enough to make me cry. And it does. I am a mess. I do not deserve to be completely ok right now!!!!

You know something else? Yesterday morning, Colton cleared out almost all of the rocks from the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. Just for fun.

At least and at last I will have a story to tell.

I want to be changed by this for the better. I want to live in a way that reflects I am a survivor. That sounds so cheesy. Whatever. I’m still kind of traumatized. Correct terminology will have to wait for a later date (whoa, I made a rhyme!)

I keep randomly crying. I am exhausted and super sore.

This song. Thanks, Karissa J

I’m Trading my Sorrows

I'm trading my sorrows

I'm trading my shame

I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

We say yes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord

yes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord

yes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord, amen!

I am pressed but not crushed

Persecuted, but not abandoned

Struck down, but not destroyed

I am blessed beyond the curse,

For His promise will endure

And His joy will be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning!

I feel super gross. But I don’t want to tackle the shower. At least not today… Sorry, guys! Debs febreezed me, so I feel that I’m golden J

The thought of trying to get out of my intercom final has definitely crossed my mind, not going to lie… But it’s not like I have much better to do.

This is such an interesting time to be on a shoe fast. I am still trying to keep it. But AHHHHHH it makes me want to cry! But you know what?! How much more do I get to depend on the Lord? Super positive J

I was feeling awful until I talked to Zach for a bit. Dude. I swear, we are going to be future best friends of life. I know what he told me was from the Lord. I really needed to hear it. Great perspective and insight, as well as a call to action. Way to be!

Not going on facebook today was KILLER!!! There is something so comforting about facebook, you know??

I am so much better right now. (ps. I wrote the first half of this this morning when I was depressed and the other half as I feel much better. Perhaps you can tell from my written ‘tude?)

My foot was doing oh so positively…. Until I was going to the FoxFire initiation (it’s an AE program. We were going to support!) and the ground was uneven… I already have sucky balance… and I may or may not have fell and landed on my injured foot. Good one. Now it has swelled exponentially and feels GREAT.

I got mail today! Thanks Mom! Best part? I got 20 franks. AKA Swiss money. Super useful in good ol’ South Africa J JK, Mom, I think it’s so cool J Thinking about exchanging it… I want to know what the rate is from Switzerland to South Africa! Educational!

I recently tried to take a shower today… but alas… no water. Sniff sniff. OH that’s me, being smelly. HA.

Intercom final tomorrow, and then I am DONE WITH IT!!!! HURRAH!!!! Everybody do a dance!! So great.

Super exhausted.

Night, world J

Waterfalls and MIRACLES.

3/3/11

^ Once again, SUCH a good date!!

So I slept in today until 10:00. Glorious!!!

Then I spent much of the first half of my day studying Zulu by the waterfall for today’s test.

It was such a beautiful day! The sky was singing! The waterfall was so inviting!

Obviously, with such a beautiful waterfall, Zach and I decided to take a study break and climb the waterfall! This is a normal activity here in Africa! And we were climbing the baby waterfall, which is only about 30 ish feet tall, so it was no big deal J

I was having a FANTASTIC time, just relishing in the vivid, undeniable, colossal awesomeness of the waterfall. It was one of those moments when I am simply filled with contentment.

We were heading back up the waterfall oh so successfully! Zach was ahead of me and I was about 2 rocks from the top. I was hoisting myself up to the next rock when my hand SLIPPED. I tried to catch myself with my foot, but there was nowhere to put my foot! It was a stinking WATERFALL, so EVERYTHING was slippery!

I fell.

TWENTY FIVE FEET. I just remember Zach screaming “NO.” And I tumbled down the rocks… I literally hit every part of my body.

I finally reached the pool of water at the bottom. I hit my face. My very first thought: Am I dead? No. Next thought: Am I paralyzed? My head surfaces. “God please let me be ok!” I yell. The water is freezing and paralyzing in itself. I try to remember to breathe. I then remember how to swim. I make it to land. Zach has made it down by this time. I stand up and try to walk just as Zach yells, “Don’t move!” Yep, should have listened because then I felt my left ankle go “Meh.” (I wish I could make the sound for you!) Seeing as walking would be no use, I crawl to dry ground.

I keep telling myself to breathe. I kept thinking, “what’s wrong?” I look down and see some, not much, blood on my legs.

“I thought you were dead!” Thanks, Zach.

Heather and Olivia come. Heather is a nurse and Olivia was so comforting! Zach carried me up to a bench. Heather cleaned my cuts. There was nothing super negative… I might have some nice battle scars, but that’s really about it.

My foot begins to REALLY hurt. I can still wiggle my toes if I TRULY want to, which I don’t. But I could J. By now, a PLETHERA of the world’s greatest people have gathered. Deb got me my insurance in case I was going to the hospital. Bethany got the nursing professor. Heather got me a tea time snack. Shelli got me a blanket and tea. Many other people came out of love. I was so grateful. I can’t even say.

My body was definitely in shock. I began hyperventilating. It wasn’t from pain. It was from realizing that in actuality, I should be dead. Or paralyzed at the very LEAST. But I was FINE.

Literally, I was saved by Christ today. It is a MIRACLE. I cannot begin to express the gratitude I feel. Towards LIFE. Towards the LORD. Towards the people who cared enough to make sure I was ok.

I wasn’t alone.

As Jenny pointed out, I feel like God must have big plans for me, or else I would probably not be here right now. I mean, WHAT ARE THE ODDS?! I WAS BOUNCING DOWN ROCKS OFF OF A WATERFALL into a pool that is not deep! I fell TWENTY FIVE FEET! ALL it would have taken was ONE good head knock, and I would be dead.

I am not trying to scare you.

I am just saying, I am freaking GRATEFUL right now!!!

I have been rescued.  

I was so lucky to have many wonderful visitors!!!! Thanks, guys!!

Ok, so now, my foot officially feels like heck. There will be an X ray tomorrow for suresies.

I am EXHAUSTED and grateful and super drained emotionally.

So for me, everyone please smile J

And I guess, in retrospect, falling off of a waterfall is kind of legit. 

That makes me a true South African. :)

Walking by Faith, not by Sight in the Rain Forest

March 1^st, 2011

RABBIT!!! HAPPY MARCH!! Time is FLYING! I cannot believe it… the other day I had a momentary blonde moment and thought we were in January. Ahem.

I barely slept a wink last night. No sleep for the Ren-ster…

So I skipped the run… sorry, Morgan!!!

I was completely out of it all day. I think that’s what happens with about 2 hours of sleep? Negative!

My whole day was kind of a blur, not going to lie!

For once, I don’t really feel like writing about it. Sorry!

Most exciting things: hanging out with Zach and D- Group. LOVE my D- Group! SO positive! We decided that this week, we are going to pray for divine appointments, and the ability to have super deep conversations with those we don’t know well yet.

Got in bed around 10:30. Zonked OUT! I am pretty sure I had some crazy dream… but I don’t recall.

3/2/11

^How fun is that date?!

5:30 came quickly this morning. I was still feeling the effects of the previous night’s complete lack of sleep, plus the winds were RAGING! I loved the wind. I think it’s a physical form of Heaven. Any Walk to Rememer fans?! “It’s like the wind. I can see it… But I can feel it.”

ANYWHO! The wind! Allergies have still followed me to South Africa. Alas, my valiant Claratin does little to ward off the crazy weather. Therefore, my breathing sucks, which I’ve heard can be negative for excercising... At the end of our run, Morgan and I decided to pray for our day. SUCH A GREAT DECISION!! It completely set the day aright.

The past two days, I have felt like I haven’t been living completely for Christ. I have been selfish and comfortable… And I realized that was SO not ok. So today, I tried to dedicate my day completely to the Lord by keeping him first and having intentional conversations… It was completely positive!!!

At breakfast, I got to talk to Kayla and Meghan. After History and Culture, Kayla and I prayed. Then, a trip to the waterfall! GREAT prayer time! I read a passage in Isaiah EXACTLY applicable to what I’m going through!

“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, and peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” –Isaiah 48:17-18.

I love when that happens J

A great encouragement:

I had the most beautiful email from Dema today! Thank you, my love!!! It gave me a smile for QUITE some time. You are amazing, my dear!!!

UPDATE ON FASTING:

I did not realize I depended on shoes so much. Without those lovely feet-protectors, I have to rely on God for literally every step that I take. I have decided to call this journey walking by faith, not by sight. I noticed today that I am always looking down, watching where I’m going. Today, God was all, “TRUST ME.”

SO now I am trying not to focus on my feet, but where I'm going. SO HARD!!!!!!!!!

Fasting Facebook has been really hard. Like, really. Even more so than shoes. Because a slight perk of no shoes is not always having to put them on. You can literally just GO. Maybe that's something else God is teaching me!!!! I need to GO and not make sure that I can be in control of everything before walking down the path He is asking me to!

Whoa. Just realized that!

Deal: I want my thoughts to be absolutely CONSUMED with the Lord. I want to be obsessed with Jesus. I feel like I am, but I have more to go, you know? :) SO, my feet hurt. But I'm glad. And not being on Facebook has freed up a lot of my time.... which is silly and SUCH a good realization!!! I need to be ALL here, or I will waste opportunities! I am NOT going to let that happen. 

RANDOM LOVES OF MY LIFE:

1)    SINK HOPPING! There are three sinks in our chalet. I love to sink hop. For example, wash my hands in one sink, get my toothbrush wet in the second, and spit in the third. It’s a party for sure! J

2)    STARS! They hadn’t been out in a long time here, as we have been experiencing constant mist at night. But NOW, they are GLORIOUS!!! Absolutely breath taking. Sigh.

3)    Super great bus conversations!

After lunch, we departed and left to go see the world famous Drakensburg Boy Choir. It’s the South Africa mini version of Man Choir! On the way, I sat next to Tyler. And I guess he is kind of ok.

No, he is great! Such a great friendship! I am completely thankful for my big brother Tyler J

Tyler drew me for art. What do you think? :)

These Drakensburg boys. They were all under the age of 15, with the youngest being about 8 years old. They were pretty good. The first half, they sang all choral music. It was quite conservative, and the dynamics kind of stank which resulted in a somewhat boring first half. Meh.

When we came back in after intermission, I was in for a jaw-dropper. The entire second act was African traditional music with tribal dancing and drums and scattered “HALLELU!”s! So marvelous!!!

But the BEST PART was yet to come. All of a sudden, the lights went out. And behold! A feast for our ears! An acapella rendition of an African RAIN FOREST!! Complete with a thunder storm. It was so precise and beautiful and natural.. I was BLOWN AWAY! It must have taken WEEKS to piece that together, let alone perfect it!!

And as a grand finale, there was a step dance team, complete with Can Can kicks interspersed! WHAT MORE DO I NEED?!

Absolutely positive.

When we got back, it was 7:30, but I swear, it felt like midnight!

A chill evening.

I have a Zulu test tomorrow… haven’t studied yet… Meh…

Undeniable evidence that Demaree Sarnowski and I are going to be friends FOREVER:

I love u more than 

Diana loves pills

The phantom loves Christine

Maria loves Tony

Little red loves her baked goods.

I mean, come on. Dema, you rock my world. Miss you!!!

I am going to head to the prayer chapel in a bit. If a miracle occurs, I’ll be sure to pass it on!

Live your day in love.