Sugar rush

       Okay think back to childhood when you would eat lots and lots of candy even though your parents would tell you not too, but you would do it anyway. And you would get this burst of energy and run around and around the house for about 10 mins then crash. I mean to you it felt like hours soaring in the air, feeling invincible, until the sugar kicked in and the tummy ache began yeah fun stuff. I mean I still do this same act today sometimes, but that is beside the point. What I am trying to get at is the moment of invincibility that one feels on that sugar kick that seems to last forever. Since November I have been running around like that little kid, working and working on raising the money. At times my sugar kick would wear off but I always found more candy and was rebooted. The last fall was the hardest, because I was the most recent. I checked my account and I was almost there, I had about $250 left to pay. The next day I saw that $200 was gone out of the mission account. As the days past and I was in that duel stage, I finally retrieved out more candy booted back up and realized ok I have 10 days to get the money, so I worked sold some stuff and got the money. I don't know if anyone followed that, but the point is I never gave up in the hard times even though there were difficult times I mean for a 20 year old unemployed to raise almost $10,000 in 5 months was a toil. In that time I kept up my grades and other parts of my life, I had rough patches but if I did not I would have been worried. I would not be prepared for whatever I am going to face on my journey.

Wait for the LORD; 

be strong, and let your heart take courage; 

wait for the Lord! 

Psalm 27:14 

    As I waited on the Lord and he spoke to me in many different ways, there were times I got mad and wanted to do things my own way. But others kept on reminding me 'Anna dear, patience it will pay off, everything happens for a reason.' There was a time I got tired of hearing that 'everything happens for a reason, because that is all I had been hearing since I was in 9th grade. But someone I love and dear to my heart, he reminded me that he just wanted to say it because it is true and I should be reminded of it. Because God has carried me this far, what else does he have in store for me! 

Dreams

"If this life is one act 

Why do we lay all these traps

We put them right in our path

When we just wanna be free 

I will not waste my days

Making up all kinds of ways

To worry about all the things

That will not happen to me." 

-Jason Mraz 

    For years upon years I placed things in front of my dreams, I would make up excuses and listen to the world. The fact that my dream is not going to bring in a lot of money, so I went with the doctor route. Then that was to hard for me so I drifted to nursing, since my mom and my grandmother were both nurses I already had a lot of that knowledge. But that did not settle with me either. After some other majors I settled on my final major, Non profit. I went so many days and nights. I wasted those times and hours in classes doing what I was not suppose to be doing. Finally I decided I was going to let go and fly free as a bird. I flew. Once I let go and let God in his arms open wide incased me in his loving arms. I am home. I am safe. Why have I left him for so long? He had always be there? I was free and now the hard road of my dream began. But God has provided SO much already. I am ALMOST done raising my money, I would not be here with out him, and the lovely people who have donated, prayed, and just been here by my side with me. 

"You can turn off the sun,

but I'm still gonna shine." 

-Jason Mraz 

   Everything seems dandy going great in life, got money, a good job, have stupendous grades in school all is right. Then BAM trajede interrupts your life, what are you going to do? My life has had a lot of those BAM moments but I have not stopped, I have just learned more and more from them. Lost support in my dream to go to Africa, twist and turns to getting there, and way before that in my life. But I have become more confident in myself and I lean on my powerful Savior in every situation. He is always there for me. He never leaves my side. So things can come, but I am still going to shine bright and not let them get me down. 

                    Do not let anyone or anything get you down in your life, be yourself. Follow your dreams and strive for your best. Get the negative thoughts out of your mind, and keep the positive pumping in your brain!

    

COME ONE COME ALL

'Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul, 

And sings the tune--without the words, 

And never stops at all, 

And sweetness in the gale is heard; 

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm. 

I've heard it in the chillest land, 

And on the strangest sea; 

Yet, never, in extremity, 

It asked a crumb of me.' 

-Emily Dickinson  

HOPE is strong, loving, kind, helpful, and caring. Here in this poem Dickinson describes HOPE as one that gives, and is strong, able, stays with us all the time yet does not ask for anything in return. Today was a day my HOPE grew immensely. Today was my yard sale, yesterday we got a lot of rain and so worries ran through my veins. Anxiety eased through my pours as I waited for those to come. Some came, others not. I kept on praying and then this poem came to my mind. I love Emily Dickinson and this is a poem I have known for a while, and when I get down I simply recite the first stanza. And I am calmer but another thing is trusting in the Lord. 

Since December, when I began the journey of applying for this program I started to trust more and more. I knew that I was not going to be able to get to Africa with out his love and support. Along with think about this poem I recite one of my favorite bible verses, it is not much but the words are powerful to me. 

'Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.' 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

When I read this verse years ago I just held onto it dear to my heart, because it is what I need to hear a lot of times. And when I hear it I feel a lot better. 

I know that I have hard times a head, but God has been blessing me so much. Like I said I had my Yard Sale today, and I had a great turn out and made good money! I was so thankful for Christ, which I am not ever not thankful! OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!! and he is doing great and powerful things! 

Helping Hand

A wise woman, who had a signature look and who kept to herself and influenced people through her films and later through her relief work once stated:

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. And remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others."

The phenomenal woman in which these powerful words came from is the glamorous Audrey Hepburn. Most people know people know her from her movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, Love in the Afternoon, or Funny Face. These movies are some of my favorites, but I also love her for what she spoke. Just in this quote, one should follow and listen to the wisdom that is spoken in these lines above.

As I go on this journey I have to take these lessons along with me, I mean I follow them here in my life but faced with different people who I don't know in an unknown area might be harder in a way. One should prepare their mind, body, but mainly their heart for everything they face in life. Realizing you have a helping hand for not just those who are close to you, but to complete strangers. Not only are they strangers, but their are many obstacles to jump with them, such as a language barrier, culture, age, and many more. But with the love of Christ over you anything is possible. He is over you, watching over you in everything you do. Some verses I cling to in times of distress are:

'My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praise, and I am saved from my enemies.' 2 Samuel 22:3-4
'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10
'Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.' Psalm 138:7
'The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.' Zephaniah 3:17

This is just one way I can stay close to the Lord, the main way I love to worship him is through song. I feel so close to him in those time. My soul overflows with his love and I fully surrender to his grace. Especially when I play and sing, that is my time with him my time to rejoice in him and to love on him. He is my Rock and I just want to celebrate him! Keeping to these truths- he has called me and equipped me to care for all, that he is going to protect me through it, and that I will rejoice him in it all. Are going to keep me going through these times!

It's a journey

It takes strength, endurance, and faith to continue through a journey. Some are joyous others are tiresome and then there are the treacherous ones. But in each one you will gain new skills and become a better person. I have had many journeys, trials, celebrations, and defeats. But in each one I have gained knowledge, endurance, hope, a caring heart, determination, and to never give up.
A new journey awaits me come July 6th I have been preparing since December, I am ready for this. I have been praying and becoming closer to God, leaning on him each and every day! I cannot wait to go on this journey. I know I am going to learn so much from this trip! Meet new people, experience new cultures, and help others. More is to come through these times, but through people's help and support I have gotten far but I still need more!
To donate online go to experiencemission.org sign in with ID: agai1000 PW: journey12 then hit on immersion participant and hit PAY NOY! Thank you very much! Every bit helps! Thank you again!

Outreach

Going out there to other parts of the nation and to other nations is an outreach. It is a ministry within it's on, reaching out to others in love and teaching them about their Savior. My time here in America and in Africa is one in which God placed on my heart a while ago. I can remember in 8th grade I was called to mission, I was finally able to go overseas in 2011 to Nicaragua. That was a life changing experience and so was going to Malawi this past summer. But also my heart has been moved by the many years of service in my own community. I have learned so much about the people and how just in Macon, Ga people are suffering. This is a picture that I painted for someone showing where I will be going from July 6-Dec 20!! Keep on praying guys! Thank you again!

A journey has many different steps and markers along the way. Sometimes it is not easy other times it is, but one needs to keep moving forward. In my journey to Africa I have had times that I literally thought it was all over, and did not think there would be a happy ending. But I kept on going, and going. I am almost there out of the $9,300 of the check off with Experience Missions I have $7,550. I have more to raise and after their check off is made I still have money to raise. I really need about $10,100 or so. But God has equipped me with so many different gifts to help me raise the money. Such as bracelets and paintings. My paintings have done quite well and it is something I enjoy. Also I have having a Yard Sale this weekend and there I will have not only bracelets and paintings but also baked goods. These three ways are easy ways for me to raise money. I am going to finish the race strong and mighty with God's strong hand. He has been here with me the whole time, and I thank him every day for all he has done! I have worshiped and praised him throughout the times, and he has comforted my soul. In Romans 12:12 it says "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." This verse is reiterating what I have been talking about NOT GIVING UP! Everyone has the ability to keep going and moving on to their goal, just do not stop. Thank you again for all who have supported and those who are eaint