Revelation

In a previous post, I talked about a book I was reading called Silent Tears, a journal from a woman who volunteered in a Chinese orphanage for a few years. The stories from this book are from one extreme to another. She tells a story of a nanny holding a child outside a three-story window threatening to drop her, to telling how much the orphanage improves over time, and the love stories between her and the children. I found myself crying as I read the stories. How could someone do something so terrible? And yet, she makes such an impact in these kids lives.This woman steps in, helping with the orphanage's every day routine while giving the children something they have probably never felt before--Love and affection.

The crazy thing is, as I read this book, I found myself thinking, "I could see myself doing something like that." Seriously thinking too, not just like "oh that would be fun."

The weeks went on, and I got caught up in my fundraising to really think anymore about what the Lord had placed on my heart. I was talking to one of my friends I haven't talked to in awhile, and we were just asking the usual "catch-up" questions. At one point the question of college came up, and he said he was going to go to Belmont, and I've been thinking about looking into the China program that they offer. So, I told him that just to be like, "what a coincidence." haha.

Then he says, "Do you know what you wanna be?"
I replied, "No... but I know the Lord has called me to do something in China, something definitely with orphans."

And he goes, "So... a missionary?"

At the point I stopped. I kind of freaked out. YES. That's exactly what I would love to do. But then again, would I really? Leaving my family and friend behind to go live in a third-world country where I know nobody? It scared me for a little bit. But I suppose if it's what I'm called to do, He will work everything out the way it should. :)

The story gets even cooler though. Sunday night at church we had a great sermon about not worrying about what in the world you're here for, but who in the world you're here for. We split up into our lifegroups to talk about the message and answer questions.

One of the questions: Who in the world do you think you're here for?

People started answering, and as I sat there and thought, the only thing I could think of was those precious children in the orphanages of China who NEED help.

So, when it comes to me I answer. "The orphans in China..." I say.

My lifegroup know all about my trip and have walked with me as I've been preparing for it... and when I answered my leader asks, "That's what you want to do with your life, isn't it?"

I was caught completely off guard by this question. I thought, why does this keep showing up in my life?

"YES. The answer is yes." I say. "Oh my goodness. Yeah, I would love to... I feel like that's where the Lord is calling me to be."

Revelation.

That's the only word I could think of to explain my feeling after these experiences. As I'm a rising Junior in highschool, I find people--mostly my parents--asking me what I'd like to do with my life. And I never know what to reply, because I never knew what I would love to do for the rest of my life. But I think I've finally found it. I mean, I don't know exactly what I'll be doing... but I know that I will be helping orphans in anyway I possibly can. I know I will be sharing them the Love they have never experienced before. That I know for sure.

Praise the Lord, because that's a load off my chest for now. At least I have a place to start in my search for colleges. HE IS GOOD. :)

Anyways, I just needed to share this, because I thought it was kind of cool:)

Until next time... :)

Waterproof

Waterproof.

It doesn't seem like such an important word. I mean, usually when things aren't, you can deal with it. Usually.

I made the mistake the last time I bought mascara to not look to see if it is indeed, waterproof. Normally, I'd be able to live with it--no sweat. Normally.

Recently, I've found myself wiping tears from my eyes more often than not. This trip has been such a blessing to me, and the response I keep receiving is amazing. There were times times when I could have really used my waterproof makeup. For example...

When your best friend walks into your study hall, hands you a computer, and tells you to read a message she received. That message being from her friend from her past move, saying she found my blog and was reading it, and decided she needed to send me money.

Yeh, I could've used it when I started crying the instant I read that--in front of the entire class. Which resulted in black being smeared allllllll over my face, haha.

Or... when you write on your facebook status that you need people to donate some of the things for the activities you'll be bringing, and immediately you have 3-4 people say they'd love to help.

But, not all tears have been good. I've cried saddened tears for these kids. Tears of realization. My team leader posted this video on facebook last week, and I found myself crying. I hope that if you have not seen this, or even if you have, you will take the time to watch it once. It's an amazing video, and I hope it has the same effect on you, as it did on me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHJ6-YhSYQ&feature=player_embedded

All this being said, I think it's time to invest in some waterproof makeup... what do ya'll think? :)

2010 China Video

So, I realized that I never put pictures from last year's trip up here. For those of you who aren't friends with me on facebook, I put together a video of pictures. It's hard to smush such an amazing trip into 7 minutes... but I suppose you could say these are the highlights. You can click here to watch it. Hope you enjoy:)

Mix-Up

I think there must have been a mix-up...

I'm in TN. My dad is in China.

It should be the other way around. Shouldn't it?

I know. What's up with that?

My dad is finishing up his MBA, and in order to do that they have to travel abroad for a week. It just so happened that China was right when he was finishing up, so he figured, why not?
Him and his class have been sightseeing, visiting businesses, and they're going to visit Hope Foster Home (Steven Curtis Chapman's foster home).

I've been reading his facebook posts and stuff, and I'm going CRAZY. You wouldn't believe it. I wish I could've stowed away in his suitcase and stayed for 23 days until my trip.... but alas, school got in the way ;)

It's funny, because leading up to his trip and even the night before, he wasn't that excited. I mean, he was. But, not as excited as I was for him. If you can imagine that. We were sitting at dinner Friday night and I'm asking him questions and freaking out. No joke. And he was being so chill. He hadn't even packed a single thing. Yeh, I know. He is a crazy man. haha.

He's really enjoying it now, and apparently blowing everyone away with his bargaining skills (which I need to brush up on). But it's just funny to me that I could be so excited about someone else's trip, more so than them at first.

I guess it just goes to show how much I love China:)
I really wish I could be there with him. I think it would be great if to experience the whole Beijing routine and even visiting an orphanage with my family. Maybe sometime in the near future... :)

Anyways, if ya'll could keep him and his class in your prayers as they are traveling on Saturday, that would be great. :)

They're the Best...

A lot of people say they have the best parents in the world... well, I hate to say it, but unless they're my two sisters or brother--they're wrong. Because I'm pretty sure we do. :)

I love my parents so much. No matter how much they annoy me, or embarrass me (which is quite a bit)... I love them more than anything else in this world :) They are so quirky and funny, but most of all, they love me unconditionally. They're those people that love you no matter what you do. They always push me to be who God has called me to be. Their focus is to teach us kids about the Lord. They always put family first. They are so supportive.

If not for my momma and dad, I would not be able to be going on this trip. Not only because they paid for my plane ticket (which I'm working hard to pay back!), but because of the support, help, and prayers they have given me. Anything from doing yard work all day to get ready for a movie night, my dad setting up all the tech stuff in the heat of the day, or my mom staying up till 4 in the morning to help set up for a garage sale.

They really are the best. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to call my mom and dad.

Momma and I

Dad, papa, daddyo, padre, daddy... ? and I :)

We Walk by FAITH, Not by SIGHT

"for we walk by FAITH, not by sight..."

--2 Corinthians 5:7

This is one of those verses you always grow up hearing in church. It's not about seeing, it's believing. Unfortunately, this is one of those things I have been guilty every once in a while of not doing, and this comes mostly with the money situation for this trip. I find that whenever I receive money I find myself being so excited and believing that this is going to happen and I'll reach my goal. But on the days when nothing comes in, I get discouraged. An example is when this week I received enough money to pay the rest of my way AND half of my plane ticket to pay my parents back (that was my biggest goal), but then found out today I have about $600 left because of connecting flights being booked. I was pretty upset. Instead of being upset though, I should be joyful. Joyful that the Lord is working, and He is using my every step of the way for HIS glory, and not my own.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for good and not evil, to give you a hope and a future.' "

--Jeremiah 29:11

I was called to on this trip, He KNEW that. He knows how I'll get there, He knows when it'll happen, He knows it won't be easy. HE KNOWS. It's my job to trust, and do the best I can in my fundraising, and rest in the peace of mind knowing He will take care of everything.

I had a pastor tell me once that raising money for your trip is part of the process of going on a mission trip. It's part of the struggle. It's a faith building process. And I think without it, it wouldn't make the mission seem so great, like it's not that big of a deal.

I believe the reason I didn't feel the need to go on this trip until such a short time ago (2 months before the trip) was because He wanted to test my faith. And it surely has been a tough one. But I cannot be any happier that He is using me in such a powerful way. They say: God does not call the prepared, but He prepares the called. That has stuck with me through this whole process, and it truly is encouraging.

"Trials have come to you so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

--1 Peter 1:7

This is my prayer, that the Lord will use this test in faith to bring glory and honor to His name. I believe if nothing else, this is why He thrust me into this trip only months before our plane is supposed to leave the ground. I'm not complaining, I'm observing. I wouldn't change a single way this whole process has gone. I've been through the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I know each and every trial has been to test my faith, and every good thing was to reassure me everything will be fine. It ALWAYS is.

Ephesians 2:10

Here's a verse I discovered the other day... thought I'd share. I love it. This is why we do mission trips, specially those we feel our calling is towards.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10

God prepared and planned for each and every one of us on this Chenzhou team to go on this mission trip. I cannot wait to do what He has called us to, share the love of Christ to these kids, forever change them, and be forever changed myself.

Deadline

So things are winding down! There's 25 days until I leave home, and 26 until I leave the US! I can't even express to you how excited I am!

Fundraising has been going pretty well with the money situation. I just found my deadline is May 22nd: and I still need about $1,000. But God will provide. I know He will. :)

I've had so many wonderful people donate to me, and so many wonderful people support my by buying my clips/headbands (check them out!), and so many wonderful people have/are supporting me through prayer. Each way is such a blessing to me, and I just wanted to thank all who have helped. I love you all dearly. :)

On another note, here are a few things I've found over the past few days:

1) Drivers seem to be happiest when it's nice out. They're so nice on the road.

2) If you tell kids not-so-great news (such as having to clean up and take a bath) in a crazy way , it sugar-coats the news, and they're happy to do it with the image of you dancing around and singing. :)

3) Most people are good people. Even if you meet someone whose grumpy, remember we all have bad days, and today is probably theirs. There's no need return the foul mood. A simple smile can brighten even the saddest person. So why not be a ray of sunshine? :)

Prayer

I just wanted to share a little story that happened to me yesterday:

Yesterday was just an ordinary day. School, tests, chores, more school, dance.... typical Friday.

At about 1:40 I went back to school for Latin, but I was checking my facebook messages on the way in. I received a sweet note from my lifegroup leader and friend about how she was praying for me and my trip. It made me smile. :) I was just walking into school though, so I put my phone away and sat down to study for my test.

Literally, two minutes later a girl walks up to me and says, "Hey Megan, I was told to give this to you from ___ (A senior at my school)." And she hands me a check. I smiled and said thanks, and put the check in my wallet as it was time to go into class.

After school I drove to dance and I had forgotten about the check as my brain was still rapped up in Latin class (it'll do that to you, haha). And I pulled in, very early mind you, and so I pulled the check out... and it's a for $100.

I started crying right there.

I could not believe it.

Do not underestimate the power of prayer. Literally two minutes after I read the message, I received. It still blows me away. Anything is possible, we just have to believe, with Faith Like A Child.

"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened."
--Matthew 7:7

Praise the Lord!

Never underestimate the power of prayer.

So if you two lovely ladies whom I have mentioned here today are reading this, I just wanted to thank you so very much. You guys are such blessings to me, and I love you so much. :)