Right when I got home my schedule picked up! Making up work that I had missed while I was gone, trying to get back into the swing of things and of course getting back out in the community as Miss Tampa!
Even though I was only gone for a week....It has changed my lifestyle...
Living here in America there is a fast food restaurant on every other corner of the street. Going to Starbucks is nothing unusual, and if you need something... we drive up to Publix, or CVS and get it.
This is not the case in a third world country.
I have found myself driving home from school thinking about what food I could pick up on my way to work... or where the closest Starbucks is... and I cant bring myself to go buy that food that my stomach so desperately wants. Instead I decide that going home and getting whatever we have in the pantry would be best.
Through this whole thought process I can only picture one thing.... those little kids in Honduras that stole my heart. I think about how happy they were to have just a little bit of rice and mashed up beans.
I cant bring myself to go buy something that I truly dont need.
I was sitting on the couch with my mom and dad talking a few weeks ago... and they were talking about their plans for that Saturday, and how they were going to go to the mall and then lunch. I looked at them and said "I cant bring myself to spend my money on anything... because I just dont need any of it."
I know this conviction is from God. And I dont want it to go away.
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A few weeks before I left in September, I went to the Miss Americas Outstanding Teen Pageant to support Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen, Elizabeth Fechtel! This young woman is one of the most amazing people I have ever met! She is poised, well rounded, and amazing speaker, and beautiful!
That night she won Miss Americas Outstanding Teen!!!! It was such a surreal feeling for all of us who went to support her... I cant even imagine how it must have felt for her!
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| Elizabeth and I! |
It is tradition that when a state title holder wins a national title, that the state throws a welcome home celebration for the winner! I went with Miss Orange County, Brittany Hagan to celebrate Elizabeth's new crown! At this homecoming we also crowned the new Miss Florida's Outstanding teen, Rachel Strever! I am so excited for her, and cant wait to see how she uses the crown to open doors for herself and the state of Florida!
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| Brittany and I! |
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When I got back from Honduras I went with a few friends to Atlanta to see Coldplay, one of my favorite bands! On this trip we stoped at Andy Stanley's Church, Northpoint, on Sunday!
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| Coldplay! |
....Back to Northpoint....
In Andy's lesson he started talking about how us as Americans feel so entitled... and we feel like we are entitled to all of this stuff!... When we arent really entitled to it.
He used the verse John 13:12-17 when Jesus washed his disciples feet...
"Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life."
Right there in the middle of service... I started crying... Flashbacks of Washing dirty little feet came to the forefront of my mind.... it was then that I knew God would never let me forget the journey that I had just taken.
I understood and saw what Andy was speaking about... but I truly understood that lesson in more than one way that sunday morning. It was such an overwhelming feeling!
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Last weekend we had Honduras get together, and I got to see some of the team that we went with!
I missed them so much! It is so cool to see that even though we haven't seen each other in over a month... our hearts are all still on the same page! We took sometime to Facetime the boys from MikesChair so we could include them some how! (they are all still in Nashville, working hard!)
On GREAT news from the trip, Carmen from the Joy fm has one of the babies out of the government orphanage, and Hopefully on her way to America to be Adopted!!!!! Carmen met this little baby on our trip, and was taken back by her... she knew something was special! Right before we left she asked what the babies name was.... and the lady responded "Se llama Carmen".... This little babies name is Carmen too!!!! Right then she knew it was meant to be, that, that baby had something special!
I am so excited to see this little modern day miracle come true!
Our whole team is praying for this baby, her health, and Gods plans for her life! Please be praying for her too!
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| Carmen and Baby Carmen |
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150366828449844&fb_source=message
Needless to say... I am jealous. I want the little ones that I met to be out of the government orphanages.... I want them to be taken care of.. I want Elsa to have a safe home, and a great family who she can trust!...
That just means I cant give up... I have to keep praying, and I have to remember that God has a time and a place for everything!
I am so humbled, Coming back home to everything I could ever want... or need. It just makes me very proud to be an American, and it makes me want to share the joy and the things that I have in my life.
This Month has been fantastic being able to share what God has done, and what he is doing! I love it!
Thats all for now!
Thank you for reading!
Keep praying, anything is possible!
