A Lasting Legacy

I sit here..with my school life, my school schedule, my school friends, my school apartment...and I miss it.

Sometimes I feel bad, because I don't miss it as often as I missed it last year. But when I do, it is a fierce force that comes over me. I mostly feel it creep in late at night when I can't get to sleep...

I looked at how I have changed since I have been in Abilene. I still have the same morals and I still have the same personality. The same things make me laugh and the same things make me cry. I have become a quiet person here. A person who is focused on what needs to be done to get where I want to go.I have fun with friends here, still...but, most of the time I feel like there is something more purposeful here...and I have started concentrating more on school during the weeks instead of going to parties or doing nothing. I guess, I am a person who is growing up and becoming an adult.

It amazes me how I miss the most simple things. I miss holding Trinity in my lap at every opportunity and I miss the worship at PUMP (Oh Gosh...how I miss it). I miss just going to Cheronn's house and not doing anything...just sitting on the couch and watching TV, I miss knowing she was right down the street...just in case---and knowing that she would have open arms. I miss the small escapes I took at the White's house...and how I miss all five of them. Even though I didn't in any way encourage it, I miss Sai's little taps on my back side...because it let me know that he felt comfortable around me. I miss the sight of a mountain off in the distance, behind the haze. And gosh, oh gosh...how I miss those waterfalls.

The things that I remember at all times are the lessons and other things I took away from PUMP. There were so many that I have learned over the past almost two years.
1. There are more and different people outside my bubble---and those are the ones that I need to reach out to the most.
2. Expect friendship from the unexpected. I got one of my two best friends that way :)
3. Someone is always watching me. Most of the time, I probably don't even know it, but they are...and little eyes are precious and take everything in.
4. There are some places that feel just like home. And PUMP will always be one of them.
5. People care...when you think they don't--they will probably surprise you.
6. The world is NOT about me. The world is about how we can help each other out.
7. I learned, that in fact, I am not too young to be viewed as a mentor. And even if it scares me to death---I could be a huge factor in some of those kids' lives..and I need to be a good one.
8. I think I have found my calling through PUMP. Inner city ministries and education is something I long for after graduation. Hopefully, in Portland...but if not, I will go where ever God leads me.
9. God loves me, Jesus died for me, and I can have hope in the resurrection!



SO even though I do not long for PUMP as much as I did when I left last year, I carry the lessons I learned and the friends I gained in my heart daily.

Thank you, PUMP...for your lasting legacy on my life. Hopefully, there will be more to come!

It's Over...

I did have greater plans for this blog.

But let the lack of daily posts help you to know that my summer was amazing.

Im going to start writing on my personal blog, but I am going to keep this one in the hope that I can write on it again this summer.

We are about to start our last week of camp. I cannot believe it is almost over. I really cannot believe it is almost time for me to leave here.

The kids have been so wonderful this year, and it makes for less exciting stories when they just love on me and let me love on them back.

I remember when I filled out my application to come here. It seemed this summer that there were more reasons for me NOT to come than for me to come. I did fill out the application, obviously, and I am here again and though it has been a different journey for me this summer, I know it has been better than last summer. I know that I came for the right reasons this summer and I know that because of that, I have been moved more spiritually and emotionally by the events of the summer. I thank God for putting me here with the people that I am here with. And I am so gracious for all 15 of my first and second graders.

Life is going to go on in three weeks and I will start the down slide of my college career in about 4 weeks. Thoughts have been going through my head about what I have to accomplish in these next two years. It is overwhelming, but I am very excited about living on my own, hopefully in a different state than Texas and finding out who I am on my own.

Thats not really related to my internship, but these next two years and phasing into adulthood has been weighing on my heart lately.

Here are some pictures from Portland...



I love this little girl a lot. She was one of the huge reasons I decided to come back this summer.



Little Bryan




my zoo girls



Cheronn and Me after one of our fun nights



One of my returning campers, T'yonna Thomas-Pinney



Me and Casey Nell

I'll post more later, but I am about to hit the hay!

This past week was a really good one for me. The youth group that came this week was amazing and we were so lucky to have them again this year. The kids werent too hyper this week and that is always a plus for me, the counselor of the 1st and 2nd graders. The zoo field trip was a little more hectic than was comfortable, but I'm glad it was a challenge. There was not enough room on the bus, which force some of us into a van, as well. I have 5 little girls in my zoo group and loved every second of it. These kids teach me a lot about patience and a lot about loving kids who try to show that they don't need to be loved.

Outside time as been fun. I spent a night with the Whites, who are an absolutely amazing family. I enjoy every second I get to spend with them. And of course, their oldest daughter is a gift beyond words to me.

I got the chance to go to the Oregon coast yesterday with Kenli, Kams, and Erica. Kami and I decided to jump in and it was pretty darn cold, but well worth it to say that I have been in the water off the Oregon coast.

I actually just got back from a day in Seattle. It was great to go to a new place and see things that I have only heard about. It was also AH-mazing to spend a day with one of the few constant people in my life.


This coming week, we dont have a youth group, but only 7ish adults from Washington. Therefore, we are having to provide two VBS stations and two VBS assemblies, while trying to tame our kids :) So please send a few words up for the kids and for us. It is definitely going to be a testing week, but from last summer I remember those being the weeks that I held most dear.

So, week 1 of PSP is over . It was a fast week, a hectic week, but an awesome week. The youth groups we had this week definitely set a high standard for those that are to follow them. I am very blessed with the 15 or so 1st and 2nd graders that I will have throughout the summer. Their personalities and their smiles brighten my day.

I didnt really have any earth breaking experiences this week, but it was good.

Thank you for the thoughts and the prayers that are going up for me and for the kids at PSP.

WOW first day was pretty hectic.

Today, I had 11 kids in my 1st and 2nd grade group. They are good kids and I feel VERY VERY blessed to have them. Today was really really busy. We are at a church this year and there was actually a funeral there at 1 this afternoon. This was pretty stressful, since our camp does not end until 2:30. But, with a movie on the screen and popcorn in their hands, the kids were troopers as were the youth groups and other interns.

All in all, it was a great first day with kids!

I realized just now that I have not posted anything on here in a while.
Stuff has been busy. I am working during the ady and hanging out at night.
I really cannot wait for PSP to start on Monday and for my kids to come and to start having a blast with them at camp.

Its been great fun hanging out with friends that I made last summer and really getting to hang out with a close friend, Cheronn for a good amount of time. I have missed these people fror a year and it is great to hang out with them when the work day is over.

Days off are a blessed occurance here and I have enjoyed having one today for the 4th. I got a chance to just chill and watch movies at the Tucker's with Kenliall day and now I am basking in the glory of an air conditioned house at the Lowery's and watching MI3 with Kerry. Air conditioning is a rarity in houses here and Im glad that I know someone who has it this summer :)


I'm sure I will have many fun stories when PSP starts, but rght now it is just exciting to enjoy the low key nature of getting ready for the kiddos.