So Close I Can Finally See It

Today I can say exuberantly and with much relief that I have one glorious week at Clydehurst camp ahead of me. This means one week without fundraising; one week where I can sit down if my feet hurt, go hiking, play games, meet new people, and take a nap if I'm tired, all without worrying about the next bake sale or farmer's market. However, our hard work is slowly paying off, because I only have around $800 left, and though that seems like a large amount, remember that this is out of $3,000. Our plane tickets for Ethiopia have been purchased and we leave in just over a month. It seems like just last week I was frantically filling out my application for the trip in hopes of getting on the team despite my age. It seems like I was just wondering who would be on the team and if I would be the youngest or if they would like me or if I could possibly raise enough money. So far, God has answered all those questions in the best way possible. He's still working on that last one though. Fundraising has given me such a lesson in faith. I've already learned so much from this trip, and we haven't even left yet. So, I'm out for a week. I won't be doing any baking, but I will be praying. I'll write a bit on my adventures after this week is over. I hope you all are having an incredible summer!

It's finally here.

Summer. Just the word evokes nostalgia of summers past and brings excitement and hope for summers to come. That word contains our favorite smells; of sunscreen on skin, the ocean or a lake, Chlorine from the pool, mowed grass and, here in Montana, just a faint hint of wildfire smoke. It houses the feeling of that first summer sunburn, when you fry as red as a lobster and all your skin peels off but all you can do is look at your less-than-ideal reflection in the mirror and grin your face off because in some way, that sunburn is one of the most beautiful things you've seen after a fall, winter, and spring spent in school. It's evidence that proves you're alive and present in the world, even when everything seams so surreal. For me, my summer is mostly about Ethiopia, and though that will be one of the most incredible experiences of my life, fundraising impinges on my social life on a nearly daily basis. Despite that, though, this summer has already given me some of the things every person craves for the short free months: A bonfire, surrounded by all the people who needed to be there at that time, bike rides at dusk, time on the front porch with my family, a wicked sunburn and a Chaco tan already, late nights spent reading To Kill A Mockingbird, a booth at the farmer's market, reinventing myself (again), marshmallows cooked my favorite way (scorched black on the outside and gooey on the inside), and best of all so far, sunsets, stretched and painted across the sky. The number of sunsets I witness mean nothing, they grab my eyes, my heart, and my soul, and hold it there until the last color is gone. Every time. I don't know what plans you have for the summer, but please, make this one count. It is what you make it, people. These less than three months under the glassy blue dome could very well be the best of your life. That's my plan, anyway. If you read this and want to share your summer stories, hopes, or dreams, write or tell them to me, I'm all ears.

Ma vie est bonne

Dear everyone, my life is good right now. I just thought I'd take some time to check in with all of you wonderful readers who I love. It is with relief of throbbing arms that I can say that I now have all of my necessary vaccines for Ethiopia. We have around six more days of school, which is absolutely exhilarating. Soon. Soon we'll be free from the loud and dark hallways of BHS. Summer will be here and the worries relevant to school will dissolve into the sunshine. I can't wait, folks! My only sibling, Walter, is graduating THIS WEEKEND.  We have a big party and tons of food planned, not to mention my wonderful grandparents from New York and Minnesota, as well as my fabulous Auntie and my cousin Cam, also from the great state of NY. This weekend is sure to be packed full of joy and sheer chaos. Next weekend are the dreaded spring finals, so in addition to trying to absorb every moment with my family I also have to pack my brain full of my second semester education. There might be a few late nights in my near future. Regardless, I'm so excited. I hope you all are doing well and biting your nails with excitement for summer (not really, nail biting is bad), because it's almost here so get ready to have some fun and enjoy your freedom!

Blessed

Greetings, everyone! About  three weeks ago I sent out some fundraising letters, and now donations are slowly starting to appear in my mail box. Today I was especially blessed when, after a long day at my dance recital and many hours spent on sore feet, I received another incredible gift. Thank you to ALL of you who have donated and/or prayed for me so far. I have reached the thousand dollar mark thanks to your loving generosity. I pray that God will bless you in return for how much you've blessed me.

To Get There

So, I took the first baby steps on my journey to Ethiopia yesterday as I waded through the puddles in my street with my fund raising letters, over to the mail boxes and sent up one quick prayer before I dropped them into the abyss of the outgoing mail bin. Here we go. The entire trip has now been set into motion. I don't have any other news to share right now other than if you're logging on and reading this blog for the first time, thank you and welcome!

Change of topic.

While it is certainly true that I have many funny and adventurous stories worthy of writing down here, Ethiopia is definitely my biggest and most important adventure. So, for the next four-ish months this here blog will be primarily about that. I hope this is ok with everyone, and I hope you'll be patient, keep reading, and possibly even enjoy it. Peace.

Ethiopia or bust

So, remember the Super-secret summer adventure I hinted at in my last post? It is no longer a super secret, because here's the story. While sitting in church one snowy morning in March, a video clip played on the large overhead screens. In this video, children in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia were shown living in a huge garbage dump. Most of them are orphans. The video also talked about how they had received scholarships to attend and live at a Christian school called the Bright Hope School, but only through the school year. In order for them to be able to attend the school in the fall, they must attend summer camp. There are around 400 children who will be attending. At the very end of the video it asked if anyone felt called to be part of the ten person team and help lead summer camp and bring God's love to these children. My heart screamed "YES!" but at the time I still had not heard from Clydehurst and my possible employment there. But I didn't stop thinking about those kids, the video played over and over in my head. When I heard from Clydehurst I was devastated but within a few days I began to think even more about Ethiopia. A week later I attended an informational meeting about the trip. The cost is $3,000, and if I wasn't destined to go, that alone would have stopped me, not including that I didn't have a passport and that except for a family vacation to Canada I've never been out of the country. But it didn't stop me, and immediately after the meeting I was at home filling out the application for the trip. That night I handed it in to the trip organizer, but I only had to wait for her to read the first pages for her to say "you're coming." I asked again and again if indeed I really was going but the answer never changed. So now, in August of this year we'll leave for the most life-altering three weeks of my life, and I couldn't be more excited. My entire summer fell into place in less than one week. Fund raising and working my buns off will consume my days, but I wouldn't have it any other way. God is surprising. Two months ago I wouldn't have imagined this, but tonight the team has their first meeting and I'm blessed enough to be part of it. I prayed for adventure, I prayed for a chance to help people in a big way, I prayed to be a part of God's plan, and I miraculously got all three at the same time. $3,000 dollars? It seemed impossible but now I know God will get us there. I know a lot of you wonderful readers out there aren't religious, and that I talk about God a lot in this post, but I have to write it because know that He's behind all of these miracles. But if you do believe in God, pray for me. Because I need your help.