ghmc 2013

since the summer before my junior year of high school i felt called to missions. this came about by working for two summers at echo ranch bible camp in juneau, alaska and different interacts with speaker and missionaries. this past weekend, i had the opportunity to attend the largest medical missions conference in the world. the follow are random pictures i took to document my time at the conference in louisville, kentucky. 

as a college student you are REQUIRED to bring your backpack/homework on every trip. 

(however, i don't think any homework actually got done...#sorrynotsorry)

this is my friend kara. she attended the conference with me. 

it was only by her telling about the conference that i ended up going. 

God worked it all out.

kara is a babe.

everyone else either stayed in the car or went to the bathroom.

kara and i couldn't resist the trees and leaves.

i found this gem while i was registering.

we didn't even know we were attending the conference together.

God works again.

i have never been in a church this large in my life.

they had their own bookstore.

and coffee shop.

and recreation center.

they could be their own town.

they had a large magnetic map that you could put a marker on for your mission field.

alaska.

these were our entries in a tattoo placement contest. 

i may or may not have won an ipad mini because of the above picture.

if you know anyone who would like to buy a brand new ipad mini...let me know.

one of the breakout sessions i went to on human trafficking.

very eye opening.

worship.

overall, the weekend was very eye opening. it confirmed my call to full time missions. what that looks like i have no idea. but i have a large desire to serve unreached people. so unreached people. be. prepared. i am praying for you already. 

it is crazy to now have a renewed perspective on your current place being your missions field.

now, i feel as if everything i am learning or coming in contact with on a daily basis is somehow involved with missions, poverty, or the hurting.

give me Your eyes.

act like a child.

we were all a child at one point or another.
we all had children's toys that we enjoyed playing with.

one that i personally enjoyed was this:

the whole point is to fit the yellow shape into the right shaped hole.

it really is fairly simple. 

but for a young child, it could be difficult. 

i love when things click. you know the moment when God brings two things in your mind together and it just clicks? 

i love those moments. love. love. love.

that moment happened.

it in involved that toy.

and my heart. 

you see, as a baby you are totally and completely dependent on  you parent.

you need food.
you need shelter.
you need clothing.
you need changed.
you need attention.
you need love.

you NEED all these things and have NO way to obtain them. your parent, however, can.

now as a young adult, i like to do things on my own.

however, if Christ is in the center of our lives we can't do things on our own.
(prepare to share in my heavy heart. i have cried many a times over this.)

i look around at family, friends, and the general population of this earth and see void.
we have done it. we have ALL done it.
we have all tried to fill that one space in our heart with something that just doesn't quite fit right.
and we feel...empty. unfulfilled. a void.

drinking. drugs. relationships. habits. hobbies. pass-times. call it whatever YOU need to call it. because it is different for each of us.

romans 1:21-23
     "for although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thank to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."

earlier this year, i was really struggling with the fact that i cannot save my friends or family.
my heart was and is heavy for those who do not yet know the glory and splendor of my creator.

romans 1:19-20
     "for what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. for this invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. so they are without excuse."

our God reigns. i was comforted by the song "the harvester" by brandon heath. the lyrics say,

"those who don't know, or just don't know yet." 

i can't put the pieces of people's lives in place. i can't make it fit just right. i can't make people see. i can't make people believe. but HE can. and they will know. 

i'm not perfect (don't quote me). neither are you (you can quote that part). my pieces...they fall out of place sometimes. the couple of days i forget to read and text my daily proverb to my friend. the day i stay bitter towards that one person who i really can't love (on my own. thankfully i have the Lord's help). 

prayer. it is always the answer. 

jeremiah 17:9 

     "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?" 

the creator of a specific invention is the only one who knows how to fix it. he has the instructions and all the manuals. jesus understands our hearts. he can put all of the little yellow pieces into place. 

act like a child. let your Daddy help you play the game of life. 

i would ask that you pray for my cousin who is struggling. if i can pray for you, a friend, or a family member please do not hesitate to ask. we are a body. the body of Christ. we have POWER through Him who loves us. 

now enjoy this beautifully written song: