THAILAND

Friends and family!  Thanks so much for your prayers.  We arrived at the Bangkok airport this morning (Friday morning) at 1:00 am.  Our day starts tomorrow at 11:00!  Everything went so well, thank-you Jesus!

More updates to soon... right now I'm running to the shower!

leigha

Same God

Welp.  All the bags are packs.  This is real.  I am driving to Little Rock tomorrow.  Wednesday at 4:45 a.m.  I will meet my team in the airport and be in the air at 6:00.  It's crazy to think that I will be spending 2 months in a place I've never even visited.  Usually, before deciding to stay somewhere for a solid amount of time-- you go on a trial run, you test it out to see if you can make it... to see if you'll feel good about being there.  Even camps have a week of training.  This is a very unique situation that requires my team and I to just jump right on in.  Oh, I have no doubt that it's going to be a great experience and I believe whole heartedly that the Lord is going to work... but right now... it all seems a little scary.  New place. New people. New culture. Same God. Yes!  He is the same God.  There is so much comfort in that. 

Psalm 102:26-27
They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

Hebrews 13:6-8
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence,“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Please pray for safe travels and good attitudes. 
This is real.  I'm going to Thailand!
New place. Same God.

God Knows What's Up

As some of you might have noticed, I'm not in Thailand.
They're have been a few delays, but I have full confidence that someday soon I will arrive in Thailand.  Though the delays were not part of my plan, God's been so faithful to give me peace about it all.  He knows what's up.  Thank you for your prayers!  It's not like me to be calm when my plans change.  God truly does hear our prayers and he answers them.  Please continue to pray for me and the rest of the Thailand team. To view more information about the team/program I'll be working with click on the following link: Cultural Exchange: Amercan- Thai

Kari Jobe says it best...

I know that You are for me.  Thank-you, Jesus.

Keep up those prayers.

leigha

reflecting > dwelling

This school year at Ouachita was really great for me.  The root of all the success, if you will, was (and continues to be) Jesus.  I began to comprehend how crucial it is to maintain contact with the Lord each day.  Consistency is necessary, however, God give us grace when we fail.  What?!  Like, I did nothing to deserve this grace... but I still get it?  What?!  I've got to praise Him for this.  It's as if something just clicked.  Ugh, I hate when people say that, but that's what it was like.  Things just became real.  This has been a season of growth.  Praise God.

Other really great and encouraging things that took place:
1. Friendships
This year the friendships that formed were totally unexpected, but incredibly appreciated.  The Lord seriously blessed me with relationships that were centered around Him!  I was able to see friends care about me and fill me with encouragement like never before.  ResLife was at the root of a ton of those friendships.  Living together and serving together creates bonds!  #livingthereslife

2. Fellowship
I became a part of Fellowship Church.  Woah. THANK YOU, JESUS!  I can't even explain the importance of this group of people in my life.  I was able to join a K-Group and get to know the Ms. Shirley McMillen (we walk Tuesdays and Thursdays together and I love her).  I was able to help teach 3 year old Sunday School with Allison Grigsby (great bonding time).  I was able to go to church on Sunday and know that I would be challenged by the messages and I would be able to worship with my brothers and sisters!  Community at it's best.  So great.  Check out Fellowship online: http://www.fellowshipchurcharkadelphia.com/ You can listen to the sermons online!

3. Gallbladder Out
Yes, the GB is out (out).  PTL!  This truly improved my life.  You've gotta watch this: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1856521685858&comments&set=t.1294290014&type=1

Reflection is good.  I believe in it!  I sometimes struggle to deal with new things in life.  I want to hold onto the things that I know, things that I've seen as good.  I sometimes dwell on the past.  I cling to it because it's nice and comfy.  I am thankful for this year.  I praise God for this year!  ... but I will not live for the past and am praying that I won't worry about the future.  I will live for today-- trusting in the Lord. 

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34

So much truth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4efAWEImaI

Speaking of not worrying about the future... I'm leaving for Thailand this Thursday!  Like... when did that happen?  haha It's still hard for me to believe.  Please pray that I will continue to trust in the Lord as I come across new and unfamilar situations.  Pray that the Lord would give me confidence unlike I've had before! Hopfully I'll be able to keep you updated on my journey in Thailand through this blog. 

Love you, friends!

    

Details in the Fabric

Why?
At the beginning of any adventure, it's always good to ask yourself why.  Why exactly am I doing this?  What are my motives?  Are those motives actually good?  So, in this very moment I am questioning why this blog is being started.

So...
My heart behind this blog is to share things in my life that I deem important.  Things that might not really mean anything to you personally (or they might), but because you are my friend (well, I hope), you chose to continue reading.  From this I hope that friends near and far that I often struggle to communicate with can find out what is new in my life on their own time-- no, that's not always ideal for real relationships, but we've got to do the best we can during busy summers like these!

Warning!
If you are going to keep up with me you must know that grammar and spelling are not my forte.  Sometimes I word things funny or uninterestingly or... I just say things that a normal person wouldn't say. Just wanted to make sure you knew that I was aware of it.

Picture of the day:

Jessica, Courtney, and Becca

RAs/HD of Frances Crawford West

 

Let the blogging begin!  Oh, I know you're excited.

leigha