Seriously bad at keeping up!

Ok, so I did have every intention of keeping up with this blog while I was in Puerto Rico, but that didn't happen did it? We were kept really busy for the whole month that we were staying in San Juan, and it was all just wonderful. There were lots of laughs, excitement, joy, adventure, some tears, some frustrations, but lots and lots of love. Feeling the love of God, love from old and new friends, and love from local Puerto Ricans was sometimes overwhelming but in such a good way. We were received by the local church with open arms and I just loved being a part of their community for the four short weeks we were there. 

I started friendships in PR with people that I know will be life-long friends and for that I am very grateful. I don't really want to ramble on about our trip, but I do want to give some great highlights and pictures from the trip!

+stretched! my one word to describe my summer

+kayaking down to a bioluminescent bay and getting a glimpse of God's creativity

+time alone with God

+helping local PR elementary students leave their hand prints on the Dr. Seuss mural we painted at their school

+coldstone ice cream runs

+driving a minivan throughout the island of PR and getting lost countless numbers of times...thank goodness for google maps on our phones!

+iguanas!

+beautiful beach view from our windows

+the awesome breeze that made the hot temperature a little more bearable

+discipling three amazing women

+making best friends!

+spanish class 

+worshipping in Spanish at church

+jamming out in the Kia's to all sorts of music!

+the radio station that played country music in the mornings :)

+hilarious rally skits

+wonderful teaching from wise leaders

+friday morning breakfasts at the nicest Denny's I've ever been in

+my leader's D-group, exploring fancy hotels

+salsa dancing and shag dancing!

+late night pillow talks with the girls

+exploring the El Yunque rainforest

+baby Davis starting to walk!

+Nadia's pasta making skills

+the avenida ashford strip where we were staying

+watching friends jump off cliffs--I couldn't bring myself to do it!
+relaxing beach trip to isla verde

+surveying students at the University of Puerto Rico

+trying to order drive-thru at a Taco Bell after hours

+heart felt conversations with friends :)

Enjoy these pictures in no particular order :)

Children's church ministry

Surveying at the university

Backyard!

Cueva del Indio cliffs

My beautiful girls :)

El Yunque rainforest

San Juan bridge

Isla Verde

Best day!

painting our theme banner! one word!

My favorite Marsh baby :)

I'm so excited to start working this fall at JU with Campus Outreach Florida and have the joy of discipling girls as my job!!

Puerto Rico Week One

I can't believe I've been to PR for a whole week already...a quarter of the trip is already over!! And it definitely feels like a blur. I'm hoping that since our first week is behind us, it will get a bit more routine. 

But...boy, it is beautiful here!

God's creativity is so evident in His creation, and I think it is especially evident in water. 

This is the view from one of the places our group is staying this summer. And here is what I get to see at the place that I am this summer :) So much beauty!

God has already taught me so much this summer...and it's been a whopping seven days! I am so excited to see what else is in store for the rest of the month. I just know it will be good. 

We have about 60 people here, and I am a room leader/discipleship group leader for three girls. It's been so awesome to see these girls share their testimonies and life stories with each other and me. 

We are working through Mark right now during our quiet times, and by the end of the summer we will have read Acts and Romans as well. We are also doing an extensive look at Philippians.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I thought I'd share some from our past week :) Enjoy!

Decorating our theme banner

Word and Prayer Training at the University of Puerto Rico

Some sidewalk art at the university

Group shot at Coldstone!

Church at La Travesia

Yum! Nachos! :)

University of Puerto Rico

Our summer reading!

"All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

Puerto Rico!

My first big event with Campus Outreach is less than 2 weeks away! I will be going to Puerto Rico for a whole month with over 50 college students to share the Gospel on the campus of the University of PR in San Juan. 

This will be an exciting time for all going: not only will we be learning how to evangelize, but we will have personal training as well in the Word (Scripture training), prayer, and leadership. We will also have language and cultural classes at the university. 

We will also do some work with the local elementary school and the church we are connected with. 

It will be a jam-packed four weeks, but I know that I am going to learn so much, as well as all the other students. 

Please pray that God gives me the desire and heart to lead the specific girls (younger students) I have been assigned in a discipleship group, and that I am open to sharing the Gospel with strangers.

Graduation...and the start of something new

I did it! I mean I really did it! I graduated from Jacksonville University over a week ago already (time flies...when you are doing nothing but recovering haha- I'm seriously thinking that all I've done since coming home is sleep...eat...read...sleep...repeat)

I cannot believe how fast the past four years have gone by! I always thought those seniors who said they felt like they just moved on campus were just trying to be nice and sentimental, but for real, that's how I feel! And it's definitely a little weird. 

I had the best experience I could have asked for at JU! And for that I am really thankful. But here's the best part. I wasn't too sad at graduation because I will still get to be at JU next year! Just not as a student...which could be awkward at first..we'll see :) I'll get to why I'm staying in Jax in a bit. But first, I wanted to give a shout out to the best friends a girl could ask for!

My three roommates have been such a blessing for me! Each and everyone of them have impacted my life in such a good way. I will truly miss living with these lovely ladies, but I am just thrilled at what God has planned for all of us!

My dear friend Hannah has been by my side for three and a half of my four years, and boy, I don't know what I would have done without her! I think we took every science class together :) People teased us that we were attached at the hip, but in my opinion, we were the smartest ones there--we knew we'd have a great lab partner/study partner for every class! We are like two peas in a pod and I know that we will be friends forever! 

SO what am I doing next year??

I have joined the staff of Campus Outreach Florida and will be on the campus of JU discipling students! I am really excited about this opportunity and pray that I can serve Christ by sharing the Gospel with younger students. 

Accepting this position is teaching me a whole lot about faith and trust in the Lord! I have to raise my own support in order to work on campus, and that in itself will be a challenge I have never encountered before. Please pray that the Lord will provide supporters!

Easter Weekend

I've been thinking a lot this Easter about Easter. I know that probably sounds funny...obviously you will think about Easter during Easter. But I mean, really thinking about it. Not about the eggs or pretty sundress I'll wear to church tomorrow. 

But about the absolutely unbelievable act of grace and mercy that God bestowed on his children, by offering up the life of his only son. His ONLY son. I'm not sure why that has hit me more this year than other years. It's not like I'm a parent or anything. But through this act, I have become a daughter of the King of Kings! I have become a member of Jesus' family by grace through faith.

"The Father's love through Jesus is so sweet that it heals deep wounds we might have experienced, and makes possible restoration where brokenness has shattered family unity."

"When I survey the wondrous cross 

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride. 

Were the whole realm of nature mine, 

that were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, 

demands my soul, my life, my all."

Good Friday is appropriately named...but I think it should be Great Friday. It's the best Friday! It's the day that all my ugly, horrible sins were washed away by my sweet Savior's blood on the cross. 

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

I look forward to celebrating His Resurrection tomorrow at church! After a weekend of meditating on His death, I am ready for the sun to shine, and to proclaim that "He is Risen. He is Risen indeed!" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjakBrSRhfw&feature=youtu.be

Take a listen to this awesome song about that beautiful, scandalous night that saved me!

Happy Easter!

"And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead." Matthew 28:5-7

6 Weeks

In 6 weeks I'll officially be done with college.

Wow.

I can't believe I'm almost there, but I've had so many experiences 

and memories that I'm surprised it's only been four years!

We haven't changed too much :) Jennah and I freshmen year during homecoming!

First Christmas at JU as freshmen :)

I have met some really awesome people at JU and I am so thankful for each and every one of them!

 Senior year Christmas cheesecake! Still the best of friends!

I can't wait to see what God has in store for all us after graduation...exciting journeys and destinations I'm sure!