Life.

Today I woke up and really missed the beach.
Marissa had the same inkling and after lunch at Sonic... We decided to go beach hunting.
We found Lake Saint Louis about 45 minutes away, when we got there it was one of the richest associations I have ever wondered around.
we drove around each neighborhood trying to find any sort of access point that wasn't a large mansion house.
As we got more and more disappointed, we got more desperate. We finally asked a party boat if there was any public access anywhere. They said there wasn't but there was a community center on the water, and if we didn't get questioned and didn't stand out we probably could hang around there.
We did just that.
There was a smallll beach at the center and roped off point in the water where we could swim. No one asked us who we were or where we were from. We stayed there for a few hours enjoying the water :)

The past few weeks have been a mixture of feelings.

We had a group from wisconsin here that was so draining because the leaders didn't respect our position here.

Central Wesleyan (My home church) came the week after that. It was so great seeing old faces and reconnecting with them, and meeting a lot of new people.

This week We had a team from Georgia and a team from Alabama.
Both are very respectful and nice during work projects, but once it's fun time they don't do what they are told are the rules what so ever. it's pretty frustrating for my coworkers but i havent seen it for my own eyes.

Two more work weeks!!
I'm so ready and excited to move back to Michigan and settle down for a long while, while still pursuing Youth Ministry.
God really has revamped my love for youth and energy to work with them. I have been pushing it away for awhile because of the public speaking part, but God has really placed it on my heart that that's what he has for me.

I plan on moving back to Michigan on the 28th, and for the first few weeks staying with my best friend, Missie, and my sister, Rachel. I will be working on finding my own apartment and a full-time job. I also hope to have an internship with a Youth Group back home.

Anyway, just a small update.

Please continue to have me in your prayers :)

A week of Gardening.

Last week we had a lovely group from Indiana.
Every day I was put on gardening sites. It was actually way harder than I thought it would be. A lot of blocks around here, when a building is torn down, the lot is leased to people in the communities for a dollar a month (mostly old ladies) and most start community gardens.
a lot of the ladies don't get a lot of help from the community they have the garden for and the garden gets over run by weeds and even some of the plants they planted there over grow.
I dealt with three different gardens and even when I put on PLENTY of sunscreen.. I got burned.. alll three days. *sigh*

On sunday, We went to a mexican restaurant where Sheriff Pete felt right in place.

One of my first gardens...

Before.

After! I did it all by myself :)

I'm also in Charge of Tie dye T-shirts for the teams... this one is my have, wish it was mine.

THEN, Marisa and I went down town to the arch....

Fail... let's get some help..

The Zoo, a week with the Burmese, and a Rodeo.

Hello all!
I haven't had internet for the past week because I was living on the south side of Saint Louis instead of at 82nd street NCF.
Last week, we had our orientation but really nothing too special happened.

Rachel, Marissa, Ian

Selah, Peter

Fail picture

I went to the St. Louis zoo and saw some Gorillas and Penguins.

oh, and Flamingos :)

All last week, we were at the NCF site in south city, The team we had was from NCF north. 

The first night we all went to a Burmese house church. I had no idea what they were saying or what was going on, but you could just tell they all loved Jesus and that the spirit of God was in that house.

I found out so much about their culture and how rude I must have seemed to them. One of the most interesting conversations I had was with a teenage girl at her house that she has lived in for about four years or so. She asked me why we keep animals in the house. I explained that they are considered companions and we are emotionally attached to them. She could not grasp why we did not eat our pets. I ate so much good Burmese food this week, but i can't tell you what was in any of the dishes, cause I have noooo clue.

Some of the food. (I think noodle with mushrooms?)

At some burmese parties they put this paste type stuff on your face that feels icy.

stupid sideways pictures.

Also, This is Abi, my long lost sister. Our families look like we all should be cousins. seriously, it was freaky.

Yesterday. I went to the Rodeo! which ONLY can be described in photo and video. so here ya go! it was a bunch of fun :)

Wacky rodeo clown

My phone cracked :(

Time to start another week! till next time!