My summer as of June 21st

There are not words to describe how amazing my summer has been here in italy. I did not want to start this whole "blog" thing but i figured it would be the best way to keep in touch with people from back home, so i am going to try it. 

   God is certainly stretching me in amazing ways here and i don't know truly how to thank him. I have a group of 14 friends that i can't imagine leaving and a house that i have grown to call a home. I feel like i belong here and i dont know how i am going to leave it. I get to work with kids all the time and that is definately my passion!!! Being over in Italy i am realizing that there is so much that God wants to do with me and i just need to let him show me how to do it HIS WAY!!! I would like to take this time to thank all the people that donated to me getting here... it brings tears to my eyes to think that money was a major issue in me NOT coming here... but with the love and help of my family/friends back home... i am here in beautiful Italy doing God's work. So thank you to all who contributed and to those who prayed me here! i couldn't have done it without you!!! 

    Being here is like a dream. We have really become a team over here in Italy and all the activities we are doing are really awesome. I am learning so much about God's word and meeting new people is definately fun and interesting for me. My mom told me in coming here that i would make friendships that lasted a lifetime... i didn't believe her and just passed it off as good ol "mom talk," but i have learned that my mom is a wise woman and i have in fact made friends that will last forever. I am learning how to be a friend to people so it helps that whole situation too!!! I being shown that without God's love i cannot fully love people and that's the hardest thing for me to learn. 

   This past week i worked with 40-50 italian kids and showed them how i worship God through my sport... it was heaven on earth. Watching my little cheer girls which were about 10-15 out of the 40 ha ha doing their little dance was perfect!!! I was so excited!!! God showed us how we can reach people through loving people and we don't even have to say anything at all. It's a great concept... i have learned to PRAY PLAY SAY. Pray for my friends on my team... Play IN christ and not FOR christ... and be prepared to Say whatever i need to say to explain the gospel. I am getting fully equipped to do this when i get home. 

   Although it sounds like heaven out here i do miss my friends back home. Melissa is struggling back there without me and i have been praying fervently that God will bring her a true friend to help her pass the time and show his love to her... he has done that. She is going out and spending time with people that she truly cares about and for that i am greatful. There isn't a day that goes by that i don't wish she was here to experience this journey with me, but i know she is back home smiling with pride as she thinks of what i am doing over here. 

   Aaron and i have been doing great!!! Skype often, we try every night and if we can't then we just e mail and that helps alot... he has been so awesome and everyone here knows EVERYTHING ABOUT US!!! It's so awesome to be transparent with people and know they will call you out on everything. He has been my rock to turn to when i am not feeling like i can do it, and God has given us the words to say to eachother to keep the other one praying and focused on God in this time of separation. I miss him daily and wish he could see the true beauty here. 

   Mom, Dad, and Zac are constantly e mailing and texting me their love and compassion and i realize that i have the best family that anyone could ask for ... without them i would not be as confident in being here at all. Talk to them daily and have been making changes in the way i love them... such amazing changes!!! 

   Samantha is in alabama again this summer and i can't believe i haven't seen her forever but we have been writing back and forth and she is so encouraging that i never feel lonely or distant from her, i know she is in my heart and when i experience something beautiful i just send a mental message to her and i know she gets it because we are connected like that. She is my other half and we are both out making amazing changes!!! 

   It's amazing to be out here with Clayton... someone i called my best friend, but realized i didn't know him as well as i thought until i got here... he is truly a man of God... someone any girl would be lucky to have and someone that i would consider a hero to most people here. He has a way with words that calm your heart and guitar skills that warm the soul. I am blessed to continue this journey with him. 

   I have to go to bible study right now... we are learning about how to be a Romans 12 christian... if you haven't read Romans 12... i would encourage you to do so... it is amazing. 

   Keep me in prayer... and my family. I am still deciding if i will be heading home for a few days to see the funeral of my Grandpa Roy who i miss dearly and am struggling with that loss all the way over in Italy... I love you all... CIAO from the italian alps!!!