Good morning, everyone! Well, the big day is finally hear and I just wanted to take some time to reflect and share some of the experiences (and definitely God moments) I have already had while preparing for my first ever mission trip (and my first trip out of the country). I have to admit that this journey really started for me about 12 years ago. For as long as I could remember, I have had a heart for helping others in any way that I could. I also wanted to travel and see other places (sorry, but the Midwest is not all that!). That longing grew even more in me when watching TV shows like Little House on the Prairie, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and especially Christy (about a girl from a prominent city family leaving everything behind to help the children in the Appalachia Mountains). In college, I really wanted to do some mission work, but at that time, all the mission trips were out of the country and to be brutally honest, I just couldn't get past the financial worries to take that step of faith. It took over 12 years and a lot of spiritual exploration and growth for me to finally take that leap and leave it all up to God to provide (and boy, did He ever provide!). I must admit though that Africa has been a place of interest to travel to for some time now, but I really never thought it would be my first trip! Now, I am finally stepping out and have grown a lot in that faith along the way.

"And the apostles said unto the Lord, 'Increase our faith.'" ~Luke 17:5