I would have never guessed I would be in Hawaii doing a Photography & Missions school, and then going to India to work with the Lepers, Prostitutes, Homeless, Broken-Hearted, Searching for a meaning Children of God... at the age of 18 & 19. And that is when I thank God that I did not have my way all of the times I tried to fight for it... and that I fully surrendered the rest of my life for His purposes - because in that and only in that is where meaning and fulfillment are found.
Back home, we basically celebrate birthdays the whole weekend (and sometimes the whole week), so as it got closer and closer to my birthday... I really wanted to just be with my family and friends back home. Well, God changed my heart as the weekend started, haha. I def still missed my family and friends, but He blessed me SO much it was ridiculous.
Saturday we left campus at 9 and headed to these waterfalls, where we jumped off of the cliffs into the waterfall pools. It was like one up high, and then they just kept going down - one pool after another. It was so beautiful. After going there we headed over to Hilo and we got to swim in a hot spring. It was crazy. It's this area of water and underneath it is rocks and underneath that is the lava that heats up the water - insane. And then right in front of the water is the ocean, which when waves come it overflows into the hot springs. Super fun!So then Sunday came around!! I woke up to having blueberry bagels and pineapple. Then a few friends of mine (Jorn, Jonathan, Ben, Sadie, Marisa, Emily & Nadi) all went to a beach called Hapuna about 30 minutes away... well, if all would have went according to plan - it would have taken 30 minutes... instead it took about an hour and a half, haha. So many things were going wrong with the car, but finally after that hour and a half... we got everything going and headed over. We spent about 3 1/2 hours at that beach. It's a beautiful white sand beach, surrounded by cliffs on the left and to the right you can look and see Maui over the mountains and everywhere you look is beautiful blue skies and palm trees all around. Then I jumped on the back of a motorcycle with Ben and we headed to the ammaazing Hilton Resort. You walk in and you see a pool with about4 dolphins, then you walk a little more and you see the pool with 2 waterfalls (and mini springs in the caves inside the pool), about 5 different hot tubs, a water slide... and if you just look to your right while lying in the pool, there is the ocean. It's a place you can't really capture fully with photos, you just have to experience it... It's what I think of when I think of "Hawaii".
The night ended with a group of about 15 of us going to Bubba Gumpsfor dinner and then enjoying a wonderful bonfire under massive trees overlooking the ocean, falling asleep looking up at the stars. So yes, like I said before... God blessed my birthday so much. I felt so loved, and I even got a $10.00 gift certificate to Taco Bell from some of my favorite people here, they know me too well, haha.
While sitting at dinner someone asked me to share the highlights for year 18... And here are a few I came up with (not in any order).
1. Getting to do the 18 Inch Journey with A Place For The Heart and meeting some of the most incredible people and most dearest friends. I learned the beauty of investing in relationships and extravagance/lavish lavish lavish... and also the "two finger cheek slap" haha.
2. Becoming best friends with my little brother (who is a lot taller than me, haha). Over the past however man years we were both at such weird ages, and our relationship was not like either of us wanted it to be... it was just fighting and disagreeing all the time. But something shifted. I wasn't suppose to go to the Australia DTS, and didn't fully know why... but I believe 100% that one of the reasons was for this relationship to be mended... and now I can truly say he is one of my best friends.
3. Growth. I can't describe how much I grew while being 18. I matured in the Lord in so much, and really began to be grounded in Him and not be blown over by the winds that came. This is the year that I fully started to walk with Jesus... the way that my heart had always longed to but just couldn't make it. It was when I fully gave up trying, that it started to take place. What a concept eh?
4. I met my best best best best friend. Erin Rummage, my soul-mate, hahaha. Half way joking. No but seriously, this woman is amazing. She has such a ridiculously kind heart. Her love and growth in the Lord is so incredible. I truly look up to her so much. She is honest, true, caring, loving, respectful, responsible, honoring... and she makes me laugh like no other. She has really healed my heart with relationships in the past just by being my friend. I can't believe we've only been friends since August... and as dumb as it sounds, "we were destined for each other." haha. All the late night Taco Bell runs, spending way too much money on Starbucks & Cook Out, Worshiping with each other, Discovering things about the Lord together, Writing songs, Laughing till the wee hours of the morning, Dressing up and doing a sitcom in the bathtub, carving pumpkins, crying together & laughing together afterwards, and the list goes on and on. haha. Needless to say: I love her and I am so thankful for everything she is and the passion she has to really reach out to the hurting and be a friend for those who need it most.
5. Making new friendships, and discovering the old ones again. The beauty that comes with that. Having my eyes opened to new beauty and experiencing God in new ways through the hearts of my friends.
6. Coming to Hawaii for YWAM and beginning the Journey of getting wrecked by the reality of God and His love for His children, every day.
I am sure there are more things that I absolutely loved about age 18... but here are the ones that really stuck out to me.Thank you to everybody for journeying with me. For praying by my side. For lifting me up when I couldn't go on. For loving me when I didn't deserve it. For loving the Lord first in your lives and trusting in Him through thick and thin. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for your friendships in my life.
Enjoy some pictures from the weekend!!
Back home, we basically celebrate birthdays the whole weekend (and sometimes the whole week), so as it got closer and closer to my birthday... I really wanted to just be with my family and friends back home. Well, God changed my heart as the weekend started, haha. I def still missed my family and friends, but He blessed me SO much it was ridiculous.
Saturday we left campus at 9 and headed to these waterfalls, where we jumped off of the cliffs into the waterfall pools. It was like one up high, and then they just kept going down - one pool after another. It was so beautiful. After going there we headed over to Hilo and we got to swim in a hot spring. It was crazy. It's this area of water and underneath it is rocks and underneath that is the lava that heats up the water - insane. And then right in front of the water is the ocean, which when waves come it overflows into the hot springs. Super fun!So then Sunday came around!! I woke up to having blueberry bagels and pineapple. Then a few friends of mine (Jorn, Jonathan, Ben, Sadie, Marisa, Emily & Nadi) all went to a beach called Hapuna about 30 minutes away... well, if all would have went according to plan - it would have taken 30 minutes... instead it took about an hour and a half, haha. So many things were going wrong with the car, but finally after that hour and a half... we got everything going and headed over. We spent about 3 1/2 hours at that beach. It's a beautiful white sand beach, surrounded by cliffs on the left and to the right you can look and see Maui over the mountains and everywhere you look is beautiful blue skies and palm trees all around. Then I jumped on the back of a motorcycle with Ben and we headed to the ammaazing Hilton Resort. You walk in and you see a pool with about4 dolphins, then you walk a little more and you see the pool with 2 waterfalls (and mini springs in the caves inside the pool), about 5 different hot tubs, a water slide... and if you just look to your right while lying in the pool, there is the ocean. It's a place you can't really capture fully with photos, you just have to experience it... It's what I think of when I think of "Hawaii".
The night ended with a group of about 15 of us going to Bubba Gumpsfor dinner and then enjoying a wonderful bonfire under massive trees overlooking the ocean, falling asleep looking up at the stars. So yes, like I said before... God blessed my birthday so much. I felt so loved, and I even got a $10.00 gift certificate to Taco Bell from some of my favorite people here, they know me too well, haha.
While sitting at dinner someone asked me to share the highlights for year 18... And here are a few I came up with (not in any order).
1. Getting to do the 18 Inch Journey with A Place For The Heart and meeting some of the most incredible people and most dearest friends. I learned the beauty of investing in relationships and extravagance/lavish lavish lavish... and also the "two finger cheek slap" haha.
2. Becoming best friends with my little brother (who is a lot taller than me, haha). Over the past however man years we were both at such weird ages, and our relationship was not like either of us wanted it to be... it was just fighting and disagreeing all the time. But something shifted. I wasn't suppose to go to the Australia DTS, and didn't fully know why... but I believe 100% that one of the reasons was for this relationship to be mended... and now I can truly say he is one of my best friends.
3. Growth. I can't describe how much I grew while being 18. I matured in the Lord in so much, and really began to be grounded in Him and not be blown over by the winds that came. This is the year that I fully started to walk with Jesus... the way that my heart had always longed to but just couldn't make it. It was when I fully gave up trying, that it started to take place. What a concept eh?
4. I met my best best best best friend. Erin Rummage, my soul-mate, hahaha. Half way joking. No but seriously, this woman is amazing. She has such a ridiculously kind heart. Her love and growth in the Lord is so incredible. I truly look up to her so much. She is honest, true, caring, loving, respectful, responsible, honoring... and she makes me laugh like no other. She has really healed my heart with relationships in the past just by being my friend. I can't believe we've only been friends since August... and as dumb as it sounds, "we were destined for each other." haha. All the late night Taco Bell runs, spending way too much money on Starbucks & Cook Out, Worshiping with each other, Discovering things about the Lord together, Writing songs, Laughing till the wee hours of the morning, Dressing up and doing a sitcom in the bathtub, carving pumpkins, crying together & laughing together afterwards, and the list goes on and on. haha. Needless to say: I love her and I am so thankful for everything she is and the passion she has to really reach out to the hurting and be a friend for those who need it most.
5. Making new friendships, and discovering the old ones again. The beauty that comes with that. Having my eyes opened to new beauty and experiencing God in new ways through the hearts of my friends.
6. Coming to Hawaii for YWAM and beginning the Journey of getting wrecked by the reality of God and His love for His children, every day.
I am sure there are more things that I absolutely loved about age 18... but here are the ones that really stuck out to me.Thank you to everybody for journeying with me. For praying by my side. For lifting me up when I couldn't go on. For loving me when I didn't deserve it. For loving the Lord first in your lives and trusting in Him through thick and thin. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for your friendships in my life.
Enjoy some pictures from the weekend!!
The Hot Springs & Our Group Below.
Emily & I @ Some of the falls aboveand the ocean below.
Below is one of the falls that we jumped into
Pictures From Sunday (Day of Birth)
My wonderful friends who took me away for the weekendThis is at Hapuna Beach.
In the very back: Jorn & Jonathan
Middle: Ben, Nadi, Emily, Marisa & SadieAnd then me in front.
Top: Marisa & IBottom: Emily & I
oh I forgot to inform you guys: I turned Gangsta since being here.
Hilton Resort on top & bottom
Top: picture outside of our tent.Bottom: Our lovely group :)
Okay this wasn't the trip... but I just had to add it, haha.Me and Jorn "hanging around"
OK, let me mention two things.
ReplyDeleteFirst "back home" yours was the only birthday that was celebrated for a whole week.
Second, what did I tell you about riding on the back of a guys motor cycle?
hahaha. Oh no. I'm busted =/ lol
ReplyDeleteHey love. I miss you lady!! I can't believe it has been a whole year since we traveled the 18" journey together. I will forever treasure those days! Yes, the two finger check slaps, "its all about the lavishing", the goat, why the roosters crow in the mornings, tears, laughs, "I like to hula..." "theres a place in my heart just for you..." cooking, the Fathers heart....all things I was blessed to get to share with you! Happy happy birthday! May your 19th year be even better than any before!! Enjoy even minute!!! Love you lots and lots. North Carolina sends hugs and love you way! ~Rachel
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh rachel!! I like to hula YES!
ReplyDelete