So blessed

My first semester as a Mississippi State University student is finished. I took my last exam today. Thank the Lord for getting me through this semester. He certainly held and carried me a lot. I will definitely be depending on Him even more in semesters to come.
So, what are you doing for Christmas break? Well, I want to tell you my plans. A week from today, the 16th, a group of us will be leaving bright and early from Tupelo, loading up in a 15 passenger van, and driving roughly 10 hours to Arlington, Texas. We'll be staying there for 5 days working at Mission Arlington. I am beyond excited. I get the priviledge to go there, help with wrapping Christmas presents, spend time with children, and tell the glorious Christmas story. Christmas and children, what could be better?
After a marvelous, traditional Christmas, I'll be heading to Passion on January 2nd. I've been once before, but it was just a weekend one then. This year it's a full 4 days of non-stop worship. God shows up and shows out at Passion. I am uber excited to see what He is going to show me there. It's an amazing experience to be in the midst of nearly 20,000 other college students full out worshipping our Lord and Savior. It gives me chills just thinking about it. Stay tuned because I'm sure after MA and Passion, the next blog will be filled with lots of goodies! :)

Now can I tell you how blessed I am to have the friends that I have in my life?

I am SO proud of them for giving up the comforts of home especially during Christmas time and going to a foreign place. Amy Simmons, yes, dear, sweet Mamy, is leaving this Saturday with a group from her church headed to Peru. It's hard for me to picture little Amy backpacking through the jungle in Peru. However, I know that the Lord has placed it on her heart to go and she, without missing a beat, accepted and is following His command.
Will Simmons is leaving in 6 days for Asia (for safety reason, I cannot say his exact location). The information I just typed in parenthesis scares me. He stopped by my apartment the other day before he headed home to say goodbye. All I kept saying was "be careful, Will." I am so excited for what he's going to be doing there. He'll be gone for about 3 weeks, which is the longest he's been gone from home. I know the Lord is going to work in him and through him while he's there.
These Simmons twins are some of my best friends. It's going to be hard knowing that they aren't just up the road during break. It's going to be hard not being able to talk to them while they are away. I am already looking forward to the massive amounts of pictures and stories from each trip.
Also, my dear friend Joy Smith, whom I spent the summer with in Nevada left today for Uganda. Wow. She is one special girl and holds a place in my heart. She'll be there for about 2 weeks. She went through a lot to get to go on this trip and the devil tried his hardest to stop her. However, her faith in God prevailed and everything worked out and she's on a plane right now. Amen!
*Please be in prayer for these amazing people who are going to the different nations to spread the love of Christ.
Another thing, I am so blessed to have friends that I can call up and talk about scripture with. I have been trying to get better about reading my Bible. Not just reading to read, to get my numbers up, but reading to get something out of it. I'm blessed that I can call Ashley or Tara and talk to them about how I interpreted what I just read and get their opinions on it, too. That's just so awesome.

As you probably know, I spent last summer in Nevada (not "Nevahdah"). I have already applied for summer missions again for this summer. I am staying in the states again and my top 3 choices are 1. Orlando, Florida 2. Boston traveling team 3. Scarbourgh, Maine. The position in Florida really jumped off the page to me. I'd be on a team called Give the Kids the World. Familes with children who have terminal illnesses come to Orlando and stay at a resort. The family gets to enjoy a week of pure fun. They leave their worries of doctors, bills, and the future behind and just enjoy the attractions of Orlando. I would be able to work with and spend time with the families that came in each week. I wish I could explain just how much I would love to spend my summer there, doing that. However, I know that it is all in the Lord's hands. I mean, I didn't even know Nevada was an option last summer, and that's where He placed me. It was the best summer of my life. So I know that where ever He wants me to be is where He is going to put me. I'm excited to see where that might be.

Love y'all! Have a wonderful Christmas break!