Ready or Not....

Well folks, Im in Rome, Italy.

I made it here around 6:30 am Rome time which is around 12:30 Am at home. The flight its self was a journey. There was turbulance, grumpy flight attendants, crying children, and smelly people, besides that it went fairly smooth. I slept the vast majority of the time...it was in and out sleep but it was still sleep. When I got off the plane the journey began...the taxi ride.

Now I must give credit to the taxi driver it was not as bad as I thought it would be, yes they are a little crazy when it comes to driving but it was nowhere as crazy as my experience in China. Now the cab drivers do attempt to rip you but you can bring them back down fairly easy.

Tonight I went walking around Rome with some of the professors and some students in the program. It was a great time. I was able to see the outside of the Vatican, and the Sistine Chapel tonight, and we are working on making plans to go visit both of these places which is definitely exciting.

While Im here I am rooming with someone which is exciting to me not because I want to share my room but because she is from India, and well guess what...Im going there soon. This trip is going to have a lot of opportunities to see the Lord move, I just have to be obedient and follow him every step of the way. I am super excited about this journey...classes start tomorrow so it should be a good day.

I have moved...

Well, I do not have a picture with this post...sorry. The past few days have been fairly out of control. On Friday my mom and Terry came to Cleveland. We picked up the UHAUL, I got sick to my stomach because I did not think it would all fit. We got back to my house and loaded up the last six years of my life into that tiny little uhaul. I think the Lord allowed for the stomach of the Uhaul to expand :)

Saturday morning I drove to Hamilton, with mom and Terry, and Nate to move to a new town and new apartment. In a matter of about five and half hours I had my room unpacked and decorated. It went fairly quick but it was tiring.

As I layed in bed last night thinking about the journey that I am going on, it made me realize two things. One I serve an amazing God, but two, Im extremely blessed. Not many people can say they are leaving the country for six weeks to travel to Italy, and India. I am excited about the journey of AL, and this internship. Despite how hard it is, and how alone I may feel at times because I will not have friends here with me in the beginning I know that the Lord has ordained this moment and this time to prepare for something great, and for that my friends I am very fortunate.

My next update will be in a few days....the rollercoaster ride still continues...it might end when I get to Italy. Be grateful for what you have and count your blessings you never know when you might not have them.

Firebrand....Keep, Share, and Ignite

Firebrand youth...I love them. In the past few years these kids have stolen my heart and been a huge part of my life. Tonight, was one of my last nights with Firebrand for awhile and it was a sad night but a great night. I absolutely loved the fact that firebrand and my TN family had a little going away party for me tonight...it was priceless. When Lisa asked me tonight if I wanted to say anything to firebrand I couldn't say anything without crying, but Firebrand I do have something to say to you....

First and foremost, thank you firebrand for teaching me throughout the past few years. You have taught me a lot of things and you have had a huge impact on my life. I love each and everyone of you from the bottom of my heart, and just because I am moving to a different town for awhile I am still here for you whenever you need anything, I am still a phone call away. I will still continually pray for you and be here for you regardless. It has been an honor and pleasure to watch you grow into young men and woman of God who are ignited with a flame and running with a passion after God. I can't wait to see where the Lord takes you in the next few years. I am proud of each and every one of you. Continue to pursue after the Lord with everything inside of you, forsake the things of the world, love as Christ loves you, and spread the fire to everyone you encounter. Firebrand I love you!

Love...

This marks the beginning of my journey. Many of you have asked me if I was going to blog or how to keep up with me over the next year as I travel and start the internship and at first I was not sure what to do, and after much thought I decided that it was time to start a blog. So here is my first one.

As many of you know I am moving this weekend and it is a bitter sweet experience and time in my life. Tennessee has become my home, not just a place I went to school. I found extended family while living here. The saying home is where the heart is I find to be more true each day. My heart is in TN, and so is some of my family, and as I get ready to part with a place that had what I would consider to be a large impact on my life, and as I move away from the people who have challenged me and helped me to grow, and as I move away from the kids who have stolen my heart I know that the Lord is sending me on an incredible journey to refine and prepare me for what he has called me to do. My heart is happy and sad all at the same time. But what I do know is I am grateful for my TN family and I know that I'll be coming home regularly.

I was reading a book this past week, called love has a face. It is an incredible book, and book that has challenged me in a variety of ways. When I traveled to China a couple of years ago I remember I prayed a prayer the month before I left almost daily and that prayer was Lord, show me the people through your eyes. That prayer changed my world and my perspective of life...it broke me into pieces. This book has challenged to find out what love really looks like through the eyes of my Father. So I leave you with this question today, and yes I would like to respond because all of my questions have a bigger purpose in life other than for you to think about and for me to have an answer to...the answers from my questions are being used for a very important something that I will not be telling you about just yet....

The question I leave you with today is: What do you in your flesh percieve love to be?