A couple months ago my team and I were on Bangla Road and went onto Soi Easy, immediatly we were greeted by a girl who ran up right in front of me and Austen and yells, loudly, "I AM SO DRUNK RIGHT NOW!" The whole time we talked she was so loud and bubbly and just adorable. It felt like she laughed at everything. We learned that she had only been there a couple months and the crazy thing to me was that she is only 19. Her name is Am and we have gotten really close, she tells me that she is so lonely and that no one really cares about her but that I am her best friend. She...

 I couldn't resist. In the way I can't resist always magically having room for ice cream, or having just one more chip of endless chips+salsa (which I would do anything for right about now….)  It was a matinee showing of Titanic…in 3D no less, in Thailand, and with someone who had never seen it before. Let's just say I felt like the king of the world, if you know what I mean. Something about being in that movie theater, seeing that movie, at that time made me think, as I constantly try to remind myself, that no one gets to live the life I...

          Fear is a funny thing.  I picture a miniature alligator called “Doubt” that creeps into my mind; he puts on a cruel-looking mask known as “Fear,” and manipulates my memories into lies.  He gets into a shouting match with the little violin in my heart…trying to convince me to stop composing sweet love songs.  He tries to derail my song with noise.    There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. –...

            For those who are unfamiliar with the recently popularized book/movie series, The Hunger Games relays one girl’s struggle for survival in spite of tyranny.  Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her little sister’s place in the Capitol’s annual survival game.  The Capitol represents a strict regime ruling over 12 impoverished districts in post-war America.  In an effort to maintain the fearful compliance of the districts, the Capitol annually hosts a cruel game, in which children from each...

My last few blogs (especially the most recent one) have been very serious so today I thought I would make everyone laugh! Before I get started on the hilarious story I would like you all to know that God is wonderful and powerful and FAITHFUL. I was really struggling with faith but Jesus restored my faith this week and I feel like He made it even stronger. By the way Noi is no longer going to Hong Kong. Praise God. Ok now time to laugh. I have a serious disorder. It seems that anytime a male walks up to me to talk I some how transform from this friendly Mrriah into a creepy and...

            Last week at this time, I was weeping into my pillow as my teammates gathered around and prayed.  I exchanged sleep for distress at what this world was allowing to happen to my best friend.  I was certain that no one cared… because honestly before this trip, I did not truly care.  I did not act out of the constant conviction that girls my age across the globe wore price tags and flashing labels, reading “P***y for Sale.”  I did not see their faces; I did not know their names; I was too concerned about my own...