When people started to let the elephant pick them up, a lot of thoughts ran through my mind. "Is this safe?" "Will I fall?" "Will this cost extra money?" Unfortunately, I didn't know the sure answer to any of these questions. All I could do was sit back and watch others as they slid off the elephant trunk laughing and full of obvious enjoyment and pleasure. "Whelp," I decided, "I want to try it, too.  People are having way too much fun to miss out." So I walked over to the elephant, deciding that it was worth the risk. ...

One, splendid morning, my team and I were all sitting together outside of our guesthouse having “team time”, a time in which we sit down together and point out one another’s strengths and shortcomings with the intention of helping one another grow into the young women God has created us to be. During this particular meeting, my leader, Sierra, decided it was the perfect time and place to tell me how beautiful I was; that I needed to start embracing this natural and raw beauty God has granted me, and start walking with confidence. I know, not your standard feedback....

After coming back from the village I kept hearing God repeat one phrase to me: "I want your heart. All of it." I came to the realization that my heart has been divided for quite some time but God has been patient (a quality I most certainly lack and admire) and has been pursuing me until I was ready to finally let Him have it. I am happy to report that this week I finally gave my heart to God. Completely. Since then I have been falling for Him. Hard. Head over Heels. Crazy in Love. The crazy thing is, He is loving me right back. And His love is far exceeding the...

Sometimes, you just gotta…                                 Jump into the pool at the base of a waterfall. Sometimes, you just gotta…                                 Stand on chairs as a team and declare truth from Jesus.   Sometimes, you...

Last week we took a 4 hour car ride into the north of Thailand. Our destination:  a Thai village by the name of Mae Ai.  I never thought I’d be back there.   Just like I never thought I’d be back here in Chiang Mai.   We pulled up to Pa’s house.   It was strange to see the blue house down the street that my team had painted last time I was here.  Everything seemed to be smaller.    I walked into the yard of Pa’s house and my house mom saw me.  She yelled, put her hands over her mouth, yelled something again, started...

I have legitimately started and erased this blog three times now, so obviously it is sort of a hard one to write… You are beautiful. Whenever someone tells me this I come up with a joke or make an excuse for why they are saying these three words to me. I can’t think of a time in my life where I truly received these words and believed them about myself, even when Jesus is telling them to me. The other night someone gave me a word from the Lord that was basically Him telling me how beautiful I was in a very eloquent and extravagant way. I, being the stubborn and hardheaded girl I...