My natural rythm and other such tragic things.

So today I woke up and had a thought in my mind that maybe I would try zumba in a class for real. Gillian loves it, Patty and Ashley swear by it, so why not right? I may not be graceful but I am sure I can figure out the steps. They don't have to pretty right? Wrong. Well wrong in a class of two!
I have never been so scared in my life. Give me a trafficker to deal with any day! The problem starts with the huge glass windows looking into the "dance studio" of my gym. The problem gets worse when no you can't just "pick up" the moves. The problem only gets worse when the other one of the two of us leaves.
So you here had me and my instructor. Big glass windows. Latin Cha Cha.
Oh no.
We go for a couple of songs where she keeps trying to yell out (she still has the mike on) tips of how I can do better...good luck lady!
Finally she comes down off the stage and stands by me.
Inner head monolage:
You can just leave
No I can't if then she would be a lone
Who cares it's her job
How awkward for her, no it's fine, your American maybe that will help (it didn't by the way)
What if she got fired?
Why fires dance instructors?
Maybe she will loose her pep?

So as you can assume this was not helping my dancing talents. I used to have the same problem when it was time to choose a crayon. I always choose the orange one and told everyone it was my favorite because I was afraid it would hurt the crayons feelings not to get picked.

Finally after another half hour I was like "oh man I am wiped, I am probably just going to finish up the day with a run....thanks!"
Never again zumba. Never again.

Hamburg!

Hey everyone, I know it's been awhile but I figured only really my sisters/cousins read this so it's a safe place to fill you guy's in on the "non" ministry stuff that is bound to happen, and I am going to need to share.... because let's be honest me in foreign countries that are not known for LOVING Americans, and not speaking a bit of the language is bound to come up with some good ones. Today I got lost in Hamburg, which was not a bad thing. Felicity only get's in tomorrow so I wandered around for something like 5 hours. Well along the way I found myself a sim card to put in my phone. I was told to wait 1/2 hour and it will work. This being Germany and the trains being exactly on time to the minute I was certain it would work out, what I did not put into the equation however was the fact that after it started working it needed to be activated, simple enough right? NOT WHEN IT IS IN GERMAN. So for the next several hours, and whenever the mood struck me I would pull out my phone stop an unsuspecting german stranger and ask in German "Do you speak English" if they shook there head I would just smile and keep walking if they said "yes" or more like "ya" then I then show them my phone and ask for help (they really are the nicest people, very friendly). Each time I thought it had worked something else in German popped up (I am sure it was all very efficient because that's just how they do everything here, but I was at a loss). Finally I arrived home and googled it, and using google translate was then and only then able to call my friend who I was supposed to have called hours before. Good solid second day I would say.

Love and miss you all!

ps this is a part that I was in today, it is massive and kind of creepy with all the statues

this is all i got so far

Hi guys!! So I have only been able to get these two but give me some more time and I will put some more up here!
These two pictures are not even where I live, they are at a place called Worchester (pronounced vooster) where I was all last week attending a conference.
Love you all

friends and family TIA!

TIA (this is africa) happens to be one of my most favorite sayings while working here.
So far:
-I have attended a protocal/rapid response meeting where the first line of the meeting was what happens when we get a phone call that people suspect human trafficking (that's how you spell human tafficking :)) .....call the ngo? (non goverment organization) or do you call the saps? (south african police).....my suggestion was "why don't we call both?" they stared at me.....(white american 21 year old girl) and then stared at eachother....then were like "good idea". haha! i love my job!!
-attended a conference with lots of YWAM leaders
-met a lot of the street children around and get to continually love on them with smiles and high fives
-attempted surfing
-visited an amazing women named Angline, she is fighting HIV/AIDS and loosing with a small two year old daughter
-getting a passion to create deep community and trying how to figure out how
-meeting incredible people with a passion to do anything that serves God
-looking for a flat with my new (potential) flat mate, hopefully a place were we can entertain and bring about many successful parties!
-trying to find either a scooter or a car I can buy for transport (please pray)
-realizing I should have packed more coats (I moved to africa, who knew I would be freezing?!)
-trying really hard to avoid being proposed to


I love it here so much you guys! It is beautiful. I have a camera but I only have a few minutes I will try and put up more pictures later tonight. The internet here sucks...like bad so I am just going to write a few notes of here to people so I don't have to sit for an hour trying to open AOL.
Love

Patricia- I would love for you and Jack to come!! I think it would be so much fun and I think you would really enjoy it. There is so much beauty and hard things to see that you absolutely have to come! Give me more details whenever possible. I love you cousin!

Katie B- I love texting you! That whole conversation made my week and I can not stop talking about how my amazing sister is getting to come and see all that we do. Lydia (my flatmate) and I are already planning a sister party for you!! And I found daddy a perfect room because of course you will be staying with me. Oh! and I had a prophecy spoke over me that totally was about you!! We will skype about it! love you sissy~!

Mama- I love you and miss you!! So I was at this prayer meeting last night and Myriam stopped it and was like I feel like we should pray you in more to the S-cape house (the restoration house) and so they did and lots of scriptures were given to me, and then one of the ladies told me "I just feel like God is telling me to be a mother to you, so I will be your south african mum" haha i told her i think that would make my mama very happy to hear that you offered that :)

Michelle- you are so amazing. I can't even begin. I don't think you would want me to make public all the reasons...or maybe you would ;) but just to let you know you and my dear brother have almost completely coverd my need for transport. Such such such a blessing! oh my goodness thank you sister! p.s. tell my brother i love him? and kiss my baby please.

everyone else,
you support is incredible and it has been crazy busy but as soon as i get a second to breathe i will write out a proper letter.
please keep sending the family and friend updates i love getting them!
love

new stuff!!

The time has almost come! In 24 hours I will be sitting in a hotel room getting ready to fly out (yikes!).
But before I left God had to make sure and give me a few more surprises.
#1. A new ipod
well Nicole gave me her old one
#2 a new camera
a friend gave me money to buy something nice for myself
so....fun and exciting blogs to come!!
love you all

Goodbye portland and a quick stop in phx

So i am sitting here with my sissy in the sunny computer room and it does not even seem possible that I am leaving for two years.
The last few days have been a hectic and sad goodbyes (except my brother luke who is hoping to visit real quick!!). I love portland so much and especially the people in it.
God has given me this amazing oppurtunity to pour out and serve in my most favorite way. He has blessed me countless times over the last few months and has constantly reassured me this is what His heart desires. I am going knowing the I am going to miss a lot. I am going to miss memories, babies, weddings, and parties, and most of all I am going miss just sitting and having life with my friends and families.
Oh and really good news!! my passport and visa will be sent to kates house via express mail tomorrow!! Hallulujah!
Thank you all for everything. I have the most amazing family in all the world, and the best friends anyone could ask for.

I love you all! Kate and I are going today to get a new camera so I can get pictures!

17 days!!!

So there are 17 days till I leave for Africa!!
I am so so excited. There has been a lot to do but luckily God gave me a pretty incredible sister that has calmed me down at anytime I start to loose my calm. Katie B you have been incredible! I don't know how many times I can say it but I would have no idea what to do without you!
Cousin party in three days!! Totally excited for that, cresent lake after that.
On the 22 (a sat) I am having a last night bbq at my parents house to say goodbye for real.

Love you all!!