Tia and I made it back to NEBRASKA!!! Unfortunately, my laptop broke while I was in Jacksonville so I did not keep this updated but I figured I’d do some post-Jax blogging!

First of all, I’d just like to say that this summer was truly the BEST experience of my life thus far!  I can’t even begin to describe how blessed I feel to have gotten to spend two months with 200 incredibly loving, kind, carefree, intelligent, passionate, simply all-around wonderful people who have such a strong heart for the Lord.  Thank you to all the team members, team leaders, staff, supporters, employers, and everyone else who helped make STP possible!  And most of all thank you to God who ultimately orchestrated the whole thing :)

That being said, STP was also HARD!  I envisioned myself working from 8 or 9 til 5 every day, going to the beach, spending time in worship and fellowship, and having fun!  Don’t get me wrong, I had a BLAST!!!  But the challenge came with waking up at 4 or 5 AM, spending 9 or 10 hours each day in the warehouse of Coach, being accountable for weekly scripture memory and bible study, trying to find time to keep in touch with friends and family back home, attempting to process through everything I witnessed/read/heard, and most of all being convicted on a regular basis and learning how to live for God and not for myself.

Rather than post a novel about every little thing I learned and experienced at STP, I’m just going to mention a few ways I’ve noticed my post-STP life has already been different:

1) I think of God ALL THE TIME.  It’s almost creepy.  He’s the first thing I think of when I wake up, random little things remind me of him, I try to find ways to bring him up in conversation…  It’s like we’re dating! Haha. Now I understand what it means to be in a personal relationship with Christ.

2) I’m not as stressed!  My schedule for senior year is going to be ridiculously INTENSE and in addition I have NO IDEA what I’m going to do after I graduate, but I know that God has a plan and it is infinitely better than anything I could ever think of so I’m just not going to worry about it.  Worrying does nothing but waste time anyways.  I do my best and that’s all I can do.  Hakuna matata :)

3) I have a new definition of failure.  In my opinion, to fail is to not take advantage of the opportunities God gives you.  He is always opening and closing doors. I’m getting better at recognizing when he does so and actively responding, even when it may be difficult or I may not want to.

4) I pray a LOT more.  To be honest, I hardly ever used to pray.  Before family meals, maybe before bed, and if something bad happened.  Now I pray randomly throughout each and every day.  I thank God constantly because my life is  AWESOME and I’ve done nothing to deserve it.  I also have a prayer request journal.  If you ever have any prayer requests, lemme know.  No matter how big or small, the Lord is faithful!

5) I feel like I can make disciples!  I’ve always avoided ministry and discipleship because my Bible knowledge is limited and I have my own personal struggles, but I’ve realized that EVERYONE struggles and NO ONE knows everything.  It’s ok to not have all the answers!  I’m confident and excited to let people know how much I love Jesus and tell them what he’s done for me.  And I’m excited to see who specifically God leads me to invest in this year :)

This list could potentially go on and on but I’ll stop there.  I’ll continue to post now that I have a computer again.  Thank you for reading!

One last thing:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!!