Always a Pelican

What an incredibly great privilege I've had to serve with Praying Pelican Missions. It's not every day you get to be a part of life changing moments, unless of course, you're a Pelican. One of my favorite parts of being a full-time missionary has been meeting new people week after week and getting to share life with them. I know that the week they are about to experience is going to change them forever, and it's amazing to see it begin to unfold right before their eyes. What's more is, they are playing a part in changing someone else's life too. I have met so many people who I otherwise may never have crossed paths with since serving with PPM that I can't imagine life without now. Each team I have served with has changed me in some way and helped me to grow as a person and as a follower of Christ. It's through these groups I have begun to see what the body of Christ is really all about: unity and love. 

Serving with PPM has stretched me in my walk with Christ by taking me outside of my comfort zone and allowing Christ to shine through my weaknesses. I had this idea before becoming a full-time missionary, that it was going to be awesome fun and I'd have lots of friends and I would see God moving in miraculous ways, and I did see those things. But there was also hard work, loneliness, and spiritual struggles. I have a renewed respect and desire to support full-time missionaries, having experienced these things first hand. 

The truth is though, that we are all missionaries full-time. We may not have the label or job title "missionary," but our lives should be a continuous pursuit of proclaiming Christ and His coming and that is essentially what a missionary is and does. We don't have to leave the country to do that, it's simply a matter of going to school or work each day. Christian and missionary are synonymous terms. If you are a Christian, then you are a missionary. If we are all missionaries, then we should all be supporting and lifting each other up because there are going to be miraculous times, as well as lonely times. And lifting each other up produces unity and love in the body of Christ.

If you are a Christian, I hope that you know you are a missionary. Our lives are to be reflections of Him no matter where or what we find ourselves doing. As such, it makes sense then that missions starts at home, right in your own neighborhood with the people you interact with every day. It's great to go internationally and tell people about Christ, but it's equally important to live it out daily with those around us. 

Although I am no longer serving as a full-time missionary through Praying Pelican Missions, I am always a Pelican.  I'm not sure what form my job will take yet, but I am still a missionary. I will always cherish the time I have spent helping others serve in Jamaica through PPM, but I am excited for my new adventure being a missionary right at home. Once a Pelican, always a Pelican!!

Spin of the Globe: India

A Spin of the Globe is a series compiled by Praying Pelican Missions Mission Coordinators and Advocates. Within our individual blogging, most readers only get a narrow glimpse of PPM and our world-wide ministry. Between us bloggers, we realized we never speak much to countries we don't have experience in - so we are Spinning the Globe. We hope through this series, you can experience another country within (and even outside) the world of PPM and get a taste for ministry that is unique and powerful, in every location. We pray you are blessed. We more details about all of our domestic and international locations, visit PPM Trip Locations.

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One of the many benefits that come with being a missionary and traveling the globe is being exposed to so many different cultures. I truly consider it a privilege to interact with so many people around the world I would otherwise never have the chance to meet. I love being able to hear about their lives, especially their faith because so often it challenges and strengthens mine.

Last February I had the opportunity to travel to India and my experiences there changed me from the inside out. My faith was challenged in ways I never imagined. Life in India can be difficult, especially as a Christian. The major religion there is Hinduism and it is estimated that less than 6% of the population is Christian, and almost 88% of the population has never even heard of Christ.

I have often read about the persecuted church and the cost of following Christ, but while in India I was able to experience it firsthand. Those who confess Christ realize that it may cost them their lives. I thought for sure I was prepared to share the gospel with any who would listen without hesitation, even if it cost me my life. But sharing the gospel knowing fully that what I am ultimately asking of those I share Christ with is their lives, it changes you. As my time there passed, we saw countless persons count the cost and commit their lives to Christ, and that changed me.

On our way to the airport we made one last stop at an illegal house church. The pastor was a young man in his early 20s. He told us that just 6 weeks prior, his parents were tied up and placed in front of him at gunpoint for being Christians. He was told that if he did not deny Christ the captors would kill his parents in front of him. They did this with all the Christian families in the village. On their knees his parents told him never to deny Christ and they were shot and killed at his feet, as were so many others that day. He and the other survivors fled their village in east India to a less extreme village in the west, where they continued to share Christ with those around them. Three weeks after his family was killed this young man accepted the call to pastor his village - this was only three weeks before we met him. As I listened to his story, I was at a loss for words. Their grief was real, but their faith was stronger than ever. After hearing his story, we were asked to share a word of encouragement with those of his house church that were gathered.

As I looked into the eyes of the men and women gathered in the small room, knowing what they had suffered just weeks before, I felt incredibly unqualified to speak anything to them. In my life I have suffered, but never for my faith. It was a powerful moment for me in my faith and a great lesson in missions for me as well. The cost may be great but it should not keep us from sharing. My time in India caused me to reflect and evaluate on my own commitment to Christ and emboldened my resolve to share the gospel, even if it is a danger to my life. My heart aches for the lost of the world and feels connected to those who suffer for the cause of Christ.

As PPM continues to grow, I would encourage you to consider coming to India with us and sharing Christ with the lost there. Our calling is urgent and so is their need. Each of us have a story to share about how Christ has changed us. There is no special qualifications or experience needed - just a willing heart and a passion to share the gospel. 

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"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." John 15:15

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 The man in the center is the young pastor of the house church we stopped at on our way to the airport.

These are members of the house church we visited.

The Beauty of Haiti - A Spin of the Globe

A Spin of the Globe is a series compiled by Praying Pelican Missions Mission Coordinators and Advocates. Within our individual blogging, most readers only get a narrow glimpse of PPM and our world-wide ministry. Between us bloggers, we realized we never speak much to countries we don;t have experience in - so we are Spinning the Globe. We hope through this series, you can experience another country within (and even outside) the world of PPM and get a taste for ministry that is unique and powerful, in every location. We pray you are blessed. We more details about all of our domestic and international locations, visit PPM Trip Locations.

Eric is a co-worker of mine serving as a Missions Coordinator in Haiti, along with his lovely wife Bethany. I hope his words inspire and ignite a desire in your hearts to love and serve the people of Haiti. Check out Eric and Bethany's blog for more info on their work in Haiti and life as missionaries.

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The Beauty of Haiti by Eric Richardson

What comes to mind when you think about Haiti?

Ask most people this question, and they're likely to reply with stories about a devastating earthquake, widespread political corruption, and significant risk of violence and danger. And, to be honest, that's to be expected if all you hear about Haiti is taken from the news.

The  problem with listening to what most people have to say about Haiti that most people haven't been to Haiti.  Those that have, often will tell a different story. One of the best parts of being a trip leader in Haiti is getting the opportunity to see the eyes of our teams open as they experience a Haiti that they never imagined existed.

~Beautiful Views~

Most people don't realize that the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, is basically made up of mountains that rise up from the Caribbean Sea. Between the beautiful mountain views, the gorgeous white sand, and blue water, it really is one of the most beautiful places I've had the privilege to visit.

Ask any of our teams who have stood on top of the apartments at Good Shepherd Orphanage and taken in the view of the mountains in the bay and I'm sure they will agree that the combination of the blue ocean, mountains across the bay and salty breeze is unlike no other.

~Beautiful People~

There is something about Haiti draws people back. It's mysterious in a way. I have both experienced this personally and have heard it described by those who have visited Haiti in the past, even decades ago. I believe part of this desire to return comes from the hospitality and incredible spirit of the Haitian people.

Ask any of our Haiti teams about the highlight of their trip. I can say with great confidence that the relationships they make with our Haitian staff will easily be in the top 3. They truly are the glue that holds our ministry together. Whether it be learning about their culture, hearing their passion for Christ or serving alongside them throughout the week, they make a lifelong impact on your heart.

~Beautiful Faith~

One of the biggest surprises that our teams find when they visit Haiti is that it is a country full of people who have an unshakable hope and faith in Christ. Since the main religious activity an American typically hears about is voudou practices, many of them are blown away by the revival that is taking place in the country.

Haiti is a place where, like our friend Sister Mona says, “You can physically touch Christ. You can feel His hands upon your life.”

And it is so true. This palpable and very real presence of Christ is what you can’t grasp by just listening to the news or reading the newspaper. You’ll have to come and visit to experience it. And when you do, you’ll see that there’s a revival happening in Haiti.

If you've never been to Haiti, I invite you to come and have your world view changed. And once you've been here, return home and share the good news:  that Haiti is not a place of darkness, but rather a place of beauty, where God is at work and hope is alive. Visit our Haiti trip information page for more info on our trips, or contact us to learn about how you can be involved with a trip to Haiti.

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Dressing the Heart

Here is our last post in our series on fashion on the mission field. Check it out - this one is the most important: dressing our heart.

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Dressing the Heart

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: "To Bling or Not to Bling?" That is the Question.

I feel like many of us would agree that jewelry not only completes our outfit, but also makes a statement about who we are and sometimes what we value. But what is its place on a mission trip? Should we wear earrings or bring bangles for our Sunday attire during a mission trip? Inquiring minds need to know!

I think it's important to step back and look at this topic from a cultural perspective. Many other cultures view Americans as wealthy individuals who have everything. Of course, you and I know that is not true, but look at it from their viewpoint. All they know of our culture before meeting us on our mission trip is what they see on TV, and while it's a poor assumption to suppose we are all like that, can you blame them? We do the same thing before we go to serve in their country sometimes. So when we show up wearing our CZ earrings, they don't know they're not real diamonds -  all they see is a wealthy American. I have seen how quickly something simple like a ring or necklace became a distraction in a conversation that could have led to sharing the gospel.

Besides that, on many of our mission trips we do work projects. A lot of times it is hard labor like mixing concrete or laying block, and it isn't safe to wear some jewelry while doing these things. You might even lose or ruin them.

I mentioned before, though, that some jewelry makes a statement. Like salvation bracelets or promise rings. It's easy to use these items to steer a conversation towards Christ. Conversations almost start themselves!

So is it wrong to wear jewelry on a mission trip? My personal opinion is no, but be careful not to bring jewelry you wouldn't mind losing or items that would hinder your testimony with those you will be serving. If I wear any jewelry at all, it is meaningful and starts up conversations that I know will help me talk with someone about Christ. Best practice: Leave your jewelry at home for the week - your best accessory on a mission trip is an open heart for the culture and people you will be serving.

Bling it up while you are home though!! Be sure to check out my friend Bethany's site to find out about the awesome bracelets she is selling to help support herself as a missionary as well as the Haitian individuals who made them. These bracelets are beautiful and make a statement worth sharing! I wear mine all the time and get a lot of comments on it. :) Check it out here: http://ericandbeth.us/the-apparent-project-haiti/ 

“The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide.” – tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: “What do I wear?” and give you a few tips that we’ve learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!"

Far or Near, You Can Order - Just Click Here!

Friends and family both local and afar! This year's Yankee Candle Fundraiser allows you to purchase from me online. Please consider buying a candle or other scenty thing! (Plus, they make great Christmas gifts!) When you order from me online they will even been shipped to you! Thanks everyone! Here's the link:

Christy's Yankee Candle Fundraiser

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: You Smell Nice...

Another post in our series on mission trip style. Don't miss it!

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: You Smell Nice...

"The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide." - tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: "What do I wear?" and give you a few tips that we've learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!"

29 and Holding? I think not!

I love birthdays. I especially love my birthday. And this year was no different. It's strange to think that next year will be my 30th... It doesn't seem like I'm old enough to almost be 30! And yet here I am at 29. While eating cake, my mother-in-law said to me, "Now your as old as I am; 29 and holding!"

28 was great and came with a lot of changes, challenges, and celebrations. I was privileged to be a part of some pretty epic things like traveling to India for the first time, and returning to South Africa. I spent almost five months out of the country since my last birthday [most of that time I was "suffering" in Jamaica :) ] What an honor to serve the Lord around the globe with Praying Pelican Missions. And all that travel came with some challenges too - jet lag, missing home, culture shock, limited sleep, and let's not forget the bug bites. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

29 and holding? I don't think so! Life is too short to live without giving it your all. I want to make the most of every day of every year that the Lord gives me here on earth. So 29 had better bring it's A game because I'm holding nothing back this year. Here's to a life of pushing myself to the limit for the cause of Christ and truly running the race no matter what the cost, counting all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord, knowing that my righteousness is not my own but Christ's, forgetting my past failures and reaching forward to what lies ahead even if it's out of my comfort zone, and pressing on toward the goal for the prize! (Philippians 3)

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: What Every Missionary Needs - A Chaco Tan Line

Check out our latest post in our mission-ista fashion series! Enjoy!

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: What Every Missionary Needs - A Chaco Tan Line

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Make it a Group Thing - Bandannas and Neon Ts

Everyone knows one of the coolest things about going to summer camp, a retreat, or on a mission trip is the group t-shirt! It's also the one thing we for sure know we should bring to wear. So why not have some fun and take the guess work out of the rest of the week too?! My simple solution is neon Ts and bandannas.

A couple of years ago my youth group took a mission trip to Jamaica and the girls bought a variety of neon shirts to wear throughout the week. Plus, we got the v-neck ones from Michael's Craft Store at a really cheap price. It made packing so easy and we all stood out in our pictures - there was no missing us! If you wanted to you could even paint designs on them - I think for next year I make days of the week t-shirts to make things even more easy!

When we got to Jamaica I surprised all the girls with bandanas. These were great too because they matched our shirts and could be used to keep our hair back and sweat off our heads. Bandannas are great because you can wear them so many different ways no matter your hair types and length. Here are a couple of ideas:

• Wear it as a folded or rolled headband
• Wear it like a pirate
• Wear it across your forehead hippie-style
• Wear it retro with the bow on top or to the side
• Wrap it around your bun
• Tie it in a bow around your ponytail
• And so many more!

Here's a pic of a few styles that literally take seconds to do.

“The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide.” – tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: “What do I wear?” and give you a few tips that we’ve learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!"

Stick It To 'Em

Each week brought new lessons and adventures in Jamaica this summer. Each team that came was unique and awesome. My first group was from Albany, GA. I always say that teens model their leadership and these teens were warm, prepared, open, and flexible, just like their leaders. We had a terrific week that was packed full of fun and lots of learning experiences.

One of the most impacting things from my entire summer was at the end of this first week. To wrap up each week we have one last team meeting where we share our favorite memories from the week and talk about ways we can bring our experiences home. The Youth Pastors of the group brought post-it notes with them for an activity they call "Stick It To Them." It's so easy to get caught up in the negative feedback we receive from people - and the negative seems to stick with us longer than the positive things we hear from people. So, Stick It To Them is a chance for us to be positive towards one another in a way that sticks with us. Each person writes one positive thing on a post-it for each person. It can be a memory from the week, a way you saw them serve in an awesome way, a way you saw God through them, Scripture, you can even draw a picture that pops into your mind when you think of them. I watched my team do this for one another - it wasn't the first time any of them had done this, but it was wonderful for me to watch as they put a lot of thought into their notes. After their notes were written they actually stuck them on each other! Everyone was covered in bright post-it notes.

And then they did this activity for our Praying Pelican Staff. We stood as the students came and stuck post-its all over us. It seems like such a silly thing, but it was so much fun and I couldn't wait to read what was on the notes. Not only was I encouraged then, but I kept those notes and re-read them later in the summer and again since coming home. Each time it was exactly what I needed to hear to help me stay on track with my walk with Christ. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The power of life and death are in the tongue." And when we use our words to encourage we are using it for life. Maybe use this activity at work or in your own youth group this week!

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Miami Mission Trips

New article from one of my fellow missionaries on fashion for a mission trip in Miami. Check it out!

The Ultimate Mission Style Guide: Miami Mission Trips

“The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide.” – tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: “What do I wear?” and give you a few tips that we’ve learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!"

Top 10 Sayings From My Summer in Jamaica

Top 10 Sayings of the Summer:

10. "Schhhhhwwwwweps." with Yanique Cunningham


9. "Nobody can-a cross it!" with Andy Eldemire & AL Johal Dicks

8. "We need justice!" with Jahavid & Moloney

7. "Rude!" with Ames Davis
6. "This is the Board of Power, and you must cherish the Board of Power." with Jabba
5. "You're fired." with Brian Zeschke and Jon Nelson
4. "Please dress appropriately as you come from the showers, we don't want to see your foundation garments." with Moloney
3. "The whities are come!" with all of Jamaica's children :)
2. "Miss Jodi, my stool is loose!" with Michelle ReRe Lee
1. "THIS! TODAY! RIGHT NOW! This is what it's all about!" with BZ and Dave N

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Make Down or Make Up

Here is the latest edition of our mission trip style guide series:

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Make Down or Make Up

"The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide." - tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: "What do I wear?" and give you a few tips that we've learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!"

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Stealing from the Boys

 "The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide." - tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: "What do I wear?" and give you a few tips that we've learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!

Check out the newest installment in The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide! Written by Amanda Buda!

http://amandabuda.com/2013/10/07/the-ultimate-mission-trip-style-guide-stealing-from-the-boys/

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Wet Hair, Don't Care

I took away so many tips and ideas from this entry, and I know you will too. Check it out and stay tuned for more from our series!

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Wet Hair, Don't Care

"The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide." - tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: "What do I wear?" and give you a few tips that we've learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Pretty Little Dresses

Check out this post from one of my fellow PPM missionaries, as we continue our series of managing fashion on the mission field. :)

The Ultimate Mission Style Guide: Pretty Little Dresses

"The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide." - tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: "What do I wear?" and give you a few tips that we've learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide: Hunger Games Hair

The Ultimate Mission Trip Style Guide is a blog series with tips and tricks from Praying Pelican Missions lady missionaries on how to look good, feel good and take the pressure off of packing your suitcase for a new culture, climate and lifestyle. Our heart is to remove the anxiety and focus from timeless questions like: "What do I wear?" and give you a few tips that we've learned throughout the years. Ultimately, we pray that these posts would be a resource for you as you prepare for your trip. We want to provide you with a few tools that can help you remain focused on what God is teaching you and doing around you during your time abroad, instead of the length of your shorts, the style of your still-wet hair, or how much make-up is appropriate. But of course, throughout it all, we must have fun in the process!


Two words can be used to best describe my hair while on a mission trip: hot mess. If you're anything like me, when I look around I feel like all the other girls look glamorous while I'm walking around with my hair in a pony tail. What's their secret? I have no idea! :)

I have never lost so much hair in my life like I did while serving in Jamaica. All the little girls wanted to platt (braid) my "tall" hair. How could I say no to their cute faces? And so I let them pull and tug and fight over my hair. After my first full week of this I was thoroughly looking forward to recreation day when no one would want to braid my hair, but I was wrong. Every vendor wanted me to pay them to put my hair in platts. Finally, after several weeks of this I gave in to one of the vendors and paid her to put my hair in braids... And it was awesome! And the best part was that the little girls could still play in my hair, I just didn't have to worry about unknotting it afterwards. It was a win-win solution. Plus, I could keep the braids in for weeks without having to do anything to them- it was a dream come true.

The girls love playing in your hair!

But it can be so painful!

I loved not having to do anything to my hair.

Everyone knows that going on a mission trip means early mornings and late nights, and you may not have access to someone who can platt your hair for you before you leave for your next mission trip, so what do you do? You need some simple styles that are easy to manage and don't require blow drying or straightening your hair. Plus, in some remote locations washing your hair may be a luxury if there is a limited water supply. Before this summer I would have had no advice for you, but I had some trendy ladies on trips with me this summer who had some great ways to wear their hair and not look like a ragamuffin like me. One style I learned from the ladies this summer I have named "The Catniss Braid" because it's how Catniss wears her hair in the movie The Hunger Games. This braid is similar to French braiding, but you braid the hair from one ear, down around the hair line at your neck, over towards your other ear, and then down in front of your shoulder in a hanging braid. This style is great because it stays all day without being too tight or heavy. Plus, it's easy to do and keeps your hair off of your neck, which helps keep you cooler.

Start your braid from one ear and wrap around the hairline to the other ear.

Thanks Savanah for letting me use you as a doll!

If you think you are too tomboy to pull this off, know that if I can figure it out, anyone can do it. Happy braiding and may the odds be ever in your favor. :)

Birthday Surprises!

Today is my handsome hubby's 30th birthday. I am so blessed to have him as my best friend and partner in life. He is my rock and I love him with all that I am. I couldn't ask for an better man. :)

Every year I try really hard to think of a present that will top the previous year's gift. One year I got him a Jedi Mickey Mouse statue that had a working light saber. Pretty epic gift if I do say so myself. The problem is that I have the TOUGHEST time waiting until his actual birthday to give it to him. I usually always give him his gift early because I am so excited and I just know he's going to love it.

Well this year I did it. I waited and waited to give him his present on his actual birthday (well I made it with one of his gifts). The suspense is almost painful; it's like I forget that it's his present not mine! I get like this every time I have a gift for someone. I am getting better at controlling my excitement, but giving the gift is more fun for me than receiving one.

I couldn't wait for TJ to open his other birthday gift so that I could see the look on his face. There's a certain level of satisfaction that comes with giving a gift to someone that you know they are really going to enjoy. And what an amazing thing this morning to see the look on his face when he opened his present to see a VT Football Jersey with his name on the back and a #1.

He is my #1 and I hope that we have many more birthdays together. May God continue to bless his life richly. Love you my hubby - happy birthday!

Grateful for Grace

As many of you know, part of my job as a full-time missionary with Praying Pelican Missions is sales. I make tons of calls a week trying to connect with churches and Youth Pastors and get them to come on a trip with us. I sell mission trips. But not just any mission trips - the kind that rock your face off and change your life and the lives of your students forever!

Believe it or not, making calls to complete strangers can be awkward (they are called "cold calls" for a reason.) Even though I know what I will be offering the person on the other line is EPIC, the initial conversation can still be awkward. When I call, I try to relax and sound like I know the person I am asking the receptionist to connect me to, so that she won't shut me down and send me to voice mail thinking I am a telemarketer. Sometimes these calls go really well, and other times not so much.

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation and you know it's not going the way you want, and yet you find yourself unable to stop saying the wrong thing?! That was me today. For example, one call I made today I started by asking for a person who's name had changed. I assumed she got married and stated that, to which the receptionist said, "No, she just changed her name." Then I continued by saying the person's new name wrong. I completely missed a letter in her name. And as the receptionist corrected me I found myself saying, "Right, I know that's not how you say it." I was literally screaming at myself inside telling myself to just shut-up already. So much for relax and pretend like you know the person. When I asked if I could speak with her the receptionist told me I needed to call her cell phone because she is in the other building and they don't have a phone system in there yet. "Oh, well I don't have her cell phone number because I don't actually know her. I'm just calling to introduce myself to her and see what her mission plans are for the youth this year." Yup, I really said that. I almost felt the receptionist sigh - she was as fed up with me as I was. At this point I think she just felt really bad for me and gave me her email and cell phone number. Maybe she just wanted to get off the phone with me. In truth, I wanted to get off the phone with me. What was wrong with me?!

Unfortunately that was not the only time I made a call and after hanging up said, "Well that was a fumble." The truth is that we are not always going to get everything right. As a missionary, I am certainly not the best sales person, and yet this is what God has asked me to do. And He is still going to use me in sales, despite my shortcomings.

I am reminded of the story of Moses in Exodus 4. God has this great assignment for Moses and yet Moses continues to make excuses. As I read this encounter I almost find myself shouting at Moses just to shut up. "Well that was a fumble." I'm sure after having this conversation with God Moses was probably thinking that it could have gone better. "Did I really just say that?" he might have asked himself. And yet God still used Moses. He didn't tell Moses he had to be an excellent orator. Moses just had to be available and obedient.

God used Moses in many great ways after this encounter. Moses led the Israelites out of captivity and gave taught them to walk with God. Through Moses, God chose to give us the law. But grace came through Jesus. John 1:17 tell us, "for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." I am so glad that God didn't stop at the law. All of my not so smooth phone calls certainly would have proved how unworthy I am to work for Him. Fortunately, there is Jesus and He doesn't give me a little grace; He gives me sufficient grace (2 Cor 12:9) - enough grace to wipe out all my fumbles continuously.

I am so glad that God has grace and can use a goof-ball like me to help get people on to the mission field. I'm so glad He gives second and third (and twelfth) chances. I am so grateful for His grace. And the best part is that this extends deeper than to a missionary trying to make sales calls - it applies to my salvation and yours! If I can't make phone calls right then I certainly know I can't get salvation right! But his grace reaches me there too. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For you are saved by grace though faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift - not from works, so that no one can boast." "He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." 2 Timothy 1:9

If you feel like you need some grace today, search the Bible for the word "grace" and see how much there is to be received! And as I get back to making more awkward cold calls, I'll leave you with this verse from 2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."