God is so good guys. And sometimes I forget that.

Sometimes I think I'm entitled to living a life full of clothes and money and no problems.

And then there are days like today where the Lord is so real, so close, and so precious to me.

He saved me; a wretched, broken, insecure, 17 year old.

He chose me and loves me with a love that binds all joy and peace and grace into one.

And he didn't have to do that at all you guys. He CHOSE us with a boldness and a passion that we can't even fathom because He wanted to make sure that not a day went by that we wouldn't feel his love.

When I sit on the floor sobbing about my problems that seem to drown me in self doubt and anxiety, he calls me out saying,

"Not today Amanda. Today you are my child, my gift, my joy;

today I will walk with you through this and the next day

and the next day after that until eternity.

Until you precious child realize your worth in my eyes.

Until you sing to the world of your wholeness in me.

And until you never let go of my forever love.

Pumpkins, Pizza, and the Purge

Last year we decided to have a pumpkin party for all the juniors and it was such a success 

that we decided to do it again for all the seniors!! We ate tons of yummy food, carved 

some pumpkins, watched the Purge II and had a blast. Oh, how I love senior year and the 

people who are sharing it with me. 

A Heart for Missions

This year, I felt my heart long for a word that had rarely crossed my mind: missions. The prospect of my little self becoming a missionary or even having a small impact on this huge scary world drove me to always say, "No, someone else will do it." And yet, I was tugged and pulled and pushed into the direction of missions every time I visited Mexico and saw the hurt, the brokeness, and the poverty. When I looked into the awe-stricken eyes of a mother whose new house we had just built for her and her children the call to do something was overwhelming.

The idea of starting a mission's club came to a few of us girls as we processed through the emotions that hit us smack dab in the face. Knowing that tribes were longing, begging, and dying for a missionary to come and teach them about Jesus ripped at our hearts. Realizing that the American dream would always be the easy way out and that it was ultimately our choice to say enough is enough, urged me to make sure we had a mission's club at our school.

Not knowing how in the world us girls were supposed to lead a mission's club, our mentor, Bones, came to our rescue. With a heart for missions more powerful than anyone I have ever met, she continually inspires us to move in the direction of being mission-minded. She challenges us to live for Jesus in every single moment of the day and to never underestimate the faithfulness of our Savior.

With her encouragement, we are now planning, praying, and fundraising for our trip to Ethiopia!!! With a need far greater than the poorest American, Ethiopia is the eighth most impoverished country in the world. Our trip is focused around informing the people of Ethiopia of the horrors of sex trafficking as almost all of the homes we will go into too have already sold their child with the misconception of them gaining a better life.

As we continue to move in the direction of preparing for this trip, I ask that you pray. I ask that you pray for the families who have been mislead into thinking they are helping their child. I ask that you pray for the children enslaved. Pray for the team, the travels, and trip. And lastly, pray that the girls of the mission's club will be open, aware, and long for the same heart that Christ had for missions.