For your viewing pleasure!

Well, here's a few pics that I was able to get from
a few of the guys on the team! Thanks again to
everyone who prayed for me, supported me,
encouraged me, and loved me! I can't wait to
GO BACK AGAIN some day!!!



Helping one of my favorite girls with her ballloon!




My Tambis and Tungajis (little brothers & sisters)

















Duck duck goose! I just LOVE these kids!





























The STN property where we stayed in tents all month!





























In Ella with only a couple more days to go...

Post Lanka

When I got back from my trip, one of my leaders told me that nothing at home would have changed...that everything and everyone would be the same despite my life changing and passion invoking experience.

I thought I was at least a little bit prepared come down from my mountain top experience...

I had no idea it would be this hard to come back to everything I know so well and am so comfortable with. It is so easy to get consumed with getting back into the "groove" (i.e. the grind) of things that it is easy to forget about the last month. Everything in Sri Lanka was the complete opposite of how it is at home. I slept in a tent on the floor for a month, showered in dirty well water, it was 100 degrees with 100% humidity, we were covered in a layer of dirt, bugs and sweat at all times; we ate and drank dirty food and water that would never pass standards here in America; we loved the unlovable, we touched the unclean, we blessed those that persecuted us...Jesus was seen through our actions because the language barrier proved to be quite an obstacle and we couldn't even tell them about Christ.

I find myself completely unsatisfied with my life as I know it. There has been something ignited within me that I can't seem to ignore. God has invoked passion within my spirit that I can't deny and all I want to do is run, whole heartedly, towards those desires He has placed there. The comfort, the pedicures, the nice clothes, my cute car, air conditioning, my comfortable bed, golf, volleyball, working out - all things geared towards me and my comfort or happiness aren't enough anymore...there is so much more to life than that. Life isn't about me and my comfort and what I can accumulate to try and make me feel better. Life isn't about you and your comfort either.

The only thing that matters is God. He is the beginning and the end. He is the first and the last. He is the only one worthy of all the glory and all the praise. Everything is completely and utterly about Christ and the ironic thing is that He calls us out of our comfort.

I think too many Christians are content with being comfortable for the rest of their lives. They are comfortable with going to church on Sunday, sitting in a seat, being a consumer, compartmentalizing their lives from one thing to the other and having no concept of what is going on outside their own little 3 mile radius of their white picket fence in suburbia.

There is a world that is suffering and dying and we, as Americans, have no idea what that means. We have no concept of what it means to be uncomfortable. We have no idea what it means to live in a 10x10 cement room for our entire lives, to live in fear of religious leaders and what they will do to our families if we associate with certain people. We have no clue what it's like to live off of .40 cents a day (maybe) and to never have a car or a computer or a cell phone or a camera or even clean clothes, deodorant, ice and soap.

We don't know what it's like to be uncomfortable and when we think we are, we immediately seek the first thing out there that will give us that temporary comfortable feeling that will suppress our lack of satisfaction for at least a little while longer.

So many Christians pray and pray for God to "give them a sign" or to "send me anywhere, because I will go..." Jesus has already given us the command to "Go and make disciples..." Why are Christians so full of inaction towards the desires in their heart that God has placed there for us to pursue? Those desires are there so that God's plan can be fulfilled here on earth for His glory...why do we no commit to act on anything that will encourage heaven on earth and having the opportunity to live fully alive in Christ?

How comfortable are you?

Stair Stepping...

We arrived in Ella to find a completly different side of Sri Lanka. It's quiet, it's about 15 degrees cooler (thank God), it rains, there are huge mountains that shoot straight up from the ground, and our hotel has clean, hot, running water with a view that is to die for! We are just relaxing and going over things of our trip these last couple days...tomorrow we head off for Colombo to fly across the world again!

We just got back from a hike up in the mountains...we walked to a completly different mountain in search for a cave that was used as an ancient temple and has statues and stuff in it...with all the trails, no map, and no clue where we were going, we were unsuccessful in our cave hunt...but we got rained on, walked up about 600 stairs straight up the side of a mountain (talk about cardio), and had a great time!!!

I only have a couple minutes, so I'll keep this one breif. I'll try and write another one before I head off...this trip has changed so much of my life and where I want to go after this...it is just the beginning to a new chapter in the adventure God has for me! I can't wait to see what comes next!!!

Honey, the chickens are gone!!!

The Sri Lankan police came to the STN property today to check out the "scene" of the crime for the robbery of my camera, cell phone, ipod and money. They gave me two options...I can either lie and say my things were "lost on the beach," they would write me a police report right then and there, I would have physical evidence to give to the insurance company back home, or I could state in the report that it was a robbery (telling the truth), and stay in Sri Lanka until they found the theives and the case closed. If I left the country, the case would be dropped and I would receive no documentation about the incident and wouldn't have anything to turn in for insurance...

Do I lie, or bend over and take it?

I really felt like I wasn't to lie about the situation...I was really struggling with not receiving any documentation and brokedown and cried in front of 4 police officers and half of our team. In the middle of my frustration, God spoke to my heart and told me He was with me and would never leave me...then He gave me the word "missing." My things are missing (more specifically stolen), I would be able to receive the documentation I would need (hopefully I have insurance that will cover international travel otherwise I am screwed with getting a new phone, camera or ipod due to lack of funds).

My Sri Lankan police report now includes my "missing" items...as I sat in the police station (that smelled like urine) next to a typewritter on a desk (the one you have to manually push to the other side after finishing one line of words), and as a Sri Lankan police officer tried to "copy" (hand writting onto another piece of "official" paper), I wondered if anything would be followed up on or if I would even see my stuff (most importantly my pictures) ever again.

Just then, a family came in and our translator told us they were taking 2 men to court because the men stole two of the family's chickens.

At least God has a sense of humor in letting me know that He is with me in every situation, He cares about me so much, and He loves to bless me so that I can be a blessing to others...

Home in T-minus 5 days!

Bless those who persecute...

We had a break in last night. I had almost $200 stolen (all of my money), my camera with hundreds of pictures from the last 3 years, my ipod, and my palm cell phone and 2 USB storage sticks taken. Another girl had all of her money stolen and another guy had his video camera stolen. Whoever did it came onto our property in the middle of the night, cut through our tents with a knife (right by our heads), and took our stuff. We are all ok, we all still have our passports (thank God) but we are a little rattled.

The Bible says to "bless those who persecute you," so whoever took my stuff, I pray that they would look at the pictures and see the love we have for the people here, I pray that they would listen to all the christian worship music on my ipod and salvation would come from this situation.

James 1:2-4 says, "When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great job. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Romans 8:28 says, "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them..."

I am so thankful that God is in control...He knows who did this, and He will use this situation for His glory. This situation is a little reminder that all that I own is God's and not mine...not my pictures (which I'm the most sad about), not my camera, not my cell phone, not my ipod...it's all His and I have to remind myself to constantly surrender my things and not hold onto them.

We have less than a week so please pray for protection for everyone else on the trip; pray for conviction to come to the parties involved in this violation; pray for them that they would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray that each person on our team would love these people here even more because God loves them just as much as He loves us. Pray for strength and endurance for the rest of the trip and as we prepare ourselves to travel for 30 hours back across the world that it would be an easy trip home.

Being a human being, it's easy to want to get back at a person when they do something wrong to you...your mind starts running a million miles an hour about "maybe hearing something in the middle of the night," or why didn't I put my stuff somewhere else, or why didn't the dogs bark, or why do people have to steal, why me, etc etc etc...but I trust that God is in control, and as a Christ follower, I am called to love these people and to bless those that persecute them. So that is what I am trying to do...love them even more than before and trust that God will use this situation for His glory and He will bring my stuff back or He will provide new things for me as a blessing.

I love you guys...thank you so much for your prayers. They are definatly needed more than ever...

I'll have the lobster...

The other day we had a birthday on the team, so we surprised Steven with a lobster dinner at a local restaurant. It was 650 rupies...which is about $6 in the US. We also had a local bakery bake a cake (which had the worst frosting I have ever tasted) but it was a great night to all be together, celebrate someone's life and all that God is doing in and through us!!!

Yesterday we held the first annual Aloha Surf Classic here in Arugam Bay for only local surfers. We worked in conjunction with the Arugam Bay Surf Association (a group of local guys here in town) and the contest was awesome!!! Almost the entire town came out to watch and support the 35 guys that competed. Having the town there, (especially the women and children outside of their homes) was incredible! We rarely see women out of their homes, so to have groups of families, women and children there was great!

One thing that made me smile was the moms bringing their sons water and fruit and stuff like that...reminds me of my mom doing that for me and all my volleyball girls. The nurturing side of the women was a different side to see from them since most of them seem less attached to their children and live in a state of fear most of their lives.

Surfing the Nations was invited back to do more surf competitions which was the point of our whole trip...to get our foot in the door (even though we have a residence property and a few missionaries working and living here), we wanted to be invited back, and to get the locals excited that we are here in town. We brought surf boards, trophies, leashes, stomp pads, hats, board shorts, wax and tons of other goodies for the winners and participants so it was a total blessing to these kids who usually share surf boards between the bunch of them!

The other day, our team all went on a 4 hour winding road trip to Kandy (the 2nd largest city here in Sri Lanka). It was a whole different world from Arugam Bay. The roads were smooth, there was a beautiful lake right in the middle of town, the houses were actually made from material instead of cement or mud or leaves, and there was tons of shopping! The streets were full of traffic, people, buildings, and theives.

A few of us girls got followed due to us having backpacks so the guys stepped up and protected us which was great. After walking around the busy streets for a while and chowing down some amazing indian food (rice and dhall), we headed off to one of the huge buddhists temples. Inside there were idols of all sizes, that people bring offerings to. Everything in my spirit cringed and was not at peace as we walked around this place...the courtyards were full of small temples that houses different idols and walking into them, I immediately wanted to worship the one true God, Jesus Christ, who comes to bring life (because He has conquered death through the cross) and who came to save the lost (not bring fear and ritual to them) beacuse He loves them unconditionally (not just because they bring offerings...but loves them as they are).

The fear in this land is so evident. The people walk everyday in fear of man and what the religious mausk leaders will do to them (even though they have "freedom" of religion). Pray against that spirit of fear here and pray for the seeds we plant as a result of this trip that they would produce abundant harvest for the kingdom of God!!!!

I have about a week left here in Arugam Bay, then we head off to Ella (which is supposed to be one of the most beautiful places here in Sri Lanka) to wind down and debrief before flying across the world again! I love and miss all of you guys tons!!

It's still hot and God is still good!!

The weather is brutal, hot and humid...we are constantly sweaty and have to wear clothes with sleeves and shorts or skirts past our knees (even in the water)...God help us!!! We have been playing with the kids a ton and it is so awesome to see God's love pour from us (as well as sweat) onto these kids.

I am picking up a few words and phrases in Tamil (the language here) so it's pretty fun to talk to the little kids and get to know their names.

More to come later...love you guys!!!!