three very exciting things happened to me this week.
first, my lucky charms came with a real prize, it was right after i had commented to my friend joe about how lame his cracker jack prize was. i was pretty stoked about it, even as an adult. but they changed it so you dont have to go digging for your prize, they just set it right on top in plastic wrapping, i kind of enjoyed the dig...but now that i think about it, as an adult (and a raging germaphobe) i dont think i would want everyones fingers in my cereal after a good dig.
second, i got sun burned. our weekend was amazingly sunny, on saturday while i was out coaching soccer and then playing an amazing round of frisbee golf i got burned and i was pretty (legitimately) stoked about it. since then it hasnt been as nice...rain and gloom, but i was still greatful for a nice sunny weekend.
third, and perhaps the biggest news (thats why i saved it for last...well, its biggest for me, some of you may think that the lucky charms was the biggest news and rightfully so, its so rare to actually have a real tangible prize in your cereal anymore)...i picked up a key to my new house. yup, i'm moving (dont worry my american mailing address and all that stuff will still be the same). i had kind of a rough night like a week or two ago and had my friend lana come spend the night and she was like "why dont you just move in with me" at first i thought she was kidding but she went on to tell me that she really misses having a room mate and such and then spent a week or two convincing me that she really meant it. so were doing it, and i'm stoked. she is currently in croatia, the military sent her there to film something (she makes docs for the military) and told me to go ahead and move in while she is gone. i'm pretty stoked, it will be so nice not to live on my own and to live practically for free (the military pays for her house). oh ya!

i seriously love coaching. its been so fun getting to know theses girls. here are some pics from soccer that i took on my phone, i cant get them to turn the right way because bluetooth wont let me so turn your head, its easier than me trying to figure it out.

i got some comp time after the service project and i was able to do some fun stuff...
the day after i got back from poland i made the two hour drive to brussles and was able to hang out with my good friends ashley, stefanie and liesl that i met in the training process to come on staff.

liesl goes to this sweet church that meets in a bar, its called jesus paradise, its this cool 70's style retro bar and we were able to sit around, drink beer and talk about God. it was pretty jammin.
then the day after i got back from brussles i left for venice and vicenza to visit my friend jocelyn.

i loved venice, we just walked around which was so chill and so great. i think my heart is happy when theres water near by. jocelyn is also an amazing cook so we ate incredible meals the entire time i was there. it was great.

today i'm back in germany dealing with the crazyness that is my life here. so many things got all messed up while i was gone. pray that i would rest in the fact that none of it is of eternal significance and just focus on the one who is.

thoughts on poland:
well i was less than excited about the poland trip, actually i was dreading it. i was nervous about group dynamic, bummed that i wouldnt be with any of my close friends on staff and not sure how i would react to the terror of auschwitz.
but this story ends well.
the first night the worship leader had us think of something that was holding us back from truly meeting with God during the week. as i sat there annoyed that i'd already had to sing 'every move i make' twice, i realized that it was my cynical heart that was keeping me from truly entering into the presence of our awesome Lord. at the instruction of our worship leader i figuratively held my cynicism gripped tightly in my hands, and as the band sang "eveything i hold in my hands i give to You" i slowly lessened the grip and gave it to God.
God is so powerful when we just get out of the way and trust in that.
during the week the four girls i had in my group had their world rocked by Jesus, and this truly had nothing to do with me (remember, i was the girl that didnt really want to be there).
two quick stories: one night gabby shared with our group some pretty serious sin that was keeping her from meeting with God and she was ready to be done with it. she gave it to God and we talked about what it means to be forgiven and clean. the next night gabby shared with us that she feels like God is calling her into full time ministry, she told me that she wants my job. and she really would be amazing at it. pray for her.
story numero two: kattie is my high school friend that i have talked about before in newsletters and such (the girl that i met at a football game and then gave her life back to Christ one night at club). kattie for the first time was able to understand what it really means to pick up your cross and follow Christ. she realized that she has been living a life of rebellion against the God who has freed her from that. on the last night kattie started to cry, she was terrified to enter back into her life here in germany. she realizes how amazing God is and doesnt want to walk away from what He started in her heart in Poland but has literally no support system at school or home to walk with her. she is ready and willing to make sacrifices and truly die to herself but obviously is scared about how her friends will react. pray for her.
other exciting news; two of our boys (spencer and brock) gave their life to Christ for the first time that week along with about thirty other kids at the camp. it was amazing.
on the bus ride home i was able to sit in the back with some of our kids and just listen as they talked about how different life would be going back and things they wanted to see change in their life and how they treated others at their school.
God is so good.
thank you for praying.

well i leave for poland tonight. its our sevice project for club beyond. i have really mixed feelings about it. i think i'm a bit nervous because we'll be visiting auschwitz which i know will be intense, especially with high school kids. please pray for safety and for the Lord to be making us all more like Him.

yesterday was our last day of soccer before spring break so we decided to go to cascade, the indoor swim place here. here are some pictures the girls took on my new waterproof camera.



(carter, not on the socer team, he's our teacher sponsor's son)