blessed

I have always wanted to go to Africa for as long as I can remember. My dad went to Zimbabwe when he was younger and I thought it would be awesome to do the same. The opportunity to go never really came up until the spring when my friend KB posted that she was going back through ISF and if anyone was interested to contact her. So out of curiosity I got in touch with her and got some details about the trip. Of course, the information was good enough for me to go that day. I didn't expect I would get to go but I tend to be wrong more than I am right. I had mentioned the idea of going to Africa to my parents long before this popped up but nothing ever came of it and figured nothing would come of this trip either. Once again...wrong!


I'm a big fan of funny phrases and sayings and one of my favorites happens to be: "Put your big girl panties on". I find humor in that at times, but I'm sure that some people don't. When I told my parents about this trip and they were kind of "iffy" about me going, I told them that they just needed to put thier big girl panties on and trust that the Lord will provide. Well the Lord did provide. We were in Dallas at a tournament and in between games they told me that if they didn't let me go to Africa, they wouldn't be trusting the Lord and his provision for me. I tend to show my excitement in different ways; most of the time, I have to convince people that I really am excited because I really don't express it outwardly unless it's something I'm super pumped about. I say that to say that it was hard for my parents to see that I was excited about going but I was pumped about it!

I think it's odd at how often I am surprised when the Lord comes through and provides. I really don't understand why I'm stunned when he remains faithful and lives up to what he has promised. I mean, he is one who has always fulfilled his promises and provides just at the right time; and praise his name that he did so in style for this occassion. The total cost of my trip was initially close to the $3000 mark but due to gas prices and what not, the price jumped to the $3600 area. Well, raising money started a little slow but picked up in a hurry thanks to my good looks and all...actually thanks to a creative and supportive Allyson Collins and people who love to give. Shirts are always a big hit for any fundraiser and with the help of my best friend's brother in law's creativeness and LOTS of shirts later I had reached my mark. Just when I thought I was done raising money, I continued to get large amounts of donations from different people. It was clear that these people were sacrificing financially in order to support me and the Lord used their obedient hearts to humble me in new ways.

I have been blessed to have so many people in my life that have supported me and who continue to support me. Some of these people are obligated because they are family and there are those who do so out of the goodness of their heart; my teammates fall in a very special category. They knew I was going to Africa from the moment I found out and supported me every step of the way. On senior day, they got each of the seniors gifts and when I saw what they put in my locker I was floored. I found a huge water jug filled with money. Now knowing them, they probably forced other people to give all their change and claimed it as their own. HA! I kid, I kid. They gave the change they had to support me and it was so humbling. The way they loved me and supported me from start to finish leaves me speechless.

The Lord has used this trip to open my eyes in so many ways. From the start, he has had his hand on it and has used the smallest moments and the biggest moments to open my blind eyes and my deaf ears to how big he really is. I just hope that my stories from this trip bring the glory he deserves.