Bittersweet weekend

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12

Yesterday was the first day of the 2011 Penn Center Salkehatchie camp on St. Helena's Island, SC. Although I cannot be there for the work and service during this upcoming week, I did go for the weekend to see my family and my friends that will be working hard all week. This would have been my 10 summer working at Penn Center camp and it was quite a sad and strange feeling leaving today knowing there is so much to be done and I can't be there to help. (ok, I cried like a baby!) However, I have faith in the wonderful group assembled in the low country this week that they will do God's will and serve those in need and grow in their relationships with others and with God. Since I can't be there physically with them I have decided to take on the challenge of improving my "purposeful prayer moments". A time to actually devote to talking with God and especially this week focusing on the Salkehatchie group. I hope y'all can take a minute this to week to also send up a prayer for safe work and strong faith for all those serving both on St. Helena's and across the state of SC. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

DOMS

DOMS: Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

So I may have learned about this in multiple classes but we all know experience is the best teacher and let me tell you, I have had some up close and personal experiences with DOMS over the last 2 weeks.  I started a training program 2 weeks ago called Crossfit.  If you haven't heard of it, it's a high intensity program with its primary focus on weight training at rapid speed to incorporate cardio workouts as well. And it is tough! I'm just in the introductory class right now which is 3 days a week for 4 weeks, and its basically to teach you all the motions so that when you start going on your own you can complete the workout of the day without having to ask a million questions.  We have two trainers that yell at us so we don't stop! And also so that we are doing it right so we don't hurt ourselves. All that said though, I really am enjoying it. It's tough and I'm usually still sore from the previous workout when I start the next one but I like that its structured. You know exactly what you'll be doing that day because they program the workout.  And I have someone there watching, pushing and encouraging me.  And hopefully one day soon I will climb the 3 flights to my apartment without my quads bursting into flames at the top! :) Happy Sunday everyone!

Help the needy children of Morocco!

Just wanted to make a shameless personal fundraising plug...I have added a button to the left-hand sidebar of my blog that will take you to my donations page for my upcoming service trip to Morocco.  I have truly felt called to go and serve during my break in August and your support of any kind would me so much to me! Even if you want to use that as a link to explore the cross cultural solutions website and all the good work they do around the world each day! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! God bless you and keep you all!

 This is from our fundraiser the other night!

Morocco update!

So I just wanted to fill everyone in on the latest with our Morocco trip coming up in August.  Last night the group of us organized and hosted a fundraiser at a local bar called Panama Hatties that lots of students go to regularly.  We have been selling t-shirts for the event for the last two weeks and if you bought a t-shirt you got in for free and got your first drink free.  Also, we collected donations at the door and even had some girls selling drink specials that helped us earn money as well! All in all we made about $1000 in cash last night and the t-shirt money will be added up sometime this week.  Another thing was that on the back of the t-shirts will be logo's of local businesses that agreed to sponsor us by giving a donation.  Basically we all worked really hard and the students as well as the community have been really supportive! Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers as we work hard to prepare to go and serve the children in need over in Morocco! Hope everyone's having a great weekend!