Mission trip!

Hey guys! So I just came back from a super amazing mission trip, and I want to share it with everyone! Here it goes!

We left the church on Sunday, July 7 at 5 30 AM. I had to wake up at 4 30 AM to just get there on time, but that was just the start of the tiredness I felt all week. We arrived in Lame Deer, Montana around 5 PM and got situated in our rooms. We stayed in a school, so we were sleeping in classrooms. That night we had our first sermon from one of the leaders and started to talk to some of the people from the other three churches from Minnesota. At the start of the week I didn’t really know any of the people on the trip, and I didn’t really know the leaders that well, but thankfully that changed so much throughout the week.

On Monday, we were split in to five groups. The groups were mixed with people from my church and people from other churches. By doing this, I was able to really get to know the people from my church and get to know some people from the other churches. We woke up at 6 AM and had breakfast at 7 AM. After that we had devotions with books that the staff had given us. We then went to our groups and had an orientation for what we were supposed to do that day. For the first day, I got to do Kids Club which was kind of like a VBS but it goes all summer. We spent the morning having orientation and planning for the next week about what we were going to do. They split us into three groups and we were either in charge of the play, songs, or memory verse. I got to do the play. The thing that made it so much fun was that I was with people from Minnesota that I didn’t know at all. Over the course of the week, we all became such good friends, and it all started with me volunteering to go to a group where I didn’t know any one. We left the building around noon and went to the Boys and Girls Club and lunch with some of the kids. It was eye opening because you really did not get a lot of food, but sometimes, it might have been all the food the child was allotted. We then headed over to the park where they did Kids Club and started picking up kids from all over with the van we took there. Once all the kids were there we played around and then we did the skits and songs. After that we had snacks, crafts, and games for the kids to enjoy. We did the same thing on Tuesday. My overall experience with Kids Club was up and down. It was so much fun to get to develop relationships with the people on my trip, but I felt like I didn’t really connect with any of the kids that came on the trip. The conversations I had weren’t really deep and I felt like I was missing something. We talked about this during debriefing times at night, and there were other people who felt that way, so in a way I felt relieved that others felt the same way. I loved getting to talk to the community, and at that point during the week, I felt like I hadn’t made any difference.

 
Wednesday and Thursday turned out so much better. We were sent to paint the outside of this sweet lady’s house named Maxine. In between messy paint fights (I found paint in my hair several days after the trip was over) and deep conversations, we actually finished painting in two days. On Thursday we got a chance to meet Maxine and talk to her and we found out that she had cancer and was told she had less than six months to live. That was the first big moment that I had during the trip, where I felt like I was actually experiencing something. I also got to talk to a few of the kids that were living in the house. Getting to talk and pray over Maxine and her family was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I didn’t think I would experience anything deeper, but we had a cookout on Thursday that completely surpassed my expectations. Some of my friends and I were just sitting at a table waiting for people to arrive and this lady named Jolene and two of her grandsons came up and I started talking to them. I went in line with them and helped them carry their food and we all went and sat down. We talked for a good hour or so and I learned all about her life and everything she was going through. She also told me that she used to be a Cheyenne History teacher, and that she would write me about whatever I wanted to know about them! I’m excited to see where that goes and will keep you updated about what she says. I had to sacrifice eating dinner that night, but it was so worth it. The cookout lasted for two hours and during the second hour, my crew was on kitchen duty, so I got to make and serve cool aid and water with a guy from Minnesota! I got to talk to him and a few other girls for a long time and it was so cool to make good friendships over just a week. I hope I can keep in touch with them for a long time.

(By the way, the guy I talked to, his name was Mitchell, and he was so cute, and told me that he would really miss me when I came home and that he didn't want me to leave and it was just about the cutest thing ever. He even said that we should just go hide out in a little shack up the street, I just about cried when I had to leave. I wish he lived here because he was the sweetest most amazing guy I have met!!!!! I hope I get to see him again some day)

Overall, if I had one word to describe this trip, it would be life-changing. I made amazing friends, experienced a new culture, and discovered God in a whole new different way. I wouldn’t change anything about it. So that was my week and I am more than exhausted. On Friday night, the girls in my hotel room and I stayed up until 3 30 AM just venting about the few annoying people and processing everything had happened that week. It was so good and I totally bonded with them, but I am so tired. If anyone wants to know more about it, I would love to talk to you, but for now, I am going to go sleep a lot more.

Life guys

Well, I havent written in a while, and I am completely bored tonight, so here we go.

So, I have a full time-ish babysitting job. I babysit for this family that has the cutest baby and a disabled four year old, a 8 year old and a 11 year old. They are the sweetest family ever, and the four year old boy has taught me so much. He can't talk or walk very well or do much. I usually read books and play with toys with him and do the therapy exercises the therapists have taught me to do. He always has the BIGGEST smile on his face and it is absolutely adorable! I've been there for the first time the little guy said a word and have helped him with his walking and it has been such a joy and I have learned more about putting others in front of myself. I do love getting payed, but I enjoy spending my Tuesdays helping them with whatever they need. Also I have another family who wants me to start babysitting Monday afternoons. I feel like I am always really busy with these things. Sometimes, I feel like need to take off sometimes and concentrate more on my homework.

I feel like I have been struggling a lot this year with school. Especially English. I hate when I spend hours on a writing assignment and then get a terrible grade on it. I spent at least five or six hours writing a short story, and I totally failed it. I can never seem to good grades in the writing part. I am going to see my English teacher next week to try to figure it out. If anyone is really good at writing, hit me up ;) Besides that I am pretty constant. I think freshman year is definitely the hardest for anyone. Going from middle school to high school is a huge change, and so much harder than people expect. I can only hope next year will be better.

Well guys, I like someone... I don't really want to admit it, but I do. He goes to my church, and is the absolute sweetest guy I have ever met. He is 6' 3" so he is really tall and really cute. Me and my friends from church went to skate city the other week, and it was super fun. Me and Ryan skated together for like ten minutes! My friends said they were "tired" and we talked and skated and did all the little game things together because my other friends wouldn't do it. It was absolutely the best time ever. I never really though I would like him in that way, until Sunday night, even though I have known him for a year. He's seen me after not showering for 3 days on a mission trip, so I think he is a pretty non judgmental of me (which is really good). The first time I ever talked to hi, we were both on dishes duty, and we were scrubbing pans with toothbrushes. He also gives the best hugs and is not at all awkward. Did I already say he is the best? My heart kind of skips a beat when I think about it. He is the best and ah!!! I cant even handle how much I like him. I don't know if anything will come from it, but if it does... I would definitely not mind.

Oh! So in July, I am going on a mission trip to Montana! BTW Ryan used to live there, just thought I'd point that out ;) We are going to run a kids club and do service projects. I have two churches kind of (really confusing) but I am going to the one that I usually go to for service. I don't really know anyone except for like 2 people, so I am hoping and praying that I make really good friends on this trip. I really want to be more connected there so it is my prayer that God allows me to connect with someone. I would love it if y'all would pray for my trip too! We need all the prayer we can get to make this trip a success.

Well guys, sorry this was so long, but I hope you enjoyed catching up on my life.

Craziness and one of the hardest goodbyes ever

O goodness! I have had a crazy past couple of days!!!! Last week we had VBS at our church which is always insane. I have been working on running 3 times a week in order to get in shape. I have to deal with a girl who doesn't want to leave me alone. And yesterday, I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends in the world... 

Kendall, you have made a huge impact on my life and are and inspiration to all who meet you. I never regret spending all that time emailing you or talking to you about the most random things in the world (Mr.B, Ben Bowers, coconut, banana, sugar, pickle, woo hoo, frank) You never cease to amaze me with how you are handling everything! I cannot imagine what you are going through, and I admire how strong you have been! Not to mention you are super gorgeous!!! I know that our paths will eventually meet again and I cannot wait until they do!!!! I love you so much and will never forget you!

 

"Friendship is like a violin; the music may stop now and then, but the strings will last forever." 

  
“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends."

 "Many people will walk in and out of you life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."

 "Together forever, never apart.  Maybe in distance, but never in heart."

With everything that has gone on lately, I have realized that true friends are always there for you and know what you are going to say before you can even say it. I love all my friends to death, and I hope we never loose touch no matter where our paths may take us.

Love you Kenny! <3

Getting ready to move (again)

So...Today we just got a call from our landlord. He just decided to sell our house to some other people, but told us we have 2 months to move out. I have only lived in Colorado for about 7 years but I have lived in 4 almost 5 houses. It has gotten pretty ridiculous. Every one of our landlords has seemed so nice when we look at the house and at the beginning, but after a few months, when things start breaking, they become distant and end up not paying our rent. I really hope our new house (which we need to find fast) is a lot better than all of our others and our new landlord will do what he is supposed to. I feel kind of like we just got here, and now we have to pack up again. But on the bright side, i just finished my last test and am now officially a high schooner! kind of scary when you think about it. I am super glad I don't have to switch schools too!  That would be absolutely devastating. Starting over is one of my least favorite things in the world to do (as i have done it too many times to count), and I am so glad there are people that I know staying, and I won't be completely alone... I really hope this move won't tear our family apart, since both of my parents are super stressed over this. Quite honestly, I'm not sure how we will survive this, but I know God and my awesome friends are there for me!

Goodbye and Hello!

Hi Everyone!!! Just to introduce myself, my name is Sarah Brown, and I am an 8th grader well almost 9th grader ;) I  started this blog to keep anyone who wants to know updated on my life and my problems. So lets get started!!

As everyone knows, as the school year ends, tests and goodbyes approach. Those are two of my least favorite words ever. Goodbye and tests. I have to take five finals next week on the whole semester and in some the whole year. When you put it that way, it sounds like torture. But I guess I need to keep a positive attitude, not that it helps anything. With everything that is going on, I am not sure if that is even possible. I also know that I have to say goodbye to my best friend Kendall (she is in the purple shirt ;)) She has been there for me every step of the way this year, and I couldn't have asked for a better year. Although it will be hard for me to say goodbye, I know that she is also having an even harder time than me. I just need to remember to pray for her and be there for her. But I am so excited to start next year! Freshman!!! But I am also nervous because Kendall and a few of my friends won't be joining me on that journey. I hope I can survive and learn to go on, but I know it will be a hard thing to do. I have to say goodbye to some of the greatest friends I have and hello to a new year of hurdles and excitement.