One Touch

 Hey from Ocean City!! :D I did in fact make it all the way from Clinton to Ocean City, and so did 7 of my other teammates! Grace, one of our sojourners, is flying in tonight, and we're so excited that our team will finally all be together! That's us on the right, from the left: Kaylynn, David, Mrs. Lynn, Becca, Ashley, and Jacob; and on the bottom: Taylor, Michelle, and me! I'm thrilled to be working with them this summer, and God has really answered our prayers for our team to bond. I feel like I've been with them so much longer than two weeks, and I can't imagine living without them around all the time. They're all super encouraging and I love them to death :) Please pray that we will continue to grow as a team and work as one toward Christ's goal for the summer, especially as the summer continues. We've done so much work, but it's been so much fun! We do Surf and Sand Clubs every morning at the campgrounds (I'm at Fort Whaley with Jacob), hand out water to lifeguards in the afternoons, hang out with the internationals, lifeguards, kids from the church, and families at the campgrounds at night, and somewhere in there we find time to chill out together on the beach. :) I'm loving the work we're doing, and every day holds something new!
So now that you've met my team and seen a brief sketch of what we do, I need to tell you about what God has been doing in my life :) Coming into the summer, I had no idea what I was going to study in the Word. But in the airport, Joshua 1:9 kept running through my mind.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.                    Joshua 1:9

Before I got here, I was so scared. I had no idea what the summer would hold, how my teammates would interact, or how I could handle being away from home for so long. But then God reminded me that I don't have to handle anything without Him there with me, every step of the way. With God on my side, I have no reason to be afraid, because the joy of the Lord is my strength. :) In the airport, I decided to study the book of Joshua, and I've journaled the whole book of Joshua in twelve days. It's amazing to me that even though the Israelites faced fortified nations with much more military strength than they, Joshua led them to follow the God Who had delivered them from the Egyptians, Who had parted the Red Sea and Who had sent them manna for 40 years in the desert. Under Joshua's leadership, God parted the Jordan River for the Israelites, Jericho fell to shouts and trumpet blasts alone, and kingdom after kingdom was destroyed by the power of God. Despite all odds, the Israelites finally had a home in Canaan, and for the time being, they were committed to serve Him always. (see Joshua 23-24) Now I'm continuing into Judges, where the people of God fall away, are oppressed, repent, and are delivered time after time. My quiet times have reminded me that I must not be like the Israelites, who thought that keeping a remnant of the old people in the land was good, but I must get rid of all that will later come back to oppress me, old habits and sins and fears that I tell myself won't ever hurt me but that actually pack a lot of power over me if I let them. Living a life of fearlessness is what gives glory to my God, and in that state of knowing my God will deliver me, I can serve Him in full joy :D

Ok so now another thing God's been bringing to mind a lot recently......healing. As most of you know, I've been in the process of getting implants and finishing up work on my teeth for a while now. Well, I was really hoping that it would be finished before I headed up here for the summer, but I left MS with my temporary teeth still in place. So......a few days after I got here, I found out that my teeth have been finished. At first, I was really, really discouraged. But that day, I also asked my wonderful big sister to e-mail me a story so I could learn it for the kids at the campgrounds, and she e-mailed me the story about the bleeding woman that Jesus healed!! :D She had bled for twelve years, and she knew that as He was traveling through her town, if she could just touch Him, she would be healed. When she touched His cloak, immediately the bleeding stopped, and instead of being angry with her, Jesus said "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." So GOOD!!! :) (For the full story, see Mark 5.) And once again (as many times before, God reminded me that I am His daughter and He has healed me, though not in the way that I expected. I actually got a henna design on my hand (see photo above) that tells this story; and I have been able to share the story of Christ's healing with several people already. So awesome! When I was little, I would pray to be healed from kidney trouble and teeth trouble, expecting to just wake up one morning and have nothing wrong with me. But now, looking back, I can see how all these experiences have made me into who I am today, and they have given me a story that I can share and tell people about Christ with. As I was talking with my roommate that night, she told me of a song called "One Touch" by Nicole C. Mullen. This song is the story of the bleeding woman, and I'm going to leave you with these lyrics. Look up the song, listen to it, and be amazed by the incredible story of Christ that is told.

Been ostracized for 12 years
I'm used to being alone
spent everything i had and now it's gone
i'm used to being put down
my issues tell it all
my only hope is anchored in this fall


If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul
If only one touch


So many people calling
how could He ever know
that just a brush of Him would stop the flow
If He knew would He rebuke me
Or shame me to the crowd
Well I'm desperate 'cause it's never or it's now


If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul.



And then suddenly He turned around
He said somebody has unleashed My power
Well, frightened and embarrassed I bowed
You see I told Him of my troubles
And how...


I had to touch the Hem of His garment
And I know I've been made whole
and how I had pressed my way through this madness
and His love has healed my soul.


Then with one word He touched the hem of my garment
and you know I've been made whole
and somehow He pressed His way throught my madness
and His love has healed my soul.


I tell you he Touched me.
He reached way down and touched me
When no one else would touch me
your Jesus shol' 'nough he touched me...
and I know I've been made whole 

BAM is going to Ocean City!

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.                              Joshua 1:6-9

Hey everyone! Well, it’s official! I’m on my way to spend my summer in Ocean City, Maryland! My first flight left the Jackson airport at 6:01 this morning (yes, 6:01, not 6:00 or 6:02). The flight was smooth and easy. My seat partner slept the whole time and I nearly froze my feet off (note to self: bring socks next time!), but we made it to Charlotte, North Carolina and now I’m sitting at my next gate. It’s hard to believe that it’s finally here. The whole month of May, I was basically packed and ready to go, but now that it’s actually here, now that I’ve said goodbye to my family and friends until August, it’s sort of surreal. Yesterday I spent a lot of time playing the piano and hanging out with my family. A lot of people came over for s’mores last night, and we weighed my bag using the WiiFit! ^_^ Thank you all for all your support and encouragement as I’ve prepared for the summer! I love you all and will miss you!
I have several prayer requests. This will be the longest period of time I’ve been away from home. I’ve lived in Clinton my whole life and even go to school there, so this is the first time in my life that my family won’t be just a 3-minute car ride away. I’m resting in the fact that my Father is with me wherever I am, but I know that I’m really going to miss home. Please pray to keep away homesickness and worry. Also, my teammate Michelle was supposed to be here at the airport with me right now; her flight was supposed to leave at the same time as mine. However, her flight was cancelled, and now she won’t leave until almost 4 this afternoon and arrive in Ocean City at 9 tonight. Pray that she won’t be stressed about this and for a restful day and safe flights for her. Please keep my team in your prayers as we meet face-to-face today and begin working together. With all of you backing our ministry with prayer, Jesus is gonna do some totally awesome things this summer! I’m just ready to be amazed! :) Finally, when you pray for me and my Ocean City team, please also take some time to lift up the other summer missionaries around the world, especially those in secure countries. Pray for endurance and wisdom as all of us spend our summers telling, literally, the world about our Savior. Thank you all for your prayers!

Hey, so I just met another of my teammates! Her name is Taylor and she's from North Carolina! Just 2 and half hours to wait in the airport........