Grand Cayman Mission Trip 2013

As most of you know already, I recently returned from a 10 day mission trip to Grand Cayman Island.  I NEVER would have considered doing anything like this a couple years ago because everything about it was so outside my comfort zone. Thankfully though, I had someone gently pushing me in that direction for a while, and I am SO glad that I finally came around and decided to go. Turns out that even if it’s really hard to see yourself actually doing it, getting outside your comfort zone is one of the BEST things you can do for yourself and for others too.

I don’t know if I have adequate words to describe what my personal experience was like, but I’ll do the best I can.  In short, this trip changed my life for the better.  I experienced a lot of “firsts” during those 10 days: flying on a plane, leaving the country, being away from all members of my family, going door knocking, sitting in on a bible study, etc. I got to meet new people (both on the island and as part of the mission team) and feel very blessed to have so many new friends! I became so much closer with friends I’ve been acquainted with for years but who I’ve never REALLY taken the time to get to know. In doing mission work, I feel that I have a new way of looking at things and a stronger willingness to reach out to others.  

I thought I would share a few of the neat experiences that some of us had relating to the mission work and the people we got to know while we were in Grand Cayman.  First, it’s always wonderful when you invite someone to a gospel meeting and they tell you they’ll try to come if they can, but it’s such a great feeling to actually see them there and to know that their hearts were open to hearing the Word! That happened with several of our groups, and it was great!! I was able to help teach a class of four young children, and they were so very sweet and kept us smiling! We also had the opportunity to attend a youth devotional where we did team building exercises, had good life-application lessons, and played basketball afterward (well, they guys played while the girls watched). Several of us were able to visit a nursing home in Georgetown one afternoon, and it was wonderful to know that their spirits were lifted by our visit (and vice versa).There were so many great speakers (both from the U.S. and the Caribbean) that delivered powerful messages each evening. It was just so wonderful to meet and know everyone at the West Bay and East End congregations!! Going out into the surrounding communities to invite people to the gospel meeting was such a blessing as well, and I hope those that we talked to continue to consider attending services at the congregations there. We planted the seed and can only trust that God will give the increase (1 Cor. 3:6)!

There were quite a few Bible studies conducted while we were there, and I was fortunate enough to be present for one! We talked with a very sweet lady named Audrey. She had told us initially that she would not be able to attend our gospel meeting that night, and this was during our last full day in Grand Cayman. We sat with her for a while and discussed things with her… when it was time for us to leave, she told us she had decided she would come with us! We were elated!! Our group of five got to pick her up in the church van and ride to the church building with her. After the gospel meeting, we took her back home where she shared her family pictures with us. We exchanged numbers/addresses and said our goodbyes. The next day (the day we were leaving the island), I got a phone call from Mrs. Audrey; she wanted to see us again before we left for the U.S.! She actually came to our hotel and we got to talk with her in the lobby before we packed our things to leave! It was so neat to get to know her, and I’m so glad she was able to attend the gospel meeting with us.

In all honesty, returning to “reality” has been a struggle for me. I know I’m driving everyone crazy because I can’t seem to talk about anything else and keep wishing I could go back. I have talked to others who’ve gone on the trip, and their hearts are still in Grand Cayman as well. That’s what trips like this will do for you; they really touch your heart, and you are simply not the same after all is said and done.  I’ll settle back in soon I’m sure, but I believe that everything I took away from the 2013 Grand Cayman Mission Trip will always stay with me, and I’m looking forward to future opportunities like this one!! It is my hope that everyone on the mission team and the residents we got to know at Grand Cayman were as blessed as I have been because of this experience!

I could say so much more and describe everything that happened in detail, but I would literally be writing a book if I did that! I wouldn’t expect you all to stick with my post for that long. J I do want to thank anyone who had even a small role in making this happen for me personally and for the mission team as a whole. Whether it was through monetary contributions, prayers for the mission work, or simple encouragement, it was much appreciated!! If you can’t be a missionary, you can be a supporter of mission work, and that’s just as important!


“Alright team, hands in…. one, two, three, GRAND CAYMAN!!!” :)
 

This is one of my FAVORITE pictures now! It makes me so happy! :)

 

 

Our group picture (minus photographer Chrissy) on the last day.

 

 

The congregation at West Bay Church of Christ. Such wonderful people!!

Happiness is Just a Hug Away

A friend pointed out to me the other night that I’ve basically let my blog fall by the wayside during the past few weeks.  I was pretty motivated when I started out, then things got kind of hectic for a little bit (new job, new mission trip developments, good news, sad news, etc.), so I haven’t been able to sit down and think of something new to write about.  To my handful of followers, I’m sorry for my absence! ;-)

I’ve been thinking lately about the importance of hugs. They’re so universal that I’m not sure many people think about the actual concept. Do you ever consciously recognize how much better you feel after a really good hug? It can do SO much to lift your mood, and not just for the 5 seconds during the hug itself; it’s a warmth that stays with you for a pretty good while if you’re anything like me.  Of course, I should recognize that not all people are the same, and there are plenty of people out there who would rather get a phone call, card in the mail, etc. (both of which I also love, by the way).  But I think I speak for the majority of people when I say that a hug is always appreciated, regardless of how much or little you enjoy actually getting them. The reason for this is, of course, the sentiment behind the hug. The fact that someone thought enough about you to recognize that you need encouragement (or whatever else you might get from a hug) means so much. 

I’ve read several different quotes about hugs as well, and they describe just how special they can be better than I can.  Here are my favorites:

• A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away.  ~Bil Keane, “Family Circus”
• You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug.  ~Author Unknown
• A hug is a handshake from the heart.  ~Author Unknown
• ...A hug is an amazing thing
  It's just the perfect way
  To show the love we're feeling
  But can't find the words to say....
  ~Johnny Ray Ryder, Jr., "A Simple Hug"
• A hug is worth a thousand words.  ~Author Unknown
• A hug is two hearts wrapped in arms.  ~Author Unknown

Finally, the very best thing about a good hug is that it is never selfish. No matter who you’re getting a hug from, you’re always giving one too.

So hug away, my friends! J

"It's the little things in life..."

I can think of several pretty significant things that make me happy. Among the highest on that list are spending time with my loved ones, travelling and seeing more of God's wonderful creation, and most importantly, being a Christian.  These blessings are the building blocks of my overall foundation of happiness.  Then there are the little things that bring a smile to my face just from day to day.

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha is dedicated to these little things that make us happy. If you're like me, the smallest of things can go a long way to increasing your mood. In fact, that must be true for a lot of people, because the quote by Gretchen Rubin (author of The Happiness Project) on the front of the book says, "Little things, as it turns out, are extremely important to happiness, and The Book of Awesome will remind you of a thousand little things that will make you happier."

Here are my favorites from the book:

• The other side of the pillow
• Popping bubble wrap
• Fixing electronics by smacking them
• Hitting a bunch of green lights in a row
• Tripping and realizing no one saw you
• The sound of scissors cutting construction paper
• Waking up before your alarm clock and realizing you've got lots of sleep time left
• The smell of crayons
• Licking the batter off the beaters of a cake mixer
• The thank-you wave when you let someone merge in front of you
• The smell of rain on a hot sidewalk
• Old folks who sit on their porch and wave as you walk/drive by
• The smell of coffee
• Staring out at calm water
• Finally remembering a word or thought that's been on the tip of your tongue for so long
• Putting potato chips on a sandwich
• The smell of freshly cut grass
• A long hug when you really need it (or a hug anytime!)
• Laughing so hard you make no sound at all
• The smell and sound of a campfire
• The smell of books
• Snow falling on Christmas Eve
• The smell of gasoline
• Your pillow
• Getting something handwritten in the mail
• The laugh echo-when you laugh out loud after suddenly remembering something that happened a while ago
• Remembering how fortunate we are to be here right now

Are there any of these that you especially agree with? Any more that you think should make the list? If you'd like to read more, you can also visit the website 1000awesomethings.com.
I hope just reading these will bring a smile to your face as they did for me! :)

Welcome!

Hi all!  Thanks for visiting my blog! Thought I'd give this a try... I'm a pretty reflective person, but I don't generally take the time to write my thoughts down anywhere. We'll see if I can keep this up!  I used to keep a diary when I was younger, and I wrote in it faithfully for about a week. Then I'd pull it out every month or so to write in it, then maybe once a year... I'm actually not too sure where it is at the moment...

Anyway, here's to hoping I can put more effort into blog writing! I'm thinking this will work out better for me because I can write for a wider audience than just myself--much more beneficial overall.  My motivation for starting a blog came after reading some others.  I love the idea of keeping up with my friends and family, but I also appreciate the fact that some of the blogs I've read can be very helpful and encouraging; that's mainly what I've set out to do here.  My blog will probably be a little of this and that at times, but for the most part, it's about being happy and sharing an encouraging word. If you're willing (and if I can stick with it), then stick with me! I hope I can bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart--and then you can pay it forward! :)

Have a fantastic day!