Week 6 in Hawai'i!!!

Can I just say, oh my gosh....it's been 6 weeks, which means I leave in 4 weeks for my outreach to the U.S. Virgin Islands. craaaaaaazy.

This week began with a hang-out session with my outreach group which was a lot of fun. We went to our leader's (Josh and Melissa) house and played some games...good bonding time to be sure....we also found out our exact dates for outreach!! Drumroll please... We will be leaving the night of December 14th and return to the Hawai'ian islands on March 3rd. Then I will be leaving on March 9th for HOME!! I'm getting more and more excited!! 4 weeks and I'll be on outreach in the Virgin Islands!!! I can't wait.....also a small side note...we've been told that FAMILY and FRIENDS are WELCOME to VISIT us there on the island of St. Croix! Sooooooooo if any of y'all want to escape the cold winter feel free to come visit me and help serve in the community with me! :D In other words. PLEASE COME

Two of my team members, Hannah and Mindy, in the back of Josh and Melissa's truck...hair "blowing" in the wind!! :)

Mine and Leah's hair!!

All of us lovely ladies on team U.S Virgin Islands!!

This week's topic has been on relationships taught by Faith Dutton. I'm gonna be honest....when I found out the topic for this week I was quick to roll my eyes, sigh and whine about "another relationship talk"....after many years in youth groups, being a youth group leader and small group leader, I'm sure you can imagine my thought process of being overwhelmed with relationship talks and subjects....but I was quick to change my thought process as Faith began to speak. She began with saying...if you want to find "the one" you need to become "the one"...that spoke volumes to me. The week continued with this pattern of really dealing with my own "problems" and examining myself and my relationship with God. Faith really challenged me to really look at my friendships and set up healthy boundaries within them. It also challenged me to really be a servant in my relationship with Peter and consider him first before myself...to not be selfish and prideful. To not expect perfection or judge quickly but to respect and honor him for who he is. :) After this week I now have a whole NEW outlook on relationships and what they mean...starting first with me and God...then moving on to all other relationships. Because HE is ultimately my first and true love. :)

I heart sunsets :)

This Friday was a fun day...first, I got a chance to play piano in our student led worship in my Compassionate classroom which was a lot of fun. Secondly, we had a "wacky tacky" day...to which I could dress however I chose (modestly of course) in a wacky way...it was a blast. The entire class was very creative including my roomies who are in class with me. Please enjoy the photos bellow. :)

My "wacky tacky" outfit. Hott...I know

Gabby, Racheal and I...sexy beasts we are. :)

Friday also concluded with some exciting events....I ate my first yummy, juicy, big, burger since being here!! To some of y'all it may not seem like a big deal at all..but to me it is. Real food...not cafeteria food. Real meat...not "whatever that looks like is what you make it" meat. so good. Anywho, I went with my roomies Staci and Kathryn who also appreciated this fine food. Don't judge. :)

Kathryn and I...I'm the mermaid, Kathryn is the turtle... :)

As thanksgiving approaches I find reality hitting me hard in the chest...I won't be home for it. I also just missed my bro John's 21st birthday...this is still hard for me. I'm continually missing my family, Peter and friends. One of my best friends Laura, who happens to be a missionary in Nicaragua, was also back in Nebraska for a weekend...but I was not there to see her...although I did get to talk to her. :) I am so thankful for the smart peeps out there who invented skype, facetime and such because I still get to see faces and talk. But God is really working on my heart in this area as well. He's been telling me to lean and depend on the family He has given me here in Kona...to stop complaining and accept this wonderful family he's placed in my life for 6 months. If I would just open my eyes and look around I have another "father and mother" in my school leaders, a ton of "sisters and brothers" as well as many new friends...including my wonderful roommates. God is my every present help in time of need, my comforter and lover of my soul. This I cling to each day I as I miss each and every one of you amazing people in my life. :) Miss you all!

Keeping real in Kona, Hawai'i...