Happy Birthday

I must say I won't forget this birthday... Ever. Today I had cake and ice-cream for breakfast, I got two Awesome birthday cards, one from the crew back at the castle and the Ukraine team. I think we ate four different cakes and I was sung happy birthday like 18 time and in five different languages. (ukrainian, German, English, Spanish, and Romanian.) I was even lifted on a chair 18 times and was set on a table in the next room while still on the chair.
It was kinda funny, the night before my BD I asked to sleep in five extra minutes and Ryan being Ryan said nah we'll move breakfast back five minutes 7:25. But I ended up sleeping in I'll a quarter to eight. I lead devotion that day and after a glorious shower, we set off to town. We pilled into the van and stopped at the bank to exchange money. Which is the only free wifi hotspot in like 100k. I checked my email expecting some happyBD emails but I remembered it was still march 6 in the states. We wondered down to the bizzar and looked around for a while. If you needed anything you could get it there and for really cheap. Gotta love the exchange rates.
Next we hit up a classic ukrainian dance performance. Talk about a good idea. There was a lot of kids singing and dancing. They did a good job too. There was a girl who did an acapela piece and wow...I fell in love again. Haha. But the best part about the bizzar was where we were standing, there was no sitting room so we stood along the wall. And you must know, Ukrainian people are larger built then most Europeans. The other thing you must know is that the desired fashion in eastern Europe is big fur coats. So imagine for a second, me, a small person, squeezing in-between large ukrainians, and when I find my spot along the wall I nearly becomes another coat of paint on the wall. It was crazy, these people didn't care that there was no room, they just started pressing their way through. One time I got tipped off balance and then squished against a giant of a man and when the person passed by me the pressure that was holding me up was gone and I started to fall into this man. Let's just say it became awkward fast in that corner of the room.

Lunch happened. Food went into my belly. And I was full once again.

Wednesday was a day we went to the internat, the Roma orphanage, and played with the kids there. Man you may think that is the more boring thing to do but I want to do it again next year. We all had so much fun running with the kids there. They wanted to wrestle and moch fight and piggy back rides became a hit instantly. I got asked a question I never think I'll hear again
"Do you have haircutters where you come from?"
I had to laugh out loud. I never thought of it that way, I have long hair by choice not because no one is around to cut it. Haha the kids were amazed and kinda scared of my braces and my ear gauges weirded them out. They never see things like this very often and it is truly foreign to them. I really am refreshed to experience this, it is so interesting to explain what exactly, just the lack of western culture influences is nice to see. It kinda makes me feel original for once in a lifetime. But everything I do has all ready been done before, sigh.

I don't think we left the orphanage till 7:30-8:00 pm. It was dark and most kids had dinner to eat. And at the mention of food everyones stomach turned a growled. So it was almost a race home to get dinner cooking. I think we had some kinda of noodles, but I remember it was soo good and maybe I eat slower or I am more hungry or more bold but I seem to finish the last of everything on the table. Or I just ask for a bit more when everyone else is finished. Any-who, I ate so well, that night and every other night in Ukraine.

Bring on the cakes! And the awkward Birthday song. I think they knew how awkward I felt when they sang it for me, because they wouldn't stop singing it! Haha I blew out my tea candles and started cutting away at the chocolate banana cake as Cory tried to saw through centimeter thick chocolate frosting on the other cake. He tried, I'll give him that but his success rate was so good. Poor cake. After that the night started to settle down, until I was randomly hoisted in my chair around the room. And all the girls plus TJ were holding me up and the longer I was in the air the more I felt the chair lean. This is not good when you are nine feet in the air and full of cake.

My birthday ended with a beat down by Cory and a quick prayer with the guys. And did I sleep good or what!

Thanks Nana and Grammy for you BirthDay cards! I loved to see mail in the 'T' mailbox with my name in it. Mom and Dad thanks for your previous support, it was put to good use during my ventures in Prague.

Love to all those who remembered me on my birthday. And to every else too.

Spiritual Warefare

This week has got to be one of the craziest weeks Not with like what we are doing here but just with all the past challenges I am still trying to keep. This being a Christian thing is so hard, I can't get pissed or curse. And I am to serve my brothers and sisters expecting nothing, I am supposed to give all that I have because it is Gods in the first place. And I am supposed to seek Gods voice in all of the above. Yet sometimes, I still need to use my own judgment. And my mind gets me running back on my choices, second guessing myself. (JESUS!)

It was very interesting how Roger said spiritual warfare was more about our identity with God and just declaring the power He has given us through Hs son. I thought we would be learning all about casting out demons and rebuking the devil, but it was barely covered and even Roger said be cautious before you start rebuking what you think may be a demon. Cause some things we think are bad and of the Devil may just be God allowing things to happen or just the world and it's messed up way operating that is causing this. He gave me a lot to think about. He touched on healing and sickness, which i must say hit a soft spot in me. I have severe sickness in my family and I still don't know the reasons why it's been this way for all this time. All this stuff seems to link back to others issues I have , I feel so overwhelmed with these things and before you say just give it to God and it will be all good. That my friend is the hard part. Even though I've asked God why or what reason He does this, I still have to watch as this loved one is in daily pain. I'm just so sick of talking about all this crap, I am trying not to give into discouragement so I will end this entry.

Dobro!

Mini'

The anticipation if this trip is driving me KrayKray! I am really starting to notice the things that make me super annoyed. I love to plan things like road trips, but when it comes to planning a two week outreach with four leaders and five other students, is proving to be a test and I'm not even involved with the majority. Wait it's more or less listening to people plan and argue about how many time we should stop for bathroom breaks or what kind of snacks to bring. Like I'm trying not to stress but when we are at meeting the topic of conversation changes faster than the wind. And I want to say something but then I'll become the awkward one who doesnt really want to joke or have any fun. What ev we all have our strengths and weaknesses.

Here I lay in the main hallway of the castle 1:47am just waiting for 4:00am to come so we can leave. I chose to make breakfast for our team in the morning, I don't know why really but I got a GB message about this and I didn't see anyone had replied so I just said i would, because there would be less confusion. I even have food for the team as a work duty during our trip, I don't know what that entails but I'll find out soon enough. Either way I get to pick what we are eating and we will be eating some yummy food; yet the catch is can I find the food I want in Ukraine. I hear things are super cheap there which is good! Yet God has already been providing our needs! We haven't even left the castle and He is taking care of us.

I have stencils, spray paint, paper, pastels, and a giant drawing board in my pile of things to bring. I hope to fill every piece with art and God's message of love. I really want to do portraits of every one I meet. I know the language barrier will be our biggest struggle but art has no barriers. I want to try my version of Help Portrait, just I'll be drawing portraits instead of taking photos. I am really nervous but I know! God! Loves! Me! He will never let go. His love is with me on this journey. Please pray into that truth for me. Ask with the voice God gave you I don't forget this because the instant I lose this I will fall back into my anger and self pity. I will lose all the progress I have made since I've been here. Thank you for your prayers! God does hear you.