Walkin' Across the USA

i met a couple of guys, a few weeks ago at starbucks. we struck up a conversation as they were telling the people around me about their adventure across the USA. i thought they were joking at first, until they pulled out their business cards...they were all the way serious!

Daren started a non-profit organization called the earth expedition (www.theearthexpedition.com). He has already walked from georgia to canada in a previous expedition. But this time Brian has joined him to trek from california to georgia. The purpose of this walk across the country and eventually the world, is to raise awareness for blood-water missions. The purpose of blood water missions is to build water wells all over the world with clean, disease free water. the statistics supporting death due to unclean water is astounding and these two guys in their mid-twenties want to see change! 

i got the opportunity to take these guys to dinner a couple of days later and really got to understand their purpose. they simply stated that they are apart of something bigger than themselves. it really excited me to see the passion these guys had...to walk across the united states? that's awesome and insane and dangerous! i guess the best thing i took away from listening to their experiences is understanding that God really can change the world with his love! i'm sure if a conversation was started they would be happy to share their faith, but they want clean water...all over the world, so people don't die from something that can be prevented. I believe in this, because I believe that Jesus will change the world through this.

new semester, new year, new slate

Ok, so I have successfully made it through another semester. I had to make a 3.0 to get off of probation and continue on with this program. It was very likely that I would have wasted 8 months of my life, but I, by the grace of God, made it! I have already calculated what my GPA for next semester will be according to different possible grades...as you can see, I really pay attention in class. 

These past few semesters, I have struggled early in the semester. It always seems like I start out in a hole and have to dig my way out throughout. This causes stress! I can honestly say there were specific moments in the past two semesters that I had to surrender myself and my grades to the Lord. The problem is that I haven't done this at the beginning of the semester. This year, I have surrendered all of my cares upon the Lord and plan to have a semester filled with less stress. 

I know this is a simple and sensual but it's profound to me. I encourage you to do the same with this new year!