"That was very slippery of you, Clarice."

So, for those of you who have no idea what my title means, my roommate and I are enjoying the delights of Panera Bread and loudly quoting Silence of the Lambs. Many strange looks are occurring around us.

Anyway, on to more important subjects. I apologize for not keeping this as up to date recently, life has been rather busy. I even have two professors who think it's okay to assign tests during thanksgiving break. NEWSFLASH IT IS NOT OK.

The CCU2theWorld kick off was on November 10th and I was super excited to finally hang out with my team mates. I had only met them once so I was really looking forward to getting to know them a little bit better. One thing I noticed is that all of them have good senses of humor which is going to be great when we're overseas :) The kick off was a lot of fun, too. We played a lot of team building games as well as talk about fundraising and support letters.
The entire Turner family is also going with us, so that's awesome. Dr. Turner is our staff leader, his son is a freshman and he applied to go on the trip, and the rest of the family will be joining us as well. That should be a turner-ific time.

As far as everything else goes, I am brainstorming some awesome fundraising ideas for our team. Of course for now I will keep those quiet ;) although I am excited to see what comes out of all of our ideas.

I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed and stressed with school and this trip and everything else that goes on in life, but I couldn't be more blessed with a better team. To put it in Thanksgiving terms, I am extremely thankful that God placed such wonderful people on my team to go and share the gospel to Poland. I am thankful that they are funny and genuine, and I am thankful that I will get to know them more within the months to come.

My roommate is cracking me up right now; the fireplace right next to us has a sign that says "CAUTION: HOT." .. uhhh you don't say?!
We're going to be heading to Barnes & Noble here in just a few. I'm considering picking up a world map or something to mark where I've traveled and where I want to go. Or maybe I'll just buy a giant Poland map. I haven't decided yet :)

178 days until we depart for Poland! It seems so far, yet so close.

Exciting week :)

This week was super exciting because our team members were chosen :) which means I know exactly who will be joining me and Katie to Poland. I'm really excited to get to know them. They all seem awesome and I think they'll all bring something different to the team which I'm super pumped about.

On Saturday we have the CCU2theWorld kick off event. I am not sure what to expect this year. Not even the team members know what is going on. But I suppose that makes it really exciting. I know we'll be doing a lot of activities, talking about fundraising, etc.

Speaking of fundraising, I'm really nervous about that. I hate asking people for money. I hate it so much. I know fundraising is a lot more than that, but it still kind of makes me nervous, so of course I will need lots of prayer about this so I can get over my fear of this whole money business and really work to make the trip more affordable for my team mates. Because believe me this trip ain't cheap.

I have a couple fundraising ideas in mind, but if anyone knows of cool websites for fundraising ideas or knows of anything we can do, feel free to let me know your ideas. :)

209 Days!

So, according to a website that counts down things, we have 209 days until we leave for Poland. That is way too long for me! I wish I could just be there now, but noooo we have to wait.
Applications for CCU2theWorld missions are due today and I am so excited to see who has applied for team Poland. This next week is going to be busy with school and doing interviews, but regardless I am super excited and blessed. I know a lot of people have expressed interest so ya never know.

The last few weeks (or however long it's been since I updated this thing) have been really crazy! We had a CCU2theWorld chapel and we did an event at JumpStreet. A lot of people expressed interest in Poland when we talked to them so that was really exciting.

Right now I'm in a coffee shop (hope I don't get hacked by a crazy computer hacker...) and this coffee shop in particular has foreign money hanging on the wall. Of course naturally I looked for Polish currency. I found some which was awesome and it just reminded me how excited I am to be there. Gotta appreciate the little things.

Anyway, I don't have much to say so I apologize with the lack of update here. I'll be praying hard this week for all those interviewing and I can't wait to see who God calls to Poland :)

I'm going back to Poland!!!

I am going back to Poland in 2013! I am so excited. Words can't even express my excitement right now. I have been writing in my journal often and thought that I should start an online blog to keep everyone up to date on what's going on.

I am co-leading the CCU2theWorld trip to Poland this year with Katie Thomas and I am so excited to be working with her. We already have several people interested in going and I can't wait to see who my team is going to be.

I am really excited to be doing this. I'll definitely be needing lots of prayer during this whole thing. I know that stress is going to come along with this as well as other feelings of inadequacy and worry, and I don't like feeling that way.

The title of this blog is "till the whole world hears". Kelly Nichols, who does all the CCU2theWorld stuff, sent this to us in emails and says it in meetings and it really inspires me. I used to think missions trips were just to Africa or other countries that very obviously need the gospel, but in reality, everyone does. Dark eastern European countries do. America does. I do.

Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."