Sooo…. Right now I am sitting in the Oschway Hospital Emergency Room at 1:20 am…. Thankfully not for me, but I really hope one of my friends (also a missionary is ok)…. Not going into details- because that would be breaking a HOSA (or whatever the acronym is) rule. Anyways- I have received a great thrill and adventure out of this trip!!! I got to drive New Orleans style- this is a huge deal to me. These roads are not like NC roads at all…. Like there are 10 times more stoplights and extremely weird left turns. I am glad to say that we made it here safely and I didn’t cause any unnecessary emotional distress that would result in more of a reason to be sitting in the ER room. I was saying earlier I shouldn’t have drank caffeinated coffee at 10 pm but now it came in handy- God is good…. I feel like I could go for hours- problem is- the girls will be arriving in approximately 7 hours!!!
Ok so although I am on an adrenaline rush from this adventure to the hospital (ps we still have to make it back)…. I have had a pretty lazy and relaxing weekend. Saturday all of us girls slept, ate lunch- and I can’t remember what else at the moment. I know that Julie and Nealy cooked dinner for us- barbeque turned chicken haha (insider)… and rotel and cheese dip…. Can I get a mmmmm!!! Then Stephanie took us to Magazine street- I must say I will own a pair of heels from that street before I leave here…. Anyways- we went to this place called Sugre- which is the only one in the world (I think- right until proven wrong is my opinion)…. And the owner is a guy from the food network- (I guess you can google it if you interested)… the only thing I was interested in was the gelato and sorbet (yummy) and the amazing display of chocolates and decorated cakes…. So that was my Saturday and it was good!!!
Sunday- began at approximately 6:15 am- getting ready for Church- an awesome Church- Franklin Avenue Baptist Church- AMEN!!! We went to the 7:30 service so we knew we would be out within an hour and a half to two hours…. This church was huge and beautiful. I have never been to anything like it. While it was predominantly black, we all fit right in. Everyone was so welcoming and passionate about worshipping Christ. This church was practically destroyed during Katrina and pretty much everything was a loss. However they have been resilient and are now worshipping fully again! The choir and pastor were so enthusiastic and could definitely lift any spirit. The older women dressed beautifully with matching hats were so pretty. I loved watching them. You could definitely see the Spirit moving in them- hips and all!!!! The funniest and most entertaining thing to me- did not involve the pastor, choir, welcoming group, or fashionistas- but rather- the sole reserved seat for the nurse on the front row…. That had me cracking up. Unfortunately, I believe I left my favorite pink bible in the pew in the Church- I have been a little sad about it bec. It had all my verses that I like highlighted in it. A dear friend that goes by the name of Maggie though- made me not sad because she told me now- I can find even more verses I didn’t really notice before- good point…. Now I have an orange bible, and although it isn’t pink, I believe God is color blind maybe??? So color doesn’t matter, and by the way, Orange was one of Raven’s favorite color- so now I will think about her when I see it. So now I have a new bible!!!
When we got back from church I slept for like 4 hours and then got up- ate a little, watching some “Drop Dead Diva” and then went back to sleep for about an hour. Then I woke up, watched more “Drop Dead Diva” and then ate pizza- mmmm…. Yummy! Then we were all just chilling and hanging out- we ran to Wal-mart, came back then went to a coffee shop and then were hanging out again…. Now I am chilling at the hospital and praying Stephanie is okay…..
So I hope tomorrow I will have an exciting update on how the first day of Up2Hope goes. I am super excited to meet all the girls and show them what a NC girls is like!!! I know it is going to be amazing. And I can’t wait to see how God uses me, and the other girls I am serving with to fulfill the purpose he has given to each of us.
Please pray that we are able to fix any problems that may incur tomorrow and that things will run as smoothly as possible. Pray for my friend Stephanie that everything will check out okay here at the hospital. And pray for the rest of the staff as we begin this 8 week long camp.
<3 Kendall
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Initiation into the "Ben-yay" club, Mississippi River, New Friends, and Anderson Cooper up close and personal :) Day 1 in NOLA
Today I started off a little bit worried about heading to New Orleans and I almost wanted to chicken out- but I am so so so thankful that I did not, because today goes down in my book as one of the best days of my life. New Orleans may be a little hot and humid right now- but it is so definitely worth it.
I arrived in NOLA at about 2:30 and was picked up by two “Kendall sign bearing girls” DeShannan and Kim. They gave me the education about a lot of stuff on the way to BFH where I was welcomely greeted by all the other staff members- might I just add they are awesome and this is going to be a fun and hilarious summer- gotta love em… I definitely don’t think they were quite prepared for what this NC girl is bringing them!
So when I got to the Friendship House, I got first dibs on the room- sorry girls, but a princess must control the air temperature- I will be reasonable and open to suggestions..JK- we will all work together on that one :) After chatting with everyone we went to pick up my roomie Julie- from SC (we are the Carolina girls) Then we were treated to a New Orleans favorite and staple- red beans (aka the kidney ones) and rice with all kinds of meat and stuff… Anyways- I was a little bit worried at first when I saw them on the kitchen counter being prepared to cooked- but they were delicious… I never would have given these things a chance in NC- good thing I like it because it is on the menu for Mondays from what I hear. After we ate- all together of course, the Mississippi girls arrived- Nealy and Lauren…
Then we were off to get a taste of this wonderful city. It was the best walk of my life. Thanks to Kay my feet didn’t hurt to bad- I can’t believe someone talked me out of wearing my “mini-heels” but she was really persuasive. So I wore flip flops. I can’t remember all the names of the streets that we went down- but they were pretty awesome. The French Quarter is beautiful- I even got to see Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s house… Now if I can just go knock on the door one day….I will save that for another trip up town. We rode the free ferry across the Mississippi River- back and forth… The scene on the other side of the river (the skyline of the French Quarter and stuff) was so awesome.
So then we are walking and we had noticed some cameras filming when we went and got on the ferry- but when we were walking back by- we realized it was the one and only Anderson Cooper!!! Can you believe it- within a few hours of being in New Orleans- I got to see a celebrity. However, I didn’t get to mark something off my bucket list because Karina and the others wouldn’t let me go touch him haha… Probably for the best. After checking Mr. Cooper out- we had to see how good he looked in person; I revealed some of my secret crushes- haha… I won’t get away from that one. Walking to Café du Monde (sorry I don’t remember the specific names- but maybe I will get it soon) I told lots and lots of stories and we had some pretty good convos…. While waiting for my Sprite and Ben-yay’s I showed off pictures of my special kitty kitties… needless to say- that kept us entertained….. So then Kay decided to "try" and initiate me- but it didn't go as planned- the "ben-yay's" have sugar all over them and evidentally to get initiated someone sneaks up behind you and blows the sugar all over you haha... I had already knocked most of mine off- so it didn't cover me.... After eating we returned to the BFH and started to get settled in…..
Of course- I had to take a shower before I put my pajamas on and I discovered that these showers are just a tiny-bit bi-polar… Maybe I can figure out what triggers their emotions before too long…. So that has been my absolutely wonderful day- and I can’t wait for it to continue tomorrow….
In all seriousness now- I am so thankful that God led me to come to New Orleans. I honestly feel like this is where I belong for the summer definitely, but who knows, I am thinking a return trip already…. I have fallen in love with every single part of the city- the ones who don’t have Christ in their life and are begging for help and a Savior on the streets, the beautiful scenery everywhere, to the children that I haven’t even met yet. I know this journey is going to leave me changed person- in fact, it already has. I just am so excited and can’t wait to see what is going to happen next and how I can use what God has given me to spread his word. I am also so thankful for all the staff and all the girls serving with me, these are some friendships that will never be lost or broken.
The biggest thing I can ask you to pray for is that we can prepare and just reach out to these girls that will begin camp on Monday. Calm any nerves that we may have and for everything to work out the way God intends it to. Pray for safety everywhere and that us girls can just prepare our heart, mind, and body to serve God the way he wants and needs us to. Also pray for all the staff here that they can get us missionaries prepared as well as what needs to be taken care of before the camp begins. Pray that every little girl’s life will be touched here this summer.
I love you all in DC- but I don’t miss ya to much yet- in all honesty- I really love it here so please don’t worry about me…
<3 Kendall
I arrived in NOLA at about 2:30 and was picked up by two “Kendall sign bearing girls” DeShannan and Kim. They gave me the education about a lot of stuff on the way to BFH where I was welcomely greeted by all the other staff members- might I just add they are awesome and this is going to be a fun and hilarious summer- gotta love em… I definitely don’t think they were quite prepared for what this NC girl is bringing them!
So when I got to the Friendship House, I got first dibs on the room- sorry girls, but a princess must control the air temperature- I will be reasonable and open to suggestions..JK- we will all work together on that one :) After chatting with everyone we went to pick up my roomie Julie- from SC (we are the Carolina girls) Then we were treated to a New Orleans favorite and staple- red beans (aka the kidney ones) and rice with all kinds of meat and stuff… Anyways- I was a little bit worried at first when I saw them on the kitchen counter being prepared to cooked- but they were delicious… I never would have given these things a chance in NC- good thing I like it because it is on the menu for Mondays from what I hear. After we ate- all together of course, the Mississippi girls arrived- Nealy and Lauren…
Then we were off to get a taste of this wonderful city. It was the best walk of my life. Thanks to Kay my feet didn’t hurt to bad- I can’t believe someone talked me out of wearing my “mini-heels” but she was really persuasive. So I wore flip flops. I can’t remember all the names of the streets that we went down- but they were pretty awesome. The French Quarter is beautiful- I even got to see Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s house… Now if I can just go knock on the door one day….I will save that for another trip up town. We rode the free ferry across the Mississippi River- back and forth… The scene on the other side of the river (the skyline of the French Quarter and stuff) was so awesome.
So then we are walking and we had noticed some cameras filming when we went and got on the ferry- but when we were walking back by- we realized it was the one and only Anderson Cooper!!! Can you believe it- within a few hours of being in New Orleans- I got to see a celebrity. However, I didn’t get to mark something off my bucket list because Karina and the others wouldn’t let me go touch him haha… Probably for the best. After checking Mr. Cooper out- we had to see how good he looked in person; I revealed some of my secret crushes- haha… I won’t get away from that one. Walking to Café du Monde (sorry I don’t remember the specific names- but maybe I will get it soon) I told lots and lots of stories and we had some pretty good convos…. While waiting for my Sprite and Ben-yay’s I showed off pictures of my special kitty kitties… needless to say- that kept us entertained….. So then Kay decided to "try" and initiate me- but it didn't go as planned- the "ben-yay's" have sugar all over them and evidentally to get initiated someone sneaks up behind you and blows the sugar all over you haha... I had already knocked most of mine off- so it didn't cover me.... After eating we returned to the BFH and started to get settled in…..
Of course- I had to take a shower before I put my pajamas on and I discovered that these showers are just a tiny-bit bi-polar… Maybe I can figure out what triggers their emotions before too long…. So that has been my absolutely wonderful day- and I can’t wait for it to continue tomorrow….
In all seriousness now- I am so thankful that God led me to come to New Orleans. I honestly feel like this is where I belong for the summer definitely, but who knows, I am thinking a return trip already…. I have fallen in love with every single part of the city- the ones who don’t have Christ in their life and are begging for help and a Savior on the streets, the beautiful scenery everywhere, to the children that I haven’t even met yet. I know this journey is going to leave me changed person- in fact, it already has. I just am so excited and can’t wait to see what is going to happen next and how I can use what God has given me to spread his word. I am also so thankful for all the staff and all the girls serving with me, these are some friendships that will never be lost or broken.
The biggest thing I can ask you to pray for is that we can prepare and just reach out to these girls that will begin camp on Monday. Calm any nerves that we may have and for everything to work out the way God intends it to. Pray for safety everywhere and that us girls can just prepare our heart, mind, and body to serve God the way he wants and needs us to. Also pray for all the staff here that they can get us missionaries prepared as well as what needs to be taken care of before the camp begins. Pray that every little girl’s life will be touched here this summer.
I love you all in DC- but I don’t miss ya to much yet- in all honesty- I really love it here so please don’t worry about me…
<3 Kendall
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Cry-Positive Commissioning and Last Sunday before I leave for NOLA
Well this past week and a half has been a whirlwind full of God’s work and also some obstacles thrown in the way. It has consisted of getting to know the girls that I will be serving with through facebook, dealing with two car accidents (not involving me), my commissioning today, sleeping, relay for life, a parade/pageant appearances, and some sleeping. Since my last post, despite all this stuff, God has really answered some of my prayer requests regarding my upcoming travels to New Orleans and the 2 months that I will spend there.
Before I go any further in writing, I must thank God and give him all the glory for the miracles that took place with the car accidents. The first one involved my sister and a friend and they flipped the car, luckily both walked away with only some airbag burn. The second wreck involving my friend Ivey and 2 of her friends and was much more severe. However, God has shown that he is still in the miracle performing business; bringing a guy off life support and allowing Ivey to walk even with 4 broken places in her back. He truly is amazing. I am so thankful.
The last time I wrote, I was uncertain of a lot of the things I will face when I arrive in New Orleans. However, God has answered this by allowing all of us girls to begin to chat on facebook and discuss things that we are questioning. And thankfully, there is a girl that is already down there to give us even more advice. Now the fun part begins of actually packing, one of my least favorite things to do ever. It will get completed eventually, probably Wednesday night!
I was also dealing with a lot of temptation the last time I wrote, but I have been using the doubled edged sword and have fought it off by spending every opportunity I have to dig into God’s word and it provides me with the strength and comfort that I need. The only thing now is that I feel like every time I get ready to do something big, a whole bunch of things (not really good) happen all at once. For example, the week that I moved into college my sister was hospitalized with pneumonia so my parents were pretty much with her the whole time I was moving in.
I am still struggling with worrying about having withdrawals from my Church family. I have to give a huge and amazing thanks to everyone who played a role in my commissioning today at Church. It was such a special and life touching service for me- nearly as special as my baptism. I was so “cry-positive” today- especially when Mrs. Angie sang “When I Call on Jesus” especially for me. It was so moving and she definitely topped Nicole Mullen. While I can’t imagine being anywhere except KBC on Sunday mornings, at the same time I am really excited about getting to go to a new Church in New Orleans and experiencing that. But my KBC family must know that I will be thinking of them often and love them so so so much! I am just so thankful to everyone’s kind words and prayers and encouragement as I venture to New Orleans. I can’t wait until the day that I can report back on all the ways that God uses me.
Well I think that is about it for now- I should really get some sleep so I can get up in the morning and finish preparing- I still have a lot of stuff to do.
Please pray that I can continue with an open heart and Christ like attitude as I begin this journey of a lifetime. Pray for comfort while I am away from my KBC family and that we can continue to stay in close contact with one another. Be with the other girls as they also prepare for travels and that they will also have an open heart. Pray for my own family that they can stay strong but also provide me with the support I need. Pray for the director and staff as they begin to prepare for all of us missionaries to arrive. Continue to pray for safe traveling and safety and good health throughout the next two months. Pray for me to get motivate and get all my papers turned in and the other things I need to tend to in a timely manner so I won’t have a time crunch. Most importantly pray for the people of New Orleans and that I may be able to touch someone’s life and allow them to experience salvation.
<3 Kendall
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Preparing for my journey to New Orleans
I should first start by explaining what this journey to New Orleans is going to involve and the "hows" and "whys" of this upcoming experience. I will be leaving RDU airport on May 27 for New Orleans, Louisiana. I will be there for 2 entire months- 9 weeks! I will be serving the highest and most awesome God in ways that I am not completely sure about. The full extent of how I will be serving has not been revealed to me. However, there are some things that I do know:
I will be serving at the Baptist Friendship House- located within the French Quarter
The director and staff all seem so dedicated to this place and I can't wait to meet them
There will be three other girls serving with me
The main thing we will be doing is acting as sorta- camp counselors for a program called Up to Hope that the BFH puts together during the summer for girls from the age of 9-18
I know that it is going to be hot and muggy and I'm not sure if I am prepared for that
And the most comforting thing I know is that I will have wireless access- haha jk...
The most important and comforting this is that God is going to use me in ways that I can't even imagine and this mission trip is going to leave a lasting impact on my life.
As I am beginning to prepare my heart and mind for this experience, I have encountered a lot of problems and difficulties. Satan is extremely unhappy with my choice to serve the Lord and he has been trying to deceive me and tempt me so that I will stumble. Unfortunately I have stumbled some and it has caused me to fall completely down at times. But every time my God has been there to help me up and wrap me in his loving arms. I was not expecting any of these difficulties. I felt that when I accepted God's calling for me to go on missions that I would be on such a "Spiritual High" that I wouldn't fall at all. Now that I have learned that I am going to be tempted and deceived, but as long as I turn to God in everything he will give me the strength to get over hard times, options to avoid temptation, and love and forgiveness that I need when I do mess up.
So now my main focus is just allowing God to handle everything in my life by just going to him daily and giving him my burdens and right now I do have many. As much happiness and "excitedness" I have about the opportunity- there is almost an equal amount of worry.
I have never been away from my sister and brother for this long
I am so sad that I won't be at KBC every Sunday to see that family
I will miss my parents and grandparents and other family members and summer events I will miss
I'm not a fan of cajun or spicy food
I don't know the conditions I will be living in or the culture shock I am going to face
I don't know anyone there
Please pray that I can continue with an open heart, stay strong in the Lord and stand up for the right thing. Pray that I can overcome any fears and worries by giving them to God and letting him provide me comfort. Pray for my family and friends that will miss me as well. Pray for safety traveling and during the two months I will be gone- as well as no health issues. Pray that I can be an incredible witness and hopefully show Christ through every action and word I speak and that I can help bring someone to know Christ through my testimony.
<3 Kendall
I will be serving at the Baptist Friendship House- located within the French Quarter
The director and staff all seem so dedicated to this place and I can't wait to meet them
There will be three other girls serving with me
The main thing we will be doing is acting as sorta- camp counselors for a program called Up to Hope that the BFH puts together during the summer for girls from the age of 9-18
I know that it is going to be hot and muggy and I'm not sure if I am prepared for that
And the most comforting thing I know is that I will have wireless access- haha jk...
The most important and comforting this is that God is going to use me in ways that I can't even imagine and this mission trip is going to leave a lasting impact on my life.
As I am beginning to prepare my heart and mind for this experience, I have encountered a lot of problems and difficulties. Satan is extremely unhappy with my choice to serve the Lord and he has been trying to deceive me and tempt me so that I will stumble. Unfortunately I have stumbled some and it has caused me to fall completely down at times. But every time my God has been there to help me up and wrap me in his loving arms. I was not expecting any of these difficulties. I felt that when I accepted God's calling for me to go on missions that I would be on such a "Spiritual High" that I wouldn't fall at all. Now that I have learned that I am going to be tempted and deceived, but as long as I turn to God in everything he will give me the strength to get over hard times, options to avoid temptation, and love and forgiveness that I need when I do mess up.
So now my main focus is just allowing God to handle everything in my life by just going to him daily and giving him my burdens and right now I do have many. As much happiness and "excitedness" I have about the opportunity- there is almost an equal amount of worry.
I have never been away from my sister and brother for this long
I am so sad that I won't be at KBC every Sunday to see that family
I will miss my parents and grandparents and other family members and summer events I will miss
I'm not a fan of cajun or spicy food
I don't know the conditions I will be living in or the culture shock I am going to face
I don't know anyone there
Please pray that I can continue with an open heart, stay strong in the Lord and stand up for the right thing. Pray that I can overcome any fears and worries by giving them to God and letting him provide me comfort. Pray for my family and friends that will miss me as well. Pray for safety traveling and during the two months I will be gone- as well as no health issues. Pray that I can be an incredible witness and hopefully show Christ through every action and word I speak and that I can help bring someone to know Christ through my testimony.
<3 Kendall
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