College Tours!

Hello all!

Yesterday I returned from a two day trip full of college tours. We only stopped at two colleges (Delta State and Ole Miss), but any more than that and my brain would have exploded from all the information I was absorbing.

We started at Delta State on Monday. Looking back, starting there was a good decision. Delta State is a very small school in a small town in Mississippi. Despite the size, it offers tons of stuff for you to get involved in and the people there are really nice. Ole Miss was the opposite: it was so much bigger. They also offered the Mississippi hospitality that Delta State offered and had so much for you to do. Needless to say, it was very overwhelming to tour the colleges and hear all that they offered.

It's going to be really hard to choose. These two colleges are only the first in my college hunting journey.

I've also been really stressed about something much smaller than choosing a college: being in the situation I'm in now, I'm not sure whether I should stay in the Youth Ministry at my church or move to the College. I've been praying about it but I'm still not sure what I should do. I feel like I should be slowly easing out of the Youth, but my mom thinks I should stay there and "enjoy those friends now because those friendships won't last like your college ones will." Personally, I feel that my High School friendships are going to last for a very, very long time but I decided not to argue.

I just messaged our College minister about it and have yet to receive a reply. I just asked what his thoughts were and if he would mind me, a young woman with one foot in High School and the other in College, participating in some college activities. I'm just not sure about anything right now. I'm still praying about it and I would really appreciate it if you guys would be praying that God would give me wisdom about my predicament.

I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill but I just don't know.

So that's what's up!

Much love,

Andrea

Just taking a quick moment...

...to tell you guys about my new book blog! It can be found here: http://the-bestweapons.blogspot.com/

Follow follow follow!

~Andrea

A Servant's Heart

For the past few weeks, I have been getting super excited for this upcoming week: Kids Camp! I had such an amazing time last year and have been eager to go back. I've honestly been looking forward to it much more than I looked forward to Youth Camp.

Throughout the progress of preparing over these last few weeks, I've really had to trust God and what His plans for this week are. I wanted a certain group of girls but I ended up getting another group. Yesterday, I received an email saying that I would be helping with a completely different group then originally planned and I would be helping the Children's ministry secretary with odd jobs around the camp! Definitely not what I thought I would be doing this week!

Despite the curve balls that have been thrown at me over the past few days, I'm still excited about spending time with the kids this week and serving them (no matter what group I'm with!). Really it doesn't matter what group I'm with or what I'm doing. Just as long as God is being glorified.

However, if I don't get to packing, there could be a problem!

Much love,

Andrea

Counting my blessings.

I am definitely one of those people who lets the little things get to me. I always want everything to be perfect and when they aren't, I get stressed. Not exactly the best quality to possess especially as a Christian. However, I've really been praying for God to help me accept that things don't always go according to plan and just letting Him teach me things through the unexpected.

One of the things I've learned though unexpected situations is how blessed I am. For example: I have recently visited a very broken youth group that my friend is a part of. I found myself listening to the students gossip about each other and just being downright nasty to each other. My friend was one of those people! It really broke my heart to see how the youth group was suffering because of the gossip and backstabbing. Seeing how broken that group was made me think of my youth group. Sure, we have problems too, but we honestly have some of the most amazing people in our youth group. Our youth group is a growing, God-centered group of amazing young people that I am so blessed to be friends with.

Another thing I've learned is how blessed I am to have such amazing friends. They aren't those friends who I just do the "normal girly stuff" with, but they are an amazing group of people who have helped me grow in Christ. Sure, we talk about guys too, but our conversations have often gone into such deep discussions about God and what He has been teaching us and how He is working. It's incredible how quickly our conversations turn to such deep topics and how much I learn from them.

God has been teaching me so many things through so many unexpected sources. He's also been convicting me too. I have definitely noticed recently that I really need to get out of my comfort zone more. I'm such a loudmouth while around my friends, but being around other people that I don't know very well quickly shuts me up. Now, how am I supposed to share the love of God with complete strangers if I won't even talk to them? I'm definitely working on that.

Well, I hate to cut this post off now, but I really need to finish my laundry! Kids Camp is in less than two days and I really would love to bring clean clothes!

Much love,

Andrea

Giving up the World

Hey guys!

I have just returned from an incredible week at the beach. Words cannot describe the utter conviction and also the utter joy I have felt this week. God has really been moving.

One of my friends came and talked with me last night about how much has changed in this past year. That same time last year, we both had had our worlds rocked by the Word of God. We were filled with the spirit and utterly refreshed. Now, a year later, God has worked so much in our lives. I, personally, have grown so much in this last year. God has changed my life for the better and I am just completely in love with Him!

This week I definitely felt convicted about things in my life. God was really trying to get into my skull exactly what I, as a Christian, am called to do. Sure, I'm reading God's Word and praying and working on trying to obey Him, but am I really trying to get outside of my comfort zone to witness to people? Am I really always coming to God with the right attitude? And who exactly is my focus on when I pray?

All in all, this week has been incredible. I have to say, I think it's probably the best Meltdown trip I've ever been on.

God bless!

~Andrea

The End of an Era

Hello all!

Ok, so I'm currently supposed to be packing for camp tomorrow but I'm blogging instead. I still can't believe that this will be my final Meltdown trip as a student. Around 6 trips of beach, drama, and a lot of Jesus. It's surreal.

It's been a year of lasts for me and this upcoming year will be another year of lasts. But I do have a round of firsts too: my first College Sunday School class was today, my first car is currently sitting in the driveway, my fist College event was a few weeks ago, and soon I will be attending my first College tour and many, many more firsts.

I do have mixed feelings about everything. I've enjoyed High School and all of its ups and downs. Sure, it hasn't been the typical High School experience. I never dated in High School and never got my first kiss. I wasn't in any sports and I'm nothing special smarts-wise. But I have met some of the most amazing people and done some awesome stuff. I've also learned some valuable lessons about life and grown further away and then so much closer to God than I could have ever imagined. I've made some big mistakes but I've also made some of the best decisions in the last few years.

So, as I face this last year in High School, I hope I'll be able to learn more. I hope that I'll be able to easily experience these lasts and firsts. And I hope that God's direction for my life would be clear.

Ok, I really need to pack so I can get to bed at a reasonable hour tonight!

Much love,

Andrea