Christmas By Candlelight

December 25, Christmas Day. Personally Christmas Day is not my favorite part of the advent season. Last night, Christmas Eve is the night I look forward to the most. I don't know what it is about Christmas Eve but it is so joyous in a world that honestly can be rough. There is just something about sitting with people you care about, singing Christmas carols by candlelight. Last night I went to the 7:00 and 11:00 services. One because I sang in a trio at 7, and played with the praise band at 11. And two, because I just love Christmas Eve and worshipping and thanking our father in Heaven for putting his son as a human on earth to save us and bridge the gap between God and us. So back to the services...I was sitting there with about 400 or more people in the sanctuary and the lights are dimmed and we're singing Christmas carols and its right after midnight, so its Christmas morning and the last carol we sing is Silent Night. With about 400+ people all having candles is such a precious sight. On every verse of Silent Night, the candles we hold go higher and higher. By the third and final verse we are holding the candles above our heads. Now this is one of the most beautiful sights to see and hear! Because everyone is singing and no matter if you say you can't sing or not, it is just so beautiful. It just rounded out the whole night because Rev, dressed as a monk, talked about candles and "Lux Aeterna", the eternal light. So as the Christmas Advent season comes to a close, and we move on to the year 2010, one of my goals is to make Jesus Christ be my light inside of me and shine through me and let others see the light of him and stand in awe of him, just as I was on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!!

The Trip to the Doctors

So last night we had our first trip to the doctors for shots. Out of the ten shots I listed, I only had to get five. Last night I got three shots: Typhoid, Polio and Hepatitis A. So I have two shots in one arm and one in the other arm. I go back in June for the Hepatitis A booster and Yellow Fever. They have to specifically order Yellow Fever because it is not a normal shot to give a person. Last night, I was like a little kid, I had my eyes shut the whole time and I was squeezing my dad's hand. Luckily I went first so once I was done I was fine. I'm so glad to be done most of the medical stuff needed for Senegal. Now that it is out of the way I can put my energy in things that is more important, getting ready for the trip. I am very excited because the trip is about seven months away. I am looking forward to the different things that will happen between now and then. I will keep you all in touch with the know about the trip.

Have a very blessed Christmas!!

Its Going to Start Soon....

My least favorite part of this trip planning that I'm not looking forward to is all the shots. There is a total of 10 shots that are highly recommended before going on this trip.

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Diptheria/Tetnus booster
• Yellow Fever
• Menningitis
• Typhoid
• Cholera

Now don't start yelling at my for my math. There are only seven shots up there but Hepatitis A is three shots, and Hepatitis B is two shots. So my dad scheduled our first session, four days before Christmas. Oh Merry Christmas to me! I don't know what I'm getting, but I'm not looking foward to it. I got spooked when I was little with needles and drawing blood, and ever since, needles and Amy don't mix well. In addition to these shots before the trip, approximately two weeks prior to the departure date, we begin taking Malaria pills. All the way up to the day we step back on American soil. Pills and I are fine, but needles.....

I'll keep you all posted as it continues.

Why Senegal?

So you might be wondering why I chose to go on the Senegal trip, well even if you didn't I'll tell you. Okay, so I heard my dad talk about the possibility of upcoming trip to Senegal this summer, and one of the things on my list to do in my life is go to Africa. Well in my mind I was going to go to college and take a study abroad session somewhere in Africa. But I found out that the major I am going for, music education, is a double major in itself. And I would have a nearly impossible chance to study abroad anytime in my four years. So I made myself realize that this is how its going to be, and if God wants me to go to Africa, he will find a way and he always does. So back to the trip. My dad was talking about it and I was very interested in going, for the fact I would not be able to once in college. So we continued to talk about me going. Fortunately, he was planning on going on the trip, which was good because I would not turn 18, until during the trip. I know! I'm excited! So I started to pray about going, and my dad and mom said that I could either go on the Senior Trip to Disney or to Senegal, not both. So in a heartbeat I said Senegal! Anyway, we just went to Disney last summer. Good timing. Well thats how all this came about. I am very excited for this trip and the opportunity to mission to other people. And it will be my first trip out of the country. Not really, I went to Bermuda, but that doesn't count. So I will continue to blog about the trip and the planning and all other things in between as they come.

"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' " (Matthew 28:18-20)