My First Post!

Welcome to my first post! I've always wanted to start a blog and what better time to start than finding out I will be heading to Uppsala, Sweden this summer on Summer Project with Campus Crusade for Christ. Excited does not even begin to describe it. Sweden is something I have been praying about since last summer. I knew that I wanted to go on a summer project, but I just didn't know where I wanted to go. Should I go state-side and if so where? Santa Cruz? Daytona Beach? What about international? Argentina? East Asia? I really began to develop a heart for Europe, so I decided to check out what Summer Projects were offered in Europe. I've always wanted to go to Greece (especially after seeing Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). If I went to France I could finally use the french classes I took in high school. Then I looked at Sweden. Something just stood out to me about it. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go so I began to pray. France? Greece? Sweden? I kept coming back to Sweden, so I applied.

At Winter Conference this year I attended the breakout for Sweden Summer Project. After hearing about past summer projects and learning about the culture, I knew I had made the right choice applying to Sweden and my excitement begin to rise.

Yesterday, I finally got the call that I have been waiting on for months! Jen had called me to tell me that I had been accepted to travel to Uppsala, Sweden for Summer Project! It was great to finally have confirmation that I was for sure heading there this summer. The first person I wanted to know was Aaron, a friend of mine who is currently on STINT in Uppsala, so I shot him an email from my Ipod on the way to class! I then waited to hear from Sam, who also applied to Sweden, and he got accepted as well!

I would be lying if I said I didn't have any concerns about going on Summer Project. For starters, I've never traveled further than Florida (I just applied for my passport last week), and I'll be traveling without my family. Then there is the whole idea of raising my own support. This excites and scares me all at the same time. I am definately trusting in the Lord to provide the finances neccessary to go to Sweden this summer. Jen made a great point by saying that when I get to Sweden, it isn't just me that is there, everyone that is supporting me, both financially and prayerfully, steps off the plane with me.

What have I gotten myself into? I'm going to spend seven weeks in another country sharing my faith with strangers. I know that the Lord will be with me every step of the way. He will provide the means for me to get there and the words for me to speak while I am in Sweden.

I am so excited about being able to live in a completely different culture for seven weeks. I am looking forward to all the amazing friendships that I am sure to develop while on project. But mostly, I am looking forward to the growth that I'm going to experience while I am solely relying on the Lord in Uppsala, Sweden.

The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." -Exodus 4:11-12