A Page From My Journal

In Bolivia, I journaled every day to help myself process the experience. And as I re-read some of my entries, I feel as if I need to bear my soul a bit and share a couple of entries I wrote.

6/30/14

 I’ve been thinking a lot today about what to take away from my experiences with the Ayoré, and this Global Project. How am I becoming more like Christ? It’s definitely hard to be uncomfortable. It’s hard to sit with the girls and know they’re “making fun of me.” It’s hard working with a people group that are stuck in a cycle of injustice, but God’s transformational power hasn’t yet transformed their communities. It would be so much easier to stay in my comfortable home, with people I understand and love, and without having to get up super early or take cold showers or eat strange things or share my space with strangers. It would be easier…but is that living? Is that what Jesus called me to? I see women like Sandra, Mirtha, Cali, Toni, and so many more, who have sacrificed so much for the sake of the gospel. Who am I to give any less than them?

7/2/14

 I was thinking tonight about what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. To serve, and wash feet, and live sacrificially, and love unconditionally. It’s a hard call. And the thing is, it’s not something you ‘sign up’ for. Signing your X on the line doesn’t automatically put you in line for heaven’s gates. Choosing to follow Jesus means sacrificing everything, giving your very life, for the sake of the One who is the only thing worth living, and losing everything, for. ‘Signing up’ doesn’t guarantee an easy life. In fact, choosing to follow Jesus means there is no way to prepare for the good or bad to come. But we put our faith in the One who created everything, and we know that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and He has a purpose for us that will give us so much more fulfillment than our own selfish desires ever could.

Please don't misinterpret what I mean: I don't believe in a works-based faith. But I do believe that the love and grace Christ offers me, and in light of the sacrifice He made for me by dying on a cross to pay the penalty for my sins, should compel me to serve Him wholeheartedly. It stems from His love for me, and me learning how to love like He does.

Matthew 16:25-26 "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

-Jim Elliot

Home Sweet Home

I can not believe that one week ago today I boarded a plane in Bolivia and made my way back to the States! I feel like I've packed in a summer's worth of adventures in the past week alone, not to mention all of the adventures I had the previous three weeks in Bolivia!

From Bolivia to Miami, and from Miami to Baltimore. I sat by a sweet older couple, and when I told the woman that I was just coming back from a mission's trip in Bolivia, she hit her husband and said, "Listen to this! She was just on a mission's trip in Bolivia!" Then she turned to me and continued, "Now, tell us again!" So sweet.

In Maryland I got to take part in this girl's wedding! So blessed that I was able to share in such a special day with Jesse and Kelly Burgin!

But the wedding was just the beginning of my long, drawn out adventure to get home. I was dropped off at the Baltimore Airport at 10:45pm to spend the night - the beauty of having a flight scheduled for 6:40 the following morning. I felt like I was trapped in a bad comedy, because NO ONE was at any of the airline luggage check-in desks. I was finally in a place where I could more easily communicate with people, but no one was around to pose my questions to. I felt like a lost puppy. I eventually tucked myself in a back hallway I discovered with some chairs, propped my luggage and backpack around me, and tried to get some sleep. I'm lucky if I got a full half hour. I read my book off and on. This would be an experience to remember, for sure, and laugh about one day. Airport security and cleaning crew persons made their rounds, and I felt their awkward stares every time they passed. Finally, around 4:30am I went to check on the status of luggage check-in. What do ya know, people were there! I was in a functional airport! I checked my baggage, went through security, found my gate, grabbed a cup of coffee, munched on a granola bar, and did my devotion as I waited for my flight. At 6:10am I boarded my plane, eagerly awaiting my 6:40 departure and the promise of seeing my family.

But, due to the adventurous and unexpected nature of my travels, this was not to be. 6:40 rolled around, and the pilot came over the speakers to inform us that there was a problem with the air system in the cockpit and they'd have to reset it. A maintenance issue that could take up to an hour. I tried not to panic. Everyone on the plane was getting antsy and was clearly frustrated. I prayed over the plane, and for the mechanics, and for peace for the travelers. I joked around with the couple sitting next to me, although I'm not sure I made much sense on the little amount of sleep I had.

Finally, at 8:10, our plane took off. Our pilot estimated a 50 minute flight. My connecting flight in Charlotte was scheduled for 9:40. Perfect! No need to worry. We'd be there in plenty of time. We landed about 9:05, and I breathed easier. Until we taxied. And taxied. And then we were informed that they didn't have a gate for us. The minutes ticked by. Every passenger with a connecting flight got more anxious. I tried to keep a level head, although I was ready to volunteer to run across the tarmac. "I'm just trying to get to Indy to say goodbye to my brother!" I wanted to shout to the airline, or whoever would listen. He was preparing to leave for Hawaii to be stationed there for the next four years in the Navy. I had a very short window of opportunity to make it to Indy to see him for the first time in almost a year. Panic was rising.

At 9:35, we pulled into a gate. The couple sitting next to me plotted, "All right, he's going to grab your bag for you, and then we'll block the aisle for you so you can run." Sitting in the fifth row came in handy then. Seatbelt sign went off, and everyone made a mad dash for their bags. I got my bag, and then the couple shouted, "Go!" I hurried off the plane into the long hallway. A gentleman pulling his luggage in front of me stepped to the side and yelled, "Run!" I did. My next gate was two away from the gate I was exiting, so I rushed to my next gate. The operator looked up at me and said, "The flight already left." It was 9:38. I was in shock. I fought to hold back tears as the lady at the desk printed me a new ticket for the 11:30 flight to Indy. And then I went to the bathroom. And yes, I cried. I wish I could say I laughed it off, and composed myself like a well put-together young lady who's used to things not going her way when it comes to travel. I did not. I texted my family of my flight change, and then put my phone away. I couldn't accept or handle pity, or sympathy, or encouragement. I was exhausted, and sick, and I had missed my flight. I thought of James 1:2 that told me to "consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds."

I did not consider this pure joy.

I eventually pulled myself together, found my next gate, read my book, fought back more tears, rested my eyes, listened to music on my iPod, and chatted with God. I was not feeling very lovable in that moment.

After all of that, everything else went off without a hitch. I arrived in Indianapolis at 1:10 and went to collect my bag at baggage claim. My family was coming to meet me at the airport for lunch, before we'd all head our separate ways. I had made it, but just barely. As I was waiting for my bag, I saw my brother across the way. I called out, "Caleb!" He came over to greet me. I grabbed my bag off the carousel, and he asked, "You ready to grab some lunch?" I shook my head...and lost it again. I was so happy to see him, but I was so overwhelmed. It was quite the long and exhausting journey to make it there. He hugged me, and I choked back tears. I pulled myself together, and we went to see the rest of my family. More tears. But I had made it! Lunch went by too quickly, as time often does, and we all said our goodbyes.

The next day my dad and I visited the Creation Museum, and then it was a long drive back to Wisconsin. But I rolled into our driveway at 10pm Monday night. My adventurous three weeks was coming to a close!

It feels good to be home. I'm adjusting better to home life and the culture here in the US better this year. But I haven't had too much time to process my experience in Bolivia yet. I know this trip changed me - I just haven't quite put my finger on how yet. But I don't want to be the same Cora I was before I left almost four weeks ago. God did big things, and He worked in small changes in my life too.

Stay tuned as I process those things. I'm working on a post-trip debrief letter. It's hard to boil down three weeks of experiences into a clear and concise letter. But I'm ever so grateful for the support I had on my trip down there, and I want to be able to communicate my experience!

God's People, Our Mission

The days are long, but the week is short.

I knew this going into the Ayoré camp: expect the unexpected, but trust that ultimately God has everything under control. It's not easy to rise before the sun and go to bed long after it sets, and rally your energy for every waking moment to encourage and stir up excitement in those around you. But it's definitely worth it.

The week had its challenges, to be sure. Our toilet broke our second day there. The girls almost killed a bird. Some girls from one of the communities broke into the room of one of the other communities and knocked some of the mattresses off the bunks. 12 of the girls were picked up half way through the week when a community leader came to deal with some girls that were being disruptive.

But God redeems brokenness. The four girls that were being disruptive were not taken back with the rest of their community. One of the girls, Bebeli, went and apologized to Sandra for her behavior. Sandra shared that in her 10 years working with the Ayoré, this is the first time she has received an apology.

I was blessed with Glaribel, one of the older Ayoré girls in my group who took me under her wing, helping me build closer relationships with the others, gave me grace with my Spanish, and put the other girls in line in our Bible story times. She was eager to interact with the Bible stories, partake in the worship times and go above and beyond in the dramas each night.

But perhaps my most exciting and encouraging part of the week was witnessing the change in this girl, Monica. She was also in my group last year, and I remembered her for a couple of reasons: one, she hated having to sit still and be a part of my small group and liked to run off, and two, she stuck her spoon in my food. She was one of the wilder girls. But this year, I got to witness God's transforming power in her life. She loved Bible story time and wanted to interact with the stories and help me tell them through drama. She wanted to sing the worship songs over and over again. She threw her arms around me in a hug during games one day, and another morning she looked up at me and told me I was pretty. She helped me with the names of the other girls. There was such joy on her face during her time at the camp - she made me excited to be up in the morning.

These camps are making a difference in these girls' lives. The gospel is being preached. God is at work. During this past week, the girls got to be just that: girls. They weren't looked at as an oppressed people group, or judged as prostitutes. God's love was lavished upon them by dedicated volunteers and Ayoré women. 

Although the Ayoré are a small people group, and many people will never hear their name mentioned or hear their language uttered, this last week I had the privilege of worshiping God with them. And as we worshipped God in ayoreo, Spanish, English, and other languages, I got a foretaste of what it will be like in Heaven, where every nation, tribe, and tongue will be represented. And I got to worship with these girls and women on this side of heaven. How amazing is that?!

I sang 'Hakuna Mungu' and 'Do You Love Your Jesus' more times than I can count, and my voice is hoarse from shouting 'Equipo Verde' and 'grupos pequeños' a gazillion times...but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. How awesome to wake up every morning with a purpose, and to be a part of God's redemptive work among the Ayoré. Because I truly believe that the girls going through these camps and learning the truth of God's Word are the generation that are going to play a role in transforming and redeeming their culture and communities.

Thank you so much for your prayers this past week. They were definitely felt! But please join with me in continuing to pray for the Ayoré, that God would build His Kingdom among them. That they wouldn't become more like us, but that they would become more like Jesus.

It's hard to say goodbye. These girls have captured my heart. It's hard to minister cross-culturally. It takes sacrifice. But I look at the inspirational people I've served alongside of, and I see Jesus in them. And I know I have no right to give any less than them.

So how do I sum up this last week? There were moments where my heart was so full I could burst, and others where I was incredibly discouraged. But God was there each and every moment, and where I am weak, He is strong. Every face has a name, and every name has a story. And God cares about each one. This last week, my story got to intertwine with theirs. And I am so incredibly blessed.

Blessings in Bolivia

Saludos de Bolivia! It's been almost a week, and it is such a joy to be back. My team has been packing our days with cross cultural training, prep for the Ayore camp next week, exploring Santa Cruz, and learning and performing a skit at the university with CCU (Comunidad Cristiana Universitaria). The days are long, but the week has flown by!

Today, we assisted a church in hosting their Bible school for kids in their community. I saw Pablo, my Bolivian brother in Christ, teach our group of kids the good news of Jesus and the importance of sharing God's word. Afterwards we performed our skit for them, and then gave out balloons and blew bubbles with them. So much fun! And so neat to witness the truth of God being taught in another part of the world!

Tomorrow we head out to the Ayore camp! I would really appreciate your prayers - a lot of spiritual warfare surrounds the work South America Mission and our Global Projet teams have done putting on these camps for the girls. But I'm so blessed to be a part of this again this year, and I'm excited to see familiar faces! We visited an Ayore community this morning, and one of the girls who is 15 and went through the camps and was recently married said that because of the camps and learning about Jesus, she has chosen a different path. And other girls in that community have made the decision to wait until they are 15 to get married. (Getting married very young is incredibly common among the Ayore.) So exciting to know that the work being done with the Ayore for God's glory is making an impact!

Life is such an adventure. And I am so blessed that my adventure brought me here.

(A picture from last year's campamento)

My Letter From Bolivia

First of all, Happy Father's Day!

Second of all, one week from today I'll be getting on a plane to fly to Bolivia!

Last summer I had the awesome opportunity and privilege to be part of an InterVarsity Global Project to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where my team and I served in a variety of ways, one being helping South America Mission host a week-long camp for Ayore girls at risk of being trafficked or pressured into prostitution.

During our time in Bolivia, our project directors had us write a letter to ourselves that they would send to us in six months. In January, I received that letter, and to be honest, I had forgotten I had written it! And I was surprised, and encouraged, by what I read. Now, it may sound odd to you to think of writing a letter to yourself. And I'll admit, when I was writing it, it did feel...strange. How do you keep a letter like that from sounding cheesy, especially when you're from Wisconsin, where cheese practically runs in your veins?

I will say this: six months post-Bolivia, those words I had penned were exactly what I needed to hear. Words of encouragement for the person I was becoming. Reminders of the friends I had made in Bolivia. Exhorting myself to seek after God, and fall deeper in love with Him and His Word. To stand up for the oppressed, and to remember the power of prayer.

In my letter, I wrote, "Are you planning on going back to Bolivia? I hope you are."

Well, past-self, I think you'd be proud of me. Because I am indeed returning to Bolivia! And I couldn't be more excited and blessed.

I'm excited,

to be a part of God's global mission. To partner with some of the most inspiring and courageous and self-sacrificial people I have ever met. To see friends and brothers- and sisters-in-Christ. To serve in ways that force me to step outside of my comfort zone.

And I'm blessed,

to see what God has done in this past year. To continue building relationships in another part of the world. To give of the gifts God has given me to bless others. To learn and experience new things. To be surrounded by those who have partnered with me financially and through prayer to get me there. And to return to the place that captured my heart.

Please join in praying with me for the ministries we will be partnering with: GATHER, CCU, and SAM. Pray for safe travels and health for my team. Pray for the Ayore girls, and that chains would be broken as they experience the love of Christ, and the victory found in Him. And pray that God would strengthen His church, as we work to build His Kingdom here.

Bolivia, mi amor...

I'm coming home!

The Little Things

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and today, I'm going to let them do most of the talking.

Yesterday, after almost 17 years, we had to put our beloved dog Toby to sleep. I guess I always thought that he would somehow live forever - reality is a crushing thing.

This is when I first set eyes on Toby.

Together, we grew from this...

...to this.

Toby was the best dog our family could have asked for. 

He was a feisty rascal sometimes, to be sure. He was a professional escape artist, and enjoyed gallivanting through the streets of Burlington unattended. His bark could go on for hours without growing hoarse, and he turned into an acrobat that could perform amazing feats in order to reach food that seemed just out of reach.

But one look into his puppy-dog eyes, and he made your heart melt.

I don't remember what life was like without Toby. We grew up together, and he's seen me through so many major (and minor) life events and changes. He's been my main man, my partner in crime, my snuggle buddy, my greeting committee, and best friend.

And it hurts to finally have to say goodbye.

RIP, Toby. Thanks for the memories. Love you always.

"Sometimes," said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

My Year in Review

What an adventure 2013 was!

But since it kicked off at Urbana, I guess I shouldn't have expected any less.

This year has been full of joy, challenges, heartbreak, wonder, responsibility, and so much more. And though I very often fall short, I am striving to grow in my relationship with God and become the young woman He wants me to be.

So, in honor of New Year's, here's a look back on my adventures of 2013:

• I went to Urbana
• Two of my siblings got married
• I declared my major (and minor!)
• I got my wisdom teeth out
• I traveled out of the country for the first time
• I fell in love with Bolivia and the awesome family I have there (my brothers and sisters in Christ!)
• I got to fulfill my dream of being a princess
• I made my first 911 phone call
• I learned what it feels like to burn out and how rest is necessary in order to be a world changer (#Radical...)
• I turned 21
• I found out I'm going to be an aunt!

A year ago today, I did not see any of this coming. And of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg - 2013 was filled with adventures and life lessons up the wazoo. I made so many wonderful new friendships, and strengthened old ones. I rejoiced in successes, and endured failures. I laughed. I cried.

This year flew by. I have no idea where the last four months went. But here I am, all the same. And though I have no idea what 2014 has in store, I'm excited to see what God is going to do in me, through me, and in the lives of those around me. I'm excited for the adventures I'm going to have and the opportunities that await.

New Year's Resolutions, you ask?

Well, I'd like to take more risks, I guess. I want to become better at failing, so I can learn from those experiences and not let them defeat me. 

I want to be intentional in my relationships.

And I guess one of the biggest things I want to commit to this year is resting in God. I want to change the world, but in order to do so, I have to be plugged into Him and allow Him to fill me with the strength I need.

So bring it, 2014. I may not be entirely ready for you, but I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

Go team.

Fragile

via

As class ended today, my professor paused.

"I wanted to wait until the end of class to tell you all this. 

One of your classmates died."

I wasn't planning on blogging about anything else before I was able to write a debrief on my experience in Bolivia. But I couldn't ignore the need to write about this.

I didn't really know the guy. The most interaction I had with him was probably last Thursday, when a couple of us were joking with each other in the back row. I only found out his name today.

But I know that he had friends and family outside of that classroom that did know him. Right now, they're experiencing the shock and grief of a young life ended too soon. And I'm reminded of when I was in 8th grade and I found out that two of my classmates died in a car accident.

Life is fragile. Time and chance happen to us all. But I know I'm guilty of believing that I'm invincible. It's times like this that remind me that I'm not - life is short.

I may not have known this student, but his presence will be missed in our class, because we're cursed with the knowledge that he will never have the opportunity to join us again. His empty seat will be our reminder.

And it makes me wonder: what's the point of it all? As students, we study hard so that when we graduate we can go off into the world and makes tons of money. We fight to fit in a social life and have a great time with friends, or devote time to our families. We work one or two jobs to pay for as much school as we can so we don't have as much debt to pay back. We manage to fit sleep in there somewhere.

And in there, quite often, we miss out on a lot of joy because we're so stressed out. What are we really living for? Ourselves?

I don't know if this guy knew Jesus. I don't know if there was anyone in his life to share the gospel with him. But it makes me wonder, is what I'm doing on this campus making a difference? When people see me, do they see Jesus? Am I sharing that hope with people? Because there are people who are lost and in need of a Savior. And death doesn't always wait for us to be ready.

I'm still processing the whole situation, so I apologize if this doesn't make sense. But here are a couple questions that I'm asking myself, and maybe you might want to ponder over them too.

What am I living for?

And is it worth dying for?

Viviendo una Vida en Victoria con Dios

Hello again! I hope this finds you well. It's been a week since we've returned from the campamento with the Ayoré girls, and I wanted to make sure I blogged about it before leaving Bolivia. (I can't believe this trip is almost over!)

Last Sunday, the start of the camp, I wasn't able to go out with the other girls on our team because I came down with a fever and nausea. So myself and my teammate Katie stayed back because we were both sick, and went out the following day instead. Feeling sick is never fun, but I felt especially useless since I'm on a missions trip.

The week at the camp was full of ups and downs, trials and fun adventures. It was definitely one of the most challenging experiences of my entire life. I took turns teaching Bible stories in Spanish to my small group, which happened to be all of the new girls to the camp. I struggled to lead with my limited Spanish skills, and relied heavily on my coleader Tamara, one of my new Bolivian friends. She was an incredible blessing throughout the entire week. It was awesome to see the change in the girls as the week progressed. A few times during the small group sessions there were some girls who didn't seem to be paying attention at all. But then they'd surprise me by answering the questions at the end of the story.

My team also got to lead worship multiple times throughout the week, and though they were the same songs over and over, I absolutely loved worshiping in multiple languages with these girls. And seeing the girls get excited about the songs was really encouraging.

The week was filled with morning devotions, meal times, cleaning, playing on the playground and playing soccer and volleyball, crafts, Bible stories, worship, nightly reenactments of the Bible stories they were learning, and so much more. I was able to see firsthand why it can be difficult to work with the Ayoré, but I was also able to see how learning about God and His love was putting hope into their eyes. The theme for the camp was "Living a Life in Victory with God." And for this people group, who are considered the lowest of the low in Bolivia, and for these girls who are basically told that they're not worth anything, this theme spoke volumes. These girls are surrounded by pressure to become involved in prostitution and drugs, but we were able to share with them God's love and how He created them and they are valuable and precious to Him.

The last night, we had a dinner for the girls where instead of lining up to get food, we served them while they were seated. That morning Sandra, a doctor who has invested an incredible amount into the Ayoré girls, told the girls that they were daughters of the King, which made them princesses. So she told them to put on their nicest clothes they had brought and to come prepared to be served. And it was amazing to see the difference in the way the girls carried themselves at dinner. They took great care in properly using their forks and knives. They served each other soda. They had such a bright light in their eyes, it brought me to tears. For some of these girls, it was the first time they had been told and shown that they were valuable, beautiful, and loved. I also got to take part in a drama where a girl gets her heart broken by a series of guys (it gets torn into a bunch of pieces by the last guy), but at the end finds that Jesus loved her so much that He died for her, and He gives her a new heart. I hope it had a positive impact on the girls! That night, one of the young girls also accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior after an encounter with an evil spirit. I wish I could think of a better way to explain what happened, but the best I can do is to say that spirits are very real to the Ayoré. And after this girl experienced what she did, the leaders of the camp sat down with her, explained to her the plan of salvation, and she accepted Jesus. It's an awesome story, so if you'd like to hear it, please ask me about it when I return!

It was hard to say goodbye. As challenging as the week was, it was so fun being surrounded by the girls, loving on them and teaching them about Jesus. It was an incredibly humbling week. Many times, I felt completely useless with my broken Spanish. Spanish isn't the girls' first language either, so communicating was difficult for me sometimes. And other times I wondered if the little bit I was doing really made much of a difference. But looking back on the week, and from encouragement from others on the team who have been here before, what we did was significant, whether I thought so at the time or not. The fact that we came and spent a week with the girls, playing games, singing songs, and teaching Bible stories, shows the girls that they are special, that they are important enough for a team of Americans to come and invest time and money into. Thank you so much to everyone who made this trip possible, through all of your prayer and financial support. By extension, you're extending your love towards these girls too!

We went out and visited another community yesterday, and it was hard to witness their living conditions once again. Close quarters, trash littered all over the ground, stagnant water. And afterwards we saw two girls on the corner who were prostituting themselves, one of them sniffing glue to get high. Absolutely heartbreaking. I found myself asking, why was I born into privilege, and these girls born into this? Our situations in life could have been so easily reversed. Still trying to make sense of it all, and I don't know that I ever will. But I do know that I have a responsibility to the Ayoré now. To pray for them, to tell their story, and hopefully return to work with them again.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity that I had to come to Bolivia. I've fallen in love with this country, with the people here, and the work that God is doing. I am blessed beyond belief. I'm sad that the trip is coming to an end, but I know this isn't the end. It's the beginning of another adventure, for the chance to use what I've learned so far, and to continue to grow in my faith as I encourage others to do the same. Though the direct impact I may have had in Bolivia during my three weeks here may have been small, the impact it had on me is huge. When I get home and am able to process about my experience in Bolivia, I'll be sure to keep you informed with another update. Until then, Dios te bendiga! Ciao!

Experience of a Lifetime

Here I am in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, checking in!

"It's in South America. It's like America....but south!" (Thanks to Up for that quote.)

I am so blessed to have made it here. I've had a week full of adventures, from struggling to communicate in Spanish everyday, to visiting the impoverished Ayoré communities, to trekking around the city on a scavenger hunt, to walking around the university campus with CCU students collecting prayer requests and inviting students to their weekly meetings, and so much more. I wish I had time to get into more details, but hopefully I'll give a fuller debrief after I return to the US.

Now we're prepping for the Ayoré camp that's going to run from tomorrow, Sunday, to next Saturday. The purpose of this camp is to share with the girls about God's love, and to let them know they are valued by Him. These girls are trapped in a cycle of injustice, where prostitution can become a lifestyle they get sucked into in order to make money. This coming week we'll be telling the girls Bible stories in Spanish, worshiping in multiple languages, taking part in dramas, and I'm sure so much more that I don't even know about yet. Please be praying for myself and my team, that we will stay healthy (already a few members of the team have gotten sick), that we will be able to communicate effectively with the girls, that we'll have joy and energy, and for the Lord's protection against spiritual attacks.

The GATHER ministry is taking great care of us so far, and I've made some amazing friends. My team has had some great bonding experiences as well. God is doing a great work here, and I'm excited to be able to take part in it. God is also teaching me a lot about myself, and every day I am challenged with something new. Thank you all so much for your support. I can't say thank you enough! Please continue to keep myself and my team in your prayers! Hopefully I'll be able to post a picture after the camp. Stay tuned!

Dios te bendiga!

Oh, The Places I'll Go!

via

Oh my goodness, the day has finally arrived!

After six months of preparation and anticipation, today I leave for my Global Project in Bolivia! I cannot even begin to describe the emotion I'm feeling right now. Try mixing together excitement, nervousness, joy, and panic all into one. It's quite a complicated emotion.

So far, I've already had quite the experience in preparation for this trip: fundraising, trying to learn Bible stories in Spanish, cross-cultural ministry overview, and packing by candlelight when the power went out the other night. It's like the pre-adventure warm-up. And now, here I am, about to board my plane in a couple hours and say 'adios!' to the US for three weeks.

Thank you, everyone, for all of your amazing support through my entire journey. All of your love, prayers, encouraging words, financial support, gifts, and everything else in between - it honestly means the world to me, and has brought me to tears on more than one occasion. I couldn't do this without you. I am so incredibly blessed. I feel as if I don't deserve it. I am so excited to be able to share in this awesome mission experience with you!

I ask that you continue to pray for myself and my team, that God would ready our hearts and minds to engage the culture of Bolivia with Christ's love, and that we truly would have servant hearts. Some other prayer requests include:

• Health for the team
• Peace for my family (and friends) as I travel miles away from home
• My eyes became incredibly irritated this last week, possibly due to the overwearing of my contacts, so please pray for healing on that!
• For the hearts of the people we will be ministering to
• For safe travels and favor going through customs

I can't wait for what's in store in Bolivia. I know I'm going to return from this trip changed, with a new perspective on the world. I know God is going to use this time to draw me closer to Him and teach me how to rely on Him even more. I will try to blog at least once or twice while I'm down there (June 24th-July 15th), but other than that I will not be checking my email or able to use my phone. So, if something extraordinary happens in your life and you need to tell me right away...well, it's going to have to wait. My apologies. Send me an email, write me a letter, and I promise I'll read it when I return! But keep an eye peeled for more blog posts!

Muchas gracias! Dios te bendiga!

Bolivia or Bust!

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Phew! What a week!

This week has been very good practice if I end up going on staff with InterVarsity. Each morning I woke up, worked on e-mails and various things for Large Group planning for the UWW IV chapter this next year, and then worked on prep and fundraising for Bolivia, and also tried to catch up with friends. Cleaning the house fits in there somewhere as well. Oh, and babysitting.

Along with that, my sister got married last Saturday! So congratulations to Carolyn and Chris! It was a beautiful ceremony with perfect weather at 7:30am on the beach in Fontana. It was great to have the family all together! Prepping for that kept me busy last week - totally worth it!

But I digress. Thank you all so much to those of you who have donated to my Global Project! I would not be able to do this without your support - it means so much to me! So far, I've raised $1655. This is a huge jump from where I was last Sunday. Praise God! That puts me at a little over halfway to my goal of $3000. If you haven't donated but would like to, check out my previous blog post! Or if you want to talk with me more about my trip, I'd love to chat! It's been about the only thing I've been able to talk about for the past couple weeks. And be prepared - I'm sure I'm going to have a TON of stories to share when I get back!

All right. So, for my supporters in prayer out there, I do have some prayer requests! I leave next Sunday, which is coming up fast, and I still have a good amount to do. So, prayer requests are as follows:

• That my heart would be in the right place and I would have the right mindset leading up to and throughout my time in Bolivia
• For my Spanish skills to develop as I prepare to leave and while I'm in Bolivia
• For health and strength going into the trip, and for good health for myself and all of my team during our entire time in Bolivia
• For all of my financial support to come in before I leave
• That I would have motivation to get everything done at home that needs to get done before I leave
• That all the nitpicky (yet important) stuff that I ordered for the trip would come in time
• That God would calm my nerves (I've been told it's natural to feel nervous before a big trip like this...) and give me peace
• For peace for my family as I'm gone for 3 weeks with minimal contact

I'll be posting more prayer requests some time next week, so you can be praying over specifics while I'm out of the country! Thank you again - it really does mean a lot to me! I am so incredibly blessed by all of you who are supporting me.

I will get to blog at least once or twice while I'm in Bolivia, so keep your eyes peeled!

Until next time...

Dios te bendiga!

(God bless you!)

Prepping for Bolivia

Hello, there!

It's been a while. I hope you're doing well.

I just ended my Sophomore year, and I'm prepping for what looks like it's going to be a busy summer!

(My wisdom teeth are coming out tomorrow... Woo...)

At UW-Whitewater I am involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, an interdenominational ministry among college students. This past December I attended Urbana, a 5 day missions conference in St. Louis where people attended from over 100 different countries, and it challenged me to consider global missions. (I never did get around to blogging about how amazing my experience was!)

If you haven't already heard, I was accepted for a Global Project to Bolivia this summer with InterVarsity! My team will be responding to the issues of human trafficking, poverty, and racism in Bolivia with Christ's love and the message of the gospel. We will be working in and around Santa Cruz. During our time in Bolivia, we'll be building relationships with the Ayore people in the community, helping staff a Bible camp for girls at risk of entering the prostitution trade, and working with CCU (Comunidad Cristiana Universitaria), which is a sister movement to InterVarsity on college campuses in Bolivia. I'm excited to be a part of God's global mission, and also excited to see what He's going to do through our team during our time there. However, I also know that God will be doing a lot in me throughout this entire experience, as I grow in my faith and my understanding of cultural differences; I want to be able to take whatever I learn and bring it back to my campus, as I seek to glorify God and further His Kingdom.

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I'll be leaving June 23rd and returning home July 15th. As I prepare to leave, there's a lot to do! I would appreciate you partnering with me in prayer through this entire journey. As the trip gets closer, I'll post an update on specific prayer requests I have. Until then, if you could be praying that I am able raise the $3,000 to cover the cost of the trip. I know I am supposed to go to Bolivia this summer, and God is continuing to provide, and I am incredibly thankful. I'm trusting in Him to get me there!

If you would like to donate to my Global Project, you can go to donate.intervarsity.org/donate and type in my name (Cora Ebley), and click on my name when it pops up! I would greatly appreciate your support, prayer and/or financial! I need both to get me to Bolivia and back. Thank you so much to those of you have already donated, and thank you to those of you who are praying for me! I am so blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing group of people who love and support me.

I'll be sure to keep you posted as the trip draws closer. If you'd like to know more about my trip, I'd love to talk with you about it! Until then...

Adventure is out there!

God bless!

Oh, The Spontaneity Of Life

Well, today was a day of multiple firsts!

First of all, I dyed my hair for the first time! I've wanted dark brown hair for quite some time, and last night (well, technically very early this morning!) myself and six of my friends decided to have ourselves a hair dying party. It was a grand ol' time, and I really love how my hair turned out. It's only temporary, but I'm rather fond of it. It definitely was an exciting adventure, and may be the most spontaneous thing I've done since being in college!

Second of all, I locked my keys in my car for the first time as well. It was an airhead moment after church when we went to eat at Esker - after putting my keys in my purse, I decided that the only thing I needed from my purse was my Hawk Card. So I grabbed that, ditched the purse, and locked the car. I discovered my blunder just as I finished eating. Luckily, my car was on campus, so I was able to call the campus police and they came and got my car unlocked for me. That was quite the experience! Now I know just how difficult it is to get into my little Honda Civic without a key. Or breaking through the window. So that makes me feel better, at least. By the end of it, the campus service officer had quite the crowd cheering him on to unlock my car door. And I'm pretty sure he received the biggest round of applause he's had on the job after he got the door unlocked! So that's a plus, right? But I suppose locking my keys in the car had to happen eventually, so I can check that off the life lesson list and move it to the top of my To-Don't list.

In all, it was a very full day. 

Life is quite the adventure!

Very Big Day

It's official!

Today, I declared my major in Public Relations!

Now, some of you may know that this has been an incredibly long process. While preparing to head off for college, it seemed like all my friends knew exactly what they were going for and had a plan for how to get there. I felt like the odd man out, with no major, and an awkward laugh that followed everyone's question of, "So, what are you majoring in?"

And when you're a sophomore and still responding with that same awkward laugh, well, you start to feel like a hopeless case.

But that all changed today!

A friend asked how I came to settle on PR, and to be honest, I'm not quite sure. Which means God must have led me here. Three months ago I still had no idea what the future held for me. And though the distant future is still unclear (as it always is), I now have a direction to go, and it's such a relief! I feel a bit giddy.

Praise God for always being faithful. It's not always easy to trust in His perfect timing, but I know it will be worth it! Thank you all for your encouragement and support through all of this. And for all of the congratulations that have been pouring in! I feel so incredibly loved. I am blessed.

Why, you might ask, is there a picture of me reading a book to my stuffed animals around a fake fireplace?

To which I would respond...

Why not?

A Broken World

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It's not often that I blog. And when I do, I don't blog about national or global current events. It's easier to keep it strictly related to what's going on in my life. But today, I'm making an exception, because reading the stories coming from the Connecticut shooting and watching the news coverage is causing my heart to break. I cannot even imagine what those students, parents, teachers, friends and families are going through. I'm recalling memories of 8th grade when my own school faced the tragedy of two of my classmates dying in a car accident. The world may keep on turning, and although those not connected to the situation may stop for a moment or two to offer up a prayer or condolence, their lives quickly return back to the way they were, with routines and deadlines and everything in between. But for those directly affected by the tragedy, their worlds have come to a complete standstill, and sunny days have been replaced with stormy skies. 

I know it's not possible for me to fully grasp and understand the utter devastation that all those directly affected by this tragedy are facing, yet I can't help but try to put myself in the shoes of the students, and how terrified they must have felt when shots were ringing through the school, and even now as it sinks in that they'll never see certain friends again. Or the parents, after hearing that there were shots at their child's school, dropping everything to race to the scene, only to find that they are helpless to do anything except wait. These thoughts continue, and my eyes fill with tears as pain fills my heart.

Life is so fragile, and tragedies like this remind us of that. So often I take for granted the fact that I woke up that morning, or that I'm surrounded by family and friends who love and support me. All too suddenly, something like this can happen, and what then? The world is turned upside down. But the reminder that our time here on earth is limited also brings with it a sense of urgency to be spreading the gospel. This world needs Jesus, and it's never more evident than when evil such as this is so apparent. We are broken, and in need of a Savior.

But in the midst of all this, it's all too easy to blame God. In our heartbreak, we turn our tear filled eyes toward the heavens and cry, "Why? Why do innocent children have to die?" There is no simple answer to this. But I urge you not to allow this tragedy, this hurt, this evil to cause you to turn away from God, or point to this and say, "See? This is proof that God does not exist. A good, perfect, and loving God would not allow this to happen. He would not have allowed those children and teachers to die." The fact is, as a loving Father, God created us with free will, and we chose to disobey Him. We are the reason for sin in this world. God is the Supreme Good, and evil is the absence of good, just as dark is the absence of light. But the answer God provides for our suffering is not some abstract idea, since pain is not an abstract issue. The answer God provided was sending His own Son to experience this very same earth we do. To share in our struggles; to face rejection, grief, betrayal, and ultimately death on a cross as He bore the sins of the world. What we desire most when tragedy befalls us is not an explanation, but presence. That's why Jesus came as an infant, whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas. He lived, shared in our sufferings, was crucified on a cross in our place, and rose again, so that our relationship could be restored with the Father. No one understands our suffering better than God. Who are we to say that we could run this world better than God, or create our own earth where suffering does not exist? Because a world void of the potential of suffering is a world void of free will.

Years ago, my siblings and I sang this song at our church. As I reflected on the events of today, and of the approaching Christmas holiday, it came to mind, and I haven't been able to stop listening to it. I encourage you to give it a listen as well. It ties together our suffering, and how the world is desperately in need of Jesus, which is why He came down to earth. A good reminder this Christmas season. Our focus shouldn't be on the presents or commercialism, but on celebrating Jesus' birth and being thankful for our loved ones.

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

-C.S. Lewis

Always a Reason to be Thankful

Yes, I know, I'm a day late. I didn't intend to be, but yesterday was a bit rushed, between an early Thanksgiving meal with the family and then rushing to be to work by 2, and working til nearly midnight.

However, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the things that I am truly thankful for.

Being at Whitewater, where I've had so many incredible opportunities to grow and learn. And though I may have trouble remembering sometimes, I'm thankful for this crazy and challenging semester that often has me on the brink of insanity. It's pushed me to my breaking point, but I know now that I can and will survive, no matter how crazy life gets.

For my friends - old and new, near and far - who help me with homework, help me study, stay up with me to all hours of the night, make me encouraging posters, write me notes and stick them all over my stuff, send me encouraging texts and letters, give me hugs when I'm struggling to keep it together, make me laugh, share inside jokes with me, eat breakfast with me, pray with me and for me, offer a listening ear when I just need to talk, and challenge me to be the best that I can be. I am reminded again and again (and continue to be blown away by!) just how incredibly blessed I am with the amazing friends that I have. I honestly don't know what I would do without them.

Especially my roommate, who is absolutely the best!

As cliche as it may sound, I'm thankful for my family. They offer so much support to me through all the uncertainty of life, and all my crazy endeavors. I am blessed beyond belief to be surrounded by people who love me, because not everyone has that. And, of course, the family dog Toby, who is always excited to see me when I come home, and offers unconditional love.

I'm thankful for my jobs. I was incredibly blessed to be able to work at the Grand Cafe this summer, and build friendships with the people there. And it's an honor and a joy to be a Campus Assistant (tour guide!) at UW-Whitewater. It's not always easy, but it's always a lot of fun. It's not easy to find work these days, so I consider myself doubly blessed that not only was I able to find a job, but ones that I enjoy so much. And the vet clinic, which hopefully I'll be able to work at again soon, where I get to bestow my love for animals on willing recipients.

Being involved with InterVarsity is one of the things I'm most thankful for. I've learned so much from the individuals there. This year I'm an emcee, and being able to serve God and my chapter in that way has been phenomenal. I'm so excited for what this year is going to bring for the UWW IV chapter, and what God has already done. I am blessed to be a part of it!

And along with that, I am most thankful for God's mercy and grace, and the fact that He sent His Son to die for my sins. Every day brings new wonders, and I am constantly reminded of how much God loves me as He pours out His blessings on me, even though I don't deserve any of it.

To God be the glory.

And, last but not least, I'm thankful for the snow flurries today. I can't think of a more perfect way to start off the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

So, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Here's to exciting new adventures, and making many more memories to be thankful for!

Dream Career

Undecided is the most popular major for incoming freshmen at UW Whitewater.
(And I'm sure a lot of other universities.)

It's about that time where I need to sit down and seriously consider what I want to pursue as my career. Or major, at the very least.

I've already ruled out a few options. Such as math. Or computer science. Or engineering. That's a step in the right direction...

Right?

Oh, what the heck. Maybe I'll just interview to become a sled dog after all.

Birthday Boy

Birthdays are always an exciting thing.

Today is my brother Caleb's birthday. Though he may not look like this anymore (I've grown up quite a bit too!), I thought it'd be a nice throwback to the good ol' days of cardboard box forts and carefree living.

And Mickey Mouse sweat suits.

It's hard to grow up and see your siblings head off in different directions. And it was especially hard for me to let go of Caleb. Not only is he closest in age to me, but we've been through a lot together. But I can't wish for what we once had; I have to look forward to all of the memories we're going to make in the future.

I didn't get to see the birthday boy today. But if, by chance, you see him, wish him happy birthday, and tell him I miss him.

'Cause I do.

Happy Birthday, bro.

May this year be filled with exciting new adventures.

Back to School

Remember when you were little, and that feeling you got the day before you went back to school? Excited to see all of your friends again, but nervous too, because although you'd gone through the drill before, it was a brand new year with brand new adventures, fears, and possibilities.

Well, that's how I'm feeling today.

Time to start my Sophomore year at Whitewater, and although I'm incredibly excited for what this year is going to bring, I've also got some pre-school jitters. Not only do classes start tomorrow, but I also start my job as a Campus Assistant, and I give my first official tour! Time to put my 2 weeks of training to good use.

But, I'd be lying if I said the thought of tomorrow didn't send butterflies flitting around my stomach.

I'm also coming to find that I put way too many things off until the last minute. Like getting my textbooks, for example, or organizing my room, stringing up Christmas lights, and practicing giving a tour.

Did I mention that I'm still trying to change my class schedule? 

Procrastination, it's a killer.

So, here's to the last day of my amazing summer, and the start of what looks to be an amazing 2nd year at Whitewater.

God bless us, every one!