one book closes and yet another book opens

i carry your heart with me
by: e. e. cummings
i carry your heart with me
i carry it in my heart
i am never without it
anywhere i go you go,my dear;
and whatever is done by only me is your doing,
my darling
i fear no fate
for you are my fate,
my sweet i want no world
for beautiful you are my world,
my true and it's you are whatever a moon has always meantand whatever a sun will always sing is youhere is the deepest secret nobody knowshere is the root of the root and the bud of the budand the sky of the sky of a tree called life;
which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hideand this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart



Things here in Guadalajara have been winding down. With only 10 days left, I am begining to feel it all set in. I love it here. I love the people. I love my fellow "gringos" probably as much as i will ever love a group of people. living with people day in and day out, eating with them, sleeping in the same house as they do, spending all of your days together, having funny stores and inside jokes together, then leaving.... its just not natural. its not natural to allow people to enter your life and forever be embedded into your heart, then to be able to leave them behind, probably never to see them again.

Ive been crying since Saturday. Well, off and on. I think with the stress of finals, being so tired i think i am going to overdose on coffee, then attempting to walk away from these people that i love so dearly....its working on me. and so, i have yet to go a day without a full on cry. Each and every day i come up with a new "this is the last time..." This is the last time Ill go to church with Angela, this is the last week I will go to the office (even as much as I HATE going to the office two days a week), tomorrow is possibly the LAST time i will go to San Juan. They are all lasts.

And with lasts, comes first. I mean, soemthing has to happen after you say your lasts? Right? Even after one has their LAST breath, they will continue in eternity. Wherever that may be. So, why are LASTS so hard? Stinkin emotions. Anyways, if someone can answer that for me, I will be grateful. I hope to see all of these people again, my life will never be the same without them in it so some degree. Although we will never be here again, in this moment, in this city, all together like we have been since September, at least I hope to keep them around. Ive kinda gotten used to them!





"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart."-Anon

a new chapter...

¡Hola todos!

I apologize for my lack in update letters the last few months. Things have been crazy here. Between school, ministry, and spring break, its a lot different this semester than the last. Challenging, but nonetheless, fulfilling. The last 8 months have been amazing. Probably the best eight months of my entire life. I have seen God do amazing things in and through me. God has matured me, healed me, strengthened me, and taught me so much. Words can not describe how amazing this experience has been and how wonderful God has been to me.
On May 4 this chapter of my life will close. I will be leaving Guadalajara and returning to the states. I will be visiting with my family until May 24th, when I will be packing up a U-Haul and moving everything I own to Huntsville, Texas - home to Sam Houston State University. In July I will begin school at SHSU, studying photography. I am super excited about the path God is leading me down and without a doubt, I know he is leading me. I’m 24 years old. It’s about time that I finish college!

I visited SHSU at the end of March. That place has been an answer to my prayers. From me being welcomed with open arms by every single person I have met, to me finding roommates the first two days that I was there and falling in love with them. So many doors have been opened for me. From jobs, to encouragement, to confirmation, to guidance by people I already adore and respect.

Although I will miss Guadalajara and everyone in it more than words can describe, I know its time for me to move on. The next chapter in my life is about to begin. I’m so excited to see what God has in store and what’s to come! Please pray for me as I make these changes. That God will continue to open doors and that I will continue to know which ones to walk through! I thank each of you so much for all that you have given me. For all of the financial support as well as the prayers that have been lifted up for me each and every day. I could not have done it without you. Please continue to keep me in touch with me. I will still be away from home and I will still be a “missionary” to a campus of 16,000 college students.


Also, please continue to keep the ENGAGE program in your prayers. These students have accepted a huge challenge to minister to the city of Guadalajara, a city with more than 11 million people and only 2% of those people being evangelical Christians. These students have taken a huge step of faith by moving their entire lives here, and they are being stretched each and every day to new levels. God is also using them amazingly to reach this city like never before! A few things to pray about for them:

financial support- that people would continue to be faithful in their pledges and they would continue to be able to financially stay in Mexico

A new property- the leases are up on the two houses that the program rents currently. By the fall semester, they are hoping to have new housing hopefully with “dorm style” buildings. Pray for the finances of this situation, as well as wisdom for Steve and Amy as they make these decisions.

For the students- just as I said above, these students are away from home. Away from their families, and homesick. They are very courageous in what they do. I admire so many of them for the smiles they constantly have on their faces and the knowledge they posses because they know God has called them here and He is going to use them in mighty ways.

For the ministries- ENGAGE has begun some new ministries recently and is in the process of getting involved as well as starting some others. Pray that the right doors would be opened and that the leaders would know which ones to walk through and which ones to close.
Thank all of you for your prayers and support. God bless you and keep in touch!