Hope

I need Hope tonight. I woke up this morning in Haiti, and as I crawl in bed at home after a long day of traveling, my heart aches. I am physically, emotionally, and spiritually worn out. Tears are falling on my keyboard as I am weeping from the deepest places in my soul. I can't get the faces of the lost, the sick and the lame of Haiti out of my head. I need Hope that God loves them more than I ever could. I need Hope that there is a time when we will all walk free from the struggles and the pain we have here on Earth. I need Hope beyond anything this world can offer me. His name is Jesus, He is my Hope.


"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, for I have overcome the world." - Jesus, John 16:33

Quick Haiti update

Just wanted to give a quick update and let y'all know that we made it safely! We have had two great days visiting orphanages, compassion international and other ministries here. We are all healthy and excited for the rest of our time here. Haiti is crazy. Awesome, sad, beautiful, desolate and hopeful all at the same time. Thanks for your prayers, and please keep praying! Can't wait to share more, God is definitely working on my heart. Love y'all!

Haiti Prayers

"There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men.
There is no greater contribution than to help the weak.
There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well."
- Walter Reuther

Tomorrow is the day!!! We will be leaving Austin at 5:15 a.m. on our way down to Haiti. We will stop in Houston, then Miami and will arrive in Port au Prince around 3 p.m. I am so excited for this trip and can NOT wait to see what God has in store for me and the rest of the team. Here are a few things I would love for you to pray about while we are there:

- Safety during travel and protection from illness
- That our hearts and minds would be open to what God has to teach us
- We would be protected from evil, and the ways that Satan will attempt to distract
- That lives would be changed, ours and lives in Haiti
- That I would not be the same as I am before this trip
- That lives would be changed here in the States because of what we experience there

We will be updating the Austin Stone Make Disciples blog while we are there so be sure and check it out.

Also, if I get a chance I will be updating my personal blog, but if not while I am there, I will when we get back so be sure and check back!

We will be returning next Friday the 20th around 9:30 p.m. Thanks so much for your prayers! I can't wait to share how my life is changed!

Love y'all,
Caroline

Birthday Weekend

I had a fantastic 22nd Birthday, filled with the most dessert I have ever consumed in my life! It was on Friday, but let's be honest, it stretched out over the whole weekend. It started Thursday night when my friend Priscilla had a party called "When I dip, you dip, we dip." Everyone brought different kinds of dips and yes we listened to that song multiple times. My sweet nursing friends (not friends who are breast feeding, but friends who are in nursing school with me) surprised me with a yummy red velvet cake!



On Friday, I had a lazy morning and caught up on the American Idol wildcard round (love me some Anoop dawg). Then my mom came in town and we went to lunch. It was a beautiful day, and since we had the dogs we went to Freddie's so we could sit outside. The pups behaved themselves so well! Have I ever told you that I think my dogs are the cutest things I have ever seen???



My mom also brought me a cake from a NW Houston favorite, RJ Goodies. A little slice of heaven. No joke. I believe there will be RJ Goodies in heaven. Like when you take a bite, everything in you is praising Jesus. Seriously.



The Fontenots sent me a hilarious cookie cake, that can't exactly be pictured here, but much thanks to Christina for being the one to pick it up. Friday night we went to Guero's on South Congress for some good ol' TEX-MEX and ritas. It was so fun and I am glad I got to spend time with some sweet friends that I usually don't get to see.





My whole house was empty so I slept so well, and was actually able to sleep in Saturday morning for the first time in a long time. That afternoon Christina, my cousins Lar Lar and Dede, Lar Lar's bf Damon and I went to Mandola's Winery for dinner and it was fabulous! It is out in the beautiful Hill Country and is a gorgeous setting for a yummy Italian dinner.





Sunday morning my parents drove in from the lake and came to church for a send-off prayer service for the Haiti trip, along with my cousins and other friends. It was so great to have y'all pray for us! We went to brunch downtown at Taverna, a place I have been wanting to try for a long time. It is in the 2nd street district and we got to sit outside so I almost felt like I was in Europe. I will definitely be going back to say the least.



Church was phenomenal last night. I am so thankful to go to a church where I am challenged beyond belief each week. I never walk out the doors the same as I walked in.

Ok this is getting long, so I'll stop here. This week is going to be crazy because I have lots going on with school and I leave for Haiti in 4 days!!!!!!

Love y'all

The Beach is Back!

March 1 is a glorious day. It is glorious because it is the day that Sno Beach opens for the season. Sno Beach is hands down the best snow cone stand I have ever been to. It is a local favorite, and if you have never been, remind me to take you!

Today was a gorgeous 75 degree day in Austin, Texas so I did two of my favorite things: walked Town Lake and went to Sno Beach with Christina. I got my usual strawberry daquiri/banana and she got her usual strawberry/wedding cake with cream. In the words of Christina "there are just some things worth waiting for."



It was really windy, but here we are enjoying our treats :)

Your Kingdom Come

I went to First Tuesday tonight for the first time, and it was phenomenal. First Tuesday is a prayer and worship service held at the beginning of each month by my church, ASCC. God is seriously doing great things in the body, and in the city of Austin. I am so grateful to be a part of it. If I leave Austin, church is going to be a HUGE adjustment for me.

Tonight we sang Let Your Kingdom come. I love these lyrics...





Your Kingdom here and now
to the least of these
distribute what we have
that all may taste and see

Let Your Kingdom come
Let Your will be done
and all the earth will say
and echo angels' praise
that You are God

I want give away all that God has given me so that all may taste and see the hope I know in Jesus. One day, all the earth will sing His praises along with the angels. God gave me a tiny, sweet glimpse of that tonight...

Long time no blog

It's been way too long friends. I have been insanely busy with life, and this blog has fallen by the wayside. But don't worry, I'm back! and I commit to do better than this. Where do I begin?

Haiti. I am leaving in 13 days!!! So crazy. I am so incredibly excited and anxious at the same time. I feel like I haven't spent enough time letting God prepare my heart, but I am thankful that He so often calls the unequipped. I will be faithful and show up where He calls. Haven't got an exact update, but I believe my family and friends have met the financial needs to send me on this trip, and for that I am so very thankful! I posted earlier about some needs they have at the Rescue Center, and we have gathered a lot of this things, but if you still want to help out, we would love to take more.

Job search. Still knee deep in the process, and in some ways feel like I am starting over. I went for the interview I mentioned before, it went really well, but not sure it is going to work out the way I had hoped. I am sorely disappointed but on the other hand feel so much peace about it. I am constantly being reminded that when I am walking in God's will, the only reason my plans would not work out is because God has more for me than I could plan for myself. Isn't that pretty cool? I have sensed God whispering Caroline, just wait until you see what I have in store for you. Sometimes, the path is the best part. Praying for guidance and wisdom.

"The heart of a man plans his way; but the Lord establishes his steps."
Prov 16:9


Escuela. I have 4 weeks of class left. What??? Yes, I am still trying to convince myself. This semester has absolutely flown by! I am not loving school right now, and it's definitely taking a toll. But I can do anything for 4 more weeks right? Then my internship will start. I don't know where I'll be working (possibly out of town) or in what clinical area so that is for sure another prayer need. Again, I am sensing God's peace, and that He knows better than me what I need.

Summer. It looks like I am going to be taking the NCLEX (nursing boards) the first week of June. Don't feel bad for me because a week after, you can find me here with a great book and fruity drink in hand.



We'll see what the rest of the summer holds...

I am going to stop for now, though I have much more to share. It's going to be a good week (I turn 22!) so check back friends.

Love y'all