Thrive As You

What a whirlwind week it has been and it's not even over yet! People have come, quite literally, out of the woodwork since my baptism -- telling me they have been praying for me all along.  People I barely know.  People I DON'T know! Humbled. People have been messaging me on facebook, sharing my blog, telling my story.  They have told me that my words inspire them.  That my story has touched them.  I've received emails from people I haven't heard from in years.  They are thanking me for sharing my story. Blessed. My wonderful friend Andy Rampulla , who happens to be Pastor Mark's dad, (and therefore, Marlee's grandfather) sent me all of the photos he took on Sunday.  I wanted to share this one since it was so critical to my story. Remember I said that Marlee was watching?  That Marlee brought me to this place of salvation and she was right there beside me, cheering me on? Nevermind my Alice Cooper makeup. I love the way Mark is...

I think the better question is, why not? Since the day I announced to travel to Guatemala, A LOT of people have asked me WHY.   I'll let Bethany tell you. Bethany founded A Heart for Guatemala .  She's a mom just like me.  With a passion just like me.  And she's DOING something about it.  She's taking ACTION.  She's solving the problem.  She's a part of the solution.    You can click here  http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/give-us-a-chance/x/3013085  to see the whole campaign (one of them!!!)  but here's the highlights. A 7 year old child walks alone barefoot, carrying a basket on her head…trying to earn enough for her next meal...she's never seen the inside of a school or held a pencil or colored with a crayon. A mother gently places her finger on the ink pad and then on the paper, she can not sign her own name, she is ashamed and embarrassed. A father apologizes to his family, there is no money for food today, ...

So I decided to go to Guatemala. OK not really. What happened was, I was kicking around the idea of going to Guatemala on a "mission" and then I tripped and fell and by the grace of God and my friends and family .... I'm going to Guatemala. Some history. You know how Facebook kind of connects you with people that you may not have ever REALLY known from your past but then suddenly through the wonder of the world wide web you become BETTER friends with them?  Yeah that's how it went down with me and Bethany Widby.  She was an acquaintance  in high school but not a lot more.  We started chatting a lot on facebook and we're both bloggers.  Hers is  http://www.raisingawanderer.com/  and she talks about raising her son while traveling the world.  And oh yeah, she happens to run this organization called A Heart for Guatemala.    I think we connected because we both have passion for the things we are ... yanno, passionate about.....