in the past week...

...so much has happened!

I have talked several times to my amazing missionary mentor for the trip. She is so encouraging and wonderful!! I love that I'm already building these friendships before the trip has even began. Xtreme Impact is really great, if any high school kid is looking for a great group to do a mission trip through, look 'em up!
Monday afternoon I had a meeting with my missions pastor at church he's been such a huge help through this process already! But while I was in his office this guy walked by. Chris told him to come on in and he told the guy a bit about my trip. The man gave me some money!! How amazing is that. A total stranger donated toward this trip. I knew it was God telling me, once again, to not give up. I know you've heard me say that before, but it really is super hard to try and organize, plan, and raise funds for a trip like this and at time I have gotten super discouraged. But God never fails!! He's got my back, for sure. :)
Last night we had youth and I was talking to our youth intern, Alie, about her trip to Thailand. [she went last summer] She told me so many cool things. She said that everyone there is really nice and always smiling! Also, some of the ladies wear the white face cream and carry umbrellas because they don't want to be tan, they want to be white like Americans. I thought that was crazy. We want to be tan and they don't want darker skin. How ironic this world is...
Finally, today I came home from school [super exhausted] and on my bed there was an envelope. One of my support letters had gotten a response! What a blessing, seriously!
I can't even describe how much joy and how much this trip has brought me closer to God already. I have learned to not give up. I heard once that we're insulting God when we worry. That floored me, I worry all the time. I'm working on that though.

Keep praying for me you guys! I love you all so much and can't thank everyone enough for being so supportive. <3