Last week together

This is crazy but these are the girls I came into Geneva with. We have remained friends the whole way through the four years. We lived on the freshman floor Clarke 3 we had a bond like no other and will stay friends forever. Four years later it is crazy to see us graduating together.

Note the shirts WE ARE ALUM! Again, all of the girls are from my freshman floor. I love each and everyone on of them!


Krista<3 she was my room mate freshman and Sophomore year. We will always be room mates. She inspires me. love you.

--Caleb, is a friend that went to Mexico this year, he is great! we were talking about what I was feeling about leaving Geneva and the people I have come to love one night. The next morning I woke up to this poem. I didn't want to take credit for it. It is definatly Caleb's work and my feelings. Thanks Caleb!

why am i forced to leave everytime i find love?
whether location or person its taken from above

my father gives great gifts but often takes them away
to insure my faith in Him is always being displayed

i understand the reason for the taking of these gifts
but as they are passing I take some time and reminisce

its the little things that we will most fondly remember
like the girl from Haiti selling Hot coco in December

the comfort of knowing that home was people not just a place
and when my heart was broken youd wipe the tears from my face

the security of everyone being briefly in the same boat
diferent messages or stories but still in the same note

I realize some will stay and others will leave
best friends will lose touch its hard to believe

but i will not dwell on the difficulties of tomorrow
for that is pain for another day that i will not borrow

instead ill say a prayer for those whom are struggling
with the difficult life decisions that their now juggling

and ill thank Him for the strength that helped get us through
but above all else my dear friends i will thank him for you
Caleb Foust

Mexico Blog excerpt

March 11, 2010
Last Day in Mexico

...When we arrived back at Oasis we packed the van and the ladies were preparing lunch for all of us. Paola gave me a pack of tortillas to take home. I just feel like home when I am here. I watched the time closely so I would be able to spend as much time with Mario and Fernando the second they got home from school. I hate that, I had to leave them. I am always scared of people leaving me. It is probably one of my greatest fears in life, and I have to leave the people that mean the most to me. The people that I would never leave if I had a choice. Life is such a crazy thing. Anyway, Justin started getting a rash and needed some ointment out of my bag. We walked down the boys hallway from the living room past all of their bedrooms. At the end of the long hallway, the van was parked right outside of the door. With my back toward the main gate at oasis getting my bag. I heard "Andii!!" from the road. He came home early!! Mario drenched in sweat hugged me and was talking so fast-- translated, "We got out of school early so i asked my teacher to give me a ride. She drove me half way home and I ran the rest. I was afraid you would leave before I got out of school!" Aye! The school is a far distance away even half way is a long way to run. We got an extra bit of time before I had to leave him. I sat sat with him while he ate lunch while he kept asking me "Como estas?" I answered "mal". each time. I hate this part. When eh was finished eating, he motioned to go outside with him. Everyone was outside playing and saying their goodbyes. I loved it so much I was just starting to understand Mario's crazy fast spanish and now I have to leave. Please let me go back Lord. I feel most complete there, I am sooo out of my comfort zone but I love it. I need spanish, i know that you are going to show me the way to learn and be with the boys that I love so much. I'll never forget what You have done to my heart through the people in San Luis.




In case you didn't know,
My prayers have been answered. Following graduation in December 2010 I will be serving as an intern at Oasis boys home in San Luis. I could not be more blessed with this opportunity. It will be a growing and stretching experience but exactly where I am supposed to be.

Goodbye means forever, so I say until we meet again.

This week has been fantastic and horrible at the same time. We had our lasts together. I am a firm believer that its not over. Life long friends have been made and we will be friends forever. I am being realistic I know that we will be friends forever.

Dear Kaylee dont ever forget the past four years of your life-
Don’t forget c3.
Don’t forget arms 114.
Don’t forget Richardson House.
Don’t forget 119 boyd.
Don’t forget the forever friendships.
Don’t forget student activities and your passion for event planning.
Don’t forget the people who mentored you.
Don’t forget what it means to be on fire for God.
Don’t forget laughing until it hurt in in the activities office with some of the most incredible people you will ever meet.
Don’t forget the advice that was offered out of love.
Don’t forget what it feels like to be loved and love.
Don’t forget the feeling you get the first time that you signed up to go to Mexico.
Don’t forget late night conversations about everything in the book.
Don’t forget the room mates that were always there when you needed to laugh, cry, talk, smile, scream, or be put in place.
Don’t forget Catalyst conference and what it truly means to lead like Jesus.
Don’t forget maddog.
Don’t forget being baptized.
Don’t forget that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know that you are being called to do something you dont want to do.
Don’t forget sitting outside of skye to pass time.
Don’t forget knowing at least five people everywhere you went.
Don’t forget "God does not call the equipped, he equips the called"
Don’t forget "Whatever your 100% is, give it"
Don’t forget let people love you.
Don’t forget Beaver Falls.
Don’t forget the unpredictable weather.
Don’t forget that a smile can change someones whole day.
Don’t forget Te Veo.
Don’t forget the professors and how much they care.
Don’t forget your love for learning.
Don’t forget to ask Jesus to spend the day with you.
Don’t forget that "a woman's heart should be so wrapped up in Christ that a man should first have to seek him to find her"
Don’t forget Kairette.
Don’t forget Chapel and worshipping as a whole student and staff population.
Don’t forget the fruits of the spirit.
Don’t forget to wait on Christ.
Don’t forget Justice weeks.
Don’t forget Half past nines.
Don’t forget MGN. even better audition nights lasting till 3AM
Don’t forget hating vingball.
Don’t forget one-on-ones.
Don’t forget "If not now when? If not you then who?"
Don’t forget 4:10 bridge.
Don’t forget Daraja Children's choir.
Don’t forget road trips home.
Don’t forget visits to South Fayette.
Don’t forget visits to Chicago.
Don’t forget visits to Connecticut.
Don’t forget what community means.
Don’t forget 1PETER 4:10.
Don’t forget forgiveness.
Don’t forget the testimonies.
Don’t forget the life stories.
Don’t forget the opportunities that Geneva has given you.
Don’t forget the brig/alex's.
Don’t forget family dinners.
Don’t forget beyond the bend.
Don’t forget that God is Love.
Don’t forget the power of prayer.
Don’t forget Isaiah 6:8. Send me Lord, I'll go.
Don’t forget being out of your comfort zone is when you grow the most.
Don’t forget Germany.
Don’t forget Geneva College in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania.
Don’t forget that you are changed and set apart in Christ alone.

A lot of ... Lasts

Geneva College, a place where I found who I was alongside some of the most beautiful people in the whole world. A place where the community comes together when there is hurt to support each other. A place that comes together to celebrate and worship the Lord. I have learned to live differently. Geneva is such a unique place and it has changed me forever. I cant believe that this chapter in my life is almost over. I'm not sad but Im conflicted because it is a sad thing but only half is ending for me this time. See, I have a semester left. Although I wont be on campus for that semester, I have one more chance to associate myself with being a Geneva College student. The sad part, all of the people I came in with, are leaving. This is it for them. This week is a start of many lasts for C3. As we go through our last- undergrad classes, Chapel, on campus jobs, tests, brig meals, education lab printing sprees, tiger pauses, grilled stickies, C3 visits, and picnics outside the student center. I just want you to know that I love each one of you and I am so thankful for Geneva and here's the reason- I'm changed, I have found my mission and passion here, but most importantly I have met the most beautiful people that life has to offer in a little town called Beaver Falls. I couldn't be more thankful for you girls, I can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do with your lives, and I am excited to be apart of each of them! Enjoy our lasts

I will follow you..

a song for ya (:

Leeland<3
You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

All my needs you have supplied.
When i was dead you gave me life.
How could i not give it away so freely?

And i`ll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy god.
Follow you into the world.

Use my hands use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
`cause faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was shed
So how could i not give it away so freely?

And i`ll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy god.
Follow you into the world.

I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself.to you.

And i give all myself.
Yes i give all myself.
And i give all myself.to you.

And i`ll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy god.
Follow you into the world.

Watch out for that signal-- when life as you know it ends.

I would have to say,, that life as I knew it has changed about twenty times in the past month or two.
Mexico has changed life as I once knew it forever and I love it. Here are some pictures of this past trip as promised.

The balcony view of Oasis where the team stays, my favorite view in the whole world

Risa, I, and our boys, Mario and Fernando at the taco stand for dinner one night. This is a really fun night, we take all the boys and staff that work at the boys home for tacos one night while we are in Mexico. They are so grateful for this opportunity. Its a great bonding time for us too. (:

RUTH.. isnt she precious? This is the first day we were in Mexico. Ruth remembered me and I scooped her up. (:


MY BOYS! I am convinced that they are my brothers and definitely meant to be in my life. Mario is in the white and Fernando is in the dark shirt. They are brothers who have been at the boys home since I started visiting Mexico. We have had a connection and continue to stay in touch. This year by far has been the hardest to be away from them, they are growing into men and maturing. I am proud to be part of their lives and know that God is going to do something great with their lives. I am learning how to support someone when all I have to offer is my love. It is always a challenge for me, especially when my love language is gifts. but the gift of love is the best gift of all.

10 states, 2 countries, in 1 month.

Woo hoo! I just finished a marathon of traveling. I am so sorry it has been another long time since I left an update but life has been a whirlwind. I love it though. This blog is going to be a brief overview of what the last month has looked like for me and then hopefully sometime this week when I have time to breath I can go in depth on more of my adventures with pictures and such. Here it goes.

On Mach 6th, I left for another amazing trip to San Luis Mexico with a beautiful team of 12 Geneva College Students. I was the leader and loved every minute of it. I have made some life long friends from that trip for sure.
We left early in the morning for Phoenix ARIZONA. We arrived on time to beautiful weather. We then drove four hours to the border of SONORA(the state that i was in) MEXICO where we grocery shopped. We crossed the border around 8pm that night. We arrived at Oasis boys home shortly after. My heart immediately was overwhelmed with joy, I was in the place where my heart feels most complete once again. In a few words the week was-- refreshing, amazing, challenging, emotional, and well it just feels like home to me. I will share many stories and pictures in a later blog. I am still having a really hard time transitioning back into the estados unidos and it is a month later.

March 11th was probably one of the very hardest days that I have experienced in a very long time. I had to leave the boys and the family that I love so much. They are a huge impact of my life. To give you a very miniscule visual of what goodbye looked like-- I was sitting in the passenger seat of a 12 passenger van with two mexican boys asking me to stay one more week. They were wearing my clothes that I left behind telling me that it smelled like the United States, they say thats a good thing. With my arms reached the whole way out the window we started to pull away. We were driving away from a family that took us in with open arms, just for us to leave them at the end of the week, They stood at the gates until we couldnt see them anymore and I could still hear them shouting "Adios!" As we drove down the sand road I started to cry because I didnt know when I was going to ever feel like I do when I am in Mexico. Not only in Mexico, but with 14 boys who have been abandoned and two families that have raised them and loved them as their own children. They are complete and they are a family. I was honored to be considered part of their beautiful family.

We waited two hours to cross back over the border of the US. We were still so close to the boys' home but too far away to see them again. I started to become broken. We stayed in a hotel in Tempe, ARIZONA for the night to debrief and prepare our selves for the real world that was going to hit us hard.

The next day, I still was crying non-stop because I was still close, I was still within driving distance to the place I love the most. Then we boarded a plan headed to Las Vegas, NEVADA. The further we got, the sadder I became. The flight was short and Risa and stuck together in the airport. We jokingly planned that if they offered for people to stay back, that we would do it together. Sure enough, they offered for two people to stay back and we agreed! We spent the night in Las Vegas for free! We prolonged the real life for two more days.

The next day, we went sight seeing and then boarded a plan to Chicago, ILLINOIS. We were there for a short stay. So we spent it laying on the floor of the airport over the night hours. We talked about Mexico and sang D.C RETO -Vida (of course)

March 15th- most of you know what day this is. My birthday!! We boarded a plane to Pittsburgh PENNSYLVANIA . I was drained and ready to sleep for 24 hours. I spent most of my birthday in bed sleeping and missing Mexico. My land lord bought me a cake and my sweet room mates came home later in the day to celebrate with some gift giving.

I took my room mates all home with me for a little birthday celebration the following weekend and then celebrated the beautiful Alexandras birthday the following weekend in the City. (O:

School was back in swing for a week then it was Easter break. I hopped back in the car and drove to Warren, CONNECTICUT to visit Diana ( my other room mate's home) We made sure to drive through NEW YORK too. We celebrated the resurrection in MASSACHUSETTS with Diana's extended family and enjoyed the beautiful weather of New England. It was a great little trip.

This past weekend, was the last big trip for me this month. I went to a overseas teaching conference in Hartford, INDIANA. It was also incredible and I learned so much. I met a lot of really cool people who inspire me to dream big and travel to change to world. Can't wait to see what is in store for me! I had to go to this conference because of my teaching placement in Hawaii in the fall. It made me so excited and prepared me in ways that I didnt even know I needed to be prepared for! ( Oh and I bet you are thinking, she doesnt know how to count that it only 9-- psst.. we drove through the WHOLE STATE of OHIO to get to INDIANA (0;

So welcome to my crazy life.. I am trying to catch my breath before I get in the mood to cram in more travel (:

Love you all.. ill put pictures up soon and some journal excerpts too! EVEN through all of this choas in this month, I managed to finish a whole journal!!