I can FINALLY Think

about this summer.
And everything that's going to happen.
I have been so distracted
by so many things:
finals/school,
packing,
moving,
apartment hunting,
and just life.
I haven't really had the chance
to really think about what's in store for the summer.
At all.
But
I believe that
it's all going to change.

I am done with school...
for this semester. haha.
I'm pretty sure I'll pull out
with decent grades.
But you never know.
But anyway, I finished with all my finals
on Wednesday,
so when I was done,
a huge burden was lifted.
It was fantastic.

I finished moving out of my dorm
this morning.
It's all cleaned.
Everything is either in
my storage unit
or in my car.
And it's so weird.
I won't be moving back in here...
I'll be finding an apartment
somewhere in Raleigh.
What?!
I'm growing up,
becoming an adult.
It's strange.
But anyway,
it feels great knowing that
I don't have to live in the dorm
anymore.
Like, it was a good experience.
And I'm so glad that I had it.
But I'm ready to be more in a closed
environment, with not
as many
people living as close to me.
But, still, it was a great year.

Apartment hunting
went okay...
it got complicated.
And Rachel and I just decided to wait
until July to really look for a place.
Nothing was really going how we
thought it would.
And I was just tired and stressed,
and I didn't want to deal with
apartment stuff on my own.
So we're putting that on a
hiatus.
Good plan. Good plan.


And now it's officially summer!!
I am terribly thrilled.
I'm excited to take a break this next week.
I'm planning on reading a lot,
sleeping a lot,
hanging out with friends a lot,
and preparing for what is about to happen.

I leave for American Samoa so soon.
So soon.
And because of all the stuff mentioned previously...
I just haven't had as much time
as I was hoping to prepare.
So, that's what this upcoming week
will be all about.
Yay!

I found out from Larry what all I'll
be up to while
I'm in
American Samoa.
It's going to be epic:
- first week (June 4th-8th) - VBS with Tafuna Baptist and Happy Valley Baptist
I'll be working with the 5th and 6th grade girls. (Larry has told us that this is their biggest one of the summer. Usually they have between 150-200 kids in attendance. So this is a huge opportunity for the Gospel to be spread into this community.) This is an afternoon VBS, so in the mornings we'll be able to get things ready.
- second week - VBS with another Island Church (mornings) and VBS events with middle schoolers (afternoons/evenings)
I'll still be working with the 5th and 6th grade girls...that's the age group that I was placed with for the summer. Anyway, it sounds like these are going to be a little more relaxed and not a huge as the one the previous week.
- third week - VBS location tbd (mornings) and VBS on the East side of the Island (evenings)
This week should be pretty great. Larry is still working on a location for the morning VBS, but we're going to travel to the East side of American Samoa to do a VBS there. Tafuna Baptist is looking at planting a church there within the next year, so it's great that they're wanting to be a part of the community already.
- fourth week - morning VBS/Backyard Bible Clubs for a couple days and helping out with Football Camps
This'll be my last week on the Island. I guess I'll be working right up till my plane takes off. haha. But anyway, we'll be doing small scale camps the last couple of days and helping out with the football camps that happen on the school campus. So it should be a lot of fun.
And then I get to go home.

But anyway, there will be lots of opportunities to share the Gospel and be a shining light to the dark world around me. And I'm so thankful that the Lord has given me this opportunity.
I really have no idea what to expect. I don't really have any expectations for this summer. Except I want to see the Lord do great things. I want to see Him move in His power and might. I want to see Him save many lost people. I want to see Him accomplish things in my life which I never thought would be possible.
He is good. He is worthy. And I am so blessed to be able to serve such a great God.

Blessings.