"The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us. Journey wisely." - Alexandra Elle

 Last week, I was cutting down a bamboo forest with my team, (yes, a literal forest of bamboo) and I'll be honest, I was not thrilled at first, but then I was reminded of this quote by Alexandra Elle. I thought, Wow. This is my life. THIS is how I get to do life. I get to help and serve communities. I get to grow and learn with these people I now call family. I get to spread the gospel in the best way possible...by loving people. By loving them the way Christ would love them.

 These past two weeks I have been in Black Mountain, North Carolina, where the girls on my squad were able to partner with Excel College. There, we had the privilege to serve in a variety of ministries and communities doing things all the way from staining tables to cutting down a bamboo forest (as mentioned earlier) to volunteering at a fall festival. It was a different ministry every day and every day was a new learning experience and a new way to see just how good our God is.

 I am so thankful for the past two weeks, but also so excited for what's about to come next! Now I'm back in Gainesville, Georgia, and on Saturday we will be off to Guatemala!