I keep thinking about my new roommates. I'm excited about getting to know them -- 2 girls, both a year or two younger than I am. They will see the real me -- the me under huge stress. The me that is in culture shock. The me that in 3 weeks will be wondering what I was thinking, wanting to move to Brazil for 6 months. I may get a little snappy, and for that I apologize profusely in advance. It's nothing personal, I can assure you.
There's an old quote that goes, "A friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway." There is definitely some truth to that statement. And so, I'm praying that God will make the transition smooth for all of us, and that we will come to know one another well and be overcome with the love of Christ for one another, even when we're annoying the stew out of one another.

Hmm. Lots easier than I thought, this creating your own website thing. Now someone else will do it for you! And since my creativity is minimal, that option seems best. For now, anyway.
I'm leaving in less than 3 weeks to go to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for 6 entire months -- a scary thought some days! But it's definitely something that I've wanted to do for awhile, and that God has put together without question. Have I questioned and doubted? Of course, but that makes the fruit all the more sweet because I've had to work it out for myself.
That's something that I have come to believe with much conviction -- if I simply accept whatever comes my way, if I don't question or doubt, then nothing will ever really be personal. Nothing will ever be mine. My beliefs will always be someone else's. I love my friends and most of those around me, but shouldn't diversity be celebrated? If I couldn't ever respectfully disagree with people I come into contact with, then the world would be a very boring place. VERY boring. And the Bible says to "test all things. Hold fast to what is good." By searching and testing the information that others give us, we learn a lot more about others and ourselves.