Russia - Help Needed!

Hello! It's been FOREVER since I've written on here. I'm not sure how many people still use Xanga but I thought I'd post on here about my upcoming trip to Russia (in case you read the e-mails that come to you from Xanga with people's stuff who have posted on their site).

I believe most of you know Jon and Kelly Hasz and you also probably know that they are currently in the process of adopting their second child, this one being from Russia. Unlike their China adoption, this one includes travelling to Russia three times and unfortunately it isn’t an option for both Kelly and Jon to go on the third trip when they actually receive Matthew. The original plan was for Kelly to go to Russia alone but last week Kelly asked if I could come. Since she’ll still have meetings and other appointments that she’ll need to go to while she’s there, she’s concerned about doing it alone while trying to take care of and reassure Matthew. She hesitating in asking me because of the short notice and the fact that I’ll need to fundraise for my Russian Visa and plane ticket. After praying about it, I decided earlier this week that I would step out in faith and I agreed to go.

Although the dates of the trip are not yet 100% confirmed, they will be around November 29th to December 6th. The time crunch that I mentioned earlier is that these dates are less than 3 weeks away. Since deciding to go, the Lord has already completed his first miracle - my Visa into Russia. Kelly and I found out on Friday that it is “impossible” to get a Russian Visa in less than 3 weeks but after making a few calls, I was be able to get confirmation that once I send my passport, I will have my visa in 48 hours! Even the adoption agency that Kelly and Jon are working with said it was “impossible”! The second miracle that I am now believing the Lord for are the funds needed for the Visa as well as the funds for the plane ticket which I’ll need to have raised by the end of the week. In total I need to raise about $1,500. I know that might sound impossible but I really believe God can do it and I’m asking for your help both in prayer and financial support.

If you are able to support me financially and you don’t live in the Tyler/Lindale area, the fastest way of doing this would be a money wire transfer. If this is something you’d like to do, please let me know and I’ll send you my wire information. For those of you in the area, you’re welcome to write a check. Regardless of whether you are able to support me financially or not, I would love to have prayer supporters as well. If you commit to praying for me, Kelly and Matthew for the next few weeks, I will send you prayer requests as we prepare to go!

I appreciate you taking the time to read this and believe in faith with me that God is truly able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine – even raising this money in a week!

Here are a few pictures of Matthew:

I got an e-mail from Xanga this week saying that if I didn't log on here and post something, I would no longer be able to have this site. I obviously don't use it very often but since I love reading everyone elses' posts, I wanted to keep it. Facebook really is the new xanga...

Are you needing a new job??

So, this is my desperate attempt to find someone to fulfill a position in GE Ops. It's a Staff Associate position starting January 3rd. Preferrably I would like to have someone who is not finished with school and will take advantage of the opportunity to do Liberty. I promise that this is one of the best jobs to have a Teen Mania if you like hands on, working with details, and serving thousands of people every summer, please e-mail me your resume or give me a call!

Home Sweet Home

  I really think Dorothy understood that there is nothing quite as sweet as being home. 3 weeks ago I got to go see my family and celebrate Thanksgiving together (of course it was Canadian Thanksgiving for those of you that are confused). It was one of my favorite visits home yet! Here are a few pictures of my trip.

This is from the river at the bottom of my street.

On my first day home, we stopped at Niagara Falls since I haven't been there in a few years.

One of the best parts of going home was spending time with this wonderful girl. Amy Jorgensen is one of the biggest blessings God has given me. She now lives 45 minutes from my parents! Being at Teen Mania, friendships can sometimes be hard because every August you to prepare yourself to say goodbye to more friends. This August was especially hard. I love that God has kept my friendship with Amy strong since our intern year.

Being home was so refreshing...and I'm ready to go home again : )

Always a bridesmaid, never a...

Well, I was in another wedding this weekend! This is the 6th wedding I've been in and still I've never been the one wearing white . I headed out from Teen Mania on Wednesday night and we drove through the night ( well, I kinda drove through the night part - for the first 8 hours anyways ). We got there Thursday morning and the festivities began. The bride was none other than the beautiful Katie Dwillis, who was in my core during her undergrad year. I have to admit that it was slightly odd to see her kissing Kenny and talking to her about...well, anyways, the last time I saw her, she wasn't allowed to date . One of the other girls in my core was also a bridemaid and a few of my other girls came for the wedding, so in total I had 6 of my girls there...which was a huge blessing!

I love these girls! Thanks for blessing me ladies!

(we didn't communicate very well about which camera to look at )

Here are all the bridesmaids ( it was a LARGE wedding party! )

Katie was so excited about the dress and wanted to get her money's worth so she put the dress on two hours before the wedding! By the time she walked down the aisle, she'd worked the dress in and looked amazing!

The flower girl was her little sister Faith who was five so her parents still have a few years to recuperate from this wedding before their other little girl gets married.

Congrats Kenny and Katie! I know the Lord will continue to bless you both!! 

and I know that someday my prince will come...

**By the way, if you're looking for a photographer for your wedding, don't hesitate to call !!