I guess I need to start with last night, or yesterday at that. Boot camp was super intense; it was a team challenge as well as individual. It took trusting yourself as well as trusting others (something I'm not used to). We crawled through mud under barbed wire. Walked blindfolded through a hard course while only listening to your partners voice with others crossing at the same time (many voices at once). Jumping off a cliff into a lake. And for my team, I climbed up a robe that was about 30+ feet out of the water. Literally doubted I could do it, but I was actually the fastest to the top and didn't even struggle. We did more things, but those really stuck out to me. After that, we drove 30 minutes into the mountain (after we went back and showered). We handed out beans and rice to really poor families. Jacob got the sides of his head buzzed by a Honduras guy that was cutting his sons hair. It was such an amazing moment! We also met a prophetess that gave us a word. A word that shook my world. She told me that He hears my cries and He will surprise me by the end of the year. She said more, but I can't remember. I'm hoping Eli got it all on camera though so I can hear it. Last but definitely not least, Jacob and I broke away from the group and just talked. I opened up to hi ma bit more and told he told me he was glad I did. I really don't trust people but I can see us being good buds. I can see a genuineness in him, something that is hard to come by these days. I can't wait to see what God has in store for everyone today, has in store for me. I really want Him to be real to me.


MY WORD
The Lord hugs you today, and he tells me He is with you over your heart. I speak in the name of Jesus, that great things, that all your desires, that your dreams will come to pass. The Lord says this year will not end without you seeing my glory. "I will surprise you" says the Lord, "You have been crying out for a long time for something you have that I desire that has been in your heart and it hasn't been fulfilled. But wait on me" says the Lord, "because those who wait on me will have new strength."

I'm too tired to elaborate on boot camp today and the spoken word that was given to me and about my conversation I just had with Jacob, but today has been life changing and I hope to never forget it.

I really don't have much to share this morning except for the fact that I shared my testimony with Josh, Jacob, and Eli last night. I think it brought us close together. We come from different walks of life, but we are all here for one purpose... it's amazing. Only time will tell if these friendships last, but ultimately, I just want to trust in You... only You!

Father, bring my heart close to you.

Last night, I shared my testimony with Sky and Nicole and they shared theirs. I went after Nicole and Sky went after me. I opened up about my recent thoughts of suicide and while Sky was sharing her testimony, she opened up about her thoughts for the first time. There was so much breakthrough last night... I was left in awe. Today, we are going to a Women's Maximum Security Prison and I am so excited to get in there. Also, I keep feeling a push to open up to Brandon. I don't know if I'll do it yet.

I was the first to wake up here in Honduras at Casa Santiago. I picked up my Bible, devotional (which I bought to start here), and my iPod. I read in Thessalonians first for 2 chapters, but quickly realized it wasn't for me just yet. I opened to Proverbs 13 and You spoke to me when I read verse 18. It says, "If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored." In my head, I was thinking that I don't struggle with correction and criticism, but God, I guess He thinks otherwise. I felt like He was telling me to stop being so spoiled and ignorant. Even though I have never been spoiled, I live like I do. Where did it come from? Why do I feel like people always owe me something? I need to change this... I need to change me. This place, where I am now, will change me. I just need to fight going back to the 'world' so I can stay changed.

You know how people always say, "Someone out there has it worse than you." Well, I finally found those people that have it worse. Today at the orphanage, I met kids from 1 year old to 19 years old that all have had such traumatic experiences in their lives that I literally couldn't imagine how they can keep their composure. It's God... that's how! One set of kids (brother and sister) watched a gang cut their mom to death from head to toe. Another girl was sexually abused by her dad, he was thrown in jail for drug charges. Her mom got the bright idea to sneak drugs into the prison via her own daughters private parts until they eventually got infected and she almost died from it. The stories literally go on and on. An 11 year old having a kid from a rape... Hearing these stories opened my eyes to not only reality but to see how God can heal ANY wound, no matter how deep. My thoughts of suicide for what I've been through and what I am going through now seem so stupid, selfish, and lame. It's only day 1 and I'm already being impacted in a way I never saw possible.