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Africa...

So everyone has been giving me a pretty hard time for not blogging while I was in Africa or blogging since I've gotten back. I, too, have felt bad about it. It's not that I haven't wanted too. Trying to put words to something thats indescrible is intimidating. I feel like words will limit what it really was. I've been left speechless by my experience in Africa. I've thought about it for a long time and I'm finally just accepting that no words will justify what Africa is. Words just don't do it justice. They cant't begin to describe what its like and what it means to me. I will say that it was the most amazing experience I've ever had. I'll never forget it. So since words won't even come close, I'll leave you with some pictures. These are only a few of the 1,000 I took. I'll post the rest of the pictures later.

Remember those Blue Guys from the Intel Commercials?

Let me start by saying that all of you should be jealous of me because I am dating DJ Howard. Yes, that’s right – DJ Howard. You know who I’m talking about…He’s kind of a big deal. People know him. Haha just kidding but seriously. You’ve probably seen him looking fly on a sunny day riding his lawnmower. Or you’ve seen his big red truck with the sign that says Southern Green Lawns on the back – yeah that’s right, he owns his own business. I’m one lucky girl. I mean, even Michael Griffis wants to be his best friend. And Griffis barely likes anybody. Just kidding! Haha all joking aside, he really is a great guy. The best thing about DJ is that he loves God with all of his heart.

For our one year anniversary, he planned out a whole day and it was so much fun! He brought me to eat lunch at Tsunami’s which is probably the coolest atmosphere in Baton Rouge.

Then we went to my house and hung out with my mom and little sister for a while which meant a lot to me since I barely ever get to see them. Then DJ and I drove to New Orleans where he gave me money to go shopping at my favorite stores! (Told you I was a lucky girl) Then we drove down St. Charles street where the biggest houses in the universe are located.


We were planning on going to eat at Camelia Grill but to our dismay, it was closed for renovation ☹. So instead, DJ took me to eat at La Madeline’s, which is one of my favorite places. Not sure why, it just is. And then as if it couldn’t get any better, he had another surprise waiting after dinner. He drove over to the New Orleans Arena where we parked and walked inside and sat down four rows from the front a really cool stage. I didn’t know what show we were about to see but I knew it was going to be good. The opening act ended and said, “Now enjoy – The Blue Man Group!!!!”
I looked at DJ and said, “Who’s that?”
He laughed and said, “Remember those blue guys from the Intel commercials?”
I got excited as I remembered those weird blue guys. I had no idea they were still around. But little did I know, they were still around and were doing pretty well traveling all over the country to perform.


The show was one of the best shows I have ever seen. It was hilarious and entertaining. The graphics and video presentations were my favorite. (Go figure) Not to mention the light show. These blue men were amazing percussionists who made music out of PVC pipes, banging on open grand pianos, and anything else weird you could think of. They had more than a full band behind them including 3 drummers! It was the coolest thing I’ve ever been to and a great way to end the day. I couldn’t tell DJ thank you enough times to show how thankful I really was.
So, if you happen to see DJ give him some props for being the coolest cat around town and tell him how awesome and tall he is. Tell him he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Vision: Cheeseburger

The other day, my little sister and I were leaving the Target shopping center on Seigen. We were stopped at the red light waiting to turn onto Seigen and we saw a homeless guy and his dog standing on the median. When I see that it just breaks my heart.
But, I admit that several times I've just ignored the homeless people and tried not to make eye contact because it's awkward and you don't know if you give them money if they'll actually use the money for something good yada yada yada. Until I had an epiphany and decided to start keeping granola bars and pennies in my car to give to any homeless people I see. Well we saw this guy and he was holding up his cardboard sign which read - Vision: Cheeseburger. He had a huge smile on his face. It made me smile. So I rolled down my window and I said, "Excuse me sir, I have some change you can have."
He walked over with the biggest smile on his face and introduced himself. His name was Johnny and his dog's name was Cheeseburger. He said, "I named him Cheeseburger because I really like cheeseburgers." We talked for a little bit and I was so excited to be having this great conversation with this homeless guy. He had so much joy. And he was normal. It wasn't wierd or awkward, it wasn't even uncomfortable. He was a normal person, just like me, just like you. He had a great sense of humor. He made me laugh for a while and then he got really serious and said.
"Before I take the money, I need to ask you one question...."
He paused for a moment and looked at me and said "Do you know Jesus?"
I smiled and it made me really happy and I said yes I do know Jesus.

He replied, "Good because that's all that matters. Even though I don't have anything I still have him and that means I have everything."

I was amazed at this man. I couldn't believe this homeless guy who has nothing, not even a place to lay his head, was saying this to me. He was so cheerful and so sincere. I just can't describe it.
I asked him, "Do you ask everybody that question?"

As if this question had really confused him he looked at me and said, "Well yes of course I do....Don't you?"

I was left speechless. It was the simplest concept to him. He knew Jesus. And he believed in what he had and that it was worth giving, worth sharing. He couldn't help it. He knew thats what he was supposed to do and what he wanted to do. It was so simple. If you know Jesus then you tell other people about him.

I knew the answer to his question was no. I don't ask everybody I know if they know Jesus. I'm a full-time intern at the greatest church. I have a family who loves me, friends who love me, and I always have food to eat and a bed to sleep in. And I can barely even gather the courage to ask someone if they know Jesus. I actually have to pump myself up to do it.

Here was this homeless guy who had nothing. No material possessions. No great prospects for the future. But in his eyes, he had everything. He had Jesus. He had hope. He had the most sincere, genuine, pure, bold, childlike faith that I have ever encountered.

God really moved on my heart because of what happened and because of the question he asked me. Why don't I tell more people about Jesus? What holds me back? Why am I so afraid?
Barton Pickens made a really good point this morning. He said, "It all comes down to this - Do you really believe what you have is worth giving?"

That question has been on my mind all day. Do I believe what I have is worth giving? Yes of course I do. I do believe it's worth giving. The reason I have it is to share it with others. God really challenged me to step it up. My prayer is that every believer would have such a great passion for Jesus that they just can't help but tell others about him. That it just becomes normal to them like second nature. Because that is truly how its meant to be.

So, if you see a homeless guy named Johnny and his dog Cheeseburger around IHOP on Seigen stop for a minute and talk to him. Let him know he is not forgotten. Maybe even buy him a cheeseburger.

Hosanna in the Highest

Hillsong's latest album - All of the Above - is amazing! The first song I heard from it was a song titled "Hosanna". The lyrics are incredible. They have become my prayer and my hope. Check them out:

I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the Highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
I see a new revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

The girl who wrote the song, Brooke Fraser, continues onto a different track and she starts to quote different pieces from Hebrews 12:1 which says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Then she starts to sing the words below and every time I hear it, I get chills.

For those who are to come
For those who are to come
Every generation
Every nation
Every tribe
Every tongue
They will sing
They will cry
With one voice they will sing:
HOSANNA!

I can't wait for that day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Until then, I have to continually keep my eyes focused on Him, the author and perfector of my faith and pray that he will give me the heart and the strength to do it all for those who are to come.

Don't lose your flavor!

So I was reading this great book called the Bible this morning. I was reading in Luke 14 where Jesus is talking about the cost of being a disciple. It spoke so much to me and just what I've been dealing with lately. Here is Luke 14:25-35:

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away."

The purpose of Full-time Elevate is to train you for full-time ministry and that is what I want to do. I have such a burden for the youth of this generation and to see them serve the Father. But looking back, I don't think I knew what I was getting into. I knew I was willing to do whatever it takes to serve the church and the Kingdom but I don't think I really knew what it actually takes.
I didn't realize how heavy the burden can feel sometimes.
Jesus tells us to not begin unitl you count the cost. God asked me to count the cost. Am I truly willing to give up everything, to lose it all, for the sake of being a part of his Kingdom. Am I really willing to give up everything that is mine, all of my rights, to become a servant for His Kingdom? God really questioned my heart this morning. I have to be willing to give up everything that is mine, go wherever he wants me to go, so that I can be used for His kingdom. My heart's number one desire is to serve Him and be used by Him but am I willing, are you willing to count the cost? To give it all up?
Jesus tells us that as Christians we are the salt of this earth, that we were created to be used by Him and for Him. But we aren't any good if we lose are usefullness. Jesus says in one of the last verses that flavorless salt is useless, that it gets thrown away. I prayed that I would never become useless in the Kingdom.
So how do you lose your usefulness?
I believe you lose your usefulness when you lose your willingness.
I know how to lose my usefulness, but how can I prevent from losing my usefulness?
I think I need to keep my heart constantly in check. Keep checking my motives. Keep checking my willingness. Keep asking myself the hard questions? Am I still willing to lose it all? Is he still worthy when things in my life aren't going right? Am I still willing to count the cost? Am I still willing to do whatever it takes to not lose my flavor?

ROUND 2

You think you know but you have no idea...

This is the diary of Elevate...



These are the people I spend every day with. And they're the greatest people on the planet!

Boom Goes the Dynamite

this is humorous. and painful. worst sports announcer ever.



he gets the rebound, passes it out, annddd boom goes the dynamite.

Sisters and Nephews

My sister, Laura, flew in from Washington DC where she lives to spend the weekend with us. It was great to see her. She's 10 weeks pregnant so we're all really excited about it. Her husband Bill wasn't able to come in because of some business but having Laura in town was great. It's funny how you can forget how much you really miss someone until you actually see them and spend time with them.
Sunday came so quickly and it was off to St. Francisville. I love Sundays because I love St. Francisville and I love to see the girls and spend time at the Howards with the crew. Church was awesome and then Sunday night we had our first ever, Refuge at the MAG!!! It was a huge win for St. Francisville and most importantly, the Kingdom! We had about 36 kids which was quite a crowd for what we're used to. And about 7 or 8 kids went down to make a decision for Christ. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am. I think it's the beginning of something really great. I know that revival is coming in that community and it's our responsibility to usher it in. I can't wait to see what God will do!!!


Then on Monday, me and Laura went over to my other sister's house to visit our two nephews. They are the cutest things ever! Henry Nathan is a few months old and Cameron Luke is a little over 2 years old. Cameron is at the age where he pretty much just repeats everything you say. So one time my mom was helping him put together a puzzle and was amazed at how good he was at it so she said, "Cameron is so smart!" and then Cameron mimicked her by saying "Cameron is soooo smart!" He said it for the rest of the day. How cute. Henry's mo-hawk is my favorite.



God has blessed me with a great family.

Garage Sale

Yea I'm in a leotard.

Used Underwear For Sale! All Proceeds Go to Africa!

A Garage Sale, some used underwear, michael jackson, and a whole lot of fun....

Where to begin...as elevate gets closer and closer to the end, the weekends seem to get longer and longer. We just keep getting pushed more and more. But we all survive.

This weekend, Elevate hosted a Garage Sale at the church to raise money so we can go to Africa. (Props to Natalie and everybody who donated stuff for making it happen) Well, we were hoping that people would donate some stuff but we had no idea how much stuff would actually get donated. We got a little bit more than we hoped for haha. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We got the church around 3:30 to start organizing stuff and as one person after the other dropped stuff off, the monster that was our garage sale just kept growing and growing. It looked like Katrina all over again!




We were way in over our heads and we knew we were in for a long night. But God is good and sent us some awesome volunteers to help us sort through the massive piles of clothes and random knick knacks. We had some cool girls from Mrs. Connie's Pathfinders group Sparkle come and help us out and they definitely added some life to the party. Thanks Mrs. Connie and the girls! And then of course I have to just go ahead and say that Mrs. Sheila is the biggest servant in the entire world. She served her heart out, showed up even when we hadn't asked her, and stayed with us all night and then all day Saturday. She's awesome! She's up there along with Mother Teresa and Mary.



I just want to thank all of the people who helped us out. We really honestly couldn't have done it without you and you know that's true. (You saw all the stuff) We had some people donate some awesome stuff. Even an Acordian!!!




One thing I don't understand is why people would donate their underwear...



I just don't know what else to say about that...

Check this picture out...

Yes that is Katie with a gun. Scariest thing ever? Probably so. Not to mention she has lady bug wings on her back.

More pictures and maybe even videos to come. Keep checking. You really don't wana miss the video of Kaycee dancing.