surprise!

On Sunday Anna turned 19. I and a few friends planned a surprise party for her. She was definitely surprised! =)

Here's the story. (you can skip to the pictures if you want)

Lizzy, Recah, and I told Anna that we wanted to go to Latta Plantation for lunch and a hike. We wanted to have some "girl time". So, that's what Anna thought we were going to do for her birthday.
After church on Sunday, Recah and Anna left to go buy chips for our lunch. As soon as they were gone, everyone that was invited to the surprise party left and met at Lizzy's house. Lizzy's parents let us borrow their canoes, so we hooked them up. Then we all carpooled to Latta.
Meanwhile, Anna thought Lizzy and I had gone to Lizzy's house to get stuff to make sandwiches, and that we were going to meet at Latta.
When the "party people" got to Latta, we drove to the canoe place. Lizzy called Recah to tell her how to get there. What's funny was, Recah and Anna got to Latta before us, and were sitting at the visitor place. We drove right past them on our way to the canoe place, but Anna didn't see us. Recah kept her distracted.
Anyway, when Recah and Anna drove to the canoe place, we all hid around a turn in the road. We stood there and said "Surprise!" when they came around the turn. Anna was so surprised! =)


If you read the story, congrats! Now you can enjoy the pictures.

surprised Anna

Anna and Recah

Seth and Eli

Jessica and Andrew

canoes!

we canoed for a while, then stopped for birthday cake

it wasn't long before we went back out again

a really cool rock

we went back to Lizzy's house and made pancakes for dinner

yum!

Anna said it was the best birthday ever. I agree. =)

ok

So, quite a few people still read my blog. This makes me happy. =)

On Sunday, I faced my fear of going underwater and got baptized. Here's my testimony that I shared:

When I was 8 years old, I prayed the sinners' prayer, just so I could say that I did it. But it was evident by my life that I was not saved. I was a slave to sin. I was living for myself. And I was miserable.
I didn't realize why this was, until God showed me that I needed Him. I was a senior in high school when God saved me from my sins and helped me choose to live for Him instead of myself.
Over the past 2 years, God has done some amazing things for me. It's hard to believe how much God has changed me. I am a totally different person than I was 2 years ago, all thanks to the awesome grace of God.
Jesus is truly my best friend, and I want to live for Him. I pray that this never changes.

Isn't our God so amazing? =)

I'm wondering

Since pretty much everyone has Facebook, does anyone still read this blog? Please comment on this post if you do!

Reign in Us

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh again
Come search our hearts and purify our lives
We need Your perfect love, we need Your discipline
We're lost unless You guide us with Your light

Lord Jesus, come lead us
We're /desperate/ for Your touch

Oh great and mighty One, with one desire we come
That You would reign, /that You would reign in us/
We're offering up our lives, a living sacrifice
That You would reign, that You would reign in us

/We cry out/ for Your live to refine us
Cry out for Your love to define us
Cry out for Your mercy to keep us blameless until You return

So reign, please reign in us
Come purify our hearts
//We need Your touch//
Come cleanse us like a flood and send us out
So the world may know You reign
You reign in us

____________________________________________________________________

Wow.
God is doing some amazing things in Mission28.
I think this song, "Reign in Us", really captures what is happening in M28. Through the last two messages, God is teaching all of us how to be desperate for Him and cry out to Him in prayer. He is showing us how much we truely need Him, and cannot do anything without Him.
And as we cry out to Him, God is sending His powerful presence to us at the meetings like never before.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, then I will hear from heaven." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Our God is so awesome! =)

Here are some more Spring pictures for you.