I hate papers

This week has been crazy for me. I have a huge paper that is due in like three days that is not, but almost halfway done. (On of mice and men)

Anyway, once I finish that, I will begin to write more!

This is a random dog I passed by in Italy. I acted like a tourist and asked the lady to take a picture.

Song of the day----Holy Roar by Christy Nockles

A great weekend

Hello everyone. I am officially back home and yes I do have spell check. (hopefully my spelling improves otherwise we have a problem) Friday and Saturday, I attended the Junior high Believe youth conference. (I volunteered) It was really cool just to get to watch over 2,500 kids worship God and just kind of walk down memory lane for when I attended the conference as a student.

Yesterday, I was able to play drums for our student ministry service. Usually, it is pretty hard for me to come before God and just worship with all my heart when I play the drums because there is so much going on and to carry out. Yesterday, turned out way different though. I don't know why, but the whole morning was just really powerful and moving even while I was playing.

We are currently going through a series call "Echo" (A walk through acts) Yesterday, our youth minister talked about witnessing and a quote from him that really hit me hard was "The voice of our peers echos louder in our ears than the voice of God." I also think It is very true that so many teens let what their friends think and do drive the way they live their life. Some other cool points he had were
-An echo needs something to bounce off.
-Peter and John were ordinary unschooled men. (We at least have and continue to have an education)
-Realize not everyone will like you
-“We have become followers of Christ much like we have become followers of our favorite sports team or even the latest reality television show.”

And another direct quote from his sermon
You will face barriers As you strive to Echo your excitement about who Christ is and what He means to you, barriers will be put up by the people around you. There will be questions that you do not have answers too. You will struggle because you make mistakes and those around you will capitalize on them. Peter and John have been put in jail and it was a barrier, as it stopped them from sharing anymore that afternoon.

Every day I can, I will post a random picture from Italy. (I have 1344 so it should be intresting)

Song of the day: Whatever You Want

Planes, trains and Everthing else.

Throughout the last four days, I have had no internet to ramble on here and talk to my friends on facebook. Bari was nice. Kindof like Destin Florida. Nice whether and best of all, no Tourists.



Sunday, we visited the local Christian Church of Bari. (one of the dozens of churches my grandma's dad started)(the Chaplen) the attendance was not greater than maybe 40 people. It is really hard for me to understand why a church started over 60 years ago is still the same amount of people. Due to my curiosity, I discovered many reasons after talking with one of the missionaries I am staying with.



-The country itself has always been a catholic nation. throughout the last 50 years, the catholics have managed to hord all of the gold and riches for the church and share nothing with the country. Litterally every oher corner has a homless person on it. Therefore, because of their lack of intrest in their own country, the Italion way of living has reached the point of hating all religion.



-The people of the Christian church have no money. they can not afford to pay preachers. Therfore, a preacher cannot put the amount of time that is need to invest into the church so it will grow spiritually and physically.

Imagine attending the traditional church service you go to every sunday morning you can. You know how things are? You know the songs and what is going on. This time, the "American Hymns" had been translated into Italion. The sermon was in Italion. They stand up during communion. And it is ALL IN ITALION. I heard one word every now and then and that was "Si" (yes) when the church would agree with him.

It was however really inspiring to see a church of 40 sing louder than our 180 people youth service or many churches I have attended with my family across the country. They come to this hour service and no matter where they are, what has gone wrong, any distractions, they just give it all to God. Although, I understood nothing, I got alot out of it. Now I did forget about trying to understand the sermon and I just read through Romans which worked for me.

Today, we saw the Vatican musem (Sisten Chapel) and it was pretty much incredible. I hate musems but this one was an exception. Tomorrow morning, we leave the house at 5:30 to check in for our 11:45 flight. I know, "What is she thinking getting there 3 hours early!!!" My grandma is convinced you cannot get on the plane if you are not there that early. If that is the airport's rule and ou cannot get on the plane, I am ticked off. They just want me to spend 5 dollars on a coke!!!

Anyway, this trip has been really awesome and I have learned alot about myself through it. I understand there is no spell check and you are probably thinking can't he just proof read? NO. I am going to bed now. it is 11:40 and I am tired. It is sad that it has come to an end but I am ready for some family and Chick-Fil-A. Good night!!! Pray my flight doesn't crash over the water!!

Bari

Today is the first full day in Bari. For lunch, we went to visit a family that has an incredibly nice house. They have Internet! The 6 course meal was pretty much awesome. First they brought out this Lasagna (NO SPELL CHECK) type dish. It was really taste. I ate a lot no knowing there would be more brought out. Then they brought THREE more dishes/plates of Italion food that I couldn't enjoy do to eating to much ofthe other. Then they bring out this huge bowl of fruit that the host grew himself. Next they finally brought out coffee and desert (CAKE) which I couldn't eat due to my allergy to peanuts. (Probably best)

Before the house, we went through all of these villages and after these vllages, the car stopped at this really old fort ruins/looking place. It turns out that this deserted area was the place the allies took over during world war 2. Now the spcial thing about this place was that my Great Grandfather was the chaplin for this group in the war. Thoughout the war, he baptized over 1500 of the soldiers and citizens while stationed there. I didn't know any of this until my grandma showed me all of this today. I didn't know I had family that had to do with the war.

Tomorrow, we will visit the local Christian Church of where we are staying. The average attendance is around 60 people which is really good compared to most churchesvin the area. It will be strange to hear a whole service in a language I don't understand (Italion) including the sermon....

Wish me luck! I would post pictures of some things but I can't figure this pc out.

Day four...

Day four should be pretty different. We are leaving now to head to the airport to head to Bare, Italy where we will be more on the missionary side. (lots of homeade dinners!!!) We leave Bare on tuesday where we hopfully will go straight to the Coloseum. Wednsday morning, he pope comes out and blesses everyone. Gona go and take some pictures of some blessing!

Everything in Italy is later. People don't wake up till 9:00 in the morning compared to 6:00 in America. Then they don't eat dinner till 8:00 at night!!! my stomache is not the happiest...(it actually is is what is weird) then if they visit another house for dinner that evening, they stay out till 1:00 in the morning usally! Overall, Italy has been exciting so far. The Ice Cream is litterally the best thing I have ever eaten.

March 12 2009...

Today was pretty awesome. Here is the time line.

This morning, 9:00, we left for the catacombs (Like i said previously, no spell check or red curly lines :( sorry...)

We arrived there and took the short tour because we have no time in Italy.

Around ten this morning, we were dropped off (by the host) at the Coloseum.

We found all the information and realized that it is 30 american dollars (15 Euro) to enter the building. Not a huge deal... Next we went to the line and it is a billion years long. So we decided to come back tuesday when we arrive in Rome next week.

Next we walked a huge distance to this church that has a hallway of monk bones that they used to make designs with. (The skulls, ect...EVERYTHING) at the end of the hall way, there was a dead monk holding a sign that said,

"What you are we used to be...What we are you will be..."

thats cool.

Next we went back to this Ice cream place that we went to yesterday that I loved. Got the same thing again. ( i tried a bunch of samples) After that, we saw some more sites which rock sox. Basicly, i would wrtie until the keybored fell off but it is 12:30 am, and my flight for BARE leaves tomorrow at 8:30 and we have to be there two hours earlier. Good night. Pray for me!

P.S, I will post pics of me in the Coloseum, time is just running out and we have to go to another town now!

I am a tourist!!!

So today is the first official day of Italy. Yesterday, up for over 40 hours, I unpacked my things and moved into Italy. Lets start with the flight...

So 10:45 we departed St louis and headed to Cincinati (No Spell Check :( Sorry for this...) we arrived there and 10 minutes before we board our plane to new york, we hear on the lous speaker "We are sorry but due to storms and lack of plane room in new york, Flight "(Bunch of numbers)" will not leave for 3 extra hours" AWESOME... Our flight from new york to Rome leaves at 6:30 and we arrived in new york at 6:35!!!!! So good. After lots of impatience let out, (LONG story short) we took this incredible AIR BUS full of snooty french people. The plane had a plasma tv on each back of each seat!!! I watched High School Musical three all night....

The whole plane was litterally first class. (The Actual first class had really big and fancy chairs and bigger plasmas.)

8:00 am tuesday morning, we arrived in paris.

At noon, (exactly) we arived in ROME. YES ROME!!!

Now after walking over a billion miles, I am resting. (It is 12:19 am) We saw the outside of the Coloseum (the inside closes after 4:30 pm and we got there 5 minutes too late but saw all of the big stuff around it.

Today (yesterday I guess) we went to Vatican City where I SAW THE REAL POPE!!! He blessed a bunch of people. Then we visited all around there. I feel like a tourist walking around in shorts when everyone is dressed in scarfs and gloves.

Overall so far, I have learned that I have a huge love for FLYING, CLOUDS, Italian Ice Cream and Italian sunglasses. Good thing I can wear them...Also, (If anyone reads this lol) the glass bottles up top are full of water and nothing else. I even brought them back with me!!! Good Night!!!

12 hours...

So in less than 12 hours, I will be on a plane headed to Ohio where I will fly to New York where I have a 3 hour layover which will land me on a nonstop 8 hour flight to Italy. I am excited but scared for my life all at the same time. (I don't love flying) Tuesday morning, I arrive in Rome, Italy at 9:00 a.m (2 a.m central time) causing a lot of jet lag. WOOHOO!!!
I cannot wait for the next ten days. I am truely blessed to have the life that I live.
Goodnight!

My first video ever made.

So I was bored last night and decided to interview my brother ( he did all the talking so it is not an interview.) It took 6 trys cause he kept messing it up. We got home from AWANA last night and he began to describe his leader so I pulled out the video camra. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYOvyUFn0TI

Down the Drain

Here is where my life has gone as of last night.

http://dcb01.com/churchmusic/cams.php4

Crowder has finally started the process of recording the next album!

Italy

Monday morning, I will begin the journey halfway across the world to visit Italy with my grandmother. We leave around 7:30 that morning and return the 18th. (I think) Five awesome things I am expecting to come out of the trip are:

1. Away from everything and everyone for ten days!
2. I have over 20 hours of air time (roundtrip) to do make up school work!
3. I get to see Rome and several other parts of Italy!
4. I get to spend some time with my grandma.
5. Last and NOT least, All expenses are paid!!! (Aparently, she has been saving for this since I was born so I am overjoyed)

Tonight we had practice and I can finally say it is my week to lead with my very good friend. (I lead the band and she leads the congregation) It works really well for us cause I can't sing at this point (taking lessons as we speak) Tonight went really well though. I have had the set up for over 2 months (I lead every month..Shows how far I plan in advance...) Planning this advance allows me the time to prepare and change things around and basically make it perfect and wonderful. I wish I could say this sunday is the same set it was two months ago, but I can't. It is actually completely different and I really hope it goes well Sunday.

Song of the day: Stars-Crowder

Great Weekend!

Hello everyone.
This past weekend has been incredible for me. I attended the anual Disipleship Conference friday and saturday and just really grew with God. The coolest thing I got to experience was this elective Saturday morning that was a video that played and just told us to pray for different things. (Thanking God, Repenting, praying for community and family ect...)

I have understood this for a while but it really opened my eyes when another elective had the phrase, "Worship music itself is actually a VERY VERY small part of worship." I have known and understood this but I feel like I really grasp it now.

It seems like for the last few years of conferences, I attended looking and waiting for something incredible to hit me and change my life when why I was waiting and looking like crazy, I would miss everything important that would have affected me. This weekend, I just decided I was there to get to know God and to worship and glorify him providing me with one of the most incredible weekends ever.