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| [This is the 'support letter' I've just sent out...I figured whoever
stumbles upon my site might like to give it a read too. So, have at it!
(If you dare, it's quite lengthy) gosh, it's about a million times more lengthy than I'd intended...oops]
Well hello there to all you beautiful and wonderful people!
I
know I know.. a mass letter.. forgive me, please. But it is the only
way I can think of to let you dears in on what I’m hoping to accomplish
this summer.
By now, many of you have probably received and read
an email from my sister explaining a bit about the trip we’re hoping to
take this summer and even more about her heart behind it. Well,
considering her letter was rather long, I’ve resolved to keep mine a
bit shorter so as not to talk anybodies ears off about the subject.
(i'll do my best to keep the word count at a minimum, but it'll be
hard! So, sorry in advance if this turns into a novel!) The feelings
and passions she shared in her novel of an email are exactly the same
as mine, which I guess makes sense, seeing as we’re twins and all. ;)
So,
my sister and I are planning to go to Guatemala this year on a missions
trip. And if you’ve known about us going on these trips for any length
of time, you’ll know that they’re not just ANY‘ol missions trips.
The
trip is through Brio Missions, an organization that takes hundreds of
teenagers out of their every day normal lives and plops them smack in
the middle of a completely life altering experience. They are plunked
down in the middle of a third world country for two weeks and spend the
entire time just serving the people of the community and also being
challenged physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
These teens
fly in from all over the world (mostly the USA though) and land in
Miami, FL where they go through 3 days of pretty crazy training. The
training includes Drama Training, is so they can learn a 22minute
evangelistic drama that they’ll use to spread the gospel of Christ to
the people of Guatemala. And (super condensed) Language & Cultural
Training.
The third day after landing in Miami (by now everyone has
been split into their perspective groups of nearly 30 teenagers and a
half dozen adult leaders) we are all piled onto planes and flown to a
completely new experience.
Sarah and I will be going out there as team leaders.
No,
the five hundred kids on the trip don’t just get to wander around by
themselves and hope everything goes okay…behind the scenes this trip is
a well oiled incredibly complicated machine…all working around a few
goals: bring the gospel and love of Christ to the dear and wonderful
people of Guatemala, bring God and his infinite amazingness to the
reality of these teenagers, and of course, keep them safe along the
way. : )
Being a leader on these trips is quite a challenge, that is for sure.
But the reward and blessing you receive is not even measurable.
I
can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at these kids on my team (of
usually around 35 people per team) and just gawked in utter amazement
at the maturity and love and wisdom and just plain JESUS flooding out
of these kids. It’s incredible.
But on the other side of that is
where God tends to use us leaders most on these trips. The brokenness,
heartache and confusion that many of these kids are bearing on
themselves is intense. I don’t know if you’ve noticed yet or not, but
this generation is crying out for love and justice. Many of the things
kids these days have to carry upon their shoulders is just incredible.
And the pain and choices it brings along with it are more than anyone
that age should be handling.
After a few days of being out of their
normal every day lives, and being completely (pardon the cheesy phrase)
ROCKED by God… they start to open up to their leaders. Some of the
stories you hear are shocking, and some inspiring… but most of all what
these kids are looking for is love an affirmation… and my oh my, I love
to spread such things around!
I remember my first year on this trip
as a teenager, and I can tell you honestly that my life has never been
the same since that first summer in Panama. Partly because of the trip
in general, but mostly because of my team leaders.
I have never felt
so much love and encouragement from someone in my life. And once I got
home my life was different. I had purpose, and I felt like I was
actually worth quite a bit to this here planet. Goals and dreams
started to well up within me and I felt like I actually had something
to contribute. Now, quite a few years later.. I can still look back on
that trip and remember conversations, and moments that are still
shaping me into the woman I am becoming today. I still look back on
those nights where God was speaking to me so clearly, a lot of times
through those willing and loving team leaders, and it’s encouraging me
even to this day to keep walking out in who God has made me to be.
If
I can be even a FRACTION of what those leaders were to me back then, to
a girl now? Well, that would make me the happiest person alive, I’m
quite sure of it.
Everybody needs someone in their life showing them
how loved they are by God and how much he IS involved in their lives
and actually cares about them…now that is something you could never put
a price tag on.
… I know God has called me to be one of his messengers to a girl just like me…and that’s exactly what I want to do this summer.
aaand now to the not-so-fun-to-write part of this letter… it’s the part where I ask for “fanatical support” * cough* cough*
Yeah… as wonderful as this trip sounds, it also takes money to go, and quite a bit of it.
If
you read Sarah’s letter (which if you never received one, let me know!
I’ll send you a copy.. it’s long, but quite a good read, if I do say so
myself!) you’ll know that we’ve been ridiculously blessed with a HUGE
portion of the cost of this trip taken care of for us already.. now
we’re just down to the last half. But it’s still a pretty whopping
chunk of cash, more than I can make in time working at Starbucks,
that’s for sure.
We still need about $1,800 (EEKS!) and our goal date to have all of our money in by is 8th of May.
Now
I know most of you aren’t sporting $1,800 in your back
pockets…(darn)…but even if you have $5 to send my way, I’d really
appreciate it! And I’m not just saying that, every single penny that
comes is counted an immeasurable blessing, and usually makes me cry
with joy at how giving people can be.. hehe
OH! And just so you know I’m not all about the mula!
Your
prayers mean the world to me, probably even more than money. I’d not be
able to spend two weeks in a third world country, using my time
rounding up kids, making sure they’re safe ‘n sound, eating, in bed on
time, solving arguments and squabbles…being there at the ready with a
hug and a prayer when tears are streaming down their faces… all on
about four hours a sleep a night.. if it weren’t for your prayers. I
know it’s hard to believe, but all the leaders on this trip…aren’t
super heroes. Crazy.
So if you can spare a few prayers to send
my way, or even some pocket change.. I’ll be forever indebted to you!
You can count on it!
My lands. This has gotten FAR longer than
I’d anticipated.. and trust me, I’ve SO much more to say about this
trip and the things God does thru it and the people on it… but I will
spare you any more boring words for now. (you can always email me or
call if you’d like some more of my ramblings sent your way! )
Oh yeah!
Here is how you can donate to my trip:
Checks or cash can be mailed to:
*** sorry, took my address out just for safety's sake,
ask me for it in a comment if you so care to ***
or!
If
you’d like to donate via credit card I do have a PayPal account that
you can go through, just let me know if you’d like to do that and I’ll
give you all the details ☺
Ohyes. And there is always option number 3.
Find me in person.
I promise to return the favor with a hug.
I’ve been told I’m pretty good with those.. ha.
Anyway, thank you EVER SO VERY much for reading my ramblings!
And I’m sorry they got a little out of hand.
Much love,
essa. | | |
|
oops.
i can't believe so long has passed since i last wrote a single word on here...
goodness me!
so...if you've yet to hear... i'm back in california now.
have been since the very very end of january.
and i do miss washington a lota lot.
being back is ever so strange... it feels like i've only been back a day or two.
and at the same time... it also feels like a billion years ago.
or even more strange.. it really doesn't even feel like i ever lived in washington...
that sure doesn't even make sense.
anyhoo.
i've been busy [duh].
school.
work.
and picture taking.
had two engagement shoots this week.. and we have two weddings for next month.
crazy.
getting to take pictures of people in love makes me pretty happyful at times.
especially when you get a shot you really like.
dunno why, but this is my fav so [so far] from last weeks shoot.
i'm pretty sure it's the color(s)... they just make me so happy happy happy!
and, of course...
the fact that they LOOK so dang happy happy happy! sure doesn't hurt anything ;)
it also makes me pretty happy when i get to shoot in places like this:
[i really don't get how i'm aloud to live in such a beautiful place..
blows. my. mind.
____________________________________________________
highlight of the moment?
SPRING BREAK!!!
and just what does that mean for me???
i'm finally getting our LGP website up.
WAHOO!
and we're figuring out all our packages and pricing for our photography biz.
pretty exciting.
during this week i also have to read an entire book on the history of slavery in the US.
also quite exciting.
or would be if it wasn't written so horridly.
i can hardly keep my eyes open past a paragraph.. heh.
works great for dealing with my insomnia tho!
hehe.
anyway.
yeah.
it's late.
tomorrow is a full day.
church.
ranch (we finally get to meet mi tia angelica's horses!!)
and dinner with the white [usually rather boring] side of the family.
pictures of pretty horses to come soon. :)
mucho of the essa love to you all!
ohand, have a splendid easter, please. | | |
| the house i currently find myself in is one of the most homely and
warm (not in temperature) houses i've had the pleasure of residing
in in quite a long time.
it's full of hand stitched quilts and home made afghans.
granny squares galore!
everything from the smell as soon as i walked in the door to the floral
wallpaper covered walls to the posed studio family portraits in their
wooden frames covering the hallways ...well it has me feeling right at
home for some reason.
my home doesn't look anything like this..but it's a sense of belonging
and family that just emanates from this house.. it's perfect in every way.
cheesy, but perfect. ;)
one day, i hope my home will feel as welcoming as this place to the
people that step foot over it's threshold..
this house has obviously been well lived in.
and well loved in.
and judging by the nonstop chatter escaping from the man of the houses
lips.. it holds many stories as well..
there is quite a bit of jolly laughter greeting me from underneath this
bedroom door...i think perhaps, i'm off to go listen to some more grand tales...
.essa | | |
|
and i can't believe i was so stupid.
what was i thinking...???
I
went skiing with my cousin yesterday, and when i was packing up my gear
i guess i set my $2000 camera down on top of the car cause while
driving back from the mountains last night we heard a thump on the hood
of the car but didn't really think much of it till we got back to
Seattle... i was going to say goodbye to my other cousin since i'm
flying out tomorrow.. and i coudln't find my camera anywhere..
long story short... my aunt looked for it on the way down the mountain and found it.
it's smashed beyond repair.
and it had my $700 wide angle lens on it too... which got run over and isn't even recognizable anymore, of course.
i just can't believe it.
i... i don't have a camera anymore.
my parents worked so hard to get it for me.. and i just set it on top of my car and let it fly off the side of a mountain?!
how ungreatful am i?
my lands.
ohyeah.
and i'm flying out to Boisie to shoot a wedding tomorrow..with no camera. | | |
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