"Dobry Dem" from Praha

I'm sitting in a smoke-filled internet cafe in the outskirts of Prague as I write this. Christie (my roommate from UCLA) and I just went for an hour walk in the surrounding areas near our dorms. We discovered a secret park that looks like it's straight out of a medieval movie. The trees have black trunks and lush green leaves. The grass is damp and short. Park benches hide beneath trees and couples holding hands walk on the paths. Dogs bark nearby and an abandoned house is hidden beneath a grove of trees. This is our first adventure. It reminded me of the Secret Garden with many tiny paths leading into bushes and trees. We decided it would be a great place to run, and we will definately take advantage of the many beautiful parks in Prague.

The Prague Castle is a 15 minute walk from the dorms, perhaps in a few days I will walk to it. Today we got a thorough tour of the city. So thorough, in fact, that I have absolutely no idea where I am... We saw the famous Charles Bridge, Charles University, Prague Castle, the marketplace, many many many old beautiful buildings that have special meanings that I'm not aware of yet, lots of cobblestone streets, and so much more. I am in a whirlwind as I'm trying to recollect everything I saw today. In a few days I will learn my way around and become more coherent of the area. For now I will say that the city is beautiful. The architecture is ancient and you can almost smell the history here. I have so many hopes and ideas of what I desire for this trip to look like... I can't wait to find a special cafe or bakery or park where I can sit and read and write... I'm very much looking forward to that. :)

I also went to the convenient store near the dorms. It's somewhat difficult to buy groceries in a different language. Yeah I think I bought yogurt and cereal... we'll see. The Czech language is beautiful, I only wish I knew a word of it! I can barely say the standard greeting "dobry dem." Hahaha I continually want to speak in Spanish because that is the only foreign language I am familiar with, but uh yeah they definately don't speak Spanish here. Anyhow, that's Prague for now. Tomorrow we go to Moravia to taste wine and explore caves and view cryptic monks in coffins. I'll let you know how that goes in a few days! Until then....

p.s. Pray for my ankle please, I rolled it before I left and it is quite swollen and painful to walk. Somewhat a problem considering we walk a lot. Also, pray that I would experience God here in ways I couldn't imagine but are real and tangible and universal. 40% of Czechs are atheists. Also, pray for community here.

Last entry in the U.S.

Well friends, today I leave for Prague! Luckily, I will have internet access so I plan to blog as often as possible in order to share the experience with you all :) Too excited about this trip, that's all I gotta say! I've loaded up my brand new backpacking backpack (hey I figured it was as good a time as any to investest in one... pretty sure I'm going to get great use of it) and my daypack and I'm ready to go! 6 weeks, one bag and one carry-on. Frankly, I'm impressed. Excited to explore, read, write, eat, taste wine in Moravia, have conversations, take pictures, relax, and experience a new culture. Next time you read this, I will be in Prague. Keep checking in on the blog, I'll update often!

Here comes the bride...

Just returned from an incredible few days in Gig Harbor/Tacoma/Seattle area in Washington. It was absolutely amazing!!! Jackie's parent's home rests on the cliffs of the Pugent Sound with a delightful view and stairway access to the beach. Every morning we ate our breakfast on one of the three porches available to us and sat in silence as we gazed at the scenery in front of us. To the left of us were the Olympics, and to the right of us were the Cascades. When it was clear you could easily see Mt. Reynier... a majestic sight of a snow-topped mountain. It was tremendous!
The wedding was lovely, and the bride glowed as brides ought to. There were almost 25 UCLA students who flew up to Washington to attend/be in the wedding... that says a lot about who Jackie and Kyle are. Their friendship is beloved by so many, and their relationship has touched so many lives in LA. It was fun to see two great friends get married; I'm excited to see where God takes them in marriage...
Well, I'm off to pack for Prague now. Blessings friends

home for a day +

Moved out of my apartment yesterday, somewhat surreal.
In Bakersfield for a little over a day and all of the sudden I'm struck with urges of apathy, cynicism, and complacency. It's not home that's doing it to me- it's this wierd transition that I'm going through. So much is about to change, and I think that because it is so unknown to me, I'm not sure how to approach God in the moment... and believe me, I know the answers and I know the theology and I know what Sunday school and Christian institutions might tell me right now... yet I don't want any of it. Just give me Jesus as raw as possible right now. That's all.

The close of a chapter

Many friends are graduating today, and the atmosphere at UCLA is different. Moving vans litter the streets of Westwood, and inherited couches line the sidewalks. Every 8th person has a cap and gown on when you walk on campus (there are several graduations that take place at different times), and families with cameras are all over, beaming at their college graduate. Flower stands are located at several different places on campus... its' just a whole different feel. Three of my roommate (ok all but me) are graduating. They are caught up in the hustle and bustle of family meals, different ceremonies (potentially 3!), graduation parties, etc. I've observed and taken notes- cuz next year it will be me! Jackie is getting married in less than a week, so graduation isn't on the top of her mind.. she is entering a much bigger milestone. I'm excited for her- I swear she is looking very bride-ish. Something just happens to brides two weeks before the wedding and they start glowing... I've seen it a few times. Jackie is no exception.
Tonight I'm going to a graduation party with many of my closest friends and community here. This year has been an amazing testimony to the Body of Christ and building close community. We've spoken truth to each other, given one another grace, laughed often, danced (oh and there will for sure be tons of dancing tonight), gone on adventures, eaten lots and lots and lots of food, worshiped together (sometimes at church, sometimes at midnight in an apartment) watched movies, and so much more... In one year I've taken up rock climbing consistantly, gone kayaking, taken a hip hop class, worked at Starbucks, witnessed a co-worker come to Christ, worked at Outpost and witnessed the Spirit move in ways I've never seen before, dislocated both my kneecap and shoulder, gone to Yosemite with my closest friends here, experienced Hollywood, lived amongst athletes who love Jesus and learn to love Jesus through their sport, prayed a lot, cried a whole lot, laughed even more, and learned to love others in ways I never imagined. There's more but you get the gist. It's been an incredible year.
So many good friends leaving after tomorrow, but the friendships I've developed with them will be lifelong. Next year is a new adventure with new people and new activities. I'm going to live in an amazing apartment complex next year... and will learn a lot from that. Ok, so if you've followed me through this year (Starting from the fall and continuing until now), you know that I broke up with my boyfriend of 4 years last year at about this time (July 10 to be exact)... well, God has delivered me in so many ways from the relationship and from the brokenness. In fact, my living arangements next year testify to God's power to heal and to bless... I will live next door to Garett's new girlfriend Brittany (who is a sweetheart and a joy to be around), and downstairs fom Garett and his roommates. Haha I know that to most people this sounds ABSURD, and maybe it is- but nothing about the relationship or break up was completely normal, and God brought all of us to a place where we would be able to live in close quarters to one another. So the adventure continues, and God is good.
Before I get too far ahead of myself and start thinking about next year though, I have a few things to do and see before September. Here's my summer folks:
June 21-25: spend a few days in Washington to be a part of Jackie and Kyle's wedding
June 28: leave for Prague
July 30: leave Prague and travel in Italy
August 5: come to America
August 7: two week road trip with my family to Colorado (and yes I get to visit my incredible cousins whom I miss sooooo much)
September 3-6: 21st Birthday celebration with amazing people in the ummm yea, beautiful state of Nevada....
September 20: move back to LA.
It's a summer of travel that's for sure!!! Let the journey(s) begin...

Done Done Done!

I just finished my last final of the year at UCLA! Woohoo!!! So excited right now!
Now I get to think about moving out, Jackie's wedding, and Prague! Feeling good right now...

When one sinner repents... Heaven goes crazy

This past year at UCLA has been incredible. God has richly blessed me with community, fellowship, classes, an amazing church, fun activities, and a fantastic job. I've worked at Starbucks the past 8 months or so and just finished my last day on Friday. Throughout the entire time that I worked at Starbucks, I strongly felt that it was my place of ministry. It was my outlet to the world in which I could be a light in a dark place. There are a few other co-workers who are followers of Jesus, but for the most part, the setting is predominantly secular. What an amazing opportunity to act out the love of Jesus on my co-workers and on the customers. My prayer was that God would use me in this workplace to spread His love and message of salvation through my actions and words. I prayed that God would use me in any way necessary to plant seeds. I believe that God not only honored that prayer, but also allowed me to see the fruit of His work through me.

My last day of work was Friday. However, I had forgotten to get my last markout (free pound of coffee), and I didn't want to get it at any other Starbucks. Sooo in an attempt to both study and get my markout, I found myself back at my Starbucks. My goal had been to write my ten page paper that night. Well, when you give God control over the day, it never looks like you expect it to . My co-worker Baily was hanging out but not working. I started chatting with her and asked how life was going. Through a two hour conversation, I learned a lot about her life, her passions, and her brokenness. Her circumstances broke my heart. I knew she desperately needed Jesus, but felt my role was to listen. However, in the process of listening and talking to her about life, I shared little bits and pieces of my faith and of my own brokenness that I had experienced. Nothing overwhelming and nothing preachy, but just honest and pure reflection of my life and how God's hand had moved. I finally asked what her church background was, and she said she had been raised Jewish but never believed it. She continued so say that she had an interest in Christianity but really didn't know how to go about it. Ummm wow. So God definately just opened that door. I invited her to church with me the next day, and she was excited to go.

This morning I picked her up at 10:30 and she was super excited to come to church. She loved the service and asked how she could "sign up." She was fascinated by the people who spoke and the message presented. I was stoked beyond belief. During the service someone mentioned how Jesus met the broken ones, and Bailey really responded to that. I explained to her that Jesus meets us exactly where we're at in life... and brokenness is sometimes the best place to meet God. I walked her through the message of the Gospel, explained Jesus' ministry on earth, encouraged her to read the New Testament, and continued to reiterate the truth of the Gospel. Bailey was eating it up. She asked some questions about Bible Study, how to pray and when, etc. and I answered as God allowed me to. When we were almost back to the parking lot, I told her that I felt like Jesus was pursuing her. She agreed and told me about some other times in her life that she had encountered a desire to know Jesus personally. She said that she believed the message of salvation and was excited about all she learned. I asked her if she felt ready to make a commitment to follow Jesus, and she said yes. We prayed together and she became a sister in Christ. It was absolutely amazing to see the joy of Christ wash over her. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face. It was real and genuine. Christ had prepared her heart and she was more than ready. No doubt that her conversion was a real experience and that Christ has made Himself known to her as her Lord and Savior. Praise God.... seriously He is amazing. It's so cool to see Him transform someone who had yesterday not wanted to go home from work because of the situation at home. Now she can't wait to tell people about Jesus.

Today camp starts. Camp is a beautiful place. God's work is done and is fruitful and is abundant. He encounters the broken, the eager, the poor, and the wealthy. I've seen God transforms hearts and lives through camp and the staff and counselors. But my experiences with God's transformation in people outside of ministry have been few. It's so easy for me to share the gospel and offer the message of salvation when I am in a ministry setting. Not so easy when I am in the world. Yet God has shown me how He works in the world too. His divine hand has arranged encounters for His kingdom, and it is His power that saves. I am in a state of praise and joy for the kingdom of God is growing and God is working. Really I just want to dance and sing and jump for joy because His power and love and hope transformed a life today. Bailey's life has now been touched with the truth and grace of the Almighty God.

Blessed Be His Name

All in one day

So after turning in my paper, blogging, reading, journaling, etc... it was off to Westwood to meet Jackie. Here are the fun things that happened:
I bought a hot dress and a kickin top with some fun earrings
Jackie and I had an amazing dinner and convo at Dameon & Pythias
Went to Starbucks
Saw Brad Pitt (really)
also saw Angeline Jolie, although Brad was more exciting. I must say that Brad isn't the greatest as a blonde, but he is, nonetheless, extremely good looking.
Went to our last Bible Study where we did affirmations and I was just truly blessed by the night...
And tonight I can sleep well knowing I don't have to wake up early to finish a paper!

What a Wonderful Savior

This morning I turned in a paper that had been a source of significant stress in my life (hey did you like that alliteration?) for quite some time. It was about Jesus and women. Actually, I really enjoyed the research and the topic- it was just hard to be diligent about writing it. Last night at 10pm I had written two significant paragraphs of 8 pages, and my mind was far from wanting to write. Though I had spent most of the day trying to write, I could not concentrate for the life of me. It was maybe one of the most frustrating things ever... So I prayed for grace, and I stubbornly didn't want to because I feel like I'm constantly praying for grace. Yet, that's all I could do. Sooo about 10pm Jackie and I sat down and prayed for a good long time until the peace of Christ washed over me and I was able to write. Interestingly enough, the writing process was also a time of healing and revelation of God's radical love. Because my paper topic was focused on the redeeming power of Jesus in the life of women (no it wasn't a feminist paper as some would call it, but it was filled with truth), I started to assess the healing of Jesus in my life... physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc. The women that Jesus interacted with were at the bottom. No doubt they were at a point of desperation when Jesus encountered them (at least in the healings). And through God's redemptive love and grace, Jesus called them "daughter" and healed them. He healed them completely.

I remember reading Mark 5:21-43 this past summer, and I remember that at the time, I was physically broken (and about to be emotionally and spiritually broken as well)... the fact that Jesus healed completely, though they were considered ritually unclean was huge. I prayed for healing then. It's still a process though. I forget sometimes how powerful Jesus is.... and yet I don't doubt His power as much as I doubt His willingness to bestow grace and love and encouragement in my life... I doubt His willingness to heal me. Interestingly enough it is faith that brings healing. Jesus constantly says, "Your faith has healed you." Praise God that He is refining my faith and allowing me to know and understand His willingness to not only provide, but to provide joy and passion and abundance of life. As my dad wisely pointed out to me, "Annie God is not out to get you. He's not going to get His big thumb and squash you... He loves you and is eager to provide what you desire and need" (it was something to that effect, sorry dad if I got it wrong).

In the sanctification process, God tunes our will towards His. Abide in me and I will abide in you. I'm abiding. No other choice really, and I would have it no other way.
The message so clearly outlined in the actions of Jesus in the Gospels is a message of love and liberation. It abounds in healing and redemption and grace.... what a marvelous Savior we worship, and what a wonderful God who would desire that we would be restored rightly to Him. He pursues me, and for that I am grateful.

Word of Encouragement

"... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

State of my heart...

Lord I'm wandering
Through this world not knowing which way to turn
Will you stop me?
Will you point the way?
Or am I meant to tread
To tread on this road appearing to go nowhere
Sometimes I feel like I know the way
I wonder if I recognize your hand when you guide me
What if I am wrong?
Lord I'm desparate to have my eyes opened
Are you molding my heart?
Is it where it should be?
Can I trust you to guide
When all I feel is confusion and fear
My confidence left me and I tremble
So eager to hear your voice
If you tell me to turn I will
But I need to hear from you
Why do I feel so eager?
What is it that I am learning?
And Lord are you Sovereign?
I don't want to mess up
Are you showing me the way?
Lord release me from my anxiety
And send me on the path you've chosen
I will go the hard way if you tell me
I've been broken before
I'm not afraid to love you
I'm afraid I'm missing your direction
Free my eyes to see clearly
Empty me of my closed mind and the rights I think I'm due
Let me explore the trail of your Righteous love
Lead me on an adventure
Take me there Lord and let not my heart be my trap
I need you
Position my heart so it reflects your will
You alone I long to serve, please, and be sustained by
Is this you Lord?
If so make your presence roar
May I hear it in my soul and follow you on this journey
To you all glory is due
Amen