Rambles that I hope will make you giggle and think...

    Well hello from the corn fields of Vinton, Iowa!!! Today is the end of my third day here. And instead of recapping a play-by-play of every moment, let me give you some of my favorites and paint you a few mind pictures.....
     From the tiny 50 passenger plain Iowa looked like a patchwork of white and grey. The corn fields that I pictured in my mind were nothing more than muddy fields with deep scars from years of plowing (which is sooo duh Becky, WINTER!) But I am so excited for the hope of Spring. Walking through the rows of corn with my eyes closed, sun on my face after a pale and pasty winter. Feeling the leaves tickle my palms as I walk past. Hope it is better than my imagination can conjure! May be a little corny (ha!) I know, but hey I am pumped to trade in sandy shores for fertilizer rich corn fields!
     I have concluded that for the most part, I love uniforms! I may look like a man but I have added 15 minutes to my sleep schedule in wardrobe planning. And turns out I brought an embarrassing about of clothes. So instead of receiving care packages I will most likely be sending some home to my teenage sister. More big sister clothes, woo hooo! So, back to the uniform... theme word is masculine. Yay... The pants are to be worn at our "natural waist", which if I actually wore them that way would be just a few inches under my bra, so how about no. lol. Instead I wear them at my bellybutton and still have about 4 inches of saggy crotch space. With our shirts tucked in and black belt like a bow on top, every beautiful woman looks like a truck driver. So all I have to do is put on a little chap stick and mascara and deodorant and let me tell you, I looook gooooood. Fun fact.... if 100 people are wearing it, it is officially a trend. So, I got 200 backing me, and if you don't look like my clone (beige, baggy and belted) you just ain't cool.
        I am loving meeting the people at my campus and native Iowians (Iowains? Iowish? haha idk.). If every person that was recruited for this program was labeled with a certain color, I don't think even Crayola would be creative enough to name us all. It is really awesome and beautiful and it shows how diverse God is since we are all created in His image. I walk around with a big smile on my face, asking what everyone is up to. I have had many opportunities to play mommy already. You know me. Made a sandwich for a teammate today and even cut it down the middle for him.
       I've had a few really awesome God moments already. No surprises there since he's carries us in His palm. Most already know what I believe. I hope I can make it clear that it is not so much that I am a Christian and about what I believe, but rather WHO I believe in. One moment that sticks out to me is since the day I got here there has been this guy that I have noticed. On the tiny plane to Iowa, I had no place to put my carry on. He noticed and took his from above and stuffed it under his heels (leaving his knees piled on his chest) to give me a spot. So kind and rare. But whenever I had seen him after that he was always on his own, ear buds in, even sitting in the corner while a room of others chatted cheerfully. Hurt my heart. So one night he was sitting alone in the lobby listening to music and I walked past to get to my room and smiled. Roommate was gone so I decided it was time to hang out with God. But as I got quiet I kept hearing the tagline from this conference I just went to......, "Empathy is not enough. Be the Love." So, you know those moments where you know God is talking to you and you keep trying to convince yourself otherwise??? Well this was one of those.  Thankfully, as always, God got his way and a minute later I was praying for some "winds" (reference to previous blog, "The wind blows wherever it pleases, you hear it's sound but you cannot tell from where is comes or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit." John 3:8). I got to spend two hours talking with the guy, learning about his life (which has been really rough), and getting to encourage him. It was awesome. Please pray for my lonely friend, that we would feel surrounded my love. I could read my bible for hours and not feel any closer to Jesus then I did during that time when I listened to that still small voice and loved one of His sheep. I have daily found myself shocked at how and where God appears. Met an awesome Christian brother here too who wants to start a bible study, and now have a group of about five heading to church this Sunday! I have learned to keep my eyes peeled because people are not what they seem. Like our creator we are complex and full of surprises :) So friend, I challenge you; how closely are you paying attention? What is God telling you to do? And (moment of truth...) are you going to listen?

Jesus said: "I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you.... Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:15-16


Love you all and thank you for how you love me back. Like before... Pray for Windy Weather.
  

Wait, I am moving to IOWA?! What?!?

     About a year ago I was caught in the crazy turmoil that every college senior goes through... "What's next?!". You might think that after 18 years of being in school and taking classes, especially in college when you really get into specifics, that I had discovered what I wanted to do. But as everyone else around me edged closer to graduation and starting making phone calls about internships and applying for positions, I just heard crickets. I didn't know where to go or what to do, but trusting in God I began to look at the passions He put in me. And everything that I loved to do had a resounding theme; serving others. This lead me to the program called AmeriCorps NCCC.
     For those of you who haven't heard of AmeriCorps NCCC, let me break it down for you. AmeriCorps is a program for the Corporation for National and Community Service. It was drawn from the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. We partner with non-profit organizations to address needs in our community and country related to natural disasters, environment stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, infrastructure improvement and urban/rural development. Some project examples may be working with the forestry department on controlled burnings, cleaning up and community building after flooding/hurricane damage, building homes with Habitat for Humanity. I am placed on a team of eight to twelve members between the ages of 18-24. For ten months we travel the U.S. serving, with a new project and location every six to eight weeks. So for a girl that loves serving others, getting my hands dirty, traveling and trying new things, this opportunity seemed unbelievable!
     So now here I am, twenty four hours away from stepping on an airplane and flying to the icy cornfields of Vinton, Iowa (the campus I was randomly chosen to serve at, woohoo!). I get butterflies just thinking about it. I will be trading in the sunshine and sweltering heat of Florida for sub zero weather and snow banks taller than myself. And corn, lots and lots of corn.
      Some of you may be asking, "What is the deal with her Blog name? "Riding the Wind? Pray for windy weather? Huh?". Well, I know that God has lead me to this opportunity in my life, just like he has done and will continue to do in my life and yours :) I love the idea that when we are serving God, we just go where he sends us. Knowing the he is good and provides a hope and future for his children. I know what I will be doing tomorrow, flying to Iowa, but after that I have no clue. I don't know who I will meet or where and what my projects will be, or if I will have enough clothes to keep me from being frostbitten! But I know that God has a plan, and that trusting in him is all I need.

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8


     We are called to be like seeds, fearfully and wonderfully created with a purpose. Blown in the winds of our creator to the places he calls us. Like a dandelion. We are planted, grow and produce fruit and then are sent off again wherever the Wind pleases. So friends, join me. Listen for God and trust what he says. Wait for the breeze, and pray for windy weather.