Matamoras, Mexico

When people think of Mexico they usually think of a fancy resort or a honeymoon spot, it most definitely is so much more. Mexico is a bittersweet memory for me! This trip was with my high school youth group. We actually took a charter bus....LONG DRIVE! The first 3 days I was there I actually had to stay in bed because I had become very very ill. Being far away from my mom and in a hot foreign country, this was not ideal for me! But once I started to feel better I did one of the most meaningful things I am proud to say I did. We went to a children's Cerebral Palsy rehab center and for hours would rub out their muscles, in hopes that when they grew up, they had a better chance of walking! I was so meaningful to me. We also took part in starting a foundation for a new church through AIM ministries. Being a girl I didn't feel like I could do much, but I took my turn in the hot sun shoveling away.
http://www.adventures.org/

The foundation for the church.

Me trying to help out! haha

A church we did a bible school for the children.

The long bus ride!

Our base where we stayed.

A little friend I made.

 This video is just a small look at what children have to live like in Mexico.

China & Hong Kong

My first overseas traveling abroad experience was to China and Hong Kong. I was only 15 years old at the time. After hearing about this trip where missionaries go over to China and bring the bible in because the Chinese could not get access to it really inspired me and I wanted so badly to go and take part in that. Being under 16 I had to take a parent with me so I talked my dad into going with me.
Not only did we have a suitcase filled with bibles when we entered into the country, but as we were there, we took trips across the border into Shenzen several times each day carrying bookbags, briefcases, or rolling luggage across the line to a hotel where they would package up the bibles and ship them out to different Chinese churches. Since I was so young I was able to get away with it pretty easily. One specific trip back I got stopped by authorities when they looked in my passport and they started getting questioned me on why I had been back and forth so many times in one day. At first I panicked inside, but the first thing that popped out of my mouth was, " Well there is better shopping over the border and I couldn't carry it all back in one trip". They believed me!! Such a fashionista!!

In downtown Hong Kong.

The Blue Mall. It was five stories high!

The small train beds we were on for 30 hours from China to Hong Kong.

Sitting on top of The Great Wall!

Along with the intent of the trip, we got to travel around and site see. Hong Kong was similar to New York City with the big couture name stores. The language barrier was definitely a problem sometimes, but other than that, it was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had in my life. AND I can say I got to climb the Great Wall of China!

http://www.go4thinjesus.name/pdf/June%202011%20Mission%20Flyer.pdf

The Windy City : Chicago

What a special surprise, my mom and sisters had planned a surprise trip for my 21st birthday to Chicago, Illinois for the weekend! I may have traveled many places outside of the U.S. but it was actually my first time to Chicago. The surprise got even better when I found out we were staying the Intercontinental right on Michigan Ave. The biggest area of fashion in the city. I was in heaven. Upon arriving to my room was a bottle of wine a piece of happy birthday cheesecake. I was loving the feeling of luxury. The first night there was actually saw The Blue Man Group in concert. If we haven't seen them or head of them definitely check them out! What a great show! http://www.blueman.com/
The second day there was full of shopping! Up one side of the street on Michigan Ave, and back down the other. Stories high of any store you could think of. My favorite was probably walking into Neiman Marcus and trying on the furry Chanel high heeled boots that I had only seen in magazines before that. I had never heard of the 900 shops mall until I went to Chicago. Definitely another must go to for those fond of shopping and fashion.
The third day was filled with site seeing from the Navy Pier to the Willis Tower ( formally known as the Sears Tower).
It was late October so it was very chilly and windy, however it was one of the nicer and cleaner big cities I have been to.

 

Japan

A few years back, my family took a mission trip to Japan. We went to three cities in particular. They were Kamigori, Sanyo, and Wake. The sad part is ,only 1% of the Japanese people are Christians.  Now where there is a lot of people of Japan, the number is still depressingly low. These 1% are very discouraged because there is not a lot of people practicing and following the same things they are. That is why they like when other Christians come around. Plus we were American! Our sole purpose of the trip was definitely not just the sight seeing, but to encourage the few Christians.
We visited three churches, each in one of the three cities we went to. We made amazing connections with mothers and children, as well as whole families. I got to try new food I have never tried before such as octopus, and see sights that most people only see in text books. These were things like Hiroshima and the women dressed in their kimonos.
Kimonos were not the average outfit for women over there. They for the most part dressed just like Americans. However in some of the bigger cities where is was touristy, or if there was a wedding, they would dress in the traditional Japanese attire.

Japan was an incredible opportunity to not only see more of the world, but to be an encouragement to others even way across the world.