Maine to Philly to Honduras (and El Salv and Guate!)

It's been a week and two days now since I've been home from Maine, and it's been a chill time hanging out in hot and rainy Philly at Andrew and Jen's with them and their three littles Rora, Breezy, and Levi. 

Starting out my summer by going to Seminar by the Sea in Ocean Park, Maine was an incredible experience. I highly recommend this class (which is given through my school, Eastern University) to my college age friends! We had wonderful faculty and faculty assistants with whom I've created dear friendships. We had a variety of visiting faculty, and each class was filled with honest discussions, learning new concepts, and becoming aware. We also watched fascinating documentaries. Readings for class, writing responses, reflection papers, and our final project took up most of our time, but we as students had the chance to be together at the beautiful Oceanwood Camp, and spend time on the beach just a short walk down the street. It was also a great opportunity to be away from cell phones and the business of life and just be in creation and enjoy the world and people around me. This close-knit community created friendships that I will cherish for a long time. The best part about this class is that our faculty, Rebecca, Landi, Jen, and Xaris, cared not only about our academic progress, but about us as people. My hope to begin finding value in my own voice was fulfilled; it is clear to me that God lead me to this place and gave me these mentors at this time as I begin to walk in a new way. I am confident that He who began a good work in me will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). This experience was the best way I can imagine beginning my summer, and really the rest of my college years.

In just a few hours I will head to Honduras. I am so excited to go see my friends Ted, Susan, and Grace who are working with CURE, to spend time in worship with my dear friends at the Musical Garage, to be a part of ministry with Juventud Para Cristo (Youth for Christ), and to see my friends and missionary friends at my church, International Christian Fellowship, specifically Samaritan's Purse, Manos Unidos En Cristo, and Reach Out Orphanage Ministries! I'm grateful to know these people and to have the opportunity be once again be in this land that I love so much, that I miss calling "home."

One of my classmates and new friends from Seminar, Maggie, is currently in El Salvador, so once I get to Honduras I will jump on a bus and go see her and her friends for a few days, and we are also going to take a quick trip to Antigua, Guatemala, which I am SO excited for! Antigua was my first home away from home. I'm so excited to see all my Iglesia del Camino and YWAM friends!!! Plus my Spanish school and maybe even my teacher if she is still there. This little El Salv/ Antigua addition was super last minute  (within the last few days!) and I'm in complete awe as I see God work out these details. I didn't even try to make any of this work out; it all just fell into place! I cannot wait to be with friends and ministries that are so dear to me.

kings and queens

as i was sitting at andrew and jen's last night on the sofa with my dog, writing in a quiet house after three little happy babies went to bed, this song randomly came into my head. my favorite. random songs are always running through my head, and i'm usually humming it, and it's best when it's one i love. 

is this not the best?! 

it never gets old. i think that's always the way God's kingdom works.

i am continually humbled and in awe as i see the work that God is doing in Haiti and that my family has had the privilege to be a part of. i am so blessed to see my parents develop such amazing friendships and ministry partners in our friends such as ray and joan conn with the resatvek foundation, love a child orphanage, convoy of hope, and mark stuart and family with the hands and feet project. there are many many more than i can even name.

just after the semester ended and before i left for maine, i had the chance to be in nashville for show hope's 10th anniversary celebration! 

they had several amazing friends and musicians come and share, one being audio adrenaline who shared this favorite!

Sophomore?!

It's hard to believe that on Tuesday I finished my fifth final, bringing an end to my freshman year. It's incomprehensible to me how it seems so long ago that the year started, yet it went by in a flash. Each day dragging on, I counted down the days to each vacation we had, and now that we're done, it's bittersweet. I guess most of life happens that way. 

As I've said before, I'll say again, I'm grateful for Eastern to have the privilege of studying there. The friends I've made and professors I had have made this first part of the journey not only possible for me but so enjoyable. It's encouraging to look back and see how much I've grown over this year, and I look forward to the coming years. 

These three days since the semester has ended have been strange yet wonderful. Strange because I feel free as bird, studies no longer taking all my time and not living by the moment-by-moment mindset where my mind is focused on the next assignment due. Yet I don't quite know what to do with or particularly like having this free time because it's a mindset adjustment to enjoy it and not feel like I'm wasting time.

I've spent these past few days with my family in Philly, and we've kept quite busy. On Wednesday we went to the Franklin Institute with Sarah and her friend Bekah, and their combined 8 kids. My friend Claire came along. I think we had as much fun as the kids.

On Thursday we went to the Philly Zoo which was a great time. Again I think I love the animals as much as the kids! 

a fun bunch of the Block and Crosby kids with Ben Franklin

Hallie watching the bears at the zoo!

Little Will in the small animal exhibit           Will the monkey

with the porcupines            

It's been a great first few days of summer... I'm thankful to call both Philly and Bear Creek home at this time. I'm heading to Maine for the month of June for a summer course through Eastern. I have plans to go to Honduras for a couple of weeks in the beginning of July before I start nannying at Andrew and Jen's for the rest of summer before sophomore year quickly comes again.

Here is a (very long!) photoblog that captures just a few of the very many blessing in my life during my days as a freshman.

Fall semester I volunteered at a preschool for my Service Learning. What a time I had with these kids and how much I learned from them! 

Shane Claiborne came to speak the first Sunday of the academic year. It was a good word to start the year off. And we chatted about our mutual friend, the one and only Fred Smith!

spent Fall Free Days with these four sweet kids of mine (ok my sister's)

my friends continually amaze me with their talent.. Chinese character for "love"

thankful to have a job taking care of Mabel and her brother Gustav

also thankful to have a job taking care of Isla and her three brothers. She reminds me so much of my niece Hallie!

when my friends remind me that He is greater than I

when I need a break from school and just want to be home...I'm scrolling through facebook or twitter and see a picture that makes my day.. literally. Action shot of 8 kids on a sled?!?! My family rocks.

my super awesome bathroom floor cleaners! Everyone should use these.

Dad flew up from Sanibel with the girls for Aunt Chara's memorial service, and Abby stayed the night with me.

when my friend Pavy in Honduras sends me pics of the new puppies born to our dogs at the Juvintud Para Cristo camp in Copan.

                                      family weekend in NYC

Show Hope annual fundraiser in Nashville... good word from Francis Chan 

THANKSGIVING break. Sisters and Mom

Freh, one of my two algebra tutors first semester. Oh the fun times we had.

Celebrating Claire's birthday with Zoe just before the end of the first semester

 Jimi came to visit me!

Christmas Eve dinner... fun times with cousin Sarah. Gotta love the Oechsle side of the family!

Sanibel over the New Year! Unforgettable memories made with my sisters

My Honduran family...

and dear friends...

 visited them all between semesters

 Then went to Elizabeth's wedding in Nicaragua!

Springtime on our campus... 

 

 Went to Zoe's dance class with her one afternoon... a highlight of spring semester

Spring break in Sanibel with family and Claire and cousin Ben

After Eastern's first annual 5k race this spring, we had a color dance to raise money for Operation Net!

With my freshman roomie Abbie on her birthday after some RED MANGO :)

Easter weekend in Bear Creek! Sarah and Dan were so nice to have me and Hannah, Claire and Thanny

Some nights homework parties turn into sleepovers

 Cara... my fellow Latin culture loving friend.

Greg.. what can I say about this hero of mine and leader of Kids for the Kingdom

I have a record of visiting the Bridgemans once a semester. My North American  "Honduran" family who now live in Hershey. In the fall I got to see Jay and Pauline and the girls and reminisce about our days down south while eating sopa de frijoles and baleadas!

This time Grace came all the way from Honduras to see us! Her first time to PA.

 Jon made came out from Cali for our cousins retreat at Stoneleigh this spring. Always thankful when I get to see him.

One of the hardest parts of this year (and life) was losing our dear Rich. Margie and Andrew and Suz are heroes to me.

Rich and Suz made a trip to PA to visit their old home and friends three months earlier. It was a most precious time together

another sadness and very difficult part was losing Melinda, my friend Grace's Mom. Grace and her six siblings and father are faithfully continuing to serve and trust God.. every day they challenge, encourage and inspire me.

(See this tribute to her on her blog here)

Nearing the end...sometimes we feel dead after chem lab.. that's it.

Thankful for Anj and Jen who I will get to nanny for full time for the second half of summer when baby #4 comes! Here they are at the party in which they found out it's a girl!

ice pack for my wisdom teeth removal. Just in time before finals.

Emily and Shami come to the US!!!

sleepover with Emily and Claire

all care packages from Mom are great... but some are awesome! (like when they include matching t-shirts!)

Dr. Thomas walks into class one day with 14 stitches and black eye... he tried to catch a football while riding his road bike across a grassy, muddy field! He is the greatest psych professor for so many reasons.

when Dr. Acky wears his hat from the Republic of Georgia to class. I think he is the only reason I survived philosophy.

safety goggles and rubber gloves... last chem lab with my partners (beautifully photo bombed by the only two males in the entire lab)

MIDNIGHT breakfast the day before finals week starts

another reason Eastern rocks- they bring therapy dogs for students to de-stress  during the day before finals start. This is Darla the beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog.

thankful for my study buddies and fellow nursing major girls.

 jumping in the river after a run with Zoe.. it's what we do best.

Celebrating the last weekend at school at the Phillies game with Megan and Abbie!

Our boys lacrosse team won 22-6 in the championship! I've never watched lacrosse before until this year, and it comes in as a close second to soccer. 

flower garden a the house where I babysit 

first day of summer!

I share room with this little one when I'm in Philly, so mornings are always happy :)