30 while I am 30

On my 25th birthday I decided to make a list of "30 things before I am 30." This was a list of thirty things that I wanted to learn, do or accomplish before my 30th birthday. My wonderful roommates, Brenda and Trish, made me an amazing scrapbook to document each thing...also they helped me cross #1 off my list - ride an elephant :)

Since the inception of the list, I have only completed 3 things on the list...riding an elephant, go to Biltmore Estate (thanks Lisa :) and go to Disney World. What's crazy is that in 2 months (almost to the day) I will turn 30...yes, thirty-flirty and thriving!
So the other day it hit me...there is no way in two months that I can possibly complete the other 27 things on my list!!!! "Well what is left on your list,Rhonda?" you may ask...things such as learn another language, I still need to cross Asia off of my continents list, learn a passage of Scripture, learn to drive a stick shift...the list goes on and on.

I have made a decision...and I am trying to be okay with it...hahahaha...I am going to rewrite my list. It will be "30 while I am 30"...so in other words, I will make a list of thirty things that I want to accomplish over this next year of my life.

I am very excited for this...hope you are too :)

Stay tuned for the list...I will have it posted by my birthday (september 24th)

Also, feel free to comment and give ideas of what should be on my list!!!

...heres to some creative thinking, excuse me DREAMING....yay!!!!

did you know...

Did you know that...
magenta is my favorite color
mac n cheese is the greatest food in the world
I have to have sour cream with my chips and salsa...and I LOVE chips and salsa
I am 100% extroverted...so no shyness in me :)
reading is a great way to spend my time
traveling is a true joy that I have
teaching is my passion
my niece is the cutest little girl EVER
my nephews will one day think I am cool (I hope)
the book of Hebrews is my favorite book of the Bible
Survivor is the most intriguing show (in my opinion)
I would really like to do The Amazing Race show one day...except for the food part
I am convinced that hell is only 3 degrees hotter than Texas
I have met many amazing people on my world travels...friends and young people I will never forget
I think 4 and 5 year olds are some of the coolest people ever...if you disagree you should teach them for a few years...there is NEVER a dull moment!
I am very thankful for my family
my family can drive me crazy faster than any other people on the face of the earth!
I miss playing the piano...and softball...I miss being a kid (sometimes)
I am not sure where my life is going...but I am enjoying the journey :)

do not awaken love

The Bible teaches us to not awaken love until its time...well, I feel as though my "love" is in a coma and has become unresponsive.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am content in my singleness and I do NOT allow it to keep me from doing anything that I want or the Lord calls me to.

I want to trust the Lord with this...but it is quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

I want to believe and have faith that the Lord knows and has my best interest in mind.

And I do believe and I do have faith...but putting that into practice is a whole different story.

I have read books and had many talks about "living the full single life". And it's good stuff, and I have put a lot of it into practice in my life.

The reality is this... I am almost 30 and have been on one date in my whole life, I have never had a boyfriend (well at least not since jrhigh), I have never been in love.

The reality is this...I have made mistakes, I have not given my all to the Lord over the years, I have searched for love in all the wrong places.

But here is what I know now. A dear friend challenged me once, he said "Rhonda, I know that the Lord has someone for you in His time. But until then, working on being the woman that you desire to be should be your focus."

As women we always talk about the type of husband we want, the leader we want our husband to be, the manly man our heart desires. A lot of times we fail to focus on the things we can work on...becoming the woman that that man deserves...a Proverbs 31 woman.

That is my hearts desire, my hearts desire is to be a woman who is trusted by her husband, a woman who people know she is wise with her time, money and efforts, a woman who her "children" honor and respect.

I will leave the life support machine running on my love life...but until the "doctor" can figure out the cure I will work on becoming the woman that the Lord desires and my husband desires.

Peru 2011

I just returned from my 2 week mission trip to Lima,Peru. I was part of leading a team of 24 missionaries into the heart of the city to minister God's word.
We worked hard to learn a 16 minute drama...they did amazing! We took "The Journey" all over the city and ministered to over 1200 people. The Lord used us to see over 100 people receive salvation. We loved on the people, played with the kids and believed for miracles - physical and spiritual.
The most impactful thing for me was the team. I have led many teams all over the world...but the place that this team has in my heart is very unique.
I had four MAs (missionary advisors) who were fun, loving and incredible people! The Lord truly blessed me and the team with each one of them. Kaden told the funniest stories every day making everyone laugh. Tim became a great friend who spent his time being relentless on my height. :) Brittany was filled with joy every day and loved on her girls deeply. Then there is Lauren, she was a constant encouraging voice and always added her own flavor to everything we did.
I appreciate them more than they could EVER know!
The girls on my team are some of the most enjoyable young women I have had the pleasure to be around. I loved every minute spent with them...from laughing with them at crazy moments, getting them into bed on time (alex :) ) to telling them goodnight and reminding them that each one of them is a princess. Girls, you mean the world to me!
Then there are the guys...wow! hahahaha Never a dull moment with that group of men. From Javier and his craziness to Kaden and Kelton always entertaining...these men are some of my favorite people. I smiled every night when I told them goodnight and they would see who could say goodnight back the loudest. :)
This team poured out everything inside of them every day. There is not one moment of regret. I am so proud of who each of them became and how they each allowed the Lord to use them.
I love you a lot Peru X 2011...you will forever and always have a special place in my life and heart!

Change of seasons...Change of roomies

For the past 12 years of my life with the changing of seasons so came the change of living situations. Some years it was a new place to live, most years it was a new housemate (or in some cases 5 new roommates).
With these changes always come many tears(for leaving) and joy(for the reason she is leaving). This year has been no different.
For the past 10 months I have had the honor of living with 4 incredible women of God.
Let me take a few minutes to introduce them to you...
First there is Hannah- we have actually lived together for 2 years now. She has been with me since I started my adventure of being a Texan. We met in the internship 3 years ago and then I was blessed with being able to live with her now. She and I have been involved in 2 housemates weddings and watching one of them have a baby. We goof around and fight like teenage sisters :)
I have been truly challenged, blessed and have loved living with her!
Next there is Krista- we actually work at Teen Mania together. I met her last year during my brief time of working in Global Expeditions. We get to spend lots of time together driving back and forth from work. The biggest thing that I love about Krista is her heart for the nations. I don't know that I have ever seen such a pure love as hers.
Then there is Amanda- we were actually interns together as well. She is probably my funniest housemate...simply because she is so random with her humor...which makes it all the funnier. She loves to serve and always has a kind word to say. She especially blesses my heart when she does the dishes. (hehehee)
Finally, there is Sarah- this is a woman of boldness and strength. She is one of the strongest women I know. Doesn't fear man, doesn't fear the world, only has a Godly fear that she clings to as she serves Him. She is getting ready to move to Colombia to serve in an orphanage...this blows me away...I couldn't be more proud or jealous.
I love these women a lot...they have blessed my heart more than they could ever know (even if they do keep me up past my bedtime with there craziness :)
If you know these women consider yourself privileged...if you don't know them...well I am truly sorry.
I love you ladies!!!!! And I know that no matter where life takes us you will always be in my heart and prayers.

the longings of my heart

So first, I totally forgot that I had set up this blog. I was thinking to myself, I should start blogging again...so I jumped on to set one up ....and low and behold I already had. :)
So, I read the one post I had, and I had to laugh. I am almost positive that was posted the day that I lost my teaching job and had not yet been hired at Teen Mania-- but had high hopes that would happen.
Only a week after that I was offered a fulltime job at TeenMania...which is what my heart had been asking for and where I knew the Lord was leading.
Even funnier thing...the reason I decided to start blogging again is again...my heart is stirring.
My heart wants many things...but it only longs and yearns for one...to be in the full will of the Lord. I have known since I was 15 that I was not called to live a "normal" life. I knew that things were going to be different for me than what the "average" person may desire.
I desire to hold black babies in Africa...I desire to feed the hungry in India...I desire to play with the orphans in Cambodia...I desire to hear the stories of elderly women in Romania as they teach me to cook a native dish...I desire to "be Jesus" to the nations.
And that is what I shall do.