Hey guys, this weekend I went to Passion 2011- Ft. Worth, where I planned on staying with the ministry I’m apart of at school.  However, on the drive up there, I felt God telling me that I was supposed to stay at my friend, Candis’.  You see, five of her friends she served with in Uganda, Africa with AIM were also staying at her house.  I’ll just tell you straight up that I’m an awkward person—especially when I meet new people--but from the first “Hey, nice to meet you,” there was absolutely no awkwardity (haha yes, it’s a real word) when I spent the whole weekend with her “African friends.”  There was never any fake kindness or the stale get-to-know-you questions.  They were all the real thing.  They were busting jokes in the car after the Friday night session and it hit me like a ton of bricks how beautiful of a family they are!  They were acting like they had never been apart—like they had spent their entire lives together, not just two months in Uganda.  It was such a mysterious love that was strangely familiar yet utterly foreign to me!  It was a love, a family, a community that I wasn’t jealous of in the least.  I wanted to be a part of it so badly!  Candis had crap going on in her heart and everyone felt her pain.  SJ was quieter than usual and everyone noticed immediately and seemed to know exactly what to do.  Then there were the stories, the “remember whens.”  The time when Rachel stayed back when Candis had Malaria.  When they met each other for the first time in the Alanta Airport and all got so utterly lost that their leaders had to go searching for them.  How Katie was so open about her constipation situation.  About seeing the only other white people the entire trip at a peculiar 4^th of July festival (in Uganda, Africa, mind you lol).  There was Alan, a seven year old survivor of an attempted child sacrifice, who would sing for them until sleep won his tired little body over.  Then there was the story of “Baby Moses,” who was rescued after his family abandoned him but passed away while they were away from his village.  We shed tears and listened to the beautiful song that Joseph wrote about him and about how “Baby Moses’” aunt found life in Christ through Moses’ death.  Ah!  After hearing that story, it’s so hard to believe that there is anything else to live for!  These guys and girls didn't know each other before the trip just like we don't, yet they are like family now.  

I have been praying and thinking about how God will use me to serve the people of Nicaragua but this weekend, it hit me.  It hit me so hard, guys.  Not only will I be there to serve and love the Nicaraguans.  Not only will I have fun and play with kids in the slums.  Not only will I have the most ridiculous stories to tell about them.  Not only will I consider the people of Nicaragua my closest brothers and sisters in Christ.  I will serve and love y’all!  I will have fun and play with y’all!  I will have the most ridiculous stories about y’all!  You will be my closest brothers and Christ and I am SO EXCITED to meet you all!  The time is coming so quickly!

Just wanted to let y'all know about my awesome weekend and how it makes me look forward to seeing you even more!

Love,

Brit