the trivial and the non-trivial

Just feeling the obvious need to write at 1:19pm however; I am finding it hard to focus on just one topic when a million thoughts are going through my head.

First off, I had an amazing talk with a really awesome and down to Earth friend today. Like me he shares a passion for traveling and serving others and this is what he hopes to do with the rest of his life! Over the summer I confided in him about a struggle I am having. My biggest fear in life is that I wont have enough time to accomplish everything I want. Honestly, as I stand today if I died in a freak accident tomorrow I would not be satisfied with the life I lived. I do not think my impact on this world has been great enough. I want to do more! I want to make real positive change! It becomes hard when I am sitting through a lecture class in Grand Junction imagining that I am in Africa actually face to face with poverty actually helping. I often wonder why God has placed me here and at school. I do understand the importance of an education but I feel as though my time could be better served helping out in Africa. I need to realize that there are literally people everywhere who need help. Right here in my own backyard several students on campus are suffering!  As mother Teresa said, "It is among the wealthy that we find the greatest poverty of all- loneliness." I really need to pray for peace in where God has placed me and ask him to use me for his will. I pray that God will draw me close to him (or that I will allow him too).

Then tonight, I had some lovely girl talk time with two girl friends! I am really not a girly girl and I don't usually sit there and confess my crushes to my friends mostly because I am self conscious. Tonight however I opened up. Boy's have always been a problem for me. I watch girls walk up to guys get there number and in a few weeks there dating. I think I missed taking that course in school. Usually when I like a boy I don't ever act upon it because a) I don't know what to do and b) I just assume they won't like me back and we all know rejection sucks! For example, last year I liked a guy so I got up the courage and I invited him to do things with me. I got rejected but kept perusing then as summer droned on I look on Facebook and he has a new girl friend. :( Bummer ( I really hope he doesn't read this can you say "awkward?")  Maybe this sounds self loathing but after so long I have begun to feel like I am not good enough for any guy I would like to actually like me back. Not to worry I am not one of those women who need a man to be happy or satisfied but it couldn't hurt to have someone awesome and special in my life.

Theres my rant!
Good night!

Song of the day! (I have always loved old Train)

This song inspires me to keep going and to realize that God is always there for me...





Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
When it rains it pours and opens doors
And floods the floors we thought would always keep us safe and dry
And in the midst of sailing ships we sink our lips into the ones we love
That have to say goodbye 

[Chorus:]
And as I float along this ocean
I can feel you like a notion that won't seem to let me go 

Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me
And you make everything alright 
And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with me
And I can always find my way when you are here 

[Verse 2]
And every word I didn't say that caught up in some busy day
And every dance on the kitchen floor we didn't have before
And every sunset that we'll miss I'll wrap them all up in a kiss
And pick you up in all of this when I sail away 

[Chorus:]
And as I float along this ocean
I can feel you like a notion that I hope will never leave

[Verse 3]
Whether I am up or down or in or out or just plane overhead
Instead it just feels like it is impossible to fly
But with you I can spread my wings
to see me over everything that life may send me 
When I am hoping it won't pass me by 

And when I feel like there is no one that will ever know me
there you are to show me

Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me
And you make everything alright 
And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with me
And I can always find my way when you are here [X2]

Colorful Colorado

My family spent a few days in Crested Butte, Colorado before driving me all the way to Grand Junction for school. This cross state road trip has re-enforced what I already know Colorado is one of the most astonishing places I have been to in the world. Places I visited on this trip include: Gunnison, Crested Butte, Gothic, Black Canyon, Montrose, South Park, Grand Junction and probably more that I am missing!

My Dad and I above Black Canyon in the Gunnison Nat'l park

Teddy Roosevelt once said of Colorado, "The scenery bankrupts the English language." 

Photo's some that I have taken that show Colorado's beauty and the places I love...

Kenosha Pass camping!

Denver Capital

Random hike Grand Junction area.

Mt.Garfield at sunrise

Again, Mt.Garfield at sunrise

Colorado borders beautiful states such as Utah!

Favorite hike in Junction Mica Mine!

Rainbow at college campus my dorm is seen on the left

Red Rocks Amphitheater- possibly my favorite place in Colorado! 

The resivor by my old high school!

My favorite band right from the303! 

Things Colorado rocks at:

Culture
Health
Outdoors
Beauty
Weather
Sports
Diversity
Local music

+ more!

Why I write

I write to remember
Days like today
memories that I hope don't fade away
For a moment in time
Pause to remember the little things

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”- Ashley Smith

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

So I know I haven't posted in a long time and I am sorry about that but, I have been extremely busy with school starting and my new job. In short life is crazy and beautiful! I love being back in the amazing Grand Junction, being back with friends, forming my beliefs and growing as an adult among other things. The topic of religion has been frequenting my mind a lot lately. Tonight I attended a Charlie Hall concert (he is a Christan worship leader) at my school. It was simply the best! I am really enjoying (most) of my classes. I love all the new people I am meeting! Oh and my roommate is legit I am so glad we connect! Maybe I will have something better to say later on but for now I am happy I just have a moment to breathe and reflect on the indescribable beauty I am witnessing all around me!

Song of the moment:

You: "Lets rock" Me: "And roll" You: "If there's time"

Post Secret that I love!

In less than two days you’re leaving

Your dreams as immense as the sky

Your heart superior to all the stars combined

This is not goodbye

Your life is aligned

For the perfect design

God has made you

And now he is using you

So don’t take yourself out of the game

This life your living is your claim to fame

You often put on your symbolic cape

And fly off into the night sky

I can see when you lie

And despite what people think you’re often shy

I know you’re not perfect

We all have our kryptonite

But your future is bright

Don’t let law school revolutionize the morals you possess

Go clean up humanities mess

And don’t forget your roots

Each lines a tribute

To the man you are

And can be

Clear eyes

Full hearts

Can’t lose

The game starts now

The price of freedom

It’s been 3 years and 8 days since I last saw you

It’s been 1,103 days since I last saw you

It’s been 26,288 hours since I last saw you

It’s been 1,577,847.6 minutes since I last saw you

You were telling me about running away to the mountains

And I didn’t tell you then

Something I wish I had told you now

And those three simple words could have saved your life

You were running

But no matter how far you ran

Your secrets followed you

Not even the ends of the earth

Or the most secluded place in our known galaxy

Could keep your secrets away

You were hungry for freedom

But inside you had a chain around your heart

Those secrets were your best friend and your worst enemy

I thought I could help you

I thought I could heal you

But what the hell did I know?

I was only sixteen

And you only fifteen

Fresh out of rehab

Some days I swore I could smell the previous nights rave

 That clung to your clothes

Inside my head

I scolded you for the drugs

And the girls

And your friends who were a bad influence

But those three words were never said

For fear that I would lose you

But in the end I lost you anyway

If I could go back

I’d still hold you close like I did that day

But this time I’d yell

With as much courage as I could muster

And as much strength as I had

With my heart beating

Adrenalin rushing through my body

Screaming at the top of my lungs

With every ounce of passion I felt for you

The fear in my eyes

I would yell

“Don’t do it!”

But I didn’t yell that day

I hugged you as tight as I could

And with a tear in my eye

I watched as you walked away

Hidden behind your secrets

For

3 years and 8 days

1,103 days

26,288 hours

1,577,847.6 minutes

I speculated if you had died

But I hoped that you had forged your path

Towards freedom 

19 lessons learned in 19 years

1.   

     1.  Relationships evolve and transform.-You will cross paths with lots of people from different walks of life. You must learn to accept the fact the some people will leave your life shortly after entering it, some people will stay for years and some will leave and return. 
     2.      Don’t prejudge people.- Everyone has a different story and you shouldn’t judge them only God can do that. I remember in High School meeting the person who is now my best guy friend (he’s like a brother to me!) and thinking that he was a really weird and semi creepy person. Then, I actually took the time to get to know him, understand him, hear his story and I realized we have a lot in common! Now he’s my bestie!

3.      Accept that bad things will happen.- If you grow up in Happy little suburban bubble like I did until about 7^th grade then getting out in the so called “real world” you will be shocked to learn that not everyone you meet has your best interest at heart, not everyone is good ( although I do believe everyone is inherently good), and life is not black and white. Also realize that this ok. From the bad things that happen comes learning and reflecting.
4.      To live and not just exist you need to step outside of your comfort zone.- Going away to a college where I knew absolutely no one was a big deal and really helped me to come to this realization. In the past year I have done more than I ever thought was possible from climbing a huge mountain to making friends with strangers, to trying new things like rock climbing and paint ball. I believe pushing my limits is what has helped me to succeed.
5.      It’s the little things that matter.- Looking back on my childhood I have realized that the moments I am most fond of are the little things like, music trivia with my mom (she’s pretty bad at it but I love her)and Dad (he knows his fare share), My brother Phil playing the piano with me always nearby, or the random sarcasm that bonds me and my brother Greg.
6.      Success is found through passion.- I believe that by doing what you love you will find the most success in your life weather you deem success financially, emotionally, physically or mentally. Knowing what your passion is and then using it to help others is the best way to achieve success in this high demand high stress world.
7.      De clutter/ make things simpler.- Get rid of all the junk in your house and in your life. Focus on fewer but more important things. Give more time and attention to the people you love and hobbies you enjoy. Clear time in your schedule for yourself and your loved ones. Take time to relax and enjoy what you have in your life!
8.      Connect with people from different generations and walks of life/ expand your horizons.- Doing this will allow you to expand the way you think and will show you that there are multiple ways to live life and you might learn something new. For instance this weekend my Mom picked up a hitch hiker and was telling me about this Lady (I could tell she was fascinated by her). The lady was a back packer in her mid to late twenties who was a really religious Jew (even stooped my Mom from talking to do her morning prayers) and a computer programmer. My Mom said her life was so different from her own but not necessarily bad and she said that she learned a lot from this lady.
9.      Accept change.- Nothing can or will stay the same forever. Change is inevitable instead of being scared of change embrace it. If you embrace it life will be a lot smoother.  Change is exiting, fun and sometimes scary so just roll with the punches and trust that the heart of life is good!
10.  Stop stressing/ worrying.- I have never been a person who stresses out but when I do it all explodes at once. I usually have my yearly freak out week other than that I tend not to worry however I have met people who agonize about every detail of their life. Just let go breathe deep trust that everything will be ok. My Mom once told me, “nothing in the world is so bad that it can’t be fixed.”
11.  Live out your wildest dreams.- You have one life and a million different ways to live it. Go after what you want with all your heart. The possibilities are endless and if you truly want something nothing can stop you. In High School I wanted to travel to Africa but I knew my parents wouldn’t support me  financially and I didn’t have enough money for a trip so I worked really hard and found a way to go on an all expense paid philanthropy trip to Ethiopia! Now I’m working on how to get back there!
12.  Perform Random Acts of Kindness.- “Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”- Philo. Being kind just because is the greatest gift you could give another human being. In this age of technology and isolation I believe all people really want is a real human connection. Sometimes just talking to someone or smiling at them will make there day.
13.  You can’t live in the past or the future you have to live for now.-  Reminiscing is great as is dreaming but at some point you have to wake up and live in the moment. Now is the only moment that is guaranteed to you so spend it wisely working towards your goals, sharing love, helping others and doing what is most important you in that moment.
14.  Ask a lot of questions.- Always keep the wheels cranking in your mind. Don’t accept anything for fact. Ask questions and learn. Never stop learning it is one of the most important aspects in life.
15.  Tell people you love them everyday.- My grandpa passed away recently and my great grandma who was a month away from being a hundred passed away a few years back. These deaths gave me the bitter realization that tomorrow is not guaranteed and you should always let people know how important they are to you. Seriously, tell friends, family maybe even strangers you love them all the time!
16.  Do what makes YOU happy.- I spent a lot of years thinking  after high school and then after college I should do what expected instead of what I want. I know when I graduate I am expected to get a 9-5 job, pay bills and get a nice house with a man whom is also settled down but I have decide to do what makes me happy instead. I am going to move to Africa and do anything I can to help! Don’t follow others expectations set your own goals in life and achieve them.
17.  Get involved!- Try to meet new people every day (no matter how awkward it is) and join in on the fun activities that are offered near you who knows you might meet a best friend, a spouse or find a new passion. Open yourself up to new possibilities and adventures.
18.  Take risks/ don’t be afraid of getting hurt.- “Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like on the dance floor.”- The perks of being a wallflower (great book BTW). In my Sophomore- Senior years of High School I let fear hold me back from experiencing life. I was afraid to try new things, make new friends and dare I even say it ask a guy out. College changed everything. I met a guy I liked so I asked him to do things with me like go to the school talent show sadly I was rejected but hey it didn’t hurt as much as you  think and I moved on from it and became less afraid.
19.  Take every opportunity you get.- Every opportunity is a new door to a new room and learning experience. It is a chance to expand your horizons and I don’t know what the opportunity is but unless it contradicts your morals I suggest you take it!

So this song must have been made for me :)

Life is what happens when your too busy making other plans~ John Lennon

Facebook status:

Andrea ✫ Nieto hasn't posted since the 12th but has a ton of drafts. Scribbled notes of things I want to say but can't seem to express there all there if only you could see them you'd understand me better but I wont hit post until there perfect so I guess you'll never see them even if you were to somehow stumble upon my blog in the first place."

Recent happenings in my life (in case you care for some reason):

My good friend from High School who gave us a tour of Boston!

Sand Castle Contest!



• Visted CT and Boston. It was awesome!

"Hole in the wall" CT

I thought this was cool saw it in Boston!

• Learned about geocaching. Went geocaching. Found 5 caches! Next post will be all about geocaching for those who are confused!
• Saw on Facebook how my big College crush was dating someone (figures...)
• Went to the Dragon Boat Festival with a guy friend from college. Got him really lost in Denver. Saw Inception again...
• Chilling with my brothers today and realizing how great the simple things in life are! 

Finding old poems is like finding new treasures!

Reading old poems is like being transported back to when you wrote them. The emotions feel real again and you can remember why you wrote the poem and where you were here are some of my old ones: 

Senior year

Dancing on my bed to the grateful dead

late at night star bright 

on the hood of a car blasting music so far

watch the clouds as they pass laying on the grass

I can see the light almost anywhere far from here

Wanting to be worlds away back in Africa someday

Friday nights with my friends wishing this never ends

Swinging at the park often in the dark

Village Inn pie although I am often shy

Party in the basement I need a replacement 

welcome to my life

BOY

The teenage boy who sits in his room

opens the whisky in the middle of the afternoon

This is how it starts 

A football bully cleans him out 

derogatory words are what he shouts

attempting to break him down 

he is lost never found

He watches at home as his parents fight 

he sees no end, no light 

he can't justify what’s right from wrong

the next day at school he gets in a fight

This is only the beginning 

of a story untold

lets watch it unfold

His parents fight some more

that’s when dad walks out the door

single mother now alone and poor

ridiculed at school 

for being uncool

the boy wishes he was never born

This poem titled Mask's was actually published in a book! 

Masks

The mask we ware.

The secrets we share.

Everyday we leave our house 

paint our face with lies 

Its our fake disguise

I can’t be me 

when I am supposed to be like you

but I don’t really know who you are

when you wear your own disguise

do you know what my life is really like?

When I leave school I take off my mask

un-paint my lies

and wear a new disguise

the only time I’m me 

is when I’m by myself

when I’m with my music

it helps nurse me back to health

it tells a truth like none other

the lyrics touch my soul 

to tell me what is real

that’s the deal

its a Simple Plan , its Sublime, a Journey,

even when I’m in The Darkness 

it makes me feel like the Queen I’m supreme

where would I be without something to depend on 

my Reliant K, without the Nirvana it gives me

without someone waiting for me just 3 Doors Down

and when I need a laugh 

and I see Bare Naked Ladies running down the street

I’m not so beat

how about when a Fast Ball comes your way

Can you solve it with some Guns And Roses?

When you meet a boy as spicy as a Red Hot Chili Pepper

you can cool it off with a little Coldplay.

When you’re having a blue day

add a little Green Day to spice it up.

The mask we ware.

The secrets we share.

Everyday we leave our house 

paint our face with lies 

Its our fake disguise

I can’t be me 

when I’m supposed to be like you

but I don’t really know who you are

when you wear your own disguise

do you know what my life is really like?

When I leave school I take off my mask

unpainted my lies

and wear a new disguise

the only time I’m me 

is when I’m by myself

when I’m with my music

it helps nurse me back to health

it tells a truth like none other

the lyrics touch my soul 

to tell me what is real

that’s the deal

Burb's

Who will save me

Secluded and alone 

is how I feel

claustrophobic suburbia

one day

freedom

New poem/ song or something idk...

How paper thin are these walls that were in?

My secrets arn't my secrets any more

Your weighted by the lies in your pockets

Please leave you baggage at the door

What once was my childhood home

I can't seem to find the beauty any more

Your words fly back and fourth

Like bombs through the air

This fighting ain't fair to me

The innocence that used to protect me

has faded into the background

masked behind the lies you wear

like tennis shoes protecting you from the harsh conditions

this fighting aint fair

You attempt to rid me of my adolesent dreams

But I hold on for dear life

I still believe

I still believe that I can make change

I still believe in love

I still believe beauty and maddness

I still belive in me

Even if you've let go

I guess this is growing up

Middle School "Sux"

*Haha I love how this is what comes p when you Google image awkward middle schoolers!

So the other night my Mom and I were driving back from dropping food off at our friends house (she just had surgery and she's like a second Mom to me) when we passed the middle school I used to attend aptly known as, "West Penitentiary". I don't recall exactly what I said but I made a snide comment referencing how much I hated that place. Honestly, those were the worst 3 years of my life.

Middle School is that awkward stage where puberty happens and guys realize girls don't have cooties. There voices get high and crack at in opportune moments, they cant control there hard on's and they start shaving even though most of them don't have facial hair.Girls realize boys are competition, start getting boobs, wear training bras and become more bitchy than usual during that "special time of the month." Hormones are raging, being "cool" is everything and for reasons I will never understand they take 1,000 (give or take) of these "hormone raging, competitive, bitchy kids" and put them in one building together for 8 hours a day.

Yes. Middle School "Sux!"

I remember in eighth grade crying myself to sleep every night because my parents were fighting, I didn't enjoy what I was learning and the kids at school were -well lets just say- not always the nicest (ok some of them were bitches..yea I said it).

I specifically recall in 7th grade a day I have maybe talked about once before now. I remember in middle school AIM was a big thing and who you were IM'ing was important. I was talking over AIM with a friend when a screen name I did not recognize IMed me. This person was saying horrible nasty things to me. In 7th grade I was hanging out with the "goth" clique at school. However, this was around the time that I started to have a falling out with the main leader of that clique. Even though we had been friends for a long time we were changing and going in different directions and that was ok. The person who was IMing me kept telling me how ugly I was, they kept saying that I had no friends and that nobody at school liked me. They even told me, "you might as well just disappear." As I told you I had been growing apart from most of my old friends so the things this person was saying felt true. This moment crushed pretty much any self esteem I had and it held me back from trying to make friends for a long time. You have to remember middle school is all about fitting in and at that moment I had no clique to identify with. Simply put I didn't fit in. I eventually learned who sent the nasty IM and it was a person I had probably only talked to once. I don't even remember if or how I responded to this person all I remember after that is sitting on the couch crying for hours that day and then not telling a single person what happened for 5 years because I was ashamed that these lies were true.

To contrast this my Mom said middle school was the best time of her life (after college of course). She reasoned this by saying she loved all the group activities and how you could date but you weren't pressured to make out. She said high school turned into alcohol parties instead of volley ball parties. And dating was physical instead of fun. (Note: that my Mom grew up in a small Nebraska town and drinking was legal at 18).

So I want to ask anyone who is reading this middle school the best or the worst (excluding college)?

Piano Man

Last night I was sitting on our blue leather couch listening to the baby grand piano that my brother was playing and singing along with him to some of our favorite piano songs.

When my oldest brother Phil graduated high school I was entering high school. He was headed to college at CU Boulder and as his mini side kick I was upset. At the time me and my other brother Greg weren't very close and I was dreading my brothers departure. As a parting gift my brother entrusted me with all of his old CD'S which I spent hours devouring. My brother has, is and will probably always be my greatest musical influence so this gift was like giving me the secret to surviving those last years at home. Eventually me and my other brother that was at home with me became super close as we shared our love of good movies, irony and intense sarcasm.

My brother Phil graduated college the same year I graduated high school and came home for a year to save money. Next fall he will be moving with his girlfriend  to Washington, DC to attend Law School at Georgetown. Although I am super proud of him this just brings about another realization that I am growing up.

My Mom and I were talking about it and she said hearing my brother play the piano and sing made her really emotional. I can tell she is definitely going to miss his beautiful music and beautiful spirit next year. My brother Greg made a valid point saying this summer is probably the last time all three of us will live together. It was a really weird thing to think about. Unlike most siblings I hear about my brothers and I have always been super close but I guess this is growing up.

Even when you gone the music will still be there.

Go!

Todays Facebook status should help explain my writing: I love life right now I really do, I love college, I love learning, I love my family and I love my friends. I love it all but I read stories from friends in Africa, or look at pictures of people I know in India, I see videos of the pyramids and I just want to buy a one way ticket and go, I just want to go see the world and make a difference! It's like this itch that I can't scratch...I can really feel it today!


My parents always told us growing up that they wanted to be able to take family vacations and go on trips providing us memories that would last us a lifetime. So every couple of years after they had saved up enough money we would take a big trip and the years in between we would take less expensive road trips or just outings to visit family members in near by states. Honestly most of my best memories stem from these trips. 


In 8th grade my family went to England (and France for a day via the chunnel). This was where I first heard my favorite band Queen. It was my introduction to the music that eventually consumed my life. Throughout high school my family took trips to my Aunt and Uncle's time shares in Mexico. Although these trips were more vacation and less of a cultural learning experience I still got to visit the sites and see life from a new and unique perspective. I have visited sacred Mayan temples in Mexico, watched as thousands of turtles roll in from the ocean, sat in my mothers lap in a Mexican cab with my brothers wobbling on the lawn chairs that were sitting in the trunk, and I have been fortunate enough to see the beautiful Mexican sunset. 


I have been on air planes more times than I can count on four hands. My parents have taken us to Disney (world and land), Las Vegas (NM and NV), Washington DC (3 + times), California, Florida, New mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, Arizona, New York, Chicago, Utah, Canada, Washington, South Dakota, Texas and more that I am probably forgetting. 


Last summer my family spent 10 days in 12 airports and 3 Hawaiian Islands! It is one of my most cherished family memories. The people in Hawaii are as beautiful as the islands. I saw black sand for the first time. Went snorkeling for the first time. Did a kayaking trip for the first time. Went hiking everyday with my family. Stood under a gushing waterfall. I looked out at the ocean the same color as the sky and I couldn't tell where the water ended and the sky began. I saw green sand for the first time (my favorite part of the trip). In order to get to green sands beach you had to park in the middle of no where Hawaii and walk 5(ish) miles to a cove -where you had to climb down the side of the rocks to get to the beach- it seemed that pretty much only locals knew of the spot. It had not been commercialized, there was no water fountains or vendors just God's pure simple beauty and I was encased by it. The waves were higher and more intense then anything I had ever seen before even the locals on there surf boards were cautious so of course my two older brothers decided to go out. I saw them getting thrashed by waves rolled around and they loved it! The feeling of freedom was exiting in that moment. 


When I was a Senior I went on my first trip without my family to Ethiopia, Africa. My parents were scared to death but they knew my heart was in Africa so I prayed a lot and eventually they let me go. Most people don't understand why you would want to go to a place thats often with out any running water, or electricity. They say it's a scary place, you can die there. Theres desies like AIDS and malaria. They don't have what Americans consider "roads" or stop lights or any sort of system to there driving. On one occasion we were driving from Project Mercy to Awassa for the grand opening of a library. It was like a 4 hour drive if I remember correctly. The "roads" were bumpy like a really long roller coaster and we often had to stop suddenly to let animals and people pass. now I am not one to usually get sick however I spent that day completely car sick and sick from my malaria medication. 


I am 19 years old now and I have seen unexplainable, unimaginable beauty and it has ruined any chance I have of seeing this world as normal. Yet of all the places I have traveled I will always feel the need to return to this poverty stricken country. The people who whisper that its not safe there, that I could die if I go back have some truth in these statements. Its Africa its not safe. Its Africa you might not come back. But if your heart is telling you to go.. then go. Come back with an appreciation for the sang "this is Africa." Take safety precautions and pray to God that you can make it back to tell everyone about life beyond there comfort zone. 


Go wherever your calling is and come back with pictures of people who have stolen your heart, come back with stories and memories. Come back and tell others that these pictures and stories of are of real people who just need to be loved like we all do. So leave your expectations and hesitations behind and see what the world has in store for your life.