Update

Some of this might sound like a repeat from the one I did earlier but here you go.

I leave for my Acts 1:8 summer in exactly 2 weeks. 2 weeks from this moment, at 11:30pm I will be at the Southern Seminary in Louisville.

Thank you all for your prayers, and I ask you to continue them. Right now, we're all getting ready, starting to pack (or at least figure out what we need to pack). I have been informed, in the last few days, of some things I'll need specifically while we're in Haiti, so I'm working on getting those things.

One thing we were informed of was that while in Haiti we'll be doing a vision clinic, so if anyone has any old glasses they don't use and would like to donate, we are collecting them, so please let me know.

Recently, people have been asking me what my team is doing in each place we go to, and I have to say I really don't know. In Haiti we'll install water purification systems and do the vision clinic, but aside from those things I don't really have any details or anything. I know in Louisville and the Appalachian Mtns. we'll be doing different missions but I really have no idea what. In my last update, I said I wanted God to just throw me in there, and well, it looks like He is (haha). He has a funny sense of humor.

I'm the type of person who likes to be "in control" and MANY of you know this about me, you've even seen it first hand (haha), but being thrown into this and not really knowing is making me have to fully trust God. In all honesty, when I have no idea what I'm doing, have no details, and have to fully trust Him is when I am the happiest and have the most joy. Sure, it's ridiculously NERVE-WRACKING, and I get STRESSED OUT to the MAX, but I don't want to be in control, because when I am in control, I mess up A LOT! Whatever it is that I'm doing is not as FANTASTIC and GREAT as it would be if God was in control.

Another thing going on, is at our last conference call we were given a couple logistics about Haiti, and I've thought about what it's going to be like there, but I guess before that call, I never REALLY thought about it, and it freaked me out to no end. I think I spent a good hour to hour and a half crying that night in my bed. However, I asked God to throw me in, I asked Him to MAKE me UNCOMFORTABLE; so although it is still scary and I'm afraid, I can't let fear be what I worship, I can't let it get in the way of worshiping God.

This past Sunday at the 10:45 service at my church, there was this video of this little boy and he was singing "How He Loves" (I think), and he was singing it at the top of his lungs with all the air in his body that he could muster (it was really cute and moving). I remember sitting there thinking I want to worship God like that ALL THE TIME! Not just on Sundays or Thursday nights (at the BCM) but ALL THE TIME. In everything I do. I want to yearn for that daily and I want to burn with passion for Him. So I sat there thinking, why am I so afraid to face some little "fear" while in Haiti or anywhere? I asked for an adventure, and HELLO, He's giving me one. The phrase "be careful what you wish for" comes to my mind right now.

Something else that happened... yesterday, when I went to lunch with my grandmother, she asked me what I would do if I felt unsure and uncomfortable and missed home or didn't want to do the summer anymore, would I be able to get out of it. When she said this, my mind got defensive and my heart was racing (the whole fight or flight scenario comes to mind), and I remember thinking I don't want to come home, even if I feel unsure or "miss home" or anything I'm NOT GOING TO QUIT! Quit is what Satan wants, because he knows THIS SUMMER ACTS 1:8 is what GOD WANTS me to do; so I CAN'T and I WON'T! Because with God it'll all be okay, He'll get me through it.

I guess, what I'm trying to say is please be in prayer for my fear. I know God is in control and He will never put anything before me that I can't handle, however, I tend to let my fears get to me sometimes. Please also be in prayer for me being able to get everything that I need for the summer and for us to be able to collect all the glasses we need for the vision clinic in Haiti.

I'm sorry this update is so long, when I think, I think a lot and ramble.

Again, thank you all so much for your prayers and support.

~Anna Key

writing isn't my thing

So maybe keeping a blog isn't my thing, or it's that I have a group on facebook where I write to everyone AND I have this. Either way, I really should keep this more up-to-date. I guess maybe I haven't felt like a lot has been going on, but enough of my excuses.

As of today, I start my Acts 1:8 summer in 15 DAYS!!! I'm so excited and nervous. I'm excited because I really want a different experience than I've ever had before and I know it's going to happen this summer, but I'm nervous because I have NO IDEA what to expect. It's the first "real" time that I don't REALLY have a schedule and I'm just "going with the flow". I hate that phrase, by the way. When people say that they don't really mean it, you usually DO have a schedule of some kind.

We'll start out in Louisville, doing different missions things and having seminars about leadership and what that looks like. Then, we'll go to the Appalachian Mountains and do more missions. And then come back and get ready to go to Haiti. We leave for Haiti July 8 and get back July 20 and then debrief till July 27.

I guess you could say I'm scared. REALLY scared. They were explaining some things that we'll face in Haiti and I guess I KNEW about it before but didn't really THINK about these things. I'm very conservative when it comes to anything public or outside or whatever. I'm very modest and these things make it hard for me. I'm not a camper of any kind and although we'll have beds, some things are "camping style".

HOWEVER, yesterday at the 10:45 service at church there was a video talking about what gets in the way and what we worship and the word "fear" popped up there. I can't let my "fear" get in the way of what God wants me to do this summer. Not to mention, I DID ask God for an ADVENTURE this year. Well, low and behold here it is. The saying, "be careful what you wish for" pops in my head right now.

He has a funny sense of humor, but sometimes I feel like I do need to be thrown into things to learn sometimes, being sweet and gentle doesn't always work for me. Sometimes I need to be hit in the head with a stick. I also did ask to be thrown into it so yeah, no need for anyone to say I told you so or whatever. I know, "be careful what you ask for". I also know, He'll never place anything before that I can't handle without Him. So please pray for me that I won't allow my fear to get in the way.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and please continue to do so.

This is all for now as I do my best writing at night, so I'm sorry if this is scatter-brained.

Crazy in Love with Christ

~Anna