I'm gonna start off by saying that there is absolutely no way that I can possibly put into words everything that has happened over the past few weeks. I feel like my break was only one week long but it also feels like I've been out of school for so long!
We'll talk about Christmas first. Joey and Courtney got to come home for Christmas which is always very nice. Unfortunately, Justin didn't get to come because he had to work. Now that we're older, I love the time that we all get to spend together. I'm not quite sure I like this whole "growing up" business, though. I miss my siblings too much! Anywho, my grandpa was able to come home on Christmas Eve which was definitely an answer to prayer! It's been a difficult few weeks getting him settled at home and making sure he behaves, but I think things have finally stayed positive for a few weeks and there is an end to his injury at last! He was even able to come to Sunday School on Sunday and I know that being back in church just made him so happy. He's been missing his church family like crazy so I'm glad he's finally able to go back. Christmas included lots and lots of family, food, laughter, and Jesus! Just how it should be, right?
A week after Christmas, 22 of us loaded into vans and started the 16 hour drive to Atlanta, Georgia for Passion 2013. People keep asking me how Passion was and I just keep telling them it was awesome but I honestly have no idea what to tell them. I'll try my best to explain it so you can understand a glimpse of how awesome it was. First off, it was very encouraging. People describe my generation as lazy, self-centered, and rude. I spent 4 days with 60,000 young adults that would prove that wrong. I think it's hard to comprehend just how crazy 60,000 people is. To be in a stadium with 60,000 people worshiping Christ was an experience I will never forget. It was so encouraging to see all those people and know they are in love with Christ and that even after Passion, they will go out and set the world on fire with His love.
God always does some pretty awesome things during Passion, and let me tell you, He definitely didn't disappoint this year. I mean, with 60,000 people desiring to know God more, Francis Chan, Louie Giglio, Beth Moore, John Piper, Lecrae, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Kristian Stanfill, how could things not be awesome? For me, God showed me how I need to give more to Him. More time, more love, more energy, more trust, and more faith. He does SO much for me and He deserves so much, yet I give him so little. So that's what God put on my heart. Ask other people that went and I'm sure they'll be more than happy to tell you about their experience. I couldn't have asked for a better group to spend 4 days in Atlanta and 32 hours on a van with. We all got really close and we're ready to make a difference.
Also at Passion, we learned about slavery in the world today. Right now there are 27 million enslaved people around the world. That's just crazy. These slaves include children as young as preschool, which is very hard to understand. At Passion, we raised $3,170,000 for human slavery. To learn more about it, go to enditmovement.com. Plus, watch this video:
I could've (and probably should've) taken a million pictures while we were in Atlanta, but these are just a few of the ones I had.
This is my awesome family group. Out of the 60,00 people, you split into Community Groups based on the color you are assigned. After that, you're placed in a family group of 8-10 people that you've never met before. You end up sharing things with them that you normally wouldn't share and it's just really awesome.
So that's the very short version of Passion! I leave to go back to Waco tomorow and I'm still not packed. It'll be nice to be back in Waco, but it's always very hard for me to leave Rockport after I've had a long break. However, I am excited for this semester and everything that is happening!
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