My first week in Israel...

... and I hope it wasn't my last.

I'm in Greece now, though. Corinth, to be exact. I'm feeling like my "honey-moon" stage of this project is over. I've gotten to know all of the people pretty well, have learned a lot, gotten lots of traveling in, slept in at least eight different hotels, experienced culture food, all of that jazz.

I've been gone for only two weeks, and [shhhh] I'm kind of getting burnt out. It's mostly just because of the tight routine, I think. One week left!

And I'm excited to flush my toilet paper again.
And stop swelling.
And hang out with mom. and dad.
Because once I get home, I know that I only have ten days with my family before I leave for Washington state. (which is kind of sad to me, but it's okay).

Some honesty on missions...
I realized a couple of weeks ago that I wasn't sure if my motive for missions was pure. I was thinking that I might be in it for the wrong reason. For travel, or culture, or something else equally Hellenistic and self-serving. A couple of days into this trip, though, God showed me my heart (thanks, God!). Basically, I would have been happy going home two days into this trip. I was hurt that we were spending so much time learning about the great commission, without really doing it. Obviously, I know that our intent in this trip is to learn. But still, something just irks me. Especially when passing through the poor, desolate cities of Jordan. I'm all like, "just drop me off here, please!". (But really).

Essentially, while I'm spending three weeks in Israel, Greece, and Rome, staying in mostly 5-star hotels, I know that I would be more satisfied serving people for any amount of time in Haiti. Or Africa. Or Honduras. Or Holland, MI.

So while I've been irked, this realization is exciting.

Yes, I realize that this trip could be a missionary trip for me. I can bring peoples' luggage inside, give someone my last bit of water, or keep smiling as much as I can. That just doesn't cut it, though. I mean, it could, but it doesn't. And I guess, somehow, this is mission work. I'm just serving in a way that seems foreign to me.

Apart from being such a downer, I really am having a great time. I'm loving the people here, learning more about security in my faith walk, rooming with an incredible woman of God, getting a daily workout, and eating at a buffet for breakfast and dinner for three weeks straight (yup, hips and thighs are still in tact). And I'm eager to come back to Israel for a "real" RVL trip sometime, God-willing. But I'm beginning to empathize with celebrities who have paparazzi issues. That's all.

Anywho, I'm sure I'll post later about some neat things I have learned, but right now my head is getting filled with hookah smoke. We're at one of the not-5-star hotels tonight, and I guess hookah is their thing.
And alcohol.
And dirty plates.
[embracing the culture, gracefully].
[but really, I like it.]

Sincerely,
Kelsey Lynne

Doing.

Four days.

That's how long ago it was that I wrote: "Stop Searching, Start Doing [and live in a mud hut]."

In that four days, I feel like a completely different person. So much has happened that it feels like weeks.

Maybe months.
(okay, maybe not THAT long)

Writing that post must have put me in my "mojo" mood, where I was just so encouraged that I didn't know what to besides make solid plans and get things done. And, honestly, I'm in a bit of a time-crunch for everything, so I'm sure that helped, too.

So I started to make things happen.

More realistically, God started to make things happen.

-I talked with Jake about internship details, and am officially going there from December 2013 through part of July 2014.
-I applied for a job at Safeway in Washington.
-I found someone to live with in Washington, who is okay with my budget for rent (and I LOVE her).
-I decided what I'd like to do with my life (missions).
-I decided that I wanted to go to school next fall.
-I am applying for school next fall (Kuyper College, and Moody Bible Institute in Chigaco).
-I went to Holland Christian to drop of a transcript request (well, I tried... they were closed).
-I bought the rest of the things I needed for my Israel trip (I had no other choice, but at least I didn't wait until Saturday).
-I finished up at Captain Sundae.
-I went out for coffee with people who I haven't seen in a long time.
-I became passionate about human trafficking.
-I wrote this blog.

And I'm sure I did some odd, minor important things here and there in between those four days. But, really, I'm proud of what I actually did accomplish. And I am SO incredibly excited for the journey ahead.

Knowing that God has His hand on my life makes all the difference in the world. I have peace that I might not be living in a mud-hut in the next year, or that I probably won't be eating body parts of animals that aren't the norm for the American culture. I'll have to keep myself calm with the idea of living "comfortably" until God reveals my next step.

I think I'll be okay with eating ribs and potatoes for a little longer.

But, really, I think I'm supposed to be a missionary.

MISSIONARY. (crazy, right?)

"Kelsey the Missionary."
"Missions with Kelsey."
"Missionary Kelsey on the Move."

It will be incredible to see how everything unfolds. But, really, I can't stop thinking about the possibility. And, honestly, I'm relieved that I no longer am making lists of possible bakery names (though I guess that could be retirement). Ultimately, I'm glad I traded "Kelsey's Kitchen" for "Kelsey the Missionary".

While I have no idea what I would be doing specifically if I were to do missions, I still have this longing to do it. Whatever it is.

And, actually, I got passionate about human trafficking last night. Is that possible?? To be passionate about something after watching a few videos? After researching something for maybe an hour?
See if you do, too...

First of all, fall in love with this missionary family, like I did...

Then, look at the website of the non-profit ministry they started...

Watch this video (at the bottom of the page)...

And finish up with this video, which focuses on "what's the point?".

Passionate yet?? 

If not, this story might hit a little closer to home...

Sex trafficking is a big deal in the U.S., too. Since sex trafficking and slavery it is suck a dark, scary topic, people don't like to "go there". Wouldn't it be worth "going there" to restore a life, much like the life of this young woman?

Read this young woman's story to see how God used her victimization to start a non-profit organization to save so many others.


Any-who, I'm so excited for what's ahead! I feel like this is the final calm before the "storm" of chaos that will be my next few months of life until I adjust. I'll be doing my best with blogging while I'm in Israel, Greece, and Rome.
That outta be fun!

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

John 14:27