My sister

hey everyone!
Hope you guys have had an amazing week!
Mine was super long but really great, a lot of stretching opportunities.
Just a quick recap...
Starting with the internship. We went on the University of Hawaii on Tuesday and just hung out and walked around then helped out with their International club called Chat Club. It was pretty fun. Then Wednesday we were able to go to a few high school campuses and help out with Victory Clubs which are basically these groups that are student led that are just a way for them and their peers to talk about life together. It was amazing! Probably my favorite day this week. I love the youth and it was soo fun engaging that culture and seeing the love that these kids have for their school.
Thursday was very interesting, we all had the opportunity of sharing a sermon with the class and other leaders of the church. We were rating on a scale of 1-10 in several different categories. It was a great experience.
Friday I had the privilege of meeting with a few middle school girls and mentor them a little and hear their story. These girls are amazing! They all have such big hearts. Im excited to spend more time with them.
Anyways, back to the title of this blog. My sister.
It's really interesting. Since I've been here, I've really just been seeing how much God has slowly been preparing the way for me to be here ever since I was little. Earlier this week I was chatting with my sister and I was just telling her how I couldn't believe that I was here and was training to do ministry. She said something that I probably will never forget. She shared with me that when I was younger probably like in 7th grade I told her that someday I would be a pastor. She said that she remembered hearing that and didn't know that girls could be pastors but knew that her older sister would someday be one and be amazing at it. The funny thing is that I really didn't remember ever telling her that. But I began to remember how much I loved the idea of ministry at such a young age. I remember going on my first missions trip when I was not even 13. I remember always having a heart to help those around me. I remember wanting to do something BIG for God. Even before I really knew what being a Christian was, there was always that desire. In 6th grade, for months, every night I would have dreams of me being in stadiums full of people, telling them about Jesus and his love for them. I remember having dreams about Heaven. I remember having these desires to help at homeless shelters and families of friends in my school. Then, I think when I got older and fell away and got depressed I forgot about those dreams that I would have. But, after talking to my sister I literally started to tear up. Could it really be that even though I thought that it wasn't until recently that God had called me to do ministry that he has been preparing me since I was little? What a thought. Even in my teen years, the clubs I joined in school, the outreaches I did, the missions trips I went on, the fact that I went to Texas, the fact that Jesus decided to place me in a school for 2 years and teach kids and learn how to be around people.
All of it leading up to moving to L.A. and not necessarily finding my calling but confirming it and now being here in Hawaii.
What the heck God??? How awesome are you????
Like I shared a couple of weeks ago. God has set us apart, and he has a special calling for each of us.
I mean, even though I spent many years confused about what I was suppose to be doing with my life, God always knew. He knew before I was even born. And, he had planted that desire in me years before I even knew what he was really doing.
I love that he used my sister to show me all of this.
I love my sister soooooooo much. She is my best friend. I know it's been really hard for her to not have me is her life physically. I know that even when I was around, there were years while I was depressed, that I wasn't really there for her. However, I just love her soo much and to know that she still remembers that little moment we had together years ago and that it encouraged her and that she has always had faith in me, it just brings tears to my eyes.
I'm speechless.
I feel so blessed that I can call my sister my best friend.
I am soo proud of the person that she is growing up to be.
I love that we have soo many memorable moments together.
Thank you Ari for being the most amazing sister anyone could ask for.
Thanks for sharing that story with me the other day, you have no idea how much that really spoke to me (well I guess if you read this then you do now. haha)
Hope everyone has an amazing weekend.
until next time.