friends ask the best questions

Recently, a friend asked me " well how will this change the way you act at TNU?" This is the first time I had been asked this question and it really hit me because I didn't have a clue.

My first answer to him was "I don't really know". Soon I replied with a general answer of, " well it will make me more patient with everything and everybody". What a lame answer. haha. Since then, I've been thinking about this question and what my real response should be.

This trip has made me a different person. I have grown up and matured. It's been hard coming back and dealing with old issues because I go back into the old Devon mode, but have realized I can't do that anymore because it's not who I am. So there is part one of my change when I go back to Trevecca. I am not going to be the same grudge holding girl that I use to be, but one who can forgive and forget and move on. I am not saying it'll be easy by any means, but its something that needs to happen.

I also feel more prepared for the tough situations I will go in to. I realize I no longer have to get mom or dad to fight my battles, but that I can do it on my own. The three of us girls have been through a lot the past two months and we had nobody but ourselves to stand up for what we knew was right. I now see how capable I am of being an adult and getting things taken care of that are my own to worry about.

People need to also be aware of what happened this summer. As we were at training camp talking, we decided the best way to get people involved was by telling our stories. My story is by far nothing I would want to send anybody else into, but its also something people need to realize about missions. "It's not always a success story"- Joel. And ours was a success, we grew and we did great things, but we were not always happy. People need to see missions is not always this happy fairy tale kind of adventure. I didn't realize the good we did until we got back and I am still realizing more and more every day. Telling my story is something that must be done and even the stories of the people I met. I'd like to see a change in the campus and see more people wanting to help.

I hope this answers your question Parker. I thank you for asking me because it's something I needed to look it to before I got back.

the last ten days of adventure...

News Flash: We are now back in America! :D nothing could be better...but there is a lot yall need to here before we talk about home...

the sunday before we left, the new hampshire work and witness team returned to Monrovia to prepare for their departure. Thank Goodness! We got to hear Pastor Jeff speak and then spend some time with all of them before they left. Not exactly what we thought it would be though. We were taken to Mamba Point, a popular upscale hotel more commonly used by the NGOs and government officials. We first walked in an immediately were FREEZING!! we were all like what is a/c?? haha and the restaurant was ten times more amazing than anything we had seen. It also had a hefty price of 15$ per chinese buffet. WOW. way too much to take in all at once. it was even harder having two of our Liberian friends with us. They had no clue where to start on the menu. and then the other team was treating them like they knew nothing. one of the precious ladies set there and explained a digital camera and koolaid to janet. they are not completely oblivious to things. they are people. so it was a hard day, especially to see them leave.

The next few days held VBS and moving. After I killed a mouse in Sadie's toilet, we were moved to a new guest house in a totally new place. It had ac and tv and was quite amazing. It was a great way for us to get more use to going back home. We had a little issue with the people around us because one such figure was not one we completely appreciated, but other then that it was great. The people who ran it were amazing especially the sweet security guard who was older and loved to buy us bread and take picture with us. Peasly was great!

Sadie ended up getting a really bad cold, so Jen and I did our last VBS and the GOL 2010 project on the beach. That was a lot of fun. We just got to spend time with the people and people more our age.

Our farewell service at outreach was really good. The youth gave us dresses and bracelets to remember our trip by and everyone said goodbye. It was hard to leave my sweet babies behind and not even really get to say goodbye because of some mess ups. Poor alex cried because his decontee(me) was leaving. What a sweet boy. We then moved to the mother and father day service at central church. This was really interesting to see. The fathers that were chosen were the ones giving the most money to the church. Not really great ethics but if it works for them. Funny thing is, we hadnt eaten all day. So Evangeline, the wonderful, made us fried chicken, sandwiches, and french fries. It was the best last meal in Liberia.

The next few days were filled with getting travel things finalized and packing up. And then hitting the road to the airport. The airport was quite annoying because you have to be there like exactly 3 hours before and not earlier. So we had to get food and thank goodness we did because there was little to nothing in the two gate one room waiting room. haha here we waited for a whole lot longer than expected because the plane was late. But what a relief to get on a plane and take off.

Belgium was just as confusing because all the flights were delayed so we almost missed all of our flights back but luckily it all worked okay as every plane was delayed.

El Paso was great. All summer we though it would be dumb and we just wanted to go home, but it was such a big help. It really helped me realize that it was not a awful trip. A lot of good came from it. We reached a lot of children and even started two churches. We made relationships with the people in liberia and grew up. What a great trip it was minus the few flaws. none the less God is an awesome God.

purple hair, mice, and rain

well a lot has happened since june. we spent a couple of days just getting adjusted and resting before we started ministy. are first day back was a good one. the church was called city view and its because it was on the top of a mountain like thing and you could look over this valley which was absolutely gorgeous. we also played volleyball which was loads of fun for myself. the ministy went very well that day as well. the children were really responsive to our lesson and games. we met a boy who they called pastor because he prays for everyone. it was so precious when he prayed. sunday we had our new african outfits and went to the central church in monrovia. it was a lot of fun because they let us sing with the choir and there was another little pastor named JJ who is now my little bf though i never see him. haha but being that it was july 4th we went to the beach which was loads of fun! we roasted hot dogs and made smores with some of the african youth. they absolutely loved it! monday sadie was under the weather so jen and I took on 200 plus kids that were very wild. thats to say it was not an easy VBS. all they were after was what we had to give. and the children didnt listen to anyone...tuesday it was much better and the children loved being around us and the song father abraham. :D wednesday i was ready for a break and not feeling good so i stayed back and jen and sadie went. they visited the church that the pastor died at most recently and said it was great. he had done so much with the kids they even knew more verses to father abraham. im so happy it was a good day. the next day was suppose to be rest but we had to move guest house because of reservations. our new house is not so fantastic. we are paying for running water and only one of us gets a shower before its gone. and the current aka electricity is awful. haha but while we were at the other guest house we got to go to an american store and get great food. we got chicken wraps that are called shawarmas and they are amazing. plus it had ac...AMAZING!!! but now we are away from that and back to cooking our own food and all. we have a mouse eating our food which is a problem now too. but we have had to rest because the past two days it has just poured rain. so no beach or gol football camp. so we got our hair braided and got purple extensions! oh and mexican fiesta after one car broke down and we made it back to the american grocery store. haha. soo no too bad! hopefully tomorrow we will meet up with the team getting ready to leave and spend some time with them. only 10 more days till we leave...cant wait to be back in america!

ant bears

long time no talk huh? lol its been a crazy and hectic past two weeks...since then... we have been in zwedru which is about ten hours from where we started. there we did 5 VBS and 2 Jesus Film Showings. As we went we were given real African names in Crahn. Mine is Decontee which means everything has time. Supposedly its because I was there at the right time. The Other Girls were Poyea and Komona which are forms of blessings. We really enjoyed our time there because of the people. We stayed in a little old ladies house with her grandkids and great grand kids. we loved it there. we called her mama because she officially is our African Grandmother. She helped us wash and cook. Even showed me how to open cans with a large knife and rock. Who needs can openers? haha we loved her though and the crying kids. lol when we left we gave her a bowl of many great items for her to use and she just cried. saddest goodbye yet. oh and witch child lived across the street we are pretty sure. she was really scary. haha. but the spiders stayed away for the most part. the worst thing was a snake got in the house. thank goodness for men being there because we were all freaking out! lol we also got to see monkies while we were there and an ant bear which is kind of like an ant eater. way cool! lol AND TIM came to see us. what a great thing to have a family member visit nd just give us all a bear hug! amazing! our trip back to monrovia was great too. we got to stop in ganta and see little monica and got in at a great hour. plus we discovered an amazing grocery store that is air conditioned and totally american! haha and having pizza tonight was great! but we must go welcome the in coming work and witness team. love to all!

oh liberia

why hello world! a lot has happened since i was last able to post. im going to try and keep it as simple as possible...we left ganta the day after i last wrote. it was very sad because i had to say goodbye to monica and she called me momma as she ran towards me. what a precious little girl. we then stayed the night in a small town called sanniquelle and each had our own room. i was in the honeymoon suite i believe as i continued to find things everywhere!we were not able to show the jesus film because it rained! but we did a radio interview which was cool. literall, they had air conditioning!! haha the next day we did vbs in the town which probably brought over 300 kids! never dealt with so many. it got quite frustrating but possible to handle. and they fed us rice with chicken foot soup on top! ewww...lol then off to karnplay another town. here we stayed with a wonderful family but their babies were terrified of us.lol here we did two vbs and one night of the jesus film. other nights were rained out and our leader left us at one point(please pray about that situation). sunday was travis and my 7 month anniversary! haha im sure you all love to hear that,but im excited!we taught sunday school that day which was fun but not many were there because it had rained pretty hard all morning! we then left for the ds home in Vayanglay. this is probably the most remote place in africa. crazy to think huh. his family is amazing. especially his 5 year old michael! he snuggled with me and jen our last night and told his dad he was going with us to america! precious.but we did a vbs and two nights of jesus film here. it got harder as we went in the bush because most everybody speaks guil. so we often had to be translated. the last morning jen killed a chicken(gross) and they did a farewell service where they gave us wraps for our mothers and material for us to make a dress for us and a shirt for our dads. these people were very wonderful. we then had a ten hour drive to the southeast.you may ask why ten hours...there are no roads. like no pavement...so it was very bumpy and with little food it was very annoying! we were all very car sick by the time we made it to zwedru. we are currently staying in a family home...with thousands of large spiders. they say they wont hurt us...but when they are smart enough to get into your tucked in mosquito net...there are issues to be had. so we will see what happens. the schedule keeps changing but there should be another update soon! thank you for all of your prayers!!!

INTERNET FINALLY!!!

HEY EVERYBODY! I am here safe and sound. it only took about 20 hours in the air and 30 hours total travel! it was very exhausting! we had no trouble finding Rev. Johnson but then it was another hour drive to the place we were staying. once we got there we got peanut butter and bread to eat and fanta! what a great first meal! lol we had to get up the next day at 7 to eat breakfast! very hard and we went back to sleep after to be awoken 2 hours later by Big D our leader I guess you would say! we heard news of a pastor dying in Monrovia so our schedule was changed as to not disturb the mourning. We soon headed to Ganta, a 6 hour taxi drive! very long and we were very squished! lol once we got here we met Reverend Bayou and his wife and they took us to our home. WAY LIBERIAN! we have no running water, we have to pour water in the toilet to make it flush(at least we have one of those, already I had to use a liberian toilet, crazy experience), we bathe with a cup and bucket of water, only have electricity certain hours, and we cook on a coal stove. haha. i came with too many expectations! it has been vvery hard for me to be here but I am trying to make it through. The next day we did a VBS for the first time. It went over very well! and all the children are just precious. :D I already have a little girl who follows me around. Her name is monica and she is 3. I found out just today that as soon as her mother graduated high school she died leaving Monica and her brother. My heart is now broken for my sweet girl who falls asleep in my lap everytime I hold her! The next day we got to go to church! the children sunday school teacher had a motorbike accident(which we rode) so we taught! There were soo many children we were flowing out of the room! but it was great! and we showedt the passion for the first time klast night! it was so harsh for the children but we had not time for response that night. we have also gotten our hair platted(cornrowed) so we are much cooler now. our food is HOTTTT and has fish and rice mainly. thats too say I havent eaten a whole lot, but enough for me to live! Please continue to pray as we leave tomorrow for Karnplay for a week! I love you all!!!

-Dev

cultural experiences!

today was incredible! it started with the bus system. crazy confusing...i give props to people who take those crazy things every single day! once we figured it out...we made it all the way to La Iglesia Del Senor which was right next to the border, very sketch, and the time was different on the building then the website. So we began to search for a new church (thank goodness to blackberrys!). we then found the Immaculate Conception (catholic) church and there just happened to be a spanish service at 10. So we stayed for mass and didnt have a clue what was going on. But catholics get the job done! it was such a fast service! we then wanted lunch even though it was like 1030...so we tried to ask a beggar to lunch but she knew no english...so we used a translator but foun her to already be taken care of. so we asked the lady who translated, nelly, where we could get good mexican food. she told us she was going to a place and that we could go with her. Best food ever. and to just hear nellys story. she lived in the city acrosss from us in mexico but had lived in el paso a long time.` she joked about taking us over there but knew it was too dangerous for us. she then led us to shopping along with the young boy who worked at the restaurant. after shopping we went to the holocaust musuem which was really cool. and then back here. we got our iteneraries. we fly from elpaso to houston to brussels belgium to liberiaand the same thing back! im so ready for some chocolate! TONIGHT we did a prayer walk. i normally feel very good after these, but i had a very heavy heart and i couldnt figure out why. i knew it had to do with me not being able to cry but nothing had touched me that deep until joel got down on his knees and washed his fathers feet and then they switched places. it made me realize i need to loove as our father loves, especially with my own father. I love my daddy but i am not sure i always show it to the best of my ability. but now the world knows. What an incredible day. everybody leaves tomorrow...luckily we get to do laundry since we will be here do long! yay... but i miss my bf so i am going to talk to him :D

love and poverty

these are my two words of the day! the biggest part of the whole day was the world hunger simulation. The thing is I knew it was coming and i have experienced it first hand, but it still hits me so deep. I wish i could let out my emotions through my tears, but my eyes are just that tired! for those of you who do not know what this is, we were all divided into four groups. some were set at a very nice table, some(my group) were set at a family home table, the others were set in small shapes on the floor in large numbers and small space. We were then given food. my table had a family style dinner of chicken and sides, the fancy group had the same thing but salad and people waited on them, group three on the floor had rice and beans but had to eat out of their hands, and the last group(the biggest) had two rolls to share. Do you actually know how hard it is to sit there and know the others around you are not eating. We talked about so many things. Can we Share? tried that and it didnt work. Maybe we should eat everything? Maybe we shouldnt? To say the least I am beond full. I just didnt want to see it all go in the trash knowing others would not eat. When this happened in real like in Haiti, I gave my food to the children watching because I knew they would just dig it out of the dumpster later why not save a step? But why could I not do it now? It wasnt fair at all. And then I had to choose a person to bring over to our table and eat. Why me? I looked to my table to help me figure it out and it was hard. I just wanted to scream and just give them all I had. But I finally went to the final group and told them that I could only take one, but that I was not choosing. They decided to send someone who was sick and needed to keep their strength. To sit there and watch Talicha eat was hard. She just cried because she wanted her group to have this too. She asked to be deported so she could smuggle things in. It was just a very real situation. I could go on but i think all has been said. Just take what you need and help when you can! There is real poverty, and myself as a college student am not one!

STRESS RELIEF!!!

I feel sooo calm and relaxed. I didnt even realize how tense i was until stress relief training tonight! We first started with writing about each of our family members(as in Dominican Republic and Liberia). we then commenced in balling them um and throwing them at each other. then it was DANCE PARTY!!! cupid shuffle and all are awesome! it was such a great time but not long enough. We then got to read our papers and i got 6 back from my group. I do not mean to be all about devon, but it was great that people saw me as a great leader! like that just amazed me. it all goes back to our team training this morning. but before that we had focus. This time we got in our family groups and read Matthew 9:33-37 and picked out phrases and words that stood out to us. Mine was the part about being like the child and trusting God. i really have to do that as i go to the field and speak with the children. I need to understand them and show them the way. we then did our team training and it was a lot about trust and then team work as well. we did a trust fall which was a great experience because i have grown because i would once not do it. we then had to find our way through a rope maze as diasbled people. this is where my team found me to be a leader as i listened to ideas and executed the best way! we then lead the blind and were lead using only one word through a jungle gym! we then were taught on leading bible studies, cross cultural orientation, and strengths again! we had to clean up after dinner and that is so much work. and then we had church where we learned about the mark of hospitality. and then stress relief which was awesome. group time now. I missyou all!!!

day 2

well i tried to post last night but it didnt work and i had been running for 22 hours so it didnt make it.

i made it to el paso safe and sound and on time. I had to leave the house at 330 AM and flew from raleigh to nashville, nashville to austin, and austin to el paso. Yea it was a long ride. From austin to el paso i met a girl by the name of courtney who is also attending YIM but is going to India. It was great to get to talk to somebody else about everything and see what they had in store for them. as soon as we got to the church we are staying at, we didnt stop until 10 o clock mountain time (12 o clock at home for you guys) yea it was crazy. It was great ton get started though. We learned a lot about our strengths and how to apply them and work with others who are not like us.

this morning we had to be at breakfast at 8 and then it was off to our morning worship time. We learned about the mark of our baptism. It was really cool to be in this service because we got to remember our mark by having water sprinkled on our faces. It was neat because i do not remember my baptism as I was a baby. It also showed me that there are people around me who our just like me in a sense. We then loaded up and headed to a park where we did activities with blind folds. We had to get our selves in birthday order with out talking or seeing anything...first 6 months did pretty good but i do not know what happened to the others! haha and then we had to be lead around blindfolded and that was great. We learned to trust others and stay together. and just kind of go with the flow. It was really a great experience. We are now waiting to have a health talk and then they said we will be experiencing extreme training.

Just a heads up, our schedule says we will not be leaving until tuesday at 415 AM so we will have a day of rest and repacking which will be great! so please continue to pray and keep us all in your thoughts!

-Devon

last night at home

ok...last night at home...watched some movies with the family and ate some pizza inn! im good to go now. everything is all packed up and more...only a little more sleep and then leaving on a plane at 6:15 tomorrow morning. so continue praying for me!

Devon

stressing!

a little over 24 hours from now, i will be on my way to El Paso, Texas to begin this great adventure. Adventure being the key word. Nothing has been easy with this trip, yet everything has been fixable. haha im tryin to calm down as I type. I just got another email from my Cousin over in Africa, and the list is growing of what needs to be brought. I am already dealing with 2 bags and a hiking bag. Im not sure I will get there in one piece(clearly im not already doing that) lol. And we won't be in the capital but 2 1/2 weeks. The rest of the time, we will be traveling across liberia! It is somewhat exciting to know we will get to see a little bit more of the country! It will definitely be the trip of a lifetime. It just needs to get started. HAHAHA

Devon

packing...

packing is the most stressful thing ever! I am taking pretty much the bare minimums for a 2 month adventure...and they only want me to take one suitcase? this is crazy i need at least one big one and one small one, especially with the camera equipment. lol we got a lot of packing ahead of us! but less than a week until el paso. please continue to pray

Dev

...

1 weeks till take off...enough said.

-dev

lost connection...

Hey Guys.

two weeks from today I will most likely be on a plane heading halfway across the world. who knew it would come so fast. It's absolutely crazy. Today, we went to Verizon to see how much it would cost to get transfer my number to my moms blackberry and take it to Liberia. Let's just say it was quite a lot. It makes me very nervous to be disconnected from the world. Not like anybody could text me or anything. It would just be a very expensive safeguard, so I should not be as upset as I am. All this being said, with the trip close, please continue to pray for me. I am becoming more nervous than excited. I know I will be fine because God is in this, its just a big trip. Thanks!

-Dev

wildlife... :O

"Wildlife in Liberia include numerous animal species including: pigmy hippopotamus, crocodile, baboons, colobus monkey, white-spotted nose monkey, chimpanzee, elephants, buffalo, leopards, antelopes, groundhog, mongoose, ,tortoise, cobras, vipers, boa constrictors. Bird species include hornbills, weaver-birds, woodpeckers, pigeons, doves, flamingoes, parrots, hawks, eagles, and bulbul the national bird, which is called pepper bird in Liberia"-http://pages.prodigy.net/jkess3/Land.html

so...this is what i researched after I talked with a woman about some crazy hippos eating people!!! but there is way worse! all kinds of things that might eat me, but how cool would it be to see some (key word) some of these things in their natural habitats! Kind of getting excited but still super nerves. My wish is that you would continue to pray for my team and myself. Thanks!

-Dev

2 weeks and counting....

In just two short weeks, I will be making my final adjustments to my suitcase and getting ready for my last night at home. I can not believe it has come so fast. Today, I was sending thank you cards to those who have sponsored me and just couldn't believe all the support I've gotten. Please, most of all, just continue to pray for myself, my team, and Liberia as they prepare for us.

-Dev

FLOODS!!!

Hey Y'all!

On May 1, 2010, the rains came down and the floods came up! Nobody was quite ready for all that happened over the next few days. Continuing on to May 2, 2010, the rain just would not let up. The Cumberland River, I-24, and many other areas were completely flooded. Many of my friends have lost their homes and belongings, others have lost loved ones, and others are just simply here to help. Opry Land Hotel will be shut down for months and the mall has pretty much lost all merchandise. Please continue to pray for the people of middle tennessee and surrounding areas as they begin to pick up the mess mother nature left!

Devon

One month before take off!

Hey Guy!

I decided to start my blog now as I begin to prepare for Liberia. Don't get me wrong, I have been preparing since I found out I was heading that way.

My first year in college is coming to a close as the final week ends and exams begin! Once I get home I will only have two short weeks to completely prepare for Liberia. Your gifts and prayers are much appreciated! I have been going in and out of being completely nervous and terrified to go to completely excited and ready for it to just get here. By all means, it will be a difficult yet fulfilling journey for myself as well as the other two girls going along with me.

I know this is short but it's simply a start! Please continue to pray and keep myself as well as everyone else going on YIM in your prayers!

Devon