Siapa nama mu?

12/21/13

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I don't know when this post will be posted. Hopefully before we leave for the bush. Just bare with me. 

Well, we're finally here! 

I'm writing to you from my room. Cause I'm sick today. And it's really boring. My body aches and my head aches and my eyeballs ache and I just ache all over. So today I'm drinking a bunch of water and staying horizontal. My friends are taking good care of me though. 

They advised me to hang back while they go out today. I don't want to! I'm bored. But we all know I really should. Soooo, here I am. 

My team and I have been enjoying our first few days here though! We've been celebrating birthdays and Christmas and "white people are here!" and stuff. The other day we went to the YWAM orphanage. It's a cute little place in the city with maybe 26 children living in there. Not all the children who love there are orphans. Some are PKs or YWAMKs who go to school or have parents who work there. So I'm going to call it a home. Instead of an orphanage. 

Anyway, The first few moments were so awkward trying to communicate with these little ones without using words. But eventually, after a few hours of smiles, laughing, poking, hand clapping games and mumbling new words, we learned names and were very welcomed. They danced for us, we did a drama, and we ran and chased the time away. A lot of that time was also just sitting (maybe with a kiddo on your lap), observing, and praying. Anyone could tell that this could easily feel like a recess that never ends. There were kids who got picked on who would get angry and pick on someone else who gets angry and goes after the one in the corner and gets pushed away and etc. But there's an opportunity to be compassionate and smart and love on those babes. 

We've also been celebrating lots of Christmas this week. And we have more to celebrate later on. Last night we were invited to watch a handful of students from the school here on the base perform for a fancy Christmas service for a local church. This church went all out. It was absolutely extravagant! All the kids from the home were there too. 

Two little girls, Beronica and Yani have become my buddies and uugh, they've absolutely stolen my heart away. 

Anyway, that's enough for now. I'm falling asleep again. 

Happy Christmas to all!

-G

Love From Singapore

Selamat Pagi, guys!

Here I am in Singapore! I meant to write to you from San Fran but we got busy and I was enjoying it too much that I didn't have time to blog. 

Being in San Fran with George and Cindy Freeman was so refreshing and revitalizing to my being. I felt pretty good there. Very natural. Very at home. Even in the slummiest, darkest, smelliest areas of a beautiful San Francisco. But that's just how I'm wired. 

We spent most of our time out on the streets hanging out with the homeless community. We mapped out walking routs covering a handful of the massage parlors in the area. We stopped in front of each one to ponder and pray over them. 

The parlors in that area are literally brothels in disguise. Usually, these girls are sold or manipulated into the business by their families. Or else they're just broke and need a warm place to stay. And a job. Nothing in life is free, right?

Even though we didn't go into the buildings... I will probably never look at a massage parlor the same way again. 

Another cool thing we got to do was making buckets of hot chocolate and strolling up and down the sidewalks handing out styrofoam cups of chocolatey warmth. I got the job of pouring mini marshmallows. Which was my favorite. Cause everyone loves marshmallows. 

We had so many cool conversations with people out there. I love talking to strangers. They love telling stories. They'll tell you their whole life if you give them time and attention. And if you show that you're genuine enough to take it in. Usually, that's all they need. Someone to listen. Someone to process with. And a cuppa warm liquid with a bunch of love-mallows on top. And they're usually not telling a bunch of princess love stories, that's for sure. 

And of course, George insisted on taking us out to see the city and the pier. Wow. Night life in the city is so amazing! We saw the lights and the Christmas trees an the Macy's decorations and the TWO STORY CHIPOTLE!! what?! That was exciting. 

We also went exploring along the pier. We walked up and down the vertical streets of San Fran and found the coolest board walk ever. There were street performers and an arcade museum and seafood restaurants and people danced and sang and sea lions barked and flailed to our enjoyment. I learned to be okay with the smell of salty sea and fishy fish. Even though I hate those smells invading my nostrils, they do smell like sweet memories. George and Cindy were the best people to experience that with. 

George had an awesome idea that I wanted to 'borrow' from him! And I'm only writing it here so I won't loose it. He thought "How awesome would it be to get in contact with these better street performers and keep track of them as they travel. That way you can notify their audience about where they'll be next." Ha! I would love to look into that. Maybe I'll find myself hanging out in San Fran more often. <3

Wow I have so many more stories to tell you but for now, I'm gunna save you some time. 

Welp, after like, 18 hours of flying, making friend on the plane, decent airline food, and a few sluggish days of jet lag, I'm lounging on a couch on the porch of our Singapore campus. It's not too hot but it will be when I get up. Kinsey and I are gunna go shopping in a bit. 

Yesterday, we went to the clinic to get vaccinations. Long story-short, I decided not to get a Japanese Encephalitis vaccination.  The odds of me catching this scarring virus are very slim, but still possible... I won't go into detail about it because my own mother could be reading this and I don't want her worrying about all that I'm up against here! Basically, it's just a mosquito virus. But I'm taking plenty of precautions against that. Plus, I felt peace in turning it down. It was a very very expensive 2-part vaccination and there was a good chance we won't be able to get the second dose we need anyway. So pray for me, friends. I trust Him that I'll be safe. I did get a flu shot though! My first ever. 

We also went to the Singapore Art Museum last night. That was so inspiring. I miss Minneapolis' art museums. 

Quick update on my team family!!!! 

-Sam sprained his ankle playing soccer with the Amsterdam team who is also hanging out here for a couple weeks. Soccer is like an international language. Especially in such a diverse place as Singapore. Poor guy hasn't been able to walk in a few days. But today I see him hobbling around alright. He's getting better. Pray for that guy. He's had such an awesome attitude and he's so involved in the people and connections around him. Him and that stunning smile. 

-Kinsey has been feeling pretty homesick but she's pushing through. She's having issues with her boyfriend back home. Sucks to be in a place like this when you're romance isn't. She's my girl though. I'm glad to have her here. It wouldn't be the same without her. 

-John and Jordin are so great. I think they're doing alright. They're pretty familiar with a setting like this, which helps me feel comfortable too. (Even though I just killed what I suspect to be a venomous spider with a scorpion tail...) They're ready to be in Indo though, so they can get to establishing some order for the next 8 weeks. I enjoy those two. 

- Me, I'm doing alright. Im finding myself to get easily peopled out but there are places to go to get alone here. I found some yummy new music the other day. Ever heard of Zach Winters? I found him on Spotify. Look him up. 

Over all, we're doing really well as a team. Communications are good. Discussions are solid and positive. And we're getting along again. I can tell you've been thinking and praying over us. 

Anyhoo, I'm gunna go to the market with KDawg. And maybe SamSam. 

Plus, I hear some pretty music happening somewhere and I want to go find it. So I'm done here. 

Thanks for reading this far. 

I'll write again soon. 

Love

-G

A Recipe, a Recollection, and a Refuge.

Hey friends! 

I haven't written in a while but alas, here I am again. 

One more week until outreach! Just 6 more sleeps! 

My team and I spent the beginning of this week hanging out and sitting through lecture with the Denver base. It was a bit of a struggle because the students there didn't warm up to us very well. We got a lot of blank stares and the conversations we did get to start we're usually cut short by text messages flooding to their phones. That sucks. However, by the end of our time, a couple friendly faces had reached out (at least to me) to their best ability. 

Lecture was interesting though! Troy Sherman gave us a LOT of information to process and a LOT of idea to wrestle with on the topic of missions. 

Fun fact: Troy Sherman and his father have been with YWAM for a very long time. Troys father, Dean Sherman, is THEE man that the early Simpsons character "Ned Flanders" was inspired by. Believe it or not. 

We returned to the base just in time for Thanksgiving. I offered to make cranberry sauce for everyone. I totally rocked it. 

Gracie's Orange Cranberry Sauce:

1 package of cranberries

1 orange

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Yields kind of a lot. 

- boil the water and sugar together in a medium sauce pan.  

- while you wait, grate the orange rind into a fine zest, set aside. 

- cut the rest of the rind off until the flesh is exposed and separate from the stem and icky parts and stuff. Set that aside. 

- when the water boils, pour the washed cranberries into the water and bring back to a boil. It's cool cause the cranberries pop and the color gets pretty. 

- let simmer over a medium flame, stirring occasionally. 

- k, when that's finally done, I placed the pan in a sink of ice to cool it down some before joining it with the orange. 

- pour all the ingredients into a food processor; cranberries, orange and zest, and blend. Less if you like lumpy sauce, more if you prefer smooth sauce. 

- serve it in a pretty bowl.

Yay! You're done. And guess what, you can put that on turkey or ice cream or in smoothies too! 

Okay well now that you know all my secrets and first-annual, life-long, family traditions that I just started two days ago, read on. 

After thanksgiving marks the end of our lecture phase here on the mountain. 

Wait, I don't think you read that right... The END of our lecture phase!! That means we are half way through this adventure. 

Hmmmm. This past week has been pretty difficult however. And this weekend has been the peak of frustration. 

God is leading my team and me into yet another stage of transition that, of course, every YWAMer has to go through. 

In this place, I find myself needing to reflect on all the progress made. As well as see all the progress, all the sharpening, all the refining that NEEDS to happen still. Which, here, as a team, is a lot. 

We're getting tired. The walls are closing in on us a bit. And distractions (from home, movies, etc.) are keeping us from communicating well. 

But never fear, friends. What do we do when things suck? When things just really really suck? And you start to loose things like your new earbuds you just dropped $20 on the day before and when you get sick and have red blotchy things spreading up your wrists and throbbing headaches and when your heat goes out in your dorm and stuff...

That's when it's time to really press in, hmm? Yeah. 

I find myself just sitting quietly sometimes, stretching my feelers toward Jesus, know what I mean? He's peaceful. And He keeps this little family together. He makes us healthy again and gives us warmth and He even lets me get my stuff back when I ask because He is the Agape kind of love, ladies and gentlemen and He cares about those little things. 

Someone asked me last week: "Why are you still following Jesus?... What's that one thing that assures you...?"

That's why. Because that is the nature and character of the Creator if the Universe. 

Also, this next week is purely a team building week. We'll be preparing for outreach, for which we leave on FRIDAY. In this next week, we'll have a lot of time to communicate. Hard core communicate. Which we've gotten really good at as a team. We just need more of it. 

Anyways. Thanks for reading this far. This got longer than I planned. 

Another few highlights from the week:

- We spent the day in Telluride today. Telluride is a cute little ski town a few hours away from the base. 

- I bought my second pair of Vibram Five-Finger shoes last week because I didn't have time to have mine mailed to me. I still think they're cool. I also bought a sleeping bag worthy of the equator...

- A few weeks ago, I painted a picture onto a rather large piece of wood. Someone saw it and offered to buy it from me today. I've yet to price it... I have never sold a painting before. 

- I have a little surprise... But I'm waiting to see how long I can last before revealing it. 

Please be praying for my team and me this week. We need it. 

- Pray that WE will be sensitive to how WE can pray for EACH OTHER. 

- Against offenses, isolation, and stupid distractions. 

- That each of us will be able to get malaria medication on time and for wisdom as to whether or not we need (really expensive!) Japanese Encephalitis vaccinations. 

- That nothing important would be left behind. 

- That we would become and stay sensitive to God's voice and direction as a team and as individuals. 

- For divine appointments and obedience. 

Okay, for real, I'm done now. 

Perhaps I'll post to you guys again from San Fran?

Thanks for your love and support. 

Gracefully,

-G

November update! It's been too long.

Friends!

Geeze, I haven't written up in like, a month! Sorry guys. 

Except I'm not all the way because life has been busy up here. Plus, I won't be able to blog through the last month of outreach.

Let's see, a few awesome updates:

It snowed like crazy last night! Which called for some crazy shoveling this morning. And we're expecting some more tonight. I love snow. I love it so much. I like the cold. 

I also recently decided to cut about 6 inches from my dreads. I cut em short because so much length was just broken and fragile. When I started these dreadies, I paid a pretty lump sum to get them done professionally, with a perm. However, the perm destroyed my hair and I spent a long time and a lot of money trying to revive them. Being up here though, the air is so dry and I didn't feel like taking care of fragile dreadies. I didn't have time or energy. So now they're short and I feel like I look like Shirley Temple... I don't wanna talk about it. 

I'm excited about a package my mother is sending to me. 

I can't remember if I told you guys but I killed a chicken all by myself a few weeks ago. I'm gunna be the best post-apocalyptic wife ever. No, I didn't do it mindlessly. Or out of defense. I was trained in a well-supervised process. And it was gross. But we made our chickens into chicken gumbo for the base. Yummmm. 

This past week, we learned about oral learning and telling stories and I have to say, I rock at memorizing my shtuff! 

I don't feel like there's a whole lot more to say right now. 

Oh hey, check it out, guys! Read our final plans for outreach:

On the 6th of December, my team and I will be flying into San Francisco. We'll be there for the weekend, ministering on the streets with the YWAM base. That's one of my favorite ways to outreach. On the streets. 

After that, we'll be flying into Singapore. We'll stay there for another week before flying into Pontianak, Indonesia. 

Pontianak is on the island of Borneo. The equator runs through Pontianak! And we'll be spending 2 months there; 4 or 5 of those weeks living in the bush, in the middle of... Somewhere. Somewhere rural. 

This is going to be such an amazing, refining, beautiful adventure. 

We will be returning in late February. 

Pray for us!

Pray that each of us will have the funds to get the supplies we will need for this trip. 

Pray that God will continue to prepare out hearts for everything He has for us during this trip, from start to finish. 

Pray for safety and favor during this trip. 

Pray that we'll be able to retain the super limited Indonesian we've been trying to teach ourselves. Haha. 

And pray that above all, Jesus will be glorified and we (us and those we meet) will be brought closer to him and to each other. 

Anyhoo, thanks for reading, guys!

You guys rock. Thanks for your love and support. 

Love, 

G

 See you soon. (: 

OUTREACH!! And being a team.

Hey friends and family! 

Wow. This has been an eventful week. 

I cought a cold. 

Our team has changed a bit. 

My team and I prayed up about outreach. 

The weather has been so bipolar. 

Hey, I made some applesauce yesterday. 

So, this week started with 4 students. And it ended with 3. Kinsey, Sam and I were sorry to say goodbye to Spencer as his grandparents drove him down the mountain. I guess it was just time for Spencer to move on. The rest of the week has been pretty quiet without that guy but we know that this was best for him. Maybe even best for us. It's time for us to progress as our little team of 3. 

Before Spencer left, I remember contending for our team one Monday morning. That weekend before had been particularly difficult and my fleshy fleshness wanted its way, so I got on my knees to humble myself and accept Jesus above my wants. In my gnashing of teeth, God showed me a picture of a table. The table had 4 legs. There were things on the table but I didn't know what yet. Suddenly, I watched one of the table legs get kicked out from underneath the table and all the things on the table fell to the ground and were shattered. Holy Spirit revealed to me that the table legs resembled each one of us and the things on the table were what God had for us as a team but we needed to work as a team to receive and support what He had for us. He showed me that if I did what I wanted to do (this that was not His will) I would not be able to support my end of the table and He would not be able to release to us. I even asked "Lord! But like, if I become strong again and can get back in line, is that stuff on the floor salvageable?!" And He showed me again that it was completely shattered. That scared me. Righteously. I knew this was true and I went to my team to share this and appologize. I know that God forgives me and is pleased that I did that. I'm glad I did too and our team was strong and together. 

However, eventually we and Spencer learned that this was no longer a good place for Spencer to grow. Spencer has memories of a very difficult past that he needs ministry for and there are better places for him to receive that than here. In our team prayer time we asked The Lord to confirm with us again that this was a good choice to send him off and Sam got a picture of my table again. Only he said that this time, before the table leg was removed, a chord was attached from the ceiling to the center of the table holding us up. Wow. God is so good. So compassionate. Of course it's hard for all of us to say goodbye but it's time to establish ourselves as this new team. This week has been quite bittersweet. 

However, this past week we 3 and John and Jordan got together in their sweet little home to pray hardcore about outreach. After a while of praying and listening and worshiping and laughing and sharing our hearts... 

CHECK IT OUT, PEOPLE. 

****We're praying Indonesia!!****

Islands and children and fresh land and unreached territory!!! (At least by THIS base)

John is looking into visas and accommodations over there. I'll keep you updated on that. 

This also brings me to letting you guys know that I am still in the process of fundraising. After working at the coffee shop and saving and saving, it felt wonderful to put my own money into Lecture phase but I still need the funds for outreach. 

I'd like to ask you to pray and ask The Lord if He would like you to join with me in this outreach. 

$4,000 is the amount I'm aiming for so far. The exact cost will be clear as soon as we have tickets and visas figured out. I'll keep you guys updated on that. Sam and K already have their funds submitted. It's just me left! And I have about 2 months to get there. 

I've been looking into finding a way for people to submit money online but the legistics of getting the money back to me with receipts and things are pretty sketchy. 

I know when it comes to funding and supporting people and organizations there's a question about tax deductibles. 

The best way I know of so far: 

Send your support to:

Youth With A Mission

PO Box 158 

Cimarron CO 81220

Don't put my name anywhere on the check. Instead, you can write a little note or just write my name on a post it or something and slip it into the envelope with the check. That way, I can get back to you guys with little trinkets and love notes and such. And that way, it's deductible. 

Guys, thank you so much for considering  this. This time in life is so sweet yet so stretching but it's one of the most important decisions I've made so far! 

I also wanna ask you guys to partner with me in prayer. It's gunna take a lot of Jesus to get us there and back safely. 

Pray for safe flights!

Pray for clear direction!

Pray for favor with locals!

I'll keep you updated on prayer points with each blog. 

Again, thank you thank you for your love and support, guys. Thanks to you who have known me for my entire life. And thanks to those who have known me for even 2 weeks. I am so honored to have the Jesus family that I do.  Hopefully I will be able to get Facebook messages out to some of you with some of this same info.

Believe it or not, I wrote most of this blog out to you from the top of Black Cañon National Park here in CO. 

God created this. 

Anyhoo, I hope to be able to connect with you guys soon! 

Loving you dearly. 

Vividly,

Gracie

Eucha- what?

Eucharisteo

(Yoo-hau-dee-STAY'-oh)

The Greek meaning thankful, to be thankful.

(I know I kinda stink at word pronunciations.)

A dear friend of mine up here on the base taught this week on this word. It took me a while to pronounce it but it means to be thankful or grateful. And its been stuck in my head all week,

I felt God really putting it on my heart to be more attentive to the things He lays in front of me to be enjoyed. I do think that I am one who does that naturally but I really let it sink in this time.

I got my very first care-package from my mother this week. She sent me my boots! I really needed these things. Not only because its already winter up here but because, honestly, they're pretty darn adorable and my roommate has boots that are very similar and just because we live on a rural mountain, does'nt mean we need to dress like it. 

Thanks God, for cute things.

Thanks for skirts.

Thanks for time with you outside.

Thanks for brushing our deck with leaves.

I woke up to this the other day. Before it snowed like crazy! This photo doesnt even begin to capture the crazy beautiful scene that this was. I watched this cloud formation escort in the new day. It changed and shifted until the sun broke through to warm our home up here.

Thanks God, for natural warmth. 

Thanks for waking me up to share this with me. 

Thank you for creating the enormity of the sky to amaze and intrigue me. 

This one was from a few days before! Again, this photo is so lovely but it doesn't capture the all. Look at this, you guys! My God is an artist! He KNOWS Grace sees this and thinks "Holy buckets! What the heck!" And I stand there until it's done being lovely. See? God does that because He knows me and knows what makes my heart flip. He knows what it takes to make me stand still in the cold morning before a busy day.

Thanks God, for new days and new mercies.

Thanks for speaking to me in ways that only I understand sometimes.

Thanks for color

Thanks for golden leaves.

Thanks for crazy beautiful days.

Thanks for MOUNTAINS!

Thanks. 

Thanks, God for good music. 

Thanks for giving me my own sense of music taste, even. 

Thanks for meeting me in music.

Thanks for making me sensitive to music.

This is Kinsey Bean. 

When our room is a mess and we're sore from Insanity and we have book reports due in the morning and might be slightly irritated with each other, we stay up to chat and laugh distract each other from reading. Even when this girl makes my BLOOD BOIL!!!!!!!! (Well not really, not yet.) I decide to love her to death. She's my partner. I don't know what I'd do without her. And she puts up with my junk too. 

Thanks God, for Kinsey. 

Thanks for a someone to vent to when I need to. 

Thanks for beds. 

Thanks for sleeps. 

This is a candle my mom sent me. I sat outside and burned it all by my lonesome. Which is nice after being with people all day long. 

Thanks God, for little candles. 

Thanks for warmth when my hands are cold. 

Thanks for polka dot leggings when I probably can't even really afford them. 

Hey God, thanks for people. Even when I get tired of them. I need em. 

Thank you for light. 

Look at this amazing moth I found! I found it in the drive way. It was dead but it's wings caught my eye. I picked it up and it almost took up the majority of my palm. I loved its fuzzy little body and its stringy, broken antenni. I admired its white-grey stripy, textured wings and the bright, red-orange underwings. 

Wow! Thank you, Lord for moths. 

Thanks for keeping this little guy for me to find. 

Thank you for making moths gentle and not scary. 

Thanks for showing me Your beauty even through bugs. 

Earlier this week I got really sick. I didn't want to seem incapable or lazy so I pushed myself and justified myself. Eventually I pushed myself too far and instead of "getting through to the other side", I got too sick to participate. I layed in my bed and listened to some more good music. I dunno 'bout you but I love connecting with the Creator while listening to Sigur Ros. 

Thanks God, for more good music. 

Thanks for "making me lay down in green pastures" when I just won't. 

Thanks for restoring me. 

Thanks, God. 

Thanks that I have a home to go back to. 

Thanks for giving me people. 

Thanks for loving my city. 

There are so many more things I am grateful for; The smell of coffee! Bicycles! Pillows when I'm really tired! Showers! Toilet paper even!

This was a good idea. 

Cause honestly, you guys, this past week was pretty hard to live. I think for everyone. But God stopped me from complaining! He literally said "Quit it". He disciplines those He loves! And He knows what's best for me. This turned my week around and made it whole again. Plus, it's Saturday now. The week is over. A new week is a-brewin. 

Hey you, let me know what you're grateful for. Really. Think about it. And take time to enjoy it. God knows your heart. He knows what delights you! And He loves filling your day with those things. 

All good things come from God. 

Oh hey! I'm gunna start hanging out with the young people at the church we've been attending. I'm so excited. What is a weird dreadhead Jesus freak doing with our young people!? 

They're all gunna have dreads by the time I leave. 

Okay. I gotta go. Call me if you think you can pronounce Eucharisteo. Ha! 

But really. I'd love to hear your voice. 

Love you guys. 

Have a super awesome weekend. 

Mini Photo Tour of The Base

Weird gap before my post? I dont know why...

Horray! 

Today is the day you guys finally get to see a few photos of the base up here in Cimarron! Here's our little village of life and love. We took some time to establish ourselves and have finally learned the ropes. Eventually I'll get around to posting photos of our family up here but for now, gaze upon what I do have. 

Sorry these are in a weird order. My phone didnt like giving these up. 

Here's a distant photo of the outside of our kitchen and dining room. The sunrise escorts me here every day. 

Now that the seasons have been changing, I get to watch the sun rise up and conquer the mountains every morning. 

The photo on the left, i took a few weeks ago. The changing leaves up here are so crazy beautiful. The photo on the right is lovely too. Its kinda ugly and brown but the frost frames it so delicately. 

Here's a not good photo of our mountain chariot. We named it Bertha. She's quite a bit shaky going down these mountain roads but she hasn't thrown us from her seats yet so... I guess she's a pretty faithful wagon. 

Here's the kitchen! It took me a while to learn where everything goes... there are about a thousand cabinets it seems. I made cakepops here a few weeks ago. People dig me. Dont go in here barefoot or someone might try to throw silverware at your feet or something. 

Goodmorning. Have only some cheerios for breakfast.

Oh, you're too kind. 

We're pretty much on our own for breakfast.

Here's a flattering picture of me going through the medicine cabinet. Also known as the bear-attack cabinet, the snake-bite cabinet, the fingers-falling-off-because-of-frost-bite cabinet, tree-fell-on-jimmy-again cabinet... you choose.

Here's what breakfast looks like most of the time. 

Jelly plopped on the counter.

Every loaf of bread open.

Sam already drank all the juice.

Now here's a photo of the massive world map in the building where we sleep. This is convenient when you're standing there praying for peace in Pakistan or justice in Britain or healing in America or to point out where your home is. Or when you just want to play Godzilla. 

I like staring at these flags. Nepal's flag is the coolest. Its the one on the far right. Then the Tibetan flag. Then the Bhutanese flag. Then the Pakistani flag. Then the Indian flag. (from right to left)

Here's our laundry room. Cause I'm sure you all wanted to know where I wash my dirty, dusty trekking clothes. And my muddy socks. And canvas shoes that I insist on walking up the side of a rainy mountain in for some reason. All that jazz. 

Under my bed, I have a map of Minnesota. Dont laugh... this totally aids my sense of direction when I'm trying to remember the layout of Colorado ridges. 

I just like looking at you, Minnesotans. 

You like my new dress? Look how happy I am. Hi mom!

Here's our counter space. Lightbulbs. Vitamins. Mascara. Face wash. I found a couple really cool feathers while scouting around the base. Someone stuck a cool picture of a lion face in my mailbox so i stuck it to the wall. I display my preferred jewelry aside my sink. Because I care to look good in front of the same people every single day. 

Excuse our overly full garbage.... We're college aged.

Here's our sleeping space. We have matching clamp lamps cause we're cute roommates. We also share a bookshelf. Sometimes it just looks messy and stuff. But usually it just displays our mountain trekking trophies and bow-hunting badges and elk-shooting licenses. We had deer heads mounted above our beds that we had shot and tagged ourselves but I took it all down so you guys wouldn't be jealous or think we're too cool. 

This was a cool photo I took of the first snow fall. Not like first Minnesotan snow falls...

Look at dem mountains. And dem dreadies. 

I didnt pass out before I took this photo. It was intentional that I snapped from this angle. 

This is a little bird home. I found it a few weeks ago. I'm guessing the birds are on vacation but I left their home alone. 

Here's a shot walking to the kitchen. (This is the other side.)

Mountains and such. 

I love this photo. This is from the top of the pipeline that brings water to the base from a mountain spring. It's buried under all this mud. It's the cleanest, purest water I've ever consumed.

Tang. Tang. Tang. Sometimes, you're just right where you need to be. 

Most of the staff up on the hill actually reside up there. This is Patience and Ray's house. It's under a bit of construction but its still the cutest little home.

Happy day!

Look at this huge hornet I found. It was dead when I found it but just look at that stinger...

Welp, that's all I have for right now. Here's a start. I'll find other interesting photos to throw at you guys soon. Friend me on Facebook or follow me on Instagram (Amazinggrace5) to find even more neat photos of life here in CO. Basically, every day up here I try to live "in the moment". I'm trying to allow my heart to accept this as home for right now, know what I mean? Or else it all just flies by too quickly. Despite the spotty internet, no phone service, car-lessness, and early wake-up calls, I'm loving it here. I only have 139 more sleeps until I go home. I'm gunna make it worth it.

Have a sweet week, guys. 

Love, Gracie. 

Have Out Desert and Eat It Too

Hello readers. 

Sorry I haven't been able to write in way too long! Internet up here is getting worse and frankly, I've been spending my time sleeping, reading, and jamming anyway.

That is, except for this past week. Yesterday we got home from backpacking in the red Colorado deserts with a couple friends. 4 days of heavy backpacks, limited water, climbing over rocks, inching across ledges, dodging cacti, and sleeping in the dirt under the stars. Oh, and pooping in holes. Oh and soap wasn't a thing. Neither were clocks. Or escalators. 

The first night we spent in the Colorado National Monument. After hours spent in bumpy cars with people and noise I snuck away to scout out our territory as soon as we got there. I jumped over holes and climbed over rocks until my next step was to slide over the edge of a massive cliff! I sat and scaled the distant mountains, the sun in my eyes and covered in dirt.

"Clean dirt!" Cause there's a difference. Except when it's on everything... Like your Chapstick. And your water bottle mouthpiece. And sunburn. And everything... And you end up chewing dirt. 

Haha. No. It was beautiful, all bratitudes aside. After living in flatly Minnesota my whole life, I kind of had to let it soak in. Breathtaking, I tell you. 

Chris Austen, or "Captain" was our guide. Experienced mountain man. He's been leading adventures for longer than I've been alive I bet. He was such a poppa to us. He'll be 50 years old this weekend. I would have never guessed. Mark, "Rafiki" was a friend Chris ministered with at Burning Man this year and brought along for the ride. Mark has a headfull of gorgeous, blonde, dreadlocks and a heart sold out for Jesus.

I'll never admit how long I stared... Or drooled. 

Kinsey's trail name is "Sunshine"

Spencer is "Guardian"

Sam is "Pepe"

I'm "Story"

Cause trail names happen with Chris when your hiking for hours. 

Well! After the US government shut down, we were forced to get creative and we moved our way to Rattle Snake Arches. No rattlesnakes were found but we climbed down into the lowest crevices of the canons, found the Colorado River, pumped some water clean, and climbed back up to the highest point we could find. Hopefully I'll be able to nab some pictures from someone eventually. 

Anyhoo, there's a little snapshot of an awesome week. We got home and Chris, Mark, Sam, and I jammed into the night.

Chris happens to be good friends with Tim Coons and Aaron Strumpel, who's music is the soundtrack to my life, and we played a few of their songs. This made my heart melt. 

I woke up this morning to a white Christmas wonderland out side my window and with a heavy heart, said goodbye to Mark and Chris. 

The mountains are spotted with Autumn's golds and reds but the tops are capped with snow. What an interesting view. 

So much peace and so much anticipation comes with the hint of a new season. 

Check back next time! Maybe I'll finally get to posting a photo tour of my home up here! 

Much peace. 

-Story

Look at dem bronzed-burnt cheeks. 

Picking Up the Pace and a Little Lesson From the Mountain!

Middle of the second week.

Who's feeling good?! You feeling good!? I know I am!
Its all about attitude, right, homies?

Ok but for real, how am I really doing? Let me just take a breath and pause and ask myself that question...
I miss The Cities.
Concrete towers have turned into towering trees.
Dirty pigeons, into chubby chipmunks.
Netflix, into morning hikes.
and Facebook and Facetime, into.... well, actual face time. With humans. Gross, right?

Well, I saw a bear tonight too.

Anyhoo, besides the normal flecks of homesickies anyone away from home experiences, Colorado is treating me mighty well. The air here is so clean and so crisp and the mountains and ridges get me every morning. Its been so rainy these past couple weeks though. If you havent been keeping track of me on facebook, check out this weather update I posted a few days ago:

 In case any of you havent been updated on Colorado's flooding: Denver apparently got 18 inches of rain in the past two days. The rivers have expanded into lakes. The ground is deeply saturated and cars are underwater. 4 people have been reported dead so far and about 170 people are missing. We had a massive mudslide roll through the base up here about 2 weeks ago. I wasnt here yet but luckily nothing up here (atleast not to my knowledge) was damaged besides like, a whole trail of forest. But just to let everyone know, I'm safe. The base is all good. Its just nice and muddy up here. I'll update you again tonight! Stay safe, 'Merica.

Since then... yeah, its still raining everyday. I myself havent even had much update on the condition of Denver... because we kind of live up in the mountains. No biggy. The recent deaths of (insert creepy number here) mice in our living space in the past 2 weeks is the current news up here. Speaking of which, I may have one to get rid of as soon as I'm done here.

Hey. Here's a cool snippit of lecture that I've been wanting to share with you guys this week...
If any of you know who Jim Arguel is, he's been hanging out with us this week. Behind those wrinkly, aged eyes is a whole lot of wisdom.
I'll try to explain the best way I can...
Basically, he compared the humans' though process to a massive semi truck. The front nose of the truck, in a way, resembles human intellect. The steering wheel resembles the will of our heart. and the trailer resembles emotion.
Have you ever seen a massive semi truck cruising down the interstate backwards? It's obviously not ok, right? It's dangerous. Don't try this at home.
Well, in reality, we tend to do that sometimes. Especially us women. (I'm not saying women are bad drivers! Just listen!) People tend to drive their thought process backwards; emotions come first, then their will of heart, then their intellect or reasoning. When this happens, it sounds a bit like this:

• I feel so gross right now, who would even want to be around me?
• I feel like he's ignoring me. Do you think he's mad at me?
• I think my kids hate me. I feel like they just don't appreciate me.
• I feel like this is just too overwhelming right now, get out of my face.
• You dont even understand me. 

Thats so destructive, dont you agree?! And I can totally recall specific times when I've said things like this to myself. We all do that! But listen up! Think about this!
Turn your truck around!

1. Let your reasoning come first. Is he (or she, whatever) REALLY mad at you? Do they REALLY hate you?  Maybe you misunderstand them as much as you feel they misunderstand you? Is it REALLY all that too much? or do you just need an attitude change? TURN AROUND! What do you KNOW is true? What is reality? Let's re-think this the right way.
2. Then, let the will of your heart come next. (Hopefully your will is in alignment with the will of God! Get that ready first.) Again, do this with a good attitude. Let what you know is truth win. If you must outwardly react, do it the right way. Not the way you feel like doing it.
3. Finally, let your emotions be a REACTION to the process or a reaction to the outcome instead of getting all choked up on how they may have deceived you and directed you.

What you "feel" doesn't change anything. I might feel suddenly that "my team mates hate my guts, I just slow everything down." but that doesnt make it so. I know from my intellect and in my heart that we need eachother and that if we have an issue, we work it out and get right with eachother, know what I mean?

I hope you guys understand that. Its just a little lesson in being mindful. Honestly, this changed my entire perspective. I can probably say this here changed my life. It changed my entire though process for the good. I have struggled with letting my emotions have the best of me for so long, you guys!!! This is healing. It really is.
What are times that you need to be mindful of your emotions?
How have you let your emotions drive an assumption or even a rumor?
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contact me.

Anyhoo,
Its time for bed here. The rain is pouring down like crazy and the lightning is vicious out there but I have to run to my room and go to bed! Eventful rest-of-the-week ahead of me.

Just a heads up: My dad's 3 year anniversary of his death is coming up on Friday. Pray for me. My heart sinks and I kind of go emotionally numb around this time. Sometimes I close up and get quiet. But processing is good. and Jesus knows my heart. So yeah... Thanks guys. Let's celebrate that man.

Okay, goodnight world.
-G

Here I am, Guys!

 Sorry I havent been able to update sooner. 

After 2 flights, a handful of unhappy stewardesses,  a couple smelly old men, and a bad cup of coffee... I'm here and thriving. 

One of the first things I have WE have all noticed... I am so Minnesotan. What is it, you guys?! I think I am so friendly, opinionated and yet, passive that it kinda creeps people out sometimes. I noticed that at church today... But it's my hair of course that lets me get away with it.

One of the sweet women cooking for us this season mentioned that she was going to make some kind of potato casserole for dinner the other night. 

"You mean...Tater hotdish?" I said with a clever smile, trying to sound home-y, and she gave me a confused smile. 

"....What's hotdish?" I look over and I see a blank, straight face from my buddy across the room.

"Hotdish..... Its... Minnesotan for casserole...?"

A few smile-sighs of realization broke out around me.

Anyhoo, 

I think you will all be as surprised as I am about the people I have encountered in these first days of being here; my team. A little team of 4. 

Kinsey: In the first few hours of knowing her we had already expressed our mutual love for dreadlocks, grungy sweaters, and The Cinematic Orchestra. Every few moments we realize some new weird similarity that we have. Unfortunately, I could not relate with her history of MMA training though. Bummer. And shes not a biker... nor does she know the state of Minnesota when she sees it tattooed on ones arm. I can tell, we'll definitely run into a lot of differences while we're up here too, but... I'll I like her anyway. I think we'll get a long. Its about attitude, amiright?

 I set up my collection of sweet patchouli, zum, and nag champa right by her collection and went to bed. Oh... We also both confessed the fear we had that the other was going to be a tiny little dramatic neat-freak suck-up. God bless her for not filling that assumption. God bless her real good.

Spencer and Samuel are pretty cool too. Spenser's from Iowa and Sam from Mexico. They're both very interesting additions to the team. Sam's got a great smile and an awesome attitude. He's everyone's favorite of us four, I can tell. Spencer is a clever little bugger with a big story. 

Jordin and John: Not much older than I am, these two run the show. They're pretty legit.  

So far, I'm feeling like I am where I need to be right now. Which is a good feeling. 

Lots of Jesus things are going to happen while we're here. 

God has an agenda, I know it. 

Listening to eachother's stories, and applying them to what I know from past experience, I can tell... this is no coincidence. 

This is going to be an eventful 6 months. 

Love is a choice.

Ok, love you guys. You'll hear from me when you do. 

Vivdly,

-G