The place we stayed at is called Child Hope International and it’s really an amazing organization with a terrific staff who are so devoted to these kids that it really had an impact on me. Just watch the 2 videos. Take 15 minutes and see how amazing this place is. These kids are so loved and well taken care of. It’s amazing the hope and faith the staff and volunteers instill in the children.

Just another testament to what God is doing around the world to help those in need.

The mosquitos are ridiculous here. 100% deet isn’t really helping. I’m covered in bites. Yay. Today is our last day. We fly back tomorrow at 2. Boo. This morning, we got a driver and toured more of the city. (me, Cassidi, Jill, and April) We did a tour before but not the same places. Today we got to witness a lot of the destruction and the buildings affected. I will post pictures once I get home.
The feeding program is today. Last time to see the kids. They are amazing.

I have a ton of pictures and videos to sort out, and I still haven’t really processed much, but this trip has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. I’ve learned a lot and can’t wait to share some stories!!!

Peace out y’all.

So I’ve been feeling a bit weird about this Haiti trip. Like I wasn’t sure of my place, and I was trying to hear what God was trying to tell me, but I just couldn’t. Don’t get me wrong, my time here has been rewarding and great, I just wasn’t sure how I was feeling about everything.

So Wednesday was pretty much one of the best days ever. It started out normal. We went to the girls school and hung out for a bit. Jill and I made some paper bracelets (we didn’t do a very good job according to our teacher haha) After lunch, Jill, Cassidi, April, and myself went with Suzette back to her place for coffee and a nice chat. She and her husband started CHI. She was here for the quake, and told us all about it. It was really surreal to here her recount the details. She had some amazing stories. She and her husband are amazing, and their story is fascinating.

For the rest of the afternoon, we went to the feeding program. This program is amazing, and really is such an awesome thing. The kids are so sweet, and we made connections with a lot of them. After that was finished, we went back for dinner. After that was worship, back at the boys home. It was amazing. Just amazing. Exactly what I needed. Once the worship really got going, the sky opened up and it just started POURING. Like intense crazy rain which was just awesome. I love the rain. We had shelter. Worship was outside but there was a roof over us, except I went out and got soaked. One of the kids, Emmanuel dragged me out so we were just playing in the rain. Eventually, most everyone was soaking wet and having a really good time. It was so nice to see everyone just having fun. There was no pain. No despair. No hunger. No race. No age difference. No indifference. Just pure joy on everyone’s face.

It was exactly what I needed. A spiritual cleanse. I felt so renewed, and really just heard what God was telling me. I get it now. I know my place. I know where I need to be. I’m super excited. I am connecting with people here and it feels really good. Last year in Kenya, I held back because I was so insecure and nervous. This year, I made a conscious effort to try to be more open. It’s been good.

I have way more to say but I am not feeling super hot and dinner is ready lol. Peace out peeps.

So things here are good. When we arrived Saturday, we just went back to the guest house at the orphanage and met a lot of people, ate dinner, and waited for Jill to arrive, as her flights were delayed. Cassidi didn’t arrive until Sunday as well, she had flight issues. Boo. But we’re all here. The guest house is nice. The beds are comfy. The views are amazing. Last night we went up the the roof and watched the sunset. It was one of the most beautiful things.

How amazing is that? The view of the city was amazing. You could hear everything going on. We were all kind of in awe. It was awesome.

Yesterday we hung out and took a tour of the different buildings on CHI. They have a school, a girls home, a boys home, a clinic, and a transitional school. We met Bill and Suzette, who are amazing. I can’t wait to talk more with them. They have a great business model and I can see that working in Kenya.

Today we spent time at the girls home and just spent time with the kids. They are so sweet and fun. It was good times. CHI has a feeding program they do Mon, Wed, and Fri. They feed over 100 people from the streets and we are going to do that in about 1/2 hour. It should be good. The internet here isn’t super fast. So I don’t want to bog down the blog with pictures. But I’ll post a few.

I’m having a good time. Everyone here is real nice, and it’s amazing to get to see Cassidi, Jill, and Mike again. So I shall sign off until the next time folks!

Cutest kid I’ve ever met. However, it’ll have to wait. Peace out y’all!

I’m so excited! Although I have a 5 hour layover once I get to Miami. Boo to more waiting. I’m gonna get myself a breakfast feast and read..and listen to music…and play plants vs. Zombies because that game rules.

Peace out y’all!

I will be going to Haiti in less than a month and I’m really excited that God has given me the opportunity to help out there. I will be staying at an orphanage called Child Hope International. Check out their media page while you’re there. They were heavily featured on CNN during the earthquake. They have a lot of needs right now for the kids. Click here to see the list of items they are looking for. Some of them are urgent. So if you can help in any way please let me know and I will bring it with me. I hope the link works for you, if not, you can go here on the website to view them.

I’m also going to Kenya again about a month after I get back. So incredibly grateful that I get this opportunity to do both of these trips this year. I’m trying to do some fundraising in order to help offset the cost. It’s a lot of money to do this and most of it I’m paying for myself, however I’ve received some donations already, so thanks to those that have helped. I’m selling most of my DVD collection, because really, I haven’t touched them in years and they are basically collecting dust. So here is a list of what I’m selling. If you’re interested, let me know.

13 going on 30
28 days
The 40 yr old virgin (unrated)
Bad Santa (directors cut)
Because I said so
The Benchwarmers
Casino
Dahmer
Deliverance
Dickie Roberts
Dodgeball
Dude, where’s my car
Farenheit 9/11
The Fugitive
Halloween 2
How to lose a guy in 10 days
I am Sam
It had to be you
Kingdom of Heaven
The Lather Effect
Lucky 13
Mystic River
One fine day
One hour photo
Platoon
Pride and Prejiduce
Scarface
The story of us
Sweet november
Thelma and Louise
The way we were
West side story
Alias S1
Alias S2
The OC complete series in a fancy awesome box
Spin City S1

PS2 Games

Super monkey ball adventure
Socom 3
NHL 07
Need for speed underground 2
Madden 08
Burnout 3

Games/movies $5 each.
TV seasons $10 each

I’ve also set up a website where you can donate $$ for Haiti. It’s here and donations for my Kenya trip can be made here.

I really hate asking people for money. It’s not easy and I know that times are tough for a lot of you. So please don’t feel pressured. I appreciate every single penny that is given to me, and without you all I wouldn’t be able to go on these trips. I am so thankful for everything you guys have given me…support, prayer, money, love etc.

So if you are willing and able to assist me with anything, I am so grateful! I am so excited for these trips, and I can’t wait to share stories and pictures with you all!

This may be a long post. Be warned. I have a lot in my head that is just itching to get out.

So a summary: I was baptized, I had the best surprise of my life. Not in that order. Intrigued? I bet you are!!!

So I was super excited because not only was this my baptism weekend, but my twin was coming to visit! So she showed up Friday at around 3:30. Acting a little off but I didn’t know why until about 5 minutes later and there was a knock at my door. So I answered the door, and standing there was Catherine and Tiffany from my Africa trip! I was so incredibly shocked! Carrie had picked them up in Buffalo and dropped them off at the end of my street so they could surprise me. I was literally speechless for a good 5 minutes. I had NO idea they were coming. I was so surprised and amazed that they showed up!

So we just sat and relaxed for a bit but I really needed to get some groceries so we went to do that a couple hours later. We got back to my place and about 30 minutes later there was another knock at my door. So I opened it up, and standing at my door was Christina, Madison, and Blake…more of my Africa family. I didn’t know what to say. I was floored. I still am. All of this was arranged by my twin, and boy did she get me good. I still can’t believe that they were all here.

So we just hung out for a bit. Christina, Madison, and Blake were all staying at a hotel so they had to leave to check in. This was everyone’s first time visiting Canada so we decided to trek to Toronto on Saturday to see some sights. It was pretty snowy and cold, but we made it. Took them all to the CN tower even though the visibility was poor. They still got to see the glass floor. That was interesting to watch. We strolled through Kensington Market (it was my first time there and it was lovely!) and made the trek back home. Most of my family was coming over for dinner that night. I was just so excited for my two families to merge together and meet and laugh and be silly and all that fun stuff. I knew everyone would get along. I knew it was going to be amazing to just sit back and watch. Many times during the weekend, I just looked around at everyone and was just amazed. I really couldn’t believe that all these people were sitting in my living room. It was surreal.

So Sunday was the big day. I took them all to my church service, which was awesome and I think they enjoyed it. After that was over, we went to my Mom’s to help get everything ready for the party afterwards. So we just relaxed for a bit and then we made our way down to the lobby to meet the rest of the people who were coming. Once everyone arrived (almost 40 people!) we all made our way to the pool. Before I went out, I wanted to get together with my Africa family for a prayer before. I was so nervous, and emotional and just excited. To be able to share the moment with my family and friends was just so amazing. So off to the pool I went. Jimmy (the lead pastor from my Church) explained the meaning of baptism and then I had to say a few words. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I just started talking. I don’t even remember what I said. I was just trying so hard to keep it together because it was such an emotional moment for me. So once that was done, we jumped in the pool!!! Not the traditional baptism, but I’m not traditional so we just jumped in! Everything is still kind of a blur. Out of the pool I went, and then we all went upstairs to my Mom’s apartment for a little celebration. It was so nice to see everyone and celebrate this day with them. It was probably one of the happiest days of my life. You could definitly feel God’s presence there. It was such an amazing day. I didn’t want it to end. Christina, Madison, and Blake all flew out that evening, so they had to leave. It was hard to say goodbye. I just had flashbacks of saying goodbye at the airport after Africa, and it just made me sad.

C-High, T-Lew and my twin weren’t leaving until the next morning, so we just hung out the rest of the night and watched the Golden Globes. I didn’t want to go to sleep because I didn’t want to wake up and have to say goodbye again. But I did sleep, and I did say goodbye. It was tough.

It was a really emotional weekend for me. I was overwhelmed. That’s an understatement because I don’t think there are enough words to properly explain what it meant to me. I feel so incredibly blessed and loved. And grateful. Grateful for my family. Grateful for my amazing friends. Grateful that they traveled so long just to celebrate this day with me.

Sometimes I have difficulty with my emotions. Ok well most times haha. It’s just hard for me to express how I feel. I don’t really know why…I mean I know why…but I don’t know why. If you can decipher that, I give you props!!! Sometimes I talk myself into thinking that I don’t deserve to give or receive love. That I don’t deserve any good things that come my way. It’s stupid and I hate that I feel like that. But in the past year I’ve really…made some progress to try and change this part of me. My trip to Africa really kind of opened up my heart and since then, my journey has been all about me learning things about myself, and really believing in myself. My journey with God has helped me so much with this. I think about who I would be if I hadn’t allowed Him into my life. I think about the path I’m on now, and how I got here, and everything that’s happened in my life. I think about the person I want to become, and how I am going to make that happen. I think a lot. Too much. I have a lot of stuff going on in my head and it’s hard for me to make sense of it!! I am learning to love more and more everyday. That if I continue to protect my heart, I lose out on so many experiences. I am learning how to love fully and completelty, no matter the risk. It’s hard sometimes, but I have so much more to gain. I need to stop thinking about the risks, and just enjoy the moments. Enjoy the friendships. Enjoy this life. Trust in God’s plan and just let things happen.

I wouldn’t have gotten to this point on my own. I have so many people in my life that I am just so incredibly blessed to know. Incredibly. I could go on and on about them but hopefully, they know how I feel.

I know I am just starting this journey. That my walk with God is just beginning. I know there is so much more for me to accomplish. I cannot wait. I am just so lucky. No matter what life has thrown at me, I’ve always had people to catch me when I fall. Even if I refused to let them. Even if my own stubborness got in the way. I am ready now. Let this journey begin.

Just want to say a big thanks again – especially to my Twin. You are amazing. I can’t thank you enough for putting this whole thing together.

To my Africa family that made the journey. I love you guys. You’ll never know how much it meant to me that you came. Seriously. I am still at a loss for words. I still can’t beleieve you were all sitting in my living room. It made this weekend 100 times more special for me. That you’ve all accepted me for who I am and never made me feel anything other than loved.

To my Mom and Peter, who got everything in order for Sunday. Thank you so much. It was a lot of work and you did it with such ease.

To my family, you guys blow me away with your unconditional love and support for me. You never once questioned my decision, and just supported me 100%. I love you all so, so much.

To my friends that came out Sunday, again, thank you for celebrating with me.

To the rest of my Africa family that couldn’t make it, you are officially off my list of friends! Ha…I’m totally kidding. I wish you all could have been there, but you were not forgotten!

Thanks also to everyone who brought food, helped out in the kitchen, and made a donation to Home of Grace. THANK YOU!!!! 

I am just bursting with love right now. Love for God. Love for my family. Love for my friends. Love for anyone who wants it.

I am lucky. I am blessed. I am flawed. I am learning. I am  me.

In the words of my peeps: ‘Welcome to Heaven beotchhhhhhh’

Girlfriend be gettin dat cheddaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Clearly it’s time to make a change
Or i could keep sitting and waste all day
I know that it’s time for me to move
I’ve been given this minute to use
And given this moment to prove that

What we do here is just the beginning
New life is starting at every ending
We are a part of the story unfolding
This is the weight of the world we are holding
this could be our day

I was holding back
Now I’ve come undone
I want to touch the world
Heal the broken ones
Ending the cycle has just begun
We’ve been given this minute to use
And given this life to prove

What we do here is just the beginning
New life is starting at every ending
We are a part of the story unfolding
This is the weight of the world we are holding
this could be our day

To give ourselves away
For something beautiful
a million miles away
to the one who’s hungry, and thirsty
And needs some hope
To the people that are weary and
broken and left alone
I’m giving myself away
I’ve giving myself away

Addison Road – This Could Be Our Day



So Monday night I got the chance to see the Invisible Children Face to Face tour at McMaster University. I was pretty excited, because I love the organization, and the documentary is amazing. They started by showing us a short film called Go which was incredible. They posted a challenge to hundreds of schools across America to fundraise for schools that were destroyed in the war. The top schools got to send students to Uganda to see the work they were doing. It was really interesting and reminded my of my trip. None of the students knew each other, and each person had no idea what was in store for them. One of the students mentioned that she came away with so much more than she had given on that trip. Exactly how each of us felt when we got back home. It was a really good film. Touching, upsetting, and motivating. Then we got to meet Sunday. He was one of the first 100 kids to receive the Legacy Scholarship. He had been night commuting (the kids leave the homes at night to avoid being captured by the LRA) since he was 6 years old to avoid being captured. He spoke about his life and school and how much the scholarship has helped him. He finished high school and will now be attending college! I bought the film because it was awesome and I want to share it with people. So if you want to watch, hit me up y’all!

Then on Wednesday, I watched a documentary on the new CBC documentary channel called Where’s My Goat? It was really interesting. Basically, this guy owns this business and he gives ethical gifts instead of the regular swag. He would purchase goats from Plan Canada to send to underdeveloped countries. One of his clients asked him one day if he thought the goats were actually going where they were supposed to. So, he decided to find out. He found out where most of his goats had been sent (and he had sent over 50 of them so far) and he flew all the way to Zambia to try to track them down. After chasing the paper trail, he ended up in a small village. Along the way, he talked with many people asking them if they thought that purchasing goats for families actually made any difference. Most people said no. He wanted to prove them wrong. So he went to the village and met the family who had received 4 goats. They had enough to eat. They could afford to send their kids to school. They had status in the village. They weren’t struggling as much as other families without goats were. It was pretty cool that he had the balls to do this. Most people wouldn’t care. It’s also good for people who doubt some of these organizations. They actually do what they say they are doing. That can’t be said for every “charitable” organization out there.  Sidenote: there are so many goats in Kenya, and I’m sure, most of Africa. They are everywhere.

It just made me think that I am still not doing enough. There is so much more I can be doing, but I just can’t think of what it is. I want to start my own organization but I need to do some serious brainstorming. I think the biggest challenge is to not just ask people for money. We need to get them involved and educated and motivated. That way they have the power to educate and motivate people. That’s the key. So if you have any brilliant ideas, send them my way please and thanks!

So what else?? Not much going on really. New service times start for church on Sunday. They made 1 service instead of 2 so it should be more exciting with more people. Yay. Home church starts next week, and I’m really looking forward to that. It’ll be my first time attending and I’m excited to meet lots of new people.

Bones makes me sad. However I’m glad it’s back! That’s all the tv talk for me. Except that next week they are doing a Jersey Shore themed episode and I think I may pee my pants because Brennan thinks she watched a documentary but really she was watching Jersey Shore. She kills me.

Hope everyone is having a swell week! Tomorrow is Friday. Saturday is my brothers girlfriend Sara’s birthday so that’s pretty exciting. Going to do some karaoke! Yes!

I was looking across the street at a government building and I found myself staring at the Canadian flag. I have a thing for flags. Love them. Love the sound they make flapping away in the wind. Love what they stand for. I do appreciate living in a country where I have access to basically anything I want at anytime. Not everyone is so lucky. Doesn’t mean I can have these things, just that they are easily accessible. I think about this a lot. Because of where I was born pretty much determines most of my life. Healthcare, education, food, water and all those wonderful things we all sometimes take for granted. It just makes me sad. I’m really missing Kenya. I want to be back there hanging out with the kids. I want to hug them. I want to see their smiling faces. It’s only been over 3 months since I’ve been back but it really feels like longer.

It doesn’t really matter where everyone comes from. We’re all still human. We all have stories to tell. We all have hardships. I think people forget that sometimes. We’re often too wrapped up in our own troubles that we forget about other people’s. I’m guilty of this as well. But the thing is, people seem to be so unwilling to connect to others. I walk around the mall everyday and I like to make eye contact with people and smile. Most people don’t even look at anyone else. They just keep their eyes straight ahead. I mean, I know there are a lot of characters downtown..but still. We’re all connected yet a lot of people just don’t want to bother. Maybe it’s just me.

I saw this girl on the bus today. She works in the mall and I just realized today that she is very pregnant and I’d never noticed. One thing I did notice, however, is that she was smoking. She had a smoke before the bus got to our stop, and she lit one up as soon as she got off. We got off at the same stop. I wish God would will that baby into someone else’s uterus. She’s already a crappy mother and she hasn’t even given birth yet.

I love the farmers market. They have this Indian food place which makes the best veggie Indian style egg rolls. Seriously good. I also love my new tupperware. Keeps my veggies super fresh for like 5 times longer than normal. Tupperman Dan is the man. Obviously, because that’s his title.

I’ve talked about Invisible Children before. Next Monday, the face to face tour is coming to McMaster University. For more info, visit here I’m really, really excited to go. I can’t wait to hear these kids speak. If you’re around, please come out.

That’s enough of my extremely random ramblings for tonight. Peace and God bless.