Hello!

First of all, my name is Melissa! I have quite a few nicknames (Mel and whitey) but I don’t really care what people call me  I am 18 and just graduated from high school this past June. My original plans for this year was to go to the University of Alberta, however I was having a lot of doubts about going. Literally the last day I had to pay my fees (maybe 2 weeks before I was supposed to pack my life up and move to a new city) I decided I did not feel right about going. At the time this decision seemed devastating because I had been looking forward to it all year, but it was a blessing in disguise as now God has opened up the opportunity for me to come to Africa with all of you!!

So, a bit about me…

I am from Calgary, Alberta.  Yes, Canada!! Winters are pretty cold here so I am looking forward to being in Africa and missing most of it! I grew up in a Christian family my whole life. For the past few years I have been working on making my faith my own opposed from just believing everything my parents have told me. I have 3 amazing sisters (one of which is also coming on this trip and she is one of the greatest people I have ever met as you will all soon see). I also have 2 brother-in-laws, and one adorable 11 month old nephew.  I’ve been on one mission trip to Vancouver, British Columbia. I have always wanted to go to Africa and I am so excited to go as well as a bit nervous to jump into such a new situation.

I love activities and sports. I have played soccer since I was in grade 3 and I absolutely love it. I play for a women’s team, a coed team and have a tournament being planned for Hawaii for July 2012. I love snowboarding it is one of the very few things I enjoy about winter. I also like running; I ran my first 10km race this September with my three sisters. I love music of all different kinds from the top 40 type of music to alternative and country! I am interested in Math and Biology in school and I am planning on becoming a genetic counsellor when I go back to school.

I am very busy all the time. I feel like I am always running from one place to the next (hence why I am just getting around to posting this). I currently work at Tim Horton’s. I work super early mornings and wake up at about 330am most mornings in order to open! I tutor math to junior high and high school students which can be both a rewarding and frustrating job.

I am so very excited to start meeting all of you in just under 5 short weeks!! It will be the most amazing experience and I am both ecstatic and nervous about the trip. The further along I come in the packing process, the more real and exciting it becomes! I am praying for everyone that we would all mesh really well and that we all arrive there safely! I can’t wait to meet you all!!

Melissa

For those of you who don’t know, Carpe Diem means seize the day or live life to the fullest! So let’s all go and have the time of our lives in Africa!