1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NIV, Emphasis Added)

 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."

Ok, it was a bad idea to start this post off with those verses. Word of God: BAM! Enough said.

But, I'll give my two cents a shot anyway :)

I love these verses because they completely describe me. Who I am is totally a result of how God has influenced my life. I don't even know where I would be without Him because I am blessed that he got ahold of me at a young age.

I live in a Christian family and my mom used to read missionary bios to me and my lil' sis' before bedtime. One of them was about Gladys Aylward and when I was six-ish I knew that I wanted to be like Gladys and start an orphanage. From there my life has been built around missions.

Right now I am 18, almost 19, and I live in Idaho (the funky shaped state by Washington and Oregon ;). I live and work with my family at a place called Hope House, a home for kids who need somewhere safe to grow up. I can't even begin to list the things God has taught me here.

One of the things I love about Hope House are the opportunities for missions. I have been to Mexico, Arizona and my own neiborhood working alongside the kids who became some of my best friends! I also went to an orphanage in Thailand with a friend from Hope House. (You'll hear more about that trip later. It's impossible to talk to me and not hear about Thailand!) 

Then I felt God telling me that my next trip should be to Africa. I would have gone that second, but he had some things to teach me, including patience which is not easy.

So now two years later I am sold-out excited to actually be going! Hearing all of your stories and seeing your faces has got me way too pumped! I'm back to being six and jumping around saying, “I know where God wants me!”

I know these four months will be gone before we know it and I am so looking forward to what God has for us! 

Blessings, Jo  

P.S. I would have a photo up, but am having technical diffculties. As in, the button in the tutorial does not exist. Somehow I will figure it out but until then if you want, you can add me on facebook and check out my pics there :).