"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9

Hi guys! First and foremost can I just say, I have never been so excited for anything in my life!

Secondly, I guess I should tell you my name; according to my birth certificate and legal records my name is Katelyn but you’ll realize as soon as you meet me it just doesn’t fit. Therefore, everyone calls me Katie or some mixture of my first name and last name (Gibson) like Katie Gib, K-Gibs, Gibbles. But you, you can call me anytime ;) Seriously, I think skyping previous to the trip would be fun or even OOVOOing (like skype but with multiple people.) So if anyone is interested in that let me know! Honestly though, you can call me whatever your heart desires. I love nicknames and will most likely accept any you graciously give me!

I was born and raised in Mount Airy, MD which I can almost guarantee nobody has heard of considering a lot of people in MD haven’t even heard of it. I still live in Mount Airy and graduated high school last year.

I am a social butterfly and naturally could not wait for college, I had plans to go to Liberty University this Fall 2011 but found out because of a fund my Grandma started for me when I was younger, I had to go in state and I was crushed. But since everything happens for a reason I just decided I would go to University of Maryland College Park in the Spring 2012. God had a better plan for me and that is why I am here and writing this today (: As all my friends were finding roommates, moving into college and making tons of new friends I was at my local Community College searching for a purpose in what seemed like an all bad situation. Then I stumbled upon Adventures.org and found it!

Also amazingly enough in the same general time frame Liberty University offered me an awesome scholarship allowing me to go there, and I will start as a Sophomore (thank gosh for AP credits) next Fall 2012! There I plan to major in Exercise Science (and later continue my education and training to become a physical therapist) I also would like to double major in either Intercultural Studies (basically missions) or Psychology. I am leaning towards Intercultural Studies, which this trip will very possibly decide for me through God and His calling while I am there.

I babysit (currently am right now shhh don’t tell their mom, haha just kidding it’s 1am and they are sleeping so I think I am alright) sporadically and work at a hair salon 3 days a week. No, I can’t cut hair unfortunately, that would just be such a mess haha but I shampoo, sweep, answer phones, do whatever else there is to do to keep up the salon. I enjoy it a ton, especially because I work with some of the kindest women I’ve ever known.

I have a ton of hobbies (as if this isn’t long enough as it is) some of my favorites are eating, soccer, snowboarding, running, hiking, reading, singing (especially worship!), swimming, cuddling, dancing, laughing, loving, baking, hugging, taking LOTS of pictures (dad’s a photographer so I’d be disowned if I didn’t take tons of pictures on this trip), being with people, people watching (sounds creepy but you do it too, don’t lie!), praying and random acts of kindness. Since I come from a small town my friends and I are forced to make our own entertainment. We do everything from Homemade Glow in the Dark Tennis to mud sliding with trash bags to Scavenger hunts and our own 301 Olympics.

Important stuff...Likes: Jesus (much more of a love), smiling, Ice Hockey, Jack Johnson, you, honesty, Watermelon, ping-pong, selfless-ness, Old Bay, traveling, the color green, Cake Batter Frozen Yogurt, the word “MEOW”, fruits and veggies, water in all forms, Singing/dancing/being ridiculous, learning, people, Shark Week, aviators, polar bears, Lost, The Office, mint chocolate chip flavored gum, Ellen DeGeneres (I understand she is gay but she also has a huge heart, great sense of humor, and a show that regularly brings me to tears from the beautiful things she does for strangers.) Dislikes: the color Pink, twizzlers, hot dogs, hate, pizza (I know what you’re thinking, “NO WAY” but…way), profusely sweating, bullying, people using the word retarded in derogatory ways, only being able to find one shoe, soda, when my ipod is dead, pigeons and that is all that comes to mind right now!

As far as talents go, I have been called the American female ping-pong ninja of my generation (does it really matter if I was the one who said it), I can whistle in a really weird way and I always win ugly face making contests (step up if you dare.)

The main thing that made me unique in my high school was my faith, which was both sad and beautiful at times. Other things people tend to find unique is that I am 1/4^th Japanese and I have a tattoo of Joshua 1:9 with a cross on my left wrist. This is actually my first mission trip, which feeds into the question of what I am nervous about (hint, that’s what I am nervous about.) I am also nervous because previous experience seems to be a reoccurring theme in a lot of your blogs, so yall will have to share some stories with me once we get to Georgia! I really have no idea what to expect except God’s amazing presence and direction.

I am excited about literally every part of this trip. All my life I have wanted to help people and I can’t think of a better way to do so and use the talents God gave me. I am also BEYOND excited to meet all of you guys because I have a feeling we are going to get a long swell! If not, I am so very sorry but you are stuck with me (:

I’ve seen it written in other blogs but I thought I would also share the love and let you guys know I am praying for you all! Through this whole extensive process God has been telling me GO! I have never felt such a pull on my heart to do something. I love that I can feel God coaching me through it and reassuring me that it is in His plan for me, and it is without a doubt where I am supposed to be from Jan 13^th-May 9^th.

This was way longer than I expected haha, if you read it all I am very flattered and impressed! Praying for yall and counting the days (84 incase you were wondering)

ALL my love,

Katie

^that's a link to an awesome song called Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath

(Also check out I'm Not Who I Was by him!)

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."- C.S. Lewis

That's actually me on some beach rocks in the oh so isanely beautiful Kauai,Hawaii this past summer. It's one of those places that is so gorgeous you can't help but see God boldly across every inch. The earth would have a lot less Atheists if we could afford to get them there!