Adventure is out there!

Hello everyone!
I hope reading this title made someone imitate Russell from Up and say out loud "adventure is out there" while pumping their fist into the air. No worries, I almost did it in the middle of the airport. That's where I am...Dayton, OH sitting at a gate waiting for a very delayed flight. But that does not hinder my nerves/excitement/anxiety. The moment I sat down at my gate after getting through security I realized my hands were shaking an abnormal amount. I was just in shock that five minutes earlier I had walked away from my parents and all comforts of home for 4 weeks. Part of me says "Oh crap. What am I doing?" and the other part says "Yes." That's all, just yes. 


Yes to God, yes to whatever lies ahead, yes to spending 4 weeks sharing God's love, yes to making friends, yes to immersing myself in a new culture, yes to adventure, yes to love, yes to stepping into the complete unknown. My personal hero, JP2, provided me with this quote before I lead a retreat for incoming OSU freshmen and it's all I can think about as I get ready to make this ridiculously crazy leap. (Yes, Christine, I am quoting him in my blog. Can't wait to start the devotional you got me!)


"Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence."


So, all is very, very well so far as I hang out in Dayton with a bunch of tired and somewhat cranky looking people waiting for this plane to get here. I would say I'll post pictures soon but I won't. My camera battery decided to die today and I forgot my mom's so I will be relying on my iTouch (Plan B) or finding a camera in London (Plan C). Yes, this would happen to me about 30 minutes before I leave the country for 4 weeks. Oh well! My brother is right when he says I can't own nice things. Yes, the world just stopped spinning for a second while I admitted that my brother is right. Somehow this is all in God's plan. Much love to all of you!


In Christ,
Steph

Is this real life?

So, according to my multiple calendars and my plane ticket, I leave for Africa tomorrow. I cannot believe it. I am really going to Africa. It definitely does not feel real despite the fact that my bags are almost packed, I started malaria pills yesterday, and our group finally knows exactly where we are going. Crazy, right? I have a feeling this won't sink in for awhile.


I mentioned our placement and we finally know exactly where we will be! Our group of about 17 OSU students will no longer be split up into 2 groups at 2 different orphanages. Instead, we are all banding together to help out at an orphanage that is home to 150 kids. We are in a small community (sounds like what I'm used to) that is up in the mountains about two hours from the capital, Accra. So excited to be in the mountains! The only time I have ever seen mountains was when I went to Denver and even then I only saw the very edge. I don't think that counts. Anyways, there seems to be a lot for us to do while we are there in addition to caring for the kids. (Good thing I did some basic construction work on my KY mission trip. I won't be totally clueless.) Looks like we will be keeping busy!


I am so excited to get there. I couldn't sleep last night and I don't expect to sleep tonight. I just want to hop on that plane, meet up with all the girls, and land in Accra! I will definitely be missing home, especially after my dad spoiled me with my two favorite meals right in a row (His famous pasta followed by his french toast). I have gotten used to being here, but it's time to take a leap of faith and watch God's plan unfold for the next month. I still don't know what internet access will look like, but I will update this as often as possible!!! Thank you to everyone for your love, support, and donations thus far. Words cannot explain how thankful I am for each and every one of you. 


In Christ,
Steph

Thanksgiving

Hello!


Today was such a fantastic day. I finally got my Visa after a lot of stress, phone calls to the Embassy, and just general chaos. That process is really not as easy as it could be. That shouldn't be surprising though. So, I am officially heading to Ghana in 9 days!!! I cannot believe that I am in the single digits of my countdown. To answer your question, no. I haven't started packing yet. I don't even know where to start with that process. Good thing I'm a pro packer (Christine can attest to that). 


Yesterday I got to spend the whole day in Columbus seeing a ton of my friends that I probably won't see again until August. It was so wonderful. The best part of the day was walking into the Newman Center in the middle of the day and while walking through the main sanctuary being able to say to myself "Welcome Home." I didn't realize how at home I feel at the Newman Center until I was away from it and back in Sidney. I was met with so many smiles and hugs, just as usual. The Catholic community at Ohio State is amazingly strong. The Holy Spirit is doing some serious business there. 

This is what the Newman Center community looks like...Definitely one of my favorite pictures.

I had the joy of listening to my friend, Matt, give a talk about thanksgiving at Holy Grounds. To my surprise, we did not reenact the kindergarten scene with pilgrims and indians... Instead, we talked about how blessed we are to have all that we do and how we need to spend a lot more time thanking God rather than asking God. This is something I have thought about a lot recently. The night truly inspired me and I spent the whole drive home praying and thanking God for every single person/thing/place I am thankful for...starting with the 2 hour talk I had with Kate, Christine, Katie, Paige and Andrew. 

This is Matt and I on Buckeye Awakening 6! So thankful for him and how he witnesses joy every day.

This is Christine, my roommate for next year and beautiful Awakening mother. I am thankful for her each and every day of my life. Not sure where or who I would be without her.

These are my lovely parents. So thankful for their love and support. Not to mention how much they have sacrificed to give me the life I have today.

I really wish I could put pictures of every single person I am thankful for, but that would be boring for all of you and extremely time consuming. So, that's all I've got for now. Sorry about the lack of exciting news! In 9 days I will be able to post all about long flights, airplane peanuts, and smelly people in enclosed spaces. Looking forward to it! Thank you so much for all of the continued prayers. I am thankful for each and every one of you. 

With Much Love,

Steph

Spending While Getting Richer

       The last minute preparations for Ghana are starting to hit at full force. Finals are finally over, two years of college are done, and one huge trip is on the horizon. It feels so wonderful to be home and (almost) moved out of my apartment on Chitt. The past few days have been relaxing, but not lacking in productivity. If anything, I have thought a lot about this trip and why I am spending all of my savings to spend four weeks across the ocean playing with African babies. 
       One particular hero of mine, Barb Capozzi, recently shared the wisdom that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. I'm trusting that she is right. Whoever told me that this trip would only include airfare and program fees was sadly mistaken. After a plane ticket, vaccines against diseases that I don't even want to think about getting, program fees, books to read on the excessively long flights, Visa application fees (that was a fiasco), mosquito nets, clothing that is appropriate for the Ghana climate, and so many other things my bank account is severely depleted. Let's not forget the safari trip, monkey sanctuary and souvenirs for every friend and their brother. There have been a few times where I have thought to myself "Steph, what are you doing? This is the part of your life where you save and don't spend." 

The first time I met Barb at the 2008 Global Youth Forum in Denver.

      Money is one of those things that I never plan on having a lot of. Come on, my major is Nonprofit Management. That doesn't exactly scream money. But wait. The world screams "MONEY. You need money. Make money. Get a good job. Live in a big house. Have all the newest technologies. Go on vacations. Have a little in savings." This is when I put my fingers in my ears, block out the voice of the world, and listen to what my heart tells me about what is important. While many of my friends are traveling there is a great portion spending the summer doing a little thing that I like to call "making bank." Recently I have had these fleeting moments where I wonder what I am doing going on this trip. Then it hits me...money means nothing. Disagree if you would like, but I know that after this trip I will come back much richer than when I left. The experience holds no price. I have zero doubt that I am going to walk out of the plane in Dayton, OH on July 30th feeling much richer than when I left. It's true that my bank account will disagree and I will avoid looking at it for a solid two weeks. However, my heart and changed perspective on life will tell me differently. Just the thought that I am finally doing what I have always dreamt of doing fills me with more joy and happiness than any amount of money ever could.
       So, bring on the two-day African safari road trip, nights out with the girls, gifts galore for my family and friends, and most importantly gifts/clothes/books/toys for the precious children. I plan on spoiling those kids like crazy. They want candy? Give 'em candy. That new shirt? Okay, I got that. Cool new frisbee? Just ask Mama Steph. Yup, they will call me Mama Steph. No one should be surprised when I smuggle a few African babies back with me. My friends have already decided that if I don't permanently move to Africa and adopt 10 kids by the age of 23 then I will at least bring a couple back with me. Not ashamed and not worried. To that I say, God's will be done.

Try to tell me this isn't the cutest kid you've ever seen.

The countdown is officially at 16 days! I remember when it was up in the 100s. I could not be more excited to jump feet first into serving the Lord, learning a new culture, and loving like crazy. :) 


Yours In Christ,
Steph

Adventures, Blessings, and some Mama T

Hello loving family and friends!

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read this. At the very least, I know my parents will stick with me for the duration. As you may know, I will be traveling to Ghana for 4 weeks this summer to serve some beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ. I have yet to find out my placement, but I do know that I will be working in an orphanage somewhere near the capital, Accra.

As I prepare to take my finals and finish out my second year at The Ohio State University, I cannot help but be amazed at the amount of blessings that have been poured out on me this past year. The opportunities I have had to grow and learn are countless. I never cease to be amazed by the people God has put in my life and the ways that they are changing the world. If you read my bragging for a few moments your mind will be blown. Promise.

My beautiful mission trip co-leader will be serving in India for 8 weeks with a Street Kids Program.

My best friend and better half is serving youth at summer camps in Columbus and in Kentucky with the Christian Appalachian Project.

Every single one of these people is going out and changing the world. One of the power mission trips from the Newman Center.

 My boyfriend is spending all summer in Georgia as a camp counselor at a Catholic youth summer camp.

Now that you're all sick of looking at pictures of people you may not know, I have to brag about my friends a little bit more. Mary Rose is going to be working as a nurse in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in St. Michael, Arizona on a Navajo Indian reserve for a year. Anna is heading off to Africa to teach math as a member of the PeaceCorps. Hannah and Margeaux will be with me in Ghana for the summer. Kara is moving to the Dominican Republic to work with Dove Missions Girls Empowerment Program. I'll stop there, but I could write a novel. See? I have some seriously sweet friends. My trip is just a little piece of how God is using a bunch of college students to serve His people.

In case you didn't know me as a child, I had a serious issue with homesickness, so as this summer draws closer I am getting a bit nervous about how the first few days in a new country will go for me. It is slowly hitting me that I will be across the ocean and not able to see or talk to my friends and family back home. As difficult as that may be, I am also realizing that I am finally living out my dream. I can remember the exact place and moment in 7th grade when I realized that I wanted to serve orphans in Africa. I had no idea at the time what that meant really, but I was in Holy Angels Church praying after school and that is just what came to me when I asked God what He wanted me to do with my life. Ever since then, it has been my dream to serve God through giving of myself to others. Over time He has made it even more clear to me that this is His will for me.

Let's just switch gears and talk about the title of this blog. Mother Teresa (or Mama T, as my Newman Center folks like to call her) has always been a huge inspiration to me. The way she selflessly gave of herself to the poorest of the poor and was full of joy even in the midst of darkness is what I strive for each day. I am also obsessed with quotes, so when you put the two together it's a pretty great combo. My title comes from her quote, "I have found the ultimate paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." So, as I start my African adventures, I intend to love those kids until it hurts. I want to come back from Ghana with the most beautiful pain possible that can only come from loving as Christ did.

My hope is to update this once a week while I am away. I am not sure how internet connection will go, but if I can update it more then I will! I love each and every one of you and will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as I prepare to leave in a few weeks for the beautiful country of Ghana!

Yours In Christ,
Steph