Wow, it's been fun lately!

Despite being sick for 2+ weeks, it's been really fun around here lately! Last Saturday (Jan. 12th), I finally felt well enough to celebrate my 25th birthday, so I deemed the day "celebration day." So fun! I started off braving the outside world by going on the Waihe'e (Why-hey-ay) Ridge Hike with a group of really great people. The hike was far too strenuous for me, but I survived, and am SO glad I went on it and finished! Absolutely stunning....

Valley between the West Maui mountains

Look how green it is here! This is what happens when it rains, I guess :)

This was the "Hawaii" I was waiting for. 

Going up... and up... on the ridge!

Fun people! L-R: Michelle, Gladys, Jena (ex-intern), Kalani (worship pastor), Clint and Taylor (married), Leeann (Michelle's roommate).

I reached the top! Sad it was cloudy, but made for a much cooler hike.

Fear not, we have John Deeres here.

On the way down! I have no idea what Jena is doing, but she's hilarious, so I'm sure I was laughing.

Ah, the view from just the parking lot!

The parking lot, the other direction... stunning!

I won the "muddiest calves" award... it rained on our way down! Made for some treacherous falls and slow-going, but I love the rain. 7.4 miles round trip in 5 hours- glad I have something to show for it!

Later that evening, I had the interns and my 2 favorite friends over for dinner and games. Such a fun group!

We played telephone pictionary... ALWAYS makes for side-splitting laughs. L-R: Marissa, roomie Rachel, and Laura.

Wes made his famous funfetti cake for me

Great friends- L-R: Jena, sunburned face Jo, Laura, and roomie Rachel.

Monday night (Jan 14th), it rained in Kihei!! Rarely happens, so of course we went out and played in it :) Our church property has great hills, so we slid down the hills, ran through the sprinklers (yes, those were on), and had such a good time. And yes, more mud :)

At a recent Friday night service, my friend Bobbi and I discovered we both have Fridays free, so we decided to go on a hike this past Friday (Jan 18th). We did the Twin Falls hike. Another stunning hike and day, and a cake walk compared to Waihe'e Ridge  :)

First fall, and the better of the 2.

We had to wade through the river to reach the falls... such fun to keep balance! I felt so rugged. Bobbi did not.

Made it without dropping the camera!

My Friday adventure buddy, Bobbi! 

So many lovely plants on this hike, that can only be described as "Dr. Seussical"!

While we drove to lunch, we saw how clear it really was, so we stopped at Ho'okipa (Hoh-oh-kee-pa) Bay. Breath-taking, and I couldn't stop smiling!

If you look in the distance, you can see the island of Molokai, one of the 4 islands in Maui county. Very rare to see this! And look at that rolling surf- just unreal isn't it?!

It's been a fun week with new friends and such enjoyable adventures. I must admit, though, this week has not come without a significant hardship: homesickness. Hard to admit it or probably for you to believe it as you see where I live, but it's the people I miss, really. It all started a few weeks ago as I tried to shop for a flight to Dallas in February, so I could visit many people and catch a show of Sing Song in Abilene. Flight prices have doubled, and the Lord gently reminded me that I have a Brazil mission trip to save up for. I just can't afford the vacation right now, I realized. Then, last Sunday I went to my friend Dave's house for a potluck. He had smoked ribs, homemade BBQ sauce, real sweet tea, and my friend Whitney had brought queso dip. One bite and it was official: I am homesick. We had such great fellowship that night, and it only solidified my desperate longing for fellowship with my Texas buds. Oy vey, it's been a rough week trying to shake that off.

The dates for Brazil have been set (May 3-13th), and my heart is not in it. I don't know what I'll be doing down there, and don't have the $2,500 raised. The small portion I do have raised I am having a hard time releasing to the mission trip, as I want to use it for a vacation. So my prayer request is this: that the Lord may reveal my purpose in this trip and I may be passionate/excited about it, and that all the funds may come in so I don't have to dip into my own reserves. A big request, I know, but He has a way of surprising us sometimes.

Enjoy your week, and let me know some of the blessings you are seeing.