by the way...

In case anybody here actually wanted to know, I've been blogging at http://ayalalauren.blogspot.com/

Mostly because everybody else was doing it. lol. But blogger is also good because you can keep track of blogs from all different blogging sites. I'd like to try and say that I will never move again.

April Fools!

 Borah, Grace, and I got Reece, Joel, and Donny good yesterday. ^_^

It was more of a prank than an actual April Fools joke, but it was funny none the less. (Plus they spent all day trying to figure out who it was, Rossy Ross too.)

We Put "Your Future Man" on the front of Joel's car and Put call me on the back, with almost his phone number. We changed the area code... but if it had been up to me we would have put the real number. And of course hearts and things like that in the other windows.

For Reece we put "Just Married" on the back and tied plastic cups to the back of the car. On the front it said Groom over the driver's side and bride on the passenger's side. And it was great because we knew Derek would be riding with him! haha... then of course hearts and things like "honeymoon" and "I'm taken" on the sides.

Lastly, we had planned on going all out on Ross' car--Amy had put the key under his license plate for us and everything so we could get inside!! But Donny ended up driving them. So... though we had planned on post-it noting the inside of Ross' car and filling it with balloons and putting confetti in the air vent... we just post-it noted Donny's car on the outside. ^_^

twas fun.

Lastly, some of my very own post-it artwork, as captured by Donny.

Budapest!

Was soooo much fun!! I loved it!

I did a lot of hanging out and practicing English with high school students. I really really enjoyed it.

After I led a class for the first time (we played games with them and at one point they needed someone else to go and lead one, so I volunteered) Pastor Blake asked me if I wanted to be a teacher. When I said "not necessarily" he told me I should consider it. He is the third spiritual authority in my life to tell me that... so after he said it, I started thinking about it. (It is at least safe to say, that teaching is a gift that God has given me...) 

I really really enjoy hanging out with middle and high school kids, so I always thought that it would be cool to help in a youth ministry.. but after helping high school students practice their english all week, I have been seriously thinking about how cool it would be to move to another country and teach english. (I know that I am called to the nations, and I am all the more excited about that now that I've been out of my own nation.)

Also, as I have been thinking, and reading, and listening to what people have to say about ministry, I have decided that I am NOT in fact called to do full time ministry. I think I kind of knew that, but this trip really confirmed it.

The best thing about being in Budapest was getting to hang out with the Budapest team. They are all so awesome and fun! And seeing all the fruit that God produced in our trip was a BIG plus. A lot of students came out to english club on Wednesday, and I wouldn't be surprised if at some point it turns into a youth group. It was amazing to see how much favor the Budapest team has in the high schools.

Overall, it was great. ^_^ God poured a lot into me, and I am grateful to know that I was able to help serve and encourage the Every Nation Budapest team!!

And now for my favorite picture of the entire trip!

Borah and I did a lot of statue copying... but this is by far my favorite!

(I miss Jen and Nori!!)

Bye bye Judette!!!

Have fun in Korea! I will miss you!!!

Return to Xanga Day

Today just seems to be Return to Xanga Day. I thought about updating earlier today, and then I get on xanga and Cintron, Grace, and Sara all updated today after a long time of silence. Looks like I"ll be adding to the celebration...

I am happy to say that as of this morning, God has officially started to give me back the joy that used to mark my intimacy with him. Since my Dad died I found myself kind of numb. Without even meaning to be, and not in a way that I was turning away from God, but there just always seemed to be a wall there. Like I would want to be emotional and respond, but I was just blank and couldn't be anything else. I hated it. After giving it to him over and over again and asking him and begging him to come help me (I'm know he was there doing it the whole time), I woke up with a smile on my face and a familiar joy in my heart this morning. And it felt good to feel the joy of his presence again. I probably look so wierd to people when I walk around campus with a goofy smile on my face... but I really really missed it.

Thank God for spiritual family, because while I am missing my Daddy, they lead me to really look to God as my Father. Not to mention having spiritual fathers pray for you. It's always good to know that you have older men and women of God who truly care for you. I broke down during worship practice this week and had to walk out. (Not in a big scene kind of way, just a grab a tissue and head for the bathroom quickly kind of way. lol) But it was so good to have JO and Miss Sharon pray for me afterwards. I love LOVE LOVE my family. =oD

God is doing amazing things. It's SO COOL to be used by God, and to see him work in other people. A semester or two ago I was frustrated because I felt like there was NOBODY in my life who was responding to God, like I was trying so hard to reach out to people and there was no response. But this year is different. All of a sudden God is putting people in front of me and they are calling and texting me to hang out. It's nothing I did, it's just what God is doing on this campus... it's exciting. I'll be glad to be done with school... but now I'm not going to want to leave.  ~.~

It's always bitter sweet. I'll be sad to leave, but I'm excited about what God is going to do when I move back to Orlando.