1. What did God teach you this week? How did it transform you?
God taught me how powerful prayer is. I found myself wanting to pray for others a lot more. I saw God answer prayers as well, and my faith grew because of it. He also taught me that he wants to use and work through all of us. Two weeks ago I didn't really believe that God was willing to use me, I but I saw Him use me this week. He gave me the strength I needed. He showed me that He is in control. I didn't think we were going to have a big service or do any evangelism, but God had other plans! He also showed me how important it is to fellowship and build relationships with other people. Through all this God has given me so much faith. Matthew 18:20 became real to me this week: “For when two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.”

2. Tell at least one experience you had where you saw the power of God and it touched you.
I saw God's power during our service Thursday night. We were praying out loud over people who needed prayer. Even though I usually have a hard time doing something like that, God gave me the strength to pray over people. I saw Him move while we were praying. I could see His power in people. When we were worshiping on the beach Friday night I also saw God's power. I could look at the sky and the water and know that God's presence was there. Then people started sharing things that God was telling them to share. I talked about Psalm 139 and how God's thoughts about us outnumber the grains of sand. I'm very quiet and I never would have been able to do that without God's strength. It was just amazing to see God speak through so many people. None of this was “planned,” God just started moving. I saw God's power in the storms that formed. Something as common as that really reminded me of how much power God has. I sat back and thought about how my life would be different without God, and I realized how many things I wouldn't have the strength to do on my own. How differently I would think, where my focus would be, etc. God's power impacts our whole lives, and we don't always realize that until we think about it. We need to learn to glorify Him all the time—even when we don't feel like it, because He deserves it.

3. Tell of one experience where God used you in a powerful way... something that impacted you.
When we were worshiping on the beach on Friday, I was talking to God, and I picked up some sand in my hands. The verse in Psalm 139 came into my head, about how God's thoughts about us outnumber the grains of sand. I turned around to tell Anna about it, and she had been trying to remember the verse. We found out it was Psalm 139. That night Drew said that the trip wasn't over until we were out of the vans in PA, and God gave me strength to share that Psalm with everyone. Through that, Anna got the idea to fill bags with grains of sand and write the verse on the bags, and give them to people at restaurants & gas stations on the way home. God brought all of that together. Before I was a little disappointed because I didn't think we'd be doing any evangelism, but God had other plans. He is in control. God also used me Friday during the work day. At first I was really frustrated because I felt like I was messing up everything I was asked to do. I also felt like I didn't have any energy left. I talked to God and told Him I didn't want my last day to be about frustration or anything along those lines—I wanted it to be about Him. About half an hour later, we were told that some of us were going to another house to pain trim. All of a sudden I had energy, although I didn't notice it at first. When we got there, I really felt like ministering to the homeowner. I'm not very social, but I really wanted to talk to him. Blythe & I went over to him; he was shoveling, and we asked if he needed help. He said no, but he came over to talk to us. He told us about his experiences with the storm. Then he told us about his wife and how she died. He showed us pictures of her, and pictures that she painted. You could tell he loved her. I felt led to pray with him, so we asked him to pray with us. I usually don't pray out loud, but this time I really wanted to. God gave me the words to say, and although we blessed Jim, I felt like he blessed us more. Also, when we were handing out bags of sand with verses on them, I felt led to give one to the lady who worked at KFC. She was cleaning and she looked lonely. When she was done reading the verse she had the biggest smile I've ever seen—it really blessed her.

4. What are you going to take home with you? How are you going to be different?
I'm taking home stronger relationships; I've become a lot closer to Anna through all of this, and she's really blessed me. God used other people to bless me and vice-versa. I'm also taking home a much stronger faith—a realization of God's power and the importance of prayer. I'm going to make God the center of everything I do. When I'm with friends, at school, or at home, I want God to be my number one focus.

5. What was your favorite part of the trip? What did you like most?
My favorite parts of the trip were the worship services Thursday & Friday nights (at the beach). It was amazing to see God move in so many people. You could really see His power & glory in those services—I loved seeing God change my friends in so many ways.

6. Is there anything else you want to add?
Each day of this trip was better than the last. If I thought Wednesday was good, Thursday was better. God amazes me. He gave me the strength to talk about Him to the entire group and to individuals. A lot of my conversations were about growing spiritually and hat really helped me get closer to God. God has taken me so far: I went from feeling like God couldn't even use me and like I couldn't go to him, to just enjoying being in His presence, and talking to others about spiritual growth. God is all powerful and He can do anything. It has nothing to do with emotions. He is there regardless of how you feel. The people of D'Iberville had so much faith and hope in God; they could still smile & be happy despite the tragedy that happened to them. At first I wasn't even sure that I wanted to go on the trip; I was nervous about going, but now I'm so glad I did. God is amazing—I want this trip to impact the way I live from now on. I don't want to go back to the way I was. God started freeing me from something I've held onto for a long time. I want to live in Him.

7. Why do you want to go on this trip?
I feel like it is something God is calling me to do. I feel like it will help me grow closer to God and that God can use me to help other people get closer to him. I want to help others live for Jesus.

8. Briefly give your testimony.
I became a Christian at a young age, but I really started getting close tot God and making him a part of my life when I was about twelve. Since then I have tried to make him the center of my life. I try to find Scriptures that help me stay focused on God. Jesus has become my best friend and he is someone I can talk to about anything. I try to listen to his voice and follow him. I try to go in the direction that he calls me to follow.