I am Leaving on a Jet Plane!

Dear Friends,

The blog has been quiet for months because I haven't known what to write about and life has just been weird since post grad. But I am breaking my silence to bring you some VERY exciting news. Since I was a little girl I wanted to attend a Wheels for the World Trip with Joni and Friends.

I finally get that opportunity in June 2016! I will be heading to Poland for 10 days on the outreach and I couldn't be more thrilled. I will be going along as the photo journalist and I cannot wait to capture this beautiful experience behind the lens.

I hope that you will follow along as I blog during my trip. We leave June 8th and return on June 18th.

If you would like to sponsor me please contact me on the blog and I will give you more information.

If you would like to learn more about the trip you can do so at the following link: Wheels for the World: Poland

I am SO excited to share about this amazing experience that God has blessed me with.

A milestone: May 16, 2015

On May 16, 2015 I completed one of my biggest accomplishments to date: I graduated college with a BA in communication and an emphasis in Ministry.

It was a momentous day and wonderful to spend it with the people that I love. The ceremony was beautiful and the speaker was incredible. I had an incredible time at college and I am so sad that it is over. But, I am thankful to live close so I can go back and visit. College was a time for me when I truly transformed from a girl to a young woman.

I came into college a scared little girl and I walked out about a month ago with confidence and my head held high. I had so many beautiful experiences that shaped who I am today. I am so glad and blessed that I studied communication and ministry two things that I am passionate about. I am thankful that God gave me a heart for those with disabilities and I cannot wait to see where God is going to lead me with that.

I am thankful for all of my amazing friends (you know who you are) and all of the professors that God blessed place in my life. But I am particularly thankful for my communication professor and advisor Dr. Lindholm. Man. I never knew that someone could bless me and help me in life as much as this amazing professor has. We quickly became more than just the typical student/professor relationship and I consider her one of my dearest friends. Dr. Lindholm has been a constant encouragement, prayer warrior and mentor to me during my four years at Trinity. God knew what he was doing when he put this amazing woman in my life. I told her recently that when I first started at Trinity, I decided that I was going to study communication based on the very first class that I had with her. She is such an excellent teacher and she truly makes the class material come alive with real-life examples and stories. She is an excellent public speaker and has encouraged me in that area too. I remember the first time that I was going to give a speech. I was so nervous for like a week and I went to her like every day and asked her if she would pray for me. She did so with a smile on her face and joy in her heart. This woman is one of a kind and I am so glad to have gotten the opportunity to know her. I have already seen her twice this summer and I am sure that we will continue to have many meetings over the coming years. (She is the one that is in the first picture with me.)


I am now trying to figure out what i am going to do post graduation. I have looked at a few options but still haven't been able to find a job. But I am trusting that God is going to provide something in his timing. I am continuing to learn and be reminded of the fact that my timing is NEVER usually God's timing....

without further ado, some shots from the day....

Dr. Lindholm and I

SO thankful for this woman and all that she has poured into my life over the past four years. She has been such a blessing to me. Her support, prayers and encouragement has been the main reason that I made it through college. I am so thankful for this wonderful friend and mentor. I am so thankful for the beautiful example of a Godly woman that she is to me. I am excited to see where God will take me in the future and I know that I am taking all that I learned about Jesus and communication with me as I go. Thank you so much for teaching me and teaching me about the value of communications in all aspects of life. You are a wonderful teacher and I am so blessed and honored to have learned from you!

My family is the best!

Acting crazy with my awesome parents!

So happy!

Me and the bro!

Happy Birthday Dr. Lindholm!

Today, I want to take a minute to honor a woman who has made a tremendous impact on my life!

 Dr. Lindholm has been a blessing to me since Day 1. The minute I met her I knew that she was going to be someone safe that I could talk to and she was just so warm and open.

My freshman year I was really insecure and I would come to her all the time with questions about things and she could tell that I was totally a college freshman.

As the years went by, I became more confident in myself but it was still awesome to have someone there to talk to. She has shared much with me and I have shared much with her. I can talk to her about anything and for that I am so grateful.

A lot has happened in four years and our relationship and friendship has grown and changed. As I am graduating in a few weeks, I often get chocked up at the thought of leaving her. She has made such an incredible impact on my life. Although I will be sad to go, I know that I will be back to visit and that we will keep in contact through e-mail.


Dr. Lindholm is truly someone that I am blessed to have in my life and she is such a blessing to me and so many other people on this campus. She truly is the hands and feet of Jesus and I look up to her in so many ways.

 She truly cares about her students and she views her job not as a job but as a ministry. When I ask her to pray for me, I know that she is truly praying for me. She has been there to celebrate with me the births of my five baby cousins. 

But she has also been there when I have needed to cry. I tend not to cry in front of people and so the fact that I allowed myself to cry in front of her was something very special.

She has been here for me in this season of the unknown with the end of college fast approaching. She has encouraged me when I have gotten discouraged with the job hunt. She has given me suggestions of places to apply and been there to cheer me on. 

Dr. Lindholm is someone who is unique and you don't find many people like who that are willing to invest in the lives of students the way that she does. I have been so blessed to learn under her the past four years. She is a wonderful teacher and I just love watching her teach. 

I know that she will impact many other students lives in the way that she has impacted mine. 

I hope that you have a beautiful and blessed day, Dr. Lindholm! 

I am going to quit school and become a model....

SO. MUCH. JOY.
Jake Preedin Photography

Don't worry Ma and Pa, I will receive my diploma in a few weeks! I am too close to end to give up now! But seriously the photos that my friend, Jake Preedin took were AMAZING. We went out on a beautiful Saturday a few weeks ago and these are the images that this amazing and talented man captured.

But first a bit about Jake! If you need a photography he is your guy!

Jake Preedin is the best photographer I have ever met! These photos are absolutely stunning. The time that he took to take these photos was such a blessing for me. He took so much care in how he positioned every single photo. He truly went about his work with a smile on his face and joy in his heart. 

He loves photography and you can see his passion come through even as he is taking pictures. If your looking for a professional photographer who is fun to work with, caring, organized, passionate, and prompt, Jake is your guy! Check out his Facebook page: just type in his name to find him. 

In addition to book him, www.jakepreedin.com and check out his Instagram feed (@jakepreedin) for more beautiful photography  

Jake Preedin Photography

Thanks so much Jake for these beautiful photos and you finally got me to smile with my teeth! You were a JOY to work with and I cannot wait to shoot again sometime!

Without further a do....my senior college photos. All photos are taken by Jake Preedin Photography

Jake Preedin Photography

So thankful for this amazing friend and all that he was able to capture. I cried looking at the photos the other day. I am blaming the tears on my anxiety and stress about graduation....but I think it was really because I felt beautiful in those photos and it was so beautiful to see myself captured on film in such a compelling light.

Jake Preedin Photography

Saving the BEST for last! I did not know that I could look that dare I say sexy......

My FAVORITE photo out of all of them!!
Jake Preedin Photography

And the same photo but in different lighting because when you look this good you have take it in various ways. REALLY love the lighting of this one:

Jake Preedin Photography

Lastly back and white of this beautiful photo. When I first saw this photo, I looked at it and thought, may I am BEAUTIFUL. Granted I don't always look like this but man.

Jake Preedin Photography

One month till the end of an era

One month to the end of the last four years of my life: college. I posted the following on my Facebook page early this morning (12am) and I wanted to share it here:

When I was born, doctors did not know if I was going to make it at my small but mighty size of 1 lb. 7 oz. But God had other plans for my life. One month from today, I will be graduating from Trinity with a degree in Communication and an emphasis in ministry. I know that is going to bless me in the coming years and hopefully I will get to work with people with disabilities. Although I am mostly scared of the next chapter, I am starting to get a bit excited for the things I know God already has planned! ‪#‎SeniorYear‬ ‪#‎micropreemie‬‪ #‎Jeremiah29‬:11

As I continue to reflect on the past four years, I remember the scared young girl that came to college oh so long ago. I actually was going to quit college half way through my Freshman year. But there were many things that fell in place so that I convinced myself that college was still a good idea. 

I have grown so much in the past four years. I have made so many wonderful friends. I met my best friends in the fall and I love them to death. Brooke, Sarah, Victoria, Wendy, Cheyenne, and Hannah, y'all are the BEST. It has been an absolute honor to call y'all my friends and sisters in Christ. Thank you for being the answer to my prayers after all these years. Thanks also for letting me crash on your couch countless times this year, it is super comfortable :-) But seriously, y'all bring so much joy to my life and it has been amazing getting to know each one of you! 

I have lived with different people every single semester of college except for this year. Emylee, Hannah and Sarah have been SO much fun to live with. They are patient with me and listen to me talk about my fears related to graduation. They let me borrow their clothes and they taught me how to apply make up in like 5 minutes. I had been trying for years to learn and they made it super easy. Each of them is so giving, beautiful and kind. They make me laugh and they make me cry but only for the fact that I don't want to leave them in a few weeks. They have made my senior year of college beautiful. God knew what he was doing when he placed each of these beautiful girls in my life. Each of them is wise beyond their years and we have had many great times together. They accept me for who I am and pray for me which I am deeply thankful for. I will miss these three SO much but I am so excited to see where God takes each of them in their last two years of Trinity and then beyond!

I have learned so much in my classes about God and other subjects like graphic design. I think the subject that I have grown the most in is graphic design. I used to not call myself an artist until I took a design class last fall. I started to see that I did have a very creative side to me. It has been fun to see that come out. I owe a lot of my success to my professors, Julia and Brandon! Thank you both for pushing me and for believing in me. Thank you for telling me that you are proud of me and that you know that I can do it. You saw the potential in me that at one point I could not see myself. I have blossomed into a beautiful artist and I am excited to see where God takes me in regards to my artistic talents! 

As if awesome people like Brandon and Julia were not enough; I have one of the best professors on the Earth that has taught me all of my communication courses in the last four years. Her name is Dr. Lindholm. Y'all, this woman is the real deal. She is genuine, caring and compassionate. I could go on and on for hours about how she has blessed and impacted my life. She is always there for me when I need something and our conversations are the best. She is super patient with me and answers all of my questions even if they are dumb. She brings so much joy to my life. I know that I am going to be able to come back and visit next year, but it is going to be different to not be able to go to her office to chat or see her around campus. I have also learned a lot about communication from this amazing woman. She is truly passionate about communication and it comes across as she is teaching. It has been a joy to learn and grow under someone who loves God so much and has so much life experience. I am excited to see where God takes our friendship in the coming years. 

College has been filled with the good, the bad and the ugly. But I have learned and grown so much and for that I will forever be thankful. There were two things that people told me when I started college: The first being that college will be the best and fastest four years of your life. The second being that you will make lasting friendships. I am here to tell you today that both are absolutely true. 

I walked into college a scared, quiet young girl. I will walk out of college in a few weeks as a confident, beautiful (still) young woman.

Photo by Jake Preedin Photography

Choose Beautiful

Last week, I saw a beauty campaign that Dove did called "Choose Beautiful" You can watch the campaign below:

The campaign really got me thinking how our culture defines beauty. We have such a warped sense of beauty and we focus so much on the outer appearance. I looked at every single woman in that video and I thought "oh they are really beautiful" and yet most of them decided to walk through the average door. I would be the first to tell you that for years I struggled with my body and self image and still do. It took me years to come to a place where I was okay with calling myself beautiful and I did not change my mindset until early in my college career.

What does that tell you about our culture and how we are teaching our girls to think. Is beauty about the latest and greatest make up? the latest clothes and hair style? 

I believe that beauty begins with the heart. As a Christian, God says that we are always beautiful no matter what. 

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

For the last few weeks, I have had a song by Francesca Battistelli called "He Knows My name." on repeat. It has been such an encouragement to me and I wanted to share it with you.

The song talks about how God knows our names and that we don't need our names in lights or fame because he cares about us even without all of that extra stuff that life tells us that we have to have in order to be successful women in today's society.

Sometimes it can take a lot to through off all of the things the world tells us, but I want to remember four simple truths when you feel like the world as a woman is too much to handle:

You are NOT average.


You are BEAUTIFUL.


You are WORTH IT.


You are LOVED.

Reflections on a life well lived: Wayne Kijanowski

The Trinity Community experienced a huge loss when we lost our director of the marketing Department this week. Wayne Kijanowski earned his seminary degree through our seminary in 1991 so he has been with the school for a long time and touched many ways. One of the ways that I process my grief through writing. I hope that you enjoy this piece that I have written to honor my friend Wayne. 

Reflections on a life well lived: Wayne Kijanowski 

How does one react when one who is loved is taken to be with the Lord so suddenly? tears, questions and anger? I have experienced all of these things over the past three days. I could just stay in a state of anger and questions. But thankful I don’t have to because as Christians we grieve with hope. Like it says in 1 Thessalonians 4, We grieve with hope because we will see those we love again in heaven.

Wayne was a man who loved and loved well. He truly cared for and loved his students, employees and everyone that he came in contact with. He was the hands and feet of Jesus and he shined the light of Christ with each step. 

I had the privilege of having Wayne for class my junior year of college. I had him for photoshop and Indesign which are both graphic design programs. I am a communication major but I needed to take those classes as part of my major. 

I remember the first time that I met Wayne during my night class, he was so kind and accepting toward me and everyone that he met. He told us stories in class about ways that the Lord was working in his life. He also told us his testimony which was amazing.  

Wayne LOVED Jesus. He loved his students and his employees but he LOVED Jesus more. He was a great designer but he was also an amazing example of what our lives should look like as Christians. 

Wayne was a man of extremely faithful prayer. One of his phases that he always liked to use was prayer works. He and his wife, prayed for each and every student every single day. At the end of the semester, we would present our final work and then we had a small party with cheese cake and candy. Wayne would take each of us aside and he would share with us how much he enjoyed having us in class and how much we had grown. He would then hand us a hand-written note and a small design project that he made for us. I will always remember how he took the time out to talk to each of the students. 

I would come into the design department to talk to Wayne often and to see the other employees that worked there. No matter what, Wayne would ALWAYS stop and talk to me sometimes for twenty or thirty minutes. I was never wasting his time, he truly loved and cherished interacting with students. I remember the last time that I came in there a few weeks ago, he stopped what he was doing and welcomed me in and we had a nice chat. I don’t remember what it was about but I just remember how much I enjoyed talking to him. I would always walk away from our conversations with joy in my heart and a feeling of acceptance and love. Wayne was truly an amazing man. He touched so many lives and his legacy will live on. 

I am so thankful that I got to know Wayne and that he was part of my life and that he impacted my life. I have never known another man who loved Jesus more than Wayne. Thank you for setting such a beautiful and precious example of what it is truly like to be Christ-like. 

Wayne would always say “Blessings Friend” as you were leaving his office. 

So in Wayne’s words: Blessings friend! I am sure that you are dancing with Jesus. I imagine that you have a huge Mac lab up there in heaven and you are getting to work on all of the projects that you never had time for here on Earth. 

You will be missed, precious friend.  

The future

Those two words above have produced a lump in my throat, tears in my eyes and worry in my soul the past few days.

I have been a Christian since I was thirteen years old. I have grown up in the church but that doesn't mean that I haven't doubted things.

Back in the fall, I had a serious time of doubting my faith and I am at a more stable place now. But I am seriously struggling with one thing: God's plan.

I am going to graduate college in about three months and I am freaking out. I know that God has a plan but sometimes that is very hard for me to hold on. I was looking at jobs the other night and I started crying. I don't know how I am going to be able to leave all of my amazing friends and especially my amazing professor, Dr. Lindholm that I have talked about before.

A quick side note, I don't know where I would be without Dr. Lindholm. She has been there for me since day one and I am so going to miss our conversations, prayer times and discussions about everything from Jesus to Sex. You know that you have found someone super valuable when they are willing to have open conversations about sex. I truly look up to her and I am so very thankful that she is in my life.

Anyway, I know that God has a plan for my life but sometimes the future is scary and unknown. I wish that God would write my answer in the sky. On days like today and the past few days, I cry, pray and repeat.


I will wipe my tears and smile because I know that I am in his hands.

Linzy Westman: Worship EP Kickstarter

photo: Linzy's Facebook Account

This is beautiful young woman is a friend of mine named Linzy Westman. She has a heart of gold and she is such a beautiful young woman. My friend Linzy is working to raise money to make a worship EP. I have had the privilege of getting to know Linzy over the years. She is one of the most beautiful and genuine people that I have ever met in my life. Her love for the Lord and especially for others is infectious! We have had many amazing coffee dates and I always walk away with such joy in my heart after being with her. 

Linzy's heart is to really share worship music but in order to do that she needs your help! She needs to raise $8,000 by February 21, 2015 in order to fund her project. 

Here is just a sample of her amazing and heartfelt music:

For more information on this amazing lady that I am honored to call my friend, visit:

Linzy's Worship EP Kickerstarter

I hope that you are encouraged and inspired by Linzy and her music! 

2014 Highlights

As 2014 comes to a close, I would be remise if I did not recap the year because that is what all the bloggers do at the end of the year right?

Well I wanted to recap this year mostly because it was such an amazing year.

So without further ado here are my highlights from 2014:

1. I ended my junior year in May and in June I had the trip of a life time when I went to California for an internship. You can read more about that experience at the following links:

Hello L.A.!

L.A. Edition One

L.A. Edition Two

Recap of my trip: You Make Me Beautiful: Reflections from California

2. I had my radio debut with Joni Eareckson Tada! It was amazing and something that I will never forget. I wrote a blog post about it here: My Radio Debut

You can listen to the interview with Joni by clicking on the link in the blog post or by going to Joni and friends website: Jessica's interview with Joni

3. The third and final highlight of the year was starting my senior year of college! I cannot believe that I am senior this year! This semester went so fast and I know that next semester will not go any slower. I am excited to see what God has for me next semester and beyond. I really enjoyed the design courses that I took this semester and the other courses that I took.

I cannot not wait to see what 2015 has in store for me. It will be a year of change and transition with graduation on the horizon but I am believing that God has amazing plans for my life!

Here's to a wonderful start to 2015!

Happy New Year friends and thank you for reading my ramblings for another year :-)

Accents of Pink

I know, it may be childish to still like the color pink. But I think that sometimes even the things that we had as a child, care over into adulthood. I wrote the following poem a few weeks ago for one of my classes. The poem is called Accents of Pink.

Accents of Pink

On a clear March day, 

as the sun pushed over the horizon,

 I pushed breath out of my lungs,

my lips went 

from a blue tint

to pink

fighting for life

at a mere 1 lbs. 7 ounces

Years later,

Pink bows adorned

my wispy hair 

as I struggled to 

speak and to force my body 

onto wobbly legs

ready to see the world around me

Pink casts hugged my legs

and my toes matched 

after surgically cutting into my tendons and muscles 

to have my time walking like a ballerina 

come to an end 

The smell of fresh pencils and a new pink folder

signaled the first day of the worst four years of my life:

high school

I fought through those years

and with diploma in hand

looked ahead to more promising times

My new college dorm room

still remained pink 

even after all those years

and I went into college a girl

and I will come out in May

as a woman

Pink is still constant

but my life has changed

I came out a fighter 

and I will continue to fight

for all the opportunities 

God has in my path

You Make Me Brave: Reflections from California

Me and Joni after the open House

The Amazing group of Interns! 

"You make me brave

You make me brave

You called me beyond the shore

Into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now 

The love that made a way"

The following lyrics were from a song that I discovered while I was in California and the more I listened to the song, the more true the lyrics rang in my life. 

During my time in California I experienced so many amazing things and I tried so many new things that I never would have if I was at home. I tried new food which for me is a big deal since I am generally not a very adventurous eater. 

I also was able to meet many new friends through the internship and at the Joni and Friends office. The group that God put together was so perfect and I am so blessed and honored that I got to meet each and every single one of them. We were at a restaurant one of the first nights and the waiter asked us how long we had known each other and we replied that we had only known each other a few days. The bond that we had was amazing and I miss every one a lot and I cannot wait for our paths to cross again. 

The internship program that I went through is super unique because not only do they give you tools to use while you are there but they give you tools to use when you are back home. Through the teaching of the Beyond Suffering Course and the Lead Like Jesus course I was even more inspired and motivated to help and make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities. 

I also really enjoyed the Friendship clubs that we got to be apart of. The groups are like a youth group for adults with disabilities. The group started with singing some songs and then we put on a skit and then there was table time where people could talk and do a craft that had been related to the Bible story. I posted the following on my Facebook page after going to two different Friendship Clubs:

"Monday and Tuesday evening, the interns had the opportunity to attend a program called Friendship club. A place where adults with disabilities can come and hang out and hear and experience in a tangible way the love of Jesus. I went along as "just the photographer" and I was just going to stay in the background. But not only did I capture some amazing shots but my heart was blessed by the entire experience. My heart has been blessed with this whole experience even in the moments of exhaustion and tiredness. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing group to do life with. I am so humbled and honored that I have had this experience and I cannot wait to see what is ahead."

I was brave so many times during this internship: meeting new people, trying new foods, stepping out during new experiences like friendship club and especially going on the radio which you can read about HERE. But my bravery did not come from my strength alone but from the holy spirit. I am so blessed and honored that God gave me this amazing experience and I cannot wait to see how God is going to use everything that I learned in the future. 

Here are a few more pictures from my amazing experience:

Hanging out on the balcony with a few of the interns

The theme verse of the internship

Group photo op with Joni after she spoke

My Radio Debut!

Last Tuesday, August 12th, I got the experience of a lifetime and something I could have only dreamed of:

Yes People, I was on the radio with Joni Eareckson Tada! 

If I had a bucket List, I would have been able to check that off! Seriously, It was such a blessing to be able to share about my life and especially about the internship! I will let y'all know when the radio interview is supposed to air. For those of you that know me, you know that I get super nervous when I have to be in front of people and what not. I was terrified to do this and I kept reading over what I was going to say 100 times before I actually went into the studio that day. 

y'all can I just take a minute to share about this wonderful woman? Joni works tirelessly to make sure that her ministry continues to affect those with disabilities. In her talks, she says that there are some days that she cannot do quadriplegia but she knows that with God's help she can. When you talk with Joni, she makes you feel so special and she truly cares about you. Her love for Jesus is unlike everything that I have ever seen and its seriously inspiring. I am so blessed to call her my sister in Christ and to be part of this opportunity with the radio and also with the internship as a whole. Now back to my story:

I got in the studio and Joni asked me to give her a hug and I told her I was nervous but she said not to worry. We prayed right before we started recording and I felt this sense of peace wash over me. We went through the interview and when we finished Joni said that usually they have to run through things 2 or 3 times, but mine was fine and there was no need to go through anything again. God was truly present in the room and I felt like Joni and I were just having a normal conversation. 

It was a beautiful experience and something I will never forget! 

L.A. New Edition Two

"Steve Smith reporting to you live again from the beautiful state of california....After this weather update, we will hear from our field reporter, Jessica again. But first for your seven day outlook. It's going to be HOT here in california just like it is the other seven months of the year when it is not considered summer. okay. that was easy. now onto Jessica's update....Jessica....are you there? 

"Yes, Steve I am here! I am still loving southern Cali and I am excited to share with our viewers the events of the last few days. 

When I talked to my other fellow interns they said that they were enjoying the program and that they enjoyed all of the rest of the teaching for the Beyond Suffering training. But we were all excited for a few days off to enjoy the beauty around us. 

Sources close to the interns reported that they visited many sights such as a beach and a park but would not disclose either location for their privacy. According to other sources, the group enjoyed time at a local church on Sunday which they all really enjoyed. 

The highlight of the weekend for me was hiking a hill with my new friend Mary. Again, I cannot disclose the location of the hill for privacy reasons but I will just say that it was a great time and that I may or may not have some battle wounds because I may or may not have fallen multiple times. 

There was also also a confirmed conversation that took place between me and the founder of JAF, Joni Eareckson Tada that took place this afternoon. I really enjoyed connecting with her again and it was really fun to talk to her. 

well that is all we have time for folks! 

Jessica, Channel Four (ABC) reporting live from Southern Cali. 

 Back to you Steve, in the studio."

"Jessica, Thank you for that update on your adventures in Cali. We cannot wait to hear what else you have to share with us next week."

And now before we cut over to our cooking segment for the evening we are going to roll some footage that Jessica has taken on her trip. 

L.A. News Edition One

This is Steve Smith reporting live from Southern California. We hope you folks are doing well....oh we are just getting breaking news....

We interrupt this regular news brief to bring you a special report from our chief communication correspondent, Jessica. Jessica will be reporting for us from Joni and Friends headquarters in California for the next six or seven weeks.

Jessica take it away!

"Thank you Steve! I am reporting live here from the beautiful southern california and the Joni and Friends (JAF) Headquarters. Today, ten interns including myself started at JAF. We had an orientation. We will be participating in a course called Beyond Suffering that involves disability ministry and other aspects related to disability. In addition, I have received word from a very reliable source, this week we will be able to meet with the founder of Joni and Friends, Joni Eareckson Tada. So the interns seemed to be pumped about that. I will report more as the days and weeks unfold. But for now, that is all the information I have. This is Jessica signing off from the L.A. News."

Steve Smith here again, Thank you Jessica for that update and we look forward to hearing more about your adventures on the field.

And now back to your regular scheduled program......

Hello L.A.!!

Today is the day!!!!!!

I am off to L.A.!!!!

I cannot believe that today is finally here and I am headed on this amazing adventure. I will be sure to update later today or sometime in the next few days. 

Please pray for safe travels and everything to go smoothly during my trip to L.A. 

I am so excited to begin this venture and see what God has in store for me!

ONE!

ONE WEEK

until I get to see these beautiful sights.....

All photos taken from Google images

I am SO excited!!

See ya in a week, Cali!

Two weeks!

It is hard to believe that two weeks from today, I will be on a flight to California! 

I have been doing a few things to prepare for my trip. I have been praying for Joni and Friends and the people that work there. I have also been praying that God would calm my nerves and that he would prepare my heart for all that I am going to experience over the next six weeks. I would invite you as you feel lead to also continue to pray for me as I prepare to leave and as I am there for the next six weeks. Specifically, pleas pray for safety during travel and that I would be able to learn new skills quickly that I am going to need for my job. 

I have also been preparing by looking at Joni and Friends blog since I am going to be helping out with their Cause 4 Life blog. Joni has her own blog too but I am not going to be contributing to that one. I will just be contributing to the Cause 4 Life blog. I will also be involved in some photography and other aspects of social media. 

I am very excited for this opportunity and I cannot wait to see what God is going to do this summer through this amazing opportunity. 

I hope to update my blog about once a week while I am there. Thank you so much for your support! The prayers mean so much to me! 

Please let me know if there are ways that I can be in prayer for you. 

One month from today.....

I will be in California!!!!

I am so excited and I cannot wait to see what God is going to do during my internship and my entire time there.

I got my job description a few weeks ago and I am going to be doing photography for the other internship group that is going to be there. I am also going to be writing emails and blog posts for different parts of the ministry. 

I covet your prayers as I embark on this amazing trip and opportunity!