Big Girl World in T-Minus 6 Days

     So, here it is. The time has finally arrived. In less than a week, I will walk across the stage at USM and will become an alumni of the school that holds a special place in my heart. 
As my high school graduation neared, I really did not know where I wanted to attend college. I looked into several schools, but I ended up making the final decision when I made the Dixie Darlings dance team my senior year. It was set: I was going to be a Golden Eagle. I entered college unsure of what I wanted to go to school for, but I considered something in the science field because I wanted to be a doctor.
     Now, let's back up 10 years or so for one moment. Ever since I was a child, I always, and I mean always wanted to be a teacher. I used to play in our playroom with my big white board, transparencies, grade book, and easy grader and I would create an entire class roster. I would "teach" the lessons that I learned in school that day to my pretend students, give them tests, grade papers, and do whatever other teacher things. I just knew that one day I would be a teacher. 
Okay, so let's get back to my freshmen year of college. I told myself, "you don't want to be a teacher; they don't make any money and you'd be better off going into the medical field." Honestly, I fought it, but finally I came to the realization that I absolutely loved teaching. I loved being around kids and I loved teaching them. I was made to be a teacher and I couldn't fight it any longer. So a year later, I changed my major to elementary education. 
     Fast forward a year or so when I began my elementary education courses and I fell in love with learning. Before beginning those classes, my grades were just average, but once I started, my grades went up and school became natural to me. I learned a lot in my classes at Southern and I was excited to finish so that I could have my own classroom of kiddos one day. 
     In August, I began my student teaching experience teaching math to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Can I tell you right now that I was completely terrified to enter the classroom on the first day? Math is not my most favorite subject in the world, and teaching three different grade levels seemed super challenging. During my time there, I grew a lot in my confidence to teach math as well as more than one grade level. I taught them many different skills and I even made it fun by incorporating some One Direction in the mix of things. They really liked class that day.  I experienced how big of an impact I had on my students. Many of them needed to be loved and cared for daily and even when it was tough, I chose to do so. I saw so much growth while I was there and I was happy to be a part of what was going on. It made me realize even more why I have always (deep down) wanted to be a teacher. 
     Before leaving my first placement, I was told that I would be in a first grade classroom next. My heart sank for a moment or two. I had never been in a first grade classroom during any of my time in the schools and once I had gotten into high school, I had always said I would never teach below 2nd grade. I was afraid. I had lost any confidence I had. I entered the classroom on the first day, and there were a lot of little people all around me. They weren't able to spell all of their words correctly or tie their shoes, but they were cute and they LOVED learning. Every day was a new adventure and every activity there were in awe over something. Only two weeks into my experience, those students loved Ms. Brittney and they had found a place in my heart. We learned about all kinds of things and did all sorts of fun activities, and I must say, I fell in love with first graders. They're fun, y'all. 
     Today, I finished my student teaching experience all together. It has been a whirlwind of a ride, but I have learned more than I ever imagined learning. I have had two incredible mentor teachers who have helped shaped me into the teacher I am today. I am excited to have my own classroom one day filled with kiddos (and I will probably still call them my "kiddos" even if they are in junior high). 
     Next week, I am starting a long-term substitute job for a 3rd grade reading teacher. I am excited that I get to be with students and continue this learning process. I know that my learning never stops and that I must be open to new things. I'm ever so thankful for how God has continued to provide and how incredibly faithful He is. 

I guess "big girl world" commences soon and I know one thing is for sure, "I can't wait to be a teacher!"

Here Lately

Writing my thoughts down is how I reflect on what is going on in life. I have journaled at night since I was a child, and it is still the way that I think through things. It's one way that I talk to God. It's one way that I can look back and see my answered prayer requests. It helps me to grow. It helps me to be thankful. 

Thankful. 
That's one thing that I'm learning so much about lately. I'm not talking about just saying "thank you," to people I come in contact with, but I'm talking about thanking God for blessing me in the ways that He does. So many times I have overlooked how gracious and merciful He is to me. After reading a book entitled, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, I realized that I am not nearly thankful enough. Since reading that book, I started making a list of things that I am thankful for. Each time I think of something I am thankful for, I immediately write it down. 
Here are just a few things that have been added to my list: 
1. A gracious and loving God who loves me unconditionally. 
2. The word of God that teaches me how to fully love God and others, how to serve, and how to share Christ. 
3. My mom and dad who love each other and who love my brother and me. 
4. My family.
5.The blessing of supportive and loving friends. 
6. A boyfriend who loves the Lord, loves me, and makes me laugh. 
7. Children. 
8.  Dance. 
9. The legacy of family members who are no longer here.
10.My Filipino family who will forever hold a special place in my heart. 

I've been learning that it's really that simple. It's talking to God as you're driving down the road during a 45 minute drive for student teaching and just telling him "thank you." It's making a list of all of the things you're thankful for as you're sitting in a classroom with 20 students as they take a test. It's realizing how blessed we are and just giving God the credit and thanks for being awesome. It's not always easy and sometimes I tend to complain more than give thanks. But hey, I'm human and I make mistakes, but thankfully God forgives me and helps me to continue to grow. 

So not only am I learning about being thankful, but I am also growing a lot. Moving back home with my parents and brother has been a big transition for me. For the past four years, all I have really known is the life of a college student in Hattiesburg. I was with my friends all of the time and I was either in school, studying/doing homework, or at an extracurricular activity. Now I get to eat dinner with my family each night, go to my cousin's games to watch her cheer, take cooking lessons from my aunt, and spend the afternoons with my family. It's such a blessing! 
I am also student teaching (75 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders) and teaching 2, 3, and 4 year olds at the dance studio, so my schedule is busy, but that is something that I've always been used to. There's one word that I have completely eliminated from my vocabulary and that is the word STRESS. For four years in college, my excuse for everything was, "I'm so stressed out," and the truth is that I let it consume me a lot of the time. Something I read in that book I was talking about earlier was, "Stress can be an addiction and worry can be a lunge for control, but the answer to every moment is always yes because of Christ." Stress is the devil's lie to us that God is not able to do what He IS able to do. So many times I believe that lie. 
Even though my schedule is busy and I could easily be stressed, I choose not be and I replace that feeling or whatever it is, with thanks. I'm thankful that I get to be back home with family. I'm thankful that I am able to receive an education. I'm thankful that I get to work with students every day. I'm thankful that I get to teach 2, 3, and 4 year olds the love of dance each week. It's something that I'm growing in each and every day and I know that it is not through my own ability because if I was trying to do this on my own, I would fail. It's only because of God's faithfulness and sovereignty that I am able to be thankful and to be stress-free. 

Also, I received some of the BEST news the other day. Y'all know that young girl that I donated bone marrow to 2 months ago? Well, she is recovering very well and is back at home! As soon as I read the email with the news, tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. This is an answered prayer for not only me but so many others. I've been praying for this girl since June when I found out about the procedure. I don't even know her name, but she's been a huge blessing in my life and has helped me to grow more than I even thought was possible. Once again, I know that this is nothing of my own doing, but it has happened because God remains faithful. Y'all, we serve an incredible God! I don't think I can even say that enough. 

So yeah, that's what has been on my heart lately and what God has been revealing to me. I know I'm far from being the best example of a Christian, but I'm learning and growing to be more like Him. He continues to teach me how to be Christ-like. He continues to live in me and through me so that I can serve him and serve others. I'm learning to be thankful in all things. 

Until next time, 
Brittney

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." -Phil. 4:12

"Donor Donor"

    For the past week, that has been the name that I have gone by. All of the paperwork I’ve signed, all of my hospital bands, and anything else associated with my procedure has contained that name. The other day when I was first posting about my journey, I thought it was going to be a simple journey that was quick and painless (or at least somewhat painless).  I had no idea that it would turn into what it became, but through this experience, I have been more blessed that I ever thought was possible. And so the journey begins…

     On Tuesday, my parents and I drove to meet with the doctors and surgeons and sign the consent forms saying that I knew what was going to happen and that they had my permission to perform the surgery. Let me just be honest here. This was the scariest thing I think I’ve ever done in my life (and this is BEFORE the procedure happened). As the surgeon began explaining the procedure, I felt a lump in my throat and could barely swallow. I’m not going to lie; there were several times when I had to turn my head just so the tears wouldn’t roll down my cheeks. I didn’t know what I had signed myself up for. There was a moment while sitting there that I just wanted to back out. Later, I prayed that God would erase those doubts and that I would stop having selfish feelings. I know that it’s human of us to have those feelings, but I felt like they were getting in the way of me fully relying on God. He promised me that He would be with me; He was going to be holding my hand the whole time… I just had to breathe and trust in Him. Even through my prayers, I still admit that I was afraid. You want to know the truth? That was tough for me on Wednesday morning.

     After spending the evening with my parents and my two aunts, the next morning I arrived at the hospital at 6am to begin the procedure. I had several friends who came to the hospital and waited until my surgery was over. When I went to the back to get ready for anesthesia, I prayed, “Please God, don’t let me remember any of this.” I just wanted to wake up and it be over with. It seemed like most of the day had passed, when only I had been in the back being prepped for surgery for maybe an hour. I’ll admit, there were tears and once I even told my mom, “I don’t think I want to do this anymore.” But in the midst of those moments, God kept putting the recipient in my mind. Y’all, I don’t even know this girl and God continues to enable me to love her more and more every minute. It’s cool how He works like that isn't it? The anesthesiologist told me, “once we get you in the back, we’ll give you some medicine and have you count backwards from 10… you look pretty alert right now so you might make it to 7.” You want to know what I made it to? Haha, honestly, I don’t even remember her moving me into the room to get that medicine. She didn’t have to have me count backwards from 10 because the first dose of medicine put me right to sleep. Remember how I prayed that God would keep me from remembering all of that scary stuff? Well, He did and for that I’m grateful.

     Around 10am, I could hear a lot of machines beeping, feet shuffling and people mumbling and I finally realized that I was finished with the procedure. I opened my eyes to a nurse who apparently saw me fidgeting and she told me that everything went great and that I could see my parents soon. Because of the breathing tube they used during surgery, my throat was dry and my voice was raspy and the anesthesia still hadn’t wore off, so I wasn’t exactly myself for a few hours. My family was able to come back and see me as well as some of my friends. It took a few hours, but they finally had a room for me to move into. As they rolled my bed into the elevator, I could vaguely hear, “what’s up chicken little?” and I saw Dalton (my boyfriend) round the corner holding flowers in his hands. I know, too sweet. Once I made it into my room, my friends and family checked on me and laughed at all of the random and weird things I’m sure I said before the medicine wore off. It was difficult to move and I could tell I was sore, but other than that, I had made it through the surgery successfully.

     That first night they had so much fluid going into my IV, that I’m not even exaggerating when I say that I had to use the bathroom every 15 minutes. It was a constant struggle getting out of the bed, dragging my IV machine (or whatever that thing is called) and then getting back into the bed without hurting too much. I also had to wear these annoying blood pressure cuffs on my legs that they called "stockings." For the first few hours, they felt like they were massaging my legs, but after a whole night of wearing them, I was over it. Let me tell y'all though...my nurses were absolutely amazing. They continued to thank me for donating. I guess I didn’t understand how big of a deal it was until I talked to them. They experience patients receiving transplants all of the time and they see how hard those patients work to live another day. One of my favorite nurses, Mrs. Rebecca, wrapped her arms around me the first day and just thanked me for giving life to someone else. They were amazed that I didn’t even know the patient. That was something that was hard for me. Yeah, I don’t know the person who received my bone marrow, but to me that was something that I had that someone else needed. It’s just the right thing to do. It might have hurt me a little, but to think that she’s getting something that she couldn’t live without makes it all worth it. So throughout the week, I was reminded of that. My selfish fears almost stopped me from doing something that ended up being a huge blessing in my life. And it wasn’t because I did something great… that’s not it at all. It’s because God gave me a healthy body and He gave me the responsibility of sharing something that someone else needed. He gave me that responsibility. It was a choice but I had to make that choice.

     The next morning I was sure that I would be able to go home. That was the plan from the beginning. I was moving around better and so I asked my dad to walk around the hospital wing with me. I took my routine bathroom break, unplugged my machine from the wall, and in my stylish hospital gown we started to walk. In the hallway about 10 steps out the door, my doctor and surgeon walked up to me and started talking to me about how everything went. In the midst of them talking to me, suddenly their voices sounded muffled and I went from looking into my doctor’s eyes to seeing nothing but black. Needless to say, they weren’t letting me go home in that condition. You see, when they did the procedure, they took a lot of bone marrow…1.3 liters of bone marrow to be exact. My dad’s reaction: “that’s almost a 2 liter coke bottle!” That is still a safe amount for them to take from me, but that’s still a lot. Here’s where the blood transfusion comes in. I was told I had to stay another day and night because my blood pressure was too low and when they tried to draw blood for the lab, they couldn’t get any to come. I think I complained more to my mom and dad about them poking me with needles than I complained about the four holes in my back from the procedure. I knew it wasn’t safe to go home though, so I stuck it out for another day and night.

     On Thursday, my nurse and mom helped me shower and take off my bandage (which my surgeon decorated and wrote, “B is for the best donor ever…thank you!). Okay, truth time. I cried. I cried a lot. I saw the spots on my hips where they had taken the marrow and saw the bruises and I cried. You can ask my mom...she saw a lot of tears this week. I didn’t want to have scars. I didn’t want to be in pain. I was mad for a little bit and then just like always, God put that 15-year-old girl in my mind, and those four little holes and those bruises didn’t matter. Even if I do have scars, they will just be reminders to me of how God used me in that little girl’s life. Not for my glory or fame or praise… but for His. God taught me a lot this week about pointing to Him in situations. He deserves the glory and He will use every circumstance in our life to make His name known.  Nothing about what I did this week or what I went through is for me to be recognized. Y’all, I know I’m not perfect. I know I’m not completely selfless. I know I’m not brave. I do know that God is perfect. He is selfless. He is a servant. He is brave. I rested in that this week.

     Thursday came and went and I was stuck picking at the same hospital food and doing the same routines over and over again. I knew exactly when the nurses would come in to check my vitals and I knew when I would have to get up to use the bathroom. My parents were getting tired and so was I. We watched movies and talked and laughed with the nurses. We tried passing the time many different ways. My blood pressure remained low, so the nurses continued to give me fluids and check my vitals. We were hoping that Friday would bring better news.

     Friday morning came and my blood counts were still low. My veins were tired of being poked at and my blood pressure wasn’t any higher so the doctor ordered that I have a second blood transfusion. Let me just tell y’all…those aren’t fun. It took several hours and the whole time my hand was freezing and I had to keep it wrapped up in a towel or blanket. I started moving around more and more and was able to get out of the bed completely on my own, which was good for my mom and the nurses because as often as I was using the bathroom, I needed to be able to do some things on my own. Mom helped me wash my hair (which was much needed might I add). There were times when I felt completely helpless because I was so sore or because of my IV, but my parents were rock stars and were so willing to help me). Dalton visited for a few hours while my parents went to the hotel to get showers and some fresh air. He helped me dry my hair and walked around the hospital wing with me so I could stretch my legs. He was already practicing his future PT skills by telling me to walk a little quicker and lengthen my stride. He also brought yummy snacks like smoothies and coffee. He knows how to cheer me up. Later that afternoon when they checked my vitals, my blood pressure had gone up! My parents and I were so excited and we just knew that I would be heading home the next day. My mom and I stayed up a little later than usual watching a few movies. I slept more throughout the night hoping that the doctors would have good news when I woke up.

     Saturday morning I woke up at 4am to the nurses doing their daily blood work. Around 10:30am, my doctor came in and told me that my blood counts were higher, my blood pressure was closer to normal and that I was good to go home. I was seriously about to jump out of the bed. Around 12:45, I was finally discharged as “donor donor,” and we were headed off of the Bone Marrow Transplant floor. As I passed by the pictures of patients who had received transplants, I thought of the little girl who received mine the other day. She has a lot more days in the hospital than I had to spend. She has a tough recovery ahead of her. That teenaged girl... I have no idea who she is or where she is from. I don’t know what she likes to do for fun. I don’t know what she likes to eat. I don’t know anything about her. I don’t even know if she knows Christ as her Lord and Savior. I do know this. God placed her in my life for a very special reason. He didn’t place her there for my name to be known or for my “good deed” to make everyone say, “awe, how sweet of her to do this.” He did it because His name will be glorified through all of this. Even though I don’t know this girl, I know that she is in the hands of an almighty God who is the ultimate healer, provider, comforter, and protector. I pray that her transplant went smoothly. I pray that she recovers quickly and that she is able to live a long and healthy life. I pray that she knows Jesus and I pray that if she doesn’t, that she will come to know Him. That’s why as Christians we do the things we do. I pray that the gospel goes forth because of this opportunity. I know that it has changed me and blessed me than I ever thought possible. I hope that one day I can meet her and get to know the 15-year-old girl who had such a huge impact in my life. 

                                                -Brittney 

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” –Colossians 3:17

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”-Mark 12:30-31

Hurdling the Bumps in the Road

     A few years ago, one of my sorority sisters introduced us to her platform for Miss Mississippi: Be the Match. Be the Match is a donor program who finds matches for patients needing bone marrow or other similar donations. I decided to join the program in hopes of possibly one day getting to donate. Most of you know that I am not afraid to try new things, so this was something that, at the time, was new and interesting to me and so I signed up and got put into the system. 

     A little over a year ago, I got a phone call telling me that I was a potential match for a patient with cancer. After talking to the center, I went and had additional tests and evaluations done. During the wait, I received a phone call letting me know that I was no longer needed for the donation. Honestly, I was a little bummed at first because I really wanted to help someone out, but knowing that the patient was doing well without the transplant was more encouraging. 

     About a month and a half ago, I headed to North Carolina for a week of training before traveling to South Carolina with 23 other guys and girls my age to work for CentriKid Camps. On the second or third day of training, I received a phone call from the donor center letting me know that there was an urgent request for me to donate bone marrow. After talking to the lady at the center, I was told that it was the same patient from last year (a teenaged girl with cancer). I literally started crying on the phone. I walked into the room with the 23 people on my team (who, might I add, I had only known approximately 3 days) and told them the news. Before I knew it, I had people hugging me, crying with me, excited for me, and asking all kinds of questions. 

So... this is where the process really began. 

     The lady at the donor center informed me that since it was an urgent request, I would need to be at the hospital on the 24th of July. Okay, let's back up for a second. This just proves how sovereign and awesome our God is. My team's summer of camp ends on the 26th of July, but because the last week is a smaller week of camp, a few of us have the last week off. Prior to finding all of this out, I was bummed that I would have to leave my team early, but at this moment I was praising God because He knew that I would be needed elsewhere on that last week. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it! 

     Alright, back to the story. Since I was in South Carolina for the summer, we had to figure out a way for me to get additional blood work and other tests done before the procedure. It was an uphill battle. First, they couldn't find a hospital that would allow for me to get the necessary tests completed, which I could never wrap my mind around. Of course, it costs a lot of money so that became an issue for a little while. Once during the summer, they called me to inform me that my blood had gotten lost in transit. Yes, I know! Literally, the strangest things were happening, but God continued to prove himself faithful. My teammates were the best. Let me just brag on them for a second. There were times when I was just about to give up on the whole process and then out of the blue they would encourage me. And man, they are prayer warriors like I've never seen before. On the day that my blood got "lost in transit" or whatever would be the correct way to state that, they said a prayer that it would be found. It went like this: "and Lord, please help them find Brittney's blood." Yeah, there were some giggles, but we were praying. Guess what? Three days later, I got a call that they had found it. I mean, I'm telling you, God is HUGE and He hears us when we cry out to Him.

     It's hard to believe that so many obstacles came during the summer throughout the process, but now it's two days away from my procedure. Until now, I wasn't really scared or worried or any of those things. Now things are starting to sink in. I've never been under anesthesia before. I've never had surgery. I'm not even sure if I've been in a hospital overnight before. I do know one thing; if God brought me through all of the obstacles that tried standing in my way during the summer, then He will get me through this obstacle of being afraid. He's bigger than all of those obstacles anyways. 

     Something that has confused me a lot is that people have been telling me, "you're so unselfish" and "you're so brave." That's encouraging to me and super uplifting but sometimes it's hard for me to believe those words. Honestly, I think of this opportunity as an incredible blessing in my life, but y'all I'm scared. When I first signed up to donate, I was doing it more out of the "everyone is doing this", "I get to save someone's life", "I might not ever even have to donate," mentality, but now it has become so much more to me. Jesus calls us to serve others. If that means giving up something like bone marrow that my body will eventually replenish so that a teenaged girl who needs it in order to survive can receive it, than by all means, that's what I'll do. When people say, "this is such an unselfish act," I think to myself, "But I am selfish. What if it hurts me? What if it takes a long time to recuperate? What if I get really sick?" And the whole, "you're so brave," thing. Y'all, I'm a chicken when it comes to some things. I like new things and I'll try just about anything but there's always a slight fear. I'm not brave; I just know that Lord will sustain me throughout the procedure and the recovery. That's just me being honest. I know that this is something that the Lord has given me to do in order to help someone else. 

     I don't know what the next week or so is going to look like. I go in tomorrow for my pre-evaulation and consultation to discuss "doctor words" that I'm probably unfamiliar with. I have to be at the hospital at 6am on Wednesday and then I'll stay overnight while they monitor me. I will probably be sore for about a week after the procedure so I foresee a lot of reading and Lifetime movies in the future for me. I just ask for your prayers. Over the past few years, I have learned a lot about the power of prayer. We must rely on God for everything. He is our strength and our portion forever. 

     

Out Of This World

     Before I became a staffer at CentriKid, I was unaware that it's possible to paint nails with little girls, play silly games, and cover each other's heads with shaving cream all while relating it to the gospel. The past two weeks, I have had the awesome opportunity to serve alongside 23 other staffers who have become like family to me. We haven't even spent a whole month together and I already feel like I have known them for years. They are so uplifting and encouraging, they are prayer warriors, and they love kids. The past two weeks have been filled with such sweet moments. For Bible Study, I have had four awesome groups of upcoming sixth graders. It has been incredible to see how much those kids know about the Bible when I ask them questions. Their excitement for the Lord and for sharing the gospel is incredible. This summer our key verse is Revelation 21:3 which says, "God's dwelling is with humanity and He will live with them. They will be His people and God himself will be with them and be their God." God wants to have a relationship with each person on this earth. He wants to dwell with us. The kids have been learning about creation, God on earth as Jesus, God with us as the Holy Spirit, God leading us to follow Him, and God being with us forever. Y'all, kids are hearing the gospel and they are getting it. It's childlike faith like none I have ever seen. It's awesome! 

     It's awesome that even in the midst of our weaknesses, that God prevails and He continues to remain faithful. I'm so thankful that my God knows what it's like to be a human on earth and He still chooses to dwell with me through it all. There have been times during camp when I have been exhausted and I've thought my voice wasn't going to last throughout the week, but witnessing children accept Christ into their hearts is one of the most beautiful things ever. It's worth it all. Last week, I witnessed a little girl pray, "God, I would love it if you would come into my life and live with me and be my God." She said it with as much boldness and confidence as an eight year old can say. Today I had a little girl come up to me and ask me to pray for her because she thinks she is being called to be a missionary. She is going into the seventh grade. Guys, that's awesome! We need to give God a standing ovation more often because He's doing some incredible things in the lives of children. 

     I love camp and I love being the hands and feet of Jesus. I love the early morning quiet times spent with the Lord. I love being silly on stage and dancing to songs with kids to get them ready for the day in "I Can't Wait." I love sharing the gospel with kids each day in Bible Study. I love watching kids eat seven cookies at lunch just because it's camp week. I love teaching No Boys Allowed and getting to spend time with girls and showing them the importance of internal beauty. I love seeing children raise their hands in worship. I love hearing kids pray. I just love serving the Lord in such a way that lifts His name higher than any other name. 

     You can be praying for my team and me as we continue with our summer. Pray that we would be energized each day and that the Holy Spirit would speak through us. Pray that we would receive good rest on the days between camps. Pray that the gospel would be proclaimed and that kids would learn about it and understand it. Pray for the campers as they arrive and that their hearts would be molded. Pray for safety. Pray that the Lord would move in a mighty way. 
     

I'll Be At Camp In 15 Days!

     Most of you know that I have spent the past two summers overseas, but since returning home last summer, God placed it on my heart to do something different. After praying about it, talking with some people about camp, and just waiting and listening to God, I felt called to apply for CentriKid camps. Although it was weird for me at first to not go through the application and interview process for summer missions, I felt peace because I knew that God had different plans for me this summer.
     In 15 days (well, 14 and a few hours), I will be headed to training and then we will start camp at Anderson University in South Carolina. I will be serving alongside about 30 college-age staffers and sharing the Gospel with both children and adults every day at camp. I am so excited to meet the people I will be spending the summer with and dive into camp with each of them.
     The biggest thing that I could ask from all of you is your prayers. Pray that my team and I will develop a strong bond and become like family. Pray that the children and adults' hearts will be softened and will be prepared to hear the Gospel and possibly learn something new. Pray for our energy and our excitement and just that God will be glorified through every aspect of camp. I cannot wait to share with you how God works at Anderson University this summer!
     There is absolutely no way that any of this could even be possible if it weren't for God's faithfulness and sovereignty, but also through prayer and encouragement. I invite you to be a prayer warrior for this summer, not only for where I will be serving, but for all over the world.
     I will be able to receive mail while I'm gone June 17-July 19. If you would like to send an encouraging note, snacks, or any other type of encouragement for my team and me, that would be awesome!
                                                             My address is:

                                                               CentriKid 4
                                                        C/O Brittney Clanton
                                                         Anderson University
                                                            316 Boulevard
                                                       Anderson, SC 29621

Thank you so much and I hope you all have a wonderful summer!
Brittney

It's Been Four Years

     Today I watched the graduation of some of my closest friends. As I sat in the coliseum, I listened to  the names of people my own age as they walked across the stage and thought, "wow, we've already completed four years of school together." Only four short years ago, we were throwing our caps in the air at our different high schools, many of us not knowing one another. Now, four years later, we have established some of the greatest friendships ever. Although I will be graduating in December, I am moving home to student teach in the fall so my "college years" have neared the end as well. Over the past few days, I have reflected on my four years at The University of Southern Mississippi. 
    
      I came to Southern Miss like every freshman: excited but nervous. My first two weeks before school started were filled with sorority recruitment and Dixie Darling camp. Those were honestly the two longest weeks of my life but they were the weeks I grew super close to several people. I pledged Delta Gamma the first week and then learned the strut and fight song the second week. I was then ready for classes to begin. My freshmen year came and went and before I knew it, I was back home with my family for the summer. 
    
      Sophomore year came quickly and I began to get more involved on campus. I joined the BSU leadership team and I got a leadership position in Delta Gamma. I also traveled to East Asia and spent my first Christmas away from my family. The Lord brought several important people into my life during this year.  I learned what it meant to truly be a friend to someone and how to invest in others. God placed such a godly man in my life who is still a blessing in my life today. It was during my sophomore year that I grew closer than ever to the Lord. That summer, I knew God was calling me to do summer missions and so in June I left to spend two months in the Philippines. There, I was challenged, humbled, stretched, strengthened, and blessed by spending seven weeks without the luxuries that I'm used to in America. I got to spend every day from the time we woke up at 5:30am until we went to sleep at night loving on children at the orphanage and in the community and sharing Jesus with others. I had the opportunity to spend that summer with three awesome girls on my team who I grew so close to. There really aren't words to describe my experience that summer. 
     
     Junior year came and it was then that I really found my niche in this whole college thing. I remained close to the same people but I also opened up to others and found ways to be more involved. I began my education courses and fell in love with my major. This is when I really got excited about becoming a teacher in the future. The "school part" of college became more enjoyable because I was finally doing something that I wanted to do. I spent a week in Vancouver, Canada and saw the darkness in the world that is not very far away from Mississippi. Again, I felt called to go back to the Philippines, so with three girls from school, we packed up our things and headed there for the summer. My second summer there was definitely more challenging than the first and I experienced a lot of spiritual warfare, but the Lord remained faithful in my life and continued to give me peace and strength during the tough times. 
     
     And now, we have come to my senior year of college. It's crazy to think that this year has already come and gone. It has been a whirlwind and has seemed a lot quicker than I thought it would. I moved into my own apartment with two of my best friends. I danced on the football field as a Dixie Darling for my last time (that is, until Homecoming with the alumnae next year). I became an alumnae of Delta Gamma. I cried all of the "I'm a senior" tears. I stayed up late at night laughing with friends. I went to graduation and watched all of my friends and my boyfriend walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. It all happened so fast. 
     
     Now that summer has arrived, I'm excited for the next few months leading up to my own graduation on December 13 (yes, it's on Friday the 13th). In a few days, a few of us are leaving to go on a cruise (it's my first one and it's a Carnival cruise, so let's hope our ship decides to work properly). After that, my best friend gets married. Then, I am spending the summer in Anderson, SC working as a staffer with CentriKid Camps. I'm incredibly excited for this new journey and cannot wait to see what the Lord will do in and through my team's lives this summer. In August, I will begin student teaching and then I will graduate and hopefully become a teacher shortly after. 
     
     Over the past four years, I have constantly been reminded of the Lord's faithfulness and goodness. He has never ceased to amaze me and has guided me and held my hands during some of the hardest times and most difficult decisions I have had to make. I definitely wouldn't have gotten through the past four years without Him. I am incredibly thankful for the people God has placed in my life and I know that He used each one of them to bring me to where I am today. 


"But the Lord is faithful and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one."                          -2 Thessalonians 3:3 

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."                -Jeremiah 31:3

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 
-1 Thessalonians 4:16-18


-Brittney 

Life Full of Color

Have you ever been in a room full of balloons? I mean, balloons of all different colors just side by side? If you haven't, go out and buy some balloons, find a few friends, inflate them, and enjoy.
Tonight, we did just that. As I was helping a group on campus prepare for a school-wide community service event, we inflated about 100 balloons and scattered them around the room. If that doesn't make you happy, then go and buy a kitten or something(unless you don't like kittens ...then I guess you're just out of luck).
I felt like a child as I zigzagged through the maze of balloons, and I couldn't help but smile.
Lately, life has been confusing and overwhelming at times. Growing up came faster than I was prepared for it to. In the midst of it all, I have prayed continuously that The Lord would give me peace and would help me to remain joyful through it all. It's cool how when we pray to our Heavenly Father that he surpasses anything we could ever think of for ourselves. He has given me peace in every moment and has given me a joyful spirit, of which I'm incredibly thankful for. Just like to tonight, as I stood amongst the vibrant colors of balloons, I was reminded of how carefree a child is. We are told to have childlike faith. That's just it. When we pray to Him and trust in His timing, He is faithful. Always. I am thankful for what seemed like such a small meaningless thing at the moment, to remind me of how awesome God is each and every day.
Brittney

My Heart is in the Philippines

There are so many days when I just sit and think about what my kiddos in the Philippines are doing and how they are doing in school. When I sit down to eat a meal by myself or with only one or two people, I miss hearing all 15 of them say the blessing. I even miss telling them to chew with their mouth closed or to use a fork instead of their fingers. 

After spending two months in the country two summers in a row, I feel as though they are my family. I miss the culture, I miss the food, but most importantly I miss their love for the Lord. Every morning those children lifted their hands up and praised Jesus. It didn't matter how bad their day had been before or if they were sad or mad. They praised the Lord. It is a beautiful thing if you've never experienced anything like it. It's absolutely breath-taking. 

No matter where I am in this world, my Filipino family will always be close to my heart. They taught me how to truly love others. They taught me to be joyful. They taught me patience. They taught me thankfulness. They taught me to be appreciative. They taught me how to praise God no matter how hard life is. 

I sit here knowing that I was given the opportunity and called for a reason. Even though I miss it terribly, I know that God placed my Filipino family in my life to teach me. I thought that by serving in an orphanage that I would teach the children so much, when in reality, they taught me so much. 

I miss their rice-covered faces at dinner time. 
I miss their giggles in the morning when we went to wake them up early to do chores. 
I miss the songs they sang to the top of their lungs. 
I miss worshipping alongside them. 
I miss braiding the girls' hair. 
I miss their hugs. 
I even miss not being able to understand them at times and having to have everything translated. 
I just miss them. 

Tonight, I am thankful for my Filipino family and truly blessed that they are such a huge part of my life. 

Guardian Angels

It has been one month since my Mamaw left this earth. It has also been one month since she got to go to Heaven and see Jesus Christ face to face. The past few years had been hard on my family with Mamaw's health declining, but she never ceased to bring a smile to my face when I would go home and visit her. Knowing I can no longer drive to her house and visit her hasn't exactly hit home with me yet since I'm off at college, but oh what a sweet reminder it is when I think about the past month she has had in Heaven (if time even is the same as it is here on earth). She got to spend her anniversary with Papaw and got to celebrate his birthday with him this year. I wrote this on the day I found out my Mamaw had passed away and I shared it during her funeral service: 

"Some people knew her as Corrine; others knew her as Mrs. Morgan. She was a sister as well as a mother. To many, including myself, she was Mamaw. Her house was a special place to visit and she was such a joy to be around. She and Papaw loved each other and had a beautiful marriage. They made their family a priority and taught us how to love people unconditionally. Mamaw had an embrace that was like no other and a smile that made you feel loved. I will always remember Mamaw’s spunky personality and her quick-wit when I would ask, “How are you feeling?” and she would respond with, “with my fingers.” She was always on her toes and there were very few dull moments when she was around. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved going to Mississippi to spend the summers and holidays with her and Papaw, and I always told her that one day I would live in a house close enough to hers that I could walk there on my own. And finally we did.  When I think about a person who loved the Lord and continuously asked for His guidance and wisdom, she is the first person I think of. To me, Mamaw was the person who took me to church and taught me about Jesus. She would sing hymns and pray with me before bed. She would let me go grocery shopping with her and we would always stop for an ICEE on our way back from town. She would fix me my favorite snack, bread and butter, and sneak it to me when my mom would say, “now that’s enough,” just like any grandma would do. When my parents would let me stay overnight, she and Papaw would spoil me rotten and they would always be on my side when I told my mom I wanted to stay just one more day. She always told me that my hair reminded her of making syrup candy as a child when she would french braid my hair. She helped me learn how to read and we read “The Witch’s Swans,” every night until the pages were worn and we had the story memorized. She would grab blankets and wrap me up as we swung on the porch singing songs and telling stories. As I got older, she was still someone I could talk to and share stories with and think back on my childhood days. She was a strong-willed, hard-working woman who was loving, kind, tender, godly, funny, adventurous, generous, devoted, and sincere. Her life truly is a legacy and all of the memories I have of her will always be precious to me. She will always be my sunshine. She will forever be missed, but I know that she is dancing, singing, and rejoicing with Jesus and Papaw right now and oh what a beautiful sight that must be!

Colossians 3:15-17 says “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” This passage represents what Mamaw did with her life. She was joyful. May her life be a testimony to the goodness of God and may she always be loved and remembered."

I know that Mamaw and Papaw are both looking down on my family and me and smiling because of the legacy they left behind. Although they are greatly missed here, I wouldn't want them to have one less second to spend with Jesus.