Ellen's ponderings...

Hey folks...New Orleans was an amazing week for me. I had two things that God really put on my heart that week. While we were at New Orleans, one of the statements that was key was, "Blessed are the flexible, for they won't be bent out of shape." We didn't really know exactly what we were going to do. We were just supposed to go down there and do whatever they wanted us to do. If you don't know me that well, I'm not really flexible. At all. I have a structured plan every day during school. If I'm not in the bathroom getting ready for school at a certain time, my whole day is out of whack. And that's only the beginning. I was a little nervous going down there without a lot of information...I wondered if I could do it at all. But miraculously, God helped me through it. He was the only One I could rely on to help get me through the week. Amazingly enough, I didn't even have a problem. I just said, "What do you want me to do?" And I went with an open and willing heart. Now I know that I can be flexible, but I'll never be a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of girl.

As many of you already know, I've felt called to be a missionary in China since I was little. Because you can't go into China as a missionary, I've decided to become a nurse. One thing that I learned as I was down in N'Awlins (as the New Orleans people would say), is that I love helping with disaster relief (especially taking down walls). If I become a nurse missionary in China, and God doesn't lead me somewhere else, I felt as though God was telling me to go to areas where disasters happened and help clean up. First, I'd help people and care for their wounds. Then, I would help gut houses. Again, this will happen only if God doesn't change His plans for my life. But I'm flexible now, I'll do whatever God wants me to do. I pray for the strength and courage, but I know with God, I can do it!

~Ellen