Beautiful Blessings!

My year of blessings.

God completely changed my world this year, simple as that.

     In January I had the awesome opportunity for six weeks to lead a young adult small group in Scottsville, VA.  Through this God built relationships with young people of Scottsville, started mending lives, and healing hearts.
     In February I turned 21, for the first time I finally felt like a "real" adult.
     In March/April I got accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University!! I remember when my mom called me with the letter saying I was accepted and of course I started crying.
     In May I graduated with my Associates of Science from Piedmont Virginia Community College.  I put in a lot of hard work for this to happen and walking across the stage at graduation was a very satisfying moment
     Also in May, I graduated from my internship/discipleship/mentorship program The Steward House.  That graduation meant way more to me than any school graduation.  The two years I spent in this program were not in any way easy.  There were many tears and times when I really did just want to throw in the towel, but my mentors, Travis and Angie Critzer, never gave up on me.  They pushed me, prayed with me, dreamed with me, and shared moments/memories that can never be replaced.  The relationships that begun in that house will never end and I can honestly say that I love each and every person that I got to share life with for those two years.  That house is more than a house, it is friendship, faith, joy, laughter, discovery, growth, and most of all love. It is taking time to build a foundation with God, taking time to figure out where you really want to go in life, finding your dreams, growing your abilities, and making memories that will forever be apart of your life.  I miss these moments and am forever grateful for them all.
   The summer consisted of spending time with family, friends, and of course Watermarks Camp staff and campers!  This past summer was spent enjoying time with many different people and just loving on all those around me. This summer was also the last full summer of being on staff at camp. Apart of me will always remain at camp and a part of camp will always remain with me.  Though I can promise I will return for visits and that this summer was not about saying goodbye, but about sending me into a new chapter of life.
   In August I started school at VCU!! I moved to Richmond full feet ahead, not knowing a lot of people, but ready to go wherever God was sending me.  I also started waitressing for the first time ever and began meeting a ton of new people, building new friendships, and learning new things.
   In October God made a dream of mine come true, I became an intern/assistant for the Richmond Justice Initiative's program the Prevention Project!!!! (This still makes me giddy) This program focuses on educating high school and middle school students about human trafficking so that they can be prevented from becoming lured into it.  God made this come true. Not only did He bless me with an amazing opportunity, He also blessed me with the best people to work with! I want to thank both Sara and Jessica for being great woman of faith who took me under their wings!
   Towards the end of October God made another dream come true when I got to visit International Justice Mission's headquarters with RJI! I got to meet some of the leading human trafficking abolitionists in the world and talk with them about how we can make this dream of ending human trafficking a reality. 
  And to finish this post off is the most recent blessing.  I had the incredible opportunity to meet one of my favorite authors, Fisher Amelie.  Through this moment and interaction many good things are to come, especially toward the fight against human trafficking (don't want to give too much awesomeness away). Not only is Fisher a great author, she is also a great person who I look forward towards getting to know more.

This year God made a lot of my dreams come true, not me.  None of the things would have ever happened if it wasn't for my complete and total faith in God's plan for my life.  I can honestly say I am one blessed woman who God has trusted with so much.  I will always live completely and fully for God and His plan because without Him none of this will have ever happened!

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12 NIV

Thank you to everyone who stood by me through the year, especially my mom, dad, and brother! I love everyone of you so much and am so thankful that I am surrounded by people who continue to help me make my dreams come true! I am thankful for EVERY person who ever helped me get to where I am! I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store!

Love Always,
Insightful Mel
Love beyond reason, and never stop dreaming!

Going up and down (the elevator)

More of a light hearted post!

Almost every single person living in a first world country has experienced the awkwardness of the less than a minute spent in an elevator. Before moving to the city, I never really rode elevators often and not enough times to really understand the awkwardness of them.  My days now consists of multiple times going up and down.  I've experienced many awkward, interesting, and enlightening times in the elevator.

That awkward elevator moment when the door opens to a couple making out... Ugh seriously do not want to see that on my way out of my apartment. I mean I get the fact that enclosed spaces can make people "attracted", but don't share that with the rest of the world. Okay, thanks!

That awkward elevator moment when your try talking and striking up a conversation with someone only to realize they have their headphones in. So now I look like a crazy person talking to myself.

That elevator moment when you arrive at your apartment at midnight, step into the elevator to the smell of weed in the air.  UHHHH, hello people we live in a school building with many cameras. GET IT TOGETHER!

That awkward elevator moment when you get in and hit the button that is the floor you are on.  So now your sitting there not going anywhere looking like a fool.  Then you realize it and play it off like 'ha school is messing with my brain', only there is no one with you so now you are talking to yourself again.

That scary elevator moment when you press the alarm button instead of the floor button, about gave me a heart attack last time I did it.  And yes 'last time' indicates its happened more than once.

And my favorite... That awkward elevator moment when someone is a head of you knowing you are coming to the elevator and they hit the close door button, but guess what?!? I made it the elevator before the door shut, so now I get the privilege of giving you the "evil eye". Sometimes this makes me want to say, "ha sucker I made it in here in time so now you get to enjoy my presence, deal with it."

Lesson to be learned: don't be a rude elevator passenger. Also use time in the elevator to do something simply nice for someone else. Talk to people! You never know how you could influence someone's day.

Love always,
Insightful Mel

Fight against Human Trafficking

Why I believe in the fight against human trafficking

Many time I post things about human trafficking, whether on Facebook or Twitter, and sometimes I forget that people still don't even know what human trafficking really is.  So I'm going to try my best to explain what it is and why I believe we should stop it.

Human trafficking is the selling or coercion of other people through sex, labor, and organ harvesting.  The Polaris Project, a leading anti-human trafficking organization, describes it as " a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others." How does human trafficking exist in our world today?  Think about it this way, we consume, consume, and consume many different things every day... well people have to make that stuff.  The more and more we want things for cheap labor and a cheaper price the higher labor trafficking increases. Sex trafficking is in a way the same, where there is a demand there is going to be a "product". The thing is human trafficking affects EVERYONE. If you think you are not affected by human trafficking, then you are unaware of the world around you (not sorry it's true).

Now here is how I found out about human trafficking and why I decided to do something.
In December of 2011 I was sitting at home over Christmas break watching television like any other normal day.  I was flipping through the channels when I came across the OWN network (don't judge) and was intrigued by the title Hidden America. This episode was all about human trafficking in the United States and highlighted it mainly in Washington D.C.  I remember watching this 12 year old girl prance around on the streets prostituting herself out while her pimp followed her closely with his car.  I couldn't believe this was really happening, I mean she was only 12!  I just started crying because my heart was literally breaking into pieces over this little girl who was dolled up to look twenty in thin straps of clothing having nothing childish about her. My mom came home and I remember describing the show and asking her if she had any idea this was happening either, and of course she didn't know.  It just floored me that this was happening in my own backyard and the public wasn't being informed.  Then a couple weeks later I was talking to my mentor on the way to Passion Conference 2012, telling her about human trafficking and how I thought God was telling me to do something.  I starting dreaming then. Come to find out Passion's main focus that year and years to come was human trafficking! In a stadium filled with thousands of other people God spoke to me personally.  No longer could I live a disillusioned life pretending that this evil did not exist in the world.

My goal was, and still is, to make a difference in at least one life. I do believe that the world can change and that human trafficking can be abolished.  I also believe it takes one person at a time to make a difference.  I hope that talking constantly about this evil that people will be more and more informed in wanting to join and make a difference as well.

The organization I intern with, Richmond Justice Initiative, put out a great list of the facts involving human trafficking:

Human Trafficking is the 2^nd largest criminal enterprise in the world (next to drug trafficking) and is in position to become the largest criminal industry in the world.

Traffickers profit approximately $35 billion a year. That is more than Nike and Google combined.

Human Trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.

Approximately 29 million people around the world are in slavery today.

Within the United States, over 100,000 children are trafficked per year.

17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into our borders every year for the purpose of sex trafficking or forced labor.

Because interstates 64, 95 and 295 all intersect in Richmond, it makes this city an attractive place for traffickers to do business.

The United States purchases more women and children for sex than any country in the world.

In the United States children are targeted by traffickers as young as 12 years of age.

Approximately 800,000 to 900,000 victims are trafficked across international borders every year.

The average age of entry into prostitution is between 13-14 years old.

So today as you are enjoying the blessings of life, don't forget to pray. Pray for our future as a people to be FULLY and COMPLETELY free from bondage. Because these people affected by human trafficking are you and me.  We should not live in ignorance and should stand up against the injustices of the world. Be the CHANGE, be the INSPIRATION, be the PEOPLE who will stand, be the VOICE of those who can't speak for themselves, be the HOPE they need to see, and be the LOVE they desire to feel.

Love always,
Insightful Mel

Resources:
Richmond Justice Initiative:  http://richmondjusticeinitiative.com/
Polaris Project: http://www.polarisproject.org/
Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

Being Brave

Concept of Bravery

Over the past couple days I have been thinking over this concept of bravery.  What does it really mean? How is it accomplished? Every since the incredible human rights advocate Nelson Mandela died, bravery has rolled around in my brain. I think the best way to describe bravery is doing things outside of your own comfort zone.  So many times people are content in just settling in life and not doing things that challenge them, and to me that is not living or even being brave.

Bravery is doing new things, hard things, uncomfortable things that constantly challenge you.

Here are some examples of what I think is brave:

• Bravery is wearing a skirt without having shaved your legs
• Bravery is going outside, in public, without wearing make-up
• Bravery is surfing in the middle of January knowing you could get frost bite
• Bravery is helping a homeless man you don't know, even when he is yelling at you in front of many people at the local 7 Eleven
• Bravery is standing up to someone and telling them "NO" when everyone else is saying "yes"
• Bravery is getting rid of people in your life who constantly make you compromise your integrity.
• Bravery is telling your best friend she deserves better and needs to make choices in life that are more beneficial than harmful
• Bravery is moving to a city where you don't know anymore, but doing it because it is what the Lord is telling you to.
• Bravery is getting help psychologically because you know you need it and because you love your family enough to try
• Bravery is giving up an addiction
• Bravery is living your dreams even though you may fail at times... ALWAYS KEEP DREAMING.
• Bravery is saying "I'm sorry" to someone you hurt
• Bravery is saying "I forgive you" to someone who hurt you
• Bravery is standing up for people who are the least of these
• Bravery is helping to free others so they can live free like you
• Bravery is freedom

This list could go on and on, but the important thing is to be brave in every moment and season of life. Do things that are different from what you are used to.  Do things to stand out. Do things that make you a better person.

Be BRAVE.

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ~Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
Love Always,
Insightful Mel

Power in REST

Stop. Relax. Breathe.

These are things I have to remind myself to do daily.  So many times I find myself in what seems to be over my head, but then I remember to be still.  The busy street lights, the horns blaring, and the never ending movement of people around me adds to the constant motion of my life.  There are times when all I want is quiet, but the thing is this city is never quiet. There is always some constant noise in the day to day, whether it is the elevator ding right outside my room or the people who constantly stomp on the floor above me, the noise is never ending.

Over the past couple of months I have found myself always feeling tired and sleepy. There is always something that needs to be done school wise, workwise, internship wise, with family, or with friends. The never ending day to day time struggles. Sometimes I find that there seems not enough time in the day to do the things that need to get done.  I couldn't figure out why I was tired all the time, it was really starting to bring down my spirit.  I was becoming irritated at the little things, overwhelmed with the big things, and anxious about the things to come.  I felt like I couldn't grasped all the things that were happening and I wasn't enjoying all that God was blessing me with. Then during my quiet time one day I realized my problem, I didn't have any down time or rest.  I was always doing something and never stopping to just do nothing.  There wasn't any set time that I just took for myself and to spend meditating with the Lord.  I made this a priority to change.

Here are some things I did differently:
1. I made it a priority to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night. People always say "you can rest when your dead" well that is true, but living as a zombie until then wasn't an option for me.
2. Taking moments and time throughout the day to stop, relax, and breathe while reflecting on all that is going on.  Taking that moment to see the good that is happening and give thanksgiving, and noticing the bad and praying about it.
3. Take time off! So many people live their lives without every taking a day off to relax and that can be troubling to your soul.  You have to set time for yourself aside if you want to live a happy, healthy life. Right now I don't have a completely full day off, but throughout the week I have set hours where I just sit and do nothing but stare at the wall. And guess what? IT WORKS! Next semester I made it a goal of mine to have a full day of from EVERYTHING, it makes me excited just talking about it.

Always remember to find your rest in the Lord.
 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
~Matthew 11: 28-30 (The Message)

Love always,
Insightful Mel

Only the Beginning

The Beginning of This Crazy Journey

Over the past couple months my mind and journal have been filling up constantly with a number of different insightful thoughts. It has become a point in time now that I have to get it out there to the world.  I can't keep this to myself anymore, and I really feel that others can truly benefit from what I have to say.  Now this doesn't mean that people are always going to agree with what is going on in my head or in my heart, but that to me is okay.  Now there are many of reasons why I want to start this blog. Here are just a few:

1. I believe that our generation, including myself, has the ability to make a difference.  It is time that we become aware to the world around us. We need to put our big girl panties on and really face what is screaming at us so loudly that my ears have become deaf.
2. I think our society is doing things way wrong. I am so sick of seeing people constantly compromising their character for a moments fix.
3. I believe the best way to live is to have continuous positive encouragement and hopefully by doing this thing others will be encouraged as well from what I have to say.

Now in doing this I am not going to shy away from hard things or fancy it all up with fluffy words, that's just not me.  So if your ready to embark on this journey with me, buckle up and be prepared for an adventurous ride!

Love always,

Insightful Mel