What makes coming home dead tired each night this week worth it

moments like these.

For the kingdom!

Restless and Rested

The first Monday since I've graduated.  It's such a blessing not to have piles of homework to complete or to ride a sketchy bus for hours. Yet, there's a feeling of dissatisfaction. Looking at pictures of the last group who went to the Philippines gets me choked up. Has it really almost been a year since I've traveled overseas? Since I was pushed out of my comfort zone practically every moment, until that pushing became the normal?

I crave the feeling of going somewhere I've never been, tasting things I never would at home and meeting people I never imagined.

I think that's one of the things I miss the most; meeting new people.
Maybe this year I can travel on my own initiative. 

I grow it myself

Each quarter at school has been different because the classes change each time. That means a new schedule, new classrooms, new teachers, and new people. That's been the same  this quarter. It's a change but it's still a routine cause it's a change I'm used to.

There's is a new facet to this quarter: attention. Specifically, male attention. This isn't to make myself look great. To be honest, it does the opposite. These men that have been approaching me are not the type I would be attracted to. In fact, they often make me uncomfortable to the point where half way through the first minute of our meeting I'm plotting an escape route.

Today I was compared to a guy's ex girlfriend. She had pretty red hair like mine. ("Why, thank you sir. I grow it myself".) She had freckles. She had pretty eyes, like mine.He said because of her he finds those things attractive.
After that, he offered to get me booze whenever I desired.
"I'm only 19."
"I hook up my friends. All I need is a little cash".
"I don't think you need booze to have a good time."
"Depends on the time."

When we parted he gave me an instruction: Stay pretty.
Was it a suggestion? A challenge?
What does it mean to be pretty?

And in my $2 sweatshirt from walmart and a sloppy ponytail I left.

Matthew 5:23-24

 ²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Putting that into action isn't easy but praise God that He is with us when we do it.

My brother

Cam: Hey, what are you making?
Mallory: Fry bread.
Cam: Like the kind Victor's mom made?

I love that both my siblings have seen Smoke Signals.
<3

Second week

Sometimes, I'm struck by how often I relearn the same things over and over.
A recent thing I have been re-learning is how God's goodness is unchanging. It's not dependent on our circumstances.

The past couple of weeks have been trying. However, it's for a moment. He is forever.
Also, this fortnight shown me how easy it is to focus on the negative. In light of what I have learned here are some of the good parts of these weeks.

• I'm learning how to prioritize when it comes to homework which has helped me keep on top of the massive amount of homework I have.
• Randomly, a guy came up to me last week and told me I looked nice. He also asked if I was in Theater because I was reading Goethe's Faust. Silly, but it was a high light of my day.
  
• I'm learning how to play Badminton! A huge step for someone who has very little experience with sports.
• My quiet times with God have been refreshing. Today's was very much that way. I am memorizing Psalm 13. It's been great to commit more scripture to memory.
  
• Right now I am listening to Florence and the Machines while wearing my favorite sweatshirt.

It really is the little things in life that can make you smile.

First week back to school

Stressful.

Challenging.

Draining.

Hebrews 12:1-3