As we all know due to the millions of tweets and Facebook updates, it is FINALLY summer! Thank God for the summertime. For most summer is a time for cookouts, swimming, food, no shoes, no shirt, and no problems; however some people use summer as a time to get in touch with who they really are, and by some people, I mean myself.
During the school year I am at my house, but I am not home. People always say, “Home is where your heart is” and I get to visit mine every summer in the compounds of Africa. I first went to Africa when I was only 15 years old. It was just me and my mom, two white girls from Texas, going to the country with the highest orphan rate in the world and the third highest poverty index. My initial thought when I arrived in Zambia was, “I am either going to LOVE this, or never want to come back, but I won’t know until I am back in Texas which that will be.” So I went. I did it. I spent the week in Africa. And I have never felt more at home, more like me, and more connected with Christ then I do when I am walking through a compound hand in hand with one of my favorite little Zambians. I have been to Africa every year since then and increased my stay each time. This year I will be going for almost 3 weeks and then returning by myself inDecember to spend Christmas with some of my favorite kiddos. I am so blessed by the people and children I have met while I am in Zambia and I love the kids I work with each year more then I could imagine loving someone. Its as if God pushed all of the coincidences together that resulted in my mom and I going in the first place. God has His hand on me and my kids while I’m there and for that I am grateful.
This upcoming week of summer, I will be spending it at the beach with my cousins and aunts and uncles and mentally preparing myself to go to Zambia in July. I cannot wait to see the smiling faces of the beautiful 10 boys in my group for Camp and the most perfect child, that I am lucky enough to sponsor. 
