Bon Voyage!

So....I was so inspired to start writing on my blog again and have already been a slacker in the blogging world! Therefore, let me update you briefly. I'm headed to Rwanda tomorrow! morning which is excellent, terrifying, and so fun at the same time! I wanted to keep you and my church community abreast to my comings and goings in Rwanda so we established a blog on our ministry's website. The link is as follows and I'd love to have your prayers and offer this as a way for you to keep up with my travels there.

Hope you enjoy and I'll have much more to say next time!

www.anthemorlando.com/blog/rwanda

Laity Lodge Youth Camp

I've have been MIA from the digital world for the past few days and it was glorious! I was invited by a friend, Angie, to come and be a part of their staff training week at Laity Lodge Youth Camp in Texas over the weekend. I did a little bit of speaking, training the counselors, and worship leading. It was such an encouraging weekend as I led the loudest worshippers ever in worship, hiked around in a beautiful canyon, and got to share meaningful scripture with a receptive crowd. The full-time camp staff was affirming and the counselors were so supportive. It was so nice to turn off my cell phone and disconnect for a time. The quietness of the canyon and the benefits of a good, sweaty, hike or two was such a great diversion from the day to day ministry life in Florida. I have a few pics to upload (thanks to a new friend Genevieve Peel) but more will come when I return home to FL on Friday. I'm enjoying a few days with my sister and Spencer in Austin before heading home! Enjoy the photos!

Me and Angie waiting to zipline

Leading worship/leading a devo on the top of a bluff overlooking the canyon

Leading worship with a LLYC staff member back at the camp

Another shot of worship leading with the LLYC staff

Home Again

My roommate was gone for 8.5 days....and now she's home. Let the blessed reunion commence!

I must admit...

Last summer I found myself engulfed in the Harry Potter series of books. I loved it!! I had to finish all 7 books by the time the summer ended and I relished in it. I don't often read books through a second time, especially when they are part of a 7 book series and 500 pages long. However, I am considering giving this series another go this summer.

Even more exciting, Universal Studios, here in Orlando, is opening up a portion of their theme park built to mimic the world of Harry Potter. Can you even imagine!?! They have the castle, a ride, the butter beer, and all the fun and fanciful details of the novels at play in the park! I can't even wait for the grand opening! Although it opens in June, I think I'll have to wait until the mass die down and check it out when a friend can get me in for free in August.

Here's a sneak peek:

I'm a little late....

but it's better late than never!!


I love my mom! Most of us had the joy of celebrating Mother's day this past weekend and although I didn't get to be with my mom in person, I loved sharing a few laughs and special moments with her over the phone. I made her open my gift while she was on the phone and I could still hear in her voice, what her face must have looked like as she read my card and opened the package I had sent.

I was listening to NPR radio in the car today (much to the chagrin of my roommate who isn't a fan of talk radio....something I got from my mom, I should mention) and they did a segment that highlighted the relationship people have with their mothers. The study conducted tested the stress levels of students preparing to give a speech and how the consolation of their mothers impacted their stress levels. One group was comforted with their mother's touch and voice, while the second group was consoled simply by the sound of their mother's voice. The group that only heard their mother's voice had almost identical drops in their stress levels compared to the first group of both touch and voice.

I have had the pleasure of finding great peace in the sound of my mother's voice. Although many people in this world hear messages of hate, bitterness, anger, and painful discontentment in the voice of their mothers, I have been blessed to consistently hear peace, pride, wisdom, counsel, joy, laughter, patience, and love, in mine. These days many miles separate me from being comforted by the touch of my mother on a consistent basis, but the sound of her voice never ceases to disarm, provide peace, laughter, wisdom, and joy to my life.

I love ya mama....and am so grateful I got you!

P.S. Although we both have squinting faces in this photo...I still like the excitement in it...and I need a better one of the two of us! :)

Sermonizing

Last September I began a journey of learning how to preach and teach and doing my best to improve at each opportunity. I'm still growing in my ability to communicate God's word to the people in our ministry. There are times when I really don't know if I've made any impact or if the way I communicated made sense to the people listening. The thing I keep leaning on is that I'm teaching God's word, and His word speaks for itself, and He is the one changing lives. That truth offers me rest.

During this process of learning more about preaching and teaching, I had the opportunity to share a little bit of my story. The youth ministry at our church asked me to come and preach during their "relationship" series. I was asked to bring the perspective of a single person in light of Biblical truth about what singleness can hold for the kingdom. I shared pieces of my story as a single person and the promises of God that have impacted me throughout my journey. If you're interested, the recording is posted on the student ministry website. Here's the link: (please keep in mind that I'm speaking to middle school and high school students here! :) )

just click on the link and look for "The Talk: Singleness"- Emily Ballbach
http://www.boredonsunday.com/index.php?option=com_sermonspeaker&Itemid=91

Rwanda in July

Hey friends,

For those who don't know by now (which truth be told, few people check this outside those who know most details in my life) I'm joining a group of other ministry leader in the Florida United Methodist conference on a trip to Rwanda. We're traveling with Zoe ministry and learning about how they help those orphaned by AIDS. Zoe, alongside their African friends in Rwanda, have developed the "giving hope" project which offer micro-loans to orphans (things like pigs, money, tools to farm, etc.) and trains them to be successful in their communities. By three years from the giving of the loan, most orphan communities are self-sufficient and self-sustaining. It's incredible that it's usually a bunch of older teens that are the heads of the house, guiding and being the main caregivers in these communities. If you want to learn more, head to www.zoeministry.org and read up!


I can't imagine what I'm going to experience in a few short months. I'm exactly two months away from my trip and can barely wrap my head around the idea that I'm going. I imagine it is a trip that will challenge me, grieve me, inspire me, and encourage me. At this point, I'm asking that God will create the expectations I ought to have in my soul, that I might really embrace whatever He has in mind for this trip. I just know it's going to be awesome!!

In the meantime....I'm off to get more of my vaccination shots for the trip!! Good thing needles don't make me nervous! On today's list: tetanus, hepatitis B booster, hepatitis A...wish me luck!

New beginnings

This year has been a year of new beginnings and tons of change and transition. One would think that this would have been a really wonderful time to blog and journal, but alas, I have been MIA for months! It seems as though I've needed to detach from the internet world and embrace the experiences and emotions I've experienced. So here's a short list of such experiences/emotions to catch you all up:

- Tons of game nights with great new friends here in Oviedo
- A few trips to DisneyWorld with family and new friends - (some new friends work at Disney and graciously get my roommate and I in for free! - Thanks David!)
- Enjoyed and was so cared for during my six months living with good family friends here in Oviedo, the Kelley's and Farrell's.
- Helped coach a 9 year boys flag football team...so fun! thanks Tracey!
- Moved into a new apt. in November with my great new friend, Laurie! (although we already feel like we've known each other for ages....grateful for her!)
- Been challenged by ministry and it's ups and downs after starting a new ministry to young adults here in Oviedo/Orlando
- Experienced God teach and grow my heart as I am called to trust Him more each day
- Helped rescue a seagull from the scary Florida drivers on the side of the road (Laurie loves animals) - this is a blog post all on it's own, for another day and time
- Loved and was so encouraged by a trip to see great college friends and share in one of their weddings - pulled out the trumpet for that occasion....that was quite the experience
- Went on a road trip to Charleston, SC and Savannah with Laurie...so much fun!
- Spent the weekend with my grandparents in KY for Thanksgiving - learned a ton about life while I was there (again, a post for another day)
- Splashed in the apt. pool late at night when it was still warm out
- Am sharing in the joy of the iPhone...oh brother, it's addicting!

That's enough for now but know that there is more to come in the days ahead. Hope I post enough that you might have reason to stop by again!

Much Love Bloggers and friends....thanks for offering grace and having me back!