One book has many chapters and my pages are turning.

    Well it's been a little more than a week since we left Uganda. I'm so glad to finally be home and be with my family and friends! I definitely missed them more than I could have ever imagined! It's so strange being back home! No longer do I have to wait 15 minutes for warm water, use a candle when the sun goes down, or walk everywhere I need to go. I love the simplicity of Africa... but i'm not gonna lie... I love first world conveniences!
    It's amazing how quickly I'm jumping back into reality! I spent last week at RYM and tomorrow I'm going to my college orientation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA! Yes, that's right, my college orientation! I can't believe how quickly high school has flown by! I can't possibly be old or mature enough to leave home and go to college! Especially to a school that's 10 hours away! But I'm convinced the Lord has amazing  things ahead of me and I couldn't be more excited!
    Being home has really allowed me to sit and contemplate all that the Lord has been doing in my life this summer. KK and I both prayed that God would not let us return home the same... and He definitely answered our prayers! I know for me personally my time spent in prayer and in the word while in Africa gave me such a renewed love and desire for God! He taught me so much about myself and about my own brokenness and as a result my great need for Him! God is so good and knew exactly what lessons I needed to learn before going off to school. My prayer for this next year is that God will continue the work He has started within me and that He will use me as a instrument for His glory on Liberty's campus and in every other area of my life.
    Thanks to everyone who supported us this summer! We can't say enough how immensely blessed we were and are by all of you! I hope that through this blog you were encouraged by the work being done in Uganda just as much as we were!
    I want to say a special thanks to our families who allowed us to go. Mom, dad, Mr. and Mrs. Payne you have no idea what an opportunity it was to spend 7 weeks in Africa with Kadie Allen! I have returned a new person with greater zeal and passion for Christ! That would have never happened if it weren't for the four of you. Thank you for your trust in us but even more so your trust in the sovereignty of God! 
    With every end comes a new beginning. The "high school" chapter of my life has come to its end and thus a new chapter begins, the "college" chapter. I look forward to what lies on the pages to come!

- Mary Grace