Reflections on my neighbors glory and a Haitian Christmas.

I'm rereading the Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis and I always get stuck in the last paragraph of the first essay and really can't go on reading for a couple of days. C. S. Lewis speaks of the burden, or the weight of our neighbors glory. The potential Glory and infinity inside every human. That we are in a society of potential gods and goddesses, or potential horrors and nightmarish ghosts. There are no ordinary people.

How different my life would look if I really believed that! How differently would I treat my history assignments, or my younger brother.

It also brings to my attention the concept of a neighbor. Especially in this day and age, where we have access to so much information about people who suffer all around the world. At what point does someone live too far away for us to have a moral obligation to come to their aid? I'm not saying politically, we've already proven we don't do that very well even with the best of intentions. I mean personally. At what point does the sparrow fall too far away? My mom says she believes that to some degree, we who are privileged will be held responsible for the suffering of others when we get to heaven. Burdened for humanity.

That being said, my family is going Haitian this Christmas, which means that we're giving each other things that we already own, things that are important to us. Christmas will be spectacular.

Flags by Brooke Fraser

Some words just need to be shared....

You who mourn will be comforted
You who hunger will hunger no more
All the last shall be first
Of this I am sure

You who weep now will laugh again
All you lonely be lonely no more
Yes, the last will be first
Of this I'm sure

I don't know why the innocents fall
While the monsters stand
I don't know why the little ones thirst
But I know the last shall be first
I know the last shall be first
I know the last shall be first

Fall Break

I think I'm at the most beautiful place in the whole wide world. Right now the windows are open and my brother is playing guitar and singing in the next room. I don't know if he realizes he's soundtracking this moment. It's good to be home.

Jordy's room is designed to feel like you're outside and mine is designed to look like sunflowers. There are days when the outside leaks in and the inside leaks out and all the colors stream together.

The Caf: the College dining experience.

mallory's UM caf advice:

What to eat:

Chocolate milk and chocolate cookies. Probably the best idea ever.

The wraps and salads, excellent choice.

Anything with tomato sauce is generally okay.

Oh and the omelets are probably the most yummy thing at the caf. seriously. let's invest in some breakfast people. It's delish.

What to avoid at all costs:

nacho cheese. For some reason, these people think nacho cheese goes on baked potatoes. until someone shows them the light, steer clear of the unnaturally yellow stuff. It sneaks up in substances when you don't suspect it.

The "we threw everything we can't put in the nacho cheese into a dessert" bars. Little squares of strange graham cracker brownsugar vanilla cinnamon chocolate cheesecake nuts fruit potluck squares. Sometimes they taste good, sometimes they don't. Stick with the cookies.

ps. oh and the fries taste like Arby's fries, but the best thing to do is get a salad and a cookie and then steal your friends fries when she's not looking.

What I didn't expect about College

I didn't expect to have so much focus on me. Really, when i think about it. Homeschooling focuses on a close nit community. I forgot that being out here on my own would mean that most things i do revolve around me. I study, my classes, my songs, my monologue. I think it's driving me crazy. I'm starting to crave the moments when things become bigger than myself. Or when i'm with my brothers it's not about ME, it's about all of us.

I think I should get involved with an organization or something, something to make everything i do not be about my grades and future as an actor. The SELF-ness of theatre is draining.

I had a very long discussion with my buddy Jordan about the self-ness of college. And we started talking about our friend Christin. (she, by the way, has no idea i'm blogging about her)

If there's one person who isn't selfish at all, it's Christin. Everyone loves her. Everyone. You can't not love her. and Jordan and i think part of that is because she's not thinking about herself all the time. actually hardly ever is she thinking about herself. I mean, the girl prayed for me in acting class. I think I'd really like to be that way. (again, all of this is coming from the discussion me and Jordan had) I think maybe when you forget to be conscious of yourself, you also become alot less stressed about your schoolwork, about getting places on time. I mean, you get there, you make good grades, but you're not worried all the time. Your life doesn't revolve around yourself.

I'm still praying for that, trying to become the kind of person who can do the best possible and yet the whole time be so completely unaware of themselves.

Musical Theatre: I just got back from Callbacks

Theatre is such a tough thing. You know, history majors don't think that their ability to remember when Constantinople became Istanbul determines their worth as a human being. (1452)

However, the auditions for the musical theatre world are the great determining of our worth as a human being. we cry, we sweat, we don't eat, we stay up too late practicing. All for five minutes on a stage with someone casually yelling out "next!" in hope that he will stop and listen to what we have to say.

It's crazy, when you think about it. Yet we crave it. We absolutely love it beyond anything.

I'm glad callbacks are over. for a few days my life was at a standstill for these auditions.

The Merch Table and the Advent of the Lobby Guitarist: College Series

Last night, at freshman orientation (or Ucamp, as I've been calling it. Due to the nature of it's resemblance to summer camp rather than college life) Matt Wertz came and played a concert.

He was quite good. I was thoroughly impressed- and I'm fairly certain I speak for the student body when I say that we didn't expect it to be quite that spectacular.

After the show, there were HUGE lines to meet him. Everyone wanted to talk to him and shake his hand. Now, I have to admit in advance, I have this weird aversion to meet and greets and to merch tables. I'm also aware that I'm the only person in the world who wouldn't particularly have any desire to meet rockstars at shows. Call me crazy, I'll try to explain it.

After you've performed a good bit, and you understand the dynamics of what makes a great live show, you understand something:

What you have to say has no reflection on who's listening.

No, really. It doesn't. This i learned when I met my hero, Jon Foreman. An avid fan since the 5th grade, It had been my dream to meet him. And he was so nice and amazing and _add compliment here_ everything he should've been. But I walked away and I realized something. He would be doing that even if I'd never once listened to the music. He would be writing words that have made me cry and have made me change my mind. He would be going to Africa. His life, his words, he plays them for an audience but they're not really FOR us. They're sung because they need to be sung. Regardless.

And on a deeper level. When I sing, I sing for an audience, yes. But I sing because it frees me. Because it allows me to go places that words can't take me. Songs have shook the nations. Songs get at us without our permission.

And what is, IS. Beautiful music will not change when i meet the musician.

I also learned

Sometime's the beautiful music has nothing to do with the person, it just has to do with their God given talent

This is the reason boys date stupid pretty girls, and the reason abusive sadistic rockstars will always have people begging for them. We attribute raw talent or beauty to a person, when, to a certain degree, they were just made that way. A dangerous game, indeed. Sometimes we can be more profound through lyrics than we could ever be in life. I. E. just because someone can write a love song does not mean they know anything about love.

That being said, There is absolutely nothing wrong with meeting someone at a concert. I just wonder the reasoning behind it. There have been some rockstars that i've wanted to meet. I told Don Miller 'thank you' after he spoke and it felt really good. What are your thoughts on this? Do you need to meet rockstars after shows? Rockstars out there- what's it like on your end?

Why We Write Anything

I've recently realized that it is important to like writing. I thought everybody liked it. I thought the only reason people didn't want to write reflective essays in class was because they were scared people wouldn't like them, or that their teacher secretly read the paper out loud in the teacher's lounge. I never realized that people don't write because they don't enjoy it. Some people have no desire to wage war with words and create something beautiful. Some people look at the ocean and have no desire to write a poem. Maybe they paint a picture of it, or they talk about it to a friend, or they sit quietly in the deep mystery of that vast blue greatest, the tribute to all the misfortunes and splendors of mankind. But writing doesn't come to mind.

Let me back up and say that all writers, great or small, struggle with feeling that their work is significant. I mean, people are starving in Africa, some people work for TOMs. Every 2 to 3 days I question whether anyone besides me and occasionally Katelyn ever actually read my blog. And wether, if they read it, it would matter.

But it is comforting to know that not everyone wants to write. I have begun to rest in what Anna said to me after I tried to explain to her the basis for a reflective essay. She said it's important for me to write because not everyone can. Not everyone can express how they feel and those people need the storytellers.

And there are stories to be told. Stories that change nations, lives. Stories pouring out with truth and justice and the eternal glory of God. And that is why we write anything.

Make it your own: college blog series part II

So here's what I didn't expect. I didn't expect it to be such a smooth transition. Okay, so I move in Friday, but still. Usually moving is super dramatic. But it's amazing how easy it is to let go when more and more things in your life end up slipping away. Friends are leaving, there isn't any more school work for me to do in highschool- I finished it all. So it's okay. I know that there will be lots of stuff for me to do in college. I'm ready.

The one thing I'm really gonna miss, is my family. We went into Goodwill today and my brothers immediately started dressing up with the clothes, and then as we walked out Liam said "hey! Presbyterians have the right of way!" .... That's pedestrians, Liam.

I'm gonna miss them. A ton.

Homeschoolers, we know how to have a good time with our siblings.

This came in later:

Hannah Kintner:

Is there anything else we need for our dorm?

Mallory (me) Searcy:

Hmmm... I"m in such an excited buying-stuff-for-my-dorm mood that it's probably a dangerous time to ask. Right now I'm pretty sure we need dinosaur pillows.

Homeschooling with the Searcys: The Pen is MIghtier than the Sword

It's the first day of the homeschool year at the Searcy Musicians Institute. Even though I'm the first Searcy to head to college (on Friday!) I'm still apart of our first day party.

Jordy is writing with a feather pen and an ink pot to start off the school year right. This includes both brothers speaking with snobby French accents. it's only 8:34 and here's a little piece of the first day of school convos:

Jordy (unable to open his ink pot in order to write with his quill)

"The fountain of knowledge is not an easy one to crack, no?

Liam (keep thinking in French accents)

"He is quite funny, no? The pen is mightier than the sword!"

Now they're writing down their prayers for the new school year, and later mom is going to take Jordy to anatomy while I take Liam to a surprise pancake party. He doesn't know about it yet.

We haven't been homeschooled our whole life, and I know it's not for everyone. But I think everyone who writes it off is at a serious disadvantage. I think my brothers are brilliant and what other eleven year old takes an entire course in astronomy? And gets to take it with their puppy?

The Searcy house has a big wooden table that we all sit at in the mornings before the school day starts. We have to be there at 8 or the cell phones and tv are confiscated for the day. (and that actually happens) we sit there until 9 and do our devotions together. Sometimes mom reads us C. S. Lewis or whatever the current author kick in the Searcy house happens to be.

Half the time we drive mom crazy by being hyper and talking with accents. Did you know you can have inside jokes with your family?

Oh and Liam and mom are discussing the fact that Liam wants to learn french but mom wanted to teach latin... I love my family.

Bedrooms.

Last night, I had a dream within a dream. No lie, it was like inception. I dreamed there was a flood and everything was destroyed. We were living in these falling apart buildings and i was watching alot of children. They all fell asleep and dreamed of their bedrooms before the flood. I was in their dream, slowly creeping around. In Their dream they had pretty normal, American kids bedrooms. Actually the girl bedroom was something like my bedroom when i was 5. The kids were in shock at how beautiful it was. They had forgotten how amazing. They played with their old toys, and just walked around the rooms, unable to believe that all the beauty was just for them. And i was worried that when the kids woke up from their dream, in the broken down house with no toys, they would cry. But then i woke up.

And I woke up thinking of the orphans in Kaluga, in Moscow. It infinitely and incredibly bothers me, that they do not have what we have. As a culture, as a society. I feel this great, THEY SHOULD feeling, that i've never felt before. I didn't feel it in Russia the first time, or in Peru. Peru, for some reason, upset me at the absolute extravagance of Americans.

This time i feel quite the opposite. I understand our extravagance. We are the product of our very rich culture. We can afford to do it. But i feel that there is something incredibly wrong... and evil with the situation in Russia. The people have a right to be free. They have a right to a free market. They have a right to work hard and expect good pay. And the image in my dream, of the beautiful bedrooms, is so haunting. And i woke up in my bedroom, more beautiful than most of my friends in Russia could even realize. and i feel frustrated. I feel completely bothered, that there is no reason i have this, and my good friends cannot. Even though they be doctors or professional financiers, and I might just teach music lessons.

This is difficult.

But there are words painted as a border around the top of my bedroom walls. They read:

Do you hear the people sing

lost in the valley of the night

it is the music of a people

who are climbing to the light

for the wretched of the earth

there is a flame that never dies

even the darkest night will end

and the sun will rise

they will live again in freedom

in the garden of the Lord

they will walk behind the ploughshare

they will put away the sword

the chain will be broken and

all men will have their reward

Les Miserables

Fires are raging in Russia

This picture is me standing infront of St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square. The second picture was on my friend Nikita's facebook page, of the same place. It's hard to believe that two weeks ago i was standing at this exact spot. The two pictures back to back are unbelievable. In two weeks smoke from the forest fires has settled all over Moscow.

To those who don't know, temperatures for the past month in Russia have been hotter than ever before. That's like the temperatures here, in South Alabama, only with no AC anywhere. After all, if you've only ever had mild weather, why spend the money on air conditioning? The problem is, that makes it about 105+ in every building. It was very hot, with very little rain. And now forest fires have consumed the areas around Moscow and (my city) Kaluga. My friends say it is the smell of burning and like walking through thick fog. Please pray for Russia.

The college series: Moving in is easy.

"In the mean time, the cross comes before the crown and tomorrow is Monday morning."

- C. S. Lewis

I think I'm finally back into the swing of things since Russia. Aside from that random spurts of jetlag (like falling asleep at 9 pm) I seem to be fairly cured. I've spent my time preparing for my move to college in 2 weeks! AH!

I called my new roommate today and explained to her something like this:

I have fridge magnets of the Russian alphabet and do you mind me covering our mini fridge with my aphabet magnets, as well as bringing a 3 ft by 4 ft painting in the dorm. No, don't worry i won't try and hang it on the wall cause painting is on a massive piece of wood and weight about 50 pounds. Or more.

Oh and I'm also bringing a llama wool blanket I'll probably use as a rug that i bought at a market in Peru. Oh and I have a vintage hat collection... hmmm? oh not that many... like 20. No problem? okay cool.

Oh and about our beds. See, with my bed, i was figuring i would put one end on top of my bookshelf, and the other end on top of my desk, and then I'll have like a little cove under my bed! Isn't that cool?

...

The thing is, if i haven't scared her off at this point, she'll probably be a great roommate!

Moving in is easy.

Keep reading for more college blogs.

Home again

I just woke up from my first night sleeping in my own bed. Americans are so loud! ha. it's funny. and they give hugs alot.

Oh Russia.

This blog is because I want to leave you, my readers, with the last thoughts on my adventure. I told my friend Nate last night that I wasn't "changed" in a way that some people come back from trips or some experience and claim they'll never be the same again, they're going to change every detail of their life, etc. But now, I feel more... more Mallory than i've ever felt before. I feel more like my true self. More like the person I always was, but sometimes didn't act like. When everyone sins they lose part of their truer nature. The closer we are to God not only will we begin to look like Him, but we will begin to look more and more different from everyone else. Beauty and life and love can only produce originality. Not a new me, but the original me.

I'm very excited for this new chapter in my life. For college, for moving out into the world. To study music, theatre, dance. To become excellent in the things I love. And then when i come to Russia i will have more to give. My friends in Russia.. how i love them! I think that's the hardest part now. But it's not waiting. It's not goodbye. This is foreward motion. I will work now, I will learn now, I feel ready.

Also, I'd like to do a 24 hour theatre with kids ages 13-18 to raise money for the Christian School at the church. Sometime next week. It's a whole play in 24 hours. Cost would be $15 a person to be in it and $5 at the door to come see the performance. Does anyone want to help?

Thanks for reading along,

Mallory

Last day (the Sparrow Falls blog post)

It's my last day in Russia.

I really don't want to leave.

Yesterday i sang 2 songs in the worship service and then lead the kids stuff for the rest of the service. sang some Your Love is Strong, some Vicky Beeching (in Russian!) and some Bluetree. I think Bluetree was a hit. I then told them the parable of the farmer sowing seeds (mark 4) with their "help". We acted it out. My favorite was the seed who fell on the rock, and the birds who ate the rock. Each one of these objects was a kid, so use your imagination:)

Then we played American games and the kids taught me Russian ones. I taught them duck duck goose and ultimate frisbee. classic.

Then, we went to the lake with the church group and played epic uno battles. Russian uno has about 12 more rules than American uno and it's way more fun. I can't wait to play it with my friends when I get back. Also, Veronica and her dad gave me Russian Fairytales that i promise one day, i will be able to read.

Every day in Russia ends with the people i love so very much crammed in the kitchen drinking tea and talking. My room has a balcony, and i can see the whole city from here. I think maybe in this whole city, there is no place more wonderful than right here. I feel the gift of freedom here, the freedom to love and be loved. I know now that only God gives that kind of freedom.

There are about a million sparrows that fly by my balcony around sunset every night. I watch them and recite the "hope is a thing with feathers, that perches in the soul" poem by emily dickenson. It reminds me of the Madeline L'engle book The Arm of the Starfish. At the very end of the book one of my favorite characters remarks that "If you're going to care about the fall of the sparrow, you can't pick and chose who the sparrow is going to be. It's everybody and you're stuck with it."

Here, in Russia, in America. God cares about the fall of the sparrow. Like Him, we cannot pick and chose who is the sparrow. It is every heart, every cry, every lost and wandering body. Across nations, across time. How then, shall we live in blind safety while the sparrow falls?

12:30 at night= mid afternoon for Russians

Yes, so in a country where 85 degrees is an absolutely unimaginable heat, they stay up at all hours of the night. Then it gets to the more reasonable 70 degrees in July heat. 

Needless to say, it's near one in the morning.

Tonight i performed at an outreach concert for kids in the area of the church. It was absolutely amazing. I was really nervous (i think maybe more nervous than i let on!) about playing the guitar and piano and singing. But when all else failed i just sang, and i think people notice your voice more than anything. I sang desert song, lord of lords (partly in Russian) and lifeline. It was a brooke fraser concert! haha. just kidding. 

I've been giving voice lessons to the worship team all day most days, as well as spending lots of time with kids at the church and building relationships with some of the teens. i lead the girl's small group and i've continued to talk to all of those girls. very sweet. There's one girl, who's name in english would be Julia, who has a wonderful voice. She's about 14 and i had alot of fun hearing her sing at the concert tonight.

Russian meals are much better than American ones. they sit and eat and talk for hours. it's wonderful. I think i shall adopt it when  i come to America. and i will be back here, no doubts about that. I love this church. I think they have this understanding of community like i've only read of in the book of acts or maybe corrie ten boom. This real, true community. I wish you could've seen the highschoolers at the church talk to the other highschoolers who came to the concert. they brought them around, showed them everything, made friends and talked about God and it was.. something like I wish we could do.

Perhaps in a country that, as a whole, is so without God, those who have him shine so brightly that you can't help but notice.

Pushkin, pagan temples, and my 5th day in Russia

Previet! I'm told my Russian is getting better. I think they're all just getting more comfortable speaking english to me.
I'm starting to think i can post less and less on the internet. I feel that it's very dangerous until i get back into the states. I will say, Russian's here say Americans have freedom, but it's the Russian Christians who are more free in their hearts than American ones. I am begining to realize will be very hard to come back home.
Yesterday I worked all day at the church. I taught voice, met with the kids ministry team about the kids worship service i'll do on sunday (!!) and.. dak. Did a voice recording for a video of the church for American churches, and probably millions of other things.
Today i went to Moscow. To Red Square, Christ Cathedral, Pushkin museum of art, the house of Ivan the Terrible and the church of Peter the Great. It was beautiful, amazing, but creepy. I told my friends i don't wanna see any more pagan temples. I spent all day watching old women pray to icons. Very, very beautiful icons, but icons. I think i needed to see it. It's breath taking and it helps me understand Russia. but sad.
I must go. I'll go to Church at ten tomorrow. Need some rest.

Communist Cola, Esther, and my heros.

I'm staying at Tanya's house until Tuesday. It really feels like home here. Absolutely amazing, I can't describe it.
Last night Tanya and i stayed up past my bedtime talking God and politics and drinking Communist Cola. lol. It's our name for this type of cola that they make in Russia. It's not really sweet and it's made by yeast. So it looks and smeels like carbonated, non alchoholic beer. In Russia they say that American coke is bad for you and that true Russians drink this drink. (But i guess, even American's know coke isn't the healthiest thing to put in your body) The Russian Orthadox monks even develop thier own personal recipies for it! So Tanya calls it "communist cola'. We laugh, but the people of Russia are not free.
I even wonder how much I should write of the situation here until I am safely back on American ground. I'll save the words until i get to an American computer.
I can tell you that i'm getting ready to go to church. I CAN'T WAIT! I will lead worship with the kids and it's going to be amazing. There's a little girl named Mary who is 12 and reminds me of myself when i came to Russia the first time. She loves english and speaks it very well. Of course, she's one of Tanya's students. Then we will go with the church to the lake to swim. Since there's no air condition in Russia, and it's upwards of 85 degrees, lets just say that everyone is looking forward to the lake. alot.
Also, a note on Esther. I couldn't sleep this morning, on account of the fact that it was like 9 at night in America, so i read the entire book of Esther. I just can't get over what Mordicai says to Esther when she's scared. He basically says "don't think for a second that you are safe in the palace. If you don't help the jews, thier salvation will arise from someplace else, but you and your family will be killed. But Esther, perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this."
Mom says that when American's get to heaven God will ask us what we did with our freedom, with our money, with our ability to speak out against injustice.
The Tanya's of the world will get the nobel prize of heaven.
On that note, she made me breakfast!

paka!

First Post from Russia

It's 7 at night here and I FINALLY arrived in Kaluga, after flying into Moscow, taking a train, a metro, an hour and a half wait and then a three hour bus ride and now I"M HERE!!! I'm so excited. (Veronica says Amerikee's say "i'm so excited" alot. )
We're going to worship team rehearsal to say hello to everyone and give them the gifts we've brought. And I think Veronica's Papa made Russian bbq. This also, is exciting. Especially after two airplane meals.
Russia smells the same as i remember. it's got that big city, people smell, but also something else. There's no way to describe it really, but as soon as we started walking to the flat i smelled it. Like something out of a dream, it has been 7 years.
I'm lucky Russian's talk with thier hands. It makes it much easier to guess.
God is good! Thank you all for your prayers. My adventure is begining!!

Jesus is my Best Friend... thank you Vicky Beeching!

I just found out that I will be leading kids worship in Russia.. yahoo!! We will be doing Russian versions of "God's Plan" by Bluetree, the Chorus of Your Love is Strong by Jon Foreman (you know, the part that goes 'your love is, your love is, your love is strong." and Vicky Beeching's genius kid's song called Jesus is my best friend. SO stoked to translate these to Russian!!

So, to celebrate, and in honor of all these artist's songs being spread to the four corners of the world, i've made a series of iphotos on my mac to demonstrate the motions. Sadly, the blog photo thing has decided to not work. Therefore, I've created a series of word aids to help you picture what these motions might look like had the pictures been uploaded.

Jesus is

(imagine me with both hands pointing up)

my Best

(Imagine me with both hands now in the 'thumbs up' position and a big goofy smile on my face)

friend!

(imagine me giving myself a big ole hug!)

I hope you've enjoyed this journey through the chorus of "Jesus is my best friend." Tune in by next tuesday to see pictures of Russian children singing along and laughing at me trying to pronounce "Eesus moy luchshii drug" (Jesus is my best friend)

New Blog Space/Russia/FAQ

For all of you who followed my family vacation blogs at theseniorblog.blogspot.com thanks so much! I have decided to use this blog space to continue that blog, because I'm no longer a senior in highschool anymore.. I'm a freshman in college!! WAHOO!

But if you'd still like to look back on my old blog days, that blog is still up and running and linked to this site, shouldn't be too difficult to find.

In other news, I'm about 3 days away from my trip back to Kaluga, Russia. Although I'd love to email/call/text everyone while I'm in Russia... I know that's just not realistic. Instead, I'm going to blog my adventures, much like I blogged the family vacation. (think of that as the test run for the real thing.)*

I visited Word of Life Church in Kaluga, Russia when I was eleven years old with my mom and a team from First Pres Baton Rouge. We've kept up with some friends at the church and my dear friend and translator, Veronica, is now in the states after 7 years!! She's currently sitting on my bed and says that the best things about America are red beans and rice, UNO, and blueberries. I agree.

I will travel back with her on Thursday, July 15 for the first time since I was eleven. I will stay for two weeks and do lots of exciting and marvelous things including (but not limited to) singing at church, hanging with Russian youth group kiddos and seeing Moscow. Oh and introducing Russian kids to sugar babies. (you know, that awesome and impossible to chew candy?) and teaching them how to play ultimate frisbee and UNO. My come home day is july 26.

Be sure and follow my blog for updates, and hopefully pictures, if I can figure out how to post those. I'm experimenting now with my two favorite pictures from the trip when i was eleven. There's one of me and Veronica, and another of me, mom and Tanya (the children's pastor). I'll be staying with both Veronica and Tanya on this trip.

If you'd like to pray for me, it would mean so much to me. I firmly believe that trips like this are only successful when we earnestly ask God to go before us. Here are some things you can pray for me.

*Most of all, that God would do his will. That he would anoint me, give me words, open doors, and most of all, that it would be his plans, and not my own silly American Mallory ones that happen. That it would be him, and only him.

*second, pray for me. Pray that I'm not physically exhausted from a 9 hour jetlag and 13 hour plane ride. Fast recovery.

*Also pray for me spiritually. That i would have peace about what God has for me to say and that I would be clear on what i should do.

*Pray for the people I'll be talking to/interacting with. Pray that I make new friends (of course i'll get to see the great friends i already have!) and that people's hearts would be open to truth.

*pray for travel through customs, that the Russian's let me through and don't lose my luggage!:)

*and lastly, pray for my family back at home.

If you would take one or two of these and pray them for me, I know it will make a huge difference on my trip. I have decided that my verse for this trip (well it's actually a chapter) is Psalms 34. I will read it/pray it every day, as i have been in preparation for the trip.

Can't wait to tell you of my adventures! Please comment on my blog while I'm there- I'd love to hear from you all!

Love,

Mallory

*as a side note, you'll notice that my punctuation is inside my quotation mark. Thank you, Mrs. Brenda!! As is well known in the Searcy house, my writing is acclaimed (if at all) merely for it's content, not it's grammatical style. I will improve.