College :)

So, here i am. Sitting in my dorm room.

I somehow think i am going home tomorrow and that I am just at camp.

Well i've set up shop... gone to some orientation deals (only slightly boring) and hitting up some hot spots in Chattanooga with my friends Andrea, Erin, Zach, and Chris.

i think i'm gonna like this place :)

Goodbyes.

        Over the past 2 months, it seems like saying "goodbye" has been all i have been doing. I had to say goodbye to my kids in Malawi, I had to say goodbye to my extended family until the next "Baldwin family reunion", and now I am beginning the process of saying goodbye to some of my favorite people whom I have truly walked life with. I am beginning to pack up my life into little boxes (which i probably should have done about 2 weeks ago) and move on. I realize that i am going to be moving on to bigger and better things, however there is a part of me that just wants to hold on to everything that i have been doing here. I understand God does not call me to just forget about everything and everyone here, in fact, that's the opposite, however, i do need to let go of some things and people in order to move on.  I have also noticed that God has completely changed my heart since I've gotten back from Africa. I genuinely feel like a new person.
        On the subject of Africa, i truly believe that God is not done with me there. Honestly, all i can think of are those kids. I dream about them every night, and I truly believe God would not place these people on my heart if he didn't have a plan for me and this passion. I cry almost every night, for I miss the culture and the heart of the people there (if you really knew me, you would know that i never cry...)  I dont' believe that passion is in me for no reason. I know God has a plan, and He has his own timing, but i just wish his time would move faster. I miss Africa terribly.
       As for you people who are reading this, we are most likely close, since you got this far down to the bottom of this letter. I would like you to know that you will always be in my heart. You have made a great impact on me and on my growth and i want to thank you for everything you have done for me!! Please Please, skype me, message me, and don't be hesitant to call.
i love you all.
Until I get to Chatt Town...
Alyssa

Malawi Love.

Dear Readers (all 3 of you),
          I know most of you who actually read this, I will take to coffee talk about this with you personally, but it made me feel better to type it out and get if off my chest. When stuff like this happens to you, all you want to do is tell people. My poor family got an earful last night, and they didn't even hear close to all of it.
         If you didn't know, I travelled to Lilongwe, Malawi in Africa a couple of weeks ago with a team of about 10 people in order to serve the people of Malawi in any way. One of the main things we did was we did VBS for a village/school called Adziwa, or "He Knows" in Chichewa. We got the ability to hang out with kids from ages 1-20 to share God's love with them, and just let them know they are truly loved by someone!  These kids captured my heart and they continue to haunt my mind. I cannot get them out of my head, and i cannot look at my pictures i took, for i can't without crying.
         The VBS program started last Monday, and it all ran smoothly, and the kids absolutely loved it. However, there was one girl who seemed upset about it. Her name was Abena and she was 15 years old. When asked why she didn't like it, she said " The time was too small".
        That Monday, we also found out there were going to be protests, or demonstrations as they call it, on Wednesday due to the ignorance of the president and the fact that they want him out of the office immediately. When we heard this, we just didnt' really know what to think about it. It could be small, it could be big... i mean. "T.I.A." (This is Africa). We waited until Tuesday night to decide what to do, and we decided since we would be pretty big targets in a situation like this, that we would stay in the lodge we stayed at. The people who worked there were very very kind and considerate of us. They truly made us feel at home. That day, we worked on and painted bookshelves for the library for the kids in Adziwa. We made a TON of bookshelves and i am so excited for the children to be able to use that library. One of the workers, Luis, came outside to where we were painting and said "can i try?" he had this happy grin on his face. Of course, we let him try, saying "You can do as MANY as you want" and he took the brush. I have never seen a grown man so happy and excited. When he accidentally got paint on his pants and someone apologized about it, he said "it's ok... i look down, and i remember. I remember your kindness... you will always be a part of our family."
           The next day, we decided we were going to try to go out. We had heard it was peaceful and the US embassy hadn't called us, so we started to make our way. Long story short, and if you wanna hear about this 24 moment later, i'll be happy to tell you in person, it was not safe...the mob was coming our way... and TK got us out of there.  It was epic.
            I need to stop while i am ahead, for this blog could be about 50 pages of stories, but i need to end with this. Malawi is forever imprinted on my heart. God is not done with my heart and Malawi. I love everything about it way too much. Now i am praying that my heart and mind is open to where ever God leads me.... "Here i am send me"


Alyssa

I can't leave yet...

At the beginning of my Senior year, i vowed that this year was gonna be a joke. My goal: to get out of this school as soon as possible and to get on to UTC; however today, i realized something different. As I sat in Pinkerton Park with the usual crowd playing guitars, taking pictures, and throwing frisbees, I truly realize how much i am going to miss all of this. I realized how many people i'm going to miss and how many things i'm going to miss when i'm going to move off.
I'm going to miss Sunday afternoons.
I'm going to miss Downtown Franklin and Pinkerton Park.
I'm going to miss my lovely friends.
I'm going to miss those carefree summer days in Franklin.
I'm going to miss passing off the guitar, because anyone can play here.
I'm going to miss my home church.
I"m going to miss visiting Kathy in the offices.
I'm going to miss playing John Mayer and Mumford and Sons in the Park.
I'm going to miss my small group.
I'm going to miss the spontaneous trips to Nashville.
I'm going to miss making fun of hipsters
I'm going to miss all the sass from Kat Kat and Kari.
I'm going to miss my sisters.


I'm sure there are more, but it all hit me today.... Bleh.
who needs to go learn?
 I guess me....

I tell stories better in 3rd person.

Two days ago, the doors of UTC opened for around 200 students to register for their classes. One girl was kinda skeptical about the whole thing. She slowly walked through those doors with one emotion holding her back: fear.  She saw the tons of people, and immediately came up with conclusions in her head. However, this voice whispered in her ear: "keep an open mind. listen to what i have to say", so reluctantly she cracked the door of her mind, and unclogged her ears. She began to see the upside as soon as she let things go. She branched out and made 5 bagillion friends, as well as meeting professors and seeing passion in these people she didnt think she would see. She met with the exchange student teacher, and he set a passion in her in which she didn't think was possible...

She found the summer reading includes a book about a boy from Malawi...

Her God continues to take her breath away.

It is amazing me how much God is providing me in my life right now....

This past Monday, I was privelaged to play a gig at Hotel Indigo with Tori Bigelow and Galen Crew. At the gig, a bunch of opportunities have been opened up, and instead of getting excited about them, i kinda head the opposite direction. I worry because i will be leaving for Chattanooga in a few months... what if i'm leaving something really important behind me?
While i am thinking this, however, i know i can have fun now, and just go off to Chatt and if i'm supposed to do it, then opportunities will be opened...

ah... never thought i'd be confused about this!

High School did teach me something!

 A few days ago, my high school career came to a close, and i began to reflect on it. I began to think about what i have learned... Did i learn anything? Then i made a list.. and i learned way more than i thought: Some funny, and some serious, and some incredible.

1. Don't judge people- it's not your place.
2. Love each other deeply
3. Don't expect things out of people-they just might surprise you and go the opposite way that you think they would.
4. Dream on- You have your whole life ahead of you, don't limit yourself.
5. Don't care what other people think- if you do this, you will find yourself having less fun. I definitely had to learn this one, and in learning this, i found 2 of the best friends i have ever had.
6. Don't take life too seriously- have fun.
7. People watch and take note of what you do (especially if you're known as a leader).
8. Don't be afraid to shine out of the group. People will take notice and they will admire you for it.
9. Don't be too good for the underclassmen. They need you, and you might could impact them more than you think.
10. Go with the flow! (especially with dating) - if you stress too much it will only create unneccessary drama.
11. Don't cry at school (especially for girls)- you will get swarmed.
12. School counselors aren't good for anything.
13. Dress code is only important the first 9 weeks of school. (especially if you're a senior).
14. Don't hide your talents.
15. Find that one person you can confide in, and make sure to tell someone when you are having a bad day, it makes the bad days a lot less bad.
16. Don't let other people's opinions affect what you do (unless what youre doing is stupid of course)
17. Don't give advice unless asked.
18. 2 or 3 close friends is a lot better than 100 acquantances ... hands down.
19. Be on the attendance lady's good sides.
20. Run away from Mrs. Zartman and Mrs. Mcabee... especially when you're outta dress code..

The number one thing i learned is how fast time flies. On the first day of freshman year, they told us that we would be Seniors before we knew it, and we all just kinda laughed, but it's so true.

Time flies when you're having fun i guess...;)