Bittersweet end to the season

Occasionally I lead trips to places I’ve yet to visit myself! I know you ask: How can you lead people to a place you’ve never been? You get a really good map, memorize landmarks and praise God for Google Street View!! ;) On this past trip, we spent several days in a gorgeous valley nestles between the Austria Alps. What a stunning place! I fear my photos do not begin to capture the beautiful and grandeur of this place. Waking each morning to a postcard view and each night, falling asleep to the sound of mountain water gushing through the creek below my window and the soft silhouette of the mountains in the distance. This was a piece of heaven on earth.



For three days the kids got to ski and snowboard up on the Stubaital glacier and the afternoons were spent hiking up the many trails into the mountains, running around the alpine meadow, walking into the little village of Neustif or just enjoying the wonderful hotel where we were staying. Typically my tours take me through major cities, so when I am able to venture outside major cities, it is sweet music to my heart.

This trip also marked the end of my travel for the season. Originally, I was scheduled for several more tours but came down with pneumonia once again. It was bittersweet in that I wasn't ready for this to be my last tour for the season yet at the same, I was grateful to not be crossing an ocean again for awhile. Often I am asked when speaking of my job, “ do you ever get tired of it”? If you ask me this after I’ve come off a 13+ hour flight, several airports, crossing time zones, my body aching and 30 hours of no sleep.. then yes, I do get tired- of traveling. {To the left: London's Heathrow Airport Terminal 5} Ask me when I’m sitting at dinner surrounded by several precious students sharing with me about their lives, laughing while eating in Rome.. then, no- I never tire of it! This past trip had a mix of those moments- those things which I’m happy to never have to do again- 13+ hour flights and London’s Heathrow airport at 5am to tender moments while a student open their heart to me, and in turn I’m able to love them in that place, I pray that God speaks through me and that I don’t just leave them with empty words.

Over the years, working with students, I’ve grown more and more perceptive to what resonates within them verse where I see the eyes rolls and a shutting down of their hearts. I see that more than ever their biggest struggle is trying to figure out who the heck they are let alone what a relationship with God looks like. You speak to their hearts by loving them where they are at, allowing them to just be and love them in that place.. not focusing on who they can be in the future but seeing them as they are, just as God sees us. He doesn’t look at us and say ‘I see potential in you kid’ but He loves us exactly as we are: fallen, broken, stubborn, prideful, confused.. I can go on as the list is endless! Rather He looks at us with compassion. He pleads for our hearts and He will go after them! So when I spend time with these precious students.. My desire is for them to not feel like they aren’t good kids, or the ‘beware of walking this path’ talk rather by sharing my heart, my struggles, being authentic with them- and that my life is walking in grace.. seeing the gifts God has given me to serve others, not to look to just serve myself. You invite them into this walk. It's a special moment to share in. This is why i do what I do. Not to just travel, see amazing places, etc.. but to be a part of sharing in this incredible life God has given us, to walk in grace and love with compassion.



A wonderful ministry that does this well- loving students exactly where they are and breathing life into them- Daystar Ministries in Nashville TN. I'm beyond grateful for how they loved me all those years in which I was a part of a girls group that met once a week. For the first time, I felt not only accepted but embraced in my brokenness. They loved me for me. And they were a safe place to share in this. I can't tell you how that kind of love changed me. Of course my parents did this as well- but as a pre-teen/teenage girl, the last thing you want is advice from your parents. ;) So it is for them that my heart beats for these students.. because I was so loved, I hope that God directs me in bringing encouragement and comfort. This scripture is a reminder to me: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

Photos from my last Europe tours

Twice now I've been incredibly blessed to witness this gorgeous sunset over the Bay of Corinth from the modern city of Delphi. This was from the balcony off my hotel room. The apostle Paul once sailed across this bay. It's moments like this I am in such awe that I get to be a part of all this!



The view looking back towards the popular skiing town of Arahova. It is not only popular with people who are skiing on Mt Parnasos but known for it's woven rugs and clothing. Great little village!



Students from Wheaton Academy as we walked through the lower city of ancient Delphi. It was a gorgeous morning watching the sunrise over the Ionian Sea as we made our way up the mountain.



Looking down one of the main roads leading to the Pantheon in Rome. Notice the full moon overhead and one of the best little cafe's to get coffee in the city: Il Caffe Tazza D'oro.



Another incredible group of students, this time from Wheaton Academy. Here are all the girls on their first day in Florence, Italy.



Sitting in a little restaurant just outside the Ancient Agora.. it was an unusually warm day for early Jan. People were out walking around in the markets and in the midst of the seas of people, I heard this strange singing.. almost chanting coming from somewhere. As the sound came closer, I saw that it was a man who pushed a sort of .. musical box.. icon.. in a moment he looked at me as I photographed him. Part of me wished I had understood what he was singing and what his cart represented.. yet i'm glad its left to my always wondering..



A few of the students from Houston Christian School which took us from Rome Italy across the Adriatic Sea to Athens Greece. Here they are at top the Acropolis in Athens.



The view looking down on Ancient Delphi. This is an incredible site to visit with an even more fascinating history. Understanding what the ancient Greeks believed really helps to better understand the language used in scripture when speaking to the Greeks. So incredibly interesting and what a breath-taking place!

A new season begins.. in Italy.

My fourth season with Joshua Expeditions began with a new job as the Creative Director and the Arts Coordinator.  I am to continue be their main European guide but half the amount of days as in the past.. meaning I'll only be guiding around 85 days this year ;)  

Yet as much as I've enjoyed my new role with JE, what I'm most passionate about has always been the guiding.. connecting with the kids.  Sure I love to travel and wandering through the Roman Forum on a sunny November day beats being in an office in Dallas any day!  But its the students that I enjoy so much and it is this that I look forward to the most.

The first tour of the season had me returning to my second home: Italy.  Arriving in Rome the day before the group, I was so excited to be back.  Yet this year than any year prior, I was so excited to share in all that God had worked on within me with these students.  Before I even laid eyes on the group, something in my heart knew that it was going to be an amazing trip.  

          Spanish Steps. Roma

Waiting for the group to walk through Terminal C at Rome's FCO airport, I was greeted by Massimo, a coach driver I've been working with for years now.  Rather than greeting me with the typical kisses on each cheek, he pulled me into a big embrace and a genuine smile, 'cara bella! come stai?!'  I was back and so happy.  

         San Giminagno  (Tuscany)

The group arrived after an hour or more of waiting for them. Their excitement was infectious and we were off to Florence.  Arriving at the hotel, once again I was greeted with warm embraces by the family who owns and runs the hotel eden.  In a flurry of Italian, they made me feel so welcomed.  I felt like I had come home.  And later that night as we ate cingale (wild boar) the restaurant owners too welcomed me with open arms.  As I gave them Kyle Tour of Florence by Night.. I couldn't be more happy to be back.  Really God?!  You allow this for my life..?!

The days that followed, we traveled from Florence to San Giminagno (or San Jimmy Jimmy as the kids called it) to Siena.. then to our final place, Rome.  As one day led to the next, so each student became a precious heart, a personality, a struggle and a dream..  how honored I was to be apart of sharing in this with them.  Not only were the students amazing, the teachers on the trip were just as wonderful.  It was so evident how much they cared for each student.  Not only did that invest in each student when it came to accademics but also they were investing in them spiritually.  What a gift I pray these kids never take for granted!  And what wonderful examples to be surrounded by. 

     Caldwell Academy aka amazingness!!

This group of students left such a huge impression on this heart of mine.  Not only were they sharp, intelligent kids but they had a servants heart.  What came from their lips was genuine and authentic, a true reflection of the overflow of their hearts, God working in them. What great hope you have for each and every one of them.  Getting to know each of them, some better than others, I was so excited for what God has ahead for them.  This world has been changed by fewer people than these 31 students.  Each night as we spoke, they shared, I found myself so humbled by how much I have to learn and how much God is continuing to reveal to me.  To learn from what they had to share. 

As difficult as high school can be, these seniors came through it shining!!  I thank God for continuing to allow me to share in this with these students.  To lead, to teach, to share, to encourage, to challenge but most importantly, to love them.  And this was only the first trip for the season!  I can only imagine what God is going to do in the new season to come..  

another trip comes to an end.

Another wonderful group has come and gone. We spent a week and a half in Italy.. traveling from Florence to hiking to Cinque Terre to ending Rome. What an amazing group of students! Saying goodbye to this group ended the four weeks of constant tours.. i felt a wave of emotions wash over me as I walked by to the airport terminal shuttle alone. Almost deflated. I felt liberated.. yet I felt as if I no longer had any purpose for my being there.

The next few weeks I will to have myself.. where I will travel up into Switzerland and back through Italy once again. More to come..