Fun with the Medinas

Tonight we had the Medina family and Kristy over for a Mexican BBQ. It was delicious and we had so much fun! I'm posting some picures of the night. The top one is us girls and the boys being silly, then Jason "driving" the RV, then him with Gretchen, then me with Dominic and Gretchen, then Elizabeth and Jason on the trampoling, then a great picture of the whole family, then Elizabeth and the boys with Kristy, then Mom and me and Jason watching everyone jump, then Kristy jumping with the boys, and finally, Jose and Elizabeth who cooked us an amazing meal! It was a great night. God has been bringing new people into our lives and it's so cool to build new relationships! God is great for sure!

7 Days Away!!!

Ok,
It's official: I'm freaked out right now because the trip that I've been waiting to go on for 7 years is now only 7 days away!!!! There's so much last minute stuff to do still. God is so good, though. He's guiding and directing me through all of this. The other day, I was reading in Philippians 4 and came across these verses:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Those verses encouraged me so much. It's amazing how you can read a verse 1,000 times, but just when you need it most, God uses it to speak to you.
We have had a chance this week to reconnect with some missionary friends so that's been great fun. My sister Katy is coming home from training week at Lamoka camp tonight. I can't wait to see her! Please continue to pray for me and my team. Thanks so much!

11 Days!!!

Wow-- it's getting closer and closer and closer!!! Sometimes I have to ask myself if this is really happening. Am I really going to Papua New Guinea for 5 weeks? I have been crazy busy trying to get things ready for my trip. Today I went clothes shopping and bought some much needed shirts. All I need to get now are some pictures to take with me and some yummy snacks to munch on the plane =)
Overall, I've been doing ok. These past few days I've felt extremely sick and haven't really eaten a whole lot. But today I'm feeling better. This trip has my emotions in a jumble for sure! But God is much bigger than my emotions and worries ever could be and He will take care of me!
I won't be traveling alone to LA which is a huge blessing since I've never flown before. Two heads are always better than one. It's so exciting to think about meeting my team! God will work amazing things in and through us this summer I think. Thanks so much for praying for me and please don't stop!!! My email address for the summer will be: itf.abby.case@ntm.org.pg. So if anyone wants to email me, I'd love to hear from you!

2 Weeks!!!

So many emotions are running through me at this moment. My trip is in two weeks and there is so much to do. So much to think and pray about! I am surprised at my emotions and thoughts concerning this trip. I thought that I would be ecstatic and chomping at the bit to get out of NY and go to PNG. But as my trip gets closer and closer, I'm getting more and more nervous and aprrehensive. I want to go; there's no doubt in my mind that this is where the Lord wants me this summer. But things are going on at home that I don't want to miss either. My sister and 4 really good friends are all working at a christian camp this summer together. I feel that I won't fit in when I get back. That they'll have such incredible memories that they can share and remind each other of and I won't. I mean, I know I'm gonna make amazing memories but I won't be able to share them with others. I will, but not like they'll have experienced it. The devil is trying to get me down with these thoughts and it's not good. Please pray for me that I will not be depressed and worried about this trip but that I will be used by the Lord for incredible things.
Mom and I went shopping for my trip yesterday and bought almost everything I need. It's really exciting!! The guy I'm flying to LA with has never flown either so it should be interesting to see how we manage the airport together =)The countdown's getting closer!!! So exciting. Thanks for praying for me.

17 Days 'Til PNG!!!!

Ok, my trip is getting really close! Only 17 more days!!! I got my itinerary and pictures of my teammates recently. It's so cool to see the people that I've been praying for. I'm departing from Buffalo, NY's airport on July 2 at 6:10 AM which means we have to be at the airport around 4:00 AM. Ugh! Then I'm flying to Atlanta, GA then to LA where I'll meet my team. We'll leave LA at around 11:00 PM that same night for PNG. A praise is that a college student from NY is flying with me so I won't have to navigate Atlanta alone. I've never flown before and get confused really easily so if you could pray for me that I'd get through the airports without any trouble. It seems so unreal to me that I'm leaving in less than 3 weeks! I've wanted to do this since I was 10, so why the apprehension? But the Lord is so faithful to me and He will take care of me and my teammates.
Onto other news. Well, not really news, just a recitation of what our family's been up to lately. This weekend was really busy. We had some friends over and went to a graduation party. We also cleaned up some of our church property that was really overgrown and even hung a swing up! Here are some pictures:

A Week With Colorado Family

This week, our family from Colorado came out for a visit. We've had alot of fun. We went to Niagara Falls, Letchworth State Park, and did alot of jumping on the trampoline. I'm so thankful for my family! They're leaving tomorrow. Here are some pictures of their visit:

A Busy Weekend

Hey All!
THis weekend has been packed with fun stuff. I attended a dear friend's graduation from high school Friday. Is was so sweet! THen some friends spent the night. We stayed up 'til 2:30 AM talking. Saturday, we went to the park and witnessed again. IT was very nice. Here are some pictures: