The golden locket, from my dearest Lindsey.
The tree, from my cousin, might as well be sister, Brooke.
These will carry me while I'm gone.  Will remind me everyday of the love that awaits me when I come home.

Namaste Boone

This will be my first time moving off the mountain since the week I walked across the stage of my high school graduation.  And although I will (most likely) be returning to Boone after my travels across the globe, today marked the end of an era. A majority of the people who I have chosen to surround myself with, who have become close as family, who have made Boone home, and who have made these past few years the best of my life, will not be there when I return. I feel like I should be used to this by now, first time I had to say goodbye was my first semester freshmen year.  But each year saying goodbye gets harder and harder.

Last weekend was my going away party, and my amazing roommate Shan helped pull it all together, and even got festive with me for the occasion.  I was completely astonished of all the people who have been some significant part of my life that came flooding in.  Even those I didn't know were unbelievably supportive and uplifting when they heard of my trip.  And I realized, even though I'm leaving and I feel as though life will continue on without me up there, and I think of all the memories I won't be apart of, I was apart of so much already and there will be so much waiting for me when I get back.  I wish it didn't have to end, but I'm eternally grateful for the time I've spent there and all the amazing people who have been placed in my life.  I thank you, will miss you, and love you all so dearly.

Here's a few snapshots from one of the most beautiful nights.

Velvet Elvis came out to play!  Thanks to my dear friend Charlie.

Swift Science, as always, put on an amazing show.  The best I've seen yet.

It might be hard to tell, but these girls are the most beautiful girls I've ever met.

Namaste Boone, see you in a few months.

United Methodist Women

After I received my acceptance letter into the MCCSS internship program, I began fund raising along with my fellow intern JB.  He had already done his own fund raiser and had received a huge response and support from many in his church and community, and encouraged me to do the same.  The purpose was to receive support not only for my internship but as well as for MCCSS, dividing the money in half.  The American dollar is worth so much more in India, and what might seem little contributions made will go much further in the hands of MCCSS providing supplies and funding for their many programs.

So I sent out support letters to many family members, friends, and members of my home church, Muirs Chapel United Methodist Church.  I was hesitant at first to be upfront about the work I would be doing knowing that Human Trafficking can be a touchy subject, one that many shy away from.  After much thought and consideration I decided to include it, knowing that shying away from it would be aiding the problem, and talking about it, being open and aware, would raise awareness and support.  The response was more than I ever dreamed of.

Not only did I discover many families and friends were eager to help, but an old family friend and member of Muirs Chapel, Tammy Bason, contacted me on behalf of the United Methodist Women.  It just so happened that the mission of the UMW the previous year was Human Trafficking!  These women that had watch me grow up my entire life, generations separating us, shared the same passion and determination as I did to see this crime against humanity abolished.  She asked if I would come speak at their end of the year meeting and I with no hesitation agreed.

I'm by no means a public speaker, never liked the idea of it.  But I knew that this was an important opportunity to not only share my experience, but also to educate more on the matter with knowledge I have gained over the years.  I decided that the best thing to do was to talk to them, have a conversation rather than give a speech.  My nerves at ease, I talked to them just as I had with Tammy and Lynn over a cup of coffee.  It was just a conversation, and an important conversation that I encouraged all of them to have, because until we start talking about it and making it a priority, nothing will be done.

As I tried to bolt back to my seat, Lynn had me stay up front for just a second longer.  The UMW has a scholarship program in place to grant to young women seeking to better their community.  The past two years they have not had a candidate to award this to, until Tammy received my letter.  After presenting it to the board, they agreed to sponsor me on my internship and support MCCSS!  I was completely blown away.  I had no idea about the scholarship much less the support I would receive from these women.

The UMW is very involved in the Greensboro community as well as globally.  Each year they set a mission to educate themselves on an issue and do everything they can to advocate and support.  They are amazing network of women and I'm truly blessed to have their faith in me and my trip.

I thank them all very much for their love and support, and I promise to do everything I can to make them proud.

In a little over a month, I will begin a journey years in the making.  Last week everything finally began to come together and the reality set in.  I was accepted into the program at MCCSS, renewed my passport, applied for my Visa, finished all the necessary paperwork for internships and study abroad, bought my plane ticket (one way), found a subleaser for my Boone home, got all my vaccinations, organized a fund raising raffle, and became fast friends with my fellow intern, JB Hallan.  Everytime I accomplish something, it's just a reminder that this is really happening!  It seems so surreal thinking back to April when I first learned of MCCSS.  It was just an idea, seemingly far-fetched idea, but I kept telling everyone I know, "I'm going to India. I'm going."  I didn't want this to be just another crazy dream.  The more I said it, the more it became real, and there was no way I was going to back out and let everyone down.

There has been an infinite amount of love and support given to me that has made all of this possible.  I want to share with everyone my reasons for choosing this internship, the obstacles I faced, the passion I have for the cause, and ways for our communities to get involved on a global stage.  At the moment though I'm just in shock, letting the reality settle in, and thanking everyone again and again how much you all mean to me and the people of India I will be working with.

Anahata chakra symbolizes the consciousness of love, empathy, selflessness and devotion. On the psychic level, this center of force inspires the human being to love, be compassionate, altruistic, devoted and to accept the things that happen in a divine way.