Samoan Adventure: Journal

The Following are journal entries made by myself on my trip to Western Samoa through Teen Missions International in the summer of 2010.

  
Boot Camp Day 1: Registration [6/24/2010]

Mom, Dad, Seth, and Gideon dropped me off today. It was a decently cool day for Florida, probably but it was fricken hot! and the humidity was SUPER high. We had registration under a big top tent where we got our bags that we travel with, gloves, a water bottle, a cup, and some other stuff. Then we met my team in a section of chairs with a small flag labeled Samoa Tsunami Relief. It was super confusing, I didn't really know where to go and who was on my team etc.

After I got my stuff all situated on the fold up chairs in my section my family said goodbye. Mom started crying a little bit, but I told her not to because she would make me cry (and I didn't want to come of as a wimp for my first impression on my new team-mates). After hugs, and slightly more moist eyes I hung out with who would become some of my best friends ever, at our section in the chairs until we brought everyone's stuff to our campsite. Our tents are okay sized but it was already lights out and we didn't have much time to get situated.

We're in our tents as I'm writing all this, our lights are supposed to be out. I'm sweating more than a sinner in church right now. It's night time but its still f-ing hot. We run the obstacle course tomorrow at 8 in the morning. I have blisters on my heels already and they popped...(Extremely painful to walk in in boots)... :( I got them on the first day, so it's going to be a tough ride. I'm wearing shorts to bed but its funny because it's dark and you can't see well when you're changing and I thought I had blood on me on my legs and arms but I found out it was really sweat and dirt (Ha ha.) well at least I think it was... I need to bandage up my feet but there's not enough time to right now, and I don't want to be noisy and keep people up. The food here is okay, its kind of like school food- but you're so hungry by the time a meal comes around that you think it's amazing anyways. I had a dream last night about Bre- when we stayed in the resort, I was having it right before I woke up and I got sad because I really realized that I wouldn't see her when I got back because she'll be at college already.

It's SO hot- I don't think I'll be getting very clean. Oh, and I'm definitely carrying a backpack tomorrow- so I can use that bug spray I brought. I didn't today, and I got eaten! We made a banner and a team cheer today; Andrew, Jake, and I were in charge of the artwork on the banner. Music during evening rally isn't as great because there's barely any songs I know, but it's alright. I don't know what I'm wearing tomorrow.. Oh well. I'm getting up early so I'll figure it out.

Goodnight.
Love, Lexa

Day 2     [6/25/2010]

It was my second day at BC (boot camp) today. I fell in the slough and got completely soaked and had to wear wet clothes ALL DAY... my underwear and socks were the worst because they couldn't dry and it was very uncomfortable.


It wasn't as hot today, and I don't think I sweated as much until just now. The nights are unbearably hot, but I basically just bathed in Gold Bond powder. I miss home a lot right now- It's hard knowing that I won't see my family again until August 15th. Hopefully things will get better- I'm counting on the Lord's strength to pull me through this. The blisters on the backs of my feet are bad- there are blisters under where blisters from yesterday peeled off. Shannon, our male counselor, fixed them up for me after dinner but it was super painful and it made me cry a little bit because he had to put some tough skin stuff on it.

It's overwhelming to think of home and with lack of sleep I try to avoid it even though I've thought about home (more-so family I guess) so far quite a bit. I'm dripping sweat right  now and have to get to sleep- another longish day tomorrow. It feels like I've been here forever, but I still have 2 more weeks here (give or take). We get shower time, well, bucket baths, tomorrow, and laundry time. I'm super excited =) I guess that's really all for now. We had Olympics today and got cold watermelon for winning an event. Lots of free time tomorrow hopefully, I'll write more then.

Love, Lexa.

Day 3 [6/26/2010]

Our team did better on the OC (obstacle course) today. I didn't get completely soaked and I almost made it over the slough so that was good. Come breakfast time I wasn't hungry anymore so it was really hard to finish.

Right now we're waiting for team pictures and trying to memorize bible verses we need to know. We have free time after pictures...I'm ready for a bath and some laundry time. I haven't been able to write as much as I've wanted to so far. We had strawberry milkshakes and crocodile pizza and a huge cookie for dinner. I only had milkshake- (one and a half actually). It was nice and cold but I wasn't very hungry so I didn't risk trying the pizza. The youngest boy on our team, Nick, ended up eating too much and got sick in some bushes afterwards.

I'm very tired and my feet are very sore but I'm cleaner than I have been the last couple days. I found a letter from dad in my sock bag today and it was cool to read because I was alone when I did. It made me cry a little bit, but mostly it was just encouraging.

 I'm definitely leaning on God's strength right now rather than my own. I'm having a hard time keeping up in line because my feet hurt so bad- but I'm trying and I won't quit. Good things are worth fighting for. Tomorrow's Sunday so we won't have to run the OC. I'm praying my feet will heal quickly and the pain will subside substantially. Enough for now.

Love, Lexa.

Day 5 [6/28/2010]
  

Yesterday we had KP (kitchen duty) so we had to wake up earlier and everything, but we didn't have to run the OC, so that was nice. Today is the official first day of Boot camp. I'm hoping to get a bath and some laundry done today. A couple more early boot camp teams commissioned last night. We have 2 weeks until we commission yet. 

My blisters don't hurt so bad today and I did better on the slough when we ran the OC - I only got wet up to a little over my knees, even though I got a face-full of dirt. We start actual classes today and a normal schedule. It's still pretty hot here but I think most of us are getting used to being nasty. The nights are seemingly hotter than some of the days but there was nice wind last night so it wasn't as bad. Even though you get completely soaked with sweat when changing or trying to sleep. 

I felt really good after the OC today which was cool. It's really hard to eat here- its not that you don't get hungry when you're working or anything, but you have to eat fast and eat everything and I typically don't feel well enough to eat as much as I normally do. I think that has to do with the heat. I had half a piece of this french toast stuff for breakfast and it was hard to stomach- like  you feel like  you're going to throw up.

My ankles are swollen from walking weird because of the blisters on my feet. I might see if I can get some ice or a cold pack or something just to make the swelling go down. In morning worship, Bob Bland talked about how God makes you go down before you can get back up. I've definitely experienced this already with blisters, homesickness, john wayne's disease (rash between legs (from being wet from the slough)),  dehydration etc... 

I'm thinking with our new schedule everything will be/ get better- I hope. I've decided to join in more with the music during rally when I can- if my feet don;t hurt too bad and have some fun with it because it definitely makes you feel better. 

I like our group quite a bit, most of the girls are pretty cool and super nice. Marissa had an asthma attack last night which was scary- but our whole team prayed for her all through it and I think it brought us closer a little bit. Right now we're in music class. I'll write more later.

Love, Lexa.

Later that day...

 My blisters aren't getting much better. I'm going to the nurses to have them check them out in a bit. It's free time now I think I'll bathe or do laundry tomorrow. Hopefully both- but our team got another SB (special blessing) because our leader messed something up. I took a couple pictures of the blisters on my feet and they don't look too good. I'm going to show them to mom and dad and Seth when I get home, or maybe on my presentation for people.. (Ha ha.)

Day 6 [6/29/2010]
  

I think my feet are getting a little better. I can't really tell though. I'm taking a bath and washing some clothes today- hopefully it'll feel better to be clean. Should be nice, I figure I'll shave and brush my hair too. It's the second official day of Boot Camp today- it's not too bad. I'm hoping to be able to ice my ankles again today. 

We got popsicles and to eat inside for lunch yesterday because we won the godliness award yesterday. The boys on our team cleaned the bathrooms when they were SUPER nasty, and they didn't have to (hence we won the godliness award). I really hope we win the clean award because it would be so nice to swim in the pool.

I still have to memorize my verse for today- I'll probably work on it in a while. My calves and behind my knees are cramping today and it feels like I'm going to pull the muscle or tear the ligament or whatever behind my knee. My number is 22- for our team count-off. It's kind of cool because it's Julia M's softball number (my pitcher back at home)- that made me smile the other day. 

It's pretty nice in the shade when there's a breeze- I actually got cold for a second yesterday then when I realized it, I was shocked and the feeling was gone. I can't wait to bathe. We all have dirt lines from being outside and we can't really tell when or if we're getting tanner at all. After bathing you typically feel pretty clean- but you feel almost just as good when you're dry and there's a breeze. I still miss home but I'm starting to love our team even more, so it's not as hard to be away. I'm going to work on my verse for a while because it's a long one today. I'll write later.

Love, Lexa.

Later that day...

We got the clean award tonight so we get to swim in the pool tomorrow! woot woot! We made our leader Marissa kiss the pig because we won. It was awesome. 

Day 7 Wednesday [6/30/2010]

  

It's free time- we're waiting for drama to be over. We get to swim in the pool during bath and laundry because we won the clean award! :) I think we get to go to the camp store after dinner- which is awesome because I need stamps to mail letters home. My feet don;t hurt as bad anymore- they are continually healing I believe. I've been praying for them and God has been listening. Our team DQ'd (disqualified) on the OC today again. Someone passed the person carrying the front flag, and then we didn't keep our arms up enough at the wall. We get cold showers before the pool which is going to be awesome- no washing our hair though. When I bathed yesterday I had streams of mud coming off me; it was disgusting but it felt so good to get clean!

It is my seventh day at boot camp- I'm getting used to it. I think. It's not as bad as it used to be. Walking fast still isn't fun- but it's less bad when my feet are hurting less. So far the weather's been fairly cool today and there has been a "breeze from Jesus" if you sit on the outside of the big top 1. It's still hot in the sun, although. 

I didn't make it over the slough today- I was close though and didn't get completely soaked. We only had one lap around mount Sinai (huge mountain of tires in the OC) this morning, which was good. Our count-off at the very beginning was too slow, but we got the bus and the luggage of Israel stacked- which was an improvement. The guy supervising our wall really didn't like us and he yelled at us a lot! Then later we had carpentry 1 with him and a lot of the stuff he tried didn't work which was amusing.

We have to write out our testimonies later, we were supposed to start this morning but I only put my name because I don't know what to write. I know I'm saved and Jesus has done a lot in my life but I don;t know when it started exactly. The other night I decided to give everything to Him. It was right before bed and I just surrendered everything in my life handing it over- but that's something I'll have to lay down every day. 

Currently I'm sitting leaning against a pole of the big top 1 and as the wind pushes, the pole sways against my back, and it feels like its breathing. I'll write more later. The food here is very good by the way, other than the drinks being warn... (Ha ha).

Lexa

Day 9: Canada Day [7/1/2010]
 

It's Canada day here at Boot Camp. My feet are continually getting better- at least I think so- they hurt less. We didn't have to run the OC today because we did world map- it was nice to be kind of clean all day. We only have to run the OC six more times during boot camp which is awesome. We've already been here a week already- about one and a half to go yet. :) 

I can't wait till Samoa- it's going to be SO nice I think. At least the airport will be. It'll be air conditioned and we can have ice and pop.... It's going to be great! I got a letter from Lori M. today which was a nice surprise and a letter from home. I've written home a lot but haven't written any of my friends yet. Boot camp is going quicker now that we have classes and a schedule. 

Tomorrow I'm planning on bathing because I did lots of laundry today. We had a team SB, that our leader got us, so we didn't have any free time really. It hasn't rained here  yet- but the sky looks threatening tonight. I hope it doesn't because I need my clothes on the line to dry and a wet OC would suck 10 times as much as a dry one. Marissa, Kaley Sue, Kayla L, Abigail, and I are all sitting outside Big Top 1 waiting for rally and writing in journals- or our testimonies and such. I still need to work on mine so I'll have to write later. 

Love, Lexa.

Day 10 Friday [7/2/2010]

We didn't DQ on the OC for the first time today- Ashely led the group as the front flag and it was the best our team has done together so far. We actually stayed and worked together as a team today.

We did cement for construction class then brick laying and I partnered with Kaley Sue- which was cool. Then we had lunch and now we're waiting for brainstorming at our eating site. I wrote a letter to Kayla C (a friend back at home) yesterday but I haven't mailed it yet. I'm planning on taking a bath today so I'm hoping it doesn't rain so the clothes I washed yesterday will dry. 

It's nice and cool outside today. :) It's supposed to rain this weekend- all weekend. The guys on our team like to tease our leader Marissa and its really funny but I feel bad for her sometimes. She's a really cool leader. All our leaders are really cool. We had wraps and hamburger and cheesy soup for lunch and a peanut butter cookie. The cookie was the best part and the soup was pretty good. I still have to memorize my verse for today. I'll write more later.

Day 11 Saturday [7/3/2010]

I got a letter from Kayla C. today, it made me smile. It had shiny unicorn stickers all over the envelope and said EPIC WIN! It was funny because when I first saw the letter I didn't know it was for me, and I laughed because of the unicorn stickers all over it... Then when I realized it was mine, I thought it was hilarious and awesome, because that was just like my friend to do something like that...

Mom sent me a letter too- Gideon's middle name is going to be Thomas. Dad got his promotion to the Cadillac post as a sergeant too. He told me in a different letter yesterday I think. We had KP today so we didn't run the OC but we had to wake up earlier and had to serve a team SB later because we talked too much in singing class yesterday. It's right before rally right now- I still have to memorize my verse for today- we have to say all 10 that we have memorized so far, tomorrow. I'll write more tomorrow during free time. 

Lexa.

Day 12 Sunday [7/4/2010]

It's the fourth of July. We ran the OC today but we DQ'd because Jeff jumped down Jacob's ladder (huge rope net wall) and I think we have a team SB now. We only have to run the OC four more times thought which is cool. We have swim time right now- it rained a little bit on our way over here to the lake. I fell in the slough again today.

The guys are swimming in the lake right now launching each other with the ropes swing thing. It's pretty cool to watch. I have to memorize my last verse for this week yet- yesterdays, and say all ten to Marissa still...I need to work on them a bit yet. We switched tent partners today- I'm now sharing a tent with Maggie. She seems pretty nice. Nick, the youngest on our team, has seven SB's, it's kind of funny because he gets so many. 

I think I got dehydrated earlier because I was falling asleep but almost like passing out. I did prayer tower today but I was still wearing my church clothes so it was really hard to climb the tower, because I was in a wrap around skirt and the tower is pretty tall, and my backpack kept getting caught and I would get stuck for a second. I got pretty scared right when I got to the top because I couldn't take my backpack off and I couldn't move well and I was trying to climb through the hole into the tower, but my backpack was stuck. I did get up and getting down was easier but at the tabernacle when we were waiting was when I started falling over when I was falling asleep standing up. ..

We had leftover pizza for lunch- it was really really good- but I had to eat quick to get to prayer closet. I was going to bathe today, but that;s getting postponed at least until tomorrow. I like not having classes on Sunday, but we're going to the display room today in like half and hour. But Sundays are much more laid back anyways. 

We weighed all the stuff we're taking to Samoa today (our bags) mine was only 27 pounds, so I should be fine. I'm leaving quite a bit of stuff here when we go. I'm pretty hungry right now, but it's only 4:10 so I'll have to wait. I think I'm going to hang out with our team for a while now or study my verses up.

Write later.

Lexa.

   

Day 13 Monday [7/5/2010]

Fireworks were postponed last night because of rain so we're supposed to have them tonight and watermelon too. Only 3 more times to run the OC. Only six more days till commissioning. It's rally right now. My blisters are a lot better but they still hurt when they aren't bandaged. Shannon is going to be our speaker for rally tonight. We're doing a game right now so I'll write later. 

[side note: Shannon did a great job speaking that night. But I'll always remember that he was wearing long socks and one of them had fallen down]

Day 14 Tuesday [7/6/2010] 

 We had watermelon last night and it was completely delicious... mmm! We didn't DQ on the OC today, and we got six people over the wall at the end, which was good. It's almost time for brainstorming right now. My blisters are continually getting better. :) 

Brainstorming isn't very fun... I don't know. I just don't like it that much. The other day I carved a Jesus fish into a piece of wood with my fingernail because I was so bored- usually I made creations out of pine needles which is pretty fun or entertaining at least- but I contribute too. 

It's really hard for me to stay awake in morning chapels and things because I'm SO tired I can't keep my eyes open- but I have more energy at night. I guess I'm more of a night owl. I like the music here now- even though when I first came almost two weeks ago I thought it was lame-ish. I think our team is really cool but I don't know if Ashley's going to make it, she doesn't function- or attempt to function- as part of our team at all really. 

I washed some of my clothes today :) I'll probably bathe again tomorrow because I bathed yesterday and every other day is doing pretty good. Only 2 more times to run the OC! We didn't have any laps around Mt. Sinai today, which completely rocked. It's before rally right now. I still have to memorize my verse for the day. Our team has KP on Friday- I don't like having to get up earlier- but I think our last day of classes is Thursday. Nick isn't as annoying anymore, he still is, don't get me wrong- but he's kind of fun too sometimes.

I'm going to write more later. I wrote Mom and Dad a letter today. I got 3 in the mail from them, one with pictures from the shark hunt we went on before they dropped me off at boot camp. :) Anyways- more later.

Love, Lexa.

Day 15 Wednesday [7/7/2010]

I got two emails from Mom and Dad yesterday- Mom said Dad as crying because he missed me- that made me cry and miss home even more. It's been really cool out today. We only have one more OC day- tomorrow! I got soaked in the slough today. Marissa (our leader) ran with us today because it was leader day. We didn't DQ today which was good, but we didn't get to the wall either. Tomorrow we have to get everyone over who hasn't been over yet- there's still quite a few.  

We had watermelon for dessert tonight but they didn't give us much for dinner so like everyone went for seconds. Marissa (leader) is trying to get people to eat the rest of the watermelon, but its not working.

Mom and Dad said they hadn't gotten any mail from me other than my postcard- that was pretty upsetting to me because I've written them like seven or eight times. Its 6:30- we have rally at 7:15 so everyone's hanging around until then. I'll probably head to the big top soon because everyone is leaving. I don;t think Ashely is going to get to go to Samoa with us as is right now, because she can't keep up or follow instructions and she isn't saved. I don't think she really cares though. 

It's weird to think I've been here about 2 weeks now- it feels like its been forever but we'll be leaving soon. Commissioning is on Sunday. I still have to memorize my verse for today- I should be working on it right now but its kind of nice to be alone for the moment. We have NO alone time here- free time and every waking moment we spend as a team and sometimes its a little much. But its also weird because I haven't had a legit hug in about two weeks either since Marissa (leader) hugged me when I was homesick the 1st night I think it was. 

I bathed today- that was good, so I'm pretty clean right now. With how cool it is right now it feels like its going to storm but I REALLY hope it doesn't. My feet still look kind of bad- I took more pics of them today- there's basically a hole in the back of each of my feet, but they are healing and hurting less.  

We have some really good singers on our team- together our team sounds Really Really Good in singing class when we are actually singing. I think I'm going to head to the big top now and study my verses for today. Not much else is going on right now. 

I'm excited for the airport and pop and ice again at least for a while before we go to Samoa. I'll write more later. I cried myself to sleep last night because I missed home and dad so much and it hurt that they hadn't heard back from me yet really because they don't know how much I really love and miss them. 

Lean on God.

Lexa :) 

Day 16 Thursday [7/8/2010]

I got two emails today from Mom and Dad they said they got some of my letters- that made me happy. It was our last day of the OC and classes today and I made it over the slough which was awesome. I'm pretty sure I'm dehydrated right now because I probably only drank between one and two water bottles and my head has been hurting and kind of light headed sometimes and I haven't been as hungry and I feel kind of nauseous right now after dinner- but I felt kind of the same before dinner.

Kayla L. and Kayla H. just joined me over here. I haven't had a hug in 2 weeks from today. It's really weird. Marissa (leader) was in kind of a bad mood today I think because she yelled at us a lot. We had to serve a team SB today because we DQ'd on the wall. I know I'm dehydrated but I'm not that thirsty really- like I don't want any water, even though I probably need it. 

We had wraps with ham and cheese in them- they were alright. I've been in kind of a depressed mood today- I'm not sure why. It might be lack of sleep or water- or maybe just homesickness or something.  I'm not really sure. I wrote home again today but there wasn't really much to tell them. My feet look basically the same as they did a couple days ago but I think they're getting tougher- or I am- because they don't hurt too bad.

I need to do my verse today so I'm not behind again tomorrow. :) We have KP tomorrow. Me and Kayla goose (H) have decided to be "freaks of nature" since we shared a tent together. We're all hanging outside the Big Top right now. We take down the OC tomorrow I think- I might miss it a little bit, it was kind of fun. We're all going to be really fast when we can wear tennis shoes again because we're used to running in like 10 pound boots now from the OC every morning.

I haven't gotten any more mail from Kayla or Susan lately- It'd be pretty cool to hear from them again. Don't really have much else to write now. 

Love, Lexa

Day 18 Saturday [7/10/2010]

Yesterday we tore down the Boot camp office- then we got re-assigned right before we finished to roofing a part of a walkway by the kitchen and Honduras Horseback took over the end of tearing down the office. Today is pack out and we just finished hauling all our food from the storage place by the dorms to Big Top. We  had to run with wheelbarrows to get all our food and its pretty hot out. 

I'm really hot right now and we all worked up a nice sweat running and standing in the sun. We weighed our bags and everything today, mine was 43 at first- then I took stuff out and now its 35 pounds. It's pretty hot today. I'm sleeping without my mat tonight because I already packed it.

We get to sleep in dorms tomorrow night. Tomorrow its commissioning but we have KP for one meal because we got another team SB. Nick just got a new pair of shades- that or he found them- I'm not sure- but they look okay on him. Monday after we take down Big Top, Shannon is planning on taking our team swimming and to Walmart. We're all pretty excited. I think I'm going to try to get tweezers and gummy bears and other snacks for the air plane and airport. 

Christian is sleeping on some chairs behind us right now. Ms. Piggy- Seth T's mom- just came around our Big Top chair site checking it and we all cleaned it really quick because we're sitting here. Tomorrow we have church and BMW graduation and commissioning and we have to take down the tents.

We all are pretty dirty today but its because its so hot I think. We have free time right now- its 3:14. We had pizza for lunch but it was kind of like school lunch pizza. Mackenzie is trying to kill a bug right now and she's freaking out- its pretty funny. I'm hoping it gets cold tonight because its really hot right now. That's all for now.

Love, Lexa.

Day 20 Monday [7/12/2010]

We commissioned yesterday and it was awesome because we had cold pop and Little Caesar's pizza and junk food after and we basically all had sugar buzzes. Then we got to sleep in the dorms- all us girls are in one and one has to sleep on the floor but its cold and air conditioned and there are beds and a shower. Its AWESOME. I took a shower last night and so did like everyone else but it felt SO good to be clean. We had KP all day Sunday as well which wasn't fun- but it was okay. then we had church and had to take down our tent site and pack and stuff. 

BMW students had graduation yesterday and rally/commissioning later. Alison slept on the floor last night, but I'm taking over the floor tonight. I got another shower today which was awesome. We had to take down the Big Top today and it was super hot outside and lots of heavy lifting and hard work. But after for lunch we got cold water and we packed and weighed out our stuff later. 

And we got to go to Walmart and Taco Bell which was basically amazing. I bought lots of candy at Walmart and am excited. Our team is meeting in a few minutes so I'll write more in a minute. Meetings over.

We get to wake up at 6:45 tomorrow morning! It's our last night here at Boot camp in the dorms. Tomorrow we head to the airport- Oh yeah! :) I'm excited to get to call mom and dad- I'll probably start crying though. Marissa and Kaley Sue I find to be extremely amusing. They're both very funny. Some of the funny things Marissa has said that are extremely random include:

1) If I had to run from the devil, and I was on crutches, I would stop, drop, and roll.

2) I feel like a squirrel on the prowl for some bologna.

Those are just two of them I remember. But they're both really funny. I love our team. We're all getting ready for bed and tomorrow right now and just randomly talking and everything. Not much else is going on. I love life right now. Ashley lit her candle the other night at commissioning- so she's for sure going with us. So that's going to be interesting- She was better today. We're all talking about siblings and family and how we miss them right now. Not much else is going on right now.

Love, Lexa. 

Day 22 Wednesday [7/14/2010]

 We got to Samoa today. We left yesterday morning and waited on the bus to leave until like 10 am or so then we all left to the airport in Orlando. We flew to Denver Colorado, then to LAX then to Samoa with and 11 hour flight which I slept through most of. I called my parents in Orlando and it was cool but I started crying half way through my call to mom. Mom broke her leg I guess at  home. Dad called me at the airport and it was really good to hear his voice but it made me cry again. 

I sat by a guy named David from Denver to LAX- he was really cool- probably as old as my dad (46 ish). It was kind of a funny story because I had a seat on the right side of the plane, not by anyone on my team and I got there before David, so I was scoping people out as they boarded the plane, wondering who would sit by me. A couple people passed and I would think, "Hmm.. they'd be okay" or "probably not that person" and then finally "God...please don't let it be that person".. Which it was. God's sense of humor was coming through, also teaching me a lesson. While I hadn't wanted David to sit by me, he turned out being super cool and nice, which was pretty sweet.

On the flight to Samoa I sat between Maggie and Abigail and slept like the whole way. They gave us dinner and breakfast on the plane but I was SO tired. The time changes are weird here. Its so beautiful here- its AMAZING. It rained/ is still raining right now though. Gold Bond is all over my duffel because it opened in there. Tomorrow we're going to a village and staying there for 10 days. We're staying at the YWAM base tonight. There are bunks in our folly (sic.) (meant: fale aka pavilion type structure used as housing in Samoa) - the girl's one. This day is going to be SO long. The people here are very friendly and nice. Not much else is going on tonight. 

Day 24 Friday [7/16/2010] 

We stayed in the village last night. I'm serving KP today so I have some free time- I did my laundry a little bit ago. The ride here was amazing- its so beautiful here. We drove through a rainbow and it was really cool an we drove over the mountains and everything. The ocean here is beautiful- I took some pictures today. On the ride here some Samoan kids threw a flat rugby ball under the bus and it popped really loudly- it was funny. 

It stormed really hard last night and I got kind of wet and my and a bunch of others' mosquito nets blew off us all over in the wind. It was so loud with the rain and thunder and everything. I think it's the first storm I've ever really felt a little bit scared during. It's very nice outside today, though. Even though I've tripped like five times today and fallen twice.

I think I could live here if my family was here. The people here have lots of American music that they play loudly- which surprised me. I like the Samoan music better though I think. I met a little Samoan girl named Julie yesterday and she hung out by me when we walked to the beach last night. I gave her my wordless bracelet because she liked it- I figure I'll explain what it means to her later.  She held my and Kayla H's hand all the way back to the fales (pronounced "fa-lay") it was very cute. The kids here are all very cute and friendly. 

Yesterday when we met them it was funny because they were making fun/ didn't like Abigail's braces- one of the girls saw them and pointed to her own teeth and waved her finger at Abbey, it was very funny. The same girl also went around emotionless throwing rocks at some people in our group- sneakily though. It was amusing to watch. Its hot in the sun where I'm sitting- but I'm not working because I'm on KP so I'm relatively clean. Cleaner than most people in our group currently are. I have KP with Jeff- our group makes fun of him a lot for being Canadian and a farmer- but he's pretty cool. He kind of reminds me of Chuck S. (from back home) a little bit- but a little bit cuter. 

Marissa (leader) was telling me earlier that a Samoan guy asked her if she had a boyfriend and she made the mistake of saying no because then he said- "I would like to be your boyfriend"

and Marissa was like... "um... no" then he asked if they could be friends. (Ha ha.) It was better when she told me. Everyone's back for lunch right now and I'm getting sun burnt Marissa A. just told me, so I'm going to write later. 

Adios, Lexa.

Later that day...

After lunch for KP- Jeff and I were washing dishes and some of the Samoan people invited us in to eat with them. It was very cool but we had just eaten lunch. I'm pretty sure I just ate fish too. They put it on my plate and I couldn't refuse it (it would be rude) so I ate it. The consistency was like chicken and it didn't taste very fishy- but I knew it was- I just told myself it wasn't fish so I could eat it, and not insult them.

They had fish and rich and chop suet (what we had last night) and Jeff and I split a crab leg and tea stuff which was cold and delicious and some other random stuff I didn't try- and something like stir fry which honestly was delicious. Right now I feel pretty sick though, my stomach hurts. I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to fish, so I'm probably going to throw up- I'll be lucky if I don't.

Everyone else- almost- is doing laundry- some are working- but I did my laundry earlier. I feel kind of lightheaded right now and my leg has been feeling numb on and off all day. There's a breeze here which feels amazing. My hands smell like fish right now-its kind of grossing me out... Oh and I got black stuff all over me from carrying one of the pots we made soup in for lunch, so my hands are black. for being clean, I'm pretty dirty right now. Enough for now- I'm going to the bathroom. Ha. :)

Lexa.

 Day 26 Sunday [7/18/2010] 

We had church today, it was a cool experience- The Samoans are such good singers. I missed writing in my journal yesterday because I basically didn't have any time to. I wrote a letter home- I had to- but I wanted to as well. We went swimming yesterday in the ocean- it was awesome- clear eater and pleasantly cool- not like Lake Michigan- but cool enough.

We were going to swim today too, but its not allowed in this village's customs... So we're not. Instead we're quizzing and doing verse review and everything. I got ahead on my verses by five or six so now I'm writing. Yesterday we also moved from our Fale into the pastor's house which is right next door to the fale (like 30 ft away or less) but it's not much better. We don't need any mosquito nets in the house, but it gets SO hot inside there.

There are two rooms- I'm in the smaller one- both have five girls in them. I'm with Marissa A., Kaley Sue, Abigail, Alison, and myself. I move a lot in my sleep though so I felt bad for Abigail because I took over her bed accidentally. I work up last night and was super comfortable, then realized that my head was on a pillow and everything, and I didn't bring one, so it wasn't my bed.  Then I reached out to the wall and couldn't touch, so I was like- oops..sorry, and moved back over.

I guess Abigail ended up on top of Marissa basically too. We had fish and Samoan food for lunch, so I didn't get to eat much plus I already hadn't felt good this morning. I'm pretty hungry now, but I think we're having some macaroni and cheese in a bit 3:00- like 10 minutes from now, just to hold us till dinner later which the villagers are feeding us. 

Should be interesting, but we're having popcorn too later. Now we're all chilling kind of while people do verses. There is lots of rocks and some debris in the ocean- at least shallow from the tsunami. I got burnt a little on my arms yesterday, but not too bad. I'm looking forward to when we get to go home again, but I love it here too. I'll be ready to go home for sure- I miss it there but I'm excited to be here and helping the people. 

The phone call at the airport- although depressing- really helped because they feel less far away now.  I'm looking forward to hugs from home. Marissa, Jake, Abbey and I are talking about tattoos and relatives and stuff right now- I'm kind of just listening while I write. It's pretty cool outside- at least in the fales- its nice. 

We're walking to the village around 4 I think but right now we're having mac n' cheese so I'm going to write more later.

Adios, Lexa

Later

On our walk I met and took pictures with a girl named Tina. She was 16 and was in school when the tsunami struck in August of 09. She had to jump over a barbwire fence and run up the mountain. She said it was scary. She was very nice. 

I also walked with a Samoan guy named Tana, and we talked for like half and hour, then he gave me a pink flower that I put in my hair. Later he told me I was pretty and I was like.....uh... thanks. It was kind of awkward, and yet sort of flattering as well. I took a picture with him and we walked back and talked again. I was with the group the whole time, but he walked right next to me. Now Kaley Sue, Marissa, Kayla, Abigail, and I are hiding/ camping our in our room just chilling here after our long walk. It was pretty tiring and it got pretty warm. I'm pretty thirsty right now.

Not much else is going on right now, The Samoans are cooking for us later, then we're doing a children's program thing and having popcorn way later. Enough for now.

Lexa.

Day 32 Saturday [7/24/2010]  

It's been a crazy past few days. We finish all our projects- I got moved in groups two times though so I got to work at three different sites. One site I hauled dirt in wheelbarrows, in another I helped set a footer and then lay the bricks for the base for a water tank, and then got moved just before that one was done, to setting another footer etc. for another water tank base. Its really hot outside today- we're leaving the village, site-seeing, and heading back to YWAM. Our bus is packed because it has all our stuff on it.

The Samoans had a going away party for us last night- it was awesome! The guy Samoans did really cool dances- I recorded two of them. In between they and us would dance- then we would perform two things, and we would switch back and forth. I danced with Tana in between, it was fun. I danced with him every time except when a little girl kidnapped me and made me dance with her. I made a cross necklace out of coconut shell I carved and gave it to Tana as a gift. He gave me a fan and a lava lava (a wrap around garment, cultural Samoan attire). 

We took lots of pictures together- a lot of them are on other people's cameras though. I gave him my cell # and address too so he could write or call if he wanted  to. I didn't think about the fact that my cell doesn't have international calling though...Tana is pretty awesome- I like him. At first I wasn't really sure about him- but now we're really good friends.

He's kind of my boyfriend I guess. Today as we were looking at all the sites we worked at he gave me an "ice bag" they call it. It's frozen dragon fruit juice in a bag. It doesn't taste that good, but the fact that it was cold made it amazing. He actually gave me two, but I let the guys on our team share the other one because they were all begging for it. 

Before we left I gave Tana the picture I brought of my and my dad and my cat mitten napping g on the couch at home. I gave it to him so he'd remember me. I have pictures of him, but he doesn't have any of me that I knew of. He showed it to all the people around him and they laughed. It was kind of embarrassing, but I didn't care too much. I won't see him for a long time, if I see him again. He said he'd like to go to America someday. I think it would be cool if he did, but Samoa is so awesome, it would be crazy to leave...I love it so much here. 

I met Tana's mother last night- it was cool, but it felt like it made us official. Then there was this special Samoan dance up front yesterday too, and Tana took me up there and was teaching me it but it was embarrassing because we were right in front of everyone and I felt kind of ridiculous. 

The Samoan food they cooked us was okay last night- I mostly ate chop suet- that is very good stuff. I've also developed a liking for coconut- at first it as okay, but now I really like it. They gave us cold coconut the other day and it was the BOMB! We're driving now so I'll write more later. 

Lexa.

My Samoan Vocabulary

Tofasa- You want to fight?

Au Mai- Bring it

Fa a Mole' Mole' - please

Fa fei tai-  thank you

La kunga fasi oy  - I'm going to slap you!

Tofa- bye

Malo- hello

The violent phrases were from the courtesy of the boys in our team asking Samoans how to say them... They were also much used amongst our team members just for fun. 

The other day I was sitting with the kids during one of our presentations, and it was so sad because I asked who her mother was and she shook her head. It was so sad! The Samoan kids all asked us our names and our mother and fathers names- that's why I asked. It was very sad. Enough for now.. I just remembered that, so  yeah...

Lexa.

It's 3:18, we just got done at the Cave pool- it was awesome. The water was super clear and fresh water. It felt like Lake Michigan- I loved it! Then it was right next to the ocean, so I wen tin the ocean with Kayla L. and we got to swim over a coral reef and see the tiny fish with Shanon's goggles- it was really cool and the water was super warm. Then we went back to the cave and had to get out to leave. 

It rained for a couple minutes as I was running back to the bus, but I think its over now. I'll write more later or tomorrow. I think we're heading to the YWAM base right now. 

Lexa

Day 33 Sunday [7/25/2010]

A lot happened- as I said- at our stay in the village (Satitoa). I love and miss the people of the village, it was so cool to stay there. It's weird because there are so  much less people here at the base.

At the village on one of our work days Marissa A. had started having an asthma attack when we were laying the footer and stuff where we had been hauling dirt before. I had to run down to the church and get one of the leaders- I was out of breath but I told Josh because I saw him first. Then Vikki and Marissa (leader) got meds and me and Marissa rode up there in the truck with King Afa's (the Samoan pastor's) wife. Josh ran ahead before us while they looked for meds. They took her back to the church in the truck and she was okay later when we went back from working.

Another notable thing that happened was that Jeff got this nasty boil on his leg and I think it got infected so he had to be taken to the doctor and his leg is pretty sore. Alison stayed in the sick tent a couple days (in our room in the house) like a day and a half anyways, because she felt super sick and she had a fever and her legs are infected from when she fell on the road during our walk to the ocean. She's doing a lot better the last couple days even though she's still walking (what we call "the cripple walk"). She can get up by herself and stuff now, and she looks much better. I'd been praying for her and I think it's definitely paying off.

At the party we had, a Samoan guy was dancing with Kaley and was all up on her basically and she was freaking out. She started crying after. She was okay later but she looked really shaken up. A lot of the guys got pulled out to dance by older ladies as well. The children danced crazy! I was surprised it was like a high school dance around them almost- not quite so bad. 

It was fun staying in the village in the house because in our room we would have strobe light parties with our flashlights. We get pretty crazy at night especially Marissa A. and myself when we're tired. It was funny because the last night in the village Marissa (leader) was talking on the porch and I had come in their room to visit so I decided to sleep on her bed and like half an hour later she came back and was very confused. Me and Maggie gave each other high-fives then I went back to our/my room and went to sleep.

When I'm not engaged with people here I get a little bit depressed, not too bad but I'm not sure why. It might be because I actually get to think, and I miss home and the village and everything- but it's not that bad. 

Right now we're chilling till lunch which is at 1:00 today- we're having quiet time-ish in our fale and writing in our journals and everything and such and I kind of have a headache right now- might be a little dehydrated right now...I don't think I've drank anything yet today though. I'm sitting on Marissa (leader's) bed right now. We had our own church service today- Josh talked about sin- he was our preacher for today.

We had macaroni and cheese and bread with sloppy-joe stuff on it for dinner last night- It was really good. I had two dreams last night. In one I was cutting down a tree with a machete and then someone told me that it was impossible because the tree was too hard so I was like "okay" and I quit. In my second dream right before I woke up I was dreaming about Tana- we were holding hands in my dream I think. It was really nice- then Marissa (leader) woke us all up and I was like (grumble grumble grumble).

Before getting on the bus yesterday we hand hugged (Tana and I)- that's the best way to describe it- then we had to leave and Madi basically pushed me on the bus. For GG's (girls' devotion time) last night we stargazed and that was pretty cool- I was in a pretty mellow  mood but Marissa and Kaley always make me laugh so that helped. I shared a rain poncho with our leader Marissa and that was cool- mine was wet so it would have defeated the purpose of staying off the wet ground.

At the cave pools yesterday I slipped on some rocks coming out of the water and I impaled my back and shoulder on the rocks behind me- not fun. My back still hurts where I impaled it. I've decided while in the village that I really don't like breadfruit. It doesn't really taste like anything and the texture is squishy and kind of nasty.

Yesterday I helped Marissa and Shannon get food from the market- Zoey went too. It was okay- I basically followed them around trying not to get lost and carrying stuff around when they needed me to. I heard one of the songs me and Tana had danced to the night before and I was like aw... it made me miss him a little bit.

We're going to the market in two groups tomorrow to shop and stuff. It should be really fun- I'm looking forward to it. I'm pretty hungry right now. I think I'm going to get some candy tomorrow if I can. Mwahahahaha! Not much else to right about right now. I'll write more later.

Lexa.

Day 40 Sunday [8-1-2010]

We are back at the base now. We have been working on making a water tower thing for the base- which for me has meant hauling lots of lava rocks. Blah. Hauling rocks is hard because they're so heavy and we need big ones and we're carrying them half way across the base and up a hill. Needless to say, we're all going to be ripped by the time its over. 

Today a lot of people are sick, throwing up or diarrhea or both. I've had diarrhea this morning and feel kind of nauseous but I'm okay for now. Almost half our team is sick. Marissa (leader), Marissa A, Abigail, and Alison all got sick last night throwing up. Vikki has what I have and only like five of the guys didn't get sick. We think its wither been the food or a virus going around. We're not really sure. 

When we went to the market Monday I got a lot of souvenirs for home and I still want to get grandma and grandpa something and find something for the Maksyms' and maybe Diane and Mrs. Postma. I ate fish when we ate in town. I asked for chicken, but I got fish- so I just ate it anyways. It didn't taste too much like fish- it was actually kind of good- but I was so full the rest of the day, after that I thought I would die. We had ice cream- lime flavored- at Farmer Joe's and it was amazing! Kayla L felt really sick, though, and she thew up on the bus just as we were pulling into the base.

We worked most of the week. Thursday we worked in the morning but went to the sliding rocks later for like three hours. It was really fun, the rocks are really smooth and its basically like a waterfall water-slide. It was really fun and fresh water but going down the large slide popped my ears every time and that really hurt. One of the smaller rock slides had a bump on it that you'd go over and get pretty good air on. It was fun. Marissa A went on the smaller ones but not the big one- which surprised me a little bit but I guess she's a little afraid of heights. 

Marissa A, and Kaley Sue were both throwing up sick on Wednesday so they couldn't work and had to stay in the sick tent. They were better by Thursday but Marissa's sick again now- like I said. Last night we had pasta salad and corn bread and chilli for dinner and most of us actually felt pretty full which was nice. 

A bunch of us are chilling in the other fale right now and Mackenzie is playing her guitar now and her, Kayla H, and Kaley Sue are singing along and its really nice. Music has a pretty big influence over me, I feel extremely calm right now. Me and Kaley are both journaling right now.  

Wednesday night Maggie and I taped Marissa our leader into bed- it was really funny. She woke up half way through and Maggie and I had to crouch on the ground so she wouldn't see us. She looked at her watch- looked out turned over and went back to sleep. We were using clear packaging tape- so she couldn't see it in the dark. It was awesome but we had to be super sneaky. We put the sticky side out so it wouldn't catch on her mosquito net and I woke up early so I could get her out if she needed to. 

In the morning I watcher her and she went to get out and realized she was taped in. She was like.. "Wake up girls...ALEXA- get this tape off my mosquito net!" It was pretty funny, but she was really mad and wouldn't talk to me at first so I felt really bad and apologized later. I really thought I was going to be punished but when Vikki talked to me later she gave me a high five and Shannon was giving us more ideas.

Marissa forgave us and told us it was just a bad morning and she wasn't a morning person. We aren't planning any more jokes because she said she would get Really mad at us.Yesterday was Marissa (leader)'s birthday though- she turned 19. We woke up twelve minutes early and all the girls in our fale surrounded her bed. When she woke up she looked at all of us and was like.. "What are you doing?" 

Then we all sang her happy birthday. It was pretty cool. Vikki made her a cake that we had with lunch that said "Happy B-day Marissa" spelled out on it with M&Ms. It was really good. 

Everyone on our team has been pretty ready to go home lately- I think we're all kind of homesick. I've been getting a rash on my arms and my neck- I'm not sure what its from but it might be from using Kayla L's laundry soap because that was around when I started getting it. My arms are torn up a little bit from rashes and rock burn from rocks slipping down my arms while I carried them. I counted today and I have 15 bruises between my knees and my waist from carrying rocks-one of them is pretty big from where I dropped a rock on it. 

Yesterday it rained all day, but we still worked through part of the day. I was covered in mud, it was kid of gross but probably the dirtiest I've been while here. It was all from carrying rocks. When I went to wash my hands before dinner I looked in the mirror and I had a pretty intimidating fighting stance because I looked like I'd been through a war- you couldn't read my shirt anymore it was so dirty. 

I haven't done yesterdays or today's verses yet so I'm a little behind, but I'll get caught up today. It's a joke on our team that if we'd stayed in the village another week- I'd have been engaged to Tana. Wouldn't happen though because I'm underage and I'm not getting married without my parents around. (Ha ha.) I'm too young anyways. We have to go to church now, so I'll write later. 

Lexa.

Later

We found out a couple days ago that tofasa doesn't actually mean anything. "Do you want to fight?" actually is a different phrase ("kafusa?") but we all use tofasa still anyways. We all know what it means. Yesterday during work Marissa A. and I started our own thing, we make the rock on hand symbol thing and point it at each other or others and make a "fsss" sound. It was really random- but it's fun. For church earlier we sang some songs and told each other our testimonies or what God has been doing in our lives. It was cool. For verse review today we did quizzing and it was okay. I'm still kind of nauseous and my head hurts but I'm okay. Presentation practice now. 

Lexa.



Day 43 Wednesday [8/4/2010]

We finished our project today this morning then we did evangelism at a school and stopped at a store on the way back. We just ate lunch and we have reading in a little bit. Marissa A. doesn't feel good right now. On the way back from evangelism half way Marissa (leader) sat of Jeff's lap- the other half she sat on mine. It was weird but it was okay. (There weren't enough seats, hence the seating arrangement.) 

Mackenzie and Christian like each other and held hands last night at stargazing. Jake tried holding Marissa's hand too- but she denies he likes her. Brandon likes Kaley we think because he sits by her all the time and everything but he hasn't tried anything and she has a boyfriend. I'll write later. I bought Samoan coffee today- a bag for mom and dad and a bag for Maksym's. I think they'll like it. It's been a pretty warm day but we only had to work in the morning so come dinner like none of us were hungry. 

Tomorrow we're going snorkeling and to the beach all day- then Friday we're supposed to have a market day- Saturday we're at the beach with the DTS people and Sunday we have church, then Monday we leave Samoa. Our time here has gone pretty quick but at night lately I've been getting pretty homesick.

It's weird and probably a little unhealthy but I can effectively cry without disturbing my breathing pattern or making noise. I've mastered it from crying at night without trying to disturb the people sleeping all around me. I miss home quite a bit but I know I'll miss all the friends I made here a ton because I won't see them much or at all when this is over. 

I'm going back outside soon- I need to start carving my crosses again soon because I haven't had the time lately and I'm planning on carving one out of coconut shell for each of the girls on our team. I'm going to work on that for a while now. I'll write more later. 

Lexa Lou.

Day 45 Friday [8/6/2010]

We did evangelism at a pre-school today. It was okay but we were all really tired and the kids didn't seem too excited. Ohh well! There was this one little girl there that was so cute! She did the motions with us and would dance around and stuff. She reminded me of Julia M and how she looked when she was younger. After that they gave us a snack and it was delicious.

Then we went to the market and out to eat and stuff. I ate at McDonald's a double cheeseburger and a coke float- it was delicious! But it kind of felt like cheating eating McDonald's in Samoa. Right now we're packing up stuff and getting ready and stuff; just chilling till dinner. I got energy drinks from Farmer Joe's (grocery store) and drank two already. They're delicious. I got souvenirs and stuff today but I still have left over Tala (Samoan currency) I could have spent. 

I feel like I've been ditching clothes as I went so I think I'll be okay for weight going home. I'm basically packed up right now. The beach was pretty cool yesterday but I got a little bit burned on my back- not too bad. We got to the beach with DTS tomorrow all day- I'm excited to go. I have to work on finishing crosses like crazy now because I haven't had time and I'm running out. I didn't get a flag or music here like I wanted because I couldn't find it, but Vikki said she might be able to copy hers at home and mail it to us...That would be cool. I didn't buy a Samoan bible- I thought about it but then decided against it. I bought myself a lava lava and necklace today which is cool. 

I'll probably wear them a lot. I'm leaving all my work skirts here because I didn't really wear them and they're clean and kind of heavy. I don't want them but other here could still use them. Not much else here is going on now. We have to go do verse review soon so I'll write more later probably. 

Lexa Lou. 

Day 46 Saturday [8/7/2010] 

We went to the beach today with DTS and it looked like Paradise, it was amazing! The water was super clear and kind of cold and not as salty as other places. My back and shoulders got fried though- they hurt right now.

Everyone is pretty homesick- its easy to see- but at the same time we're all so close that its going to be hard to leave. I'm on my second camera card now, which is cool. (finally, Ha ha.) We just ate dinner- I'm in the fale by myself right now. Kayla H likes Jake and Mackenzie and Christian like each other, Brandon (it seems) likes Kaley- but she has a boyfriend back home- and we're all pretty sure Jake likes Marissa. If I liked any of the guys on our team it would  probably be Jeff because I know him the best and he understands me pretty well I think. But he's like a brother so there's really nothing.

The DTS gave us gifts today- Kelly gave me mine- a turtle necklace and earrings. I can't wear the earrings because my ears aren't pierced anymore, but they're still really nice. Kelly gave me a hug after she gave me the gift- which was cool. She's the DTS student that I have talked to the most while here- really the only one basically.  She's Canadian- which is pretty cool. 

I should probably go back to the eating fale but I'm kind of enjoying being alone right now. We don't get much of that.

Last night I couldn't sleep again so at 11 pm I snuck out and tried climbing a palm tree. It was really hard. I got about ten feet off the ground, and then there was no more foot grips and I had to attack the tree and wrap myself around it so I wouldn't fall. I got about twelve feet off the ground trying to pull myself up further, but then would slide down after that. I have bruises and tree burn on my legs and body today. I really wanted to get to the very top, mostly to say I did, but I was unsuccessful. I gave up around 11:30 ish maybe a little later. Then I stargazed by myself a little- went to the bathroom and got in bed by 12:05 ish. I'm talking to Marissa A., she showed me pictures of the guy she likes from home, his name is Drew. Not much else is going on. Write later.

Lexa Lou. 

 
 Day 48 Monday [8/9/2010]

Today is our last day in Samoa. Kind of fa bittersweet day for everyone. Yesterday we went to Peace Chapel Church in town and it was very American and air conditioned. It was really cool. The pastor talked about the love of the father- through the story of the prodigal son, because it was father's day in Samoa. I sat between Marissa (leader) and Shannon. The Samoans are AMAZING singers- its one of the things that I'll miss a lot about Samoa.

A lot of us actually got cold during the services too, because we were by the AC vents. Church really  made me miss home, though. I offered my hand to Marissa (leader) to hold when we prayed at the end but she looked at me really weird like I was crazy- so I got shot down but it was okay. Then we came back to here (YWAM). 

We had verse review yesterday and I got all my verses said. Then after I helped Marissa A. for like an hour and a half on her verses until she got them done. We were both really excited for her when it was over  we had a huge hug afterwards. 

We had popcorn and hot cocoa last night too. Then after when Marissa and I were walking down to the bathroom we were laughing because she almost tripped going down the hill- then I completely bit it and gashed open my leg. I'm okay and its not that bad. It was funny though, because I had just been laughing about her tripping. When we got to the bathroom I cleaned off my cut a little bit when she went to the bathroom. The gash was in a heart shape, and when I saw that I was like..."Marissa! You really do love me!" It was pretty great. She said that every time I saw the mark on my leg now I would be reminded of her. On the way back to the main fale where everyone was we made up a story about how she pushed me down the hill, just for fun. 

Today we woke up at 6:30 and ate at seven and have been cleaning and packing out and stuff all day. Maggie, Kayla L, and I cleaned the bathrooms and it was really fun because we used a ton of water. I accidentally broke the squeegee though, and I had nastiness fly at my face when I scrubbed one of the toilets and that was disgusting!  

My duffel is only about half full so I think it will make weight easily. We just took showers so I'm all clean now and in travel clothes. We leave here after dinner, around 7 ish I think. Not much is going on now- packing out and stuff. I'll write later.

Lexa.

Day 50 Wednesday [8/11/2010]

 We got back to TMI this morning after a couple long days of traveling. Its kind of gross but I don't think I brushed my teeth at all in Samoa- but I just brushed them here. I might have brushed them it Satitoa once actually. My teeth feel really clean now though. 

I called mom from LAX yesterday and she told me Gideon was being fully adopted today. So today he is officially my litter brother. I'm kind of sad that I'm not there- but we're celebrating it when I get back- on Tuesday we're having a welcome home/adoption party. 

Yesterday we went to In N Out in LA- it was really greasy but pretty good. I had a double double with animal style fries, a root beer, and a strawberry shake. Kaley Sue, Marissa, and Josh's family all came to LAX and visited for a while. It was cool but made me miss home more. Its weird we only have like four more days. Our time in Samoa went SO quickly its crazy. Marissa A. a.k.a. my "master" (a nickname that came about sometime on our trip after she started calling me "padawan")  wrote me a letter on the plane because I asked her to- she had to write it on a barf-bag because there wasn't any paper- but I think I'll keep it forever because it is completely awesome.

Kaley is looking around for her bag of jewelry she got from Samoa and shes freaking out a little bit because she thinks she left it in an airport or something. I think she'll probably find it later- that's usually what happens to me. The pants I'm wearing are getting a huge hole/tear in them and my feet keep catching on it and making it bigger. It's probably the last time I'll wear them. Maggie and I are going to help Vikki with washing travel clothes and get dirty for god shirts soon, so I'll write more later. 

Day 51 Thursday [8/12/2010]

Today was okay- it went by pretty quickly though. The classes were okay, although, we were all still feeling jet lag and drowsy from time changes. Tomorrow we have classes in the morning then we go to the beach and Ron Jon's. It should be fun. I'm writing in the dark right now because it is after lights out.

Today, well tonight I guess, during team devo's there was a huge spider above my head the whole time and Marissa (leader) tried to motion to me, but I didn't understand. Then she told me afterwards and I looked behind me and there was a HUGE spider about the size of a baseball. Then Josh hit the screen from the outside and it came flying right at me. I might have yelped a little and definitely jumped back pretty fast. 

We only have two more days together as a team. Its really depressing to be leaving the family we've become over the summer, but at the same time I'm stoked to go home and see my family there. I'm excited for Ron Jon's and beach tomorrow- I think I'm going to get some Toms shoes and a blue To Write Love on Her Arms shirt I wanted last time, and other souvenirs for myself and people I failed to get them for in Samoa. 

I'm not feeling particularly tired currently but I know I will be in the morning. We had KP for lunch today, but it wasn't bad- I got to wash dishes in the AC with Marissa aka "master" and we had a small water fight which was very fun. I'll definitely miss her A LOT! She reminds me a little bit of Sus, but a lot of King Julius from the movie Madagascar. 

All the girls on our team are pretty cool though. Alison went to the doctor today and they found out she has cellulitus in her knee- which totally sucks- she had it at boot camp in her foot and I remember I almost got it at boot camp as well. Her knee is pretty gross though, puss and nasty infection seeps from it and soaks through her pant leg and it smells kinda bad. Not that I blame her or anything- its just not fun. 

Abigail, we've decided is the most normal person on our team for the most part. The rest of us are all crazy. If any guy on our team were to ask me to the banquet I would hope it would be Jeff. I don't like him but I know him the best out of the guys and he's really cool. It probably helps that we had KP together twice in Samoa though. I don' know- it just seems like he understands me pretty well and he kind of reminds me of home. One night when I was kind of homesick in Samoa (in line for dinner, actually) he asked me if I was okay and gave me a big hug. It made my night a lot better.

I'm not sure what going home is going to be like- but I know there are some changes I need to make and they probably wont all be easy ones. I know my music list is going to require some editing because I have songs on there that are really worldly and just distract and draw me away from God. I also regret ever having started swearing at home, and I know its something I can't do anymore because its wrong and it gives a bad testimony.

Kaley Sue has never sworn in her life and that really impressed and encouraged me that I could be like her. Not with such a good past, but a new bar to start at. In my eyes Kaley is very pure and I can tell it is something important to her. Marissa A. is as well, she's just a little crazier. But I admire both of them for it. I haven't told them or anyone this but I know I've thought it in my heart before. 

When I get home and even now, I'm also fighting worldly thoughts, trying to keep my mind pure. It's pretty hard for me sometimes and I know it will probably be something I will continue to struggle with as I go home, but I'm set on fighting it out- God's on my side so I'll have the strength. It is also going to be difficult to keep up with devotions, especially with swim starting again- but I think its something I need to continue- so I'll have to find or make time even if its really hard.

I think God also wants me to be leading a prayer or bible group of some sort in my school, but I'm not exactly sure and the thought is kind of intimidating to me- I don't know where to start. I'm going to try this time though- I might start by asking Angie and others at church if they would be interested in doing it before school. I've found something else I struggle with at home is finding someone relatively close in age that would be a supporter with me in Christ and someone we could lean on each other with, and just build each other up in Christ. Maybe Angie is that person, I'm not really sure- could be Megan (a softball teammate) or anyone really. 

I know I don't want to go home and be the same though, I want to continue to grow in Christ and who he wants. At boot camp I decided to give God everything and I think its one of the few- if only time I've ever given my whole life to him and completely meant it- not holding back. Because even when I was broken at home and just asked him to take over- I kept control of my music and friends and what I said basically- not allowing him to do what I had asked. 

I'm super excited that Gideon is my little brother officially now- I can't even explain how it feels. I'm so proud to be an older sister I showed our whole team the letter/email my parents sent saying it was official. Things at home sound like they are still going fine, but I think Mom and Dad really do miss me and are ready for me to come home. I don't feel as homesick anymore- I think because I realize its actually happening soon. The phone call in the airport helped a lot too.

It's Aaron's (my oldest brother) B-day today- I forgot until just a second ago- He's 22 now. Mom said Sam, his girlfriend, had planned a big surprise party for him but Mom and Dad weren't going to stick around because it was going to be a big drunk fest. 

We did our presentations today for the camera- it went pretty well I thought, even though we accidentally skipped singing one song- oops. Ha ha. Everyone else is basically sleeping right now, but I think I'm doing okay writing in the dark. we've come a long way this summer. Samoa feels like it went by so quickly, although, it feels like we almost never went and it was all just a dream. But we all know it wasn't from the memories, souvenirs, and for me the tree burn on my thigh. Good times.

During our presentation today Marissa (leader) kept making faces at me, making me laugh, it was fun but it made it harder to sing. It was kind of hot outside but Debrief so far hasn't been as hot as I expected or remembered from boot camp. It could just be the increase in standards of living though. I love the dorms- they're so cold. 

I'm also going to miss Kayla L, she's pretty quiet natured, but she can be crazy like the rest of us. She's snoring right now, which is kind of funny. 

Marissa (leader) we found out can bench press 145 pounds! I was like Danggg..... I'm not sure if I wrote that before so I thought I'd include that bit of information. We're Michigan buddies- She seemed so much less homesick here because her sister is here too. They're both really cool. Holly (Marissa (leader)'s sister) almost got our team in trouble with Marissa today though because as a joke she put candy wrappers all over her purse and Marissa freaked on us.

Holly came and apologized to us all later. I feel like I knew Holly from somewhere before boot camp, but I might just be mistaken- who knows. I think Saturday night we're all planning on staying up late and talking for our last night together. I really hope we do. I memorized Kaley's cell # and I think I'm going to call her in the airport after I go through security. 

I'm glad I got this journal- I've written quite a bit but its almost full- which is good because I'm only using it for this trip. My rashes on my arms and neck are slightly better but I'm getting mosquito bites to make up for them. 

I shaved my legs with baby wipes tonight so they're relatively pretty smooth for the beach tomorrow- I really needed to shave. I'm not sure what else to write about so I think I'm going to pray for a while then go to sleep. Oh, my name is Alexa Blueberry Crepe. :)

Night. <3 Lexa.

Day 54/ Home Day 1 Sunday [8/15/2010]

The rest of debrief flew by. For the banquet the girls all took each other on our team, minus Mackenzie, who went with Christian. I took "master" Marissa A. with me. It was pretty cool and they gave us napkins and everything. Afterwards we had the final quiz then bridging the gap- where I committed myself to full time Christian service in front of everyone else. Marissa, Kaley, Alison and both Kayla's all said they would pray for me. Honestly, I  almost didn't go up because I was scared, but I didn't hold back and I went up. I'm glad I did.

Marissa and some of the girls cried during our last team devotionals, and saying first goodbyes. I almost did- well I did a little but not too much really. I cried when we got back to the dorm though. I slept with Marissa A. in her bed last night and I think we were both crying- I think almost everyone was. We all slept terrible because we knew it was our last night together and we had to wake up at 4:00 this morning. 

Waking up wasn't too bad I guess though, I don't really remember. I probably got about three and a half hours of sleep last night. We hauled all our bags on the bus- minus our carry-on bags and I helped Marissa A. carry her stuff to the eating hall where we all hung out until breakfast. Shortly after eating- I was still eating- we had to say goodbye and hop on the bus. It was one of the hardest things I had to do. I started crying after hugging Kaley- then I hugged Marissa for a while and we had to leave. (Marissa and Kaley stayed there because their parents were going to pick them up at boot camp). I think I cried almost all the way to the airport and am tearing up thinking about it now. I love those two so much! I hope I see them soon. 

I didn't cry really at the airport- I started to tear up a little but not too too bad. I never really said bye to Kaley or Marissa- but then again I never wanted to, but I hugged them and told them I loved them. At the airport I wen to the Disney story and accidentally missed Alison leaving. I also left two messages on Kaley's phone, one for Kaley and one for Marissa, I hope they got them. 

I got through security fine- Josh took me there and I was surprisingly kind of unemotional- I wasn't even scared to fly by myself really. I think part of it was that I was exhausted and part was peace of God over me. I tried to call home after security but the call wouldn't go through so I gave up on that. On the plane to Memphis I sat by two Tupperware girls that had gone to Disney. 

I got to tell a lot of people in the airport about my trip to Samoa- it was really cool and I was super excited to tell everyone who asked- even thought I wasn't sure exactly what to tell. When I got to Memphis my connecting flight was already supposed to be boarding and it was on the other side of the airport. So I dashed to the bathroom- where God had made there no line for me- I would've wet myself otherwise- then I ran to the other gate- praying along the way I wouldn't miss my flight.

I got there with about five minutes to wait before the plan actually boarded and had plenty of time. The plane was really small, there were only 14 or so rows of two on each side, and with low ceilings and the windows shut it was kind of claustrophobic in there. I sat by a lady- I can't remember her name right now. She was forty something and going home to Michigan where she lived with her mom. I think she had some mental issues, but she seemed really nice and I got to tell her a lot about my trip. She told me she went to a Methodist church at one point in our conversation and after some of God's prompting I re-brought up the subject and got to ask her if she had accepted Jesus. 

She told me she had so I didn't have to explain everything to her, but I think God just wanted to show me that he could give me the words and prompting to speak for Him- I just had to listen. I don't know if I helped her at all, but I think the experience helped me. It was hard to do devotionals today because I kept falling asleep or getting interrupted, plus my bible was packed- so I had a bunch of split up prayer sections on plane rides for the girls on our team and our leaders and safety while traveling and such. 

The plane ride to Grand Rapids took about an hour and a half but after we got there we had to wait a solid 25 minutes until we could get off the plane, which was pure agony for me because I was so close to seeing my parents, and yet I couldn't get off the plane! I had to pray for patience and eventually we got off and I basically ran through the terminal I was so excited. Mom, Dad, Seth and Gideon came to pick me up; all wearing Hawaiian/Samoan-ish shirts "to make me feel more at home." 

We went out to eat at Chilli's on the way home. Gideon started misbehaving and my parents were getting kind of frustrated at him, it felt like nothing at home had changed at all. Yet, I felt like a new-different person than I had been when I left. I got to tell everyone a lot about my trip but I felt like I was never shutting up. I was really tired though. 

When we got home it was super weird because I think I'm still in shock that I left my team- my "Samoan family" and I'm home to stay for a while. Its all so weird! I feel kind of confused but it might just be tiredness setting in. I showed the family all the stuff I got from Samoa tonight and will be sharing my pictures tomorrow with them. Dad asked me if I had a Samoan boyfriend and I was like.... uh...well.... He freaked for a second, but he's over it- he got over it pretty quickly. That is until he realizes I wasn't completely joking. :) Sigh. 

I edited my iTunes music lists today and got rid of some of what has been distracting me- then I went on Facebook, accepted friend requests and declared I was home! Susan had written on my wall a couple times, and her status was that she was needing or missing me right now. Pretty sure it was the first one. I'm excited to go see her- I've missed her quite a bit- but I've also changed quite a bit this summer and I plan on staying changed. 

Home doesn't feel like home yet again- I didn't recognize Boon (our Great Dane) almost, and my cat looks so much older. Gideon has grown quite a bit since I saw him last too. I'm officially home clean right now- I took a shower and am wearing all clean clothes and it feels great! I have a tan on my shoulders from my swimsuit at the beach, and its going to look weird for swim season. Oh well. I think I'm going to start swimming Tuesday or Wednesday- not sure which one yet. Well I'm super tired right now- I think I'm going to try to sleep for a little bit for the first time in my own bed in two months. I definitely lost weight on this trip because all my clothes are a lot looser on me now that they were.I better start swimming again to keep it off. :)

I hope the weirdness of home will go away, but even if it doesn't I don't want my fire to go out! I'm really changed this time for real- it feels awesome to give stuff to God and just trust him enough to obey when he guides me. Next Sunday I'm going to ask about starting a before school prayer group I think. I should probably pray more about it first- but I'm sure its what God's been calling me to do- I've just avoided it for a LONG time- kind of like surrendering everything took me until boot camp because I'm so stubborn... Alright. I'm going to bed now. I'll write more as the opportunity strikes.

Love, Lexa. 

End of Samoan Journal.