Hey! I’m Annie and I started this blog to keep my friends and family up to date on my life and travels. I enjoy cooking, crafts, traveling and reading. I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Child & Family Studies at Baylor University. I’m excited to discover all that the Lord has for me in the future!Tumblr (3.0; @toseeaworld)http://toseeaworld.com/<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ks5me6WitU1qzc1i3o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><i>I recently entered this photo in a Buckner Today photo contest. It was selected as a finalist and, if it wins, will be featured as the “parting shot” in the magazine. I was asked to write an editorial about the picture and what it means, which is below.</i></p> <br/><p>The balloons in this photograph and the paper stars attached to them carry the hopes and dreams of students from a small rural school in Lejasstrazdi, Latvia. While this may not seem significant, it carries a special meaning for me because five of those messages of hope were written by orphans. Orphans who, despite having all the odds against them, succeeded and were able to graduate from school.</p> <p>This summer, I served as a missions intern for Buckner International (or “Bakners” as it is called in Latvia). As interns, we helped lead Vacation Bible School, played games, built relationships with the children, and shared God’s love with them. My intern team and I spent the first week at a day center in a poverty-stricken neighborhood in Liepaja, a port city on the western coast of the country. We arrived in Lejasstrazdi the morning of their school’s graduation. We were invited to attend to celebrate and honor the students who were graduating. Summers in Latvia are beautiful and wildflowers blanket every open field. Latvians love their flowers and give them (to men and women) on numerous occasions: birthdays, weddings, arriving home from a trip, and, of course, graduation. Madera and Dace (“dah-tsa”), members of Buckner’s staff in Latvia, picked wildflowers and made bouquets for us to give to the graduating students from the orphanage. We dressed in our best and walked from the orphanage with the younger children, arriving just before the ceremony. Each of the graduating students was called up individually and honored by their teachers and the community. Dozens stepped forward to congratulate them on their achievement with flowers and words of encouragement. </p> <p>Although I could not understand what was said, I understood the looks of pride on the orphans’ faces. To get to this point, they had to overcome hardships that most people cannot imagine. Their pasts are littered with abuse, neglect, and substance-abusing parents. Despite it all, they still have hope, and because of Buckner’s work, many of them have everlasting hope in Jesus Christ. </p> <p>My experience as a Buckner intern was invaluable—it changed my life. Next May, I will be graduating from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies. After I graduate, I hope to work with at-risk children in my hometown of Oklahoma City: teaching, leading, and inspiring them to dream big.</p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/224515705http://toseeaworld.com/post/224515705Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:44:30 -0500<object width="400" height="336"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X0btR-J0sg0&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X0btR-J0sg0&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="336" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br/><br/><p><center>Thanks to Jeannene for putting this video together!</center></p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/134135990http://toseeaworld.com/post/134135990Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:15:00 -0500It’s been over a week since I left Lejasstrazdi. It wasn’t until after we had left the...http://toseeaworld.com/post/132303320http://toseeaworld.com/post/132303320Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:43:00 -0500My last two days in Lejasstrazdi were full of fun and joy, as well as heartbreak when we had to...http://toseeaworld.com/post/126929277http://toseeaworld.com/post/126929277Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:51:00 -0500 Today was a beautiful day! Yesterday, we finished our VBS program in Lejasstrazdi. I think the kids...http://toseeaworld.com/post/125691104http://toseeaworld.com/post/125691104Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:48:29 -0500Labrit! (“good morning!”). It’s just before breakfast at the orphanage in...http://toseeaworld.com/post/122219147http://toseeaworld.com/post/122219147Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:47:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/DbWof6iIOoiohgaum20OyxGuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><i>Faces of Liepaja</i>: The kids drew self-portraits one day during craft time. Here are some of their beautiful drawings! Click play below to hear one of the songs that the kids sing and dance to every day. It translates as “if Jesus is in my boat, I can smile—even in the storm!”</p> <p><embed src="http://1nightonthestreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/sergeis-kids-1.mp3" width="144" height="60" autostart="false"></embed></p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/120765503http://toseeaworld.com/post/120765503Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:38:00 -0500This morning, Ramie, Jeannene, Leslie, and I loaded up all of our bags into a mini van (which was...http://toseeaworld.com/post/120760983http://toseeaworld.com/post/120760983Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:29:00 -0500We’ve been learning a few words and phrases in Russian and Latvian (mostly Russian since...http://toseeaworld.com/post/118067820http://toseeaworld.com/post/118067820Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:51:08 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/DbWof6iIOoilsx68iJUkg5lVo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Click on the collage for all the pictures!</p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/120730484http://toseeaworld.com/post/120730484Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:55:00 -0500We started working (who am I kidding… this is not work!) in the day center on Monday. The past...http://toseeaworld.com/post/116964217http://toseeaworld.com/post/116964217Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:46:32 -0500Buckner InternationalLiepajaLatviaSveiki! (“hello” in Latvian). Our flight from DFW left Friday at 3 pm and took...http://toseeaworld.com/post/115876094http://toseeaworld.com/post/115876094Sun, 31 May 2009 14:57:17 -0500LiepajaBuckner internshipLatviaToday, I flew to Dallas and met with my intern team for orientation at the Buckner missions office....http://toseeaworld.com/post/114670327http://toseeaworld.com/post/114670327Thu, 28 May 2009 23:35:00 -0500Buckner InternationalShoes for Orphan SoulsBuckner internship<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/DbWof6iIOo0i1pzn3O76c34vo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I’m packing up and moving out… to LATVIA!!</p> <p>Last fall, I learned about the global missions internship with Buckner, a global Christian ministry that works with orphans and at-risk children around the world. Interns help lead Bible studies, games, crafts, scripture memory, and more in several of Buckner’s orphanages overseas. In the photo above, I’m packing up the craft and VBS materials I’m taking for the kids. My mom and I had a great time getting supplies, as you can see! I can gladly say that the bag I packed for my clothing and toiletries is considerably smaller than the bag for the kids!</p> <p>It was a special blessing to received toothbrushes and toothpaste for <i>all</i> of the ninety children I’ll be working with from my dentist, Dr. Alan Owen, and his staff. I called yesterday and they gathered everything on short notice (you can see the big box of toothbrushes in the lower right of the picture). I was really touched by their generosity and I know the kids will be as well! “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” (James 1:27).</p> <p>Tomorrow, I head to Dallas for an orientation with my intern team, then to Latvia! I’m so excited to share Jesus’ love with “the least of these.” I’m taking my laptop with me, so I look forward to your comments and emails! I’ll try to post updates as frequently as possible, as well as prayer requests.</p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/114131288http://toseeaworld.com/post/114131288Wed, 27 May 2009 23:18:09 -0500Buckner internshipVBSorphanageshttp://toseeaworld.com/post/105815356http://toseeaworld.com/post/105815356Sun, 10 May 2009 08:00:00 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/DbWof6iIOnaptr0ze4SKCihno1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Happy Birthday Blair! I am blessed to have such an amazing big brother! I’ve always looked up to you and I’m so proud of you! Love you </p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/105675478http://toseeaworld.com/post/105675478Sat, 09 May 2009 10:13:00 -0500birthdayfamily<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/DbWof6iIOn26znr4cFFsk3dno1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This was taken in Santo Tomás del Norte, Nicaragua, on a mission trip over spring break. Our group focused ministering to the children—playing games, telling Bible stories, dancing, talking about our culture and the love of Jesus Christ. The children were so precious… I can’t wait to go back! Click on the picture to see more of my trip to Nicaragua.</p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/103213068http://toseeaworld.com/post/103213068Tue, 05 May 2009 13:04:00 -0500“To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm...http://toseeaworld.com/post/103208981http://toseeaworld.com/post/103208981Mon, 04 May 2009 00:17:00 -0500““Holiness is not God asking us to be ‘good’; it is an invitation to be His....http://toseeaworld.com/post/102000806http://toseeaworld.com/post/102000806Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:40:00 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/DbWof6iIOmw7royrk28rRccoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jazzfest 2009</p> <p>My friend, Natalie Pavela, and I drove down to New Orleans last weekend for the Jazz & Heritage Festival. We had a great time! We arrived a little after midnight Wednesday night—which is probably a great time to hit up Bourbon Street, but we went straight to bed. On Thursday, we went to a cooking class at the <a href="http://www.neworleansschoolofcooking.com/" target="_blank">New Orleans School of Cooking</a> with Chef Michael and took an evening tour of the French Quarter’s “haunted” houses. Jazzfest was Friday through Sunday. There were a lot of amazing acts… Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, Joe Cocker, Better Than Ezra, Spoon, the Rebirth Brass Band, Marc Broussard, and many more. And did I mention the food? Wonderful! Saturday night, we had dinner at <a href="http://www.lacrepenanou.com/index.html" target="_blank">Le Crêpe Nanou</a>, a great little French restaurant in Uptown New Orleans. The drive back to Waco was a little tedious (8 hours starting after DMB ended around 7 pm), but it was well worth it!</p> <p>Click on the photo above to see more pictures from our weekend in the Big Easy!</p>http://toseeaworld.com/post/101643885http://toseeaworld.com/post/101643885Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:39:00 -0500