Wednesday, May 1, 2013

A Week In Paradise


 My first trip out of the country was on a mission to the Bahamas. We visited the tiny island of Eleuthera, not a common tourist attraction. A residential island with very few hotels and resorts. We stayed and worked at Bahamas Methodist Habitat, similar to Habitat for Humanity. This trip was very fulfilling for me both in a cultural sense and a spiritual experience. God was able to use this trip to show me how many blessings I have and how His love is all I need to truly be happy. I was able to serve God and his people in paradise. There I met some of the friendliest people I have ever encountered. We helped to rebuild a man’s house that burned down. In his small 2 bedroom house, he lived with his daughter and her 2 sons. After working an 8 hour day we would drive down to the beaches with pink sand and the bluest water I’ve ever seen. I will never forget my week in tropical paradise and the wonderful people that I met. I am hoping to one day go back and server there.

one of the beautiful beaches
Place we stayed and worked at
Manex-our new friend from the Bahamas

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Just an Intro


It’s always exciting to break out of the ordinary, mundane routine of daily life. One of my favorite things to do is travel and experience new places. I find it so interesting to meet new people and experience new cultures. Seeing new things, new landscapes and different ways of life are the parts of travel that make me want to continue traveling. My first out of the country experience was a Christian Mission trip to the Bahamas. There we worked with Bahamas Methodist Habitat and built a house for a low income family. It was one of the most incredible things I have ever been apart of. My love for missions only grew from that trip and I now have a burning passion to participate in missions both local and abroad. It is my dream to one day visit the other 5 continents and go on more missions. I would like to go on trips for both leisure and to do the Lord’s work. I have only just begun to see the places I’ve only seen and read about in books and magazines. I decided that my blog will focus on the places that I have been to (both in the US and abroad) and the places I wish to travel to.

My Most Recent Adventure


Cozumel, Mexico & Mayan Ruins

A little over a month ago I took a 5-day cruise to the Western Caribbean. We made stops in Progresso and Cozumel. The cruise was an all-inclusive cruise for $200. From Progresso we took a 2 hour bus ride to Chichen Itza to see one of the 7 Wonders of the World. The ruins site was full of culture and history.  It is definitely a stop to make if ever in that area! Our next stop was Cozumel where we went to the beach and enjoyed food and drinks with a waterfront view at Three Amigos. The water was the most beautiful clear blue and the people were so fun and lively! If I ever go back, I plan to go parasailing and scuba diving. Cozumel had so much to offer but I only had a few hours, I would love to go back someday.


Cozumel Beach
Chichen Itza

England

This past summer I worked at a Christian camp where I met Bec, a girl from England. We grew very close and she wants me to come visit her someday. This December after graduation, I plan to fly there for at least a week. While there, we plan to visit London, which is a short car ride away from where she lives. Visits to Manchester and Liverpool are also in the plans. I am excited to see Big Ben and go on the London Eye. I will get to see both touristy parts of the UK and the local scene. Round-trip flights normally run around $1000 and I will only need to bring money for the activities while I am there.


Photo Credits: Julie Chimeno & Bec Faulkner

Melissa, Me, Bec

Ipswich, UK in the wintertime