Who the heck is Julyssa, anyways?

Maybe you've noticed... maybe you haven't...

but lately, it's been all about Julyssa.

If you follow me on twitter, instagram, have bought an ad, or looked around my shop lately, that is.

I can GLADLY say that mine and Wade's efforts to raise funds for our upcoming mission trip to India have been a success and we are all set to go! Thank you Jesus!!

Now that's it's paid off, my attentions have turned to a new cause:

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Julyssa's Quincenera!!!

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If you don't already know, Julyssa was my first little friend in Mexico. 

I met her when she was just 9 years old.

That's her on the left, with her sister Katia to the right

cute right??

Now they look like this:

All grown up.

Cra-Zay-Zee.

And in October, Wade and I get to travel to Mexico for a mini-vacay to celebrate this gorgeous girl's Quincenera!

What's a Quincenera, you ask?

Well, it's a big huge deal.

Think wedding, but without the groom and your big dress is hot pink, or purple, or aqua. Which ever you fancy.
It's a birthday celebration for a girl who turns 15.  There is a ceremony where they are giving items that signify the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood, as well as items to be used in their future wedding.  And many times, a girl receives a purity ring to promise God her purity as she waits for marriage. 

Oh, and you get FIFTEEN cakes. 

Yes you read that right.

FIFTEEN.

A Quincenera is a milestone in a girls life in Mexico.  

A right of passage, a coming of age.

And I want to help her make it happen!

That's where you come in, for the next few months, every penny earned from my shop or blog ads is going directly to helping fund her party.  (They ain't cheap, y'all)

To celebrate our paid trip to India and to make the transition to raising funds for her party, I'm offering all ad spaces for a newly reduced price!!  Go here to check it out.  I'd love to have you're beautiful face/blog name featured on my page and I'd really love for you to get involved with her life the way I am!  

Some of you have already bought rings and bags and even donated to help and I want to say a huge THANK YOU!! I can't wait to share photos after the party and show you all what you were a part of!

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Still not sure who Julyssa is?

Check out this post

And this vlog.

::She Goes to Spain::

i did not want to go to spain this summer.

i felt bad every time i told someone i was going and they said, "oh, i've always wanted to go to spain!" and inside i was thinking, please, friend, TAKE MY PLACE.

i did not want to go to spain this summer, and i found myself on a plane there anyway, routed through paris, which is only one of my favorite places in the world. in fact, it was on the plane about to take off from a runway in paris that i decided was a good time to argue with God about it. "why am i going to spain?" i asked Him. "what on earth do You want me doing there?"

i'm not sure whether He smiled indulgently or rolled His eyes sardonically at my questions. in any case, i went to spain, even if i didn't want to. i taught, even though i dislike it. i spoke, even when it scared me. i danced to "cupid shuffle" and "single ladies," even though i felt like a mad fool.

and in doing that, i built relationships, even though i was only going to be there for two weeks and wasn't sure if i'd ever see those people again. & i learned, more than in any other place i've ever been, that missions should be a natural overflow of whatever else you're doing, that missional living is really just, well, living. & i learned that in the course of that living, no lesson taught, no word spoken, no step to the "cupid shuffle," in the name of Jesus, will ever, ever be wasted.

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Wow Annie. That last paragraph couldn't have said it better.  "Missional living is really just, well, living."  

If you don't know Annie, you should seriously go meet her.  She's the girl who blogs at What She Saw, with a heart for Jesus and for missions, a ton of humor, and the ability to be 100% real at all times. I'm so glad to have "met" her in this blogging community and am so grateful to her for taking a step of faith by sponsoring our mission trip to India as a Featured Ad Sponsor in the midst of wondering how she would pay for her own this summer!  

Annie, you're a fantastic sponsor and I'm going to miss your face on my blog!

::want to sponsor in August and help a sweet girl in Mexico have her quincenera?::

::This One's for the Girls::

Like I said yesterday, once the group left at the end of the first week in Mexico (hubs included), I stayed behind.  I had another group coming in a week later and decided to spend a little time in my favorite colonia in between with a friend.

During that time, I experienced what quite possible has been one of my Top 5 Days in Mexico:

::The Day we Took the Girls to the Market::

Every time I take a group to Mexico, we spend a half day at the Market.  This is the first time I've ever had the opportunity to go without a group and we decided to ask a few of the girls from la colonia to go with us!  These are my two :)

Tali & Marlen

  Aren't they precious!?  

The girls that we took to the Market had never been to one so large.  Tali and Marlen were turning their heads left and right, eyes wide, in amazement of all the things around them.  In fact, I think Marlen (the little one) must have said "Mira!" ("Look!) about a million times!

Josie, Laura, Marlen, Kendra, Tali, Emily, and Saira

While there, I told Marlen and Tali that I would buy them each two things and to really think about what they want because there was so much to choose from.  Shopping like that isn't something they get to experience often if ever.  (I might have ended up getting them each 4 things in the end... hah)

After shopping, we all sat down for lunch, where Marlen and Tali couldn't get over the size of their Coca's! haha They were loving it, even though they ended the meal holding their stomachs because they over-indulged a little bit! 

(Check out Marlen's head band she picked out! Cute right?)

The girls with all of their "stuff"

By far, the best part of all was when we arrived back home and I walked Tali and Marlen to their house.  I loved watching them give the things they picked out to their mom and sister, Andrea, who is handicapped, and then hearing them tell their mom all about their day.

All about the great food,

and all about their sore bellies!

Top 5 for sure.  Probably even Top 3.

::Once upon a time::

In a far away land, two strangers met and fell in love.

And then they fell in love, together, with a whole lot of people that, over time, became their family.

Here are some highlights from Week 1 in Reynosa, MX.

::Tali and Marlen::

If I ever have daughters, I hope they are just like them.

Sisters through and through.

::A New House for Blanca:: 

A relative of "our family" received a house by our group this week. It was such a blessing to watch it go up and spend time with mi familia so much.

 ::enjoying Raspas with the kiddos::

 that's my girl, Julyssa, on the left.  If you purchase an ad this month or shop at my store, you'll be helping her have her quincenera -- a huge milestone for a girl in Mexico.

Thank you God for this beautiful house and for this beautiful family!

::Time with Friends::

Wade's closest friend down there is Francis.  These two are so close. I love to see their relationship grow and hear their conversations about God, ministry, and family.

And if this GoodBye photo doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will!
(I should mention that this hug was preceeded with Wade and Marlen running, arms wide, toward eachother for this final embrace)

Lucky for me, I was able to stay after my husband and the rest of the team left.  I spent the next week and a half living in Mexico and experiencing just a taste of what my life will be like in a year when we move. *happy sigh*

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see more!

want to sponsor my blog & give to missions?

::Sponsor::

Click here for more info.

And don't forget that every penny goes to Missions!

[current Mission: raising funds for Julyssa's quincenera]

The Girl Behind the Blog [Begin, Accomplish, and Change]

I'm BAAACK! 
And just in time for this month's installment of The Girl Behind the Blog vlog series!

Whew!  I'd hate to miss it.

Want to join in?  Check out the prompt and link up with 5ohwifey or Lindsay! Vlogging is a great way to get to know your favorite bloggers even more.

So, here we go!

As always, I didn't rehearse my answers or shoot this more than once, so I have one thing I want to clarify:

While I am SUPER excited, that's not WHY we are going. We are going because we have made a decision to turn from our pursuit of the American dream and do something that causes us to fully rely on God.  He has been leading us in the direction for some time now and I am just thrilled that He even wants to use us.  Our main goal while down there is to express His love and minister to His people.

Leave me some love! I'd love to meet you if I haven't already and I definitely want to watch your vlogs as well!!!

Have you entered to win a Kelly Moore bag yet??  Not only could you win the most amazing camera bag, but you will be helping us go to India in the process!

Only a week left to enter!!

Hola, de Mexico!

Hey everyone! I just thought I should let you know I'm alive and still in Mexico! The group went back to Alabama on Friday and I stayed behind for another week and a half. I don't have my laptop, so I can only blog from the iPad. I will try to take more instagram photos since I'm unable to upload the ones from my camera until I return home. Btw, if you still want to order one of the rings to raise money for Julyssa's quinceñera (see 2 posts back) you can still preorder one! Just comment with the word you'd like and your ring size! I've already picked up the first order and they look awesome! I will instagram some photos later. (follow me with the instagram link to the left). Love you guys!

::Ever heard of a pet Racoon?::

Well, now you have.

#MissionMexico12

Follow on Twitter and Instagram.

::Passion Fruit, Rings, and a Special Girl::

I'm off to Mexico today! (for three weeks -- don't worry, I'll be checking in!)

But before I go, I wanted to tell you guys about a few things!

1st,

I've recently made the switch to Passion Fruit Ads and am offering the following sizes!

Click HERE for more info!

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2nd,

I'm so excited to tell you guys about another fundraiser!

A difficulty in being a missionary is funding -- not only for the travel fees -- but for the needs of the people as well!

Julyssa is a girl I met when she was just 8 years old. 

(she's on the left)

She is now about to turn 15! Where does the time go?? In Mexico, the 15th birthday is a BIG deal.  They have a huge party, comparable to a wedding, called a Quincenera.

Julyssa is a smart girl, (you can read more about her here) with big dreams (read/watch about that here) and told her parents that she would rather have a computer for school and work (yes work, as a beautician, at 15) rather than a Quincenera because she knew her parents couldn't afford both.

Her parents and we wanted her to have one because it is such an important time in a young girls life and we will be traveling to Mexico to celebrate the day with her in October.

In effort to raise funds to buy the necessities for these parties (the dress, cake, decorations, etc), I'm going to be selling rings like this one.  (As well as giving her my advertisement donations over the next few months.)

There is a wonderful man in Mexico who makes these. He can make any word you'd like,

Love

Amore

Africa

Your Name

Your Spouses Name

Anything!

Not only will your purchase help Julyssa have her Quincenera, it will also benefit mi amigo in Mexico who makes them by giving him some extra business.

I think the best way to do this would be with Pre-Orders. If you would like a ring, please email me at

thewilliamspost{at}gmail{dot}com

with the word you'd like and your estimated ring size

by THURSDAY, JULY 12th!!

I will be buying some extras for Post Sales, but the sizes may not be what you need!

I'll be selling the rings for $10 (free shipping).

$3 or $4 from your purchase will go to the maker while the remaining $6 or $7 will go to Julyssa's party!

Pre-Orders will be shipped when I return, apx. 7.26.12.

Adios!

::Little Baby Nephew::

Little baby nephew, Landon, I have been praying and waiting and crying for you for four years.  Sometimes I can't even believe you'll be here in October.  I mean, you're here now, but you won't let me feel you kick, so I'm really looking forward to holding you and kissing you all over.

Little baby nephew, Landon, you made me cry in the middle of Turner Field last week.  I love skype.  What a terrific invention.  I loved seeing your cute little nose and the crease of your eyelid.  The tears were inevitable.

Dear baby nephew, Landon, your parents want you so bad.  My sister and brother-in-law are going to be the best parents. They love you so much.  They have worked hard for you to get here. Every day for the last 4 or 5 years, they have thought about you.  They, too, wished for you, prayed for you, cried for you.  You are so special.

I took some pictures of your mommy this weekend. She is so beautiful.  You make her glow even more than she did before, if that's physically possible. You should see this:

I told you she was beautiful.  You're one lucky kid, Landon.  Enjoy these next few months with her. She's taking great care of you. 

Love, Cool Aunt Kerrie

**Kris and Scott -- I am so so happy for you two. I love you and I can't wait to meet my nephew in October**


Did you miss yesterday's 4th of July post?  It's got some great photos of Da Bayou!