WOW!!! Never would have thought I would be where I am today, even just two years ago. I grew up in a "religious" family. Go to church every Sunday, put a smile on and make sure no one suspects you have any problems. When I was about 7 things went sour and we left the church. I went without any Christian influence until I was 12. In the fifth grade my teacher was from the church we left and from what I've been told didn't like my family. So, after fifth grade I left Troy and was put into a Catholic school, well that lasted a year until the schools upper grades were removed. SO, after that God really worked a miracle, and put people into my parents life that lead us the the local Christian school where i am now(NRCS!!!) I went there for the first year not really agreeing with the teachings, and just managed to get through the year. Well the summer after that first year is where my life was really bad. I was partying with "friends" and smoking marijuana basically any chance I got, I remember the last time I got drunk I texted my sister and said pretty much "HELP!!! I can't live like this." Helen called me and was scared all the way through I think, I explained everything to her and she called my parents and they talked. My mom was at work, about an hour away from home when my sister called her, and she walked right out of the store and drove home. That was a pretty insane day for me, we ended up going to my sisters house and hanging out there for the day with my family. It was close to the end of summer and I knew I had to go back to "the Christan school" very soon... I was absolutely dreading it, I figured if anyone found out I would be kicked out, and I didn't know what would happen then. Well, a few weeks into the school years a group of teenagers came to the school from Freedom Village which is a Christ centered rehab for young people in our area. Long story short I gave my life to Christ that day and He has been radically changing my life since then. Two years ago, I honestly would have NEVER EVER EVER have thought I would have been going on a trip to glorify God and lead people to Jesus. Note: Since the fifth grade, my teacher has gotten married, changed her look on life, and we now talk, and she's helping me raise funds for my trip, but thats a story for another time! Sorry for making this so long, but this is just a glimpse, I think you'll all get to know me better in the coming months, and on the trip!