This is just the beginning...

Every time something really exciting is about to happen in my life I had dear people telling me "...and this is just the beginning..." Now, being back in the U.S. I reflect on what my teammates and I have gone through during the past month at the London Olympics. It's so crazy to think that I was actually there...that I caught not only in camera, but in my heart and mind "the Spirit of the Games."

London 2012 was one of the most amazing experiences God has granted me so far in my 21 years of life. I learned things that I will carry on for the rest of my life. I learned to work with the best of others, discovering their strengths and helping them to make the best use of them. I learned more about my camera and editing skills; I put into practice every single concept I've been learning in school about editing and using a camera... I followed the rules, and I broke the rules at times too (editing rules, I mean). I learned to love people who may look, speak, and think differently than me. I learned to see the best of everyone and also learned to extend grace to forgive and forget the worst of me and others. I learned to find a quiet place in the midst of a busy mind living in a busy city in its busiest time.

I cannot even count all the things I learned through this internship/mission trip. It was an amazing experience that only because of God's amazing grace I was able to be part of. I'd love to have a Thank you-reunion to meet up with all of you who have supported me, prepared me, prayed for me before-during-and after London. As I said before in one of my earliest blogs, ALL of you are part of this... All and each one of you came to London with me.... and without YOU none of these would've been possible.

I thank you SO much for everything! and I'll keep you posted on the date/place of the "Thank-you-reunion" as soon as I get that figured out.

Also, I forgot to put this video up on my blog a few weeks ago... but this is me on KTIV again! Hope you enjoy watching this video... http://www.ktiv.com/story/19192576/sioux-center-student-checks-in-with-siouxland-from-the-olympics

Can't wait to meet up with all of you as another (and my last!) school year starts! Keep in touch! God bless :)

Proud of coming from Amerrrrica!

Wow! The last few days have been incredibly crazy busy! but SO much fun :) Over the weekend we went to watch two cycling events, both the men's road race and the women's. The fun part was seeing and interacting with fans from all over the world. I particularly enjoyed speaking Spanish with people from Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia... (Paraguayans though, where are you?!) and practiced my Portuguese with Brazilians! I love how everyone is in such a good mood all the time, most people are very approachable, and even athletes and coaches are willing to give us their time and share their experiences. 

Today was a great day, and had some amazing interviews that I could not postpone my blogging tonight! I often pray that God would let me be in the right place at the right time, and today was one of those days! I was supposed to "rest" because I had a late night the night before and had a big day ahead of me... but because we didn't have enough camera-people, I was asked to help out with an interview with a former athlete. 

I walked into the room without even knowing who we were interviewing, set up the camera, check the lights, and started rolling. As the interviewee started talking, it didn't take her long to completely captivate my attention. Madeline Manning (Mims) won the gold medal in the 800m. several years ago. She broke many records then, such as being not only the first woman to win this event, but also being one of the first African-Americans to do so. As she explained, early 1970s was a very sensitive and tough period for African-Americans. But she made sure to share the key to her success as an Olympian... and this is God. She said that only because of the grace of God she stands where she is now. She is a woman of influence in the sport world, and all she is and she has done is because and for God, she explained. It was a beautiful blessing to get to meet her, and to get to see her genuine passion for Christ.

Later in the day we went to the U.S.A track&field team practice. We got to interview a bunch of female athletes, and we could just tell that they were so excited for the competition, and can't wait for it to begin! What resonated the most to me is how everyone emphasized the importance of giving their best and competing at their fullest. It wasn't so much about winning the gold medal, although that is always the ultimate goal...but they were all just excited about competing after having been training really really hard for years. 

It has only been a week here in London, and the Olympics just started, but I feel like I've been here for ages already, and all I'm living has helped me to immerse myself into this sport culture that the Olympics bring. After interviewing fans and talking to some athletes and coaches, I realize more and more the huge role that media plays into all of this. Athletes train super hard to get where they are today, and most of them are truly focus in the goals they have set. The media often makes us believe that athletes are unreachable, but they are not. They are just like you and me (with the difference that they are physically fit ;). But seriously, they are great people, with dreams like everyone else... and I admire them so much for pursuing those dreams with discipline, patience, sweat (literally) and tears. Some of them, such as Madeline and other U.S.A athletes we interviewed today, have put their trust in the Lord, acknowledging Him in all their ways. My heart's prayer is that one day we will ALL get to the point of understanding that God has SO much in store for us, that everything is His, and that He is our everything.