i need to be put out of my comfort zone. i have a very "cushy" life, as my mom puts it. i have a wonderful family, a good job, an amazing boyfriend, good relationships and not a lot of stress. not only do i need to be put out of my comfort zone, but i want to be put out of my comfort zone. i need to feel what it's like to depend entirely on God and not my material possessions of this earth. I  know what it's like to have Jesus as someone who i can pray to when i need him, to thank him for what i have. i've never been in a situation where i didn't have anything/anyone else but God. i want to know what it's like to have to depend ENTIRELY on Him. i don't know how, exactly, i just know that i want it to happen on this trip. 

i would also like God to make himself more real to me. i heard all these crazy stories last year about how people would be healed from crazy things as a result of other people praying for them. i've always wanted something like that to happen in my presence.

i know both of these sound like really selfish requests, and they probably are. but that's what God has set my heart to.

and lastly, i want god to use me in whatever way he wants. i want to be the light of jesus to these people, i want to give them the hope of the cross when they have nothing else left.

i would give up all these expectations, however, if this one expectation is met- if i can change or impact one life, ANYONE that i come in contact with on this trip, in a positive way, weather it be a small or tremendous effect, then my expectations will be fulfilled and i will take from this journey something much bigger than myself.

^^^^ if this would happen at anytime in my life, even if i fail at everything else, than i would die happy and my life would not have been in vain.

:)