What a crazy week this has been! I've been so busy all the time lately, but this last week was absolutely crazy! And this weekend is proving to be about the same. Currently, I am sitting in the Digital Media Arts building on campus working on a newspaper article and doing interviews. MG Collective, a networking organization that promotes the continuing growth of animation, is having a statewide 49-hour animation contest. There are several HU students involved, so I am writing stories for both our school paper, and a local county newspaper. It's really cool to be here and see people creating short films using different mediums.

Onto South Africa stuff.. I am so close to having all of my support in! Just a few hundred dollars more!! The last few days have been amazing; just seeing how fast the rest of the money is coming in. I cannot wait to get the dates solid and set in place! Also, I might be staying in Vienna a few days longer than I thought. That will be a lot of fun too. I can't wait to meet the rest of Justin's family and spend some time with them!

One of the other interns sent an email out to the rest of our group. She asked who would want to go great white shark diving. Of course I said I would! If someone who knows what they are doing can take us, I would go in a heartbeat! What do you think? Could you see me swimming with sharks?! That would be so incredible! Definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

Well, I should get going and go get some more work done, but please remember to keep me in your prayers. Here are some things you could be praying about:

• The rest of the funding 
• Comfort (I don't like being nervous)
• Relationships (here and there)
• Safety

I have been so busy lately, and I guess I just didn't realize how fast time was going. Only about a month and a half until Justin and I go to Vienna to visit his family , then about two weeks later, it's on to Johannesburg for me! I still need a lot of support though. I need to have it all in within three weeks, and I still need over $1,000. I am praying like crazy!! Just keep praying too! And if you feel like you are able to support me financially, please do! Every little bit helps! 

As I'm finally realizing that this is really happening, I can't help but think (and get a little bit scared) about being gone for most of the summer. Completely on my own. I know I'll make new friendships, and get somewhat acclimated to the area, but it will take time. Everything around me will be new. New people.. a new culture.. a new area. I can't wait, but knowing myself, it will definitely take time to get used to. I won't be able to just call someone when I want to either. I'll have to rely on email and facebook to keep in touch for the most part.. delayed communication. That's not a bad thing, but it will be different. I know there will be times when I'll just want to call a friend and go get coffee, and I won't be able to. There will be times I'll want to call my mom and just talk about nothing. There will be times I want to see Justin. I won't be able to. Everything will take getting used to.

I am so ready for this adventure! I cannot wait to see how much I learn, and change, from this. Please continue to pray as I'm preparing and as I finish raising support. Thank you!

In less than 18 hours, I will finally be on spring break! A break MUCH needed! This semester has been so crazy so far, and it's barely half over! It's just been so busy! I am definitely looking forward to a time to just relax and not have to worry about school or work for a while! It is going to be BEAUTIFUL!! One concern that has been heavy on my heart this semester, "How am I going to make it to South Africa?!"

I will be in South Africa in less than three months! Is that crazy or what? I can't even believe it! I'm getting so excited...and scared.. Ideally, I should have all of my funding in within the next month. I need to at least have a good portion of it. I currently have about half of it. I'm really scared I won't be able to raise the rest of it in a month, but I'm trying not to be. Just be praying, please! That's what I've been doing! I'm scared, but still full of hope! God is good, and He will provide : )

Some things you could be praying for:

• Funding
• Relationships (both here and in South Africa)
• Travel
• Health
• Nerves! 
• Learning

It's been forever since I've updated this! I've been going non-stop for the last few weeks! Things have been going pretty well though. I am about half-way done with raising support, so that's good, but I hope it all comes in in time! I'm not too worried. Well, that might be a lie. I'm quite nervous, but that's in my nature. I'm trying to stay positive and not let my fears get the best of me. It's more exciting than it is scary. Just the idea of going to a different country excites me. Then add in that I'll be doing what I'm being trained to do, and what I love to do, and meeting people from a different culture; it's going to be a trip of a lifetime, that's for sure! I can't believe that in three months I will be in Johannesburg! How crazy is that?! 

I've had a few "theme" songs about this trip, if you will. Just some songs that seem to be sticking out and fitting in perfectly with what my mentality needs to be for this adventure. One of them is called "I will follow" by Chris Tomlin. It is one of my all time favorite songs, especially right now at this time in my life. Here are the lyrics. I especially love the chorus:

Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow...


All Your ways are good
All Your ways are sure
I will trust in You alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in You alone


Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow You
Who You love, I'll love
How You serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow You
I will follow You


Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for You alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in You alone
In You alone


Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow You
Who You love, I'll love
How You serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow You
I will follow You


In You there's life everlasting
In You there's freedom for my soul
In You there joy, unending joy
And I will follow


Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose
I will follow


Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow You
Who You love, I'll love
How You serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You, I will follow You

Please keep praying for me as I prepare and keep praying that the support I need will come in. If you would like to consider supporting me financially, it would be greatly appreciated. Check out my website for a way to donate online or find my address! http://www.wix.com/brittanyreynolds/online-portfolio

Wow! It's been a while since this has been updated! We are almost done with our second week of classes! It's so crazy!! We had a nice break in the middle of the week too. On Wednesday, the campus was closed due to winter storm warnings and ice. It was nice to just be able to catch up on some reading. I already know this semester is going to be a busy one.

About South Africa. I am getting so excited! Not that I wasn't before, but now I'm getting even more excited! With that excitement though, comes nervousness. I'm always a pretty nervous person, especially when it comes to things like this, so it's not abnormal, but I've been told I shouldn't worry just yet anyway! I can't help it!

I know who the other interns will be this summer too! There are four other girls. Beth, Ashley, Alyssa, and Alena. I've had contact with one of the girls so far, and she seems really nice. Finding out the names of the other interns got me really excited too, and reminded me that I'm not alone this summer. These girls (all from the U.S as well) will be in the same boat I am. I cannot wait!

Support. I'm getting nervous (the never-ending emotion that will forever haunt me) about raising the necessary funds. A lot has come in so far, and with what I've received and what has been committed, I have a little over $1,000. That's progress, but I still need about $3,550. I know people are praying, and I'm praying. If this is what God wants, I'll get there. I just need to remember that all I can do is trust Him and follow Him as He's leading me.

Please continue to keep me in prayer during this time. Some things you could pray about:

• Support (Remember--I still need a lot!)
• Nerves
• Friendships (both with the other interns and the staff)
• Being away from family and friends for the summer 

So J-term is almost over. In some regards it seems to have gone fast, but in other ways, it seems to have dragged on. Anyway, it will be nice to have another break before second semester starts. My fiance and I are going to my house for a few days, so that will be nice.

As far as South Africa goes, I am still super excited! I've heard from some people that plan on sponsoring me through monetary donations, and all of my friends and family have been really encouraging and supportive.

I can't wait to see how much I change while I am over there. I know it's going to be great. One of my favorite songs has been really coming to mind this week, and I just want to share it. It's called "Set the World on Fire" by Britt Nicole:

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

[CHORUS]
I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands

[CHORUS]

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There's nothing I can't do
Nothing I can't do

I'm gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

Wow! I have had a very exciting couple of weeks! I am engaged! Justin proposed on New Year's. It was absolutely wonderful and I am still bubbling with excitement! As you can imagine, I'm having trouble really focusing on much of anything else right now! I'm asking for more prayer for this summer. I know it's going to be very hard not getting to see him, and a lot of wedding planning will be put on hold. I know things will work though. : )

A lot of things seem to be falling into place for my summer in SA, but I still need help. I still need to raise a lot of support. I am actually getting kind of nervous. Maybe now that the Christmas season is over, things will start to really pick up. Keep praying!! That's what I'm doing!

Until next time!