Assala Malekum from Africa!

I am safely in Senegal. We're staying at a missionary's house for a few hours to get some sleep before heading to the village. Their house is beautiful and I absolutely love it here thusfar. Unfortunately, people are waiting to use the computer, so hopefully a longer update will come later.

It's about that time.

May 10th has arrived. In twelve hours, I will be boarding a plane to Washington D.C. After changing flights in D.C., I will be arriving in Dakar, Senegal! My bags are packed, my iPod is synced, and the camera is charged.

I'm going to try to update as much as possible on here (we're supposed to have internet access). Please feel free to leave me comments. Or you can send me e-mails at jpsmit6@uky.edu. I would absolutely love to hear from friends and family while I am gone!

Be praying for our group, as well as the people of Senegal. Pray for their hearts to be open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ci turu Yeesu Kirist

"What are you doing this summer, Jazmin?"

"Well, I am going to Africa."

I've had this conversation probably over 50 times in recent months. At first, I announced my trip to Africa so casually. Now, when I tell people about this trip, it comes out in a panicky voice masked by an excited smile. It's real now. I'm leaving in less than three days. I'm absolutely filled with joy and excitement, but the panic and fear is still there.

But none of my fears and worries matter, because my God is so good. I have faith that He will provide. It's going to be frustrating at times, especially with the language barrier, but we've been called for a reason: to make His name known. We may not be able to flat-out tell them who Jesus is and hand them a Bible, but we CAN show them Christ. Respecting their faith and showing them Christ in us through our actions can make a larger impact than we sometimes realize.

So what am I up to this summer?

Well...

I am going to Africa in three days. Senegal, Africa, to be more specific. I am traveling with eight others and I can't wait to spend two weeks with them. I am living in the village for twelve days, learning the Senegalese way of life. I am going to speak very broken Wolof and probably do a lot of pantomiming to communicate with others. I am going to love on children and work in a medical clinic. I am going to build relationships and show people who Christ is.

Best Christmas Songs

I'm a huge fan of Christmas music.  I usually try to avoid Christmas anything before Thanksgiving, but I listened to my Christmas CD two days before Thanksgiving this year. So I'm ranking my ten favorite Christmas tunes, which is a lot cooler than ranking Christmas movies. 

10. Do You Hear What I Hear?

In third grade, I played the star in the Mt. Washington Elementary Christmas play.  By that, I mean that I wore a sweatsuit with stars on it and carried the Star of Bethlehem on a pole.  This was the song playing when I walked out, so it holds a dear place in my heart.

9. Mary, Did You Know?

If you have ever seen the Christmas play at First Baptist Church in Mt. Washington, then this may be one of your favorites, too.  Every year, I looked forward to Eric Rouse singing this song. They stopped doing the Christmas play last year, so I will probably never hear his wonderful rendition again. :(

8. Merry Christmas from the Family

I was listening to the Dixie Chicks version of this song before I was even old enough to be allowed to hear it.  It's hilarious and sort of reminds me of my extended family.

7. O Come All Ye Faithful

This is another song I learned from being in the elementary Christmas plays.  I also loved when Hanson sang it in a Christmas medley. Anything that Hanson sings is okay in my book.

6. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

This song says the word "peace" a lot. I like peace.  I also like Casting Crowns singing this song.  

 

5. New Again

I'm not really sure if it's a Christmas song, but it's on Sara Evans' Christmas CD and on the radio this time of year.  The message is amazing and it's a beautiful song.  Also, I sang it at Calvary's Christmas 10:55 with some incredibly talented musicians, so that was awesome.

4. Little Drummer Boy

This has been a favorite since I was super young.  I love when Josh Groban sings it.  It is also Angela's (The Office) all-time favorite song and my mom's favorite Christmas song.

3. Breath of Heaven

This song is just so pretty and another favorite from First Baptist's Christmas play.  The Jessica Simpson version is horrible, though.  Always go for Amy Grant.

2. O Holy Night

I almost always get chills from this song. The Barlow Girl version is amazing, but I like this song no matter who sings it.  

1.  Carol of the Bells

Nothing gets me in the Christmas spirit like Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Carol of the Bells". When I hear this song, I know I'm ready for Christmas.  Nothing can beat this one.  Except maybe hearing it live.  Hopefully that will happen next year.

Trying to be a rational consumer

I'm contemplating an investment that I never thought would cross my mind.  I might buy a bicycle. But here's the deal...I didn't even like riding bikes as a child. Also, I don't even know if I could still ride one.  As of late, I've been thinking about this investment every time I see a bike (which is pretty often on a campus the size of UK's).  And since most aspects of my life involve some sort of list-making, of course I made a pro/con list. 

Pro

1. I HATE driving.

2. I could get to class much faster.

3. CO2 emission from cars is bad news.

4.  Bikes are 2/3 more efficient than cars (Yes, I looked that up).

5.  I can skip a lot of Lexington traffic by riding a bike.

6.  I would get more exercise.

7. I will save a ton of money on gas.

Con

1.  I don't know if I could still ride one.

2. I don't understand the bike laws.

3.  I don't think I could make it up the hill on Rose Street.  Seriously. 

4. Those tiny bike lanes sort of terrify me.  Streets without a bike lane would be even more terrifying.

5. It will mess my hair up.  

6.  I would have to spend a considerable amount of money to purchase a bike. 

I guess the pros outweigh the cons, just barely, but I'm still a little uneasy about it.  If anyone wants to give insight regarding my possible investment or wants to take me bike shopping, please feel free to do so.

Never thought I'd be on a boat

     In a few hours, I will be heading to the airport to catch a plane to Fort Lauderdale to board a cruise ship.  Many of my friends went on amazing mission trips or worked Christian camps this summer, but I'm spending a mass amount of money to take a cruise.  I'm okay with that, though.  I've never been on a cruise, nor out of the country, so it's an opportunity that I've always missed out on.  Also, I've worked really hard in school and at my job this summer, and a relaxing break is definitely in need.

     Besides the luxury of tanning all day and eating at buffets all day, I'm really excited to spend some  alone time with God.  I know I'll have two other people with me, but I really want to devote a lot of time to God and prayer, and hopefully I'll get some alone time to do that, because I really feel like I need it right now.

     We have wireless internet on the boat, so I will possibly get a chance to write about any exciting adventures.  If not, I will return in five days, hopefully relaxed and spiritually rejuvenated. 

So, what kind of music do you like?

     I was talking with some people about favorites the other day.  My friend, Ben, loves favorites.  He ranks everything into Favorite lists.  If you asked who is favorite band is, he could tell you.  He could tell you his top 20 favorite songs of all-time.  He could even tell you the list of his favorite professors from UK.  

     That isn't me at all.  I have trouble choosing one thing over another and I like way too many things to have favorites.  I do know that music is one of my favorite things in the world, though, so I've really been trying to create rankings of my favorite music.  Here's what I came up with:

Top 10 Favorite Artists:

1. Joshua Radin

2. Shinedown

3. John Mayer

4. Billy Joel

5. Bed Light for Blue Eyes

6. The Beatles

7. Nickel Creek

8. New Found Glory

9. Dave Barnes

10. Ron Pope

Top 25 Favorite Songs

1. Winter-Joshua Radin

2. Glycerine-Bush

3. Dear Angel-April Sixth

4. Hallelujah-There's 100 covers of this, but I like Kate Voegele's or Rufus Wainwright's

5. Unchained Melody-The Righteous Brothers

6. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room-John Mayer

7. Mighty to Save-Hillsong United

8. The Fear You Won't Fall-Joshua Radin

9. Fireflies-Ron Pope

10. Dulcimer Street-Vaughn

11. Samson-Regina Spektor

12. You Don't Know Me-Ben Folds ft. Regina Spektor

13. White Houses-Vanessa Carlton

14. Here Comes the Sun-The Beatles

15. Best Days-Matt White

16. Tonight-FM Static

17.  Burning Bright-Shinedown

18. Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows-Brand New

19. Nineteen Stars-Meg & Dia

20. River of Dreams-Billy Joel

21. Two Princes-Spin Doctors

22. Wish You Were Here-Pink Floyd

23. You and Me-Lifehouse

24. Here's Looking at you, Kid-Corey Crowder

25. Unwinding Cable Car-Anberlin

Top 25 Favorite Albums

My Favorite Albums Ever.

1. New Found Glory-Catalyst

2. Beatles-Abbey Road

3. Joshua Radin-Simple Times

4. The Starting Line-Say it Like you Mean it

5. Shinedown-Sound of Madness

6. Bedlight for Blue Eyes-The Dawn

7. House of Shakira-Lint

8. Corey Smith-Hard Headed Fool

9. Emanuel-Soundtrack to a Headrush

10. Hanson-Middle of Nowhere 

12. Ron Pope-The Bedroom Demos

13. Signal Fading-Patiently Waiting

14. Breaking Benjamin-Phobia

15. Flyleaf-Flyleaf

16. Lifehouse-Sick Cycle Carousel

17. 21 Guns-Salute

18. Emerson Hart-Cigarettes and Gasoline

19. Alterbridge-One Day Remains

20. Lil Wayne-Tha Carter III

21. Kate Voegele-Don't Look Away

22. Yellowcard-Ocean Avenue

23. Meg & Dia-Something Real

24. Incubus-Make Yourself

25. Jason Mraz-We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.