so the trip with FAMEevents has been called off.  they were having trouble rounding up kids due to the high cost, and last time i checked, they hadn't even half of the minimum they needed, which was thiry.  so they didn't even have fifteen kids ....

anyway, the trip's a no-go.  i'm not too bummed, though, 'cause it's obviously not what God wanted for me.  now, i'm focusing on my other summer camps (i applied for some earlier as back-ups.)

but as far as the online donations go, i'm leaving it up to the donors to decide whether or not they'd like their money back .... because, i mean, the money obviously isn't going to the FAMEevents fund anymore, but i do intend to use it for similar purposes .... that is, my "education fund."

so if any of the donors happen to be reading this, please let me know if i haven't already contacted you about whether or not you'd like your donation back.  i completely understand either way.

thank you all for your gracious support of my dreams and for never letting me lose sight of my goals.

so, i'm writing this blog to update on my fundraising situation.  the ChipIn widget has had some trouble gaining momentum, but all i can do is keep encouraging others to join this cause.

i've lowered the goal to $2,500, since i've already accumulated a thousand.

i believe we can do this. seriously .... i know it's difficult getting started, but once we do, there'll be no stopping the flow!  people can do great things when they come together for a common goal.

so let's get started! i've had ONE donation since i created the widget, and i KNOW we can do better than that! 

together, we can make this happen.

As of now, I am completely excited!

I was accepted by FAMEevents to participate in the All-Stars Concert Choir that will be traveling to the Passion for Music Festival in Oberammergau, Germany!

and directed by Greg Gilpin nonetheless!!!

We'll also be traveling to / singing at Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague.

This is going to be an amazing trip!

But, of course, I must raise a very large amount of money as well.

.... $4,000 to be exact.

Well, it's actually something like $3,869, but after I buy my round-trip ticket to Chicago and accumulate spending money and such, it should be around four thousand.

I've only got $500 so far,

but

I

will

make

this

happen.

This is an amazing opportunity, and I plan on making it a reality!

I've contacted my aunt, MsCapriKell, about setting another fundraiser in motion here on Zaadz, and I have other ideas as well.

And to all you amazing Zaadzsters--

If you can help in any way possible, I would greatly, greatly appreciate it!  You all were such a great help last spring with my OCU fundraiser!  Amazing things can happen when people help one another, and I'm living proof! 

You're all so inspirational, and I don't think I could've even dreamt about taking this trip had I not been inspired so much by all your previous generosity and positive energy. 

You've caused me to dream BIG, and this is, for me, the next big step in my journey.

We can do this.
You'll all be with me every step of the way.

- Luke

I feel like a beaker of emotions.

An experiment waiting to explode.

Break free.

Learn and experience life.

Become who I want.

And quit the game of living up to others' expectations.

I'm crazy in a world of gray.

Bobbing up and down in an ocean of confusion.

But out of that confusion,

I frequently stumble upon clarity.

And it's nice.

Does life get better when you're an adult?

On your own with unlimited freedom and choices?

How exciting!

Just a few more years in this stalemate .....

My life is waiting.

I'm noticing changes.

Good changes ....

I'm experiencing life on a multitude of levels.

It's quite exciting, really.

I love it.

It's as if each day tells me something different.

I can't wait for tomorrow.

No,

I can't wait for today.

HOBY was simply amazing!

I completely loved it!

I'm most definitely going back next year as a JF (junior facilitator).

Our group was SO enthusiastic and ambitious!

The discussion group came up with two summer volunteer projects,

Even though they weren't required to do so.

We're visiting the children at OU's Medical Research Center

And raising money for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in OKC.

It's so inspiring!

Chelsey (the girl from my school who went with me) and I have to do 100 hours of volunteer work to be JFs next year,

But I'm sure we'll do more.

I'm telling you,

This generation is different.

It's full of minds who want change for the better.

And we're pursuing it.

It really is.

This weekend is HOBY Leadership Conference.

Next weekend,

I leave for OCU.

After that,

OKC again . . .

Youth America.

It seems like an eternity since I last posted a Zaadz blog ....

This year might possibly have been the longest year (school year, I mean) that I have ever experienced.  I feel like I've grown so much in such a short span of time.  My personality proves to be ever-changing, as I'm constantly "searching for myself" (forgive the cliché). 

But in the ongoing process of self-discovery, I am always stumbling upon new aspects of my life/personality/mind that I never even knew existed.

It's really amazing.

I now see how much I've changed in these short nine months.

I'm so excited!!!

My mission trip to L.A. is next weekend!

It's going to be life-changing for sure.

I can't wait.