KY.

you know how the excitement builds while you're away on a trip - to get back home, i mean. well that definitely happened while in london. trust me, i loved every day spent in the uk, but behind all of the commotion, in the midst of every fun and challenge-filled day, was a tiny speck of excitement to return home and share everything i saw, experienced, and learned. that speck grew over two weeks into a mountain of homesickness. i was craving the hugs my family so generously gives, the savory food my mom is known to cook so well, and ultimately, the smell of my house; because, we all know that is the secret pleasure inside all of us -- secret's out world! i love being able to smell the distinct aroma my house takes on. take note, i received hugs and hugs, ate a scrumptious home-cooked meal, and definitely inhaled deeply when i crossed the threshold of my home. it smelled hotel-y, with a dash of country time lemonade powder...and candles, yeah candles. whoa perrin, get back on track sister. it felt nice to be able to rest and reminisce and share stories at home, but i left two days later for louisville, kentucky! following a welcome home service with my faith family, my good friend and her mom swung by and loaded up my bags to hit I-65. the agenda for the upcoming week looked like this: D3 conference at southern seminary/boyce college, lend a hand to scarlet hope, sip coffee from "the best coffee shop in louisville" (the words of bec), and visit a bit of the hunter's family.
the conference was held here:

beautiful, so beautiful. just imagine it filled with students hungry for the Word of God to be poured out by Godly men. now that is a beautiful picture. the pouring of the Word is exactly what occurred too; a seventy-two-hour conference with thirteen sessions. my hand could not and would not stop scribbling down the wisdom of people who are uprooted in the Truth of Scripture, generously shedding light on certain topics and passages in the Bible. along with awesome preaching came the most incredible and convicting worship i have ever experienced. there is something about being in the middle of sea of voices that are lifting up praises to the God of the universe that i can't explain, and definitely can't overlook. worship speaks to me on a great level. and when followed by passionate teaching of the holy and infallible Word of God? goodness. my heart increases beats at the thought.
you may be wondering what the title "D3" means; if so, the D stands for discipleship, and the 3 represents three different tracks: leadership, worship, and missions. becca and i jumped on the missions track with enthusiasm that couldn't be stopped. a missionary from uganda (shannon and his family) came and spoke in our electives -- guys. i was faced with numerous hand cramps because i tried so desperately to write down every word he said. you see, each word spoken carried such a richness, such weight that burdened my heart one second and encouraged it the next. my heart was full with a readiness to take the Gospel to every corner of the earth, every night when i covered my head with, well, not much because i refused to pack heavily (bad idea, but i do recommend it. it's easy on the back).
the conference was one of the best trips taken this summer. why? 1. i got to learn more about my God and discuss those things with my sister in Christ, 2. simple, it was a blast 3. all confusion was removed when i decided boyce was the college for me! boyce, im comin' for ya -- in 2014.
when the conference ended on a thursday afternoon, we weren't as sad as we could have been, because we knew what the night held; we knew we would be going hand in hand with an awesome organization called scarlet hope. scarlet hope reaches out to the strip clubs in louisville, with the intention of sharing the gospel with each girl that works in one. because becca and i are under 21, we helped in the area of watching these moms' children while they were working. it rocked! the kids were all hilarious and so full of love. their tendency to want attention, climb on my back, and desire to hold my hand made for a tough goodbye. however, it made me so excited to think i can be a part of scarlet hope when i make my home in louisville next year, weeeee! oh, and don't think we forgot about our coffee excursion. i bought and drank the best cup of miele coffee.
the weekend came to a close with the time spent at becca's relatives' house and we soon hit up the interstate once again. my time spent in kentucky revealed much about a true disciple's purpose in life: to take the gospel to every nation. it kindled a fire inside of my soul to do just that.

for you, more moments captured during my seven days in kentucky:

cannot wait to call louisville my new home.