My name is Emily Starr and I am from Tulsa, OK but I go to school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (woo pig!).  I just finished my fourth year, but due to some major-changing I won't be graduating until December. In all honesty I'm thankful for the victory lap because I don't think I'm ready to face the grown up world yet haha. I'm a nursing student and am super pumped to have the opportunity to use some of my knowledge to help bring healing and hope to people while showing them the love of Christ. 

These are some of my dearest friends at a football game.  From left to right: Katie, Julie, Me, and Grace

Since my senior year of high school, I've felt like the Lord has called me to medical missions and each summer I've tried to plan a trip to do just that and each summer it's fallen through.  This summer, I was going to be responsible and try and get an internship, but then through a variety of twists, turns, and leaps in faith (which I'll be happy to go into later), I learned about this trip and my heart was so stirred.  You see, for the past couple of years I have worked with an organization called Potter's House that serves the inner-city of Fayetteville.  I have a fourth grade group and I hang out with a couple of the girls one-on-one and help them with their school work, go to their activities, and basically just try to be a consistent source of encouragement and show them what it looks like to follow Christ.  Through this, God has been reshaping my heart and I see that we're all broken.  We all need healing.  So wherever He'd have me go, be it my home town or some place I've never even heard of, I'm along for the ride.

These are some of the girls in my Potter's House group.  You can probably tell that they are a MESS haha

My friend Julie (the redhead from a couple pictures up) and I also mentor two twin eighth grade girls named Neka and Nesha.  Those girls bring so much joy to my life

Back row: Nesha, Julie, and Julie.  Front row: Neka and me.  I love them soooo much.

Last summer, I felt the Lord calling me to stay in Fayetteville and intern with Potter's House.  Bit of a back story: I have always worked with young kids.  I love them, I know how to make them laugh, and they typically respond back with love.  However, the internship required that I work with the oldest kids in Potter's House- 8 girls, 8 guys all about 15-17 years old.  Needless to say, I was so nervous and out of my comfort zone, but because of that the Lord totally blessed me and showed me how to rely on Him instead of myself.  This was hands down the hardest summer of my life, but also one of the most joyful (it's so true that joy and suffering walk hand in hand).  So many stories that I'll share with y'all later :)

At the end of the summer, we all went to Memphis to love on some people in the name of Jesus and on the last night we had a ladies vs fellas dance off.  One of the funniest nights of my life haha.  One word: family

I. Love. My. Family.  I'm the oldest and I have one younger sister named Karol. She goes to Oklahoma State and she just finished her freshman year. I also have one dog and my sister has a cat, and even the pets are female so my poor dad is terribly outnumbered haha :)

This is an old picture of my family (sorry...).  My hair is much longer now and is a lighter color, but that's pretty typical of me- I like to change things up a bit :)

Let's see, what else can I tell you?  Oh, I too will be celebrating a birthday in India! I turn 22 on June 15.  Can I just say how excited I am to get to know all of you? I've read all of the posts and there are little random things I have in common with each of you and I can't wait to live life with you for the next couple of months. 

Some random things about me:

-I think I could live off of green apples, peanut butter, hummus, and diet dr pepper with vanilla from sonic

-I will probably have sonic happy hour withdrawals while we're gone

-I love music and wish I was a better singer, but that usually doesn't stop me :)

-I love nature and exploring, though I tend to get lost easily

-I'm usually reading at least 3 books at one time, so it takes me a long time to get through a whole book

-I LOVE to laugh

We're less than two weeks away! Can't wait!!!! :)