Hey everyone! So, I'm Heidi. I don't have a nickname (outside of my Ultimate Frisbee team; it's Heidi Handblock). I am from Shippensburg, PA. It's a pretty small town. I go to Shippensburg University here and am a senior, currently student teaching at Smithsburg High School in MD. I teach 9th grade English right now, but in three weeks I will be teaching 7th graders in Waynesboro, PA. I love love love interacting with my students! I'm so excited to eventually have my own room. I'm also excited to graduate in May! Woohoo!! These next few months of my life are going to be BUSY. I'll be finishing up student teaching, getting things finshed up for Nicaragua, and applying for jobs (I hope to have this process started in March). After gradation I plan on moving around the Philadelphia area and perhaps working in an inner-city high school. I have a heart for the poor, broken hearted, and those who need someone to care about them as a person. 

Along with student teaching I have a job. I work third shift at Sheetz (a gas station/fast food place). I only work there Friday nights because of student teaching right now. It's an interesting job in that there are a lot of college age students who come into Sheetz anywhere between 10pm-6 am. It's a job. When I'm not working I LOVE playing sports. If I could, I would play sport all day every day. I have played soccer for fourteen years, swam competitively for eleven years, have been playing Ultimate Frisbee for two years for my college team, and have ran cross country throughout high school and my freshman year of college. I also really like having campfires with my friends. We all hangout at my house and play games (like this cool pictionary/ charades game that I can teach everyone!) and swim in my pool in the summer. I like hiking! I like reading! (My favorite authors are Jodi Picoult and Nicholas Sparks, but I really like Shakespeare too but that's probably just because I'm teaching Romeo and Juliet right now.) I like star gazing! I like going to the beach SO MUCH! Myrtle Beach is one of the best places on Earth. I like roller coasters! Things that I do around my community include attending Fuse, which is an on campus Christian fellowship. I also attend a Bible study group once a week, and volunteer in the Nursery and Children's Church at my church. 

I hate every type of meat except for turkey and chicken. I also don't like milk, except if it's on my cereal. Feet gross me out. I have competed in three different collegiate athletic teams (soccer, cross-country, and Ultimate). I love summer!  

I have been on one other missions trip before. I went to Haiti for two weeks in 2009. It was an amazing experience and one that definitely led me to have a heart for the poor. Even before I went to Haiti I had a heart for missions. There was a team from my church going to Haiti the year before I went, and I was asked to go along. However, my parents weren't so thrilled about sending their 17 year old daughter to such a far away place, so I couldn't go. I was so sad because I just knew I was called to do missions and had wanted to go so badly. But, I know that the timing was God's and He definitely prepared my heart to go the year before I did go. I can't wait to tell everyone about this trip because there's so much cool stuff God did through me and showed me and gave me that I won't type on here--it's cooler to hear in person. 

I am way excited to show God to people who may have not ever experienced His love and grace. I'm thrilled at the thought of working with and for the people of Nicaragua. I can't wait to meet everyone as well!! Some things that I am nervous about: flying. I have only ever flown once (to Haiti) and I've never flown alone! I'm nervous I'll not know what to do in the airport. Other things I'm more sad than nervous about are missing things back home. One of my best friends is getting married. On June 2nd. So, I'll miss the most important day of her life. I'm also missing my boyfriend’s family vacation that's a big deal and his birthday. Even though I will be missing these significant  events, I know that I will be doing God’s work—what can get better than that?! Something that God has laid on my heart and been telling me about this trip is for me to shine for Him. I’m to bring light to His people and pour my love onto them and the team that I’ll be accompanying (you guys! :D) Yaaaaaay, I cannot wait to meet all of you! This is going to be such a GREAT experience for us all!   

 **I can't get a picture on here! :(