Washington DC

WE'RE BACK!!  I had an exciting week long trip to Washington DC for our MA Retreat. Every year our program gets to go on a retreat to take a break from life on campus. It was so great to get to spend a week away and to have the chance to get to know the people who labor beside me better.  We visited all of the major monuments such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol building, we saw the White House from the gate and went to the Smithsonian.  My favorite site we visited was Arlington Cemetery, we had our own personal tour of the cemetery. It was so cool to hear the history of the cemetery and to see things like President Kennedy's grave or hearing why Lincolns son wanted to be buried where he could overlook his dads memorial. We had the privilege to visit the tomb of the unknown soldier and to be taken to the offices of the soldiers who guard the tomb and hear of the history of the guards.  I enjoy history so for me, this trip was amazing.  I loved the opportunity to learn not only through museums, but also from the people who are involved in making current history as they serve in the military.

DC Bound!

As most of you know I am on my second year at the Honor Academy. I am a part of the Management Associate Program where we are trained and given opportunities to learn about business and management. Just in the past few days we had the opportunity to do a business simulation. We were divided into teams to own and manage a mock coffee shop. I didn't think I would enjoy it at all but I had a blast and learned so much from it. The simulation threw real life situations at us such as how to improve customer satisfaction, how to keep your employees satisfied. It also taught us through trial and error how to have the best quality while staying within your budget to make the best revenue. I had so many take away's from this simulation to apply for the workplace and even just life in general.

Things like the business simulation are things that I get to do being a part of the MA program. So next week we are taking off a week for our retreat to take a break from business. This year we are going to Washington DC to spend time together as friends and as a program. Please consider helping us out my looking at our facebook page to see how you can take part in helping us with our donations!! www.facebook.com/dcboundmaiit

Minneapolis ATF

This past weekend I went to the Minneapolis ATF making it my 8th event that I have gotten to go out to. I love going to these events for a few reasons, one they give me a break from campus and my usual work, two they are a blast! Another reason I love going to these events is because God always teaches me something. This particular event He showed me the influence I have and He showed me His beauty. 

I worked as an usher in Minneapolis so for every worship set I had to be at the front to make sure the kids didn't do anything crazy. The first worship set I didn't tend to my post, I thought there were enough people there that my small self would only get in the way. I went to find my own worship spot but no matter where I went, I didn't have peace and didn't know why. After a while God was like Cassie I want you to go down to the front next time to be an example. It made me remember the first ATF event I went to a couple years ago. I didn't know what free worship looked like, I didn't even know if it was ok for me to raise my hands. He wanted me to show them what free worship it like.

It was the last worship set of the weekend, I was up there worshiping and I saw this girl who kept looking at me. After a while she started swaying like me and moving like me until before long, she was in her own world with the Lord! How amazing that one small example helped her go into her own place with the Lord. God is so incredible, He showed me His beauty through worship and His people. 

God Just Wants to Have Fun

This weekend I had my third Fasting LTE here at the Honor Academy. Fasting LTE's are one of my favorite events that we do here at the HA but this one was so different from the last two that I had. Our Fasting LTE lasts three days (Thurs-Sun morning). I went into this LTE just excited to have three days alone with God, to spend uninterrupted time with Him. The first two days were fine, I spent time in the Word which was great, I dealt with a situation that I had gotten myself into. When Saturday came around I really felt the Lord just calling out my name to be with Him. I start Saturday my taking a walk to the back 40, the back 40 is our wooded area that we have. Our campus in Garden Valley, Texas is over 300 acres and a good chunk of that is woods. I went out there to get a notebook that I had left the day before and ended up going on a fun adventure with the Lord.

I was almost to the spot where I had left my notebook and I came across three dogs, which here on campus is a big deal. Dogs and babies are a HUGE excitement to intern! I found my notebook and decided to keep going on where I made it to a spot that we call Jeep Swallow. It's a small "pond" only much smaller. I had crossed through Jeep Swallow several times so decided I would simply cross over again instead of going around. I was wearing flip flops and took two steps in and my feet sunk past my ankles. My entire body almost fell into the water but I caught myself when my arms hit the bottom of the pond. With my notebook now ruined and my purse soaked I stepped back out but my shoes were stuck in the mud. I had no choice but to step out without them. As I looked at my soaked notebook and muddy feet all I could do was laugh. I decided ok God let's have more fun and have an adventure. I tracked through the rest of the back forty bare foot and loving it. I was laughing, smiling and full of joy. God loves to have fun with us. My simple walk with God turned into a fun adventure.

New Beginnings

Last night, I made a commitment for the second time to the Honor Academy and Teen Mania Ministries.  I committed to spend the next year as a Management Associate and to be a godly impact to everyone withing my sphere of influence.  Here goes nothing!  I have three major groups of people who are in my sphere of influence, the first is my team.  I have moved from my Honor Academy Call Center position to a supervisor position in the Intern Relations department.  With that, I have a team of three people that I will be leading.  Our job is to assist and help interns with their needs, for example finances.  I was so excited to take on this role because I absolutely LOVE interns, God has given me a huge heart for them so I am pumped about this position.  I have an incredible team who have impressed me so much in their abilities to work as well as their willingness to follow.  As the new girl on the block, they have done an amazing job submitting to my leadership.  I am most definitely blessed with my team and with my leadership!

Round Two!

Here goes another year!  I have decided to stay at the Honor Academy a second year as a Graduate Intern in the Management Associate Program.  Yesterday all of the new January interns arrived for their first year at the Honor Academy.  It was so amazing and strange to see them come in because one year ago today I arrived for my first year.  It's so strange but incredible to see the changes in my friends around me as well as the changes in myself.  God has done so much in me in the last year that I never would have thought to be possible.  This next year I saw round two bring it on!  I have high expectations for this year, I want to give all that I can and take in all that I can.  My mind and heart are open to learn and to be taught as well as pour out and teach.  Welcome to my Graduate Intern year at the Honor Academy!

Graduation

It's done, I did it, i made it!  Those were some of the things that filled my mind as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma from Mr. Pruett (the director of the Honor Academy).  One full year of non stop go, go, go.  One full year of Life Transforming Events.  One full year of fasting, intense prayer and worship, meetings, classes, work.  One full year of doing what God asked me to do for His kingdom.  It has been the best year of my life!  It was so good in fact, that I will be returning for a second year.  I will be spending the year of 2014 at the Honor Academy as a Graduate Intern in the Management Associate program.