Recipe Review: Super Moist Chocolate Bundt Cake

This past week I went to the beach with my parents and godparents. Unfortunately we didn't get to go to Bald Head. Fortunately we were near Bald Head and within 30 minutes of the greatest kitchen store of all time: Cat on a Whisk. We went there. Twice. It was glorious, per usual. Among the myriad of goodies I got is a Nordic bundt pan. Needless to say, as soon as we got home, I searched for a cake recipe to break in my new pan - and I hit the jackpot with this one. Not only was the cake ridiculously easy to make, it was amazing. I made it on Saturday and my family is still eating on it today. In fact, it might be better today than it was on Saturday - it keeps getting more moist. I did modify the recipe slightly, adding about a cup of heath pieces, which might have something to do with the deliciousness.

Here's the recipe: (adapted from Tasty Kitchen)

     1 box Chocolate Cake Mix
     1 box Chocolate Pudding Mix
     1 cup Sour Cream
     ¾ cups Oil
     ¾ cups Water
     ½ cups Sugar
     4 whole Eggs
     1 teaspoon Vanilla

     1 cup heath pieces (or other goodies like chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, etc.) 

-Mix all ingredients (except the heath) together on high speed for 3 minutes 

-Stir in heath pieces 

-Pour batter into liberally greased bundt pan

-Bake for about 45 minutes on 350

Ending a Chapter, Beginning a Book

The City Project is officially over. We had our commissioning ceremony almost two weeks ago, which was the last part of CP. It would literally be impossible for me to talk about everything that God did this summer (partially because I'm still basking in the goodness of what He did), so I decided a picture-ish post would be the best way for me to share an overview of TCP. 

In New York City, where the magic started! We got to know each other and got to learn how evangelism truly works. Our aim going in was to minister to the very large Muslim population in NYC, but we ended up meeting people of all different religions and cultures. The NYC portion of TCP definitely grew my heart for the nations! It was so crazy to see New York outside of Times Square and see how God is bringing the nations to us in a very real way. 

Another highlight of the NYC trip was being with two amazing people, Jenny & Perry. We were a "triad" and got to evangelize as a team. Being with them from the beginning was such a blessing. Not only did I get to see them grow throughout the summer, but I got to see us grow together into a mini body of Christ. 

 Approximately a million things happened during our 5 weeks in Durham. In addition to the classes we took, each person had an internship with the Summit and with a community ministry. I got to intern with Route 56, a student ministry for 5th and 6th graders at the Summit, and am super excited to get to serve there this upcoming school year! It was in Durham where we really got to live life together and have fun social events and random Cook Out runs.

Another great thing we got to participate in was ServeRDU, a week where the Summit comes together to serve the Raleigh-Durham area (hence the name). It was so fun to get to spend the whole week together as a team doing manual labor!

After ServeRDU, our team split up, with one-third going to Malaysia and the others going to Kenya for two weeks. My time in Kenya was incredible! Most of our time there was spent with people in an IDP (internally displaced persons) camp called Jikaze. We got to live life with them and learned so much from the people there, including how to carry things on our heads, which was legit. One of the best parts of the trip for me was seeing how God reveals himself through nature. Definitely more to come on my time in Africa.

I'm so thankful for everyone who supported me, both prayerfully and financially! This summer was life changing in so many ways. The City Project showed me what it looks like to live out the Gospel in everyday life and gave me a very real picture of what the body of Christ looks like. In a lot of ways, TCP was just a chapter in my life, the beginning of what God will intricately write as I leverage my life for the Gospel.

Kenya: Half Way Through!

I can't believe we've been in Kenya for almost a week now and we have less than one week left! I've had so many "firsts." We were able to visit the largest slum in Kenya, Kibera. We also attended church this morning in an IDP (internally displaced persons) camp called Jikaze today - what a beautiful picture of how heaven will be!! All I'm saying is I need to start taking some dance lessons now in preparation for heaven, because if it's anything like church was today, there will be lots of dancing and praising. Baptists prepare yourself. I've also carried lots of things on my head, in African fashion. I can't wait to upload pictures and go in detail about what we've done. Please continue praying for our team (and the team in Malaysia). Pray that God's name would be lifted high in our last week and that we would have strength and make the most of our short time here.

First Post from Kenya!!

Hello all! I have limited internet access, but just wanted to give an update. My team arrived safely in Kenya this morning, with all our luggage (PTL). We're all really tired from traveling, so prayers for strength and health would definitely be appreciated. We got to go to a giraffe park and feed real giraffes, which was so fun! I'm looking forward to how God is going to work. Please continue lifting my team and I up in prayer.

TCP Update: Coming to an End

This week is our last "normal" week at The City Project. All the things we've been doing (seminary class, Summit internship, community ministry internship, various seminars) essentially end come 6:00 p.m. today.

Next week, we'll participate in ServeRDU, a week where people from the Summit come together to partner with organizations in the area and to serve the Raleigh-Durham area. Then, after ServeRDU, we leave for Kenya! I can't believe this portion of TCP is coming to a close. It's got me wondering what I actually learned. At first, it was hard for me to answer this question, but I think that's just because I've learned so much about so many different things:

• More than anything, I've gained a hunger to grow in knowledge and wisdom in the Lord. So many of my friends on CP and the leaders are so wise and insightful, which has propelled me towards truth. 
• I've realized how often (like, um, every single day) I need to re-teach the Gospel to myself. Being around people all the time, whether at CP events or at home, is trying for me and I found myself getting short or sarcastic a lot of the time which were just behavioral reminders that I my heart needs to be reminded of the grace and mercy poured out on my behalf, so that I can pour out that same grace on others. 
• Before TCP, I knew I was introverted. Being a part of TCP definitely confirmed that. The first week after we got back from New York I was seriously crazy because I had been around people non-stop. At first I felt guilty taking time to be by myself, but it didn't take me long to figure out that in order to be sane, I needed to spend time journaling or reading or just sitting in a quiet room.
• I feel even more in love with the people at the Summit. Before this summer, everyone at the Summit (for the most part. hah.) seemed super genuine and hospitable and caring. But at the beginning of the summer, knowing I was going to be working with a lot of the staff, I was a little apprehensive as to whether I would use those same adjectives by the end of TCP. I would definitely maintain those descriptions, and even heap more praises onto the initial ones. My fellow City Projecters and I have been shown so much hospitality in the past few weeks. I've gotten coffee and had dinner with people I never thought would care to have more than a 5 minute conversation with me because they had more important, super-Christian things to be doing. More than them being nice or gracious, these people have shown me what missional, Gospel-centered living truly looks like, and I think ultimately that's what I've love the most about the people at the Summit. 
• I've also learned a lot about working with people who have different personalities and how to operate as the Body of Christ. 

I could seriously go on for an annoying amount of time, but these are just some of the highlights. God has worked in so many ways throughout my time in New York and Durham. I'm excited to see what He will do internationally!

Please pray for strength and rest for the upcoming week as we serve the Raleigh-Durham area and as we prepare for our international trips. Pray for health to be restored and maintained. Pray for the people we will interact with internationally, both in Kenya and Southeast Asia, that the Holy Spirit would start working in their hearts.