My name is Maddie, and I'm a freshman at UT Austin, originally from San Antonio, Texas!

This trip kind of came as a surprise, even to me. I was finishing my application to work at a special needs camp here in Texas, and a lot of messages I had been hearing came together and I realized I was supposed to spend my summer completely out of my comfort zone, immersed in another culture and serving Jesus. So, I filled out four applications at 2 AM, and here I am! I couldn't be more excited.

But, as for me, like I said earlier, I'm a freshman and I'm majoring in English and History. I don't know what I'm going to do with my life, but ultimately I want Austin to stay my 'home base' and I want to travel and write when I'm done with school. But we'll see how it all plays out. I am a leader for Young Life Capernaum, which is basically like doing Young Life club for the special needs community here in Austin. We do skits and sing songs and talk about Jesus, and just like regular Young Life we do contact work at High Schools and hang out with the kids during the week. 

Here are some of the kids and I at camp. 

I also love running Town Lake and going to concerts and Whole Foods here in Austin. I'm actually a vegetarian, and I've been a vegan for a couple of months. I have talked to a lot of people though and know that culturally this isn't going to work out all the time though. It's all good though! I just wanted to let you all know :) 

My favorite thing in the whole world is loving on my friends. I have the most amazing family up here in Austin, and I think I will miss them as much as the family I was born into.

I drink coffee every day. I love reading and I want to be a writer. 

I have been on several mission trips to a special needs orphanage in Mexico, but this will by far be the longest and furthest trip I have ever taken. Needless to say, I am excited and terrified and ready to meet the people who will become my family in India! You all are wonderful and I can't wait to serve Jesus with you this summer!

Here is one more picture of one of the kids I got to serve in Mexico... sorry, I can't help my self. 

Meet Jugo:

Proverbs 31:8-9 and I'll see you all so so soon!