I kept the template - I hope that's ok! - and highlighted some key words of things that have a special hold on my heart!

1) It begins with a name.

Hello hello, friends! My name is Emily.  Though I have a few nicknames, most within the norm, I'd love to hear some that you come up with over the course of our time together.

2) The Where.

I'm originally from Iowa City, Iowa but have lived in Madison, Wisconsin the past four years and will continue to do so for at least two more.

3) Academia.

I graduated this past May from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with majors in Psychology, English, and French and a minor in European Studies.  I still can't believe how quickly the last four years went by!  After returning from our trip, I will begin a 14 month teacher certification program where I will earn my license to teach English in junior highs and high schools, and will be coming out with a Masters in Education.

4) Nine to Five.

After I graduated from college this May, I began an internship at my church in Madison as, essentially a Worship Pastor.  I'm in charge of reading through sermon notes, planning the music set, arranging, leading rehearsal, and leading the congregation on a Sunday.  I lead from the piano/keyboard and vocals, but I also play the guitar just for fun.  I will resume this internship for 5 more months after we return from Cambodia to help me discern whether I would like to pursue this role as a vocation.

5) Killing Time.

As the most important things to me are God and people, I love spending time with both!  This past year when I lived with 9 other women, I spent a good chunk of free time soaking in what it means to be finishing up college and being a goofy girl: impromptu dance parties to bad techno or foreign pop, watching episodes of Boy Meets World or Say Yes To The Dress eating cookie dough, kitchen experiments, and great heart-to-hearts when roommates jump on your bed at 2AM, among other things.  

Other than that, I love to spend my free time outside as much as possible (sun, rain, or snow!), curled up reading with a good cup of coffee, journaling, writing music, and making time to just to 'be'.  Sometimes I become overly concerned with not getting caught up in the accomplishment mindset and overcompensate by having lots of time doing things I like, even when things still need to be done :)

6) The Important Stuff.

I think a list might be the most effective way to do this category!

- Likes: colors (especially warm colors like oranges and reds), honesty, music that moves your soul, laughs, intriguing people, 'foodie' food, surprises, baby animals, cheese, avocados, Christmas.

- Dislikes: disrespect, rudeness, peppers, bugs, 

- Other fun details: I have been to Italy, Austria, The Czech Republic, France, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan, and Kenya.  I have a tattoo reading Ephesians 3:17-21 over a sunset on my foot.  I love games and competition.  I just asked my boyfriend what fun facts about myself I could put on here, and the first things he said were that I "have a really strong toe grip" and how I had a baby squirrel as a pet this fall (what a dream come true!).

7) Previous Experience.

In high school I went on a mission trip with Rotary Club to Mexico where we spent time constructing a Red Cross building, visiting schools and orphanages.

In 2009, I went with my church in Madison to slums surrounding Nairobi, Kenya where we partnered with a wonderful non-prof called Beacon of Hope.   Main things we did were home visits with the social workers to check on the well-being clients from their free medical clinic - most for HIV/AIDS.  During these visits, we were listening ears and loving hearts to patients whose lives were ridden with a delicate mix of poverty, tragedy, and renewal.  We also put on two free medical clinics in conjunction with BOH, and spent time in the Elementary classrooms at their schools, working in their kitchen, and strengthening the partnership between BOH and our church.

8) The Nit N' Gritty.

What a truly sweet opportunity we have to go to Cambodia, plant roots for 3.5 months, soak in God and pour him out.  I'm excited to be able to live out caring for human beings as God intended us to, to live out the Gospel that I believe in - one that calls us to expand our radars, have compassion, use our giftings that point at the heart of God and illuminate reality in darkened places.  I would highly recommend reading Radical by David Platt: this view of the Gospel largely explains my heart to go.  

I am most nervous about safety.  While I know that nothing in the world is safe and most worthwhile things require risks, I still have a very heightened awareness of who (pimps) we're going to be around and the general implications that brings.

I'm so excited to be able to go to Cambodia in this context.  This really is an answer to prayer.  An unforeseen passion against human trafficking magically appeared this past September, and in terms of timing of life....this trip fits perfectly for me right now.  I know that this is a God breathed passion that I want to honor not just emotionally or intellectually but with action.