Hi Kenya Team!

I'm Holly Knowles, and I am from Fort Mill, SC (Charlotte, NC area).  Right now, I am at school in the mountains in Banner Elk, NC.  I am currently at Lees-McRae College in a BFA Musical Theater program, but I am considering transferring to Appalachian State for Vocal Performance/Pedagogy.  That whole decision is one of the biggest things on my mind right now :)  I work at Chili's as a waitress when I'm home, and I work in my school's costume shop on campus.  

Things I enjoy doing: running, tie-dying, playing guitar and ukulele, singing (seems a common theme so far, haha), playing with my dogs, watching shows, meeting new people, hanging out downtown, traveling, and spending time with friends.  I'm quite a facebook junkie, so this trip will definitely be a test. I never seem to have time to watch tv, but when I do I like crime shows, sitcoms, and lifetime television :)

I would have to say music is where much of my passion lies.  I love to pick up a new instrument and play around with it until I figure it out.  I also love worship.  I never really had a cool rebellious stage when I was growing up, but I don't really mind.  I try to be open with pretty much everything because it just makes things easier.  I've always been into theater and music (literally ever since I can remember), so now I'm really struggling to find out exactly what it is that God wants for me, hence the college decision.  But enough of that, I'm sure I'll be talking to all of you about it soon enough :)

I have only been on one other international mission trip, and it was in ninth grade to the Dominican Republic.  It was a week-long trip, and God really opened my eyes to the reality of third-world life.  The thing that stood out to me the most was the joy that the people had who seemed to have nothing else.  I've also been on a few other smaller mission trips within the country (traveling VBS's), but nothing like what we're getting ready to do.  

I'm extremely excited about this trip.  I feel like God is going to reveal so much to all of us when we're over there.  At the same time, I'm horribly nervous.  I don't normally get homesick here at school, but that's a two hour drive from home, not a plane ride across the world for four months.  I am really looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you.  I hold my friends really close to my heart, and I love meeting people who I "click" with.  I feel like this semester in Kenya is really going to help me grow into the person God is shaping me to be.  I would love to come back from this trip with a whole new mindset and a better idea of what I'm supposed to be doing with my life.  

Anyways, I'm really looking forward to meeting each and every one of you, and I'll be praying for you guys as the trip gets closer. 

Holly :)