Hey! I’m Allison Triplett.  I live in Florence, SC and have all of my life.  I am currently a junior in college.  I went to Liberty University for two years, but recently transferred back home because of some health problems.  I now go to Francis Marion University and I’m majoring in International Studies and Visual Art.  I work after class each day at Express (the clothing store, it’s alright on most days.) I love my family.  I have one older brother and we are very close.  He recently moved away which has been tough, but visiting is always fun! 

     I’m a very laidback person and I just kind of go with the flow.  I love rainy days and I am severely addicted to lotion and chapstick.  I hate snakes (petrified of them.) I love being outdoors and just taking in all of creation.  One of my favorite things to do is play Volleyball.  There is just something so satisfying about hitting that ball.  I’m a very social person and love to hang out with friends no matter what stupid things we’re doing.  Whether we’re hanging out on the beach or talking away the night on the dock we always manage to have a good time. 

    There aren’t many things that I hate, at least that I can think of right now.  I do hate being in one place for too long.  I’ve always been one to run from things and a lot of times I think that has to do with my craving for change.  Many people see being a runner as a bad thing, but I just think of it as embracing the new.  Too often I’ve gotten bogged down in life by hanging onto things that the Lord was trying to pull me away from, but my stubborn nature (I’m very stubborn and independent) wouldn’t trust Him.  But it was always the moment when I let go of all I was holding onto and ran without looking back that I always ended up in the arms of Jesus.  He has challenged me in my faith by these times, and I am stronger because of them. 

    I’ve been to Jamaica once through Praying Pelican and was filled with the Spirit to the point I couldn’t stand it.  I’ve also been to Honduras 3 different times on medical missions through my church.  It was so awesome to be able to meet physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.  To see children run down the hills of the dump with smiles that could light up world warmed my heart.  I’m so excited to see the way God works this next part of His plan for me into my life. 

     God has always seemed to move quickly in my life, maybe because He knows my restless personality.  I’ve really felt that this trip is going to bring newness back into my heart.  The past year has been very tough physically and emotionally.  There were many things I never expected to happen that happened all at once.  I have always been a strong willed girl and very tough, never emotional.  I have always made sure everything was right with other people, no matter how it made me feel.  When I hit my breaking point this past year I didn’t feel like I would ever recover.  Everyone would tell me that all of it would make me stronger, and that’s the last thing I wanted to hear.  I was tired of being the strong girl.  I had held so much in for so long that I didn’t know how to handle it when it all exploded.  After many months I am here, and I can say I am stronger.  The Lord restored me when I thought it was impossible. 

     I'm so excited about this time in my life and with you guys that it’s hard to think of what makes me nervous.  I do have the nervous feelings sometimes, but I would hate if I didn’t. It reassures me that I’m getting out of my comfort zone, how ironic.  I really am just taking each day and looking for ways to learn something new that I can bring to the team.  I am looking forward to meeting all of you and furthering God’s KINGDOM together!