The first time I fell in love was nothing like I ever expected. I know that most of you are thinking this is going to be another love story between a boy and a girl; however, this is not a typical love story.

It all started my junior year of high school. I went to a private Christian school and had been a dancer since I was 3 years old. My entire life consisted of going to school, then to dance practice for about three hours every night and more on the weekends. It was even getting to the point where I was putting dance before my relationship with God. I knew it was wrong, but I was too involved with dance to change anything myself. Little did I know that God was up to something. My dance studio was getting ready for our Christmas recital and I was in fourteen dances that year. As we were running through the show, my heart began to beat abnormally fast. Long story short, I found out that I was born with a heart defect and needed surgery. This forced me to pull back from dance and to just kind of chill out. I wasn't allowed to do any kind of physical activity because my heart rate was 294 beats per minute... that's right, two hundred ninety four beats per minute. This was honestly terrifying, but I kept telling myself that I was fine. I knew that God was telling me I needed to check my priorities and find out where I was putting Him on my list. It wasn't a good feeling when I found out where He was.

So, God blessed me with having heart surgery so I could do His work and love His people in a country I never dreamed I would go. Pulling back from dance, allowed more doors to open and for my dreams to be fulfilled. I had always wanted to go on a mission trip. I didn't care where to, I just knew that was something God had blessed me with having a heart for. Going into this mission trip, I had the mindset that I was going to change so many lives and help people in need. However, God had a different plan. My life was forever changed by going to Honduras. I fell in love with people and a country that I never thought I could love so passionately. As soon as I stepped foot in the village of Mount Olivos, Honduras, I knew this is exactly where God wanted me. Needless to say, I fell in love with those children the moment I laid eyes on them. Even though we spoke a different language, we had one thing in common. Love. Love is a universal language and does amazing things. The way the people of Honduras love blows my mind. They have so little, yet so much joy. The way the children would come running and screaming our names when our van pulled into the village, the way they would hang all over me just to be close and have someone tell them they are beautiful and loved, the way I would tickle them and listen to them giggle, and the way they would give me sweet hugs and kisses is what made me fall head over heels in love.

I never thought my first love would be a people and country so far away, but I thank God everyday for it. Each time I go back, the love for those beautiful people gets deeper and stronger. I would rather be covered in dirt and bug bites the size of golf balls with the people I have fallen in love with, than dressed to the nines with a boy that has the potential to break my heart. I know that the love I have for the people of Honduras will never die.

I know my love story sounds a little bit different, but it's my favorite kind. What I witnessed and was a part of in Honduras was unconditional love. Love that makes living this crazy life worth it. So, thank you God for a completely different perspective on life and allowing me to fall in love.