My name is Marci Phillips! No special nicknames, but if anyone comes up with a good one, I'll take it!  I am from Cumming, Georgia about a hour north of Atlanta. I was born and raised here, along with my parents and grandparents, so we have been around here for a while! Although my hometown is growing and is not as close knit as before, I would not change where I was brought up for anything. I currently am attending North Georgia College and State, it is in Dahlonega, Ga and only about a hour from my hometown. It is a quaint school with good values settled in the North Georgia mountains. I am going for my b.s. in biology and my plan is to graduate in December of 2012, so I am almost done! I am a gymnastics coach and have been doing that since I was 15. I love coaching and I would love to keep doing that at nights even after getting a big girl job! In my freetime I love to read, exercise, and I am learning to pick the guitar right now. I pretty much love to do anything active; hiking, camping, fishing, if it's outdoors, I'm all in! I pretty much don't hate anything besides the usual, snakes and spiders! I also am not a fan of heights but I can get over my fear if greatly encouraged, ha ha! I love my family with my whole heart and would not be who I am without them. My grandpa was one of the best men I knew and I got a tattoo on my ankle because of his influence on me before he passed away. I have 3 best friends that are the most amazing people in the world. They support me through everything and I can be exactly who I am with them. I love my boyfriend who I am about to celebrate a 7 year anniversary with! He is pretty incredible and I wouldn't be going on this trip if it wasn't for his support and love! I'm hoping maybe one day I will get a ring for sticking around for so many years.  I have been to Jamica, the Bahamas, and Mexico but not on missions, just for vacations. I believe that God has given me the gift of compassion; I love helping people and always want to give 100% of myself in doing so. I have never been on a mission trip before, and I am so excited God has called me to go on this journey! I'm so pumped to be able to share God's love in a way I never have before, but more than that I think I am more excited to see how the people I serve effect my life. It will be amazing to see how much I can learn from this experience. I have been praying for God to just give me the words to speak, and that everything I do can represent Him! I can't wait to begin this journey with everyone!