Hey everyone, my name is Melissa Virts and I am so excited to be one of your leaders for this summer!  This is my first experience as a leader with AIM, and I can hardly wait.  I went on two Real Life trips (the two-month trips) while I was in college, first to New Zealand and then to the Amazon jungle.  AIM really impressed me with how organized they were and how well planned out both of my trips were.  And those two trips literally changed my life!  They gave me a passion for missions and other cultures that I never knew I had, and my relationship with God grew by leaps and bounds during both of these trips.  I graduated college with a degree in psychology just before going to the Amazon, so when I got back from the jungle I got a job working as a case manager at a community mental health center.  I work with adults who are severely depressed or bipolar, or who have schizophrenia.  It's definitly a challenging job, but most days I love it.  However...my heart is still set on missions.  So I contacted AIM about leading a trip, and now here I am! :) Hmm, what else can I tell you about myself?  I'm from Kansas, I'm 24, I love to cook and travel, and this picture is me holding the ridiculously huge ice cream sundae that my friends made me eat on my last birthday.  Oh yeah, one more thing.  I'm totally not in the 21st century, I don't have a computer at my house, so I only get to check my email and do all this fun blog stuff about once a week.  I am so excited to get to know each of you!  Feel free to email me (mel_virts@hotmail.com) or call me (620-960-0144) or add me on facebook or whatever.  I'm praying Colossians 1:9-12 for each of us as we prepare for Puerto Rico and the ministry that awaits us there!  Blessings!