So, Faith arrives on Wednesday and being an amazing hostess, I of course take her to Crepes and Waffles for her first meal in Colombia. We spend the rest of Wednesday unpacking her 3 bags of goodies for all of us!! What an overwhelming blessing when I saw the generosity of her club and how they had sent sports equipment galore for our work here and trip to Planeta Rica! I was in awe of Our Dad and His faithfulness!
The theme of her trip was to see our plans canceled and HIM Glorified through his will for her trip here! Thursday we were suppose to go to PEPE and I received a call that morning that they were just making home visits. Remembering the time I took Stacey on home visit day, I thought our time could be better spent doing other things. So that morning we sat, pryd and created some new material for the ministry. We found different stories, questions, and ways to connect His Truths to the sports they play on a daily basis. That afternoon, we ate at the mall and went grocery shopping. Faith soon began to see how what takes 30 minutes to an hour in the states, consumes 4-5 hours of your day. Welcome to Colombia!! Our Thursday night meeting was canceled, so we spent time with Drlys and watched one of the sermon sets that Faith had brought me. It was a sweet time of sharing what HE had spoken to us through this sermon in two languages.
Friday, the three of us head out to Arjona to love on some women. We spent the day painting nails and sharing His stories. It was a great opportunity for us to model to these believers different ways that they can share HIS stories. It was a sweet time of sharing and loving on these amazing women. They did not stop expressing how much it meant to them that we would take time to care for them and make them beautiful. (Little do they know how absolutely radiant they already are!!) And the discussing that we had amongst us women from these stories, was incredible and deep. When we got back home that night, Ivn and Jota came over for pizza and game night. Just a time for Faith to spend with another two of the leaders of the work...getting to know them and their hearts!
Saturday, we head out to Nelson Mandela for the first time in 2 weeks. It didn't rain!! WooHoo!! I told Faith that I believe because so many people are pryng for the weather when volunteers come down that HE listens and provides. But as soon as volunteers leave, here comes the heat and the rain! We had a great day in Mandela and Villa Estrella. We had a good number of kids for not being out there for two weeks and Faith just fit in like a little natural! One of my favorite times was when Faith, Ruth and I were playing soccer with the smaller kids in Villa Estrella. Well, the kids don't realize that Faith doesn't speak spanish and just watching her smiling and nodding as some of these boys are just pouring their hearts out to her! And then comes the defense tactic of my team...scream when people come near you to distract them! Next thing I know, Ruth and Faith are screaming when my team is trying to score. It was probably the funniest thing I have seen in awhile. You have about 20 little 7-10 year old boys playing their game with these two gringas running after them and screaming!! It definitely worked as they did not know what to think and let them have the ball!
Sunday, I did not sleep at all and spent most of the night with a fever and on the toilet. So we had club here; Faith on the beach and me in the bed. Faith headed out to Arjona with Brian/Bobby while I waited to see if I felt good enough to go and for the youth. I head out to meet the youth and the feelings come back. So I send the guys out with the balls and I head back home to get close the toilet and my bed. I was thankful for the amazing friends and youth who took great care of Faith in Arjona and even when back at my apt.
Monday, we were suppose to head out to Baru and visit Eric and his beach. But it was canceled, so I show Faith some more of the city and we get all of her goodies for her friends/family at home. We packed all the bags for Planeta Rica and spent more time on the story sets and waited to see if any youth could head out with us to Villa Estrella but He had different plants. That afternoon we watched the Truth Project in english so that she would not be lost during the study that night. Followed that by two trips to the airport to meet two of the youth that had been serving in different countries as short term Ms. It was great to see those girls and I am excited to hear about what HE showed them during this time away! That night, we started the Truth Project and their reactions/answers were better than I expected. We had to cut our discussion short to go pick up one of the girls. But Jota, who is leading the study, had the group in the airport discussing the different aspects of the study while we waited for her to arrive. It was neat to see them discussing His Words together, without me!! PRAISE HIM!!
Tuesday, Mrhls and Crmn had organized the entire group of small clubs to come together to say goodbye to Faith and celebrate Brian's birthday. It was so beautiful to help them get everything ready. I was just the go-fer for them...going to the store for this, washing these dishes, cleaning this house, getting these chairs...I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! It was so great to see all of them together...something that HE had showed me months ago...and they did it lead by HIS SPIRIT! It was definitely the picture of the first century clubs! Faith and I played with the kids during this time and shared with them! It was a great day of just watching HIM work!
Oh, as I was leaving on Tuesday Marlydis (Mrhls 2nd daughter who calls me mom) had got it in her head that she was going to spend the night with me. From where, I have no idea. She had packed her bag to come with me and when I told her she couldn't...her crocodile tears began to flow! So we had organized for them to come on Wednesday to spend the day with us and the night as well. This helped her let me leave without pitching a HUGE fit!
Wednesday, we did something in the morning but I honestly cannot remember and then waited for Mrhls to come over. I had canceled our trip to villa Estrella because Mrhls was coming over. When she finally called to tell me that she was not coming, it was too late to find someone to go with us to Villa Estrella and then began to pour rain! So, more time with The Father!!
Thursday, we had planned to go visit a little girl who had been raped by a boy to love on her during her visiting hours at the clinic she has been in for about 2 months. Once again, couldn't find anyone to go out with us because we had planned to go back with Mrhls and visit her. I realized what HE was doing in all of this, as I have been accustomed to HIM canceling and doing whatever HE wants. He was calling Faith to Him to rest in HIM. She spends her weeks running from one job to another, to church, and then back to her home (full of her parents, both sisters, one sister's husband and child, and 3 dogs). HE was calling her to HIM. Calling her to spend time with HIM. Calling her to rest in HIS Arms.
It was hard for her to accept that He would ask people to give so that she could come down here to rest. I told her that it was probably the MOST important thing that she could do while she was down here. Spend time with Her Father; our ONLY job in this world! The busyness of America doesn't seem to allow us to see that this is our job. Bills, food, cars, iphones, friends, family, internet, and things seem to cloud our view of our only purpose...to glorify HIM! I am so thankful that she was able to see that and learn that. I am excited as she goes back and shares that with her club and friends. I am sure they are expecting to hear all kinds of stories of all the work she did while she was down here. But I know that what they need to hear more than anything is the lesson that Faith learned and the Love of Her Father that she felt curled up in His lap.
Through her visit and His time with her, I spent more time with Him as well. He revealed to me identifying different things/temptations that I have to be prepared for when I go back to the States...so that i don't get sucked into the America mentality that is anything but what HE wants for us and has designed us for! It was a great time of recognizing and searching HIS Words for ways to defeat the lies of the devil when he presents them in the form of things, busyness, money, and everything so easily accessible.
Thursday, we also spent time preparing food for Thanksgiving...one of my favorite holidays! I spent a lot of extra time with HIM just thanking HIM for all that HE had done this year in my life!! I got to talk to Mom and Kerri as well. Then we head over to another American house with the Massey's and Paul's where we are joined by another 20 people (that I really did not know). I was asked to sit at the kid's table by Ruthie and Noa and spent the rest of the night just being silly with them. The food was amazing...we actually had TURKEY! The fellowship was good. I was very thankful that Faith was there.
Friday, we head out to Playa Blanca for a day of tourism and relaxing. On the way there, our boat breaks down so we spend about an hour just sitting in rain and inhaling the fumes from whatever they were trying to do. We eventually arrive and it was a cloudy day as we have not really seen sun for about a month now. We get chairs and just sit to relax. Well mom you remember the vendors there and how they don't leave you alone, right? Well the day starts off by buying a bracelet that Stacey had asked me to buy for her because Sarah broke hers during a game of spoons...I have no more details than that. So, I buy the bracelet...Faith buys a bracelet and some earrings and I figure we are in the clear because we have bought. So I am reading my Radical book, Bible and pretty much not paying attention to anything else, when I look up to Faith with like 20 necklaces on her arms and 7 men standing around her trying to sell her stuff. I died laughing and asked her if she wanted any of this, she laughs and says no but she did not know what to do. So, we get rid of them and finish the day relaxing. Occasionally throughout the day, Faith would think she saw sun and tell me to move my chair. 3 times this happens and every time it begins to rain on me just when I get settled, but what can you do. So her 4th try to convince me of this, I get up out of my chair to see...not trusting anything she says at this point, and sure enough some sun...WooHoo!! Seriously 5 minutes later, the boat guy tells us we have to leave. It was quite humorous! But a good day and a good way to end the trip.
We make it back to prepare for the youth meeting. It a meeting where we focused on pryng for the trip and the tournament that we had started. I was a little disappointed in the youth because they had not prepared anything over the past 2 weeks for the trip. So we are having another meeting this Friday to finish up all the details for the trip. I am hopeful that they will do it this time!
After the meeting, Faith and I just spent some time together and tried to help Drly study for her big exam. Faith surprised me with an envelope with some gifts from her club for our trip to Planeta Rica! PRAISE HIM!! I was speechless and in awe of His faithfulness!!
It was a good time to have Faith here and it was just nice to be around another american for a week! So on Saturday Drlys, Brian, and I take her to the airport and just enjoy our last couple of minutes with Faith before she has to leave! We get her on the plane and head back to the house. We are about to leave to start the tournament in Nelson Mandela when we look up at the sky, make a call to Ana, and realize it is pouring rain out there and headed our way! We are told that we cannot go out there. Again, it is as HE wants it to be. I was not feeling well (sore throat, fever, sinus pain, etc.) and so I go back to rest and Drlys studies. She leaves to take her exam and I make a call to see about Villa Estrella and am told the same thing but was not able to call Jota before hand so he makes it to the house. We spend the afternoon preparing for the study for Monday and the trip to Planeta Rica. It was a great time with HIM!
Sunday, we all head out to Turbaco to show our video and tell them more about the ministry. It went well, as this club already supports us 100%! We get into SS and they want us to teach. Ivn does an excellent job and we were able to answer lots of questions about the work. After the service, we have 8 of the youth coming with us to start the tournament in Arjona! PRAISE HIM! After lunch we make our way to Arjona and arrive at the same time as a downpour. Once again, HIS WILL not ours. So we head back home and spend the afternoon doing some more preparing for the trip.
Yesterday, Ruth and I watched the first part of the science talk on the Truth Project and left me thinking and searching His Word. It was a great time in His Word. Last night we watched #2, Philosophy of the Truth Project with the youth. I was a little disappointed at first as not a lot of the youth showed up and from their reaction last week, I had thought more would have come. Once again, not my plans and will but His! Are you sensing the theme of my past couple of weeks?
So there it is in a nutshell, mom! Only 3 weeks until I am home and I honestly cannot wait!! I love you! Have a great day!
The theme of her trip was to see our plans canceled and HIM Glorified through his will for her trip here! Thursday we were suppose to go to PEPE and I received a call that morning that they were just making home visits. Remembering the time I took Stacey on home visit day, I thought our time could be better spent doing other things. So that morning we sat, pryd and created some new material for the ministry. We found different stories, questions, and ways to connect His Truths to the sports they play on a daily basis. That afternoon, we ate at the mall and went grocery shopping. Faith soon began to see how what takes 30 minutes to an hour in the states, consumes 4-5 hours of your day. Welcome to Colombia!! Our Thursday night meeting was canceled, so we spent time with Drlys and watched one of the sermon sets that Faith had brought me. It was a sweet time of sharing what HE had spoken to us through this sermon in two languages.
Friday, the three of us head out to Arjona to love on some women. We spent the day painting nails and sharing His stories. It was a great opportunity for us to model to these believers different ways that they can share HIS stories. It was a sweet time of sharing and loving on these amazing women. They did not stop expressing how much it meant to them that we would take time to care for them and make them beautiful. (Little do they know how absolutely radiant they already are!!) And the discussing that we had amongst us women from these stories, was incredible and deep. When we got back home that night, Ivn and Jota came over for pizza and game night. Just a time for Faith to spend with another two of the leaders of the work...getting to know them and their hearts!
Saturday, we head out to Nelson Mandela for the first time in 2 weeks. It didn't rain!! WooHoo!! I told Faith that I believe because so many people are pryng for the weather when volunteers come down that HE listens and provides. But as soon as volunteers leave, here comes the heat and the rain! We had a great day in Mandela and Villa Estrella. We had a good number of kids for not being out there for two weeks and Faith just fit in like a little natural! One of my favorite times was when Faith, Ruth and I were playing soccer with the smaller kids in Villa Estrella. Well, the kids don't realize that Faith doesn't speak spanish and just watching her smiling and nodding as some of these boys are just pouring their hearts out to her! And then comes the defense tactic of my team...scream when people come near you to distract them! Next thing I know, Ruth and Faith are screaming when my team is trying to score. It was probably the funniest thing I have seen in awhile. You have about 20 little 7-10 year old boys playing their game with these two gringas running after them and screaming!! It definitely worked as they did not know what to think and let them have the ball!
Sunday, I did not sleep at all and spent most of the night with a fever and on the toilet. So we had club here; Faith on the beach and me in the bed. Faith headed out to Arjona with Brian/Bobby while I waited to see if I felt good enough to go and for the youth. I head out to meet the youth and the feelings come back. So I send the guys out with the balls and I head back home to get close the toilet and my bed. I was thankful for the amazing friends and youth who took great care of Faith in Arjona and even when back at my apt.
Monday, we were suppose to head out to Baru and visit Eric and his beach. But it was canceled, so I show Faith some more of the city and we get all of her goodies for her friends/family at home. We packed all the bags for Planeta Rica and spent more time on the story sets and waited to see if any youth could head out with us to Villa Estrella but He had different plants. That afternoon we watched the Truth Project in english so that she would not be lost during the study that night. Followed that by two trips to the airport to meet two of the youth that had been serving in different countries as short term Ms. It was great to see those girls and I am excited to hear about what HE showed them during this time away! That night, we started the Truth Project and their reactions/answers were better than I expected. We had to cut our discussion short to go pick up one of the girls. But Jota, who is leading the study, had the group in the airport discussing the different aspects of the study while we waited for her to arrive. It was neat to see them discussing His Words together, without me!! PRAISE HIM!!
Tuesday, Mrhls and Crmn had organized the entire group of small clubs to come together to say goodbye to Faith and celebrate Brian's birthday. It was so beautiful to help them get everything ready. I was just the go-fer for them...going to the store for this, washing these dishes, cleaning this house, getting these chairs...I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! It was so great to see all of them together...something that HE had showed me months ago...and they did it lead by HIS SPIRIT! It was definitely the picture of the first century clubs! Faith and I played with the kids during this time and shared with them! It was a great day of just watching HIM work!
Oh, as I was leaving on Tuesday Marlydis (Mrhls 2nd daughter who calls me mom) had got it in her head that she was going to spend the night with me. From where, I have no idea. She had packed her bag to come with me and when I told her she couldn't...her crocodile tears began to flow! So we had organized for them to come on Wednesday to spend the day with us and the night as well. This helped her let me leave without pitching a HUGE fit!
Wednesday, we did something in the morning but I honestly cannot remember and then waited for Mrhls to come over. I had canceled our trip to villa Estrella because Mrhls was coming over. When she finally called to tell me that she was not coming, it was too late to find someone to go with us to Villa Estrella and then began to pour rain! So, more time with The Father!!
Thursday, we had planned to go visit a little girl who had been raped by a boy to love on her during her visiting hours at the clinic she has been in for about 2 months. Once again, couldn't find anyone to go out with us because we had planned to go back with Mrhls and visit her. I realized what HE was doing in all of this, as I have been accustomed to HIM canceling and doing whatever HE wants. He was calling Faith to Him to rest in HIM. She spends her weeks running from one job to another, to church, and then back to her home (full of her parents, both sisters, one sister's husband and child, and 3 dogs). HE was calling her to HIM. Calling her to spend time with HIM. Calling her to rest in HIS Arms.
It was hard for her to accept that He would ask people to give so that she could come down here to rest. I told her that it was probably the MOST important thing that she could do while she was down here. Spend time with Her Father; our ONLY job in this world! The busyness of America doesn't seem to allow us to see that this is our job. Bills, food, cars, iphones, friends, family, internet, and things seem to cloud our view of our only purpose...to glorify HIM! I am so thankful that she was able to see that and learn that. I am excited as she goes back and shares that with her club and friends. I am sure they are expecting to hear all kinds of stories of all the work she did while she was down here. But I know that what they need to hear more than anything is the lesson that Faith learned and the Love of Her Father that she felt curled up in His lap.
Through her visit and His time with her, I spent more time with Him as well. He revealed to me identifying different things/temptations that I have to be prepared for when I go back to the States...so that i don't get sucked into the America mentality that is anything but what HE wants for us and has designed us for! It was a great time of recognizing and searching HIS Words for ways to defeat the lies of the devil when he presents them in the form of things, busyness, money, and everything so easily accessible.
Thursday, we also spent time preparing food for Thanksgiving...one of my favorite holidays! I spent a lot of extra time with HIM just thanking HIM for all that HE had done this year in my life!! I got to talk to Mom and Kerri as well. Then we head over to another American house with the Massey's and Paul's where we are joined by another 20 people (that I really did not know). I was asked to sit at the kid's table by Ruthie and Noa and spent the rest of the night just being silly with them. The food was amazing...we actually had TURKEY! The fellowship was good. I was very thankful that Faith was there.
Friday, we head out to Playa Blanca for a day of tourism and relaxing. On the way there, our boat breaks down so we spend about an hour just sitting in rain and inhaling the fumes from whatever they were trying to do. We eventually arrive and it was a cloudy day as we have not really seen sun for about a month now. We get chairs and just sit to relax. Well mom you remember the vendors there and how they don't leave you alone, right? Well the day starts off by buying a bracelet that Stacey had asked me to buy for her because Sarah broke hers during a game of spoons...I have no more details than that. So, I buy the bracelet...Faith buys a bracelet and some earrings and I figure we are in the clear because we have bought. So I am reading my Radical book, Bible and pretty much not paying attention to anything else, when I look up to Faith with like 20 necklaces on her arms and 7 men standing around her trying to sell her stuff. I died laughing and asked her if she wanted any of this, she laughs and says no but she did not know what to do. So, we get rid of them and finish the day relaxing. Occasionally throughout the day, Faith would think she saw sun and tell me to move my chair. 3 times this happens and every time it begins to rain on me just when I get settled, but what can you do. So her 4th try to convince me of this, I get up out of my chair to see...not trusting anything she says at this point, and sure enough some sun...WooHoo!! Seriously 5 minutes later, the boat guy tells us we have to leave. It was quite humorous! But a good day and a good way to end the trip.
We make it back to prepare for the youth meeting. It a meeting where we focused on pryng for the trip and the tournament that we had started. I was a little disappointed in the youth because they had not prepared anything over the past 2 weeks for the trip. So we are having another meeting this Friday to finish up all the details for the trip. I am hopeful that they will do it this time!
After the meeting, Faith and I just spent some time together and tried to help Drly study for her big exam. Faith surprised me with an envelope with some gifts from her club for our trip to Planeta Rica! PRAISE HIM!! I was speechless and in awe of His faithfulness!!
It was a good time to have Faith here and it was just nice to be around another american for a week! So on Saturday Drlys, Brian, and I take her to the airport and just enjoy our last couple of minutes with Faith before she has to leave! We get her on the plane and head back to the house. We are about to leave to start the tournament in Nelson Mandela when we look up at the sky, make a call to Ana, and realize it is pouring rain out there and headed our way! We are told that we cannot go out there. Again, it is as HE wants it to be. I was not feeling well (sore throat, fever, sinus pain, etc.) and so I go back to rest and Drlys studies. She leaves to take her exam and I make a call to see about Villa Estrella and am told the same thing but was not able to call Jota before hand so he makes it to the house. We spend the afternoon preparing for the study for Monday and the trip to Planeta Rica. It was a great time with HIM!
Sunday, we all head out to Turbaco to show our video and tell them more about the ministry. It went well, as this club already supports us 100%! We get into SS and they want us to teach. Ivn does an excellent job and we were able to answer lots of questions about the work. After the service, we have 8 of the youth coming with us to start the tournament in Arjona! PRAISE HIM! After lunch we make our way to Arjona and arrive at the same time as a downpour. Once again, HIS WILL not ours. So we head back home and spend the afternoon doing some more preparing for the trip.
Yesterday, Ruth and I watched the first part of the science talk on the Truth Project and left me thinking and searching His Word. It was a great time in His Word. Last night we watched #2, Philosophy of the Truth Project with the youth. I was a little disappointed at first as not a lot of the youth showed up and from their reaction last week, I had thought more would have come. Once again, not my plans and will but His! Are you sensing the theme of my past couple of weeks?
So there it is in a nutshell, mom! Only 3 weeks until I am home and I honestly cannot wait!! I love you! Have a great day!
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