tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28640500620835671062023-11-16T03:00:17.322-08:00Jeremiah29:11Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-26736659390017356712014-07-24T00:13:00.000-07:002014-07-24T00:13:41.288-07:00Any Updates?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Hi everyone! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
I just wanted to
send an update before we leave in just over a week!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First I wanted to say thank you to everyone
who has supported me or any member of the team whether it be through prayer,
encouragement, advise, or finances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God never intends for His work to be done in isolation and I’m so glad
that He doesn’t!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means so much to us
to see the sending team God is shaping.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
A lot has happened
since I sent the first letter (in the mail) so I wanted to catch you up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First thing is that I won’t be going to
Mexico right after Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
many reasons for this, part is lack of communication between myself and the
organization I was planning on working with, part of it is a lack of adequate
time to plan the trip out, and part of it is finances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a tall order financially to make this
summer/fall workout and God has not yet opened the doors to fulfill that
order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of today (7/23/14) I’m about
$1,250 shy of being fully funded for Uganda and I have
had very little come in specifically for Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My God is a great God I know He can take care
of what I need for Uganda and I know that He may be closing the door to Mexico
at this time for whatever reason but even though thing aren’t where I thought
they’d be by now God is still at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
that He is still working, if you haven’t already done so would you consider being part of the sending team for either the team as a whole or myself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t help but think of Paul whenever I’m
sent out and how he shares the joy of ministry with all his supporting
churches, I’d love to be able to share that with you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
Tonight we had our
last meeting as a team before meeting to head out on the 4<sup>th</sup>. At the
meeting we spent some time alone praying and thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two main things, other then
praying, that we were asked to do with that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First was ask God what He would have us
(individually and as a team) learn, see, do etc. through this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second was to not only write down what we
think or expect God to do, but also what we personally desired from the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the time apart we came together and
shared our top one or two things and I thought I’d share with you also as you
are part of the team!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What follows is
what I entitled “Hopes for Uganda”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so excited and deep desire to truly see
God at work in a place I’ve never been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God is God no matter where or when you are but God is a personal God who
reaches individuals, cultures, and eras in different ways, much as you and I
talk to the various people in our lives in customized ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We use different vocabulary and body
language, there’s a different leave of intimacy, and we spend time with each
one differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe God works in
our lives similarly; He reaches us in a way that makes sense in our
relationship why still fully maintaining His consistent nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m excited to hopefully see God working in
ways I’ve never seen before!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m super excited to support and encourage
the staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve realized recently that my
heart is in ministry, when I’m not building into others lives and when I feel
like I can’t spend time with someone because my break is over, or I have to run
to the next thing, or whatever I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much, if
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I end up drained when what I
was doing wasn't that “hard”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of
that I’m so looking forward to our aim on this trip being to love-on the staff
and build into their lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with that I’m really excited to get an
opportunity to refocus on service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve,
for many reasons, seen myself slipping from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other </i>focus to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me </i>focus
and I don’t like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m anticipating
that this trip will help remind me of why I love serving and get my head back
in the game, so to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our theme for the trip is “Portraits of
Grace.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace is something that I can
see God writing all over my life right now especially and I’m excited to have
this opportunity to dive into the topic and intentionally focus on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to see God teach me how to both give
and receive true grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
5. Lastly, at
least lastly from the short list I wrote down during the meeting, I hoping that
God will use this trip, the team, me, to light a fire under the behinds of those
who are staying home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not everyone is
called to cross-cultural missions BUT everyone is called to missions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m hoping that through this trip people will
start to think about missions and their role in the work and then get up and do
what God is calling them to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We as
Christians are called to have our citizenship in heaven and our focus in
eternity, is that your focus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
live each day like Jesus is returning tomorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If not I hope this trip encourages, convicts, convinces, teaches you (and me) to
make changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
So there you have
it, my current short list of hopes for this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There you also have an update so you know
best how to support and send.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully
you realize just how important you are as part of this team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to know how important it is to
those who are sent that they be sent well, knowing that there is a team staying
behind that will support them however God calls them to support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for being part of God’s work! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Following His Leading, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
~Heather <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">S.D.G<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">P.S. If God so moves in your heart to support us financially
please consider donating online on gofundme at </span><a href="http://www.gofundme.com/89wbm8" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.gofundme.com/89wbm8</a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> specifying whether your donation goes </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">to</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> an individual or the team as a whole, or if
you’d rather send a check please make it out to Village Bible Church and put “Uganda”
and the name of the person/people you’d like the support to go to in the memo field. Address to the church is 12671 Buaro St
Garden Grove, CA 92840. If you’d like
specific prayer requests please ask!</span><!--EndFragment-->
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-63418429469086748792012-11-22T13:37:00.003-08:002012-11-22T13:37:56.706-08:00Wait! There's a holiday before Black Friday?!?!?!?
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
So as you may or may not know I work
in retail, which means Black Friday is not a long night of lines, finding that
much sought after amazing deal, and crazed post-turkey dinner madness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it means is that I have a long,
all-night shift tonight and it has been weeks of preparation, planning, and
stuffing the store full of the items people will be breaking the door down to
get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The responsibility of which
has fallen more so then before on my shoulders since I’m one of three people
responsible for product receiving and placement and that I’m the one in charge
of the women’s department, which is a one of our key departments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say there’s a lot of new
stuff to learn and a lot of running around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as today has been rapidly approaching I’ve been more
focused on tomorrow then today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sadly at times I’d forget that there was even a holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was convicted of this last Sunday at
church as a friend asked me if I was free anytime in the afternoons to catch-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was talking in general but I
thought of the week ahead (this week) and said, “Yes normally I am, but not
this week because it’s Black Friday week.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She responded, “Oh yeah, not this week because of
Thanksgiving, I meant maybe after.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oddly this response made my heart sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started thinking about what I had said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had TOTALLY forgotten about
Thanksgiving, awesome <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">K</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
started realizing how often I said “Black Friday” instead of
“Thanksgiving.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ratio was not
proportionate; in fact it was very much lopsided in favor of the wrong
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I decided to actively get
myself into the spirit of the holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I started thinking about things I’m thankful for, I started trying to
focus on the days of the week in order, which meant Thursday <i>before</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Friday, and started listening to
Winter/Christmas/Holiday music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now I know that listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving may
seem like I was skipping Thanksgiving and not giving it it’s “own space.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well that’s not how it works for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas music for me focuses
on God, family, friends, joy, and truly living the reason we celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though some of the songs
specifically focus on Christmas a lot of them simply focus on all the things I
mentioned before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has helped
me get my priorities in order, at least most of the time; Rome wasn’t built in
a day after-all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, it’s
been nice to get rid of the stuff in the way and take back Thanksgiving, even
if I am still having to think about Black Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always wanted to do the 30 days of thanks giving
thing that a lot of people do on Facebook but never have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered that I wanted to do those
far to far into November so I wouldn’t be able to catch-up in time without
bombarding my status’ and everyone’s news feeds with my massive posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I decided instead to blog them </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here goes my catching up on 30 days
of thanks giving (P.S. these are in no particular order) (P.P.S. I’m going to
have keep these things short since there will be 22 of them… I could write
forever about each one, gonna keep it short and sweet):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Salvation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
thankful that God has given me the gift of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thankful that everything in my life led me to accept the
gift He offered and that to this day He is working in my life to continue to
prefect my very imperfect life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ephesians 2:8-9 For by Grace you have been save through faith, this is
not of yourself it is a gift of God, not of works so that no one can boast.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My parents:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
gave me the perfect parents to train me into the women He wants me to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like any relationships, ours isn’t
perfect but I know they love me, pray for me daily, and would do anything for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love them and know I will
continue to learn from them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My siblings: Four siblings is a lot at times, but like my
parents I know that God gave me each of my siblings for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve loved growing up with all of them
and have a lot of great memories with them, individually and all together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My pets: Past and present!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Animals make the world a better place and pets make my life
a lot less stressful (most of the time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They may make a mess but their unconditional love sure makes up for it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My house: I lived on the BEST street growing up and continue
to live in a great neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our house is such a blessing and I know it came directly from God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My schooling:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From being home-schooled, to S.T.AR., to Cypress College, to UCR, all of
them were exactly what I needed and where I needed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so appreciative for the things I
learned, the opportunities I had, the people I met, the hard work of my
teachers, and the abilities to be educated in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Hope:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope is a
powerful thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have hope
because I know the promises of the God who loves me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a lot of things I hope for, some silly and some
heart wrenching but they are all things that keep me moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe someday I write a blog about some
of my hopes… I think that’s something I’d like to write about!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My country:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
good ole U.S. of A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was
gracious enough to have me be born in the States and I’m grateful for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I don’t agree with everything that
my country has done or is doing and I LOVE quite a few other countries, but
overall the U.S. is a great nation that has done and is doing a lot of good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that God continues to bless us
and that we will continue to be a tool in His hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Bible:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
have died for having a piece of the Bible and in the very room I sit in I have
at least six… that’s just my bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God out of love for us gave us His amazing book to draw us closer to
Him, give us Hope, and teach us things that are beyond man’s capabilities to
teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a gift to have one in
my own language and to live in a country where I can read it without fear.
Without the Bible I’d be lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My time abroad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have been to Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Spain, Portugal, and Italy and I’ve
loved each and every one of places I’ve visited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it be for school, missions trip, or fun, each
adventure is a life experience I’ll never forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without these
opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful not
only for the time there and the things I got to do and see but also for the
people who helped make these trips a reality and the amazing people I met along
the way! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Work:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not
always appreciate my jobs but I’m so grateful to have work to be able to pay of
loans, bills, and to have fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
this economy so may people are out of work, I’m luck to still have more than
one job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My friends:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Past
and present, new and old, they are all amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God truly uses you all to shape me into a better
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the memories I have
with each of them and for the deeper relationships I have made with them as we
have grown up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Aunts and Uncles:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m grateful for the time I have had with each of my aunts and uncles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some I’ve had LOTS of time with and
some I sadly have not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never
forget all the fun times and all the things they all have taught me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m grateful that God gave me each of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Cousins:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
my longest friends are my cousins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have been through a lot together, both good and bad, and that means a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thankful for each one and
the uniqueness of each of our relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say that God picked some pretty awesome cousins
for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Grandma Max:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
love her and miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so thankful
for the time I had with her and for all that she taught me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this day I accredit my love of games
and skill at a lot of games to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was one of my first card buddies!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loved her grandkids and “adopted” grandkids with all
that she had and did everything to make our little dreams come true!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Church Family:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Village Bible Church is my second home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve spent a good portion of my life in that building and
with my church family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
thankful that we landed at VBC so many years ago and that God continues to use
it to grow me into a godly woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have SO many good memories with my church family and miss them so much
when I’m away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great community
of faith is of importance in a Christian’s life and I’m blessed to have found
just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->AWANA:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m SO
grateful that I grew up going to AWANA programs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were fun and exciting but more importantly taught me
discipline and SOOOO many Bible verses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I may not be able to spout all of them perfectly at the drop of a hat
today but it built a foundation and to this day all of the verse are familiar
and common to mind often, even if I can’t remember the darn references!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also thankful to be able to be a
leader in AWANA now, what a joy every Wednesday night!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->BYT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I may
never have been the star of the show, but Biola Youth Theater was amazingly fun
and helped me come out of my shell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I overcame fears, learned so much about the ins and outs of theater, met
a lot of great people, and just loved doing it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So thankful for the 2 ½ years I had there <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Passion:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thankful that God has given me passion for certain things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Languages and volunteering being two
big ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m grateful for all the
opportunities I’ve had to pursue and satisfy my passion and I’m SOOO looking
forward to a job that allows me to use those passions every day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->20.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Creation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I LOVE
the outdoors, I love all the different types of plants, weather events (minus
heat waves!), landscapes, stars, and animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thankful that God carefully crafted this world to be
perfect for sustaining life and that all creation points back to Him! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->21.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Nieces and Nephews:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of the dearest things in my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has blessed me with some pretty amazing nieces and
nephews and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thankful for their little hearts, for the chance to see
them grow, for the chance to be a good role model for them, for all their
questions, for their AMAZING laughter, and so much more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love those kids!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->22.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->My medicine:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know this is an odd one… but my life before figuring out I have a thyroid
problem was harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thankful
that God led me to amazing doctors and surgeons to help figure it out and find
solutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen what happens
after not having medicine for a day or two and it’s not pretty so I’m very
thankful that I live in a day and age were people much smarter than I know how
to make medicine and that I live in a place were I can easily get it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Well there you have it, sorry that was
long… as you can see I have a lot to be thankful for!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I hope that this will bless you in some way, maybe it
will convict your heart, maybe it will just be a nice break from all the junk
around us, maybe it will teach you something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it won’t do any of those things, but it was on my
heart and I wanted to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
things get in the way of what’s truly important take a second to refocus and
then enjoy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy Thanksgiving and
remember who we truly have to thank for everything we have!<o:p></o:p></div>
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James 1:17<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Every</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><b>good</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><b>and</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><b>perfect</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><b>gift</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is from above, coming down
from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting
shadows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
~Heather <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">S.D.G <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-11272332318440843472012-09-20T22:09:00.000-07:002012-09-20T22:09:01.088-07:00Has it really been a year already?
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Yep one year ago today, the 20<sup>th</sup>
of September 2011, I left Portugal and yet I can remember that day, especially
the last hour like it was yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After a little over 3 months living life in Portugal I was boarding a
bus headed for Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my
most vibe memories is saying good-bye to my friend Carolina the night before
and not crying, which is shocking because I <i>ALWAYS</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> cry, I don’t like good-byes, in fact I hate
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, I didn’t cry when
we said good-bye the night before, but as I was standing in the station with
Mario, Lancy, and Burna waiting for my bus to leave, already with tears in my
eyes, I looked up and saw Carolina running across the station towards me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like the kind of things you see in a movie; at the
last minute right before ________ (fill in your favorite character) boards the
bus/train/plane/taxi his/her friend/love interest/relationship strained family
member comes running in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
embrace, they cry, they smile, they share some sentimental words, and they
part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not kidding it was </span><i>EXACTLY
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a testament of my time there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In only three months I had built friendships and
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had served together,
served separately, and served each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I was there I had learned culture, learned things about myself,
and I actually learned Portuguese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More importantly I learned about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was reminded that He is faithful, I was reminded of the
power of His Word, and I was reminded of the strength He gives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I saw for the first time in my
life Him clearly directing my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I saw people in my life be His hands and feet to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was blessed to have my time
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was blessed meet everyone
in Miratejo and at Word of Life Camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Something that I’ve been thinking about is whether or not what I learned
a year ago is still affecting my life today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have I grown?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or did I walk away and not let it change me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I like a man who looks at himself in the mirror, walks
away, and immediately forgets what he looks like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of what I learned in Portugal has stuck with me, but a
lot has also become memories and/or just head knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My pray is that as I reminisces about
Portugal, as I miss my friends and family there, as I wonder where God is
leading me right now, I would be doing so with the purpose of moving forward,
taking where I was and using it to propel myself forward in my walk with Him
and in the mundane parts of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So what about you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was
a time that you clearly saw God working?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When was a time that you had a time when you felt closer to God and at
peace with your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, have
you grown from that moment or have you stayed there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps you have fallen back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Christian, as a person in general, we are to be
constantly moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
allows circumstances in our lives to cause growth in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sometimes we stand in the way, or
we don’t let it truly change us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My challenge to myself and to you is to find ways to allow lasting
change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find ways to use what God
has done in the past to build you up in every aspect of your life, because we
know “…that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
~Heather Plotz<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
S.D.G.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">P.S. A tudo os meus amigos e família em
Portugal, tenho muito saudades de vocês.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Muito obrigada para os três meses que eu estava com vocês em
Portugal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muito obrigada a vocês
para sendo os mãos e pés de Deus em minha vida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muito obrigada para ainda sendo um parte de me vida agora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Espero que um dia vou ver vocês de novo
em Portugal, ou talvez cá em os Estados Unidos ;) </span><!--EndFragment-->
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-85097566856883954662012-06-18T17:07:00.001-07:002012-06-18T17:07:22.750-07:00From Jerusalem to BabylonSo, last week I was read <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">through some stuff in my Bible and the verse that this blog is titled after popped into my head. For your reference here's the verse: Jeremiah 29:11 "<sup class="versenum mid-line" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>For I know the plans <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord,</span> “plans to prosper <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." As I thought about the verse it occurred to me that there were at least 10 other verse in that chapter... and I had no idea what they had to say! So I decided to read chapter 29 of Jeremiah. Since at that point my computer was closer than my Bible I opened it up and went to the handy-dandy site called Biblegateway.com (an AWESOME resource!). I came to find out that Jeremiah 29 had not 10 other verse but 31! So I read them. And as it turns out they had a lot to say about my life as it is right now... funny how that works out! The 29th chapter of Jeremiah is a letter from the prophet Jeremiah in Jerusalem sent to the Israelites who had been carried into exile in Babylon. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At this point you may be wondering what this has to do with my life... well I'll tell you. A huge part of me feels like I'm in Babylon right now. I'm not where I want to be, where I think I should be, or where I feel like I am supposed to be. I'm not necessarily talking geographically... although maybe that is part of it. On October 19th last year (2011) I arrived back in the U.S. after an amazing summer abroad. Amazing because I was stretched, pruned, and grown and I was using skills that I had spent my college years and a lot of my life acquiring. I knew I was where I was supposed to be last summer. But as my time overseas grew to an end I knew that home, back in the U.S., was where I was meant to be. There were some callings in my life that I knew God wanted me to accomplish. Some of those things I've completed and some I'm still working on. But most of those things were/are extra curricular activities so to speak, they don't pay the bills and the don't take up all my time... in fact they leave me A LOT of free time. So I've spent the past seven months looking for a job that meets my physical, as well as personal needs. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not starving, homeless, or unclothed but I know that things can't always stay as they are now, I can't always lean on others, I do need to contribute my share and pay off my debt (because the government might not be as lenient</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> or gracious </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as my family...). I also know that God has put certain passions in my life and equipped me with certain gifts and skills for a reason, so finding that reason is something I'm striving towards. Anyways, all that to say that things aren't as I had pictured them. I feel like I was were I was supposed to be, and now I've been taken from it and can't get back. So as I was reading the beginning of the chapter I connected a lot with the Israelites. Even though I'm sure my situation is not nearly as bad as theirs. Eventually I got to ver</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">se 10 "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">This is what the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">says: “When seventy years</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19646P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">are completed for Babylon, I will come to you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19646Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">and fulfill my gracious promise</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19646R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">to bring you back</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19646S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">to this place." SEVENTY YEARS! Holy smokes! Ugh... makes my seven months pale in comparison... But the second half of the verse reminded me that God does not ever go back on His word and He will never leave us, He will never leave you, He will never leave me. My perspective can very easily be WAY off, but that doesn't mean I'm lost. It was a huge encouragement to see God's faithfulness, and knowing the end of the story I know that the Israelites eventually returned back to Jerusalem.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That doesn't make the 70 years easy though. I'm sure there were times that they forgot the promise again, and I'm sure there were times when they wondered why they were in this rut, and where God and His plan was then. I'm sure because I forget the promise, and I'm wondering why I'm in this rut, and I'd love a sneak peek into God's plan and fast forward to my return to Jerusalem, my return to doing something and being somewhere that I knew was what I've been waiting and searching for. But I left o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ut some stuff in the middle:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><sup class="versenum" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">"4 </sup>This is what the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19640E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>into exile from </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jer-29-4">Jerusalem to Babylon:</span><span class="text Jer-29-5" id="en-NIV1984-19641"><sup class="versenum mid-line" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>“Build <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19641F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jer-29-6" id="en-NIV1984-19642"><sup class="versenum mid-line" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19642G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup></span><span class="text Jer-29-7" id="en-NIV1984-19643"><sup class="versenum mid-line" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">7 </sup>Also, seek <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19643H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup>the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19643I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup>to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”</span> <span class="text Jer-29-8" id="en-NIV1984-19644"><sup class="versenum mid-line" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">8 </sup>Yes, this is what the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19644J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup>and diviners among you deceive <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19644K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>you. Do not listen to the dreams <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19644L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>you encourage them to have. <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19644M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span><span class="text Jer-29-9" id="en-NIV1984-19645"><sup class="versenum mid-line" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup>They are prophesying lies <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19645N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>to you in my name. I have not sent <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-19645O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>them,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord." </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While I'm in the Babylon so to speak, I'm not to not live. I need to settle in, to live life. That's not saying that I no longer have the dream, or that I've forgotten that something immensely better is waiting around the corner. But I can't decrease, I most increase in faith, in skills, in training, in everything. I've been living the past seven months waiting for my return to Jerusalem and I've neglected in some areas living in Babylon. I am where I am for a reason and for a season, and I need to <i>be</i> were I've been placed, however long or short that placement is. And who knows what good may come of it! I also need to be careful not to listen to the lies being placed in my life. I need to make sure that the only one I'm following and listening to is God. The rest of the chapter talks about those aren't where they are supposed to be and others who are deceiving people... Man do I want to steer clear of that! Both listening to the lies in my life and not being willing to move when I'm told to move. Mario Pina last summer talked about living under God's grace and blessing or God's mercy. I pray that I live a life worth of His grace and blessings. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~Heather </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">S.D.G.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P.S. Please don't take this as mean saying that life is terrible right now and there is nothing good about were I am at, that's not what I'm saying at all. I'm not talking specifically about any person or place, I'm just talking about the feeling that I could be doing so much more, or that there is something that fulfills passions and desires to their fullest extent</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">.</span><br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-16852131822974104142012-06-18T14:30:00.002-07:002012-06-18T17:12:09.350-07:00Back in the Saddle!So... sorry for kind of falling off the face of the planet... there were/are some technical difficulties with the blog and it all kind of snowballed into I just stopped posting. Which stinks because I had some REALLY good posts that I was going to post... maybe I'll post them sometime in the future under "lost posts" or something... maybe not... we'll see. Anyways I'm going to try to get back in the saddle and post more regularly. Sorry there probably won't be any pictures from far of lands for a while :/ I'll try to keep them interesting though!<br />
<br />
P.S. I just used the word "post" like a billion times in this... post... ugh... if this was a college essay I'd TOTALLY get an F! (Which if you know me an F could quit easily equal an B+... I HATE B+... I'd almost rather have an F! Seriously...they stink...)<br />
<br />
~Heather<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">S.D.G.</span><br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-41845190912570386232011-09-29T15:37:00.000-07:002011-09-29T15:59:55.788-07:00An extra week at camp?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>591</o:Words> <o:characters>3373</o:Characters> <o:lines>28</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>4142</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">So like I said in my post about the second week of camp I was invited by one of the missionaries at camp, Núbia, to stay an extra week with her at her house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After talking with Lancy and Mário I decided to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I really had no idea what we were going to do or how the week was going to look but I thought it would be fun to see life outside of camp for these missionaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It ended up a week not being filled with anything extreme, but it was filled with fun and new experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We started off the week just getting rested after the craziness of the schedule we had had for four weeks during camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> But I found that I didn't like resting so I helped out a little on the construction project next door at the pastors house... I'm not sure I was tons of help but it was fun and a good way to get to know people better! After a day or two of resting</span> Núbia started working again as secretary and I found out that she is a huge help for the other missionaries just by simply watching their kids when they need someone to watch them for some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A little girl named Sophia spent a lot of time with us and ate with us a few times, she was a lot of fun to have around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She’s a very cute little girl full of energy and opinions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For the longest time she called me “<span lang="PT" style="mso-ansi-language:PT">menina</span>” which means “girl” because she couldn’t remember my name, finally after some work Núbia and I got her to say my name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>During the week we spent a lot of time at the other missionaries houses eating and spending time together, and it was all REALLY good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We had pizza one night and then another night we used this thingy to make chicken cheese veggie trays (see pics below to see what I mean by the very technical word “thingy”)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Núbia also made this really good lunch that consisted of bread, cheese, ham, corn, and some sort of white sauce… it was really good!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I should definitely ask her how she made it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In doing all this I had the opportunity to really get to know the missionaries and a few other friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They all (minus the director) live in a row of pretty little apartments on the side of a cliff overlooking the valley and cities surrounding camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are within walking distance of camp and there are a lot of little trails around that lead to beautiful overlooks, grape vineyards and even a different view of the valley which includes the ocean to the west, which means you can have amazing ocean view sunsets within just a few minutes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They have definitely been blessed with their surroundings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Towards the end of the week everyone started asking me when I was coming back and I kept telling them “when God wills it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And really that’s what this blog is all about, seeing and finding the will of God and sharing what I figure out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But it’s never as easy as one day you hear the voice of God saying “Heather!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want you to…” and then you know what you are to do from there on out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that a times it came be as clear as that but I think at least for me He lets me in on His will for certain times in my life, but often it’s just parts of the plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think it’s part of growing my faith… something that is definitely not a gift of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I like to know that I have at least some sort of control over what’s going on… But I know that with God that’s not what it’s about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The song “I surrender all” is so entitled because it’s about not surrendering <i>some</i><span style="font-style:normal"> but </span><i>all</i><span style="font-style:normal">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And at times things happen and we don’t know the reason until much later, kind of like college for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When people find out what I studied in college they always ask the same question “What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What made you study those languages?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My response is always the same “… um… I don’t know… it’s just what happened…” but as I’m sitting here in Portugal I realize that me quickly learning Portuguese my last year in college so that I could graduate wasn’t the only reason I learned Portuguese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It seems all too obvious that, God wanted me here this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes they needed me here but I also needed to be here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have learned things about myself, my faith, my struggles, and God’s successes and I am also starting to see a little more clearly where and what God might be calling me to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have had no sudden and life changing epiphanies, but my will and God’s will are starting to align more and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And that’s a pretty awesome thing to realize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">~Heather<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">S.D.G.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-50953979091800538472011-09-29T07:11:00.000-07:002011-09-29T07:14:27.584-07:00Where have you been?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>158</o:Words> <o:characters>903</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1108</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">Hey all!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m SO sorry this is the first time I’ve posted over the past few weeks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Things got kinda crazy and I haven’t really had time to sit down and write!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anyways I’m finishing up another post right now and then hopefully I’ll be able to post more in the next few days <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The following questions are some titles for my next few posts so they are teasers for what y’all have to look forward to!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(p.s. if you haven’t noticed all my blog posts are entitled according to questions I've/ I could’ve received based on the subject matter addressed in the post… just in case these and my other titles make no sense <span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span>) </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">What is E.B.F.?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Madrid? I thought you were in Portugal… What do you get when you have around 50 Portuguese women, a bunch of flowers and butterflies EVERYWHERE?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whatcha do your last week in Portugal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How was leaving Portugal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So… since you didn’t come home like planned, how’s it going and whatcha doin’?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Anyways I hope this will suffice until I have more time to post!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Can’t wait to see you all soon!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">~Heather<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">S.D.G.<o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-34255571449540541032011-09-05T13:34:00.000-07:002011-09-05T13:37:58.316-07:00English, Portuguese and Spanish? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>444</o:Words> <o:characters>2535</o:Characters> <o:lines>21</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>3113</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><div>This was written while I was still at camp and I'm not sure why I never posted it... Just keep that in mind as you read it and I say "here."</div><div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">
<br /></span></div>So I got here and almost right away I noticed two girls who were speaking American English with some people who were obviously not native speakers to English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This of course sparked my interest but since I was here with a Portuguese group and all the people I knew spoke Portuguese the girls had no idea that I spoke English and for a while at least I didn’t really get a chance to talk to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can’t remember why now but for some reason I was talking to someone in English and the two girls came over and said “we’re sorry… we weren’t trying to eves drop… but we couldn’t help but notice that you were speaking American English!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We got to know each other a little better and I came to find out that their names are Ellen and Abby and they were here this summer (about 5 weeks before camp and then two weeks of camp) to get camp ready for campers and to help with the activities the first week of camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They don’t speak Portuguese so they were all too thrilled to have someone speaking their English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There were others here who spoke English, but I think I was kind of a taste of home for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It just so happened that the speaker for the preparation and the first week of campers was an American missionary serving in Porto, Portugal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He speaks Portuguese but once he found out that we spoke American English he got really excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One day he said to me “it’s just so good to hear English from the States!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sometimes I get really tired of hearing British English all the time!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I really had no idea that it was that important, but it was nice to kind of be a blessing to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Next I found out that about half the missionaries here are Argentine, there’s one from Chile, one from the Dominican Republic, a few actual Portuguese, a Brazilian, and a French.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What was really fun for me was when the native Spanish speakers would switch into Spanish amongst themselves!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I realized that I LOVE Spanish!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For me it was pretty much as good as hearing English </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I am really liking getting to know Portuguese better and have improved leaps and bounds thanks to God’s work hear at camp, but I think since Spanish and Latin America have been part of my life for so long Spanish will always hold a special place in my heart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Up into recently Portuguese was kind of a novelty to me… I was constantly reminded of the fact that I was speaking and understanding a <i>foreign</i></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> language when I would speak or understand it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was almost kind of surprising to me that I was able to communicate in Portuguese… which is something that has never happened to me… I have always felt very natural (even if I didn’t sound natural…) speaking foreign languages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Recently though I have started feeling more comfortable and natural speaking Portuguese, which is a testament to what God has been doing in my life here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I had to choose Spanish or Portuguese I’m still pretty sure it would be Spanish, but I’m not ready to stop speaking Portuguese… in a perfect world I would have both all the time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who knows, maybe someday God will bless me with that ability!</span><!--EndFragment--> Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-13222733665368905902011-08-22T10:55:00.000-07:002011-08-22T11:13:19.794-07:00How was the last week of camp?<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><div><span style="font-family:";font-size:100%;">This blog was written Sat. 8/13/11, I didn't have time to post it so when I say "this week" or "today" keep the date in mind. I will be posting about this last week soon. Sorry guys!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:";font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div>This week was filled with trials and struggles and, blessings and learning.<span> </span>At the beginning of the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> week I was SUPER distracted by a few things that had happened over the weekend and in the first day or so of camp.<span> </span>It wasn’t anything that would normally be as large of an issue for me but I think Satan saw an opportunity in my weakness and jumped on it.<span> </span>I was having trouble focusing in quiet times, having trouble paying attention in meetings and during devotions, lost my appetite… for something normally so small I was having a really hard time.<span> </span>It became such a struggle that one night</span> I talked for a very long time with Bruna about it.<span> </span>After asking a few more people to pray for me that night I went to bed still struggling with it.<span> </span>For the rest of the week the power of prayer was evident, as things progressively got better.<span> </span>As I am writing this I am still struggling, and there have been A LOT of prayers of mine asking for focus when I would start battling against it again but it became a manageable struggle.<span> </span>God also blessed me with a lot friends here to help give me wise counsel and keep me focused on Him.<span> </span>After I was able to start focusing on the camp and campers again I realized that there was a difference this week… the campers very quickly became very open with the all the counselors and from day one/two and a lot of us had a lot of counseling on our hands.<span></span>This week I had the opportunity to work with Lidia, who happens to be Lancy’s partner in crime working with the kids in Miratejo (and I had the wonderful gift of having Mário and Lancy here this week as fellow counselors).<span> </span>Lidia and I turned out to be a really good team and God used her a lot to really pull the counselor out of me.<span> </span>I was kind of sad towards mid-week when I realized that I had finally gotten the hang of this whole counselor-in-another-language thing during my last week as a counselor.<span></span>But then after thinking about it, it was amazing to see the work that God did through me and in me here at camp.<span> </span>Every Saturday before lunch the campers were given a chance to share with the rest of camp what God had done in their live here at camp.<span> </span>At times counselors or workers would share but I never really felt called to share.<span> </span>This morning was different, I was being called so fiercely that there was no mistaking that I needed to share.<span> </span>Me being who I am, decided that I was not going to share… I was nervous...<span> </span>I kept saying “well… if they say specifically that counselors can share then I’ll share… if someone looks at me specifically and motions for me to go I’ll go… if such and such a person goes I’ll go…”<span> </span>I even, being the hypocrite we all are sometimes, encouraged one of my friends who said, “I’m not brave enough to do that” (after someone else finished sharing) to go and share… which he ended up doing.<span> </span>One by one the things I listed as the “requirements” were fulfilled… the friend I encouraged even encouraged me to go after he sat back down.<span> </span>Finally I stood up and waited for my turn… When it came to my turn and Miguel said “ok Heather” I walked up slowly and with fear but I walked up.<span> </span>I shared about the impact my time at camp had had on me, the things that God used to teach my heart and the work He has start in my life.<span></span>I shared Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (… well at least I shared the general idea of the verse since I was speaking Portuguese and verses are always hard to translate…), after sharing the verse I shared that even though I didn’t fully relay on God during every minute of my time here, it was only through Him that the things I did do were done.<span> </span>It was only through Him that I was able to share in Portuguese the effect my time here had, it was only through Him that I had built relationships and it was only through Him that I had had energy to continue.<span> </span>I shared that living by faith is never been a gift of mine, but that the time here was about living by faith.<span> </span>Camp has turned out to be a real blessing in my life, from friendships, to Portuguese, to my faith, God has blessed me here.<span> </span>I am sad it has ended but I am super excited that I was invited to s<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">tay here with the PV missionaries for another week!<span></span>I know God will continue to use this extra time here not only here at camp but also in me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><div>Phil. 4:4-7</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-29431" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; ">4</sup> Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-29432" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; ">5</sup> Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-29433" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; ">6</sup> Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-29434" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; ">7</sup> And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p></span></span></div></span></span>~Heather </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;" >S.D.G.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">
<br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCU6DSRNlIcVN5kKrOqukTMVHP2XAyjtqFH_YbgEpyx9KBkufV_v_3A3lj-03N9r9u6Z0hwBUJZmMiHmYT5AmrokwrTTAOKtQyGYpT4wiT4sjjKLkQf1H_crl3__FYD8KQehmDjRDbn8/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCU6DSRNlIcVN5kKrOqukTMVHP2XAyjtqFH_YbgEpyx9KBkufV_v_3A3lj-03N9r9u6Z0hwBUJZmMiHmYT5AmrokwrTTAOKtQyGYpT4wiT4sjjKLkQf1H_crl3__FYD8KQehmDjRDbn8/s320/DSC_0235.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643741505435229970" /></a><span style="Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:";"><div style="text-align: center;">Me giving my testimony on the last day of the last week</div></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-52772254604769844272011-08-08T07:29:00.000-07:002011-08-08T07:30:52.388-07:00Do you ever do anything fun?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">So yesterday, Sunday, was our day off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s the only full day in which we have no campers and basically no work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So since the weather was AMAZING they decided to treat us to a special day out at a beach called Coxos (meaning “crippled”) in the near by city of Ribamar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was A LOT of fun and very beautiful!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We walked there from camp, about a 30 min walk, and than we had a long time to just hang out and have fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I personally decided to explore the rocky area with a friend, played volleyball, played a super fun game called cat and mouse (not the same from as the one I played with Lancy), Ninja, Pi-Hey-Hono, took LOTS of photos, helped to served dinner, and then walked back home with the group and watched the sunset (again taking lots of pictures which I will post when I get back to Mário and Lancy’s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most of the group didn’t walk the entire way back since the few cars that we have here where making runs back and forth to pick us up, but about 6 or 7 of us decided we wanted to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a really fun walk and I had the opportunity to get to know a few of the workers here better (which was actually one of the biggest reasons I wanted to walk).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a great day, full of fellowship through laughing, singing, relationship building, games, walking and of course videos and pictures <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It made me realize that I am really going to miss the little community we have built here, I am super grateful for the relationships I have been blessed with and the things I have been learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is going to be the last week before most people here go home and I am going to cherish every second I have left with each of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">~Heather </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">S.D.G. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-55627499158769472232011-08-08T07:05:00.000-07:002011-08-08T07:24:31.646-07:00How was the second week as a counselor?<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">So this week we had WAY less kids, so I didn’t know for a long time what I was going to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was eventually told that plan A was to put two counselors in one room and three in the other and the two rooms would each have 8 campers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then on Monday we changed to plan B (like normal) and we were going to have the girls who are working here at camp move into our rooms with the campers and have 4 campers and 4 workers with one to two counselors in each room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was told I would be with another counselor, Carolina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The reasoning behind all this was that we didn’t want the campers to think that camp was dead because there were so few youth that came.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was hard for the workers to move and hard for us to find a system that worked since they had a very different scheduled for campers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But we soon figured out a good rhythm and it actually ended, I think, being really good for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Like I said I had four campers; Luana, Tirza, Aline, and Camila, and it was hard to get started but eventually we ended figuring how to communicate and I think the week ended well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I actually ended up getting to know Tirza pretty well in the last few days which was nice because of the struggle I was having and at times still have communicating, it was nice to know that I could and was still building relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This week was also a huge blessing for me because I was able to use my Portuguese more and gave devotions and added my “two sense” on most of the other devotions I didn’t give.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was also blessed with the opportunity to talk to one of my girls because she was having a hard time with the fact that her family is moving back to Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had the chance to share with her the importance and power of the Scriptures and that even though this was going to be hard that God has a plan and will work everything for her good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t solve any problems or make her totally excited to go but I hope that what we talked about will at least be a comfort to her in this difficult transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I this week we are going to have A LOT of campers and I am super excited to be a counselor again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In our quiet times we finished Hebrews and are now going through 1 Corinthians, and God has been teaching me that I need to give everything to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is something I have struggled with my whole life, I like to take credit for the things I do, but I am not and cannot do this work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s not my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is both hard to realize and at the same time the biggest blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is not up to me to change the lives of my campers or fellow workers, it is my job to be obedient and let God work through me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At the beginning of the week I was having a huge struggle with that because I could get anything through to my girls but then Bruna and I talked for a while (since she was having a similar struggle) and she reminded and encouraged me that I needed to give it up to God and let Him do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I still struggle with it, but I’m learning… slowly…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">1 Corinthian 3:5-9</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"> 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:0in">~Heather </p></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">S.D.G.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-82765857460013101572011-07-31T10:42:00.000-07:002011-07-31T10:49:16.864-07:00How was the first week as a counselor?As I thought about what to write for this blog post, to sum up the week that I just had, I found I had writers block… I still kind of do… this week is hard to process. As you all know in the week of preparation I had a lot of mixed emotions and thoughts but in the end I was told I was going to be a counselor and I was actually really excited for what God was going to do for the week. I was kind of expecting some grand work and some life changing experiences, but that wasn’t what God expected of the week. On Monday, the day the campers arrived I was told that I was going to be in a room with another counselor Jade, and that since there were two of us that we were going to have a full room and we were going to have the youngest campers. I was also told that the other counselor would not be sleeping in the dorms, which meant I would have all nine of the campers all night. As it turned out we had nine girls from age 5 to 7 (possibly one or two 8 year olds)… that’s a lot of little girls… and they need to be watched basically 24/7. The week turned out differently then I had thought it would. The little girl who is 5 is named Eva, and Eva was at my side almost every hour of everyday here at camp. She ended taking most of my attention and time. And to be honest with you it was really hard especially as the week went on and I saw the other girls drifting closer and closer to Jade and further and further away from me. At times I kind of wondered why I was a counselor if I wasn’t counseling anyone. I mean, I talked to some of the girls about church and God a little but their attachment and devotion was to Jade, and it was obvious. To be honest when the last of the girls left I was left kind of wondering what had happened this week. I tried to process how God had used me in this week to touch the lives of my campers and came up with little to go off of. I was a little down in Spirit. But then today my supervisor called me in and asked me about the week, both the good and the bad. We talked for a bit, and I felt a little better but after I talked to her I went and talked to my friend Bruna and in talking to her I said something that made me realize why God had me where he did this week. I realized that maybe it wasn’t my job to have a huge influence on the live of my nine girls but maybe it was to watch Eva and in doing so free up Jade to be used by God in mighty ways. I’ve no doubt that Jade had a huge influence on the lives of the other 8 girls, it was obvious. I may not have been the one to lead one of the girls to Christ or to have talked to the one who decided to dedicate her whole life to Christ, but God did use me to allow that to happen. He used the one who could more clear understand and talk to the girls to do the talking and he used all my experience and patience with very young, very dependent kids to take care of the little girl who needed so much attention thus freeing up Jade for the others. It was hard, I’m not going to lie. After all the time that I have spent in VBS, children’s church, AWANA, and other times being a “counselor” or leader and making connections with my group it was hard to see these little girls that I so desperately wanted to influence running to Jade instead of me, but I finally realized that God had a different plan for me for this week. I was to be the helper, not the leader, for whatever reason He wanted Jade to do it and wanted me to step back. Maybe it was to remind me that it’s His work, not mine. Maybe it was to remind me that all areas of ministry are equally important. Maybe it was to remind <i>you</i> of something. Only God knows all of the effects this week will have on everyone who was here or hears the stories. But the best part is that God <i>does</i> know. In the end it wasn’t some grand work on my part or some life changing experiences but it was grand work on God’s part and a heart changing experience for me. My hope is that He will use what I learned to help you grow too. Love you all.<br /><br />~Heather<div><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">Romans 12:3-8</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[<span style="font-family:Verdana"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012&version=NIV1984#fen-NIV1984-28237b"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#57180D;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">b</span></a></span>] faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br />S.D.G. <br /></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-43741671569945244622011-07-25T06:23:00.000-07:002011-07-25T06:24:47.798-07:00Why I won't be posting :(Hey all! I'm not allowed to have my computer out at all for the entire time the campers are here... which means I will be out contact for a bit... Please pray for the camper who are arriving in just a little bit and for the week, for counselors, cleaners, cookers, and staff! Pray that the love of God would abound this week!! Love you all! TTYS!!!!!!<div><br /></div><div>~Heather </div><div><br /></div><div>S.D.G</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-61258152965400109012011-07-25T06:07:00.000-07:002011-07-25T06:08:10.063-07:00So, how'd the first week go?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:171.75pt">The first week at camp has been pretty great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t know exactly what we were doing this week until about mid week when I realized that this “preparation week” was more then just preparation for the camp but also preparation for the workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We spent the entire week basically have our own camp.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We had a Bible study every morning and evening (at night they were about Biblical Anthropology: What am I here for? And the morning they were about the nature of sin).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We had quiet time after breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The camp is going through Hebrews in the quiet times so last week was on Hebrews Chapter 11, the faith chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We free time and work cleaning the camp and lastly we had meetings in our work groups (i.e. counselors and cleaning/kitchen crew).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now as I said earlier I was told that I was going to be a counselor and was freaking out a little but I have to revert to the title of this blog and the verse it is based on Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had no idea what I was getting into when I came to camp last Monday and as soon as I got here the little amount I thought I knew quickly vanished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But God knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He knew that I need this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This week were I was struggling with having faith that this would work out and the chapter that happened to be for this week was the chapter on having faith and “the great cloud of witnesses” I have to look back on.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And then we had an entire week of meetings going through the roll counselors were to have in the following weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We were given a manual but it’s not just a book with rules and regulations, and a schedule it’s full of verse after verse after verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We spent the majority of our meetings preparing for camp by preparing our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lastly everyone in camp was told they were not allowed to speak English to me (minus the too other American girls who are here for a few weeks and don’t speak Portuguese).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So subsequently my Portuguese has improved!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This week was obviously God’s plan to prepare me for the next four weeks of working at camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t have it all figured out and I a bound to fail a lot, but my heart is ready!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thanks to God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally last night the girl counselors were surprised with three campers a day early… at first it was hard, not knowing what to do or say since we weren’t set up to entertain kids let.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But eventually we figured it out and had fun playing games and talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was another reassurance that what happened in this week of preparation has been the work of God in my heart, attitude, faith, confidence and of course Portuguese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am still a little nervous for the week ahead and the campers coming today but and have faith that God’s got it under control and He is going to do marvelous things this week despite and through my shortcomings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Love you all!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:171.75pt"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:171.75pt">~Heather<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:171.75pt"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:171.75pt">S.D.G. <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-52807331595564050092011-07-22T10:11:00.000-07:002011-07-22T10:12:22.508-07:00So, are you home sick?<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Anyone who has ever left their home for an extended period of time has undoubtedly been asked this question a million times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And the answer for most is “yes and no” and to be honest with you I have the same answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are times where all I want is to go home to my comfort zone and sleep or talk to my family and friends and there are times when all I want to do is be here and enjoy every second I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most of the times I want to crawl back into my comfort zone is when I an feeling out of place or when I am having a difficult time communicating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was having one of those moments at church this last Sunday (07/17/11), it wasn’t because of anything anyone did or didn’t do, I think Satan was just attacking me where he knew it would count.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But just when it was really starting to get to me one of the little girls from church came over, passed people she knew and motioned that she wanted to sit on my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I picked her up and sat her on my lap and she sat there during worship while I sang a few songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She will never know what a blessing she was to me at that moment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She only sat there for a few minutes and then jumped down and went to talk to her mom about something, but those few minutes where just what I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She made me forge that I was new and was having issues communicating and missing my comfort zone and made me remember that God had and has a plan for me her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was just what I need to fight the spiritual attack of wanting to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not that I don’t want to go home, I do eventually, but right now God has me here and I need to continue to try my hardest to serve Him to my fullest ability despite the difficulties.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-53966199724403882082011-07-22T10:05:00.000-07:002011-07-22T10:08:14.016-07:00Soccer Ministry<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">For pretty much the entire day on Saturday Mário was at the championships for the soccer ministry he leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m not sure but I think there are at least ten teams that pay from week to week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Last Saturday (07/16/11) they were all together for their final tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There were A LOT of teens, youth, young men and older men there on Saturday and Lancy said at least 5 of the teams are made up of unbelieving guys from the surrounding area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s an amazing opportunity not only for Mário but also for the believers on the various other teams to share the gospel, not only directly but also through relationship building and their testimony as they play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This particular day one of the youth shared the gospel about half way through their tournament in a very unique way it’s a technique called blah blah blah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What is it is you have a board that has a picture that is only partially completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As you present the message you paint and complete the picture on the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s not hard painting it’s more you have half of each of the letter that spell “sin” and you simple paint in the other half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s hard to explain but it’s an amazing attention getter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Also as you talk and paint you may paint over things so that the end picture is different for the beginning and the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Below are attached the presentation that he did in video segments and pictures of the board before and after, even though you may not be able to understand it but it will give you an idea of how it goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The young man presenting did a great job and when he gave the invitation to become a believer at least one of the soccer player listening raised his hand to say he had prayed the prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was AMAZING!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>God is really using something as simple as soccer to win souls for His kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lancy was saying she would also love to start something similar for the younger boys and girls who are too little to play with the towering older guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That’s something I think she would definitely love pray for!</span><!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-20516673369684756812011-07-22T10:03:00.000-07:002011-07-22T10:04:23.580-07:00What does Lancy do?<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Well some of you may know the answer to this already but I’m betting most of you don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve been here for just about two weeks and I’m still trying to figure out all the ministries she is either head of or involved in some way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>First she leads a women’s Bible study once a week with somewhere between 3 and 8 women, depending on the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This week all the women from the different groups are getting together for the final chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The purpose of this ministry it to build strong women of God who will in turn help to raise strong families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once a week she also does a children’s Bible study/ activity with her “partner in crime” (according to Lancy) Lidia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Last Saturday they had day similar to the one we did on Friday with the youth, WATER GAMES!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After the games Lidia taught on the topic of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All of the kids there were church kids so she focused more on needing to pray for their friends and family who aren’t saved.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a really good reminder for me to that we need to courage to talk to our unbelieving friends and family about this amazing gift I have been given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of Lancy’s (and Mário’s) biggest ministries is just having open hearts and an open house for the people around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Since I have been here, there has been a birthday party, two movie nights, and she invited some ladies over after Bible study give them more time to make connections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On top of all that she and Mário have opened their home to not only me, but also the pastor and his wife, one of the youth who moved to Spain but came back for vacation and to work at camp, and another youth who need a place to stay for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was joking around with them asking them how they felt going from 0 to 3 kids in only a week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And once I realized that they were finally going to have their house to themselves again I asked Lnacy what she was going to do and she quickly answered, “oh, I think we are going to have some people over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now I know that their house is not normally a mini hotel but with the meaning of the saying “open doors” is fully true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If God asks them to host some people for a bit they are more then willing to say, “We’d be glad too.”</span><!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-143391438376636082011-07-22T09:28:00.000-07:002011-07-22T10:30:13.408-07:00What did you say about being a tug-of-war champ?AHHH!!<span> </span>Sorry everyone!<span> </span>I know it’s been forever since I posted :/<span> </span>We have been SUPER busy and there just hasn’t been any time to post. <span></span>Well today you are going to get a bunch of posts <span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span> </span>So, I know a lot of you saw my facebook status about getting in touch with my former AWANA tug-of-war champion self<span> </span>and a lot of asked what that was all about.<span> </span>Well last Friday (7/15/11) Mário and Lancy planned a water game day at the park with the youth group.<span> </span>We played games and afterwards Mário wrapped-up a topic they have been going through for quit some time.<span> </span>The games were SO MUCH FUN!!!!<span> </span>I in fact even sent a message to some of the JR staff at VBC with instructions on how to play the games because I know any JR (or really anyone) would love to play these game.<span> </span>We played kickball, water balloon toss “Cat and mouse,” “Numerical Circle Tag” and my personal favorite “Slip and slide tug-of war!!!!!!!!<span> </span>We played girls against girls and guys against guys and then we played girls against guys!<span> </span>The girls won 2/0!!!!<span> </span>We were all a little excited to beat the guys!<span> </span>It was really fun for me because as soon as they announced that girls vs. guys and we were lining up all the girls said “Heather in front!<span> </span>Heather in front!!!!”<span> </span>my favorite spot!!<span> </span>Once we won twice there was talk about me and the mom of one of the youth (who is in the army) was super proud of me standing up for strong women lol!<span> </span>It was awesome!<span> </span>After that I felt more like a part of the group which was super nice.<span></span>More importantly Mário gave an amazing devotional.<span> </span>His passion for the word and that the youth grow in there faith was amazing to see displayed.<span> </span>He talked about being girls and guys who serve the Lord wholeheartedly and with purpose.<span> </span>It was a great message for the youth and for me.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBamR1QweruD5bCQX8qzjfN-JMTniq0mRrCQdJzLIq1gRJXJINzZ-lv4SbD6wFYY9p9kCRW5b0lh6e4NokzbMcI6yIFajQtukPSBmTm54z_t-qTXvx8CKii4e88gx-hdJmhLlJWhLDf9Y/s1600/DSC_0668.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBamR1QweruD5bCQX8qzjfN-JMTniq0mRrCQdJzLIq1gRJXJINzZ-lv4SbD6wFYY9p9kCRW5b0lh6e4NokzbMcI6yIFajQtukPSBmTm54z_t-qTXvx8CKii4e88gx-hdJmhLlJWhLDf9Y/s320/DSC_0668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632229474022578994" /></a><!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><div style="text-align: center;">Girls vs. Guys! We won 2/0!!!! </div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-33630679122669927272011-07-09T11:51:00.001-07:002011-07-11T09:28:23.302-07:00What’s “a Casa Amarela”?<div>Well anyone who speaks Portuguese knows it mean the yellow house, but only those who live in Miratejo (where Lancy, Mário, and currently I live) know that it is a giant yellow house where that is used for a lot of different things. Today it was used for a festival! The church was asked to participate and decided to sing, dance, give away tracks and evangelical bracelets, face paint and do balloon twisting! I became the resident balloon-twisting expert… if you can call me that… Over the past few days I learned some of the basics; a two balloon flower, a dog, two types of swords, and a giraffe! I tried to learning a hat and both a one and two balloon butterfly/bee but those were WAY over my head! I also attempted a heart but that kinda flopped :/ It was really fun but I think I’ve had my fill of balloons for a while… at least a day or two…I don’t think my finger has ever hurt this bad from tying balloon! But it was worth it. It was hard to understand everyone when there was a line and parents and kids everywhere but I got through it was the help of some of the youth from the church. The rest of the activities also went really well! The line for face painting never ended! We had to start turning away kids because we had to leave and the festival was ending!! I was sad to stop but my finger was thankful for the rest! Well that’s all for now, there’s a bday party for one of the youth right now at the house and I should go attempt to use my Portuguese, wish me luck! Love y’all!<br /><div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxnKxB0X5W49Duz2qWhsah5UMFTB0MjjFDi25kIefOscv8P0jaNtyumodzKimh4X_otqBdAMhLmmmBEnEv_d_ZSVwF2LINEanD9bNyOfb8EzZJ3_yUYUfagaF6cJeat4qTur991J8sVI/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxnKxB0X5W49Duz2qWhsah5UMFTB0MjjFDi25kIefOscv8P0jaNtyumodzKimh4X_otqBdAMhLmmmBEnEv_d_ZSVwF2LINEanD9bNyOfb8EzZJ3_yUYUfagaF6cJeat4qTur991J8sVI/s320/DSC_0344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129345631702322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A super cool bounce house for the kids to play in!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjmWR_Ha6q2fuqgsw9sYOqfHU9esvS2OJ9vJE1ZEvtl13awHygRtJC2WtiFzroRI6eDaKAWK9uLmqnUg7N83l7kwMuzRnWhtACnAwcZxOnlRWgYtskAL3HUZzT4W_dKLIB_FRYEmXmJY/s1600/DSC_0346.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjmWR_Ha6q2fuqgsw9sYOqfHU9esvS2OJ9vJE1ZEvtl13awHygRtJC2WtiFzroRI6eDaKAWK9uLmqnUg7N83l7kwMuzRnWhtACnAwcZxOnlRWgYtskAL3HUZzT4W_dKLIB_FRYEmXmJY/s320/DSC_0346.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129340378819634" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Members of the church singing at the Festival </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnH0Ix2wTl4dzk37HGGwPDPjpjGUSYKctffnnpTPPlarGkoQp9s86d267Z36djhFH-S0twn0lLhnlRZ0OF0yDtDlsa7k-dYaPvc2Ot8NM_yacpO9iATFKYfu7daPTNPeOeR_2tw4qhnU/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnH0Ix2wTl4dzk37HGGwPDPjpjGUSYKctffnnpTPPlarGkoQp9s86d267Z36djhFH-S0twn0lLhnlRZ0OF0yDtDlsa7k-dYaPvc2Ot8NM_yacpO9iATFKYfu7daPTNPeOeR_2tw4qhnU/s320/DSC_0349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129329637538114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the people who heard about God through the singing </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0_FTtiQCKbSq7tSMDQ9YzcTWycIegYVzxJBQwkCGfrSGfs4YP7rn6ua0mjVpdIjJl1s6Z76jMjfAWOJgZMc15uS09g12t42-Pn2Q4-SBvhI_YXD6dwGI5w23ZAcbevLunLkK2I6sSL4/s1600/DSC_0350+13-58-20.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0_FTtiQCKbSq7tSMDQ9YzcTWycIegYVzxJBQwkCGfrSGfs4YP7rn6ua0mjVpdIjJl1s6Z76jMjfAWOJgZMc15uS09g12t42-Pn2Q4-SBvhI_YXD6dwGI5w23ZAcbevLunLkK2I6sSL4/s320/DSC_0350+13-58-20.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129321146918466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">An example of my balloon twisting skills... This isn't actually one I made at the festival, just something I made up from a left over balloon... I'll show better picture later :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszGb7kEMB-N558ndo90Evzxf7MXxQZJcAZFinZc4JDS0LbVT_v2zWmn5diH_SB1n1i_GpIfM89hdud6PLcAl2YDoq60k8sPaWVd548Qiir3QOXPIa32l187UfIJGuTPScZDGE40RMjmM/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszGb7kEMB-N558ndo90Evzxf7MXxQZJcAZFinZc4JDS0LbVT_v2zWmn5diH_SB1n1i_GpIfM89hdud6PLcAl2YDoq60k8sPaWVd548Qiir3QOXPIa32l187UfIJGuTPScZDGE40RMjmM/s320/DSC_0351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129311693421714" /></a><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The damage done to my finger... doesn't do the injury justice... it was purple for a while :/ But it was worth it!</div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-22151516477416143272011-07-07T07:24:00.001-07:002011-07-07T07:24:42.060-07:00Hit the ground running<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">July 7<sup>th</sup> 2011</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Well today is day two!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kind of… I had half a day here yesterday but it was a full day!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I arrived about 45 mins later than planned but quickly found Lancy and Mario waiting at the entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was good to see familiar faces!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We got packed up in the car and started talking, after tell them I was ready for a nap Lancy said “well… unfortunately… no time for a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have Bible study, prayer meeting and choir practice!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Looks like I hit the ground running!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We got home, I got ready and we were off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The meeting was great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We did some worship, prayed through some stuff for the church, families, friends, I was even on the list!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was cool to pray in Portuguese and English, especially after pray in Spanish and1 English in Guatemala only a few days ago!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s awesome to hear God praised in every language!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After praying Mario lead the Bible study in Matthew, the parable of the net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On Saturday there is a festival and the church has been invited to sing, so I got to hear them practice their songs and I even tried to learn some of the songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I got one and a half… Well there is MUCH more but we are leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ll post more later!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Love you all</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-5981186249061762552011-05-20T00:39:00.000-07:002011-05-20T00:40:27.825-07:00What’s in a name?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">I figured in order to answer that question you should have the verse first, so here it is: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">As I was looking into naming my blog I messed around with a bunch of ideas, but finally settled on this verse as a theme and decided it would work for the title as well. Over the years this verse has always been one that stuck in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Especially now as I close a long chapter in my life and look forward to the next one, I have started to try to discover how this verse actually applies to my life.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">As I look back on my life, I can see how God’s hand has been involved the entire time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>From the difficult times to the easy, fun times, He was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can see that God had a plan and I trust and am assured that He still does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I look forward on my future I am full of excitement and wonder for the opportunities and plans He has for me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t always see God’s plan, sometimes I wonder how He can use a situation “to prosper” me, but He’s looking at the whole picture, from beginning to end, and I only can only see a small speck of the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That’s one of the things that this verse helps to keep in my mind; He knows, I don’t, and it’s a huge comfort to know that He’s got it under control and He loves and cares for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So I will continue to cling to the verse, and continue to trust the truths it contains, in the good times and the bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">~Heather<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">S.D.G.</span> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864050062083567106.post-71584429889637833642011-05-20T00:11:00.000-07:002011-05-20T00:14:31.903-07:00What’s this all about?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">There are actually two answers to that question: one short term, one long term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Short term: this summer I will be spending about 2 ½ to 3 months in Europe (see future posts about summer plans) and will be using this blog to keep everyone up-to-date while I am gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Long term: after returning from Europe the plan is to use this blog to keep in contact with friends and family who I have limited day to day contact with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I embark on this new chapter in my life I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of changes and I wanted somewhere where I could easily share this journey with everyone.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">So that’s what this is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Please follow the blog, read, comment, share, if you want to keep up-to-date, if you are just bored and want something to read, or any reason in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can’t wait to see where the future and this blog go!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">~Heather<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">S.D.G.</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565097993602399673noreply@blogger.com1