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| My little cutie-Aaron |
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| My smart one-Tomas |
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Greetings!!
OH dear I am allowing myself to get behind in my Blogging! Hopefully when things get into more of a rhythm Ill be more prompt , until then...I appreciate the understand! :)
Man, what a first week it was!! I feel the presence of the Lord so strongly and I am so aware daily of His obvious hand that has not only guided me here, but continues to guide me in my daily affairs here. Here are a few ways this past week He had a direct hand in my life....
Upon arriving I had a "name recommendation" for someone who a pastor at Colonial had told me about, it was a single lady missionary who was wanting to meet me. However, for those of you who know me...by the time I had gotten here I had completely forgotten where I had put that "recommendation slip". Well on Monday of last week a lady came to the campus named Sharon who had a car ( which is a wonderful rarity here as the price of a car as well as gas in the city far outweighs the pros to just riding bus or metro) and she offered to take a fellow missionary teacher Suzan( who is in her 40s) out riding to see the good restaurants, the soccer ( futbol arena) and to pick up a few items. Well we really hit it off instantly. Maybe it was her quircky, upfront personality, and her endless stories she readily shared, but I knew ...we were going to be friends. Well, what I didn't know was God had already determined her to be a friend, before time began, I was ever born, and before I came to Chile. We laugh now that it turned out to be.....days later when we were out getting ice cream that it was in fact her name...that was on the "lost recommendation slip" . :)
Another neat thing. I met 2 more Chilean friends! Camila who is my teacher aid is 23 and wanting to learn English, and Carolina who is 28 Chilean and attended the church service I "randomly" chose to go to...and don't think ill return. Its so obvious the Lord's Hand was guiding our lives to meet because of the seemingly coincidental circumstances...but I know as a believer...nothing is ever coincidence :) Camila and I laugh when we can't speak to each other...and try to speak words at other times and sometimes have breakthroughs and understand what is being said, but either way, we have a bond that was undeniable...from the first day we met ( which was an entire day of cleaning out the Pre K Room which was a hot, long, and dusty afternoon. But the end result was an adorable,and clean, bright and cheery room! :) )
I got my money in the bank finally...and was able to go buy groceries!!
The Lord uses the mountains here to speak to me in a way that I almost can see His hand even more clearly in my life, when I see those snow capped, grey and blue horizon from my window, or from my favorite place to spend i the Lord. The other night, I shared in the blog before here how the Lord spoke to my heart...and it was an encounter that I am thankful to of had, in the midst of transitioning ( though its been so easy thus far?! :)) yet it has had its moments. he just reminded me that He is in control of every animal roaming those Andes ...and guess what...HE in in control of my LIFE too if I allow him to be!! What a relief! :)
I mentioned Susan before, but not heather. She is yet another missionary lady who is living in the apartments here with her family, and who comes in my apartment daily to just...talk . :) We just sit on the comfy couches, with our waters in our hands, and just talk. She has said that she feels its a gift to come over and be able to just talk to another younger female, and she usually makes her kids go out and play when they try to come in and says, " No, go play, this is mommy time!" I believe the Lord knew I wanted a good talker to just talk to...and that she desired the same thing. He is so amazing.
I went and saw the sunrise one morning and it was beautiful. We drove up into the mountain to a lookout spot that was much to my surprise, full of stray puppies and wild cows. Haha this might sound funny but, it blessed my entire day holding those little puppies...and seeing the cows. Maybe its because I miss seeing the cows everyday in my backyard and it reminded me of home, it was just an added highlight of that early morning drive to take pictures. Funny thing was, I missed taking pictures of the sunrise...because I was holding the puppies!
Ok, there are other things I could share, but maybe ill share them on my next blog since this is rather long, but all in all this first week here has many journal entries that point to...the Lord's HAND being on my time here in Chile.
OH dear I am allowing myself to get behind in my Blogging! Hopefully when things get into more of a rhythm Ill be more prompt , until then...I appreciate the understand! :)
Man, what a first week it was!! I feel the presence of the Lord so strongly and I am so aware daily of His obvious hand that has not only guided me here, but continues to guide me in my daily affairs here. Here are a few ways this past week He had a direct hand in my life....
Upon arriving I had a "name recommendation" for someone who a pastor at Colonial had told me about, it was a single lady missionary who was wanting to meet me. However, for those of you who know me...by the time I had gotten here I had completely forgotten where I had put that "recommendation slip". Well on Monday of last week a lady came to the campus named Sharon who had a car ( which is a wonderful rarity here as the price of a car as well as gas in the city far outweighs the pros to just riding bus or metro) and she offered to take a fellow missionary teacher Suzan( who is in her 40s) out riding to see the good restaurants, the soccer ( futbol arena) and to pick up a few items. Well we really hit it off instantly. Maybe it was her quircky, upfront personality, and her endless stories she readily shared, but I knew ...we were going to be friends. Well, what I didn't know was God had already determined her to be a friend, before time began, I was ever born, and before I came to Chile. We laugh now that it turned out to be.....days later when we were out getting ice cream that it was in fact her name...that was on the "lost recommendation slip" . :)
Another neat thing. I met 2 more Chilean friends! Camila who is my teacher aid is 23 and wanting to learn English, and Carolina who is 28 Chilean and attended the church service I "randomly" chose to go to...and don't think ill return. Its so obvious the Lord's Hand was guiding our lives to meet because of the seemingly coincidental circumstances...but I know as a believer...nothing is ever coincidence :) Camila and I laugh when we can't speak to each other...and try to speak words at other times and sometimes have breakthroughs and understand what is being said, but either way, we have a bond that was undeniable...from the first day we met ( which was an entire day of cleaning out the Pre K Room which was a hot, long, and dusty afternoon. But the end result was an adorable,and clean, bright and cheery room! :) )
I got my money in the bank finally...and was able to go buy groceries!!
The Lord uses the mountains here to speak to me in a way that I almost can see His hand even more clearly in my life, when I see those snow capped, grey and blue horizon from my window, or from my favorite place to spend i the Lord. The other night, I shared in the blog before here how the Lord spoke to my heart...and it was an encounter that I am thankful to of had, in the midst of transitioning ( though its been so easy thus far?! :)) yet it has had its moments. he just reminded me that He is in control of every animal roaming those Andes ...and guess what...HE in in control of my LIFE too if I allow him to be!! What a relief! :)
I mentioned Susan before, but not heather. She is yet another missionary lady who is living in the apartments here with her family, and who comes in my apartment daily to just...talk . :) We just sit on the comfy couches, with our waters in our hands, and just talk. She has said that she feels its a gift to come over and be able to just talk to another younger female, and she usually makes her kids go out and play when they try to come in and says, " No, go play, this is mommy time!" I believe the Lord knew I wanted a good talker to just talk to...and that she desired the same thing. He is so amazing.
I went and saw the sunrise one morning and it was beautiful. We drove up into the mountain to a lookout spot that was much to my surprise, full of stray puppies and wild cows. Haha this might sound funny but, it blessed my entire day holding those little puppies...and seeing the cows. Maybe its because I miss seeing the cows everyday in my backyard and it reminded me of home, it was just an added highlight of that early morning drive to take pictures. Funny thing was, I missed taking pictures of the sunrise...because I was holding the puppies!
Ok, there are other things I could share, but maybe ill share them on my next blog since this is rather long, but all in all this first week here has many journal entries that point to...the Lord's HAND being on my time here in Chile.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
This blog is not an update ( though one is to come this weekend) but actually is me openly sharing how the Lord spoke to my heart this evening by using the beautiful backdrop of his magnificent artwork -the andes...and this beautiful country.
After a long day of teaching meetings....I found time to finally steal away and really spend some quality time with my savior, and I must say...as I worshipped along to Shane and Shane with the beautiful orange and red sunset lighting up the mountain tops...The lord encouraged my heart. I don't know why the Lord has chosen to use me here, but i must admit, it wasn't until today that that reality ...hit me today.
The reality that... I'm forgiven because of the cross, Im unworthy but His blood has made me useable for His glory...and that its...His grace that is sufficient. Oh how my soul was lifted and my anxieties lessened instantly. For some reason, it hit me today how much God has given me throughout my entire life, a family who loves me, loves Jesus and is never wanting for food or material possessions that many here have never dreamt of having, the priviledge to graduate from highschool and travel the states as part of an amazing University ministry team ( the very thing I had always desired to do), and the list goes on and on, I just felt plain convicted at my lack of continual gratefulness to the lord for all of those blessings. I read this in Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon tonight and wanted to share it with you friends...
"We must not cease to wonder at the great marvels of our God. It would be very dificult to draw a line between holy wonder and real worship; for when the soul is overwhelmed with the majesty of God's glory, though it may not express itself in song,or even utter its voice with bowed head in humble prayer, yet it silently adores. Our incarnate God is to be worshipped as "the Wonderful". That God should consider His fallen creatures, human beings, and instead of sweeping them away with the broom of destruction, should Himself undertake to be the Redeemer of humanity, and to pay the ransomprice, is, indeed marvelous! But to each believer redemption is most marvelous as he views it in relation to himself. It is a miricle of grace indeed, that Jesus should forsake the thrones and royalties above, to suffer ignominiously below for you. Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion. Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving. It will cause within you godly watchfulness;you will be afraid to sin against such a love as this. Feeling the presence of the mighty God in the gift of His dear Son, you will put off your shoes from off your feet, because the place whereon you stand is holy ground. You will be moved at the same time to glorious hope. If Jesus has done such marvelous things on your behalf, you will feel that heaven itself isn't too great for your expectation. Who can be at the manger and the cross? What is left that is wonderful after one has seen the Savior? Dear reader, it may be that from the quietness and seclusion of your life, you are told what they had seen and heard, but you can, at least, fill up the circle of the worshippers before the throne, by wondering at what God has done."
After a long day of teaching meetings....I found time to finally steal away and really spend some quality time with my savior, and I must say...as I worshipped along to Shane and Shane with the beautiful orange and red sunset lighting up the mountain tops...The lord encouraged my heart. I don't know why the Lord has chosen to use me here, but i must admit, it wasn't until today that that reality ...hit me today.
The reality that... I'm forgiven because of the cross, Im unworthy but His blood has made me useable for His glory...and that its...His grace that is sufficient. Oh how my soul was lifted and my anxieties lessened instantly. For some reason, it hit me today how much God has given me throughout my entire life, a family who loves me, loves Jesus and is never wanting for food or material possessions that many here have never dreamt of having, the priviledge to graduate from highschool and travel the states as part of an amazing University ministry team ( the very thing I had always desired to do), and the list goes on and on, I just felt plain convicted at my lack of continual gratefulness to the lord for all of those blessings. I read this in Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon tonight and wanted to share it with you friends...
"We must not cease to wonder at the great marvels of our God. It would be very dificult to draw a line between holy wonder and real worship; for when the soul is overwhelmed with the majesty of God's glory, though it may not express itself in song,or even utter its voice with bowed head in humble prayer, yet it silently adores. Our incarnate God is to be worshipped as "the Wonderful". That God should consider His fallen creatures, human beings, and instead of sweeping them away with the broom of destruction, should Himself undertake to be the Redeemer of humanity, and to pay the ransomprice, is, indeed marvelous! But to each believer redemption is most marvelous as he views it in relation to himself. It is a miricle of grace indeed, that Jesus should forsake the thrones and royalties above, to suffer ignominiously below for you. Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion. Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving. It will cause within you godly watchfulness;you will be afraid to sin against such a love as this. Feeling the presence of the mighty God in the gift of His dear Son, you will put off your shoes from off your feet, because the place whereon you stand is holy ground. You will be moved at the same time to glorious hope. If Jesus has done such marvelous things on your behalf, you will feel that heaven itself isn't too great for your expectation. Who can be at the manger and the cross? What is left that is wonderful after one has seen the Savior? Dear reader, it may be that from the quietness and seclusion of your life, you are told what they had seen and heard, but you can, at least, fill up the circle of the worshippers before the throne, by wondering at what God has done."
Sunday, February 19, 2012
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| Nothing like red eye flights! But we have arrived!!! I only slept for the 12 hour flight...i believe 2 hours! I was too excited! |
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| My first walk on chillean ground! Andes in the background....always! |
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| 3 suitcases and 1 carry on....the Lord blessed me with a kind ticket agent who gave me a free suitcase and only charge overage fee's for one of my bag! ( they all were over 50 :() |
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| The customes line was sooo long!!! We both got our 3 month Visa! I will be getting a year long work visa down the road :) |
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| He kept me calm through all the hectic things we had to find, and do. I'm so thankful he was there alongside me! |
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| Beautiful church.... |
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| There are trees that look like Pineapples everywhere! Am I in California or Chile?! But for the language reminder...I would forget |
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| Cool architecture |
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| With daddy Downtown...behind us near the flag is the Presidents building! |
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| It was such an amazing experience to pray in this room with believers who have been listening to my father preach for years...and to see their faces as they talked about what the Lord had been doing through the Wisdom for the Heart ministry there in Chile. --Never will forget being able to be there. |
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| In the subway...which is one of the nicest, prettiest subways i've ever been in. |
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| We are going to Los Dominicos, which is a historical attraction that used to be a Monastery that is nestled right in front of the Andes...and looks like it was used as the set for the Mask of Zoro. It has dirt paths throughout it, but open air areas that have sitting areas surrounded by cactus and palm trees...little bridges over a running stream that went throughout the whole premiss. Random plant trees that i'd never seen before, bright red flowers, and bamboo stalk covered walls. Oh, and we bought something for my mom in a store inside the Monastery that Hillary Clinton has shopped..which was interesting. I loved being able to experience it with my new friends and my daddy. And because of its History, I could tell he and Wayne equally loved it. |
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| Los Dominicos! |
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| On the subway! |
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| They took us to a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally nice restaurant for dinner...at 8:30 pm. Because thats when Chileans begin their dinner meal. Ill have to get used to their eating schedule! They are big on potatoes, meat and salad, so at every restaurant they give french fries as a side! haha Even Pizza hut gives a side of french fries with every pizza! |
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| Hand made clay pots! |
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| Chile peppers!!! |
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| Hand made guitars |
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| Inside the restaurant where they took us for dinner last night! There was a wedding going on at the Monastery and at the restaurant! Love was in the air...as well as that gives you an idea of how beautiful both places were :) |
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