So I was headed out this morning to meet with a friend and see some of the city but before jumping in the shower I checked my e-mail. When I opened my e-mail I found a link to a Santa Maria California news site, at the site I saw a picture of my cousin's husband and went on to read that he had died. It's not the sort of information I would ever hope to get over the internet but as my mother told me the situation permitted it since she lost my number along with everyone else's.
He was a California Highway Patrol officer in Santa Barbara and lived just up the mountain from SB. My cousin has been married about 5 years now but dated Jerrod for many years, they have a daughter (Julia) who is 4. I have a lot of memories of Jerrod being this cool dude who was dating Tricia and was really helpful to my grandmother around the house. He was a really sweet guy with a great sens of humor and a good laugh. If you remember a few months back my grandmother suddenly passed away. My grandmother raised my cousin and was a major part of her life, they were just coping with that loss as best they could. I've just talked with Tricia her and Julia are doing as best they can but please pray, pray hard for them. They are trying to get through it right now.
I'm not sure how other people and their cousins are but to me they are just about as close as siblings. There were six on my dad's side that lived down the street from us and then two on my mother's side in Santa Barbara. My mom, her mom and sister's were close and Tricia is like a daughter to my mother and her other aunt. Please be kneeling for my Aunt Eileen and my mom as they aid Tricia in any way they can.
I know the Lord will bring glory to himself in all situations, but not everyone believes that. Please ask the Lord to show himself mightily and to be seen clearly through those that follow Christ and interact with Tricia and Julia.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
While I was reading last night I came across this verse.......it's really cool and for some reason just touches mu heart.
"From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed.
From prophets to priests, they are all frauds.
They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wound.
They give assurance of peace when there is no peace.
Are they ashamed....they dont even know how to blush."
Jeremuah 6.13-15
I love this because during this time God's children were really bad at following him....ALL of them even the spiritual leaders of the country. There's a lot about these verses that remind me of India and my heart just breaks for this place. Please pray for this country, pray that many would have the assurance of God's peace that heals mortal wounds to give life everlasting.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Making Cookies at 4:30 AM
GOOD Morning! Since I returned from America my sleep schedule is all messed up. I also have been sick and slept some really odd hours to help that go away. Well the sickness and the sleeping problems aren't going away. Yesterday and the day before I woke up at 4:30 am, it was cool I had some things I could do while I wasn't sleeping. Last night I went to bed at 5:30pm and woke up at 9pm so then I couldn't go to sleep alllllllll night. So I spent the night doing random things to keep occupied.....sleep was not one of those things. Finally after thinking about food and how I need to try and cook more or bake more I decided to do something about it. So at 4 am I got out of my bed and went to the kitchen to see what I could make. I thought about chicken and mashed potatoes but we didn't have any potatoes and I wasn't in the mood to eat. Since I didn't want a meal I came to the conclusion that making cookies would be a good idea......ha.
So as I got the mix out, added the egg and butter I started baking. The first two batches were pretty good, but not amazing. Earlier in the night I was talking with a friend that lives over here and she was telling me the secret to making good cookies is to make them with love. At first I thought she was joking with me but she was serious. I thought I would try it her way and make cookies with all the love I have in my little exhausted heart at 4:30 in the morning.
I said earlier the first two batches were okay, not amazing but okay......well then came the third batch. I did the usual measured out the blobs of dough and put them on the metal sheet. After placing the cookies in the little convection oven thing I went into my room to continue reading my bible and studying about the book of Jeremiah. I was waiting for the "ding" that let me know the cookies were done (just like I had done with the two batches prior). When the "ding" went off I went to get out the cookies.......
Here is the scene........
I put down my little bible and study book about Daniel, step off the bed and put my house shoes on. As I leave my room and head to the kitchen I am really excited about the cookies, I was thinking about how I could surprise my roommate when she got back from her vacation in two days with some cookies. As I enter the kitchen there is a strange billowing of smoke coming from the oven. My first thought was, "YIKES! I think my oven is malfunctioning! MONSTER!!!!! The cookies! The amazing chocolate chips I brought from America (you can't but Chocolate chips here you have to bring them in a suitcase). OH MAN! WOW! The smoke is really coming out!"
So I run over and open the oven and take out the pan. The cookies are CHARRED! I start trying to think what could have happened I know I am not the best in the kitchen but wow this was BAD. My first though, power surge.......the power must have done something wrong and my oven has to be messed up. It's a possibility because the wall socket it plugs into is problematic and electricity is always a little strange around here. After more thought I came to the conclusion that the butter and the egg might not have mixed in as well as I thought they did.
While all this is going on in my head tons of black smoke is leaving my open kitchen window and going into the people upstairs bedroom window. (there is this big 7x7 open window space in the middle of my apartment. It is in the middle of all three apartment floors.....it's the same opening and the people upstairs have their window open) I bet that was a really nice smell to wake up to, REALLY BURNT COOKIES.
I came to the conclusion I should not be allowed to cook in the kitchen, or more practically I should always stay right next to what ever it is that I am making.
So as I got the mix out, added the egg and butter I started baking. The first two batches were pretty good, but not amazing. Earlier in the night I was talking with a friend that lives over here and she was telling me the secret to making good cookies is to make them with love. At first I thought she was joking with me but she was serious. I thought I would try it her way and make cookies with all the love I have in my little exhausted heart at 4:30 in the morning.
I said earlier the first two batches were okay, not amazing but okay......well then came the third batch. I did the usual measured out the blobs of dough and put them on the metal sheet. After placing the cookies in the little convection oven thing I went into my room to continue reading my bible and studying about the book of Jeremiah. I was waiting for the "ding" that let me know the cookies were done (just like I had done with the two batches prior). When the "ding" went off I went to get out the cookies.......
Here is the scene........
I put down my little bible and study book about Daniel, step off the bed and put my house shoes on. As I leave my room and head to the kitchen I am really excited about the cookies, I was thinking about how I could surprise my roommate when she got back from her vacation in two days with some cookies. As I enter the kitchen there is a strange billowing of smoke coming from the oven. My first thought was, "YIKES! I think my oven is malfunctioning! MONSTER!!!!! The cookies! The amazing chocolate chips I brought from America (you can't but Chocolate chips here you have to bring them in a suitcase). OH MAN! WOW! The smoke is really coming out!"
So I run over and open the oven and take out the pan. The cookies are CHARRED! I start trying to think what could have happened I know I am not the best in the kitchen but wow this was BAD. My first though, power surge.......the power must have done something wrong and my oven has to be messed up. It's a possibility because the wall socket it plugs into is problematic and electricity is always a little strange around here. After more thought I came to the conclusion that the butter and the egg might not have mixed in as well as I thought they did.
While all this is going on in my head tons of black smoke is leaving my open kitchen window and going into the people upstairs bedroom window. (there is this big 7x7 open window space in the middle of my apartment. It is in the middle of all three apartment floors.....it's the same opening and the people upstairs have their window open) I bet that was a really nice smell to wake up to, REALLY BURNT COOKIES.
I came to the conclusion I should not be allowed to cook in the kitchen, or more practically I should always stay right next to what ever it is that I am making.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
One Year in......One Year to Go!
Hey Everyone!
It's been a really long time. Things here have been really great.....very busy as well.
Since starting our three nights a week English class it has been crazy busy!!! Classes started and we had to rush getting each story and lesson done. It was a 12 week set and right now we have two weeks until we finish. It's been amazing working in the neighborhood we already kind of knew.
Besides doing the three day a week ESL class Stacey and I do a once a week class in a different slum. It's been really neat to see the differences between the two. Stacey and I have also been doing a weekly training with two national believers on how to enrich their ministry and a new tool of telling people about Jesus. Our boss has also started a weekly session with my team and some other people on how to use more stories and see the set she and her husband worked on for the last 4 years.
Besides work I've been busy with a trip to America. The trip was for my best friend's wedding. It was really nice to be back in the states and see her wedding. My parents came to Fort Worth to meet up with me a few days before the wedding. We had fun going around Dallas and Fort Worth....I had a great time going to Wal-Mart, the mall, and eating American food.
After the wedding I went to Oklahoma for two days to speak at some churches and visit with friends.
Being back in South Asia has been really nice, things have been really busy. There are some new people that just arrived and it was my Birthday. Yayyy for being 24...I guess. I know 24 isn't that old but it just seems strange. When I was younger I had big dreams on where I would be and what I would be doing. I don't think I ever really saw my life taking the path it has taken. It's really amazing to see how God can really change a person and change what they can do. Three years ago I was able to go on my first trip overseas. They trip was in Thailand and Laos, I fell in love with both countries and the Southeast Asian people. That's where I first knew I wanted to live overseas one day and be apart of something bigger than me or my dreams. Living in South Asia is a lot different than Southeast Asia and America at that but I love it. "Just follow the Lord, he wont lead you wrong." That's what my great aunt Sis said when I told her I was thinking of doing m-work outside of the states. It's so true, I would have never chosen this place or path for me but it's so totally fitting. I love that each day is an adventure and I love the friendships I have with these people. Some days this country drives me crazy but it's okay.....some days America drives people crazy too I guess. I have no idea where the Lord is taking me next but that's okay. I have no idea where I'll be after next October or what I'll be doing and right now I'm okay with that. I trust the one I am following and will go where I am told and reap the blessings and continue to grow in the Lord.
It's been a really long time. Things here have been really great.....very busy as well.
Since starting our three nights a week English class it has been crazy busy!!! Classes started and we had to rush getting each story and lesson done. It was a 12 week set and right now we have two weeks until we finish. It's been amazing working in the neighborhood we already kind of knew.
Besides doing the three day a week ESL class Stacey and I do a once a week class in a different slum. It's been really neat to see the differences between the two. Stacey and I have also been doing a weekly training with two national believers on how to enrich their ministry and a new tool of telling people about Jesus. Our boss has also started a weekly session with my team and some other people on how to use more stories and see the set she and her husband worked on for the last 4 years.
Besides work I've been busy with a trip to America. The trip was for my best friend's wedding. It was really nice to be back in the states and see her wedding. My parents came to Fort Worth to meet up with me a few days before the wedding. We had fun going around Dallas and Fort Worth....I had a great time going to Wal-Mart, the mall, and eating American food.
After the wedding I went to Oklahoma for two days to speak at some churches and visit with friends.
Being back in South Asia has been really nice, things have been really busy. There are some new people that just arrived and it was my Birthday. Yayyy for being 24...I guess. I know 24 isn't that old but it just seems strange. When I was younger I had big dreams on where I would be and what I would be doing. I don't think I ever really saw my life taking the path it has taken. It's really amazing to see how God can really change a person and change what they can do. Three years ago I was able to go on my first trip overseas. They trip was in Thailand and Laos, I fell in love with both countries and the Southeast Asian people. That's where I first knew I wanted to live overseas one day and be apart of something bigger than me or my dreams. Living in South Asia is a lot different than Southeast Asia and America at that but I love it. "Just follow the Lord, he wont lead you wrong." That's what my great aunt Sis said when I told her I was thinking of doing m-work outside of the states. It's so true, I would have never chosen this place or path for me but it's so totally fitting. I love that each day is an adventure and I love the friendships I have with these people. Some days this country drives me crazy but it's okay.....some days America drives people crazy too I guess. I have no idea where the Lord is taking me next but that's okay. I have no idea where I'll be after next October or what I'll be doing and right now I'm okay with that. I trust the one I am following and will go where I am told and reap the blessings and continue to grow in the Lord.
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