Keep Ecuador in your prayers

Last year around this time, a volcano in Guatemala erupted and caused a huge amount of damage.  A few days ago, a volcano erupted in Ecuador.  There isn't a whole lot of information on it, but what I do know I will tell you. 

Tungurahua volcano, nicknamed the "Throat of Fire," is located in Banos, Ecuador, a little over 80 miles south of Quito, where we will be staying during the trip.  Hundreds of families have been forced to evacuate, and schools have been closed. 

For more information, visit http://www.digtriad.com/news/national/article/173374/175/Tungurahua-Volcano-Erupted-Today.  Please keep the country in your prayers.  God is in control. 

I forgot! :(

So, I was really looking forward to doing a "two months exactly" countdown post, which would have been April 27th.  Well guess when April 27th was?  YESTERDAY.  YES, I forgot to write a post yesterday.  SO, I am going to do that post today. 
Also, I apologize for not writing a lot.  I have been uber busy with school because I have finals coming up...

In case you were wondering about the strange choice of colors; yellow, blue, and red are the colors of the Ecuador flag :).

Before we know it, we'll all be greeting each other (and for some of us, tackling each other ;D) in Miami, Florida.  I can't wait!

70 days, yo :)

70 days.  Can you believe it?  I certainly can't.  I mean, it felt like just last week when the plane landed in Philadelphia returning from Guatemala.  And we only have 70 short days, which I know will fly by.  That's 10 weeks, people.  I am so excited to see what God has planned for us, see everyone again, to be in constant fellowship with other believers, and to worship God with everything I have.  I get more and more excited as the days go by.  I recently got the packing list.  Next comes the t-shirt and costume assignment, and then team lists.  Is anyone else ridiculously psyched for this?  :)

I'll be hopefully posting something more in-depth later this week, so look for it. :)
God bless ya'll!

{Soul Surfer...Jeremiah 29:11}

Above:Bethany Hamilton today

Above: Bethany on a missions trip.

I went to the movie theatre last weekend to go see Soul Surfer, a hollywood produced movie about surfer Bethany Hamilton who got her arm bit off by a shark when she was just 13 years old. It was absolutely OUTSTANDING!!! I say this with kudos to hollywood for not leaving out what makes her story so inspirational...her faith in God, way to go Hollywood!

Without giving too much away, I just want to brief you some highlights of this movie. Bethany was only 13 years old when the shark attack happened, & at such a young age, her life was surrendered to Jesus Christ. During such a difficult time, she relyed on the strength of God to carry her through & today with one less arm, she is a professional surfer who proclaims her comeback all because of Jesus Christ, He who she can do all things through! My favorite part of the movie(and completely based on Bethany's real life adventures) is when her church youth group goes on a mission trip to Thailand. The trip was shortly after the attack & when she went, she was satisfied & her heart was FILLED with love and compassion for a poverty stricken country who she, with only one arm, could serve all for the glory of God. While in Thailand she brought laughter among one little boy who would not speak or smile by surfing & teaching him how to surf. Long,wonderful,story short...Our God is amazing & Bethany shines from the inside out with a radiance that comes from her Savior.

It was amazing & is now my favorite movie!At the end of the movie, people in the theatre were clapping, clapping...I have never seen that before, it was soooo moving & I am so proud of Hollywood for producing a Christian movie & putting it in the theatre for ALL people to see, Christians or not...just think how life-changing that movie could be to someone after seeing it, they could come to Christ because of that movie!Two thumbs up, & I'm stealing Heather's whether she's seen it or not, because I know she will!! GO SEE IT, such a blessing!

These were some of the verses mentioned in the movie(that she trusted in real life) that got her through & still does get her through her struggles:

"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." Jeremiah 29:11

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:13

Have a blessed Monday & remember, YOU can do all that through Him who gives you strength! I encourage you to check out the link below as well!

http://http//www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/bethanyhamilton021204.aspx

Through Their Eyes

Last night at my youth group, we started a new study called “Through Their Eyes,” and it’s about what it was like for the disciples during the life of Jesus.  It really opened my eyes, and I would love to share a bit about it with you all. :)

1 Corinthians 1:27 says “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”  Back in Jesus’ time, being a Rabbi (which means “teacher”) was pretty much the highest rank in society.  When boys were very young, the Rabbis would see if the boys were qualified to be put into what was pretty much training.  In order to qualify to be put into Rabbi training, the Rabbis would have to see something in them that set them apart as different.  Those who didn’t make it would be told to study in the family practice (for example, fishing).  There would be more and more eliminations until only one or two “Rabbis in training” were left. 

So what was the point of that whole spiel?  Well, Jesus didn’t choose the “special” ones to follow Him.  He chose the ones who weren’t good enough from people’s point of view; the normal, ordinary, everyday guys.  He chose THEM to follow Him.  He didn’t choose the perfect guys, either.  They struggled with the same things everyone else did.  But He chose them, because they were special to Him. 

Do you know how many amazing things happened during and after Jesus’ lifetime because God chose to work through the disciples to perform miracles?  The lame could walk, the mute could speak, the blind could see, the lepors (people who had leprosy) were healed, demons were cast out of people, and so many other things happened because God worked through the disciples; those normal, ordinary, everyday guys.

Do you see what I’m trying to say here?  God doesn’t pick out the perfect ones to do His work.  He wants to choose people like myself, Lahni, and YOU to do His work.  We might not think we’re anything special; maybe we aren’t athletic, or intelligent, or maybe we seem to mess up everything, but God wants to work through us to do big things.  So, are you gonna let Him?  Or, are you gonna sit at home, afraid of failure?  If God is for us, then who could stop us?  And if God is with us, then what could stand against us?

So, I hope this made some sort of sense, and that it stood out to you as much as it did me.  Have an awesome rest of your week, and God bless. :)

87 days

Happy 90 days!!! :)

{Your Feet Are BEAUTIFUL}

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."-Romans 10:15, the title of our blog. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L-beautiful, God thinks our feet our beautiful! That probably sounds, well kinda crazy, but it is sooo much deeper & beyond the words in this verse alone. Now, I am sure Heather would agree with me when I say our feet didn't always look or feel beautiful on our trip last year as this verse sais. We walked through mud, yucky water, unsanitary dirt & cobblestoned roads. I can even remember taking a boat ride across a gorgeous lake to a remote little village where on one side of the road they had dumped human waste down the side. Even past the physical part, we encountered ground where hurt & broken people gathered,where drunk & sick people were seeking after something. Our feet, I wouldn't consider them beautiful, But contrary to what I think, God tells me differently, He calls my feet beautiful. Heather and I are missionaries called by God Himself to do things we can't even fathom & I think that is the exciting part-not knowing, but embracing every STEP in the journey as it falls among me, even if it means walking through unidentable "stuff" or loving and surrounding myself with drunk, broken, & hurt people. As long as I can bring them the good news-GOD's unsurpassable LOVE, my heart is full & according to God, my feet...my feet are beautiful, and everything my feet encountered was worth it-ALL for the glory of God!!!

{94} days, it's gunna fly by & I am so excited!! A little overwhelmed, but more excited!! During this time I want my feet to "stay beautiful" because whether or not I'm in a desolate, remote, third-world country, still there are broken people waiting to hear that good news & it's my responsibility to serve as a missionary no matter where I am. The next 94 days or so that I'm in the United States are going to be spent preparing--preparing my heart, my soul,my mind, my strength--and of course...my FEET!!!Hehe. Less of me, more of Him, that's what it all comes down to. Please join with me the next 94 days in preparing, because God is always waiting for people to step up and "BE" the body of Christ whether it be in Ecuador or in your hometown, someone ALWAYS NEEDS to not only hear about God and His love, but also SHOWN His love & the latter one is way more important, faith without deeds is dead!!!