Merry Christmas!!

Wow! It is Christmas already! It seems like this year just started, and here it is, Christmas Eve! Here are a few pictures of a new experience for us kids--the last time I saw snow was 12 years ago, and my brother had never seen it before now! So. . .of course, when it snowed a few inches, we had to take some pictures! :)

Snow balls!

Mom and Dad

Jared loved making snow angels in the snow!

"The Kids"

The snowman Jared has always dreamed of making!

The lights down at the Plaza in Kansas City. . .

It has been fun to have friends over during this special season!
Last weekend, my family and I also had the opportunity to help with the Christmas Dinner/ Theater at Avondale Baptist Church, one of our supporting churches. We helped make dinner for almost 300 people, peeling and cutting up 100 lbs. of potatoes for mashed potatoes, washing and tearing lettuce for salad, putting the salad on individual plates, and on the list goes! It was a lot of work, but it really was fun to serve others!

Tearing all that lettuce--what you see in the bowl isn't even half of what we had to do!
Putting it all together on the plates. . .
All ready. . .

Jared having fun pretending to be a waiter! :)

The final product, after many hours of work, ready to be devoured!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Angie

Table for Two

He sat by himself at a table for two.

The uniformed waiter returns to his side and asks, "Would you like to go ahead and order, sir?" The man has, after all, been waiting since seen o'clock --almost half an hour. "No, thank you," the man smiles. "I'll wait for her a while longer. How about some more coffee?"

"Certainly, sir."

The man sits, his clear blue eyes gazing straight through the flowered centerpiece. He fingers his napkin, allowing the sounds of light chatter, inkling silverware, and mellow music to fill his mind. He is dressed in sport coat and tie. His dark brown hair is neatly combed, but one stray lock insists on dropping to his forehead. The scent of his cologne adds to his clean-cut image. He is dressed up enough to make a companion feel important, respected, loved. Yet he is not so formal as to make one uncomfortable. It seems that he has taken every precaution to make others fell at ease with him. Still, he sits alone.

The waiter returns to fill the man's coffee cup. "Is there anything else I can get for you, sir?"

"No, thank you."

The waiter remains standing at the table. Something tugs at his curiosty. "I don't mean to pry, but. . . " His voice trails off. This line of conversation cdould jeopardize his tip.

"Go ahead," the man encourages. His voice is strong, yet sensitive, inviting converstaion.

"Why do you bother waiting for her?" the waiter finally blurts out. This man has been at the restauant other evenings, always paitiently alone. Says the man quietly, "Because she needs me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Well, sir, no offense, but assuming that she needs you, she sure isn't acting much like it. She's stood you up three times just this week."

The man winces, and looks down at the table. "Yes, I know."

"Then why do you still come here and wait?"

"Cassie said that she would be here."

"Shes's said that before," the waiter protests. "I wouldn't put up with it. Why do you?"

Now the man looks up, smiles at the waiter, and says simply, "Because I love her."

The waiter walks away, wondering how one could love a girl who stands him up three times a week. The man must be crazy, he decides. Across the room, he turns to look at the man again., The man slowly pours cream into his coffee. He twirls his spoon between his fingers a few times before stirring sweetener into his cup. After staring for a moment into the liquid, the man brings the cup to his mouth and sips, silently watching those around him. He doesn't look crazy, the man admits. Maybe the girl has qualities that I don't know about. Or maybe the man's love is stronger than most. The waiter shakes himself out of his musings to take an order from a party of five.

The man watched the waiter, wonders if he's ever been stood up. The man has, many times. But he still can't get used to it. Each time, it hurts. He's looked forward to this evening all day. He has many things, exciting things, to tell Cassie. But, more importantly, he wants to hear Cassie's voice. He wants her to tell him all about her day, her triumphs, her defeats. . . anything, really. He has tried so many times to show Cassie how much he loves her. He'd just like to know that she cares for him, too. He sips sporadically at the coffee, and loses himself in thought, knowing that Cassie is late, but still hoping that she will arrive.

The clock says nine-thirty when the waiter returns to the man's table. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

The still empty chair stabs at the man. "No, I think that will be all for tonight. May I have the check please?"

"Yes, sir."

When the waiter leaves, the man picks up the check. He pulls out his wallet and sighs. He has enought money to have given Cassie a feast. But he takes out only enough to pay for his five cups of coffee and the tip. Why do you do this, Cassie, his mind cries as he gets up from the table.

"Good-bye," the waiter says, as the man walks towards the door.

"Good night. Thank you for your service."

"You're welcome, sir," says the waiter softly, for he sees the hurt in the man's eyes that his smile doesn't hide.

The man passes a laughing young couple on his way out, and his eyes glisten as he thinks of the good time ihe and Cassie could have had. He stops at the front and makes reservations for tomorrow. Maybe Cassie will be able to make it, he thinks.

"Seven o'clock tomorrow for party of two?" the hostess confirms.

"That's right," the man replies

"Do you think she'll come?" asks the hostess. She doesn't mean to be rude, but she has watched the man many times alone at his table for two.

"Someday, yes. And I will be waiting for her." The man buttons his overcoat and walks out of the restaurant, alone. His shoulders are huched, but through the windows the hostess can only guess whether they are hunched against the wind or against the man's hurt.

As the man turns toward home, Cassis turns into bed. She is tired after an evening out with friends. As she reaches toward her nightstand to set the alarm, she sees the note that she scribbled to herself. 7:00, it says. Spend some time in prayer. [Shucks], she thinks. She forgot again. She feels a twinge of guilt, but quickly pushes it aside. She needed that time with her friends. And now she needs her sleep. She can pray toomorrow night. Jesus will forgive her.
And she's sure He doesn't mind.

~By Wayne Rice, from Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks, from the book Stories for the extreme teen's heart.

I think this little story pretty much explains itself. When I read it, it gave a very vivid illustration of how God must feel when I put off spending time with Him in personal devotions and prayer. I hope this story has encouraged and challenged you as it did me, as I know it is much too easy to think "Tomorrow I'll do it--twice as long even, to make up for yesterday." No! God wants to spend time with me today and tomorrow, and everyday of my life, not just once in a while!

Pressing onward,
Angie

Family Vacation--Branson, MO

Ok, so maybe that wasn't my last post before I leave for Texas.... I figured I had to at least post a few pictures of what I've been doing this last week, so here goes!

Eating supper the second night--we were able to stay at a resort right by a lake.

This is in front of the "Sight & Sound Theater" where we went to the "Noah the Musical" drama. Isn't this building incredible??

I love this picture with the lion and the lamb.... there was another one that had Jesus with the little children that I wanted to get a picture of, but didn't. :(

Just before it started--This was just a small part of the stage! The whole thing came around us on the two sides! It was amazing!! If you've never seen it, you really should! The most incredible part of it was how at the end, they then clearly gave the Gospel--linking how "as in the days of Noah, so it is now" and sharing how Jesus is the Only Door to Salvation!

Silver Dollar City--Melissa and Jared pulling themselves up to the top

Lost River ride--it was pretty fun, even though I did get soaked!

Ok, this ride was pretty extreme--we were spinning on this thing while going on a roller-coaster type rail that was only like a half-moon! Kind of scary!

I don't know what they did here, but this was all the straighter that we could stand! Crazy, huh? :)

Family picture

On the tram heading to the parking lot--I rather like this picture. :)

Totally soaked after the "American Plunge" (see next picture :D)

the great American Plunge Melissa convinced me to go on!!!

Pretty much tired out after a day of walking and going on rides!

A little shop at Silve Dollar City...It was amazing to see how many places clearly gave the Gospel, even in this day where you aren't allowed to hardly even mention God's name in public!

Waiting for "The Shepherd of the Hills" to begin...it wasn't as good as we thought it would be. :(

Finally, the view outside our dining room window.

Well, this is my final post before I leave, so may God bless each one of you!

EXCEL 31--here I come!!

Well, the time is almost here, the days are counting down. Texas and EXCEL 31 is almost a reality! :) On Monday, Patrice and I will be flying down to Texas to atten EXCEL and embark on a new adventure! (If you want to know more about it, read some of my previous posts.) Mainly, the reason I'm writing this all is to let you know that I won't have any access to a computer or internet, and thus be unable to post anything here to update you on what is going on in my exciting life. :) So...unless I find the time to post again before Monday morning, this will be all until the middle of November, at the soonest! I will try to tell you all about it though, once I get home.

Until then,
Angie

Family Reunions, travels, and adjustments

Hello everyone!

Last weekend--Labor Day weekend--my family and I got to do something that we haven't done in a long time: we went to a family reunion of my mom's side of the family (the Schroedor family). Because I've lived in Brazil for most of my life, most of these people I barely know, and others, I didn't even know of they existed! So, when we arrived at the church where we were going to have lunch, and there were some faces that I didn't recognize, much less know their names, I realized that there were more people in the Schroeder family than I thought!


Here is a picture of the whole group on Saturday night at my mom's uncle's farm. We were going to have a cook-out (outside) but right before, it started raining, so we had to eat in the shed....

Then, on Sunday, we all got together for an informal church service. It is kind of cool because, just in the little group that came, there are at least three different families that have been, or are still, missionaries! (And this isn't even half of the Schroeder family!)

Unfortunately, these two pictures are really the only pictures I have of the reunion.... (I'm sure you're terribly disappointed! :D)

Also, on Saturday, my mom got back from a trip up to Montana to visit her immediate family. Because my uncle and aunt who are missionaries in Afganistan just arrived in the US, mom and her siblings also had kind of a mini "reunion"

Uncle Nolan, mom's youngest brother, with Ana--I think she is soo cute!

Ana's older brother (I can't remember his name right now)--all tired out! Like I would say in Portuguese, he is "a coisa mais fofo!" (or " the cutest little boy!")

Grandma and the puzzle she and mom worked on together

All the siblings(except for uncle Nolan)--Barb, mom, Bernadine, and Norman

Finally...the siblings with the in-laws (plus a few cousin....)

About the "travels" that I mentioned in the title of this post..... Next week my family and I will be heading out for stretch of travels. First stop to Kansas City, then on to Eureka, IL for the mission's business meeting, back to Kansas City, down to Branson for family vacation, and finally...Patrice and I are heading out to Texas! Honestly, I am practially counting the days until Texas! I can't wait! :)

And now...the adjustments! How does a girl who has been raised in 90 degree weather for 15 out of the 18 years of her life get used to the weather here in the US? Here it is, barely September, and already, the temperatures are down to the 60s! Help!!! If it's that cold already, what is winter going to be like?!? Yes, it will definitely take a while to get used to the low-degree weather here! Yesterday, at church, everyone was in long-sleeves and jackets, and I overheard some ladies talking and saying "Ooohh, it is cold today! I'm just trying to stay warm!" and I thought to myself "If you who are used to this are cold, imagine how I'm feeling right now!" Sadly, I probably I won't be wearing my flip-flops for much longer (outside, anyways!) :)
Anyway...I guess getting used to different temperatures is just part of life.... :-D

Ok, I'm almost done...just wanted to ask prayer for a couple, Dave and Sue, who used to work with us at the Bible Institute in Brazil, but are now back here in the US. Sue, the wife, has cancer, and is now in the last stages of it. Their son, who still lives in Brazil, has come back to be with her because the doctors aren't expecting her to live much longer....

Until later,

~ Angie

Confident (through Him Alone)

I guess you've probably noticed by now that I like to share things from my devotions. :) I would like to share with you though, a little something that I learned the other night while reading Proverbs 14: 26--"the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children have a place of refuge." I don't about you, but when I read this verse, it struck me as being a little "contradictory", or maybe a better word would be a little confusing. I mean, how does "fear" bring "confidence"? Like I said, that's confusing! So when I finished the chapter, I jotted down the question: "How does the fear of the Lord bring confidence?" and these are a few thoughts that came to mind:

1) When I fear God, it really doesn't matter what happens or what the world
does to me, because it is God who I fear and not the world (or man).

2) Also, by fearing God and having Him in the right place in my life, I can
have confidence because I know that God is my authority and He is on my side (kind of going along with the first point.)

3) A healthy fear of God is brought about through an understanding of who God is--He is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresnt, to mention a few, and by understanding these things, I can then have confidence in life.

4) I fear Him because I love Him, and "perfect love casts out fear" (1 John
4:18), thus giving confidence and boldness.

I think this verse (Proverbs 14:26) stood out to me because lately, I've really felt rather "afraid" of what others think of me--especially while helping with the different ministries at our church this last month. I've often subconsciously asked myself "Do I measure up to what others expect of a 'MK' girl?" I'll be honest: I've stuggled with this subject a lot lately.

But you know, it all comes back to the verse I mentioned in the beginning: If I really were fearing God, I wouldn't be so afraid of what others--even Christians--think of me! I would help in the different ministries without always wondering what others think of how I teach the lesson to the children, or fearing that someone else might come in and watch me as I minister to the children. No, I would be bold and confident that what I am doing is for the Lord, and that is all that matters! Period! Through God, I have no reason to be anything but bold and confident!

It is easy to write this all, but much harder to actually put it into practice.... My prayer is that we can encourage each other in our walk with God and help each other to look to Him for the strength to be bold for the cause of Christ and to put aside those fears that always arise.

Desiring to walk closer to Him,

~Angie

Advice from Proverbs

"My [daughter], if you will:

...receive my words
...hide my commandments
...incline your ear to wisdom
...apply your heart to understanding
...cry after knowledge
...lift up your voice for understanding
...seek her as silver
...search for her as hidden treasures, then...

You shall understand the fear of the Lord,
and find the knowledge of God."

(Taken from Proverbs 2:1-5)

Update--August 10

Well...I really should give a little update on what I have actually been up to lately, shouldn't I? :)

To start off with, if I ever wasn't sure about it before, I am now: American summers temperatures are definitely higher than Brazilian ones! Whew! Up until the last few days, the weather has been up in the high 90's and 100's here in Kansas! Thankfully, it has rained a little here and there the last day or two, and has helped immensely to cool things off a little!


As you all know, my family and I have been back in the US since May--not much more than three months--but I am already missing Brazil terribly. Oh to be able to walk around our little town and see all of the Institute students that have now come back for the semester beginning this coming Monday! To see all the ladies outside crocheting and visiting; to stay after church and just stand around on the "praça" and talk with the other teenagers....I am also finding out that I am actually more of an animal lover than I thought: Kitana, our Siamese cat, is back in Brazil, and I miss being able to hold her and hug the breath out of her. :) But...as everyone know, changes are a part of life. I simply can't have the best of both worlds--it's either one or the other--not both!


So...like goes on for me, here in the US. Since the last time I wrote about the every-day happenings around here, God has provided exactly the kind of job that I was looking for, even though I hadn't really been seriously praying about it! (Isn't it exciting to see how God really does know our hearts and it's desries and even sometimes answers before we ask?!?)

Anyhow, to say the least, this year is going to be filled with a lot of new things for family our...it already is! My brother, Jared, went to summer camp for the first time a few weeks ago, which of course he loved, he just doesn't want to admit it! :) Then, a week later, Melissa went on a missions trip up to Minnesota, MN, with the youth from Medora Community Bible Church. She came home with dozens of stories from the trip, but more importantly, I believe she came home with a greater vision of the need to spread the Gospel!

While I will not be starting college this semester (or year), Patrice and I will be travelling down to Dalllas, TX in September to attend EXCEL, a two-month course for young ladies. You can find out more about it at http://dallas.iblp.org/program_excel. Various skill will be taught--to name a few, by the time I get back home, I will be certified in CPR, have the basics skills of floral-arranging and sewing, and, most importantly, hopefully have learned a lot from the classes on practical daily Christian living as a young lady in this world! As you can tell, I am really excited about this opportunity! For sure, it will be a growing experience!

Finally, please be in prayer for Patrice and I as we teach "Partnering in Prayer"--the Wednesday nights children's class at our church for the month of August. We are doing it with a focus on different character qualities with Bible and Nature lessons to illustrate the qualities.... Pray for the children, that they will not only hear the lessons, but also apply them to their lives....


Have a great week!
Seeking to reflect Him in everything I do,
Angie

P.s. Right now, I am reading the book Some Gave All by Ellen Caughy--the story of four missionaries who gave their lives for the cause of the Gospel. Very interesting! A few sentences in the introduction really caught my eye: "...Missionaries, and especially missionary martyrs, are often held up to the rest of us as extraordinary examples of overwhelming devotion to the Christian cause. But [...] the missionaries' commitment may have been extraordinary, but the individuals were completely ordinary. Like the rest of us, they had human needs and desires. They had dreams that had to be forgotten or discarded. They were known, at times, to flounder, havning lost their hope. But they kept going, kept trusting, and kept praying." These few sentences reminded me that God really does call the ordinary people, just like me, to do great tasks, for He doesn't "call the equiped, but rather He equips the called!!" (a quote I heard somewhere...)

With Everything I have...or is it?

The other day, as I was doing my devotions in 2 Chronicles, my eyes fell on the following verses:

"And they entered into a convenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with
all their heart and with all their soul. That whosoever would not seek the
Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man
or woman." (2 Chronicles 15. 12-13)

Those verses, although talking about the Israelites, really stood out to me. While the Israelites don't have a history for always seeking the Lord, at that moment in time, they were joining together, and keeping each other accountable for seeking the Lord with their everything that they had! These Israelites really were serious about their relationship with God--even to the point of death!

Although this event occured in Old Testament times, why shouldn't we also do the same thing as this group of Israelites? Maybe we don't have to go around killing those who don't seek God (please don't!), but, I know for myself anyway, sometimes I take my relationship with God much to lightly. While I truly do want to seek God with all of my heart and with all of my soul, sometimes other things in life take priority and I forget about what should really be the all-time focus in life--God and my relationship with Him! Just imagine what it would be like to be held accountable to a committment to really seek God--not just 15 minutes each day half-heartedly reading the Bible, but rather, intentionally and continually, focusing on God's Word and applying it to my life! My whole life should revolve around loving God and seeking Him with everything that I have!
After I read these verses, I jotted this note: "Oh how lightly I take my Christian walk at times! Lord, make me to seek You with such a zeal as this!"

Are you reading this?

Yes, obviously you are reading this! :-) But guess what? I don't know that you're reading it (at least I haven't figured out a way to know who looks at my blog!) It feels kind of wierd to not know if I'm writing to dozens of people, or if I'm writing to myself. Probably most likely it is a little between the two extremes! Anyway, here is my suggestion for you: if you're reading this, please let me know that you do read my blog and leave me a comment. That way, if no one responds, I know I have a problem, and that I need to do some more "advertising" for my blog! :-) Thanks!!


Seeking to know Him, my Lord and Savior,
Angie

"No, Lord"?

"You cannot say 'No, Lord'and mean both words; one annuls the other.
If you say no to Him, then He is not your Lord." ~D. James Kennedy

This short quote caught my eye when I read it. It really is quite profound. So many times, as Christians, we tell the Lord that we want to do His will, but if He asks us to do something that doesn't necessarily sound like the greatest idea to us, we say "No, Lord, anything but that!"

I know, because I've done that myself! All my life, or for the last several years anyway, I've felt that God might want me to be a missionary, but, since I had grown up on the missionfield as an MK (missionary kid), I knew that life as missionary wasn't just beaches, palm tree, and tropical weather. No, it was much more than that--most of it was good, but there were also some things that weren't all that wondeful either. So, when I would feel that "nudging" of the Spirit, saying that God might want me to be a missionary, I would say "No, I really don't want anything to do with it!" All I wanted was to go to college and study music, get married, and lead a normal life, in the US!

Well, as you know, man's plans aren't always God's plans! Little by little, God began working in my heart. It was in 2005, I think, that I finally dedicated my life to God, telling Him that I wanted to do whatever He asked me to do. However, there was still a little bit of my life that was beging held back--not as much as before--but there was still a little bit of a "no" to doing anything regarding missions. Little did I know that God would totally change that!

It was August 2005, and the beginning of the semester for the Antioch Bible Institute. For the opening week, Dad invited a missionary lady, who is from a church in Fortaleza, to come with a group of young people and present a drama. This drama, however, wasn't just any drama. This drama was based on a true story of an Indian tribe that was begging for missionaries to come and bring the Gospel to their family. They had never heard the Gospel before, and when a few did, they wanted all the rest of the tribe to hear it too! The main purpose of the drama was to open the eyes of the audience to the necessity of spreading the Word and taking it to those who have not heard it.

Needless to say, that evening, the Spirit convicted me of my unwillingness to spread the Gospel. That night I prayed and told God that I would go wherever He would call me, to spread the Good News of Salvation. I was still hesitant about the where He wanted me, and how I would ever do it, but now it was different: I could no longer understand my reasons as to why I didn't want be a missionary, mabye even go back to Brazil one day. All of the reasons that I thought were so important, now seemed so weak and lame! It was amazing how, from one minute to the next, God totally changed my way of thinking!

Well, that was 2 1/2 years ago, but since that night, my focus in life is totally different! Before that day, while I wanted to work with some kind of teens ministry and be involved in a church, what I really wanted was to get a degree in music--perhaps piano or violin performance. But now, I am hoping to go to a Bible Institute www.cornerstonebibleinstitute.com , and complete the program there. I still do not know where exactly God wants me, or how He is going to use me, but now, I'm open to what He wants for me! I am really excited to see where He is going to lead me in the next few years!


While I am far from having achieved anything, I am slowly learning that if God is really going to be my Lord, I have to say "yes!" to Him and what He has for my life. As a Christian, I am never going to be totally satisfied and content in life if I'm not in the center of God's will. It is only when I am willing to do His will and to submit myself to His wishes that I will achieve fulfillment and happiness in life.

What is God asking you to do? Have you submitted your own will for your life in exchange for His perfect plan for your life? As long as you hold on to that little "something," you won't experience His best for you, for "you cannot say "No, Lord" and mean both words...."

Happy Fourth of July!!

I would like to wish every one of you a great 4th of July! My family and I are hoping to go to Kansas City to be with family to celebrate. It is almost a tradition that every time we are here in the U.S., we have to get together at a near-by park to listen to a band play patriotic music, and then watch the amazing fireworks when it gets dark! It is exciting to be able to look forward to that this year! While I am proud be a Brazilian, I am just a proud to be an American! May God bless America!

Pictures from COMMIT

I know I've taken forever in posting this, but finally, here are some pictures from the conference I went to in Nashville a few weeks ago! Just to give you a little glimpse of my week:






These are the wonderful girls in my group: Nasia, me, Caitlin, and Hannah. There were also two other girls, who aren't in the picture, Emily and Christina. We had a great time together!!






Our group presentation--not the best picture of us, but...we did it for God's glory! :-)


Girls listening attentively during one of the sessions




Elisabeth and Jocelyn, sharing what they've learned about getting along with brothers and sister! Yes!






The student choir and orchestra singing "It Will Be Worth It All!" the last night of the conference. It was really awesome to be able to sing with all of the other young people!!

Irritations

It started out as a simple overview of the life of Joseph. Pastor Wayne began his sermon, "An Introduction to Joseph" by going over the main events of Joseph's life. After about fifteen minutes of introduction, he finally went back to Genesis 37, and began his sermon. :-)

The main theme of the message was "irritations" and reasons for why they arise. One point that Pr. Wayne brought out and emphasised several times is the fact that irritations don't cause division; rather, it is my response to irritations that cause division. Pastor then continued to list three reasons for irritations, using the life of Joseph to demonstrate them:

I. Rebuke or correction in my life. (Joseph's brothers were doing wrong, and Joseph told on them--Gen. 37:2)
II. An injustice is done to me. (Joseph's brothers keenly felt the favoritism that Jacob showed to Joseph--Gen. 37:3-4)
III. God's sovereign blessing in the life of others. (God chose to bless Joseph with the dreams--Gen 37:5-11.)

I guess the reason I'm writing all this is because I was challenged through this message, and felt like it was just for me! How often haven't I justified my reactions and responses by saying (or thinking!) that it was simply normal that I responded that way as a result of the way he or she acted! But in reality, I am the one responsible to determine whether I am going to allow a little irritation result in rifts and divisions between me and those around me. It is in my hands, or as often said, the ball is in my court. I have two choices: I can choose to respond negatively and simply make matters worse, or I can determine to react in a Christ-like manner, resulting in character that is more like Christ. While at the time the irritation may not be pleasant, I can cling to the promise of Romans 8:28, saying that "all things work together for good...." My prayer is that from now on, with God's strength, I will respond to those many irritations in life as Joseph did--allowing them to make me more like Christ.

How have you responded to the irritations that God allows in your life?

From Medora, Kansas

To say the least, the last few weeks have been very busy. At the time of my last post, I was headed to Nashville for a Bible conference. That week has come and gone, along with many other things. However, let me share a little of what the last few weeks have been like for me!

Although the conference only began on Tuesday night, the 27th, I had to attend a leadership meeting for the girls' sessions that I would be helping with. There were about 15-20 (I'm not sure how many!) other girls who were also leaders. It was very touching to go around the room and have each one share a "high" or a "low" in her life, with the other responding to that specific situation. This time of sharing helped to give a feeling of unity and oneness amongst the group.

Probably one of the best sessions of the entire week was on Wednesday afternoon, a session for just the teens/college-age students. Several young people got up and gave a testimony of how God had been working in their lives. While it would take too much time and room to write all about each of them, it was very challenging to hear these young people share how God had transformed their lives, and challenged them in specific area of their lives. I was especially challenged with the testimony of one guy, David, who shared how God had called his family to the missionfield, then allowed David's brother to die while they were there. David then ended with a phrase that is true for everyone one of us: "A passion worth dying for is the only passion worth living for." How true! If you really stop to think about it, if your life passion and goals aren't worth dying for, then they probably aren't worth even living for!

So where are we living? Well, one of our churches, Medora Community Bible Church, has provided a house for us! My family and I are sooo thankful for their generosity and kindness! I am especially excited as this is the first time that I have had my own room! To make it even better, the curtains are green--my favorite color! yay!! It has been interesting though, as the house is hardly more than a few yards away from a busy highway AND a train track! In fact, it is so close, that when trains pass by, you can practically feel it pass, not to mention hear it! :-)

By the way, here is a link for some pictures from before we left Brazil, that I added to my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3705&l=8bc40&id=1206606263
I want to add some pictures from the last few weeks sometime too.

Finally....

Well, it is about time that I wrote something again. :) As many of you already know, the last few days/weeks have been very busy for my family and I. Two weeks ago, we started packing up our house in Brazil. Amazingly, in that one week, I sorted though and gave away or packed all of my personal belongings! It is kind of strange to know that everything that I own is now in two suitcases!
Last Tuesday, my family and I boarded the plane headed for Miami. After a day of flying and being in airports, we finally arrived in Miami, only to wait more than an hour for the shuttle to take us to our hotel for the night! Even though the wait tested our patience, once we finally did arrive at our hotel room, we were able to order Papa John's pizza--fabulous pizza, by the way!!! We spent the night in Miami, and left for Kansas City the next morning. We did almost miss our flight, but...God was good, and we were still able to get on, even though the door had already been closed! We arrived in Kansas City right around noon, and it was great to be with my aunt and uncle, and cousins once again!
Since then, we have gone camping, eaten Mexican food, and gone shopping at Wal-mart and Target! Yay! Although all of the these things are fun and we miss being able to do them when in Brazil, I miss all of the people I left behind in Brazil. I still can't believe that I am actually in the U.S., thousands of miles away from everyone in Brazil. But I guess the cold weather is trying to make to wake up to reality and realize that this really is the U.S.! :)
Tomorrow we are heading out to Nashville for a conference. Pray for me, as I will be helping with sessions for 12-15 year-old girls by leading a small group. This is the first time that I am doing anything like this, so I really appreciate your prayers! I'll try to get some pictures throughout the week and post a few.

In Christ alone,
Angie

Yummy Brazilian Torta (Impossible Pie)

This recipie is a family favorite! It is quick and easy to put together. For some reason, my family calls this "Angie's torta" :) ( I guess because I like to make it!)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk


• 1/3 cup oil


• 2 eggs


• 3/4 cup flour


• 1 tablespoon baking power


• 1 teaspoon salt


• 1/4 cup mozerella cheese

Filling: My family likes just tomatoes, onions, and green oinions suteéd with a little salt and olive oil, but you can add whatever sounds good to you (like ham and cheese, sausage, etc)

Directions:
Mix the milk, oil and eggs in a blender and add the dry ingredients. Put
half in a greased 9x9 pan, then half of the filling. Add the rest of batter and the rest of the filling, topping it with the cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Although the pie may look "soft"and not done, a knife should come out clean when it is done. Serve over rice.

Serves: 6

His Way is Perfect

Here are the lyrics for a song that I love. It encourages me soo much when I feel down and discouraged, wondering if God really does have a plan for my life, and if so, why did He allow ______ to happen? This song reminds me that He DOES have a perfect plan for each one of us!!

His Way is perfect
by Betsy Kistler

When my way seems dark and drear and the future I don’t know.
My heart feels so empty as the tears unending flow.
When my heart breaks with sorrow and a tempest fills my soul,
This one thing I know for sure: my God is in control.

His way is perfect, His way is perfect.
Though I don’t understand, His
wise and loving plan,
His way is perfect. His way is perfect.
Take my life and make a vessel purified.
God makes no mistakes, His way is best.

When the toils of life are come and my heart is worn with care,
I faint ‘neath the burden of a cross I cannot bear.
When the joy has departed from my sorrow stricken soul,
This one thing I know for sure: my God is in control.

A Full Moon and God's Enduring Love

It was Sunday night. The back of our truck was full of people. The cool breeze of the night blew full-force into my upturned face as I sat in the back of the truck. It was then that I noticed something beautiful: the full moon. The sky was cloudy, yet even then, the moon shone bright and clear; it was perfectly round--a glowing ball of light. Several stars twinkled between patches of clouds. It was so breathtaking!

This display of God's handiwork gave me such a sense of peace and contentment. As I continued to gaze at the moon, I realized something: God is in control. He has made the sun and moon to keep their courses day after day, month after month, and year after year since the beginning of time. If He controls the sun and moon, isn't He also in control of my life? Like the many clouds on Sunday night, my life, also, seems to be somewhat "cloudy" right now--full unanswered questions and countless decisions to be made. But God loves me and cares for me. I can trust in Him to work everything out, to give answers for my many questions, and to guide me in the many choices I have to yet make. He keeps the universe in order; He can keep me in His care! What a wonderful peace to know that! Just think: the great God of the universe is so personal that He used a full moon, on a cloudy, breezy night, to show me that He cares for me and is in control!

Institute Pictures

I said that I would post a few pictures from some of the Institute get-togethers. Well, here are a few:

This picture is a little small, but these are all of the students. I think there is a total of about sixteen students or so. There are a few more people than that in this pictures because it includes the family of one of the students (his wife and two daughters).

The cool thing about the Institute is that it is like one big family. This couple became officially enganged at one of their OMIBA (the name for the missions prayer group that they started this semester) meetings.

Sometimes chapel is combined with OMIBA, and then a supper afterwards. When they have suppers, they always have to invite the director's family! :)

It is then fun to go to the praça (the Brazilian version of a park) and sit around and talk or sing.

Showers of blessing!

Thankfully, this year has proven to be a year with a little more rain than the previous few years. After several year with hardly enough rain to make the planted fields grow, much less fill the dry wells and rivers, this area of Brazil is in desperate need of a good rainy season! Today, when going to a nearby town to work on some more of my Brazilian documents, the river that we had to pass over was full and over-flowing! It is interesting to note though, how just a month or so ago, this same river was hardly more than a little stream! Last Monday, it also began to rain about 4:00 p.m., and it rained steadily until midnight or so! If our rain gauge is correct (which I think it is!) in that one afternoon/evening, we had more than 5 inches of rain!



Rains, however, are not the only blessings lately. Like I already mentioned, I have been working on trying to get my Brazilian documents before we go back to the U.S. To make a long story short, what I thought would take, in the least, several hours, just to start the process and fill out the forms, took hardly an hour! Better yet was the fact that I was able to leave with the document in my hands!



Due to some Mission business that my parents had to do in Fortaleza, we all went to Fortaleza last week. The highlight of that time was the opportunity to get together with some of the other MKs. It was such a blessing to be able to go to the Tapioqueiras (an outdoor restauraunt) for a "girls' outing" with one of my dearests friends!



Before signing off, I wanted to add a poem that I read recently while reading the book Goforth of China, by Rosalind Goforth. I think it accurately reflects the attitude that each one of us should have when it comes to serving the Lord.



And as the path of duty is made plain
May grace be given that I may walk therein.
Not like the hireling for his selfish gain,
Making a merit of his coward dread,
With backward glaces and reluctant tread,
But cheerful in the light around me thrown
Walking as if to pleassant pastures led.
Doing God's will as it if were my own,
Yet trusting not in mine, but in His strength alone.



Continuing to seek His face,
~Angie

An Identified citizen! yay!

Hi! It is about time that i write something again....:) Right now I am in Fortaleza, so I have a little more time. As of yesterday, I now have an official Brazilian "identity" card (carteira de identidade). Yay! Now the only other documents that I need to get before I leave Brazil is my CPF and my voting título (title). (Don't you wish you lived in Brazil and had to carry around all of these documents?) Anyway, I am glad that I was able to get my identity card...if I would leave Brazil without it (and the other documents that I still have to get) I could run into a lot of trouble when I would return to Brazil.

This is a picture of our dog Muffin. She died a year ago, but I still miss her...she was such a sweet dog!

Pictures from Caranaval Retreat '08

(1st picture ) The most awesome part about swimming! I love going off of the ball!

(2nd picture ) Libby and I-- Libby is the most wonderful friend there could ever be! We have been friends for...oh, I don't know...forever, it seems like!

(3rd picture) Patrice and Grace...isn't this picture absolutely awesome!?!? I love it!

(4th picture) Melissa and Débora--a budding friendship.

~~**~~**

Ok, I'm not sure how to organize these pictures so the captions are underneath them....I'm still learning how to do this. :-)