Saturday, September 20, 2008

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!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

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

Thursday, September 04, 2008

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