Just had to post this picture--it was wonderful to be able to get together a few weeks ago with Teresa, a wonderful friend! She and her family were passing through Hutchinson, and, after many (!) emails and phone calls, we were able to set up a time to get together at the Metropolitan Coffee shop! Even though we only had a short while to visit over a latté and a tea, it was a memorable afternoon!

Some tulips I thought were pretty.

What kind of picture would you like to see posted next? Comment and give me your suggestions! :)

Filling my days. . .

Ahhh, the days continue to tick by--minute by minute, hour by hour--each passing day bringing my family closer to June 9th. In the meantime, I'm keeping busy with various things:

• Packing--I thought that after having to sort through all of my earthly belongings back in Brazil and fitting it all into not even two suitcases, I would not have much trouble packing things up now. Well, as you can guess, just the opposite is true. I have accumulated so much stuff in the short while that I've been back in the United States--if only you could see my room right now (it is a good thing, though, that you can't!) I have been sorting my things into somewhat-identifiable piles of things I need, things I want to keep( even though I don't exactly need them,) and other items that I don't need, (and really don't want either), thus landing them in either the "Goodwill" bag or the trash can. Now, all I have to do is put everything that I have decided to keep into some kind of suitcase, footlocker, or box. Until I do that, I think the floor of my room will be hopelessly cluttered. . .

• Preparing for VBS--Next week is VBS at Medora Community Bible Church. My entire family will be involved in various aspects of it: my parents will be teaching the missions-emphisis lessons; Patrice will be assisting the kindergarten class and acting as "Sally" in the puppet skits; Melissa will be busy helping, wherever necessary, with the second-grade class and serving snacks; and finally, Jared wil be attending the special classes for fourth grade! Oh yeah, what will I be doing? That is a good question! Originally, I was supposed to be a helper for the second-grade class, but now, I'm helping with the fifth-grade class, which will be a little awkward. No, it is not because of the fifth-graders that it will be awkward, rather it is because of who the teacher will be--the new intern, who just got here this week! As you have probably already guessed, the intern is a guy, and I don't even know him! Yikes! Yes, I think next week will be a new experience, to say the least! However, on another note, if you could remember to pray for me, I would appreciate it, as I have been asked to give the "salvation lesson" one day for the classes up to second grade. Pray that God will give me the right words to say and help me to clearly convey the message of salvation; pray also that the lesson will possibly draw some of the children closer to a saving knowledge of God, if they haven't already. I will probably be teaching on Wednesday or Thursday (June 3rd or 4th).

• Working--My job at Plesant View Home has been going well. During my first few days there, I wondered how I was ever going to make it for the entire summer, but now that I've gotten used to the routine of things, I really enjoy it. I believe that God has me there for a definite purpose--to share one my reasons for believing that, would you believe that in the little town of Inman, at Plesent View Home, in the kitchen (where I'm working), there works another MK girl?!? I mean, what are the odds of that ever happening? Unfortunately, she has obviously turned her back on the Lord and chosen to reject Him Whom her parents have given their lives to share with others. I definitely think God has caused our paths to cross for a specific reason, though I'm not sure what that may be.

• Practicing--This Sunday I will be playing the offertory at church! I've been practicing and practicing, and yet the music still doesn't quite seem to be "fitting together"--one time I can play it perfectly, and then the next, I will totally mess it up! I will definitely be glad when both services are over and I have gotten through both times without stumbling over the all notes!

Hopefully I will be able to update this blog again sometime soon!

~ Angie

Becoming a Reality (in three weeks)

The days are beginning to come to a close; my time with my family is almost gone. There are precisely three weeks left until my parents, Melissa, and Jared board the airline at Kansas City Internation airport on June 9th, leaving Patrice and I here--HELP! As you can imagine, my emotions are commencing to make a very real appearance!

For the past ten days or so, I stayed with the Franklin family, whom I will be staying with after my parents leave. Because I just started a job, I really couldn't go along with the rest of my family when they went up to Montana to visit relatives and two of our supporting churches. It was during this time of separation that the reality of this pending "nightmare" began to sink in: it really is going to happen--I really will be living apart from my parents in the very-near future!

While at times the thought of going off to college sounds exciting, thrilling, and full of adventure, the accompanying implications of living here in the US, separated from everyone and everything that is familiar, is enough to dampen my spirits a bit. A few times throughout the last few days, I have felt almost overwhelmed with the realization of the reality of it all. "Can I really do this?" I've often asked myself. Each time, my mental answer has been: "Well, it's still a long time off in the future; you'll handle it when the time comes." Well, now the time is almost upon me, and I'm not sure if I'll be strong and get through it or not!

It was with such thoughts and emotions boiling near the surface of my heart and mind that I arrived at church last Sunday. As several of my past posts have already mentioned, we have been going through a fantastic series in Sunday school that is by Dr. Jim Berg, examining the character of God and confirming time and again that He is more than enough for our every need! By the end of the hour, I sat amazed at the way God works--the lesson was exactly what I needed!

Why do I say that? Well, would you believe that the very subject of the entire Sunday School hour was our emotions--the very thing I had been struggling with for the past few days? Perhaps the most revealing truth was that "my thoughts dictate my emotions!" So basic, yet so real! If I don't think about something, I won't have emotions about it! Conversely, in order to sustain an emotion, I must think about it!

Now, I'm not saying that in order to get through the next few days and weeks I will simply ignore the inevitable. No, the facts will not go away by mentally saying they don't exist. What I am saying, however, is that it was very freeing, to me, to discover that it is possible for me to control my emotions and sadness about this all! I do have the power to choose what I think about and by avoiding the negative thought patterns of "poor me" that have threatened to make their appearance with increasing frequency lately, I will also be avoiding the negative emotions that accompany them! I don't know. . . am I making any sense at all?

Needless to say, even with all that said, please keep me and my family in your prayers. While I know countless missionary kids have gone through this very thing and have survived (!), this is a first for me.

Trusting in Him,
Angie