Landslides and flooding

You may have heard on the news about rain, flooding and landslides in Venezuela. Caracas has been declared in a state of emergency. At the school there was no damage due to landslides just a big mess to clean up. So on all the school faculty went to go help clean up. There are some pictures below. The department of education declared that all schools must close until January. Our school is accredited by someone in the United states so we have to comply with US standards and complete 180 days of school. So though we have no school we still have to work, somedays we can work from home and others we are working at the school. Making a homeschooling program for our students.
Three Staff members at the school have been placed in shelters because of the damage done to their home from flooding and landslides. Please pray for their families. Tomorrow we will be going to visit and take food, clothing, and household items to one of the ladies who works for the school and some of the people in her community. Pray that she will be a light in her community and that we as a school will aslo be a light and the be the hand and feet of Jesus taking care of the poor and the needy.
Last night was the Christmas concert for the school. It was so beautiful to here the students proclaiming through songs the gospel message to their parents. Many families in the school are not Christians, it is such a good chance to explain the good news to the parents each year through the concerts we have at school. Pray that seeds were planted in the hearts of the parents and that we would see transformed families and lives because of the those things.

Thanksgiving Vigilia

Last night was a thanksgiving vigilia. Once a month on a Friday night the church meets together for a time of prayer and worship from 8pm to 1 or 2am. Last night was our last for 2010 so we had a time of giving thanks to God for all he had done this year in our lives, everyone gave a short testimony of what God had been doing in their lives.

The testimonies included stories of marriages that had been ripped apart for various reasons, couples who had decided to split up, and the work God had done in this last year to renew those marriages and give each spounce a desire to work it out. Many marriages in our church have been under attack but God has been doing a huge work of restoring those broken relationships. But there is still a lot of work to be done. So lets keep praying!

Others told of how God had provided for them through this last difficult year, jobs were lots, companies gone bank rupt, families died, best friends and boy friends murdered, yet though it has not been an easy year God has been with them through it all.
Other still going through trials thanked God for the fact that He is teaching them and transforming them, even though they dont really know what He is doing right now.
And one lady gave thanks for her life she has had a brain tumor for 5 years and had lost some of her sight but gives thanks everyday for the life she has and the gift of each day.

It was such a great time of sharing and giving thanks and prayer. We are praying for a ministry we have in a park near the church with high school students that God would do a work in the hearts of those students and bring them to himself.
For a new location for our church, we need more space and it would be great if it was ours, and we did not have to set up and tear everything down every sunday morning.
For the marriages and the future marriages in the church that God would protect them and that He would be the center of each relationship.

I could have gone to the beach over thanksgiving weekend, but I did not want to miss out on the blesssing of being together with my church at the vigilia.

thankful heart is a happy heart

Yesterday Diego asked me if I was happy in Venezuela. It got me thinking of the things I am thankful for. The answer to his question was yes I am happy in Venezuela. I know it is where God has called me so I choose to be happy. Sure there are days I get frustrated with the traffic and how long it takes to get "simple" things done like depositing a check at the bank. Sure my life would be really different if I were to live somewhere else. I might have more freedom and more earthly possessions and a better paying job but when I think about what Gods purpose for me in life is those things don't matter.
I am happy because I know God is really changing me and growing me in different ways. He is revealing a lot areas that I have believed lies about Him, like the idea that I need to earn His love. I do things out of obligation and not love, and then I grow distant at times because I am afraid He does not love me because I am not doing enough. The thing He is reteaching me is you can not earn His love, its free there is nothing you can do to make him love you more or less for that matter. Easy to say but sometimes hard to get that from my head to my heart.

He also taught me to be ok with the church I was going to say love, but I have to be honest if I really really loved the church the way God does then I think my actions would be different. Sure I am part of two ministries and I go to a Bible study and the woman's meetings and the nights of prayer(sometimes). But do I call people up during the week to ask how they are doing? Do I pray for the members of the church, or even ask them what there prayer requests are? Do I worry about them and think about them often. Not really. Sure I have a few close friends that I call and talk to and pray for. But there is still something missing. I don't miss my body parts, we are body I should feel way out of touch and out of place not being more connected but I don't. During the week I am worried about work, my kids, my coworkers, (who also part of God's body) but I am not investing much time in them either. I want to be totally independent and not need anyone but that is not God's plan for us. He made us to need one another. So maybe lack of growth in some areas is because of lack on connection with the body of Christ.
All this to say I am so thankful for the global church and I am still learning to love the local church. But I am grateful for lessons being learned. And I am happy.

my purpose in life

I went to a singles retreat two weekends ago and at the retreat they said before you can find a spouse you have to know what God's purpose is for your life. At first I thought oh my goodness the purpose of my life well its really open I mean I don't know any details. I have no idea how long he will have me stay in Venezuela,I don't know how long I will teach preschool for, sometimes I feel like I don't know anything. After talking to my pastor and his wife they reassured me that I did know God's purpose for my life to Know Him and Make Him Known. I know its the motto from my university but that is the purpose of my life. The details of when where and how will all fall into place as I follow God. For now I know that God has called me to Venezuela to get to know Him better through many different circumstances and taking off cultural glasses or maybe trying on some new ones. And to make Him known by teaching His word to students at the school, talking to taxi drivers, talking to people at the gym and in the bus and in the hair salon, working together with believers in a local church to reach the community.

Sometimes I struggle because I don't feel like a missionary. I guess because I am teacher and not a church planter I some how feel what I do is much less significant than what others do and so I am not really a missionary. But what is it that missionaries do? Go and preach the good news that is what I do everyday. I get to spend 7 hours a day with my flock and then go out and try and reach other lost sheep. Now I have to admit I am still working on listening to God guiding and sharing with more people. I don't take advantage of every situation to make Him known like a I should, but I am asking God to help me be bolder but also to give me more opportunities.

So what am I doing in Venezuela. Getting to know God better and trying to introduce Him to others so they might come to know him and keep getting to know Him more and more each day.

Update on life here:
Three more weeks until Christmas break.
One more week of VBS after school, we ran a club for 6 weeks for Elementary school kids to search for truth on a truth trek. It has been really good, pray that the truths the kids have learned would not stay in their head but would settle down deep in their hearts and transform their lives.
December 2nd is the Christmas concert at school, the gospel is clearly presented through the songs during the concert pray for all the non believing families in the school that they might come and hear and understand God's great news.
December 4th is the Christmas party at church it is a great opportunity for people to bring friends and family and introduce them to the Lord, we eat and dance and have a great time together as a family and the pastor always gives a word. So pray for all the details of that.
Our church is praying for a bigger location we rent on Sunday mornings a little house pray for a more permanent and larger location.
I travel to PA on December 19th pray for safe travels. My parents are coming back down with me to visit on December 31st. Pray for safety I have been told we arrive at a really dangerous time, pray for God's hand of protection over all of us.
Thanks for all your prayers and support. I am really in need of money. I have only raised $500 this year and I really need to raise $500 a month to help cover my expenses. So if God puts it on your heart to give I will be very grateful. I hate money I wish it did not exist it complicates life. But well we have it and I have to be honest I am great need. So please pray about supporting me. I know God has called me here and I know He will provide. Click on the link on the right side bar to give financial donation.

how I get around

In the morning I am fortunate enough to have found a driver who picks me up at 5:30am and takes me to work so I make it to work on time. In the afternoon after school I take public transportation home to save money. Here are some pictures of just how full the buses and the subway are in the afternoon, these pictures are really how full it is. It take me between and hour and an hour and a half to get from the school to my house in the afternoon. (I did not take these pictures I found them through google searches).

the video entitled Venezuela is one I made when I was student teaching two years ago. The second video called part 2 is one I made using a video the school had a few months ago. enjoy them.

Venezuela

part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50inWhApC-w

this is a video I made just a little while ago. I took a video the school had and added to it. I hope you enjoy it.

what does a typical day look like for you?

Typical Day in my life in Caracas (typical week day that is)

4:30am Wake up
5:30 leave for work
6:00 start working for the day
8:00 classes start with the preschool
3:00 head to the gym take a bus, the subway, and another bus to get there
4:00 arrive at gym
6:00pm get home shower and get ready to go
7:30 Bible study, or worship practice or hang out with Diego or friends
10:00 get home and go to bed

as you can see life is very busy. But very blessed. I know God has called me to this place at this time. Everyday I see God at work in different ways here. I will write other blogs with more stories and such so this one is not too long.

If you would like to financially support me that would be awesome. I am currently trying to raise $600 a month to help cover living and traveling expenses. So far I have about $50 a month support. please please I need your help. I know God has called me here and I know he will provide. I am also praying and working on getting a different type of visa so I don't have to travel every 90 days. All that traveling really adds up and when I get paid 5 times less than a teacher in the states and cost of living in 15% higher in Venezuela you can see why I need to raise support. thanks so much, I hate talking money but as my pastor said people need details we need to pray in details so we can see God at work. well here are my details I need $600 a month. Would you be willing to commit to support me $20 or $30 or $100a month? on the side is a link to the nics page where you can make a donation or set up to make a donation each month. God bless you! thanks so much for all your prayers I need them!

pictures from the day of go carting

and a picture of the staff at the school

my class... and teaching Bible to my class the 3 year old class.

only 5

I figured I would dived this blog in parts so you can read whatever interests you.
School:
School has started! I have five wonderful students. I feel so blessed to have this class. They are beautiful obedient children and am so excited to see what God has in store for us this year. There are so many blessings in having a small class. First I can give each students the attention they need to succeed in school. Second I get to know them and their families very well. And third I am not so exhausted at the end of the day and I get be involved with events and activities at church throughout the week .
Church:
Last week I was blessed with sharing witha group from various churches who have joined together to start a new church in the city. The vision of the church is to reach the young people in the city. Young being teenagers to young professionals as well as those involved in the entertainment industry. It was so nice to share a day in community with brothers and sisters in Christ. I was invited through the lady I live with and was just reminded that we are all part of one body and we need each other regardless of that local church we come from.
Then on Sunday I went out to a neighborhood near wear I live with my pastor,my boyfriend Diego, and his mom MariIsabell (the leader of the worship team ministry) to go and witness to people in the area using bracelets that tell the salvation story using the five colors. It was so fun Diego and MarIsabell said that 12 people they talked to accepted the Lord! And Pastor Adam and I met a large group of kids from a church in the area who were playing a game together we shared the bracelet with them and gave them each one to share with someone else. Then we sang some songs together and just had a great time of fellowship together.
This Saturday we had a Ladies Breakfast for the women at church. A lady from our church talked about how we gain freedom when we trust in God. God already made us free through Jesus but a lot of times we put chains on ourselves when we believe lies about God and how he feels about us. So in order to take the chains off we have to go to the bible and read the truth about God and what he thinks of us. It was such a sweet moment of sharing with the Ladies from church many of us cried as we identified with lies that we have believed or mistrust that we have had with God and the joy that comes from trusting in God.
This Sunday after church we are having a time to share as a community. We will be going to park to play volleyball, and bad-mitten, and ping-pong, and dominoes and other games too. The kids we met the other day wanted to come so maybe they will come along too. Pray that God keeps growing our church and that he gives us a place where we can grow. The place we are now is too small. Thanks for all your prayers!!!!

one more week of vacation...

The picture is the view from my window


These last two weeks back have been very busy. I had a long list of things to get done before school started and have not been able to get to very many of them. Things just take longer here. For example on Tuesday of last week I went to the gym to pay my inscription, unfortunatly I had run out of checks and thought I could use my card. Turns out cards have a limit. So they told me I needed to go to the bank that very day and get a checkbook. So I went to the closest bank, they told me I had to go to the bank where the account was opened. I could not remember where that was they told me it was in Sabana Grande. So I jump on a bus that take s me to the subway that takes me to Sabana grande an hour later I am in Saban Grande. As it turns out there are 5 or more Banesco banks in Sabana Grande. I could remember what the bank looked like so I start by stopping at the first bank not it, go to the next one nope. At the third one I finally think to ask someone how I would know which branch I opned my account at they said they could not help me. So finally I went on to the next bank and it was it! I get up to the teller. She tells me they can not give me a checkbook becuase I don't have a Venezuelan identy card. Finally after talking to the manager she gives me a new checkbook. I get on the subway for an hour jouney home. Five hours later I make it back to the gym to pay for my membership and that is what I mean when I say things are more complicated in Venezuela.


I recently moved to the opposite side of town from work. So I will have an hour to hour and a half commute on public transportation everday. I don't know if you have been the videos of the trains in Japan where they hire men to push people in the train well the subway here is almost as full as those trains during rush hour. So pray that I make it to work in one piece and on time every day.