So far so good

The group

The weather isn't tooo hot, yet, I hear it will get worse.

The girls all get to sleep in air conditioning which is really nice.

I almost had a melt down today after our time with the people at La Siesta, the first church we visited. I had a really bad head ache and was really tired. Also a little anxious about what was for dinner. I really had to lean on God, In my head I was begging to go home on the next plane out, but I managed to pull it together and now all is well.

With the heat I don't really have an appetite, so I was getting myself all worked up. I'm not sure when I changed from a person who could care less about germs to a person who is really terrified of them. It seems that hand washing is optional around here, there for one can get really worked up about such things. Especially considering all of those who got sick last year after eating out on separate occasions. This all was adding to my anxiety. As always everything turned out A-OKAY. Dinner was great and the fellowship was equal. Now we are home playing games and relaxing.

We have a busy day ahead tomorrow. Please pray for divine appointments with those who don't know Jesus. And for courage to speak with the people of Panama, there is a language barrier and that is really intimidating to me.

Grace and Peace from Panama!!!

On the way to Panama

So, on Sunday our pastor prayed for divine appointment for the team. Weather in the airport going through customs or just traveling on the plane and of course while on the trip. That scares me, I can do the work trips, no problem. But this is different. I am not used to the evangelizing trips. You would think that the Savior I love would be easy to share. But the USA is a little jaded to my Savior, so it scares me that I will be judged in that way in another country too.

My prayer for our team is for courage, boldness, for eye's that see and the ear's that hear, who we should talk to and what to say.

Please be praying for us. There are 14 students and 4 adults. Pray for Gods will to be accomplished, for strength for the team and for the whole team to come together as one.

Peace and Grace. I will update hopefully while we are there!!!!

cOlOrAdO

Road trip

We made it, 22 and 1/2 hours later, we have arrived in Colorado. My mom had a fabulous dinner waiting for us when we pulled in. We relaxed for a bit, catching up, before we heading to bed. Everyone slept really well the first night here to make-up for the lack of sleep while traveling.

The next morning my brother told me that our cousins from
Austin were in Vail for a wedding. So they drove to Gypsum for a little visit. We hung out at the park for a bit to let the kids run around and play for a bit. Then it was time for them to head back to feed the kiddo's and get a nap in.

Next it was time for some ice cream.
We went to Eagle to an ice cream social. Then a little stroll through town and that's when the call came in, the the horse was ready for us. A friend of Marks has a few horses and offered to let us come ride a bit.

Eli had fun, he really loves the horses. The girls all took a turn and I was able to lead the horse around while Anna road. As she was getting off the horse my foot got in the way and the horse stepped on my toe. It kind of REALLY hurt. But thankfully my toe came out with just a scratch.

Well, it's a new day and it's raining. So we are going to head south to find the sun and maybe hike a volcano on the way back to Gypsum.

Grace and peace to you. talk soon!!!!

The past wekks

It's been a really long time since I posted last. We took a group of 22 high school students to Louisiana for a missions trip over their spring break from school. An 18 hour train ride from Chicago to New Orleans, a stop to the food court for what would be our first of many meals out and then an hour drive across the causeway to Folsum, LA.



We arrived at the camp pretty late so we settled in for what would be a long and challenging week. Sunday we headed to New Orleans for church at City Of Love and boy did we feel the love. Sunday night we went to Gulf Port, MS for Church and dinner with a students family. The BEST fried chicken I have ever had!!!!! Monday and Tuesday were work days at Glenwood Baptist Youth Camp, this is where we stayed.

Wednesday was the French Quarter for some BEIGNETs and sight seeing, then to the Audubon Zoo



All of the kids seemed to enjoy this, it was a nice break in the middle of the week to rebuild the momentum. Thursday and Friday we finished the work at the camp which included drywall and building bunk beds, while a group of about six went to MS again to repair a roof. On Friday the group that stayed at the camp meet up with the group in MS and did a little swimming in the gulf.
Eli's first swim in salt water and he really loved it. Up early on Saturday to clean the mess we had created in the girls room, gross, and then the hour drive back to New Orleans and back on the train to Chicago.

We have a great group of kids and a great group of parents who trust us enough to take their kids across country for a week. God really work in AMAZING ways last week. I am blessed to be a part of such great work our Lord is doing. May prayer for these kids, excuse me, young adults would be that they let God continue the work that he is doing in their life's. That they surrender completely to God and let Him use them in mighty ways.

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
²² He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Our daily reading was Daniel while we were gone.

Well, that is it for now. Time to catch up on all there is to do after a trip and catch up on my sleep!

Grace and Peace!

Colorado part II

Boy did that trip go fast. Lets see where did I stop? Tuesday we went into Vail to listen to music at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. But first we went for dinner at Lark Burger. They have great burgers and fries. If I lived in CO it would likely be my Yesterdog, um! Eli loves to people watch. So this was great for him. We sat on the top of the hill so we could see all of the people. And we saw people of all kinds, hippies (one with us) moms, dads, baby's, teens and everything in between.

During the day on Tuesday we went to Sylvan Lake for a picnic. We canoed and kayaked. Eli went for his first float. He had his hand in the water the entire time. It took us a bit to get the hang of it but once we got going......piece of cake. He almost fell asleep, if we would have had bunny with us he would have been out like a light.

For dinner one night we made ELK steak. Yes I said ELK. Mark shot this animal, with a bow I might add, and I had yet to try it. Surprisingly it was really good. He did a great job preparing it.

Thursday Mark had his friend Mike who is a fly fishing guide take us out on the Yampa River. It is a catch and release river that holds MONSTER trout. On the second cast I "hooked" a fish. The "fight" went on for what felt like forever. But in the end this fish won and so did the next 5 that I "hooked". I guess that is why they call it fishing and not catching. Mark has these pics on his camera, so those I'll post later.

Friday, our last day of vacation. We took the boat to Riffle, to a lake there to boat and fish. I am so happy that Eli likes the water. We took a trip around the lake and found the spot that had the least amount of people. Mark jumped in while I put Eli's life jacket on and then put Eli in the water. At first he didn't like it but soon he warmed up to it and was having fun. It didn't last very long but it was fun anyway!

Saturday, we packed the car and headed for Michigan. Nic stayed and is heading to Yosemite National Park for a few months to work and then hopefully back to CO for the ski season.

23.5 hours there and 21 hours back. My mom is superwoman and drove the majority of the way (thanks mom)!!!!! It was a great trip. The mountains with my family. I wish Justin could have been there. Maybe next year.

Peace and love for now...........

Choose your own adventure

So my mom, Nic, Eli and I packed the car last Wednesday morning and took off for Colorado to see Mark. It took us 23.5 hours, about 5 hours more then it should have. When traveling with a toddler it makes for a longer ride. But we made it.

We have been pretty busy so far. Thursday night a trip to Eagle for music.

Friday a gondola trip to the top of Vail where we had burgers and more live music. It seems that every night you can find live music around here. Eli really liked the ride up and down the mountain.





Saturday was Gypsum Days. We went to a co-worker of Marks for a parade and BBQ. Eli had fun collecting all of the candy to share with his uncles.



This looks like a hill because we are on top of the mountain

Sunday Nic went rafting with his new friends. Mark, mom, Eli and I went for a drive up the mountain for a picnic and some fishing. Of course Mark caught the most fish, I guess he has more experience then I do. Someday I'll get him





Monday Mark, Nic and I went to Fulford Caves to do a little exploring. I usually don't like to do this but I am trying to expand my horizons. So we hiked 1875 feet to the caves, put on our head lamps and went in. It was in the 80's on the outside the cave and when we got into the cave it was 49 degrees. I was so cool in there. Nic was the "guinea pig" as he puts it. We let him go ahead and let us know if it was "safe". Of course it was safe, or we wouldn't have let him do it. What kind of roll models would we be?

Well we are half way through our trip. There is plenty more on the itinerary and there will be more pictures to come. Thanks for checking in and following our adventures in Colorado! See you soon.