We're Back, It's Story Time!!

It's taken me way too long to post these stories, and I apologize.  But I'm doing it now!

So, Wednesday and Thursday (6/8-6/9) were traveling days.  I had tried to write my testimony on the plane, just in case I needed it while in Uruguay, but nothing was making sense and in the end I just gave up.  I thought that God would give me one later if necessary, and I'm not sure if that was God or procrastination talking.  After we landed in Chile, I enjoyed the weirdest birthday I have ever experienced (the "enjoyment" cutesy of our amazing missions team, you guys blessed me tremendously that day :D), we got a good nights rest in a safe hotel, thank God, and then spent the next 24 hours (Friday 6/10-Saturday morning) in the Santiago airport.  I had really believed that God was telling me we would leave sometime Friday, but I was mistaken and rather discouraged.  After a rough night's sleep, we finally flew out of Santiago and were on our way to Montevideo.  God gave me my testimony on that flight, about how faith is important, but if what you believe is not a part of God's plan (i.e., getting out of the airport Friday), it wont' happen.  It turns out, a very dear member of Sinai (the church in Montevideo) had passed away, and having us there would have been an added stress and inconvenience.  God always has a plan!

Saturday afternoon went by very quickly.  When we arrived in Montevideo, we learned that the kids attending our VBS/Kid's Carnival had been waiting for us for a few hours.  We shoveled down some (very delicious!) lunch and got started right away, and the kids loved it.  I hope that God used our lesson (no matter how unrehearsed and improvised it may have been :D) to bless those kids!

The youth service Saturday night was amazing.  I met some wonderful friends that night!!  I shared my testimony along with Rhonda, and Niki gave the message.  What impacted me the most, however, was the worship.  It's so energetic, real, and free!  One way they worship is with dance (awesome.), whether choreographed or just jumping up and down like a maniac.  I was able to join them in the dancing-like-a-maniac-for-the-Lord part.  Megan also performed her dance to "Come As You Are", and I can't stop telling her... Megan- you have never been so beautiful as when you were dancing for the Lord. <3 One of my new friends, Kelsey, asked for our team to pray over her (which came as a surprise to me!), which lead to many people laying their  worries out before the Lord.  The Holy Spirit was there, at a youth service!  I guess we just have to welcome in.  One thing is for sure though, I will make sure that our youth group gets out of our routine when it comes to worship.  Now that I've experienced such freedom and passion in worship, I will not go back! :)

Sunday (6/12) was a nice day of rest.  Our wonderful translator Daniela (whom I love very much! <3) took us to the market and to Villa Camila (pronounced Visha Camila), the satalite church we were to paint the next few days.  The area we were in is vastly different from the US, but I instantly fell in love with it.  The beauty comes from the simplicity, I think.  For the Sunday service, Pastor Charlie preached a message about the Holy Spirit lifting us up to the line God sets for us, and it was very powerful.  Again, the Holy Spirit showed up, more than I had ever seen before.  Practically the whole congregation of about 150 was in front of the stage, worshiping God, shouting prayers, falling down..  it was truly amazing.  We had to keep moving the chairs back so there was enough room!  Later that night, we were all relaxing in the kitchen after yet another wonderful meal, all singing Revelation Song with Esteban playing.. it was fun!  Daniel scratched our previous plan of Annie, Niki, Mom and I singing that with Niki leading, and there was a new plan.. everyone sings it!  Bad news: I was leading, Niki was harmonizing (this goes against every fiber of my being since NIKI HAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND SHOULD LEAD!)  When the time came to sing it for the pastor's dinner the next night, though, God taught me that it didn't matter who was leading, if my voice sounded good or not, if I was even on pitch.. as long as we were worshiping him, he would make it beautiful.  And I am so glad I got the chance to learn that.

Monday (6/13) was a long day of painting.  I was miserably cold, but whenever I felt like complaining, God would remind me that I was in a foreign country with amazing people, painting HIS house of worship.  I was blessed!  The pastor's dinner was a success, and many pastors and leaders from the district attended.  I also learned that night that I am NOT cut out to be a waitress (I must have spilled 7 or 8 times!).

Tuesday morning was more painting, and I started talking a lot to my new awesome friend Vivian!  Now we talk everyday on facebook, and I love her!  Rhonda and Daniel had been working very hard on the door to Villa Camila, and it looks WONDERFUL!  Pics coming later, or just look on facebook.  That night we went to seminary in Montevideo (after a rather bumpy car ride:D), and that was very interesting.  Pastor Charlie, Mrs. Gina, and Pastor Ramon (husband of Pastor Elba, the pastor of Sinai) were running a little late, so this one lady requested to lead everyone in worship.  Everyone started singing and clapping, and it was so high energy!  I was amazed yet again at the freedom they have in their worship.

Wednesday was MORE painting, this time at La Mission, a discipleship program.  We made a lot of new friends there, and I will be looking into participating after college.  That night was our last church service before we left Sinai, and it was amazing yet again.  Mrs. Gina taught about turning fear into faith, and Mrs. Alisha and Mom shared their testimonies.  It was powerful.  People were laying hands on her, and everyone was praying for her healing, and she was even anointed with oil!  The two of us were bawling.  Pastor Elba held up 20 slips of paper for mom to write her name on, so the congregation could pray for her.  There was an immediate race to get a slip, then they stampeded towards mom, talking to us in spanish, hugging us and kissing us.  Mom started crying all over again.  It was amazing that so many people were so excited about praying for Mom.  I am proud to report that she is home, after a successful surgery, and she continues to get better everyday <3

Saying goodbye to everyone was so hard, Wednesday night and Thursday.  God placed a love for these people in my heart, and I WILL be back!  Thanks to everyone who walked this journey with me.  God blessed me through it, and through you. <3

Finally

We are here, we are safe, everything is wonderful.  Yesterday the kids carnival and the youth service were amazing.  God is working here.  I will not blog much at all while we´re here, but when I get back, get ready for a novel.  I love you all.  CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FROM HERE ON OUT! That will be updated much more than this blog.  God bless you like he´s blessed me!

Will we EVER get to Uruguay?

Well, our flight did not leave at 1pm.  This morning, Pastor Charlie got a notice from American Airlines to be at the Santiago airport at 10am, so we immediately checked out (I didn't really get breakfast:/) and grabbed a taxi.  We were then told that the chances of us leaving Santiago today was slim, and we were given hotel vouchers, enough for two days.  Spirits were relatively low as we headed downstairs to catch a bus to the hotel.  We were delayed, however, and didn't leave the airport.  While we were waiting, we were sharing little snippets of what God was telling us- Rhonda was told that we were in Santiago for our safety, Mom was told to pray for peace and patience, and Megan was told (while on the plane, just after we learned that we couldn't land in Montevideo) "not today, tomorrow".  After a short amount of time, we learned that a flight was being planned and would leave in the afternoon.

We have stayed in the airport all day.  Earlier, an announcement told us that we would be receiving more information about boarding at 5pm.  When the time came, we were told that we would receive information in 30 more minutes.  Currently, the plan is to leave at 8, but announcements are coming every two minutes or so.  It's in God's hands, and our team isn't worried.  "Not today, tomorrow."

I'm proud of our team.  We have made it over 24 hours in a spanish speaking country without a translator.  I am rather enjoying using the little bit of the language I learned this year in Spanish 1.  I made a friend in the souvenir store :)  Can't wait to get to Montevideo.  Please continue to pray for our safety and for God's will to be done in our situation.  Will blog when we receive more information or when we arrive in Uruguay! <3

Wow, such a beautiful view!

Of the Andes mountains.  We're in Chile.  A volcano has spewed ash and the plane was unable to land in Uruguay.  We spent an extra two hours or so, first flying to Mendoza, Argentina to refuel then landing in Santiago, Chile.  We have found a nice (and safe!) hotel courtesy of American Airlines and the earliest we might leave tomorrow is 1pm (11am your time).  Unfortunately, we missed painting the church today and will miss spending time at the retirement home tomorrow.  I believe we're planning on sacrificing part of our free day to visit the elderly and give them some blankets we made and some hats donated by a wonderfully talented family friend, Mrs. Kathy Solomon.  We are all especially tired (most of us have had around 3-4 hours of sleep last night), so I must hand over the computer and catch up on sleep.  Link to the Facebook page (click on the title of the previous blog entry) to view photos!  God bless.

En Route to Montevideo!

I am currently sitting in a terminal, waiting two hours and thirty minutes until our flight to Montevideo leaves.  (I am a jerk to my friend Megan...awkward asian face : / <----Megan said that.)  Yeah, we're having fun.  I think.  Countdown to my birthday: 2hrs 55minutes.  We got to Miami uncomfortable and cramped, but we had no problems.  I'll try and blog sometime tomorrow as well.  Based on my random thought patterns, you might infer (bonus word) that I am tired and rather bored.

Megan says: I need to squeeze the lemon...
What?
You heard me...squeeze the lemon ;)

We are also looking forward to watching Get Smart later on the plane, with our Annie's bunny grahams and pretzel m&ms.  I think that's about all there is to report at the moment.  I miss all of you back home :) Keep you posted!

Oh, and I linked to our Facebook page for the Uruguay trip, pictures are being posted there!

It's Here O_o

O_o says it all.  Tomorrow is the day that it's all been leading up to, the day that it all starts.  I AM LEAVING THE COUNTRY AND GOING ON A MISSIONS TRIP TO URUGUAY!! AHHHH!!  It's amazing, I'm so blessed!  I couldn't be more excited (then again, I haven't gotten on the plane yet).  Thank you all for supporting me in preparing for this.  Throughout the next few days, please keep us in your mind, and don't forget to keep checking my blog for updates!  Also, please continue to pray for everyone's safety and for God to use us to bless those we're going to serve.  I just know that he will do amazing things in our lives during this trip.

Thank you for embarking on this journey with me.  It's going to be truly awesome. <3

Hi of 95 today. I'm going to miss this weather when we get to Uruguay. Weather forcast: 40-60 degrees.