Encouragement

Encouragement - it's a big long word for a good reason! But can be done in so many even SMALL ways. I think it's something that the giver doesn't think overly that much about, but it means sooo much to the receiver. One little word, a smile, a "you can do it! I know it!" can change so much about how a person views the challenge they are going through, life, others, and themselves. So many times when I am going through sometime challenging and I feel discouraged, either I'll be talking to a good friend and they give me encouragement, or the little things someone has said in the past pops into my mind, and I feel... well... encouraged! :-)

So, make it a goal to go out of your life to be an encouragement to others - you can make a HUGE difference in people's lives! Believe me - I know! I have some really encouraging friends!!

First day of school - woop

Well, my 5 class semester started today. Biggest semester yet. If I can do this, I can do anything. ;-) Already procrastinating on Eng (Literature) hw. Literature is so lame. :-P I like my Sociology teacher - he seems pretty on the ball - so besides dreading the work, it looks like it'll be an interesting class. My Math teacher seems nice too, and I already know my ASL teacher, so just one more "first class" to go tomorrow morning. And technically I've already met the teacher for that class, so we'll see...

I wish one thing - (Actually I wish more then one thing, but we'll just stick with one for now! ;-)) - that I could have a classic typewriter like the lovely lady in picture above to write my papers out on. :-P

My God is so BIG!

"My God is so BIG so strong and so mighty - there is NOTHING my God cannot do - FOR YOU!" ~ Children's song

This evening I have been re-reading a book which inspired me years ago and which God used to set the ball rolling to change the whole course of my life. If you ever get a chance to read the story of Lillian Trasher, who was a missionary to Egypt who ran an orphanage there, you should! Her story is amazing, and wow, it inspires me all over again. :-) Why have I waited all these years to read it again??? :-)
One thing that keeps striking me about her story is her complete and utter trust of God to provide for her, protect her, and lead her in every aspect of life. She lived totally by faith in every aspect of her life. And God always came through and provided for her. She had no fear of traveling around the dangerous Egyptian countryside, because her answer to other people's fears? "God is my protector." And He did, to the end of her life.

As I have been reading it tonight, my heart races and I think, "Well, if I ever do that, I'm not sure if I would raise support, or try to live by faith. I mean, what if someone didn't hand me money or food suddenly at the last minute???"
WHOA! AMY! Rewind and FREEZE! For one thing - there is no TRYING to live by faith - if God calls you to do that, you don't TRY you just DO. Secondly - if for some reason the thing wasn't provided at the last minute, doesn't living by faith mean having FAITH that God knows just what He is doing??? And then suddenly He brings to mind the many many MANY ways He has provided for me suddenly, at the last minute, in ways which I could never even imagine - and I have never been at the point of starving or anything at those points. No, our God is so BIG and so STRONG and so MIGHTY there is NOTHING our God canNOT do for you! How I pray I can grow to have the same strong, deep, trust and faith in my Savior and GOD as Lillian Trasher - my inspiration - did so many years ago. How I pray I will be able to someday walk through "the valley of the shadow of death" and "fear no evil" because I KNOW HE is with me! How I pray I will be able to sit down at the empty dinner table, and pray over the food that isn't there because I KNOW HE is going to take care of me, and whoever else He has put in my care like George Muller did. How I pray I will be able to make quick smart decisions because I KNOW HE is the One who is guiding me through everything - just like Gladys Alward did when she had to lead so many children over the mountains to safety. How I pray I will be able to love that sick and dying person even if it puts me at risk, because I KNOW HE is the One who has life and death in His Hand.

God - if living by faith is what You have for me - give me the faith and the trust needed.

P.S. The song "My God is so big" reminds me of all the amazing times of singing with the children in Africa - I loved it when they added on "For YOU!" at the end of each line and would point to me - and I'd point right back, cause I KNOW it's true! :-)

Home again

Well, I have currently been home from my dear Africa for a little over a week now. As excited as I was to see everyone (and still loving seeing them all) I find I miss my beloved babies, Mama's, and friends made in Africa more and more each day. Seems like the pain should get better as the days go by, not worse. But I know I am in God's plan. And I am so blessed - each day I see His great blessing on my life, and as I think back over my trip I see it over and over again. I am so blessed to have gotten to even have a small part in these amazing people's lives!!! :-)

Since I must be home (;-)), I am enjoying having a bit of summer before school starts in full blast on the 29th. I'll have a full work load this coming semester, so trying to hang out with people, and do relaxing things before I disappear for several months! ;-) Don't give up on me peeps! I love you all so much and I need your prayers so much. Last semester was tough, and I need prayers to stay faithful in my times worshiping my amazing Savior. If you see me getting off track, slap me up - I'll need it! ;-)

Lately I've been exercising at my Uncle's exercise bootcamp - really good but challenging! :-P Want to make sure I get a good base to exercising before school starts so hopefully I'll keep it up over the semester!

I'd also love prayers about job stuff - I'd love more housecleaning jobs or something else. I'll have a couple babysitting jobs already, which will be nice. :-)

Ooh! New news - I now have a car! God was so good to me and worked it all out! I am still amazed about it all! :0) Wow, I serve and amazing and awesome God!!!

Well, more soon I'm sure! :-)

Africa

Africa. Is. Amazing!

If you are not getting my updates and want too, please comment! If you ARE getting my updates and DON'T want too, please comment or email me!! <3

I love my new Uganda bag! <3 <3

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

The Father's love is sooo deep and wide and vast and free! I can't understand why He would love us so much!! It's mind boggling!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nKDF__ltmE&feature=related - Go listen to this song, cause it's amazing! :OD

Anywho... Still packing and getting ready to go... Doing lots of cleaning in prep too! Cleaned out Aunt Carol's car (which I use and messed up) today! Sooo happy that's done! It's been hanging over my head all last semester. :-P
Been checking off my list of people to see before I leave! Been a blessed time! Got to have some lovely lunches with Janza, a fun visit up to see Sam, and a fun and blessed time with the P. ladies going on a hike, and then they prayed for me for my trip! Def. needed!! <3 And then had a movie night with my Grandparents - Freezer pizza and Murder Mysteries - WOOT! One of my favorite things to do!!! :OD :OD

It's really late... er... early... And I am super tired, but don't want to go to bed! Perhaps there is a bit of depression present... Not being very friendly at the moment :-/ Thanking the Lord for good friends who still love me even when I'm snappy, or just really weirdly silent about stuff...

Been having lots of fun on HSA ( http://www.homeschoolalumni.org/index.php ). Tons of very fun and entertaining chats that happen over there - especially on skype group chat and tinychat... :-P Cracks me up so much! Lots of great people over there, and I'm really glad I joined! :-) (I sooo want to go to the reunion next year! Sam, girl trip??? ;-)). It's fun getting reconnected to the homeschooling world with people who are also done with school and are either in college or doing something else! I was feeling really floundering with the big changes in my life regarding school related stuff, and it's so fun to go "hang" with people who were homeschooled too. :-P I'll miss it over the summer!! :-) Hopefully I'll still be able to do a bit of blogging over there and stuff though... :-)

I'm frustrated cause something is wrong with my phone or something and my friend hasn't gotten any of my texts all evening...

I want to finish the last Mysterious Benedict Society book before Africa... Better get going on that...

I'll miss my family while in Africa - although I'd better not let on to much! Wouldn't want them to get big heads with how much I'll miss them! ;-) My families great - I love them. :-)

I'll miss my church family too! And I'll miss getting to see the W. family for the last two months they are here! Already trying to plan a trip to go visit them and they haven't even moved yet! :OD Hehe!!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR AFRICA!!!!!!!! (And I'm super excited cause Bee (HannahBeth) and I are long overdue on our weekly catch up talks so not to long till we will be spending TWO MONTHS together serving the Lord! Eep!!).

Oh, and can I just mention how God's ways are not our ways, and His timing is WAY not our timing???? God sent me money for my trip and for school!!! In the last two weeks of my time home and He sent me such a blessing! Wow!!! O_O I am in awe God!!! And then I got a text from Bee saying how He sent her money this past week as well - like within a couple days of sending me mine! Wow God! You are amazing! Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!!!!

Psalm 34 -

1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel[a] of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Since she says it better than I ever could...

Ok, so since there is NO way I would be able to sum up what I am feeling right now, I have stolen something my dear friend Olivia wrote shortly before her trip to Africa (she's home now!! WELCOME HOME LIVY!!!). And it says what I am feeling so well! <3

"People ask me if I am excited, and I say "yes!!". Then they ask if I am scared and I say, "I think if I wasn't scared something wouldn't be right." Of course I am scared. But what is even scarier is that I bet I am going to see God working through me while I am a scared little American graduate weakling in the middle of a foreign country with people who know what they are doing...and I don't. I just need to learn to be accepting of my ignorance and weaknesses. And I need to learn how to trust that my Lord will use me despite my imperfections." ~ Olivia from http://oliviathinksandwrites.blogspot.com/