Family picture night

I was blessed with an opportunity to go to a local park with my immediate siblings and their children to take pictures before I leave for Madagascar.

The pictures are great! I am so blessed to have a good friend that was willing to take all the pictures for free. She did a great job considering there were so many of us to get into focus, smile, look at the camera and what not!

I hope you enjoy the couple here and if you want to see more then you must go to my facebook albums to see the rest. Sorry but it is easier to download onto facebook than the blog...

Commissioning services

What an amazing time at all 4 Commissioning services. My home church and pastor did an amazing job of presenting my passion and dreams and desires along with introducing me to the entire congregation. What a humbling moment that only GOD could have arranged. I am so excited to see all that GOD has planned for the future and my tiny part of it all.

The first service on Saturday night was the one that most of my friends and family attended. I was even blessed to have some of my team from Madagascar there in attendance. It was a great time of remembering all that God has done. An amazing time seeing all the people that came to be there for me and to know the impact that each one has had on me.

I got choked up and could not even talk as I had wanted to but I was reminded that God made it all happen and that I am just being HIS obedient servant in any way possible. Thanks to each of you that read this blog and send me encouraging notes, support me through finances, prayers and shoulders to cry on. You are all such huge blessings to me. Treasures worth far more than Gold!

I know that when times ahead get tough or a little unbearable I have this amazing time to look back upon. I praise the Lord for each and every step along the way

Blessed with a relaxing day

My Mother blessed both me and my youngest sister with a morning at the local SPA for rest, relaxation and a massage. What a great treat after such a hectic week of packing. We arrived at the SPA, went in a sauna, spent time in the jacuzzi, put cucumbers on our eyes, drank lemon mint water, ordered lunch in and relaxed with each other for the morning!

What a relaxing day after such a busy and physically pressing week.

Packing the days away!

Well, I started with some orginaziation and more and more has come my way. Totes, pallets, shrink wrap, assessing value and figuring out just what I need in Madagascar and what would be great to have as comfort items.

God is so good and I have way to much to choose from even though I have had three major garage sales and sold off most of my furniture. I only own 3 chairs now and a few camping items... with a whole lot of other things... When you pack up life, what once was only small in size becomes much bigger.

I hope that you all enjoy the pictures... I have really enjoyed getting organized and yet living in the midst of a little bit of chaos.

God is great and in control of all the details. I am enjoying trusting in him more and more every day.

Some amazing friends came and helped me pack up my belongings, inventory everything and place them all on pallets. What a great time and a BLESSED time for me to have such great help. Thank you so much all whom helped!

July 2009 Praises and Prayer requests

" Sing to the Lord a new song, for HE has done marvelous things."  Psalm 98:1

21 days from today!   Yahoo!

PRAISES:

1.) My monthly support is all in!  Thank you so much for praying, participating and partnering!  Friends and family have been really helpful as well and things are really getting done as I pack up and ready myself for the future!

2.) Dr. Visits have gone well!  My primary Dr. helped schedule my Typhoid shot as the O.C. Health Dept had given away my shots twice. My eye Dr. even dilated and scanned my eyes for free as “a proper send off”.

3.) Commissioning service is set!  Saturday, July 18^th 6 pm at Eastside Christian Church 2505 Yorba Linda Blvd, Fullerton              There will be a dessert reception following at 7:30 there at the church.   I hope to see you there?

4.) Opportunities for Healthy goodbyes!  Both my Aunt Phyllis and my good friend, Jenny hosted amazing opportunities to connect with people and say proper goodbyes.  I am so encouraged by all whom attended!  Thank you so much!

5.) A prayer that I have prayed for 4 years has been answered! There are two small groups interested in gathering and praying once a month for me as I start my first year in Madagascar. One group in the Fullerton area and one group will possibly meet in the Menifee area?  What an amazing PRAISE!

PRAYERS:

1.) Pray for ALL the tiny details that come with moving overseas.  I will be packing up a 20 ft sea container and my carry on luggage.  Please pray for all the details of value, shipping documents and the proper “Agent’s” to represent me.

2.) Pray for my 2001 Honda Civic EX (manual transmission) to sell for around $6,000 - $6,500.  I am a bit discouraged as it has been on the market now for a little over 3 weeks.  

3.) Pray for me to continue to experience the Lord in refreshing ways daily. May I be just as much of an encouragement to others as they are being to me. I have had some great times of challenging others in what I have been reading!  What a joy! 

4.) Please continue to Pray for my family (and for me) as they (we) go through the tough emotions with me saying "good-bye" or "Veloma".  Please also pray for my Malagasy friends and other ex-patriots that will become family in Madagascar.  Pray that hearts will be open and friendships will be forged.  

 5.) Continue to pray for Bonnie Shattenberg as she is still going through a tough 3rd regemend of chemo therapy regarding her Breast Cancer that has infact spread to other organs.  Three of Rich and Bonnies children, including 5 grandchildren are there in AZ with them so Bonnie is staying busy as grandma during this process.  Pray that God would be glorified in all of this. 

6.) The government is still un-settled.  No more loss of life is being reported but the Malagasy are getting desperate in providing for their families... My ministry partner, Sandi was actually robbed this week but she was unharmed.   Just reminds me to pray for the Malagasy (and for safety, on a selfish note) 

I am excited to see what happens in the next 24 days and then the chapters to come… THANK you so much for traveling this amazing journey with me!  I could not do it alone, first with GOD and then with you!   I am excited to see all that GOD will do in you as well as myself through this process.  

 

Blessing the Lord as the next part of the journey begins!