Changes, and More Changes.

Be Flexible right? Ready for change. Willing to change? After beginning to adjust to the differeces of living with a person, working together with a person, working through differences and accepting differences. . I have to do it all over again. This has been a long week, a tough week. I'm here in venezuela God and I. My 'ministry partner' Lori, returned the the States this thursday to being work, and studies at Asbury Seminary. Now, I'm the only american working here with the churches... I have to learn to adjust again to living with a new person with new likes, dislikes, to learn about her and how to live with her, work together with her. To plan with her, get children's ministry working with her. I also have to adjust to not having my big brother here, Erick Gonzalez, left last night for Caracas, Sunday he will be flying to the States to get married and live in Indiana.. As it is a dream come true for him, it deepens my dependence on God. Now, I don't have someone to go to if something breaks in the house, or if something is wrong with the car, or someone close - (across the street) - to talk to or do something with.. Someone who looks out for me, watches the house and makes sure everything is okay...
It is a lot of changes and a lot more responsibility for me at once.. With continual stress and adjustments to culture, losing the only ones who understand my culture. Right now, having to learn, to transition, to orgainze, plan, prepare and call on, rely on, count on people from here to help me... Encourage them to help me, teach them how they can help me. That's hard for me - just hard for me to express a lot of times b/c for me things seem obvious - like that's automatically - common sense what I would do, but people can't read my mind - so I'm learning to express and communicate here with the culture and how things are. . . .
Life certainly hasn't been dull here - lots of things going on - there has been culture shock just adjustments for me - issues with my visa, a car crash, fixing the house, fixing the car, walking places. Looking back on the past month there are infinite ways that God has been taking care of me a looking out for me. About 3 weeks ago now, 12:30 at night I hear this crash but I think nothing of it b/c the neighbors are always making noise, exploding things, etc. . . I wake up in the morning, and Lori and Keila are sitting in the kitchen like scared, and Lori gets up, and opens the door to the room where I USED to sleep, and there's the car in the wall, with a big hole in the wall to the house. They hit the house with the car. Only through the grace of God - I remained calm and was like well we need to fix it, get to work and fix it.. Not getting mad, upset, leaving the house... My reaction was lets resolve the problem, (that's not normally how I react) but wow God is definitely working in me. Erick came over in the after noon to cement block to cover the hole in the wall.. and Sunday we took the car to the shop - to get it repaired. . . . the car was in the shop for a week. Challenges, trials, everywhere - but God is good. If I had not moved to the other room - the car would have crashed with my head.
I have a lot of work to do - my work load is that of 3 or 4 people really but only through the strength that God gives me is the work getting done - If I were to say it was by my own strength, I would be burnt out seriously. In charge of 6 English classes, 1 Christian education class, in charge of 3 children's ministries and 1 girls bible study.
Keep me in your prayers now, mostly struggling with feeling alone. Notes of encouragement would be amazing!! Thanks... Thank you for all your prayers.. Take Care. God Bless.. I Love You. .

Life without Paul and Sue

On Monday, Paul and Sue - the missionaries I have been living with- returned to the U.S. Life has changed a little since then. I am now learning to live with Lori - it´s always an adjustment to learn how to live with someone. There has been a little stress as well. As Paul and Sue left, the airport officials actually reviewed their VISAS and were told that they are not allowd to return to Venezuela for 3 years. As laws become strict and enforced here, that means changes for me as well. The culture here is accustomed to not following the rules, but so it has caused more frustrations for me as well. Pray for my VISA.
Well, I have more responsiblities now, taking care of the house, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, taking care of the car, getting it fixed, making sure everything is okay in the house.. It´s a lot of learning and making the most, taking advantage and being motivated to work and assume the responsibilities.
Ministry and work are also going well. In school I have run across tactics that work to make teaching easier, less stressful and keeps the students involved... Ministry is going well as well. learning how to do ministry, being observant, and just patient to allow God to work.... My time is runnin out here so .. i am going to go.. i´ll post more later.. Take Care. God Bless... In Love and Prayer...