I'm still alive.

The past couple weeks have been good and bad. Fighting with the car. The car one. It died, quit working, wouldn't start, not even a click. . . No way to get anywhere. To get stuff that we need. I was also a youth camp for 4 days which was a great time. Meet a lot of people, recieved a lot of challenging words. Now - feel like I have a big decision to make. I don't want to elaborate right now - just be in prayer please. I don't understand the way God works or what God is trying to say. I need to make a decision not by feeling or not b/c I'm at a weakpoint and feel like giving up or because someting better came along but because that's how God ordainded.
The past couple weeks have consisted of, spending each day of the week in a different mecanic working on a different problem of the car, and finding a new problem with the car. And once everyone says yeah it's fixed and everythings good - we went to a couple stores close by and we went to start the car to go home and it wouldn't start, checked the battery but the battery was charged and good. . . and well I don't know what the problem was but no one could get it to start, we 'towed' it to the church to park it, because the next day we were going to camp - I was fine didn't care about the car excited about Camp. Camp was on the beach with tents about 215 youth!!!!! We had 3 bathrooms this time and 2 showers!!!!!! Playing on the beach, volleyball, soccer, talking, joking around, . . . . . worship, workshops, and evening services with challenging messages - "Enfocate" - Focus. Being healed of past hurts, being complete, being focused on God. Good food, no - bad food camp food - (if you think pville is bad wow you got another thing coming!!) The most important is meeting with God and God meeting me there - now coming home (sick, sicker then I have ever been in my life) but now taking this time to reflect, dig, transform things in my life that God is showing me.
Life lessons for me right now: 1. Don't spend much time in the sun. (heat exhaustion)
2. Bring lots of water no matter how heavy or how much stuff you have. Drink lots of water always. Don't trust camp juice! (they use bad water)
3. Always get plenty of rest.
Being sick the past 5 days, has been tough for me. (I'm rarely sick) This is the first time I have been sick here too. When I get sick, I get sick - honestly this is the sickest I have even been in my life to the point I wasn't even keeping water in my body. Tuesday I started to retain water, juices and simple foods. I was up all night b/c I couldn't sleep my stomach hurt so bad. . . Wednesday - terrible pain in my stomach, that made me not want to eat but continued with my juices and water.
Today - thursday - woke up well ever hour last night to go the bathroom, get more water, calm my stomach. . Now about noon, I'm feeling okay drinking water successfully eating small things. And am feeling hungry and capable of eating.
At these points is here home wow it's true there is no place like home. I know what I can eat, what I can buy, what I can do to make me feel better, here no? At home I have people who take care of me here? Yeh, there has been one family that has taken care of me. I am very grateful for this family. (The Caripe family. )

Sorpresa!

It's been awhile again since I have written. My time keeps filling faster and faster and more things, My schedule is more full.. Church, Seminary, teaching classes, tuesdays - cell group of teenage girls, classes, wed Punta de Mata - working with children, classes, thrusday 'free', friday work with children, and youth at Sabana Grande, saturday work with children at La Toscana. Not counting time to plan lessons, plan children's programs, etc.. clean the house, cook food, take care of the care, clean my room.... Here in Venezuela everything takes longer then in the States - it is a processes. Nothing is 'easily' accessible. It took a 1/2 day to find a place to repair a tire, and they have to order the tire we need from a distributor and won't have the car actually fixed until tuesday - that is if everything goes well!! I am realizing I am not as patient, or flexible as I thought.. I need a different kind of patience and flexibility. Everything here is based on relationships, not tasks - accomplishing the tasks, planning the tasks - it's just wing it, the relationships and time talking is more important. At times that is hard for me b/c I feel like I need to plan and be well prepared in order for me to give my best, so I feel like I am not doing my best b/c I do not have enough time to plan or prepare. It's challenging. Slowly, I will easy into I think.
What has been going on in my life? Well, Yes Tuesday the 4th was my birthday. 1st birthday in a different country, I received many text messages, and greetings.. I had good day over all.. A hard day b/c it was different.. but good. I was ready for the day to be over and they had a surprise party for me. I was very overwhelmed, but grateful for the friends who wanted the best for my birthday!
I am getting along well with Lori, the missionary who is here to help me, guide me, show me the ropes, be my ministry partner. We usually split the work 50/50 if someone is having a rough day the other takes over. I have learned alot, she is a very outgoing, center of attention person and well I'm the opposite and so I let her take over a lot.. Maybe I should take initiative more times. I still have time though - just taking things one step at a time. I need to learn a lot more children's songs in spanish, childrens activities, and stories. Fun things to do with limited resources!! Any ideas, materials - PLEASE send them my way!
God still teaching me alot.. About myself, about himself, and about the work he as for me! I have a lot in me I need to change still. It's all a process - Still reminded of the importance to spending time daily with Him - He is my source of strength and if I don't tap into the source, I have nothing to give. I have attitudes, perspectives, and other things I need to change... Culture shock, clashes, that I need to get over, get through. Confidence to build.
No, adventures lately. I am doing well. Things are going well. Just very busy right now. I hope all is well... Sent me notes, messages, a line to let me hear from you, know how you are, what's going on... Take Care.. God Bless.. I love you all.. Miss you all...

Are you willing?

Obedience. What does that mean? Leaving home, family, friends, comforts, luxuries. This past week has been a hard one for me. God is challenging me with this word, and what does it mean to be obedient. What is God asking me to do? Love Him with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my strength. That means surrendering all MY desires, all my wants, all MY dreams, and change them for His desires, His wants, and His dreams for my life. Giving up friendships - handing over, surrendering friendships to GOD. Placing them in His hands because God is asking me, "Do you love Me more then anything?" "Are you willing to hand over this friendship to ME?"
God is faithful. He is now giving me strength, He is drawing me closer to himself, He is preparing me. So many lessons that God is teaching me. Each day this week God has spoken a word of encouragement to me through my devotional times - God knows me and my needs better then I do. Even though I don't understand everything, I just have to be willing to say, Take this God it is yours, and not go back and pick it up again, but let it rest in His hands!
This week classes at school went a lot better then last week, the students demeanor was a lot different, more respectful, more calm. I could teach, do activities with the students and it was encouraging. Tuesday night I was able to go for a jog and get to know a new friend better, Carolina, then I went to a get together at another girl's house with Lori, to get to know other girls from the church better and it was a great bonding time! We played Hide and Seek tag, and freeze tag, and leap frog type game... It was fun. Wednesday did a children's program for one of the church plants and the lesson spoke to me as I was preparing it, from Exodus 4, about Moses and the burning bush. Moses says, "I do not speak well, I am not eloquent in speech," God replies, "Who is it that made your mouth? I will go with you and help you, give you the words to say." Moses says, "Send someone else." God used that to encourage me that despite my weaknesses, my shyness, God will use me, God wants to use me. I just have to be willing to let God use me to at all times. Get over being self-concsious, allow God to use me to bless other people.!!
Last night, we went to look at, to see a church plant that has been abandonded for 6 months. The town was beautiful, the place of the church over looks a valley, goregous. I began to see great potiential for this church, before we left Lori and I prayed for the church, the people, and the town. I just felt that God is going to do amazing things through this church plant - I'm excited.
OH! Conference. I spent last friday and saturday translating. The Annual conference of Venezuela met Saturday and the Administer was Superintendent David Harvey - I had to translate everything. Those of you who know me, I don't really like church business, politic stuff - let alone knowing the words in English and then translating to Spanish. Besidses that, the conference ran smoothly, I was able to communicate the important stuff to get business taken care of. The Superindent was grateful for my translations, Pastor Casto and others were impressed with my translating.. So I guess it went well.. I still have a ways to go with my Spanish, I just have to be patient and take advantage of every opportunity to speak and translate as I can!

Classes, Campamento, and "this is a . . . . "

Well, as some have you have commented, "Heidi, you haven't updated in a week!" I have not been around and then I have not had internet! Wow, lots of things are going on. The 2nd - 5th of Feburary I was at a camp meeting - 'campamento' for the the smaller churches around Maturin - we went about 3 hours away to another beach - camped in tents, enjoyed the ocean, the breeze, and sharing ONE bathroom for 80 people. Definitely a cultural experience to be a camp there. The evangelist was pentecostal, put a lot of emphasis on speaking in tounges - that was kinda weird for me.. I got to meet a lot of people from the churches I will be working with, and get to know people better!! I was also made very aware of the fact that this is very much a culture of 'looking out for number 1' I know it is human nature to look after your own wants first, I was amazed at every meal people cutting in line, not waiting in line for food, just going to the front and getting food, and like survival of the fitest. Sleeping in a tent, nah didn't bother me, the ocean didn't bother me either - but being dirty ALL the time with dirt, sand, and salt in the air. At the same time, I knew God was working on my heart, in my prespective of things, my attitude, and being able to be grateful for what I have. All of their services they provide a time for "Accion de Gracias" thanksgiving - giving thanks for being alive, everything - Recognizing that everything we have, each breath is a gift from God and we should be grateful for that! God is also working on my heart in other areas - of making friends, choosing the people I hang out with, so that I am around people that edify me, build me up in Christ and my walk with God. More then anything teaching me to rely on Him, and Him alone. Spending more time with him in praying, learning more scriptures, having His promises in my heart and mind when discouragments come, reading more scriptures, being in the word, b/c that is where my source of strength comes from! That here more then ever all my comforts are gone - security, friends, family, language, my house, - adult supervision for 2 -3 weeks Paul, Sue, Erick, Lori are in Caracas working with VISA teams - another venezuelan and I are staying in the house. God showed me by taking way my source of comfort here - the Caripe family - I am not allowed to spend time with them, and they have been my 'family' my security. God is telling me trust in me. I will take care of you. Everything you go to the Caripes for come to me.
I have to thank all of your for you prayers and ask especially more prayers as I am staying in the house with Keila. God answeredy our prayers yesterday all of you who are praying for safety and protection. Keila and I were visiting a friend to get a book and needed to buy groceries b/c there is not food in the house! We stopped at the closest store and looking for groceries and what the store had, we were finishing and I wanted to see shampoos to buy and we were walking toward the back of the store - when I heard a lot of commotion at the registers in front of the store - Keila was like, "Agachate, Agachate!" Get down get down... There is a guy with a gun, get down, hide... she was shaking and I started shaking... We stayed down and hide, praying, and I was praying I hope they didn't see me, b/c I'm american and they think we have money. One of the workers told us, it's okay they are gone. Keila threw all the stuff we had, and was like we are leaving.. I told her no I don't want to leave yet b/c I don't know where the robbers went. If they are outside close and they see me, who knows what can happen. We waiting a couple minutes - and Keila was like, hold the keys in your hand, and walk fast to the car. Nothing happened to us- we were safe but wow. We went to the grocery store at the mall - where this is security gaurds and everything.
At the mall we got ice cream, ran into Percy and his wife, a friend of mine who I had not seen yet. It was awesome to see him and talk to him a little... and buy some of the things we need. Everything here is a process - to buy groceries you have to stop at 3 or 4 different stores b/c government distribution of food, one day the store will have what you need, the next day it wont.. you never know what store will have what food, and when.. Last evening Keila wanted to go to the 'despedida' goodbye service for a missions team that was here building an orphanage... so we went and they asked me to translate!!! It was great practice and good experience b/c I am going to be translating for conference!! It was awesome to share with them and speak english for course! Meeting more people still, getting to know more people better, building more trust and confidence with people here. Gloria a Dios!!

Retiro!

This Friday and Saturday Paul, Sue, Lori, and I went with teachers and staff from the school to a beach house for a retreat! It took like 5 hours on a bus to get there, b/c we had to stop 3 times but it was beautiful. It was a great time to meet and get to know other teachers and staff from the school and build unity with in the staff. We played games, went swimming and had 2 services - with songs and a message. All of which were great, and encouragement to me. Thinking of ways to help the school and help the students, gain students respect. I just have to love the students, take an interest in their needs first. The 1st message talked about that the model of a teacher, the best teacher there was was Jesus and Pastor Casto talked about the way Jesus taught.
The other message by Eliecer was also really good talking about committment, being committed to the work, and what it means to be committed. Challenging us to go deeper not just in our committment to God but to the school, students, and to each other. It was also a good time to meet and get to know Lori, the girl who is going to be working with me, teaching me, showing me around for 4 months here. It was really good... I will post some pictures when I get them downloaded on my computer!!

Living from day to day.

As the weeks go by things get busier, I meet more people, want to build more relationships, and more activities are going on. A week ago Friday the main church here, "A Dios Sea La Gloria" had a 24 hour prayer and worship service where the youth stayed and prayed and worshiped for 24 hours. I was only there for the last 6 hours or so of it but it was an amazing experience. Even though I didn't head to the church for that reason, God knew I needed to be there and wanted me to be there. I came to the church to talk with Yuneidis, b/c I needed someone to talk to I was having a hard couple days, just wanted a hug and wanted someone to talk to! I talked with her and felt better and then just went in the church and sat in God's presence. That's really what I needed, to be still and know that He is God - listen to worship, and be refreshed, be encouraged by God. God knew exactly what I needed.
Friday and Saturday nights, the guys across the street in Parquecito, Eddie, Davy, Carlos, Grey always want me to go with them to 'piques' - drag racing with street cars, - it's fun to go and see the different cars, and a 'night life' culture of Venezuela as well!!
Days at the school are getting better there are still good days and bad days. The schedule is now a little different now that classes have gotten rolling and established somewhat of a routine. I know teach 1/2 of the class english while the other 1/2 of the class goes to music. I teach for roughly and hour. That's all. My new dilemma is how do I teach english when the students only have english ONCE every TWO weeks. I'm trying to think of vocabulary or themes to do, with the students, but feeling like they aren't going to remember anything from 2 weeks ago!!!!! Sure it's easy lesson planning because use the same lessons for 2 weeks with minor adjustments of course with what worked and what didn't work. I don't really know what to do - I have to make my own curriculum as well so I don't have anything to follow. Classes have been good overall, found activities that work to keep all students involved and participating - well with the colors anyways!!!! Thursday I took extra time to 'invest' in the life of the pre-schoolers so they! We had english for 20 mins - 30 mins and then they wanted to play so incorporating some english I just played with the preschoolers for an hour or so, it was awesome! When I was ready to leave they were like, 'No, no te vayas!! No puedes quedar y jugar un ratico mas!!!" (No, don't go!! Can't you stay and play a little longer!??) It was fun, refreshing just to run around and play with the preschoolers!!
All of the students need prayers, I know that classes are going better each week because of prayer. Thank you all for your prayers continue to lift up the school, teachers, and students!! Another prayer request - The 16th - 19th or so of Feburary is the annunal conference here in Venezuela and I have been asked to translate for David Harvey who is coming to mediate the conference. I need prayers for vocabulary and wisdom in translation!! Paul, Sue, Lori, Eddie, Carloyis, are going to be in Caracas - that leaves me the only one to translate!!!

23 de Enero

I wanted to share a little about my visit to one of the new churches here near Maturin - 23 de Enero. Paul took me up there to look at some construction projects but I went just to know the area, see the church, even though I am not going to be working specifically with this church. While I was up there I played with the kids that were at the church. I asked them what they liked to do, they were telling me about shows they liked to watch on t.v. One boy about 10 years old, started going on, and on about this movie he liked with cars, racing and ramping and then was like another movie that I saw was about this widow and her son was dying and a prophet came and told the widow her son wouldn't die and asked for something to drink and eat, and she didn't have anything, but the prophet told her to make bread and you will not run out of flour and oil. . . I was like wow - he was so excited about this story, saying how cool it was!! And then continued to tell of another movie that was awesome - about Noah and the ark. It was really cool to see the excitment and energy of this boy telling, loving, stories from the Bible!

This is the church - up in the mountains about 45 minutes from Maturin.

These are some of the kids that live right across from the church!!