tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76694443277666366472024-02-20T10:01:52.040-05:00THUMBPRINTSRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-72376755371444490652013-06-18T15:04:00.001-04:002013-06-18T15:04:46.284-04:00Ecuador 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3LtdB7yVM3IVLBsGP-JzsoSGB8SuzEGD36E1ApUOrv5wehrRzRIAXCXb3kNhyEUExcoo4E2piiiKtIc_Zg1SdJm3WvMhp2doI7e-eJeYrq7SV6LXwyvO-2b7F0_HYM7xvdKx7_TLL5w/s640/blogger-image--847459155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3LtdB7yVM3IVLBsGP-JzsoSGB8SuzEGD36E1ApUOrv5wehrRzRIAXCXb3kNhyEUExcoo4E2piiiKtIc_Zg1SdJm3WvMhp2doI7e-eJeYrq7SV6LXwyvO-2b7F0_HYM7xvdKx7_TLL5w/s640/blogger-image--847459155.jpg"></a></div>We will be leaving for Ecuador on Tuesday, June 25th. This will be our third trip. We are very excited to be able to return this year and that Grant and Marah were given the opportunity to go with us.<div><br></div><div>This year we will be traveling with our teens. The teens will be running the VBS this year and we will be overseeing the groups. Michael has been working with a group of six - getting them prepared to teach the lessons and I have been working with several on the games.<div><br></div><div>Please keep us in pray as go - our schedule will be:</div><div>Teaching English in the school Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings</div><div>VBS - Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons </div><div>We will be playing soccer and visiting orphanages on Saturday</div><div>Sunday we will visit local churches and do some outreach</div><div>Monday we wrap up our trip with sightseeing and travel home at midnight.</div><div><br></div><div>We hope to update our blog daily either by video or Facebook.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-466459823194886632012-06-20T15:56:00.000-04:002012-06-20T15:56:36.208-04:00Ecuador 2012Tomorrow morning we leave for Ecuador. Thank you for all your prayers and financial support we have received.
We ask that you continue to pray for us as we travel and work for the next 9 days.<br />
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This trip we will be running a camp for three days for around 80 orphans at the Word of Life Campsite. Then for the next four days we will be going into the public schools teaching English and conducting a rally each day. The afternoons we will be running another VBS in the local area. Along with some street ministries and dramas we will be very busy. But are so excited to go!<br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"> Please pray for our safety as we travel to and from Ecuador, June 21 - 29 </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Pray that we will have strength and wisdom while in Ecuador to work in such a way as to be most effective for the </span>Kingdom<span style="background-color: white;"> of God</span><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Michael will be teaching the Bible lesson along with leading the music. I have gotten the opportunity to teach a Missionary story at the camp. Please pray that the gospel message goes forth clearly. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">10 of us are in a music drama </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white;"> We are excited to go and serve the Ecuadorian people. We look forward to seeing God work in their lives.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-34978395968868200132012-05-19T20:28:00.002-04:002012-05-19T20:28:24.636-04:00Yikes! August 25, 2010!!I think I officially forgot all about my blog. Maybe you can say, I was not even a true blogger after all. I find myself at times overwhelmed by the number of social networking that I have to update on a daily basis. I honestly had all good intentions of returning to blogging. Even now as I sit here and try to blog about something that would grab every ones attention - I just can not focus! Mostly because my daughter has some goofy show on that keeps jumping into my brain!<br />
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Two years ago - we traveled to Ecuador and when we returned we had all these big plans! Beside blogging more ....... we wanted to learn Spanish. Become experts in speaking Spanish. Every Tuesday night, right after those kids were put to bed we would spend the evening mastering Spanish. Tengo nada! (I got nothing!) I did download every free App available for my Ipad.<br />
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So here we are 33 days from leaving to go back to Ecuador and I am in a panic over the lack of Spanish. But we are so excited to return to Ecuador and work. We will be gone June 21-30. This time we are going alittle more prepared than last time (minus the Spanish). We know we are staying in the same hotel and how the food is prepared. <br />
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We are traveling with a group of 30. We will be divided into two teams. The first four days will be spend up at the camp. "jungle" We will be holding a VBS Camp for about 80 orphans. Then the remaining days are a mystery! Well, not really a mystery. We have learned to be on a Ecuadorian schedule. Nothing is finalized until a week or so prior to our arrival. We were told to be prepared to run two VBS programs each day. We also we will be going into some local schools. <br />
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We are excited to return to Ecuador. Our first trip was basically to go and see what it was like to be on a missionary trip. Experience the missionary life for one week. We left with changed hearts. A stronger desire to live a life for Christ and heavy heart for the lost. Over the past two years I have been searching within myself as to what God wants us to do. To stay here or go? We get so lost in our daily lives of work and family and friends.<br />
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So as we prepare this time - we are going with open eyes, ears and a heart. <br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-27607054836250748692010-08-25T07:59:00.000-04:002010-08-25T07:59:19.944-04:00Wordless Wednesday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu6TUo1hi7u_3edTyacnvTvtl5nDtOgbhTlI-4fhorMzkky7WqWW4M2B_QEdGDxkLQcHoUtHYGj17Uo22f_49C3aI4EUkTEAgxfyKMvvLhhA8ZXgBLC3mFsBNs4eOuG64d_iVi1-Nu7M/s1600/August+2010+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu6TUo1hi7u_3edTyacnvTvtl5nDtOgbhTlI-4fhorMzkky7WqWW4M2B_QEdGDxkLQcHoUtHYGj17Uo22f_49C3aI4EUkTEAgxfyKMvvLhhA8ZXgBLC3mFsBNs4eOuG64d_iVi1-Nu7M/s320/August+2010+124.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Day 2010<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays, vis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">it http://www.5minutesformom.com</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-61964232840825511292010-08-23T20:34:00.001-04:002010-08-24T12:19:26.926-04:00What's Now?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDstqjDQYpw9MoZ4JrX4OAObp5gxZq-kVdeIpkLSoEtGsiFcQ5q-n9lEdm3T4CHY3hLl02QFWoZZRUDnIlWjAYMRFEIsNUuqSDa5YPtIqP-Ps3phcY6IvNE_ZpYpGtbBG6NLgxjSJ6eM/s1600/ecuador++day+2+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDstqjDQYpw9MoZ4JrX4OAObp5gxZq-kVdeIpkLSoEtGsiFcQ5q-n9lEdm3T4CHY3hLl02QFWoZZRUDnIlWjAYMRFEIsNUuqSDa5YPtIqP-Ps3phcY6IvNE_ZpYpGtbBG6NLgxjSJ6eM/s200/ecuador++day+2+083.jpg" width="200" /></a>It has been two weeks since we left Ecuador. We still have the Ecuador "high". A high that we don't ever want to come down from.<br />
<br />
I keep asking <i> "what now"</i>? My heart and eyes were open so much in Ecuador to missions. Coming back into my daily life has been a struggle for me. After spending 7 days serving God full time, my daily routines that I thought were high priority, now don't seem important. I know that I am a mom, house wife and business owner, important roles that God has blessed me with, but what more can I be doing for God? The little things in life that I use to stress about now seems silly. My wants and desires for earthly stuff seem useless after seeing how the people in Ecuador live.<br />
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That week has made me realize the need to share the gospel more with others here in the states. There are no language barriers here, only fear. I saw how Daniel, Ana and the Word of Life team lived their lives daily, serving God in every aspect. The joy they had and desire to serve Him was so evident in their actions.<br />
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So <i>"what now"</i>? I am not sure where God is leading Michael and I. We do know that we do not want to lose that "high" of serving God fully. We know the work in Ecuador is not done and plan to return. We also know the need to share the gospel with those here. We are seeking God and trying to live a life of service to Him.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-66043465527736899332010-08-18T14:03:00.002-04:002010-08-18T14:06:47.124-04:00Wordless Wednesday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mVRojqS2LtUGkUSJcaQzH6H2YcS5QpYp-crO0eiHUNjX4vzneAkINvUhr65k0zV7VY1s1ynuMqOLR9p5N7RKhagap6OQNY7RY7OOd_oE5tQYH1xDhGOtLUkHsCBpcpCA7m_9ahiDbKs/s1600/ecuador++day+5+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mVRojqS2LtUGkUSJcaQzH6H2YcS5QpYp-crO0eiHUNjX4vzneAkINvUhr65k0zV7VY1s1ynuMqOLR9p5N7RKhagap6OQNY7RY7OOd_oE5tQYH1xDhGOtLUkHsCBpcpCA7m_9ahiDbKs/s320/ecuador++day+5+052.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ecuador Missions Trip 2010<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays, vis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">it http://www.5minutesformom.com</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-67812016091430676992010-08-16T21:25:00.003-04:002010-08-17T16:22:47.018-04:00A Look BackEcuador 2010<br />
<br />
***I had wanted to post each day while we were in Ecuador. We did not have WIFI for the first three days and then my blog would not allow me to post. Everything was in Spanish and I did not have the time to fix it. So here are my daily blog posts for the time we were in Ecuador.***<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3cTKx6Au1f6ySI_pDBXavXqDAbv7UFWeRSSShDp5QW4N30yKLbWoyRsmIFVz_-4ybcC23W9FCC56MkbEUR1DR6G2z0uz7MXEM8x4Nqj0KNGBG_or56gXCqzOfzM0jBje_rpBvqDoRfA/s1600/ecuador+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3cTKx6Au1f6ySI_pDBXavXqDAbv7UFWeRSSShDp5QW4N30yKLbWoyRsmIFVz_-4ybcC23W9FCC56MkbEUR1DR6G2z0uz7MXEM8x4Nqj0KNGBG_or56gXCqzOfzM0jBje_rpBvqDoRfA/s200/ecuador+024.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">midnight in Ecuador</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We arrived safely in Ecuador around 9:30 Monday night. Went through customs without a problem. The amount of people waiting in the airport was unbleivable. Trying to get through the crowd without losing each other was crazy. Mark & Brittany greeted us once we got past customs and helped us get through the large crowd. Once we got outside we had little children coming up and asking us to buy packs of gum. It was overwhelming.<br />
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We finally all got loaded into the buses and took off. And I mean we took off. I thought I had a fear of flying now my fear of riding in a bus in Ecuador trumps that.<br />
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We made a brief stop at the main hotel and then made our way to our hotel. Micahel & I were asked to chaperon the college kids. So we were about 6 blocks from the main hotel for our team.<br />
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Our hotel room is clean but we had no hot water the first two nights. I think I got about 3 hours sleep but was up and ready to go for our first full day of VBS.<br />
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<br />
<b>YELLOW</b><br />
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Our VBS program is based on the Wordless Book.<br />
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Our first location was at a small church that has been in Ecuador for 30 years. When we arrived the kids we already there. They actaully started the VBS on Monday and had 60 kids. Today we had 130 kids! <br />
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The hardest part for us was the language barrier. We had a few interpreters. Very few! But we some how managed to get the job done. For game time we used beach balls. The kids loved the balls, so much that they about took me down trying to get them off me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYjMcUSnPHSz910kwHEPL9lGGKRNk-pvngs8QbTgV8CohqMuY9W0m5fJZpBAESW03W3mGoMHSsxyMja7fAg0WpCyng3pgu24zmDdPRD6tCkXiAGUBOOifh2GAYKty-55ltGDy224s5AI/s1600/ecuador+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYjMcUSnPHSz910kwHEPL9lGGKRNk-pvngs8QbTgV8CohqMuY9W0m5fJZpBAESW03W3mGoMHSsxyMja7fAg0WpCyng3pgu24zmDdPRD6tCkXiAGUBOOifh2GAYKty-55ltGDy224s5AI/s200/ecuador+074.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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There are dogs everywhere. On the street, sidewalks,and rooftops. We joke that it was PET VBS week in Ecuador.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vTg2rxYOVD8Qv13y73mnzQMjtLglXPUrKI0RpLGn8UJsQSW9Y6Jp3lS2Svbgc_d99fHFfvIT7UXFD-r4JS1gIYqfDqdVWm8X9gLILYdRtlYTTZ47XSdAFy-UpKB6mLYSUeM9Wn88IG0/s1600/ecuador+119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vTg2rxYOVD8Qv13y73mnzQMjtLglXPUrKI0RpLGn8UJsQSW9Y6Jp3lS2Svbgc_d99fHFfvIT7UXFD-r4JS1gIYqfDqdVWm8X9gLILYdRtlYTTZ47XSdAFy-UpKB6mLYSUeM9Wn88IG0/s200/ecuador+119.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Driving to our second location was frightening. We were in the Word of Life bus on a road not big enough for it! Each bend I said a prayer! I honestly don’t know how we got up and down that hill. <br />
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The location was very poor. I have never seen anything like this. The homes were not homes. Everything looks like it was never finished. When we arrived the children were already sitting there ready to go. We set up our puppets and music and away we went. We had 45 kids and they were only expecting 5. We had a blast with this group. <br />
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</div><div><b>BLACK</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUrFhah8-IttxmQKObGxGiJKcqfedO8b98NE4Zya2tQt8pffhdX543cnhjnzKJ4LLtjTdeDPvwqneKLLs-Cr-K_tHNovoZESFVaIbnNH6Xbv8tWxzpac8kVLdCxAvNkHDfR3hEOCA-mo/s1600/ecuador++day+2+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUrFhah8-IttxmQKObGxGiJKcqfedO8b98NE4Zya2tQt8pffhdX543cnhjnzKJ4LLtjTdeDPvwqneKLLs-Cr-K_tHNovoZESFVaIbnNH6Xbv8tWxzpac8kVLdCxAvNkHDfR3hEOCA-mo/s200/ecuador++day+2+048.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>After a very much needed nights sleep we were ready for day two. We had even more kids today. The language barrier has been really hard for us during our morning session. At one point we had 40 without an interpreter during game time. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The kids love to play. And kept asking for a ball. They loved the beach balls from the first day.</div><div><br />
</div><div>After lunch we traveled back down that mountian. I have to say that this is my favorite group. The kids are so excited for us to come. There are two little girls that are so full of energy. Michael recorded them and they got all embarassed when they saw themselves. They will keep repeating over and over in Spanish what they want to ask me until I some how figure it out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJZ8FQHb-kpf5YdxhD8V-qLqWu6Mj1jrn1wd035GbViyI0mAIp-cQ9_zBqi6Tvigv357_aXcC-Al5suwKfjvWHF3syzJaHeNmwV2eWCPNbAS0yifjBNENk4zNfjQXRuKqYDpu3OfYF2A/s1600/ecuador++day+2+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJZ8FQHb-kpf5YdxhD8V-qLqWu6Mj1jrn1wd035GbViyI0mAIp-cQ9_zBqi6Tvigv357_aXcC-Al5suwKfjvWHF3syzJaHeNmwV2eWCPNbAS0yifjBNENk4zNfjQXRuKqYDpu3OfYF2A/s200/ecuador++day+2+082.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>It has been two very long days. We are having a blast and are so grateful to be able to come to Ecuador. Thank you for your prayers. The hardes part for us right now is not being able to comminucate. I have not been able to blog since their internet has been out for three days. With no internet means no phone calls. We have not spoken to the kids since Monday around 3pm. That has been hard. We hope to be able to connect somehow tomorrow.</div><div><br />
</div></div><div><div><b>RED</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkobH_Wj-57I2E4n2YnIgJlgthOt63KYx9Bxb3S47QBo-9TWfC4YbiIdVpKOXssPL6y19cDA6KrOi1cTByjFlBK-PlYVHL1O5RwsMf-ONLGfl70jvixnXQLVFwlWx_flMffsRXlOzyLkk/s1600/ecuador++day+3+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkobH_Wj-57I2E4n2YnIgJlgthOt63KYx9Bxb3S47QBo-9TWfC4YbiIdVpKOXssPL6y19cDA6KrOi1cTByjFlBK-PlYVHL1O5RwsMf-ONLGfl70jvixnXQLVFwlWx_flMffsRXlOzyLkk/s200/ecuador++day+3+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>We got internet! We finally got to call home today. We touched base with the kids for about 2 minutes this morning then after lunch the main phone came back. It was a much needed call home to the kids. This has been the longest we have gone with out contact with them. They are having so much fun and put my mind to ease.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Our morning VBS was busy again. The kids love the prizes and somehow I got elected along with Michelle to hand them out. That means we get attacked by 100 + kids each time. To get a little ball brings such joy to them. </div><div><br />
</div><div>After our afternoon session we went to the orphange. We got to spend an hour with the kids and tour the place. We delivered a ton of clothing for them. There are about 25 kids there and they had one staff member on duty til 7 am the next morning! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZtiB8mA1M-RMi16IE-hDhsMhIwkd1dcfrKdAqRAbWDpJ0fZQX7gsx421J1DhB-2lNFeFxYZJedMDqTwlpBzOMUbJtp8fiBcg_rwUCVsil0P7yaoFTtWMI4qXvGG0Se7mP4hctIKZWis/s1600/ecuador++day+3+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZtiB8mA1M-RMi16IE-hDhsMhIwkd1dcfrKdAqRAbWDpJ0fZQX7gsx421J1DhB-2lNFeFxYZJedMDqTwlpBzOMUbJtp8fiBcg_rwUCVsil0P7yaoFTtWMI4qXvGG0Se7mP4hctIKZWis/s200/ecuador++day+3+071.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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</div><div><b>WHITE</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Today was a long day. We had another large crowd in the morning. There was a little girl, Emily, that loved to sing Dios Es Tan Grande. She would walk up to Michael and want to sing it with him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWVBitBwLzqyRYAVPVmkagt7NkpMHjdqWeGGv30lxzr4rs7j_RAg1gvtlHrO6Fn9vl37zc0Lapb7qHDGfB3N3GaiWV8EE_ZTb-ObroxdzMF8DKG8HaPztPnSwMzDM4bdKyjuXVQ-eoVw/s1600/ecuador++day+4+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWVBitBwLzqyRYAVPVmkagt7NkpMHjdqWeGGv30lxzr4rs7j_RAg1gvtlHrO6Fn9vl37zc0Lapb7qHDGfB3N3GaiWV8EE_ZTb-ObroxdzMF8DKG8HaPztPnSwMzDM4bdKyjuXVQ-eoVw/s200/ecuador++day+4+018.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>We finally figure out how to hand out prizes and ballons without gettting attacked. We handed them out through the windows of the smaller rooms. It only took 4 days for us to get smart on that one.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This was our last day at the afternoon group. We enjoyed this group so much. The kids really have nothing and they were so grateful for the little things we handed out. Today we were able to send each child home with a bag of clothes. It was very moving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIv3BFZYripXyaYMaAPwpUhrW88Y-UTDK1_MKjvzNB3Q9PM9iz6SE9Rk2kybOitUUiNNty2QPe2v8YtW67JVTjS3pb7wl2vMKKCWjPLHIqRhHqnBHdvn6wpxBphx0b0_2JZ64bSWwdFg/s1600/ecuador++day+4+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIv3BFZYripXyaYMaAPwpUhrW88Y-UTDK1_MKjvzNB3Q9PM9iz6SE9Rk2kybOitUUiNNty2QPe2v8YtW67JVTjS3pb7wl2vMKKCWjPLHIqRhHqnBHdvn6wpxBphx0b0_2JZ64bSWwdFg/s200/ecuador++day+4+053.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>It is so hard to describe the area. It was just so poor and run down. Houses were half built and they were living in them with no windows. Roofs flapping in the wind and toilets out back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlTuFG_2QswB8ebXeB5ZwLznjqKNmi7WBCmZXT7RzbgqdWwbHyn_od92NLchV1D2SO1joRydEGZdO5ztTgL8Nm5rvMSPXqFr_T1j1mGqcoSJN6pouKPItTLP4sDTU15P0O1sCQKG65Lc/s1600/ecuador++day+4+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlTuFG_2QswB8ebXeB5ZwLznjqKNmi7WBCmZXT7RzbgqdWwbHyn_od92NLchV1D2SO1joRydEGZdO5ztTgL8Nm5rvMSPXqFr_T1j1mGqcoSJN6pouKPItTLP4sDTU15P0O1sCQKG65Lc/s200/ecuador++day+4+099.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>There were two little girls there that won my heart. Gensis & Priscilla. They had so much engery and could not wait to play the games. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P_6eC9jd_nTJkhchRwjz_M9Y3whOp7M_ofHU8QD4iqH52aeoQsCZVAniNJoaMrdTB8_HSGPgKNnrrE-OadjnwTirQBbFUJVw_LZytSSkx8TgbwotHQ5zeKduM0sJOWm3noz2Z6HhoSo/s1600/ecuador++day+4+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P_6eC9jd_nTJkhchRwjz_M9Y3whOp7M_ofHU8QD4iqH52aeoQsCZVAniNJoaMrdTB8_HSGPgKNnrrE-OadjnwTirQBbFUJVw_LZytSSkx8TgbwotHQ5zeKduM0sJOWm3noz2Z6HhoSo/s200/ecuador++day+4+085.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>This week has been so much fun. There is nothing that I did not enjoy doing. The Word of Life group has been wonderful. Opening up their home and serving us all week. We came here to serve them. They have fed us all week and allowed us to hang out at their home . They are true examples of servants for the Lord. </div><div><br />
</div><div>We only got to spend a few hours each day with these kids but it is something I will never forget.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div><b>GREEN</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Today was our last day of VBS. We only had our morning location. Today they invited the parents to attend the closing program. We have been so blesed by the children in Ecuador. Their little hearts are full of love and are so grateful for the smallest things you give them. Michael and I got attached to a little girl named Emily. Her laugh was the cutest thing and would bring smiles to our faces. We did tape her singing on video one day and you can view it at qik.com/michreyn</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-3_D1z5IbSv0kELv5Xc5879tYrBwP2Dh3I7QziArf7aCT0TqFfUxjlSgUSB_-hR9Y1bFnG4BAjlqaR4E1nka0vZk3HSMhMyKxq9XtvKDE8_USHDxdTsnb30Q9JUkrdO8jrfHS-CyTVs/s1600/ecuador++day+5+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-3_D1z5IbSv0kELv5Xc5879tYrBwP2Dh3I7QziArf7aCT0TqFfUxjlSgUSB_-hR9Y1bFnG4BAjlqaR4E1nka0vZk3HSMhMyKxq9XtvKDE8_USHDxdTsnb30Q9JUkrdO8jrfHS-CyTVs/s200/ecuador++day+5+002.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>The kids wrote us thank you notes, which was a sweet surprise to our group.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUlxOBTU0VIryXyo5LUROeObKFCEFschas24gt1G5gpGrpoe192H_ogldmtBp_A7DLVhWok4abKSY3lFPA-u8A5Gpp8aGiO8vaG2QKpYnFSwidYmd6DXWxYa1Yzerr3j3R8G6T83H4hc/s1600/ecuador++day+5+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUlxOBTU0VIryXyo5LUROeObKFCEFschas24gt1G5gpGrpoe192H_ogldmtBp_A7DLVhWok4abKSY3lFPA-u8A5Gpp8aGiO8vaG2QKpYnFSwidYmd6DXWxYa1Yzerr3j3R8G6T83H4hc/s200/ecuador++day+5+058.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>After many photos and sad goodbyes we headed back to Word of Life for lunch and back to the hotel to change.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAEVaFfaAMNhtfJoVq3-OlQN6qtGvBUJgUdUtwtK4BqxtGKWHnJ4lvuZkaTHPU4TntX9AOOFCYzVy-sv3OfPQwsHa4YZwsLTF-kIT-o0snXnBeyVgLem0enx2b1ardtzfe09_P-910qs/s1600/ecuador++day+5+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAEVaFfaAMNhtfJoVq3-OlQN6qtGvBUJgUdUtwtK4BqxtGKWHnJ4lvuZkaTHPU4TntX9AOOFCYzVy-sv3OfPQwsHa4YZwsLTF-kIT-o0snXnBeyVgLem0enx2b1ardtzfe09_P-910qs/s200/ecuador++day+5+057.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div> We then got a chance to go to the Equator and do some shopping. We also got to do some street ministry. Michael started us off with a song in Spanish and then we had our puppet team do a skit. Pastor Ken gave a short message and then we had several people that wanted to speak with us about the gospel. It was a cool experience to see our team sharing the gospel. </div></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzMX1T7lHtA-1TIOUw_0njoPXSiLOnNBTy1gam-MIl7HXUAWgIyIuvzUAFl4A5gybGwco6XlQGbi8VsAsrVqBUIGjgQtbnygQOn6RBFZpp1al1EBEVGkEbAZT_ekudQNJ4C6J-h7RX1g/s1600/ecuador++day+5+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzMX1T7lHtA-1TIOUw_0njoPXSiLOnNBTy1gam-MIl7HXUAWgIyIuvzUAFl4A5gybGwco6XlQGbi8VsAsrVqBUIGjgQtbnygQOn6RBFZpp1al1EBEVGkEbAZT_ekudQNJ4C6J-h7RX1g/s200/ecuador++day+5+077.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span></b></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE9aciu7k7dkGakLWHrf333IlrPowlcUILT6-K0JnHj_QxfW_XKIJYaYYg7bpQd0GSMLGf-Q7lTh3i8RRriDLH-CpEKpLK9Bp7VuIgCw0gKgozcgT17_fp3yNnLTlaC_K8_I43pjcx5U/s1600/ecuador++day+5+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE9aciu7k7dkGakLWHrf333IlrPowlcUILT6-K0JnHj_QxfW_XKIJYaYYg7bpQd0GSMLGf-Q7lTh3i8RRriDLH-CpEKpLK9Bp7VuIgCw0gKgozcgT17_fp3yNnLTlaC_K8_I43pjcx5U/s200/ecuador++day+5+104.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><div><br />
</div><div><b>SUNDAY</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Today we attended a local church and then had lunch back at Word of Life. After lunch we went up to the camp that the missionaries are going to be purchasing. It was a wild ride of the hills of Ecuador. Once there we got to go on a hike that was a lot of fun. We took off on this hike not realizing what we were getting ourselfs into, but it was fun. After the hike we spent some time in prayer over the camp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvUVyveFp7zta4VR_IHUX0fse9mRupEknrs2IVI9E9SikkUrM4Pov4RpHVR0WLrzF078itht8xzGKaol4UvHnwCG_iboGMLlwpIMBsdnwxYIwX680DLNHOjJQr7Q5ttoifYzGVK6nZT8/s1600/ecuador++day+6+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvUVyveFp7zta4VR_IHUX0fse9mRupEknrs2IVI9E9SikkUrM4Pov4RpHVR0WLrzF078itht8xzGKaol4UvHnwCG_iboGMLlwpIMBsdnwxYIwX680DLNHOjJQr7Q5ttoifYzGVK6nZT8/s200/ecuador++day+6+095.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf4t5hOA84ZK9hNet9v9nZ3hciC_6SGm2AYYYNM27Bt2W4N_NeNjVzwq5PSvJVDXM1ohLkjL3_tenm_hoqgqrOAk6yDAkr77egAnHuBGL3XrQmX80qJ_iSImYv90viXdaBzsJgGY9zbA/s1600/ecuador++day+6+115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf4t5hOA84ZK9hNet9v9nZ3hciC_6SGm2AYYYNM27Bt2W4N_NeNjVzwq5PSvJVDXM1ohLkjL3_tenm_hoqgqrOAk6yDAkr77egAnHuBGL3XrQmX80qJ_iSImYv90viXdaBzsJgGY9zbA/s200/ecuador++day+6+115.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>After the ride back down we went back to have dinner at Word of Life. We had a great time in fellowship with the Word of Life students this week. In Ecuador there are two soccer teams – Liga & Barcellona. Half the boys are split on who they cheer for and we had a lot of fun cheering along with them.</div></div><div><br />
</div><div><div><b>MONDAY</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Today was our last day. We started with a tour into Quito and a visit to their White House to see the President and changing of the guards. We also got to tour a church. After lunch we headed into town to a Flea Market to do some shopping. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgJV2OE8rXuvat0SiNafB0yK-EG6UI6pDHSq3dCB1bYL1VrwWuSEJv90Q_2FnELEed5k5rbtr6gJfRDRYhTRSdIbPJv5I0k_UJZ9rNbgSCXIqAJS3OAUdinta6-cX41ZalxKlnoO79ns/s1600/ecuador++day+7+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgJV2OE8rXuvat0SiNafB0yK-EG6UI6pDHSq3dCB1bYL1VrwWuSEJv90Q_2FnELEed5k5rbtr6gJfRDRYhTRSdIbPJv5I0k_UJZ9rNbgSCXIqAJS3OAUdinta6-cX41ZalxKlnoO79ns/s200/ecuador++day+7+060.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PZnT9xh9UUUl5j6tSySnw2fee3F849nhL3DWOq6Nr4WNFFrOrY9NOEjiX75xEmlfu_kpv5188qjKmnmdZzAIbCAIdlDi71wH2BNzwg6bZ19MUuMf5Wfmuq1Vz7_Hv_RNt0PL7-UW1Sk/s1600/ecuador++day+7+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PZnT9xh9UUUl5j6tSySnw2fee3F849nhL3DWOq6Nr4WNFFrOrY9NOEjiX75xEmlfu_kpv5188qjKmnmdZzAIbCAIdlDi71wH2BNzwg6bZ19MUuMf5Wfmuq1Vz7_Hv_RNt0PL7-UW1Sk/s200/ecuador++day+7+015.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5-3NzAp4bqCslRbtcRa6LXN2X48txX__13v0e96vO7bH00qdL580uSQt1ZXF1kq9frwJvXBTBDUqQgMwkdlmirytUivK9TN8I7KlUw8vNwVELuh2dPpQcN9rl8NSqEDZmw5qSZLA1ys/s1600/ecuador++day+7+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5-3NzAp4bqCslRbtcRa6LXN2X48txX__13v0e96vO7bH00qdL580uSQt1ZXF1kq9frwJvXBTBDUqQgMwkdlmirytUivK9TN8I7KlUw8vNwVELuh2dPpQcN9rl8NSqEDZmw5qSZLA1ys/s200/ecuador++day+7+040.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div>Then it was off to the hotel to pack up and shower. We headed back to Word of Life for our last dinner and share time.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQatdpNhRVQJFC4NBiNbWkFCGyc82kA1VP5DL0gKfQyPgN1hu1d6bLnhhS9TRHLc_YLi8LiLhT8KjqmQVVK6DbsLwNsof7257438DoglhynUzWyJetTYUg9q8OQ7keq6ZBmeJdKwwCVKE/s1600/ecuador++day+7+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQatdpNhRVQJFC4NBiNbWkFCGyc82kA1VP5DL0gKfQyPgN1hu1d6bLnhhS9TRHLc_YLi8LiLhT8KjqmQVVK6DbsLwNsof7257438DoglhynUzWyJetTYUg9q8OQ7keq6ZBmeJdKwwCVKE/s200/ecuador++day+7+124.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div>Daniel and Ana our true examples of missionaries. They pour their lives into the people of Ecuador. We got to hear what each team member repsonsiblity is at Word of Life. We had to leave our mark on Ecuador by passing out Terrible Towels. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Afer a tearful goodbye we boarded our bus to the airport. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div><b>TUESDAY</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Is it Tuesday?? It feels like we have been traveling for two days. We are sitting in Altanta airport. Michael slept some on the plane and I got maybe 30 minutes in. After a crazy time going throught security and customs and then checking in our bags again, I headed for a much needed Starbucks. It was been a week since I had coffee.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We are looking forward to seeing the kids in a few hours. This week has been amazing. The days were long, but each day we looked forward to doing it again. So much is going through my mind right now and I just can’t seem to get it all down. So I plan to blog over the next few weeks on several other items of the trip. </div><div><br />
</div><div>We are so grateful to go to Ecuador. This has been a life changing trip. Thank you for all your prayers</div></div><div><br />
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</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-37454957136299228002010-08-01T08:36:00.000-04:002010-08-01T08:36:29.317-04:00Less Than 24 Hours To Go<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T6HjPT7JfNPYROPr_ZAeuAf7vk62laJz2b3q-EsA4bUyoDXFDOvaajAzOF1upKaNgJLdOmBniiXSXB20BLLplPh1fet9Lcp8uI3tJDspR_hpbxwRQEGHFCNK_o0xefCEFPT5aN-e5IY/s1600/ecuador+trip+2+195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T6HjPT7JfNPYROPr_ZAeuAf7vk62laJz2b3q-EsA4bUyoDXFDOvaajAzOF1upKaNgJLdOmBniiXSXB20BLLplPh1fet9Lcp8uI3tJDspR_hpbxwRQEGHFCNK_o0xefCEFPT5aN-e5IY/s200/ecuador+trip+2+195.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VBS Location</td></tr>
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I can not believe that tomorrow is the day we leave for Ecuador! Please keep our team in your prayers as some things have changed over the past few days in regards to the work projects. We can rest in the comfort knowing that God is in control of every detail of our trip.<br />
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I have posted some photos of the area we will be working in for VBS this coming week. Please pray with us as we minister to the children and their families that their hearts will be changed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4L3qBe67iUh-4m5IrocUlQ7wzaEGMOu4WFcgRjVMlsl6Fr_KLSV0ympo2AEw1aDgZqWdnf47ydn0jG6x2D42-7KkJBUyGH0Fyp-ADw78MQJr43RZzEx2-FcUmZ0z_ulhOsKw7iDNJsU/s1600/ecuador+trip+2+216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4L3qBe67iUh-4m5IrocUlQ7wzaEGMOu4WFcgRjVMlsl6Fr_KLSV0ympo2AEw1aDgZqWdnf47ydn0jG6x2D42-7KkJBUyGH0Fyp-ADw78MQJr43RZzEx2-FcUmZ0z_ulhOsKw7iDNJsU/s200/ecuador+trip+2+216.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFt3YWuuKDuQlc9WWf4SzN-2WPt_nR_VEj48I9LIt01ilvt5qgKlnhvGFRFgbUDINR_knoK_ZibGxbkGWmCz4hmNvB-8AQEjApMy8xtW08IhR_-4NwjeQSJruwAyOs2V9XZimOXvOkJ0/s1600/ecuador+trip+2+193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFt3YWuuKDuQlc9WWf4SzN-2WPt_nR_VEj48I9LIt01ilvt5qgKlnhvGFRFgbUDINR_knoK_ZibGxbkGWmCz4hmNvB-8AQEjApMy8xtW08IhR_-4NwjeQSJruwAyOs2V9XZimOXvOkJ0/s200/ecuador+trip+2+193.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our VBS locations</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi__5zCHfHPvXlGrqAdSSxeCO2-SmA95IGUZWZo0FVHpSn8GFV6-O8vGY6Rurit4Jwta9QQeWot1pGAeIf3yP2AwJ3w7utVb5pfMiS5fkdtermEISA5xlZs4S3U8IXsPuGYKpKx4lGalY/s1600/ecuador+trip+2+211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi__5zCHfHPvXlGrqAdSSxeCO2-SmA95IGUZWZo0FVHpSn8GFV6-O8vGY6Rurit4Jwta9QQeWot1pGAeIf3yP2AwJ3w7utVb5pfMiS5fkdtermEISA5xlZs4S3U8IXsPuGYKpKx4lGalY/s200/ecuador+trip+2+211.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another location for VBS</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-64843898994755774282010-07-28T14:13:00.003-04:002010-07-28T14:17:00.515-04:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vh1CeVqc2lf0s91040vRjak_jWT04jp_V_XE2f7xahGqLY-MmwXR1W-OFKst7K3Q5vKsCFoH-VLueJoszFcEGCHd3Ms-DXa7LwR-L7RYF-N5scMlASLSVQdP5wR_wvAM6HjNyefOlFk/s1600/Slide34.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vh1CeVqc2lf0s91040vRjak_jWT04jp_V_XE2f7xahGqLY-MmwXR1W-OFKst7K3Q5vKsCFoH-VLueJoszFcEGCHd3Ms-DXa7LwR-L7RYF-N5scMlASLSVQdP5wR_wvAM6HjNyefOlFk/s320/Slide34.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499022118554536850" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Guinea Pig</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think I will be eating this in Ecuador!</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-21501518354700344762010-07-27T09:26:00.003-04:002010-07-27T22:34:58.301-04:00Less than one week to go!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_e9qEl6ySUUwFfLFNnh8a82X44UpqjE3JgxX2XVMwHBbymIeHh7WlPpeIFO045jGGzZkqv8v66buni5eJ8h405mOY-DTD8EB8gjBJ8i7MpjhXoSY7crSAS7Ir5DgfF7JvQzpxUyYVCtA/s1600/Slide58.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_e9qEl6ySUUwFfLFNnh8a82X44UpqjE3JgxX2XVMwHBbymIeHh7WlPpeIFO045jGGzZkqv8v66buni5eJ8h405mOY-DTD8EB8gjBJ8i7MpjhXoSY7crSAS7Ir5DgfF7JvQzpxUyYVCtA/s320/Slide58.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495982087801782258" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Quito, Ecuador</div><div style="text-align: center;">Missions Trip</div><div style="text-align: center;">August 2-8, 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Less than one week to go! The excitement was high on Sunday night at our weekly meeting. We started the night in pray and then went over the last minute items. We received donations to take with us to Ecuador. So we spent some time packing up clothes, medical supplies, and personal items.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The kids have been having fun coming up with ideas for the games and learning the songs with us. Grant seems to really enjoy coming up with some dance moves to go along with them. (check out FB for the video)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are going over our last minute items and getting all our things together to pack. There is no Super Walmart there, so I can't forget anything. But we all know how I love to make lists so I am sure we will be okay.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We would really appreciate all your prayers. We travel Saturday to WV to meet my parents. Our kids will be spending several days with them in NC and then coming back to PA before we get home. We won't be able to have contact with them in Ecuador. Pray that they will be able to enjoy their time and not be too homesick for us. I know it will be hard on us not being able to talk to them each day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Please pray as we leave Monday at 12:20 pm. We arrive in Ecuador around 10 pm that night. We hope to be able to update the blog during our time in Ecuador. Our Church will also have a blog - <a href="http://crossroadsministries.com/Ecuador/">http://crossroadsministries.com/Ecuador/</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you again!! We are very excited to go and serve in Ecuador! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-45858712928818034002010-07-16T07:44:00.000-04:002010-07-16T16:52:59.062-04:00Closer to Departure Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeclcIsXcdnE7W7dgeCJ7F4P_GcFTO4Sk0s1IGE5bBClFPDsiVzmK-JYSVB-exOFQKJEhY1oZXtq7rEdwWlyvaqDAbpGfB1ENQiMfL6m_-1uepLVHXPaqE78jQFe-utReYjhIgoUrXv4/s1600/32543_1482812431924_1282247956_1347405_332145_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeclcIsXcdnE7W7dgeCJ7F4P_GcFTO4Sk0s1IGE5bBClFPDsiVzmK-JYSVB-exOFQKJEhY1oZXtq7rEdwWlyvaqDAbpGfB1ENQiMfL6m_-1uepLVHXPaqE78jQFe-utReYjhIgoUrXv4/s320/32543_1482812431924_1282247956_1347405_332145_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494211364903735954" /></a><div>I can't believe we are past the three week mark.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have been meeting every Sunday night to prepare for the trip. We have been assigned our groups and our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">VBS</span> responsibilities. We will be holding two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">VBS's</span> each day. In the morning, we will be in a local church and then after lunch going out into the city. We will be leading music, running the games and snack time.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have been really busy learning lots of songs in Spanish. It seems that my kids learn them faster than I do. Michael has also been trying to learn as much Spanish as he can to help us <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">communicate</span> while we are there. I have learned the important phrases:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Donde esta el bano? <i>Where is the bathroom?</i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">"como esta usted? </span>How are you?</i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">"Me llamo" </span>My name is</i></div><div><br /></div><div>And of course the common words that even Marah has learned off Dora - Gracias, Hola and Si.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have two more planning meetings before we leave and hope to work out all the details of the VBS programs. In addition to the VBS teams we have a large group of men going to work on several work projects as well as a medical team.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have several items that need prayer as we prepare to leave:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The puppet team as they learn their parts.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The music team as we learn over 8 songs.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The lesson leaders as they review and prepare to share the gospel each day through interpreters.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Work Team -as they are still in need of funds to be able to complete the projects.</div><div><br /></div><div>We appreciate all your prayers and support over the past several months. We are very excited about traveling to Ecuador and look forward to what God has for us while we minster to the Ecuadorian people. </div><div><a href="javascript:void(0)">Publish Post</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-68178151277397026362010-07-15T15:30:00.003-04:002010-07-16T12:32:12.364-04:00MI DIOS PUEDE SALVAR - HILLSONG (KARAOKE)<div style="text-align: center;"><object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/WfinzrRMDEA/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is one of the songs we are learning.</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-85421181621703626482010-06-07T20:50:00.003-04:002010-06-07T21:02:37.044-04:00One Step at a TimeI blogged a while back about taking a step of faith. We took that big step a few months ago when we signed up for the summer Missions trip to Ecuador. We prayed over the decision and felt God leading us to go with the team. We sat down and wrote our first ever support letter. Wow! What a humbling experience that was for me. <div><br /></div><div>I don't doubt that God provides. He has provided over and over for my family. So I have spent the past several weeks praying that God will provide the money for us to go on the trip. And boy did God provide. It has been a humbling experience. So many have blessed us with their support - financially and through prayer. We are so grateful for that. </div><div><br /></div><div>There will be many steps of faith that I will have to take over the next few months. Some will be bigger than others. But what is so refreshing is that God is leading me up those steps - one step at a time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-43675816989843190182010-03-31T08:09:00.003-04:002010-03-31T08:12:41.623-04:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywiLN4lmlGShObn4OLQ36qXTYT3mgwR8Y0fXMXaYCmBNTHAtmBvQGU0janSque3s0aP7TXuq_cbawxXfioUZLM3fZhLAfzXKjum_TdmNcldnTAnyQ5yg0JGUetK2ByiekMCF-THUKHJo/s1600/app_full_proxy.php.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywiLN4lmlGShObn4OLQ36qXTYT3mgwR8Y0fXMXaYCmBNTHAtmBvQGU0janSque3s0aP7TXuq_cbawxXfioUZLM3fZhLAfzXKjum_TdmNcldnTAnyQ5yg0JGUetK2ByiekMCF-THUKHJo/s320/app_full_proxy.php.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454769157997979122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-84169509353193779302010-03-22T19:29:00.006-04:002010-03-29T10:04:22.510-04:00Taking a Step of FaithTaking a step of faith this summer. Experiencing something new. Facing some fears. Opening my heart to something new. <div><br /></div><div>When we shared with our children that we are going to Ecuador this summer and how we are following and trusting in God for this decision - our son asked us:</div><div style="text-align: center;"> "<i>How do you know if God is telling you to do something?" </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We explained that we have been praying about the decision and feel that God is leading us in this decision. Grant seemed interested in the idea of going with us. But was afraid that he would not know their language and did not want any extra shots that might be needed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we got home our son went to his room to pray in his closet. Two things he prayed for:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1. That he would stop fighting with his sister</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i> 2. And asked God if he should go to Ecuador.</i></span></i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><br /></i></span></i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wow! What faith my little boy has. Hearing him say -<i> "God has not answered him yet", "Maybe tonight in my dreams he will tell me"</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Again tonight he said he is still waiting on God to give him an answer about going. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Its been a week now, to let our decision sink in that we are going to Ecuador. Now my faith and trust comes into play. I am learning to totally trust in God for this decision. For our needs over the next few months. Ecuador is going to cost us money, money that we don't have. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been in awe of God this past week as my business picked up. Why do I doubt that God can supply our needs. We gives us just what we need when we need it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am looking forward to this new journey this year. Taking the biggest step of faith and trusting God not man for my every need. </div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-33633510629304709462010-03-03T12:07:00.004-05:002010-03-03T12:23:43.131-05:00Bible StudiesI have been praying and thinking about starting a Bible Study for over a year now. I should really say been running from the idea that I should start one. I worked in the MOPS ministry at our Church for over 9 years. When I stepped down from leadership -I felt lost as to where God wanted me to serve. There were not many options for me. I started to pray about starting a study. Unsure of my abilities to lead a group of women made me run from the whole idea of it. I gave every excuse in the book - recovering from surgery, work, no childcare available, can't decided on a book...... Finally I stopped running and trusted God and took the step of faith I needed.<div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow we start a new study entitled - Premium Roast with Ruth by Sandra Glahn. Not knowing too much about the study but like the idea of a Coffee Club Bible Study - I picked the book. When I got the book last month I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of reading and preparation on my part for leading this study. My first thought was - Lord, what was I thinking. Some of these questions are thinkers. Can I even think that deep into the book of Judges? I was feeling a little intimidated by the whole first week of the study. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had no choice at this point. It was announce in Church, women were signing up and I even got the needed childcare. God was filling every area I kept saying would not be met. So I started with the preparations for the first study. Was stumbling my way through it and thought okay maybe I can do this. Was ready to go and then the snow came! </div><div><br /></div><div>The snow was a blessing on my part. It has given me a few more days to review and even re-read a lot of the passages. I got to dig deeper into the Old Testament. Get a better understanding of the passages that are presented in the study.</div><div><br /></div><div>So tomorrow I am taking a step of faith and following what God is leading me to do and excited to learn what the Lord has shown us in the life of Ruth. </div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-64536346130586638832010-02-16T22:36:00.006-05:002010-02-17T16:17:19.865-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIPOGkhg0oauJPLrx_MEe4PDTQbwKZOdsPs6hihyphenhyphenB3lns8Ll7ty-T0AikCxNB0eGQ-dcAZRyhM3_0yMxdezdAdQvVX6RPl7mBSPg5QrmH_zUTKR5VimcnhGa8TnluCugzgS38ShPJxv0/s1600-h/Jan+storm+2010+056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIPOGkhg0oauJPLrx_MEe4PDTQbwKZOdsPs6hihyphenhyphenB3lns8Ll7ty-T0AikCxNB0eGQ-dcAZRyhM3_0yMxdezdAdQvVX6RPl7mBSPg5QrmH_zUTKR5VimcnhGa8TnluCugzgS38ShPJxv0/s320/Jan+storm+2010+056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439051479181496930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Week Two of our Snow Storm</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-26126370556375037482010-02-10T08:02:00.004-05:002010-02-10T08:07:16.489-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldTYOmoVleoQl4HC9Ipebxef6ecgIGpQ8hJqaau0_Bbq2fSfceJRiszHrWqEL_2vXDcLna9AFFh0RxGMf1LTrdqPXOPPca9x-2xWn_8OaISWerd1UprIEE0_Hx8v9THyqRTdE-6mcUmo/s1600-h/Jan+storm+2010+010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldTYOmoVleoQl4HC9Ipebxef6ecgIGpQ8hJqaau0_Bbq2fSfceJRiszHrWqEL_2vXDcLna9AFFh0RxGMf1LTrdqPXOPPca9x-2xWn_8OaISWerd1UprIEE0_Hx8v9THyqRTdE-6mcUmo/s320/Jan+storm+2010+010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436600211928389810" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(41, 48, 59); font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;font-size:10px;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-34859673250982816302010-02-07T15:33:00.005-05:002010-02-07T15:52:10.301-05:00Is it really 2010?WOW! You know it has been a long time since you have posted when you type in the wrong site to get to your own blog.<div><br /></div><div>Since FB came about I really cut back on my blog. I figured I update enough there that I really don't have much to add to the blog.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been debating as to what I even wanted to do with the blog. My big idea for 2010 was to blog a new cookie every day this year. Well since it is 2/7/10 and I have not even made one new cookie yet this year, I might have to re-think that idea. </div><div><br /></div><div>I did set a few goals for my life this year -</div><div><ul><li>Spiritual <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </li></ul><ol><li>I would like to study a few different books of the Bible. Starting with James. I bought a study guide and will be starting that on 2/15. </li><li>I am finally starting a Bible Study at our church - Premium Roast with Ruth by Sandra Glahn. </li></ol><ul><li> Physical </li></ul><ol><li>My husband & I started a new workout program. We get up every morning at 5 am and workout before he goes to work. We are 6 weeks into and have not missed a day yet.</li><li>Eating Healthier - we eat healthy to begin with so basically this was not that big of a change in our lives. We just cut out a few things that seemed to be bothering us now that we have gotten a little older.</li></ol><ul><li>Family</li></ul><ol><li>My kids amaze me at their knowledge of the Bible. This year we wanted to make our prayer time more affective with them. We started a family prayer journal. Teaching and showing how God answers our prayers. They are enjoying being able to highlight answered prayer each night.</li></ol><ul><li>Business</li></ul><ol><li>I really would like to see my business grow this year. I am going to add a few new items - dessert cakes and specials each month.</li><li>To get into three more locations and increase our wedding sales.</li></ol><div>God has blessed our family the past year and we are looking forwarded to this year and what He has planned for us. My goals might not be what He has for me, but I will continue to seek Him as I go through out the year and see where He has me go with my list. </div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-79522670898840080232009-07-24T07:55:00.005-04:002009-07-30T07:39:10.780-04:00Long TimeBoy, it has been a long time since I posted. I am sure no one even noticed. The months have just been flying by here in our house. <div><br /></div><div>Summer is almost over and we are getting ready for our annual beach trip with Grandpa and Grandma.</div><div><br /></div><div>The kids got to go on their first summer trip by themselves this past month. 8 days in NC with my family. At first when we were planning it - I thought this is going to be great. Michael and I don't get a chance to be "kid free" over night let alone 8 days of "kid free". We had made all these great plans for the week. As it got closer to saying good bye to the kids, my thoughts changed. Can I send them off to another state? Will they miss us too much? What if they get hurt or have an asthma attack? I kept asking - are you sure you want to go? YES WE DO!!! So with bags packed and lots of hidden tears from mommy - I sent them on their way. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first few days were so strange - just the two of us. I think by the third night we just sat and ate in silence. I asked Michael - did we run out of things to talk about? He said he was just enjoying the quietness of our meal. </div><div><br /></div><div>By the weekend, things had changed. Michael hurt his back and Marah started to get a cough. I of course started to worry. After stopping and giving it over to the Lord and two breathing treatments she seemed to be better. Michael on the other hand was not getting any better and all our "fun" plans came to a stop. After two doctor appointments and a day off work, things still were not improving. </div><div><br /></div><div>We headed to NC on Thursday night and it was a rough trip down. With lots of stops, stretching, icing and pain pills - we made it in around 1 am. </div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of the weekend was rough. We officially declared this trip - the "worse" trip of our lives. Michael was in so much pain. He could not sit or stand and sleeping was not working well for him. We decided to make our trip back in two days.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't do well when Michael is sick or hurt. He is the stable one in the house. I have lived with a back problem for over 5 years and I knew by looking at him the amount of pain he was in. That consent level of pain and the lack of relief just wears on you. </div><div><br /></div><div>We made it back home in time to get into the doctors office. We finally were given a reason for all the pain - a compressed disc. After two rounds of treatment that week and some proper exercises - Michael was feeling better. This week he has been able to put his socks on and bend over and touch his toes. So thankful that he is improving.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are happy to have the kids home. And are grateful for the time we had even though it did not go according to our plans. God had a different week planned for us. Teaching me - patience with a hurt husband. Letting my kids grow and trusting that whatever happens - God is in control of our lives. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-83971002074835493952009-04-07T15:44:00.004-04:002009-04-08T08:47:16.405-04:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH17J8xdgK-rXpq9xD7tl724MxDZVABJSBnV2wAvcDYGi_UYb-qRR9sjgN9fvRSLb7JK5CZ1KigvIA1oJ25ShNYvxvzEYQ7m9FF1F_sKTZATS9yIMq2rVxshT6Wv8QqRmcSGuSdC3IdF4/s1600-h/April+2009+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH17J8xdgK-rXpq9xD7tl724MxDZVABJSBnV2wAvcDYGi_UYb-qRR9sjgN9fvRSLb7JK5CZ1KigvIA1oJ25ShNYvxvzEYQ7m9FF1F_sKTZATS9yIMq2rVxshT6Wv8QqRmcSGuSdC3IdF4/s320/April+2009+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322037979033222354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Day Two of Recovering<br />from Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span><br /><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-5978850399547087242009-03-11T00:01:00.003-04:002009-04-07T15:49:33.637-04:00Wordless Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd6vUDQRODL423uTKTkgLLNoxZe33DBkny2b3Vs5gH0FSsRMAz37K4pNx4k7U4PTnBN0Cj1PfGKdN43CE54vvbUhs9YNpwYy9b_VJD7PqdOEisU4II4kKueqZLtzQi2hIDpnjv-Dnyao/s1600-h/march+2009+035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd6vUDQRODL423uTKTkgLLNoxZe33DBkny2b3Vs5gH0FSsRMAz37K4pNx4k7U4PTnBN0Cj1PfGKdN43CE54vvbUhs9YNpwYy9b_VJD7PqdOEisU4II4kKueqZLtzQi2hIDpnjv-Dnyao/s320/march+2009+035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311714485343649010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My best friend forever.<br />Happy Anniversary - 3/16/96<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span><br /><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-60849026250880207432009-02-18T09:21:00.002-05:002009-02-18T09:24:36.689-05:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_Z969GN2qdGDLoU-Q8Z958PoU7GzaOF8nWVSKQGIheG7x8YA4tJDwllbLSi6KDJMtaAPHMod6-8B63GwP3wCzQX05SYvvHfjfZpHFTJT56Bo6f7CLvFGcvhdAGL6UlkRLCHueShEIp4/s1600-h/Feb+2009+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_Z969GN2qdGDLoU-Q8Z958PoU7GzaOF8nWVSKQGIheG7x8YA4tJDwllbLSi6KDJMtaAPHMod6-8B63GwP3wCzQX05SYvvHfjfZpHFTJT56Bo6f7CLvFGcvhdAGL6UlkRLCHueShEIp4/s320/Feb+2009+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304142692993623490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Marah and her new cousin baby Camren<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:78%;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-47382224490534189682009-02-05T08:17:00.010-05:002009-02-05T09:06:01.693-05:00Charlie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcOsP-50SCyDz3uksskRb19gonWMaN4_l0wrmwSClTQViWDkygQNSpmOF5YUVaAqal_nj1me8_ffNhcth7TPu98Fc-WTJc-TusrHsv66s-oIYTrh9MoHbZM2PXAD4tZYpEY1EaEQU7D4/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcOsP-50SCyDz3uksskRb19gonWMaN4_l0wrmwSClTQViWDkygQNSpmOF5YUVaAqal_nj1me8_ffNhcth7TPu98Fc-WTJc-TusrHsv66s-oIYTrh9MoHbZM2PXAD4tZYpEY1EaEQU7D4/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299307227035613186" border="0" /></a><br />We joined the pet owner world in January. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Marah</span> wanted a red Betta fish for her Birthday. When Nana was in town she gave her an early Birthday gift on January 8<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, her red Betta fish.<br /><br />After a week of Dad and Mom calling the fish everything but Rainbow, we convinced her that Rainbow was not the name for the fish. She finally settled on Charlie.<br /><br />We all loved Charlie and he seemed to love us. He would swim to the top of his tank every morning and evening to get fed. He loved to sit in the sun light and at night enjoyed the warmth of the bathroom.<br /><br />The main problem with Charlie was the temperature of his water. We have been experiencing a lot of cold days here and the house has been really cold. We headed out to the pet store to look at heaters for the tank, but they didn't sell them for his size tank. So we purchased a thermometer to keep a better eye on the water.<br /><br />We continued to love Charlie and talk to him, but things started to look bad for Charlie on January 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>. The kids had off school and we noticed that Charlie was not as active. He would just lie on the bottom of his tank and did not come to greet us. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Marah</span> kept saying his head was changing colors.<br /><br />When Michael came home that night we decided to clean out the tank and give him fresh water. It seemed to perk him up for a while. We fed him and put him back in the warm bathroom and said good night to Charlie.<br /><br />Around 10 pm that night Michael came in and told me that Charlie had passed away. I went in to see it for myself and there he was just floating. Poor Charlie, poor <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Marah</span>. Charlie, her birthday fish, did not even make it to her birthday.<br /><br />The next morning the kids, again, had no school. Grant decided to let me handle telling <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Marah</span> the bad news. When she woke up I broke the news to her, that Charlie was sick and had died. Her comment to us: <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"I told you that his head was changing colors and he was not blowing bubbles!"</span><br /></div><br />After dinner that night we said our final good byes to Charlie. We had to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">convince</span> her again that the best way to say good bye was by flushing and not throwing Charlie in the front yard for the birds to eat him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqueBo7OVIh1t1XDvz9i8Tym7MRKV7Id2TDC_Kf3gBJMY6ZH-9IVjZ-DOKy-rDBo7_v1LS9Z2Fl8IdPq1FFQ8RRXXDLTFud4y-wYVrAHxeoIDjGS7uSX3Yg4SMLCGr0SObZUmNsMWvK0/s1600-h/Jan++2009+062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqueBo7OVIh1t1XDvz9i8Tym7MRKV7Id2TDC_Kf3gBJMY6ZH-9IVjZ-DOKy-rDBo7_v1LS9Z2Fl8IdPq1FFQ8RRXXDLTFud4y-wYVrAHxeoIDjGS7uSX3Yg4SMLCGr0SObZUmNsMWvK0/s200/Jan++2009+062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299311875198179282" border="0" /></a><br />We promised her another fish, but first must solve the cold water issues. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Marah</span> has decided to move onto another type of fish, the Bubble-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Eye</span> Goldfish.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaG4FdP33GQEanD7jHL0guEXEUcSqIOMo0qmQAnkF6Ce68W_5hVyIERjEvGPTQoGIx6pGAD0ZswutnbmAdZQ0yQ9f7Tjg90Jml0FkJrHPoFq-jcNGgH_70RTKGmJTPvd8rQY3TftYOOk/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaG4FdP33GQEanD7jHL0guEXEUcSqIOMo0qmQAnkF6Ce68W_5hVyIERjEvGPTQoGIx6pGAD0ZswutnbmAdZQ0yQ9f7Tjg90Jml0FkJrHPoFq-jcNGgH_70RTKGmJTPvd8rQY3TftYOOk/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299312163735413842" border="0" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669444327766636647.post-59084184996235023982009-02-04T00:01:00.004-05:002009-03-10T20:07:46.224-04:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc6vH0S94Q753BcqpRm-7jLb-f3VSpQVMbNpFDbO3D0HVWOHdFZ5HqYkPYcKD94hl88GKg2KFZxx9yx-aDwANeM0fGfz_xFJOQo5vhlR3cmBCGtlGVwFM-ttuWVeAnx6UUBhGiFGFkVA/s1600-h/Jan++2009+033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc6vH0S94Q753BcqpRm-7jLb-f3VSpQVMbNpFDbO3D0HVWOHdFZ5HqYkPYcKD94hl88GKg2KFZxx9yx-aDwANeM0fGfz_xFJOQo5vhlR3cmBCGtlGVwFM-ttuWVeAnx6UUBhGiFGFkVA/s320/Jan++2009+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298722127725124834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SgqCa-2qkKrIzDaxVmxsOSF1JAlgHHdH-Z1OXZCnq4xW17G8ovtmmoBw6pvwSAla6G5RfxGJg5aqvGMdQKty5xx2YBJA_nAeDKBB0Lx1NHSXDDF-ZfMpTDs3ZxO-t1HpZyK2ZqQAe8M/s1600-h/Jan++2009+042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SgqCa-2qkKrIzDaxVmxsOSF1JAlgHHdH-Z1OXZCnq4xW17G8ovtmmoBw6pvwSAla6G5RfxGJg5aqvGMdQKty5xx2YBJA_nAeDKBB0Lx1NHSXDDF-ZfMpTDs3ZxO-t1HpZyK2ZqQAe8M/s320/Jan++2009+042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298722122258700850" border="0" /></a><br />SUPER BOWL 2009<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;">To view other Wordless Wednesdays - visit http://www.5minutesformom.com</span><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959303526592652201noreply@blogger.com2