Generally I want a somewhat captivating title to my blogs and not something too simple, I thought for a minute that, "God is Great!" wouldn't do for such a purpose... Until I thought about the fact that there is nothing simple about that at all! God is great and God is magnificent and there is no explaining Him but we all know (or have an inkling) that He is AWESOME!
He is.
This weekend was good and bad. I spent a lot of time with family and realized a bit that though I build up this awesome flawless family in my head when I actually get around and hear some of the words that are coming out of the mouths of these people (myself included) I get so sad. Sad is really the only adjective to describe it. It just gets so hard to see Jesus at those moments.
Today I got back to school and went to classes and meetings, cada dia. Tonight was different though because I got a piece of mail from my friend Steph who I was in the DR with. I can't express how much the DR has changed my life but one thing that I know for sure that God has done is given me amazing friends through this who would risk their lives to bring my life closer to Him. Anyway, I received a DVD from Steph and a note talking about how great God is and rehashed on a time when her and I were by our friend Heather's pool in Kentucky talking about the people we've lost and the greatness God has done in our lives because of it. Well this DVD is awesome, and Jesus def. tore my heart apart about the stuff I haven't given fully to Him and convicted me about not letting Him be my #1 comforter. The DVD is Hope When Life Hurts Most and it's a couple sermons by Louie Giglio. He talks about loss, and the fact that just because you become a Christian doesn't mean that your life is going to be all ups, Life Hurts. But Louie talked about the Cross, and how at that moment, being there, it had to be "worst case scenario," the God you have put all your hope in, His Son is dying on a cross right in front of you, everything seems lost. But God can use the worst for eternal good. Jesus rose from the dead! If we can see the Cross as beautiful, which is how I would describe it now, then we know God can turn ANYTHING around!!! Seriously. Think about that.
When we pass away we don't need to be brought back from the dead, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD -- Jesus payed that for us and we have accepted His gift, graciously might I add.
Louie also talked about how through our lives we are broadcasting something to those who are involved with us. Our hurt can become a megaphone to amplify our message that God is HUGE and GREAT and so very REAL!
Using that pain to relate to people and help those who are suffering and show the amazing good that is God is priceless, and key.
So in a few simple words, now with a better background, you too see that -- God is Great!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Are You not the closest when it's hardest to stand...
For a while I have been wanting to update but unsure of what to write... Well I just wrote an e-mail to my sister that I think was just what I needed to hear also, So I have included it here.
First I will include my brother Shaun's e-mail...
"We all love you and think you are great. I am glad you are figuring things out. As you all know, it took me a while to figure things out myself, but one thing I did while I was figuring things out really matterred. Even though I did not know eventually what I was going to do, i still worked to improve myself and better myself in the meantime. Meaning, I did not know if I really wanted to be a pilot, but in the meantime it was a pretty cool thing to learn and it would get me a bachelors degree so I might as well get it done. When I went to lawschool, I did not know what I wanted to do with my law degree, but until I figured it out I was pretty sure a doctorate in law would not hurt me and would only put me in a position to do better things when I figured out what that was. I spent my time doing things that most other people deemed where smart things to do even though I did not know where they would lead me. You dont have to have a plan for your whole life, most of my plans have only been 6 month commitments.
Wether you realize it or not , you are doing the same things, you are sewing the seeds to success. You have 6 years and one tour under your belt in the United States Marine Corps, you completed your training for Corporal, and while defending our country you have even had the time to knock out some college credits. You have done more and learned more than most people have at your age. If I were you I would just keep on keeping on, you cant live in the past, it doesnt do anyone any good, look at all the bright things in your future, set goals and work toward them. Pray for God's guidance and set the goals, if he wants you to do it, you will as long as you bring the effort. Love you."
Now my e-mail...
His little sermon reminds me of a verse I have been thinking about a lot lately -- James 4:13-17 "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
It's important to let God consume your life and not live for self-righteous things but rather God glorifying things in order to hear where God wants us and what we should be doing there. Even if you don't know why you are somewhere at that time you should still give 110% in everything you do, and be a good steward of what God has given you.
Last Thursday at church we talked about how we would want to be remembered, if you were to move somewhere or if you worse yet only had 60 days to live what would be our 6 word catch phrase... we had a "cardboard confessional" that was very moving -- check out this youtube for better insight on what that is, this isn't from our church but same concept shown here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niMhRvzS5aw
So after seeing that have you thought about what people could remember you by, at one point in my life ... "Addicted to drugs and alcohol..." now... "Addicted to my True Healer!"
This reminds me of a Christian song called "Here I am" by the band Downhere, one of the verses says,
"When setbacks and failures, and upset plans,
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands,
Are you not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that you will finish what you began."
It's trust. We have to trust that these low parts of the road are going to better us because we CAN"T LET THEM GET THE BEST OF US! Satan can't win here! We can't let him! We have to know that when we are at our lowest He is at His nearest with His arms around us.
And we have to trust Philippians 1:3-6 which I can't think of a better group of better to apply it to than my own family, it reads ...
"I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
God planted that seed when you planted your mustard seed of faith in your heart and if you give up on Him He isn't going to give up on you, HE began a GOOD WORK and HE WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION! Once you acknowledged Him He decided that He will perfect the good that He started in you!
So don't hold back, let go and let God do His work -- because He is feverishly spending time with you and working things out for you whether you acknowledge Him or not. You know the good you ought to do...
Give a brother some credit.
Praying for you and always proud of you
-Brooke
First I will include my brother Shaun's e-mail...
"We all love you and think you are great. I am glad you are figuring things out. As you all know, it took me a while to figure things out myself, but one thing I did while I was figuring things out really matterred. Even though I did not know eventually what I was going to do, i still worked to improve myself and better myself in the meantime. Meaning, I did not know if I really wanted to be a pilot, but in the meantime it was a pretty cool thing to learn and it would get me a bachelors degree so I might as well get it done. When I went to lawschool, I did not know what I wanted to do with my law degree, but until I figured it out I was pretty sure a doctorate in law would not hurt me and would only put me in a position to do better things when I figured out what that was. I spent my time doing things that most other people deemed where smart things to do even though I did not know where they would lead me. You dont have to have a plan for your whole life, most of my plans have only been 6 month commitments.
Wether you realize it or not , you are doing the same things, you are sewing the seeds to success. You have 6 years and one tour under your belt in the United States Marine Corps, you completed your training for Corporal, and while defending our country you have even had the time to knock out some college credits. You have done more and learned more than most people have at your age. If I were you I would just keep on keeping on, you cant live in the past, it doesnt do anyone any good, look at all the bright things in your future, set goals and work toward them. Pray for God's guidance and set the goals, if he wants you to do it, you will as long as you bring the effort. Love you."
Now my e-mail...
His little sermon reminds me of a verse I have been thinking about a lot lately -- James 4:13-17 "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
It's important to let God consume your life and not live for self-righteous things but rather God glorifying things in order to hear where God wants us and what we should be doing there. Even if you don't know why you are somewhere at that time you should still give 110% in everything you do, and be a good steward of what God has given you.
Last Thursday at church we talked about how we would want to be remembered, if you were to move somewhere or if you worse yet only had 60 days to live what would be our 6 word catch phrase... we had a "cardboard confessional" that was very moving -- check out this youtube for better insight on what that is, this isn't from our church but same concept shown here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niMhRvzS5aw
So after seeing that have you thought about what people could remember you by, at one point in my life ... "Addicted to drugs and alcohol..." now... "Addicted to my True Healer!"
This reminds me of a Christian song called "Here I am" by the band Downhere, one of the verses says,
"When setbacks and failures, and upset plans,
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands,
Are you not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that you will finish what you began."
It's trust. We have to trust that these low parts of the road are going to better us because we CAN"T LET THEM GET THE BEST OF US! Satan can't win here! We can't let him! We have to know that when we are at our lowest He is at His nearest with His arms around us.
And we have to trust Philippians 1:3-6 which I can't think of a better group of better to apply it to than my own family, it reads ...
"I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
God planted that seed when you planted your mustard seed of faith in your heart and if you give up on Him He isn't going to give up on you, HE began a GOOD WORK and HE WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION! Once you acknowledged Him He decided that He will perfect the good that He started in you!
So don't hold back, let go and let God do His work -- because He is feverishly spending time with you and working things out for you whether you acknowledge Him or not. You know the good you ought to do...
Give a brother some credit.
Praying for you and always proud of you
-Brooke
Thursday, October 30, 2008
You're the reason that I live ... Jesus
So God has been teaching me some crazy awesome stuff lately and I thought I'd update this because I never do.
First let's check out 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Lately God has been teaching me a lot about Loving others with His love. I am SO filled with His love at this point that it's impossible not just completely love everyone. And I am being serious -- yes I get frustrated with things at times but God is keeping me so in check with that stuff it's crazy awesome! I truly am giving my all to Jesus first and letting everything else happen after this and God is using me for GREAT things! I especially like verse 13 up there which is the one regarding viewing people through Christ's eyes not in the world's! Seeing people as souls that Jesus died for, not for their outward appearance. And alongside that I love how in the first part, verses 11 and 12 it is talking about how we are called to be more like Jesus and accept that we are only humans with a higher calling! Also that we fear the Lord so much and obey Him SO MUCH that we can have those answers for those who take pride in what is seen as opposed to where our heart is! It's so great to have a wise book of Truth that sets this stuff straight for us! That we are to love people with His heart and look so far past the outward appearance that we compel those who look at the outward as opposed to the inward seek out what we have found in Christ!
Jesus has also been teaching me so much about self-control in regards to my nutritional intake.
Let's check out 2 Peter 3-9:
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
First of all I just want to say how much I love verse 3a, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life!"Amen! How great is that?
But I have to say that God has been showing me a lot about the "divine nature" and truly living for his desires and not the evil worldly desires that controlled my life for SO LONG and still are trying to keep a strong-hold on me. But we all know God is bigger than the boogie-man, amen!? But God has been adding these things onto my life in the order pretty much, started with goodness, just the idea of that and seeking that out, then I have been seeking his knowledge and knowing for a long time. Self-control has been HUGE lately with the way I have been changing my diet in order to fit a more Godly way of eating. I have cut out meat (I will eat organic meat but the mass production of meat nowadays and the chemicals animals are injected with, the way they have no free-range and the dangerousness that is the job many humans have at the mass market meat factories violates a lot of human rights issues that make me more than uncomfortable with eating it), on top of meat I have cut out cheese and anything that contains milk/dairy products e.g., sour cream, cream cheese etc however I do eat organic eggs and also drink organic milk on occasion however I think I may cut out milk completely very soon, I also have cut out white-flour completely. Many people think I am crazy, and they also think I am doing this for religious reasons, well that is partially true however I don't think God doesn't want us to eat meat, like I said I would eat organic meat however ... you already heard what I said about the human rights issues alongside mass market production of ... well pretty much anything. As for white flour, I think we all know that God didn't intend on us bleaching something with so much nutrition and thus removing all the nutrition from it. If it doesn't do ANYTHING good for your body than what is the point of eating it? Verdad?
God calls us to treat our bodies as temples (1 Corinthians 6:19), because this body is not ours! It does not belong to us! It is a means for our spirit, and for the Holy spirit. Also I know that health is very important, I also know at this point in my life I am not in great health and that I could do SO MUCH more for God's kingdom if I had better health -- so I better start listening to Him and doing what He has called me to do in order to better do what He is calling me to do for my future. Amen?
Back to verses 6 and 7 -- Perseverance is def. coming in handy right now, I have always had great perseverance when it comes to everything and God is def. filling in my weaknesses but in all honesty I can use a lot of prayer because cutting out all this stuff in my diet is kinda hard and pretty crazy but I know God is bettering me and showing me SO MUCH through this. I am so thankful for my mom also who is enlightening about these health issues that she has spent so much time studying. I get a lot of knowledge from God and a ton from my mom also. She def. has had a huge impact on my diet and on what is healthy and what is not.
A lot of times my issue is that I know what I need to do but I do not do it -- thankfully God again is coming in w/ the perseverance so that I can truly put this knowledge and respect for my body into reality.
Saying that, I should go for more walks. Slash work-out more often.
I think a lot of times I have tried to diet for outwardly reasons and have failed, I think doing this for inward reasons which immediately affect my outward reasons is a great thing that God is doing for me. This wisdom is from Him alone.
Verse 8 which reads, "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Having this knowledge of Jesus is awesome but by not using it for what He is asking SURELY makes you unproductive and ineffective, by knowing God but not bettering yourself for Him -- well then you don't TRULY know God. Bold statement but that's how I roll. I have also been making a lot more bold statements that are glorifying to God as opposed to bold statements that hurt others. Killin' myself with kindness over here.
Anyway- in a semi crazy way that is what God is teaching me. Sorry if it seems jumbled or doesn't make sense but if anyone actually reads this, and wants to know more or whatever. Comment, call, e-mail.
Love, peace, recycle, vote
-Brooke
First let's check out 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Lately God has been teaching me a lot about Loving others with His love. I am SO filled with His love at this point that it's impossible not just completely love everyone. And I am being serious -- yes I get frustrated with things at times but God is keeping me so in check with that stuff it's crazy awesome! I truly am giving my all to Jesus first and letting everything else happen after this and God is using me for GREAT things! I especially like verse 13 up there which is the one regarding viewing people through Christ's eyes not in the world's! Seeing people as souls that Jesus died for, not for their outward appearance. And alongside that I love how in the first part, verses 11 and 12 it is talking about how we are called to be more like Jesus and accept that we are only humans with a higher calling! Also that we fear the Lord so much and obey Him SO MUCH that we can have those answers for those who take pride in what is seen as opposed to where our heart is! It's so great to have a wise book of Truth that sets this stuff straight for us! That we are to love people with His heart and look so far past the outward appearance that we compel those who look at the outward as opposed to the inward seek out what we have found in Christ!
Jesus has also been teaching me so much about self-control in regards to my nutritional intake.
Let's check out 2 Peter 3-9:
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
First of all I just want to say how much I love verse 3a, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life!"Amen! How great is that?
But I have to say that God has been showing me a lot about the "divine nature" and truly living for his desires and not the evil worldly desires that controlled my life for SO LONG and still are trying to keep a strong-hold on me. But we all know God is bigger than the boogie-man, amen!? But God has been adding these things onto my life in the order pretty much, started with goodness, just the idea of that and seeking that out, then I have been seeking his knowledge and knowing for a long time. Self-control has been HUGE lately with the way I have been changing my diet in order to fit a more Godly way of eating. I have cut out meat (I will eat organic meat but the mass production of meat nowadays and the chemicals animals are injected with, the way they have no free-range and the dangerousness that is the job many humans have at the mass market meat factories violates a lot of human rights issues that make me more than uncomfortable with eating it), on top of meat I have cut out cheese and anything that contains milk/dairy products e.g., sour cream, cream cheese etc however I do eat organic eggs and also drink organic milk on occasion however I think I may cut out milk completely very soon, I also have cut out white-flour completely. Many people think I am crazy, and they also think I am doing this for religious reasons, well that is partially true however I don't think God doesn't want us to eat meat, like I said I would eat organic meat however ... you already heard what I said about the human rights issues alongside mass market production of ... well pretty much anything. As for white flour, I think we all know that God didn't intend on us bleaching something with so much nutrition and thus removing all the nutrition from it. If it doesn't do ANYTHING good for your body than what is the point of eating it? Verdad?
God calls us to treat our bodies as temples (1 Corinthians 6:19), because this body is not ours! It does not belong to us! It is a means for our spirit, and for the Holy spirit. Also I know that health is very important, I also know at this point in my life I am not in great health and that I could do SO MUCH more for God's kingdom if I had better health -- so I better start listening to Him and doing what He has called me to do in order to better do what He is calling me to do for my future. Amen?
Back to verses 6 and 7 -- Perseverance is def. coming in handy right now, I have always had great perseverance when it comes to everything and God is def. filling in my weaknesses but in all honesty I can use a lot of prayer because cutting out all this stuff in my diet is kinda hard and pretty crazy but I know God is bettering me and showing me SO MUCH through this. I am so thankful for my mom also who is enlightening about these health issues that she has spent so much time studying. I get a lot of knowledge from God and a ton from my mom also. She def. has had a huge impact on my diet and on what is healthy and what is not.
A lot of times my issue is that I know what I need to do but I do not do it -- thankfully God again is coming in w/ the perseverance so that I can truly put this knowledge and respect for my body into reality.
Saying that, I should go for more walks. Slash work-out more often.
I think a lot of times I have tried to diet for outwardly reasons and have failed, I think doing this for inward reasons which immediately affect my outward reasons is a great thing that God is doing for me. This wisdom is from Him alone.
Verse 8 which reads, "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Having this knowledge of Jesus is awesome but by not using it for what He is asking SURELY makes you unproductive and ineffective, by knowing God but not bettering yourself for Him -- well then you don't TRULY know God. Bold statement but that's how I roll. I have also been making a lot more bold statements that are glorifying to God as opposed to bold statements that hurt others. Killin' myself with kindness over here.
Anyway- in a semi crazy way that is what God is teaching me. Sorry if it seems jumbled or doesn't make sense but if anyone actually reads this, and wants to know more or whatever. Comment, call, e-mail.
Love, peace, recycle, vote
-Brooke
Monday, August 4, 2008
Open my eyes, so that I can see how You are working in me
Hi!
So it's official, I'm back in the states safely!
PTL (Praise the Lord)!
My trip back was good, I left the Orphanage at 2:30am Saturday morning rode in a taxi to the Airport in Santiago. I met a Missionary who grew up in the U.S. but had been living in Santiago for the past 11 years w/ her family working at a church there. We flew to Miami on the same plane but then she had a direct flight to Chicago and I had to go to Kentucky and then to Chicago. Oddly enough when I finally got into Chicago I ran into her again! She borrowed my cell phone and we caught up a bit about or traveling and the like. She gave me some contact info so if I feel like doing a different type of missions anywhere else in the D.R. I have a great place to stay.
Once I got to baggage claim in Chicago I realized circa 2 hours after my flight got in that my luggage had been lost. My dad and I claimed it and we took off. Stopped at an Applebees on our way home and got back to Paw Paw around 1am.
I got my luggage delivered yesterday night, pretty great reaction time I think -- I'm so blessed to have gotten it back that quickly, or at all you know!
Yesterday my brothers came over with their families and we had a fun day in the pool with the kids. My mom attempted to recreate some food from the D.R., and though it didn't really taste a thing like it... it was still really good!
Now I'm just trying to figure out what to do with my time. I might walk into town, we always take cars here and after 10 weeks of not having one at my immediate access I start to really appreciate walking and just taking however much time to do whatever I feel like doing.
Less scheduling more relationships even the one with yourself and especially the ones with others and mostly the one with Jesus.
Here are a couple pictures, because blog posts are better with pictures.
my niece Isabella and i in the pool
the fam
God bless you. The support I received before, during and now has been so great!
Love in Him
-Brooke
So it's official, I'm back in the states safely!
PTL (Praise the Lord)!
My trip back was good, I left the Orphanage at 2:30am Saturday morning rode in a taxi to the Airport in Santiago. I met a Missionary who grew up in the U.S. but had been living in Santiago for the past 11 years w/ her family working at a church there. We flew to Miami on the same plane but then she had a direct flight to Chicago and I had to go to Kentucky and then to Chicago. Oddly enough when I finally got into Chicago I ran into her again! She borrowed my cell phone and we caught up a bit about or traveling and the like. She gave me some contact info so if I feel like doing a different type of missions anywhere else in the D.R. I have a great place to stay.
Once I got to baggage claim in Chicago I realized circa 2 hours after my flight got in that my luggage had been lost. My dad and I claimed it and we took off. Stopped at an Applebees on our way home and got back to Paw Paw around 1am.
I got my luggage delivered yesterday night, pretty great reaction time I think -- I'm so blessed to have gotten it back that quickly, or at all you know!
Yesterday my brothers came over with their families and we had a fun day in the pool with the kids. My mom attempted to recreate some food from the D.R., and though it didn't really taste a thing like it... it was still really good!
Now I'm just trying to figure out what to do with my time. I might walk into town, we always take cars here and after 10 weeks of not having one at my immediate access I start to really appreciate walking and just taking however much time to do whatever I feel like doing.
Less scheduling more relationships even the one with yourself and especially the ones with others and mostly the one with Jesus.
Here are a couple pictures, because blog posts are better with pictures.
my niece Isabella and i in the pool
the fam
God bless you. The support I received before, during and now has been so great!
Love in Him
-Brooke
Sunday, July 27, 2008
This past week has been great -- this upcoming week is my last and all we are doing is psending time here at the orphanage doing some structured things and a lot of unstructured things. I am excited to have a great week and then venture home... as much as I don't want to leave I'm estoked to start my more Long-term mission back home. Your mission field is what you make it. :) (Credit to Emily).
As per usual, here are some good pictures from this past week. God bless, see ya'll soon.
jose luis and his youngest sister luz maria
me with indiana and jennifer, a little whelmed
luz maria, rockin' my sunglasses and carrying around a towel, for whatever reason
this one is for izzy... and sometimes, jennifer isn't my friend
monument in santiago -- josh this lady were very mismo
view from the monument
the monument
fin
In Him
-brooke
As per usual, here are some good pictures from this past week. God bless, see ya'll soon.
jose luis and his youngest sister luz maria
me with indiana and jennifer, a little whelmed
luz maria, rockin' my sunglasses and carrying around a towel, for whatever reason
this one is for izzy... and sometimes, jennifer isn't my friend
monument in santiago -- josh this lady were very mismo
view from the monument
the monument
fin
In Him
-brooke
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Week 8...
This past week we had another group come in from His House and also a group from Tom's (Orphanage Outreach Director) church come in. We did two different camps and the one I was part of did a camp at the Baseball stadium just a couple blocks away and also one in a neighborhood about 45 minutes away which had never had a camp there before. It's crazy to see the difference between the camp at the stadium and the camp at the neighborhood b/c the kids who come to the stadium are so used to having camp and kind of take it for granted a little more. The neighborhood was awesome and all the adults from the neighborhood were very helpful and actually participated in camps by assisting us when we couldn't completely explain the rules to a game or keep the kids in their groups. Friday morning everyone went to Dajabon but us interns got to go to the ADMAT center which is where there is a team of archeologists working to dig up and preserve ruins from ship wrecks all around the banks of the DR. We got to see some really ancient stuff so that was pretty cool. We also got to ride in the back of the truck which is always fun. From there we went out to lunch and then when to the El Morro beach for the afternoon. The groups left early yesterday morning and now it's just us interns and a couple of 2 week girls. I'm gonna go take a shower and play with the kids a little. Here are some pictures!
Heat Lightning! An often occurance around here...
This is El Morrito Beach during the day, we usually go there every Friday
Izzy and I on the back of the truck on our way to ADMAT
A little girl at the neighborhood who when I asked to smile, made this face
Sunset from the roof...
Josh and I got a package from our friends Alicia and Mark!!!
The gang of little gals at the Orphanage... back row, Jennifer, Joanni, Nena, Piley, front row, Franchesca, Luz Maria, Lisy
Jennifer!
Praying for you all, Peace and love
-Brooke
This past week we had another group come in from His House and also a group from Tom's (Orphanage Outreach Director) church come in. We did two different camps and the one I was part of did a camp at the Baseball stadium just a couple blocks away and also one in a neighborhood about 45 minutes away which had never had a camp there before. It's crazy to see the difference between the camp at the stadium and the camp at the neighborhood b/c the kids who come to the stadium are so used to having camp and kind of take it for granted a little more. The neighborhood was awesome and all the adults from the neighborhood were very helpful and actually participated in camps by assisting us when we couldn't completely explain the rules to a game or keep the kids in their groups. Friday morning everyone went to Dajabon but us interns got to go to the ADMAT center which is where there is a team of archeologists working to dig up and preserve ruins from ship wrecks all around the banks of the DR. We got to see some really ancient stuff so that was pretty cool. We also got to ride in the back of the truck which is always fun. From there we went out to lunch and then when to the El Morro beach for the afternoon. The groups left early yesterday morning and now it's just us interns and a couple of 2 week girls. I'm gonna go take a shower and play with the kids a little. Here are some pictures!
Heat Lightning! An often occurance around here...
This is El Morrito Beach during the day, we usually go there every Friday
Izzy and I on the back of the truck on our way to ADMAT
A little girl at the neighborhood who when I asked to smile, made this face
Sunset from the roof...
Josh and I got a package from our friends Alicia and Mark!!!
The gang of little gals at the Orphanage... back row, Jennifer, Joanni, Nena, Piley, front row, Franchesca, Luz Maria, Lisy
Jennifer!
Praying for you all, Peace and love
-Brooke
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Mi Dios es ton GRANDE
Week 7...
This past week has been really good.
We did various work projects in the morning around the Orphanage, we completely re-did most of the kitchen and cleaned up the Green bano roof (for those of you who are familiar), we also painted the outside of La Copia, the Chapel we did camp at last week. It looks amazing now.
In the afternoon we did a Reading Camp here with the kids, all of us chose 3 kids to work with, I chose Leonel (17), Jennifer (3), and Nathan Woods (Eric's Son) (6). I actually ended up reading the same books with all the kids. We used bilingual books so Leonel would read in English and Nathan would read in Spanish and Jennifer would pretty much just listen to whoever was reading or draw pictures or mimic whatever we said. It was a lot of fun. On Thursday we had prizes for the kids and a party with cake and juice. It was good to see them learning and having the desire to learn more.
Yesterday, Our day off we went to Cabarete, a nice beach/tourist town about 3 or 4 hours away. We met a girl named Priscilla who goes to the University in Mexico but grew up in Santo Domingo. We hung out and walked the beach for a long time and went to a couple shops, had some pizza. Etc. It was fun to have time off to chill and stuff, even though we missed the kids.
A couple pics...
This is Josh, half of Jessica and I at the beach in Caberete
Mi Amiga, Lisy at the reading party
Me and My Amigo Winston
This is a picture of my friends Beth, Ismelda (Izzy) and I in front of La Copia -- with a fresh coat of paint
Thanks again for everyone who reads this and supports me and prays and all that jazz -- I really appreciate it.
Love you
-Brooke
This past week has been really good.
We did various work projects in the morning around the Orphanage, we completely re-did most of the kitchen and cleaned up the Green bano roof (for those of you who are familiar), we also painted the outside of La Copia, the Chapel we did camp at last week. It looks amazing now.
In the afternoon we did a Reading Camp here with the kids, all of us chose 3 kids to work with, I chose Leonel (17), Jennifer (3), and Nathan Woods (Eric's Son) (6). I actually ended up reading the same books with all the kids. We used bilingual books so Leonel would read in English and Nathan would read in Spanish and Jennifer would pretty much just listen to whoever was reading or draw pictures or mimic whatever we said. It was a lot of fun. On Thursday we had prizes for the kids and a party with cake and juice. It was good to see them learning and having the desire to learn more.
Yesterday, Our day off we went to Cabarete, a nice beach/tourist town about 3 or 4 hours away. We met a girl named Priscilla who goes to the University in Mexico but grew up in Santo Domingo. We hung out and walked the beach for a long time and went to a couple shops, had some pizza. Etc. It was fun to have time off to chill and stuff, even though we missed the kids.
A couple pics...
This is Josh, half of Jessica and I at the beach in Caberete
Mi Amiga, Lisy at the reading party
Me and My Amigo Winston
This is a picture of my friends Beth, Ismelda (Izzy) and I in front of La Copia -- with a fresh coat of paint
Thanks again for everyone who reads this and supports me and prays and all that jazz -- I really appreciate it.
Love you
-Brooke
Ps... Hi Mrs. Devine :o) Kristen is doing well!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Not to us, but to Your name be the Glory
Week #6 (?)
This past week a team from His House came in, we did a camp in the morning at a Batey called La Madre and one in the afternoon at La Capia (a chapel just a few minutes from the Orphanage). They were both a lot of fun, this week I was in charge of Recreation so we played Kickball, played w/ the giant parachute, etc, it was sweet. At La Capia it is actually the church of Annalesa one of the ladies who comes in and does laundry here - she is an amazing lady with a great heart for the Lord. It was cool to see her out of the laundry room and able to play with us and all that, a very cool experience.
La Capia was also cool because a lot of the kids there were kids that I had taught my first week here when we taught english in the schools. They remembered me and I got to see how they were and meet some of there brothers and sisters and stuff. It was a really cool experience to be remembered 5 weeks later, and be able to show kids pictures I had with them at school and stuff. Jesus is cool.
It was fun to have familiar faces here, now this week we don't have any volunteers coming in so some of us are going to do a camp at the English Institute and the rest of us are going to do some real service projects around the Orphanage and town. I'm stoked for that, I really am excited to do some sort of traditional service in the ways of things like painting and cleaning up stuff etc etc.
That's the excitement of the week, I can't seem to get my images to upload this time so you'll just have to wait and see ya know.
Love you all, praying for you, God is good all the time.
-Brooke
This past week a team from His House came in, we did a camp in the morning at a Batey called La Madre and one in the afternoon at La Capia (a chapel just a few minutes from the Orphanage). They were both a lot of fun, this week I was in charge of Recreation so we played Kickball, played w/ the giant parachute, etc, it was sweet. At La Capia it is actually the church of Annalesa one of the ladies who comes in and does laundry here - she is an amazing lady with a great heart for the Lord. It was cool to see her out of the laundry room and able to play with us and all that, a very cool experience.
La Capia was also cool because a lot of the kids there were kids that I had taught my first week here when we taught english in the schools. They remembered me and I got to see how they were and meet some of there brothers and sisters and stuff. It was a really cool experience to be remembered 5 weeks later, and be able to show kids pictures I had with them at school and stuff. Jesus is cool.
It was fun to have familiar faces here, now this week we don't have any volunteers coming in so some of us are going to do a camp at the English Institute and the rest of us are going to do some real service projects around the Orphanage and town. I'm stoked for that, I really am excited to do some sort of traditional service in the ways of things like painting and cleaning up stuff etc etc.
That's the excitement of the week, I can't seem to get my images to upload this time so you'll just have to wait and see ya know.
Love you all, praying for you, God is good all the time.
-Brooke
Sunday, June 29, 2008
a few photos
hey guys,
things are still going great here - the big team turned out to be a lot of fun and though i was in charge, somehow things still got done! hoorah.
i don't feel like writing too much so i'm going to give ya'll some photos to check out!
here is a picture from the top of El Morrito, a small mountain we climb just about every week to watch the sunrise and go swimming...
here is another picture of the sunrise, this one includes the cross on the top of the mountain, there are the stages of the cross as you hike the mountain and then this big one is at the top
here is a picture of me and winston from the orphanage
here is a picture of me and some of my friends who are now gone :( they are steph, stef and heather
here is a photo of me and my friend katie, who is also gone now
this is the CMU crew, my frends beth, josh and alissa
one day we went on a tour of this swamp type area, it was a mix of fresh and salt water and there was probably parasites in it, but josh swam in it anyway -- here is a photo of my friends kelly, rachelle and i on the boat (they are both gone now too, and they are also both awesome)
here is a photo of the beach we swim at, it's the same beach as you can see in the pictures from el morrito
here is a pic of my eye that was infected, sick
here is a pic of this crazy scrape thing i got on my leg somehow, (i really don't know how i got it, it just appeared the other day)
well, that's good for now,
take care, i'm thinking of you all.
in Christ
-BR in the DR
things are still going great here - the big team turned out to be a lot of fun and though i was in charge, somehow things still got done! hoorah.
i don't feel like writing too much so i'm going to give ya'll some photos to check out!
here is a picture from the top of El Morrito, a small mountain we climb just about every week to watch the sunrise and go swimming...
here is another picture of the sunrise, this one includes the cross on the top of the mountain, there are the stages of the cross as you hike the mountain and then this big one is at the top
here is a picture of me and winston from the orphanage
here is a picture of me and some of my friends who are now gone :( they are steph, stef and heather
here is a photo of me and my friend katie, who is also gone now
this is the CMU crew, my frends beth, josh and alissa
one day we went on a tour of this swamp type area, it was a mix of fresh and salt water and there was probably parasites in it, but josh swam in it anyway -- here is a photo of my friends kelly, rachelle and i on the boat (they are both gone now too, and they are also both awesome)
here is a photo of the beach we swim at, it's the same beach as you can see in the pictures from el morrito
here is a pic of my eye that was infected, sick
here is a pic of this crazy scrape thing i got on my leg somehow, (i really don't know how i got it, it just appeared the other day)
well, that's good for now,
take care, i'm thinking of you all.
in Christ
-BR in the DR
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Scoobsss NOOOO
Week 4
This past week we held a VBS camp here at the Orphanage during the morning and at a Desert Batey during the afternoon. The camp here was a struggle, interesting – but a lot of fun. My friend Kristen and I were guides for the oldest boys at the Orphanage. They all actually behaved better than we expected throughout the week. It’s really touch and go with the kids here; they aren’t like any kids I have ever encountered really. They all are very different and have quirks about them. One of my favorites, Winston, for example hardly ever speaks. He’s a really shy kid, but he has a big heart. The best thing we can do here is show the kids the love of Christ through us; that’s not just the best but also the only. Some of the kids are more receptive and some are not, you just have to have a lot of patience and a lax attitude. I don’t spend nearly as much time over at the Orphanage as most people and I think that’s something I need to change – I just get nervous I guess, I don’t want them not to like me so I haven’t even given most of them a chance to. But something you can pray for me about, if you’re into that, is just that I’ll have more confidence and less ridiculous fear about venturing over there.
At the Desert there were more adults than children that came to the camp. Usually when we go to Bateys we have a few adults who usually just by stand and listen and occasionally will play an active role however, this week there were so many we had a whole group for them. Kristen and I were guides for the adults. It was kind of hard to figure out our role there as “camp guides” to people who were some 30+ years older than me but after a while I just kind of figured it out and started being less hesitative and more loving. On the last day of camp we showed the Jesus film in Spanish and then gave away sheet sets with tooth brush and toothpaste and deodorant and a few other things, baseball or jump rope for the kids. It was pretty cool to see the looks on some of these people’s faces as we gave them something like that. Indescribable. One of the adults at the Desert was actually Winston’s mom. She was a sweatheart. We brought her a card that her son Winston, and her other two kids at the Orphanage, Yulisa and Wiliam had made for her which read, “Mom we love you. You are the mother we will never forget. We love you mom.” Precious.
This week is a big week. There are people here from Georgia this week (for those of you who have been here before and know those peeps) and a few other churches as well. The Ramadas (where we sleep) are at max capacity. There is also an equal number of guys and girls this week, usually it’s just Josh and maybe like one other guy. So it’ll be different.
They placed me as a camp leader this week – so that should be interesting too. We have camp leaders every week but it is a volunteer and usually Eric and Amanda or Beth will come with us so it’s not like you’re really in charge in charge… but this week, I am in charge in charge.
So anyway that’s enough for right now, I should go change.
We are in a water drought right now, so keep that in your prayers, I just took a shower and it will be my last until Tuesday at the earliest I think, sometimes it takes a couple weeks I’ve heard though. Esta Bien.
Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers, keeping you in mine.
-Brooke
Ps, my eye actually oozed and bled all over and then the swelling went down. But today it developed again on my lower eyelid as opposed to my upper. So lame. No idea but keep that in prayers, thank you!
This past week we held a VBS camp here at the Orphanage during the morning and at a Desert Batey during the afternoon. The camp here was a struggle, interesting – but a lot of fun. My friend Kristen and I were guides for the oldest boys at the Orphanage. They all actually behaved better than we expected throughout the week. It’s really touch and go with the kids here; they aren’t like any kids I have ever encountered really. They all are very different and have quirks about them. One of my favorites, Winston, for example hardly ever speaks. He’s a really shy kid, but he has a big heart. The best thing we can do here is show the kids the love of Christ through us; that’s not just the best but also the only. Some of the kids are more receptive and some are not, you just have to have a lot of patience and a lax attitude. I don’t spend nearly as much time over at the Orphanage as most people and I think that’s something I need to change – I just get nervous I guess, I don’t want them not to like me so I haven’t even given most of them a chance to. But something you can pray for me about, if you’re into that, is just that I’ll have more confidence and less ridiculous fear about venturing over there.
At the Desert there were more adults than children that came to the camp. Usually when we go to Bateys we have a few adults who usually just by stand and listen and occasionally will play an active role however, this week there were so many we had a whole group for them. Kristen and I were guides for the adults. It was kind of hard to figure out our role there as “camp guides” to people who were some 30+ years older than me but after a while I just kind of figured it out and started being less hesitative and more loving. On the last day of camp we showed the Jesus film in Spanish and then gave away sheet sets with tooth brush and toothpaste and deodorant and a few other things, baseball or jump rope for the kids. It was pretty cool to see the looks on some of these people’s faces as we gave them something like that. Indescribable. One of the adults at the Desert was actually Winston’s mom. She was a sweatheart. We brought her a card that her son Winston, and her other two kids at the Orphanage, Yulisa and Wiliam had made for her which read, “Mom we love you. You are the mother we will never forget. We love you mom.” Precious.
This week is a big week. There are people here from Georgia this week (for those of you who have been here before and know those peeps) and a few other churches as well. The Ramadas (where we sleep) are at max capacity. There is also an equal number of guys and girls this week, usually it’s just Josh and maybe like one other guy. So it’ll be different.
They placed me as a camp leader this week – so that should be interesting too. We have camp leaders every week but it is a volunteer and usually Eric and Amanda or Beth will come with us so it’s not like you’re really in charge in charge… but this week, I am in charge in charge.
So anyway that’s enough for right now, I should go change.
We are in a water drought right now, so keep that in your prayers, I just took a shower and it will be my last until Tuesday at the earliest I think, sometimes it takes a couple weeks I’ve heard though. Esta Bien.
Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers, keeping you in mine.
-Brooke
Ps, my eye actually oozed and bled all over and then the swelling went down. But today it developed again on my lower eyelid as opposed to my upper. So lame. No idea but keep that in prayers, thank you!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
in Christ alone, my hope is found
So week 3...
Things are going great still.
We went to this batey this week and God seriously did great works there.
My friend Max started talking to this older half paralized woman and on Thursday I went and visited her with him and we prayed over here and brought her cookies and read her the Bible. I can tell you more in depth in person but it was an amazing experience. To see the way Christ changed us through her and her through us. You know. God is an awesome God.
I really don't have a lot of time this week. I will try to be more in depth next week.
I miss everyone though, if anyone wants to send me mail or packages that'd be much appreciated, I would like something like that. Just anything really.
Love you.
-Brooke
Things are going great still.
We went to this batey this week and God seriously did great works there.
My friend Max started talking to this older half paralized woman and on Thursday I went and visited her with him and we prayed over here and brought her cookies and read her the Bible. I can tell you more in depth in person but it was an amazing experience. To see the way Christ changed us through her and her through us. You know. God is an awesome God.
I really don't have a lot of time this week. I will try to be more in depth next week.
I miss everyone though, if anyone wants to send me mail or packages that'd be much appreciated, I would like something like that. Just anything really.
Love you.
-Brooke
Saturday, June 7, 2008
And we have all we need in You
Hey!
2nd week down, 8 to go! Time is flying by like mad, it is really so great here though.
This week we went to bateys which are like Plantations (there are like banana trees and plantane trees) that were once overtaken by Americans and the Dominicans were forced to work for a small amount but then the Dominicans got sick of it and went on strike so the Americans left and now the Dominicans just live there kind of in there own small commune, it's actually pretty cool. We taught at the Kunane Daycare center there which is similar to like a Child Protective services kind of thing.
The kids we worked with were age 5 and under, all adorable and sometimes hard to make listen but it was never overwhelming really -- It began to just be "okay" if they were screaming and crying and not listening to you attempt to read Jonah and the Whale in spanish. It was a fun experience though.
We eat really good here, I don't know if I mentioned that really -- my favorite meal is this like, slop stuff, I guess that's the best word to describe it, lol. You get white rice and then this chicken and carrots and potato slop stuff on top, it's really good.
I am so thankful to have my new digital camera here, I am taking some awesome pictures that I already cherish.
It's Saturday which means old people leave and new people come. Saturdays are always weird. A few of my favorite people left today -- it's weird because it def. is sad that they are going but it's already like home here for me so even though I miss them very much I also know that I have great people to get to know better still and stuff. Jesus works in great and mysterious ways.
God is teaching me so much down here -- I never really just embraced Him so much as I have been here, there are a lot of things you know are going on and you believe with your faith but until you actually have the feelings caused by that truth you really don't know how great God is.
So the other day, we walked to Church which is about a mile and a half away from the Orphanage, a group took the bus but me and some of my friends walked. At church it started raining and on our way home we were like, wahtev, we will walk and then it was SO incredibly muddy, we were all in skirts in flip-flops attempting to pick up our feet but finding them getting stuck more often than anything. It was my friends Rachelle, Kelly and I and we stared singing "How Great is My God", it was really hilarious because we ended getting picked up by the bus. At one point we got off the road because it was so muddy and got on the sidewalk, well for the most part everything is overgrown here and so there were huge thorn bushes on the sidewalks that kept whapping into our faces as we walked. It really was awesome though. Trust me. We got home and took pictures, because we were all just COVERED, actually no, i was COVERED everyone else wasn't at all, which i don't get but you know... Stepping in HUGE puddles just comes with the job here I think. It's awesome.
Anyway, that's all I got for now, glad to hear some of you creepers got to check us out on the webcam lol!
I think there is a new one up now w/ like sound and zoom and stuff. I don't really know.
I must go and eat lunch but Love you all!!
-brooke
2nd week down, 8 to go! Time is flying by like mad, it is really so great here though.
This week we went to bateys which are like Plantations (there are like banana trees and plantane trees) that were once overtaken by Americans and the Dominicans were forced to work for a small amount but then the Dominicans got sick of it and went on strike so the Americans left and now the Dominicans just live there kind of in there own small commune, it's actually pretty cool. We taught at the Kunane Daycare center there which is similar to like a Child Protective services kind of thing.
The kids we worked with were age 5 and under, all adorable and sometimes hard to make listen but it was never overwhelming really -- It began to just be "okay" if they were screaming and crying and not listening to you attempt to read Jonah and the Whale in spanish. It was a fun experience though.
We eat really good here, I don't know if I mentioned that really -- my favorite meal is this like, slop stuff, I guess that's the best word to describe it, lol. You get white rice and then this chicken and carrots and potato slop stuff on top, it's really good.
I am so thankful to have my new digital camera here, I am taking some awesome pictures that I already cherish.
It's Saturday which means old people leave and new people come. Saturdays are always weird. A few of my favorite people left today -- it's weird because it def. is sad that they are going but it's already like home here for me so even though I miss them very much I also know that I have great people to get to know better still and stuff. Jesus works in great and mysterious ways.
God is teaching me so much down here -- I never really just embraced Him so much as I have been here, there are a lot of things you know are going on and you believe with your faith but until you actually have the feelings caused by that truth you really don't know how great God is.
So the other day, we walked to Church which is about a mile and a half away from the Orphanage, a group took the bus but me and some of my friends walked. At church it started raining and on our way home we were like, wahtev, we will walk and then it was SO incredibly muddy, we were all in skirts in flip-flops attempting to pick up our feet but finding them getting stuck more often than anything. It was my friends Rachelle, Kelly and I and we stared singing "How Great is My God", it was really hilarious because we ended getting picked up by the bus. At one point we got off the road because it was so muddy and got on the sidewalk, well for the most part everything is overgrown here and so there were huge thorn bushes on the sidewalks that kept whapping into our faces as we walked. It really was awesome though. Trust me. We got home and took pictures, because we were all just COVERED, actually no, i was COVERED everyone else wasn't at all, which i don't get but you know... Stepping in HUGE puddles just comes with the job here I think. It's awesome.
Anyway, that's all I got for now, glad to hear some of you creepers got to check us out on the webcam lol!
I think there is a new one up now w/ like sound and zoom and stuff. I don't really know.
I must go and eat lunch but Love you all!!
-brooke
Saturday, May 31, 2008
I made it safe and sound!
hey everyone,
I have been here a week now and things are going good.
This past week we taught in the schools, we were in groups of 4 and I had 2 second grade classes. The kids are so greatful and excited to have us here - we get a lot of honor for so little that we are actually doing or giving up. It is a blessing to be here.
If you want to be creepy I guess there is a website where you can watch our commons, so watch us eat.
the address is http://oocam.hopto.org
username: default
like i said, it'd be creepy if you did that, but if you want to, the option is there. We eat there or read there or play games there sometimes, you could watch me beat Josh Hill in connect four if you wanted.
The first day I got here, I was kind of wondering what I was doing, but things have transitioned well and I have made a lot of really good friends/met a lot of really great caring, Jesus loving and serving people here.
I haven't gotten a single mosquito bite since I have gotten here, I am taking B complex vitamins and Garlic pills and it really is doing the trick. Thank God I have that.
I met a lot of people this week, great people, who left today and last night. It's funny though because whenever someone leaves they give me a lot of useful stuff for me to have and use the rest of the summer. I got a couple new pairs of capris and a lightweight umbrella (for the sun, some days it's too much when you are walking) and also, my favorite gift, this mini fan/flashflight. It's cool for people to be so giving, and I appreciate it so much.
The school we worked at was 2 miles away, and we walked to the school twice and thus back to the orphanage twice also -- we went to school four times this week so that means we walked... (carry the one...) 32 miles this week. Not that big of an accomplishment, lol, but we just thought it was cool. We don't have much to think is cool now a days. :o)
On Sundays Eric leads a little His House pretty much here, and Josh leads the music, there is usually about 10 of us... it's really awesome.
We also do worship at random times, my friend Rachelle and I break into Jesus song often. It's good to have found some crazy people already, crazy in general and for Christ. That is really awesome and helpful.
Praying things will only get greater. Thank you all for your support to get me down here, now that I am here I love it and already am planning trips back.
I think a lot of people will love it here, especially Mo (my sister), I hope she comes down here sometime.
Anyway, my time is up, I love you all, and miss you all, send me love.
God bless you, and keep you,
-Brooke
I have been here a week now and things are going good.
This past week we taught in the schools, we were in groups of 4 and I had 2 second grade classes. The kids are so greatful and excited to have us here - we get a lot of honor for so little that we are actually doing or giving up. It is a blessing to be here.
If you want to be creepy I guess there is a website where you can watch our commons, so watch us eat.
the address is http://oocam.hopto.org
username: default
like i said, it'd be creepy if you did that, but if you want to, the option is there. We eat there or read there or play games there sometimes, you could watch me beat Josh Hill in connect four if you wanted.
The first day I got here, I was kind of wondering what I was doing, but things have transitioned well and I have made a lot of really good friends/met a lot of really great caring, Jesus loving and serving people here.
I haven't gotten a single mosquito bite since I have gotten here, I am taking B complex vitamins and Garlic pills and it really is doing the trick. Thank God I have that.
I met a lot of people this week, great people, who left today and last night. It's funny though because whenever someone leaves they give me a lot of useful stuff for me to have and use the rest of the summer. I got a couple new pairs of capris and a lightweight umbrella (for the sun, some days it's too much when you are walking) and also, my favorite gift, this mini fan/flashflight. It's cool for people to be so giving, and I appreciate it so much.
The school we worked at was 2 miles away, and we walked to the school twice and thus back to the orphanage twice also -- we went to school four times this week so that means we walked... (carry the one...) 32 miles this week. Not that big of an accomplishment, lol, but we just thought it was cool. We don't have much to think is cool now a days. :o)
On Sundays Eric leads a little His House pretty much here, and Josh leads the music, there is usually about 10 of us... it's really awesome.
We also do worship at random times, my friend Rachelle and I break into Jesus song often. It's good to have found some crazy people already, crazy in general and for Christ. That is really awesome and helpful.
Praying things will only get greater. Thank you all for your support to get me down here, now that I am here I love it and already am planning trips back.
I think a lot of people will love it here, especially Mo (my sister), I hope she comes down here sometime.
Anyway, my time is up, I love you all, and miss you all, send me love.
God bless you, and keep you,
-Brooke
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