Mi hermana

(photo original posted on Jo‘s blog)

Here's a pic of my little sister and I. Keep in mind that it was taken at about Midnight. More holiday pics to come!

tick tock

1 week to go! So much to do. I can't believe it's here. Ahhh, these bitter sweet days.

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:1-20 NASB
Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Visas

Nolan and I got our visas today! yay! My plane ticket is now official! It's really happening.

Fool

Ok, so I had a moment on the plane to day as I flew to Atlanta. It was one of those doubting moments, a "Thomas" moment if ou will. Doubting why I am doing what I am. I felt foolish for giving up the comfortable for the unknow. For moving to a place where I barely speak the language. For not taking a real job. But thankfully, as He always does, God, through His word comforts me.

18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29so that no man may boast before God.
30But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

1st Corinthians 1:18-31

Yes, He chose the foolish thing of the world to shame the wise. I am foolish, but it is for a purpose that is greater than I. I must boast in the Lord!

Home again, home again.

Well, made it back home this afternoon. 2 days to rest and then off to Atlanta to get my Visa and hang with Nolan & "S".

Jan. 5th is the offical date of the BIG move. I have the reservations and will have the actual plane ticket once I get my Visa on Thursday. It's quite odd looking at a one way ticket.

"Then the Lord said, 'Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.' Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, and whose deeds are done in a dark place, and they say, 'Who sees us?' or 'Who knows us?',You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, that what is made would say to its maker, 'He did not make me'; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, 'He has no understanding'?"
Isaiah 29:13-16 NASB

Life goes on...

Chronicles of Narnia- One word, AMAZING! "He is not a tame lion, but He is a good lion"!!!! (ahh, so much truth in that statement...)

5 days until I head home to Nashville.

7 days until I go to Atlanta and chill for a week while I wait on my visa. Thankfully, one of the guys going to Mexico lives there so we can go together to get our visas. I'm going to stay with one of the girls who's going Asia b/c she too lives there. It should be fun!

10 days until I'm finally home for more than a few days. Hopefully I will get to enjoy the holidays with the fam!

13 days or so until the move. Mexico City or Bust!!!!!!!! CrAzY!!!!!

"Time files where there is so much to be done and not time to sit and ponder"

Stuff

(left to right, front row- "S", Kristen, Kelly, me. Back rown l to r- Josh, Em, Nolan)
Yet another trip to Casa Grande to partake of the white cheese dip that I will no longer be able to enjoy in Mexico.

In other news, I have found out some more info about my roomie! I am super excited about having a roommate again. Hopefully, it will be as wonderful as my last one! Also, I found out that I will be teaching a plethora subjects and grade levels!

Time here is quickly wrapping up. I can't believe that next week is our last week here. What amazing people I have been blessed to get to know. What knowledge that I have seen displayed. What wisdom I have seen exemplified. God has really used this time to change my thinking on some things as well as to begin to prepare me for things to come.

We have begun to study Romans. What a relevant book to the people I will be serving. God is really teaching me SOOOOOOOO much. I don't know that I have really had a chance to process all the information and things that I've been taught in my time here. One day when I have time to sit and think...

SnOw!

That's right folks! It snowed. So much fun- snowball fights, sledding, making snowmen, and snow angels!! This will probably be the last snow that I see for a while. Actually, I think it snowed much more here than it ever does in Nashville.



In other news, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe comes out in theatres on Friday. I have a ticket! Aslan is on the move!!!!

More RaNdOm pics!

Here are some more random pics. I promise an update of substance in the near future.

Who know what this little diddy is? Any guesses?

Does this help?

Hangin' out with Eloise. If you haven't seen her missions promo videos, you so need to see them. Way too funny. Let's just say that she's the hippest grandmas around. Fo' Rizzles.

We went on a Safari to Africa?! Ok, well, maybe we're haning out in Gordon Fort's office at the IMB? (Left to Right- Heather. Erika, animal head, Carlos, Josh-behind, Lily, Fort, front row- Nolan, and me- yes I know my eyes are cloes. They have a funny way of doing that just about every time I'm in a picture.)