Adventures with Amber

2007-08-30T00:36:00.000-04:00

A NEW Ministry in Longview/Kelso

The Vine is a new ministry for college students and young adults right here in our own Cowlitz County. I am excited to watch the Lord unite this generation, build them up in Him and send them out to spread His message. We are trusting Him to work in and through them, changing lives as He calls His children to Himself.

The verse that inspired this ministry is out of John 15:5. It is so important that we abide in Him, because when we do He will produce much fruit within our lives and in the lives of others. We must also be very aware that apart from Him we can do nothing!

So as details of The Vine are coming together and we are in constant prayer of what all the Lord has in mind, I would ask you to consider what type of role you would like to play. Will you be a prayer warrior for this ministry and the generation that it touches? Do you want to become a financial partner with "The Vine"? Are you in a place where you could help serve this ministry and the students in other ways?

I would invite any ideas and/or contacts of people that you know who are between the ages of 18-25. I will post more information as it becomes available. May God truly bless you as you abide in Him.

2007-08-13T20:38:00.000-04:00

Benefit Dinner!

Come and enjoy…
A Summer’s Night in Paradise

A benefit dinner complete with a catered
buffet and live music!!! This event is
taking place to help Amber Coons raise
money to be in full-time ministry this year
with Campus Crusade for Christ.

When: Sunday, August 26th at 6:15pm
Where: 1323 Commerce Ave. in Longview
Cost: $22.50 per person (please RSVP and purchase
tickets before if possible, we are hoping to get
an accurate count for food and expenses.
however, NO ONE will be turned away at the
door… so buy your friends tickets too!)

Need tickets? Please visit 1323 Commerce Ave,

Monday-Saturday from 11am-3pm

Want more information? Please email
Amber at ms_ivy21@hotmail.com

2007-07-17T22:09:00.000-04:00

Worshipping with the Nations

I returned from Busan, Korea about a week ago. There were 24 of us who went from Venezuela to CM2007. It was exciting to meet with the Lord, watch our key students from Venezuela impacted by a vision and calling to reach the lost, and (my favorite) to worship with the Nations.

For 10 days, students from around the world were trained on ways of effectively sharing their faith and then challenged to go out and reach their campuses for Christ. It was so encouraging to see the way that the Holy Spirit moved throughout the week. I was, and am, in awe of God. There is such an overwhelming bigness about Him and yet He is so personal and into every detail of my life.

Please join me in praying that as the students are now back in their respective countries, they will go out and share about Christ with boldness and clarity. May the Lord become famous throughout EVERY nation!

“The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

2007-05-29T22:33:00.000-04:00

Home... with Culture Shock

In my opinion, these two don’t belong together. Home is a place that is comfortable and routine; where as culture shock is experiencing something completely new and foreign.

I left Venezuela for a short while to come home and rest, as well as raise my support for the next year of ministry. I’ve been back in the States for about 4 days and here are just a few things that I find myself surprised by…

- toilet paper in public restrooms (along with soap and paper towels)
- driving my car and wondering how I ever survived without this freedom and luxury
- an entire isle of toothpaste and deodorant options (often times we didn’t even have bread and/or milk in our grocery stores)
- paying over $5 for a coffee, when I’m used to paying maybe 50 cents (I must add that the price also speaks for the quality of taste)
- kissing cheeks as I greet people (them questioning my intentions…)
- putting toilet paper down the toilet, instead of in the garbage next to the toilet
- enjoying foods that aren’t breaded and fried (praise the LORD for healthier options)
- seeing many dogs... but here each one has an owner
- understanding every conversation going on around me (and being distracted by it)
- not being gawked and stared at all day because of how much I stand out
- seeing that gas costs $3.49 per gallon versus 7 cents

I feel like I could go on and on about the differences between my home in Washington State and my home in Merida, Venezuela. My heart will forever be split between the two. Why? Because of the people that I love in each country.
The Lord has truly blessed me in both places and He will continue to show His faithfulness as I walk through this unfamiliar season of transition. He is the pillar that I lean on, the strength that I seek, and my reason to sing.

2007-04-21T11:53:00.000-04:00

Team Time

As I have begun to realize that my time left on STInt this year is coming to an end… it causes me to reflect on those who have made this year so memorable. My team has been there for me through everything from my numerous faintings to a laugh that can be heard throughout the entire city of Merida. They make me smile by the hour and take an interest in my tears. Each one of them has changed me as a person and challenged me to pursue the Lord and His will. I am blessed that God chose me to serve with them this year in Venezuela. We do everything together: work, live, play, travel, work some more, get each other hooked on TV series and books, cook, clean, shop, laugh, cry, and MORE. These four people are more than my team; they are like family and some of my closest friends…

So if you haven’t met them and maybe won’t ever get the privilege, allow me to introduce you to them (in alphabetical order) as well as tell you a great quality about them…

Bryon – my “boss” and a person who loves to learn; whether it is several languages or the true meaning of being a man after God’s own heart. Who knows where the Lord will take Him in the future… somewhere across the world or maybe all over the world. He has such an adventurous perspective on life. (Bryon, wherever you go just remember that this sorority girl is wishing that she still had you as a workout buddy.)

Claudia – my “G” and a woman who makes me feel incredibly special. She is such a selfless person who is a blast to hang out with. I can laugh with her about absolutely nothing at all. She is more than patient with my lack of Spanish skills and always willing to teach me how to cook a new Venezuelan dish. (Claudia, we really are twins. Who knew that I had to come to Venezuela to find my other half?! I can’t wait to spend all next year with you!)

Emily – Miss Witty. She’s not only funny; she’s wise. Her knowledge of the Bible is amazing. She is always willing to share, from a word of encouragement to a cup of coffee. I haven’t stopped laughing since Day Spa met Cowgirl! (Emily, thank you for seeking after the Lord with all your heart. It has been a great year and I’m excited to see how the Lord will continue to use you.)

Sam – mi sobrino (nephew) and a man who loves well. He has a memory like nobody else I know. He remembers everything, but what impresses me is how well he listens to every word that I have ever said and remembers it word for word. He has such a teachable heart. (Sam, you are such a blessing. I still can’t believe that you remember all the rules from day one. Keep impersonating the “keepers” in this world.)

I love you all and can't imagine Venezuela without all of you next year. Thank you for loving well and investing in me this past year. We still have 5 weeks together, so let's continue to live, laugh, and love life together!

2007-04-01T08:44:00.000-04:00

Sharing…

To my family and friends: Most of you know that I have been dealing with various health issues off and on for the past 7 months since living in Venezuela. I finally went to the hospital in December to try and get some answers, but left empty handed. So I continued living and just adjusted to never feeling completely “up to par.” My health continued to be a problem and this past week, my team had had enough. On Sunday night when I couldn’t hide the intense pain, the authority in my life said, “You are going to the hospital. This is not okay.” So after putting it off all week, I finally went to the hospital this past Friday morning. I went in thinking that we would once again leave without any answers. However…

*Diphyllobothrium Latum*
Not such a friendly name... but at least I found the "prettiest" picture for your formal introduction to my "lessons". I mean seriously, it's PINK!

I would like to introduce you to... well I can’t say friends (because I am trying to kill them). I don’t want to put them up with my family, even though I have spent a significant amount of time with them these past 6 months. They could be referred to as part of my team, since we have been doing ministry together for so long; with no help from them. But instead, I will refer to them as “my lesson.” These little “lessons” are teaching me how to share. You see, I share everything with them. They are currently overtaking my system and yet they choose to thank me with pain. I share (they steal) my vitamins and nutrients, so that I get to experience clumps of hair falling out at various times. I mean, my “lessons” have literally been free-loading off me for more than half a year! (they are so ungrateful and have quite the nerve to treat me this way… who do they think they are?!)

I could go on and on, but instead I will close by saying thank you for your prayers about my health. Please continue to pray about my “lessons” and that they would quickly die. Also that I wouldn’t have side effects to the strong dosage of medication that I need to take, in order to rid my body of them. Most importantly, please pray that the Lord would continue to teach me and mold me into the woman that He created me to be. GRACIAS!

2007-03-18T16:16:00.000-04:00

My TWIN!

Let me introduce you to my friend, roommate, co-worker, “G” and twin. Her name is Claudia Banquez. Now I know what you are thinking…

She is black, I am white.
She is tall, I am short.
She has dark eyes, mine are clear.
She is thin, I am thick.
She is from Venezuela, I am from The States.
She speaks Spanish, I speak English.
She is a busybody, I am more laid back.
She is practical, I am sentimental.
She likes cats, I love dogs.
She walks, I run.
Her love language is quality time, mine is words.

Sure, we have our differences. But she and I are like two peas in a pod. Sometimes we just look at each other and wonder if we were separated at birth. One day we were getting ready to go to campus and as we both exited our separate rooms, we just stopped and looked at each other. There we both were, standing in front of each other with the same exact two colors on (see picture).

Praise the Lord for my sister. She is my “G” and I am blessed to have her in my life. God willing, she and I will have another year together in ministry next year in Merida. Will you please join us in prayer as we ask the Lord to call people by name to serve with us here in this beautiful place that we are privileged to call home.

2007-02-10T09:44:00.000-04:00

Praying, Trusting, and Waiting

I work with a ministry of college students called Vida Estudiantil here in Merida, VZ. There have been 8 students accepted to go to Korea this summer for an international conference called CM2007. We are expecting around 20,000 students from over 100 different countries. I am excited to see all that God will do during this week. Fortunately, the Lord has called me to go as well. This is a privilege and an honor, even though a little odd because I will be representing Venezuela instead of the United States...

Anyways, these 8 students (pictured above: Neptali, JJ, Jesus, Gonzolo, Leonel and Keren, Lucia, Elvia) are trusting the Lord for the impossible. As a team, they need to raise $24,000 to get to and from Korea; as well as the expenses while they are there. This will be nothing short of a miracle. Let me put this into perspective... the average rent for a family per month is around $150. This family is usually made up of several people from multiple generations. In other words, each student is being asked to raise about 2 years worth of rent... Once again "this will be nothing short of a miracle." However, the students and I are confident that the Lord is completely capable and desires to do the impossible. What a testimony they will have to share about the Lord's faithfulness and provision.

Please join us in prayer. Also we have created a video to spread the word and share the vision and hearts of these students. You can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKTG0gTfcVQ. We would love for you to share it with your church during a service, your Bible study/home group, friends and family, etc. The more people praying and helping to spread the word, the better. Pray that these students would rely solely on the Lord throughout this process and that their dependence on Him would grow immensely. We look forward to all that the Lord will do and the testimonies that we will be able to share with others. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Blessings to you and those who are loved by you...

2007-01-18T18:27:00.000-04:00

The "Trip" - during break...

Well over the Christmas break my entire team went to Los Llanos. Which I think is great, but seeing as how I was the only one (from my team) who wasn’t going I felt really left out and sad. (I didn’t go because my parents were here in Merida to visit me and the three of us ended up going to Los Nevados instead.)

I guess I threw a big enough fit; because my team took action did something about my sour attitude. They photocopied my head, blew it up, glued it to cardboard, and then taped my head to a large spoon. They took “me” along and included me in everything! Aren’t they great?!

I may not remember much… but apparently I didn’t have to be in Los Llanos to gain an admirer. Luis saw my face and was apparently quite interested. Humorous, huh?

2007-01-10T19:44:00.000-04:00

Some Changes - January 10, 2007

Well my parents came to Merida to visit me and it was quite a delight to have them… although I am not sure if they felt the same. Don’t get me wrong, they were happy to see “their girl” but they also got a pretty good run for their money! However, although they may have been in a bit of culture shock, I did go somewhat easy on them.

For example, while they were here I did not hang off any buses, (see photo). When this incident occurred the bus was weaving in and out of traffic, speeding down the busiest road in Merida, and honking its horn. Then there was me (a complete foreigner and “gringa” none the less), hanging off the bus with a huge smile on my face and greeting people on the streets in Spanish as I fly by them. It was great! A thrill for sure.

So even though there were some changes that I needed to make during their visit, my parents put up with me and had some adventures of their own. We hiked/rode mules for 9 miles in the Andes Mountains, rode in a Jeep for 4 hours on the edge of a cliff wondering if this is how the good Lord was going to take us home, ordering off menus in the restaurants and getting a complete surprise, experiencing prejudice, etc. They were real troopers. I’ll claim them as my loving, and fairly adventuresome, parents any day!

2006-12-08T22:08:00.000-04:00

EXTRA, EXTRA, Read All About It! - December 8, 2006

I don't want you to think that I am being lazy, but I do believe in using my time wisely. With that said, I saw my teammate/roommate/friend Emily's last two BLOG entries and they are great! Not only are they great, but both stories involve me and this is my BLOG that you wanted to view. So, even though you are getting the chance to read a different author's work... "Yours Truly" was in the midst of the action while it occurred. It is amazing to me that God chooses to use such a person as me to advance His kingdom. But more than that, He uses Emily and I together. We are very much opposites. I will quote her in order to show you what I mean and you will see that she completely agrees.

"Our team is diverse. There are four of us from the U.S. along with 2 Venezuelan women, and all six of us have very different personalities. Let me give you a tiny glimpse of what I mean. I would describe myself as a shy, soft-spoken Midwestern girl, who’s perfectly at home in a corral full of horses and covered in dirt. In contrast is my teammate Amber: a stiletto-heel wearing, day-spa attending, sorority girl and former American Idol competitor, who in her own words, 'tried to be shy once, but it only lasted 5 minutes.' I love Amber."

As you can see, we are completely different. However, God is using the two of us because where I am weak, she is strong (and hopefully vice versa). Enough said... please visit http://emilypreston.blogspot.com/ and enjoy reading her first two stories "Getting It" and "The Day We Met Natacha." May the Lord continue to be glorified in all things, for He is worthy to be praised!

2006-11-22T19:58:00.000-04:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! - November 22, 2006

Right now I'm writing to you from Maracaibo, which is a city about a 9 hour bus ride (overnight) from Merida. We arrived early Monday morning and will be here until Saturday morning when we fly out of Venezuela for our first VISA renewal trip. While typing, I’m listening to a Spanish singer named Jesús (there is that name again…) Adrian Romero. This singer has completely captured my heart because it doesn’t take long for his songs to put a smile on my face and allow me to relax, well at least somewhat.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day… wow, I just can’t believe it. Where I come from it is cold and rainy on Thanksgiving, but not this year! Even though it is after 7pm, it is still at least 85 degrees outside. However, the weather isn’t the only change for me this year. For the first time, I am away from my family. This truly breaks my heart. If you know me, even a little, you know that I am a completely traditional girl. I love knowing that holidays will always look the same, surrounded with the same people that I love, consumed by familiar smells and sounds, while enjoying the same favorite dishes each and every year.
Even though these past three months, since I have been in Venezuela, have been tough at times and completely exhausting… I still have a lot to be thankful for.
- Jesus Christ, in complete perfection, died for the sins that I continue to commit each and everyday. Not only did he choose to do this, but He WANTED to so that we could spend eternity together.
- I have amazing parents who have raised me in a Godly home and lead by example. They support me in everything (like moving overseas) even though it is hard on them to be left with a hole at home and in their hearts.
- Its been a blessing to see how God uses me in the lives of Alpha Phi’s and other students back at Eastern Washington University. Even now that He could use someone, such as myself, to reach the people in Venezuela. Don’t ask me how He does it!
- I am completely blessed by my prayer partners who lift me up daily in prayer and also those who financially support my ministry. I couldn’t be here without your generosity and I wouldn’t be able to stay here without the prayer support. May God bless you all ten-fold!
- My team in Merida has been there for me and accepted me just as I come. We are all so diverse and yet we continue to mesh and become a family. I pray that we will all continue to daily seek the face of Christ and strive to be more like Him.
Yes, I could go on and on and on! I am thankful for many things, but so thankful that His mercies are new every morning. May you take time within your busy holiday schedules to thank Him for His many blessings! He is so good and He loves blesses, but He always wants to hear a “Thank You” from His precious children.

2006-10-31T22:28:00.000-04:00

Dancin Latin Style - October 28, 2006

Tonight we had a fiesta and dance competition. I went, because it was put on by Vida Estudiantil (which is our ministry), but I was not about to enter the dance competition. Let’s be serious! I can’t dance tango, salsa, or marenga… especially not around some Latin professionals who have been dancing like this since they could stand up in their crib. Well that was my original plan, but I have learned since I arrived in Merida that I need to be flexible.
So, I went and helped in the kitchen for a while, and opened the door to invite people in, knowing perfectly well that I was avoiding the dance floor. Well I couldn’t avoid it anymore… so I decided to be a wall-flower. Yep, I know me?! A wall-flower?! Hard to believe. Then the guys started asking me to dance and I couldn’t decline because they were going to teach me how. I ended up dancing with a few of them, until Deivi asked me to compete with him. I thought he was crazy! Finally I caved in and we signed up as a dancing pair. We danced and we danced and we danced. It was so fun. He taught me the different ways they dance down here and I stumble through the steps. Some of the music was from American so I could dance “normally.”
At the end of the night they handed out some awards and I received the award for the female with the best moves (mejores pasos). Here is my question… do they really think this? Or are they simply being nice to the white girl?!

2006-10-15T08:39:00.000-04:00

Cristo, Merida es Tuyo - October 12, 2006

Today was a holiday here in Venezuela, I believe it’s Columbus Day. Since it is a holiday, the students don’t go to campus and therefore we are somewhat out of our formal work for a day. However, the day was not wasted. Downtown in "el centro", there was a Marcha para Cristo. We didn’t have to go, but I wanted to for the experience. I didn’t really know what a March for Jesus was about and since I am a Christian, I figured that I would help represent my Savior… not really knowing what this would entail.
Let me tell you it was amazing! There were so many people who showed up and we started at Plaza Milla and marched through the streets of Merida for over 2 hours until we reached another plaza. The entire time worship music was blasting and people were singing, dancing, and worshiping the Lord. They were passing out tracks to those who were on the sides of the streets. When we reached our destination, most everyone stayed and continued to worship the Lord in Spanish. It was so cool, for the first time I really realized that I am not in this fight alone down here. I was refreshed and filled with hope that these people loved the Holy God like I did.
But wait! There is more… something really cool happened. At one of the main intersections of traffic the whole march stopped while a church did a skit/dance about Jesus and how He died for our sins on the cross. I was standing there observing the performance and worshipping while the music (in English) blasted. As I took in my surroundings, I saw one of the student leaders, Teo, leading a woman to Christ nearby. After she had prayed to receive Christ, I went over there and Teo asked me to lay hands on her and pray for her. So I did and the woman was in tears. She said that she wanted to meet us later to worship the Lord for finding her that day, when life has been such an enormous struggle lately.
Wow! God is so amazing and His way of setting up divine appointments is incredible. This lady was merely sitting there, when God said “Go” and Teo went to share the gospel with her. She said that the entire march made her feel alive and happy and she wasn’t sure why… until Teo shared about Christ. It was a privilege to take part of an international march for my loving Savior. I am blessed!

(Sorry, the pictures still aren't working... I will keep trying. And if anyone has any suggestions on what is going on, PLEASE let me know. Thanks!)

2006-10-15T08:26:00.000-04:00

Nothing...

Hey there! This is a post about nothing... since it will only let me post a pic twice and then it won't let me, I have to post this so that my next post can include a picture. Which is so much better and way more fun! Anyways, this may be nothing, but with Christ in you life YOU ARE SOMETHING! ~Blessings~

2006-10-04T18:09:00.000-04:00

WHO... me?!?! - October 4, 2006

Yep, it's true! God actually used me. It still amazes me that my job is to tell others about JESUS! We usually share in pairs and I am the one who starts the conversation with the little Spanish that I know and then one of my teammates takes over the conversation in Spanish while I pray that the Holy Spirit will move. Sure, it is so important to pray… but I long to be used in a way that He can use me to help show others to Himself.
Well today was that day! Emily and I went out to share and I started the conversation (like usual…) with two girls and as the four of us were conversing, a third girl walked up. Somehow Emily and one girl got to talking which left the two other girls and I with very little to talk about. We small talked some more, when I decided that I may not be perfect at Spanish, but I trust that God can use the Holy Spirit to speak through me. Well He did just that! After a conversation about Christ and I shared the gospel with them, along with the concept of grace and abundant life. They both decided to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! Can you believe it?!?! God is so good! Once again, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness that this is my “job” for the next year… what a pleasure and a BLESSING!
May Jesus become more real to you this year. My prayer is that you fall more in love with the gospel and realize exactly how God bridged the gap between us and Him by sending His perfect Son, to die on a cross for someone like you and I. Now, that is grace! A gift that I sure don’t deserve… but will gladly accept!

2006-09-28T17:07:00.000-04:00

Spreading... What Exactly? - September 28, 2006

Well I thought I was called to spread the Good News here in Venezuela, but to be quite honest I feel as though I am just supposed to spread the local bacteria… either that or maybe I was sent here to catch it and carry that burden for the people of Venezuela. Let me explain… as I sit here typing this entry, I have been in bed for the past two days with a bad case of the flu. I wont try and describe it for you, because whatever comes with the flu (any type of flu) that is what I am experiencing.
On Monday, I had an interesting occurrence. I was in the shower and started to lose my vision. So I turned off the water and leaned against the wall. The next thing I know, I regained consciousness and noticed that I was laying on the shower floor and my head was bleeding. I called out for my roommate, Emily, and then proceeded to pass out again. More happened, but you do have a life other than reading my blog…
In conclusion, it just seems that since I got to Merida I have been struggling with either the food, the water, the BUGS or the way that they bite me non-stop, and everything else. I don’t want to complain… but I am quite frustrated. I just want to go on campus and share the gospel with those who want to hear about my loving Savior and how He has a plan for their life. Until that day comes, I will continue to pray for health and intercede for my team who is out working when I am unable to do so.

2006-09-25T22:28:00.000-04:00

"The Talk" - September 15, 2006

Setting: the four roommates (Emily, Claudia, Angye, and myself) sitting on our living room couches, completely exhausted from a day’s work but ready to figure out the rules when it comes to living together. Living together on top of working, playing, worshiping, meeting, etc… can often make things difficult and a little bit smothering.
Emily: “Okay, girls… it’s apartment time. Basically we need to talk and figure out what we all expect of each other, so that we can love and serve each other well this year.”
We all smile, but no one really speaks up. So me (being me) says, “I’ll go! I’ll go! Well, I just want to let ya’ll know that I am so excited about living with you this year. Living with three women besides myself doesn’t scare me in the least, because I used to live with 20 women!” They girls look at me, because I must be crazy. I continue, “You are a blessing to me because I have never lived with all believers before, just to know that were are all here to serve the One, True God is just amazing to me. As for what I expect, I don’t do well on little sleep. Therefore, I would really appreciate the apartment having a decent amount of quiet hours… other than that I don’t have many expectations.” I stop talking, but continue smiling; the girls aren't sure what to do and/or what to think of me. I am sure that their thoughts consist of: she may think she is easy to get along with, but we will see about that! 20 women… who is this girl?! Maybe if we aren’t quiet at night, she will be sleep deprived resulting in less energy, now that is an idea! (and on and on…) All jokes aside, my roommates have been a complete blessing from the Lord. He has provided people with a ton of patience, because living with me will test them. I am a roller coaster; super excited about life and then so tired that if you want to talk to me I can’t think about anything other than a nap. Sometimes I am thrilled about this new adventure of being in Venezuela, and other times I am so home/culture sick I am sure that I can’t go on. But God knows me well and still He puts up with me; He set me up with some amazing teammates. I am sure that throughout this year, I will become more like Jesus, because of the women that they are.

2006-09-23T16:53:00.000-04:00

New Flavor of Fun - September 10, 2006
Tonight during “team time” we went to a heladeria that is in the Guinness Book of World Records. They have had and currently have an incredible amount of flavors. Our team got some of the outrageous flavors of ice cream… Emily ordered coconut peanut as well as ginger. Bryon received beer with a side of rice. Then there was Samurai who went traditional ham and cheese, salmon, and cinnamon. My choices may let you down, but I wanted to actually enjoy the ice cream so I chose pumpkin and cinnamon. With our ice cream in hand, we proceeded to a nearby plaza to laugh our heads off (this happens a lot when our team is all together). We each had to create a flavor of ice cream, name it, and explain how the ice cream represents the creator. After waking up all of Merida, with our laughter; Bryon let me take pictures, like crazy, with his camera. We were your typical tourists tonight and it was GREAT!

2006-09-16T15:30:00.000-04:00

A Bull Fight Surprise - September 9, 2006

Well our team has decided to attend a bull fight. This seemed exciting, because I pictured that it would be like a rodeo. It wasn’t until we had taken a two hour bus ride to Tovar and were sitting inside the arena, when Bryon (my fearless leader) turns to me and says, “Now you do know that this will be a little bloody right?” Bloody… what was he talking about? What exactly had I agreed to come to? Bryon continued to explain everything and I was in shock. I could not believe that they would take someone as sheltered as me to something straight out of a gory film… but hey then again I had seen a real gun about to fired at a human being two days prior. So I guess the whole theory of being sheltered is over for this girl.
As the bull fight started I wasn’t sure if I was going to get sick, so even though I was beyond hungry I wasn’t about to eat something only to spew it up before too long. The first bull was the smallest of all seven and it was completely shocking for me. Let me see if I can paint a picture for you… four gringos (white people) sitting in the arena. Not only do we stick out, but we were completely noticed because I was the cute blonde gringa that was gasping right and left, yelling for them to “Stop that” and my eyes were tearing up for most of the show. I am pretty sure that the Venezuelans got their monies worth that day. Not only did they get a bull fight, but they got a hyperventilating foreigner. Once I got over the initial shock, I figured that I should take some pictures to prove that I actually went and experienced all of this! A bull fight is something that is so normal for this culture... not to mention something else that is normal, on the way out I had to pay money for toilet paper and use of the bathroom. A bathroom that is worse than an outhouse in the States! Wow, just another adventure here in Venezuela.

2006-09-09T11:16:00.000-04:00

My Venezuelan Alarm Clock = Gun Shots - September 7, 2006

Oh… the difference of Merida, Venezuela and my home in Longview, Washington. Right now it is 4:57am and for the last half hour (or so) this is what happened…

I woke up abruptly to some shouts and starting praising God that I had actually slept well, since the last three nights I haven’t slept hardly at all and up until the shouting/fighting I had slept like a rock! Praise the LORD.
THEN I heard a gun shot, then another, and a ton of screaming. I look out my bedroom window and see about 10-15 people in a huge brawl. They proceed to fight, push, yell (Emily says that they’re cursing). The fighting continues and then after 10 minutes, mas o menos, 3 guys start to walk off. One of them has a much ripped shirt, which is falling off him. These guys are heading toward the gate to leave my complex. THEN right in front of my bedroom window, I see a guy with a huge barrel gun creeping up behind the 3 guys who are walking toward the gate. His gun is positioned to fire and he is pointing it at one of the three guys.
Of course this action is noticed by the others who were involved in the last fight and more commotion breaks out… guys screaming, girls wailing at the top of their lungs, and curse words flying.
Needless to say, I am scared. I have never seen a gun in my life, let alone one that is pointed at a human being and the person behind the gun has every intention of firing. There is a huge gun right outside my bedroom window that has already been fired twice and it about to release its third fire. It is pointed at a potential victim. I’ve definitely never seen this before. I feel like I am watching a movie, but instead I am pinching myself to realize that this is not something being controlled by a predetermined storyline.
Emily came out of her room and I went to her. She woke up because she smelled the gunpowder, which was her alarm clock this morning… She is calling Bryon to let him know and I am asking if we should call the police. One problem, Em doesn’t know how to call the police. This is NOT GOOD…
The commotion continues until finally the police (2 policemen… that is it!) show up, along with an ambulance. I don’t know how severe the gun shot wounds are. I am thankful that I didn’t witness a murder first hand… but man, oh man, did I see the gun! It was huge and right in front of my window.
All of this happened, mind you, in a gated and “secure” apartment complex. It takes me 4 different keys to get into my actual apartment, but apparently I am not as sheltered as I would like to think. Like Emily said, “We can’t keep the bad guys out, but apparently we can keep them in…” What she means is that not only do we need keys to get into the apartment complex, but we also need a key to get out of our building and the entire complex. So the guys, who were getting shot at, couldn’t leave because they most likely don’t have a key to get out. Interesting… Like I said, there were only 2 police officers that showed up… are you kidding me? Lord, my prayer is that you will be my hedge of protection. I am just a small girl in a huge foreign country. I need you to be my eyes, my ears, and my shield of protection. May you be the wall in between any harm and myself. I trust you and I love you. Be my comfort in these hard times.

**Side note – Before I went to my Spanish class, I got an e-mail from my mother. She was telling me how God had woken her up really early last night and told her to pray. Isn’t is awesome how God takes care of me and urges my prayer warriors to pray, even though they have no idea what is going on. He is such a powerful God, yet so personal.
May you be encouraged in knowing that Christ has your best interests at heart, even if this world puts you through hard times. People will always fail you, but God will NEVER fail you. Who are you going to trust?
My prayer is that God will bless you and keep you safe until we meet again, may you search after Him with all that you are. When He blesses your socks off, may you give Him and only Him praise for all that He has done. Blessings!

2006-09-07T13:10:00.000-04:00

Supporting this Ministry

If you want to support my ministry in Merida, Venezuela please visit https://give.ccci.org/give/0584128 to make a donation online. Please feel free to ask questions if you have them. Thank you and may God truly bless you!

2006-09-07T12:16:00.000-04:00

It's Hard Being Stared at All Day! - September 2, 2006

Well a lot has happened since I last wrote on the plane going to Caracas. While we were on the plane I was warned that the boys in Venezuela would think that I am gorgeous, due to my light colored hair and bright blue eyes. I was not to smile at them, because a smile didn’t just mean I was friendly. Instead in this culture, I was not to make eye contact and if eye contact was made then I was to look away. Never was I to smile because then they would think that I was interested in being pursued. Now if you know me this is very hard… due to the fact that I usually smile and everyone and not just a smile but a friendly hello! This really bothered me because I wasn’t going to be able to be myself without getting into trouble. So I shed a few tears and then determined that instead of changing my personality, I would simply become an actress. I would assume the personality of a stuck up snob, I would be better than anyone and therefore not smiling and/or saying hello. I had a hard time with this at first because I thought that they would be offended and I most definitely didn’t want to offend them, but instead this is just how the culture is. Not smiling is normal, smiling means you are interested and wanting to be pursued. Wow! What a concept.
Once we arrived we found ourselves heading for customs. As I approached the counter, Emily asked if I wanted her to go first… I guess because she knew what she was doing and she could warn the worker that I was coming next and didn’t speak Spanish. I said that it didn’t matter to me and I would just go first, so I did. The guy was very cute, but it took a “hola” then a clearing which lead to me saying “gracias.” I was through. Well that wasn’t so bad. Once I was across I waited for Emily and her experience took quite a bit longer. I thought it was just because she wanted to start practicing her Spanish, so I wanted. Finally she was let through and she immediately said, “Well case and point.” I didn’t understand what she meant by that. She merely looked at me and said, “You wanna know why that took so long? Because he was talking to me about you. He wanted to know if we were friends, if you had a boyfriend, and everything else about you. I asked him if it was because of your blue eyes and light hair. And he replied by saying that it was everything about you. You are the picture of perfection.” Once I heard these words come out of her mouth, I immediately started to laugh. This guy has got to be taking drugs. Sure, I am attractive… but let’s be serious, the picture of perfection!! What a laugh. So we continued to the baggage claim, through the airport and out the doors to catch our taxi; all the while noticing that apparently I am some type of movie star in this part of the world. This is definitely going to take some time to get used to.
While riding in our taxi I noticed that Venezuela reminds me a lot of Mexico, where I have been several times. Therefore, I didn’t really think this was going to be all that hard… We got to the hotel and slept like a rock, woke up and had breakfast as a team. What did my first Venezuelan breakfast look like, you ask? Well I had pineapple and black beans (or pina y frijoles negro). I know, I know, I am fluent already. After breakfast we had some time before the next taxi so I listened to music out by the pool.
Once at the Caracas airport, they informed me that my carryon was much too big and they would need to check it. So off went all of my bags, all I had was my laptop and purse. We safely arrived in Merida and were greeted by several students who wanted to know why I don’t speak Spanish… that wasn’t very encouraging. I instantly got frustrated with myself for not being able to speak good Spanish and I had only been there for an hour. We got settled into the Posada and went out exploring the sites and to make phone calls home letting our family know that we had arrived safely. I decided that I wanted to go back and take pictures of the Posada for my mom so that I could e-mail them to her and let her see what she could possibly stay at when she comes to Merida. When I got back I realized that my camera had been stolen. I was so upset that the people at the Caracas airport had taken advantage of me and the carry on that needed to be checked. I instantly burst into tears. I was upset with the situation and the fact that I felt selfish. It was only a camera… one that I could afford to buy another. But still, it wasn’t their right to take it. The charged me to check my luggage and then they stole my camera! LAME! Of course, this meant that I would go back to the phone place to call my mom and cry to her. After that I spent some time on the internet, writing to people. I needed specifics prayers now. My heart was hard towards the people and this culture, I was angry and it was getting the best of my thoughts and emotions. I was pissed off that the people, who I came here to serve and love, only treated me like a worthless cute American girl.
The very next day I got sick. I felt horrible. I was frustrated and now sick! Emily prayed for me and God has mercy. He healed me almost instantly so that I could go about my day and get done what I needed to. Then came time to ride the bus for the first time. It was a little different than the Spokane system that I was used to. When Sam, my teammate, was getting off the bus some guys were being really pushy. After we had gotten off the bus and ran into Bryon, on his motto, Sam realized that he has in fact gotten pick pocketed. About $200 gone as well as his license and birth certificate, because someone once again had taken advantage of the Americans. I was so angry and once again felt more than taken advantage of. In fact my entire team was pissed. We decided that we wouldn’t go get phones, like we had planned. Instead we were going to go to the office. We got a taxi, because the bus seemed like an obnoxious idea. Once we arrived at the bus we had some time to be honest with each other about our feelings. We shared, we cried, we prayed. It was an honest hour expressing how we felt. The Enemy was out to get us and he was beginning to get under our skin. We didn’t want this to happen. Giving him a hold on our emotions and feelings was the last thing that we wanted. So we prayed and cried out to God. We knew that He was on our side and we prayed that He would bless us for what we had lost. The rest of the day was better.
Today started out alright, a little sickness again but God healed my body once more. We had some prayer time as a team and then we sang a couple worship songs, which completely blessed me. I felt poured into and it was about time that I felt refreshed. We had a lot on our hearts, because we need a place to live. We were trusted God to bless us with housing. All day was spent looking at apartments, only to get laughed out of them because apartments are so hard to come by. We ended the day feeling tired and discouraged. We know that God is in control and we trust Him to place us where He wants us. Tomorrow we are going to move into the apartments that we currently have, but don’t necessarily like. May God continue to stretch us so that we will solely lean on Him.
This entire STInt so far has been a lot different that I expected. I thought that I would love everything at first and then slowly become home sick. I am not gonna lie, I can’t find much that I like about it. The gawking from guys everywhere is too much and I can hardly eat anything here. God, please continue to make me more like your Son!

2006-09-07T11:11:00.000-04:00

Getting to this Point - August 30, 2006

Well I can’t believe it but here I am on a plane headed to Caracas, Venezuela. It’s been a long time coming or at least it feels that way. Way back in April I was assigned to Merida, Venezuela and then told to raise $29,600. After the Internship Kickoff Weekend I was back to school for two months to finish up student teaching and then graduation. Summer began and I was supposed to somehow raise almost $30,000… how in the world would I raise more than I could make in my first year of teaching. I set out to do it, not really asking God to help me. BIG mistake! I got really frustrated when I saw that I had raised around $8,000 and still was in dire need of another $22,000. I had a breakdown and surrendered everything to God asking Him for help, knowing that I would never be able to raise this amount of money on my own. He was amazingly faithful and raised my support! Is God amazing or what?
Then came Colorado, finally I could meet my American counterparts. Bryon and Emily are the co-leaders of the team going to Merida, Venezuela and then Sam and I are here to assist the ministry. We are also blessed with two Venezuelan women from Maracaibo who will relate to the students better than the four of us. However, I won’t meet these women until they arrive in Merida around September 10. While in Colorado, my team and I worshiped, learned, and bonded. It was a great time of encouragement and also a testimony to His faithfulness. The way He put this team together just proves that He is into details. Bryon is such a communicator (rare for men these days… or at least the men in my life.) Emily is so easy going and has a sense of humor that continuously gives me an abdominal workout. She is easy going and fun loving, I call her my cowgirl. Then there is Sam, the intentional listener. He is a man who cares about your thoughts, needs, and feelings. We call him Samurai and when I learned that meant servant, I knew that there was no other name for him. And well then there is me… I guess I am on the team to keep everyone on their toes. As they say, “I just never know what you are going to do and/or say. You are always surprising me.”
After Colorado, I had a few days at home to say goodbye to the parents and Peso. It was a busy week and when Saturday came it was a hard morning. Lots of tears and slight hyperventilation. I left that morning to head to Spokane, where I would fly out with my team to Venezuela. But before I could leave the states I had more people to say goodbye to. My Sisters… I stayed with Juanita and Kim; needless to say we had a blast. I got to see many others and go to church with six of them. God is really pursuing the women of Alpha Phi and my prayer is that He doesn’t stop until they are madly in love with the living God. Flying out of Spokane, seemed at first like an inconvenience, when instead it was a complete blessing from the Lord. Not only did I get to see my girls, but I got to encourage them and push them in the way of the straight and narrow. Juanita and Kim will be taking over the ministry and I know that God has some amazing stuff up His sleeves. I can’t wait to get reports all throughout this year. My prayer is that they are encouraged not to give up, no matter what attacks come upon them.
So as of Monday I met up with my team to spend the night at Bryon’s house in Idaho. We had an amazing time in the Word and in prayer on Tuesday morning as we were preparing to leave home and join God’s army. Complications came when we got to the Spokane Airport Tuesday night. Our itinerary had us going from Spokane, to Seattle, to Miami, to Caracas, to Merida. Well, bad news… Miami is currently experiencing a tropical storm so all flights in and out were cancelled. Instead of a 24 hour travel period, we are now looking at about 52 hours in and out of airports, on and off of airplanes, eating the lovely and expensive food throughout the terminals. We ended up staying on the original flight from Spokane to Seattle, with a much bigger lay over in Seattle. To get on a plane headed for Dallas, with an extremely long layover. And then from Dallas to Caracas, where we would have an ungodly lay over until we could finally board the plane that departs to Merida, Venezuela (our destination).
As of right now, I am sitting in seat 26C headed to Caracas, Venezuela. I cannot believe that I am on a plane that is taking me out of the country, where I won’t return for about a year. Can you imagine me doing anything else right now? Well, had you told me this would be the case 9 months ago, I would have laughed your face off. First of all, I am too much of a homebody to even think about leaving my comfort zone for more than 2 weeks. I have never been away from my family for longer than a week, unless it was at college where I was only a 6 hour drive from home and knew that at anytime I was able to make that drive, had it been necessary. My dog, Peso, has been through it all with me… in the sorority, with the boyfriend, during the breakup, through teaching, and even visited my students several times at Jefferson Elementary School. To leave him, my cuddle buddy and the only “man” in my life was unthinkable. Plus, I did graduate from college didn’t I? That’s right, I did. I could be getting ready to teach this year and actually make a salary. However, the Lord had another plan.
He has called me. He has chosen me to go. Who am I that He would choose me? I am nothing. I am a sinner day in and day out. I am a beggar at the foot of the cross; just hoping that He will continue to be faithful as He promises that He will. Yep that’s right. He chose me. I am humbled that it’s me He chose, but so very honored to go. I am weary of the journey ahead, but I am excited to find my strength in Him. I am uncomfortable with being stretched and yet I need to be challenged in my faith as a way to express how I’m deeply in love with Jesus Christ.
My prayer is that He will use me. Take me to the nations to speak of Your love, grace, and mercy. I am grateful for the opportunity to do your work, now I ask you again to please go with me. I need you to be my pillar through this year. I need your arms to catch my when I fall and hold me when I am lonely. Be my everything this year and may I diligently seek You each and every day. Please use me to do Your work and to bring the Venezuelan people to their knees in front of Your throne. I am your servant, it is to You that I commit my life… please use it as You see fit.

“Heaven is not my goal, it’s my destination. My GOAL is that everyone else will go there with me.” - Larry Smith