Newark, NJ to Hong Kong, China

Hey friends....it's been a while since I've blogged, but I had a few people ask me if I could try to keep them up on how things are going in China by blogging, so I'm going to try.  I am sitting in the Hong Kong airport waiting 10 hours for a connecting flight.  My first flight (newark to hong kong) was pretty good. It was a 15.5 hour flight, and after a while it did feel that long. I remember saying to the person next to me, we are only half way to China. The flight wasn't too rough, there was about 20 minutes where I thought we might crash and die, and I wanted to hold the hand of the man next to me, but we were all okay, just a lot of clouds and turbulence.  The movies on the plane were all pretty good, but I would get about 15 minutes into them and fall asleep. I am so excited to get to the orphanage in Fuzhou I just can't wait!  I want to be awake and not sleepy, so I'm sleeping every chance I get.  Being in the airport alone is a little scary, but I'm around a bunch of people (some speak english) and I'm just hanging out.  Oh, I got through immigration and customs with no problems  :-)  In about 5 hours I will recheck my bags and wait 2 more hours and head to Fuzhou, my final destination for the next two weeks.  I am thinking of all the kids I get to work with and for the staff too. Please join with me in your thoughts  for everyone I get to work with!!  Well, this is a pretty boring blog, but it's just to let everyone know I got to China safely and I'm feeling very excited for all that Dad is going to do while I am here!!  :-)

raw and transparent thoughts from 3am

As most of the world is sleeping, I am consumed in thoughts at 3am...thoughts that have plagued my mind for the last week or so keeping me up at night. I'd like to blame the caffeine, but this goes beyond caffeine. Luckily, I'm not working yet this week, so I can try and sleep in. I wanted to share with the blogger world(and facebook) the thoughts on my heart because I'm sure many other's have felt this way too, and just don't express it...So, where do I start(bear with me, this will be long, but please try to read it all) I've been back from Brazil for a few months now(a shock to some of you) and I saw some pretty horrific things in Brazil. I mean children on the streets in prostitution simply because they have no family or their family sold them into prostitution. Women and men(some only 18) selling their bodies every night, sometimes 10 times a night because they think thats all their worth, they have no value for their lives, no dream or vision. Men and women living in the streets, homeless, because that's what they think they deserve. Then there was the favela's, my favorite place, but still full of poverty. The pictures of poverty I've seen, I can't even put into words, but let's face it, it's not just in Brazil, it's in the United States too...it's all over the world...scary fact, just recently an undercover underage pornography ring was broken up(and by underage, I mean children 12 and younger) and 80% of the people involved were from the United States! And there is poverty all around us in the United States too, mother's struggling to put food on the table, elderly hanging on for life because they can't visit a doctor(YES I know there are systems to help here in the US, but all systems have flaws)...and what are we doing as the body of Christ to help all these people? Sometimes, especially recently, I am overwhelmed by everything around me. I just want to help everyone...but...I've realized I can't help anyone until I've come to know my identity in Christ. I need to stop worrying about how the world see's me and focus on how God see's me. But, even if I don't understand this, and actually believe it, God is still going work through me. I saw a lot of this while I was in Brazil, I could be completely doubting God and if He's even there, but praying for a man, and he's completely healed! Because, God works all things for His glory! And even amidst my doubt and frustration, God was still going to work! The thing I've been struggling with the last week or so is, how can God love me when I am such a sinful person(things I can't even confess in this blog) BUT...that sin is NOT what defines me! And I am drenched in grace (thanks Jamie for the reminder!) This means that NO MATTER WHAT I do, God is still chasing after me!! He wants me to be free...you see sin is what ties us down, puts us in bondage, makes us feel like God shouldn't love us, but that's a lie from Hell, and the enemy(the devil) wants us to believe that we are filthy, consumed by sin, and God will never love us, the devil is the master of all lies, and his sole purpose is to bring us away from God. But, what I've learned in the last week(although I think God has been trying to tell me this for a while, so I better remember it) is that God will leave the 99 to save the 1...God came for the sick, not the healthy...God will do ANYTHING(yes that means keeping me up every night until 2:00am) to try and draw us to a closer relationship with Him. I've learned that I will never understand God's mysteries(thats Biblical, look it up, God is a mysterious God) and that God is appalled at the lack of true love in this world just as much as I am, if not more! So, I think I'm finishing this(for now) but what I know is God loves me, and no matter what kind of day I'm having, or what's going on in my life God still loves me, and I need to demonstrate and show that love to EVERYONE around me(sometimes in actions and not even using words)! So hopefully now I can sleep...(please leave me a comment, or message me if you read this, or if you have any questions, or prayer requests)

Beyond words...

Last night was my last night on the streets in Curitiba, Brazil. It was definitely a heart breaking time. I pray I am able to come back again September...but last night was special...it was beyond words, a night I will never forget. I was able to give some clothes and a blanket to my homeless friend Jair...The smile on his face after receiving a gift is something that will never disappear from my mind...I met another man named John. His story was similar to the many people who live on the streets...his mom died and he was placed in an orphanage by his father, He left the orphanage to live on the streets. He told us that his dad was abusive towards him beating him with belts and shoes...he held a lot of un-forgivness towards his dad, especially for placing him in an orphanage. We were able to talk with him for over an hour and tell him we were sorry that his dad didn't see his true value, but that he was loved by us and by God, it was a lot of him to take in, he was pretty speechless. By the end of the night he said that everyday is a new beginning and he needed to go forward with his life, I will continue to pray he knows he is loved and valued. You see the biggest problem I've seen in Brazil is not homelessness or prostitution, it's the lack of true identity...it's the lack of true love....most of my friends I've meet just don't know how valuable they are, that they are a beloved child of God, and no matter where they are at, God always loves them! Last night was so unforgettable, I prayed for John to be healed...from what I could understand from my translator was that he had polio when he was a child, so he had lots of pain in his feet and hands. I simply prayed for God to fill him with His love and take away all the pain, at the end of the prayer, he said he felt something pop and he had no more pain! I was astounded...this was the first time I prayed with someone and they were instantly healed...it was amazing...beyond words...I've truly been changed by my time here in Brazil...I pray that as I go back to the states I continue to grow with a passion to show God's love to EVERYONE...I thank each and everyone of you for reading this blog...I will probably post a few more blogs to come...please know that you too are sooooo loved, I pray for each person who reads this(even if you don't comment) Thanks for reading this and thanks for all your prayers!!

She just needs a friend and a lighter

Well...it has taken me a bit of time to get back to writing, I'm sorry, there is just so many good things happening it's overwhelming, I have a lot I want to tell everyone, but first I'm just going to write about Easter.

Easter was very difficult for me, I am so used to going to church like 3 times that week and talking all about Jesus's death and resurrection. I didn't go to church on Thursday, Friday or Sunday. This is the first year I didn't go to church on Easter, and did I feel like a terrible Christian...NO!! I have come to realize that many things we celebrate in the US are very wonderful, I mean celebrating that Jesus IS alive after he was brutally killed is wonderful, but it is something that can happen in our hearts too. It doesn't need to be this BIG show and presentation where people are crying and then happy, it can be in our hearts. Wow, I feel like that sounded terrible, so I'll explain a bit. I was always used to going to church during the Easter season, it's just like it was a routine for me, I learned that in not going to church on Easter I forced myself to have to think about what God did for ME, without some pastor telling me all about it. It forced me to actually think about what it felt like for Jesus to be betrayed, beaten, and then die....but to soon be alive again, it forced me to think what was it like those three days he wasn't on the earth, what did the disciples feel like when their leader left them...it forced me to really think about what I've been taught and what I believe, it was a great lesson for me. (The gospel of Jesus is crazy, it is radical...but I know and understand that I believe in a radical God....He is mysterious...and I love him...) Now, in no way am I saying I am going to stop going to church and think about God because I do enjoy church, but it definitely gave me a new perspective. On Easter we did have a big meal of ham, potatoes and sweet potato casserole, which was good, but obviously a lot different than in the US. We invited two prostitute friends to our home for Easter dinner....Mara and Danielle. We didn't have a big service, but we did have some worship music with Nic. Danielle and Mara really like Nic and Rachael's worship music(I do too) and they understand a little bit of it. I've really learned that words don't matter, it' s the actions, how do we SHOW God's love without without words, but in actions. I just love to smile when I'm with them, I think that smiling shows them I am full of joy. In everything I do, I try to show that I know God loves me, even when I'm washing the dishes :-) I don't understand everything theses woman were saying to me, but I listen to them. I had a moment where I was so confused because Danielle and Mara asked me to come outside with them so they could smoke a cigarette, but they needed a lighter, and I didn't have one, but I finally understood what they were asking me for and I found someone with a lighter. I learned in those few moments while they were smoking that all they needed was a friend and a lighter. These women are so used to acting, they are not themselves while they are working, all they wanted from me was friendship and a lighter. I've learned in my time here that I can't just expect them to jump at the chance to know God's love, but I can always show it to them, and continue to pray that they want God's love. These woman think so negatively of themselves, they don't even think they deserve for God to love them, but God looks at them with love in his eyes. God see's every sin the same, so lying, stealing, cheating and being a prostitute are all the same in God's eyes. I was so blessed to spend Easter with Danielle and Mara and I am continuing to pray for them. My challenge to anyone who reads this is to share God's love with someone without using words, how are you going to do that...and if you can't share His love because you don't have it yourself, thats okay...do something nice for someone, just a small act of kindness...I mean even if we aren't believers shouldn't we be trying to do nice things for other people anyways. Thanks again for reading this, it was a bit of a ramble, but there is a lot on my heart right now and a lot in my head....

Daughters of the King

So I got some strange "flea" bites, and they won't stop itching! They are so red and itchy...I asked another team member if she had hydrocortisone cream and her reply was "No, but if you spit on them, it will stop the itching" So because I trusted this team member, I tried it out, and it did seem to work, but I found out she had made that up. There are some things I miss about the US...one thing is hydrocortisone cream LOL...so anyways on Saturday night we had a prostitute come over to our home with her two children...here is a bit of her story...Her name is Danielle...she became pregnant when she was 13, she and her mother(her father was dead) were not able to support the baby, so while she was pregnant she became a prostitute, at 13, she felt like there was no other way to support herself and her child. Her words to us were "I wasn't harming anyone else, just myself, I mean the worst that could happen was I would get a disease" It was just completely heartbreaking to hear her say this, we reassured her that she is better and worth more than to be in prostitution. She has one other little girl who is 5, so a 10 year old and a 5 year old, and she is still in prostitution, but God is getting her heart, and we are loving her with His love. She has someone care for her children, that she pays, because she needs to try and rest during the day so that she can work at night. Both of her children have no father, one was shot to death over drugs and another is a thief and cannot be trusted with his daughter. You see the common problem in Brazil is not prostitution it's fatherlessness....60% of the people here do not have a father living with them. Danielle got into prostitution because she felt like there was nothing else for her, she wanted to be able to support her daughter and at 13, you really can't get a job, she also doesn't have much education. Danielle is a precious daughter of God, and we love her so much. We are praying she is able to get off of the streets and follow the passions and desires of her heart. We are giving her God's love, she doesn't even have value or purpose in Her life, she sees herself as worthless, it is just heartbreaking....her daughters have no daddy(of course on Earth, they have an amazing Heavenly Father) I was helping the 5 year old(amanda) ride a bike, and it just tore my heart apart that she has no daddy to help her learn this, I had so much fun playing with Amanda and Brenda(her 10 year old daughter) and I pray for them all daily. I know that prostitution is not right, God does not want that for Danielle's life or anyone's life...I look at her with the Father's eyes, I look at her with love, and I pray she is able to come off of the streets and show her girls and others that there is Hope, and there is more in life...that she is a daughter of God and He has special plans for her life. Please pray for Danielle, Amanda and Brenda with me, they are three daughters of God...thanks again for reading this...and for all your prayers...

Don't flush the toilet paper

There are many cultural differences that I am continuing to learn while I spend time here in Brazil...one that I always seem to forget is...don't flush the toilet paper, no place it nicely in the trash can placed conveniently next to the toilet...not fun, but when you try to flush it, it doesn't flush and then everyone knows an American used the toilet LOL...when washing dishes you will not dry them, just put them on the drying rack or shake them violently...when washing clothes(which I REALLY need to do) you will not dry them in a dryer, you put them out on a line and pray it doesn't rain...every day at lunch you will eat rice and beans with some sort of vegetable(I only eat it like once or twice a week)...you will not eat peanut butter and jelly because peanut butter is only imported and it costs an arm and a leg...ketchup tastes different, and isn't as good as American ketchup(heintz 57)...there is no diet pepsi(which I miss)...when driving on the streets in Brazil you make up your own traffic laws...and even if a police officer pulls up behind you with his lights on(I haven't seen a female cop yet) you are NOT being pulled over, only if they put on their siren...you drive in kilometers, not miles...you measure food in milliliters or liters...after midnight you do not have to follow stop lights, you are allowed to drive through them(without even looking!!)...of course the language is different....hmmm...I'm trying to think of other cultural differences...prostitution is legal...so that brings me to something VERY exciting...two transvestites came to our new house last weekend, it was so much fun just hanging out with them. They asked a lot of questions about the US(like is prostitution legal) the surgeries here to changes a person's body isn't as expensive as the US, so many men will have surgery to become a woman, I will never understand this, but I will always love them, because God has called all Christians to love the least of these, no one loves these people, they are so lost and confused they don't know their identity...the churches have completely rejected them...we hung out with the transvestites just like we would our friends, did they change over night-no, of course not...but I am praying they see the Father in and through my life :-) They see God in me...and ask questions and want to know more of God...I'm sorry that this post has been all over the place....I have a personal request...that everyone would think and pray for me...in the next week I need to make some BIG decisions on how long I want to stay here in Brazil and what I will do this Summer...I really need financial support to stay in Brazil, so check out http://www.shoresofgrace.com/about-us/ministry-staff/winnie-moyer and click on the bottom of my bio if you are able to donate....in no way am I saying you have to send me money...but I really want to continue what God is doing here, and that takes money...thanks again for reading all this...I pray for everyone who reads this and comments ;-)

culture shock

Culture shock seems to be a thing of the past...Praise God...every once and a while I have my moments, but it is much better than before. So, last week was a BIG week...our team leader and his wife(nic and rachael) had their baby girl (on Monday.) Rachael was very sick, and almost died, she lost 6 liters of blood...but thank God she is okay...it is a miracle she is alive...our God is so faithful! While they were having a baby our team was moving to a new house. We are very thankful for this new home. It is closer to the school and closer to the city(which means closer to every thing like grocery stores and humans LOL) It is not as secluded as the last place, and it is HOME, we only share it with our Shores of Grace team. Please keep our whole team in your prayers as we transition to a new place and as Rachael continues to heal.

So....today I went to the favela church, the place I love the most. I got to see my children and color with them. I was asked to lead the church in communion which was a whole lot different than the US...I was supposed to preach, but this got lost in translation, so maybe next time I will preach. I was very nervous being up in front of the church, it's not where I'm comfortable, but God can do anything in us if we are willing, and I am willing to let Him do anything in me. I just want to serve Him even if some things make me feel uncomfortable, He is teaching me so much, and I truly am believing the scripture that says "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."

Since I've moved to a new house I have very limited internet access for now. I am enjoying a small break at the mall right now.

I am also praying that as you read my blogs you will pray or think about supporting me financially. I am really not able to share God's love without each and everyone's financial support and also your prayers....so here is a website you can donate so that I can continue to share the love of God with everyone I encounter in Brazil

http://www.shoresofgrace.com/about-us/ministry-staff/winnie-moyer

thank you for reading this....if you have any questions email me at winnie@shoresofgrace.com or you may also send me a facebook message...I look forward to coming back the US and seeing all of you this Summer....but I am very excited about all God is doing right now in and through me in Brazil....

some days are harder than others...

Some days are harder than others...or maybe I should say some weeks are harder than others...Last week was Carnaval here in Brazil. Carnaval is similiar to Mardi Gras, but more than a thousand times worse(similar to Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible)...so last week was a week "off" After only being here for two weeks at that point, I didn't want a week off, but I took some time to enjoy it. Our team went to the beach for the day, and that was nice. The beaches here are similar to the US, but the bathing suits people wear are not similar. Since most people head to the cities for a "fun" time at Carnaval, the Christians head to ranches or retreat centers. So, a group of 300 youth were here at the base where I live...that was overwhelming. People were everywhere all the time. Luckily they were only here for a few days, but it was like one BIG loud Christian party. This week I was asked by our team leader to organize a arts and crafts class and english class two days a week in the favela for the children of the favela. I was very excited, but also nervous because it's been a while since I've done something like this(luckily I have lots of experience in daycare) so I am looking forward to using arts and crafts to teach the gospel to the children in the slums (It has taken me over a week to just write that simple entry above) A whole week has gone by....

So, this last week I had the opportunity to go to the school we have here in Brazil. It's a school to teach about the supernaturalness of God, every opportunity I get, I take it all in. This week we learned about deliverance. I have always feared deliverance, I didn't like to see people manifest demons(and it's more intense in a foreign country than America) it is something I don't fear anymore...because I have ALL authority in Christ. It was definitely a great learning opportunity. And I know some who read this may not believe in demons, but if you believe in angels, than there are demons. But, I'm not here to argue belief's, just sharing my heart, and what God is teaching me.

So, this morning I was taking some time with God, I've decided morning time is the best, start my day off with a little bit of God, it's great! The verse He shared with me was from Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

(so I'm still learning this whole blog thing, and it definitely changed my fonts, but anyways) I read that verse this morning, and I was like ummmm....God, I am giving, and it feels like I am giving all the time. Just this week I had the amazing opportunity to go out and talk with a bunch of homeless people on the streets here in Brazil. They asked me what the homeless situation was like in the States, so I told them what I've seen in Philadelphia. One man began to pray for my financial situation, he felt privileged that I was in his country to help him rather than the states, but I felt honored to be in his country and honored to pray with him. He and his son were homeless, and his son was addicted to alcohol(we got to pray for bot of them.) We met a woman, who was only 20, she had a baby a month ago, but it was taken by the government, she just expressed to us how alone she felt, so we told her we would be her friend, and just spent time talking with her. We went out another night, and I brought her clothes, but we could not find her. The homeless here move around a lot to stay safe. It's hard sometimes because you don't see HUGE or MIRACULOUS changes, but it's not about that, it's just about showing them the love of Jesus, giving them a blanket to stay warm, showing them unconditional love, we want nothing from them, we just want to share what God has done in our lives, in hopes that they will want that for their life, but if not, it's okay, and we have just made a new friend. But anyways(I feel like that was a long tangent) I am working on giving more...I don't know what this will look like, but I'm asking God to give me more opportunities to give, and not always giving money, because I don't have much of that, but giving of time, giving of gifts, whatever God wants of me, His will be done :-)

But alas....I would like to to ask each person who reads this to take a few moments and think if you are able to give financially in order to help me show God's love to the people I encounter in Brazil, will you please give...here is an easy link where you can give, and it will all go to helping me share the love of God with the homeless, prostitutes, transvestites, and people in the favela's(slums)

http://www.shoresofgrace.com/about-us/ministry-staff/winnie-moyer

I understand that not everyone can give financially, I also love to have your prayers too. God is doing great and amazing things here in Brazil, and I wish I could have each one of you by my side. Thanks again for all your support and encouragement. I pray that God blesses you abundantly with his awesome love :-)

~Winnie (Marylou)

PS...tomorrow I am going to the favela's again, it has been two weeks, and I am so excited to see my friends again :-) I hope and pray I get to see my little friend Stephanie!!

Love Her Like Jesus *warning very blunt*

Well I've been in Brazil for two weeks, and I really have fallen in love with so much while I've been here! Some mornings I wake up, and I just think "wow, I'm in Brazil" I've been praying about this for over two years, and raising support for so long. God is so faithful! There is so much I want to tell everyone, but I am already feeling a bit sleepy, so I guess we will see how long this will be LOL...So, I have already done a lot in less than two weeks. I got the opportunity to go out onto the streets and meet some prostitutes and transvestites. This was quite an eye opening experience, something that is truly indescribable , and cannot be understood until you actually do it. Most of the people we encounter are just searching, they are filling the hole in their life with something that just leaves them so empty. They just love a conversation with a new friend, and many are open to receiving prayer. Some have already asked if they can come with us off the streets, and how much it will cost, but the love we give them is FREE...I am only doing what I see my Father do. I cry for these people, the one who just desire love so badly. But really, imagine, how desperate do you have to get to sell your own body, the one and only thing that is your's, you didn't buy it, you sell it at least 10 times a night, sex is no longer about intimacy it's about how much money can I bring home to feed my children, or myself. It's really heart breaking, but what can I do, what can YOU do, just pray, open your heart, I challenge you to stop looking around you with judgment in your eyes and start looking with God's eyes. Going out on the streets has not been easy for me, I don't know who would really consider it easy. It is something that God is using to help me grow closer to Him. But I just look at these people, directly in their eyes to show them God's heart for them. I only went once, and was not able to go again yet, but even one of the guys(dressed as a woman) remembered me and asked where I was the next day, of course this made me smile, and I just hope and pray He saw Jesus in me. I know that my identity is in Christ, the love and joy I have comes from God, and I want everyone I encounter to know their identity in Christ, to know they are always loved! okay...so that was a lot...but thats only half of it....I also went to a church in the favela's(the slums) I LOVE this! The children that come are just so precious, they are covered in dirty, smelly and do not wear shoes. Today I had the opportunity to hold a little girl, probably about three, no shoes on her feet, no pants(of course she had underwear) and a dirty old t-shirt. She had snot running out of her nose, my natural self wanted to run away from the germs all over her, but I was FILLED with compassion and just gave her a HUGE hug. Her name is Stephanie, and she is my favorite little girl. When we opened up the front for prayer, we put pretty smelling anointing oil all over our hands, the little girls all wanted to smell it and so I took their hands, spread it on them and prayed for each of them, when Stephanie came, she jumped into my arms and would not let go, I picked her up and just held her close. I prayed destiny and truth into her life. She had no idea what I was saying, but I just loved her the way Jesus would love her. She rested her head upon me and just relaxed. Every once and a while I thought about how gross she smelled, but yet again I was filled with compassion and love. We had to leave, but she did not want to let go. I will definitely be back to see her again, and all my other friends. I just want to love them like Jesus would love them. I don't care how they look or how they smell, I see them the way Jesus see's them. I have a lot more to tell everyone about, but it is getting later(it's after midnight here, and I've had a wonderful day) Please keep me and our team in your prayers, and also all the people we encounter. I really am enjoying it here, of course there are some things I am still getting used to, but I am just so blessed....

Back to Life...Back to Reality

Well...life on the road was fun, but I haven't been traveling since about the last week of August. I had an amazing Summer, and if I was asked to do it all again, I think I would say YES! I got to see so much of the US and meet so many amazing people. God definitely brought me out of my comfort zone and into His. I mean he knows I can do all things in and through him :) So...where am I now...I am currently living in Tennessee(outside of Nashville) I am living with a pastor, his wife, and his four children(all under the age of four) I originally planned to go to Brazil as a missionary in September, but God has other plans. I was not able to obtain a VISA to get into the country(yet) but I plan on going in January. So, it was a huge blessing that this family in Tennessee in which I've known for five years was willing to open up there home to help me out while I am waiting to go to Brazil. The biggest thing God has been teaching me lately has been his provision in my life. God always provides...and his word says "And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus." I have a lovely home that I am able to live in while raising more support for Brazil. God is providing me my needs! I no longer have a car, but when I need a ride, a ride is provided. When I am hungry, I have food, when I am thirsty I have a drink. Just the other day a woman from the church donated some of her clothes to me because they didn't fit her, I didn't have many fall/winter clothes, and guess what, she gave me sweaters :) God provided what I needed in my life through a member of my new church :) And when I moved in another woman donated personal items(shampoo, toothpaste, soap, etc) God provided my needs!! I don't know how I will ever have enough money to move to Brazil BUT I know God WILL provide ALL my needs. God is so faithful to come through on his promises. While I am here in Tennessee I had the opportunity to start a woman's Bible study, it has been so awesome, I never thought I had the gift of teaching, but God is using me! I simply just want to love the woman because I know God loves me!! I love my new bible study. I get to help in the nursery at church on Wednesday and Sunday's. I have definitely been keeping myself busy. I am also still working on gathering financial support for Brazil too, so if you get a minute check out...http://modernday.org/modern-day-welcomes-marylou-moyer-brazil So, as I write this I am sitting in a friends office in his recliner. I got to a place a bit early after staying over at a friends, so I had a lot of luggage, and my next ride was due to come in an hour or so and it was raining so I couldn't be outside. I put my luggage in a corner when I was greeted by a friend, I told him why my stuff was in the corner but then joked and said "or I'm homeless and I need his corner to sleep in" and he jokingly said back "well if you were homeless we would find a place for you." But this was no joke, I learned that if I was actually homeless he would have found a place for me to stay, and I've found in the body of Christ that there are many willing to help, and this is such a HUGE blessing. Sometimes I have to put aside my pride, and ask the body of Christ for help, and they usually are so willing to help :) The body of Christ is such a blessing to me, and I am thankful for all my family and friends in Christ!! Keep me in your prayers as I am still on an adventure to Brazil (our team leader and family leave for Brazil this Thursday so pray for them too) and think and pray on this verse... Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in Christ Jesus."

Corn Husker State and Holy Water

Our team had one night in Nebraska at a Methodist Church. Unfortunately that night I had severe back pain and was tired. I found an old church pew and took a nap, just in time to wake up to go to a host home. The people in Nebraska were sooo friendly and so full of hospitality. There wasn't anything really interesting in Nebraska, it was lots of corn fields LOL It was great to seem people passionately worshipping in a Methodist Church, there seemed to be so much freedom! After Nebraska we stayed a night in a hotel in Iowa and headed to a church in Chicago, Illinois. I absolutely LOVED the church in Illinois. We were at Saint Dennis :) I learned sooooo much about the Catholic church and Catholic traditions. Father Jim(the main priest of the church) was so open to teaching me about Catholicism. I toured the church including their confessional in which I leaned the priest cannot see the person who comes in, but you can see him, so you have to look at him as you explain your sins. However, many of the church members did not go to confession. At this church there was healings! It was an amazingly passionate night of worship! It definitely changed all everything I thought about Catholics. They also had a school within their church, and the principal(Lisa) also taught me so much about Catholicism :) I just had so many questions, and it was great to get some first person sources. We stayed in an old convent, which was kind of strange, but it was like living in old dorm rooms, however there was a Sister who stayed there. When I spoke to the priest he said that every denomination has a piece of the puzzle, God is a mystery(thats in the Bible) no one has the full truth and if they think they do they are fooling themselves. I like that perspective, no one is right or wrong, as long as we love Jesus than God is within us, and each of us is different(God created us all differently) but when I meet new people I meet a piece of God...so the Saint Dennis Catholic church was amazing! I stayed up until 1:30am with the priest and a church member just talking and asking questions. So....right now I'm in Ohio(so close to home-Pennsylvania) and after tomorrow there is only one more conference and then the Summer tour is OVER...it's definitely bitter sweet, but than before I know it I'll be onto Brazil :) 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind."

Are we there yet??

Well tonight our team landed in Albuquerque, New Mexico where we lead worship again at a church. It was soooo comforting to see old friends(well friends from almost a month ago) Before that we were in Phoenix, Arizona! It was absolutely amazing! However, if you ever visit Phoenix don't go to downtown, there is almost nothing at all to do. It was a lot of fun in Arizona, we got to minister to so many different people. Again, God is helping me break out and be bold in reaching out to people. The church service on Sunday was in a movie theatre, that was pretty cool, but so many people sat so far back. I thought because it was in a theatre you would want to be in the middle or up front(like at a movie), but most people sat far back. It was a great service :) Our worship time was very good too, THEN Sunday night we went to an event that Patricia King was hosting(google her if you don't know her) She took our whole team out to eat, and she is the most down to Earth person! She was just so sweet and genuine!! Sunday night was absolutely amazing! Everyone was soooo passionate during worship!! There is so much more I want to say, but I am VERY tired! Please keep our team in your prayers, we have about two more weeks on the road...and then who knows LOL :) And please say an extra prayer for my Aunt Roxanne, I just found out the cancer she had a serious operation on weeks ago has spread to her liver, I know it is scary for her kids because we lost our grandfather and another aunt to cancer. Thanks so much to everyone who reads this and prays too :)

Jesus take the wheel...

Well our team was just in Houston and it was amazing! We stayed with one of the most precious woman in the world! She was so welcoming and helpful :) I really enjoyed Houston. I got to do a lot of ministry while helping with the kids too. I prophesied over a few people, and it was soooo accurate! God is helping me step out in boldness so much. My favorite thing was praying for a dear youth to be healed of a blood disorder. I know the Lord is so faithful, I couldn't imagine the suffering this young girl has gone through. In Houston I also found out I lost my suitcase. It apparently fell out on the side of the highway unnoticed by our team until it was too late, but God blessed me(again) and I got a lot of new clothes :) The Lord continues to do amazing things in my life! Keep our team in your prayers if you can, we are always up against attacks of the enemy, but God is ALWAYS victorious! "He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Lord, give me peace...

home again home again jiggity jigggg

Well I'm back in Tennessee, but only for the night. Tomorrow morning our team leaves for Houston, Texas. And actually Nic and Rachael fly out on Wednesday to appear on the Sid Roth show, please keep them in your prayers. Well I don't have too much to say, West Virginia was definitely not my favorite state or my favorite place, however I did enjoy my time with my friend Allie and my sister. I am starting to really have a difficult time saying good bye to friends and family as time gets closer to the BIG move to Brazil. I will definitely miss my sister!! The conference I was just as was awesome, it gave me some time for rest and relaxation. I am feeling more joyful and ready to serve out of God's overflowing! I've learned that I definitely cannot lean on my own strength(or star bucks), but that I need to lean ALL on God's strength and then I won't feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Well I think thats all...James 3:9-10 "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." We need to praise God with our mouths and use our tongues as a tool to glorify him in all that we say!

After ten cups of coffee I'm thinking...

I just got done almost four days on the road...and that was an experience I don't wish to have again...Our team traveled from Santa Rosa, California(which I loved and miss) to Charleston, West Virginia...we stopped in many Motel 6's for a bit of rest here and there...don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to complain...the scenery was amazing...we didn't stop much except for energy drinks, coffee, some food, gas, and bathroom breaks...I am so thankful to be out of the car and have some free wifi...I'm not sure how much I said about about California, but I loved it! My favorite places so far have been Texas and California. I enjoyed the churches a lot in California, there was so much freedom in worship. I helped with the power point during worship, but still got to worship in my own way. In fact, at the one night service I cleared out the chairs in my little cubby hole and danced while switching slides on the computer. God loved my joyful heart :) These next few days I will be spending time with old friends and family. I feel so blessed. Please pray that our team will be refreshed and filled with God's peace and joy! Hopefully I'll have more time to update again. The Lord has really been moving in awesome ways in my life!! Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

PS...please continue to leave me comments so I know everyone is reading this enlightening blog :)

I do love Califonia...

So I didn't over estimate Califonia...I really do love it here. I had the opportunity to go to San Francisco and it was soooo cool. There were so many small vendors, neat music, and lots of homeless people. It was fun to just give a dollar here or there for others in need. Walking the streets was a lot of fun! I got to see wild sea lions in Fisherman's warf(Pier 39) which was awesome...they were very loud and fat...we drove over the Golden Gate bridge which was gorgeous, the fog was over it and the water was pretty. This morning we did worship and prayer ministry, I had the clearest vision ever for one woman in the congregation. Oh, and last night a group from the church prayed over us and just ministered to us which was great too :) Tonight we have another night of worship and tomorrow morning we leave for West Viriginia(which we will travel in 3 days) I am excited for West Virginia because I get to see my friend Allie. This trip has been so amazing, I feel so blessed to travel with such amazing people!! Psalm 36:5 Your love O Lord, reaches to the Heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." God is so faithful :)

Dust, Dirt, and Desert

I was so excited to go to California and now that I am here I think I over estimated it...lol...However, I've really only been in the Mohave Desert. It is so hot and dusty and dry! I've had two bloody noses, and I never ever get those :( We are headed to San Francisco tomorrow I think and I am still excited for that. I do really want to drive over the Golden Gate bridge. I'm starting to get a sore throat because the climate here is so different than the East Coast. And the driving, everyone seems to drive very aggressively. We have a few more days off then we are headed to Santa Rosa(maybe even tomorrow night lol) and we will be doing worship there. Tonight we are staying in a hotel, camping was okay, but I don't prefer it. The bathrooms were pretty scary LOL and there were so many burrs(sharp pointy objects that God made, and I'm not sure why. I have really enjoyed Tennessee and Texas the most on this trip, not such a huge fan of Arizona...well I'm getting tired...I'll leave you with this verse..."Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" Philippians 4:4...I need to keep reminding myself to always be thankful to God. He has provided ALL my needs. I continue to pray along this trek that I am filled with his love and joy!!

Not quite there yet

Well...I thought I was on my way to California, which I am...but there is a stop in Arizona. We are CAMPING here for two nights. It is dusty and full of goat heads(not literally a goats head, it is a sharp thorny object that hurts when poked into a finger or flip flop) I have not camped in forever, but it wasn't too bad. These next few days are more for relaxation, and everyone on the team seems to need it. We are going to visit the Grand Canyon. So while driving here there are so many exciting things to see, God's landscape is so beautiful. Oh, and I really can't believe that while camping I can pull out my laptop and update my blog, our world is a changing LOL...not sure I have much else to say. Please keep our team in your prayers, we seem to be up for a lot of spiritual attacks. but the verse I love so much for today says.."Do not be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 2 Kings 6:16

On The Road Again...

Tomorrow morning we leave for California...I am so excited about that because then I can say I've been to the East Coast and the West Coast :) I've never been to California and I'm excited to experience a new culture :) The South West hasn't been bad...So far I've really preferred Texas and Tennessee...In New Mexico I went to the zoo, and it was terrible compared to the Philadelphia zoo. The kids enjoyed it a lot which was worth it...but it was smelly in most places(the cages were not cleaned enough), it was very hot, some animals were missing or "sleeping" and it wasn't very big either...but it was cheap to get in so that could explain a lot...okay so tonight was worship again at House of Hope, another house of prayer, and it was pretty cool. The atmosphere was sooo anointed with the presence of God. We did this thing that was sort of out of the box for me, we asked God to highlight a person in the room to us very quickly and then we went and prayed with them, I met a fellow missionary who was so sweet, she is older now and no longer on the missions field, but she was very wise, and I got to pray for her too(which was out of my box) but I think if I had to pick a theme for this whole Summer tour it would "out of the box" So...lets see...Albuquerque...we spent four nights there, it was very good also...the church had an amazing children's program so most of the time I ran the power point or worshiped on my own. I love when the children are able to be on their own learning and meeting new friends along this tour. One night they were even able to have a sleep over. The host home I stayed at in Albuquerque was good, they have all been so amazing, so welcoming and ready to help wherever and whenever needed...Well I'm getting tired...so I think thats it for now...I forgot last time to include Bible verse so I want to do two right now....Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to the God."

Califonia...here we comeeeeee

I need to try and keep this short because worship is going to start again in about ten minutes. I had the chance to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico...and it was amazing...not only was the drive there exciting to see all the "pretty" scenery, but God moved in powerful ways. I was running power point with lyrics for the worship, which was almost ineffective because Nic and Rachael are so spontaneous in their worship, which is good, but not so good for the person who is running the power point LOL Also, I was able to do some prayer ministry and prophesy over a few people. God really gave me boldness!! I met a precious lady whom I spoke with for a while and she even came back on Sunday for church too :) I really wish I had more time to tell ya'll about Albuquerque(there were two nights there) and then two other nights in Riodoso :) but I'll try to update again later...don't forget to leave me comments(please)