A Little Late This Week...Sorry!

Sorry I am a little late in up-dating my blog this week. Last night I realized that I had been so busy on Monday that I forgot to do it, but sense it was late, I decided to wait and do it this morning.

This weekend I drive back to Charlotte for the 1st class of the only class I haven't been to yet, New Testament Survey. I have had my first sessions of Theology Survey I and Church History Up to the Reformation. I am really enjoying both of these classes, but I believe the Church History class is my favorite so far. I find it very easy to forget that the people and places in the Bible were actually REAL and this course seems to be a great reminder of that, not to mention there are tons of things that I am learning about these people and places that I never knew! At times it's a little difficult to concentrate for so many hours, especially on Saturday afternoon, but I am often thankful that I am not working 40+ hours a week like some of the students are. I don't know how they get all of the assignments done, plus sitting in class all weekend after working all week would be extra difficult! Like I've said before, I spend most of my days reading/studying. Occasionally, I run errands for my mom and on Tuesdays/Thursdays I go with my grandfather to aerobics. Not to mention I enjoy going to the YMCA on my own on Mondays/Wednesdays when I can. Next week, in between my two classes, I plan on staying with Emily and her family in Graham. I get to babysit my nephew a couple of days and Emily and I have a few things planned. Of course, I can't miss a week of studying either, so I'm sure I'll be doing a fair amount of that!

One of the requirements with the mission is that I receive a pretty extensive check-up, while I'm home, to make sure that there is nothing wrong that could possibly delay my return to the field. In light of that, I am spending a fair amount of time this week in doctor's offices getting bloodwork and other exams taken care of. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Tonight I will go with my mom to choir practice at church. It has been awhile since I have sung in a choir, but I'm enjoying it. Although I am travelling a lot, I also continue to be active in my Sunday School class at church, when I can. They recently decided to meet in the afternoons, 2 Sundays a month for fellowship. I will enjoy doing that when I am in town.

Well, I guess that's about it for me right now! I'll try to do a more in-depth entry next week, maybe even with a few pictures! Be sure to check it out!

September 17, 2007

This will be one of those weeks that I don't have a lot to share! The conference last week was wonderful! I think my favorite part was meeting retired missionaries and listening to their stories of serving in South America about 60 years ago! Pretty incredible!

Now, I'm back at my parents house. Most of my days are spent reading and studying. I will be going back to Charlotte this weekend for another class, although I plan to come straight back to Franklin after class on Saturday.

As the weather cools off a little, I'm reminded what fall is like. It has been a while since I have experienced fall weather. I love it! Last night my parents and I enjoyed a campfire on the back porch for a couple of hours. It was great!

Well, I guess that will be it for this week, I need to go get dinner started! Thank you so much for your faithful prayers!

Greetings from Winnsboro, South Carolina!

Obviously I was able to find a computer, with internet, here at the conference center so fortunately for you, my blog is being up-dated!

This past weekend I completed my first weekend of classes at Gordon-Conwell. Praise the Lord for helping me to complete all of the required reading for the first class and for helping me to arrive safely (without getting lost and with time to spare). The class itself was very intense. Thankfully, the professor gave us frequent breaks (about every hour and 15 minutes), plus we had time for lunch. I tried my best to get down the notes, the professor goes fast, but he is efficient and speaks on a level that is easy for me to understand! I was grateful for that! During the weekend, I had the pleasure of staying with Bruce and Linda Dial, friends of my parents from Abingdon when I was younger. They actually moved away from Abingdon quite some time before my parents did so it has been a while since I have seen them. Bruce was travelling so this time I was only able to visit with Linda. However, it was a wonderfully relaxing "girls" weekend! I really appreciated her hospitality! I hope to stay with them again while I am in Charlotte for class. My next class will be in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, I left Charlotte and drove a little farther south...about 45 minutes...to the White Oak Conference Center for the South America Mission annual family conference. This is the first one I have gone to, but I am really enjoying the chance to meet people that I have only heard about by name! Many retired missionaries come to conference and I love hearing their stories of South America in the 50s, 60s, 70s! It's pretty amazing to even get to get a glimpse of this history! I will be here until Thursday, at which time I will drive up to Emily and Christophers for a night and then on to my parents on Friday! Thank you so much for your faithful support and prayers...this kind of longevity that I am seeing this week is only a brief sample of the thousands of people around the globe who are praying, supporting financially, and going! The network is incredible! Blessings to you all!

Vacationing in Florida...Visit with the HAuses

Sunday night I arrived back in Virginia after spending the week with the HAuse family in Florida. Fortunately, my parents were willing to come and pick me up at the airport, even though I didn't get in until the middle of the night!

Part of last week was spent with Jeff's family in Clearwater, FL...near Tampa. They were kind enough to put me up for a few days so I was able to actually stay with Jeff, Beth, and the kids. We did lots of shopping, and of course went to the beach!



One day we also went to a Christmas shop, which was lots of fun! That's where the picture below, of Beth and I, was taken! We also took a few other pictures, making it look like we had skipped ahead a few months!



On Thursday, we all loaded into a rented minivan (the only one you can't see here, other than myself, is Pablito) with our luggage. Keep in mind that each person is allowed two check bags and two carry-ons when flying. When returning to Bolivia (and I imagine other countries as well), you make a point to stock up on many things and use every inch of the allotted amount! I also had my luggage so there were 6 of us total with lots of bags as you can imagine! I think we used every corner of the minivan! We then went to Lake Worth, FL, stopping to have lunch with fellow missionary friends and then having dinner with other friends upon arrival in Lake Worth.



We were able to stay at the old home office, which has some housing available. That was convenient and much more cost effective than staying in a hotel! After more shopping, more packing, and again loading into the minivan, we drove to Miami Sunday morning at which point we said our good-byes. The HAuses flew out at about 3:00 in the afternoon and I then flew out at about 7:00 pm. All in all, it was a wonderful time. I enjoyed getting to see them all again and was able to send a few gifts with them for my friends back in Bolivia! Praise God for the enjoyable and safe week!

This week, since I am up-dating my blog a little late, I will go ahead and share that my grandfather celebrated his 102nd birthday yesterday, September 4th. My mom prepared a brunch in his honor and invited the ladies from his aerobics class. It was a lot of fun! I especially enjoyed it since I had missed the past couple of milestones! He continues to do well...playing the drums, going to aerobics, working on the computer, driving, etc. He talks about his memory going, but that just makes us all laugh!! His idea of his memory going is that he can't remember someones name, yet he doesn't have any problem telling you about a restaurant or place he went to 50 years or so ago! Incredible!


Well, I guess that's it for this week. I drive down to Charlotte on Friday to attend classes and then I have a conference to go to with the mission until Thursday, Sept. 13th. I'm not sure if I will have internet access next week or not, so it may be a week and a half before I up-date my blog again! Thanks as always for your continued prayers!

August 27, 2007

So I've been trying to remember if I actually did all of the reading required for my coursework when I was at Radford University and UNCG...probably not. However, now, as I begin my seminary assignments, I am realizing how necessary it is! Since the classes are only offered on the weekends (and once a month for each class) there is a great deal of reading to be done before the classes start and then throughout the duration of the three months! Wow...and to think I'm only getting started! That was mostly how I spent my last week. When I didn't have my nose in a book I was running errands, going to the eye-doctor, taking cars in for their state inspections, taking grandpa to the audiologist, etc. It's been a rather busy week.

Today I am actually flying to Tampa, Florida. You may remember me talking about my friends the HAuses in Bolivia. They flew up to the states about a week ago for his parent's 50th wedding anniversary last week. This week I am joining them in Tampa and we will vacation a bit before landing in Miami next Sunday at which time they will return to Bolivia and I to Virginia (as long as I don't actually get lost in one of their duffel bags...hee, hee).

Well, I guess that's it for now. I will be sure to send pictures and an up-date of my trip to Florida next week.

August Already?

Well, I believe we have established that I don't do well up-dating my blog every couple of weeks due to the fact that it has been over a month since I last up-dated. In light of this "new discovery", I have decided to return to up-dating my blog once a week, on Mondays. Please bear with me, however, if I have an occasional week without much of anything interesting to share!


My travels over the past couple of weeks included a trip to Eden, NC (actually Rockingham County), where I used to live before going to Bolivia. I was able to speak briefly at the church I attended there. I was also able to attend and share a little in a Spanish speaking church that I was involved in at that time. After that my family and I spent the weekend in Abingdon for the Virginia Highlands Festival, a large arts and crafts festival that is held there the first two weeks of August each year. I was also able to share about the Lord's work in Bolivia with our "family" at Abingdon Bible Church. During these two weeks when I wasn't in Rockingham County or Abingdon, I had the pleasure of staying with Emily and baby Wes while Emily's husband, Christopher, was in Guatemala on a mission's trip with their church.


Now, I am back at my mom and dad's house in Franklin. I have been officially accepted, oriented, and registered for classes at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. My first class will be September 7-8. One of the things I like about GCTS was that the classes are offered on the weekends (Friday nights 6:30-9:30 and then Saturdays 8:30-4:30), during September, October, and November, which means I can drive down for a couple of days and then drive back to Emily's house or my parent's. The classes I have registered for are: Theology Survey I (1st weekend of each month), Church History to the Reformation (3rd weekend), and New Testament Survey (4th weekend).

Please continue to pray for me that God would strengthen me and grant me wisdom as I begin taking classes at GCTS. Also, that God would provide the financial support that I need in order to cover the costs of my classes and allow me to return to Bolivia. May He bless each of you for your continued faithfulness to Him.

Greetings from Franklin, Virginia!

Hello there once again!
I pray this letter finds you all doing well. I had high hopes of updating my blog about every couple of weeks, but now it has been about a month...so much for that! Anyway, better late than never! Here's a little update as to my activities over the last 5 weeks.

Trip to Texas:

The trip to Texas went very well...no car trouble, no accidents, no screaming baby (at least not until the last 10 minutes or something, which was quite impressive), etc. The wedding was beautiful, the bride was beautiful, and of course the maid of honor was a knockout...just kidding, the bride was the real beauty by far. For the most part everything went smoothly and everyone had a very nice time.

Spending Some time in Franklin:
I have had some time to hang around the Franklin area. I am slowly getting to know some of the singles at my parent's church and enjoying the activities they have planned. I also have a great time hanging out with my grandfather who lives with my parents. We often have lunch together and at times I go with him to his arobics class. Of course there are plenty of other things to keep me busy as well; walking the dogs in the afternoon, taking naps, emailing, making plans, etc.
Trip to Abingdon, Winston-Salem, Fort Mill, Graham, Wilmington:
This was my most recent trip. I spent a few days in Abingdon, sorry if I missed you when I was there. I wasn't there long, but I'll be back again in August. I also spent some time visiting a friend in Winston-Salem, not to mention my friend Dana whom I met in Bolivia flew to Charlotte and spent the week with me. We basically drove all over North Carolina, spending time with my younger sister and her family as well as seeing the beach. We also spent a couple of days in South America Mission's Home Office in Fort Mill South Carolina. This was a wonderfully renewing time of debriefing and preparing for my return to Bolivia. More details to come on all of that!




Visit from a Good Friend:
For the next week and a half my friend Jen is here to visit with me. We have a few plans to take in some of the local flavor, but are also enjoying a little rest. Fortunately she is willing to let me get a few things done too as I have some speaking engagements to prepare for.
Well, I guess that's about it for now. I will try to write more in a couple of weeks from Rockingham County, North Carolina, which is where I will be at that time (or maybe from my younger sisters as I will be there part of the time as well)! Blessings to you all!