Give me words to speak...

Well, I have been blessed the past 2 weeks to have been able to borrow a car. So, seeing as my ability to move about past where my feet can walk me, I have used my time wisely. And the holidays are coming so many weekends are occupied by wonderful family events.

So, in the past few weeks God has been very faithful in allowing me the opportunity to boast in His name and the work He is doing at LCH.

My first appearance of public speaking was at Flatonia Baptist Church, where my Granny goes and makes sure I am on their weekly prayer list J. It was a Wed. night fellowship and I had a lot of fun getting to speak with them. Monica, my sister, also was there which was so good to have her support and advice as to what to do different the next time. It was really great to see my Granny and Bob and just catch up on life. Also, the sweet little dog, Gracie, that I inherited from my mom and then had pass on to my aunt when I graduated college (due to life plans not really fitting with having a dog). Little Gracie has been living with Granny and she was still just as cute as ever with her little snaggle tooth smile.

Yesterday, I went a Christian school in San Antonio and was able to speak at my good friends, Kimo and Kim’s, class as well as 2 other classes. Most of these classes were little 3rd graders that ask the greatest questions so I enjoyed talking with them a lot. And then I spoke to my largest crowd so far, a group of college students at Texas State involved with Crosstalk. This was great because some people involved with Crosstalk were in Uganda this summer and started their own non-profit (ichooseyou.net) to help the kids in the neighborhood behind me who go to my church there. They are also having a benefit on Friday and are using some of my photography to decorate and sell in an auction (I also will have a few that I can sell for my own personal fundraising). I feel kinda like a professional photographer now. Wow, blown up, displayed, and auctioned. Awesome.

In addition to speaking engagements, I was also sponsored to attend the Walk to Emmaus, which was a weekend long spiritual retreat. Without going too much into it, it turned out to be such a blessing and refreshment to my heart. I witnessed the most beautiful display of love and the closest feeling of heaven that I have yet experienced in my life. Thanks again Angie and Derrick for making the weekend happen.

I was also able to spend some time with my beloved Beelers and have been organizing a warehouse full of stuff that was donated to me to hold a garage sale.

So, needless to say I have been a busy woman. I am really looking forward to the holiday week of Thanksgiving so that I can just spend time at home with my family.

Life in the fast lane...

Well, it is hard for me to believe how quickly my time is going. I have almost been in the US for a month now. Wow. And I can say now that I do feel like I have adjusted past the
"re-integration" shock. That is good because for a while big groups were a bit overwhelming and exhausting. But I bless the Lord for His help in adjusting. He is my Rock and consistent in all circumstances.

I have my first official speaking "gig" (for lack of better word... I know there is one buy my mind has blanked) at my Granny's church tomorrow night (Flatonia Baptist Church). Surprisingly, I don't feel as nervious as expected. Hopefully my nerves will stay subdued tomorrow. I feel much better about speaking though because I just get to boast in the Lord and what He is doing at LCH and how much I love the kids. That is easy enough.

I can't believe how my time will fly by being here. As I look at my calendar, dates are already getting filled up by visits or holiday events.

And I have already been blessed to see the Lord move in provision in different areas that I have prayed for. I love how He works all things in His timing and perfectly. Truly my heart rejoices.

So, that is a little update on me. Hope you are well and I would love to hear from you (especially since there will not be a 20 second delay in our speaking, like it is when I am in Africa!)

A story about Pops-to-the-cops

So, I wish you all could spend some time with my Dad. He is so great but such a weirdo at times. You really never know what he will come up with next. For example: On Halloween afternoon I saw him peeping over the fence talking with someone. He comes back inside and says, “Hey Nat, I just met the neighbors and they invited me to their party. Want to go?” Well, no. But then later I walk into the garage and see Dad and Monica acting suspicious at his work bench. I walk out and they turned their heads quickly to see if I was coming. So I asked what they were up to and Dad said that they were making his costume. Well, all I saw was an old hat and some thick masking tape. Monica had cut a piece and Dad instructed her to write “Nn” on it. Then he taped it to the hat.

Of course we both look at each other thinking, “Ok, Dad is crazy.” Monica asked what it meant and he proudly replied that we must guess. We had no idea and told him it must be inappropriate if he won’t tell us. He insisted it wasn’t but kept telling us to guess. “WE DON’T KNOW, DAD!” He pulls up his pants really high and says, “I am the Neighborhood Nerd. N-N.” Wow. Who knew he could be such a dork. Then Janece pulled up and he tried to make her guess. When she had failed he told her just as proudly as he told Monica and I, as if it were the best idea of a costume because 1. he made it up and 2. he didn’t have to spend anything on it.

Needless to say, he went to the party solo. Ha. I love my Dad!