Ready to be awed

The tickets have been bought. The suitcases are packed. The flight leaves in 33 hours. I am ready and waiting. Before I know it, I will be in Maracaibo. I am excited to see what God is going to do while I am there. I am ready to be awed. God has not ceased to amaze me and leave me in awe of his power and holiness throughout this entire journey. I expect He will continue to awe me. So I am ready... ready for whatever He brings my way.

The time has come

The music group Hillsong sings a song called "The time has come". The song talks about giving your all to God. "The time has come to stand for all we believe in so I for one am gonna give my praise to You... today it’s all or nothing all the way the praise goes out to You.. today I live for one thing -to give You praise in everything I do... All we are is Yours and all we’re living for is all You are."

The time has come for me to give Him all I have. My tickets have been purchased. I will be Venezuela in two weeks. He has orchestrated everything according to His Will and His perfect timing and I am giving my all to Him. I praise God for all He has done in my life, showing me over and over His Sovereignty.

The time has come to stand for what I believe in and I am gonna give my praise to Him... today (and in two weeks) its all or nothing- all the way- I give my praise to Him... today (and every day) I live for one thing- to give Him praise in everything I do.... All I am is His and all I'm living for is all that He is!!!

Life in a snowglobe

Last week, I was having lunch with a friend and I realized, as I was describing to her what life was like right now, that my life is like being in a snowglobe. It seems like someone has picked up my world and shook it, sending everything flying all around me. Everything is spinning around and changing before my eyes. However, I myself have not gone anywhere because my feet are firmly planted on the rock of the snowglobe. I have my feet planted on Christ. So it doesn't matter what happens around me, I am stable. The world may be spinning and changing right before my eyes, but I trust that I will not be moved and that eventually everything will settle down. And when things settle down, they may look differently than before, but that's ok. My feet will still be planted firmly on The Rock!

On Christ, the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

Peppermint Tea

My dorm mates from CIT will say "ut oh" when they hear I have had 5 cups of hot peppermint tea in the past two days. They would say this because they know that there are really only 2 reasons for me to drink hot tea...

1. Its really cold outside (nope, not the right answer this time. Its been chilly but not bad.)
2. I'm sick

Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner. Yes, I have been feeling a bit under the weather for the past 2 days. Yet, I still have so much to do as I prepare to leave.

I pray that the Great Physican will heal my body so I can give 100% to His Service. But, I also thank God for times like this when I am reminded that without Him, I am nothing and I really need to rely on Him for everything.

As much as I don't want to get sick in Venezuela, I hope God gives me these times when I can remember how much I need to depend on Him.

A look back... A look ahead...

2007 began with me living in my apartment, hosting 3 friends from Venezuela, teaching at Crestwood Middle School, and beginning preparations for the next mission trip.
2007 ended with me being homeless, jobless, and not knowing what was going to happen in the future.

What happened in between?? God happened!! God intervened in my life in 2007 (and really before), and when God intervenes, things happen.

In April, I took a trip to Maracaibo do work on preparations for the mission trip, which took place in August. While there, I was invited to come to work with Filadelfia Church full time in 2008. It was suggested by both my church in Ohio and Filadelfia Church that my date to begin ministry be the second or third week of January, 2008.

June was a very busy month with a lot of changes taking places. Within 3 weeks time in June, I finished my teaching, took 6 graduate credit hours of classes, finished preparations for the mission trip, prepared for language school in Costa Rica, gave away all of my furniture, and moved out of my apartment.

I spent July in Costa Rica at the Spanish Language Institute attempting to learn Spanish. From there, I spent 3 weeks in Venezuela working with the mission teams.

I returned "home" mid-August, staying the basement of a friend from church. On Labor Day, I drove down to North Carolina to begin classes at the Center for Intercultural Training.

I remained in North Carolina until just before Thanksgiving. I was "home" staying with my parents for 3 weeks, doing support raising, before traveling to Oklahoma to visit a friend. While in Oklahoma, my gramma passed away. I arrived back just in time for the calling hours and funeral. A week later was Christmas, then New Year's and then now.

Welcome to 2008!!!

My support raising has been going slowly and as January approached, I started to think that God was not quite ready for me to go to Venezuela. I trust His timing and when He feels the time is right, the financial support I need will be there and I will go.

Just yesterday, I was told that a significant portion of my support has suddenly come in and while I am not quite there with my support, I am close enough to begin looking for tickets. Within the next month, God willing, I will be in Venezuela.

I trust that God will provide the remaining support that I need before I leave. He has been faithful so far, providing all I needed at the right time. I trust He will not fail me now.

Thank you for your prayers and your support over the past several months. I ask that you please continue to pray, not only for me, but for the people of Maracaibo that will be impacted by the work of the Holy Spirit throughout this new year.

Merry Christmas

As we prepare for our Christmas celebrations, let's take time to stop and reflect why this is a special time of the year.

About 2000 years ago, over in the Middle East, a baby was born. This baby was special. He was the Son of God. God sent His Son to us to be born in human form in order to save us from our sins. Jesus is fully God, yet He became fully man, in order to live life on earth and then die in our place and for our sins. Christmas is the celebration of His birth.

The birth of this baby brought hope to the world. Hope of life. Hope of freedom. Hope through our Savior.

So, as you gather with your family and friends to exchange gifts and eat Christmas cookies, take time out to reflect of the true reason for this season.

Merry Christmas!!

In loving memory...

My Gramma went home to be with the Lord this weekend. While I will miss her greatly, I know that she is in a place that I long to be and I know I will see her again sometime in the future. I thank God for this, that He has provided a way so that we will be united again in the future. I love you Gramma. Margaret B. Miceli

Oct 4, 1913- Dec 15, 2007

The Heartland Ice Storm

I have spent the last week in Chelsea, Oklahoma, arriving just after what is being known as the Heartland Ice Storm. This ice storm caused high amounts of damage to surrounding areas in Oklahoma. The ice caused tree limbs to break off, caused power lines to come down, and water lines to break. The family I stayed with had no power for 3 days (before I arrived) and no water for 3 days as well (2 of which were days I was here). Many people still do not have power or water from the Dec 10 storm. After seeing the damage done here, I know I am grateful for what God has given me and the people here are grateful for the little things, like the ability to take a shower or turn on the light.

What time is it??

Venezuelans woke up today not knowing the answer to that question. "Why didn't they know what time it was?" you might ask yourself. They didn't know what time it was because the time changed today. That's right. For the first (and possibly the last) time, Venezuela observed their own version of Daylight Savings Time. Chávez had the clocks moved back 30 minutes. This will allow the students to walk to school in a little more daylight.

Because of this, Venezuela now has its own time zone. Also, when the United States is on Daylight Savings Time, the Eastern time zone will be 30 minutes ahead of Venezuela, even though Venezuela is further east.

This time change was done with little or no advanced warning, which left many Venezuelans wondering what time it really was. There was some confusion but things seem to have transitioned well.

Welcome to the world of Daylight Savings Time Venezuela!

Election Day

Today is the big election day in Venezuela. The Venezuelan are voting on a reform of the constitution. President Chavez has initiated many changes to the constitution and the people are voting today if they agree with the changes or do not agree. If you want to see what they are voting on, go here... http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2889

While I try not to get involved with Vzlan politics, I can't help but pay attention to what is going on in Venezuela. This election will cause major changes in several areas of government if it passes.

Even though the people of Venezuela are voting for their country's future, God is in control of all that is happening. The only things that will happen in Venezuela is what God permits to happen. It is all under His control. Amen

UPDATE: Just in case you haven't seen the news, the reformation in Venezuela did not pass and the constitution will not change in Venezuela. May God bless Venezuela.