Happy Easter weekend!
Things are going so fast lately oh my word. As most of you know, I'm back from Ecuador. It was fun but before I could even finish processing it seemed I was off on another jet plane this time to Ontario, Canada to speak at a kids Conference. I had a great time as I got to work with super stars for a week. (aged 4-13)
Honestly it's such a joy seeing kids really get God. So often as adults we can analyze everything to death, putting "friendship with God and hearing his voice" at such a distance, something complex that only 'special' people can achieve, (pastors, preachers, old fashion big haired ppl stuck in the 80's attire...) And we think heaven forbid kids could ever understand such a thing! But when you don't hold out on them, only giving them cake and cookies in the gym, they learn a lot and eventually stop calling church "the snore" and start having a real friendship with God. Here are a couple stories from the week, I'll try and keep it short.
Our first day they learned the reality of the kingdom and how to hear God’s voice. It went great and at the end to practice hearing we sort of played little games with God such as “If you could take me anywhere in the world, real or pretend, where would you take me? Why?” Or “Jesus, if you could give me any present what would it be?” Well after the latter question God told one little girl he wanted to give her family a new laptop. Lol. She didn't really understand why, "maybe just 'cause he loves me?" Well literally about an hour after getting home there was a knock at her door and out of the blue her family was given a brand new, fancy pants, fully loaded laptop! So like God to tell a kid what he's up to. Just because she asked.
The last couple days we take them out to the streets to hear God for other people and love on strangers, heal the sick and whatever else God decides to do. So we make cards with a message or picture from God and then ask him who he wants to give it to and where they are. Well one little boy makes a card and says the man’s at the mall. "He’ll be a native man, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, no hat no mitts (which was actually quite hard to find in the winter) and the man will be near something orange." So we’re walking through the mall and we see a man who matches the description. “Well I’m not sure if it’s him, where’s the orange?”. Well the boy turns around and the walls in the store behind us are all bright orange! We chase down the man and the little boy hands him his card and the man gets totally rocked and is amazed at the card and how God spoke to this little boy just for him.
The stories of numerous as the kids touched heaven and brought it down to earth. They’d see sick people and get all excited “Look, there’s a guy in wheelchair!” not because they delight in his pain but because they delight in the fact that they have access to the answer. They would pray and ask Jesus where the sick people were in the store and God would lead the kids right to them and they’d get to see God’s love manifest as the people were touched in ‘aisle 2’.
It was great. lol. Life doesn't stop long though as Monday I'm off to LA to meet up with some of my team and then head to Thailand on Tuesday. I'm so excited for this trip, Thailands been on my heart for a couple years so I can't wait to see God radically show up and see a bunch of new babies bring the kingdom. Man he's good.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The tragic tales of donuts gone bad Part 2
Ok quick little update that I find well sort of funny.
So we´re all still recovering from our donut horror from yesterday. Today we were standing properly but still feel the after effects and are watching what we eat. The guy, Everett that was really sick yesterday did not go to the hospital but after we left him was still quite weak. Later that night while talking to his house family he suddenly got really dizzy and passed out. While unconcious his body went into convulsions. He´s now more then ok and up and walking around. Pretty scary that a donut can do that to you. However in my defense he did eat a quesadilla with sketchy cheese as well. Maybe that was what did it. Oh the joys of third world dinning.
So we´re all still recovering from our donut horror from yesterday. Today we were standing properly but still feel the after effects and are watching what we eat. The guy, Everett that was really sick yesterday did not go to the hospital but after we left him was still quite weak. Later that night while talking to his house family he suddenly got really dizzy and passed out. While unconcious his body went into convulsions. He´s now more then ok and up and walking around. Pretty scary that a donut can do that to you. However in my defense he did eat a quesadilla with sketchy cheese as well. Maybe that was what did it. Oh the joys of third world dinning.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The tragic tales of donuts gone bad
So today after a delightful breakfast I was craving something sweet. I thought it was perfect with a little pastry shop across the way to check out their donuts and other pastries. And hey, while I´m there I might as well buy some for the whole gang ( at $.35 a pop i thought it sounded good) So I got home and everyone rejoiced, however after a bite or two the praises ended and everyone started binning the so-called donuts. True they were quite sketchy and tasted like they were made when my mohter was my age but no bother I´ll finish not only one but three and try my best to enjoy my pastry. Not a wise move. Three of us pressed in to the end and three of us couldn´t stand by the end of the night. One guys is so sick we might have to take him to the hospital. So much for a pleasant trip to the donut shop. Note for future travelers. If the food tastes strange and not the way it normally does. Just say no!
On a happier note, we went to a village one wednesday! We were up at 3am for a five hour car ride out of town and up a mountain to visit some kids of a little school. I loved it. It reminded me of the Congo winding up a mountain on crazy roads, passing the clouds and clinging on to the person beside you for dear life everytime another car comes from the other direction on the one way...road. When we got to the village my spanish got a workout as I tried my best to make friends with all the little kids. THey were so cute and didn´t seem to mind the mix of french and portuguese and at the end were hanging all over me stroking my skin and petting my hair saying ¨You are REALLY white!!¨Before we left we gave out hygene supplies and hoped the little raggamuffins use them before we began our 5hour trip back home.
Next week we leave again to the coast this time to preach at villages and train up some teachers of a school. I´m excited to get out again to the bush! It may not be Africa but it will do for now!
And just some extra fun little pics.
Horse back riding in the country ;)
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Me posing with one of the guards from the men´s prison
Friday, January 18, 2008
Life is so strange as it feels like been here for months but it turns out it hasn´t even been three weeks yet!
Things are going well, my health is back to normal and even though it feels like i´m eating a bucket more of food it appears that i´m losing weight because the food is so healthy (nice deal if I do say so)
Over the last couple weeks we have been extremely busy preaching, teaching and loving on kids and youth. Last week we were at a children´s school teaching 2-12 year olds about God. Here they have no problem with religion but they have no concept of relationship with God. (which is backwards. Religion ´bad´, relationship-good.) So we were doing 4-6 classes ranging from 40minutes - 1 1/2 hours...back to back...on hearing God´s voice, healing the sick, bringing heaven to earth and all in all being God´s best friend. For the most part the kids were rocked (we´re still waiting on confirmation from the two year olds ;)as they experienced the powerful presence of God for the first time.
This week we moved up and taught at a school with kids 13-18. These kids were a little more challenging. Each class had about 20-30 kids and we had 2 1/2hrs with each. It was great though, I love when the kids challenge us. One group couldn´t have cared less about God after having religion and rules stuffed down their throats all their lives. So our little rag tag group waltzes in pours our hearts out, one girl is even bawling as she tells a radical story of how God saved her, still...nothing. So we ask if any of them even just want to taste a little bit of God´s presence come up and we´ll ask God to touch them. Surprisingly enough quite a few came up. Well Jesus is so amazing and showed up big time. The kids were crying and crying and falling to the ground as his presence was so strong they couldn´t stand! It was crazy and lots of fun.
So that´s been some ministry for ´normal´fun last weekend we left town for a day of play. (After getting an $8 pedicure of course!) We went to this place called Mindo in the mountains and got a chance to go Canapying (where you´re attached to a harness and fly from mountain to mountain) White water rafting (for $3!) and quading. Oh the hard times of missionary life!
Today is another day off (we get one a week) but it won´t be so eventful. We have a big retreat tomorrow with all the youth and have to plan and prepare. (Please keep it us in your prayers!!)
Funny cause it feels like we´ve done more but at the moment i´m drawing a blank. Tuesday we spoke at a men´s prison... Slightly more sketch then the women´s let´s say. I was talking to my friend after and I was saying how tough they are, then we had to laugh as it was like ´well obviously, they´re in there for murder!´ (I think it was funnier at the time) God came though and we´ll continue to go back every second week.
Please keep prayin as we do a lot of preaching and it´s absolutely pointless to minister if God and the power of his kingdom don´t radically show up. Also Thailand planning is starting to go to the next level as we start organising our team, please pray for everything to fall into place!!
Extra note: I think Jen wrote an update that´s posted on the director of the ministries myspace page. So if you want more details the site is www.myspace.com/eagledove under Jen Toledo in Ecuador or something like that.
All my loves!
Things are going well, my health is back to normal and even though it feels like i´m eating a bucket more of food it appears that i´m losing weight because the food is so healthy (nice deal if I do say so)
Over the last couple weeks we have been extremely busy preaching, teaching and loving on kids and youth. Last week we were at a children´s school teaching 2-12 year olds about God. Here they have no problem with religion but they have no concept of relationship with God. (which is backwards. Religion ´bad´, relationship-good.) So we were doing 4-6 classes ranging from 40minutes - 1 1/2 hours...back to back...on hearing God´s voice, healing the sick, bringing heaven to earth and all in all being God´s best friend. For the most part the kids were rocked (we´re still waiting on confirmation from the two year olds ;)as they experienced the powerful presence of God for the first time.
This week we moved up and taught at a school with kids 13-18. These kids were a little more challenging. Each class had about 20-30 kids and we had 2 1/2hrs with each. It was great though, I love when the kids challenge us. One group couldn´t have cared less about God after having religion and rules stuffed down their throats all their lives. So our little rag tag group waltzes in pours our hearts out, one girl is even bawling as she tells a radical story of how God saved her, still...nothing. So we ask if any of them even just want to taste a little bit of God´s presence come up and we´ll ask God to touch them. Surprisingly enough quite a few came up. Well Jesus is so amazing and showed up big time. The kids were crying and crying and falling to the ground as his presence was so strong they couldn´t stand! It was crazy and lots of fun.
So that´s been some ministry for ´normal´fun last weekend we left town for a day of play. (After getting an $8 pedicure of course!) We went to this place called Mindo in the mountains and got a chance to go Canapying (where you´re attached to a harness and fly from mountain to mountain) White water rafting (for $3!) and quading. Oh the hard times of missionary life!
Today is another day off (we get one a week) but it won´t be so eventful. We have a big retreat tomorrow with all the youth and have to plan and prepare. (Please keep it us in your prayers!!)
Funny cause it feels like we´ve done more but at the moment i´m drawing a blank. Tuesday we spoke at a men´s prison... Slightly more sketch then the women´s let´s say. I was talking to my friend after and I was saying how tough they are, then we had to laugh as it was like ´well obviously, they´re in there for murder!´ (I think it was funnier at the time) God came though and we´ll continue to go back every second week.
Please keep prayin as we do a lot of preaching and it´s absolutely pointless to minister if God and the power of his kingdom don´t radically show up. Also Thailand planning is starting to go to the next level as we start organising our team, please pray for everything to fall into place!!
Extra note: I think Jen wrote an update that´s posted on the director of the ministries myspace page. So if you want more details the site is www.myspace.com/eagledove under Jen Toledo in Ecuador or something like that.
All my loves!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
In Ecuador!
Hey Guys,
I can´t talk long but I just wanted to let everyone know I made it. It took over 30 hours to get here but when I arrived I adjusted well to the altitude and ám trying my best to learn spanish asap (i understand it pretty well it´s just speaking where i struggle) I don´t have much time but i just wanted to quickly share some fun stories!
So on Friday we learned that a baby of a family that the directors are close to was in the ICU and on the verge of death. The doctor´s told them there was no hope and she wouldn´t make it through the afternoon. Well, not on our watch.We all piled in vehicles and rushed to the hospital to start praying. When we got there it didn´t look good but as we were praying the doctors came out and said the baby was stablising. Well as we´re in the waiting room we meet another mother who´s baby was on the verge of death. It had an infection that started in the lungs but was somehow climbing towards the brain or something. The mother was frantic but let us pray with her. A few minutes later she came out from the ICU room bawling as the baby slipped into a coma. Again the doctors said there was very little hope. We kept praying though knowing that the only answer at this point was Jesus showing up. WELL... within maybe 30 minutes the doctors came out once again to say the baby was on the mend. By the time we left the hospital a few hours later both babies were doing well and óut of danger´as they say. Isn´t God amazing! We were thrilled.
Well that was that. i preached at a woman´s juvenile prison yesterday and throughly enjoyed loving on all the woman. One girl was 16 and had two kids. One 5 and the other 3. They were great.
However... ever since I arrived I´ve had quick the stomach ache that has been accompaning me. It started in Calgary and Friday I started feeling nausious from it. Then saturday I started violently throwing up and was achy and full of pain. It sucked. Thankfully the guy we´re staying with is a doctor and stuck me with a needle to make me stop throwing up and pumped me full of medicine to ´make me strong´. I´m now on the mend and walking beautifully.
Well all my love to everyone! Hope to speak soon! Ciao!!
I can´t talk long but I just wanted to let everyone know I made it. It took over 30 hours to get here but when I arrived I adjusted well to the altitude and ám trying my best to learn spanish asap (i understand it pretty well it´s just speaking where i struggle) I don´t have much time but i just wanted to quickly share some fun stories!
So on Friday we learned that a baby of a family that the directors are close to was in the ICU and on the verge of death. The doctor´s told them there was no hope and she wouldn´t make it through the afternoon. Well, not on our watch.We all piled in vehicles and rushed to the hospital to start praying. When we got there it didn´t look good but as we were praying the doctors came out and said the baby was stablising. Well as we´re in the waiting room we meet another mother who´s baby was on the verge of death. It had an infection that started in the lungs but was somehow climbing towards the brain or something. The mother was frantic but let us pray with her. A few minutes later she came out from the ICU room bawling as the baby slipped into a coma. Again the doctors said there was very little hope. We kept praying though knowing that the only answer at this point was Jesus showing up. WELL... within maybe 30 minutes the doctors came out once again to say the baby was on the mend. By the time we left the hospital a few hours later both babies were doing well and óut of danger´as they say. Isn´t God amazing! We were thrilled.
Well that was that. i preached at a woman´s juvenile prison yesterday and throughly enjoyed loving on all the woman. One girl was 16 and had two kids. One 5 and the other 3. They were great.
However... ever since I arrived I´ve had quick the stomach ache that has been accompaning me. It started in Calgary and Friday I started feeling nausious from it. Then saturday I started violently throwing up and was achy and full of pain. It sucked. Thankfully the guy we´re staying with is a doctor and stuck me with a needle to make me stop throwing up and pumped me full of medicine to ´make me strong´. I´m now on the mend and walking beautifully.
Well all my love to everyone! Hope to speak soon! Ciao!!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
You had me at "the beach"
Hi Guys! I'm in LA. I was up this morning at the ungodly hour of 3:30 for some more country hopping before I'll eventually arrive in Ecuador tomorrow just after lunch.
I forgot how much I missed LA, sitting with my friend eating a great little salad starring at the waves of the Pacific, it almost felt like home. lol almost. Not quite tho. (I've been quite emotional with this trip so please bare with me, hopefully it passes soon) ;)
All my love to everyone.
Probably won't have much internet time in Ecuador but I will have a phone (thank you Tunde) so I will email that out soon!
Loves
I forgot how much I missed LA, sitting with my friend eating a great little salad starring at the waves of the Pacific, it almost felt like home. lol almost. Not quite tho. (I've been quite emotional with this trip so please bare with me, hopefully it passes soon) ;)
All my love to everyone.
Probably won't have much internet time in Ecuador but I will have a phone (thank you Tunde) so I will email that out soon!
Loves
Sunday, December 23, 2007
back in Canada...for now at least
It's late at night on a Saturday, I'll have to get up super early for church tomorrow but for some reason I can't sleep. This week has been crazy, I feel that every bomb that could have been dropped was and all the while I was still recovering from sedation.
Life is so strange if you think about it. Everywhere you go, millions of new people, hundreds of hellos, dozens of goodbyes. I'm starting to get better at them. I used to bawl and bawl over after every "see you later" but now I know that's just a part of life and sometimes no matter how much you love somebody sometimes you never see them again. (Never say never however)
I got my wisdom teeth out wednesday and in usual dramatic Cassandra fashion I had a few tears before they even started. Before I was even in the chair actually. I don't remember much after that though, people tell me it's Saturday but all I can remember is tuesday. Until of course I hit the International Travel Clinic. Oh yes, one of the many joys of conquering the world is the needles you get along the way. "I've done this before" I tell the nurse. A few hours later though achy as can be I passed out on the couch from exhaustion doubting even the thought of Ecuador. Let alone Thailand.
I'm such a pack rat at heart and if I could I probably would keep every letter you and the stranger you passed on the street ever wrote me. However stuffing my life into a suitcase I try to purge as much as I can every chance I get. While doing so I stumbled across an old "Time" magazine article on the Sudan stating "Genocide in Slow Motion". (A quote I've heard all to much over the last year) But what was interesting was the paper I had covering it. I had to smile as I read "Security is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of Jesus" It was written next to a couple other encouraging quotes and Bible verses as well as my old Congo flight itinerary. So funny. Sometimes I wonder if somethings wrong with me as it appears I lack fear in this department. I love rebel soldiers and don't understand why at the news of genocide the entire world doesn't jump off it's seat with the joy that we have the answer. It's probably a good thing though as if we all would rush to Sudan, Congo and Timbuktu who would take care of the Americas and my oh so beloved England? It's so peculiar how the world works. I love it. I'm so tired though. And sore on so many levels. My parents and I just laughed as I listed the places of pain in my body and questioned the next beautiful hour when I could pop the next round of Advil liquid Gels. Thus the reason for my ramblings.Sorry. But hey, those of you who complain at my lack of....blog-age (haha) can complain no longer. Unless you were hoping for something a little more coherent. Can't help you there. At least not now. Who knows though, next entry might be from breath taking Quito, Ecuador. Yay for yet another adventure, even if it does mean getting all four wisdom teeth out at christmas and aches, pains and nausea from the needles in my arm. ALL my love to everyone and anyone who reads this and of course MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Life is so strange if you think about it. Everywhere you go, millions of new people, hundreds of hellos, dozens of goodbyes. I'm starting to get better at them. I used to bawl and bawl over after every "see you later" but now I know that's just a part of life and sometimes no matter how much you love somebody sometimes you never see them again. (Never say never however)
I got my wisdom teeth out wednesday and in usual dramatic Cassandra fashion I had a few tears before they even started. Before I was even in the chair actually. I don't remember much after that though, people tell me it's Saturday but all I can remember is tuesday. Until of course I hit the International Travel Clinic. Oh yes, one of the many joys of conquering the world is the needles you get along the way. "I've done this before" I tell the nurse. A few hours later though achy as can be I passed out on the couch from exhaustion doubting even the thought of Ecuador. Let alone Thailand.
I'm such a pack rat at heart and if I could I probably would keep every letter you and the stranger you passed on the street ever wrote me. However stuffing my life into a suitcase I try to purge as much as I can every chance I get. While doing so I stumbled across an old "Time" magazine article on the Sudan stating "Genocide in Slow Motion". (A quote I've heard all to much over the last year) But what was interesting was the paper I had covering it. I had to smile as I read "Security is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of Jesus" It was written next to a couple other encouraging quotes and Bible verses as well as my old Congo flight itinerary. So funny. Sometimes I wonder if somethings wrong with me as it appears I lack fear in this department. I love rebel soldiers and don't understand why at the news of genocide the entire world doesn't jump off it's seat with the joy that we have the answer. It's probably a good thing though as if we all would rush to Sudan, Congo and Timbuktu who would take care of the Americas and my oh so beloved England? It's so peculiar how the world works. I love it. I'm so tired though. And sore on so many levels. My parents and I just laughed as I listed the places of pain in my body and questioned the next beautiful hour when I could pop the next round of Advil liquid Gels. Thus the reason for my ramblings.Sorry. But hey, those of you who complain at my lack of....blog-age (haha) can complain no longer. Unless you were hoping for something a little more coherent. Can't help you there. At least not now. Who knows though, next entry might be from breath taking Quito, Ecuador. Yay for yet another adventure, even if it does mean getting all four wisdom teeth out at christmas and aches, pains and nausea from the needles in my arm. ALL my love to everyone and anyone who reads this and of course MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
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