Living Hope

Hi Mom and Gramme!! I think you might be the only ones to still check this out...glad you are getting more computer savy! Anyway this month we are really moving ahead with getting the church exterior fixed up! A pressure washer guy is coming this saturday and then we have some patching to do, then the 21st and 28th the outside is getting painted!! So when you come mom, it will be looking fresh and painted! After the painting someone is putting in new glass front doors and windows and then the landscapers will come fix it up even more! Then in March we'll do more neighborhood promotion and outreach to get ready for the launch on Easter. Its been great to see so many people coming together to help support us as we get ready to launch! We even have a church donating their old children's ministry check in system to us. And we have a music director and his wife who have been doing music the last two sundays and really thinking about joining the church full time! And we are finally getting some where with the neighborhood watch program...the first meeting was this week and 55 people came ready to work together to protect our community! Lots to look forward to and pray about!!! Till next time...Ann

Over-flowin

Can't believe its almost the end of October!?!?!  Kinda been MIA technology wise, sorry! I spent two months in WI and Chicago visiting family & friends and raising support. Now I've been at Sara's for almost three weeks & will be here till the end of October when I move up to Richmond! I've been keeping busy helping out at Sara's church and entertaining the neighbor kids. Its been a crazy year of learning, traveling, playing, reading, doctors, and friends. Its also been a hard year, but definitely faith strengthening! Two big ways are in health & provisions. Many people have prayed for so long about my crazy health and God has always provided strength & encouragement through the pains. I'm a big believer in God using bad things for good and His faithfulness in being strong when we're weak. I am also very thankful for the latest finding of my gluten allergy and how much it has helped! This is the best I've felt in sixteen years! Definitely the answer to many faithful prayers! Another big way that my faith has been strengthened is reflecting on how God continues to provide!!! I've seen it my whole life, but through a microscope this past year! After leaving Chicago: selling my car (which allowed me to pay my dad for it completely & be debt free!), downsizing my expenses to a phone bill & health insurance, and ready to see what God had in store! I am amazed at how God provided in big ways and in the small; how He used supporters, babysitting jobs and generous friends. He provided in abundance! I never went without and was blessed beyond measure!!! So here's my attempt to "thank you Lord , in front of all the people. To sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds!" Psalm 57:9-10  May I always live in over-flowin gratitude!!!

Richmond & the Roy's

I've been in Richmond, CA now for over a month. Its gone fast!! I've enjoyed being a part of the Roy family and getting to know the church and community. Its a great city with a lot of diversity in its people and landscape. Its right near Oakland and San Francisco. Its surrounded by hills/ mountains and right along the bay. The church is a restart that Aaron is the pastor of. There are a lot of ministry opportunities and a lot on the horizon for the church. I've spent a lot of time with Sugar and the kids...always entertaining! Aaron- 4, Isaiah-3 & Eden turns 1 next week. It looks like I'll be here until the end of the month and then Sara will come get me and head back to LA for a couple weeks. Then back to the midwest to visit family and Chicago! My headaches have actually been a bit better lately, even without the chiropractor!!! Pray for wisdom as I decide about where God wants me!!! I can't believe in a couple months it will be a year since I left Chicago...crazy!

This is a picture of the church from their front yard. Its only a block away.

Encouraging Kids

I started going to the prayer/ praise service thursday nights at the church. And last thursday one of the neighbor boys (7 yrs old) followed me over and stayed. He came prepared with his brown playdough and water bottle! He actually did very well- sometimes praying, sometimes doing math problems. After it was over I stayed and a few people were praying for my head/ neck/ jaw and I could hear Osvaldo standing on the pew behind me and then put his hand on my head like the others were doing. He later told me he asked God to care for me. Kids always have a stand out way of encouraging me. And they deffinitely keep me entertained!

I'm taking the bus & train up to Richmond, CA (near San Francisco) this friday to stay with the Roy's for a while. I'm very excited to see Aaron & Sugar and the kids!!! And check out their new community and church. I can't believe its May already!!!

Mountain Moved!!

Thanks for praying! I went to the dentist (I actually hadn't been to one in 8 years- not good I know). They did x-rays and the dentist looked at my teeth after I explained my health history and current concerns- it always takes a while! And the he said that I have no cavities and there are no problems at all & my teeth, gums, etc. look quite good- especially after having been MIA from the dental world for so long! I asked "are you sure?" He said yep. I definitely know God's been at work there! The pain in my jaw and numbness in my ear and surrounding area was from my TMJ problems (jaw joint craziness) (that was one of my guesses, but my imagination went in other directions too). I've worn a mouth guard at night since college to help stabilize my jaw and since going to the chiropractor here, he said to try not wearing it, apparently I really need to! I kept thinking of Tori and Michelle though cause I would always ask them "have you ever had it when......(some sort of crazy health thing happening to me)" and they would always look at me crazy and say 'no'!!! I'm sure this would be another one. Please keep praying for me though cause my head & neck still hurts all the time among other things and it's been really frustrating, especially when there is no real reason medically. Back in High School God cured me from Pancreatitus after a year in and out of the hospital when no one could explain it. So, I know He can do it again, I'm ready!!! 

A couple weeks ago I went in to a small christian bookstore that recently opened a few blocks from the church to look for a book. It's owned by a mother and daughter and I got to talking with Blanca (the mom) and she was saying how busy she was trying to do everything and they just started so they didn't have extra money to hire people, so I've started going in one day a week to help out how ever I can. I've really enjoyed getting to know her and being an encouragement to her. Pray for them and the store that it would continue to grow and be a blessing to the community!!! I've been praying that God would show me different ways to bless others and when something just jumps out at you- it's neat!

Prayer Moves Mountains

The last few days I have been really reminded that God is always with me no matter what. He reminded Joshua over and over not to be afraid or discouraged, but to be strong and courageous because God is with him wherever he goes. God has been challenging me with these same words. Especially lately as I am once again facing a crazy health thing. My left ear has been feeling numb and sore and spreading down my neck and jaw. Its really annoying and kinda scary. My continuous health drama has gotten pretty discouraging and sometimes brings fear. So the only thing I can do is to trust God's word and His undeniable hand in my life. I know that God can do anything and its no stretch for Him to bring total healing! I know He also uses suffering to grow us stronger in Him! I've grown from all this and have seen God's faithfulness. I am so thankful for so many faithful people praying for me and encouraging me in all this!!!! So, please pray with me this week as I am going to a free clinic in Watts on Thursday to get my jaw, ear, teeth checked out. Pray that God would move a mountain and bring healing!!! Thanks!!!

Stow-aways & Flammin Hots

Well, I've been getting back into life here in LA and got back to the chiropractor today!! A couple days after I got back I was unpacking and had left a couple piles of stuff on the floor of my room and as I got to the bottom of them....I saw something move.....it was a rather large cockroach....the likes of which I saw at the airport in Nairobi! I attempted to corner it and smash it....but it got a way and I had to move the dresser quickly so it wouldn't disappear completely. Thankfully I was able to kill it and am praying that he didn't bring friends! Another eventful day was being able to go as a chaperone with sixty third graders from a school in Compton to the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. A friend is a teacher there and needed a last minute volunteer. It was a lot of fun and the kids even shared their flammin hots with me at lunch! I missed them- no flammin hots in Africa! I'm excited to eat Mexican food again too! Didn't find much in Africa. And for some reason the other night I was driving to the grocery store and when I turned in there was no one in the other lane and I completely blanked on which side of the road I was supposed to be on!!!! Not good. In Uganda they drive on the opposite side. I didn't even drive there, but I guess I road enough to get confused. Hopefully that won't happen again! :) Also the neighbor kids are back and we've been having some homework sessions on the picnic table. I've been hearing how cold and snowy its been back home and am thankful to be back in 70's and sunny every day!!! Sorry to all of you in the cold. Later...Ann