The Consulate...

In order to enter a foreign country, you are required to obtain what is called a visa. In order to obtain a visa, you must go to the consulate. Since we are going to Spain, we went to the Spanish consulate in Coral Gables, Florida, right outside of Miami. Usually obtaining a visa isn't a complicated process because most people just get tourist visas to stay in the country for a few days. But since we are going to live in that country, the process is a bit more complicated.

On Thursday, March 31 2011, we left the house we have been living in for the past few months for the last time. We set out towards Miami. We spent the night in a hotel room. We woke up early this morning so that we could make sure we got to our appointment on time. We had made an appointment for our family to apply for visas about a month earlier. They are usually pretty booked so if we missed it we would have to wait another month. So this was it. After countless hours of preparation, after collecting what seemed like hundreds of documents, after 3 years of traveling and raising money, we were finally going to apply for visas and move overseas. So we walk up to the counter where we were to apply; dad was carrying all of the documents required in neatly organized folders. The man at the counter asked us what time our appointments were. We told him the time of our appointment. He said that we each, all four of us, had to make separate appointments. Because of this, he turned us away and told us to come back when we all had appointments. This was devastating!!

The security guard overheard what had happened and stopped us on our way out. He told us to go up to the next floor and make our appointments there. So we did. When we got up there we told them our situation. They were extremely helpful! The man pulled some strings and made some phone calls and made us three appointments for next month. He said that was the best he could do, but if we took them back down to the first place we were, that maybe by some chance they would have mercy and allow us to apply today because we are from out of town.

So we got all of our documents in order..again..and made our way back downstairs. By this time I was praying and praying and praying some more! So when we got back downstairs, the security guard recognized us and told us we'd be next in line. So we go back up there and tell the guy what has happened. He goes to make a phone call. He comes back and tells us that we have the appointment for today! And we don't have to wait another month! So that was exciting news! And I give God the glory for that!

So we went into the next room and waited. We had to get our documents in order..again.. When we were getting our documents in order again, the man comes in the room and says that there are some more papers we have to fill out. So we look at the papers and realize they are in SPANISH! We don't speak Spanish yet! So we go back upstairs while dad waits in the room, and we find somebody to translate the papers. So eventually we get it all filled out and it's time for our appointment.

We give the lady all of the things they ask for, and she says the ones in English are supposed to be translated into Spanish. So we go back upstairs to the translator and realize he isn't there and won't be back until after the visa office is closed. So we go down the street and ask a business to do it, and they said they wouldn't. So by this time we haven't eaten all day, and we are very tired. So we just decide that we should go back to our hotel and figure something out. A few hours later, Dad went back to the translator, who was back in the office now, and asked him for help. He said it would be no problem to translate the documents, AND hand deliver the documents to the right people!

So after a long day, and a lot of disappointments, we can classify this as a success. Praise God!! God always provides. Even when the situation seems hopeless, God works it out for the good of those who love Him.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I have had a lot of adventures in the month of February of the year 2011. Me and my family are on a journey to the mission field and we are getting closer every day. We are in the process of moving to the Canary Islands. We are dealing with all of the legal things right now. You'd be surprised at how much documentation it takes to prove that you are you. haha. But anyways, I will talk now about the travel we've done. The most memorable of our travels this month was going to a church outreach with an elvis impersonator. He actually looked and sang A LOT like elvis. I was a bit surprised. He was a nice guy too. And now it is March and we have some more adventures in store for us I am sure!

I am very excited to see what God has in store for us in these next few months. Jeremiah 29:11 has been on my heart recently. It says: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I know that God has a plan for my life. He has a plan for your life too! God is so good!

To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen!

Prayer and Praise Breaks Chains

In Acts chapter 16 it is talking about Paul and Silas' missionary journeys. Paul had a vision of a man asking him to come to Macedonia. So Paul, Silas, and Timothy set out for Philippi, which was "the leading city of that district of Macedonia"(verse 12). While they were in Philippi, a slave girl with an evil spirit in her followed them around for days. Finally, Paul, by the power in the name of Jesus, cast out that evil spirit. Her owners got mad about it, and took Paul and Silas to the magistrates. After the magistrates had them beaten severely, and publicly, they put them in prison. They were in the inner cell, and their feet were in stocks. Starting in verse 25 it says, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose."

Despite the awful circumstances, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God. They were beaten, bloody, and chained up in prison, but they didn't let that get them down. Their joy and their strength does not come from the circumstances in this life anyways. Their joy comes from the Lord. Don't let your circumstances determine your attitude. And remember that prayer and praise breaks the chains. The chains, like in Paul and Silas' case might be literal. But the chains might be a circumstance that is getting you down, or fear or worry about something. We should be continuously praising God and praying to Him, even when it seems like everything is going wrong. In Psalm 37:4-6 it says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." And in Ephesians 5:19 it says, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I think it's pretty clear that we should always pray and sing songs of praise to God. It worked for Paul and Silas, and it will work for you today. Praise the Lord! For He is good!!!

God bless!!

He came to my rescue

In Acts chapter 12, it talks about how Peter was miraculously rescued from prison. In verse 4 it says, "After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the passover." To me, this would seem like a hopeless situation. Just imagine yourself chained up in a dark prison cell surrounded by 16 highly trained soldiers who won't let you out of their sight. This is bad! But in verse 5, it continues, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying for God to rescue him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in a cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 'Quick, get up!' he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists."

This situation seemed hopeless, but the church didn't lose faith. No matter how bleak the situation may seem, God is watching out for you. And He will take care of you! This passage of scripture proves it.

God bless!!!

...And I'll live my life to tell HIS story...

I feel like I should explain the title of my blog. The phrase "and I'll live my life to tell His story" is a phrase my dad has used many times in sermons. He has told a story of a pastor who, in his usual prayer time, had a vision. In the vision this pastor was riding a chariot. The chariot was headed toward a coliseum. As the chariot got closer it kept getting faster and faster.. Until finally the pastor was holding on to the chariot driver as tight as he could, just to stay on. Eventually the chariot was going at break-neck speed!! The pastor was using every ounce of his might just holding onto the driver so he could stay on. Once they reached the coliseum, they were going even faster! The coliseum was packed out. Thousands upon thousands of people were in the stands. But the funny thing is, they were screaming his name. He was baffled at this! Here he was just trying to hold on to the driver just to keep from falling, and the people were chanting his name! So he decided to scream back at them!! He started screaming to the top of his lungs "It's not me! It's him! It's not me! It's him!"

At that moment, the Lord arrested his attention and said "That's right. It's not you. It's me."

My dad has told this story many times. And he has adopted this as sort of a mission statement for our family. I have adopted it personally as a way to live my live. And I'll live my life to tell His story. Because it isn't me. It is Him.

God bless!

Sarasota, Zephyrhills, and Springhill trip...

We had a trip planned to go to a church in Zephyrhills, FL. on Sunday morning and a church in Springhill, FL on Sunday night. But a few days before the trip took place my dad got an email from a pastor in Sarasota, FL who wanted to pledge monthly support to us..Praise the Lord!!

He asked if there was some way we could present ourselves before the church, like maybe a video. But dad figured out that we could get to the Saturday night service in Sarasota to meet that church, and then proceed with the rest of the planned trip to Zephyrhills and Springhill. So we did it. Saturday morning we woke up and headed out for Sarasota, FL. We got to Sarasota really early so we just hung out in Books-a-Million until church started. So went got to the church and the people were very nice and the music sounded great! I was wearing my usual church attire(a nice shirt and a nice pair of blue jeans), which is usually considered underdressed. But for the first time in my life I felt overdressed!! There were a lot of teenagers wearing their normal clothes. You really never know how you're expected to dress. So I just play it safe usually. So anyways, Dad talked to the church and told them our story, and the church decided to give us a HUGE monthly pledge! And, according to Dad's numbers, it put us over 100% in our budget! God is good everybody! It shouldn't have been possible for us to raise the amount we needed in the time we had. But NOTHING is impossible with God!! He will always provide what we need! God is good!!

So after we left Sarasota, we went to Zephyrhills, where we checked in to a hotel at 1 in the morning. Always fun! We went to church the next morning, and some of our good friends from our home church were there! They are new to the area and were trying out the church! And it just so happens they decided to try it out the day we were there! It is amazing how God works things out. So after church we went to lunch with them. They paid for lunch and wanted to bless us by filling up our gas tank in the car. They also invited us to their home so we would have a place to go to hang out before we left for Springhill for the night service. They blessed us today. And it is amazing how God works things out! GOD IS GOOD!! So after an amazing lunch, chatting and watching some football we headed out to Springill, FL for an evening service. The service went great and we met some wonderful people. After service we decided to head home. Its a long drive, but worth it in the end. And that brings us to now!! I'm writing this blog.

If you have read this whole thing, then kudos to you! I'm sure it was kinda long and boring! But it was a very busy and eventful weekend. And the moral of the story is.. GOD IS GOOD!! ALL THE TIME!!

God bless!

Miami trip...

We have made many a trip over our itineration process, but this one was pretty interesting. Yesterday morning we drove down to Miami from St. Augustine. It was a pretty long drive. When we entered Miami, I felt like we entered a foreign country. It is nothing like the other parts of Florida. I felt out of place. It was culture shock! Almost everything is in Spanish! But since I am moving to Spain I should probably get used to that. The traffic in Miami is unreal! It gives the term "defensive driving" a whole new meaning! Before church we went to Wendy's. A lady there told me I look like Justin Bieber. I still don't know what to think about that! But when we got to the church we were going to, everything was wonderful! The people there were very kind and loving. The Pastor at the church was great! We had a wonderful time! We praised and worshipped God the pastor preached a great message! All-in-all it was a great trip. I feel like I have grown closer to my Lord Jesus Christ. And hopefully we spread a passion for missions to the people in that church.

God bess!