Letter to Dad

Hey Dad,

I felt led by the LORD to write you a note because He gave me a Scripture for you. Well, first, He gave it to me in order to keep going through these times we are facing with the loss of your Mom and Dad and both of my grandparents. So I know how you feel in this time because I am hurting the same way you are. But just to let you know that the LORD is carrying me through while I am over here. Some days are harder than others, but the LORD is faithful and He is helping me and He will help you too if you just continue to put your faith and trust in Him. With Jesus you could make it because our lives are in His hands. He knows your hurt and your pain right now. So continue to go to Him in prayer and He will give you the grace and the strength to continue on. So keep on holding on to Him and He will make it alright! So lean on Jesus for He will never leave you nor forsake you. Keep on holding on to His promises and He will carry you through. I love you Dad and I wish I could be there with you guys at this time but I am over here at the LORD’S will. So keep holding on and keep on hanging to Jesus. Here is my Scripture verse to you.

Psalm 121:1-8
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

I hope and pray that this Psalm speaks and ministers to you. I love you and I miss you. Can’t wait until I see you guys. Just know that I am also praying for you and the family. Be encouraged and be blessed.

Love Always,
Angie

(I asked Angie if she would allow me to post this letter that she sent to her Dad. She said she would allow me to post it, if it meant that it would minister to someone. I believe it will.

Thanks for your prayers, Angie is doing better and continue on the work of the LORD.)

Mid-Terms

Mid-terms begin TODAY at Mt. Zion...

Pray...

Pray for Comfort

Angie's grandma, whom she loved dearly and in fact, is named after, has gone to heaven. In such a short time Angie has lost two much loved grandparents. I have not called and let Angie know, but I ask you to pray as I will have to call her to tell her. Angie has had such a hard go at this semester and now we add this. Also, next week begin mid-terms...yeah, lots to pray about.

I know God is with her and will give her all that she needs to get through this incredibly difficult time, however, I also know the power of prayer.

Thank you.

Update: I spoke with Angie. God is so good...He had been preparing her and comforting her already. Thank you for your prayers.

Pray

Please continue to pray for Angie. The second half of her first school year has been extremely difficult. She continues to be discouraged and down. She is pressing forward, but I can tell in her voice she is barely hanging on. In fact, there have been some students who have already left the school - this really disappointed her. If you think about it and feel so led, please send her a card of encouragement. She might not write back, but I know it would bring her great joy to receive a note from those she loves.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Pray for Comfort

Today we had to call Angie and give her the news about her Grandpa. She was devastated. Please pray for her.

Change of Seasons at Mt. Zion

While on Christmas break, Angie got to spend some time with her little cousins. As you can see they all had a great time together. Don't you just love these pictures:!

Spoke with Angie today...it's snowing in Pennsylvania! Angie had her first fall on the snowy/icy path - ouch!

She asked for your prayers because GETTING BACK has been and continues to be really hard.

Back in Pennsylvania

Angie came and went too quickly...

God truly was in her trip here and back...thank you all for your prayers. From school she was able to ride with 4 other girls to the airport. They were able to keep each other company and they split the cost of the taxi - yeah! Her trip here, other than being extremely tiring, was smooth and uneventful. There was a 3 hour delay, but could have been worse.

Going back was hard. She absolutely loved being home (even with all the events happening around here). She enjoyed seeing family and friends - thank you all who made time to see her and spend time with her. She, however, knew that God's plan was that she go back to finish what has been started.

We arrived at the airport and thought we would have to say goodbye at the security gate, however, this wonderful Continental Airlines employee gave my husband and I security clearance and we were able to go with Angie to the waiting area. We stayed with her until she boarded her plane (this was extremely difficult for me). My husband and I left the airport very quiet and prayerful.

Angie called us on Sunday from School - THANK YOU JESUS!

Her flight to her first stop was very scary. She said there was a lot of turbulence, she was so scared she could cry. Finally, they arrived at their stop. She had a 5 hour lay over. She later realized that she was at the wrong gate and almost lost her connecting flight to Harrisburg. She realized it and ran to the right gate and did not miss her flight. Here she found a fellow Mt. Zion student - how good is that!? She was able to fly from here to Harrisburg with someone she knew and she did not have to take a taxi alone to school...God is so good!

So she is back at Mt. Zion. Pray that all the students get back into what God has for them. That their excitement reignites and that they finish well.

Thank you all for your prayers for Angie's traveling and now continue to pray for her at school.

Home for Christmas

Angie is home for Christmas...thank you Jesus! She was beat when she arrived at 2:06am this morning, instead of 11:06 - 3 hour delay. But from the stories that we were hearing it could have been worse. Thank you all for your prayers for her flight - it went really well.

For the time that she is here with us I will not be writing on this blog. I will post once she is in Mt. Zion again. Thank you all for following. Thank you for your prayers that have made this first semester possible - to God be the glory!

Prayer Request

So the week begins for Angie with all the finals and the papers that are due. This morning she had a play that a group of the students put together for their Children's Evangelism Class - they are to put a play/skit together as if they would be sharing it with children. She asked for prayer for so much "stuff" she has to memorize, starting with this play and for Thursday she has to memorize, I believe she said twenty Scriptures - just pray for her mind to retain and memorize tons of information, and of course to be able to recall the information to take the tests. Also, pray for favorable weather when all the students will be traveling and for safety in their trips home...thank you.

Counting the days...I mentioned to Angie, "Hey, Angie next week you will be home." She responded, "No, Mom, I will be home in five days." - so who is counting days:)

Finals!!!

Angie is doing well, she is counting the days until she gets to come home. It has been really cold over in Pennsylvania, she has actually seen it snow a couple of time - she really likes it. You can hear in her voice the exhaustion of these last few month - there is truly something to be said for furloughs. Next week will be semester finals...she is dreading next week. On one hand she is counting the days to come home, but on the other hand she knows that before the homecoming there is finals. Please pray for clarity of mind and that the LORD bring to remembrance all the material that has been poured into her mind.

Thanksgiving for Angie

Tuesday (11/25) – The whole school had a wonderful traditional thanksgiving meal with all the fixings. Afterward they had a wonderful time of fellowship and playing board games.

Wednesday (11/26) – everyone that was leaving the campus has left and it is pretty lonely around Mt. Zion. Those left behind also got pretty homesick. In the afternoon those left behind had a baking party. Angie said it was pretty fun.

Thursday (11/27) – Angie called while we were all cooking and she got to speak with several members of the family. We got to talk to her for 1 HOUR – yeah! She did get chocked up, but decided to not focus on the fact that she wasn’t here, but that she will be coming home soon. In the evening the students got to go to a staff member’s home to spend Thanksgiving with them and they got to eat all that they had baked the day before…yummy!

Friday (11/28) – Shopping!!! (Well, actually, window shopping:)

Saturday (11/29) – got to speak with Angie for an hour, AGAIN!!! She had bought herself a mug and some hot-cocoa-packets and would be enjoying a mug of hot cocoa – yummy!!! She said she was actually enjoying having this down time and having her room to herself – he! he!

Call from Pennsylvania

I talked to Angie today...she sounds better. Seems like whatever was going around is finally gone around and now is on the way out - thank you for your prayers. She was getting a little sentimental with some of the students getting ready to go home to spend thanksgiving with their families. It finally hit her that this will be her first Thanksgiving away from home and away from us. But finally she decided not to dwell on that but to think about coming home for Christmas. Today the school had a special traditional thanksgiving dinner for everyone because tomorrow students start leaving for home. She said the food had all the fixings, but wasn't like home...but it was still yummy! She said that the staff has some fun activities for those who are staying on campus and that she will get to spend Thanksgiving day with one of the staff families. She will also get to use the phone more and longer for the break - yeah!

Under the Weather

I spoke to Angie and she did not sound good - she is losing her voice. She says that the weather has been really cold and raining. I guess the flu is going around pretty bad...please pray for her and the other students. This week she has tons of work and projects that are due - stress out time! Now you add the fact that she is not feeling well and well you can imagine. All she wants is to sleep, but there is no time for that. She told me everything that is due beginning today - I was overwhelmed simply hearing her. Please pray for her and the other students that the cold/flu not get them real bad. THANK YOU!

From Angie

(Angie sent me this note. She said that they received it from one of their classes and she wanted me to post it on her blog so that God may encourage someone that needs it…so be encouraged.)

The Bell – I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God’s child (John 1:12)

I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)

I am united with the Lord (I Corinthians 6:17)

I am bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I am a saint - set apart for God (Ephesians 1:1)

I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)

I am a member of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)

I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)

I am a citizen of heaven. I am significant (Philippians 3:20)

I am free from any charge against me (Romans 8:31-34)

I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)

I can not be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39)

I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

I am assured all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

I am the branch of the True Vine, a channel of His life (John 15:1-5)

I am God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)

I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)

I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am God’s co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1)

I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:6)

I have been redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14)

I have been adopted as God’s child (Ephesians 1:5)

I BELONG TO GOD! Do you know who you are?


We as Christians need to stand upon the position that we have in Christ and not let Satan, our enemy, reign over us. Because we already have the victory and we just need to stand upon all of His precious promises that He has given to us, and that is how we could rebuke the enemy plus we have the authority to do so in Jesus Christ – Amen! I praise the LORD for that! So just remember that you are God’s child and He won’t let anyone snatch you out of His hand! Praise the LORD for that! Know who you are in Christ and you will have the victory!

Be encouraged,
Angie

Skit

Spoke with Angie yesterday, she's doing good. She is soooooo excited that she gets to come home for Christmas, she says she can't wait to see everyone! Today they will be going to the school they normally go help at and do a skit for the kids. Pray that they all remember their lines and not get nervous. They are all looking forward to the opportunity to minister to the kids through this skit.

Off to New York

Angie called and she is doing better. She still has some tightness and discomfort, but is doing okay. She sounds tired. She says she can use a break right about now. She asked for prayer for tomorrow is the big day - they go to New York to Time Square Church.

UPDATE: Angie called (I'm glad she called because I had seen that there was a severe weather warning for the East - especially around were she is at). ---She called with a joy and excitement that was contagious. She said their trip to New York was interesting because of the weather. She enjoyed seeing the snow falling and rain and wind...she said it was "crazy". Once they arrived at the church they practiced, practiced, practiced. She was nervous, but the excitement took over. She says, God answered all their prayers and HE was truly glorified. She feels refreshed and with her purpose renewed. She says that as she was on the stage looking around then singing, she could not believe that "she, an ordinary person" would be there and singing for the LORD - "it was amazing Mom! I still can't believe it. God is amazing, I love Him so much." She said that they got back to the school at about 1:30 a.m., they didn't get much sleep but were on a spiritual high. Thank you to all that prayed for this trip and all that it entailed...to God be the glory!

Prayer Request

PLEASE PRAY - Early this morning I got a call from Angie. She has been having chest pains for a while, but now she is having lots of pressure on her chest and is having difficulty breathing. They will be taking her to the Doctor - PRAY...thank you.

UPDATE: We just got a call from Angie. She is doing better. Doctor says she probably has a strained muscle. All her vitals, etc. are normal and she is doing better. Keep praying...thank you!

Pictures

Today I received PICTURES!!!

This one is of the her whole class. They went to eat fried chicken and afterward they got to have ice cream. Angie says it was yummy!!!

This picture is from the school they go to on Fridays. The little guy is the one she spoke about before and the little girl is his sister...she asks that we keep praying for them, specially him.
I also got to speak with her via telephone. She thanks everyone for their prayers and says she is glad mid-terms are over. They had a chance to rest and recoup - thank you Jesus! They continuing to get ready for their big day at Time Square Church, which by the way has been changed to October 28th. She read to me some lyrics of a song which were so deep and reverent (I wish I could hear them singing it). She is excited and feels much better. Again, thank you all who prayed for her during this intense time; continue to pray her to come home in Christmas and whatever else the LORD leads you to pray for her.