Brazil, Here I Come!

This semester has just flown by--can't believe that the semester is already over! It was my busiest and most challenging semesters, but at the same time, it was probably one of the best. 

Now that finals are done, we have been getting ready to go to Brazil! I don't think I've prepared for a mission trip in so short of a time! The college is going to Brazil to the Amazon. We will ride in a boat down the Amazon river and do construction, children's programs, health expos, and medical and dental work for the villagers who live along the river. I'm really looking forward to it!

We leave Monday night where we will have a layover in Panama City, and then we will fly to Manaus. From there we will drive about 45 minutes and then board the boat and travel all night and all the next day until we reach the first village. 

We will not have any internet whatsoever, so I won't be able to post any updates. But please pray for us as we work for Christ in the Amazon! Many people over there need to hear of the love of Jesus. 

Brazil, here I come! :)

Trip to Willits

This last weekend I had the opportunity to travel with a group from the college to go to Willits, CA. It is a small country town, with a church that is on fire to spread the good news of the gospel. We were invited by them to come and train them and help them put on a health expo in their town. 

We left in two groups. My group left earlier in the morning (there were 4 of us) and we got to Willits in time to help the church members finish passing out fliers in the community to let them know about the health expo. They had about 1500 fliers to pass out, and praise God, we were able to get every one of them out! I was amazed at the openness of the people of this town--they were very open to what we had to share with them, and we got the affirmative from a few of them that they were already planning on coming! 

Friday evening, and Sabbath we had lectures on health for the church members. Various students and staff gave the lectures. The topics included learning the NEWSTART principles, and the importance of eating a healthy diet. The church members were open and eager to learn. It was a blessing! 

Shimpei gave the opening lecture that talked about the NEWSTART principles.

Dr. Grilo gave lectures for Sabbath School and church.

Katie talked about music, and the effect of music on the brain.

Kylin, Xianhua, me, and Rebecca. Our job was helping with song services before the meetings.

Sabbath evening after sundown we went and set up for the health expo.

Setting up expo banners.

As well as a regular expo, we had a kid's expo, which included a bouncy house. I worked with the kids expo and using the bouncy house I was able to show the importance of exercise. I think I had just as much fun in there as the kids! :)

On the street corner inviting people in! 

Blood glucose station

Church members were excited to learn how to run the expo. This church member runs the welcome station.

Kid's expo! :) The best part

Overall, I believe we had over 50 people come through the expo. Serving others through health evangelism has always been such a blessing. This weekend I realized how thankful I was that I ended up taking A&P, even though I don't need it as a class. I have already been able to use the information I've learned to help others understand important health principles. 

"Medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel. It is necessary to the advancement of the cause of God. As through it men and women are led to see the importance of right habits of living, the saving power of the truth will be made known. Every city is to be entered by workers trained to do medical missionary work. As the right hand of the third angel's message, God's methods of treating disease will open the doors for the entrance of present truth."--CME 8.4

No Higher Work

"There is no higher work than evangelistic canvassing..." 

CM 12.2

I think I may have mentioned once before, but the college is going to the Amazon in May for a mission trip. We will be traveling up the Amazon River by boat, sleep in hammocks, and minister to the people up the river. We will be helping with medical and dental work, construction, and will also be able to work with the children and give lectures to the villagers in the evenings. I am really looking forward to this trip!

Last week I had the opportunity to do some fundraising for this trip through canvassing door to door. It was such a blessing! We met many people who were receptive to what we had to share with them about our mission trip, while at the same time we were able to get out the book we were offering. We were only offering one book, a cookbook called "From Plant to Plate." Yet, many people that I met were very receptive. 

We met one family who were Christian, and we were able to pray with them. We also met Jehovah's Witnesses, and had some discussions about the Bible. It wasn't just getting out the cookbook and getting funds to be able to go on this trip--it's reaching out to people and sharing Christ's love with them. 

Even though I came back tired each night from being out all day walking the streets, I came back so rejuvenated! Not that I would want to go run a marathon or something; but, there is something about doing the Lord's work that just rejuvenates and blesses. I am so thankful I decided to use my spring break to canvass! I hope I can do it soon again!

Snow-PACked Weekend :)

Mine was definitely a PACked weekend!! :) This weekend was PAC (Practical Application Component) weekend here at Weimar. I chose to help with a cooking fundraiser. We cooked for a day and a half, and then we sold the food outside the cafeteria. All proceeds go towards the Brazil mission trip I am planning to go on in May. 

At first, I really wasn't sure why I had signed up for that other than it was a fundraiser. Cooking really is not my favorite thing in the world; however, I did have lots of fun. We made pretzel bites, apple turnovers/pies, and some Asian food. 

All of us cooking together!! :) 

We eventually filled these cucumbers with an asian noodle dish

Wrapping egg rolls

The making of pies....The face one was my idea. I had fun with it! 

A finished product. They all sold out. 

The fundraiser table

Today I decided to take some time off school (I worked ahead so I could) and go with daddy up to Boreal ski resort and doing some skiing. It was a blast!!!! I have been wanting to go for some time, and figured that if I was ever able to go, it had to be soon. It is getting pretty warm up there.

Just getting ready to do our first run

Woohoo!

The view from the top was absolutely stunning--even this picture can't really show that

I came back tired and sore, but feel refreshed to start a new week of school! All in all, it was a blessed weekend!

Christmas Break

Christmas break has been busier than I expected it to be! It's been awesome though. Our first part of our trip took us up to Washington to our church and my mom's family. It was a blessing to be able to go to Whipple Creek and see our friends and worship with them.

I really enjoyed spending time with our family as well. It was the first time in a year and a half at least that we have all been together. Other times usually one of our family would be off at school or work, but this time we were all there--all 17 of us. :) It was awesome!

            Julia, Kelly, and Andrea 

                  Rachel and me :)

            Kelly and Hannah--ice skating!

After our visit with our family, we headed off to Ohio and Kentucky to visit some friends and go to GYC. GYC has been good too. We have been able to see a lot of friends from Weimar and elsewhere. The theme this year is "Called, Chosen, Faithful." The theme verse is taken from Revelation 17:14 which says, "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and Kind of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." 

We have been called and chosen, but we must also be faithful. Have we been faithful to God's calling for us, or are we too caught up with our own plans and aspirations? This thought was one of the many talks on this subject. It's something we should all contemplate.

One of the last things we did at GYC was run a 5k. It was really fun :)  I ran it in about 27 mins.

Stacey, Ashley, Kelly, Emily, and me ;)

We are now on our way back to Weimar. School starts Tuesday, it's so hard to believe that break is over! It will be a busy semester, but I am looking for ward to it. :)

Grad, Games, and more...

As soon as the last exam had been taken, you would have been able to hear shouts of joy on the campus last week. When I finished my last exam, wow! I felt so light! No more tests to study for! This semester literally just flew by, and I'm glad for the break.

After graduation, the campus almost became a ghost town--had it not been for the few students left behind.  We have been able to do some fun things this week, though, with those who are still here. One night we had a Christmas party, another night we played a game of monopoly (it was a long game!), and this last Tuesday, we had a ping pong game. Most of the people we invited had other plans, so just Elias and Tim ended up coming. But we still had a blast! Then yesterday, a group of us went ice skating! It was a lot of fun, despite the falls. :)

For the rest of Christmas break, we are off and away visiting family, friends, and going to GYC. More to come later! :)

Christmas party--the entrance to the room where the party was

The wonderful food that Stacey and a friend made!

Vegetable Christmas tree!

Game of ping pong

Ice skating! ;)

Semester of Blessings

Happy thanksgiving! :)

It's amazing how fast this school year has gone by--it seems like yesterday when I was only registering for this semester!

There are many things I have to be thankful for.  Even though it has been busy, this semester has been full of many blessings, and wonderful times with friends. 

I am thankful for my classes this semester. SDA church history has been quite enjoyable. I have learned a lot about the history of our church. It is amazing to see how God has led our church through the years. 

Optimize Your Brain class by Dr. Nedley has been fun, even though it has been intense! Each week, we have to track our exercise, sleep, water, etc. I am thankful for the information I have learned in this class. It's something I can use for the rest of my life. :) 

Business finance--wow! God totally led when I decided to take this class. I am thankful that God has used it to solidify the direction I believe He is calling me to go. Business here I come!

Anatomy and Physiology. Whew! What should I say about this class?! Challenging, yet thoroughly  interesting!  Yes, lab hasn't been my favorite, and still isn't, but at least it has gotten a little easier for me to handle!  Dr. Grilo is an awesome teacher--I have thoroughly enjoyed his lectures. And even if I'm not doing anything in the medical field, per se, I can still use the information wherever I go!

There are so many more things I can be thankful for, between backpacking with friends, dorm parties, hiking in the snow, playing soccer in a lake of mud, Bible studies....it has been a semester full of fun and blessings! Just two more weeks, and then school is out. :)

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

 Serve the Lord with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

 Know ye that the Lord he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations

(Psalms 100:1-5 KJV)

Emerald Bay Half Marathon

Last Sunday, 6 of us from Weimar College drove up to Lake Tahoe to run a half marathon (13.1 miles)!  It was awesome--beautiful weather, beautiful views, and most of all, a lot of fun. :)

In the bus that took us to the start line

The beautiful view up top--Emerald Bay

Stretching and warming up!

Kelly, me, and Michelle ;)

Me, Kelly, Michelle, Daniel, Adolfo, & Elias

Walking to the start line...

....and off we go!

Adolfo

Elias

Kelly, Michelle, & Daniel

Cute!

Michelle & Kelly coming through the finish line!!

Finished!! I was aiming for under two hours, but the 6000 ft elevation slowed me down. I am still very happy with what I did do though, I came in at 2:08:03. I think that's pretty good for my first half marathon. Next time though.....:) 

Running races always remind me of the spiritual race we have to run. While I was running, it definitely required patience, perseverance, and purpose. Patience to wait until the finish line comes into view; perseverance even though I was tired; and purpose, to be able to say I had run a half marathon.

In the spiritual race, it is the same thing. Patience: it is not an easy or a fast race. Perseverance: Even though beset by trials, we can endure through Christ. Purpose: Look for the prize at the end--eternal life and to see Jesus. What a good object lesson!

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
(Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV)

Health Expo

Here are my promised pictures from the health expo we recently did in Auburn....a little later than I expected, but here none-the-less!  We were able to be a blessing to many people, through teaching health tips and uplifting music. Health is definitely the right arm of the gospel, and I am so blessed to be able to be apart of it!! ;)

Eunice and me in the bus headed for town

Joelle & Paige

Setting up the banners

Jessa & Kelly

Josh & Joelle ready to go!

Our musicians 

The health gauge booth 

The kids even had their own health program!

Peak mental performance booth

Josh couldn't resist crashing this photo...:)

Blood glucose--Stacey got to poke people :)

Blood pressure station

I just have to say, if you ever have a chance to help out with a health expo, do so! :)

Up next: Emerald Bay Half Marathon :)