Matthew 8: 14-17
14 And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
I just read this passage while I am sick with a fever and it just made me smile. :)
Someday no one will ever face sickness, sorrow, or death again thanks to the love and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. :)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Yesterday, my sis, bro and I went down to the lake for a swim in the late afternoon. We went off the rope swing a million times. Kath and I were trying to get the momentum right to do a back flip off the rope swing. Couldn't quite get up the nerve to actually go through with it, especially after the three face plants when I was trying to flip last year. Someday...maybe this summer. Maybe next summer. :)
Drove out to my grandparents last night with my sister. We put the windows down and blared some Rascal Flatts as we drove through the summer heat down the dirt roads. When we started down there long driveway, we were faced with the tranquil field dotted with hay bales and the blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. So beautiful. :)
This morning my brother and sister-in-law came in from a walk. They had discovered a baby water turtle. He had little green stripes all down his tiny legs. Probably one of the cutest things I've ever seen. :)
I have a babysitting job. There are two kids, a brother and sister. They normally live in California, but come to Missouri to spend the summers with their dad. I've only spent two days with them, but I am already so attached. More than anything, I want to show them the love of Christ and speak truth into their lives. Samaria is so quiet and serious for her age; I feel like I've just been given a very special gift when she laughs or smiles at me. Silas is such a sharp cookie and loves explaining stuff to me. :) On Tuesday I was with them all day. They have a trampoline in their back yard so we went out to jump on it for a while. During my growing up years, I really never had the opportunity to be around trampolines, so I was actually kind of nervous and untrusting of it. We swept all the tree particles off of it and began to bounce. Silas showed me how he could flip and Samaria showed me how to bounce back up from a sitting position to a standing position. Being a lot bigger than them, they kept wanting me to jump more so they would bounce even higher. I started to relax a little, and the three of us held hands in a circle and started to bounce around together. It was so much fun and we ended in a fit of giggles. :) I am excited about going back to school in August, but I know that it will mean saying goodbye to two kids who are already becoming very special to me.
Drove out to my grandparents last night with my sister. We put the windows down and blared some Rascal Flatts as we drove through the summer heat down the dirt roads. When we started down there long driveway, we were faced with the tranquil field dotted with hay bales and the blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. So beautiful. :)
This morning my brother and sister-in-law came in from a walk. They had discovered a baby water turtle. He had little green stripes all down his tiny legs. Probably one of the cutest things I've ever seen. :)
I have a babysitting job. There are two kids, a brother and sister. They normally live in California, but come to Missouri to spend the summers with their dad. I've only spent two days with them, but I am already so attached. More than anything, I want to show them the love of Christ and speak truth into their lives. Samaria is so quiet and serious for her age; I feel like I've just been given a very special gift when she laughs or smiles at me. Silas is such a sharp cookie and loves explaining stuff to me. :) On Tuesday I was with them all day. They have a trampoline in their back yard so we went out to jump on it for a while. During my growing up years, I really never had the opportunity to be around trampolines, so I was actually kind of nervous and untrusting of it. We swept all the tree particles off of it and began to bounce. Silas showed me how he could flip and Samaria showed me how to bounce back up from a sitting position to a standing position. Being a lot bigger than them, they kept wanting me to jump more so they would bounce even higher. I started to relax a little, and the three of us held hands in a circle and started to bounce around together. It was so much fun and we ended in a fit of giggles. :) I am excited about going back to school in August, but I know that it will mean saying goodbye to two kids who are already becoming very special to me.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Return
Well, I'm back.
Jasmine and I got up around 5:30 am on Monday morning in Cairo. When we got to the airport, we found out they had overbooked our flight, so in the end our group had to be split up onto two different flights. Eleven of us went from Cairo to Munich, then Chicago, then St. Louis. The other seven of us kept the original flight track to Paris, then Atlanta, then St. Louis. We were all sad because we all thought we would say goodbye to eachother in St. Louis, but my group of seven were supposed to arrive two hours later than the other group.
So we said hasty goodbyes, and then we seven (and the airport people) were scrambling to get our baggage checked to make the flight to Paris. It was delayed getting off the ground. Then we had an hour or two in the Paris airport. I could see the Eiffel tower and the river Seine in the distance when we landed.
As it turns out, AirFrance went on strike, so the flight from Paris to Atlanta was also delayed.
Eventually we took off for Atlanta in a 777. We each had our own tvs, which had a bunch of movies to choose from, games, and music. BUT, even though the technology was great, that was the LONGEST plane ride I have ever been on in my life. I got REALLY stir-crazy. I was by the window in a row of three, so I couldn't get up without majorly disturbing the two ladies next to me. And, oddly and unfortunately, my normal I-can-sleep-anywhere abilities failed me. I may have slept a half-hour total.
Anyway, I have never been so glad to get off a plane. We landed around 9:30 pm and were all worried that we were going to miss our connection to Atlanta, which was supposed to leave at 10:10 pm. And we had to go through customs and security. Pretty much impossible. But then we found out that all flights had been delayed due to a storm! It was rather strange to be happy about another delay! :)
So we made it through customs in a jiffy, then waited in the airport until our plane could finally take off around midnight ( 11 pm. MO time). After an hour and a half flight, we were finally in St. Louis.
Poor Jasmine had been in the other group and was waiting in the airport for about 5 hours.
We hit the road for home, and got in about 4:30 am, and made it to bed by 5 am Tuesday. In Cairo time, that's about 1 pm. So I had been on the go for over 24 hours.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me while I have been gone! :) Glad to be home. :) Still recovering from jet lag. I could barely keep my eyes open yesterday afternoon.
Thankfully, my sister is here and she has been a big help, dragging me off on four-wheeler rides or swimming in the lake.
I love the Lake of the Ozarks, but its not quite like the Sea of Galilee.
I love Sabra hummus from Walmart, but its not quite like eating hummus in Bethlehem.
I love looking at my photos of the Nile, but its not quite like dragging my fingers in it as we sailed along.
I love the Middle East, but its not quite like being home with my family. :) :)
Jasmine and I got up around 5:30 am on Monday morning in Cairo. When we got to the airport, we found out they had overbooked our flight, so in the end our group had to be split up onto two different flights. Eleven of us went from Cairo to Munich, then Chicago, then St. Louis. The other seven of us kept the original flight track to Paris, then Atlanta, then St. Louis. We were all sad because we all thought we would say goodbye to eachother in St. Louis, but my group of seven were supposed to arrive two hours later than the other group.
So we said hasty goodbyes, and then we seven (and the airport people) were scrambling to get our baggage checked to make the flight to Paris. It was delayed getting off the ground. Then we had an hour or two in the Paris airport. I could see the Eiffel tower and the river Seine in the distance when we landed.
As it turns out, AirFrance went on strike, so the flight from Paris to Atlanta was also delayed.
Eventually we took off for Atlanta in a 777. We each had our own tvs, which had a bunch of movies to choose from, games, and music. BUT, even though the technology was great, that was the LONGEST plane ride I have ever been on in my life. I got REALLY stir-crazy. I was by the window in a row of three, so I couldn't get up without majorly disturbing the two ladies next to me. And, oddly and unfortunately, my normal I-can-sleep-anywhere abilities failed me. I may have slept a half-hour total.
Anyway, I have never been so glad to get off a plane. We landed around 9:30 pm and were all worried that we were going to miss our connection to Atlanta, which was supposed to leave at 10:10 pm. And we had to go through customs and security. Pretty much impossible. But then we found out that all flights had been delayed due to a storm! It was rather strange to be happy about another delay! :)
So we made it through customs in a jiffy, then waited in the airport until our plane could finally take off around midnight ( 11 pm. MO time). After an hour and a half flight, we were finally in St. Louis.
Poor Jasmine had been in the other group and was waiting in the airport for about 5 hours.
We hit the road for home, and got in about 4:30 am, and made it to bed by 5 am Tuesday. In Cairo time, that's about 1 pm. So I had been on the go for over 24 hours.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me while I have been gone! :) Glad to be home. :) Still recovering from jet lag. I could barely keep my eyes open yesterday afternoon.
Thankfully, my sister is here and she has been a big help, dragging me off on four-wheeler rides or swimming in the lake.
I love the Lake of the Ozarks, but its not quite like the Sea of Galilee.
I love Sabra hummus from Walmart, but its not quite like eating hummus in Bethlehem.
I love looking at my photos of the Nile, but its not quite like dragging my fingers in it as we sailed along.
I love the Middle East, but its not quite like being home with my family. :) :)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Salt and Mud to Come!
Last post from the Middle East most likely! :)
Bethlehem has been great, but we are all rather travel worn. We have been enjoying delicious shawarmas and falafel for only 5 to 10 shekels!! So cheap! :) Had to savor my last bites...don't know when I will taste that again.
We have been eating meals at a Lutheran International Center. In the evenings they have been having a series of concerts with Palestinian and Swedish bands. We went last night and it was quite the experience! :) A break dancing group also performed which was pretty awesome to watch live. :)
Today we visited the supposed Shepherds' Field (apparently there are 4 in Bethlehem) and then we went to Hebron. Visited the mosque and saw what is supposed to be Abraham's tomb. Walked through the streets of Hebron, vendors, donkeys pulling carts of potatoes, the most adorable children wandering along or riding their bikes.
Tomorrow we leave at 5 am to start the trek back to Cairo. The journey home will begin bright and early. We will stop along the way to swim in the Dead Sea and plaster ourselves in its mud. :) That will be fun!! :D I think it is an 8 hr bus ride excluding the swimming. I am charging my ipod in preparation.
I feel very ready to be home in some ways, and not so ready in others. I am SO ready to see all of you that I miss so much. Ready to give Mom and Dad the biggest hugs I can give with my new sifting muscles. Ready to sleep for more than 6 or 7 hours. Ready to eat the most amazing cook in the world's food. Ready to not be moving from one place to another.
But.
I will miss the close-knit group we have formed on this trip. I will miss the mountain tops. The falafel and shawarmas. Lemon Drank!! Real hummus! I will miss seeing the beautiful Arabic script and the Hebrew plastered all over everything. The Shekels!!! :) Taking way too many camel photos. Hearing the call to prayer at 4 am. Ambling through the streets of Old Jerusalem.
I already miss the Sea of Galilee. :) I will miss seeing the hustle and bustle of another way of life.
I want to come back here again some day.
Some day after I have caught up on all my sleep :) :)
Bethlehem has been great, but we are all rather travel worn. We have been enjoying delicious shawarmas and falafel for only 5 to 10 shekels!! So cheap! :) Had to savor my last bites...don't know when I will taste that again.
We have been eating meals at a Lutheran International Center. In the evenings they have been having a series of concerts with Palestinian and Swedish bands. We went last night and it was quite the experience! :) A break dancing group also performed which was pretty awesome to watch live. :)
Today we visited the supposed Shepherds' Field (apparently there are 4 in Bethlehem) and then we went to Hebron. Visited the mosque and saw what is supposed to be Abraham's tomb. Walked through the streets of Hebron, vendors, donkeys pulling carts of potatoes, the most adorable children wandering along or riding their bikes.
Tomorrow we leave at 5 am to start the trek back to Cairo. The journey home will begin bright and early. We will stop along the way to swim in the Dead Sea and plaster ourselves in its mud. :) That will be fun!! :D I think it is an 8 hr bus ride excluding the swimming. I am charging my ipod in preparation.
I feel very ready to be home in some ways, and not so ready in others. I am SO ready to see all of you that I miss so much. Ready to give Mom and Dad the biggest hugs I can give with my new sifting muscles. Ready to sleep for more than 6 or 7 hours. Ready to eat the most amazing cook in the world's food. Ready to not be moving from one place to another.
But.
I will miss the close-knit group we have formed on this trip. I will miss the mountain tops. The falafel and shawarmas. Lemon Drank!! Real hummus! I will miss seeing the beautiful Arabic script and the Hebrew plastered all over everything. The Shekels!!! :) Taking way too many camel photos. Hearing the call to prayer at 4 am. Ambling through the streets of Old Jerusalem.
I already miss the Sea of Galilee. :) I will miss seeing the hustle and bustle of another way of life.
I want to come back here again some day.
Some day after I have caught up on all my sleep :) :)
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