At Big Woods

Well here I am. Back at Big Woods. And it is good to be back here. Although I can't help but say its funny to be back in warm(er) weather and have the problem of misquitoes in December. :) It has been a blessing to see this years Intake, it has just been so great to be back again.
I can't really even think of anything else to say other than, I'm glad to be back. I'll post agian later with some pics.

God Bless!
Abi

Going back to Big Woods

This is just a quick update, I'll post more soon!

Wow, I can hardly believe it. The time for us to leave Oregon has come, we leave early Wednesday. The time we have spent back home has been absolutely wonderful, family and friends have changed so much! My whole heart breaks to be leaving my home, the faces, the hearts and hands are so familiar, so dear to me, and they always will be. But I am looking forward to the community of missionaries that await us in LA. I am looking forward to the praise and worship, to the laughter and friends that will be there. Life is full of changes, leavings and beginnings, we just have to accept God's will and go with what he says. Next stop: Big Woods

Asking for prayers is hard.

Today I was thinking about something, and that is asking for prayers is sometimes hard. It takes humility to say "I'm not perfect and I want you to help me by praying for me." This reminds me of a something that happened to me in Mexico. One afternoon both my parents where out at the Ranchos, (small villages) and I was left in charge of all the kids save Issac. We had just finished a rosary with some of ladies, it was a Marian feast, I can't remember exactly what it was. Anyway Miss Genie, Susanna and some of us kids had like 10 minutes to get ready and head out to another Rancho. As all older children know, getting 8 kids ready is not easy. Shoes, coats ect... had to be found and children had to be taken to the bathroom and then loaded in the car. I was getting really frustrated and everyone kept saying,

"Come on y'all we need to hurry!" Muttering to myself I hurried the kids only 3/4 ready into the car, I sat down with them and was really annoyed. Miss Genie asks,

"Who is going to share tonight?" (Every time we go to the ranchos different members of the team get to share a personal testimony of faith, or something the Lord has done for them. )

No one said anything, Miss Genie looks behind to us in the backseat and said,

"Why don't you do it Abi?" Things had just gone from bad to worse, I had nothing that I wanted to share, I didn't even want to be there! But I said yes. I tried to clear my mind, but all I could think of was how mad I was and how I just wanted to sit down and cry. The car parked and everyone loaded out, Miss Genie gave some of the kids orders. Meanwhile I pulled Susanna aside and asked,

"Susanna, I'm really upset right now. Can you please pray for me?" Believe me asking that when I was mad and didn't want prayer was hard, but I knew that if I was going to get up and talk I had to let the Holy Spirit work through me. And the only way I could do that was if I wasn't angry.

"Sure Abi." She pulled aside two of my sisters and they prayed for me. I felt all the anger and tears melt away, and I walked into the small chapel, I was ready. When I stood up to talk about my reversion I didn't say exactly what I thought I was going to say, but one of the missionaries told me as we left,

"You did a good job Abi, I saw some ladies crying." That blessed me so much that I was able to bless them, I didn't know them, or see them, or even speak Spanish, (miss Genie translated) but I was able to bless them.

This event taught me that asking for prayer is very important. If I had not humbled myself in that moment I know that I could not have given my testimony. God gave me the grace to ask for help, and through me he touched someones heart.

Many blessings!

Abi

Quick Post

This is just a quick post to say that SSME starts tomorrow! I'm so excited about it. :D All but two of the participants are here, they come tonight at 10:00 ish. This month is going to be so packed! But amazing. Its great to see the senior missionaries again, and meet a new little one. Next time I post I'll try to post pics. :D
Blessings,
Abi

June

June is going to be a busy but fun filled month. Today our missionary partner Sid is going down to pick up some more missionaries!! I can't remember if I told y'all or not so I tell you again. This month we are having a group down and with them we are doing SSME. Its a month long school where you learn head on what missionary life is like. We are all very excited about it, there will be four missionaries who help to lead it, James among them. Then next week the participants will come and then it starts.

More updates soon!

Abi

Mission post!

We got the news! The bishop of San Lucia wants us to come! We are all so excited.
San Lucia is an island in the Caribbean, so your probably thinking. "Oh that's a great mission post. Lets go to a paradise!"
Yes, it will be a sort of paradise, God makes many beautiful places. But that's not why we are being called there. We are being called to re-evangelise catholics. Did you know 70% of children are born out of wedlock! That's a lot. And what better a witness than to come with our 10 kids. :)

Blessings,
Lizzy.
P.S I will post more later!