A friend loveth at all times... Proverbs 17:17

This post is dedicated to Erika:

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

(photo credit to Joel)

Erika: Your friendship to me is more valuable than money, worth more than diamonds, and is more meaningful than a great gift. I am truly grateful that we have been brought together.

You always: are full bright smiles, a good laugh, a song on the tip of your tongue, and dedication. You have a great passion for things you love, persistence in languages. I admire your Godly example, your big heart, your strength to pull through, your willingness to help in whatever way. You are truly a beautiful woman- inside AND out!

I love our times that we've had together- the talks, the laughs, the tears, the heart-to-hearts, the similarities, the trips to school together, our impromptu "concerts," our coffee date(s), sharing our- frustrations accomplishments, desires, anticipations, dreams, talking together about experiences we've had and the circumstances and teachings brought from reading or God's speaking. our chats through the computer because of the thousands of miles that separate us, and much much more.

I thank God for our friendship- He surely knew what he was doing. I'm excited to see how he leads us through the future!

A friend loveth at all times... Proverbs 17:17 Isn't that for sure!! :)

Thank you Erika
- Amanda :)

Sweet Pea

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice,
And everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

HAPPY 2nd SAVANNAH!! :)

You may have brought me a few frustrations, but there are many more smiles, laughs, hugs, kisses, brightened many a day for me to make up for it. I love you sweet pea! <3 

Love, 
Amanda :)

God is truly an amazing God. I fall into circumstances, and it is amazing how God brings things to me at the right times, when they are needed most. Of late I have been pondering the power of prayer. Just yesterday I was challenged by the parable of Luke 18 where it says in verse 2:

...men ought always to pray, and not to faint;


Prayer is vital to the Christian life. Prayers, however, will be answered in God's own time- whether it is 2 days or 20 years (or more). Sometimes God doesn't answer like we want, but he answers according to His plan. I am thankful for a knowing God who leads and guides according to his great plan.

A couple of ideas taken from Eric and Leslie Ludy's Wresting Prayer:

“It may seem ‘unnecessary’ to get on your knees for multiple hours each and every day, but may I remind you that unless someone rises up and says, ‘Lord, I’m willing to travail,’ there are lives, promises, and spiritual realities that will not be born into our day and age.” (p. 133)

“To pray instead of solve sounds like we are doing nothing, that we are shirking a duty, laying down on the job. But to pray is not the absence of work; it’s a completely different sort of work. It’s not an abandonment of good, old-fashioned work ethic. Rather, it’s a proper direction of it.” (p. 151)

"American culture trains us to be in a hurry. Everything is instant, and that ‘instant’ expectation has a tendency to warp our view of prayer. You see, prayer is participation in a very real battle. And depending on the thickness of the enemy resistance at the precise point you are addressing in prayer, the answer may not come quickly.” (p. 169)

“Prayer is a lot like caviar. It’s an acquired taste. If you don’t pray often, you won’t gain a love for praying.” (p. 188)

May these few thoughts be of a help to you and they have been of a challenge to my life. 

The power of prayer

More quotes for thought specifically regarding the power of prayer:

I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.

—John Wesley

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. 

—Abraham Lincoln 

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?

—Corrie Ten Boom 

Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God. 

—Arthur W. Pink 

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Blessings

I was just thinking upon the lyrics to this song... may it be an encouragement to you as it has been to me!

The following are the lyrics to Blessings by: Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Where did the week go?!

This week has flown- so fast that I almost hit Friday like a car hitting a semi on the highway!

This week was pretty low key, but here is a little week in brief-

Monday- 4th of JULY!!
                school all morning
                Dr.s visit for my foot/ankle
                proped my foot up on the couch and took an GREAT siesta!
                Paul, Timothy, Jon, & Joel went to El Borrego so Nicolas, Barb, Erika, & I had a quiet evening

Tuesday- school
               meeting

Wednesday- POWER returned to the Thiessen home!!!
                    school
                    Erika & I watched & helped where we could while the boys worked on wiring in the house!

Thursday- school
                 meeting

Friday- Today I will spend until 1pm in school and then take some time to work on my *dreaded Spanish literature paper that is due next week!! My ankle is recovering well as well!

I hope that you have had a great week and are taking some time to enjoy Gods good word!

A verse for today-

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Until next time...

I am a person who loves good quotes. There is something about an inspiring quote that can so easily stick and be encouraging and challenging in times of difficulty, in times of pondering and wondering, and in times of joy. This morning I thought I'd share a couple of quotes with you that I am enjoying. 

"You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving." 

— Amy Carmichael, missionary to India

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" 

— Jim Elliot

"The will of God — nothing less, nothing more, nothing else." 

— F. E. Marsh

I hope that these simple quotes will challenge you as they are challenging me this morning. Giving, loving, and willing.

What a Pain!

When I posted on Friday (July 1st) I was sitting in a coffee shop catching up because of the lack of electricity at the Thiessen home. Well... today (Tuesday) I am doing the same. Since Saturday, June 25th, the house has had electricity for 3.5 days. The candles are no longer romantic, the cold showers are still rough, and the no electronic phase is becoming difficult. Maybe today...

When we arrived at Rancho al Huerta on Friday, the electricity was out there as well. However, Gustavo found a cure to that problem and lights were enjoyed. Friday and Saturday were cool and rainy, but will jackets and blankets, the weather was enjoyable- not to mention the great people that time was spent with. 

A few pictures:

 

Run Pily Run!! :)

They deserve the " perfect marshmallow" awards!! 

But of course, there has to be a problem to every story... and this time it was me. I was stepping up into an opened room in the Rancho from the outside and, because of the rain and my flipflop footwear, I almost slipped on the flooring, but caught myself. However, I smacked my right foot against the flooring and scraped up the top of my foot. It hurt, but I kept moving on thinking about how I should be more careful. As I sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and enjoying some time to read and write, I realized that my left ankle was starting to really ache. I sat out of the whole-group baseball game wishing I could actually be playing, but holding out, hoping my ankle would get better like it normally does. However, as I sat there, I started getting shooting pains from the left-hand side of my ankle all the way up to my knee. The pain got so bad, that I did all I could to hold back the tears. I had never experienced that type of pain before. Because my ankle kept causing me so much pain, Barb kindly tore one of her old tea towels into strips, Pily found a muscle type pain cream, and Paul gently wrapped up my ankle. I was totally embarrassed as everyone stood around and watched as Amanda was bandaged. I stayed in a chair, with my foot propped up on a table while everyone sat around enjoying conversations and roasting hotdogs and marshmallows in the inside fireplace. The fact that I couldn't even move around to get my own food just about brought me to tears as I didn't want to have to cause others to worry about me, to know how much pain I was in, or have to do things for me. I spent Saturday with my foot propped up and moving as little as possible. Let's just say the sitting around made me thankful for the weather- I enjoyed a siesta outside and out of boredom I got over half way through my book that I have to read for literatura mexicana!! However, all in all, I was, and still am, thankful for everyone (the Penas, the Thiessens, and Jon C.) for helping me. I am indebted to your kindness.... just wait until I can walk normally again!! :D

Sunday arrived and, because I was being stubborn, I didn't want to show I was having problems and didn't really want to answer 150000 questions, I tried to walk normally on Sunday morning. By break, Pily and Barb had sent me to prop my foot up. Luckily Miss Cloe needed someone to hold her while she slept ;) By Sunday night I was doing better, but a loud "crack" sent my foot into more pain as it had been doing better all day. After classes were over on Monday, Paul took me to the doctor. I was really surprised at how comfortable, clean, and nice the hospital was. All I could do all day was pray that it wouldn't be anything majorly wrong with my foot. I had xrays taken of my foot and then we returned to the doctor's office to have him take a look. As he entered the room with the xrays my stomach was horribly knotted. I am thankful to report that he declared me to have a 1st degree sprain/strain in my ankle. I am supposed to keep off of it for 3 days and am supposed to be on crutches for a week. Well... I have to walk, but I try and keep the pressure minimally off of my ankle. I have a brace thing that I am wearing, gel I put on 3 times a day. That, along with keeping on top of taking ibuprofen has be doing well. I just keep praying that the healing will come quickly... my back is really starting to scream at me for walking "funny!"

Sunday, Jon, Joel, Erika, and I enjoyed a little outing for DQ! 

Well... after my painful ankle experience, I am thankful that I've never had to experience anything like it before! I better head to class... literature and grammar await me... and it will take me a couple extra minutes to arrive!! :)

But before I sign out... I would like to wish

  Faren a VERY happy birthday! 

May you have a wonderful 5th of July! (Wish your mother a happy birthday as well!) :D

And I'm proud to be an American...

Today is the 4th of July... I am thankful for the freedoms I have as an American. No country in the world is perfect, each having their own faults, but I am thankful that because I am a citizen of the United States of America, I have freedoms that may do not get to enjoy.

Happy Independance Day! :)

Never before- another week reviewed

This week has been one of many firsts. Hopefully I'll find the right words to explain this week to you properly:

To start off I had quite the weekend... one that allowed me to experience more of Mexican culture.

On Saturday the Thiessen family, Jon Chill, and I headed off right away in the morning for a funeral in La Rinconada/ Zamora. I had never before been to a Mexican funeral, so I went into the situation with what I'd heard not knowing what to expect. It was an interesting experience. We arrived around 10am and didn't head home until around 6 (only stopping for food at the great Pantera Rosa restaurant in Zamora.) It was a looong day- heat, sunburns, exhaustion all marked our bodies. (for more details about the funeral read about here at Thy Wonderful Works http://thywonderfulworks.blogspot.com/2011/06/mexican-funeral.html). Upon arriving back to the house, we learned that there had been a strong storm that had blown through and there was no electricity in the house.

However, dessert needed made for Sunday, so I did something I had never done before... made the simple dessert shell by candlelight! The rest of the evening/night was spent getting ready for Sunday and chatting around the table that was lit by candles!

On Sunday morning there was still no electricity in the house, so we were off to meeting. When it came time for lunch, there still wasn't electricity at the house, so we went to Karne Garibaldi for lunch and came back home for a fudge sundae pie dessert filled with denture-soft ice cream! After a gospel meeting in which maxed out the hall (especially because it was the last Sunday of the month which equals donuts that night), the electricity was back on when we arrived home- it's been a while since I've been so thankful for the return of light!

Then the rest of the week calmed down a bit:
Monday- school and a great trip to El Borrego

Tuesday- school and Bible study at the hall
Wednesday- school and I stayed home from the Ciudad del Sol children's meeting to studying (lots and lots)!
Thursday- MIDTERMS in Literatura Mexicana and Nivel 8 which, after much studying and prayer I did well in! :) There is something about exams that always stresses me out, causes me much anxiety, and leaves me exhausted in the end. However, I am thankful that I did well and that my studying paid off. When I arrived back to the house after a sweaty, noisy bus ride, I learned that the electricity had gone off AGAIN! By 6:20pm we were off to the prayer and ministry meeting, where rain gave relief to the heat. However, the electricity still hadn't returned to the house, although it had returned to the "interesting" neighbor who then kept pursuing his OCD or whatever it be with working/vaccuuming/taking apart his car! So we suppered by candles again and then I spent the night in Erika's room!
Friday- Today. I started off the day without light still. I have never before taken such a cold shower... let alone a 6:15 in the morning. It was a little shocking and forced you to wake up! Now, I sit in a lovely coffee shop 2 blocks from school catching up before I head to classes for the morning. At noon I am looking forward to leaving school and heading back to Rancho al Huetra until tomorrow evening. I just love it there... the fellowship, the fun, the time to relax- how lovely it is there. I hope to post more pictures when I get a chance at the beginning of next week.

I just want to wish my Canadian friends and family a wonderful CANADA DAY! :)



I hope you have a wonderful weekend- enjoy every day that the LORD hath given you! :)

there's a birthday today in Mexico

This post has one purpose only...

To wish NICOLAS a very Happy 14th Birthday! :)

Hope you have a wonderful day, Mr.!

Yours truly, 

Amanda :)

A day of births

Today is a day of births:

1. Happy Birthday ASHLEY!! :)

Hope you have a wonderful day! :)

2. ALYSSA's 2nd Birthday!

Alyssa- I am SO happy you are saved and even more that I can share this special day with you :)

3. It was June of 2002. One of the older men in the assembly had just passed away and Roy Weber and Jim Frazier began to have meetings in Elkhorn, NE.  I had gone to gospel meetings since I could remember, I had become concerned about the condition of my soul several times thoughout my childhood years, but nothing brought the reality of death to me as having one of my classmates little brother drown in a pool and lose his life. It was evening when the preachers were over for dinner and I recieved the call. A little boy so full of energy- gone. The incident caused me to think about my soul- just reciently had I seen a person of an older age and a young child gone into eternity. I became concerned about my soul and where I would be if I died. On June 26th, I left a note on the table for my dad to see when he got up in the morning asking how to be saved. He responded with (3) questions for me to ponder and said to read Isaiah 53. I thought about the questions and read, but it still didn't settle in on how I could be saved. So, when he returned home from work on June 27 he asked me to respond to the questions that he had left me. We went to gospel meeting that night, and returned home immediately after the meeting. Just before leaving for a walk with my mom, my dad asked me what I thought about the meeting, talked to me for a bit, and then he asked me to read Isaiah 53 again, and then he left. As I read Isaiah 53 once more, I can to the realization that Jesus died on the cross for MY sin and all I had to do was believe. I thanked God for sending his son and taking away my sin. June 27, 2002 at 9:51pm. I am SO glad I know I'm going to heaven! :)

Another week in review (June 19-24)

This week has been one pretty much rooted in routine with a few extra fun things thrown in:

Sunday: meeting :)

 The cute Miss Cloé :) 

Monday : school
               36 block walk to the bookstore only to find that they weren't open!
              watched movie- Cool Runnings- with the siblings
              homework

Tuesday: school
              another 36 block walk on my break to the bookstore that was successful!
              homework
              Bible study

Wednesday: Day of Rain :)
                    school
                    homework
                    evening out with Erika and Joel :)

Thursday: school
                homework
                prayer and ministry meeting

today... Friday: school
            homework- I have Spanish reading out my ears!
            Jon C. arrives tonight

That's it for now folks! :)
                 

A thought from C.T. Studd

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

-C.T. Studd

This is a favorite quote of mine- one that always finds itself presented before me at the right times in life. My mother so kindly framed this quote in my room to have it as a reminder, it is carried in my Bible, and I always find it in the most amazing places at the most perfect times. It is challenging, but SO true. There is nothing to great of me that I can give back to Him. His work at Calvary was enough to take away all of my sin and give me eternal life- what a debt that can never be repaid... what a debt to him I owe. 

To everything there is a time

I just thought I'd share a passage that I have been appreciating: 

Ecclesiastes 3 

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

... ¹¹He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

How good it is to know that whatever happens in life, God has set it in its proper place. No matter what may happen God is there and He will never give me more than I can handle. Sometimes I wonder why something may happen when it happens, but its in God's time. 

Rancho Rejuvination

2 days, 500 up, 14 people...
bonfire, bombónes, baseball, beauty...
celebration, campo...
friends, fellowship, food,  fun, flowers, (more) food...
laughs, late night...
prisoner's base, photography, pain, pasto...
tents, talks...

There's more... but it was a weekend well worth remembering!

I'll let the pictures help you picture the beauty of Rancho La Huerta:

*to start: a dedication to JOEL... a little celebration*

 Congrats on your graduation Joel!! Keep up the good work... hard work pays off!

 the whole Thiessen family :)

 the parents...

 the girls

 a walk by the river

 Erika: beautiful inside & out

 a look back at the rancho

 beauty of God's creation...

 Timothy enjoying some 500 up

 enjoying fellowship of others...

 sums up part of the weekend

 Erika & Sam

 The "professionals"... of photography

 ... of grilling

 Pily

Joel and Erika!

Just a glimpse... :)

Busy, Busy

This week is flying so quickly, I can hardly bear the fact that tomorrow is Friday!

Monday morning didn't start off too productive- almost like the calm before the storm! Monday afternoon took Paul, Barb, Joel, Nicolas, Timothy, Felix (a man from the assembly) and I on a trip to El Borrego. After about 2 1/4 hours of driving, you sit down and are served a LARGE meal by Doña Petra. There is so much food that your stomach starts to feel full just looking at it! This meal included pasta, meat with some sort of swiss chard type of vegi, beans, agua de blackberries, hot tortillas, cheeses, salsa, and a HUGE bowl of homemade rice pudding. With all of that, I am probably forgetting something! However, it tasted good, and I was in BIG need of a walk afterwards! SO... Joel, Nicolas, and I walked around a little bit enjoying the sights and sounds, taking in the greatness of the perfect rainfall, and taking pictures.

 growing pineapple

 Don Reinaldo's grave

 a glimpse of El Borrego

the entrance

Then, a gospel meeting was held where Timothy (interpreted by Joel) and Paul gave the messages. Afterwards,  the trip home made for a late night. I thank God for his protection on the roads and for the message that went forth there in El Borrego.

On Tuesday I began my first day of school at CEPE (part of the Universidad de Guadalajara) with an oral interview for my class placement. Because the student population size is down significantly from last year, the class offering were slimmer. I needed a literature class in the Spanish language as a graduation requirement for UNOmaha, so because they did not have enough students interested in literature, they offered me the opportunity to take the class privately. So, for the morning I went to levels 8 & 9 (out of 10 levels) until I got literature straightened out! I then took an hour bus ride home, ate, and out of exhaustion I took a lovely siesta while it rained outside. In the evening off to Bible study we went.

Bienvenidos! :)

 inside the school... 

Wednesday brought quite the flurry of activity. I went to school, leaving at 7:10am and got picked up at 1:45pm. Then the Thiessen family (minus Erika- the hard working practicum-er) and I joined the Castro family and Miss Jean (A.C.E. coordinator for Latin America) for a fabulous lunch- so much food, sooo delicious! :) Then we bustled off to the Castro home for dessert. Time continued to fly as we headed straight the the children's meetings at the Peñas home. We were there for a little while (enough to do my homework and take a little nap). Then, home again, home again! :)

 The youngest Castro talking and laughing away about something to Joel! :)

Just a glimpse of the main course!

Today, Thursday,  I started my first day with literature class. It is one-on-one, making it a bit interesting, but I think the class will turn out alright... and I may actually learn something (a novel thought, I know)! :) Then, I had a break (since I started at 8am) and then had my Nivel 8 class until 12:50. Then kind Paul saved me from the bus and then we headed home to where I sit blogging and doing homework! Soon, however, we will head off to meeting. Then I will pack up a couple of things and prepare for a little landing as we head to a rancho until Saturday! Something I am looking forward to experiencing! :)

Sorry for the long blog posting... the week was busy, but I am thankful in so many ways!

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1

Hasta mañana (ok, probably Sunday)...
Amanda :)