Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Kay and Trent

I talked with my sister, Kay, the other night, as you know. She said that they are having trouble with their blogs. The internet is slow where they are, so they cannot even pull up their website. I thought that I would give all of you an update. For the first couple of days, they were in the large city of Lema. It was really cool while they were there because it just seemed like any big city in the U.S. They had Starbucks and everything.

Then, they went to a smaller city in Peru where they are staying until training begins. Their training doesn't begin until August. In the meantime, they are staying in a house there in this small town. The house is only half done. For example, the walls within the house don't go all the way to the ceiling. Also, it's half painted. I guess that they just stopped! Kay said that a lot of places in the town were only half done like that. Also, the house only had a couch and a bed.

Therefore, Kay and Trent are busying themselves trying to get furniture, etc. Even though they only are staying there for a couple of months, they can take the furniture with them wherever they move. They will be getting a pick-up truck soon.

They definitely are experiencing culture shock as they knew that they would. One issue is that Kay doesn't know Spanish fluently. However, she has become so much better just having lived there a couple of weeks.

They ask that we pray for them in this way:
Please pray
...that we would progress rapidly in Spanish.
...that we would be able to share the gospel with someone soon.
...that we would adjust well to all of the changes.
...that we would develop deep relationships here quickly.
Also, please pray for the other people who will be in training with us and for the rest of our team as they go out to share the gospel in the communities.

Here are pictures of the town and the house where they are staying:

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Monday, July 30, 2007

Kay's Memory

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I just received a phone call from my sister,Kay, who is in Peru last night. The caller ID said "2." I figured the number would be longer all the way from Peru, but this is easy! I think she's using some wacky calling card.

This is one of my sister's blogs after we said goodbye back a few weeks ago:

In April, we said goodbye to church families and friends. Yesterday I said goodbye to my sister, Auny. Of course, it wasn’t goodbye, goodbye; but something about moving from U.S. soil moves the “see you later” up a notch. It was hard. My sister and I have always had a special relationship.

It made me think of a time when we sat on the beach and dreamed up our futures. I was in junior high and she was in high school. That was when we realized sisters could be friends, and we became inseparable.

She imagined she would be a child psychologist, her career plan for a long time. She would spend a lot of her time traveling the country and occasionally giving her professional opinion on Oprah. That last part cracks me up. I would live in D.C., be involved in politics, and often dress up to go to important parties. This now sounds like a horrible life to me, but I’m sure many people enjoy it. I think we had very handsome husbands somewhere in our concocted futures.

We would never, in all of our imagining, think that she would marry a Christian illusionist and travel around the country seeing many people come to know the Lord. Or that I would be moving to Peru in a little over a week to share the gospel with people who have never heard it. I can just see God smiling at us as we sat on that Florida beach, knowing that His plans for us are better than even our wildest dreams.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Show in Nashville

We did a show last night and it went better than I thought! I'm glad to have these corporate shows done with simply because I seem to get so nervous when we do unusual shows. We haven't done corporate stuff in a long time. We want to do as much ministry as possible, so we don't book corporate much. These events were right here in Nashville during a time that we weren't booked for anything else, so it made sense to do them.

We were actually able to talk about the Lord at these events. I guess some of corporate America still believes that Jesus is the only way to do life. He influences all areas of your life...even your career.

Today, we drive back down to Panama City Beach, FL. We perform there again tomorrow morning. Then, we drive back tomorrow night!

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Corporate Event

For the last couple of days, we were performing at a corporate event. They were into finances or investing or something. When I saw the audience and thought about how different it is from our norm, I became very anxious. I realized how rockstar Brock looked with his long hair and Converse shoes. I dressed him up for the occasion, but compared to everyone else, he still looked like a kid.

Also, we tried to change up the music. We use very loud, rock and roll music. This wouldn't do in this crowd. Some of the routines had to have the rock and roll music, so we just turned it down several notches.

After all of this anxiety, they LOVED Brock! They even gave him a standing ovation. We decided that an adult crowd is easier than students. They laugh at everything. It was fun!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Opryland Hotel

We are staying at the largest hotel in the world. It's really big. I felt like we walked two miles this morning to get from our room to the convention center where we were performing.

The whole hotel looks like a big garden except it's inside. Our room has a balcony that overlooks the conservatory. We keep the french doors to our patio open at all times because it's not like the air conditioning is going to escape or bugs are going to get in. It's a beautiful hotel!

When I was a sophomore in college, my friend, Gin, and I took a trip to Nashville during Spring Break. It was a 12 hour drive, but gas prices weren't as steep at the time. We stayed with one of my friends. Since we didn't have any money to really do anything, we would come to this hotel all day long. We dreamed of one day staying in this hotel with our husbands because we thought the place was so romantic. Well, here I am 11 years later!

We were done with our show by noon, so we went and lounged out at the pool for a little while. Then, we walked over to Opry Mills mall and walked around. We also ate dinner there. After that, some of our friends came and met up with us. We've been hanging out with them all night. It's fun!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Blackberry

I am writing this on Brock's new blackberry phone. It is taking some time to get used to. It's cool though.

Our day was thrown off when we realized that our waterproof cases were not waterproof. They were in the back of the pick up truck. We had to empty out the contents of four cases into our shop to air out. However, we got it done and still made it to our dentist appointments on time. We missed our haircut appointments though.

We have hung out with friends throughout the day. It was fun! I have to stop. I cannot type anymore on this little keyboard!

I'm Back

I was out of the internet world for about ten days now. I wrote some blogs two weeks ago and my mom posted them on each day for me. However, I'm back online and it feels good! I got an update from my friend, Gin, about leading worship. I also was able to read about my sister's first day in Peru. Michawn, who is in Brasil, wrote a great blog today about her new place there. I read on Barbara's blog that she was able to meet up with the church group in Houston who were on a mission trip. The church where we performed at went to the Mexican town where Barbara lives. They were about two minutes from her house! She was able to be an interpreter for them!

We are home now, but it's short lived. We go into downtown Nashville tonight and stay at a hotel there for two nights. We are performing at the Opryland hotel Thursday and Friday. We have a show locally Saturday night as well. Then, we leave for Panama City Beach, FL Sunday. We perform there Monday morning and then drive home. We are home on Tuesday then leave Wednesday for California. We return home on Friday. Then, we have one day at home only to leave for Nebraska Sunday. We fly back on Wednesday, have one day home, then leave Friday for Midland, TX. Here's the schedule:
7/26-28: Shows in Nashville
7/29: Drive to FL
7/30: Show in Panama City and drive home
8/1: Fly to CA and perform
8/2: Show in CA
8/3: Fly home
8/5: Fly to NE
8/6-7: Shows in NE
8/8: Fly home
8/10: Fly to TX and perform
8/11: Show in TX
8/12: Fly home
Pray for us during this busy time.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Ministering to People

I've always heard that you need to minister to the unlovable. For some reason, I've also had it in my mind for years that when you minister to others, it has to be hard. It's almost like it needs to be annoying to you and a sacrifice of your time and energy in order for it to really count.

These days, I'm finding that's not true for me. The Lord is placing people in my life whom He wants me to minister to and I absolutely LOVE them. He's had me minister to people like Barbara from Mexico and our single friends at home. Our friends, Rod and Susan, and their precious daughter are on my list to pray for and spend time with. These people are my friends and I enjoy exerting my energy on them. It's like ministry is coming more natural to me right now.

You would think that my sister and brother-in-law would be dreading leaving everyone and everything that is familiar to them in order to be missionaries in South America. This is going to be a HUGE sacrifice for them. It is a big sacrifice, but they cannot wait to go! They are so excited about it!

I think that when the Lord wants you to minister to a person or persons, He gives you the passion and desire that you need in order to do it. Sometimes, it does get difficult, but that passion is still there. You mothers and fathers are supposed to minister to your children. The Lord has given you a natural passion for them. If you don't have passion for a person or persons, something is wrong. Ask the Lord whom He wants you to minister to. Then, ask Him for the opportunities to do so.

Monday, July 23, 2007

What's Wrong With This Picture?

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I took this picture from the highway of a Burger King drive-thru.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Revival

Remember the prayer for revival that I asked you to pray about? I think that we have got it. The Lord is using two things tremendously this summer. The first thing is actually an illusion that the Lord gave us. It illustrates the living water that only Jesus can give. We are receiving e-mail after e-mail saying how much that illusion touched people's lives. They GOT it.

The other thing that made a huge impact is the message that Brock gave on Thursday at camp. He talked about being the ministers. He says, "The days of us paying someone to stand on a stage and do the ministry for us is over." He then explains that no matter how good your pastor is, he cannot go to your schools or jobs and minister to your friends. Only you can do that. He makes a few power statements like, "Some of you need to stop GOING to church and start BEING the church." He also says, "If you are bored at church, you are doing it wrong."

Then, he has all of the guys who are seniors in high school stand up. He keeps them up for an awkwardly long time. He then tells them that just like people are looking at them now, they are always looking at them. The younger teens are watching them to see how they live and act. They are leaders whether they know it or not. He encourages everyone to start a cycle of mentoring. Try to be mentored and then mentor someone else.

He has people come to the front who want to do ministry...not a call to the ministry, but a call to do ministry. He gives them the opportunity to pray for people out in the crowd who need prayer. It's a special time and it's revolutionizing the way people are thinking. Please pray that people put this into practice when they go home.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Feels Like Home

After being in one place longer than a few days, it starts to feel like a second home. I get familiar with the roads and the place where we are staying. After we get done with a show, I always say, "Let's go home." I don't say, "Let's go to the hotel."
I get sorta sad when I leave a place. There are so many cities as well as small towns that feel like home to me. I know where to go eat there and who to see.

We've been in Florida for most of the summer. Plus, I grew up in Florida. Therefore, this is really beginning to feel like home. However, that feeling only lasts until I step foot into MY actual home. Then, when I see my friends, I forget about the other "home" that I just left. Sometimes, I remember that "home" when I look back at all of the pictures that I took or receive an e-mail from somebody from there. It's so bitter-sweet!

Friday, July 20, 2007

FOOD

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The Columbia in Tampa, FL is Cuban food and it is good! The bread pudding is the best! Also, their rice and beans are great.

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Jessica and Shannon look in a mirror at the Columbia

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The restaurant was built in 1905




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McGuire's has great food and it's a funny place. There are thousands of dollar bills hanging on the ceiling.

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They make their own root beer and it's good!

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Brock drinks soda for the first time in over two years just for their root beer!



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The shrimp and crablegs are fabulous at Old Bay Steamers!

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Brock eats royal reds



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The redfish at Marina Cafe is my favorite seafood.

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The restaurant faces the marina with large windows.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Family

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Brock's parents came to visit us in Fort Walton Beach, FL

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We ate at a lot of good restaurants like McGuire's

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Brock and his dad look at the boats

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Brock's daring mom goes parasailing!

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We visited with my mom and grandma in Lakeland, FL

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My mom and dad

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My mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and us in our backyard

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My mom, sister, and I play in the creek near the cabin we rented in East Tennessee

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We watched fireworks with my mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law

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We said goodbye to my sister

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Happy Fun Times

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Disney World with Dan

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The Tower of Terror is my favorite ride!

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Lounging at the beach with Shannon and Kyla

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Sleeping on the beach

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Hanging out on the beach with wonderful friends

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Watching the space shuttle launch as we drive

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Bumper boats!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Friends

Old Friends:

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Brian and Stephanie Britt

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Ronnie Jones

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Tiger Coffman

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Todd Prather and his family

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The Godbeys


Present Friends

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The girls at home

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The group at a restaurant

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Susan and Anna

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Brock "chats" with Anna


New Friends

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Barbara Makes a Goofy Face

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Shannon and Barbara laugh

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Us with Chris Orr's band and one of the Superwow staff, Therron

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Us with Scott's band