Thursday, March 20, 2014

Some Of My Favorite's



When I came to Belize, I gave up a lot of different things, not that I'm complaining. Now, when I go to the US, I get me those things. I will share with you below, some of my favorite's. Also, listed below are some stuff, people, etc. that I have around me, that are my favorite's.

1. God is number 1!

2. My family - I have the best, in my opinion!


A husband that supports me in all that I do. Loves me for who I am, even my flaws. Laughs with me, wipes my tears. Encourages me to succeed, to get back up when I fail.

Then, God gave me an angel, my daughter, that makes me smile, is sensitive, has a tender heart, cries when I am sick, wanting me better soon. If I feel my day is spiraling downwards, all she has to do is giggle, tell me she loves me, hug me, kiss me, sing, whatever, and I am smiling and climbing uphill again.

3. Cinnabon - The huge roll with extra cream! I can't get them here. boohoo

4. Starbucks - The vanilla latte or caramel macchiatta (sp?)

5. Tender Steaks - That's one of the first things I get when I go back!

6. Dr. Pepper - Every now and then we get them here, so that's not a big deal.

7. Coke Icee

8. Musicals - Love going to them!

9. Books - We have a library now, so that will get better.

10. Fresh flowers - We have a florist here now. Yay!! I'd share the link, but wouldn't want you to think that I'm hinting. hehe

11. Snail Mail - It's kind of a thing of the past now, but still enjoyable to get, especially when you aren't expecting it. I do remember when we first came here, it was a common occurrence to get mail.

12. Apple products - Apple EVERYTHING! I am Applestolic, you know! lol

13. Road trips - Here, there, everywhere! I enjoy going back to the US and getting to see family and friends!

14. Singing

15. Drawing and painting - I am not a great artist, but do enjoy trying my hand at it.

16. Travel - I am interested in all kinds of travel! When you love doing it, do what you love! I am a travel agent.

17. Beef Jerky - <3

18. Missionaries

19. Facebook - You say, really? I say, yes! What happened is, as mentioned above, snail mail and phones were the only ways to keep in touch when I came here. Calls were expensive, just ask Emily Kate Rolen! As technology has improved, internet has come in and now I can stay in touch with family and friends from all over the world!

20. Kids - As a child, even up to now, I always had children around me. I would make them smile with whatever antics I could come up with. Which reminds me of an instance from a few weeks ago, I was standing, talking to a couple of ladies, when a child came up to us, I immediately changed voices and said something to the child, making him smile! The girl said, how do you do that? I said what, not realizing what I had done. I had made the child smile and his parent, who was standing there and watched the whole exchange.


What about you? Are any of the above mentioned favorites of mine, some of yours too? Please feel free to share your favorite's.

Oh, one other favorite, I LOVE hearing from YOU!


“We don't need to have just one favorite. We keep adding favorites. Our favorite book is always the book that speaks most directly to us at a particular stage in our lives. And our lives change. We have other favorites that give us what we most need at that particular time. But we never lose the old favorites. They're always with us. We just sort of accumulate them.” ― Lloyd Alexander


"Don't Worry, Be Happy"
www.apcbelize.com

Monday, March 17, 2014

Running From The Call

Running from the call can be and is one of the most terrifying times in one's life.

Let me tell you a story from about 16 years ago.

In 1998, my parents visited Belize, Central America. While there, The Lord placed a burden for the country on my dad's heart. Dad returned from Belize and it weighed heavily upon him, but he chose to ignore it and run as far away from it as he could. Running away from what God had called him to do.

To this day, I can still remember, vividly, some of the events leading up to our coming to Belize. The one I am about to share with you, is the most vivid one.

In June of 1999, my brother, Mark, was on his way home from youth camp, after dropping off a young man. It had been raining and the truck my brother was driving veered onto the soft shoulder of the road. Mark over corrected the vehicle, sending him into the oncoming curve, spinning and flipping his truck!

It was then we received a phone call, a hysterical woman on the other end, screaming into the phone, "Come quick, your son has been in a terrible accident!"

My dad took off in the only other vehicle we had, trying to get to my brother as fast as he could. Not even a half mile up the road, the vehicle slung a rod, rendering us without a vehicle. By this time, it has started raining again and my dad has taken off running down the road. Mind you, running in the pouring down rain, headed 30 miles away to get where Mark is. Not knowing whether my brother is dead or alive. 

!!!WE WERE AT THE BOTTOM!!!

He began to try and hitch a ride. Along came an old man, in an an equally old pickup truck, who have dad a ride. He drove S...L...O...W...L...Y...
While this gentleman drove, dad began to pray in earnest, in the back of this old pickup truck. Dad had realized it was time to stop running from the call God had placed on his life. He was ready to accept what God would have him to do. He was begging God to let Mark be ok. Realizing we were at the bottom and the only way to get back up was to stop running from the call.

When finally they had reached the scene of the accident, which was a site to behold. The truck was within a car's length of slamming into a huge tree and the truck was upside down. Dad jumped from the vehicle to find my brother being embraced by a neighboring pastor, not a scratch on his body. God had kept His hand upon him.

From 06-1999 until 01-2001, we gathered what was necessary for us to to leave our homeland and become missionaries.

If you were to visit here today, almost 16 years later, you would find a beautiful headquarters church, located in Guinea Grass Village and several other beautiful churches and preaching points, in various Villages and Districts. All blessed and working together to win souls. Flourishing, because one man decided to stop, "Running from the Call!"

Have you ever ran from God's calling?

Did you ever hit bottom, only to realize why, then get back to His calling?

Please feel free to share your story below.

"Remind me Lord You called me, so that I may never run from the call." Sang by Mike Bowling

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."


"Don't Worry, Be Happy"
www.apcbelize.com