...

Ouch! After so much regular blogging, I let you go a whole 10 days without a post? Yikes!

Life... Cas is in the kitchen making sponge cake for tomorrow's supper with friends. Jes is trying not to get sick. Caz is on her cell phone in the "chill room." I've been staying off my computer in the evenings to try to help me get to bed on time (ha!). So much for that tonight...

Prayer... reminded of something the Lord was teaching me about a year ago. Asking Him what He wants me to pray and believe for. This time? Love. Love for me to share with others. To truly have God's love.

Office... training tomorrow is on how to keep your pdf filesfrom printing out with red coloring when you use the color laser printers. We had two new summer interns start this week and another one starts next week. Meanwhile, we've been enjoying "Grey" - our IT intern from LeTourneu U. Praise God for all his help in updating the printer drivers. He's making this thing happen!

China... 77 survivors discovered in the last 36 hours! Death toll is over 41,000. Pray for the Christians there to boldly share their faith in the midst of tragedy.

Myanmar... We've got relief supplies going into the country - thanks for your prayers! You've got to stop by and see the latest updates and prayer requests here.

ICCM... The annual International Conference on Computing and Missions is happening June 6th - 10th. If you're a techie who loves the Lord and has a heart for missions, you should go! Deadline for registering is... Friday. Sorry for the short notice. www.iccm.org

Note to self... You're tired. Go to bed. Yes, ma'am!

Death and Life

The death toll in China is now almost 9,000 killed in the earthquake. While the Myanmar government reports the counts for the cyclone as 28,458 dead and 33,416 missing, outside group estimates for deaths range from 63,290 to 101,682. Outside groups also list 220,000 people as reported missing.

I was listening to an online sermon from Pastor Damian Kyle a couple weeks ago when he referenced Matthew 24:1-8. This is one of the "end time" sections where Jesus talks about his return and about nation rising against nation and earthquakes and famine and says, "these are the beginnings of birth pangs."

My teenage years were fairly immersed in prophecy and "end times," but what Pastor Damian said caught my attention. Birth pangs start slowly, he reminded us, and then gradually get closer and closer together and slowly get stronger and stronger.

With the many events of this past week--Myanmar's cyclone, China's earthquake, Hezbollah taking control over part of Lebanon, the US tornado season the deadliest in a decade--somehow it resembles perhaps another set of birth pangs.

In "regular daily" life here in Texas, we had another summer intern start today and I did her computer login and training. Five staff are changing offices tomorrow. I'm trying to coordinate their timing and moves. And we have staff visiting from www.donor.com to help with planning some website changes. I've been busy taking care of coffee and snacks for them. It helps them think, you know! And I read another chapter from Tales of the Resistance to a staff family this evening. It's been two years since we started the series...we're going kind of slow.

Tonight's chapter was "The Most Beautiful Player of All." My favorite. ...for when one has found one's real love, it is easy to leave what has only been pretend.

GPR submissions (never submitted)

I sit back in my chair and stare at my computer screen. I can't think. I can't work. I can't concentrate. Thoughts rush to and fro...arguing their way through my brain-

sin
pride
worthiness
calling
burden
willingness

Why must He pursue me so?

(GPR)

Earthquake in China kills 7000+

Just got tipped off by a friend to this headline news: a 7.8 earthquake struck the Sichuam province of China, killing at least 7,000 people. Pray for the people as they are still trying to dig people out of the wreckage. Pray for the Christians there to be able to comfort and share their faith in the midst of disaster. Pray for the Chinese to come to know Jesus as their Savior.

My Mother's Day Breakfast

Happy Mother's Day... to me?

Myanmar Standoff

Word: junta
Pronunciation: \'hun-tə\
Definition: a council or committee for political or governmental purposes; especially: a group of persons controlling a government especially after a revolutionary seizure of power

One of my friends commented: "'Junta' is a fun word to say, but a harsh government to live under."

Please continue to pray for open doors for aid to reach Myanmar. The UN plane that landed with 38 tons of food was promptly intercepted by the junta and the supplies moved into government buidings for the junta "to distribute as needed." One may argue that the junta is indeed distributing it, but those who have watched the junta for any length of time aren't believing that. The UN has suspended additional flights and supplies at this time.

PRAY - Only God can open doors at this time for funds and supplies and people to arrive in Myanmar. We need a miracle.

Promises: Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

News Report from local TV station

Ministry leaders were busy yesterday with interviews about GFA's opportunity to do relief work in Myanmar (Burma). Here's one short clip:

Death toll hits 22,500+

Hurricane Katrina. We all remember that. Major hurricane hits major US city and, with complications, causes the loss of 1,800+ lives.

Meet Cyclone Nargis. Major cyclone (hurricane) hits major Myanmar city. Loss of lives so far? Upwards of 22,500. Still missing? 41,000.

Reports are suggesting it will be 3-4 months at least before electricity is restored to Yangon.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=myanmar
For first hand report and photos of the GFA Bible College there, visit http://www.gfa.org/cyclone

Pray for Myanmar (Burma)

I saw the news on Sunday afternoon that a "tropical cyclone" (a.k.a. hurricane) had hit the Asian country of Myanmar (Burma). Death toll at that time was about 450.

By this morning at prayer, newspapers were reporting aver 4000 dead. Now news sources are reporting perhaps 10,000+ casualties.

Pray!

Seven minutes...

I've got seven minutes before I'm out of my allotted computer goof-off time this evening. Maybe bullet points will work best.

• Caz arrived (two weeks ago. Did I tell you that?) and then headed back to CA for the weekend (and only the weekend) to attend a friend's wedding and then share about GFA at a friend's church. PLEASE PRAY for God to provide the financial support she needs for this internship year and for God to give her the words to share at this church.
• I had much fun this evening with three friends at It's a Grind in Frisco. It was good just to hang out and laugh at Jen's cutest-nieces-and-nephew-in-the-whole-wide-world tales! I love Logan stories!
• IT is busy at the office with incoming summer interns. We've got 15 college interns that will be coming at different times during the summer for about 4 weeks each. Lots of details to get lined up.
• Gujarat, India has passed an anti-conversion bill. Pray for the missionaries and pastors working there.
• For my college friends - pray for Jeni and Michael Helms. Michael is going through some severe health problems that they haven't really been able to diagnose. You can email me for more details and I'll send you a copy of Jeni's email.
• I was reading my journal this evening and a common theme keeps coming up. I'm really self-centered. Pray that I would be content to wait on God's promises and wait on His timing.
• And praise God for YOU!

11:15pm. Made it!

GPR submissions (never submitted)

"Cool! Check out this freeware!"

run spirituallife.exe
Install complete. Run automatically in taskbar? Yes.
Reboot.

"Oh, man! Look at that -- this new program's hogging my resources!"

Still a Kansas Girl

We went out for ice cream this evening -- myself, two of my interns, and two lady interns from another intern house. We knew there was a storm blowing in (with possible hail), but we figured we had 45 minutes to get our frozen custard treats and get back home. By the time we got our order figured out at this little outdoor eatery, the lightening display to our west was become slightly more active and the rain was beginning to fall, albeit quite gently.

We were setting up a camera on self-time to snap a photo when we hear the first faint (and I mean faint) rumblings of thunder. There was still plenty of time to enjoy our treats and get back home.

Set the timer, race to get in the picture, run back, check the camera, race back to the picture, freeze, flash, laugh... and just as we were cracking up over the photo, the tornado sirens went off. You Kansas people know what I mean -- the long, sustained note that says (without words), "The National Weather Service has spotted rotation in the radar or a trained weather spotter has spotted a funnel in your county. Take cover immediately."

Being a Kansas girl, I sprang into action, grabbing the camera and barking orders. "Get to the car - now! We're getting out of here." The girls ran screaming for the car as I scanned the heavens, trying to figure out where in the world this tornado was in this peacefully falling rain.

I headed to the closest intern house as fast as we could. I flipped stations on the radio to find the weather, but to no avail. The sirens were still sounding as we scampered into the house, but I still couldn't see any signs of a tornado. We turned on the TV and found the weather man. The storm had dumped golf ball size hail on the Ft. Worth area (45 minutes away) and would be arriving in southern Carrollton in about 15 minutes.

No rotation. Not even a tornado watch. Just a severe thunderstorm. I felt pretty sheepish. I scared everyone for nothing.

The hail? I never saw it. I think we got maybe .3" of rain during the next hour. I'm sure we got the light part of the storm, but still - there was no tornado. There was no reason to leave the pavilion and race to the nearest shelter.

You can take the girl out of Kansas, but you can't take the Kansas out of the girl.

Have you seen my joy?

It feels like I've lost it somewhere.  If you see it, can you send it home?  Thanks!

Praises!

Here's a few praises for you!

• Matt's dad came home from the hospital today!
• Matt is back in the office after being out for close to two weeks!
• Caz - my third intern - finally arrived on Friday evening!!!
• Jes found rollerblades for free at a yard sale!
• Chris the Mac guy at the office answered my iPhoto questions!
• I got 7-8 hours of sleep on Saturday night and Sunday night!
• Co-worker Eric has been a huge blessing to me. He heard today that I was craving almonds, so he bought a bag of trail mix and emptied out everything except the almonds and gave the almonds to me.
  
• Overwhelmed, yet not despairing (at the moment).

Thank you for your prayers!

Draw me nearer

Tonight's out-of-the-blue song in my head:

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Longing to rise in the arms of faith... being closer drawn to him... consecrated to his service by his power... my soul looking up with a steadfast hope... my will being lost in His... resting in peace with Him.

Oh, I long!

Testing Outlook 2007 sans Word 2007

Even I was amused when I got to the end and looked back at the random text I typed while testing grammatical and spelling features.  You probably won't be so amused, but at least you'll know I'm alive.

 

This is the day. :)  Ha-ha!

 

Can you mispell this email?  It can switch letters, but it doesn't unerline.  Let's see if it swaps you’re my documents.  Yep, it did.  Thier love is the answer.

 

GRammatical MIstakes anyone?

Kenya Update

No, I'm not moving to Kenya. :) I was at Rosalie's house on New Year's Eve this year when we saw the news coverage about rioting and violence in Kenya. The breaking news that day was that a mob had burned a church with over 50 people trapped inside. The tallys rose across the country: over a thousand dead, over 600,000 without homes, nearly 400 churches destroyed. The violence died down in the first three weeks of January, but thousands are still living in refugee camps.

I have a couple friends working in Kenya - a college friend and the Chris, the missions pastor of my local church. Both have been involved in various parts of the relief work and it has made the news a little closer to home. Do you ever notice that? News about places you have friends suddenly becomes much more interested. Big K in Afghanistan (welcome back to the US, by the way) or Meg in Morocco or friends in Kenya...

The April 6th edition of the Pentecostal Evangel magazine is entirely covering the Kenya situation. Chris (in the photo) had mentioned on his blog that the photo team had been there, so I was watching for that issue. They interviewed the native pastor of the church that had been burned -- he was rescuing children from the burning building, but then was attacked by the mob himself.

Here's a few links if you want more information:

• The magazine in PDF format: http://tpe.ag.org/2008PDFs/4900_Kenya.pdf
• More photos from the trip: http://world.ag.org

In a sense, the violence in Kenya is like the tsunami that struck Asia. The violence may be gone and the TV cameras with in, but there are still thousands of lives and homes to be rebuilt. I know they would appreciate you prayers.

No foolin'

Things have been crazy hectic around my IT world. Between staff out taking care of parents and at doctor's visits and oversees, we're down quite a few people. And we've had two new staff added to the GFA office this week (just not to IT) and two staff moves so far this week. Those setups are always time intensive for me, so it has been/will continue to be a busy week.

Thanks for all your prayers for our continued strength and guidance and sharp minds. Pray for clear communication, gracious words and hearts, and.... there was something else, but I forgot. I guess that's where the "sharp minds" part comes in, eh?

This isn't making much sense. I'm off to bed.