Fly Fishing-- Fish Charming Here I Come

So I got to go fly fishing for the first time yesterday. All I can say is A-Mazing! I think if I could become a professional fly fisher I would. One because its just the coolest past-time ever. Two cause I get to wear adorable waiders and boots. Lastly, cause frankly I'm good at it. 10 and 2, 10 and 2. Yes I know what a leader is and how to put it on.
Kelly and I had a blast. After fishing on the Poudre we decided to cross the raging rapids to the other side and mountain climb to a beautiful rock pile. Then after collecting some neat rocks we crossed the river again and went back to the car cause I needed to get to work. As we were driving back through the canyon, we saw Ray's car so we stopped and walked down the river to find him and his dog Venus (such a cool dog name) but he was really far down so we turned back so I can get to work on time. When we got back to the car, we saw Ray and Venus walking back so we said hi and then went to La Luz for nurishment. Then I went to work which I ended up being 25 mins late anyways. Punctuality is way overrated! ;)

Tribute to my Postman

This is a tribute to my amazing postman! He never ceases to bring my mail between the hours of 12 to 1pm everyday (except for Sundays). Each day he walks up to our door, in his official uniform. No matter what temperature it is, he has on his shorts (yes even in snowy, cold days), button-up blue collared shirt, white Safari hat (why he wears this is beyond my understanding. Perhaps he is planning to shoot a Zebra during his route), knee high white socks, lace up boots below the knee, and his messanger bag. Plus this guy is about 60 or so... in shorts in the dead of winter... I know he will never get to read this blog, but postman "Props to You!" Thanks for delivering my mail in a timely matter and in great fashion(no pun intended). In fact when I get packages he will ring my door bell and give me my mail in person. If you haven't thanked your local postmaster, take the time today and wrtie him a thank you note. Or perhaps give him a cold water bottle on a hot day. Maybe even a gift card during the Christmas season.

You're Everything

Four weeks and my soul is becoming weary. Losing the fight to keep sane. Sadness of losing everything to gain something new. I'd rather lose it all to gain my King but why is it so hard? Why don't I ever reach the mark but fall flat on my face?
My soul is also starting to stir. Can't keep the excitement inside. Joyful leaps to begin again in a new environment. I know that sacrifice will be rewarded. Maybe not in this lifetime but someday.

When my day is hard, I find some comfort in one of my favorite bands. Lifehouse's song "Everything" is such a beautiful song about our whole beings acclaiming the need for our Father. A place of peace, safety, strength, hope, our EVERYTHING!

Find me here, and speak to me. I want to feel you, I need to hear you. You are the light that's leading me, to the place where I find peace again.
You are the strength, that keeps me walking. You are the hope, that keeps me trusting. You are the light to my soul. You are my purpose...you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you? Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest. You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall. You steal my heart, and you take my breath away. Would you take me in? Take me deeper now.

Cause you're all I want, You're all I need. You're everything, everything. You're all I want your all I need. You're everything, everything. You're all I want you're all I need. You're everything, everything. You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.

Three things God has blessed me with today:
*Blue Sky's community... all praise and glory fall to you my God for providing such a place.
*Beautiful day of sunshine
*Time to spend getting errands done today.

The Little Things

Five weeks to go... When I think about moving, I start to reflect on what things will I miss here in Colorado. Sure I will miss my family and friends but there are many things in Colorado that won’t be in the East Coast.

• Wearing sandals in the snow, go Chacos and Tevas
• Actually knowing what a "fourteener" is (There are 54 in CO and I have done 5)
• You switch from Heat to A/C in one day
• Your sense of direction is: towards the mountains and away from the mountains (there are only "Hills" on the East Coast)
• April showers bring May blizzards.
• SPF 90 is not out of the question (oh the white pasty people of the North East)
• Skiing in July (not that I have, but I know you can)
• 'Rocky Mountain Oysters'
• The altitude advantage
• 'The Crack'- real Coloradoans know what this is and yes I have done it
• Living in a town where Valentines Day is bigger than Christmas (Go Loveland)
• Know what REAL snow consists of and can actually ski in powder
• Dry weather in the heat and cold (no humidity)
• Hiking... enough said
• Elk serenading in Estes
• Camping, camping, and more camping
• National Western Stock Show
• Long drives in the mountains with good company
• Palisade Peaches
• And perhaps the corn as well
• Casa Bonita (or not)
• River rafting
• Buffalo Bill's Grave (yes I know where it is)
• Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Steamboat Springs, and RMNP
• Garage Sales in the dead winter at about 10 degrees with Garage Sale WIERDOS knocking at your door 30mins before it starts! (got that one out)
  

I don't know what else to put! There is so much! If you had to leave your state what would you miss?
PRAISES:
*Got four supporters today! My total is up to six... praise God for His continued grace and His faithfulness to provide.
*One and a half weeks till finals!
*Got my loans deferred for a year.
PRAYERS:
*Continued prayer for finances to come through
*My health will continue to improve
*Another roommate to take my spot here at school
*Strength to stay focused on God

Addicted

Yes, I have a severe addiction that must be treated immediately. It’s the newest addiction out there. After one trial, I was hooked. I have to wait until my morning class to get my fix. Spending about 20 minutes a day doesn't seem to quench my thirst. So instead, I shell out a few extra dollars and buy the hard core stuff that keeps my mind twisted up for hours.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I have fallen into the Sudoku craze. Every morning I grab my local paper and complete the puzzle at ease. It's just not enough and I have to get the hard stuff; the books with up to five stars and a diagonal addition. When will the madness end?
Yeah, I could get addicted to chocolate, baseball, or “Grey's Anatomy” but Sudoku has caught my soft spot.
What things are you addicted to?

All in God's Hands

Six weeks left to go till I am officially a Connecticutan- such a strange word... I'm really excited, however a bit scared. All my letters are out, now I must sit and wait for God's hand to move. Waiting patiently for God to provide is soooooooooooo hard. I tend to lean towards the impatient side. God draw me near and guide my thoughts to fulfill your will. I got my first letter of support Thursday. Praise God, one step closer to relief! I'm in His hands as he is guiding me. I read a neat quote the other day that I would like to share.

"Stop interfering with God's plans and with His will. Touching anything of His, mars the work. Moving the hands of a clock to suit you, does not change the time. You may be able to rush the unfolding of some aspects of God's will but you harm His work in the long run. You can force a rosebud open, but you spoil the flower. Leave everything to Him, without exception. 'Not what I will, but what you will'(Mark 14:36).
-Stephen Merritt

All in the Family- "We are FAMILY"

So my dear friend Kristi and I have decided to spend our Sunday mornings on a mission. Since we attend Blue Sky on Saturday nights and as much as we love to hear Joe twice in the same week (sorry Joe!), Kristi and I have decided to use our time wisely and become... Church Spies. Yes, Sunday mornings will be spent visiting other local churches of other denominations to view their worship styles, visions, sermons, and etc. So stay tuned for updates...

Church visit number one was Christ's Church of the Rockies (we think it is a Four Square Church), and may I note it is right next door to BSC in our former location. Being the ambitious souls we are, Krisit and I, with smiles, walked in and were greeted immediately by the worship singer lady (name can't remember... I know I have failed already). As she started to introduce to us, it became clear that it was no ordinary congregation... "This is my uncle Bob and his wife Betty, my mom, sister-in-law, cousin, my son, my nephew, oh these two people aren't related, my 2nd cousin and her husband with their kids, more uncles, cousins, and people with some type of blood or marriage relation. With about 40 people in total I swear that 30 of those people were related (hence the title "All in the Family" Thanks Bennett) There are three pastors all are which related... big surprise. Worship was fine (kinda like a Twila Paris concert lol) with this cute old man singing and grooving to the music, offering (its interesting to see how different churches handle offering), a trio song with the key phrase (get this) "the snow was ANGEL PILLOW FIGHTS" (best part of the visit) and a sermon.

Oh the sermon... really wasn't bad except for two things. First off the pastor (the children's pastor of the three) started off with a story. Now most pastors do but this one was odd in its context and purpose. He stated and I quote "There was this boy running around the church one day. I asked what he was doing and he said he was looking for a cow. I asked him why he was looking for a cow and that he said he was looking for the cow cause he wanted to give it a karate kick (or a round off kick to the face... go Chuck Norris). Why? Cause the boy had this idea that the cow sat on his head." And he just continued on this tangent for a while and then changed courses. Second bad thing was that he misquoted scripture. Ouch! Only once though.

Funny story that goes along with the second exception. Kristi was looking up the verses that the pastor was referencing (which were wrong). When we finally think we found the right passage, it wasn't. So Kristi turned to me and said "I don't think that they use the same bible." As we sat in shock and contemplated leaving for about 30 seconds, Kristi figured out we were one chapter ahead! Ha Ha!!!

I'm excited for other visits to different churches in the next month.

"Ruffing It"- For Real

So my director and I were talking last week about our traveling plans. It seems that whenever we "travel" we live like the people in that place do. Therefore, I will be sleeping on dirt floors, possibly getting a shower every once in a while, and did I mention for a two to three week stay I only, yes ONLY, get to bring a carry on bag. This bag needs to contain a sleeping bag too. Rumor has it that there are sleeping bags out there that shrink to the size of a football. This week I will be window shopping at some great stores like REI and then ebay whatever I like (poor college student, it needs to be cheap). Any recomendations out there?

So far Hillside has two trips planned out. As I said earlier, we will be going to Mexico the first two weeks of July and now hopefully China the end of August/beginning of September. Pray for safety in these trips and finances to go.

Support letters are on the move... well most of them. I have a HUGE Business Law Exam tomorrow night so, that is kinda a priority today and tomorrow morning.

Love you all,
Stac

Countdown: Two months till migration

Just as birds migrate from one place to another, so do our lives.
God has really put this verses on my heart this evening... so true.


Ecclesiastes 3- A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Isn't neat to think about how our lives are like seasons? Sometimes they are a festival full of joy and excitement and others are sorrowful and a time a reverance. Tonight as I was looking over this verse I know my season is changing. My past season was a hard one with my health and other issues but now I'm in a season of "uprooting." Two months from today I'm migrating to Connecticut for a year. I'm so conflicted right now with emotions of joy, saddness, curiousity, and worry. However I have friends and family who are helping me with this and my Lord is so good to me in taking my anxious thoughts.

What season are you in right now? Take some time to reflect and thank God for not just the "good" seasons but also the "hard" ones.


Prayer Requests:

• We are currently looking for a school director for the School of Missions in Mexcio. Hopefully we can find someone from Latin America. Pray that God will bring the right person for the job.
• Hillside is having trouble finding sponsors for the interns so they are looking into renting another apartment. Pray that the finances will come in for it.
• I am sending out support letters this weekend. Pray that God will bless the letters and that He will provide a strong group of supporters in this internship. It is so hard to ask for support... God is really HUMBLING me!
• Five weeks till finals! I need to focus on the tasks at hand and get through the rough spots.
  

Moving to Connecticut- A God Thing!

So some you may know, I will most likely be moving to Connecticut in June to start an internship with a christian organization called Hillside Missions. I will be there in Connecticut for 9 months and then have the option to serve my Lord overseas in one of their ministries for 3 months. Currently, they have operations in Mexico, China, Turkey, and Afghanistan. In Mexico, Hillside has two ministries. Their big one is a bible college in Matachi, Mexico. We are currently renovating an old hotel into a building where the students can live and study missions and the bible. The students have to make a commitment of 2 years at the school and for 2 years after completion, serve within the ministry overseas somewhere. How amazing! Hillside also works with a tribe in the mountains there in the Sierra Madre Mountains. (They do not speak Spanish) In China, we work with a couple who has been witnessing to a tribe in eastern China. In the past few years, the couple has learned their native tounge, created a written language for the group and has translated the Holy Bible this past Christmas. (It just gives me chills) Afghanistan is interesting. Women is the main focus in this ministry. They are taught how to read and write Arabic and I think English. The women are taught the gospel and also some type of trade skill so they can produce their own income. Turkey is our newest one, where we are in the process of doing church planting in a country full of Musilms.

I applied for the internship about a month and a half ago. Didn't hear from them for a couple weeks, forgot about them... God didn't. He has shard dreams and visions with me that have affirmed God's calling for ministry overseas and to work with Hillside. A couple of days after several dreams, Hillside contacted me and we set up a phone interview.

Next God thing, I made plans to go to Boston last October to visit my friend Lindsay. The organization is located in Bristol, CT about 2 1/2 hours away from Boston. So on a whim, I boarded a Peter Pan bus line over there to visit Kris the director and meet other people involved in the group. It was a great trip! I got to talk to a few interns and others in the community. I was able to get a feel of the environment. God is working there, no doubt about it! I even got to help grocery shop for a father daughter dinner/dance with them. One of the interns is from Mexico and speaks little English. Man I can't wait to pick up my Spanish and work with people from other countries.

What will I be doing? Its kinda mixing bible college, with a job, and throw in a lot of mission work. I get to read the whole Quran and study up on Musilim culture. I will learn theology, church planting, and missionary stuff. At the end of the program I will be certified in teaching English as a second language. I will work on projects to aid the organization like marketing and implementing sunday school material for kids.

This summer I get to teach a missions class and chapel to junior high and high school kids at a week long camp in the "mountains" of Connecticut (I would like to think it more as hills... go Rocky Mountains). The first and second week of July my team will be traveling down to Chiquaqua. The first week we will doing lots of manual labor fixing the hotel for the school. The second week a couple junior high school kids will be joining us and we will be working with the tribe, teaching VBS to the kids of the community.

Prayer Requests:

*Please pray that will provide a way for me to get school credit for this amazing opportunity. I meet with a career councelsor to write up a plan. I really need to stay enrolled so I can take my purple pills!
*Finances is a big one. It costs $200 a month for books, rent and food ( I will be living with a host family) Plus I have to provide money for extra spending and raise support so I can serve in our sponsored countries.
*Pray that my car will survive the next year in CT. Pray that nothing will break or bust!
*Pray for support of my friends and family. Prayer is HUGE and its the way we communicate with God. Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts.
*Pray that I won't get to homesick. I know that I will be missing so many people who have shaped my life and have made an impact on me.
*Oh, I need to find someone to take my room up here in Greeley. Know anyone?

Praises: (Can't forget the amazing work of God's hand)
*I got a letter from the Monfort College of Business at UNC and they gave me a $950 scholarship just for this semester! Wow, I didn't even apply for it! Praise God for already providing money for this next year!
*My health is so much better. No more gallbladder pains and I am adjusting to my new restrcitions for aicd reflux.
*Support from my papa. He has been very helpful and it gives me peace knowing that one of my padres is in this with me.
*Thanks to all of my friends for their support and prayers. (Big kudos go to Robin for allowing me to leave her in Boston alone for a day to see CT.)