Ok, this picture goes with the Ecuador blog. :)

I have been trying to get pictures up here on my blog of Ecuador however, it's just not working. I will continue to try so please, be patient. Hopefully my words will be captivating enough. :)

My best friend Christy is in Nashville right now. She flew up there yesterday to spend time with a dear friend just before she goes in for serious back surgery. We all pray that the surgery goes well as Jennifer has just been in so much pain. Praying for you Jennifer, I know God's hands will guide the surgeons. Love you.

WOW! Just got back from Ecuador. What an amazing trip. God truly showed His power in so many different ways. I would like to post a few stories here of God's amazing power and His faithfulness to divine appointments.

We did our prayer walk over the community on Sunday. As we were in the streets praying, a few people came out to ask what we were doing. In the crowd was a woman who's house I had just prayed over. We shared the gospel with each one of them but still, this lady just stuck out to me and I felt the Lord leading me to pray with her more. After the crowd dispersed, I asked if I could speak with her for a bit. Turns out she was rededicating her life at that moment. At one time she was always evangelizing to all her friends about the true love of Christ. She had gotten busy as she got older and life had overtaken her. I met with her for the several days after and equipped her again to evangelize the community there in Coca. By the time I left she and her husband made contact with the pastor there and had committed to being a strong foundation for the church.

Another amazing story is about a young man named Edgar. On our second day there in Coca, we had actually begun going door to door with our translators and nationals (those that actually lived there and attended the church in Coca). I had prayed with a young man at one of the homes. I went back the next day to disciple him but he wasn't where I could locate him. On our trip up the river in canoes (yes, CANOES) he was one of the young men helping us and translating from Spanish to the native language there. Turns out that he went the next day to a friends house that was being discipled by another team mate. This young man was so on fire for God he was soaking up all he could! He had already committed to the pastor and the church to do whatever he could to reach his community in Coca for Christ. It was then I realized I'm not the main ingredient, God is and when He makes an appointment, its always met no matter who is or isn't involved.

Ok, one more. :)
Satan tried so many ways to stop what God was wanting to do there in Ecuador. One of the many schemes he tried to pull was during one of our evening rallys where we were showing Narnia is Spanish. Our goal was to take the relation of Aslan to Christ and share the gospel in that fashion. About half way thru the Police showed up and wanted to arrest us all. Our leaders were able to talk them into just taking them down to the station along with all our passports for questioning. The rest of us that remained began to pray that the Lord's will be accomplished. Shortly after we prayed, a hot wind blew from no where and took the sheet/screen we were using and blew it all around. We grabbed it quicdidn'tand didn't skip a beat. Then, as the movie drew to a close, our leadeweren'till weren't back to bring it all together to explain the correlation between the movie and the sacrifice God made for us thru His son. No one there really knew how to bring it all together. Thank the Lord that my dad had read these books to me all my life. The Lord equipped me on the words to say and by God's grace 3/4 of the crowd (about 75 people) excepted Jesus! Just shortly after, all our leaders returned. God truly is AMAZING!


I know this is a long blog however, there's just so much God did while I was there I want to share it with everyone, to know God's greatness and I pray that these stories encourage you, uplift YOUR faith and trust in our Almighty God.

Look for ways today to allow God to work mightly in or through you. When all hope looks lost, know that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Sometimes He allows us to be in situations to stretch our faith and to grow in Him. He will never let you go anywhere, do anything without His ultimate hand knows He know's your coming and goings and will always have His hand on you. Trust Him this day, and those there after. :)

Craziness craziness!! I'm trying to get everything ready for Ecuador and it's been such craziness! I have to say though I'm so thank full God has already done such amazing things! With the promises of funds coming in, I now have enough for my trip! Yeah baby, I'm on my way to Ecuador!!!! WOO HOO!!!

But yet, in all the excitement, there's still so much to accomplish here. I actually work at the organization that I'm going with to Ecuador and I have 2 other trips leaving around the same time. So as I'm preparing personally for the trip, I'm having to prepare 3 other teams (my own included) to go overseas. It's such an honor and pleasure to be a part of this amazing organization however, little crazy at the moment.

So as you all think about me this week, please pray for my team and others as we're about to set out. Pray the the ground in which we travel will be ready to receive God's truth. Pray for safe travels as well. Love you all!

Ecuador!

I'm so excited. About 3 weeks ago God laid it on my heart to go to Ecuador. Jim (the leader for this trip) happened to mention it to me one day about praying if I should go. It started something in my heart and I prayed, God said Go, I obeyed. so here I am, a week and a half away from leaving. Some of you probably don't know but I work for a missions organization called e3 Partners. My job is I handle the logistics of sending different teams out on short term missions to work with the nationals and help build up the church body in different countries. I have been here since January of this year and have helped numerous teams and helped team leaders get these trips up and going. Now, God has finally called me by name and told me to go.

I have at times questioned if I heard the Lord and all. I mean, he only gave me 3 weeks to raise support (it costs a bit to go on these trips - airfare can be costly) and I knew that within my own means I couldn't afford it. I am almost there now in my fundraising - only a few hundred to go. :) This has been a real test of faith for me. I sometimes have issues trusting, yes, even trusting in my Almighty God. But I have to take rest in the Lord and know that if He told me to go (which I know He did) that he will make the way.

So, when you all think of me or Ecuador, please pray. I'm leaving my 2 beautiful boys and my husband behind for 8 days. Keep us all in prayer. Thanks!

There's so much in this life I don't understand. I don't deal with death too much. Actually I haven't in awhile. But this last Friday night I got a frantic call from one of my precious kids (I was a youth pastor for 5 years) and she was crying saying her mom was gone. At first I thought maybe she had run away or been kidnapped...but then she cried, "She's dead". I was speechless. I knew her mom. I loved her mom.

But, then she asked me the question, "Where is she at now?" How do I answer? I know she didn't attend church. I knew she wasn't faithful to the Christian faith...but I knew her heart. I knew she knew God was real, and that He loved her. But had she accepted Him into her life? I personally never knew but...who only knows really but God. So I told her "I can't answer that question. I can't say really if she's in heaven or hell. God truly knows the heart and it's not for ANY person here on earth to put her in either place. Have hope that the light you showed her rang true in her heart and that maybe at the last moments, she excepted and will meet you in heaven". I just kept telling her to have hope. I also encouraged her not to let anyone put her in hell...No one knows but God (I said that cause there's a few people who might have contact with her that might try to tell her that bologna!)

Candace if you're reading this, I love you. Have hope that you will see your mom again. She was a precious soul and she will be missed. I will miss her. Have hope in your God. Although we don't always know why or understand (which I certainly don't at the moment), I know our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has sent you a comforter, the Holy Spirit. Lean on Him and surround yourself with those of like minds. Let Logan comfort you and be he arms of strength you need. Call me with anything, I will do as I can. If anything, I will just cry with you. I love ya girl.

Finally got the Ipod to work.. Actually, Christy got the thing to work. I was Mike Garcia til today, now... my Ipod knows me by name... FRANNY. It was so awesome to finally see my name on the screen. And to have my songs in there as well. YAY!! Turns out the silly docking station I bought doesn't work. The Geek Squad at Best Buys were awesome in helping me out with everything yesterday. I didn't even buy it from them and they still helped. Yay Geek Squad!

All is well now in the land of Ipod. Peace and tranquility.....

So frustrating. Can't get this Ipod to work. It was used but still, was promised to work. I'm pretty sure it's the docking station. I plug it all in but it's not registering on my laptop that anything is there to HotSync. And it won't charge either. I'm pretty techy and this all should be easy but I've had such a hard time with it all. I'm starting to feel very very lame. If any of you all have words of encouragement or advise, that would be great. (sigh)

Check it out! This aired last night on the TV show Deal or No Deal. My .5 seconds of fame!!! YAY!

Ok, a little about me...

Yeah, that's about it. Just kidding. Thought I would post a picture here since I can't figure out how to on my profile. I play guitar and drums. I love music, playing it, hearing it, surrounding myself in it. I currently play on the worship team at my church but I have also played at different outreaches here around San Diego. Just was offered last weekend to do some coffee house gigs at a place up in Orange County (oh yeaaaaah, the OC)

There's a lot more to me but, you'll just have to read all the blogs to get to know it all...well, not it all cause I do run deep but, at least it's a start. :)

Today is the first blog I have created here. And what a great day too. My bestest friend Christy Edge's birthday! YAY! Happy Birthday Ukmud!

I totally surprised her yesterday and kidnapped her for her birthday present. I got approval from our work and everything to take the day off and I took her out all day. We had so much fun. I also thru her a surprise birthday the week before. What's funny on that one is that she helped plan it. She thought it was a girls night out thingy... Hehehehehehehehe.

Well, hope you all enjoy this blog. I'll try and keep it hoppin... Just hang on for the ride!