Around the World in 53 days.

My travels started in...
Colchester England, then to Stansted Airport England, then to Lauingen Germany, then back to Stansted Airport England, then to Colchester England, then to Heathrow Airport London England, then to Atlanta Georgia, then to Miami Florida, then back to Atlanta Georgia, then to Houston Texas, then to Salt Lake City Utah, then to Los Angeles California, then to Pasadena California, then back to Los Angeles California, then to Sydney Australia, then to Melbourne Australia, then back to Sydney Australia, then to Los Angeles, then to Salt Lake City Utah, then back to Houston Texas, then to Atlanta Georgia, then to Stuttgart Germany, then Lauingen Germany, then back to Stuttgart Germany, then to Atlanta Georgia, then Raleigh North Carolina, then to Atlanta Georgia, then to Pensacola Florida, then to Defuniak Springs Florida, then to Jacksonville Florida. And then............ to be continued :)
Phew!

more...

Bye Bye Tonsils

11 days ago I had a tonsilectomy and WOW was it painful! I stayed overnight in the hospital; which suprisingly wasn't so bad. I pretty much slept and occasionally turned on the television, but found that I couldn't wear the earphone because my ears would start to ache. lol.
Since then, I've been slowly getting better. I've been at home most of the time, which could drive a person mad, but I've been ok. I've watched a lot of mindless television and slept. I still can't eat most solid foods but I'm managing cereal at the moment. Throat still hurts a little bit but not as bad as the first week. It was such a bizarre feeling not being able to swallow. I'm still taking my medications, which helps SO MUCH!
I hope this week I'll feel even better. I'm looking forward to not getting sick anymore with tonsilitis. Horray for no tonsils!

Let It Rain

I'm meditating on this passage from the Bible right now.

Luke 5:31-32
Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Thanks Jesus for healing this sick person right here. Amen.

The following song is by Misty Edwards called Waiting for Tonight.




I love these lyrics.

Oh I'm waiting in this desert; just waiting for the rain
Oh but I won't leave this desert; until I see the rain
And I'm waiting in the wilderness; of promises yet fulfilled
Oh but I won't leave this wilderness, until I see the rain

I'm waiting for the rain
Oh I'm waiting for the rain
I'm just waiting for the rain
Oh I'm waiting for the rain

For I have heard the story told, of a prophet who prophesied
Of the rain that would come, in the middle of a drought
Of a sign of the rain to come.
Though years have come and years have gone
We're still waiting for the rain
Oh but i can see the clouds gathering now
Are you ready, are you ready for the rain?

Open up the heavens and let it rain let it rain let it rain
Open up the heavens and let it rain let it rain let it rain
Open up the heavens and let it rain let it rain let it rain
Open up the heavens and let it rain let it rain let it rain
Let it rain God, let it rain let it rain let it rain.

If You Say Go

Tonight I was very moved by a video that was shared at our leadership meeting. The video was about five missionary families who moved to Ecuador to evangelize to the Quichua Indians and eventually the dangerous Huaorani Indians in the1950s. Some of you may know the story.
The men Jim Elliott, Ed_McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Nate Saint made contact from their airplane with the Huaorani Indians using a loudspeaker and a basket to pass down gifts. After several months, the men decided to build a base a short distance from the Indian village, along the Curaray River. There they were approached one time by a small group of Huaorani Indians and even gave an airplane ride to one curious Huaorani whom they called "George". Encouraged by these friendly encounters, they began plans to visit the Huaorani,without knowing that George had lied to the others but their plans were preempted by the arrival of a larger group of 10 Huaorani men, who killed the five missionaries on January 8 1956. Many years later with the work of the families of these missionaries ,the Huaorani Indians would come to know Jesus.
It's an amazing story. They've made 2 movies of it which you can rent....Documentary: Beyond the Gates of Splendor and a film entitled End of the Spear.

Last summer before coming to England, I was at training in North Carolina and we watched a video about the lives of these missionaries and the story of the Huaorani Indians. It was very moving. Tonight I was reminded of what I had seen last summer. But more importantly I was reminded of the reason why I am in England. I was reminded of the calling God has placed on my life.
And tonight I cry to Jesus, "Where you say go, I will go. I will step onto the water and fix my eyes on you. May that always be my hearts desire to follow you, to proclaim your name. To love you with my whole being and to love the people of this world."

I pray that you too will be inspired by watching this video. It brings me to tears each time I watch it, and that's a good thing :)

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. -Jim Elliott

El Camino de Santiago

On September 17, I journeyed to Spain with eleven other people walking El Camino de Santiago. We started in Madrid, where we did a little bit of sightseeing for 2 days and then we got on a bus to Sarria, 7 hours away. Where we started our 70 mile walk to Santiago. It was truly an experience I will never forget. Spain is a beautiful country and I enjoyed meeting new people and practicing Spanish. We have many conversations with people from Spain, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, and even Korea and Australia!
Here are some pictures from our trip.



The Pilgrims...
Friends we met along the way...
Almost there...We've reached Santiago!

My first birthday in the UK

It's been a while since I've updated this blog. So sorry for that!!

Last week I celebrated my first birthday in England. It was amazing! I just want to thank everyone for all of their wonderful emails, cards, gifts, phone calls, texts, greeting, etc. Thank you thank you for making it so special.

Here are some pictures from my two parties that were thrown.
xoxo
Chrissy


Paul announcing to DNA that it was my birthday. He made me stand on a chair!



At the beach...not at all like Miami. It was cold!

The stairs and an ambulence on a saturday.

My trip to the hospital....the short version....

I slept over Charity's house friday night. Saturday morning I was about to walk down the stairs when I slipped on the top step, fell back, hit my head and slid all the way down on my back. I tried to grab on to something and tore up the skin on my fingers.
I remember I tried to get up after I fell and Naomi was standing next to me but when I stood up I said "I'm going to faint, I'm going to faint." And then she caught me, the next thing I remember I was sitting on the stairs. I couldn't see anything and I couldn't really hear and I had a hard time breathing. The girls said I was out for a couple of minutes. I was really sleepy. I just wanted to go to sleep. I wanted to vomit and I didn't want to open my eyes because everything was blurry and really bright.
Penny (Charity's Mom) called the ambulence and I was taken to the hospital. I remember I kept laughing and I told the girls to take a picture of me. (Yeah I dont know what drug I was smoking lol)
The events are a little fuzzy in my mind but of what I remember I know I kept laughing in the ambulence and at the same time I kept saying I was going to vomit.

I"m pretty sure at first when I fell I had a concussion. I have a bump on my head now, luckily I have a lot of hair and you would never know that I had a bump under there!

At the hospital they took x-rays of my back and thank the Lord I had no fractures.
Huge miracle considering I have had 3 slipt discs and 12 procedures done on my back, including having fluid removed from one of my discs.
The fact that I walked away with bruises on my back is a huge praise. I should honestly be worse.
I have two nasty looking fingers that are all bandaged up now, but other then that I'm fine.

Janie had the sudden urge to pray right around the time that I fell. She said it got so strong that she had to go out for a walk and she just kept praying until she got the call that I was in the hospital. Then her and Dave came over.

God was totally with me that day. I'm so thankful he protected my spine from being broken.

Thank you to Charity and Naomi who spent the whole day with me as I laughed and cried in pain and for their willingness to catch my vomit. I love you girls!

Today I'm in more pain then I was before but I guess it has to get worse before it gets better? Or at least I'm hoping thats the case.
Lots of prayers!

Thanks everyone!

Much Love
Chrissy

(picture taken by Charity after I apparently repeatedly asked for my picture to be taken.)