Excersie daily- walk with the Lord

I have this book called Faith Notes that has some pretty funny notes to give to people. I thought I would share with you! Some are so cheesy which is why I love them! I'm sure you've heard some of these before.

Don't bee afraid honey, God is with you

Can't sleep? Don't count sheep, talk to the Shepherd!

Practice random acts of praise

Life is fragile- handle with prayer

If God had a wallet, your picture would be in it

Don't fear the future- God's already there

Feeling down? Just look up

Upload prayer, download peace

God's promises are like the stars; the darker the night, the brighter they shine

I can do all things through prayer, and coffee

No Jesus, No peace. Know Jesus, Know peace

Fight truth decay- Brush up on your daily Bible

Walkin in Memphis...kinda

Well earlier this week my parents asked if I wanted to go to Memphis for part of the mission trip! Of course I said yes! We didn't decide for sure until the day before we left so I didn't tell anyone except my youth minister and one friend. I thought it would be great to surprise everyone!

My dad took me and my brother came too. We left Wednesday morning at 11 and got to Memphis at 7. Everyone was at the VBS they did at a church there so we went to the hotel and ate dinner and waited for them. The friend I told, came back to the hotel early with the moms that were on the trip to help us think of a surprise plan. That night, all the girls were going to have a little party in one of the rooms. So my friend and the moms got to the hotel around 8:30 and we went to the room to figure out what to do. We finally had a plan! Kevin (youth minister) called me at 9 and told me that they were on their way to the hotel! My dad, brother, my friend, and I ran up to another floor to wait. All the girls finally got there and got into the room. One of the moms texted us and told us to come down! As we got there and were waiting outside the door, they were leading a prayer for us. They had to come up with a reason why Rebecca (friend who was with me) wasn't there. So they said she needed some quiet time. They prayed for her and then prayed for me because they knew how much I wanted to be there and if it was God's will to let me be there with them. What a great prayer! Little did they know that I WAS there with them! So after the prayer was over I walked in and they SCREAMED and all ran towards me! It was so great! People in the hotel got mad because we were so loud...It was kinda funny!

The rest of the night we hung out at the hotel and had the nightly devotional. The plan was for my dad and brother to stay the night and then do whatever they wanted and come back Thursday night. I was going to stay with the group until they came home Saturday.

That was the plan...God had a different plan! I stayed in a room with my friends of course! They all went to bed and then I realized it was one of those nights. I knew sleep was not going to come. I tried some deep breathing and things I've learned but that didn't work. At 4am, I couldn't just lay there anymore because of the pain. I didn't want to wake them up so I went into the bathroom to hang out. Thank goodness for wireless internet! I decided to take a shower at 5am to see if that would help me sleep. It didn't so I got dressed for the morning! Might as well be ready by 5:30am right? At 6am I went to lay in bed again all dressed and ready.

I was using my Itouch and saw the Bible on there and thought maybe God was wanting to tell me something since I was up...the Bible was on the Message version and this is what I read..

2 Corinthians 4

"Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.

3-4If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

7-12If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

13-15We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."

I just had to laugh...God smacked me in the face with that one.

Finally at 8:15 the rest of the world decided to wake up. I got up too and it was not good. I felt horrible. I made the hard decision to go back with my dad and brother and not stay for the rest of the trip. It always takes me days to recover from those nights. I was devastated and felt so defeated by this disease. Sometimes I really don't understand God's plan...I tried to go on the mission trip for 3 days and didn't even stay for 1.

So after 16 great and not so great hours in Memphis, we started the long drive home.

Five minutes after we left, our air conditioner went out. I'm not joking. Thankfully, it would work on and off. We left Memphis at 11am and got home last night at 10pm. It took us forever and not feeling well didn't help anything. I slept until 1 this afternoon and have done nothing but lay on the couch. Hopefully this weekend will be better!

Mission's Sunday! and a few random things

Last Sunday was Mission's Sunday at church. I've heard that it was a great time of worship! It is always one of my favorite days at church. We raise a big contribution for mission work around the world and this year we exceeded our goal! On Mission's Sunday we have one big worship in the morning, lunch at church after, church at night where the amount is announced, and dessert before dinner after church! During the morning service, there is always special videos about the mission work going on, and we bring in missionaries or have them on Skype! It is always such a wonderful day! Sadly, I was in the hospital and missed almost everything. I got to be there for the last 20 minutes of the morning service. I didn't get to go to the evening worship because I was a little drugged and worn out from the hospital. I probably shouldn't have gone straight from the hospital to church either, but I really wanted to be there!

My friends and I matched that day and didn't even plan it! It was very strange! Of course we had to take a picture!! I was so glad I got to see them, even if I was a little drugged coming straight from the hospital...

Me, Alex, Miriam, and Kailey!

Tomorrow, the 11th and 12th grades from church are leaving for Memphis, Tennessee for their mission trip. I was planning on going but I just decided yesterday that I can't do that. I have had a bad few days and I don't feel well at all. I really need to do IVs to help with the pain and everything, but of course walgreens option care is closed on the weekends and won't deliver my supplies. Uhh hello, don't you understand that diseases DON'T take the weekend off?! So I've taken about 532 baths today to help with the pain and feverish feeling. It is not very fun. Almost all my friends are going on the mission trip and they will be gone for a week...it really stinks not being able to go. But I can't, so I will just have an IV party all week without them!

Camp- Wednesday and Thursday night.

There are a lot of details in here mostly so I remember what happen.

Wednesday during free time I was texting one of my best friends who wasn't at camp. (Shame on me for texting at camp I know but it was for a good reason) She had cancer last year and had been cancer free for a while praise God! Through out the past year and half, she and I have become such great friends, being able to relate to each other. We have so many medical stories to tell each other that make us laugh for days!

Well she went in for her routine scans and they found something. Last Tuesday she had a biopsy and Wednesday they called and told her that the cancer is back. It just broke my heart to know that. At that time, not very many people knew because she just found out.

Fast forward to Wednesday night. We were in our nightly worship which started at 10 or so. I love this worship time so much. We are outside under the pavilion and it is just a wonderful time of praise.

That night as we were worshiping, we could see a storm in the distance. We watched the lightening light up the dark sky and saw God's power.

After we worshiped for a while, Jeff got up to give us a lesson. Before he started he said that he had some news to tell us. He then told the camp that Rebecca's cancer was back. We all physically got on our knees and prayed. I wish we did that more often. There is something about kneeling before God that brings you closer to Him. During that time of prayer, our group of friends just couldn't hold it together enough to stay there and listen to a lesson. I'm sure it was a great lesson because they all were, but we had to do something. One of my good friends and I found each other and prayed and talked. There were several groups of people who left to go by themselves to pray. After the worship time was over it was time for family time. My friend and I decided that we just couldn't go. So we decided to sit in the field to pray and watch the storm and look at the stars. We had a great talk about God's plan and how He is always faithful. But we also talked about how we didn't understand.

We went to the circle time and they said that after that all the seniors that just graduated (the grade that Rebecca is in) were going to meet at the pavilion after we sang. I'm not in that grade by they told me to come. When we got there they had homemade ice cream for us. After everyone ate the ice cream we all put our chairs in a circle. People started leading songs and praying. As the worship and prayer time went on, the more we could feel God there. People were angry. I was angry. Not angry at God, but angry at life. As people began to lead songs like Blessed Be Your Name and It Is Well, people started getting more honest. I can't even describe what happened. It was the most honest and powerful worship I have ever been apart of. At first people just prayed about Rebecca. And then people started praying about their life and they were so honest about it. No one was afraid to cry out or say why God or just admit that they don't understand. I don't know how long we stayed out there but it was to at least 1 am or later. Time didn't even cross our minds because we were so into crying out to God.

A song came to my mind called Better Than A Hallelujah by Amy Grant. It talks about how God wants to hear our cries and that sometimes that's better than a hallelujah. Here are the lyrics.

"God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves a drunkards cry,
A soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
We pour out our miseries
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out,singing out.
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah"

As the worship time was almost over, I started having trouble breathing. I told my friend who was sitting next to me just so someone would know. And then all of the sudden, my legs and arms went numb. I couldn't feel my body. I was shaking so much which I couldn't control because I was numb. I thought I was going to pass out so I don't really remember very much after that. Most people had left by then, but I know the youth ministers were there and some of my friends. I remember there being a lot of people around me telling me I was going to go to the hospital. I convinced them not to take me. We sat there for a while until I could breathe and some of the numbness went away. I was able to feel my arms after a while but my legs stayed numb. They all helped me get to a car and then took me to my cabin. I don't even know what time it was but it was so late! Everyone had stayed out late that night so they moved our morning meeting time to 8:10 instead of 8!

I know a lot of people didn't sleep well that night. It was just a hard night for many reasons.

Thursday morning came way too early. They let the senior cabin sleep in a little since we were up so late for good reasons. Thursday morning was really hard for me. My legs were still numb but at the same time it hurt so much to walk. I don't understand how they could be numb but hurt so much. I was really struggling to walk. That morning it was so cloudy and humid. So humid. We heard that it was supposed to rain. We all had a refreshed hope though that today would be a better day. It was a new day and God was still faithful. I was reminded of this verse.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:22-24

That is so comforting.

During the morning sports time it started POURING down rain. It was so fun to watch everyone playing their sports in the rain. Everyone was SOAKED and no one cared! I was so excited because Rebecca got to come to camp for the day!!!!!! So she got there just as it started to pour! Lunch was next so we went ahead and went to the cafeteria. They always gave us cookies for lunch and dinner and I have to say that they were amazing! We might have stolen one or five maybe...but who's keeping track.

It kept pouring through rest time and Bible class. I know the power went out one day. It was either Wednesday or Thursday I think. They cancelled the second sports time! Thursday was such a good relaxing day. It poured the whole time and we had free time for a long time. We definitely did NOT convince a youth minister to sneak us out and take us to Sonic at the beginning of free time. That would be SO unfair to the rest of the world. And if we DID go to Sonic which we DIDN'T, we did NOT throw the evidence away in the dumpster.

The rest of the day was really good! It stopped raining for the most part!

The last night of camp is always really emotional and life changing, but I would have never thought it would be this life changing! Canteen is right before worship and they make popcorn but they can't make very much of it because it takes forever. My friend and I had to take some medicine with food so we were going to take it with popcorn because that is the most food you can get at canteen. We waited for so long for that popcorn but it was fun because everyone had already left so we just hung out with the counselors making the popcorn! We got to worship really late so we sat at the back but we didn't miss anything except camp videos. I'm glad we sat at the back for this one. We sang song songs and then Phil got up to talk. First he talked about Hell. He read scriptures and just told us about then. Then he started talking about Heaven. He read scriptures about Heaven too and then they turned off the powerpoint and lights. He said he was going to walk us through an exercise about Heaven.

We sat up straight with both our feet on the ground and took deep breaths. We breathed the phrase be still and know that I am God. I breathed in and said "be still", then breathed out and said "and know", then breathed in and said "that I", then breathed out "am God". It is a great technique for calming yourself down. You can do it with any phrase or verse or anything.

After a few minutes of that this is what he told us to picture. I am probably leaving things out or adding things that he didn't say, but that's the point. You are supposed to use the imagination that God gave you. This is what he said:

Picture yourselves in a hospital room, laying in the hospital bed. I had such a vivid picture because I've been in so many hospital rooms and beds. You are very, very sick and are about to die. The doctors tell you that you have very little time to live. You have said goodbye to everyone and you know that it is time. You take your last breath and you leave this world. Back up from the room and look at yourself laying in that hospital bed. Next, angels come to get you. Picture what that would be like. They take you to heaven. You come up to the gates of heaven. What do they look like? What do they feel like when you reach out and touch them? The gates open and you go inside. There are people waiting for you, welcoming you to Heaven. Who is waiting for you? Who do you see standing there? What is the look on their faces? After you greet them, you look a little farther and Jesus is standing there. Jesus, your Savior is there and you finally get to see Him face to face. What does he look like? What is the look on His face? What are the first words He says to you? Do you hug Him or kneel or what?

Next, Phil let us have a couple minutes of silence to take in what we were seeing. It is a lot of emotion to picture that. He then said that we would be going to the indoor chapel row by row. My row was the first dismissed since we were at the back. He said that as we were walking, picture the angels, surrounding you, taking you to heaven. I remember that as I was walking, I felt so light, I don't remember feeling pain. As we got closer to the chapel, we could see bright lights and hear cheering. One by one we walked into the chapel. There were such bright lights shining on the isle. When we went through the door of the chapel, the isle was lined with ALL the counselors. As I walked in, they all were yelling my name, hugging me, clapping, chanting, and with the biggest smile and tears saying "welcome home, you made it". They were welcoming me to Heaven. It was unbelievable. I started crying even harder with tears of joy. After being welcomed, we sat down and watched and cheered as others were welcomed to Heaven. Every single person was crying as they walked in and were welcomed home. I'm doing a horrible job of explaining it because there are no words to describe it. Once everyone got in there, everyone was crying tears of joy. It was so overwhelming and powerful. We then spent the rest of the time worshiping and it was such a powerful and uplifting worship! More tears of joy were shed during the entire worship time. I love how supportive everyone is of each other especially during these times. Some people were crying because they have people waiting for them in Heaven that they miss greatly, some people were crying because they were free of sin, some people were crying because they were free of pain. It felt like such a burden was lifting and we felt how REAL Heaven is. We were reminded that one day there will be NO more pain, death, sickness, sin. It IS going to happen.

I love this song so much.

I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin

"There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul

I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light

And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I hear the cry of every longing heart,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise"

That night after family time, we got in our nightly circle to sing and there was so much joy. There was so much joy that people stayed and sang until at least 2 am maybe later!!!!! God is working in so many ways and it is unbelievable. Those two nights were some of the best nights of our lives and we will never forget that.

Camp Pettijohn- InTEXTicated

Camp was amazing. One of the best weeks of my life! The theme this year was inTEXTicated, meaning fully engaged in the text of the Bible, God's words. It was about getting back to reading our Bible, not just for information, but for transformation. I can honestly say that this week every single person's life has been changed. It was the best camp session I have ever been to. And you know how people get a "spiritual high" after camp and then it fades away? I really think that people will be forever changed by what God did this week.

We had Bible classes everyday. Each day in one of the classes, we learned different ways to study the Bible. They were practical things that we could actually do and we practiced them. They were learning how to use our concordance, summarizing sections to help us get something out of it that we can do, and meditating on a passage and looking for a word or phrase that God is telling us in that passage. We could read the same passage everyday and get something different out of it because the word of God is living. He shows us things that we need to know RIGHT then that applies to what is going on.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12a

We also learned about how we know the Bible is true. It was really interesting! We made shirts that had where verses are found and then a picture or symbol by them to help us remember what verse that is.

At camp we are broken into "families". Each day we have two family times. In the morning family time, we are read a Bible story and then we retold it different ways each day. We started at the beginning of the Bible and worked through the stories. I really like doing that!

Here is what we did each day...

We met at the flag pole at 8am for a devotional led by the guys of each family. Then we went to breakfast. To go to each meal, they dismiss you by asking you to do something or "if you.."questions. People would sing songs to be able to leave or you could leave on things like "if you haven't showered all week". It is hilarious to watch people do things or see who leaves on what question!

After breakfast was cabin clean up and then Bible class!

Family time was after that and that is when we retold the Bible studies! We also had quiet time during that family time.

Next was sports. I did not play sports so I sat with the nurse and watched! I liked sports time because I got to relax!

After sports we met for silly songs and cabin cleanup scores and then we were dismissed to lunch!

Once we were done with lunch, we had a little over an hour for rest time. This was the BEST idea anyone has ever had. Most people took naps and it was fantastic! Haha definitely everyones favorite time.

We then had 2 Bible classes where we made the shirts and memorized verses and the other class was ways to study the Bible.

Next was sports number 2! Again I hung out and rested!

Then it was free time! Free time was 3:45-6:15. Girls swim time was 4-5 and guys swim time was 5-6. During free time, canteen was open where you could get drinks and snacks.

After free time we met together and then went to dinner.

Every night after dinner we would have a big activity!

Sunday night was a Summer Singers concert (music group from Oklahoma Christian)

Monday- Family Olympics. With your family, you had to complete different tasks. There were gross food eating contests, making an ice cream sundae, diving for things in the pool, and things like that!

Tuesday- We watched the movie To Save A Life. Every teen and person older than that should see this movie.

Wednesday- Capture the flag. This is like no other capture the flag you will ever play. There are 8 families and each family has a color for capture the flag so all week people trade clothes to get the perfect outfit of the color your team is. The field we play on is huge so each team has an area where their flag is and that is where they start. You get out of the game by being hit by a wet sock. During the game, battle music from Pirates of the Caribbean or some other movie is played. It is so intense! I didn't play because obviously you have to run around the huge field. Thankfully it is so fun to watch! You see clusters of colors and then when the game starts, they start charging at other teams and making alliances with teams. It is SO much fun! I can't even tell you how big of a deal it is and how intense it is. We played 2 or 3 games and the last game was revolutionary war style. That was fun to watch!!

Thursday- There were supposed to be inflatable things like obstacle courses but it rained all day so they got cancelled.

After the activities we went to canteen again!

Then we had our nightly time of worship and a lesson around 10 and then family time to talk about anything on our hearts.

The last thing of the night is when we all meet in the field under the stars and stand in a circle and sing songs led by anyone.

We always close with the song When the Night is Falling.

"When the night is falling
And the day is done,
I can hear you calling, "Come."
And I will come
While you sing over me.
When the night surrounds me,
All my dreams undone,
I can hear you calling, "Come."
And I will come
While you sing over me.
When the night would hide my way,
I will listen until
I hear you say:
"How I love you, child, I love you.
How I love you, child, I love you.
How I love you!
"How I love you, child, I love you.
How I love you, child, I love you.
How I love you!"
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
How I love you, Lord, I love you.
How I love you, Lord, I love you.
How I love you!
When this life is over
And the race is done,
I will hear you calling, "Come."
I will come
While you sing over me."

Here is a picture of me, Alex, Miriam, and Kailey!

I'm writing another post about what happened Wednesday and Thursday night at camp. God worked in amazing ways.

Brazil part 13...Day 13 and 14 Going home!

On Monday we had breakfast and lunch at the Dutton's and then at 5:30pm a van came to pick us up to take us to the airport. We flew out of Sao Paulo which is an hour drive from Campinas. We said goodbye and started the journey home. The Sao Paulo airport was insane. We got there around 6:30 or 7 and check-in and customs took forever. We got to the gate with only an hour before we boarded.

Finally we started the long plane ride to Miami.

I forgot to put this picture on another post but this is from one of our flights inside Brazil. I love walking out to the plane and having a red carpet!

Side note...remember my fear of airplane bathrooms and getting sucked out? I went on the Brazilian airplanes and I was scared to death. There was no way around it so I had to go to the death trap on a foreign country airplane. Thankfully I am still here today. It was a close one but I managed to not get sucked out. Thanks for your prayers.

On the overnight flight home, we got to see the prettiest sunrise. It was gorgeous!!

We landed in Miami at 6 am I think and had to walk back to Brazil to get to customs. Good grief could they have made customs farther away from the gate? I don't think so. We saw the American citizens sign and ran towards it screaming. Just kidding. We walked. First goal after arriving in the USA was finding a Dr. Pepper. Well guess what? Apparently Miami is not part of the United States because Dr. Pepper is like a word in a different language.

"I want a Dr. Pepper please"

"Coke?"

"No. Dr. Pepper."

"Coke?"

"No...Ok fine coke"

We had a four hour layover in Miami which was just delightful! Not. It would have been fine if they had Dr. Pepper...

We survived the 2 and a half hour flight to Dallas and GOT SOME DR. PEPPER!!!!

We then had a little layover in Dallas where I had Mc Donald's for lunch! It's never tasted so good.

Finally after the quick 30 minute flight (with Dr. Pepper) we landed in OKC and were HOME! It was such a great trip but we were so glad to be home. Thanks for your prayers for the trip!

Brazil part 12...Days 11 and 12

On Saturday we just hung out at the Dutton's house and watched the USA game! It was great to be able to relax and hang out with them!

For dinner we met some people from church at a pizza place! The Brazilians have the best idea I've ever heard of about pizza. Just like the steak place, people come around with different kinds of pizza and you get what you want! They also have the best desert pizza. My favorite is the banana with some kind of seasoning on it! It is wonderful!! They also have chocolate pizza which is good too!!!!

On Sunday morning we went to church! We went to worship then class! That church is so wonderful!! God is working in great ways. We got to see people there that we haven't seen in three years so that was exciting!!!

This is the front of the church! It's a beautiful building!!

After church, we went to eat at a chinese restaurant! I was surprised at how good it was! I loved it!

We stayed at the house that night and hung out!

Brazil part 11...Day 10

On Friday morning, I woke up and had breakfast with Allen and Robin and then I went with Robin to pick up Laura and Tyler from school. They got out at 10:30 that morning because Brazil was playing in the World Cup at 11!

When we got back to their house, another family from church came over to watch the game and then have lunch!

Later that afternoon we went to Tyler and Laura's music performance! Tyler played the drums and Laura sang! I'm so glad we got to go! They did such a great job!!!! Allen's mother and sister and her family came to the performance and then came back to the house with us! We had that delicious chocolate cake again!!! We all just hung out talked until 8 pm or so. We went to dinner at a normal Brazilian time which was 8:30 I think! They took us to this really great little outdoor restaurant. I don't know how to describe what they have there but they were so good!!!!

We were all pretty tired when we got home so we all went to bed!

Laura and I before her performance

Brazil part 10...Day 9 Iguazu Falls

Here are some pictures of our hotel. We ate breakfast Thursday morning and walked around the falls one more time before going to the airport that afternoon.

This is the tower you can climb at our hotel

The falls and rainbows were unbelievable that morning.

Right across from the picture above, there was this plaque in the wall. It says

"Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty." Psalm 93:4

"God is always greater than all of our problems."

We were speechless when we saw that plaque

Iguazu Falls was one of the most breathtaking places I've ever been.

"Life isn't measured by how many breaths you take, but how many moments take your breath away"

That afternoon we left Iguazu and flew to Campinas! We had a layover in Curitiba. Allen Dutton picked us up at the airport at 9:30pm and we drove to their house! We said hi Tyler and Laura and then they went to bed because they had school the next morning. We talked with Allen and Robin and ate ridiculously good chocolate cake! Then we all went to bed kinda late!

Brazil part 9...Day 8 1/2 Iguazu Falls

This is still Argentina. I just had too many pictures!!

You can repel down to the river!

Brazil part 9...Day 8 Iguazu Falls

On Wednesday we went to Argentina to see that side of the falls. We took a taxi and it took about an hour from our hotel because of border control. It's funny because from our hotel room we could see Argentina but it took an hour to get over there! Once on the Argentinean side, we took a little train to the trails. There are so many different trails to go on!

Here are the awesome wheelchairs!

The first trail we wanted to go on was where you stand on top of the Devil's throat. To get there, you walk on a mile of bridges over the swamps and rivers. You are really in the middle of no where!

Try and find the grammar error...

When you finally make it to the devil's throat, this is what you first see.

Argentina flag

Then you can walk RIGHT over the edge. You can't even see the bottom because of the force of the water. It's a little scary!! But amazing.

Looking straight down..

That's what our hotel looks like from Argentina. You can't tell but it's up really high!