GRACIAS

Thank you prayer warriors! WE MADE IT---all the way to El Salvador!!!
We couldn't have asked for a better day.
Didn't over sleep! --- Praise the Lord
Good weather - Praise
Got our seats together! - Praise
Good flight to Atlanta - Praise
Made it to our connecting flight - with time to spare - Praise
Nice young man helped get Carol's bag in the overhead - Praise
By now several people had asked what the EWITBIAT on our shirts stood for
(for those who don't know....Every Word In The Bible Is Absoultely True!)
Carol gave the first gospel bracelet away and explained every bead ---- PRAISE!!
Good flight to El Salvador - PRAISE!
Every one of our bags arrived with us!!! PRAISE!!!!
(Oh, and we were not charged for any bags. Carol and I each checked 2 bags each weighing just under 50 pounds + we each had a 30 pound carry-on. THANK YOU LORD and thank you DELTA!
Customs and Immigration check was slickest I had ever experienced. Woo-Hoo!
And there she was ---- that beautiful white haired angel, Leila! Waiting with her was a night in shining armor - Alex. He helped us lug the ton of luggage about 3 blocks to the van. Carol and I had quite a workout and were sweating like hogs by the time we got to the van. God is so good!

It was a sunny, humid, 80 degrees. WONDERFUL! My feet have officially thawed out!
We stopped at a roadside stand for a cold raw coconut. The top cut off and a straw stuck in through a small hole. Sweet, cold coconut milk. YUM! --- and only 50 cents. Later we had tamales right off the street corner. Carol loved them. Me - not so much, but OK.

Carol is already asleep and I am ready to call it a night at only 10:30 PM --- yep - that is an official miracle.

Please continue the prayers for us as we begin the official ministry at 9 AM. Carol will be conducting the bulk of the children's ministry at Leila´s church. She is so full of joy and enthusiasm and can't wait to share with the kids here about the kids at S.E.B.T. Monday night will be our next speaking engagement with a women's group. I think I mentioned this before - but must reiterate - GOD IS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!

Dios Bendiga! (God Bless)

Heading South

I'm suppose to be getting a nap in before leaving home at 3:15. I think I'm packed. I think Carol is packed. I think we are READY TO GO!!!!

To El Salvador or BUST!

Keep those prayers a comin' our way.

Love you ALL!

I can feel 85 degrees

Looking at some photos from last year to remind myself of what where we will be in just 2 days!!!!

OK - it's Thursday and 2 out of 4 bags are packed for me - Carol is at about the same progress. At this point we are weighing bags and redistributing the weight to get the most in. Our carry-on and "don't-get-bored" bags are all that is left to work on.

Nerves are twinging - not fear - just "Did we pack everything, where are the tickets and passports...." stuff like that. (Extra prayers, por favor. [please])

HEY - Ted is hooked up the laptop he got me to SKYPE and he is on too. So we can talk over the internet FREE. He even bought a camera for the laptop so he can see me. Believe me - that will not be that much of a treat after working outside in the heat most days.

We will leave winter in Indiana at 7 AM and arrive in El Salvador at 1 PM and mid 80 temps. Woo-HOO!!! My feet will finally thaw out!

Tic-Toc

LOL! Got an email from Carol today -- she admits to packing - and REpacking a couple of times already! I knew there was a reason I myself have just not got around to packing yet! I would have just redone it anyway. Carol and I are a lot alike!

One blessed reason she has had to repack a couple of times is that so many people are sharing things for her to take to the people in El Salvador. So - that's a good reason to be repacking. We are blessed to have so much wonderful support. A little of all of you will be tucked in suitcases and in our hearts! Love you ALL!

Countdown To Lift Off

Sunday before we are to leave was a good day.

Carol was able to show a short video I made for her of Salvadoran kids, to show to the kids in Jr. Church at Southeast Baptist Tabernacle and answer some of their questions. She was blessed by donations for her to take on the mission from the Jr Church kids. Now they are invested in our Great Adventure! Their promise to pray for us is fuel to our tank!

Sunday evening at Cornerstone was great. Before our Bible study, Pastor Brian allowed me to show video slide shows of last year's mission with Leila and also Bridges of Hope projects. I shared with the congregation the tentative plans we have and answered a few questions as well. I was so blessed after service to have the ladies gather around and prayed for Carol and me. They even included Ted in their prayers. I have a feeling he and Ray are going to get so much attention they may not want their wives to return!

I also was able to give out cards with Carol and my picture on them and the blog address. Hopefully folks will keep informed of God's plans as they unfold for us.

The are photos of Carol and myself and also a photo of Todd McNabb giving me a hug. The hug is for me to deliver to his mother, Leila! WILL DO, TODD!

Year #3 To El Salvador

HOLA! It is now officially crunch time preparing for the 2010 trip to El Salvador.
I am blessed, yet again, that Ted is willing to send me for 2 separate mission trips again this year.

My first week will be with Missionary Friend, Leila McNabb. I will arrive on March 6th at about 1 PM their time. I think they are only an hour behind us in Indiana.

The second mission assignment will begin with Bridges of Hope on Saturday the 13th. Actually the rest of the team arrives at 9 PM and should be at the hotel at around 11 PM. They will be exhausted - so no events are scheduled until Sunday afternoon.

Biggest change this year....I AM SO EXCITED!!! My sister is going with me --- for BOTH weeks!
So I will be blogging for 2 this year. Although sis is a few years older, I feel sort of like a mom this time. Just watching and hearing her enthusiasm this past few weeks in preparation is like watching one of your kids anticipating vacation time --- only so much better!

Carol's friends at her church have really gotten involved with the missions we will do. We get to serve together!!! We will be presenting children's evangelism for the first week. We both join Leila's group - Women Of Faith In Action (WOFIA). Leila has an agenda set and she will keep us busy. We will be speaking in churches and a school as well as ministering to women and children in a hospital.

The second week (13th-20th) we will serve in lots of humanitarian outreach projects - including at least one child evangelism outreach. More on those things later.

For now - if you are viewing this - please pray for Carol and me as we prepare for LIFT OFF on the 6th. Lots of packing to do. So many last minute details to remember. Pray for our flight to be on time and uneventful - for the luggage to make it to El Salvador when we do - and for us to stay healthy and safe. Oh, pray for our hubbies, Ted and Ray as the batch it for a couple of weeks.

Check in with the blog often. I hope to keep it updated. Looking forward to every surprise God has waiting for us. You are on our team now..... And we need you!!!

OH, 1 more thing. My wonderful hubby just bought me a laptop to take to ES. Pray I figure this thing out in the next week!!!

BLESSINGS!!!

Bridges of Hope Mission Slide Show

Make a Smilebox photobook