Sophia makes friends. Everywhere she goes. She loves people. One of her most favorite people in the whole world is Sara David. Go here to see them in action.
Tag Archive for 'friends'
We’re heading to the great big state of Texas today. Mount Pleasant to be exact. Or somewhere around there.
About once a year we get together with some of our best friends in the whole world. The Copelands, Days, Branscums, Bramletts, Neufers, and good ole’ Morty will all be there. Rugrats in tow. It’s going to be amazing. These folks shaped me in some pretty profound ways. They still do.
Happy 4th!
[Oh yeah, here are a couple of shots I took at church last night with the girls.]
Sophia’s amiga, Sarita, paid us a visit yesterday. They had a ball swimming, ‘rearranging’ Sophia’s room, and eating animal crackers. Also, Sophia and Sara made up a new hymn. It’s sure to bring the church to it’s feet for years to come. It goes like this:
Yes, Jesus mocos. Yes, Jesus mocos. Yes, Jesus mocos. The Bible tells me so.
I know. I know. You’re asking yourself. What profound theological meaning does ‘mocos’ have. Well, that’s Spanish for ‘booger’.
It was a great two days. Lots of laughter. Lots of friends. Little sleep.
The ceremony was full of interestingness as well. The two most notable moments: (1) Todd “The Bod” Calloway, a groomsmen, turned into a zombie and stumbled his way off the stage to the first pew where he collapsed. I never missed a beat. (2) After the wedding party and family had been escorted out of the sanctuary I stepped up center stage and said, “Thank you for coming, Daniel and Laura would like to invite you to the . . . ” I couldn’t remember the word ‘reception’. “to the . . . ” Awkward silence. I finally just told them I couldn’t remember the word and told them they were invited to the “after-the-wedding-party”. Go here for more pictures.
Sophia’s got a new friend! His name is Dekari and he is the son of one of our volunteers. Sophia absolutely loves him! She chases him all over the house.
I’m back in the U.S. trying to get caught up on greek homework and watching college football.
It was awesome to get off the plane and see my beautiful wife and daughter waiting on me. I missed them like crazy.
The trip was amazing. I was able to see a lot of friends. I didn’t realize how much I missed that place.
Marty, Dave and I were able to collect a lot of images and information and will hopefully be useful in inspiring people to share their resources with the folks in Peru who have suffered as a result of the earthquake.
I’ve added a page to the blog and put there photos and excerpts from some things I wrote down throughout the week. Just click on the ‘Peru Journal‘ link above.
We’re about to head to Arkansas’ best kept secret: EL DORADO!
We’re meeting up with our best friends from OBU. We’ll spend the weekend with them and then move into Promise House Monday.
Ryan had written earlier about our friends who were all down in New Orleans to start seminary–Daniel Bramlett, Adam and Kimberly Copeland, and Shawn and Lesley Branscum. We got word that they all got out of New Orleans, and they are safe at parents’ houses.
This whole thing has made me miss them a lot. We were best friends in college and have made some great memories over the years. We have seen each other through a lot, and I wish I could be there.
God is so good to give us friends, and I know we will be life-long friends with them.
Amanda
SEE YOU LATER!! 
Today begins our last weekend here at MLC. I can already feel a lump in my throat! It is amazing how attached I have gotten to people here over the past seven weeks. Ryan and I both have grown very close to the people in our small group: Brad and Cassie (who also live in our quad) John, Tina, Rebecca, Katie, and Joshua (John is our group leader. They served in Portugal and are now going to Brazil.) Jayson, Christie, Arwen (the Xtreme Teamers) Arwen and I graduated together from Ouachita. She is a native Texan. I also have grown very close to the Fore’s-Michael, Cynthia, Christopher, Joseph, Carilee, and Jennilyn. (The Fore’s are going to Brazil, and they are the family that had to leave because Cynthia’s dad is in the hospital.) Of course I have also grown very close to those in our quad: Brad and Cassie, the Pirkle’s-Vance, Susan, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Sarah, Caleb, and Phillip (Zimbabwe) and the Worthy’s-Charlie, Shannon, Micah, and Emma Grace (Italy). I have also grown to love Bob and Lourdes. They are in the Masters program (which means that at least one spouse is over 50). They call Ryan and me their adopted kids! (Don’t be jealous Mom-they mean well!)
Of all the relationships I have made here at MLC, I have become closest to Shannon Worthy. I only have a few very close friends, but I have made a new close friend here at training. Shannon and I have been able to spend a lot of time together, and lately we have become very comfortable with each other, become real with each other. I have really connected with Shannon. She is such a good mother. I have learned a lot from her by watching her with her girls. I hope and pray that Shannon and I will be lifelong friends. I am planning a trip to visit them in Italy!
Before we came to MLC, I told Ryan that I wasn’t going to make any real friends here. I thought we were going to be here too short of a time to get attached to people and then have to leave. I am so glad that didn’t happen. I am so thankful I opened myself up to meeting people and making true friends. I thank God for relationships!
Friday night Ryan and I and Brad and Cassie went to the Fore’s quad to play cards and eat snacks! (The Fore’s are the family in our small group that play the violin and are going to Brazil.) We had a lot of fun. We had a spades tournament. The Fore’s two oldest are boys, and they played, but the girls colored and drew while we played cards. They are really good kids. Jennilyn is the youngest (seven), and she and I have become good buddies.
Yesterday, Cynthia (the mom) got word that her dad’s lung had collapsed (He is battling emphazyma), and he was in ICU. Cynthia was really upset. Over the past six weeks, our small group has prayed for her dad a lot because he is not a believer.
Today the Fore’s decided to go ahead and leave for Texas to go be with Dad and Grandpa. They had a long drive ahead. They were headed to Texas. It was really hard for me to tell them bye. I have gotten really attached to them. They have the kid of family that I hope I will have someday. I cried when I had to tell them bye.
If you read this, pray for Cynthia’s dad. Pray that he will remain stable and that his lung won’t leak, and pray that he won’t get pneumonia. Pray also for his salvation.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise~
Amanda
John, Tina, Rebecca (17), Katie (11), and Joshua (7) make up one of the families we have had the privilege of knowing here at MLC. They spent about 10 years in Portugal. Then, were on MIR (missionary in residence) status in Florida. Now they are preparing to go the Brazil to work among the upper class of a large city.
Here at MLC, John is our small group leader (though we all take turns being the “pastor”). John and Tina always laugh that Amanda is like John (extraverted or talks too much) and Tina is like me (introverted or doesn’t talk enough). John and Amanda spent a lot of RLT time trying to get a word in edgewise on each other!
Both John and Tina come from a Catholic background. It is really neat to hear their stories. Religion doesn’t equal relationship. They found relationship with Christ.
There is a couple living in our quad that is about our age. They are from Kentucky, and they are going to none other than Peru! It has been a lot of fun meeting and getting to know them. We have been exchanging stories about Peru. Their names are Brad and Cassie White, and they will be living in a village in the Andes.
Amanda and I are at Ouachita Baptist University today visiting friends and professors, handing out prayer cards. I’m in the computer lab on the second floor of the science building, while she visits a few professors in the political science department.
Time is winding down and we’re trying to make the most of the little we have left. Working on visas, reading about missions, sleeping in, visiting friends . . .
I’m currently reading a book called “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger.” This one will knock your socks off. Some books really change me. This book, thus far, is full of statistics and biblical mandate concerning the poor and justice. Somehow I’ve overlooked my social responsibility as a believer for the most part. I’m praying for ways to be obedient.
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