Preparing

‎...reality is hitting and you are walking away from your home for 2 weeks and 2 days. Some of us are leaving our children at home. Work unfinished at the office. Laundry has to be done. Bills have to be paid. Some have a funeral on their mind. Everything starts to close in on you these last hours before you get on the plane. Maybe you are even hearing doubts being whispered in your ear. You are not alone. It is part of the job description and it is not easy, regardless of how many time you may or may not have done this. Be encouraged. Everything will fall into place, eventually. We are warriors in the Kingdom of God. We belong to God. We are on assignment, but.. there is an active enemy that would like to really discourage us right about now. You have been CALLED. You have been EQUIPPED. Jesus Christ is Lord. You are going to do amazing! Keep pressing ahead, full speed! 

Jill Dooney Etter

This was posted by one of my fellow leaders for the Panama trip just this evening.

And I realized that I have such a different mindset than so many others when I travel. Part of it may be that I have been a "carefree" student for the majority of my travels. But for me, I love the opportunity to leave "normal" life behind. I love the adventures and the spontaneity of traveling.

At the beginning of our trip last year, our team leader addressed the things that were distracting us from being completely present in training. For several of my girls, it was hard for them to be away from friends and family and were distracted in thinking about what everyone at home was doing and what they were missing out on. For me, that has never crossed my mind. As I said before, I love getting away from that.

I'm taking almost three weeks off of work. When I get home, my paycheck from my full time job will be quite minuscule. I have rent to pay and school bills to pay. While I know that that is the truth, God has provided in other ways -- such as one job in which I get my first paycheck from working all through June while I'm in Panama.

God has also provided full funding for my trip, plus a little extra to cover some of the items I needed to buy specifically for the trip and for some toys for the kids we meet along the way!

I know not everything will go "according to plan" -- there will be hard days, little sleep, disagreements between teammates, and messy heart issues that we'll all be working and praying through. But I know that through it all, God has His hand in it all. Even though it's difficult sometimes (okay, a lot of the time), I know that God knows what He's doing. He has put me on this trip, on my team, for a reason -- whether it's to teach me something about myself or to minister to someone on my team or someone in Panama ((or more than likely, all three)), I'm following Him wherever He wants me to go.

Until next time,

Amy Lynn

Already Packed

I don't leave until Friday, but my bags are already packed.

I have a lot to do this week, but in the name of procrastination, my suitcase for Panama is already packed! After doing my laundry this weekend, I figured it would make more sense to pack what I needed rather than put it away.

This will be my suitcase's maiden voyage -- as I was returning from Ecuador last year, my suitcase broke and I decided it was time for a new one :)

After I had packed my bag, I didn't know how much it actually weighed. We don't have a scale and so I finally went out and bought a luggage scale ((something I've been wanting for a while)).

I weighed my suitcase today and I was totally surprised when I saw that it only weighed 35 pounds. I'm pretty sure this has never happened to me. I know I'll probably add a few more things to my bag before I leave on Friday, but to be 15 pounds under the weight limit, that's new. I'm usually just barely below 50 pounds, and that's with a ton of stuff crammed into my carry-on, just to make the weight limit. I'm hoping that I can avoid putting much more in between now and Friday and have it be a record for me :)


Until next time,

Amy

Wow, 49 days from now I'll be on a plane bound for yet another mission trip.

Preparing for Panama has been quite different than any other mission trip I've been on (okay, other than procrastinating on sending out support letters, which seems to happen every year).

• I have two trips with Brio/Susie/Big World Ventures under my belt, and while I know what to expect, I'm expecting this year to be completely different and completely awesome!

• I haven't really kept a countdown for this trip (yes, I know it's 50 days today, but I hadn't really looked at the countdown until a few days ago)

• Panama is a warmer climate than where I've been for the last few trips

• I've been fundraising differently than ever before: I've sold handmade items and my mom and I hosted a jewelry party

• I'm going into this trip knowing so many more people than ever before and I'm looking forward to it. But on the other hand, some of my closest friends from last year are not going to be on the trip.

I think a big part of why this time of preparing for the trip is so different has to do with where I'm at in life right now. This whole year has been so different for me -- I graduated from Northwestern College last spring and am currently working full time. I'm not counting down to the end of the semester or anything this year and summer doesn't mean a long break or a change from what I'm doing right now. I'll continue working at the nursing home until the day before I leave and when I get back from Panama, I have one day off to rest up and then I'm back at work. All that to say: I'm really looking forward to Panama, but it's starting to sneak up on me because of my schedule.

Until next time,

Amy Lynn

Changed web address

I changed the web address for this blog.

I planned on only using for my trips to Ecuador. But God had different plans. Ecuador was supposed to be the last "hoorah" of my short term missions. I never planned on going to Panama.

But all I can do is follow God. He knows where He's taking me and what He's doing in my life. I'm just here to follow after Him and live my life for Him.

So please, join me on this journey.

And if you're here to donate/purchase one of my handmade bags/aprons/headbands/potholders - thank you so much for your support! I really appreciate it!!



Simply,

Amy Lynn

Blogging Fail...and fundraising ideas

I had grand dreams of recounting the whole 3 weeks in Ecuador on here...and I got through 2 ministry days. Oops.
Life kinda happened and time got away from me.

I wanted to let you all know that God has given me one more opportunity to work with Susie Magazine and Big World Venture and I'll be heading to Panama next summer for the same trip, different location.

I have a little more advanced notice this time, and I want to be more creative in how I raise money this year. I'm out of school now and am working more and realized that God has provided these jobs for me and I want to use the opportunities He has given me to raise a portion of the money needed through work. So each paycheck, I'm setting aside a small amount that will add up over the next 9 months.

And a week ago, I was looking at different blogs and came across a tutorial to make a sweet purse.

An idea was sparked.

I discovered several other tutorials and I currently have several projects planned out in my head.

Tonight I completed my first one and I thought I'd share it with you:

Several Pockets on the inside

Update...a few more creations:

Design #2

Sneak peek of new fabrics

Fun Fall Pot Holders

Reminisce: Quito, Ministry Day 2

It's been a crazy few weeks and I haven't had nearly as much time to reminisce as I thought I would have. I'm preparing to move out of the house that my friends and I have lived in for the past year.

I've kept in touch with many people from Ecuador and I'm really missing them.

And I sent in my application for Panama next summer. I honestly did not think about going to Panama until I was actually in Ecuador. We'll see what God has planned for this next year - I was planning on heading to nursing school in May, but I think I'll now be looking at schools that start in the fall.

But, without further a-do - Ministry Day 2:


We started out the day by going to a park. It was a beautiful day and the park was close to our hotel. Our translators directed us to a central plaza and we gathered by a large cross. I know Lorena told us the story about why the cross was there, but I can't remember it.

We finished up everyone's makeup for the drama and then broke into small groups to walk around and invite people to come to our drama.

We did a little "Cha Cha Slide" to attract people.

And we also took some time to take pictures with Britt Nicole (singer/songwriter) and her friend Gabby, who had joined our team for the day.

We performed the drama twice and in between presentations, we talked with people and played with little kids. So many people were open to hearing the Gospel. 

I played with this sweet little boy, Jean Pierre, while Gabby talked to and prayed for his mom with one of our translators

Team 4 showed up at the same park just before we started our second performance and so once we were done, they took over.

We headed to an orphanage in Quito for the afternoon. On the bus, we took up a donation and stopped to buy some food for the orphanage. 

I left my camera on the bus for the afternoon - I wanted to just be able to love on the kids and not be preoccupied by taking pictures. 

When we first walked in, I found a little girl standing by a wall. I crouched down to talk to her, but she was very shy. She had a sifter toy and she would cover her face with it and we played a modified version of "peek-a-boo." She sat on my lap during the drama and stayed with me the whole afternoon until after their meal. She was getting really tired. I set her down for a little bit and I never saw her after that - I think she went up to take a nap. 

I'm so thankful that a few of my wonderful teammates got some pictures of this sweet little girl so I can always remember her :)

via Kathleen Hartsfield

It was hard to leave the orphanage. Everyone just wanted to keep loving on and holding the kids. I wished that we could go back the next day - but there were other kids in other parts of the city that needed to hear about God's love for them and that needed our attention.

More to come soon!

Amy Lynn

Reminisce: Quito, the beginning

*I'll try not to make this too long, but there's just so much to share!*

As I recount the many memories that my trip to Ecuador this summer encompasses, I figure I'll start right out with our time in Quito - I think I did an adequate job of recounting our time in Miami while we were still there (http://followinggodtoecuador.blogspot.com/2011/06/students-have-been-here-since-monday.html - if you want to read more about it)

Ministry Day 1:

We started our first ministry day without our entire team. Our team was split into 4 or 5 different flight groups and there were delays on almost all flights except the one I was on. While most groups made it to Quito for our first ministry day (one group arriving at 2 am, I think), one group dealt with more cancellations and travel changes than the rest. One student and one leader from my team were on the delayed flight. They didn't arrive in Quito until Friday evening. As frustrating as everything was for them, they made the most of it. I only heard a few of the stories, however.

We went out on our first ministry day lacking one of our mimes and had to make some adjustments so that the show could go on. It just wasn't the same without Cierra and we were quite relieved to have her back the next day!

We gathered in the hotel lobby after breakfast and team time (two separate times for everyone...except me - I grabbed breakfast on my way to team time) and headed out into the city with our 4 amazing translators. For our first day we went to a plaza at Santo Domingo, in Old Town Quito. It looked familiar to me, but I don't remember a specific time going there last summer.

We set up our sound equipment and tied all of our bags together. While everyone grouped up into "pods" and went out with the translators to invite people to the drama, I took charge of watching the bags. There were a few others who stayed close to our "base" against a gate and we talked with a few people who came to see what was going on (I'm sure we looked quite strange to them). Everyone jumped right into their part in the ministry - so much fun to watch!

After a while, we set up to perform the drama for the first time. I sat by the bags at the back of the "stage" and just loved watching the students perform the drama that they had worked so hard to learn! Here are a few of my favorite snapshots from our first drama performance:

Sin separating the Toymaker and his Son from the Toys

The Toymaker sending his son into the world

Crucifixion of the Toymaker's son

After we finished the drama, someone from the team would get up and explain the connections between the drama we had just performed and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They would then share their testimony and invite people to pray to accept Jesus as their savior.

Once we were done with the presentation, we spread out with the translators to talk to people again. I just loved seeing how eager everyone was to share God's love with the people of Quito! One of the students, Sammy, came over to me so excited because two guys who had been whistling and cat-calling girls were now sitting on the steps reading Bibles that he had just given them! There were also many prayers for healing among the people - and many answers to those prayers! At one point, I was invited along with a group to act as their "translator" and they wanted to pray for healing for a man's leg and asked me to pray for him in Spanish - definitely not my best work yet, but God knew my intent.

Praying with the Ecuadorians

That's all I have for now regarding our first ministry day. I'll continue to share more over the next few weeks - there's so much to share and I hope you enjoy hearing it all!!

Amy Lynn