HAPPY BIRTHDAY ESTHER!!

Here's to my rain or shine friend. We've been through thick and thin, close and far, happy and sad, taken and not - and yet she's still one of my bestest friends. :) Have a good one, Stirfry, and don't forget to keep smiling. I'm praying that this year can be a culmination of all your blood, sweat and tears of the last years - reaping the returns of everything you have given for Him - times one hundred - as you serve Jesus and be happy ;). If anyone would like to leave a comment for my dear friend's birthday, now is your chance! Later may be ... not her birthday anymore ;)

BACKTRACKING 4 - Milton Keynes, England

Ok, here are a bunch of photos from the time spent in Milton Keynes, England. After arriving, Ivan, Julz and I went for a walk at a lake. Ivan and Sam (who walked us halfway) insisted on going through an spooky old Church cemetery on the way (so as to spook us out - check out my face as I stand by one of the graves) but we survived and made it to the lake - the way back was another story.True to England, the day was a bit grey and drizzly, so we picked up some umbrellas at another home on the way. It was a nice walk and we took some pix as I got the brief of English culture with both Ivan and Julz as my guides. It's beautiful and all the houses are red brick houses with big front windows that look like display windows, except that you should not look in - Ivan was still learning that art.Also I learned that they show their status by the dog they have, ha!That night Ivan and Julz took us to a typical pub and we had some delicious beer called a lime-lager (thanks anonymous) - delicious! It's a bit sweet and has a lime twist. Thanks Ivan! These pint glasses are so cool - wish they served pints here in Brazil, ha!The next day we visited the longest mall in the world. We didn't stay long, but there was a good deal for panties (thanks Julz!) so it was worth checking, heh.That night there was a fun new years party, but silly me didn't take any pix, sniff. It was nice, well planned, and great for fellowship. The homes around there have so many great people and the Paris home was visiting too. We had a blast!The next day the guys (along with Julz and Lisa) went to play basketball, and Benedict, Agnes (Metanoia twins) and I decided to explore the surrounding area. We did pretty well the first time (or so we thought), and found the basketball court again. Then, after our success, we thought, 'why not walk home!' That didn't work out as well as we hoped, but after almost an hour of losing ourselves we found the house (it was supposed to have been a 5 minute walk, ha!). It was fun and adventurous, nonetheless.Last are pix of Mich (of Anthony) and one of Ang's sister, Michelle (of Dan) and her adorable little munchkin. Sorry the pic is blurry - my fault.

BACKTRACKING 3 - Revelations

Have you ever studied the book of Revelations? It might help you to understand my blog, ha! Yes, I've been doing the flash back, flash middle, flash forward thing that is oh so typically Revelations style - but I hope I don't lose you in the meantime, ha!Now we'll go a bit further into the trip, back to Iceland and to the beautiful Blue Lagoon. Imagine ... 2 degrees below zero in the land of fire and ice ... mystical vapor everywhere ... a hot water reservoir bursting from within the earth already mingled with white silica mud and blue algae (each coveted for their cosmetic qualities) thus adding a fluorescent blue hue to this surreal atmosphere . No germs survive these extremes, so there is no need for caution - it's just about the closest thing to paradise. The water is warm, though very hot in certain parts. I choose the area that is about 40-42 degrees. My face automatically receives a natural steam bath and I apply some of the white silica to my face as a mud mask. My skin begins to feel very silky and just plain nice. Volcanic rock formations form a rippling skyline while patches of clear sky and storm (and other) clouds contrast the rocks' apparent steadfastness. The sky is churning - a snow, rain or hail storm fast approaches (here you never know which, but this time it was snow). Yet, here I am, floating in the mineral filled liquid that can just carry your relaxed frame into a still and peaceful state with only the sound of the water gurgles in your ear (wow, now I sound poetic). Talk about a good place for meditating and just listening! - And that's what I did. I named this post 'revelations' for more reasons than one. There I for the first time experienced the spiritual activity so predominant in Iceland. It was a beautiful time with the Lord and a myriad of awesome helpers. I did so as night approached. By the time we left it was evening, but it was a beautiful time of felowship not only with my mom (the photographer - I appreciate you having frozen your toes for me), Sarah I. (thanks for provisioning the tickets! ILY), and Finnur (one of the AMs from Iceland - a real on-fire cool guy), but also with some cool spiritual entities I understood more about later. The Lord is awesome and His nature portrays it so beautifully! Anyone looking for a new field? Iceland needs top disciples and witnessers to reach it's harvest of sheepy and very spiritual people. Could that disciple be you?

BACKTRACKING 2 - Check out the Black Sea and Bosphorus Straight from the ruins of a Roman fort

Watch my sis and I after climbing to the top of the fort over this stone stairway that seemed to have a hole blown into the middle (in pic). You'll love the view though. It was snowing a tad too, though you can't really tell.

BACKTRACKING 1 - Christmas for Iraque Refugees

Ok, now for a little backtracking (prepare for a few of these, heh). First I'll add a few pix from the practice and Christmas show for 200 Iraq refugee children. FIrst is one from the practice (with Michael Piano coaching us all, yey!) Next is one of us performing Feliz Navidad for them. Then there is one of them teaching me some belly dancing while Mike P and the band play an Arabic song they all knew. Then there is the best part of all - when Lily (with the help of a translator) prayed with them to receive the Lord after Mike P sang Peace in the Midst of Storm in Arabic, it brought tears to my eyes. We ended with more dancing and many of the kids came up on stage to sing the Christmas songs they knew along with us. Many of the kids stayed after for pix and hugs and didn't want to leave. It was a touching sight that really made Christmas special. Come to think of it, what is Christmas without giving Him to others? I'm honored to have enjoyed the opportunity to bring the Joy-Giver to these children who have seen so much sadness. I hope you enjoyed a little peak into this one of His Christmas gifts to me :)

Guilty as charged

Yep, my grand hopes of keeping a faithful journal of my trip have been shattered due to the reality of traveling. I did post a few pix, but not nearly enough. So I officially give up. I will post a few from Iceland though, since my time here does afford me the rare commodity of internet access. I hope you enjoy these. The first is me in front of a little church, behind which is Reykjavik and further behind are the snowy mountains. The wind is so cold here!Then there is the one of Lisa, Consuelo and I at a local club with our pint glasses (tx Lisa!)