REMEMBER!

First off Happy 4th of July Everyone! Thank you to all those that are serving, have served and will serve to protect our country! I am so thankful for you all!

Talk about a night and day difference! I thank all of you commenters for your support and prayers! I don't know what happened but today was just awesome! Is our God awesome of what?

It began with me waking up to a very sweet message from the love of my life! I am telling you guys I have the best woman in the world! Hon, you ROCK!

Then I got up and went to church today, we had church in the woods. Let me tell you something, we all as Christians in America need to get out of our "comfortable" seats or pews every once in a while to take time to remember how it was for most of our forefathers, and most of our missionaries to have "church"(just out in some field in the woods) then let's hear the complaints about the style of worship, air conditioning, or type of chair we sit in, etc. NOT! That was one of Pastor Bob's points in his sermon today and there were more! God showed me today how AWESOME He is, and I want to apologize to anyone about my lack of enthusiasm yesterday. I was just being truthful with my feelings in yesterdays blog. Our God has blessed me so much here, and I need to keep my heart guarded and take every thought captive for the glory of God! After all, what God set in my heart in doing this adoption was above all that YOU may know Him, and just bring Him glory! Like Pastor Bob said today, if this adoption falls through, will He stop being God? NO WAY! He is my Rock. Psalm 103 1-5 says "1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." That is exactly what happened to me today! He totally renewed my heart!

Feeling tired this morning, not feeling like getting up and going to church? Well check out this young ladies dedication to coming to church in the woods. Mind you, she went through the paths you saw in the pictures above. Her spine is totally soft from some disease, and so they had to create this wheel chair/bed for her to get anywhere, because she literally cannot sit up or anything, but her family was dedicated to get her here to see her sister be baptized. Another humbling thought for us American "comfort" Christians. So just after these two experiences alone, I was like "what am I doing complaining?". See how quickly I forgot what a miracle our God performed to even get me here! I guess it goes to show that I am a work in progress still!

They baptized 9 members of their church today!

Here is Pastor Bob, by the way! He reminds me sooo much of Mr.Spitale, he even tried to crack a joke today in the same story fashion!

Then we all had lunch together, they made a beef, rice, carrots, & chick pea dish out of this one bowl in the middle of the forest. It was good! Then I got to meet Misha, this converted Muslim to Chrisitainity!

What a great man(he's on the right), and he speaks great English. His wife Tamara is a very sweet woman as well!

I hope he and I get together more, because I would love to learn more about Islam, and the Koran to be a better equipped man of God! I would also love to help him in his radio ministry.

After church was over the young translating ladies, and Igor invited me along for the day with them! Is our GOD AWESOME or what? We went for a walk through some parks, and here is a real life sundial. Can anyone tell me what time it is with this clock facing north?

We also went on the bumper cars, and we tried our shooting skills at one of those target shooting carnival deals. I was not sitting around today. What a difference a day makes hugh? Then it was time for me to go see my son! Talk about joy!

We had such a great afternoon together! I was goofing off so much with him it was great.

Look Mama, only one hand!
Then we went inside, and guess what they did? They left me alone in the room with Misha and Zhenya!

Yeah, Zhenya's future parents you owe me one! Just kidding!

See that stack of chairs. He literally lifted it up all himself with his arms! Then after weightlifting, what do we guys want to do? Eat!

Well Happy 4th of July everyone! To top it off, on my way home from the orphanage, Igor and the girls spotted me walking and we sat down and hung out till it was almost 8 oclock! Thank you, thank you, thank you  Lord, for blessing me the ways you do! Praise His name everyone!

Well I am going for a walk to get some of that yummy chicken now! It's 10 pm and maybe someone will blow off some fireworks. Wouldn't that be unbelievable?

Can't wait for your comments, Toby!