Friday, October 31, 2008

Hotel California

So we are eating breakfast of noodles, rice, and strange meat when we hear a very familiar song. I listen because I can't quite hear it. Then, yes, it starts: Welcome to the hotel california Such a lovely place Such a lovely face . Plenty of room at the hotel california. Any time of year, you can find it here. Not what I expected to experience my first days in Beijing.

We arrived to the NICE hotel, had a quick shower and then off to tour The Forbidden City and p-walking at Tienanmen Square. We began to realize what a communist country looked like then and now. The people paying respect to Mao seemed very sad.

During the afternoon, we spent our time at my FAVORITE home in China. You will have to read here tomorrow to get information on what it is and how you can help!!

I must sleep now. My ambian is making it to where I cannot see straight. Maybe I should go lay down!

Love love love

anna

Friday, October 24, 2008

Night with the husband

Well, I leave at 6 in the AM for China!! I have had a wonderful day seeing and talking to people that I love. I have the most wonderful friends and family that are so supportive. I love you all!!!

Tonight, Russ and I are in Memphis spending the night so that he can take me to the airport at 4 am. We are at the hotel enjoying the two things below. How great is it that you can lay in the bed and order pizza on the computer!!

Please continue to pray for our team as we meet in Chicago. We leave Chicago around noon tomorrow and should land in Beijing around 2 am (cst).

I appreciate your prayers so much! I must get back to my husband and scrubs now. I am going to miss him sooooo much!!!

Anna


Monday, October 13, 2008

Ni hao

I leave for China in less than two weeks. The time since we decided to go and now has flown by!! I ask that you pray for our team. I am not one to blame everything on the devil but I do think he wants to interfere with the great things God is doing. We have all experienced some sort of back pain, leg pain, head lice, family issues, etc. So please continue to pray for us.

Our flight leaves on Saturday, October 25th at 6:00 in MORNING!! Here are a few prayer requests.

1. The people we will develop relationships with.
2. Safety during our flights and stay in China
3. Our families in the United States
4. That God's power would overcome any evil that wants to interfere.

I will update you more as the time gets closer!

Love, Anna

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Miracle

God has risen our washing machine from the dead. About 3 weeks ago, our washer stopped working (granted it is from like 1922). We went out of town so we didn't have time to get it fixed or buy another one. After vacation, it seemed like everything was falling apart...washer, dvd player, computer. Last night, I went to the washer and tried to turn it on. And to my surprise...it WORKED!!! Thank you Jesus!

Words to my heart today

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Jeremiah 29:11
" For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Romans 8:26-28
"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them"

God is good.

Anna

Praying for Ethiopia

Ethiopian Facts

*There are approximately 5 million orphans in a country less than twice the size of the state of Texas.
*Between 60-150 million kids live on the streets
*One in six children die before their fifth birthday.
*One in ten children die before their first birthday.
*Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school; 88% will never attend secondary school
*In the 1980's one million Ethiopians died of starvation
*Some areas still practice female circumcision
*82% of the population survives on less than 1 dollar a day
*Only 24% of households have access to safe drinking water
*Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000
*Children and family are honored above all else
*1 in 3 people are HIV+, the average life expectancy is 37

Join with me in doing this today.

AP

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Something to think about

I read an article this morning that has shattered me. I have a heart for orphans and have heard and seen many devastating situations. But, then I read this. Today I am praying for the people that live in Mae Sot garbage dump in Thailand near the Thai-Myanmar border.

The quote that is sitting with me today is this: "Still, she says scavenging for food in the dump is actually an improvement on her previous life."

Read this for something to think about today.

AP

Wednesday, October 1, 2008



Russ and I have been on a much-needed vacation to San Francisco. So romantic..and do you want to know one of the reasons why. Let me tell you. I have been reading Stephanie Meyer's book Twilight. Basically, it is a book about a teenage girl being in love with a vampire. Yes, a vampire. And let me tell you this, I am addicted! There are four books and I am almost through with the second book. Back to being romantic..these books make me have LOVE my husband. Just being honest. I actually thought last night--I wish my husband had super-powers. Those words are like music to his ears, considering his obcession with the make-believe world.

AP