The next day, the blessings continued.
One of my friends, without me saying anything, walked up to me and
offered me the keys to her new car, as long as I needed to use it. What
an answer to prayer! I didn't even ask her! God is so good! God's
goodness continued as I was introduced to friends of friends who offered
to allow both me and my mom to stay with them the entire time I was in
town!! They were the Snodgrass family and were mutual friends of one of
my closest friends in Japan. Although I had never formally met Mrs.
Snodgrass, the Lord connected us, and she and her family were a huge
blessing to my mom and I the entire time we were there. Sunday afternoon
back at church I was able to see some of the teenage girls from my
Sunday School Class and was able to teach a lesson to them on being
usable for God. It was so good to see them all, and to be able to share
with them some of the things that I had learned during my short time in
El Salvador. To make the day even better, I got news from El Salvador
that Francisco and Isis, a couple that I met while door knocking, had
finally made the decision to trust Christ as their personal Savior. What
a joy!! Prayer works!
My teen Sunday School Class at Lancaster Baptist Church!
My teen Sunday School Class at Lancaster Baptist Church!
Potluck for Patriots!
Sequoia National Park with mom!
Mom and I at the USS Iowa in Long Beach!
The following day my grandmother and cousin arrived in
California, proving to be every bit of fun I had hoped they would be.
After a wonderful time together at church, we were all able to go out
for a Mothers Day lunch. It was the first time my mom had ever had
lobster! Although I'm still not sure if she liked it, or if she was just
trying to be nice, she said she enjoyed it!
Mothers day with Mandy, Mom and Grandma!!
Mothers day with Mandy, Mom and Grandma!!
Graduation festivities followed the next day with an interesting
round of Senior pictures bright an early with friends, and the class of
2013. Followed by a preaching contest, and a senior luncheon, and a
wonderful spring recital. What a flurry of activity!
Kim, me, and Yanet!
Tuesday, the day before graduation, all was ready. Pictures were
taken, clothes were set out, we were up early to get to graduation
practice early to hear final words from Dr. Goetsch and Dr. Chappell
before the big day. And wouldn't you know it, I was on my way to school
(early) when got a flat on the side of the highway at 7 a.m. What an
adventure. Sunday clothes, side of the interstate, 7am, graduation
practice, flat tire. Needless to say, I made it for the last 10 minutes,
and was all the more nervous for graduation the next day because only 2
other students from my masters class was there for rehearsal so they
had to remember details for all of us!
Tire changing pro!
Tire changing pro!
Graduation day came and went without a problem. I got to school without a flat tire, I didn't fall asleep during the ceremony, and I didn't trip on the platform. Those three things in my mind=success! We all had a great time afterwords having a get together with family and friends for a graduation celebration as well! It feels so great to be finished!!
Mom and I after the ceremony!
The remainder of my time in LA with my mom was spent getting my
hair cut (a huge deal, as I cut it all off every 3 years to donate to
kids with cancer) finishing some appointments, taking my mom to Sushi
for the first time with a friend in beautiful Manhattan beach, and
tidying up last second details. The trip back to Lancaster was such a
wonderful experience with my mom there for graduation. It is always nice
to have family close by for big occasions!
I was eager to jump back into things in El Salvador, and
jump back in I did! The very next day we were back at it at school, and
full force into classes. The afternoons were filled with tutoring and
church preparations for our 4th anniversary Sunday at Iglesia Bautista
Emmanuel.
For anniversary Sunday, we had a record Sunday with 120
in attendance, and a cupcake for each person to celebrate God's goodness
on the four year anniversary of the church. God has been really
blessing the ministry here! I was overwhelmed to see about 20+ kids from
my classes in the school in the church for service, listening to the
Gospel. It was such a blessing to go home that afternoon knowing that
one of those that heard the Gospel received Christ as their personal
Savior and has a changed eternal destiny!
The cupcake tower!
The cupcake tower!