Update: March 8th

Last night at sunset started Purim, which goes through tonight (the 8th).  I have never really celebrated Jewish holidays, but with this one being connected with Esther, I wanted to :) 


For those of you that don't know what Purim is- go read the Book of Esther :)  Ok, I'll give you a short version :)

From movie, "One Night with the King"

Esther, a poor Jewish orphan, is made queen of all of Susa, but keeps hidden her Jewish identity.  I few years pass and Haman, an Agagite (his ancestors were all suppose to be killed by the King of Israel, but the King disobeyed God and didn't kill the king and queen.  The queen, who was pregnant, escaped and vowed that one of her decedents would kill the Jews...)  So, Haman hated the Jewish people.   He made up a sneaky way to tell King Xerxes to 'get rid of' a people that 'caused problems'.   The King gave Haman power to do what he wanted.  When the annihilation of the Jews came to Mordecai's attentions (Mordecai is Esther's uncle, who took her in when she became orphaned), he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes and wept and went through the city.  He went as far as the Kings gate (no one was allowed past the gate in sackcloth).   Esther heard about him and sent him a message, he responded after he told her what had happened, "...Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him."

                 If you want to watch a great movie about 
            Esther, "One Night with the King" is amazing!!

(Esther 4:13-17)

As you know, Esther went before the King, asked him and Haman to a banquet, twice; then spoke her request.  Haman was hung and the Jewish people were saved!  So, to remember for generations to come, how God had used a poor Jewish orphan, who became queen for such a time and saved the whole Jewish people! 


Praise and Prayer:

• Jesus is worth it all!
• The Lord has provided so much for me!  I received $500 in the mail yesterday!
• A friend paid for me airfare home! 
• One week away from leaving for Houston!  I don't quite feel ready...
• Physical health and healing; my knee isn't feeling 100%

Thank you for all your prayers!  I can't believe that I am only a week away from travel!!!

Training Day 35: February 25

So... I DID 14 MILES TODAY!!!!!!!! Woot woot!! (can you tell I am a little excited?!?!)

I have now reached phase three of my training program for the Back to Life Walk. I will be walking 8-14 miles every day! (before I was doing core/strengthening/dance twice a week and walking the other days with a rest day) So I will be waking more each day, to prepare for the big walk!

Today as I walked (mostly alone, the first and last few miles I had my dad and sister) I listen to a Matt Lockett (www.bound4life.com) webiner, where he had spoken to us walkers, it was so encouraging to listen to his teaching again! One thing he said, that really struck me was, "Intercession is our supreme vocation, because history belongs to the intercessors." If an intercessors like Esther could change the course of history, then so can we! It's that encouraging?

Oh!!! And we are only 20 day away from starting!!! (I leave in 18 days!!!) wow, I really can't believe how fast time has flown! Jesus, you are so good!

Training Day 36-39: February 16-19

I know, I know... I haven't posted in a few days....   Sorry y'all....

Since going back to the doctor on Wednesday and getting another round of antibiotics, I've been feeling a lot better!  I've been able to keep training and dancing.

We have had a lot of rain here in the NW Washington area!  The past few days I have come home soaked!  But I love walking in the rain, there is just something about it.....

On Friday, Britt, one of the girl's I nanny wanted to walk with me! So we did a shorter walk, but the rain and wind picked up near the end and in the last 20 minutes of the walk, we were soaked to the bone!  But we had fun :)



As usual, Jamie and I walked yesterday (Saturday) we ran out of time, so weren't able to do a long walk, we just did 6 miles (When I first started training, the first time we did six miles, we were so proud of ourselves!  Now we're like, "that was a short walk!").  She is such an awesome friend, to walk all these miles with me and lots of the time in the wind or rain!  You rock Jamie!

I am less then a month away from embarking on this walk, I'm so excited!! Yikes!!!! But... I still need your help to get me there, if you want to donate to help me on this walk, contact me.

Training Days 32-33: February 12-13

The past two days have been filled to overflowing!

Angela, one of the 39 walkers, flew out to the Seattle area to spend some time with my family!  It's been fun having someone to walk with  (though we haven't walked to many miles :)

We have been working on a top-secret film project (shhh... I didn't say anything :)  and I will share more about this documentary when we launch the website- so stay tuned!

Please keep praying for my right eye infection, I went to the doctor last Wednesday, got on antibiotics and was doing good for a few days.  I finished my antibiotics and my eye has started throbbing again :(  Last night it was almost unbearable!  I really don't want to have to go to the doctor again....

I went back to dance last night, after being off dance from almost two weeks (first because of my knee, then my eye).  I had really missed my awesome dance studio!  I was so glad to be back and start to learn some new dances!

Training days 27-29: February 7-9 

 Sorry for the lack of post- I've been sick :/

 Well... I was in bed most of Monday with a terrible throbbing eye and headache. Tuesday I felt a little better, I was able to be up and about and did a few miles with my friend Katherine :) I also did a little school and work.

 Wednesday morning I woke up to a swollen eye and it hurt so bad! I had a few coffee meetings with friends in the morning and had to take my younger sister (Tatsi) to an ortadontis appointment. By the time I got home, the pain was almost unbearable. I laid down and rested for a little while, had some prayer and it felt a little better. Mom decided to take me into have my eye looked at. We waiting for almost three hours to see a doctor, who told me I had an eye infection :( so she prescribed me some antibiotics. After a goodnights sleep and those antibiotics, I'm feeling much better!

Thank you Jesus for doctors and antibiotics! Will try to walk some today, but don't want to do much. It's raining :) Good thing I live in Washington, because I love the rain :)

 Training Day 21: January 31


Today I woke up with a stiff and sore knee :( argh! Really?!?!  So I spent the day relaxing by a pool and sipping iced tea... Oh wait... that's where I wanted to be :)  I spent the day icing my knee, working in the office with dad and making some meals for this amazing (and large!) family of mine :)


I had a super-duper surprise (well, I knew ahead of time) of seeing one of my really good friends, who lives down south.  Katherine came to hang out, drink coffee, sit by the fire and work of a film project with me :)  Love you Katherine!


Please keep praying for my knee and lower back, both are really sore :(  Well, I'm off to bed... so long till tomorrow!

 Training Day 20: January 30

Today when I walked about four miles, up a few hills, nothing much, but my knee stated to hurt a little near the end.  I finished my walk and forgot about the pain.  Later, during my second hour of dance/Pointe, my knee started to bother me again :(  So I took it easy, or so I thought.  A little later, I was doing a long jump combination and it really started to hurt, so I had to sit out for the remainder of class.   All that to say, I am icing my knee and laying low... Not sure if I will be able to walk tomorrow....  Please keep me in your prayers, for a quick and complete healing, for my knee and lower back!

 Training Day 19: January 29

Today was Sunday.  Every Sunday, I get to work with 20-50 children in KidChurch.  I usually teach the K-2 grade children, but for the past few weeks, the K-2 have stayed with the 'older' kids :)  I love watching the kids worship the Lord (some more animated then others :)


Today was my rest day for training, so I didn't walk....

 Training Day 17: January 27

We were blessed with another warmish sunny day on Camano Island!  Dad and I walked about three miles together and talked about justice films.  We have so many ideas, many of our own and also from others we talk with!  

 Training Day 16: January 26


IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY HERE IN WASHINGTON!!!! Such a nice change from the regular coldness :) Thank you Jesus!


Janey and I walked a short two miles, but I also had dance, for three hours :) I'm so sore! 

I want to share a quote from The Mantle of Esther:

        

  "The schooling of an intercessor does not focus simply on helpful hints about prayer, but on the beauty of a transformed life and character."

 Training Day 15: January 25


Today was a typical overcast beautiful, not too cold, Washington day.  My amazing friend and I did an EIGHT mile trek!  My longest yet!! Thanks Jamie for walking all that way with me :)  Training is going great so far!


One of the things I love about Washington, and particularly where we live, is the beauty that I am surrounded by.  Each and every day, I marvel at the stunning place the Lord created here!  I mean, I look out my window and can see three mountain ranges (Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier and Glacier Peak), an ocean inlet, rolling hills and beautiful forest.   Oh... And not to forget the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets! I am truly blessed to live where I live!   




Prayer:

• That I would know Jesus more, each and every day
• Still trusting Jesus for all the money I need
• My lower back is still hurting a little :(

Thanks all for your support! 

Isaiah 30:18 and Praise Report

As we were doing family devotions tonight, we came across this verse:

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

I like how the Amplified Bible puts it:

"And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!" Isaiah 30:18 (AMP)

Our God is a God of justice and if we are suppose "to be about our Fathers business/will" how are we living to promote Justice? Are we praying daily for the ending of abortion and the setting free of those bonded? I know that sometimes many a days goes by before I think about injustices. I don't want to be legalistic about it, like I have to pray at a certain time or everyday because of some other reason. I want to do it, because I know that prayer works! Ponder it... Ask the Lord if there is something else you are suppose to be doing to promote Justice.

Praise report about human trafficking, in this report, children were rescued and traffickers arrested, this was posted on CNN!

"A three-day federal crackdown on child prostitution rings across the country has resulted in the recovery of 69 children and the arrest of 884 people, including 99 pimps, federal authorities said Monday.... Child prostitution continues to be a significant problem in our country, as evidenced by the number of children rescued through the continued efforts of our crimes against children task forces," said Shawn Henry, executive assistant director of the FBI's Criminal, Cyber, Response and Service Branch, in a written statement. 'There is no work more important than protecting America's children and freeing them from the cycle of victimization. Through our strategic partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies, we are able to make a difference.' The city where the most children were recovered was Seattle, Washington, with 16, said FBI Special Agent Jason Pack. Seven pimps were arrested there, he added... So far, those units have recovered 1,250 children, and the initiative has resulted in 438 indictments, 625 convictions, 153 criminal enterprises disrupted and 58 successfully dismantled, authorities said. Convictions have resulted in sentences ranging up to 25-years-to-life and in the seizure of more than $3 million in assets, authorities said....."

Thank you Jesus for shining Your light on injustice, and I believe that is because of prayer!

For more info: http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-08/justice/us.child.prostitution_1_child-prostitution-operation-cross-country-pimps?_s=PM:CRIME