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| Hello everyone. It has been a little while since I used this. I don't think I can recap everything since then with out writing a small novel, but I can instead share the joys of my week. SCHOOOLLL'SSS OUT FOR SUMMER! Which is pretty cool. I think finals went well, and I'm all registered for next semester. No academic stress at all, which is fantastic. Also, I'm leaving for Scotland in 18 days, and God is taking care of me. Everyday that I pray for Him to take care of it, something amazing has happened. I really feel confirmed about the trip knowing that He is helping me get there. Finally, I've started going to Natchez Trace coC and it has been amazing. I don't remembr the last time I was looking forward to going a church service days in advance. I love the people there, and theres a lot for me to learn there. In the words of a friend "I want to be somewhere where I'll be missed if I don't go". Of course, we decided this could be selfishly rooted, but I think it more so reflects our deep need as communal beings to want to enter into deep and meaningful relationships. Peace and Love, | | |
| I just had an amazing weekend which is about to be shadowed by a terrible week. Sad really, but the moral of the story is I love God because He has made himself evident to me in the community I live in. Mom came to town this weekend and it was good to see her. Always does my heart good to see me mum. Also, all of the parsonage friends were over for the weekend and we had a campfire on Sat. night followed by house church on Sunday morning. And everyone just hung out until Sunday night. It was just really cool to be with everyone. I was born to two amazing parents with two wonderful sisters, and we all made the decision a while ago to struggle as we serve God together. It just does my heart good to be doing that all together again for the first time in a while. Also, I crave a turkey sandwich with ketchup. And a glass of milk.
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| So I am currently in South Pittsburg, TN which is right on the tri-state (Al., Ga., TN.) line. It is day 2 of the big trip and we've got 7 more to go, which includes one day of rest. I've been logging in my journal all of each days events, mileage, speeds, etc. It's been good so far, lets pray for continued safety and health (as I know some of you have been). Tomorrow's destination is Sand Rock, Al. to be followed by a day off. So far it's everything I've wished for . Today we had to climb Mount Eagle, but the exhausting climb made the awesome descent all worth it. All new kinds of fun.
Chris, signing off. Good luck, and good night. | | |
| What a weekend. I started off at service day on Friday. I was part of a team of people that went to a church and we helped them clean up their property. It was pretty ordinary, but I did get to work a chainsaw for a while...always fun. Friday night I played racquetball until 2am...also good fun. Rupert, Krafty (Molly's BF for those of you wondering who he is-and yes, he's good folk), B-Nell (future house-mate), and I played doubles. It was too much fun. It was at 2:30 I realized it was 2:30 and that I had to be up in 2 hours to bring my lovely twin sister to the airport for her Mexico mission trip (they will be gone until next Saturday-keep them all in your prayers). So I took a nap and woke up at 4:45 to pick up Caidy with our lovely piece of machinery; the truck. Well, much to my dismay the truck started overheating 2 miles away from the airport. We puttered in and she was safe and on time. First objective completed. Then I popped the hood in the middle of the drop-off zone at the airport to see what was wrong with the truck. I put some more coolant in it, gave it a rest and set off. By the time I got out of the parking lot it was overheated again. I pulled off the highway (with the prodding of a cop) and let it sit. To make a long story longer, I decided to pray. However, it was one of those "I don't really think anything will happen but it's the right thing to do" prayers. Obviously nothing happened. Well, about 45mins. later (and many stops later) I decided to legitimately pray about it. At that point in time I learned that if I went the speed limit in the top of 3rd gear, the temp gauge would remain at a healthy 150. AWESOME. So I get home in time for sunrise; and I went to bed. I had plans of leaving for South Pittsburg, TN (my co-RA's home) at 1. Instead we left at 10. This puts me at a total of 4.5 hours rest...sweet. Well, when I was in S. Pittsburg I went with Joe's dad (volunteer fire fighter) to a few calls. It was affirming to be there and see it firsthand because it's what I want to do-be a firefighter. To see it all firsthand and want to do it more is affirming (one of the things I saw was a chopper rescue pick-up, I saw it from 30ft. I was with the workers, righteous.) Well, needless to say, I read Batman graphic novels, played nintendo Wii, confirmed what I want to do with my life, ate good food with good friends, watched a movie, and got all my hw done. All in all, a good weekend.
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Last year I was blessed with an
opportunity to go to West Mains, Glasgow,
Scotland with a
small team, and this year that blessing has been afforded to me again. With my eleven
teammates, on March 16-25, we plan to work with the church in West Mains
encouraging the youth, and working in the community doing service projects.
While in
West Mains, our efforts in the evenings will be directed towards the youth at
Youth Club (which is similar to V.B.S.).
We will have lessons for the kids, topical discussions for the adults,
play some games, and have some good fellowship time with our family in
Christ. However, because Youth Club is
only in the evenings, during the days we will do service projects in the
community. Some service projects that we
did last year were renovations to a local preschool, working for the inner-city
ministry, and repairing the community center (which is also the church
building). This year we will be doing
similar projects which will be directed by the church as we draw closer to the
mission.
Fortunately,
the West Mains church
of Christ shows a lot of
hospitality, limiting the cost of our trip to travel and supplies. This puts the cost at about $900. Currently I have received $150. If you could help contribute to this mission
financially I would greatly appreciate your help. If you would like to contribute in this way,
please make the check payable to Lipscomb University Missions with “Chris
Amaral: Mission UK”
in the memo bar and send it to:
Lipscomb University
Attn: College
of Bible and Ministry
3901
Granny White Pike
Nashville, TN
37204
Whether you
are able to contribute to this mission financially or not, I petition your
prayers in the weeks to come in preparation for this trip.
If you
would like to contact me, my phone number is 615.500.0417, and my email address
is amaralcp@Lipscomb.edu.
Thank you
for contribution, whether financial, prayer, or both.
In Him,
Chris Amaral
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