Help, I’m taking Pre Calculus!

One of my students, from four years ago, texts me every morning to say, “Good morning!” Occasionally I will respond, although, not every day. On Thursday morning, I happened to respond with a “How’s math?” Her response, “Bad.” My reply, “Call me, tonight.” Her response, “Okay, I will :).” Come later that evening, she had not called, but I know she is a smart girl and it can be hard to take the initiative, especially when you need help with something.

I called her and asked if she was busy, and if she had time to work on her math. She dropped what she was doing, and over the phone we discussed her math problems. I was pleasantly surprised at what she remembered from my math class and future math classes. In speaking with her, I discovered it was not the math that she did not understand; rather it was the steps and the process. Once she realized that it was a bunch of algebra in one big package, she was excited and well on her way!

It makes me wonder how often we miss a step in the process and God is saying, “Silly, girl!” Maybe we were too hurried, or too busy. It also makes me wonder how often we really do know what to do and how to do it, but we are so caught up with what we do not know that we are not moving on. I often tell my kids, “Don’t tell me what you cannot do, show me what you can do!” Are we not moving on because we cannot, or is it because we are not asking for help, when it is directly in front of our face? Once my former student got past that sticky step in the problem, she was golden! God showed me through this situation that I am still connecting with these students and He can and will use me, even if it is not in the way I “planned.”

Pythagoras and other fun people...

Monday afternoon I had the opportunity to meet with my friends, Derek and Claire, and their daughter Noelia, to discuss their upcoming trip to Bolivia. This was a great time of encouragement and excitement for me. This family will be joining a ministry in Bolivia with Food for the Hungry. Derek and Claire are 99% pledged fund raised for the next three years! I had the pleasure of learning about the different trainings they have gone to and will be going to, as well as the the joy of spending time with people I love most dearly.

Today was another Habitat build day! I spent the morning and afternoon on the roof. I helped measure, draw chalk lines, shingle, and hold down stuff so people could nail. The less vibration the better. And YES, we used Geometry! Pythagorean triples--3, 4, 5 triangles, and 6, 8, 10 triangles were used to make straight lines on the roof! See, isn't math cool? I used it on the roof today. Who would've ever thunk? You never know when those classes come into use.

God continues to show me his faithfullness. I should start substitute teaching next Monday. Yay for a job! :)

HFH and Piedras Negras

On Friday morning I went out to work at the Habitat House for a couple hours, before I went to lunch with a good friend. Chuck and I worked on some roof decking. Mom made a comment to another worker about me going up on the roof. "Faith's just in her natural habitat, literally. When I was pregnant with her, I was on the roof."

Saturday morning, I woke up extra early, went running, and then left for Piedras Negras, Mexico, with five other men at the church. Our job: Install AC ducts. Token young person and female: myself. Person up in the rafters: myself.

We first took wire and pieces of wood to make "trapezes". Once up on the "scaffolding," Rick and I took the wire and looped it through a rafter. Myself on one side, Rick on another side about 2 feet away from me. Once looped around the rafter, we placed the bottom of the wire, Mexican proper, belly button height high, through a piece of wood, and then looped that to create the "trapeze."


I am thankful for the opportunity I had to go bouldering (rock climbing without ropes) at Austin Rock gym over labor day weekend. I learned how to trust my body. As I was climbing up the ladders and onto our "scaffolding" I remembered some of the ways that I was able to move and maneuver my body while climbing, thus it played a role in my ability to help out in Mexico. You never know when a day of fun will come into use! :)

In Piedras Negras I ate the smallest tacos I have ever had, drove past the largest brewery ever--Corona is building it, helped move furniture, made AC vents, helped hang the vents (as told above), cut pieces of tape, and picked up quite a bit of trash. Oh and I went through the shortest border lines I have ever seen or been through!

Hurricane Evacuee Shelter

This morning between 4AM-11:30AM I worked the Special Needs Hurricane Evacuee Shelter at First Presbyterian Church. For the first few hours I made a puzzle, played with some dominoes, and made myself available. Between 8AM--11:30AM I took care of some organizational needs, and created a rules poster (8x)! It was a neat opportunity and I might take the chance to go volunteer at the shelter later this week.

One of the men, who wears a size 15 shoes, was without shoes. God is so good. He provided a pair of shoes for this man, through a member of the congregation!

Where do you serve?

On Friday, I was given the opportunity to serve either at the Habitat House, or with the shelter down at the church, for people evacuating Galveston due to Hurricane Ike. I chose to go down and work the Habitat House. A group of four of us, Tammi, Steve, Eric, and myself worked on roof decking together. We also did some blocking. Other people worked on installing windows, and siding.

I enjoyed working at the Habitat House, especially with the group of people I was with. We made a positive and encouraging team, making sure to say things such as "good job", "high-five", and "way to go" as we were working with one another! Everybody likes encouragement along the way! I don't know which would have been the "better" choice, but it looks like I might have another opportunity to work the shelter on Monday, if people are still evacuated.

Funny, but true story. As I was climbing down the ladder, off of the roof, at the end of the day, I hit my knee! I have a pretty bruise now.

Arn-Man!

My cousin, Arnie Chycoski passed away at 1:20 PST, September 10, near Olympia Washington. I had the honour of visiting the Fairmont Empress hotel with Arn-man when I was visiting Sher and Arnie a few years back. It's one thing to go to a hotel, it's another to go to a hotel and hear stories about playing in different areas at the Fairmont Empress. I was blessed by his generosity on many different occasions. I specifically remember walking around Victoria, and Arnie dropping money into peoples cases, as we were enjoying the music. I have loved Victoria since my vacation with Arn-man! I love you too, Sher! be blessed!

Bowling

I went bowling with a good friend on Sunday night. What struck me as incredibly uncanny was the pure fact as my friend and I would encourage and lift up one another, those around us were doing so as well. Our "neighbors" became much more fun to be around, and their comments to one another were wholesome and appropriate, rather than tearing down!

Habitat House

Yesterday, I went down to the Habitat House my Mom's church is building. I have never been to Day 1 of a Habitat build. I helped put up the house frame, helped place the trusses on the roof, and I helped measure where the trusses would be going up today. This gives me the opportunity to both meet new people, and learn something about home building/repair.

DEX Report

DEX stands for Discipleship Experience. It is a mission trip for University students, to join a team of young adults, venture all over the world for cross-cultural experiences, with the purpose of spreading the gospel, and stretching their understanding of the world. Countless lives have been touched by the love and faithfulness of Christ.

When these students sign up for the trip, they do not know where they are going to be going or what they will be doing. The young adults simply sign up for an eight week (two month) mission trip, trusting all will work out, both financially and in the place chosen for them. Our church supported five people going to India.

During tonight's presentation I was reminded of some great times I had in Indonesia and East Timor. I had forgotten about some of the healings and the miracles God worked in and through the people. I laughed when the young men talked about always eating with their right hand (I know you clean yourself after using the squatty potty using your left hand!) My heart went out for a girl that was so passionately nicknamed "Devil girl." She was prayed over, demon's left, God entered, and she became "Angel girl!"

I was not surprised, rather joyful, when one of the students shared a story about an older man who had kept his distance for days, but right before the group left, he opened up a little, allowing one of the young men to pray for him, and his shoulder was later healed. This was an eye opening experience for both the student and the older man. The student was scared to pray for healing--what if it doesn't work, what could happen to me, is this really God calling me to pray for healing?...the questions go on... This young man chose obedience to Jesus Christ, showing a true faith, rooted in love, to Godhead--God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The older man experienced God's healing power. In the book of Mark, after a healing, people would tell of the great things God has done. I expect nothing less out of this man!

These University aged students are forever changed, not only in their view of world cultures, but in relationships, and God's power and might! Amen! :)

Loaves and Fishes

For the past couple weeks I have heard the pastor talk about Loaves and Fishes. Loaves and Fishes is a program our church sponsors, where once a month, the homeless come into the church, and are fed a fresh, warm, meal. The food is provided by members of the church, and then it is served.



I had also read about serving at Loaves and Fishes in the bulletin. I've gone before. I knew I wanted to go, but I was making no action or thoughts towards actually participating in Loaves and Fishes this month. After church, my friend asked me to join her in serving! Spur of the moment decision, "Yes, I would like to do that!" I invited another friend to come, and she came too! So there were three of us girls from Soulhouse! Clearly, God had been working on me for a couple weeks at that point. (Soulhouse is the young adults group at my church.)

I spent most of my time serving water and lemonade to the guests. The people are very kind and appreciative--please, thank you, we appreciate you serving us, etc. And I was glad to be a part of this outreach! I have also noticed that I am now seeing some of these people in contemporary worship!



While at Loaves and Fishes, I noticed two younger people, that looked to be about my age. In talking with them, I found at that they were new to San Antonio and have been coming to the church for a couple weeks. And they are already serving in such a fashion! Awesome!

We had a young adults fajita party, right after Loaves and Fishes, so I invited them to come, and would you know, they came and joined us! God is bringing new people into our young adults group, and we love it! Yay for Jesus!

Jesus Christ is Lord

As I was driving down the road, facing the I-10, I looked up onto the interstate and noticed a semi that read,

It took me a full 45-60 seconds before I understood what was being said. Those were never words used at my house. It is sad that a statement like that has to be made! When I finally "got it," my reaction was to laugh; laugh out of ignorance to societies ways, and I was busting!

Yodalis Florentino

For almost 10 years now I have been praying off and on about sponsoring a child in another country. My parents sponsor a couple different people through World Vision, but each time I went online to look at the commitment, it just did not seem to be the right thing to do at that time.

I have been reading in the Church bulletin, and in the weekly mailer that sponsors were needed for children in the Dominican Republic (DR), through Food for the Hungry. The sponsorship had been paid, all you need to do is write them back and forth. This had been pegging away at my heart for a good three weeks.

Today, Phyllis came to Sunday school and made an announcement about these kids in the DR that needed sponsors, to be pen pals. Financial obligations were taken care of! Don't you love it when God speaks to you, and then since you fail to do anything about it, he places the opportunity right in front of you, so then and there, you can make a decision!

I am now the writing sponsor of Yodalis Florentino. His birthday is the 13 October 1995 and he loves mathematics! :)

Top 2 Prayer Requests

So...I have two prayer requests right now

1. I need a job for the fall! I would like to continue to teach HS Math.
2. I am training for the SA Half Marathon and I have been experiencing quite a bit of pain in my hip. I am running 28-30 miles per week.