Sometimes Titles are Useless.

It's the beginning of a new week in the life of  Victoria. Everybody cheer! 

Last week, like I mentioned, I had the opportunity to help out with the Outrageous Love Conference in Hagerstown, Md. In one word it was AMAZING! Coming out of such a spiritual high I have to remind myself to get into the Word of God myself and not expect to be fed everyday....3 times a day...by the speakers.
The title - Outrageous Love - pretty much explains itself. God's love for us is completely Outrageous! And we are called to show his Outrageous Love to the world! 

The time we spent worshiping God was outrageous too! My legs are still sore from jumping and dancing all around, but it was totally worth it! This is where the main idea for this post came from:

Yesterday during worship, we were singing a newer song called Dove's Eyes. The chorus goes like this:

I love your face

I love your kisses

I love your embrace

I love your presence

 Right in the middle, Shaun(the worship leader) stopped the song and said "You know, we sing this song to God, but why don't we let Him sing it back to us?" It was such a beautiful moment for me as I let the revelation that God loves my face, my kisses, my embrace....my presence....sink in.


Wow.

We're always singing and telling God how amazing He is, which is the total truth! God is beyond human imagination! He is totally otherwise. But we walk through life not realizing how much He loves and adores us.  He created us. How can you not think that he loves you?! 

As I was letting God sing back to me, I thought I would write it down...

Victoria,

I love your face

I love your kisses

I love your embrace

I love your presence

I love when you smile at me

I love when  you worship me

I love when you're quiet and enjoy my presence

I miss you when you're too busy to take time for me

I miss making you smile at the little things, because you're so concentrated on the big things

I miss the way you make me feel when you're standing in my presence

All I ask for is time with you.

I love you. 

♥God

Now it's your turn. Place your name there instead of mine. Then take a few moments in your busy schedule and spend it in the presence of the One who created you to worship Him. 

That's my challenge to you. And my challenge to myself.

God Bless

Dios te Bendiga

♥

Laptops Can be a great thing...

Greetings Friends!


Right now...this very moment, I'm sitting in a conference room in Hagerstown, Pa after typing up a million worship songs on Power Point for Brian Lake's Outrageous Love Conference. It's been a hectic day getting everything ready, packing up all my clothes, getting my car and getting ready to leave. Between my brother, Josiah, and myself- we are tech teaming, helping with video, sound, and all the odds and ends. I was so excited for this opportunity and I have a feeling it may just be the beginning. 


Getting my car...I'm sure you were probably thinking "Well didn't she just get it from the shop a couple weeks ago?"


Wellllllllll....dear Riley started making a weird noise. Kinda like an old man trying to get out of bed in the morning with creaky joints. Dad said it could be something with the power steering pump or torque converter in the transmission. With a slightly heavy heart, I brought him back to the shop. Jeff, our mechanic, said he would look at it right away. Less than five minute later he walks back inside and asked "Do you put power steering fluid in it?" I replied that I don't know where it goes(haha...I still have some to learn about under the hood). He wanted to know why dad hadn't put any in..and preceded to tell me that all that was wrong was I needed power steering fluid. And a couple small tweaks. PRAISE GOD!!!


Today when we went to pick it up, mom wanted to check to make sure the bill for replacing my engine was correct. It said I owed a little over $100 on it, which was just the taxes. My mom was convinced that there was a mistake. I on the other hand, have been believing God for a miracle. He gave me an engine with 39,000 miles and I knew he could pay for it too. :)
Sure enough- I didn't owe anything extra!!! Just the taxes which ended up being a little over $100!!! I wasn't worried whatsoever...cause the God I serve is a God of miracles! We also checked my overall balance(We found out in Nov. that I didn't pay one of my car bills and owed over $800). AGAIN God is proved gracious in that I have less than $400 to go!! My goal is to have it all paid off by the summer. That way if I go on any short or long term ministry/missions trips that I will not have any debt in the states. 


It's been so cool to see God continually provide for my every need. The more he does, the more I am amazed at His glory. And as I keep surrendering things to him, he showers me with more love. I may not know where God's gonna lead me or what my future holds, but I know the One who holds my future! :)


I hope in someway, this has encouraged you to trust the God that holds your future. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. 


Well...church is starting...and I don't wanna miss it.


God Bless
♥

Never Leave a Project Unfinished

 With everything I've been catching up on since the beginning of February, I failed to update you on the finished projects!!!!

Lo siento!!

Kevin and Jen Sheeler stayed in the Dominican a few weeks after the rest of the group returned to the states. Thanks to them, I have pictures of finished projects!

The progress on the house when Kevin and Jen returned from bringing us to the airport.

plastered and finished walls and floor.

Almost done!

Broulio filling in the septic hole 

Finished! Muy bien!

The family standing on their new porch!

The addition at Juancito's:

The white windows are in the new section

new white back door

The family L-R: Juan Samuel, Joel, Josue, Dominga, Juan Cito, and Jamie

And there you go. It is finished. For now. I'm looking forward to seeing what God does in the lives of these people and in our lives as we continue to be a blessing to others. 

Dios te Bendiga! ♥

Desserts truly are my weakness

What a beautiful morning! My reasons: it's not raining! 

I've had the opportunity since my 2nd family is in Africa at the moment to spend time with some different people. Mainly the Horst sisters: Rachel and Hannah. I guess I just can't get away from Hannah's. :) Tuesday night we even had a Dominican style meal: Rice and beans. We even tried our hand at frying some plantains. Fresh(sorta) mangoes, and who could forget-Dominican coffee.

It was nice to chill and just catch up on each other's lives since we've been back in the States.

Plantaines

Wednesday I started the Daniel Fast for Lent this year, along with a couple other people. Blueberry cheesecake for dessert was NOT a good way to start off my fast. You know how hard it is to watch 6 people eat it when all you can do is imagine what it tastes like! But I am looking forward to what God does in my life in the next couple weeks! 

In other exciting news:::::::: drum-roll please::::::::

Today I will finish a movie! Next week....it'll be on it's way to a small town in the Dominican Republic to be watched by a certain church family.  I'm pretty excited about this!! 
When we got back from the DR and were bombarded with freezing cold weather for weeks....I kept thinking of what the people in the DR would think or how they would react if they came to PA in the winter! So I decided to give them a personal look at some of the things we do in the winter here, along with a slideshow of our trip. I got pictures and videos of things like snowmen and sledding and between Josiah, Sara VK and myself, a pretty decent amount of snowboarding footage. And who could forget Connect 4 and some Rummikub. This week was crunch time, because there is a group going to Los Toros from a local school over spring break and the movie needed to be done to send with them. I spent countless hours cemented in front of the computer making cuts and fitting everything together. Believe me...I am glad it's finished!!!

I would put it on here, but I don't know if blogger supports a 30minute movie file. :)


I hope  you all had a great week too!
God Bless!

7 weeks. 4 days.

  Thursday evening, I walked into the house after work. Dad calls my name from where he was sitting at the kitchen table and says "Come have  a seat." 
NOT a good situation. I knew that. Because Dad only tells us that when we're in trouble or it's something really serious. I racked my brain as I walked the ten feet from the front door to the table. What have I done now? What else could be wrong? 

I'll back up a few minutes to my ride home from Chambersburg with Stephanie. We were talking about rising gas prices and job situations etc. It made me a little stressed.

I sit down and immediately ask "What's wrong?"

He says: "Its about your car."

I seriously almost cried. What else did they find wrong with it? Is it even worth the money we're putting in it?  I prepared myself for the worst and said "Ok Dad just tell me straight."


"Well I have good news and bad news." he said. "The good news is that your headlights are ready to go. The bad news...........

"DAD! JUST TELL ME ALREADY!!!" 


"Well the bad news is that Jeff test drove your car and the engine works fine. You can pick it up tomorrow."


I probably sounded like a deflating balloon when he said that! The time had finally come. 

Friday morning, February 25, 7 weeks and 4 days since I last sat in the drivers seat of Riley, my 2001 VW Golf, I unlocked the door and started the new engine. Oh the sound was so heavenly. Freedom awaited me as I touched my foot to the accelerator. Ok, maybe not too much freedom...my mom was with me! haha! 


While I am very very thankful to have my car back, it seemed like almost immediately I had 5000 things to do and places to go. And of course sibling taxi service. 


All the while however, I look at this as a miracle. God provided so much while I was without a car, and I'm still watching him provide the money somehow for the expense of it all. I just can't help but stand in complete awe of the One who is my provider! :)


And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19


May God Bless you today and everyday!