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dopey2188
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Name: Stephanie
Country: United States
State: Delaware
Birthday: 2/18/1985
Gender: Female
Interests: God, friends, life, sports, music (just to name a few things)....i generally always have to be doing something...although i am usually easily amused with the small and simple things in life. i always enjoy hanging out with friends. and i definitely love playing sports...especially soccer! :) i enjoy reading when it has not been assigned for a class and i get to actually choose what i read.....there's definitely more that i enjoy to do, if you want to know more....try asking me!
Expertise: laughing, having fun, goofing off, generally things that can help make many situations more enjoyable to be in
Occupation: Student
Industry: Other
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
4/26/2004
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| Wow! It has been quite some time (about 2 months actually) since I updated everyone on what I’ve been doing on the other end of the world. I am down to less than 2 weeks until I return home, and within the past few weeks things have really seemed to pick up the pace, with so many things happening. Since the last time I updated I have had a computer crisis, Spirit Week (which I helped organize and run), Family Field Day (I was in charge of all the events for the day), Language Arts Fair, Ladies retreat (my mom and I shared a room because she was here for it), my parents were here for a week, a trip to Buenos Aires/ Word of Life Monte (Argentina). I think those are all the major things that have happened, although within each of those happenings there are several more stories and such. Last week, with my parents visiting (they came down and surprised me), I was able to take them to several of the main areas in order to be able to see the city well and get a good idea of what life is like down here. They saw me coach a game for my soccer team, and met the family that has become like my own family down here. We visited the church that the Garcia’s are working with one Sunday and the following Sunday (Father’s Day) we went to the church I normally attend. Several times througout the week we spent time with the Rubin’s and Garcia’s since we all knew them and Wednesday, with Pastor Jim and Gail, we drove out to the west coast and spent the day out there. The week was a beautiful one and perfect for all the things we wanted to do, nice and sunny all week! (Now we’re back to the rain. L) My parents left on Sunday evening, Monday afternoon Lizzi and I left for Buenos Aires, Argentina. We had to renew our visas once more before we left so we took the opportunity to go over to the Word of Life in Buenos Aires and visit several friends from camp studying at the Bible Institute there as well as see the city of Buenos Aires and visit with another friend who was in the area. We arrived back here at the school Thursday morning around 11:30-ish, and I jumped right back into the whole school thing. With only 2 weeks left of classes and simply being here, there is so much to do! The yearbook is still being worked on, we have most of the pieces finished, now we simply have to start threading them all together the way they need to be. Tomorrow evening is the High school banquet, and everyone is going…it’s basically the talk of the town these days…well, that and graduation. All the seniors are trying to figure out and decide what they want to take back to the states with them and what they can’t fit, so they’ll leave behind for someone else to carry on. The end, so often, is a rather bittersweet time, and that is how I’ve tried to explain it when people ask me if I am happy or sad to go home. I am both, happy and sad, because I know I will miss these people so much and I’ve learned so much through being here that I’m sad to have to leave and say goodbye to all these people. Yet at the same time I am excited to come home and see where the Lord is leading me on this wonderful journey called “Life,” and all of the people who are back home, that I’ve missed so much through being down here. They say that “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” I can understand how true that statement can be. When I get back home (Saturday, July 5th), I will be around for a whole week hanging out (and apparntely most likely working at the church office while Jill goes on vacation), meeting up with friends and catching up on everything that is happening around home. The following Saturday (July 12th) a former roommate, Jill Huizing, is getting married up in the BBC area so I will be up there for aat least part of the weekend. The following Wednesday (July 16th) I am flying to Florida for a week, visiting Jordan, Dory, and few other friends as well. When I come back after that week (July 23rd) I will start working, most likely at the Christiana Care Hospital day care center again (I need to make some phone calls before I know for sure). I also want to get involved with some of the different miinistries in my church on a regular basis. Being down here for 6 months has really taught me a lot about how I need to live on a regular basis a life that is following the Lord in all things. And with each step I take, I take it thoughtfully and prayerfully, trusting that He is guiding and lighting my path when and where He wants it to be lit. Well, I think I’ve covered all of the latest happenings here and what’s up next. Thank you all for all of your prayers! They are always greatly appreciated and very much needed! Striving to Serve Him in All Things, Steph | | |
| Let me just start out saying that our Lord is such a great God! Camp is now finished and we are have moved into our apartments at Santiago Christian Academy. Today was actually our first day of classes, and things went very well (none of the kids died or anything major like that). For a brief review of what camp was like and the blessings there…we had approximately 1,500 campers over the whole camp season (6 weeks). Now when the kids sign up for camp they fill out something that gives us an idea of where they are spiritually and who needs to make decisions for salvation. From what we were told throughout the 6 weeks we had approximately 350 kids who needed to make decisions and we saw at least 300+ decisions made during their time with us at the camp. The Lord truly was touching hearts with the campers. Lives were changed in so many ways. I praise God for all that He has provided! I was given the opportunity to meet so many wonderful new friends…the people down here are so nice! The camp was Monday through Saturday morning each week so on the weekends we either would stay at the camp or sometimes we would be invited to someone’s house. Jessie and I became good friends with one family while Lizzi became quite close with a different family. The family Jessie and I got to know is a pastor’s family here in Santiago. They live about 5 minutes from the camp and their church is about 15 minutes past that. The Lord has blessed us so greatly, this family has been so good to us it amazes me sometimes! They invited us to stay at their house several different weekends throughout camp and one weekend while they were on family vacation came back to get Jess and I for the weekend to join them! We were priviledged with an opportunity to spend that weekend with the Alegria family at a beach in San Antonio, Chile (my first time even seeing the Pacific Ocean, let alone being able to go swimming in it). So cool! They graciously invited Jess and I back to their house after camp finished until she was to go back to the states and I needed to move to the SCA campus and have since then told me several times that any time I want or need to I am welcome at their house. Lizzi and I are learning how to use the Metro and bus systems in order to be able to attend a church regularly. We have chosen the church where Pastor Ivan Alegria is the pastor, Iglesia Bautista Misioneria de la Florida. It reminds me a lot of our church at home which is a big part of why I like it so much, also I know several people there already, which is nice. School started today (Wednesday), Monday and Tuesday we had Teacher’s in-service all day and worked hard on getting things ready and set up for things to start. It was fairly difficult, especially for Lizzi, because we hadn’t been able to do much in the classroom and there were some miscommunication issues or simply things hadn’t been completely figured out yet. But we did get through the first day and things are looking pretty good so far…no one died…that’s a pretty decent accomplishment right? J Lizzi is teaching Kindergarten every day and I do several different things. I help Lizzi in the mornings, while sometimes I have a study hall class too. The majority of my work is in the afternoons. I teach gym for the Elementary classes (split into 2 sections) just after lunch Mondays and Fridays, and the High school girls are after the Elementary with Wednesday added. Tuesday – Thursdays I also teach 1st gradehistory or science (depending on the day) for about 45 minutes. Those are the biggest things on my schedule, I have some small jobs that I do here and there as well throughout each day but overall I know I will be staying pretty busy with things. I am really enjoying my time here. Thank you for all of your prayers while I am here, they are always much needed and very much appreciated! In His Hands, Steph *for pictures go to facebook...or i'll try to post some on here soon. | | |
| Well, hey there Everyone! I wrote this at some point last week so much has happened since then but at least this is an update…I might be able to do a little more this weekend if I don’t go anywhere. We have been here for 2 complete weeks (now 3) and having such a great time! After an overextended travel time, we finally arrived in Santiago and jumped right into helping to prepare the camp to receive campers. Thursday, Friday and Saturday we stayed busy clearing cabins, bathrooms, and basketball courts. Camp started that following Monday with the arrival of 150 kids, ages 6-12. Lizzi, Jessie and I were put on the program teamwith one other American and about 7 other Chilenas. We help to run all the games for played among the kids, and every afternoon we are lifeguards at the pool for 3-4 hours each day. *Yes, Mom, I do actually use sunscreen every day. After dinner, often we are running games again and attending all of the meetings along with the campers. The first week, with the little kids, was split in half having 326 total and 127 of those made decisions for Christ, whether commiting their lives or decisions for salvation. Last week week we began the rest of the summer with the teenagers. 211 campers and according to Tito 80 of them were not saved. Befote the campfire we were tolda t our prayer meeting that all but 18 of those 80 kids had made a decision throughout the week. The Lord is doing so much in the lives of these kids as well as the staff. Many hearts were broken and lives dedicated both at the campfire and throughout the time here. I praise and thank God for all that He wants and is doing in the lives of all of us. We definitely have an amazing and great God! This weekend I was invited to a friend’s house for the weekend, were had so much fun and learned alot, getting to know the family and spending time in an actual home for a change was nice. We were able to go to their church also, which we enjoyed very much. This week we have about 300+ campers and many of them are church groups. We have about 3 weeks more of camp from here on out. Once again, thank you all so much for your prayers, they are much appreciated and needed. In His Work, Steph | | |
| well, it is official...I am going to Santiago, Chile for 6 1/2 monthsstarting January 3. I will be at Word of Life Chile for the months of January and most of February as a camp counselor during their summer camp *january and february are like our june and july here in the states. and from the end of february through the beginning of july i will be working at Santiago Christian Academy. right now the plan at the academy is to teach kindergarten, but that could change depending on what their biggest need is at the school while i am there. and something that makes it even cooler is that my best friend, Lizzi Briggs is working on coming too! i've always dreamed of going on a missions trip with her somewhere...now it looks like it will actually happen!  ia m so excited! just thought i'd share that little bit of news with everybody who might still read this. lol. ok...that's the end of my story. have a good nite. laters. | | |
| School is almost finished for the year and I am ready for summer vacation to be in full swing! Our last classes were today and now we simply need to study and take finals and pack up the room and off to home...for the weekend. *Sadly I have to come back for 2 weeks of an intense course b/c it wouldn't fit into my schedule for next semester...but it's ok...I can deal with it b/c it's only 2 weeks and then I'll have the class finished and out of the way. It's crazy to think how fast this year has gone by...and that by the end of the actual calendar year, Lord willing, I will be finished with school altogether and moving on to something new *what that will be has yet to be revealed to me by God. I'm excited to get home for the summer...I still need to figure out where I'm gonna work since Tomm's closed last year, but Jojo is actually going to be in Delaware for the summer too. Things are starting to fall into place for all of that, a family from my church said that he could stay with them for the summer and my pastor said that he was waiting for a response back from someone in the church about a possible job for him. The Lord is so good! I think that's all that's really happening right now...oh yea! I'm going to NYC with my mom, sisters, and a couple of other ladies on Saturday. We have tickets to see "Wicked" on Broadway...I'm pretty stinkin excited about it! and then the next weekend I will be going down to Liberty again for the wedding of some close friends and Jojo is the best man...so that'll be fun too :) Ok...now that's all that's happening. I need to go study at least a little bit for these silly tests they decide to force us to take! laters. | | |
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