Hey there, everybody!
I'M BACK! Yay! lol. I thought it was time to let ya'll in on what's been going on lately :D But first let me say.. Happy New Year!! A little late, I know, but still... I HAD to say it. Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed year!
2009 was a great year for me. Even though it wasn't all "strawberries and cream", I wouldn't change it for the world! It was a year in which God tought me many things.. about Himself, about others, and yes.. about myself, too. I'm thankful for
everything God allowed into my life last year. Not just the good things, but also the bad things... because it is through problems and trying times that I get to know my Lord better! It is through these things that I am made stronger in Christ.
At the end of '09... great things started happening! I was very blessed to be able to go to Santiago (the capital of Chile) for 9 days to attend a Steve Pettit music conference!! I'd known for about a year that they were planning on coming, and ever since.. I wanted to go! I was thrilled at the news that were coming, and even more so when God provided for my mom and I, along with some friends from church, to go! That was probably the best week of my life so far :) Everybody on the team was a big blessing to me. Their love for the Lord just shown through in an amazing way.. and I was so blessed for getting to know them! I got to stay with Katie (one of the twins on the team). She was so encouraging and such a huge blessing to me :)
The same day I got back from Santiago (Dec.18th), I went to a young ladies' retreat at my missionary friends' church in Tacna, Peru. Even though I was exhausted from having traveled back from Santiago all night, I had an amazing time! My mom and some young ladies' from church went me. It was a big blessing to all of us. God worked in a great way those couple of days. Many decisions were made about the topics discussed.
As soon as the retreat ended (Dec. 19th), we had to rush back accross the border to our city of Arica. We made the taxi drop us right off at the church. We had our Christmas cantata rehearsal and could not miss it! So we stayed there for several hours... singing, and singing.. and more singing. We were so tired. We finally got to go home and rest up for the cantata the next day.
The day after the cantata. we had our youth Christmas party which went really well :D... and then Christmas with family, and then New Years, then my btother's birthday... and.. phew! ... here we are!
So far this year... I've been: going to a summer swimming program at the city swimming pool, doing a litttle bit of school, doing basket ball, reading, and going to the beach! I LOVE summer =D
We're also looking forward to having many special activities with our youth group this summer. Please pray for our youth group... that it would grow: both in number and spiritually.
A week from today is my 17th birthday! Wow... I can't believe it yet, lol! And.. in a couple weeks my family and I are going on a.... well..sort of a missions trip to Iquitos, Peru! Yep.. jungle, Amazon River, monkeys, big huge bugs, pirhanas.. all that good stuff :) We're attending a conference with the churches there, but hope to be used of the Lord to be a blessing to the people there. Please pray for us!
Our summer will also include a children's VBS and well as one for teens! we've never done this before (the teens' one), but think it will be a great outreach ministry and a "boost" to the church, as well.
Well... so far, 2010 looks very promising. I have many plans and thoughts for this year.. things I'm still praying about, but only God knows :) I'll try to keep you posted on all the different things that happen!
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a great, blessing-filled weekend!
Living in His Beauty,
Rebekah Bjur