Looking!

Crazy things happen right?? We never know what to expect, and can never guess what lies on the road ahead. Well, September 12. My sisters birthday, she turned 15. For a surprise we took her to eat at an Ethiopian restaurant. It was great to see her enjoying her culture and eating her home food. While we were there we made friends with several of the people who worked and owned the restaurant.

As we were getting ready to leave my dad had to change out the old tire of our van with the new one and plenty of the people joined us outside as we fixed to leave. While we were loading the van. A pizza truck was driving out of the strip mall, and before he could stop a 3 year old boy ran out in front of the car. I wish I could easily say that the pizza truck dodged the young boy and we all went on with our day. But it didn't. Before I could even think of what to do next, I could hear the whaling of the African people. And the screaming from the kids in the back seat. It was happening again.. I couldn't understand why, and I couldn't think of what to do or how to handle the situation all over again.

I never thought I would hear young children cry out to Jesus like that.. My mind raced and all I could do was scream out to God. The same sounds as before filled my ears. The sounds that even now I can hear echoing in my mind. My head was filled with confusion as I sat in the car with all the other children screaming and sobbing. Finally I pulled myself together and went to the kids to help them understand that God was in control and at the same time clammed myself down to understand it as well.

It's hard to understand why God does what does...
As I sat there all I could think was “why?” It’s kind of funny when we question God. We think it’s “okay” to do it. But it’s so hard not to. When a love one dies, or your parent’s divorce, we often look to other things. We don’t look straight to God, and if we do we question him.

Here we go on a rabbit trail, my little brother Christopher, he is quite a fearsome thing to behold, he strange, sometimes gross. But a small trait no one really sees is his faith. About two years ago we had my papa over and the kids where running all over the place. My papa handed my 3 year old sister a mint candy. She was playing tag at the same time a chocked on it. My mom started performing the Heimlich lick maneuver, at the same time I was dialing 911. In all panic and each kid crying, Chris got down and prayed. He didn’t focus on the things of the world around him, he looked to God. Not many people know this about my brother, but it seems almost every time our family gets into a situation like this, (which it happens a lot HAH) he gets down and prays. He doesn’t look to the medics or to my mom doing the Heimlich. He looks to God. Why is it that a child that is 11 can look straight to God, but adults, teens, we just can’t seem to do that?

I am trying to share Christ with one of my friends lets pretend his name is Tim (due to privacy issues) For a long time I have been praying and working with Tim, he even came to a rice night, but at the end of a debate he stated “I’m not ready to believe anything.. Maybe in the future” As teens, and adults we can’t seem to believe what we used to. We obviously know Santa doesn’t come down our chimney. But why can’t we put faith in something that is real?? I think my whole point to these stories is the confusion of why we all look to something else. When we need money, we look to the bank. When a child is sick we look to the doctors. I don’t know how many lessons, or how many people really need to say this until it fully clicks. God is God, why do we sleep in fear?? Why do we look to drugs, alcohol and not God?? These things have bothered me for awhile. A child CAN do it. So can us.

So let me challenge you to something, find several verses on looking to God, Genesis 18:14, Jer 32:27, Luke 1:37 ext. And post them all around, your work place, bathroom, even the banner on your cell phone. And when the tough times come, look to God and know he is in control, as Matthew 10:29 states “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” God is in control, let’s really look to him.

Long time no see!

Sorry for not blogging lately, I've been keeping up with school, and a family of 11. Life has been kinda crazy. "The mission" is just starting, our family is settling in, so on and so forth.



Recently at one of our bible studies, we watched a video. It was something like "The 10 fears for sharing Christ" this video walked you step by step to over coming the fear of sharing our saviors name. On this video they told a story that really hit me, the story (true by the way) went something like this...

"My family all got together for the holidays. It was such a big get together that the kids would sleep in the garage. That night a fire started, and as a father I ran to get the kids. The door way was block to the garage and I couldn't get in. But these kids where everything to me. So I ran through the fire getting 3rd degree burns all over my arms and legs. Still, these children lost their life's."

If you knew that your house was going to catch on fire, would you save you save the kids? I am assuming you'd all say yes. You would clear everyone out of the house. Think of it this way though, the whole world, could end any second.. Don't we want to save them all?? Are we selfish enough to sit here and say nothing?? We know the truth, we know the only way to heaven. Why don't we share it with the world?? Why don't we act as if the world was ending tomorrow? We don't have all the time we need. God knows when the world ends, and we need to act upon it.

I don't know if all of you feel the same as I. It just something that has hit my heart, and something I feel needs to change my life.

Stress and all

Sorry for not blogging lately, as most of you know, it's kinda crazy around. As for our house, it is running pretty well, I can say. More or less. I can say, my out look on life has changed a bit, I now know life is not at all easy. Epically for my mom of 9. Another thing I learned is: 2 hour nap time is the best part of the day. At last but not least, I can't take a shower without a knock on the door with a child asking "You wash?" I also can say, life has got me stressed out. I try not to be too stressed, (It's hard). But I seem to make it through. ;) Something my mom told me, when I was completely stressed, "Stress is a sin" when I heard her say this I thought she was insane, and my answer was "Really??" And almost gave the stare down kind of thing. And she explained to me that when we stress we are obviously not trusting the Lord. We are taking matters into our own hands, and that's not right. As hard as this is for me, I try to not stress as much as I do. I mean, everyone LOVES quiet, right?? But doesn't mean we have to freak out until then. I'm speaking mostly to myself, and my mom knowing she reads this.

Well, I must go, I have kids to feed. ;)

All 4 Christ,
Coral

Being confused..

You know when you are SO confused with God, you have no clue what so ever what he is doing. And in this complete chaos you can still find peace in him.

As of now, I have no idea what God is doing with my life.. And at first I had no faith in Him. Took the matters into my own hands. Didn't give God anything at all. Yes I prayed about it, yes I would say 'Oh yes God's got this' but not always did I believe it till now.

God has plans for each and everyone of us. No we may not see it. I know I don't. But he does. He may take your friends, he may take your church, he can take so many things. But God has something stored for all of us. God is a God that gives and takes away. I often take the blessing and forget about the responsibilities.

God's plans are bigger than mine, he knows ALL. How amazing is that? All we need to do is hold on to him.

Okay, so I saw the new 'Alice in Wonderland' yesterday. Amazing movie!
I don't know if this spoils the movie or not.. But I am going to say a line. That one Caterpillar thing tells Alice, when she is crying and all that jazz. 'The sword knows what it wants. All you have to do is hold on to it.' Funny thing, I use this movie to try and describe what I am saying.
But, God knows what he wants.. He doesn't need help! All we have to do is hold on to him. Trust in him, know He is our God. Who is fully capable of taking matters into his own hands.

All4Christ,
Coral Christine

My new best friend

Okay, I have a new best friend. Even though she doesn't really know we are best friends, its like my mom and Beth More. ;) But I love this chick, her name is Lexi. Her family is JUST like ours. They just adopted from Ethiopia, go figure! She wants to change the world, and she is already starting! Check it out: jumps4joy.blogspot.com
She is like my new role model!! I just love her hha. She's only 15. She is truely amazing!

Well sorry Lexi for no before notice of our friendship. ;)

All4Christ,
Coral

So awesome!!

I love my new sister!! Just having her here is soooo awesome!! Lastnight, I went to my Pathways class like I do every Monday, It was all about linguistics. Truely amazing! Afterwards I had my best friend LIBBY, come over. We had a random thought that we would try it out. We ended up staying up till 2:30 and learning over 200 words and phrases from Meski, mind you she doesn't really speak english and we know no Amharic. It was soooo much fun to see my sister excited about us learning her launguage! It was too cool! After our 3 hours of Amharic we decided to pray, this was a non-stop prayer. It lasted till 3:00 no its not those prayers that last 5 days, but it was cool to see a group of teens so in love with the Lord.

Well, I must go for we are re-writing all our Amharic.

Ciao-Bye

Doers of the Word, not just hearers.

I haven't blogged in a long time... Been pretty busy as most of you know.

Well, after the first week of being home, I finally caught up to jet lag, got used to not having security check each time you walk into a store, and most of all... Not seeing sad hungry faces on the side of the streets. Every where, there were beggars, I can not express this enough. I remember coming home and saying this over and over again. No matter where I went, there were hungry homeless people.

As I spoke before about the hospital in Kenya, I remember this one face, this one women, she was an elderly women sitting in a wheel chair, an IV in her arm and tears running down her face. Once in awhile I just sit and think of her. She was sick in a 3rd world country, probably not a lot of money, and not any REAL good meds. I live in the U.S.A. and as a kid even, I am more rich than most of the people there. Why can't I do something? Why is she probably not even alive by now, and I did nothing? I know I am only 13. I can't just hop on a plane and leave home, of course not! But can I make a difference? I can not just sit here and do nothing! I am sick of it. I said this to myself and to God, I don't even really like being home... Yes the fist time I got home I loved it. But I sit here and cry over the face of this women, or the young blind boy who was begging on the street... And I did nothing.

I want to do something, my amazing friend Amy (Thiele as I call her) shared this versus with me
1 Timothy 1:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, and in purity.
(Clap for Amy)
Being a kid.. Doesn't mean I can't make a difference. I know the Lord has something planned for me, and all my other friends who want to follow the Lord.. We just have to listen, and go.

All4Christ,
Coral

Down and almost out

Have you ever had the experience of passing out or getting close to passing out? Its the weirdest, creepiest feeling... When we where in Kenya... We started our 8 hour drive to the village.. On our way, I fell asleep. Waking up few hours later to my face slamming the front seat, a big boom with water splashing on the windshield followed by my mom yelling "We hit him we hit him!" Him was a young boy who ran out in front of our car. This young boy should of been dead... But by God's grace. He is alive and well. The next day, we went to visit this young boy. (Mind you I'm scared to death in Kenya) We make it to the hospital and I was already feeling car sick. Going in side was over whelming... So much sick and hurting. That could be stop. It hurt me just to see it.... We went into the children's clinic. Where we saw the young boy... It was horrible. I would never expect him to look like that. We prayed over him and his family. After that I pulled my mom aside and told here I need to leave before I throw up. Me and my dad stepped out into the hall way and waited. Trying to hold it down, I lost my hearing. We started making our way down stairs when I lost my sight and told my dad I'm going to pass out. I can't remember all what happen. But I remember getting outside throwing up and gaining sight back. I can tell you how happy I was that I didn't all the way pass out. And that I learned alot from this scary experience. It was so poverty stricken there. And I want to help. Well... I must go for now.

All4christ
Coral

P.s. Kt I found some tea you might like. ;)

Today's post.

Truly forever and positively in love with Jesus.
To tell you the truth, it took awhile to realize how much I really loved Jesus. I mean I love him A LOT... Each day I try to fill my thoughts with him, and how I can't wait to go spend time with him in my quiet place. (heheh my room) I want him to be my true forever focus, yes when I'm married I will be in love with that man. But still never as much as I am in love with my Savior. I love taking time to talk to him... Even though I can not say I spend a lot of time with him. But I try to take it one day at a time getting more and more into his word. And I would like to encourage everyone to spend time with him. I bet he would love it more than any other person.


Truly and forever,
Coral Christine

Taylor!!!

My friend Taylor,

There's a lot to say about her. But since I have a short time limit before my brother kicks me off i must only say this.

Besides the fact that she can quote all the lines from LOTR, she is ON FIRE for the Lord.
She recently posted awesomeness on her blog that the WHOLE world should know. So I would like to lead you to her blog. Even know my mom is the only one who really reads this. (Hi mom) Her blog is Http://journeysoftalilao.blogspot.com/
Check it out. She is pretty amazing.

Love you Tay Tay!!
Coral Christine

Hmm... Skirts #2

Skirts.... To tell you the truth now just last week I was complaining about wearing them. Now I can't wait. Skirts are not as bad as I thought. Just last night we got several skirts from Cindy May. Me and my mom tried them all on this morning. When my mom or me would see a skirt we like and call out 'I call it! Its mine! I own it!' This would happen over and over again till we Finlay got our skirts sorted. Child hood memories huh? We both have five skirts for our journey. And I really can't wait. Skirts as I said are better than I thought. They are really comfortable, fun, colorful, and not to mention the best part ever... They are flowy! Yeah, I am secretly four at heart. ;) But I love them. I might come back from Africa and wear them more than usual.
From this moment we leave in exactly two weeks!

All4Christ,
Coral Christine

Skirts....

With Africa coming sooner each day, me and my mom tried on skirts. Yes skirts... To tell you the truth I would rather be caught dead than be in a skirt.. Not to offend skirt wearers, I just really don't care for them.. But anyways, while me and my mom where trying on many different skirts, all with different shapes and sizes, I thought to myself.. "I can not believe I'm going to Africa." It started out as just Cadenn going, he has always wanted to be a missionary or something on those lines... In Africa. I was soooo jealous, I wanted to go really bad. But the best thing to do about it was pray. That was the biggest thing I prayed about for awhile. Then finaly my mom started talking about getting me a passport, just in case I get the chance to go. Now my hopes where up, I had no clue weather or not I was really going. But I hopped too. Soon after that the ABBA fund agreed to help us. I was so excited. I'll never forget going to get my passport, God truly answered my prayers. So with less than 3 weeks before we leave, all I can say is this is a true blessing.


All 4 Christ
Coral

Coming

I want to leave to Africa soooo bad. All I think about all day is Africa and I dream about it at night. I doubt what I have in mind would be anything close to the real deal. I just can't wait to go! In the future I would love to live out there. And when I go I'm guessing I won't want to come back. I pray all the time for this trip to come sooner and I thank God everyday for giving me the chance to go.

Your truly,

Coral Christine

Sooo Soon!

Africa is coming faster and faster. I can not wait!! One thing.... I gonna miss my best friends birthday... My best friend Cailee. That's right my sister. Besides our fighting and bickering over cell phones, Hair products and clothes... We are the best of friends. Nothing can make us hate one another. I truly love her. The longest time I was away from my sister was for merely 2 nights and that seemed a long time. Compared to the two weeks I'm gone that's nothing. It may seem really dumb and I might sound like I'll never see her again. But two weeks seems really long. I'm going to miss her soothing voice asking me random questions like 'Do you wanna walk to Kohls tomorrow?' at midnight. Right now I sit here looking at her from across the room, knowing I'm going to miss her bunches. I don't know how I will make it up for missing her 14th b-day. I can truly admit that she is one of the coolest people I know. And I won't trade her for anything. Yes we do fight, we are far from perfect. But we truly love another.



I love you Cailee!!



Coral