Christmas!

Me and Valerie (my lil sister)















Me and Marty (my lil brother)











Me and Mum (Mom)












Me and Daddy

















Happy Christmas to you and your family!!

Home

I'm home! We got home on Monday! Ha ha ha! I gave my mom a heart attack. This was the greatest surprise in the world. I spent all night Tuesday showing up places and scaring people. It has been a lot of fun!!! To all my Welsh readers out there: I miss you all more than I ever thought I would. You are a part of my family now. If you ever come to the US call or email me. I love you and I'm praying for you GBC.

Love you all!
~Stella

Ps. My address is : Stella Pierce
700 Pelham Road North
JSU #5413
Jacksonville, AL 36265

My email address is : stella879@gmail.com

Prayer

Prayer Request for today:

Robert - He's very sick, pray for healing.
Stella - Voice box to recover from a long day of singing (fun but hard work).
Both of us - We're leaving soon, pray for closure and the heartache we're both feeling in having to say goodbye to some really great friends, pray also for our traveling safeties.

That's all for today, I'm off to go to bed. I love you all very much, and I'll see you soon!

~Stella

Connect Students and Teachers

leaving...

Leaving this place is going to hurt a lot more than I thought it would. I have to leave behind some really great friends. And yes they are my real friends. We've been thru so much in three months together. I'm so ready to be home and see my family and friends, cause it feels like I wasn't home for that three weeks. I hate this part. I hate having to say goodbye. That the chance I take everytime I leave JSU. I make friends with people so easily so it hurts. Please pray for me about leaving. I know that I'm not suppose to come back in January. I have a real peace about that. Why couldn't these people all have been big jerks. If they were it wouldn't hurt to say goodbye. I love Wales and all my friends here!

~Torn

My Daddy!

I found this picture tonight and it made me smile. Cause it's my Daddy and I love him! That and in 9 days when he tells me he can be at the airport in two hours I can tell him ok, cause I'll be at ATL airport in two hours!!! YEA!!! I love you guys and I'll see you soon!

~Stella

Thanksgiving in Wales

Yesterday was a lot of fun. I went to morning worship, it was our first Sunday back in the church building. GBC is 140 years old as of yesterday. The building hasn't been there 140 years, the church body has been worshipping together for 140 years. It was pretty cool how God worked out all the construction going on, everything was finished enough that they could celebrate their anniversary in their building.

After the service Robert and I went back to our houses and got the ingredients for our desserts and met back at the church to cook them. Welsh cookers (ovens) are stupid. Not really but the one Robert tried to use wasn't working properly. When everything was finally cooked we got on the bus with Josh in tow and headed to Rob and Jenny's house. We were the last ones in, but I was just glad that we made it at all. All the local IMB people, their children, Jeff, Josh, Robert, and me were all there. We were getting together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

I didn't think it would even come close to Thanksgiving back home, but as usual I was wrong. There were 19 of us all together. We all sat down together at this huge table (ok so it was a big table and another normal sized table pushed together. And a little table were the four eldest of the 7 kids sat.) and had a Thanksgiving feast that rivals any I've had before. It was great! Having a Thanksgiving celebration with 19 Christians is the coolest way to spend Thanksgiving. It's such a God thing when that happens. You spend most of your time talking about God, even if you don't plan to. Oh, and I almost forgot. Our Grandmother Ann (she's the older lady from AL that makes us sweet tea!) read us the Thanksgiving story. After all the food some people sat around talking, some played snooker (sorta like pool), and me and all the 7 kids watched Veggie Tales! What more could anyone ask for!

While we were eating I felt I was in a movie. If you've ever seen a film that had a bunch of people sitting down for a meal you know what I'm talking about. Everyone's eating and talking, and they always show that one person that just starts looking around at everyone enjoying themselves and that person starts smiling to themself. Well, that was me. It was just so cool to feel like I was a part of this big family. I did miss my blood related family, but this was a great substitute. It was a very surreal moment.

Alright you guys I'm off to do my 1000 word paper on The Purpose Driven Life! Only 11 more days till I'm back State side! I love you all!!!

~Stella

November 24, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving! Love you guys! Only 15 more days!!

~Stella
Ps. Mom and Valerie call me back! My phone was being stupid when you called!

hmm...Home?

It's funny how I've used the word home lately. A couple of weeks ago I was on the phone with Robert and I said I was on my way home....and then I corrected myself and said that I was on my way to Andy and Sharon's house. Is their house home to me? On here I've said I'll be home in no time, or I'll be home in X amount of days. Home then is referring to where? The States, Jacksonville, or Dadeville.?! Some people say that home is where your heart is. Ok what if you're heart is in different places at the same time? While I'm in Wales my heart has been in at least three different places. When I'm focused on people and things here, Wales is home. Other times when I'm talking about leaving here home is just a place in the states. When I get to thinking about school and stuff Jacksonville is home. When I'm thinking about my family, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, Dadeville is home. I say I'm going home on December 9th. But I don't know where that is other than to say I'll be in the States.



This really bares no importance on anything, it was just a thought I had. Maybe it's because my home is really in Heaven and nowhere else. We are told not to store up treasures on earth because it is not our home. Does anyone else ever ponder these things or am I the only weird one? Well only 17 more days till I'm in the States! I love you and miss you all!

~Stella

Homework day!

.......BCM @ JSU... I miss you guys!!

Since all I'll be doing today is classwork, a meeting with Fred (minister), and then ending with St. David's Praise practice, I thought I'd fill you in on what happened last Thursday. I just copied and pasted the following from Jeff's blog :

Thursday just seem like the longest day of the week. Its hard to think that it was only yesterday morning that I went to Glenwood for class. Yesterday we started on the 3rd work book. It is mostly about British child protection laws and risk laws, its not nearly as interesting as the psychology stuff has been. After class Robert, Stella, Josh and I were going to grab some food but decided to stop into Starbucks for a cup of coffee. We went and set down upstairs and realized after a few minutes that the 3 kids sitting just across from us were reading the "Purpose Driven Life" we started talking to them and found out that all 3 were 16, 2 were Christians, Luke and Becca, and their friend Glen wasn't sure because he finds it hard to believe the things that science can't prove.. we spent about two hours talking to them, answering questions for Glen and enjoying the fellowship of other Christians. It is amazing how God puts us together to glorify Him. We ended up giving Glen a copy of "The Purpose Driven Life" and "The Case for Christ" because he wanted to read more but didn't want to buy books. After we left Starbucks we went and ate some dinner and then killed time until we went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter. Stella was excited to get to go and its fun to say I saw it before anyone back home. It was really just a fun night to spend time with each other and laugh and talk with a movie at the end.
Please continue to keep Rob in your prayers as he struggles with the pain in his back and has to look at surgery options on how to fix it. Also please pray for Glen as he asks questions of his friends, that God can open his heart to things that he can't understand.
Jeff
Song of the day "That's how the Story Goes" by Third Day

I love you guys! And I'll see you in just 18 more days! Have a great day and find a way to pass on God's love to people you see today!

~Stella

What a day!

We had such a great day yesterday! We acted like total tourist and it was FUN! We saw Bristol, Bath, and Stonehenge. The picture below is a picture of the Bath Abbey taken by Jeff, at my demand. LOL anyway, more on the trip later! I love you guys! Only 19 more days till I'm home, and I can't wait!!!!

~Stella

Ps. I changed my mind. If you want to hear all about it click on the Robert's journal link!

Three words for you........

STONEHENGE AND ME (us) !!

~Stella

Haaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy!!!!!!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire totally rocked! And I got to see it before you did........ HAHAHA (evil laugh)!! That's what you get for getting to read the latest book before I could! :P

That is all!

~Stella

Ps. I love and miss you all! Only 21 more days till I'm home!!!!!!!

Picture of the day!

This is right before the Wales vs. Fujii rugby match.

ONLY 24 MORE DAYS!!!!

Love you all!

~stella

Host Church

.................................... LIGHTSHIP 2000 ..................................................
................................... JoHanna .......................................

This is a picture of JoHanna, she's 2 1/2 now. No I didn't take this picture Allan did. It's from this summer.

The pictures I took at Cardiff Castle are up now. It's only one roll, I still have some more to get developed.

I can't wait to see you guys and tell you some of the awesome things God's revealed to me this weekend. Last night we met on the Light ship (the ship pictured above) and had our evening service. We were afraid that no one was going to show up, but 30 people came. That's the most people I've seen at one of their evening worship services yet! And God showed out!! He's on the verge of blessing this part of His church more than they can even fathom. They just have to take that one step further in faith. His blessing in right there for them. They just have to reach out and claim it! I've seen the strides this body of believers has made just in the short time I've been here, and it's really inspiring. I'm very excited that I got to be here and help them move that one step closer to God. Please continue to pray for Grangetown Baptist! Pray for some youth leaders to step forward. Pray for the leaders that they have right now, that they would always seek God and His direction. And pray for the unity of the church, they are getting closer and closer everyday. This weekend God started with getting all (most) of the women united. Pray that these women of God will be shining examples to their husbands and other men in the church. I pray that these women will be the ones that unite their church. Father, don't let that fire you put in them this weekend die out. Father, let them spur one another on everyday. Replace the gossip that was there with prayers for each other. Bless Your church!

~Stella

Home for the weekend.

Chris and Veronica Jackie and Alan

I've been staying with Jackie and Alan since Thursday night. It feels as though I've come home for the weekend after being away at University. Last night I went to the Wales vs. Fuji Rugby match! It was SO much fun. Wales won 11 to 10. Today I went to a ladies meeting called "Are you a Martha or a Mary?" I thought it was just going to be a meeting where they listed all the traits of Martha, then all the traits of Mary, then told us which we were and how to balance it better. Boy was I wrong. God showed up and really showed out today. Sue from my cell group (at Andy and Sharon's) gave her life to Christ today! No matter what now I'll see Sue again whether it's this side of Heaven or in Heaven! Please pray for her. She's pregnant right now, also pray for her husband who doesn't know Christ. His name is Mark. God really spoke to me today and released a lot of baggage I've been carrying around for a while. I feel so much better now! He's given me joy, real joy again!! God so totally rocks!!! If you don't know Him, I need to introduce you to Him, because He is the greatest thing in my life! His love is sooo.....sooo....great is not a strong enough word....truly awe-some! I can't put into words how free I feel right now. If you feel like something's missing from your life, it's God. God is the only one who can fill that God size hole in your life. He accepts all kinds into His family. Being a child of God is so great! I want you all to be with me in Heaven, it's going to be the greatest place ever in the history of God! I love you all very much!!

~Stella

Hmmmmm..........?

I don't know much of anything right now. I'm taking a break from finishing up some homework right now. My brain is fried! I just don't know why this is so hard to do. Most of it was done already, it was just refining it. Homework that you've already done once before, is hard to motivate yourself to do it again. Oh well, on a happy note, as of right now this very second I only have 29 days left! I just can't tell you all how much I have missed you. It feels like I've been gone since July. In the three weeks I was in the states it never felt like I was home. I ready to be home. I'm not going to stop the work I'm doing here by any means. I'm just going to really enjoy being home for longer than three weeks. I love you all!!

~Stella

T-minus 31 days and counting!

I can't believe how fast time has gone by. I admit that some days felt like they lasted for a year, but overall time has flown. I only have 31 days and only 5 more "classes!" That's just crazy. I hope all of you have had a great semester. I have learned so much that I could never type it all here. When I get back we will have much to talk about if you want to know about my time here. I love and miss you all!

~Stella

The ones I'm missing the most right now this second!!

The look?

Have you seen this face before? According to Robert it's the look. Dunt dunt dunnnn......

Have you seen her?

I love and miss you very much, Jessica!!!

Coming home early.

I'm going to come home the same day that Robert does.

I typed a blog and told it to post and it all disappeared, so apparently I wasn't suppose to say those things so I'll just say....... pray. Pray for my grandmother and all of us Connect students. If you would like to receive the prayer letter we make send me an email at stella879@gmail.com and I'll send it to you.

I love you all and miss you all very much! No fear, I'll return in six weeks!

~Stella

TN or not to TN??

That's the question. Go home early and go on the spots trip to TN or stay and not go on spots to TN. I don't know. What I do know is that I'm very tired now so I'm going to go to sleep. Please pray for me and whether or not I should go to TN. I love you guys very much!!

~Stella

Ben and Sam

Today I got to babysit two of the greatest kids in the world...Ben and Sam Burns. They are Rob and Jenny's two youngest boys. We had a blast! We played football (soccer) Monopoly for like three hours, had lunch, and then played in the park. It was the first time I'd been on a swing in a few years. I had forgotten how much fun they were. We had so much fun! Sam is just the funniest little 6 year old I've met in a while. And Ben is right there with him. Ben's 9 years old. Spending the day with the two of them really made me miss Valerie and Marty. They have the same bond as them two. I love you two! Well other than spending the day with them nothing else really happened. When I finished babysitting I went to the church for our weekly staff meeting, and then hung out with Robert and Josh until I finally made one of them walk me home. And now I'm writing this and going to bed. It's been a really fun but really long day! I love you all, and I thank you for all your many prayers. They are needed everyday!

~Stella

God You're AWESOME!

So we gave the kids a week to think about whether or not they wanted to come on Sunday nights and learn more about God. We told them if they wanted to learn to come this Sunday and if they didn't want to then they should stay home. No hard feelings either way. I must admit I thought tonight we'd only have one of the guys come back. Boy was I ever wrong! All four of them returned and Lewis brought a friend with him. God showed out!

We had a great time with the boys. Even though one of them was sent home in the first ten minutes and Lewis was asked to leave during the last five minutes. We still got through to them. It was a great feeling! When they we were all sitting there talking about God and how they felt about Him...... I can't tell you how excited I was just to be sitting in that room. God, You really moved me tonight. Thank You for each one of those boys. I pray that You will keep speaking into Thibawni's life. Forgive me for not being able to spell his name. Keep drawing all of them to Your side. I really saw the spark of hunger stir in a couple of the boys. I pray that You would reveal Yourself to Aaron. He needs You Father. Show Him Your love and forgiveness. Thank You for bringing them all back this week. Thank You for allowing me to be there to experience it all. Thank You for Robert. Father give us both strength to continue and finish this task that You've given us. Reveal to us what You want us to do. I love You and praise You for all that You are and all You have done for me/us! Thank You! Amen!

I can't wait until I get back home. There is so much I want to share with all of you that I just can't on here. If I was to even try it would wind up being the world's longest post! I miss you guys! Send pictures of yourself and others that I know to stella879@gmail.com. I love getting pictures in my inbox, it makes it like you're just down the street and not across the giant pond! I love you all dearly! You've made my life so much better. Thank You, God, for all of the friends You have given to me! Keep them safe and comfort them always!

~Stella

the best day ever...

Yesterday was the best day ever! I spent the whole day by myself. It was good for me. Most of you know how time doing things by yourself can be great. If you don't know, you should take a day and be by yourself. And don't just sit at home go walk around town, through a park, around a castle. Stop and experience life and all that God's done in your life.

I woke up. Spent time with my host family over a cup of coffee. Got dressed and headed to the bus stop to meet Robert and Josh. There was no Robert or Josh, so I sent them text messages. Then came the replies that I had misunderstood the plan. Since I was already up and dressed I decided I'd just go to City Centre and walk around. On my way to town I saw Josh. After talking for a bit he decided that he would go to library and possibly go on the tour of the castle with me after my LTG with Kellie. Onward I went. I love "people watching," and the best place to do that here is in City Centre.

I was going to go walk around on the grounds of Cardiff Castle, but on the way there I saw this park. It was right next to the castle and appeared to have at one time been a part of the castle grounds. I walked in, took a little path to the right, and just let my imagination run wild. I really love the renaissance era! So of course I was imagining being Lady Stella on her morning walk through the woods. After spending some time there Lady Stella decided to go check on things in the castle.

The city of Cardiff had its' 100th birthday yesterday. (I think Cardiff has been on this earth for a lot longer, but it was officially declared a city 100 years ago.) Because it was Cardiff's birthday to walk around the castle grounds was free. You only had to pay for the tour, which took you to places inside the main building that you're not allowed in otherwise.

When I entered the castle I can't tell you all the things that went through my mind. It was almost like the feeling of being home. (I'm such a sap!) I starting walking toward the Keep and noticed that a little faint rainbow was starting to form on the left side. By the time I took my camera out it was beautiful. There sat the keep, which as normal keeps go, sat up on a hill and encircling behind it was this beautiful rainbow. Can you see it? It was picture perfect. It felt like God was telling me, "Good morning and welcome to My kingdom." As soon as I get the film developed I'll put them on here. I spent two hours all together walking around the park and the castle. Me and God did some talking during those two hours.

Then it was time for LTG at Kellie's flat. She had cooked lunch (yea for me! something else free). We talked over lunch, and I really got slapped in the face with the fact that she's not going to be here next week. Her two years here are finished. I'm really going to miss her. We have really bonded in the seven weeks I've been here. I have to find another girl to have LTG with. I want to ask you all to pray for Kellie. Unless you've been on mission you may not fully understand what it's like to come home after, but you can still pray.
God, help Kellie not to become bitter with her home church. I know she's going to have a lot of things that are going to hit her all at once. I pray that You would give her the strength to deal with them. Ease her culture shock of being in the states again. Help her to find her rhythm quickly. I pray that she would turn to You during these times and keep You as the centre. Don't let her get swept away. Give her family understanding. Let them be willing to give her comfort when she needs it. I pray that they would be an encouragement to her and not a hindrance during this process. Keep her safe and near You always! Thank You for the time I got to spend with her. Thank You for using her in my life. I love You, Father! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

After LTG I talked to the guys and found that they were not coming, so I went back to the castle and took the tour. Since it was Cardiff's birthday everyone got special rates to take the tour. For students (like me) it was £4. Once inside the castle, I really fell in love. The last owners of the castle decorated most of the rooms with a mediaeval/renaissance flair. I was not allowed to take pictures inside, so if you want to know details ask me when I get back. Don't worry, I don't think I'll ever forget what those rooms looked like. After the tour I headed into the Centre to the bus station.

On my way to the station I got the urge to see a film. So off I went to see what was playing. When I got to thecinemaa it was 3:50pm. There was nothing showing at that time that I wanted to see. I decided to see a film called Nanny McPhee. It didn't start till 5pm so I walked down the street a bit and got a sandwich till time to be back. When I got in the theatre I was amazed at the seats we got to sit in. They were like seats taken out of someone's car (the backseat, cause they don't recline)! The film was pretty funny, I liked it! Emma Thompson starred in it and she also wrote the screenplay for the film. I was highly impressed to find that out. After the film I went by the ticket counter and bought three tickets to the 12:05am showing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!!! Here all the (car) seats are numbered/lettered like in a real theatre. And the lady at the counter told me that on the night of the HP film everyone will be shown to their seats. I can't wait!!

Anyway after all that I headed to GBC to see Robert and Josh. I met Josh on my way, he was headed back to his church for his weekly youth group. I got to the church and saw Robert, checked my email, and reviewed our plans for tomorrow (today). Then I headed home. I got home and Andy, Sharon, and I watched Hitched. Then I took my worn out self up the stairs and off to sleep. It was a great day! And now I've been blessed with today!

I love you guys! And I miss you all very much!
~Stella

Rugby !!!!

Cardiff Blues Win !!!!!
I knew I forgot to tell you guys something the other day. On Saturday Reese, a deacon from GBC, took me and Robert to a rugby match. It was between the CARDIFF BLUES and the Leeds Tykes. It was the greatest match I've ever seen!! Cardiff was getting trampled the first half. I guess I shouldn't say trampled cause they had possession of the ball for most of it they just kept messing up and letting Leeds score. The second half the Blues battled back hard and just ran all over the Tykes. It was great! Needless to say again but the Blues won 40 to 17 (I think?! I knew I should have written it down!). If you've never seen a rugby match I highly advise that you go see one, they are so much fun.

Oh and also I'm singing in a Christmas choir here in Cardiff called St.David's praise. We practice every Monday night. We are performing on December 3. Once in the afternoon and once in the evening at St. David's. Jackie wanted me to sing with her and Lorraine (they sing alto), but I told them I didn't think I knew how to sing like a girl. The people in charge of the choir said it was ok for me to sing my normal Tenor. I can't tell you how relieved I was when the lady told me that. I am the only woman Tenor in the choir. So there's no pressure there! It's just like in Dadeville! The funniest part was when the lady in charge thing said that women Tenors were found more in the States than here in the UK. Oh well, I guess I'm acting all American again! LOL

Anyway, I hope you all have a great week and that you all find a way to serve God this week! God and I love you very much (He loves you way more I promise!) !!

~Stella

Youth are.....

All I know to do is pray. Father, if these are the youth we are to pour our lives into, I pray that You would open their hearts to.....well I guess that is pretty stupid to finish. God their hearts should be open to You not to what we would tell them. I don't understand what You want us to do, but I'll keep going forward until You tell me to stop. Give me direction. Which way is the way You want us to go. I fear that we jumped before You wanted us to. That or You wanted them to realize exactly how serious this all is. They were showing such promise. Forgive me for not praying enough. I give these youth back to You for they are Yours. Please don't give up on them! I know they need You, even if they don't fully understand how much yet. Give me a peace about all this and what it is You want me to do.

I hope you all are having a great weekend. Don't forget I miss you all and love you even more!

~Stella

laaa la laaa la laa la

My brain hurts. I did an hour and a half worth of homework and because I'm a moron I got to do it all over again. I just love it when that happens. Because I can never remember exactly how I wrote it the first time, so it drives me crazy that the first time was prob better. Of course because I had to redo this one question I discovered that it was kinda a trick question so that made me use my little brain even more. I love to figure things out. It's fun! But it hurts my brain if I do it for a long period of time.

Well, I guess that's it for now. God, thank You for all that You've been teaching me about worship and what it means to really worship You. You are so cool. And You have this ability to be so complex at times and then so simple in the same moment that it takes my breath away when I study about You. I love You! Take care of my family and friends! I hope that one day they'll get to meet You if they haven't already. Father, for the ones that do know You reveal something cool to them. I pray that each of them would have a moment everyday where You just take their breath away by something they've never seen or heard about You before. Thank You for everything You've done with and thru me during my time here. Forgive me for my whining. I know that even though it hurts to get sharpened You are getting all the glory for it in the end. Thank You for sharpening me somewhere that there are so many people to pour themselves and all You've taught them into me. You have perfect timing! I love You! Thank You for hearing my prayers. Bless this part of Your church, Father, strengthen them. Take their fear away. Allow them to see that they are being deceived, and that to grow they must change. Amen.

I love and miss all of you guys!! I'm hear for you if you need me. I'm just an email away!

~Stella

Ps. Ginny Humber if you haven't done so already.... check your facebook messages. Know that what happened and what you thought happened with your comment are two different things. I love you and I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea!

Pps. I love you Mommy! I love you Daddy! I like you Valerie (inside joke)! I love you Marty! I miss everyone of you more and more everyday. Know that I'm thinking about you and praying for you everyday, even though I don't get to call you everyday and tell you. Mom and Dad, I thank you for all that you two have taught and keep teaching me. Thank you for showing me God. He is the greatest gift you could have given to me ( and to Valerie and Marty as well). Thank you for standing behind me, even when you didn't want to, and trusting that God knew what He was doing. It means the world to me that you can let me go to do God's work. Thank you for being that faithful to Him. May He continue to bless you always! Thank you Valerie, for putting up with a psycho sister like me. Thank you for "running" the apartment while I'm here. I'll never be able to repay you for that, but I'm gonna sure try when I get back. Marty, thank you for showing me that I was wrong to ever worry about you sticking to your faith in God. I'm so proud of you for standing firm in your faith even though you've moved out on your own. Thank you both (V&M) for not just being my little "children" and my siblings but for being two of my most valued friends! I love you four more than I'll ever be able to tell you or show you in my lifetime!

There was a point.

So here I sit pondering why do I even bother? I know the answer to that though. Because God said for me to. My only "job" tonight was to come up with an activity that had to do about peer pressure. The lesson Robert was teaching was about the peer pressure that Rack, Shack, and Benny faced when they were asked to bow before a huge idol. {No, those are not the Biblical names. Those are the Veggie Tales Names. So sue me, I needed a laugh just now!}

Well, my activity went like this: I didn't allow anybody into the room until everybody was here. I told them to go in and do the worksheet that was on the table. I had set up one of the very low children's tables with colouring sheets and crayons. I wanted it to appear that I wanted them to sit at that table and colour. It worked. There was a lot of grumbling, but eventually one boy sat down and the rest followed suit. I left the room for a bit to see if they would really start colouring. I came back and all but one of the boys had started colouring. My plan was to wait it out to see how long it would take him to "cave in" and start colouring. And then start asking questions about why he finally started colouring even though he didn't want to.

Just as he(A) did start colouring, one of the other boys(B) said he was finished. Well B got up and starting playing with a football (soccer ball for those of you in the states). So, I majorly "dropped the ball" by focusing my attention on on boy B instead of boy A. Then it all snowballed from there. The two boys starting arguing about how B should listen to me when I asked him to stop playing and sit down. Then just mass chaos ensued. I lost control of all four of the boys. At which point I went and told Robert to start his lesson because I was getting no where. While they were with Robert I went and prayed for peace.

This assignment is proving to be harder and harder every time we do something. There's no discipline in any of the boys. I don't know if that's because of their parents discipline style at home or just a pure disrespect of "authority figures." Either way, I'm learning more and more that teaching is not for me. I have no patience with kids that don't have some basic idea of how to do what an adult in charge tells them to do. Is that something that can be learnt?

Man, every time here lately I've blogged I've been upset. I not that miserable. Things with my host family are much better. We haven't had a talk about it yet, but both sides appear to be happy. I'm interacting with them as much as possible. I talk to them more. I see them more. I'm not in my room anywhere near as much. So, I'm taking that as a good sign. Thank You, for helping me come out of my shell, God. At times it's a bit scary, but I know You're right there with me. Thank You.

I love you guys! I miss you all!

~Stella

Sharpening the Stella

I think if I had to blog now I'd never get to the end. To many things are running through my head.

I didn't want to give up "my time" (as Mommy always liked to call it), so I managed to unintentionally deeply offend my host family. Normal behavior to me in the states is not normal behavior in Wales. And since I've been on mission trips before I have no excuse for being upset that someone in a different land expected me to follow their ways of life (I'm not talking spiritually here. I don't give up my God for nobody.) while I'm in their country. I've learned this lesson many times before. I think that here it's so much like the States I forget that I'm in a different country. In this society if you sleep till 9am or later it's called a "lay in" (sleeping in for Americans).

I'm not a morning person for those of you that haven't had the pleasure of talking/seeing me first thing in the morning. I have gotten a lot better since the time I lived with my Auntie Missile. {Valerie, if you think I'm bad now talk to anyone in the Jerry and Michelle Wheeler family and compare stories.} I'm a work in process. My theory is until I can talk to people nicely and mean it in the mornings I don't leave my room. Normally at least thirty minutes after waking up. Anyway, since I didn't know the whole 9am thing it appeared that I was sleeping half the day away. When in fact I was sleeping until 9-9:30am, waking up for thirty minutes, doing my quite time and Bible study, then working on some class work before I came down stairs. Not a good idea when you're in someone else's house and they get up around 7-7:30am.

After finding all this out God very gently told me that I was going to have to start getting up earlier on those days that I'm not up and out of the house by 8am. And not just waking up earlier but going down stairs and hanging out with my host family before starting my day. Not a single fiber in my body wanted to do this, and I told God this as well. He made me, and He knew I didn't like interacting with anyone except Him first thing. I don't like people when I first get up. I told Troy and Rob about the situation and they said the same thing God said, and they asked me a question. "Do you want to learn the lesson now or do you want to have to go through another ordeal like this again someday down the road?" Ok, so I don't remember either one of them saying that exact question but that's what I got out of the conversation.

I decided that God always knows best, whether or not I care to admit or acknowledge it. Getting sharpened by God really hurts! But I'm (we're) so much better for it! It's not... that....bad...... to see.... people in the ....morning. I've never liked seeing people first thing and it's a little unnerving to me to not be having such a problem with it anymore. It's not like me to be, dare I say, happy to see people in the morning right when I wake up.

God's really tearing down a lot of pride in my life. Pride that for the most part I didn't know that I had. Pride that has been masquerading as stubbornness for a long time. Is stubbornness the same thing as pride? Or is it that because of our pride we become stubborn? I love life! It's always changing.....wait it's not always changing, I'm always changing. God's changing me everyday. So much of our lives are based on perception. That's the part of us that really changes and allows us to grow. Once we gain the God's eye perspective we start to see things the way they are intended. That's when you start loving people like Christ loves us all. The hardest part about changing is not the changing itself it's all the stuff that God has to throw at us to make us "wake up" and realize we're seeing things wrong.

And so ends another very long entry by yours' truly. I just want to thank you all for your prayers. They have done a great deal in my life during the past 41 days. I love you each for the person that you are and the person that God's says you're going to be! I challenge you to look into your life and see what's holding you back. What is pride/stubbornness telling you not to give up to God? And know that there's so much genuine joy on the other side of truly giving it to God so that He can mold you.

Missing and love you all like crazy,
~Stella

STRETCHING....

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PRAY NOW !!

Whatever you're doing right now stop. Start praying for me and my host family. I'm possibly changing families again, for reasons I will not put on the world wide web. Nothing major just different opinions on important issues.

Congrats are in order for my cousin Jason and his wife Hannah. God has blessed them again with a little girl. She was born today. When I get the correct spelling of her name I'll tell you what it is. Please pray for them and their new arrival. Mother and child are doing good.

I love you all and goodnight.

~Stella

Ps. Is anyone reading my journal from East Asia? Just need to know how fast I should be posting them.

Sardines!

I learned today that Maisy Mouse and her friends play the game of Sardines. That made me laugh a little and cry a little. Why the crying? Because we always play Sardines at the BCM....sob sob.

Hey, stop laughing at me..... You know they don't call me the drama queen for nothing! Today was a very relaxing day for me. I enjoyed having the day to myself. Just me and God. And Kellie was a part of it for a few hours. We all start The Purpose Driven Life today. I'm looking forward to it. Please continue to pray for God to reveal to me if I'm suppose to stay or not. If I'm staying I need money to appear. If I'm leaving I need Financial Aide to get it right this time.

I love and miss all of you people! Follow God always!!

~Stella

hmmm ok

I love you guys! I'm completely tired now, so I think I'm going to go lay down. I went and saw "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." I was very disappointed. :( Sandy, your high school put on better productions! It was a sad sad day for Drama majors and drama lovers everywhere. It was my first time seeing this musical, so I was a little upset that it was done so poorly. The only thing it did for me was make me want to see it done right. JSU drama department, Hugh Hef was better than this performance. Anyway, love to you all, and goodnight.

Stella

Question for everyone.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Your thoughts, feelings, teachings and/or findings?

If you would feel more comfortable send your answer by email to stella879@gmail.com Any and all feedback is read with an open mind, not a judgmental one.

Stella

mmmm.........

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!
That is all.
Stella

Swirling vertex of death !!

Last night was fun, hanging out with the all the Connect students. The car lift home was a little to much fun (hence the blog title today). No we didn't wreck or anything like that, it was just fun.

I'm doing a lot better than last week. Last week was not fun by any means, but yesterday I talked with Kellie and things are going good now. It such a blessing to have someone my age here that I can talk to. This place has been hard to get a handle on, because it's so different than where I've been. Coming here after being in East Asia for a month threw me for a loop. I went from one extreme to the other. I went from being in a place that nobody spoke my language, so I was forced to totally rely on God and nothing else. It was just me and God. It was great. Life is so easy and fulfilling when you spend a lot of quality alone time with Him. And yes I meant to say easy, because when it's just you and God it doesn't matter what the devil and his minions are throwing at you. It doesn't affect you the same way that it does when you have a casual relationship with God.

Thus my troubles here. Everyone here speaks my language (even though it sounds a little funny at times and they use words in different ways so that I don't always know what in the world they are talking about) here. I have a mentor (which because I'm a huge slacker I haven't met with yet. Hey, I'm working on it!), I have an LTG group (that right now is just me and Kellie), I have all the teachers at connect ready, willing, and offering support, I have Robert, I have Troy and Cheryl ready to help me, and I've got almost the whole Grangetown Baptist Church available to help me if I need it. With all this support who needs God?

Who needs God?.....um.... that'd be ME!!!!! Since I've been here I've left Him out of the equation. Not all the way, but from talking and studying with Him almost 24/7 while I was in East Asia it feels like He's not here. I know that He's here I just haven't paid Him much attention. And as a direct consequence I got extremely stressed out and confused and was to the point of packing it all up and coming home (like letting Satan win was the right answer to my problems!). And I was so far gone that I couldn't even see that the problem was that I had cut off my life support, God. And I want the people who are praying for me to know something, "It was ONLY thru YOUR PRAYERS that God was able to open my eyes to what I had been doing!" God used Rob (Connect director) to encourage me to take the stress, I had put on myself about class and the youth group, off. God used Troy to comfort Robert with his letter, and when Robert posted it I read it and God spoke to me. And then as the finale (sp by Joshua) God used Kellie as a means for me to talk the whole situation out and really bond with Kellie. Kellie's struggles her first year here in Wales were the same as mine were last week.

I want to ask that all of you pray that I will start turning to God more. And spending time with Him more. Pray for Robert as he is continually being attacked. Satan is using Robert's family against him in many different ways. Pray for Hannah (one of the computer club kids) she reappeared at computer club last Tuesday and being gone for a while. Pray that she would keep asking questions and getting to know me. We're building a relationship right now. Pray that she'll get involved with a youth group. As much as I'd like her to be a part of this one I don't feel it's that important where so much as it's important for her to be involved in a church and learning that Christ loves her for who she is. I love you all so much! And thank you for your prayers, please don't stop!

~Stella

Awwwww!!!!

If you will notice I am typing this in pink of all colours! You guys and gals that really know me know that I'm not a fan of pink. I'm writing in pink because I was tickled pink tonight. I got to talk to Ms. Brandi, Mrs. Joyce, Valerie, and Brandon (P) at the BCM. And to top that I got to talk to a whole bunch of people at my beloved costume shop! It was so good to hear all those familiar voices!!! I can't tell you what it meant to get to talk to all of you. After the half week I've had it was good to hear all of you.

I was doing pretty good until I got on facebook and saw everyone's headshots (ok so not everybody, but a lot of them). And they looked awesome by the way! Anyway it just made me realize that I wasn't there to get mine made. :( And that yet again I'm not going to get to audition for SCTC cause I'll still be here. I even tired to convince Freddy to move all the costume classes to Wales so I could be near all you guys! You're suppose to just be right down the road not hundred of miles away! But now that I've called and talked to everyone I'm much better. You guys really brightened up my day (technically my night)! I love you all! You mean more to me than I let on, I hope each of you know how much I truly love you!

~Stella

???????

God,
Help me. I don't know what I'm suppose to be doing right now. Am I on a M-trip or what? It doesn't feel the same. I'd say that meant I wasn't suppose to be here, but I know You're the only reason I'm here. I'm confused. I don't know what it is You want me to do here. I just can't seem to get my head wrapped around this program. I know what the class part of this is, but the M part is where I'm having the trouble. We're suppose to go out and introduce ourselves to the shop people here, so that they get use to seeing us around. Building relationships, got it. But then what? Maybe I'm just in a weird mood today. Jesus, I need You. I love You. Please hold and comfort me. Father, hear my prayer.

Your wondering child,
stella

Dinner with Brian

The title tells you what I'll being doing after church this evening. I just wanted to let everyone know that my journal from East Asia is now up and I'm beginning to put journal entries from before I left, while I was there, and there'll prolly be a few from when I got back to the states. The problem is you will have to start with my first post of that blog and work your way backwards. I've dated them with the actual date that I wrote them in my journal. Feel free to make comments on them if you wish. Love you all! Keep praying!

~Stella

Robert Litton ggrrrrrrrr........

He's the meanest, rudest, I don't know what else.........

I'm just kidding!! It's just a joke between me and him. Anyway this morning we had prayer meeting with the team. It was great! We met even more people from Alabama. I'm telling ya I think Alabama's got an undercover colony here. So undercover that they don't tell anybody unless they stay for a couple of years here in Wales. It's crazy how many people from Alabama come over here for mission work.

Later on today we are going to be cleaning out our youth room with our youth. They've got a lot of work ahead of them but they totally want to fix this room up for themselves. They have some really good ideas. I'll have to get Roberto to take some before, during and after pictures of the room so you guys can see what these kids are doing. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Oh and before I forget again Troy told us about a formula here in the UK. You know how Americans (for the most part) are all talkative and happy? Well, he told us you take 1 Brit + 1 bottle of wine = 1 American. Later on, after some debating we discovered that the formula works in the reverse order as well. 1 American + 1 bottle of wine = 1 Brit. LOL isn't that the greatest thing you ever heard?!?! Gots to go for know, I love you guys!! Keep praying!

~Stella

Ps. I'm going to start typing my journal entries from East Asia on here. I'll have a link to them as I get them typed up.

Goodbye my little hobbits!

Last night I moved out of number 2 Thistle Close. I will miss my little hobbits and their hobbit hole. I'm now living in what the yankees would call a row home. Here it's called a terrace home. The funny thing is they don't have a terrace. Oh well. If you want to mail stuff to me you can still mail it to 2 Thistle Close, because I'll see Jackie and Alan almost everyday, I just won't be living with them.

As of right now I'll be home in December. As much as the flesh wants to stay in Wales forever (and I may move here one day) the spirit is not being told to stay. I would love to finish the course, but that's not what I've been led to do yet.

God, this saddens me that I can't stay. I pray that You will send someone to finish the work that needs to be done in the church. I pray that they will acknowledge the battle that must be faught here. May they see what must be done. I pray for Lewis. Father, keep calling to him. He's so close. Give Robert and I the words to say. Speak thru us. I love you more and more. The more I learn about You the more I'm falling in love with You. Thank You for loving me like You do. Thank You for never leaving me. Thank You for loving me for who I am. Bless those who are praying for us. Thank You for showing me that they give to You and not to me, because it is all about You. Thank You for easing the growing pains. Thank You for the comforting You've given me. Show me what I'm to do here, and what I'm to do with my life. Father, send my helpmate that You have for me. Open my eyes to see him when You send him. For now Your love and comfort is all I need. Your grace is sufficient for me. I love you Father!!! Reveal Yourself to me.

~Stella

Humpty Dumpty = Man/Adam ?

Today was the first day of our class here in Wales and I have to tell you I was blown away by God. After stretching me day before I wasn't to sure how class would go today. In the first session we learned how to make disciples like Jesus did. God really showed me, in that, how we the church have strayed from this basic teaching. We are to focused on the masses. Jesus was disciplining the 12, people showed up to listen, he didn't turn them away, and by the end of it he was having the sermon on the mount. Although He was really teaching to the 12, He also laid the ground work so that His disciples could disciple some of the people there. It's a domino affect. Pretty cool, huh?

Session two was the part that God really showed out. For me session two was Drama. Robert did Sports and Games. In Drama we were looking at stories in the Bible and finding their "core issues." You know what the stories are really about underneath the surface. While doing this we were given this assignment:

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put humpty together again!

You and your partner now have 10 minutes to devise a new version of telling the Humpty Dumpty story. The rules to this are 1) One of your core issues must be made clear. {Find the core issue and make it easy for people to spot.} 2) You must use the written word in the course of the story telling that fits in with the story {eg. Write a word on a sign, read from a book etc.} 3) You must use one prop that again fits in with the story. 4) Other than the above, you can deliver your story dramatically, or just standing and telling, you can deliver the story through presentation in song/rap if you are brave enough and so on.

Well, me and Josh start thinking about the core issue going on in H.D. We start thinking out loud and I get "a thing is sitting there minding it's own business, and all of a sudden it falls to pieces, and nothing anybody can do can put the pieces together again." Then God starts molding the image of man into my head. The core issue is now, "Man is broken and unable to fix himself with out God(the "king"). Now take that and apply it to retelling of H.D. "Man lived life and fell. And no man could fix him, he needed God." With that sentence what do you get? You get Adam in the garden. Adam (man) fell when he ate the apple. Adam tried to fix things by what? By hiding from God and tying fig leafs together. That didn't work. It was God who had to fix Adam's nakedness by using animals skins and making him clothes. And to go one step further He had to really "fix" Adam by sending Jesus to die on the cross for the "fall of man." Now you tell me that's not deep and a revelation from God Himself. Only God could have made Humpty Dumpty have anything to do with Him.

Me and Josh could not stop laughing at the way God revealed Himself to us. We were just going to read a couple of verses from genesis to illustrate our version of H.D. but Josh wrote a little rap to do it instead it went like this:
Man lived life and fell
He was in danger of hell
The horses and men
Couldn't put him together again
He needed the King
With His atonement to bring
So the moral does say
That the King is the only Way.

Josh Boston, 15 Sept. 2005

God totally rocks!! I'll leave it at that for tonight. Before I have class again I will post some other things I learned today. God showed us a lot in just one day, I can't even imagine what all He'll show us in a year!! I love you all, each and everyone of you! Thank you for your prayers, they are always needed and appreciated!

~Stella

Ps. Here's one last thing to think about when you're out getting to know non-believers. What would you say to one that said, "Do you love me because you want me to be a Christian? Or do you want me to become a Christian because you love me."

S-T-R-E-T-C-H

Ok so if you want the run down of the past two days see Robert's journal, today's post is going to be serious and directed a little more towards God. Not to worry fun posts will return shortly. Thank you for your prayers and understanding during this transition in my posts.

Stretching hurts. During our orientation it was discover that I personally couldn't care less about the news. This is something I've never hidden. I also don't like to debate on political views, because yet again I care nothing about politics. I mostly don't care about them because I know nothing about them. I'm learning that this is not necessarily a good thing. We were told to watch the news or read the newspaper everyday while we are here. Stella doesn't do either of those. The most I do is read headlines every now and then. Father, open me up to do all things asked of me.

All of you that really know me know that I don't like to argue. I gave that up when I was a junior in high school. If it's not about something Biblical I'm not going to debate you on it. What's the point if it doesn't affect whether you or I go to heaven or hell? If debating over something is going to change how I or someone else can get to heaven or hell, I'm all for it. Otherwise, in my opinion, debating is pointless and a horrible waste of time. I'm not going to change your mind by telling you the same thing over and over. I can only tell you what I know or believe and it's up to you to change your mind. And it's up to God to change your heart.

I guess at the heart of the matter, I don't like it when I'm corrected in front of people. And yesterday felt like I was being singled out, and I hate that feeling. My first response to that feeling is to immediately close myself off and basically clam up. After a really long day and a half I was able to realize that I wasn't singled out to be singled out, I just happened to be the only one in the room that didn't get what was going on, and I was corrected fully in love with the hopes of me understanding and becoming a part of the conversation.

BCM folks I can't tell you how depressed I was when I went to bed last night. Purely because I didn't want to hear what God said unless is was in my favor. I didn't want to open back up. I wanted to have a pity party and give up and come home. Like that would have solved anything. It would have only added to my problem. I've never really had a thick skin when it comes to someone correcting me, it always hurts my feelings no matter how it's done. I actually cried last night before I fell asleep. I don't like being center of attention when I'm being corrected, it hurts my feelings more than anything, and I know that it shouldn't be like that, but it is. I say all that to say this. Thank you Valerie for calling me at 3 am so that I could talk to you and all you BCM people. Talking to you guys really encouraged me to buck up and get over it. God used that phone conversation to keep me from making a huge mistake and leaving Wales. I was to the point that I just wanted to do the Stella thing and pack up and get out of Dodge.

I'm sorry that tonight's blog wasn't super silly like normal. I just felt I needed to share that with you all. I want to share with you all that I learn here, so maybe one day you guys won't make the stupid mistakes that I make. The lesson in this is when you feel wronged by anybody check your perspective maybe things are not as they seem. You'd of thought I learned that already. God showed me that while I was in East Asia just last month. We must always apply what we learn otherwise it was taught in vain. I love you all very much. Pray that I will be bold and strong in God so that I may learn, stretch, and grow while I'm here.

~Stella

Ps. One by one all of you go to Mrs. Joyce and give her a big hug from me. Tell her that I love her, every time you hug her.

Hobbits Rock!

Tonight is a short entry cause I want to give everyone the chance to read and comment on the entry before this one, cause it's some of my best writing. Tonight I just want to say that I love you all. BCM I can't thank you enough times for the hand written notes. I will keep them forever, they are a real source for encouragement over here. Until tomorrow this is goodbye! Below is a reprint from an earlier post just want to make sure the message is out!

~Stella

I will reward you with my cell phone number here in Wales. You may call me at anytime. If you call me it's free for me, and as you all know anything that's free for me here is a blessing from God! So this is what you dial............... 01144-7914-249-794. Ring me whenever you like! I love you all! Keep us in your prayers. And if the money comes in or people tell me that they'll sponser me a month here, I'm going to stay for the ten months and complete the Youth Ministry course. So tell everyone you know!

Salsa-dancing-hobbits !!!!!!

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard before in my life! I'm staying with a great couple who's names are Jackie and Allan Holst. Well tonight we had a barbie (BBQ). Jackie's brother Les, his wife Jan, their daughter Sara, Jackie's friend Lorraine, and Jackie & Allan's friends Chris and his wife V (Veronica) were all here. After we all had a great meal Jackie was showing us a work out video that she, V and Jan are all going to start working out to. It's Salsa dancing!

A little background info before I get to the really funny part. Not including me and V, everyone at the BBQ was around 5'-5'2. They make me feel like I'm in the Lord of the Rings. I'm man and they're Hobbits. It's great! Cause you can't not like Hobbit sized people they're just to cute. But the Hobbits that were here tonight are not like normal Hobbits, no, they're like a bunch of Pippen and Merrys running around.

Ok now for the funny part. We'd finished tea (supper to you americans) and Jackie puts in the Salsa tape to show everybody. Well, Lorraine starts doing a little Salsa dance with the video. Then Jackie, V and Jan join in. Now you have to keep in mind that the living room is about the size of the BCM's downstairs back classroom if you take away the hall (that's really small for you non-BCMers). I start chuckling just a bit, then in walks Chris. Mr. IReallyLookLikeAHobbit, himself. He starts asking all kinds of questions about what the ladies are doing. Then he asks how they're going to lose weight doing that when it's so slow.

Jackie tells him to hang on and she FF to the real workout part of the video. (It's set up like a Taebo tape- you know they teach you all the moves then you really start the workout.) When she hits play Chris starts trying to do what the group on the tele are doing. To the absolute joy and entertainment of the entire room Chris has the classic white-man-can't-dance-cause-he-ain't-got-NO-rhythm disease. I hope you all have seen someone Salsa before, cause if you have you've got the picture in your head. Hobbit doing Salsa/Aerobics workout without any rhythm.

I thought we were all going to die, we were laughing so hard. Between me and Allan we decided that: We should film Chris with me doing the commentary on the "moves." Then we should sell them all around the world. I'm telling you we could make a fortune. The entire world would lose weight just from laughing. We were all crying!

If I stay for the year, during Christmas I'll be back with Jackie and Allan. Right now I'll only be with them for another week, then I'll go to another members house for a couple of months. Every couple of months me and Robert will go to stay with another of our church's members. Don't worry about where to mail stuff to us. The addresses we gave you are the Pastor's and I gave you Allan's (he's the church secretary- here that's the person in the role of head deacon), so if you mail us something we are sure to get it, cause we'll be in constant contact with them both.

Pray for Robert, he's not feeling to good. I'm not real sure why, it might just be that he's not quite yet used to the time. Also pray for this next week, we start our classes and ministry this week. Pray for Morgan as well, she didn't get in the country they sent her back to the US. I've heard that she's going to try again. Either she's not suppose to be here at all, or God's going to do something really BIG thru her when she gets here.

To the BCM I thank you so much for the hand written letters that you sent us in an email. That really meant a lot to me. There's just something about a hand written letter even if it's scanned onto the computer and emailed it has the same effect. I love you all so much. God has blessed me with REAL friends.

To FBC of Dadeville thank you to your continued giving. Because of your donations I will be able to stay another month. Because of this I am going to start applying for my VISA to stay the full ten months. I have felt at home since arriving in this country and I can't miss this opportunity to witness to the nations for/with God. He has given me a peace about staying, so I'm going to stay. I know that because of this peace the money needed for me to stay will continue to show up. God's just that AWESOME! I love you all! Keep praying!

~Stella

Spam reaches a new level!

Start praying right now. Pray for our team mate Morgan. Right now she's in the custody of Passport Control. I think Robert has told you guys about Morgan, but just In case here's a little info. She has been trying to get a visa to stay in Wales for the year. She has applied and been denied three times already and now they aren't letting her into the country at all. I think (if it's like when me and Robert came in) it might have to do with her return ticket. You have to be able to prove that you're leaving the country when you say you're going to leave the country. I don't have all the details, but please pray for her that God's will will be done in this matter.

Now for the funny stuff! You will notice, when you go to post a comment, that you now have to type in a word verification. This is because spamming as soared to new heights! They have invented a software program that surfs blogs and posts comments on blogs that don't use word verification comments. How crazy is that? You can't even blog in peace anymore. I have started using w.v.comments because this morning I had 6 comments and only three of them were from real people. The other three were fake comments with links in them about bingo and car loans!

If you didn't read the comment below this one, you should. It has valuable information in it. My apologies to Sandy......yes, you did sign your post. Forgive me my Sandy! I throw myself upon the mercy of your court!! To my little hobbit.....the time difference is six hours. I'm six hours ahead of you, but you may ring me anytime. If a hobbit friend needs me they may ring me at any hour!

Love to all of you! God's blessing on you as well! Thank you for all your support, J'ville take care of my sister, Valerie take care of my brother, family take care of my parents. Have a blessed day!

~Stella

Anonymous said...

Ok, before I tell you about today I want to teach all of you a new trick in reaching me.
Step 1. Go to the site www.allaroundtheworldforyou.blogspot.com .
Step 2. Read Stella' s side splitting entry for the day.
Step 3. Stop laughing enough to where you can type.
Step 4. Click on comments.
Step 5. When the comment box appears, type your funny or enlightening comment.
Now pay attention this is where it gets a little tricky !!
Step 6. Click on the circle next to the word other.
Step 7. Click to the right of the word name.
Step 8. Type your name in the space provided. Ex: Tom
Step 9. Click Publish your comment.
Step 10. Worship God and forgive Stella of being a cheeky monkey!

I love you guys so much! Please don't be to mad at me, but I won't know who said what unless you tell me. I'm pretty sure that Sandy's the one that posted the comment about "my stella," but unfortunately many people have started calling me that, so I'm not positive.

Now about my fun day here in Wales! I started the day off by waking up a little late, so there was no time to worry about what clothes I put on......Wait, I never worry about that so pay no attention to that comment. Because of the late wakening we were a little late getting out the door and on our way to Grangetown to meet Robert. We got to where Robert was staying and the two of us walked to a place called IKEA (Eye-KEY-Ya) for breakfast. We get there and have a lovely breakfast. We realize that now it's time to head back to the church cause it's 10am and we're suppose to be picked up at 10:30am to go around town. Well, we start out of the building just about the same way we came in. We just took a different set of stairs to get to the same floor we entered on. We start looking around and there's no exit anywhere. So we go back up the stairs to try to get to the escalator we came up to get to the resturant. The stairs next to the escalator have a no entry gate in front of them and the escalator only goes up.

So now what are we suppose to do? We take the elevator down to the first floor. The doors open and we're standing right next to where the first set of stairs took us. But the couple that was on the elevator with us starts walking through the store like they're not shopping, so we decide to follow them. Maybe just maybe they are trying to get out of this prision just like us. They manage to get us to another room in the store that we haven't been in yet and start shopping. Luckly to men walk around us with determined looks on their faces so we follow. Not to worry we're not following them close enough for them to notice we're following them. They take us through what appeared to be a lumber yard indoors.

They custom build beds and cabniets. I thought it was a cool room. Anyway, we round the next corner and lo and behold, what stands before us?............. Cash registers!! We had to break in line to get out! This place not only made you see the entire store to exit it, but you HAD to go through an open register line!!! The next Welsh person that tells me Wal-Mart's the devil, I going to say, " No it's not IKEA is. At least Wal-Mart lets you walk in and out as you please. We don't make you walk the entire store before allowing you to leave!"

At one point me and Robert talked about bringing a sack lunch with us next time. Guys I really thought that we were going to have to go out one of the fire exits to get out of this place! It was a bit unnerving. After that place the rest of my day seems a bit boring. Though I did discover the Cardiff is made up of a lot of different cultures. I even found China town, well China road anyway. I was happy.

If you've made it this far I will reward you with my cell phone number here in Wales. You may call me at anytime. If you call me it's free for me, and as you all know anything that's free for me here is a blessing from God!
So this is what you dial............... 01144-7914-249-794. Ring me whenever you like! I love you all! Keep us in your prayers. And if the money comes in or people tell me that they'll sponser me a month here, I'm going to stay for the ten months and complete the Youth Ministry course. So tell everyone you know!

~Stella

Cheeky Monkey ?!?!

Well, thanks to my family roots, it only took a day and a half for me to be called "cheeky." In the states you all would know that as a smarty pants. I guess I'll have to tell the story of calling the lady a horse since Robert went and told on me.

Robert and Troy went inside a bank to take care of some money issues, and left me, Joshua (Yes, yet another Josh has been added to my life. Is this some sort of plague? Or is God going easy on me since I'm horrible with names?), and a journeyman here named Amy (I think?!) sitting in the van. We were sitting there talking about some of our silly fears like mine about having to have the window cracked everytime I'm in the car. So we open the sliding door to let the breeze in for me, and a start hearing this noise. "Clip clop clip clop." So I say aloud to my aduience of two, "Hey, that sounds like a horse." And what happens........? A lady walks by the open door right at the exact moment that I say it. Yes, I really stuck my foot in my mouth, because of course I had to be in a country where they speak what? Yes, ENGLISH!!! Amy said that right after I said it the lady looked into the van. Josh said that he saw her to and that he just tried to play it off.

So just two days in Wales and I'm a Cheeky monkey that has foot-in-mouth diease. Horrible I tell ya, just horrible.

On the serious side of things. I must confess I feel I'm being led to stay here forever. My little Leprechaun, might have been onto something when he said that he'd never see me again. I have fallen in love with the people here. There are so many cultures here that would not get to hear about Jesus if they lived in their homeland instead of Wales. But here in Wales we can openly minister to them. This is such a blessing! Not having to hide out, but to be out and about getting to know people and sharing my faith with them. Thank You Lord, for everything you are doing here in Wales. Thank You for the church that me and Robert will be working with and for. Help us to be servants not only to You but to them as well. Break us and makes us humble while we are here. Let us not cut ourselves off from You with our foolish pride. I pray for Hannah, Father that You would use me to show her You. She's looking for something to feel that void, I can see that in her. I pray that she would fill that void with Christ.

I would like to ask you all to pray for our church and pray for Hannah and the other kids that come out to the computer club we have at the church. The church wants to start up a youth ministry in the church. And as you all know to do that you must have youth. Right now the church only has youth coming to the computer club. Hannah has told me that she will be in church on this Sunday, so please be in prayer that she will hear God and choose to follow Him. I love you guys and gals! Never forget that! Eemeber to pray first worry never! Give all your cares to God, He will take care of them no matter how small or how large God can handle it! Tata!

~Stella

wow !

Wales.

What to say? What to say? We drove all around the area we will be working in and it's great. For right now I'm just going to say that I still can't believe I'm here. And I'm so thankful to your obe. to God in donating to get me here. Start praying for us as to wether or not we will stay for ten months instead of just three. Right now I'm feeling God's leading to be here for the ten months. That would mean I would have to raise around $1000 a month starting in December. Right now the dollar is low compared to the £, and the lower it drops the smaller the money I already got gets. Pray about that as well. It cost a lot to live in Wales but God will provide. I love you all! I'll tell you more about the city tomorrow!

~Stella

Is it already Thursday?!?!

I can not believe that it is Thursday already! Where have these three weeks gone? I have to pack, pack, pack and pack some more. That's what I should be doing right now. I'm off tonight and packing is all that Stella will be doing. On the money topic I still need around $1,000 for Wales. I'm not worried which is kind of surprising to me. I know that God is going to handle it. He has laid this trip out for me, and all I have to do is follow.

I found out yesterday that if I do stay for the 10 months I will get a diploma in Youth Ministries, and a certificate in Drama (my choice out of the three options). I have to admit to myself that I got really excited about the prospect of coming home with a diploma in hand. Just listening to Troy on the phone made me excited all over again to be going. I would say that I'm not worthy of this trip, but God taught me in East Asia that I'm worthy when He says I'm worthy. I'm worthy only through Jesus. God rocks!!

Bro Jim, I want to thank you for all your prayers and the great sermon Sunday before last. You have been my shepard for almost all of my life and I thank you for all you've taught me. One thing your message taught me was that I need to start looking at my church family different than I have been. For many years anytime we had problems I always took myself out of the equation. Thoughts like - "My church just doesn't go places anymore." or "They aren't as mission minded as I am." - would creep through my head. When the truth is we as a church family are going when any of us go. We are mission minded because I am mission minded. Maybe all this doesn't make sense to anybody but me. Just know that God really spoke to me through you the other day when I got to listen to the tape of the message.

FBC of Dadeville, I love you! You all have always been there for me and my family anytime we've needed you. Thank you for that blessing! We are truly a blessed church, and don't let anyone tell you different (unless it's God). I'm going to really miss you while I am away, but I know that you are all going to be there with me in Spirit. We are one in the bond of LOVE! I will be sending a copy of my journal from East Asia as soon as I am finished typing it all up. It may be a book by the time I'm finished with it. I'm doing this because I want you all to know the things that God taught me during my time there. For now I'll give you the really short version: God answers all prayers. We only see the things of God that we allow ourselves to see (what are you not seeing because you are choosing not to look? It may surprise you, it did me). And last, everything happens for God's perfect plan, even when it's through a crazy Nazi teacher assistant that won't translate for you.
Pray, pray, pray and pray some more!

Worthy thru Jesus,
stella

Almost time to fly!!!

I fly away in just six more days! Have I packed a thing? Nopey. Have I unpacked from East Asia? Yeppers. What do you pack for a three month trip? Everything?!?! Not really. I just don't know what to pack. I want to take everything some days and others I only want to take a couple of things. I guess really I just need to get packing and get over it. Well I will talk to you guys later, I have to get some sleep now. I love you guys! Pray for me and Robert we are both dealing with our families and this trip. The cost is high, but we are both willing to pay for it. Jesus, we love you!!!

~Stella