~HEATHER'S HIGHLIGHTS~: ~Pastoral Appreciation, & Our Trip Back to Our Colombia!~

WARNING: Grab you a drink, and maybe something to eat like Roast...

Because, I'm telling you, this will be a LONG POST. ;-)

A HUGE THANK YOU to all who GAVE AND PRAYED for our trip to Colombia!!! The girls, Noah, and I had not been back to our Beloved Colombia in 12 years! Abigail was only 4 months old the last time we were there! We were SOOOO THRILLED to get to go back!

It was a trip of a life time...because Noah and Chris, Kimberly, and Stella got to go back with us as well! We were so Sad that Josh, Sarah, and Adelynn could not go back with us! But, it just could not work for them this time, with their flood and all!

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR JOSH AND SARAH as they try to pray in the money to rebuild and start all over again with their Church and house!!! It makes us so SAD! We are praying that God will provide for their every need!!!

Abigail was only 15 months, when we flew home from Argentina. So, she never remembers flying!

This time, In her first airplane ride, heading to Colombia, a dear lady let Abigail have the window seat!

So SWEET Of her and Jesus to work that out!

In the Colombian airport, Abigail was oohing and awwwing at everything and saying things like, "I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I AM HERE!"

Her whole entire life, she has heard all about Colombia, the food, the dear people, the culture, the everything! Now, for the first time, she was getting to experience it all!!

When we got into a taxi and he started driving like they do...she loved it and said, "I never thought I would say this, but this makes all of those 'boring missionary services' worth it!" :-D

Pastor Jimmy was able to find a nice hotel right behind their church! We all were able to WALK to all of the classes and services! God is so good!

It was a nice hotel...but it had No A/C, and it shook quite often! We were on the 6th floor and could feel it move! EEEEKKK! While we were there Equador had an earthquake...Glad that Colombia didn't have one.

Being a Colombian, Pastor Jimmy was able to do some wheeling and dealing, and got us a great room and meals for only about $30 a person per day!!! That is an amazing deal!!! Praise Jesus!!

As you see these pictures, PLEASE REMEMBER...that we had so many friends to see, with no home there in which to entertain them, so we had to meet them for coffee, or at a restaurant!

It would not have been right for us to invite ourselves over to their houses. But, Thank the Lord, the prices there are very reasonable!!!

We were so THRILLED to get to see so many of our DEAR COLOMBIAN FRIENDS, THAT ARE LIKE FAMILY!!!

We arrived there on a Monday night and met up with Sam and Hannah Kinnaman and their kids. We ran to the hotel, ate a meal in front of the hotel and went to bed.

The next 2 days, we took Santiago and Stephanie Martinez and their kids, Abby, Stephanie's cousin, and Stephanie Murphy, and the Kinnamans around to see parts of Bogota.

The first service was Wednesday night, Oct. 7th. God came and gave us a great service. God helped me as I played the piano for the congregational, Abby as she sang, and Bro. Kinnaman as he preached, and Stephanie as she interpreted!!

Thursday, we had classes from 1 - 5, and service at 6. God helped as Santiago, Phillip, and Stephanie each taught. At 6:00 God gave us another good service!

Friday, we had classes again from 1-5, and service at 6.

God came in a very special way Friday night!!! The evening service lasted for 4 hours! The last hour and a half, or two, God's Sweet Presence was so close, that most every one around was weeping! Including the children, wept for hours! People were praying around the alter, and souls were saved, lives changed, forgiveness happened, God worked!!! How we praise Jesus for touching souls that night.

Noah arrived that night! We were so happy to have him there with us!

Saturday we had classes in the morning and ended in the afternoon with a service.

Chris, Kimberly, and Stella arrived that night! We were so thrilled to have them with us!

Sunday we had 2 good services, with lunch in between.

On Monday, the Martinezes and company had to leave. We took the Kinnamans, Chris, Kimberly, Stella, and Diego and Natalie, and our family sight seeing. We really enjoyed hanging out together.

Afterwards, we took our 4 kids to a bakery to try some of the things that we all remembered. It was pouring rain on us as we walked there.

Tuesday, the Kinnamans went back to the USA. Our family and Natalie ran back up to see Monserate...where you normally can see the beautiful city of Bogota! But, sadly, it was so foggy, that one could not see anything! I prayed that Jesus would open a window, so that at least Chris would be able to see Bogota, and God opened up a window for about 7 mins. so he got to see the city below! Praise Jesus!

That day we moved from the hotel to Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly's house. They had a very delicious meal awaiting us that night! Sis. Farly is an amazing cook!! It was so FUN to be with Pastor Jimmy, Sis. Farly, they're Natalie and her Diego, their Gaby and her Gorge, and baby Anthony, and their dear parents too. I CRIED from JOY seeing everyone again! We love this family, like our own family!

We LOVED seeing everyone in the church again too!!!

The Story of My Friend Marisol!!

When we were in Colombia and I was pregnant with Elijah, we were going through a lonely time. One day, I was sitting on a bench outside of the mall. I was wearing a skirt and eating an apple. Along came a lady down the side walk wearing a skirt, and eating an apple! :-) I told her that I liked her skirt...and right there Jesus formed a friendship for LIFE!! Marisol was going through a rough time in her life...and God knew we both needed each other! On Wednesday, I got to see my Marisol and meet her sweet Mommy!

On Thursday, we got to see Carlos and Gloria, and their Joel Felipe (named after Phillip). Before we went to Colombia, God had given Phillip 2 Scriptures that basically said that THOSE WHO DID NOT KNOW US, WOULD SERVE US, OR HELP US!

Carlos is the one who helped us in a music store, when we had only been in Colombia for 2 weeks. He helped us find the keyboard that we needed. We exchanged numbers. The next day, he called us and told us that he could not sleep, and that Jesus wanted him to help us.

We soon learned that we could not plant churches, unless we had a Licensed Mother Church to work under. That looked impossible, and like we might have to go back to the USA.

God sent Carlos along, and he introduced us to his Father-in-law, who licensed Phillip under their church! They told us that we owed them nothing, and that Phillip could preach whatever he felt he needed to, with no report to them!

This was a MIRACLE...for they barely knew us!

They also said that their brother George could help us rent a house. So, we met George FOR THE FIRST TIME at the Realestate office, introduce ourselves, and then he signed all the papers...and RENTED US A HOUSE FOR AROUND 3 YEARS...in his name, and we just paid the bills! ANOTHER HUGE MIRACLE FROM GOD!!!!

So, we enjoyed catching up with Carlos and Gloria! We all got to go to lunch with them, and Gorge and Gaby, Natalie, and our family! Soooo FUN!!!

We hung out at the mall for a little while together! Then ran back and had another yummy meal at Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly's house! Soooo FUN TO BE WITH EVERYONE!!!!!

Friday morning EARLY, had Sis. Farly making a yummy juice for us, and Pastor Jimmy making us an espresso, and we jumped into our uber and ran to the airport. All too soon, Our Wonderful time in our Beloved Colombia was coming to a close!

We flew back to the USA and landed in Miami, Friday evening. Phillip got to looking at our connecting flight and it looked like there was no way we could make it. So, he talked to the people behind the desk at our gate, and they told him they thought we would make it!

So, we flew to Detroit, MI,

AND AS WE LANDED, OUR AIRPLANE HEADING TO COLUMBUS, OH

WAS TO BE TAKING OFF!! :-(

We RAN through the airport, in case we could catch it, but when we got to the gate, it was all closed up and empty!

Here it was late at night, and we were TIRED!!

So, the next gate personnel helped us get vouchers

for an hotel, with a free breakfast, and told us that the

NEXT FLIGHT TO COLUMBUS, OH would leave the NEXT NIGHT (Saturday night)

PUTTING US HOME...EARLY SUNDAY MORNING! :-(

So, he highly recommended that we rent a car, and Delta would reimburse us.

But, we Still had to wait for our CHECKED BAGGAGE TO COME THROUGH before we could go to our hotel! It finally came through, and we caught the shuttle, and got into our hotel rooms by 2:00 AM!!! We were EXHAUSTED, but so grateful for a nice place to get some sleep!

The next morning, found us having our yummy free breakfast, then we TRIED SO HARD to find a vehicle the size we needed for the 6 of us, and our luggage.

There was some kind of Local large soccer event, so we COULD NOT find a vehicle. Finally, praise Jesus, around noon, we found one.

We stopped by and showed the kids Lake Erie, and then drove to Columbus.

I was riding down the road, WONDERING WHAT IN THE WORLD I was going to serve my FAM the next day for Sunday dinner!

When all of the sudden, I got a SWEET TEXT from my SWEET FRIEND FAITH,

SAYING THAT SHE KNEW WE MUST BE EXHAUSTED, AND WANTING TO SEND US $ FOR OUR SUPPER AT CRACKER BARREL THAT NIGHT,

AND WANTED TO PROVIDE DINNER FOR US FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY!!!

HOW VERY SWEET!!

Shortly after that, Josh A. from our Church called asking if they could provide our Sunday dinner! So, we told them that that would be such a blessing, but someone already was.

On Sunday, the A. Family showed up to church and brought us 4 loaves of French Bread and a yummy apple pie, blueberries, hummus, pita breads, 4 salad kits, and her yummy potato soup...which we enjoyed on TUESDAY EVENING that next week! How Sweet!!

Shortly after Josh A. called, Cousin Laura texted and asked if we needed her to run and buy Lasagna for our Sunday dinner!

How Sweet!!

SO, SATURDAY, FAITH SENT MONEY FOR OUR SUPPER AND WE TOOK THE KIDS TO CRACKER BARREL in Columbus, after we picked up our vehicles.

We finally GOT HOME SWEET HOME at 10:00 PM Saturday night!!!!

Alright, let's get to a lot of Fun pictures!

At first, I left MY PHONE IN THE USA!!! I was so afraid that my phone might get stolen and I would lose all my nearly 50,000 pics and videos of my babies and their babies! <3

So, I don't have a ton of pics from the first few days, because I had to borrow Phillip's phone or Stephanie's.

But then I asked Noah to please bring my phone to me on Friday. I still didn't take it out of my bag too often, but did get some more pics the next few days.

SINCE WE HAVE BEEN BACK, I HAVE BEEN SO EXHAUSTED AND TRYING TO CATCH UP ON MY REST FROM RUNNING ALL SUMMER AND EARLY FALL!

These are some of Noah's pics from Zach and Alaina's wedding in South Dakota that he flew to and played for.

~Noah and Zach~

~Our sweet friend Addison sent me this pic of her and Alaina.~

~When Noah went to fly back home from South Dakota...there was ONLY ONE OTHER PASSENGER ON THE PLANE!!!! :-D

So, they got to sit in FIRST CLASS...

their drinks were in glass glasses...

get as many snacks as they wanted...

~And Noah's guitar...which he was so concerned about...

GOT ITS OWN ROW!!! :-D

~PASTOR AND WIFE APPRECIATION AT STRAIT CREEK~

Right before we left to go to Colombia,

the Church surprised Phillip and I and Associate Pastor Noah with some nice words, cards, and gifts!! <3

~Cousin Laura's pics.~

~Cousin Laura presented Phillip with a nice card signed by all our dear people, with love offerings inside of the card, and she read such sweet words about Phillip.

~Elijah, Mary, & Abigail sang the special that morning.~

~Mrs. Fields was in charge of getting me a fun basket full of things that I love! So Sweet!

~She gave me the nicest card as well, signed by everyone and wrote sweet words, and the church gave me a gift card to Starbucks and Marshalls. <3

Our people are the Best and love us so much! We love them!~

~OUR TRIP TO BOGOTA, COLOMBIA~

Riding the shuttle from parking to the Columbus airport.

Abigail never remembers flying...so she was so stoked about this trip!

Jesus worked it out that the lady that was to have the window seat, flies all the time, and let Abigail have it.~

~Waiting on our flight to Bogota.~

Pastor Jimmy was able to find a nice hotel right behind their church! We all were able to WALK to all of the classes and services! God is so good! It was a nice hotel...but it had No A/C, and it shook quite often! We were on the 6th floor and could feel it move! EEEEKKK! While we were there Equador had an earthquake...Glad that Colombia didn't have one.

Being a Colombian, Pastor Jimmy was able to do some wheeling and dealing, and got us a great room and meals for everyone for only about $30 a person per day!!!

That is an amazing deal, and saved our family a lot of money, since we paid for all the expenses, including traveling expenses, meals, taxis, etc. of the Holiness Convention!!!

Praise Jesus!!

~Finally Back In Colombia...

12 year later, for some of us.~

~After we landed in Bogota, we met up with the Sam Kinnaman family, and headed to eat our first Colombian supper, across from our hotel. DELISH!~

~Remember, that the only way we could meet someone in Bogota, without inviting ourselves over to their house,

was to meet them for coffee or a meal! ~

~Our breakfast in our hotel was included in the price.
DELICIOUS!!!!!
I love how they decorate everything!
SOOO PRETTY!!!

~On Tuesday, and Wednesday, we ran the Martinez family and company, and the Kinnamans around

to see the fun spots of Bogota. So fun!

~The Beautiful City of Bogota Below!!~

~Enjoying YUMMY Colombian treats again.~

~Tuesday night, Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly had us
over for a yummy meal.

IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD TO SEE THEM AGAIN!!!!

~Sis. Stephanie sent us this NEAT pic from back in 2012, when we lived in Bogota, Colombia...and invited her Daddy, Bro. Joseph Smith and Stephanie to come and preach and translate.

God gave us glorious services back then!

We love the Smiths! We are praying SO HARD for Bro. Smith, and his healing!!

~SO FUN to see Natalie and meet her dear husband Diego!~

~So fun to see Gaby and meet her dear husband Gorge and tiny adorable Anthony!!~

~The first service of the Holiness Convention
was Wednesday night.

Like I mentioned above, I didn't bring my phone for the first few days.

So, I do not have a lot of pics from the first few days.

Noah came Friday night, and brought my phone to me.

~Thursday afternoon was the first afternoon class. Bro. Santiago taught first, then Phillip, then Stephanie.~ The Lord really helped them.

~Danny and Meleidys and their family

Sam and Hannah Kinnaman

Luz and Juan Carlos from Medellin. Bro. Harry Santiago with HIM asked if he could send them to our Holiness Convention.~

~Bro. and Areceli and Rigo and Ilce

~Luz, Juan Carlos, Alba, Alberto, Phillip and I.~

~Alba and Alberto from Medellin.~

I do not know if I have any pics from The Friday classes or the night service,

BUT GOD CAME IN SUCH A SPECIAL WAY THAT THE SERVICES LASTED FOR 4 HOURS...

AND FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS OF THAT TIME WE WERE WEEPING AND PRAYING.

CHILDREN INCLUDED!

GOD'S SWEET PRESENCE WAS SO CLOSE AND HE WAS DOING HIS MIGHT OFFICE WORK, CONVICTING SOULS, MEETING NEEDS, & ENCOURAGING THE BELIEVERS!!!!

~Saturday morning before class.

~Phillip & Bro. Erdmin, the late Bro. Raymond Shreve's pastor.~

~Abby and Stephanie Murphy did a great job entertaining the kids and young people.~

~Classes~

NOAH GOT THERE FRIDAY NIGHT!

WE WERE SO STOKED TO HAVE HIM THERE WITH US!!

~Saturday morning, Noah got to see Pastor Jimmy's DEAR Daddy and Mom! We LOVE THEM to pieces! Sooo fun to be all together again!!!~

~Eating Yummy Tamales!!!!~

~Pastor Jimmy and Bro. Sam Kinnaman.~

~Yummy Colombian Tamale!!~

~Saturday evening service.~

~CHRIS, KIMBERLY, & STELLA GOT THERE SATURDAY AFTERNOON!!!

WE WERE SOOOO STOKED TO HAVE THEM THERE!

HERE IS STELLA AND LITTLE BETHANY KINNAMAN.

~After the service Saturday afternoon, a bunch of our
guys went to play soccer.

TIE, DRESS SHOES, and ALL! :-D

~Saturday evening, a bunch of us ate supper in the hotel, because they gave us a great price, we could be all together, and it saved us trying to catch an Uber or taxi somewhere late at night.

~More soccer pics.~

~Sunday we had to services, with lunch in between.~

~Yummy!~

~Mrs. Doris made all the food for us!!~

~The Lord helped Abby as she sang specials.~

~Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly and the Zion Home CNC church, made these nice key chains for each family!! <3

~On Monday, The Martinez Family and company had to leave.

We took the Kinnamans, Chris, Kimberly, Stella, Diego, Natalie, and our family and we had so much fun running around Bogota...

in the rain.~

~Yummy Colombian Rotissiere Chicken!!! Bro. Sam Kinnaman paid for this lunch for all of us!!

~Part of this is the Colombian President's house.~

~THIS HOLE UNDER THE STAIRS IN THE HOTEL ....SCARED US HALF TO DEATH FOR LITTLE STELLA AND BETHANY K.!!!

Thank you, JESUS, for protecting both baby girls!!~

~Phillip looking through the HOLE!~

~A Yummy Bakery run in the rain.~

~THIS DAY WE GOT 11 OF US, INCLUDING THE UBER DRIVER...IN A CAR MADE FOR 7!

WE RODE WITH ABIGAIL UP FRONT WITH CHRIS AND THE TAXI DRIVER,

KIMBERLY HOLDING MARY, WHO WAS HOLDING STELLA,

PHILLIP HOLDING ME ON HIS LAP,

AND NATALIE BESIDE ME,

AND NOAH AND ELIJAH WERE VERY CRAMMED IN THE BACK WITH STELLA'S LARGE JOGGER STROLLER.

WE RODE THIS WAY FOR 45 L-O-N-G MINUTES....

LAUGHING THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME!

MY NECK WAS SO CRAMPED, I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN UP AGAIN. AND POOR ELIJAH COULD BARELY WALK AFTER THAT RIDE! ~

~Colombian Hotdogs.~

~We were supposed to have THE CITY OF BOGOTA BEYOND US...but the fog moved in and we could NOT see a thing!!

We still had a wonderful time together!~

~Kimberly and Natalie.~

~Sweet little ornery Stella...

Pulling away from Uncle 'Lij...

~Silly girl. <3~

~Sis. Farly's yummy arroz con pollo.~

~Little Stella's cup of juice.~

~A CNC Congress in Colombia in 2009.~

~On Wednesday, I got to meet up with my sweet friend Marisol and got to meet her sweet Mommy!!

(SEE FULL STORY AT TOP OF BLOG.

GOD SENT MARISOL TO ME IN COLOMBIA, WHEN I WAS LONELY, AND WHEN SHE WAS GOING THROUGH A SAD TIME IN HER LIFE AS WELL.)

~Pastor Jimmy, Sis. Farly, & Stella.~

~Natalie and Kimberly~

~There was a strike among the taxis and buses and so we could not have Church at the Church that night. So, we had an online service from their home. It was fun.

~Little Anthony wearing the little outfit from Josh, Sarah, and Adelynn.~

~Pastor Jimmy asked if Noah would preach. Phillip translated for him.~

~Phillip and I bought this little outfit for cute little Anthony.~

~Elijah, Noah, and Gorge visiting.~

~Chris, Noah, and Gorge.~

~Diego, Natalie, Gaby, and Kimberly.~

~Dear Sis. Farly and Pastor Jimmy did so many special things for us!!! <3

~And LOOK at that yummy breakfast!!! <3

~A quick trip to Juan Valdez together.~

~Snapped a pic ...

of Noah snapping a pic.~

~Met up with Carlos, Gloria, and Joel Felipe....named after Phillip.

(READ FULL STORY AT TOP OF THIS BLOG POST. GOD SENT CARLOS AND GLORIA ALONG TO HELP US WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO COLOMBIA!!!~

~We all went out to eat.~

~Sis. Farly made us yummy Skyline!!~

~Dear Sis. Farly made us some yummy tamarindo juice, out of the tamarindo fruit that my friend Marisol gave me.~

~A cute little bead sticker that Abigail made and wrote on to leave for Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly.~

~Saying goodbye. :-(

~In the airport, eating the yummy egg sandwiches that Sis. Farly made us.~

~I got called for them to search through my suitcase and pat me down.

So, I was the last passenger on the plain.~

~We took our LAST Juan Valdez coffee on the plane.~

~Our yummy lunch.~

~Miami~

~Heading to Detroit, MI, knowing that we might miss our flight.

We did!

Read full story at top of this blog post.~

~After 1:00 AM, sitting in Detroit, waiting for our checked luggage to come through, so we could go to our hotel Delta was providing for us, and get some sleep. We had been up for nearly 24 hours.~

~PRAISE JESUS for a free hotel room and SLEEP!~

~Mary and Noah sitting in front of the rental car place, while Phillip tried to find us a car. (The Delta man told us that it would be faster to rent a car, and have Delta reimburse us, because the next plane to Columbus, OH, would put us HOME LATE Saturday / Sunday AM!~

~PRAISE JESUS, we finally got a Rental car.~

~We enjoyed listening to Christmas music and seeing the pretty leaves.~

~Then we decided to take the kids by and see Lake Erie.~

~Riding home from Columbus with Noah.~

~Dear Faith sent us money for Cracker Barrel.~

~FALL PICS BACK IN THE USA!~

~3 Different dear friends offered or brought us yummy food to enjoy for the next few days! What a HUGE blessing!~

~My Juan Valdez coffee cup from Elijah.~ <3

~The Girl's Music Lessons.~

~When we got home from Colombia, everyone dropped everything on my island....

~So, I got up at 5 something in the morning, and cleaned it all up.~

~I have been enjoying looking at my Fall and Christmas magazines...some old and some new.~

~Taking the girls to the dentist.~

~A nice sized Buck...on our road.~

~Enjoying Colombian Hot Chocolate!~

~Wanting to cover this electrical outlet....

~Found this at Hobby Lobby...glued it to the safety plug in things....

~Voila.~

~A neighbor brought this persimmon bread to us. Delish!~

~Making fun coffees at home.~

~Phillip found his iPhone 5 box.~

~A fun candle from a sweet friend.~

~Had fun making our Master Bedroom all Fall-ish.~

~Found this in the front of my church Bible. Little Stella's hand. (She moved those little chubby fingers all around, so it was hard to trace it. :-D )