amelrod's Xanga

Travels.... yay for vacation!!

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 13:56:39 GMT

2 Worlds Collide!

At the beginning of Sept. I headed back to the Big City to spend time with friends and repack for my continued time in Leb. It was so great seeing the friends that are still there, esp. a little baby girl that I love! A few days after I arrived, Alex, Kendra and Steven, from my family in Leb. decided to join me for a bit of tourism... It was so wonderful for me to show them what I had been trying to explain for months! Seeing things for yourself can really change everything. On the left are my Big City people and on the right my Beirutie's!

THAILAND!! (Adventures of Angela and Amber continued...)

After about a week in the Big City, Amber arrived and we flew off for our long awaited Thailand vacation!! This trip had been 9 months in the making so we were more excited than ever that it was finally happening. We experienced a bit of culture shock with the Asian culture but we were not too immersed on our little tourist island, so were managed just fine... There is so much tell about this trip and all the most important info is compiled is 3 different photo albums... Just a simple click!

Vacation In Thailand: [PATONG BEACH, PHUKET] Part 1

Tube-tops, Two-pieces & Tans... [PATONG BEACH, PHUKET] Part 2,

[BANGKOK]

For an entertaining recap of the trip check out the Thailand Top 10. My creative sidekick Amber put this together:)

the kiddos

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:21:24 GMT

One of the doors that the Lord has opened for me living in the South is with the children of the village. After meeting them through just living here, being the only forigner in the village and also helping in children’s Sunday school and events, I was asked to speak at the summer camp that our church was putting on for kids. The theme was “You are Special” and much of the time was spent telling the children about the people in the Bible that God used to do great things, normal people just like you and me. Because I live in the same place as most of these kids, they see me come and go everyday and they even play at my house of on regular basis. They see me as normal and I have been able to build a bond with them on their level. What I was asked to share were the things about myself that the children didn’t know, how I made it to Lebanon, what my life was like as a child growing up in America and why I would choose to leave all of those things behind to come here and live with them. To me, this seemed pretty easy. I knew most of these kids and there could not be more than about 20, right? Wrong. When I arrived I saw that there were many more than 20 children, in all about 75 people including counselors. Although it was not what I expected I did speak to them and even managed to do the majority in Arabic, by God’s complete grace. My goal was that the children understand that they ARE special and God has something specific and great picked out for them to do, something bigger than they can even imagine. I wanted them to know that they can have a personal relationship with God and He will walk them through any obstacle that comes their way. I shared with them about my car accident just before I left to come overseas and tried to explain how the enemy will try any way he can to stop them. Looking back it was kind of a whirlwind, I was a bit nervous and doing it in Arabic really overwhelmed me. Yet, the next day some of the village boys were playing on my patio and I went out to chat with them. One said to me, “Angela, do you really talk with God?” I explained to him that yes I do really talk with God and explained exactly how that happens. Just that one question made it all worth it for me. It is amazing to me how the Lord uses ordinary people, normal people, people with very little Egyptian Arabic. I have completely fallen in love with these kids and am so thank to have had the opportunity to be an influence in their lives. Please pray for them, that they would become what God intends for them to be despite the challenges they face living here.

the adventure continues....

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:19:47 GMT

So Amber was able to visit me again, this time in Lebanon, and we had a blast. I can't say how encouraging it is for me to be able to share my life with such an amazing friend. Amber and I have shared A LOT... and we will be making more memories when we vacation in Thailand together in Sept... Then, I plan to make a pit stop in her country on my way home next year... Here is a look at our journey up until now:

In VA when all the fun began:) April, 2006

Left: Alexandria, Egypt. At the famous library... Dec. 2006

Right: Cairo, Egypt. Doing our Arab thang'. In my flat... Jan. 2007

We've been through A LOT together... Including Starbucks!!

and Studying !!

No surprise that we were so happy to meet up again in my new home, ironically Amber's old home (or not so ironic)....

Beirut, Lebanon... July, 2007

Click for more pics of our Beirut Adventure! and stay tuned for Thailand!!!!

The Cedars of Lebanon

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:55:26 GMT

I few months ago I got the chance to go on a little venture with a volunteer team that was here to The Cedars. They are one of the most famous sites in Lebanon and they are absolutely beautiful. Here are a few pics...

Here is our little group.... (From Left, Steven, Me, Vero and Betta) I love these guys:)

Baby Cedar and Grandpa Cedar, can you believe this is the same tree? hundreds of years later...

"The tress of the Lord are watered abundantly, the Cedars of Lebanon that He planted." Psalm 104:16

For more Cedars pics click here .

angela simpson... maybe??

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:38:00 GMT

Well i am not too into The Simpsons and I have NOT seen the movie but this is pretty funny...

Kinda reminds me of the old days when The Simpsons were switched on at our 820E apt without our approval... Amy D., you know what I am talking about!!

ps. this is the Arab World me if it even looks like me at all.

http://simpsonizeme.com/

To Live is Christ.

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:21:42 GMT

To live is Christ… Lately I have learned and experienced what this really means. My whole life, anytime someone was to bring up the idea of death or dying this verse, Phil. 1:21 “for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” would eventually enter the discussion with most of the emphasis on “to die is gain.” But how about the beginning of the verse, “to live is Christ?” I’m not sure I truly understood the fullness of what this meant until just recently.

The last few weeks have been heavy yet glorious for me. Although I can confidently say these weeks have been the most fruitful in my time overseas, they have also been some of the most difficult personally and emotionally. In recent weeks I have received the precious gift of a having a national seeker step into my life. Someone who in fact wants to get to know the One True God, someone who desires time in His word, someone who is no doubt in the process of belief. But with the word seeker comes the word friend. Because we have spent so much time together and clearly have much in common, this girl has sincerely become my closest national friend thus far. I have committed my heart and time to her and want to see her eyes unveiled probably more than anyone. There have been times though that I have wanted to walk away or cut my losses, if you will. With the commitment and love I have given my friend, by only the grace of Christ, there have been instances when I have not necessarily seen this love returned. In short, feelings of being deceived, used or rejected. But how can I expect someone who is just now discovering who Christ is in her own life to treat me with the love only He can give?

I was sitting on my bed pondering this the other day when all of the sudden it hit me… this was how Jesus felt and continues to feel when I put my own selfish desires before Him in my own life. Yet He continues to love me and not only that… He continues to pursue me.

I have found that this is exactly what He requires of me with the beautiful ones He has so faithfully given me to minister too, even at the risk of being hurt. The truth of the matter is this hurt I feel, the lonely days and nights, the pain of leaving people behind and the million goodbyes…. it is all apart of living as Christ. He did it all and in His human flesh He felt it all. But the beauty? He conquered it all allowing death, for those of us who believe, to truly be gain.

best friends are the best...

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:29:57 GMT

On June 9th, just one day shy of my one year anniversary overseas, my best friend Amy D. came to visit! Our week together was amazing... We didn't get much sleep but instead stayed up all night catching up, laughed our heads off, prayed together and encouraged one another. We were both disappointed that our 3rd amigo Heather couldn't have joined us, but nonetheless our time together was refreshing and wonderful!:) I am so thankful for best friends, they are truly the best!

To see the complete photo album of our adventurous week, click here.

peace for yesterday.

Fri, 25 May 2007 13:06:08 GMT

Isaiah 43. 1*7

But now, this is what the Lord says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine... When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the >>>north,<<< 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

Easter time!

Mon, 07 May 2007 11:07:38 GMT

Every year my dad's side of the family gets together on Easter Sunday. Not just the immediate family though, every person who could possibly be related to us from minn zaaamin (a long time ago). Or maybe the ones who want the good ole' Georgia cooking! Either way I was sad to miss this special occasion this year, until I found out that this year my family decided to put off the BIG gathering.... I guess they just couldn't handle it without me, hehe.

So instead of the mac n' cheese and green bean casserole, we did a picnic complete with pb&j sandwiches, chips and a waterfall! Some of us on the team got together in the South and celebrated the special day right in the midst of His creation... it was beautiful!:)

You can see the national boys here actually sliding down the waterfall... a little too dangerous for us, but they were fun to watch!

Here are all of us ladies, big and small. I'm sure you can tell who took the prize for cuteness that day:)

Other than my very own relatives there is no one I would have rather spent this day with. My team/family here in the Little Country has been a great gift and it meant so much celebrating our Savior's resurrection with them. It was no doubt new to me going to Arabic service and spending the day playing together, but it was amazing how the lack of the American "stuff "really brought back the meaning of the day. I loved that:)

Hope all of you get a chance to reflect this week on the realness of the resurrection and what it means for your life. I know this is a bit late but there is no doubt that this is something we should all be reflecting on daily. PTL! He has Risen! Prying for you all.... ang:)

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Sun, 06 May 2007 08:27:48 GMT

Hi guys, I know I am a little behind on posting on here and I am so sorry. I do have an excuse though. I have been incredibly sick with a little guy in my tummy, a parasite to be exact. It was 4 days of no fun at all and then when I finally got on the meds. they made me sick?!?! this would happen... but it seems that things are on the up and up and I am going to feel normal again, at least that is what everyone keeps telling me. So just pray for that ok?

I am planning to post about Easter and some other stuff too evenutally. The other challenge here is my internet, it is not so great like in the Big City. But stay tuned.... and in the meantime, let me know about your life.

love you all,

ang