Thursday, June 2, 2011

Quick Testimony

I just had to update on this week. This is probably more for my benefit than for anyone else. This has just been a good week and today was the best of all. Just lots of little things.

You see, I had allowed myself to get pretty negative about some things. It hasn't been all beaches and bikinis, there have been some rough patches. I told God last Sunday that I needed to hear from Him that night at church. He really showed up and the pastor gave a great message about how changing your negative thoughts and replacing them with God's Word can change your life and situation. I took so many notes and really got me encouraged to take action.

I had taken a free 8 day course a few years back regarding changing your thoughts. He's a Christian author that I had read before and really like called Tommy Newberry. I signed up again Sunday night and started getting the emails Monday morning. I could tell a difference already on the first day. It helped me out soooooo much.

Today's email was on being grateful for what you have. He said gratitude is focusing your attention and energy on what is working instead of what isn't. The more you appreciate, the more you notice things to appreciate. I've been doing that today and it was just a good day. I got an email from a guy who knows a friend of mine that used to work at Blue Cross. I think he does some sort of mission work here and I'll meet him tomorrow. That will give me another contact here which is great.

I was on the bus to see a student tonight and this pretty girl sat beside me and recognized me and spoke to me. I couldn't for the life of me remember who she was. Note: In Rio, when you see so many beautiful women every day, they almost run together and you can't remember which ones you saw the day before. Just unreal. Well, she could tell I didn't remember and reminded me that she had helped me before with directions and we got off the bus and talked for a while. Nothing major but just talking to a pretty and sweet girl can always brighten your day.

Finally when I got home tonight I had a card slid under my door. It was the first piece of mail I've received since I've been here because I just had a permanent address recently. It was a letter from the online campus at my church in Bham signed by everyone. It did me so much good. I had to write and encourage myself with this and share it with everyone else as well. Gratitude is something I will continue because it can change a dim outlook into a sunny day. There's so much to be grateful for, for sho. Word!

Monday, May 30, 2011

It's Been A While



This is a pic of my new friends I made from one of the companies where I teach.


I'm sitting here waiting for my first class of the day and thought I would update a little bit. I normally have a class at 8 & 10 on Monday but the 8 canceled and the 10 is in the US for a couple of weeks. I picked up a new student that starts today from 12-1. I'll have him on Mondays and Wednesdays...more money.

The weather is actually cooler than I thought it would be. I thought they only had one season - hot but I was wrong. Some of the nights have been in the 60s but it felt good. The days are in the 70s and I love it. It makes me think of football season.

I met a friend at one of the companies where I teach and I went the past couple of Sunday mornings to hang out while she took photos. She works for a company that photographs walks & runs like last week was a breast cancer walk and yesterday was some sort of 5K and 10K run. She told me I could make some money by handing out their company flier to runners after they were finished. Maybe it will be steady thing, that would be great. It's easy money and maybe I can meet some more people.

I'm trying to plan ahead for money because the student I tutor will be leaving at the end of July and going back to Florida. That is a pretty good amount of money per month. I could probably handle one more private student plus the new student and photo company gig will more than compensate for it.

I ordered a 3 inch foam mattress pad and had it sent to my brother in Bham. He mailed to me last week and it should be here this week or next. I can't wait to sleep in comfort again. The bed is not bad but it's not what I was used to in the States.