Like rain in the desert.

I felt like I needed to update you on my miserable week. I feel like I couldn't just let you keep on thinking my week got worse and worse, in fact just the opposite. When I got home from work on Friday I was blessed to an evening with our makeshift Fall.

In the good ol' Phils we lack the changing in seasons and so for those of us who enjoy the cold crisp air, smell of fallen leaves, pumpkin spice, and the sparkle of jack-o-lanterns we really miss out. So, my creative and giving friend Katy tried to re-create a Fall atmosphere as much as possible (this is very difficult to do in the tropics).

That morning she first made us home made pumpkin spice lattes, which were tasty, but a little "grittier"

than I remember... Then Katy rushed home during lunch to turn on her air con in order to get her small apartment cold enough that we could wear sweaters and feel a "chilli breeze" during dinner. When we got home my room mate and I bundled up and headed down stairs into our "fall season". With the help of five apple spice candles, four fans, air con, spicy chicken chili, and Remember the Titans (a fallish movie about Football) it felt for just a moment that we were enjoying a dinner among friends one fall night. What a wonderful reminder of how great friends are.

Just when I have felt like I was wandering in this desert God has blessed me with rain! I was so refreshed by hanging out with people who have become dear friends in my life. Another praise is the internet at my house is working! After three months of trying to get in touch with the internet provider and however many hours I have spent waiting on the phone they came and fixed it for us! It's something little but was so exciting and encouraging!!

As I was talking to one of the other teachers today I was telling her how I felt bad blogging about my hard times. She reminded me that when we tell others how we are really doing( the good times including the hard times) those back home can more specifically pray for us. After a hard week God has reminded me of how faithful He is and I wanted to say thank you to those who have prayed and continue to pray for me! I am so encouraged today. Even though at times I feel like things are not going the way I want them to, God is Faithful.

Here are a few pictures from our Fall Fest...

This is our clay pumpkin... if you tried to carve a pumpkin in this weather

it would probably rot by the next day.

My cute room mate, Ruth and I all bundled up.

Our wonderful hostess, Katy.

This me enjoying fall! What you can't see in this picture is the two fans pointed right at me. The jacket only lasted about an hour and then I started to sweat. But it was one fun hour!