It's Almost Over

It's hard to believe that our time here is about over. Last Friday I had my last round of shots, and I believe I have been immunized against everything they can give you a shot for. This time next week we will be traveling back to Springville with family. It has been a wonderful eight weeks, and we have made so many new friends.

Today we had our last spiritual retreat, and the weather was so beautiful. It was partly cloudy, and 75 degrees. I went outside for my retreat. I went onto the field overlooking the lake and found a roll of hay to sit in front of and to prop up against. The deer were grazing across the lake, and the ducks were swimming in the water. It was so peaceful, and such a wonderful place to be alone with God. I had a awesome time of prayer, meditation, and song. I talked with God and He talked to me.

Tonight we had a party in our quad for some friends and quad mates. I made sausage balls, and Sandy made cookies, and her spinach dip. We had a great time just sitting around and talking about what everyone was doing for Christmas, and of course our flight schedules, and language school. Those are two big topics around here right now, as the reality of leaving for the field begins to set in.

We will be attending Cross Point on December 23, and are so looking forward to seeing everyone in the Harvesters Sunday School Class. On December 30, we will be attending Ridgecrest and look forward to seeing our friends there. I wish we had more time to visit our other churches but we fly on January 2, and time is so short. We do have our new prayer cards for everyone, and Brother David I will be coming by Pinson to see you, and bring you a stack of our prayer cards. I can't wait to tell you of our experience here.

Our commissioning service is next Wednesday afternoon, and guess who is responsible for the team setting up all of the chairs. Once a facility man, always a facility man. It is going to be a great time of celebration, but also a sad time as we will say goodbye to many friends here that we may not see for a very long time.

Thank you to everyone who has sent Christmas cards. That was so thoughtful of you and we have them posted on our little kitchen bulletin board. Please continue to pray for us as we finish up and head home for a few days. The rest of our week is going to be very intense with some very serious and important training. We should have our next newsletter out this weekend so be looking for it.

To our friends in Birmingham see you next week. To our dear friends in Lima, see you in a couple of weeks.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Yes, it is snowing in Richmond. It has been beautiful today with the snow coming down. It was so nice to walk in the falling snow to lunch, and as I sit here and look out the windows of the quad it has started to snow again. We were hoping for some snow before we left Richmond, and our wish has been granted.

Good news. Last Friday Sandy and I went back to Washington to pick up our visas at the Peruvian Consulate and we got them. It was an interesting cultural experience as everything was in Spanish, but we met the most wonderful Peruvians who helped us through the process. Since we now have our visas, our airline tickets can be purchased. It looks like we will fly from Birmingham to Lima on January 2, 2008.

Things are beginning to wind down here and we are looking forward to being home on December 20, and seeing everyone. Pray for us that we can focus these last two weeks, and not have our minds on packing for home.

We will see everyone soon.

Alan and Sandy Stone

Peruvian Food

What a wonderful day we had last Friday in Washington D.C. Over two hundred people descended on the capital to engage the lost with the Gospel. I was able to speak with a young Chinese lady while waiting on the train, and two Central American men in sitting in Union Station. It was a profitable day for me as well as the entire group. It was wonderful to hear how God opened doors all day for people to share all over the city.

We ate lunch at Casa Blanca, a Peruvian restaurant, in downtown D.C. and the food was wonderful. I had the pollo saltado which was very good. As we entered the restaurant it was very busy, but as we were leaving it was just about empty. This gave us time to share and pray with our waitress who was from Peru and to pray for her family and the business. This Friday Sandy and I have to return to D.C. to have our passports stamped with our visas. Pray that God will provide divine appointments for us as we visit the city again.

It is cold and raining here, and we are hoping before we leave to see a little snow. The quads are decorating for Christmas. It is pretty to walk and see the Christmas tress lit up in the quads. It is just another sign that our time here is winding down and soon we will be with our new team family in Peru.

What a day

Today has been my first really tough day. The sessions after lunch were a challenge for me. The presenter was not the most interesting one we have had and left me wondering how to complete my assignment. Then I was on the way to the mailbox, when I saw a young mother with her little toddler playing in the leaves. For the first time I missed my grandson extremely. It really got to me this afternoon. When I got to the mailbox I just prayed God let there be mail today, because my spirit really needed a lift. Prayer was answered, there was a short note from a saintly couple from Ridgecrest, and I really needed that in such a bad way. Just that simple little note was used in a mighty way to lift my spirits and lift me up out of the valley. God is so good. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Halfway to Lima

It has been a wonderful week in Richmond, with the wind (cold wind) blowing the leaves. I love this time of year and I am really enjoying it. But 4 weeks with no football leaves me suffering withdrawls. We had great sessions this week covering church planting movements, and multiplying churches. Our house church worship has been wonderful and I am learning a lot from the college students in our group. They are really sharp and a precious group. The week was topped off with a trip, with 35 others, to the Rankin's house for ice cream. It was great to get to spend a little time with him is a very casual setting. Afterwards we went to the Grape Leaf, for authentic Lebanese food. It was great, and a new experience for me.

We found out today that the Peruvian Consulate is closed next Friday, so we have to return to Washington D.C. on November 30, to have our passports stamped. We have to drive an hour and catch the metro into Union Station. We do get to skip a day of class. Today was shot day again. But only two shots and TB test for met today. It was a breeze today. I never thought I would be saying that about getting a shot. Yes, just one more day to go. Thanks for the emails, cards, and comments, they mean so much to us. We have such wonderful friends and prayer partners.

Blessings
Alan and Sandy Stone

Open my eyes Lord

What a wonderful Sunday. The Lord was in this place this morning during house worship. The singing was so beautiful to God, and our small group family opened their hearts and shared what is going on in their lives and and the burdens on their hearts. It was a beautiful spirit that filled this little quad. This week we begin Tuesday through Friday with house church. What a way to begin a day.
Tonight we worshipped in Africa for cultural worship. It was a great time with the drums and the African rhythm. The music was sung in African languages and was beautiful.
God is working in Sandy and my hearts in such a meaningful way. In my quiet time he is opening up scripture for me and cleansing my heart, drawing me ever so closer to Him. My prayer is that I will leave here not only a better person, but a changed person forever. A true disciple of the true living God. My theme is open my eyes Lord.
Well Friday this week is shot day again. Got four last Friday and who knows how many this Friday. But, they are good at what they do, and it didn't hurt at all. It is cold here, and the fall colors are so beautiful across the lake. Got to run, always reading to catch up on.
Blessings
Alan and Sandy Stone

Open my eyes Lord

On Wednesday evenings I meet with my accountability partner and we go to Walmart to put or faith into practice. I met a wonderful young family from India and began to talk with them about their country and religion. Through this I was able to share my testimony with them. I wasn't able to make a complete Gospel presentation, but was excited to plant a seed with my testimony. Pray for us every Wednesday evening as we seek to share Christ at the local Rockville Walmart.

Friday is our first shot day and I am not looking forward to it. Looks like I will be getting five to six shots this week, and another round next week. I can't wait.

Well got to run, I have a lot of reading to do this evening.

Blessings
Alan and Sandy Stone

We survived the first two weeks

We, have finished our first two weeks of FPO and have just been overwhelmed with so much information. The sessions have been so wonderful and our lives have been greatly touched and challenged. God is speaking to me in such a mighty and personal way during my morning quiet times. I firmly believe we will not leave the same people who arrived on this campus October 22.

We are in Quad 21 which is in the center of the campus. It is so beautiful here with the cool crisp mornings and sunny afternoons with the wind blowing through the leaves. Tomorrow morning I am helping lead our small group worship time which meets in our quad. I will be sharing my testimony.

Next week begins our rounds of shots, and I am afraid to find out how many I will have to get. I hate shots. Pray for us that God will continue to speak to our hearts as we prepare for our time of ministry in Peru.
Blessings
Alan and Sandy