learning to just be.....

30 Days of Thankfulness...well 29

2011-11-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

(I missed yesterday)

Why am I doing this? Cause it's trendy, everyone else is, it's fun, challenging

Really, I just want to remember how blessed I am and thank God for all of it.

God totally blessed me with, a job that I really really enjoy, my family both far and near.

That's all for today

Eeek!!! it's been 5 months

2011-07-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

How can I make this blogging thing work?

So what have I been up to...creating lots of lovely things, you can check them out at
http://www.facebook.com/befreedesigns and at http://befreedesigns.bigcartel.com

Almost 2 years since my last post...

2011-02-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

I just can't seem to get the hang of this whole blogging thing...but I'll give it another go

Lots has happened or not happened over the past 2 years.
I have a new job...still a preschool teacher...but I'm not in Mozambique (sad face)

My heart is though. It's so hard in the waiting... I like to do, I like to go. When I have a plan I want to follow through. But my plan is not always God's plan.

So I be still. So I wait.

There are lessons to be learned in the waiting. Sometimes God speaks in the waiting. But other times He does not speak, He is just near.
Faith is challenged in the waiting...fears come forth sometimes, doubt rears it's ugly head.

But then truth is spoken, faith rises, fear retreats, doubt is gone..

I am thankful for friends around me in this season

Still in the waiting

2009-07-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

Nothing much today. I was having a really "blah" day but it quickly turned into a lovely "Dee Dah" day thanks to some amazing friends and family!

I am truly blessed!

I did list a new item in my etsy shop. I cal them "A Night in Bombay Earrings" check them out:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28243682

here's a pic:

2009-07-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

"God loves you as you are, not as you should be." -Brennan Manning

I'm so thankful.

...

2009-07-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

i hate how the past can come back sometimes and just kick you in the face.

2009-07-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

the summer is moving slowly for me, still i feel september will be here before i know it. then off to mozambique for 10 months to teach, serve, learn, and grow."

i'm still support raising....i'm at around $4000 which is pretty good. I still have to raise $5000 more....God is faithful. He is teaching me how to wait...since my mentality has been "i want what i want when i want it."

God says to me "And that's fine...but you still have to wait." I love how he talks to me in ways that i understand.

so while i'm waiting...i work as a nanny by day and karaoke singer by night (jk on the karaoke). the job keeps me busy, but the kids keep me laughing. we have adventures of some sort everyday. yesterday we found a rabbit's nest with little baby bunnies inside!

you know, i can't help but get teary eyed when i think of leaving. yes, i want to go, but God has put some absolutely incredible people in my life and i'm not ready to leave them just yet. my small group has become a part of my family. they have supported me, challenged me, and loved me in all my stuff. you don't get people like them very often...so i just want to hold on.

i know, i know they'll be here when i get back. still that doesn't give me much consolation, maybe not as much as it should anyway.

but...i have them now, so i will enjoy this now! tomorrow will take care of itself.

want to see some of my preschool class in Quelimane? Of course you do. Here they are:

if you want to support me (for any amount $5, $20, $100, whatever) make checks payable to
Deep Well Ministries and put my name in the memo line (nicheyta raino)
send to
Deep Well Ministries
P.O. Box 10614
Conway, AR 72034

2009-06-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

talk about a blindside. i should have been prepared, cause it always, always happens.

i guess the only thing for me to do now is to get up and walk...in grace, in forgiveness, in truth.

2009-06-21T18:41:00.001-07:00

so saturday was a fantastical day! it was one of those days that i wish could have gone on forever. i was baptized...and it was beautiful. i was surrounded by people who love me, encourage me, believe me and accept me for who i am. they are people who are walking with me in this journey of living. and i love them so much.

amy said something yesterday that has really resonated with me. we are not just baptized into the community of saints, but we are baptized into the community of the trinity. i've never really thought of the trinity as a community because we have always heard how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. and they are...but they are also three seperate parts of one.

It just goes to show that God created us for community becaues He, himself, is in community.

oh and darrell was really really encouraging when he spoke about how baptism washes away not only the sin but the pain associated with the sin. so so true. it is all gone, God leaves no by products. he also spoke on how Jesus was baptized before he began his ministry and he thought it was wonderful that i was getting baptized before i started my ministry in mozambique. how beautiful, huh.

God is good.

oh and them my most favorite passage in Hosea was read chapter 2 verses 14-20.

"He will allure her..."

what a beautiful day. thank you so much Abba.

love, love

2009-06-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

so again it has been over a month since i have posted on this thing...i'm just not a blogger by nature. as i have stated previously i am a pen and paper girl through and through. but being that i will be leaving for mozambique in a few months, i figure now would be a good time to practice.

so what's new? umm this summer is going kinda slow for me. i'm usually overseas on missions during this time and so it felt like time was flying by. this summer i'm a nanny to four wonderful, energetic children whom i adore. other than that my summer's pretty wide open.

i'm still raising support for mozambique. i still need about $8000, but now worries. my letters are written, updates are about to be sent out and we'll see what happens. my biggest deal now is trying to get the money in so i can reserve my plane ticket, which will be around $3500. but i'm trusting in the Lord...really.

you know how sometimes you can say that just to say it. or you say it because you feel like it's the right thing to say. i'm saying because i mean it and i know it, have experienced it to be true. i'm trusting in the Lord....wooo hooo!!!!!!!

speaking of woo0 hooo....i'm getting baptized this saturday!!! can i get a praise that Lamb! i am so incredibly excited and i'm going to be surrouned by the most incredible group of people who have become my family. this year that i have had with them has be miraculous...really. i really love them and i really trust them and for those of you who know me...that's a pretty big deal. it's just something about when people are willing to be real, authentic; willing to be who they really are junk and all that makes it easy and comfortable for you to be yourself. i love you guys!!!

side note: i miss my LLA kiddos and my LLA parents, you were the best!

the cure for hurry sickness...

2009-05-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

so i get off work at 3:30 and my plan is to run errands and be home by 4;30 in order to beat the 5:00 traffic. in my mind this is totally doable because i only have to....

pick up pics from walmart
buy resin and beads from hobby lobby
buy drill from big lots

no biggie...right. so here i go

on my way to walmart i realize i have left my purse at work. okay no problem i'll just pick it up on my way back.
at walmart to get pics..they did not turn out, so wasted trip. go back to the school to pick up purse...oh classroom door is locked. get keys...get purse.

okay on my way to hobby lobby...ummm smoke begins to come from my hood. by the time i'm in the parking smoke is billowing from the hood. great my car is about to blow up...lift the hood. oh there's the problem...i forget to but the top back on the thing where you pour your oil in. oil is everywhere. no problem i'll just let it cool down.

ok, buy resin and beads.

walk over to big lots. find and drill, oh and they have vanilla coke.yes! ok so i'm standing in line, the lady at the register has written a check and they have to call it in and all that jazz. no worries cause i have my vanilla coke! at this point it's about 4:45, it's okay because the check lady is done and i'm next. i still have plenty of time to get home. and then..

"i can't take debit cards" she says, "my system is down."

"Really, so none of the machines are working."

"No. I can only take cash or check. Oh wait let's try this one"

A glimmer of hope...maybe just maybe. No

So I got across the street to Kroger where there is a atm...get cash go back.

So now i'm back in line and i'm like the 3rd person.

sweet old lady whips out her debit card..."We can't take debit cards, systems down."

"Well, I don't have cash so I'm just gonna try it."

At this point I begin to laugh...to myself..

i mean how ridiculous...it is now 5:00 and there is still someone in front of me...definitely not going to beat that traffic.

"the joy of the Lord is my strength."

this verse comes to mind and I just smile

"okay Lord, i got you...i'm just going to chill out. take it all in stride."

and i did.

i'm finally pay for my things and begin to drive home..in traffic, but all smiles. the joy of the Lord is my strength.

all smiles all the way home

the cure for hurry sickness....

the joy of the Lord.

2009-04-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

i love being a pre-school teacher. so many teachable moments i've experienced from my kiddos.

they forgive easily. they do not hold grudges. they except differences. they love without condition. i understand what Jesus meant when he said we have to be like children to enter into the kingdom.

i pray he keeps me young at heart.

okay okay

2009-04-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

seriously, i'm trying as hard as i can, but this whole blogging thing is not going so well. i'm a journalist. i enjoy using pen and paper, what can i say.

so what's been going on? well for the 2 of you who may read this i'll let you know.

i'm leaving for mozambique in september and am currently raising support (woo hoo! my most favorite thing to do...note the sarcasm)

this time it's not so bad, i actually believe God when he tells me that i will be taken care of. i mean believe believe him, not just know it in my head, but i fell the truth of it resonate in my deep.

it's amazing to me how God proves himself over and over and yet there is still that part of me that is like, "but God what if...." i love his patience. he knows i need it.

oh check out this photo shot for the women's event Emerge at New Life Church.
Justin and John were fabulouso!

Sigh....

2008-12-27T22:16:00.000-08:00

it's been a hard week for me, really hard.

i spent christmas alone, 'cause i couldn't get home. and i'm still alone.

perpetual loneliness. yep that's the state of my life it seems.

i just feel empty on the inside, and i'm hurting. it's this deep kind of hurt that i can't get to go away and i don't know where the source is. i need to find the source.

i need you to hear my unspoken words
i need you to wipe away my unwept tears
basically i guess...read my mind
find out why
this aloofness
this coldness
see me, i mean really see me
and not what you want to see
or what you think you've always seen
do you even know me
do you know me
...hardly

2008-10-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a pair of my newest earrings:

I'm not one who will promo a new item or new project in every post, not that i think anything is wrong with that, i just don't feel like it all the time. but i figure i'll do it every now and again.

so do you think blogging/texting/im-ing has taken the place of journaling? you see to me there is just something about have pen a paper and writing your words down. i know when write..the style of my handwriting shows what mood i'm in...whether i'm overyjoyed, sad, pissed, or whatever. the emoticons and all the other glitz in blogs just don't cut it for me.

there is somethig raw and authentic about seeing my words on paper...it's just natural.
now don't get be wrong..i am in no way hatin' on the bloggers (clearly because i am one...i guess)

i just don't want the art of writng to disappear.

in the near future...send some snail mail instead of an email (postage..blah blah blah...who doesn't have a few cents right?) but think about it...how excited would you be to receive a letter, a handwritten letter from someone. maybe we've forgotten how that feels...that's why we need to write every now and then to remember...to remind someone.

or instead of a text message...give someone a handwritten note saying that you love them or that you're blessed to have them or whatever.

don't lose the art of writing

your words are power

2008-09-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

Seriously I'm considering giving up this whole blogging thing.

Well, first of all I'm just really bad at remembering to write. I'm more of a pen and paper kinda girl so it's easy to forget to get on here.

Secondly, who ever reads this thing really...i don't have any friends on here, but then again maybe i should branch out and make some blog friends.

I don't know, i'll see

On another note, i really miss Mozambique. I miss my family there. I miss my babies. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it and wish that I was there.

I will be again, in August 2009, for a year (or two).

if anyone does read this they should totally check out http://ketabanana.etsy.com I'm kinda fond of it, i think it's a pretty awesome shop.

Good night now
keta

Almost Home......

2008-07-24T12:43:00.001-07:00

So here I am only a few days away from being back in the states. I can hardly believe two months have gone. Where do I even begin to start to tell you all that the Lord has done and all that He has shown me.

Well, know that I won't begin to start to tell you know. I'll have to be in a place where I'm settled, you know I need to get over the jet lag, culture shock, re-intergration, you know all that "fun" stuff you get when you return home from a foreign country.

I wish everyone had the opportunity to make their world a little smaller. Do you know what I mean? I wish everyone had the chance to step outside their box or bubble if you will. We're all so comfortable being unaware. What we don't know won't hurt us right, but is what we don't know hurting others... because if we did know, we could possibly have the solution and prevent hurt from others..

Does that make sense? It sounded okay in my head, so I guess that's what matters.

But I do want you to understand. I don't know if I can get it all across tonight, so perhaps I should just wait. Wait until I've collected my thoughts and such...maybe I could summarize my two month journal for you...maybe not.

Anyway... I'll be home soon...I'm leaving home soon

bon dia!!

2008-06-11T21:52:00.001-07:00

Bon Dia! I just wanted to let everyone know that the team left on Tuesday..so it's me, solamente, but everything is going so well Yesterday I had a chance to visit the school, Escola de Paz ( the school of peace) and it was absolutely amazing! I was right in my element. I sang songs and danced with the kids and even got a chance to teach them a bit of English...it was so wonderful! I'm so thankful that the Lord is allowing me to be a part of His ministry here in Mozambique...it's such a blessing

So much more has happened as well. Last week we had to opportunity to go into one of the zones (small towns outside of the city) and work at the Center...it's a center for boys who have runaway from their homes because of bad conditions. We were able to encourage them, pray with them, and show them God's love just by being there, playing soccer and other games and teaching English. We were also able to walk through the zone, we shared the gospel with a Muslim woman, prayed for a sick man and woman, and encouraged a member of the church....Praise that Lamb...it's been fantastico!!

Also we've been able to love on the children of the zone...we sang songs (head shoulders knees and toes, deep and wide, itsy bitsy spider) we could have made a record in the guiness book of world records for the largest circle of ring around the rosie!! And their absolute favorite was Pato, Pato, Galinha (duck, duck, chicken!) the Mozambiquian version of Duck Duck Goose...the game was massive 110 people came out to watch!!! Hopefully I will have pictures soon! Keep praying..I love you all God Bless, Nicheyta

2008-05-27T21:04:00.001-07:00

so three days left...yep in three days i'll be on a plane headed for Africa.

yeah i can believe it.

things are crazy busy. i haven't started packing...i may be moving out of my apt...gotta get grown up stuff situated...but in it all one constant remains....my faithful Father who loves me and is holding me up with His righteous right hand.

i love experiencing the goodness of the Lord...what i need to remember, however, is this goodness when times get testing, when it gets a little hard. it's easy to be goofy happy now because all of this fantastic blessings are coming my way (money for africa, new car) but i can bet the enemy has some snares set up somewhere.

i'm not naive anymore...he's always seeking to devour me...oh but He that is within me is so much greater.

so i'll remember. i will remember the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

i'm thinking of my babies...yes they are my babies now, the ones in africa. i have been interceding for them and their families, for their futures, for their present. they have permanent indentions on my heart.

they will become what the Lord has meant for them to be...they are his sons and daughters and deserve the inheritance of the King.

they will be the head and not the tail...they will lend and not borrow..their seeds will not beg for bread. they are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. they are His own. they are His very heart.

believe it...for it is truth

bless the Lord at all times.

i will bless the Lord.

being His hope,
keta

my Faithful

2008-05-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

It is absolutley amazing how faithful the Father has been to me...but then again one of His names is Faithful so it should be no surprise
It's amazing how i forget...numerous times He has said to me "Beloved, i will take care of you" and yet over and over i would try to do things for myself

This time was different, raising support i mean. it was hard and stressful but a blessing as well. i drew into Him more, I completely leaned on Him as my Tower, my Provider...and though i had moments of leaning on my own understanding....i always returned

Just when i wasn't expecting it, and when i was say "Lord i give it to you" (for the thousandth time it seemed) He provided....above and beyond...exceeding and abundantly far above all I could ask or think.

I'm leaving for Mozambique in 6 days....i'm gonna start living out my passion in six days, living my purpose in six days. though when i think about it...i guess i kinda have been living it out already. praying for those children, dreaming big, casting the vision...i've be living it out in my heart, in my mind.
in six days i get to start the reality of it.

six days. six days? six days!!!!!!

Bless the Lord....i bless the Lord.

2008-05-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

So in about 2 weeks i'll be headed to Mozambique...i cannot explain my emotions. Right now my heart is anticipating....it's ready to be where it belongs.

When you know your purpose, when you are aware of your passion...nothing else can satisfy. nothing else will satisfy me...being there is all that i need.

Headed back to Africa...

2008-04-28T05:15:00.000-07:00

Well everyone it's that time again, my most favorite time of the year.....I'm going back to Mozambique!!! (YAY...does a little dance)

This time I get to stay for 2 months...yes 2 months, which means i get to invest more time with some amazing little boys and girls, and amazing adults as well :)

My plan is to go back and volunteer at the School for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Whatever they need me to do I will be at their beck and call, whether it be teaching some English or cleaning out the goat pens....i'm game for anything.

My heart is to eventually be there for aout 2 years and possibly establishing a long term English teaching program at the school. My long long long term goal is to open up an arts center.

I know, I know...you're thinking 'why do they need an arts center...isn't food, health and shelter more important?'

Yes. those things are way more important...they are essential.

So let me start by saying this...first and foremost I want to see their physicla tangible needs met. i hope by conjoining with the missionaries I will be working with, that we can do that. Believe me that is my top priority

But i want to open an arts center because i want these children to have to to be just that children. You see by the time they are old enough to take care of a little one or do some sort of labor they are put to work (the age is usuall about 5 yrs old)

So they don't have time to explore whether or not they like to draw or build, whether or not they do pretty well in science, do they like to write poetry or songs.

Each one of those children have a talent. They are architects, designers, singers, teachers, doctors and so much more. I want them to have to opportunity to bring out those gifts and talents that God has given them. I don't want them to be buried any longer because of the circumstances and seeming hopelessness that surrounds these little ones.

There is hope.

They don't have to walk in the path of poverty or sickness like their parents and grandparents have.

They can be prosperous. They can build up ther community. They do not have to settle.

They can be what God has called them to be.

That is my heart.

Guilty....

2008-04-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

I admit i am a bad blogger...i mean it's not that i don't want to, it's just that life is crazy busy. i have been a bit tired lately with running around with little ones all day. but i absolutely love my new job...those babies are my heart!

in other news..i recently reopened my etsy, which i'm pretty amped about. i have some new things, creativity is being unleashed...so we'll see how that goes

in other other news: i'm headed back to Mozambique, Africa at the end of May. Oh my how excited I am!!! I can't wait to see the children at the school in their new uniforms we purchased for them! I can't wait to love on them for two whole months!!!!!! I'm raising support to go and i know Jehovah Jireh never fails. I am so pumped...this summer is going to be amazing!

so that's all for now, i should be in bed...but i'm still an18 year old college freshman at heart, who thinks she can stay up until 3 in the morning and still function properly (not so) i'm a 25 year old preschool teacher who needs here beauty rest/refreshing, restoring energy to do it all again tomorrow rest

Good night and God bless to you all
keta

I'm baaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

What an amazing time of ministry we had!!!!!!!!!! It was so great, but it was hard as well. Seeing so much poverty and feeling helpless. But spending a day at a preschool or in a squatter camp and showing love to a few people...telling one little girl she's special and she can grow up to be a ballerina...those things..those seemingly "little" things are tremendous to those people. I was humbled and grateful to be an extension of the love of Jesus.

here are some snaps from Africa... (those beautiful babies... i miss them so!!!!)

this is a squatter camp: (I'll put more up later)

Why is packing so hard?

2007-05-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

I need to pack. I leave in 2 days and I don't even have a list made of what I need. Geez..i'm such a procrastinator. It's just that packing can be somewhat overwhelming. Especially when you're going to a foreign country for one month! One month!

Instead of packing I sew...it relaxes me :) This is what I made today:

do you think it's pretty?

Look at me instead of writing this I should be packing...and yet...i am still writing.

In the words of Ellen "Procrastinate now!"

2007-05-29T06:16:00.001-07:00

I can't believe there are only 4 days to go until I leave. I am sooooo ready and nervous and excited and sad and lots of other stuff. What a ride this has been...raising support, working out roommate stuff, and life stuff.

My friend Lauren and I had a garage sale on Saturday, Lauren played dress up :)

Only 8 days now until South Africa!!!

2007-05-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's almost here

We did some more fundraising. We bussed tables a Cici's Pizza and collected tips. It was pretty awesome!

Also a friend and I went downtown in Conway, AR and ask businesses for donations. We ended up making $125 which is pretty good, we left our support letters with a couple of people.

We're still raising money though...we have quite a bit more to get in so please visit my etsy shop

http://ketabanana.etsy.com

For those who don't know..I'm raising money to go to South Africa for a month. I'll be gone frome June 2-June 27. We will be working with AIDS victims and AIDS orphans along with the homeless and doing other community service projects.

It would be wonderful if you could help out again you can just by visiting my etsy
http://ketabanana.etsy.com

or donating via paypal (see left side of page)

thanks so much

Nicheyta

Ahhhhhh!!!

2007-05-21T08:28:00.001-07:00

We leave in less than 2 weeks...it's craziness!!!!!!!!! I've done more fundraisers (laying sod, bussing tables), sent out more letters, and made lots of phone calls. I'm really trying to get on the ball with raising this money.

I'm not quite sure where I am yet but I know I'll get there.

In other news, My little sister graduated from high school....YAY Courtney!!!!!! She was pretty excited (weren't we all)

Just had a wedding shower for my roommate (i'm always a roommate and never a bride) I'm super happy for her. She's moving out May 31, which means I have to find a way to pay my rent for June (the month I'll be gone to South Africa) and July, cause I have no source of income.

Anyone out there wanna make a donation just let me know. You can donate as well through Paypal or credit card, just see the upper left hand corner (my email is ketagrad01@yahoo.com)

God be my Jehovah Jireh.

That's all for now...more soon!!

Leave in three weeks!!!

2007-05-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how close it's getting!! Last week we had a carwash and raised about $320 and we also had our training retreat (which was fabulous)

I still have a long way to go so please go to my etsy,( http://ketabanana.etsy.com ) if you would like to make donations leave me a comment here, convo me on etsy or send me an email

South Africa!!!

2007-05-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

I'm raising money to go to South Africa this summer!! A group of 40 of us are going down to volunteer and help with AIDS orphans.

We need supplies, we need to pay for room and board, shots, and a ton more! The total cost is $3800, I have $1000 so far. just a little more to go!

check out my etsy:
http://ketabanana.etsy.com

So I took the advice of some of my fellow etsyians and decided to blog about fundraising is going for South Africa.

Last week we pumped gas at a local gas station Raceway

we raised $717 and had a blast!

I've post new items on my etsy you should check them out:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5881752
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5851326
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5873100