August and Septemer happenings

Hello everyone!! Sorry this is really late. It has been busy here and I did not have internet where I was living. I am now in my very own apartment!!! Hooray!!! God is good. Thank you so much to everyone who has asked me how I am doing and settling in. I am doing great. I love it here. The people feel like friends now and I am starting to call this place home. Thank you for your prayers, they are being felt. God is in control even when I don't feel like they are. So here is an update with pictures from the last 2 months!! 

August- In August I worked on my apartment for a week. Painting and cleaning. 

The second week of August was Plan Vocational (VBS) in Paso Nuevo. A group of about 10 of us from the church in Puerto Ordaz spent the week in Paso Nuevo, a small village about 2 hours away. We did Plan Vocational in the morning, swam in the river in the afternoon, did home visits to share the gospel and had a church service every evening. Three people came to the Lord this week. It was a long, busy and very special week investing in the lives of the people of the village. I helped Ana with the 7-8 year old class. 

August 17th I started classes with Ana and Luz here in Puerto Ordaz. I have class with Ana in the morning from 8-11 and class with Luz in the afternoons from 3-6. We work on grammar, pronunciation, reading, memorizing bible verses, vocabulary and culture. 

One Sunday I shared the Romans road verses I have memorized during the church service. Here is a small clip of that evening :) 

Every Thursday evening I go with the group (Said, Laideth, Ana and Catherine) to La Ceiba, another small village 30 mins away, for a service with the kids. We sing songs, Laideth gives a lesson, play games and have snacks. This has been a great way to practice Spanish and get to know more kids. 

One weekend in September a group of us from Puerto Ordaz went to Paso Nuevo for a baptism. Two young people were baptized in the river there. It was a special day celebrating what God is doing in their hearts and lives. 

This past week I went to Cruacao for a few days, I have to leave Venezuela every three months for my visa. A contact that Dean (from FIM) has there, Joice, took very good care of me!! Praise the Lord for other believers and for getting me back to Venezuela safely. 

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. 

A few prayer requests: 

• Strength as I continue to learn Spanish and wisdom for my teachers as they teach. 
• Ismael (an 8year old who has a hard home life) he is recovering from an infected and broken leg.  
• Praise that God brought me safely back to Venezuela for another 3 months. 

Thanks!! 

Alicia 

awhitmore@fim.org 

In His time

Hola!!
Things have been so busy here the last month....yeah I will have been here for one month the 10th!! Yikes!! Where has the time gone?? There have been many ups and a few downs. But God is good through it all.

The big down is that my apartment is not ready for me yet. I am working on getting the walls ready to paint and then when Guillermo comes again he can finish the kitchen. I'm looking forward to this day.

Ups: Both Bible Schools we have had have gone really well!! Met lots of new friends and worked on my Spanish. Our last one is the week of August 10th. We will stay the week in Paso Nuevo and serve the kids there. My classes in Spanish start August 17th. I am super excited for these to start but know I need prayers in strength and humility.

Thanks for all your prayers!!

One specific pray request comes from a friend of mine. Please pray that God would send youth to our churches. We are lacking in the youth.

Blessings,
Alicia

Hola from Venezuela!

God is good! The trip to Venezuela went smoothly. Eveyone and luggage arrived safely here. Thank you for your many prayers and well wishes.

Things have been good so far too. Seeing old friends has been encouraging. Also meeting many new people. We attened church in La Ceiba and Puerto Ordaz on Sunday. I had never been to the new church plant in La Ceiba. The kids were very welcoming. I also spent Wednesday at VBS there. It was a busy and fun morning!!

Marcia (cousin) and I have been busy going through things and shopping for things I will need in my apartment.

The transition has been smooth and the Spanish has come back fairly quickly. I look forward to making more new friends and starting Spanish classes.

Thanks for your prayers!!
Alicia
awhitmore@fim.org 

Spring happenings

At the end of April I “moved” to Grandma Hinrich’s house. For two weeks we worked on getting things ready for the garage sale. Thank you to all those who helped and donated things and came and found treasures!! After pricing and setting things up for four days we realized we had more than would fit in Grandma’s garage, with more continuing to come in. So we decided to open the garage sale a week early and did a full Saturday garage sale. This gave us space for the 20 boxes of things waiting for us on the porch. That first Saturday was a HUGE success. It gave us room for more things the next week. That second weekend of garage sale was yet another blessing and HUGE success. It was forecasted to rain everyday that week, God blessed us with only a few rain showers and most storms in the night. Praise the LORD!! God was not done with the blessings He showered on me through this  garage sale, we made enough money for me to get a new computer that will help me in Venezuela and to continue to connect with my supporters back home. God is good!!! 

The rest of May was filled with graduation parties, visiting family and finishing up packing and preparations for Venezuela. 

Looking ahead to the rest of my time here and a few prayer requests are below. 

June 15th- going to Chicago to hand in the papers for my Visa. Pray this is processed quickly! 

June 16-19th- Trip to the home office in Pennsylvania, FIM. For my exit interview. 

June 28th- commissioning service during the Sunday morning church service at Oakdale. 

July 5th- Farewell party in Des Moines (more details to follow) A time to share in fellowship. 

July 9th- Depart for Venezuela!!! 

If you are in the Meriden area on the 28th I welcome you to come and be a part of my commissioning service during the morning worship service at Oakdale E Free church in Meriden, 10:30AM. 

 Thank you for your prayers and support!! God is good and continues to prove himself faithful. 

Blessings,

Alicia 

awhitmore@fim.org 

Things are falling in to place

Things are getting very exciting!! This past month Marcia, Guillermo and I went to the Venezuela consulate in Chicago to turn in visa paper work. Good news; I have all the paper work they need for my visa and it won’t take 3 months to process, it should only take a few weeks. However, I will have to go back in June to turn all of them in, so that the dates they give me are closer to when I actually leave.

We have set the date for departure!! I will be leaving on July 9^th!! Lord willing all my support will be in by June 15^th. I am currently at 87%!! Another huge praise! I need 13 families to support me at $30 a month and I will be at 100%. If you would like to be one of the 13 let me know. E-mail me if you have any questions. God has been answering prayers! 

With this departure date I will be in Venezuela just in time for Vacation Bible school at all three churches!! I am very excited to get to see all kids and participate in this ministry.

Looking ahead to a few things.  I will be presenting my ministry at Oakdale E Free in Meriden, Iowa next Sunday, April 26^th at 6:00 pm. Everyone in the area is welcome to come and be a part of this night! Hope to see you there!!

Grandma’s garage is quickly filling with things for our garage sale! So many people have already donated things. It is exciting to see all those who are willing to pitch in and help. If you are in the Des Moines area please come!!

May 8-9^th

At Jean Hinrichs’ house 333 NW 72^nd Pl Ankeny, IA  50023

We are still taking donations!! I will come pick them up too!

Prayer requests and praises:

God’s faithfulness and provision with getting me to 87%

A good garage sale

That the next few months will be filled with good memories of family and friends.

The leadership in Venezuela, faithfulness and strength.

Thank you for praying!!

Alicia Whitmore

awhitmore@fim.org

Marching on!

March has been a month full of ups and downs.

It started off with a pretty big down as we said good-bye to my grandpa (Hinrichs). Early the morning of March 1^st while singing hymns to him and holding his hand he passed way. It was a blessing to be there for my family, moments I will not soon forget. The memorial fund was set up to go towards Venezuela and my expenses in moving there. This was an up as many family and friends gave generously to my ministry in memory of Grandpa.

 The rest of the month has been filled with meetings and phone calls to families and friends. I saved the people closest to where I live for this time, so I’m not traveling too much. It has been a blessing to see these people join the team both in finances and prayers! God is good!!

My monthly giving has gone from 60 to 81% in the last month!! What an awesome God we serve!! Thank you for all your prayers, it isn’t possible without you.

I finished my class on Language and Culture learning. It was a great experience and I look forward to using all the things I learned in Venezuela. The teachers were great and I learned a lot about how life does not stop or slow down just because you are taking a class.

Please be in prayer for my visa process. I thought this would be a much simpler process. Come to find out I will have to travel to Chicago to turn in my application and then wait up to three months before receiving it. My target date for Venezuela is now late summer to early autumn. It is all in God’s hands and His timing. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

The garage sale is now for sure happening!!

May 8-9, 2015 

At Jean Hinrichs’ house 333 NW 72^nd Pl Ankeny, IA  50023

Let me know if you have any questions or things you would like to donate!! We will take donations starting April 27th. 

Thank you for all your love, support and prayers!!

Alicia Whitmore

awhitmore@fim.org 

With a full heart

God is good! My heart and schedule are very full after the last two months.  I have been encouraged by the love and support of the people God has blessed me with. Visits to churches, AWANA groups and individuals have been keeping me busy. I have met with old and new friends.

God has provided for me 60% of my monthly giving and 100% of my one time gifts!! Praise Him!! Thank you so much for your faithful giving and prayers, they are appreciated more than you know.

This past month I started taking a class on Language and Culture learning. It has been very encouraging and helpful in what I will be doing in Venezuela the first two years. The class has given me really good ideas on how to learn the language in new and exciting ways. I am beginning to feel more excited and ready to learn Spanish and be able to minister to the people even in the learning stages.

Later on in May we are planning to have a garage sale in the Ankeny area. All of the proceeds will go towards Venezuela. If you or anyone you know has stuff they would like to get rid of as you begin to spring clean please let me know!! I will come and get it from you. Also if you are in the Des Moines/Ankeny area think about coming and seeing what we have!

Thank you for all of your love and support!!

Blessings,

Alicia Whitmore

awhitmore@fim.org