"Diamonds" Event

Well, sorry it has been a while since I have written an update! I think our whole team is starting to work on our monthly newsletters so hopefully those will be out fairly soon as well! I also don't want to put to much on here because then our newsletters are really just a repeat! It's been nice having a blog page, though, so I can show family and friends back home some pictures without having to print them off!
I think I'm going to just try to explain pictures that we post on here and keep pictures going on this page. Also, if our team has any prayer requests or big things that come up I may post them on here. If anyone has any questions or anything they'd LIKE me to post on here, let me know and I can try to do that as well. Otherwise, I think I'll leave our newsletters for the work updates.
To explain the "Diamonds" Event that I posted some pictures from, this was a ladies' event held at the church and they try to hold a big one once every couple months I believe. Once a month, the ladies' do get-together, but this is just a big event that they plan and put a lot more into and it is for any women in the community to come. It really is a great way to invite people in and to get other ladies' in the community to meet Christian women in a non-threatening way.
As you have probably guessed, the theme for this evening was "Diamonds, a Girl's Best Friend." It was held at the church (another way to get people familiar with where the building is and not feel threatened to "go to church" so to speak) and the women's ministry really went all out in decorating and planning it out! Everyone got to get all dressed up and wear a lot of "bling." (I am sad to say that I am not to the point of owning much "bling" yet..haha! But I got to wear some fake stuff! haha). Some young men in the church dressed up and were the escorts when you first walked in. They also handed out little gift baggies that had a verse on a neat keepsake paper made up like a diamond (really, the theme verse for the night) that was from Proverbs 31 "A woman is worth far more than diamonds." -translated from The Message. They also got some other little goodies. They had a picture spot for women and friends to get a picture taken together, they had a trivia game, desserts, and a guy that came and sang to all the women. Mary Nelson (one of our fantabulous coordinators) did a small devo./thought with "diamonds" as the theme as well. It was a really neat evening and please pray that we really reached out and some of those women will come back to the church or other events in the future and that some good friendships can be made! I already saw some returning people from the 4th of July party that the Americans in the church held. It's funny the ways we can reach out and show love to people! And I think we all know how the love of Christ can always bring you back for more! Please be praying for all the women at this event and that their hearts will be softened!
Thought for the day: (This goes along with a post I already posted so if you've heard it before, sry. But it goes with the theme!) How much is a diamond worth if it's lost? It is still worth a lot, right? Just because someone loses it, doesn't mean it decreases in value! It will be worth a lot to whomever finds it. Well, the same goes for a man or woman. Lost or not, they still hold a great value to Christ. I hope we see that in every person we meet...the lady at the checkout counter in the grocery store who is having a bad day, the man at the bank who is holding up the line and everyone is getting frustrated with, the person trying to cross the street that can't because there is too much traffic, your co-workers, your family...sometimes we forget that Jesus' biggest way of attracting people was by just showing love when nobody else would. Random acts of kindness go a long way. I don't know about you, but I notice that when I choose to be nice and loving, even when I don't have to be, my day is just better! So, give it a go! :) Love you all!