40 days of fasting

This post is for all of you who aren't on Facebook. I did a facebook fast starting on December 1, 2008 and it just ended just last Friday. It was a great time of learning and just being with my Creator, my Lover, my All. God really blessed me through this.....here is the journal I kept while I was doing the fast (i know it is long but God was really speaking to me :D):

*Note* this was written over the whole 40 days not just the last day J
1. God has showed me what I am going to do “when I grow up”
· I have a heart for teenage girls and I want to be a counselor for teenage girls and help them through the hardest time of their lives.
2. God has given me a heart for the peoples of the world. Especially those in Zimbabwe that are dying every day from Cholera, a preventable and curable disease, yet over 750 people have died in a matter of just a few days simply because the government is in denial that there is even anything going on.
3. Mediocrity….
Oh! Mediocrity! When are we going to get tired of it? When are we going to step up and make a difference for Christ? We can talk it all day, but when are we going to step up and really show the world there is a difference between us and them, to show them that we have something they want? When are we going to stop believing the lies the world tries to tell us like “Teenagers will be teenagers” Did you know that Mary was 13 or 14 when she found favor with God and had His child, David was 14 or 15 when he found favor with God and was anointed King over Israel. When are we going to step up and start being Christians all the time not just when it is convenient?
COME ON!!! LET’S START A REVOLUTION! LET’S SHOW THE WORLD WE ARE DIFFERENT, THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE THEM.
4. My work is not done here.
Some days I just feel like going home. I want to give this up here and head back to Mississippi, back to familiar. But on December 15, we got a package from my aunt with Christmas presents in it. And one of the things in there was the Reach Out CD that Colonial Hills (my home church) made. And I was listening to the songs on there and thinking about Colonial Hills and how worshiping there means so much to me and I can’t wait to get back there and be able to worship with all of my heart, no one looking at me weird or thinking “You crazy American” J, and in my heart language. But then I was listening to God of this City (I have heard the song 1000 times) but today God just spoke something different to my heart when I listened to it. He was saying “Your work in Brasil is not done yet. You may not know why right now, my Beloved, why you are in Brasil or why I have placed you there but your work is not done. GO REACH PORTO ALEGRE FOR ME!
Oh! It will be such a blessing when I do get to go back to familiar but right now my work is here and I am to bloom where I am planted.
It is so hard to bloom where you are planted in a different country that you don’t know that well and really you don’t speak the language, but God has me here in Porto Alegre for this time and for a specific reason that I don’t know yet, and I may never know but I know GOD has a plan for my life.
5. God never said he wants me to be happy in this life.
God’s plan is always perfect and we may not see that at the time but it is perfect. And God never said I would be happy all the time in this life but he did say store up your treasures in heaven. So even though things may not seem perfect I have to make sure I am storing up my treasures in heaven.
6. God has showed me just a little glimpse of why he brought me here.
It is not to save Brasil. He brought me here to show me I don’t need words, sometimes the best thing to do is just shut up. And also that I don’t need people around me all the time. I don’t have to have teenagers around me, all I need is God and when I am sad or lonely or upset or whatever he is the all-sufficient comforter. He is always there to listen when sometimes friends don’t want to listen they just want to judge or condemn or tell you how to fix it. Now I know some of you are saying ‘Didn’t you already know this Kati?’ and the answer is, Yes, I already knew all of these things but putting them into practice I didn’t not do.
7. God has given me a vision to start a ministry.
I am going to start a ministry. Right now that is in the works, but my friend and I are praying about this and are hopefully going to get something started here soon. I am just ready to make a difference. I am tired of the same ol’, same ol’.

I think the song “This Could be Our Day” by Addison Road says a lot and it is my heart completely!
This Could Be our day
What we do here is just the beginning
New life is starting at every ending
We are a part of the story unfolding
This is the weight of the world we
are holding
This could be our day
This could be our day
Clearly it’s time to make a change
Or I could keep sitting and waste
all day
I know that it’s time for me to move
I’ve been given this minute to use
And given this moment to prove that
CHORUS
I was holding back
Now I’ve come undone
I want to touch the world
Heal the broken ones
Ending the cycle has just begun
We’ve been given this minute to use
And given this life to prove
CHORUS
To give ourselves away
For something beautiful
A million miles away
To the one who’s hungry, and thirsty
And needs some hope
To the people that are weary and
broken and left alone
I’m giving myself away
I’m giving myself away

8. Fire
2 verses come to mind when I think of the fire. Hebrews 12:10-11 “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
And Zechariah 13:9 “…I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is our God’”
God doesn’t put us through trials to hurt us but to make us more beautiful and holy than before. The Sunday before we left the States, on Monday, we had a service at church about asking God to bring the fire. Asking God to cleanse us, and make us beautiful, to put us through the fire. At the time I had no clue what that sermon was about, but now I have more of a realization than I think I want to have, he he. Asking for the fire is an easy thing to do but you could get yourself into more than you wanted. While you are going through the fire, it is the most painful thing you could ever imagine (emotionally and spiritually wise), but when you come out of it or the fire gets “less hot” it is the most wonderful feeling you could ever imagine. You have more of a realization of how great and wonderful God is. When you come out of the fire you are more beautiful in God’s sight, The King of all kings, Lord of all lords. I mean, I can’t describe the emotion I feel, I was already beautiful in the sight of the Most High King but now I am even more beautiful. How can you describe that feeling of being pure and holy and beautiful in the sight of the Most, High King?
Hebrews says God disciplines so we can share in his holiness. As we go through the fire, that is what he is doing, training us to be more holy. Helping us share in his holiness. What other god or king would help his people share in their holiness or fortune. It also says later on, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. What more could we want?
Our God is an awesome God. We couldn’t ask for a better keeper of our souls.

10. Trust
God has taught me to trust only in Him. My future, my present, my worries, my everything in Him. It is a wonderful feeling to just let everything go and remember that God is in control. There is nothing we can do on our own but we can do everything in Him!

God has blessed my socks off this 40 days of searching Him. I recommend that all of you do a fast of something that you love. Facebook happens to be the thing that I love and for me it is my connection to my ‘outside world’.

NEW YEARS!!!!

Well, this is Kati on New Years EVE!!!!! here with Mary, Mary quite contrary!!! We are having tons of fun!!! We are in shorts and tank tops, cooking out havin' some churrasco, mmmm,mmmm, good! My dad makes the best b-b-q in town! American and Brazilian!!!! It felt like 4th of July! We had some watermellon and b-b-q and fireworks and all that 4th of July stuff just with out the July! hehe
Well, that is all for now. Just felt like telling yall all that. Thanks for reading!

Wishing you a very happy New Years!
Kati and Mary, Mary Quite contrary!

Christmas Day Beautiful Sunny Brazil

Well, as you know we had our first Christmas in Brazil away from family and friends. But we had a great time! I don't think any of us felt homesick. It is probably because of the fact that we were sweating, but it is OK! It would have been a bad Christmas anyway if we would have been homesick. We all had a great Christmas. We all got what we wanted. It wasn't much, but we had each other and we had the gift of Jesus Christ and that is all that really matters.

I want to ask that yall pray for me. I am starting a ministry with another friend of mine. We have no clue in the world what we are going to do, but we know that in God's timing He will lead us in the direction he wants us. But please pray that we would be able to listen to God and do what he wants us to do and that we would be able to be patient and wait on God and his timing. Because we know everything will work out but ONLY! ONLY! in His timing alone.

One last thing and I will go: I have been doing a 40 day fast off of facebook for the last 3 weeks, and God has just blessed my socks off! Oh! Sometimes I feel I am going to expolode with excitement and overload with all that He is teaching me! God is so good! All the time!

In complete awe of Him,
Kati Cunningham

P.S. I want to thank Aunt Kami and Aunt Nanny for sending all the wonderful gifts and love and making our Christmas even better!!!!! :D

Christmas in Gremado

Hey Again!!!
Well, it is Christmas Eve, we have our tree up, presents (not under the tree because the babies would get them but we have them), stuff for Christmas dinner, and family. But still at that it doesn't feel like Christmas time. I guess it is a combination of it being hot, Nana and Pawpaw are coming in January, I don't know, but it is alright because right now I am not feeling homesick but, I think, if it were cold and we ad a big, real Christmas tree and everything, I would be homesick. So it has been a good Christmas season. We as a family have been able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas because weather it is hot or cold or we have family or we have the 'Christmas spirit' it is Jesus' Birthday and that is all that really matters.
Well, on the 22nd we went to Gremado, a city about 2 hours from here up in the mountains. It was so pretty. they has lights and lights everywhere and all the decorations were mad out of coka-cola bottles. It waa the cooliest thing. I am going to put some pictures on here so you can see what I am talking about, about the coke bottles.
Fonduing! yummy
Big Rocking Chair :)



This is the coke bottle decor

Natal Luz (it was so cool!)


Ladies singing (in English)

Singing Christmas tree
Over looking this amazingly crazy view!!!

Been a Long Time

Hey everyone,
WOW! I didn't realize it had been so long since I have updated. I just seem to let it slip by and never get to it. I will try to do a better job; be like my parents and update about everything!
Well, it is nearing Christmas time. It is VERY, VERY different this year, for example, right now as I am typing it is December 21 (4 days till Christmas) and it is 93 degrees outside and inside.
We bought our Christmas tree today. umm...... it is very different from any others we have had in the past. HA! HA! HA! Totally different. It is a Triangular Palm. We wrapped lights around it and put presents under it, and there you go... a "tropical" Christmas tree. I don't have the pictures on my computer, but I will tell my mom to put them on her blog today. It is pretty funny :)

OK, I am going to go, but promise to keep everyone updated. Thanks for all the prayers and support.

Merry Christmas!!!!!
Have a Great Christmas!!!
Love, Kati C.

MY BIG SURPRISE!!

Well, I am sure you are are wondering what my big surprise was, so....I will tell you.
This past Saturday my mom told me we had to go pick up someone from the bus station for our friend. So we get ready and go to the bus station. So while we are waiting my mom is saying things like. I am afraid she won't know who we are and dah dah dah dah dah. So we waited for about 10 minutes and all of a sudden I see one of my friends coming up the stairs. I didn't know what was going on. I still thought we were waiting on someone and that we just happen to be at the same bus station at the same time one of my friends is coming in to Campinas. It took me a minute to get over the shock and I realize that she was who we were picking up. So I started crying and shaking and OH it was the best birthday present ever!!!
So after we picked her up we went to the mall and had Pizza hut!! and Sorvete de bolinha (Dip n dots) and they were really good!!! Then Rachel and I went to see The Forbidden Kingdom. It was a really good movie.
Oh and I forgot to mention that Rachel is the friend that I went to see a few weeks ago in Sao Paulo.
So we had a good time!! On Sunday we went to the park with some other friends that live here in Campinas and we just had a blast. It was the best thing ever!!!
I have pictures on my Facebook if you would like to see them and I will add a few on here as well. Thanks for sharing in the best thing ever!! HA! HA! HA!

Love,
Kati Cunningham

I will add

One Week and counting!!!!!

Well, as you can tell by my title we have one week left!!! Tomorrow is my parents last day of class and next week will be just a test and some exiting stuff we have to do!!! :D I am so excited!!!! My last day of class will be next week, I am still not sure what day.
I think I have already said this but we will be driving to Porto Alegre and right now our set date to get out of here is September 8th. Oh have I said that I am excited??? Well I am!!!
Well, since we are ending language school I will give some of the things that have been the hardest and some of the things that have been the best.....
I will start with hardest so we can end on a happy note.....

1. Not speaking the language
2. Not being able to love the Brazilian people, wanting to but there being a barrier
3. Not having friends here with me to share my heart and talk english with
4. Going to a Brazilian school
5. Being sick all the time!!!!

Now the happy things!!!!....

1. Meeting so many people like my language teachers and those people that would build me up when I was down
2. learning Portuguese, believe it or not
3. Finding God all over again
4. Getting to know the brazilian culture
5. and eatting all teh wonderful food!!!

well, those are some of the things that have been have and have been joys. hope you liked it!!!

Love you guys,

Kati C.

I just wanted to show you some pictures of how the boys are growing. Peyton and Pierce and walking now and Preston is growin' like a weed!!! =D Hope you enjoy!!

My Adventures!!!

Hey Everybody, I know, I know it has been a long time since I have updated and it has been very spiratic but I promise I am going to get better at posting.

Well, I will start with last weekend.
We were planning a trip to Sao Paulo but the babies and Preston were sick so my parents said why doesn't Kati go and see if Tori (another MK that lives in Campinas) wants to go with her. So we got it all planned, had someone that was going to be there waiting on us once we got to Sao Paulo, so Saturday morning at 8:30 Tori picked me up and we headed to the bus station. So, we got there and got our tickets and were set.......we thought......well turns out you need an ID number, well I had my passport so I had what I needed but Tori didn't, so she had to call her parents. Well the pay phone wouldn't work so she used my cell phone and called home, well her parents weren't there, only her brother, so she asked for him to get her ID number and he didn't have it. So she called her mom and couldn't get her, so she called her house again to see if her dad had gotten home yet. ***now let me note our bus left at 9:00 and this was 8:55*** Well her dad had not gotten home yet and so her brother said well I have your passport here, He had not put the two together so we get the number and ran to the bus......... and it was 9:00, we had no clue if the bus would still be there............so we get the the bus and get on JUST AS THEY ARE SHUTTING THE DOORS!!!!!! Oh I was so glad we made it!!!!
The rest of the trip was farily calm, we hung out with some friends and went to the mall. Coming back we got on our bus in plenty of time, Thank God!!!

Well, we have 1 WEEK and 6 DAYS left in Campinas!!!!! We are very excited. We started packing and our house is ready down in Porto Alegre!!! We are all set to go. WE will leave here probably September 7th or 8th, something like that, and we are going to travel to Curitiba(Coodichiba) which is about 6 hours away and stay the first night. Then we are going to drive to Forinopolis which is about 4 hours away from Curitiba and stay a few night there with some friends and see the city a little and just hang out, then we will head down to Porto Alegre!!!! We are so excited!!!!

Ok, I guess that is all the news i have so far, I promise to write more often and let you know what is going on with us!!

With Love,
His Princess in His Hands,
Kati Cunningham

Prayer

Well I know it has been a while since I have updated but I have a prayer request. I am sure many of you read on my parents blog about our week with all the missionaries around Brasil. Well, I got to know a lot of the Mks and fell in love with them the first day. One of my friends that I met, his mother died last night very suddenly. I ask that you please pray for the Lambach family as they will need in this time. Please pray for the children, they have 5 children, one in the military and on down to Preston's age. Please pray that God would be there all-sufficient comforter, their provider, and their ultimate healer. Thank you so much for praying along with us.
Love,
His Princess,
Kati