http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org Angi Francesco Angi Francesco - One Revolution at a Time en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:01:03 GMT 30 http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=heart-butte-montana-needs-prayer http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=heart-butte-montana-needs-prayer To read about what we've been doing in Heart Butte, click on this link here.   http://www.adventures.org/a/reports/r3re.asp?id=2435    Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=providing-for-warriors-of-christ http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=providing-for-warriors-of-christ Ive never grocery shopped for an army before.  But I am pretty sure that when I neared the checkout counter at the IGA in Browning, MT, the cashier must have thought I had bought out half the store.  I wish I had taken a picture of the shopping cart.  Comical doesnt begin to describe it.  I will say though, everything you see in the pictures and all that is listed, fit into one cart.  And I dont mean one the size of an SUV.  The cart was of average size.  By th Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=sundance-not-just-a-film-festival-part-1 http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=sundance-not-just-a-film-festival-part-1 This is a two-part blog.  Part 1 is a description of what I saw, and Part 2 is my reaction.  There are no photographs because cameras are not permitted on the ritual grounds.    Sundance.  From the outside, the lodge looks safe enough.  Dense brush is woven into six-foot high walls that hide the inner sanctum from the casual observer.  The whole thing is a twelve-sided polyhedron, each side about twelve feet long.  One side lacks a physical wall, an Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=sundance-not-just-a-film-festival-part-2 http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=sundance-not-just-a-film-festival-part-2 This is a two-part blog.  Part 1 is a description of what I saw, and Part 2 is my reaction.  There are no photographs because cameras are not permitted on the ritual grounds.        Sundance.  I still dont know quite what to think of this.  A bit of an explanation about WHY these people do this the quick and dirty version is essentially that they have big things they are praying for, and that by fasting, dancing, singing and piercing for these Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=hiking-the-m http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=hiking-the-m      Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet some amazing folks.  Joel Chitwood is on the October World Race Squad, and he happens to live in Bozeman, Montana.  We talked last week, and it turns out that Bozeman is on the way from Billings to Heart Butte.  I made plans to stop and meet Joel at a coffee shop and hang out and get to know him a bit.  About a half hour before I arrived, Joel called and asked if I was up for a short hike.  After bei Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=montana-pictures http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=montana-pictures   Montana is a sight to behold.  Giant irrigation systems, in the form of hundreds of feet of aluminum piping, rove over acre after acre of land to create lush and verdant fields.  At the edge of this vibrant greenery, golden waves of sun-parched grass ripple in the beeze.  Hundreds of miles of fences crisscross the range, another of mans show of his tenuous dominion over land that is barely tamed.  Cows dot the countryside, their bulky black bodies breaking up the Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=leaving-the-nest http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=leaving-the-nest God has a sense of humor. I like that in a guy. I really do. I feel that this may be a theme for the coming year. In one version of my life, this is the month I was going to be spending in Mexico with the July World Race Squad. But like I said, God has a sense of humor. I am not headed south to Mexico, but north, or rather, northwest. For the past month and a half, I have been in Georgia, immersed in the beauty and love of the amazing family at Adventures in Missions and all things Worl Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=am-i-trendy http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=am-i-trendy No. Not me. I am the opposite of trendy. My friends at home would laugh at that description of me. Trendy is up to date fashionable. Trendy people actually care what others think about them. Not that I dont care how I look I just dont care if I have all the right stuff. And yet I find myself in the midst of what I will refer to as a trendy storm. I am sitting in Panera, snagging some free wi-fi, working on my trendy little white MacBook. I am wearing a cute (or so I think) flowy whit Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=heroes http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=heroes The events of last week have served to remind me of why I am here and involved with an organization like Adventures In Missions (AIM). I have heard it said that times of tragedies are opportunities to create heroes, and the last few days have been no exception. Last week, the World Race family suffered a loss. One of the young women who was out on the Race, heeding her call to serve the nations, lost her father suddenly. I watched for four days, as Ashley and Casey (two AIM staff Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-are-we-going-next-year http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-are-we-going-next-year Okay Friends and Family - this is my NEW route since I switched to the October team!  Check it out!  October - Philippines - Manila   November - China     December - Central Africa - Kenya January - Central Africa - Uganda February - Central Africa - Ethiopia/Other     March - India   April - Eastern Europe - Romania May - Eastern Europe - Serbia/Bosnia/Other     June - Central America - Mexico July/August - Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=goodbye-says-it-all http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=goodbye-says-it-all This is a transcript of the speech I gave last night at White Mountain Toastmasters. Thank you all for a wonderful 4 years. I will miss you! Goodbye, so long, cya, farewell, arrivederci, see you later, au revoir, peace out, bon voyage, Godspeed, adios, bye-bye, adieu. Good evening Toastmasters, and welcome guests. Goodbye says it all. As many of you are aware, this is my last time with you for over a year. For those who don't know, I am leaving on a Christian Missions and Ministry Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-bless-the-stubborn-ii http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-bless-the-stubborn-ii If you haven't already read it, see God Bless the Stubborn I to get the background on this great blessing.God blesses the stubborn. It was early April. I was at training camp in Georgia when Nathaniel IMed me and asked me to give him a call. I did, and when I got off the phone with him, I was stunned. He had just told me that his contribution to the World Race wouldn't be funds into my support account. He said he would buy me a Mac. What? Really? He told me to pick out the one I wanted ( Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-bless-the-stubborn http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-bless-the-stubborn First of all, to Nathaniel: I love you. And during every single one of the 'discussions', I loved you. Thank you for everything, especially Amanya. 1994, high school"Mac""PC""Mac""PC""Mac""Nathaniel, seriously, the business world will never accept Mac. PC wins.""But Angi, Macs are better, easier to use.""And waaaay more money. Even if they were really better, no business is ever going to shell out the cash for a machine so similar to a PC." "It isn't even in the same class. It is so m Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=mothers-day-video http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=mothers-day-video Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=selling-out-for-jesus http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=selling-out-for-jesus In the last several months, I had come to terms with renting out my house next year to strangers. I knew I would have to move everything into the attic. It wasn't supposed to be that hard. Just pack up the stuff and move it to the other side of the laundry room door. Easy. Not quite three weeks ago, the Lord showed me otherwise (Mud Season). He doesn't want this to be easy on me. Not in any way, shape or form. I now find myself in a race against time and tears. I need this to be like a band-ai Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=mud-season http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=mud-season If you have ever experienced life in New England, you know that between Winter and Spring, God slips in an extra Season.  This is called Mud Season.  It isn't always pretty, and it often requires lots of cleaning.  But we love it because in all its messiness, it is still beautiful.  And we love it for the promise of what is to come.  Partway through training, the Lord decided that the July Squad was not going to be my race.  As much of a shock as this may be Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-butterfly-effect http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-butterfly-effect If you've met me, you have more than likely seen me with a butterfly necklace on, or earings, or some other form of the winged creature (t-shirts, hair clips, sticky notes, stickers, etc).  And you might be wondering why it is I wear them, since I generally don't strike people as a particularly girly girl.  It isn't because they are 'pretty' or because they transform from the earth-bound caterpillar to a flying work of art.  The answer: The Butterfly Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=community-happens http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=community-happens It is nearly 1am, and I am sitting in the conference room here at Adventures In Missions, and as I do, I am watching Community (with a capital 'C') come alive. Currently, there are 5 other amazing World Race women sitting here learning how to blog, some of them for the first time. We are all sitting here typing furiously, trying to complete an 'assignment' and some girls are struggling. But we are all pulling together, to talk about how to write. About how to say what we are feeling. About Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=capture-the-flag http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=capture-the-flag Men beware... this is what happens when you tell 29 women of God to 'Prepare for Capture the Flag'!!  Enjoy!  **If you are looking at this on the blog page, you will not see the video.  You much click on the title or click here Capture the Flag! ** Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=blogging-assignment-training-camp http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=blogging-assignment-training-camp We did an exercise on Saturday that, to be honest, freaked me out. I almost don't even know how write about it, other than to just put it out there. We were asked to form small groups, and my group was Sara, Melanie, and Natalie. We were then challenged to Ask The Lord where He wanted us to go. Right. Like that was going to work! Ha. Here I am, a believer in a loving and redeeming God, and yet, when it comes to asking for something here and now, I am skeptic numero uno (yeah - there is my Span Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=when-doing-the-right-things-feels-wrong http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=when-doing-the-right-things-feels-wrong **Warning - Adult themed content in this blog** As some of you may know, I have spent the beginning part of this week in court. I was there as a witness for the defense in a case that simply pushes my buttons. Morton has been accused of committing an awful crime. He is accused of intending to meet and perform sexual acts with an underage girl. But he never showed up to the meeting place. He didn't go. Which is the best thing possible, because the underage girl' he was e-mailing with was really Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-promise-shattered http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-promise-shattered Rings are often symbols of promises. Those unbreakable pledges that bind us to someone or something. Rings are used in marriage, they can represent promises to one other, promises to God, or promises to ourselves. Four years ago, I placed a ring on my finger, a simple silver and amethyst ring, and I uttered a personal vow to never again leave New Hampshire. Every time I left home to live somewhere else, as soon as the newness wore off, I was miserable. With my promise ring on my finger, it ancho Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-in-the-world-will-angi-be http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-in-the-world-will-angi-be From World Race Headquarters... this is where we maybe, might, possibly be going on the July 2008 World Race!!  In other words, general locations on the globe are likely, but actual countries are subject to change. 2008 July Race Route July - Central America - Mexico (Palenque) August - Central America - Guatemala/Nicaragua   September - South East Asia - Thailand October - South East Asia - Cambodia November - South East Asia - Vietnam     December Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-terror-of-blogging http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-terror-of-blogging I know I am not the first World Racer to struggle with this topic. There is a certain kind of paralysis that strikes me each time I sit down to blog. Silence is not frequently a problem for me and I am rarely accused of being too quiet. But in this case, I see things, I hear things, and I feel things about which I want to write. And yet, the moment I sit down to blog, my fingers freeze. They hang suspended over the keyboard while my mind churns with all the things I could say. Then the doubt cre Thu, 6 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=find-your-voice-part-i http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=find-your-voice-part-i There we were, a small band of revelers, streaming out of the cozy, fire-warmed Inn, and out to the cold and blustery star-lit night. We were a cacophony of gaiety as we rolled our wheeled briefcases and boxes across the parking lot, with lingering shouts of "What role do you want next week?" "I don't know yet, I'll e-mail you tomorrow!" and "See you next Wednesday!" and "Great job tonight Sherry, you were incredible!" This is the ending of a wonderful evening. An evening where good friends wer Thu, 6 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=find-your-voice-part-ii http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=find-your-voice-part-ii Check out Find Your Voice, Part I to get the back story to this!  Sherry, at 63, stands at a proud 4'7". She has never been taller than this. She has two normal' height siblings, and she has a normal height' daughter and granddaughter. She has no disease, no handicap, no other physical problems, other than in the 4th grade, she just stopped growing. But Sherry never let any of this get in the way of what she wanted to accomplish in life. She is methodical and extremely organized. She Thu, 6 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=i-walked-on-water http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=i-walked-on-water I followed in Jesus's footsteps on Sunday and walked on water...   about 14" of frozen water that is.      My girls (below) and I snowshoed out to Church Island on Squam Lake on Sunday.  Services have been held on this island since the 19th century, and there is a hand-cranked organ on the island.  I paddle out to pray at this cross 2-3 days a week in the summer.  There is just something so amazing about praying and worshipping outside the walls of a Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=toastmasters-speech-do-you-go http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=toastmasters-speech-do-you-go I gave this speech yesterday at a Toastmasters Speech Jam - if you were there and wanted to comment on it, feel free to do that here!  If you would like to contribute to my trip, you can click the Support Me! link to the left.  If you would prefer I mail you a support letter, please e-mail me with your address.  Thank you!  --Angi I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything. But I can do something. The Something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of Go Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=there-is-still-hurt-in-america-the-story-of-shawn-k http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=there-is-still-hurt-in-america-the-story-of-shawn-k I sat down on the plane yesterday, prepared to read Chicken Soup for the Volunteers Soul, and my new book on Prayer, and to maybe pull out my laptop and write a Race Blog. I had my book out when I heard a voice say "Excuse me, is this seat taken?" I looked up and saw a young man, and answered him in the negative. He sat down next to me.  He asked me if I lived in New Hampshire, or if I was visiting and I replied that I was flying home. Hoping that was it with the chatter, I buried my nose Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=support-letter http://angifrancesco.theworldrace.org/?filename=support-letter Dear Friends and Family  You know from my past endeavors that I am a compassionate person. God has put a need in me to make a difference. Some of you have supported me from my very first fundraising bike ride when I was in the third grade. Others of you have helped with my AIDS Vaccine Rides, or with Mother and I on our Multiple Sclerosis rides. Some of you have seen me with one of my Guiding Eyes Puppies out and about in the community. This is, first of all, a heartfelt thank you for all Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT