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Saturday, October 19, 2019

Thinking of You

We are excited to see you!
Are you ready for this energy?
Contemplating these ten days before our flight to PA have made me reminiscent of 3 years ago when we wanted to savor every last second with many of you!  Our days schedules are comprised of things we need, want and are invited to do. Of course there is the necessity of packing.  However, this time around feels more like "Boys, throw your clothing in the suitcase, we're flying tomorrow!"  Perhaps in the eyes of my mighty men, my level of stress is paralleled to that of 3 years ago.  Although quite certainly, said suitcase stuffing has NOT involved the tedious, painstaking, decisions on what to pack, store and take along.  Inevitably, both scenarios provoked the incessant measuring of said suitcases to ensure they are no more nor less than the allotted weight.  While our previous routine changing adventure demanded that every inch of space was occupied in our cargo, this time around allows for 'breathing room' which will gratify our indulgence of purchases in the "what used to be familiar" category. 

There is a sense of giddy anticipation to see each of you.  If I allow my emotions to indulge long enough, the tears of anticipated hugs overwhelms the borders of my eyes.  In these 10 days of pre-flight plans, we've started the "see you laters" here in CR.  We've grown accustomed to this phrase being preceded by, "si Dios lo permite" (if God allows).  While these good byes do not carry the weight they did 3 years ago, what I've come to realize is this ...

We have found a home for our hearts here in CR.   Father's provision has been more than we could have asked, thought or imagined!  We are among friends, our hearts are full of love, the connections have grown deep, we share laughter, tears, joy and sorrow in our mother tongue and our language of the heart, there is support to hold our arms up when we feel weary and there are strong shoulders to cry on when the day seems to overwhelming to face.

And so, our hearts are full as we think of YOU in PA and think of YOU in CR.  While the excitement of those hugs and heart to hearts in PA are in the forefront of our minds, there is a shadow of loss cast upon our hearts as we have begun the process of "Adios, si Dios lo permite, nos vemos en Enero" with you in CR.  While I dabble with the avoidance of such emotions that come with 'see you laters,' I'm thankful for them.  They display the beautiful reality that Father has given us an abundance of soulmates throughout the nations.  In essence, you all are the "more than we can ask, think or imagine" that Father continues show us.  You are those we love to share life with, those who know us and are those who are growing to know us.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Si Dios lo permite ... see you soon! 

Life on the Mountain
Savoring the hearing and sharing of staff testimonies, so good to go deeper with these friends ... More God encounters than I thought possible as we've been informing those in our weekly routines that there will be others filling our roles until January ... Taking time for pictures ... Finding rest by sharing life with sisters ... Jedidiah completing his 5th grade exams with determination and dedication ... A birthday sleepover for M & J (these friends are truly more than we could have imagined!) ... futbol 5 fun with staff, I must have forgot about those muscles! ... Laughter with our soulmates from leadership team, community time and neighbors ... Indulging in the "Subway of Burgers" as we supported our neighbors business endeavor ... Making lists, crossing them off, still a lot to do ... We are thinking of each of YOU!

Praises
Osny received a clean bill of health and is off bed rest, thank you for praying! 
Good medical care in CR and PA
Friends to celebrate with and friends who are hard to say good bye to
Feeling the emotions
Laughter and heart connections with neighbors
A night of quality time with Jedi and Adam
Freedom in Jesus, greater is HE that lives in us than he that is in the world!

Prayers
Daryl's congestion/allergies/loss of sense of smell ... God, we need your healing hand!
Pre-flight plans
Traveling to PA next Saturday, October 26th
Jedidiah's heart (and all of ours) as he says good bye to friends who won't be here when we return
Miraculous healing for friends whose marriage is struggling, they need Jesus!
Please pray for our Vida220 training ... there is a lot of intense spiritual warfare going on ... We speak the name of Jesus in each of these situations! 
Financial partnerships, 100% funded for our second term starting in January 2020. emm.org/donate


Happy 15th Joseph!
So blessed by his smile, laughter and
deep, contemplative thinking to fill our home!

No, you can't have this pet! ...
It was literally this big!

"A-A-A-A Stayin Alive, Stayin Alive ..."
Practicing chest compressions to the beat!
Using pillows because no one volunteered their chest ; ) ...
Can you sing and count at the same time? 

This is not the way to practice! ...
Use a hard, firm surface ...
Push hard and fast! 

Trying out these delicious burgers with Esteban's advice!
"These are delicious,
I've decided I want them as my last meal ... before I die!"
Jedidiah

Celebrating with a week early birthday gift ...
Future goalie of Costa Rica ...
"I can't play goalie if I don't have the proper gloves!"


Work days starting once again ...
When their minds are full from absorbing the teachings,
put them to work!

Victorious Leader ... 16 years old
Strong Tower ... 15 years old

Tender Heart ... 11 years old 

Bringer of Light ... 6 years old





Sunday, October 13, 2019

A Seed of Hope

I'm ready for home leave.  For those of you who have heard my heart, that in itself is a miraculous
Coconut lemonade ... my new favorite ...
Anticipating rest for our souls! 
statement!  Up until a week ago I was basically dreading this necessary 'thing' we've been processing for the last 6+ months.  It feels overwhelming to relocate for 12 weeks, establish yet another routine, say hello and good bye again and again and then, resettle back home in Costa Rica just in time to start a new school year.  I've processed, talked about and asked you all to pray ... This past week, Father graciously planted a seed of hope, excitement and anticipation in my weary soul for our time in the States.  The fact of the matter is, I'm SO excited to hug and reconnect with you all, share my heart in English, enjoy the colors of fall, indulge my taste buds with the delicacy of peppermint mocha creamer and ... quite simply, our souls need refreshed.

Monday and Tuesday usually leave me with tense shoulders, occasional headaches and I've found myself wanting these days to be over before the week even begins.  With this realization came the simple acknowledgement that I need to regroup, be refreshed and rest.  These last two weeks I've juggled schedules, diagnosed their ailments, made connections to have a plan in place, planned and thought about what I need to say for each scenario and wiped a uncanny amount of snotty noses ... (Can these colds and allergies just stop already!) In the midst of these two weeks, as I've been teaching Katerine, Meli and Delmys how to 'do what I do' I started to feel a releasing in my spirit.  Along side this releasing, feelings of acceptance toward our home leave were beginning to sprout!

As this sprouting acceptance tucked me into bed one evening, I found myself indulging in the positive aspects of home leave.  Tears woke my soul the next morning with a desperate longing for my Saviors embrace to free me from this angst and let me know peace ...  In those sacred moments that followed, Father tenderly whispered this declaration to my spirit ...  "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14) ... And with that, He planted the seed of hope.  It made me almost giddy with anticipation as I contemplated resting, unscathed in the cleft of The Rock, while the storm of transition rages around me.  I witnessed the glorious feeling of my mind unwinding and finding the peace of simply being in HIS presence surrounded by Autumn's grandeur.  He enlightened my senses to smell the sweetness of receiving an infilling that can only come by completely resting in His everlasting arms.  In my mind, I'm there, waiting in breathless anticipation to experience the refreshing wind as HIS glory passes by, consuming my weariness, breathing new life to my spirit that leaves me feeling like I'm touching the doorpost of the Pearly Gates.  Sound inviting?  Would you care to join me in the cleft of The Rock?  His presence is waiting! ... And, I may even be convinced to share my peppermint mocha creamer! 

Nestled in Him ... Refreshing wind ... Rest for my soul

Life on the Mountain
Plans and preparations, T-minus 2 weeks ... Figuring out school snacks, costumes and exams leave me feeling like the dream "where I can't find my H.S. locker" ... Heart connections and laughing with a sister ... Sharing life, laughter and dreaming with friends from home who moved to Costa Rica ... Lots of birthday's to celebrate ... Heart to heart with our older two ...  Date night ... Looking forward to rest, reconnecting and refreshment!

Praises
Seed of Hope
Anticipation of rest
Church connections in the States, Father knows our needs
Nellie's simple obedience to Father's voice is growing our church family
Celebrating 15 years of Joseph's life (Monday)
Adam's tooth finally came out!

Prayers 
Pray for miraculous healing on a friends marriage
Complete healing for Osny, emergency appendectomy and secondary infection
Pray for Jedi's heart as he says good bye to friends in CR that won't be here when we return
Wisdom on balancing rest and re-connections 
October 26, we fly to PA
Financial partners for our return to CR  emm.org/donate


Dia de Cultura ... representing France!

First Aid class, getting creative making splints 
"with their environment"!

Don't use the stinging nettles!!

"My turn to play with Declan" ... Love this little man!

All creatures great and small ...
Just please don't let them in our house! 

"The things they do for love"!!!
Feeling so loved by this crew ...
550 envelopes stuffed, sealed and stamped!
Coming your way ...

Recording studio ...
Helping native Spanish speakers learn English!

When the cook has a birthday ...
You buy cake!


New friends from old places ...

FINALLY!!! 
This loose tooth was the culprit of many tears and
thankfully has made its exit!

Letting go, nestled in the cleft of The Rock and feasting on His banqueting table set for me ...

My presence will go with you and I will give you rest...


Sunday, October 6, 2019

Listening to Hear

"It's like one of those things what
helps you hear!"
Today I cleaned out my ears. As if that would help me hear better.  I sit. I listen. I pay attention to what they're saying, however my sense of hearing seems diminished. My ears are sensitive, they don't like loud, shrill sounds in closed in areas.  They prefer the gentle whisper of their Creator to the commanding clap of thunderous direction.  As one who has been given the gift of gab, spending time in insightful conversation has always been freeing, delightful and heartfelt.  As I listen, I don't claim to have an answer for everyone nor do I feel the need to self righteously spew words of wisdom to the anticipating patron.  However, when I am left speechless, without response, to their heartfelt pouring out, it causes me to ponder my ability to hear.  What am I missing, why am I not hearing His words for them?  I try to practice His presence, sitting quietly, listening, being present with Him. Sometimes I think I have to much 'stuff' filling the space between my ears that I have a hard time quieting 'that space' to listen, truly hear.  Recently, my hearing has felt like today's weather ... clouded, gray and muffled by the pouring rain. 

This past week I've listened to countless "Days of Our Lives" as staff and students shared their testimonies.  As I listened, I waited for Father to give me words of affirmation, encouragement and challenge to share.  However most times I left these sessions feeling like my mind had overeaten and all I wanted to do was lay down in a quiet room until that fullness subsided enough to be able to eat (hear) again.  Why were there no words of encouragement to pray over them like the satisfying sweetness of dessert to finish off the meal?  As I listened to a dear friend share about her struggling marriage, I waited patiently for His Word to come to mind ... lamentably, silence ensued.  "I will pray", was all that eeked out of my tear stained countenance.   I don't want to merely listen and walk away, I want their words to affect me, to change me, to cause a deeper introspection into the words that cloud my mind.  I want to do more than just listen ... I want to hear!

And with that simple statement, my ears began to open again ... Father, I don't want to merely listen to Your word and walk out my door.  I need YOUR Word to affect me, to change me, to cause a deeper introspection into the words that cloud my mind!   You see, if my listening has a "time limit, feels the need to respond or a self righteous wait till you hear my great response" attitude, I'm not truly hearing.  Ouch, stepping on the toes of yours truly ... If I want to hear, I need to take the time to hear and not rush through sitting in His presence, reading his words, repeating my list of petitions and out the door.   Obediently sitting in His presence, He speaks.  Am I positioning myself to hear?

Listening to hear ... No response necessary ... Absorbing His life giving Word

Life on the Mountain
They came and fullness of life on the base started once again! ... Father, speak Your truth to each ones heart.  Let Your spirit overwhelm us, let Your presence overtake our hearts ... Our van had an overnight in the garage to make sure it's running well after having it's engine rebuilt ... Laughter in the Kitchen to keep me lighthearted ... Friday community time, playing in the park and futbol ... Taking time to hear.

Praise
Osny coming home from the hospital
Time to celebrate premarital bliss
Sunday afternoon nap ... can't believe I slept that long!
'She' sees Jesus' love in us and believes in the miracle of prayer
The life that comes from the start of a new Vida220 training

Prayer
Complete healing for Osny
Complete healing for Daryl, is it allergies or something else?
Healing for Adam, fever and upset stomach
As we transition for home leave October 26th
Grace and wisdom as we train others to fill our positions here
Friends walking through marital struggles, pray for a miracle


Yeah, Declan's home ... And he's talking a lot! 

They've been begging for a play date after school ...
Can we ride the bus together? 

Invented IV pole ...
Whatever works to get the medicine flowing! 


Getting in shape ...
While the boys played futbol, Adam did the exercise circuit!


And rode on the bike ramps!

Measuring the gas tank! ...
Fever and a rainy Saturday afternoon ...
Perfect day for a 2 hour nap!   
Grandma's casita on the end of our house ...
 One big cozy family!