Rice and Beans of Life: July 2022

Entrance granted!

It was the perfect day for a spontaneous picnic – there was no rain (even though it’s rainy season), the blue sky beckoned to my soul, the sun's warmth tenderly kissed our skin and the shade promised to cool our sweat moistened shirts. Bar-B-Q meatballs, rice and steamed broccoli would not be my first choice for a blanketed picnic meal, but it was delicious none the less. Food, plates, water bottles and blanket loaded in the van with its 4 inhabitants, we drove our usual route up the mountain. Our anticipated destination, Bosque de la Hoja (the leaf forest), across from Casa VidaNet’s entrance. Since Covid, this beautiful national park is only open Saturday and Sunday and there is always a line awaiting entrance. We parked in front of Casa VidaNet to avoid the entrance line and gleefully walked across the road to our Sunday sabbath space just as the park rangers placed a big red STOP sign at the parks entrance! My heart deflated, “God, the sky, the sun, the shade, I thought YOU planned this spontaneous time for us!” As the park ranger greeted Daryl in friendly fashion, a coy smile crossed my face realizing he was motioning us in. I jokingly asked, “Is there room for 4 more?” “For you, yes!” My heart inflated with joy once again as we sauntered through the gate while others were turned away due to restrictions on park capacity.

Our tummies fully satisfied on BBQ meatballs and rice, I lay back pondering the clouds and how far away Heaven looks (you know up there beyond the clouds) to the physical world. As I contemplated our entrance to said park, I felt Father whisper to my spirit, “you were granted entrance by association.” I thought about the relationship we’ve built with the park rangers who spend their days ‘guarding and regulating’ the park entrance and because of that, we were granted entrance while others were turned away.

My mind was drawn to another time a few weeks earlier, as our late night hunger for ice cream prompted a last minute stop at Super La Cope, (our local Turkey Hill), at closing time. They quickly motioned us inside, closed and locked the door after us and waited patiently for us to select our late night guilty pleasure! After said purchase, they jovially ushered us out through what I called the ‘rat door’, a side exit under the plastic flaps. We were granted entrance by association.

As I’ve pondered these situations the last few days it has left my heart burdened for those who do not have entrance by association into The Kingdom. This morning I was feeling the weight of “what more can I do? … so many are missing entrance!” His tender heart spilled out in words on my page … “Seek My face. I have hidden heaven in your heart (not up beyond the clouds). Your closeness to Me enables you to be My hands and feet, shine My heart and emit My sweet fragrance that clings to you from time spent with Me.” You see, entrance by association really isn’t about me or my friendliness or what I can do, and it certainly isn’t about my fear of man, or desire to please others and make sure everyone is happy and feels cared for. Entrance by association is all about Jesus … being with Him, knowing Him and sharing Him! Would you care to join me for coffee and let me tell you about my Jesus?

This song says it well … "Let Me Tell You About My Jesus" by Annie Wilson.

Life on the mountain
It has been 8 full of life weeks! This Friday we’re sending the last 49 of 300+ Vida Missions participants safely a la casa. June first feels like a lifetime ago. We have felt Father’s abundant blessing through the ‘cookie cutter’ routine of Vida Missions. We give Him glory for the challenges, lives changed, conflicts, newfound freedom, sickness, and all He’s brought us through. Now, bring on a weekend at the beach! In normal life … Micah’s leadership has been encouraged and he has made mama proud. Joseph has settled into routine in the States with Grammie and Pop-pop Diener, he has definitely found a sense of independence that life in CR didn’t offer. Jedidiah decided he wanted to learn to play the saxophone, and so he did! Adam celebrated another year of life and joy. He and Jedi have assisted in leading teams to the throne through participating on the worship team. Daryl and I are thankful the routine of Vida Missions isn’t the norm and the constant calculating of numbers and food quantities for this amount of people is only for this season. And, I thoroughly enjoyed a female presence in our house the last month … Ellie, we miss you!

Praises
Safety and life shared with 13 Vida Missions teams
Joseph feeling settled in PA
Father faithfully carrying us and providing exactly what we need
Celebrating years of life: #9 for Adam and #50 for someone else : )
Unity in leadership, and the desire for deeper unity.
Your faithful prayers on our behalf

Prayers
Lots of goodbyes and staff transitions over the next month
Complete healing on Jen’s left foot
Micah’s transition home for 6 weeks then back to VidaNet
Our van’s oil leak to be completely resolved
Relational unrest among the family that we live in the middle of (our landlords)

To be bold in our invitation to entrance by association!