Rice and Beans of Life: July 2017

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Everything

Giving EVERYTHING to glorify God!

This week we had the privilege of experiencing life surrounded by 117 Vida Mission participants, 8 family members on a work team, add on 18 Vida220 students, about 15 staff and one dog ... totaling approximately 160 mouths to feed! We were challenged to give everything to glorify God! Our days were long, rewarding, challenging, stressful, blessed and our nights were short and sweet!

It is currently 12:26 am, we're leaving in the morning for 4 days of outreach and this crazy organized Mama hasn't packed anything yet ...

James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

God I need you ... My heart is YOURS ... Strength will rise as I wait on You!

Prayers
4 days of outreach
Health, safety, unity
God to be glorified in EVERYTHING we do and say
Funds for our new van ... $1800 still needed

Praise
Jeanessa to love and care for our boys in our absence
A day of Sabbath rest
Funds for VidaNet's new van ... $1800 still needed
Hearts changed for God's glory
Being surrounded by the prayers of the saints ... seriously we can't thank you all enough for praying us through this journey.

Life on the Mountain

Digging a trench around our temporary dining facility ...
this boy loves to work!

Hamburger hat ... Vida220 float, yum!

Feeding the '5000' with rice and beans

Trash day and friendly neighborhood horses

Shalom loving Jedi's attention

Gloria's little buddy ... staff in training

They all fit ... God's perfect design

New glasses for Samuel

Caribbean night limbo

English buddies and Spanish buddies ...
sometimes there is no language needed

4 Superheros ready for action ...

Corre, Corre, rapido y podemos volar
(run, run fast and then we can fly!)

practicing dramas for outreach

more dramas

Futbol theme night ...
"HEREDIA!" ... "SAPRISSA"

"Father Abraham had many sons ...
yup, with 150 people in Spanish!"

Perfect ending to a day of rest ... His love shining on us ...
much needed Sabbath rest

Sunday, July 16, 2017

No Quiero ... I Do Not Want

A tree to climb and ...
they made a rope swing!

This morning as our alarm beckoned me from dreamland, I found myself feeling like a defiant toddler! I didn't want to wake up, didn't want to get out of bed, didn't want to take a shower, I didn't want to go to church and I didn't want to put forth any effort today! ... Regardless of how I was feeling, I am a 45 year old Mama and therefore chose to deny my 'wants' and prepare myself for the day! As I snuggled up to my 'bed warmer' for a few more seconds I attempted to redirect my thoughts to that of thankfulness to The Creator of the Universe and The Lover of me. Fast forward 2 hours ...

I found myself in a position where there were no words, no effort needed ... As we sang, "Holy, Holy, Holy" ... I stood speechless, unable to contain my emotions (imagine that!), in awe and with no effort of my own. Standing in the presence of a Holy God, my spirit bowing in reverence to the lover of my soul. I was overwhelmed with the simple fact that ... He loves me and He beckons my spirit from it's selfish wants to rise up and worship ... sometimes without effort of my own! "So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, In awe of the One who gave it all, I'll stand My soul Lord to You surrendered, All I am is Yours!"

Today I felt justified in my selfish desires of not wanting to put forth any effort after a week of going in circles and dodging potholes! Our skeleton crew staff hosted a group of 63 "Earth Movers, Room Changers and Face Lifters" while the rest of our staff hosted two VM teams in Honduras. In CR, these youth put a huge dent in the pile of dirt as they carried buckets loads of wet dirt from one place to the other ... isn't that what mission trips are all about? : ) ... They covered dirty blue walls with a lovely shade of white ... Gave a face lift to a local church ... And blessed the families of La Cuenca with fresh color on their walls!

Dodging pot holes ... Denying my selfish desires ... Greater is He that lives in me ...

My soul must stand!

Praise
Team is back safely from Honduras, reunited!
Jeanessa joining our family
Strength for today, hope for tomorrow
My soul soars in His presence
Another year of life and birthday surprises
Hazelnut coffee creamer
Herbert and Laura, mechanics who care for us

Prayers
Group of 120+ coming this week
My relationship with Rosario our cook
Health ... many are battling colds
Vans for VidaNet ... FB Post from Delynn Hoover:

VidaNet is receiving 120 youth on Thursday and due to two recent calamities with the older fleet of vehicles, we are desperately in need of purchasing a new vehicle. This vehicle meets our requirements perfectly. The owner has said that he would hold it for us. We have raised $11,620 towards it's $18,000 purchase price. Would you be willing to help us reach our goal? Message me (Delynn Hoover) if you would be interested. We only have $6,380 to raise. We would like to have this vehicle for the 120 arriving on Thursday ... #directinvestmentinthekingdomofgod

Life on The Mountain ...

Bob, this one's for you! ... new toilet plungers
... cheap new toy!

Face Lifters at a local church

Picnic with a buddy ... food always tastes better!

Isn't this how it's done? ... One works while 2 supervise!

He can't keep his hands off them!

"Micah, I do it myself!"

"Move that dirt"... 5 more loads coming!

Packing lunches ... left over chicken ...
love these two

"Room Changer Crew"

Gettin' some baby love ...
Jeanessa and Genesis

Kids club ... Jose lovin' my attention

Craft time at La Cuenca with El Nido Mamas

Kids craft ... Funny Faces

Little boys and a pile of dirt ... Heaven on earth!

Face paint isn't just for your face ... I missed the whole picture ...
legs and arms covered in black oil based paint!

Burning rubbish ... Hot dogs for lunch ...
too hot for marshmallows

Up over the mountain of dirt ...
to the fire he goes

Of course you need a Machete to make bamboo hot dog sticks

No, they are not twins ... who has the biggest hair?!

Thanking God for Preston ...
sharing God's love with Jedidiah

Celebrating my 45th ...
Snickers ice cream cake from D.Q.!!
loving the life Father has given ...

"Sharing" Mati's bike ... Love the blessings of this house!

Monday, July 10, 2017

Pondering Joseph

The pestilence that stalks by day ...
the size of a small cat!

Allow me once again to ponder our purpose for moving to CR ... This week I reminisced of chasing cows around in the barnyard at Uncle Johns as I herded 6 of them out of our property. Although these memories of tromping through the pasture with my sweet cousins brought me much joy, my purpose here is not herding cows or that of a farmer. Today, as 1/2 of us sought their purpose of the day at the Base, the other 1/2 of us valiantly eliminated our home of pests ... However, my purpose in this circus was NOT eliminator of pests but rather "screamer of directions"!
Our purpose continues to call us to step out in faith, not an easy task ... Auto mechanic, sermon translator, taxi driver, bus driver, joke teller, Mom's GPS, missionary nanny, hug giver, friend to all, faithful family supporter, dog walker, menu planner and food buyer, Mr. Fix-it, task organizer ... For such a time as this, these were some of our purposes this week. I can confidently say, God had His hand in each of these events as He does everyday in our lives here ... Today, I was enlightened that our purpose in CR is not only for our benefit but also for your benefit. Our hearts desire (purpose) has been the advancement of God's Kingdom, "that all may know"... Father continues to birth and raise obedience in our character while we seek our daily purpose here.

Pondering Joseph ... When God provided a way for Joseph to "move to Egypt" it was multifaceted as well. Gods intention was to advance His Kingdom through Joseph. In spite of the circumstances, God defined, solidified and established Joseph's character by moving him to Egypt. AND ... unbeknownst to all, God sent Joseph to Egypt to ensure his family did not die off due to famine. Wednesday is our day to pray for our supporters and as I pondered the love and support we have felt I wondered ... "What is God doing in your lives due to moving us to CR" ... Joseph did not know the moment he was sold into slavery all that God had planned for his life. However, he continued to live seeking God's purpose for him. The result, the lives of his people were changed forever. What purpose has God put in your heart? He has called and chosen you, will you heed that call, how will your obedience change someone else's life?

He has called ... YOU are chosen ... Steps of faith ... Lives are changed

Praises

Jeanessa (our niece) arrived safely, love her!!

Understanding more Spanish and ability to translate

Visit and hugs from Bonnie and Jerry

Beautiful full moon and magnificent lightening show

Laughter through the trials

Friends to laugh and cry with us

Team of 62 arrived safely at the Base

Whoopie pies and Peanut butter pretzels

"Tomorrow" finally came bringing with it a backhoe!

Prayers