Saturday, December 28, 2013
Christas Operation and many Blessings
We are so overwhelmingly blessed. We are so thankful for those who gave to our special request of Operation Christmas this year. Not only were we able to help 9 special friends but the kids were able to draw names and buy a gift for one of their cottage siblings. Then after that, the kids had enough money to buy a special lunch and a gift for themselves. Thanks again to all who helped make this Christmas extra special. They had a great time on the 23rd passing out their gifts and sharing them with their person. They were all excited about the things they had picked out and the things that they had received.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Life's Road Trip........a detour or a journey?
Life's Road Trip.....A Detour or a Journey....?
Many times in life we map out things in life....just how we want them to go or how we want to do them. Many people have even drawn out a map to track their journey through out life. Sometimes, we can maneuver the journey from start to finish with no problems at all. While other times we are forced to take a detour. When a detour occurs most often if ...throws us into a sheer panic....this was not planned...this is not how this is suppose to go. I can speak of this first hand. We live in Honduras and driving is a pure adventure each and everyday. Well, Taylor our 17 year old daughter and I travel to San Pedro Sula, at least once a month to do our major grocery shopping. It is a crazy drive sometimes and even crazier when you get turned around in the most dangerous city in the whole world. There are not many street signs and half the times you never know if stop lights are working or the tail lights of the car in front of you. It can be a nerve racking experience. Especially, if you have to make a detour from what you have planned. I do enjoy the journey I get to take with her each month......I said all that to talk about Paul's journey in the Bible. Paul was one of the greatest missionaries of all times and he traveled from place to place preaching and sharing the love of the Lord that he was able to walk the earth with. However, Paul's last journey he didn't travel as a missionary.....he traveled as a prisoner that was headed to Rome to stand before Caesar. Many of us might look at his life like we do a movie....."man it wasn't suppose to end like that".......look at how his ministry ended! He was in captivity, he was a bond prisoner.....but look at it a little deeper.....His journey led him to some unreachable people. I can only imagine the souls that were saved and changed in what could have been the darkest days of Paul's journey. I think about my dear friend Lalania Riley Hall who battled cancer for many years....her journey was a tough one.......but I know that on her journey she touched many lives and opened the eyes to many about her strength and faith in the Lord. Then, I think of our friends Summer and Aaron Summer Ungerer. They didn't ask for or expect the detour that they are now on in their journey. But one thing is for sure....reading Philippians 1:12 makes me think of all three of these special people. "But I would ye should understand , brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. I think about Paul and the lives he touched for the Lord in prison. I think about Lanie, Summer and Aaron and the lives that they have touched because God knew that they could handle the detour on their journey. When you are hit with a detour on your journey....don't be dismayed it might be a new road leading to a blessing that you just cant comprehend.
Many times in life we map out things in life....just how we want them to go or how we want to do them. Many people have even drawn out a map to track their journey through out life. Sometimes, we can maneuver the journey from start to finish with no problems at all. While other times we are forced to take a detour. When a detour occurs most often if ...throws us into a sheer panic....this was not planned...this is not how this is suppose to go. I can speak of this first hand. We live in Honduras and driving is a pure adventure each and everyday. Well, Taylor our 17 year old daughter and I travel to San Pedro Sula, at least once a month to do our major grocery shopping. It is a crazy drive sometimes and even crazier when you get turned around in the most dangerous city in the whole world. There are not many street signs and half the times you never know if stop lights are working or the tail lights of the car in front of you. It can be a nerve racking experience. Especially, if you have to make a detour from what you have planned. I do enjoy the journey I get to take with her each month......I said all that to talk about Paul's journey in the Bible. Paul was one of the greatest missionaries of all times and he traveled from place to place preaching and sharing the love of the Lord that he was able to walk the earth with. However, Paul's last journey he didn't travel as a missionary.....he traveled as a prisoner that was headed to Rome to stand before Caesar. Many of us might look at his life like we do a movie....."man it wasn't suppose to end like that".......look at how his ministry ended! He was in captivity, he was a bond prisoner.....but look at it a little deeper.....His journey led him to some unreachable people. I can only imagine the souls that were saved and changed in what could have been the darkest days of Paul's journey. I think about my dear friend Lalania Riley Hall who battled cancer for many years....her journey was a tough one.......but I know that on her journey she touched many lives and opened the eyes to many about her strength and faith in the Lord. Then, I think of our friends Summer and Aaron Summer Ungerer. They didn't ask for or expect the detour that they are now on in their journey. But one thing is for sure....reading Philippians 1:12 makes me think of all three of these special people. "But I would ye should understand , brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. I think about Paul and the lives he touched for the Lord in prison. I think about Lanie, Summer and Aaron and the lives that they have touched because God knew that they could handle the detour on their journey. When you are hit with a detour on your journey....don't be dismayed it might be a new road leading to a blessing that you just cant comprehend.
A Little Turbulence
A Little Turbulence
Many times we have been in an airplane. I would say that most people have been in an airplane at least once. Most of the time it is smooth sailing. You can read a book or sleep and barely even know that you are moving. Then while you are looking out the window and admiring the clouds or the empty blue skies....then all of a sudden the plane starts to shake and bump and you gra...b for your seatbelt. The pilot comes on and says that we have hit some turbulence. Life is like that isn't it? we see others in life who seem to be passing without issues our concerns...they seem steady and secure while even the slightest bump in our road causes us to be frazzled(really we do not know the hearts of others) but sometimes it seems like non-Christians have less problems than we do. The truth is ...you are probably right....but the devil doesn't need to discourage them from serving the Lord because they are right where he wants them to be. But that is another topic.....but why do we if we are Christians get so frazzled with a little turbulence? We shouldn't let Satan get the best of us. We have God on our side. The bibles says in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. God not only offers peace......HE HIMSELF is the Lord of peace. It is nice to know that whatever turbulence we hit in our life God is always there to give us peace and comfort
Many times we have been in an airplane. I would say that most people have been in an airplane at least once. Most of the time it is smooth sailing. You can read a book or sleep and barely even know that you are moving. Then while you are looking out the window and admiring the clouds or the empty blue skies....then all of a sudden the plane starts to shake and bump and you gra...b for your seatbelt. The pilot comes on and says that we have hit some turbulence. Life is like that isn't it? we see others in life who seem to be passing without issues our concerns...they seem steady and secure while even the slightest bump in our road causes us to be frazzled(really we do not know the hearts of others) but sometimes it seems like non-Christians have less problems than we do. The truth is ...you are probably right....but the devil doesn't need to discourage them from serving the Lord because they are right where he wants them to be. But that is another topic.....but why do we if we are Christians get so frazzled with a little turbulence? We shouldn't let Satan get the best of us. We have God on our side. The bibles says in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. God not only offers peace......HE HIMSELF is the Lord of peace. It is nice to know that whatever turbulence we hit in our life God is always there to give us peace and comfort
Life Isnt Always Fair..........
Life isn't always fair
Being a teacher of 15-20 kindergarten students at a time or a parent to any number of children you are going to hear these three words......:"THAT'S NOT FAIR". Maybe it is about going outside, or doing a chore, or maybe you did not give them the color balloon that they wanted. Well, truth is ...sometimes life just isn't fair. I remember when we lost our baby Zoey my heart was broken then we lost Noah.....and it was as if everyone who was not trying to have a baby was now pregnant. Life wasn't fair. We see children here everyday in Honduras who were born into homes and lives that are not fair. Lives where they may not have enough food to eat, or a roof over their head or even a bed. Life isn't fair. However, God can make anything good. You know it is not up to us to see if something is fair or not...that's God's job. God is in charge. He knows far more than we do about HIS plans and HIS purposes. Tonight, I think of our friends and team mates Jon Stammen and Sarah Stammen......they were in an accident on Thanksgiving night. It was clearly not their fault.....the situation that they are in right now is so unfair. The people that caused the accident are trying to push everything onto them and make it their fault. This again is so unfair. But we must not forget it's not about fairness.....its about our trust in a faithful God who knows what HE is doing. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the ROCK, and HIs was are perfect and He is a God of truth. From our point of view life will never look fair.....but when we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, we will always know that HE is faithful....so tonight I ask that you help me to pray for Jon and Sarah and this situation that OUR PERFECT GOD.....will let the TRUTH shine tomorrow at their meeting.
Being a teacher of 15-20 kindergarten students at a time or a parent to any number of children you are going to hear these three words......:"THAT'S NOT FAIR". Maybe it is about going outside, or doing a chore, or maybe you did not give them the color balloon that they wanted. Well, truth is ...sometimes life just isn't fair. I remember when we lost our baby Zoey my heart was broken then we lost Noah.....and it was as if everyone who was not trying to have a baby was now pregnant. Life wasn't fair. We see children here everyday in Honduras who were born into homes and lives that are not fair. Lives where they may not have enough food to eat, or a roof over their head or even a bed. Life isn't fair. However, God can make anything good. You know it is not up to us to see if something is fair or not...that's God's job. God is in charge. He knows far more than we do about HIS plans and HIS purposes. Tonight, I think of our friends and team mates Jon Stammen and Sarah Stammen......they were in an accident on Thanksgiving night. It was clearly not their fault.....the situation that they are in right now is so unfair. The people that caused the accident are trying to push everything onto them and make it their fault. This again is so unfair. But we must not forget it's not about fairness.....its about our trust in a faithful God who knows what HE is doing. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the ROCK, and HIs was are perfect and He is a God of truth. From our point of view life will never look fair.....but when we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, we will always know that HE is faithful....so tonight I ask that you help me to pray for Jon and Sarah and this situation that OUR PERFECT GOD.....will let the TRUTH shine tomorrow at their meeting.
feeling very Blessed This Thanksgiving
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We actually celebrated twice. The first was on Thanksgiving day where we celebrated with our team here in Honduras. We had a great time sharing laughs and good ole food around a large table of our fellow friends and family serving the Lord. There were 4 couples and lots of children...plus one winter intern. The next day we celebrated with our cottage family. We had the whole Thanksgiving meal all over again. The kids all loved it and it was so sweet to hear what they were thankful for. We even used our pretty white plates for a special lunch! Here are some pictures from our day.....
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Blessed Beyond Belief......
We are so blessed. We can not even begin to explain it. we have been blessed and in ways that you just wouldn't believe unless you seen it with your own eyes. Since the milk donation we have been blessed at least once each week. This week was no exception. Food is one of our largest budget items for the month. It usually takes about $1,800 a month to feed us all...this includes diapers, toilet paper and such. This week we had a huge blessing. Wednesday and lawyer that we had met through Mr. Braun along with his partners sent us an email on how they could help the home. We gave them a few items off of our prayer board. Milk, cheese, meat, fruits. What we received was way more than we could have ever expected. We received almost $600 worth of blessings. Here are just a few pictures to share with you.
Block by Block Project....
We are still praying for the funds but excited to hear that so many are participating in trying to help collect the money for blocks. We have heard of Sunday school classes, Junior church classes and even churches we do not personally know. God is so good to us. We are hoping in this week or so to start getting the trees out of the way to do the wall. It has been super wet here as we are in "rainy season". It makes things a little tough outside. We were also blessed with a church that just donated $1,000 to buy 1,000 block. We are so very excited to see how the faithful servants of the Lord help the Lord future HIS ministries. Thank you to all who give and who have gave. We can't do it alone and so we are so grateful that you are all helping us achieve this wall for the protection of the home and church. Thank you so much to all who give to help protect us.
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