Update (just quick one...)

Well, as you can see, still no Christmas pictures...I took a bit of a break from the computer- just trying to focus on family during the time we have "off." (which translates to 4 days off the computer 105 emails in the inbox! YIKES!) And, I've been reading! YEAH! How I LOVE being caught up in a good story and I have so little time to do it now (other than what I read with the kids...) it has been quite enjoyable :) But I am excited to start the Narnia series with the kids soon :)

Anyway, just wanted everyone to know we had a great Christmas. We spent the day with good friends and have enjoyed some down time last week and this week. We took the kids to see Madagascar 2 one evening and have even made it to the park a couple times :) (We're on a little break from school, by the way...)

One exciting note: we have an addition to our family- for Christmas, Isabelle got a hamster (thanks to our friends the Blackstock's, who left for El Salvador and couldn't take him with them...). His name is Wally and he fits in well with our family. He is quite fun to watch and Isabelle has been wanting one for months. She is excited and ready for the responsibility and eager to have her Daddy help her with the cleaning of the cage :)

Thank you so much to all who sent Christmas cards, pictures, emails, special offerings or packages :) We are still receiving them, which is really fun! We so appreciate those fo you who remember us during the holidays :) We cannot tell you how much we enjoy receiving mail, emails and phone calls! Thank you!

We are looking forward to starting a new year and really stepping into our roles and forging ahead in the ministry. We've had a few months of "feeling" things out and getting used to everything and now we are ready to find our place. We look forward to a great start with a week long VBS the seconds week of January. (The first three weeks of January will be filled with VBS- Los Guido the first week, then Tejarcillos and the final week- La Carpio.) PLease pray for God to go before us in both the areas of the Pines and Jazmin, as they are the areas we will be having the VBS in. More to come later...

Merry Christmas

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas!

Right now, I am not able to get the pictures uploaded, I will keep trying today.

May you be blessed today with the richness of knowing Christ, the newborn King as your Savior!

Ten years ago today...

Ten years ago today, Matt and I promised each other our lives would be lived together forever as husband and wife...We were so young and naive, brand new followers of Jesus, with absolutely no idea of the wonderful things God had planned for us.

Today I rejoice in the years we've had together, the good times and the not-so-good. It has never been easy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love him more today than then and am blessed to be living life with him by my side.

I want to say thank you to all who have had played a part in our lives together, in one way or another. God has blessed us with so many who love us and have encouraged us and our walk with Christ.

First lost tooth

Asthma

I write this as a plea for prayer...

Isabelle has suffered from a fierce cough for going on two weeks now. Her only symptom was this really strong cough- no fever, no cold. However, she has become very tired and hardly has any energy. She will get bursts of energy after resting for awhile and then will become very weepy and tired. Her appetite has also decreased dramatically over the past week. I had been giving her a prescription cough medicine for about a week and it had done virtually nothing to decrease the severity of the cough. Nothing was helping and finally, I knew I had to take her to the doctor. We ended up taking her to the Emergency part of the Clínica Bíblica, a hospital in downtown San Jose that really from all we've seen has excellent staff and care.

You can go to the emergeny room and be seen of course for emergencies, but also as if you were in an Urgent Care type situation. They have a pediatric doctor on call there as well, who sees walk-ins in his own private office.

So, while Matt and Ethan and Audrey waited for us, Iz and I went in to see what was going on...

The doctor was very thorough, which I appreciated. He asked me to come to the side of the table and handed me the stethescope and told me to listen to her lungs. Before this, I did not think she was weezing at all, mind you. But when I listened with the stethescope, I could hear in every breath a small whiney sort of noise. (This is where mom starts to get worried...)

We walk back over to the desk area and he proceeds to tell me she has the beginning stages of asthma. He says it is not full blown asthma- it actually is not yet considered asthma, but if left untreated, it will definetly turn into that. He also told me that she must get better, and if she does not, I will need to bring her back to him to re-evaluate and re-assess her situation. (Yeah...fightin back the tears here...)

So, for the next 10 days, she is on two different inhalers, one to reduce the inflammation and the other to take away whatever is causing the asthma like symptoms-cough and wheezing. Then, for another 10 days, she will continue treatment of the asthma with the inhaler. She also needs to get plenty of rest. Even the every day normal things are wearing her out right now. He also said that it is good for her to play when she feels like it- I just need to be careful and not let her get herself worn out. So I really have to watch her.

We would really appreciate, in fact, we would covet, your prayers right now. She is such a trooper having to take these medicines. She has to take them in the morning and also before bed. She actually likes to use the inhaler (How good is our God that He would allow her to actually enjoy this treatment...?)

We are nearing the end (hopefully...) of the rainy season, which means the increasing and ever-present mold will hopefully decrease (a little). However we live in a bustling city smack-dab in the middle of a tropical climate. Which translates to mucho (a lot of) pollution and yeah...mold...

We had no mold in our apartment to speak of. Here, in the house, we have considerable more. Outside on the back patio as well as in front on the side patio, it is pretty much like a jungle with all the mold that grows there. And, recently, we've found some in the girls' room. Because of normal city living, we have an enormous amount of dust around all the time, no matter how often we dust...

All of this combined, the doctor believes has attributed to this condition Isabelle now has. He is hopeful that the treatment will take care of it. However, this may be something she has to deal with at the least every year.

Please pray. We know our God is big enough to take this away from our precious little girl and get her well again!

Update: Jazmin

Today, Pastor Rogelio, Neris, Matt and Ariel spent most of the morning in Jazmin visiting and evangelizing.

They met some resisitance, found some very welcoming people, several accepted the Lord, and several new discipleship groups will begin within the next week or so.

Praise God for this time spent sharing His word and for our new brothers and sisters in Christ!

Please continue to pray as we continue to go into this area for the next several weeks with the purpose of sharing the gospel and discipling new believers.

Thanksgiving photos

Well, I'm finally going to post the Thanksgiving dinner photos...
As a recap: We celebrated Thanksgiving a week early with about 60 people from the ministry areas. It was a good day and a great way to remember the many things we are thankful for here in Costa Rica.

Here are a few pictures...

What Thanksgiving Day is complete without a little friendly competition...board games all around...

Valeria, Pamela, Mariana, Henry and Roger


Fabiana and Carlos playing checkers


Francisco and David playing Connect Four while Daniel watches intently


Pastor Rogelio and several members of Iglesia Nueva Vida Tejarcillos playing Trouble


A heated game of Blokus


Baby Adrian


What a great picture this is...our team with members from Los Guido, Tejarcillos and La Carpio


Our team


And last but not least, you are about to view something not yet seen by human eyes...


This Thanksgiving could not have been complete without this truly first-time ever experience...



Are you ready?



Mark with a mop...


"How do you use this thing, Melinda?"

Rain, rain, go away...

Only Rogelio and Matt went into Jazmin today because of the constant rain. Although this was a change in our plans, God worked it out for His good. They met a man named Michael before they even entered Jazmin. Michael was friedly with them right away and struck up a conversation with both Rogelio and Matt. He then escorted them into Jazin and walked with them around the area, proceeding to tell them many things they otherwise might not have discovered.

There are about 150 tin shack homes in this area that is about 1/3 to a 1/2 the size of The Pines, for those who've been here before. For those who haven't- about the size of two, maybe three, city blocks. An estimate of at least three hundred people live there (this is only an rough estimate which we guess to be low and which we also think probably does not count children). Michael pointed out some areas to take caution in, but overall, claimed that Jazmin was pretty calm. There is one existing church which Michael said had about 25 adults in it. This is really the key we were looking for. In a area of at minimum 300 people, only a handful are attending the one and only church. The harvest is ripe...

Matt and Rogelio will be returning this Friday in the morning hopefully, find Michael once again, as well as begin sharing the gospel. It is our plan to return for the following three Fridays, sharing the gospel.

Please continue to pray for these days. Pray for God to use us, in all of our weaknesses, to share His Word and bring light to the darkness.

Thank you for praying today.

Jazmin

Tomorrow we will be spending the day together as a family. We will be heading to Tejarcillos in the morning for the Tuesday prayer time and then we will head to a part of Tejarcillos called Jazmin ("Haas-mean"). We will be going door to door meeting people and sharing the gospel.

Would you please pray for our family and our team in Tejarcillos, but most importantly for the people God has already hand-picked to be people of peace on that day. Please pray that God is working right now in their hearts for the purposes He has that only He knows. Please pray for those that will make the life-saving and life-changing decision for Christ tomorrow. Please pray for the discipleship group Matt and I plan to see start next week as a result of this day spent sharing God's Word.

Please pray in the respect of our health as a family. Isabelle has been sick with a nasty cough for about a week, although it seems to be getting better. Audrey, now however has been complaining of a headache all day today. Please pray that God would take these minor ailments away and help them feel well again.

Please pray for no rain tomorrow. Please pray for safety. This area appears to be rather safe, but we always ask this as a prayer request.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We actually celebrated our Thanksgiving last Thursday as a team. We had a huge dinner with about 60 people from Los Guido and Tejarcillos. It was a really fun day full of blessings. I have pictures but am still having trouble getting pictures to transfer from my camera...so one day they will eventually get on here.

Hope all have a great day today!

We are so very thankful for all of you!

Humbled by a four-year old

Well, it finally happened! We've told stories about being corrected in our Spanish by both Ethan and Isabelle several times. We've now been both corrected and humbled by our four-year old!

Last night, Matt was recounting the day with me. He was telling me about a group of kids from La Carpio who were holding on to him as it was time to leave and telling him not to go and asking him to stay. He said that they said, "¡No se va!" It sounded okay to me and I didn't think anymore of it as he went on with the story. Ever so quietly, a few seconds later, Audrey says, "¡No se vaya!" which is the correct form of a command in the negative form. This is most likely what the kids said to Matt. And after Audrey said it she got this huge smile on her face and just kept repeating it, laughing the entire time! We were telling her good job and also playing with her and she was loving it! You could just tell she was proud of herself but at the same time feeling kind funny that she knew something her Daddy (or her Mommy) didn't!




All we could do was laugh...and marvel at being humbled by our four-year old!

Our Izzy

Here are a few recent quotes from Isabelle Adair:

Iz: "Mommy, do you know why they call Hershey's Kisses 'kisses' ?"
Me: "No, I don't. Do you?"
Iz: "Well, I think it is because every time you eat one it makes you think of your mommy and you want to go and give her a kiss!"
Me: "I think so, too!" :)

Last night one of the women on the Siloam team shared with me that she had been talking with Isabelle. The woman asked Isabelle if she could speak Spanish and Isabelle said: "Yes, I can speak Spanish even better than my mom and dad. I help them all the time!"

Homeschooling update

We continue to work hard on schooling and try to balance ministry and school. We have several teams coming for the next month and it will be challenging decided what days to school and when to be part of the teams activities. Above is a picture of Izzy working hard one day recently.


Last week we started a project to learn more about Veteran's Day. I had downloaded the project from a site called CurrClick.com. This site sends me a link for free currciculum every week and I always download everything even if I think I won't use it. So, we made our first lapbook. What is a lapbook? you may ask. A lapbook is a manilla folder folded slightly different and then filled and decorated with information. The purpose is to organize the information about a particular subject in an easy to understand, neat and attractive way. Both Ethan and Isabelle LOVED this project. Since Veteran's Day was last Tuesday, and the kids had literally no idea what a veteran was, we began the project.



The really cool part was that Uncle Mark was here during the time we were working on this project so we had a great discussion about his service in the Navy. The kids were surprised to learn that both Grandpa (my dad) and Ponca (Matt's grandpa) had also served in the Navy. We also met a man on the EFCN team that had served as a Marine. So he gave Ethan a summary of what Marine life was like and the specific jobs they do. It was a really neat way to learn about something and then a great finished project to keep and refer back to.





Also, Ethan has really gotten into reading. In the past two days he has read two chapter books each with over 9 chapters! He LOVES to read. Thanks again to our friends who donated books for our "library."






Isabelle also has really taken off in her reading. At a little different level than her brother, but growing a love to read, she has began reading at least two of the small simple books pictured here. Thanks again, for those that donated us quite a selection of these books.

The hands and power of God

One of the most wonderful things about our God is that He chooses to use us in mighty ways that are designed to fulfill his purposes. He doesn't care that we are not quite equipped to fulfill the job; He doesn't care that we might not be strong enough; He does not care that we might not be mature enough; He doesn't even care that we really don't even deserve the privelege of being chosen. He just uses us without expectation of our part in His plan- He just chooses to use us. He knows our weaknesses and exactly what we bring to the task at hand- which generally is nothing. He just chooses to use us to demonstrate His power and His hand at work.

This past week with the EFCN team from Naperville has been a true time of being able to bask in the power and glory of our God when He places His hand on a task and uses ordinary people to accomplish His purposes.

Last night, we shared in a time of celebration with the team at La Finca. This team came with the purpose of completing the new church building for the Los Guido church. This team funded the building project and arrived here to complete the roof and the floor. Many thanks were said by members of the New Life Church of Los Guido and also by members of the EFCN team. My sweet friend Luisa stood to speak her words of appreciation to the team, which she called "viejos," or "old folks!" As Mark translated what she had said- everyone busted out laughing. It is common to call someone by their "age" in this culture. For instance, when speaking to a teenage girl, you would say "muchacha," or the teenager. If you were directing someone to go to the older man across the room you would say "Vayase al viejo," or "Go to the older man." So, to her what she said was perfectly normal. However, when translated into English, it did sound rather funny. She used this terminology because she knew that their ages averaged in the 60's and some in the 70's.

This leads to my point: I admittedly was surprised at the ages of this "work team" when they arrived. I am truly happy to say that I as they said good-bye last night, I was more surprised at how God used them despite their ages to complete a mighty task. They really did work hard and the building is proof of that.

But what is even more proof, is that God's hand has guided and cared for this project since it started about a month ago. His purpose for this team was not just to build the building, but to build relationships that will last until eternity. Our God is a God of details. What I love to see in life is these little things that He cares for, like the weather, for instance. We had absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather in what should be the last stretch of rainy season. They should not be nice warm days full of sunshine and clear of rain. However, they were. Until last night when it began raining and it is raining again this morning already. God's hand was upon the team yesterday as they visited homes in La Carpio as well as Tejarcillos. They walked and met some of the people in the existing discipleship groups in La Carpio, as well as met some new friends. Then they travelled to Tejarcillos and walked through the Pines and visited with several families of the church. With all the things that have been happening lately, it was a decision covered in prayer to take the team into the Pines. However, God in his majesty, protected the team. They were able to meet members of several families in the church and spent sweet time in the home of Vilma and Ester- you may remember them. Vilma is one of the first from the Pines to complete book 1 and then move on to discipling a girl named Margerhita. What a blessing for the people of all three areas this team has been!

God's hand at work. If even one day of the team's time here had been rainy like this the project would not be where it is today, just a small amount of work left. Each litle detail that was God-organized and played out perfectly in His perfect order came together to get to where we are today.

Join me today in praising our God for the great thing He has done!

Uncle Mark

Quick update:
We've been enjoying the EFCN team from Naperville, IL this week. WOW! The people God can use to do his work. Don't ever listen to the lies of the enemy about age or strength. There are members of this team who are in their 70's and they WORK HARD!

We're also enjoying the company of Matt's brother, Mark. He came yesterday afternoon and will be here through tomorrow. He was able to come down just for a few days and it has been fun having him here.

Today, Matt and Mark were at La Finca for the day helping Coco and a few of the guys from the team who stayed back from their paseo to work. They had a long hard day of work, but it was a good day for them and the the guys on the team.

The rest of the team went on a day trip to a nearby volcano and waterfall gardens and rainforest area. Three guys couldn't stand to let a day go by without working, so they stayed back. We as a team here, are always encouraged by teams, but this kind of dedication to a project is extrememly encouraging. Thanks, EFCN!!!!!

Tonight, Matt had the devotional and afterwards the team laid hands on us and prayed specifically for our family. It was powerful and encouraging for us.

Tomorrow, Matt and Mark still are not sure of their plans, but Mark has to be at the airport by mid-afternoon. Then we have the rest of the day full. The kids have enjoyed him being here and can't quite understand why he's leaving so soon...

just a few pictures

Here are just a few pictures from our trip. I took over 200 pictures mainly of just our time with our family while we were there! Obviously only a handful will make the cut to the blog. We've been having problems with our camera and trying to get pictures downloaded from the camera to the computer. For some reason, the computer is not recognizing the camera...oh technologoly!!!

Anyways...the pics...


My aunt Sandy, mom and I were able to enjoy dinner out with Audrey and Samantha one night. Samantha took this picture. She did a good job, huh?


The McCarty's came to visit us twice and also let us borrow their car for the time we were back! Sweet times!


Aunt Brooke and little Tator Tot (Samantha)


Brooke, Tanner and Ethan


The kids were able to go trick-or-treating with their grandparents since we were back for Halloween. It was a fun evening of walking around Frankfort and just being together.


Rog, Sue, Mark and Angyl and our family at Camp Cullom


Mimi and grandkids in leaves


My mom and me


Matt and Brooke :)


the grandmas and the granddaughters


Brooke and Courtney


Andrew, Steph and the kids


My mom and Dad (I love this picture!)


Our trip ended with a dream come true for Ethan. He had a free admission ticket to the new Legoland Discovery Center in Chicago and really wanted to be able to go with his dad and Alex. We didn't know if it was going to work out or not....but it did... and they went! They had a great time and Ethan, as you can imagine, LOVED it!


My dad (a rare photo of him smiling- this picture is such a blessing to me)

more to come later :)

Home Sweet Home

Hi! It is late and I really need to get to bed...however I wanted to share the joy of home sweet home we all felt today.

We enjoyed our visit to the states immensly and I loved every minute of time I had with my mom and my aunt, the unforgettable sweet way Samantha's arms felt around my neck every time she hugged me, the comfortableness of the Jenkin's home, Mike's smile, Katrina just being herself, my sweet friends, the church families we partner with and the fun of a Halloween night spent walking around Frankfort with Pappy, mimi and Ging-ging. The day at Camp Cullom with our entire family from both sides plus some extras. The smell of freshly plowed dirt still lingers in my nostrils and the happiness of working the farm with his dad is still fresh with Matt. Celebrating the engagement of a dear friend is a memory I'll cherish for some time and sweet fellowship with Alex and his family and even Kelly, not to mention fantastic pizza was a great way to end our time back. The beautiful colors of fall are etched in my mind and I am grateful to have been able to experience them again.

This trip back was a gift from God and one we do not take for granted. We understand all too well how scarce these precious times with family and friends will be for our family. Therefore, we feel blessed. In all that, though, there is an unmistakeable feeling of not quite fitting in when I am there. After living here over a year now, I feel a little between worlds when I am in the states. It is as if everything is vaguely familiar, but not enough to put a name to any one thing. Being with family will never grow tiresome or burdensome again. Fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, in our heart language, is something to value as a privelege, not a right. However, at times, for me it is becoming more and more apparent that I am from a different world. Being in Wal-mart for instance is completely overwhelming to me, the woman who does her grocery shopping in a little shop where I ask for my purchases from behind a wall of bars and the owner hands them (my purchases) to me through a little door in the bars. She then tallys my purchases with a hand-held calculator and writes them on a large piece of paper on the counter as she tallies them. If I am short a few colones she circles my total and sends me on my way, knowing full well I'll be back after while with the rest. I stood in the cereal aisle in WalMart a good 20 minutes one night pondering the necessity of what had to be over 100 choices. (I did however find one I thouroughly enjoyed and brought back two boxes!) But seriously- do Americans really need a hundred cereals to choose from? Then, I turn around and there are about as many options if you prefer oats, cream of wheat or grits. It is evident the simplicity my life has now as compared to even a year and a half ago. When we are here in our daily routine, the laid back Costa Rican style is easy to adapt. We love it and love the way the ladies at the bread store knows all three of our kids names, the pulperia guy sleeps at the counter every day, but wakes up as we enter and greets us as if sleeping in your store when no one is in it is completely normal. The people in the neighborhood will stop and talk with the kids as they play in the front patio. When I need to purchase items that I can't get in the two stores here in our neighborhood I walk about 7 blocks to the nearest large grocery store (think IGA) and get what I need, rain or shine. My church is made up of ex-drug addicts, gang members and people who live in shacks made of tin and held together with bottle caps. What apicture of grace God has given me to look at and experience each day.

And so, the realization I have is that my life is different, and I pray it will forever remain different, from all that I loved about my old life. I will rejoice in any opportunity to return to the life of old to reconnect with family and friends, however, I pray that uncomfortableness once there will remian as a forever reminder of the privelege God has given me to take the gospel to the nations, specifically here in Costa Rica.

Admittedly, it was hard to say good-bye, as it always will be. This time might have been a little tougher than last time, even. However, it is good to be back home. The comfort of your own bed, the familiarity of your neighbors, and the smell of the and the sound of the rain are all things that remind me that my life is here. We spent the day today with our friend Lucia and my God reminded me of just how special my life is here. Could you pray for my friend Lucia as her life is not an easy one, yet she remains one of the most faithful people I have ever met and I am constantly encouraged by her faith and trust in God Almighty. Would you pray for her five children: Carlos, David (Da-veed), Pamela, Michelle and Daniel. Please pray for her husband Carlos, who is living a life of bondage in alcoholism and rage resulting separation from his Heavenly Father. Please pray for the basic necessities of life even down to adequate clothes and food for each day for her and her family. Please pray for their safety and protection as they live day-to-day in a city where violence rages around them.

My life here is purposeful, meaningful and of value because of the privelege of living it with people like Lucia who exhibit the love of Christ to all. Christ died for me and for her and it is in his death that we became sisters. While my heart aches for those I love in the states, what a privelege God has given my family to be part of what he is doing right here.

Moms, I love you both, but know my heart beats to be here. My soul breathes for the purposes He has for me and for Matt. I long to see His purposes lived out for Ethan, for Isabelle and for Audrey that are being established right here, even in these early years of their lives.

My God, My Jesus, My Counselor, Thank you, for what you are doing here. May I always trust in you to complete your promises, that you will always bring good in the midst of sorrow and difficulty, and that you have a vision greater than my mind can ever understand and that reaches farther than my eyes can ever see and is more vivid than my mind can ever imagine. I love you.

Update

I only have a few minutes this morning but thought I would update you that we made it to Indiana and are enjoying the time we have with family. Yesterday was an absolutely wonderful day spent at a local woods and nature conserve called Camp Cullom. We used to visit this place every fall and spring with Matt's parents. Yesterday, they joined us as well as his brother and sister-in-law and my parents and brother, my niece and also my cousin and his fiancee. It was a wonderful day and I am so thankful we were able to do that. We were blessed to be able to visit with a supporting church Wednesday night. Matt was able to help out with a community project they had going on this weekend as well. Today we head to another church to speak during the service and fellowship afterwards. The afternoon will be spent with one of my lifelong friends and her children and then off to anevening spent with our church family. I know that most of our missionary friends are not able to leave for the states for periods of several years at a time. God is so good to allow us this time here with our family. I am very thankful to be here.

Please pray that our visits with these churches would be fruitful and God would continue to open the hearts of individuals, as we are still very much raising support.

Please also pray for the Los guido choir today as they lead worship in Tejarcillos for the service this morning.

on the road again...

Ok, so really we'll be "in the air again..." but anyway ( I couldn't resist quoting good old Willie Nelson- I know I probably should have...)

So, we'll be leaving in a couple of hours. The kids are so excited! We've got everything ready and waiting by the door.

I wanted to share the real power of your prayers that I personally have felt in the past few days. We have spent several really good days in a row with our team. We don't always get to do this because of our different schedules in the different areas, but this week we have been able to spend alot of time together. I thank God for the people he has given us to serve with. We all have different strengths and weakness and I can really see a true picture of the Body of Christ when we are together. It is really a gift to be here and have the quality of character that is present in each of our teammates.

Thank you Father again for the way you so intricately care about the details of our lives, right down to looking at the different strengths and weaknesses each memeber of our team has. I know you knew way before anyone on this earth knew about any of us how well we would all fit together and the plans you have for us that we don't even know about yet. I thank you for the way you thought out in detail bringing us all together to be here in this time serving you. I ask you God to work out those same details in the lives of the youth and adults we have in the churches here. I pray that your plans come together even in these days for their future. May the people you've connected us to as a team, in some way be used in the lives of your humble servants in Los Guido, Tejarcillos and La Carpio so that your Kingdom may be furthered. Father, I ask you for your protection and safety as we travel today. I also ask that you work in the hearts of those we'll come in contact with that we may be salt and light and share your glory with those you allow us to meet. I pray as well that you would work in a mighty way in the area of our support and may these 9 days be fruitful in that respect. I love you, Father. Amen

Fall fun

Well, even though there really is no fall season here, we celebrated fall last night with our team. Melinda organized a pumpkin carving party for the kids and it was really a fun evening! We all ate supper together then spread out in a big circle and carved pumpkins. It was really fun and I'll write more about it later :) and post pictures, but I am not sure when...

We also had yummy treats! Pumkin pie, pumkin custard and apple pie- all homemade. Izzy and I made cookies yesterday during the day, too. And thanks to Doug and Larry, we had candy corn and M & M's to snack on, too :)

Melinda even had a little craft for the kids to do and she made carmel apples , also. It was really a great evening and it was very sweet for her to plan it! Noemy gave the kids a litte treat bag at the end of the night as well! It was both her and Coco's first time to ever carve a pumkin. Meg baked the seeds as well. YUMMY!

Because I spent the day at home, I was able to get the suitcases packed except what we'll pack the morning we leave! What a relief. I also have found the things I was looking for to take back for a few people! :)

Quick update

It has been a week since my last post...sorry about that...

We are preparing for a quick visit to the states. It is again time to leave the country (actually we are leaving a little bit early this time, but as a team, we are trying to work three different schedules and this time worked best for us and the team). So, we decided to head to the states for about 9 days. We leave Tuesday and will be back November 6th. We'll be visiting with two separate supporting churches and it will be very nice to reconnect with them and family and friends. We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to go back.

I began packing last week (yes, that is my Gran's influence- always be prepared) and I am glad I did. I pulled the suitcases out and they were covered in mold! EEEWWW! Mold is a common problem here, but we've never really had to deal with it much, so it was surprising to me. This week, I finished up packing the kids and I and yesterday I began organizing what I thought I'd bring for school. What a process! I don't want to take too much because of weight restrictions and everything, but I want to make sure we can have good, quality days while we are there, also. So, I've been organizing and printing some curriculum I have on the computer and figuring out what I will be packing. I will probably begin packing it later tonight.

I have to go looking for a few things to bring back as well and I am trying to figure this all out in my head. I know that it will all get done...I just begin stressing when I think of being gone all day Saturday and Sunday and then Moday morning as well...We'll make it there and that is what will matter :)

We'e having vehicle trouble. The rough roads we travel on every day are a leading cause of car trouble and almost every month now since we received the van, we've had it in the shop. Would you join us in praying that it would be fixed timely and also that God in his sovereignty would provide the funds for the re-occurring trouble we continue to have. We have not, unfortunately, seen an increase in support despite the many increase in monthly expenses we have. We trust God that all of this in His mighty and capable hands.

Also, please pray about this mold situation. This week, I noticed a huge increase on the patio outside the girl's room and the living room. I found mold in their closet and a couple of their things that were ruined. Then, today, I noticed mold on two of our photo albums. I am hoping it is just a passing thing. Please pray that it won't become a problem in the future.

The next time you hear from me might be from the states...Have a great weekend!

Blessings

Every Wednesday Matt is gone all day to La Carpio. You may be thinking, "I thought you were going to La Carpio, Brooke?" Well, I was for most of the "summer" months. However, once we started school, I quickly realized I was not going to be able to manage both a day away in La Carpio and also get in a full week of school with Ethan and Isabelle. So, once Matt finished his classes at ILE, we switched places and he now goes each week. God's timing is perfect because the week before we made the switch there was a group of 8 new boys wanting to be discipled that Matt is now discipling each week. Please pray for these young boys as they grow in the word of God and for Matt as their teacher, that he may be able to keep them under control and also understand their conversation and questions and answers. There names are Melvin, Gravin, Elvis, Noel, Michael, Ismael and Justo and Josue, who cannot read, but sits each week with the group and listens to the lessons.

Matt gets back around 4:00 and we leave for Tejarcillos prayer service around 4:30-4:45. The church in Tejarcillos has been struggling for some time. We have seen a dramatic change in the church since we have been here. We now see God building up the faithful servants he has in Tejarcillos and are beginning to see a community of believers forming. What is even more amazing is that we are starting to see entire families come to church together to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For some time now, attendance has been very scarce on Wednesday nights. Sometimes, it felt as if maybe we should not even have the service. However, in recent weeks, we have seen God working. We see God bringing adults back to the church. What was truly a church full of children when we first came to Tejarcillos two years ago, is now a church where God has placed two families who are truly committed to serving Him. We are trusting God will work in their lives to mold them into who he has created them to be, and also that God will use them as examples to others. We are convinced that God has plans to prosper His Church in Tejarcillos, not plans of harm. We know God has plans to give the Church in Tejarcillos hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Last night was a beautiful service. I pray always that I will enter into the Court's of our King each time I enter a time of worship, whether at a service or in the privacy of my own home with praise and with an attitude of reverance for our God. Last night, this was made easy by the presence of our Holy God. About 35 of us were gathered on what had been a cold, rainy day, although the rain had stopped for a few hours. Before the service starts each week, a man named Fran, a leader in the church, has been leading a Bible challenge game. We are separated in to three teams. Everyone has their Bible and he calls out a chapter and verse and then says the book that we can find the passage in and then we are free to open our Bibles and begin searching. It has proven to be a fun way of starting the evening.

After the game, Pastor Rogelio started the service with a challenge for each of us and himself as well. "How many times do you personally sit in the service each week, get filled up with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, enjoy the company of brothers and sisters, and then go home and in no more than a couple of hours forget the gift God just gave you? How often does this happen that we go to church or our discipleship group and then don't take the very lesson we have just learned and apply it to our lives? How wonderful it would be if we could just take the time to seek the Lord, remembering to take our burdens to Him. He is waiting for us to say to him, "I am so tired of this in my life. God, I trust you to help me rid my life of this sin." But how often we do NOT do that and the sin festers and grows in our lives and we find ourselves distanced from our Creator."

He then proceeded to ask if there was anyone who desired to come before the throne of Christ right now and lay down the burden's of their heart. What followed was a wonderful time of prayer and laying down our hearts before the throne of God. Each person there shared their hearts and personal prayer requests, after which was a wonderful time of prayer. I personally shared of how thankful I am that even though I fail my God every single day as His daughter, as a wife and as a mother, his mercies are new every morning and his grace and love are never-ending.

The service ended with several beautiful songs that served as offerings of praise to Jesus. One of the songs has become a favorite of mine. It is called Que Sería de mí. The words say:

What would I be if you hadn't reached me?
What would I be if you hadn't forgiven me?
I would have an emptiness in my heart.
I would wonder about without a course and without direction.
If it were not for your grace and for your love.
If it were not for your grace and for your love.
I'd be like a wounded bird that dies on the floor.
I'd be like a deer that cries for water in the desert.
If it weren't for your grace and for your love.

I love the words of this song. They are so true. What would I be if not for Christ's grace and love?

Generally, after the service we have a time of fellowhip and coffee is served. As Rogelio closed the service, the couple that is in charge of the coffee realized something had happened with the coffee maker and the coffee was not ready yet. So, instead of everyone hurrying off to their homes, no one moved. It didn't seem to matter that the service was over and we had no coffee to share. So, a few people offered to share songs of praise. A woman who was at the service for the first time sang the first stanza and chorus of Because He Lives. It was by far perfect, but she sang it joyfully and for the Lord. Then, two of the teenagers got up with Audrey and sang one of our family favorites, called La Niña de Tus Ojos. This is a song the girls love and know all the words to. After that Fran and Ariel led the congregation in one more song about the freedom we have in our God. It was really beautiful watching people freely make offerings to God. Of course, I thought it was neat that the two youth and Audrey were singing together :) By then, the coffee was ready and still, people seemed eager to sit and chat with each other. It was 8:00 before people finally started to gather their things and begin leaving. Rogelio was smiling so big after the service. I thanked him for sharing and for the evening. He commented on how beautiful it was.

Jeremiah 29:12-14 says, "Then you call upon me and come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."

Matt and I pray fervently that God will bring back the people of Tejarcillos from captivity. Would you join us in praying this as well? Would you pray for the spiritual growth of the people already actively ivolved in the church. Would you pray that God would allow these servants to evangelize to the lost and that God would bring new believers to be part of this church. Would you pray that the discipleship of all the believers would remain the priority of the leadership of this church. Would you also pray that as the church grows, God will continue to uphold the cause of the oppressed, give food to the hungry and release the people of Tejarcillos, who are prisoners of sin, from the bondage they currently live in. (Psalm 146:7)

School days...

Here is an update on the last week of school...

We've been studying South America, learning about different animals from the rainforest, as well as other interesting facts, and practicing skip counting in Math as well as reviewing basic math skills.

We did a couple experiements throughout this study that were very interesting as well as fun!

One day Ethan was reading a National Geographic for kids magazine and found an experiement he wanted to try. It was very simple so we decided to do it. It is called Kitchen Fishin' and you can find it at www.kids.nationalgeographic.com

Here are a few pictures detailing the experiment:

We first poured water into a bowl. We pretended that the water was the ocean. Next, we sprinkled pepper into the bowl and pretended that we were releasing little fishes into the ocean to be free.


Then the assistant stuck one finger into the bowl and pretended that it was a shark. Can you see what happened to all the fish? They swam AWAY from the shark. (All the pepper went to the edge of the bowl once we stuck our finger in).


Finally, we removed our finger and then we took some sugar and sprinkled it into the bowl. We pretended this was food for the fish. What do you think happened? The fish came swimming back to eat the food! (The pepper gravitated back to the center of the bowl towards the sugar)

How did this work? What is the secret?

The secret is a little bit of liquid soap placed on the finger of the assistant before sticking it into the water. The soap acts as a repellant and the sugar acts as a magnet and attracts the pepper to it. It was really a fun way to begin a discussion about magnets and how they work.

A different day, we were discussing many different types of birds that are found in the rainforests and tropical forests. The curriculum had some interesting facts about eggs and the strength of their shells as well as an experiment to demonstrate their strength. Lucia helped us with this experiement. We usually end up doing experiments the days she is with us, which makes it all the more interesting because we then have to explain the experiment in Spanish. I usually explain it to Isabelle and Ethan and then they both have a part to explain to Lucia in Spanish- it gives them a lesson in Spanish as well :)

So, the experiment called for us to remove the egg yolk and white from four eggs by cutting a small hole in the smallest end of the egg and then pouring the inside out. Then we were to place the eggs on the table in a rectangular pattern, with the end with the hole down.

Lucia and Ethan with one of the hollowed out eggs.


Setting up


After getting set up, we were to add weight slowly to see just how much weight the egg shells could hold. I forgot to make the holes even all the way around and so the first batch didn't hold very much, plus we used heavy books to start with.


Two had cracked, but we used the other two and smaller books to try agin. The last two egg shells held 5 small books and one larger notebook! They really are strong!

Here are few pictures of our school room.

This is the starting point of our day. We spend most of the day working here at the table and everything we need is in this room. It is so great to have this extra space and it helps me stay organized. Everything is out where I can see it and most things are within an arm's reach.


After we moved, we finally broke down and bought a bookshelf. We'd done without for the past year mainly because we couldn't find one we really liked that was within our budget. We found this one for half the price we'd seen other places and it is working great!


This is the reading chair. We have reading time every day and this is a favorite spot to read individually. It also doubles as the spot both Matt and I use for our quiet times. I love this chair because I can sit in it and curl up with a book (on the rare occasion that I have time to do tht!) and it is big enough to cuddle in as we read together :)


Ethan in his spot at the table. Both he and Isabelle have their own spots at the table with me in the middle :)


This is our prayer map. We've got pictures posted of the other missionaries we know and where they are serving. We'd love to post your picture, too :) Just email us a copy or put it in the mail! Praying for specific families who are serving around the world is part of our daily routine as well.

Kiddie quotes

Here are a few quotes from the kids I thought I'd share:

This morning as I watched Isabelle walk over to me after waking up, she looked as if she'd grown inches just overnight! (It probably helped that she was wearing Audrey's pj's that were way too small for her. Yes, they have begun wearing each other's clothes already!)Anyway, here is how our conversation went:
Mommy: "Isabelle, you look so big today! Did you grow last night?"
Iz: "Well, yes, a little bit. God makes us grow a little bit every day, ya know?"
Mommy: "Well, I guess you are right. It just looks like you grew ALOT last night!"
Iz: "Ging-ging always tells me she hopes I stop growing, but I tell her I can't. God just keeps me growing!"
Mommy: "Well, sometimes I really want you to stop growing, too, because I just love you so much the way you are now...But I also can't wait to see how God grows you up, either."



Last night as I was putting Audrey to bed we had the following converstaion:
Audrey: "Momma, know what?"
Me: "What, baby?"
A: "Last night after you had shut all the lights off and you and Daddy and Sissy and Bubby were all in bed, it was dark in the livin' room. I opened my door and looked out and saw Alex sittin' on the couch. He didn't look at me. He wasn't watching tv or playin on his computer. He was just looking at something...I don't know what."
Me: "Oh, really?"
A: "For real, Momma! I saw him. He didn't look at me!"
Me: "Was he sleeping?"
A: "No, he was just sitting there. Looking at something. I went back in my room and closed the door and when I opened it again, he was gone."
Me: "Oh! Where did he go?"
A: "He just left the house! I don't know where he went. He just gone! For real Mommy! He was here!"

I guess she's missing Alex!


Yesterday, Ethan and I finished reading the biography of Nate Saint. We had been reading it as part of our curriculum study on South America. The curriculum includees several biographies of missionaries throughout the year. As of late, the story of Nate Saint and his life have been a regular topic in our household. We were into the last chapters of the book.

For those of you who do not know the story, Nate Saint was a missionary serving in Ecuador, who along with a group of four other men serving in the same area, was brutally killed at the hands of the very people who they were trying to take the message of the gospel to. Later, members of his family and even a wife of another of the men that were killed, went back to these very people, and shared Christ with them. Now the village and others around it are for the first time learning about Jesus and has been changed for the glory of Christ.

During these last chapters, the account of the men's death is told in a very respectable way. Ethan and I had already talked about what had happened to Nate Saint and the men. Matt and I also watched the movie, The End of the Spear, which portrays the story, with him together a few weeks ago.

Despite knowing the story, reading through the events of what happened were very difficult for him and admittedly for me, too. He began softly crying, but asked me to continue reading. He got pretty choked up as the author describes Steve Saint's, who is Nate Saint's young son, thoughts about not being able to share a specific moment with his dad. Also, when his young daughter realized it was her birthday the day she found out her daddy was never coming home again.

We made it through the book and later began discussing it at lunch with Lucia, who was with us yesterday. We enjoyed a wonderful discussion with her as she lovingly talked with Ethan about the sadness of the story, but what purpose God had in allowing it.

Later at dinner, Ethan said that he was pretty sure God wouldn't call him to the jungle of Ecuador because Nate Saint had died and now the Waodoni knew about Jesus. I said he was right about the Waodoni, however there were many areas in the world where people still live just like the Waodoni's and no one has ever went to share Jesus with them.

He said, "Well, God did call us to Tejarcillos and people get killed there, too. I guess it doesn't matter where God calls us, we just go and share Jesus no matter what!"


Thank you, Father, for my three beautiful children!