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1 Corinthians 3:4-9

"For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:4-9


Saturday, May 30, 2009

"Be More 'pacific!'"


Funny conversation between Ethan and I the other evening:
We were at an ice cream shop getting ice cream (Matt had his wisdom teeth pulled this week and could not eat solid foods for two days, so we all got ice cream the first night :) ) Ethan and I went in to order and there was a 90's song I knew song on the radio, but it was in Spanish. So, I was singing along in English as we made our decisions and I heard the guy working in the shop singing along in Spanish. The thought crossed my mine that was kinda cool :)

After we ordered, the following conversation took place:
Mommy: Ethan, that was cool. I was singing that song in English as that guy sung along in Spanish.
Ethan: What song, Mom?
Mommy: The one that was just on the radio.
Ethan: Which radio?
Mommy: When we came in the ice cream shop, there was a song playing on the radio. Didn't you hear it?
Ethan: Oh. Yes, I did. But, Mom, you have to be more "pacific."
Mommy: (Smiling) Oh really? Like be more blue...like the ocean?
Ethan: (smiling) Oh. What's that word?
Mommy: S-P-E-C-I-F-I-C
Ethan: Oh yeah. Specific. Yeah. Pacific is the ocean. Mom, you have to be more specific.

We had a really great laugh afterwards while we were waiting for the ice cream.

God has blessed us with a wonderful, easy-going son. Moments like that evening seem so few anymore. Just hanging with him, talking and joking around. It was really fun. Amazing how simply just being with your kids builds up your relationship with them.

Thank you Father, for moments like that night that you bless us with. Moments to just be with our kids and each other. Father I pray that we follow your leading and guard our family unit, our marriage, and most importantly, our time with you. Allow us to just be with you. Help us remember that you crave times like those with us and grow in our desire for times like that with you. As we feel life get out of balance, pull us back in the circle and keep us going straight. I love you, Lord.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Work Day

Last Saturday Matt organized a work day to pack food bags for a team arriving in early June. The Droke family helped in a big way and Matt asked eight girls from Tejarcillos to help out. These eight girls are those that we feel have leadership potential. This project was an excuse for us to ask them for help, see their work ethic, talk to them about being leaders in the church, and just spend time with them. It was a great day filled with a lot of work, a lot of fun and great memories :) After the work was done, we took them all out for pizza, which was really fun and yummy!!!

Here are some pictures of the day...










































Sunday, May 24, 2009

una carta de Anyi (a letter from Angie)

Yesterday Matt and I received letters from my Saturday morning discipleship group girls. their names are Anyi (Angie), Maciel (Mass-ee-el), Daniela and Joseline. They just finished book 1 of the discipleship series and so to celebrate they spent the night at our house. They have been waiting for this for weeks and have worked hard to finish their lessons and especially their verses. I am extremely proud of them. It has not been an easy journey with them. We have struggled. There was a point at which I was ready to end the group. They are all have a tough edge, but now, after 3 months of meeting weekly, I can see that edge starting to break a little and we are getting to a point where we can finally break past the surface stuff and get to really know the real "them." The girls and I finished the last lesson at our house and we had an awesome discussion about what God wants for their lives, and that I want the same for them. They really opened up about the pressures they already face at their school. What they see on a daily basis in the way of sexual pressures and drugs and other things in their lives. It was really truly wonderful and at the very least, a wonderful reminder of God's mighty hand at work here in Tejarcillos. Three of these four girls are a direct result of the VBS we held in January, which we felt at the time, that there was not much fruit. However, God knew the Ultimate plan, His plan, and if it were to be nothing more than that these three girls were to be the fruit...He knew that those two days in the Pines would be time well spent. Next week we start book 2. We had a great night, hardly slept at all (which we feel waayy to old for) and really enjoyed having them in our home.

So, back to the letters. They told Matt and I that they had a really sweet surprise for us when we got to the house. As soon as we got in the door, they opened up their bags and got our hand-made cards for Matt and I and the kids and each other! So there was a few minutes of card-swapping and I settled down to read mine. I could barely hold back the tears as I read their sweet words. Honestly, it was one of the most touching moments God has allowed me, to really see the fruit of three months work. (Not that this can really be considered work, but it is what God has given us the privilege to do) To read their words written to me and to think back on what they were like when we first met, even just a month ago and what God is doing in them even in just a short amount of time...it gives me goosebumps to think of all He will do in the next three months. :)

So, the following is Anyi's letter to me:

Brooke,
I love you so much. Since the day I met you, I felt that you were such a good person. You have taught me so much. At times, you have gotten on me, but I thank you so much for this. I never ever want you to be gone from my life. Just like God is always with me, I want you to be, also.

I love you,
Anyi

I have received many letters in the three years we have been connected and then a part of this ministry. But none have the meaning that this one holds, because she is a direct result of God's hand, His plan and His will for my life. And she is fruit He has given me to water for, to care for and to love.


Daniela Brooke and Anyi making chocolate cake


Mateo and Maciel- after the late night cake fight :)


cake faces - after Brooke was attacked with cake :)

Friday, May 22, 2009

Volcan Irazu


view from the highest point possible


Mommy and Ethan hanging out


Mommy and Ethan at the top


full view of the crater and lake


Izzy running on the playa


At the volcano sign


Matt and the kids at the highest point. When we arrived, there was total cloud cover and we couldn't see anything. Except white clouds!


This rocky, ashy area is called Playa Hermosa (Beautiful Beach). It is where the ask and volcanic rock have settled over the years. A part of the beach has begun to regrow plant life on its own.


Ethan scratching out his name in the sand


Izzy, Audrey and Mommy walking along the beach area



Interesting creature called Coati looking at me


A coati hunting for food


One of the best parts of the trip was the amazing scenery we saw. We haven't seen an area like this before since we've lived here and it was really cool. We all ooohed and aahhhed about the farmland and farms that we saw. These next few pictures really reminded us of Indiana.


freshly planted fields


flat farmland. We saw the farmers tilling and working the ground by hand. We saw several work horses plowing the ground.


We could smell the freshly tilled soil. One of my favorite smells in the world!!!


How many people can you fit in the back of a Toyota? At least 10!


Great view of the country and the city


a great view


hillside fields

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Head in the clouds

Thursday is the day we devote to family...and because we had a nice deposit to be used for "Family Fun" from our friends in the ladies Bible Study from Frankfort, we headed out of the city today to Irazu Volcano about an hour from our house.

We had a fantastic day! I will post more tomorrow, but I had to post the picture of how cloudy it is at about 11,000 feet above sea level!


It was only about 50 degrees and it sure felt COLD!!! to our now well-adjusted-to tropical-climate bodies! The clouds felt like a light snow as they would blow across us and it is amazing that it does NOT actually snow because it is so chilly.


Matt and Audrey at the highest point...totally clouds...couldn't see anything past about 50 feet ahead of us....



Our van was about 50 feet from us when we took this picture...about 5 minutes before this picture was taken, it was sunny and we could clearly see the crater of the volcano. Then the clouds rolled in and we couldn't hardly see anything!

It was pretty cool!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

"I like it. I really like it!"

Today I was discussing a home remedy for stomach worms...yeah...it's a possibility Audrey has 'em...poor girl...so I was discussing this ability the seeds of a papaya have to take away the worms with fellow CLF missionary Debbie, today. She has served in the jungles of Venezuela and has a wealth of information on all sorts of things. She filled me in on what to try for Audrey. So, as we were saying good-bye, Isabelle asked about the "experiement" we were going to try with Audrey (the eating of the seeds). She was confused about eating seeds since usually you do not eat the seeds of fruits. I reminded her of how much she likes passion fruit and you eat the seeds in it. She says, "Oh yeah...they kinda taste like boogers." short pause..."I like it. I really like it!"

Not quite sure of the actual meaning, but hoping the reference was to the passion fruit. This was too funny not to share...out of the mouths of babes...

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Today in pictures

Today's post is a photo blog of our day in Jazmin...


exploring the "jungle" in Jazmin


los toros (the bulls that roam freely)


La ciudad (the city) looking into the city from the mountain that Jazmin is on


Katerin


Jose, Katerin's little brother


the first house in Jazmin


Izzy exploring


houses in Jazmin


Ethan playing on the big rock


Ethan and Eleazar in the "selva" or jungle


Ethan and Eleazar playing


Eleazar


Audrey enjoying nature


Brooke and Katerin during the discipleship group


Brooke and Katerin praying before starting the discipleship group


beautiful dragonfly morphing out of old skin





the path from Tejarcillos to Jazmin


Isabelle and Audrey...I LOVE this picture!!!


The sidewalk is a result of a recent humanitarian effort in Jazmin by a group of North Americans. The interesting thing is that their efforts in Jazmin generally distract from our efforts. Sadly, the attraction of free candy, a ride in a truck or simply new people is sometimes enough to distract the youth and adults in our discipleship groups from being consistent. We've felt the effect of something as simple as an English class lure youth away from studying God's Word and growing in your relationship with Him. This new sidewalk however, is a huge benefit to our ministry now that the rainy season is upon us. We slip and slide walking up the hill if it is even a little bit muddy. We are thankful for the way God chooses to bless our ministry through efforts of other groups. God is good to use all things for His glory.



Today is my Dad's 60th birthday! Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!!!