Gripe porcina (Swine Ful)

Most of you have probably heard about the outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico and has now made Mexico City into something out of a Twilight Zone movie with deserted streets, closed business, no traffic and even to the point of stopping churches from holding Sunday services. We now have confirmed cases here in Costa Rica. It appears to fast spreading wherever it is found.

I write tonight to ask you to begin praying against this epidemic now, if you haven't already.

More specifically, I ask you to pray for our missionary friends, Nathan and Sandra Kliewer, who are serving in the heart of Mexico City with their children. We love their family and they were a wonderful encouragement to us during language school here in Costa Rica. Sandra has been experiencing flu-like symptoms for the last week or so and also has had a fever. The doctor said that the absence of fever is a good sign, howver he cannot be sure that this virus os not the swine ful virus. So, he put Sandra on bed rest and she is not allowed to see anyone.

Please pray for Sandra. Pray that God would heal her and protect her and Nathan and their children from this illness as well as their ministry team in Mexico City.

My second purpose in posting about this is to ask you to pray for Matt's mom, Sue, on Wednesday. She will be flying alone to visit us for about 10 days. As there have been many reported cases in different parts of the states, as well as Indiana, we heard today, please pray for her as she travels through the airports and for her arrival here. Airports are breeding grounds for germs as it is, now that seems to be multiplied with this virus. Please pray for her travels and that God would protect her from any sickness or virus.

The third purpose to ask you to pray against this b=virus for our family and the ministry team and people with whom we serve. Matt and I and the kids as well as Matt's mom will be traveling to Nicaragua Thursday by bus. Please pray for protection from this virus as we travel and on our way back next week. Please pray for our ministry team as Mark and Meg, Melinda and Coco will all be traveling this month.

As hard as the enemy works in this world, we serve God, who has encouraged us to not fear and to know that He has overcome this world. He is the ultimate physician and more able to prevent any illness than any drug, vaccine or medicine...We trust in Him and know that He is in control. Will you go to the Throne of Christ with us and with these requests?

Mateito y Isa

Well, por fin (finally) Matt (Mateito "mat-A-ee-toe") is better. Tuesday evening we got some meds from the pharmacy, Zithromax and some heavy duty sore throat meds to soothe the sweeling and pain and today he feels (almost) back to normal. Praise God! THANK YOU for your prayers!

And today, I took Izzy to the pediatrician that saw her back in December for the asthma stuff, Dr. Martinez. He is really nice and good with her. Little things for me mean alot and he warmed his hands before he touched her back and the stethescope (just like Dr. Douglas used to do with the kids and Dr. Eller when I was little!) He also speaks decent English, which is important to me since we are dealing with little lives here :)

So, he really checked her out and agrees with me that there is something going on. She is not full blown asthmatic, for which I am thankful. However, she does have some irregular wheezing and the other things, like abnormal tiredness, weepiness and loss of appetite, cause him to be somewhat concerned. So, as a method of prevention, we've got another round of steroids and inhaler for the next two weeks.

So, we still ask for your prayers. He assured me that this is for prevention and that it was best that I had brought her in. Because without at least trying to prevent this from happening, it could possibly lead to a full blown attack. So, I am thankful for the mild symptoms to alert me that something, even if minor now, was going on, so we could do something proactive to prevent something major from happening.

THANK YOU again for prayers on her behalf as well.

Prayer for Mateo

Please pray for Matt. He's been sick since Sunday evening. He doesn't get sick very often, but when he's sick, he's really sick. Please pray for God to heal him quickly.

Also, it seems that Isabelle's asthma symptoms have come back. She's very tired, weepy, not eating well because she does not have an appetite. She also has a tightness in her chest that comes and goes. I am trying to get her in to the missionary doctor here to get a check-up. We would appreciate your prayers for her as well.

Thanks in advance for your prayers.

Do you not know?

The Holy Spirit is trying to teach me many things right now, although I am not a very good student, I admit. My heart is stubborn and at times hard. But, ultimately I desire to follow his teachings, His leadings, and to grow closer to Him. This thing called grace is so big it just blows my mind. It doesn't matter to my Savior what I do, how far I stray, He waits patiently for my return and is there when I arrive, arms open, already having forgotten that I had strayed. There is nothing I can ever do to earn His love nor His grace. He just gives it freely to me, the one He chose, to bear lasting fruit for Him, knowing full well my imperfections, yet chose me while I was lost in sin.

Yesterday God used a dirty, strung-out, barely clothed desperate woman who was begging for money in the middle of the street to remind me that He lives in me and in all of His children. I have seen this woman several times in the same spot, doing exactly the same thing. She is obviously a slave to the addiction of one or many drugs and every time I have seen her, shows the signs of addiction in her constant swagger, wild movements and lack of care for her body. The same man is always with her and yesterday he was sitting on the side of the road watching as she attempted to collect money from passing driver's.

As we approached her, I contemplated closing my window. I was sitting behind the driver's seat, next to window with Audrey on my lap and I knew that an encounter with her would be inevitable. But I resisted the urge to close the window and as we rolled to a stop to wait for the traffic light to change, she approached Matt and said, "Lend me 2 mil, brother" (about $4.00). As she was talking, she glanced back in our direction, saw Audrey and stepped towards our window, saying how cute she was. The woman's face dramatically changed from that of a desperate woman seeking money from a random man to one of love and care as she looked at my youngest daughter. I would be lying to say that I did not want to shield my child from this woman. I would be lying if I said I was thinking of how I could be Jesus to this woman. I was actually praying for the light to change and for us to be able to drive away. The woman, smiling widely, began asking Audrey questions. "How old are you, precious?" Generally Audrey becomes very shy and will not speak to strangers or use her Spanish when we are around. To my great surprise, she held up four fingers and said, "Cuatro" with a big smile. I smiled at the woman. The woman talked for another 30 seconds or so about how cute Audrey was and how tall she was, tall like her daddy she said. She moved back and forth to the driver's side window and our window. She noticed we had a cake in the front seat between Matt and Pastor Rogelio for the church service in Los Guido. "Who's birthday is it?" she asked. "They stayed behind," Rogelio responded kindly. The cake wasn't actually for a birthday, but for the Droke's commissioning, but Rogelio's answer was kind and simple. "That's not fair," she says, "It's their birthday and you took there cake!" Then the light changes, and we begin to move forward with traffic. Before we drive away, she looks one more time at Audrey, smiles and says "Adios."

I really don't know if that woman even remembers our few minute conversation. I may never see her again. But, as we drove away, I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of the ministry God has given us to take the message of reconciliation to the lost in this world. God wants that woman to be restored to Him, just like He wanted me to be restored to Him years ago. Just like He wants me to continue to restore my relationship with him even now, when I fall, when I fail Him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)If only she knew the gift God has for her, maybe her life would be different.

I found this poem on a friend's blog this morning and felt compelled to share it with you.

Do you know, do you understand, that you represent Jesus to me?

Do you know, do you understand that when you treat me with gentleness, it raises the question in my mind that maybe he is gentle, too. Maybe he isn’t someone who laughs when I hurt.

Do you know, do you understand that when you listen to my questions and you don’t laugh I think, “What if Jesus is interested in me too?”

Do you know, do you understand that when I hear you talk about arguments and conflicts and scars from your past, I think, Maybe I am just a regular person instead of a bad, no-good little girl who deserves abuse.”

If you care, I think maybe he cares — and then there’s this flame of hope that burns inside of me and for awhile I am afraid to breathe because it might go out.

Do you know, do you understand that your words are his words? Your face, his face to someone like me?

Please, be who you say you are. Please, God, don’t let this be another trick. Please let this be real. Please.

Do you know, do you understand that you represent Jesus to me? (Seeking Small Groups, Gary Poole) (Thanks, Dave, for sharing this).

"You face, His face to someone like me?...Do you understand that you are Jesus to me?"

Do I really know that I am Jesus to others in this world. To believers and to unbelievers. My very face reflects the face of my Savior.

I often feel weary and tired and worn out. The desperation I see every day takes its toll sometimes. My heart aches for the woman who shared with me yesterday that she doesn't have enough money to buy diapers or formula for her son. She desperately wants to work, but like most, she is here illegally and cannot find work. I didn't sleep well last Tuesday. I tossed and turned thinking about the senseless loss of two lives in Tejarcillos that morning. The desperation of a young man, 20 years old, who would attempt to rob a delivery truck guarded by a man carrying a shot gun at 9:00 am. The situation ultimately ending in the loss of both the young man's life as well as the guard's life.

Desperation and darkness and stronghold and addiction and hurt and anger and hate and captivity.

Sometimes the burden I bear for the lost feels like too much. Sometimes it makes me want to close my window and shut out the ever-present need all around me. Sometimes I feel so weak and so tired.

Love and peace and grace and kindness and gentleness and compassion and hope and faith and caring and LOVE...and SALVATION. JESUS.

Jesus. He died for me and rose from the dead for me. For those I am burdened for, as well. As He carried his cross to Calvary, He thought of me, right here in this moment that I feel so weak. As the nail was pounded into His wrist, both the right and the left, He thought of me. Again, as the nail was pounded into His feet, He thought of me. As His body sagged under it's own weight as the cross was erected and He had to use His own body weight against itself and as his muscles began to tear, He thought of me. As His own body began to grow weak and He asked His Father, my Father, "Why have you forsaken me?" Yet, God had not left Him. It was the Father's great will for His Son to die so that the world would know His great love for it; so that I would know His great love for me (John 3:16). God has not left me, He is here with me. Even in times of personal weakness and physically tired.

I am strengthened today by the hope I have in Christ. I pray that yesterday, the woman we saw in the street, saw Jesus in our faces, in my face. I pray that those I love here see Jesus in me. It is hard to know how to help...how to comprehend the need, how process the hopelessness. Hard not to become tired and weary.

"Do you know know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

It is in Him that I will become strong in times of weariness. It is in Him that I become free of the tiredness.

Also, God promises earlier in the same chapter of Isaiah:
"A voice of one calling:
'In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

These words have brought joy and hope to me for many years now. The more I learn, the stronger that hope becomes. These words were written by a prophet who desires to bring hope to a desolate nation held in captivity.

The uniqueness of the Bible, what sets it apart from any other book ever written is that it is alive, living, ACTIVE. What does that mean? It means that the words of this prophet brought great hope to the people of his day, brought the promise of forgiveness and of a Savior. Brought the news that though suffering will always be present, it has refining power for God's people. And the same is true for me and for you today. The same words that brought hope to the Jews then, bring hope to me today. My prayer is that His Word will bring that same Hope to the people of Tejarcillos and all of Costa Rica and to you. That those held captive will be set free. Despite the darkness that has fallen over this city, this country, God has not been defeated. He understands the suffering of the people in a way we can not. He plans what we cannot fathom. He has strength we do not. He has power we do not. He makes smooth the rough and rugged and makes the high become low.

Might you pray today for the lost and broken people held captive that our Mighty God plans to set free. Do you know that you reflect your Savior. Do you know how your face is the face of Jesus? Do you not know that God is the everlasting?

Might you remember,too, that even though you may think as missionaries we are above tiredness, above weariness, above failure...we are not. Might you pray for strength, wisdom and utter reliance on our Savior alone.

Happy Easter!

Hope that today is blessed day for all of you and the true meaning of Easter rings true for you today.

Christ is Risen! Risen indeed!!!

A wonderful day!

Today, we had a wonderful day! We left the house around 9:00 this morning and picked up Cindy from the mission house and then headed to Tejarcillos for our morning prayer time. We shared prayer requests and spent time in prayer and spent time in fellowship. Then we prepared for the day ahead. We had two special activities planned for all of our discipleship groups. We went to Jazmin first. We had planned a special lunch for those in discipleship groups with us and Cindy brought a special craft to do with everyone. We started out with the craft and everyone loved it! Then we served arroz con pollo which two ladies from the church had prepared. It was delicious and it was such a great afternoon. We had about 30 people in a little three room home.

Then, we relaxed for a little bit and worked on the planning of the rest of the week with Rogelio and Nery. Then, we began planning for the evening meal. People began showing up about 4:15 (or even a little earlier!!) and by 5:00 we were all inside- about 60 people- hungry and ready to eat! We served the food and had enough for seconds. It was fun watching the kids eat and so much fun hanging out with them. All the kids went out to the soccer field and played soccer with Pastor Rogelio and Matt before heading home for the evening.

It was a long day and the girls were sleeping when we got home. But it was one of those days you never forget. Thank you Lord for this day!

These are the Days of our lives...

Audrey said the funniest thing this morning. There was a lizard on the ceiling of our garage this morning and we were watching it through the window from inside the house. Audrey couldn't see it and she asked for someone to pick her up. I put her on the chair by the wall sp she could stand and see it, then I walked in to the kitchen.

I heard her say to Izzy, "Ohhhh, Sissy. We've never seen a lizard like this in all the days of our lives!" and then she exploded into giggles of joy.

She is such a blessing and always full of interesting and funny comments!