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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


Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

Just a quick post to say Happy New Year. We'll be ringing in the new year quietly at home, even though we've had several offers of things to do, which has made us feel loved. We just need to be at home...so that's where we are.

God is so good...in the ways he speaks to us and then works through our obedience. Because we were home tonight and not out, we were able to minister to Ronny tonight...and really, he was able to minister to us. The Lord has truly blessed us through our friendship with this family. It is more than a friendship- we are family- not blood, but with many of them, we are family in the Lord and with the rest we simply just love them as family.

Please pray for Ronny. Please pray for the Lord to continue to speak to him. Please pray for Ronny to continue to listen for and to the Lord's voice and then to obey. Please lift him in your daily prayers. Please lift up Dinorah and approach the Lord on her behalf to be obedient to His voice as well. Pray that she will respect Ronny and he in turn will show her love.

Pray for us as we continue to not only model grace, but receive grace. Pray for us to continue learning how to love, even when it is difficult. Pray for us to get on our knees before the Lord, die to ourselves and follow Jesus every single minute of every single day.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

New look

I've been working on some changes to the blog. I hope you like the new look. A BIG shout out and HUGE thanks!!! to our good buddy Dave Bryant for the cool new design which we now have on our prayer letters, blog and website. He's really cool and you should check him and his awesome wife out here and here

Have a great evening!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas day 2010

What a day! It was a day of mixed emotions for me for many reasons, but ultimately shaded by a hint of sadness about the lost, poor and broken hearted around us, some of whom are our friends.

It breaks my heart to go to the grocery store on Christmas Eve and see so many people with mulitple carts full of alcohol, spending so much money on something so fleeting, so debilitating.

It breaks my heart to see my friends struggle in their bondage to alcohol, unwilling or still unable to rid themselves of the demons that haunt them.

My heart is heavy for those around that let this time of the year go by without the slightest thought of their Creator, nor the birth of His Son, their Savior.

Every Christmas, Matt reads Luke 2 to the kids and I read a poem someone gave me long ago. The kids have parts of Luke 2 now memorized in Spanish, since it was part of the PFK Christmas program. When Matt was finished reading it this morning, Isabelle said- "Hey, I know this in Spanish!"

The poem I read is about a stranger who comes to town and sees all the people hustling and bustling about, all the lights, everyone buying and rushing around. He sees this man wearing red and white and hears chatter about "Santa Claus." He finally asks what all the fuss is about and is laughed at for not knowing what Christmas is all about.

At the end, the stranger is of course, Jesus. It is with a heavy heart tht he realizes that, still, they do not understand, as not one person even mentioned His name nor the real reason for this day.

We read this every year to remind us and the kids what and where our focus should be.

Jesus, in the greatest missionary effort ever, left his place at God's side, to become like us, human, but the least of these. Born to humble parents, poor, no place to go except with the animals, Christ, our King, our Savior, the LIGHT of the world, was born on this day. He is THE reason for the celebration. Any tradition we have should be out of joyful celebration of HIM!

The kids opened their gifts from their grandparents last night. Our friends, Doug and Karen, brought down gifts from the grandparents for the kids and it really was fun to see them open up their gifts. This morning we opened up gifts as a family- not much, but fun and special. We had french toast for breakfast, skyped with Matt's parents and talked with my aunt and uncle. Then we headed to the beach- our new Christmas tradition for as long as the Lord allows us to live here. It was an amazingly beautiful day and we caught low tide so it was a  fantastic day for exploring. Audrey and I took off walking and made it way down to the end of Tamarindo beach, farther then we've ever been able to go before. We got thirsty so we headed back, but along the way, found Matt, Tito and Isa. Isa and Ethan were on the rocks near the water, exploring, and Audrey took off with them. Matt and I watched them in sheer amazement. It seems utterly impossible that they can be so big, so apt for adventure. They set off and we watched. We were both thirsty and thinking they would head our way, but they kept walking.

Audrey had told me all the way back that the  spot we had found was our secret spot, not to tell anyone. Aparently she decided to take her brother and sister, because pretty soon we realized they were off. We took off to catch up with them. They rounded the point, farther then Audrey and I had gone, and it was beautiful. Simply beautiful! I unfortunately somehow forgot the camera...and have no pictures of our adventure, but it was breathtaking what we saw today!

A perfect moment to pause and thank God for HIS beautiful Creation. We walked from the end of tamarindo beach to the point of Langosta Beach. It was quite the hike but so worth it! If we'd had shoes and water we could have went farther.

We walked back and caught up with a friend from church and all headed back together. We dropped her off and came home, fixed lunch and napped! Another great Christmas tradition! Later my mom called and we were able to talk with her about the day,which was very nice.

Tonight we had a young single over from church and a friend who was by himself this year for dinner. I cooked arroz y carne and frijoles molidos, and had made potato salad yesterday. It was yummy and great fellowship. We had chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

Today was a beautiful day. I am learning to see the joy in all things and am learning that that joy exists when we are always looking for ways to give thanks. I am overwhelmed today with thankfulness. My life is more full now than it has ever been, with less money in the bank than we've ever had, a smaller house than we've ever had, the oldest car we've ever had, farther away from family than we've ever been and more aware of the pain, loss, bondage, evil, sin and depravity in this world than ever before. Stuff is just that- stuff. Money is just that- money. None of it matters in the end. None of it comes with us. All of it can become a major distraction and deterrant to the real purpose of lives. Yet, what we do have is a tangible opportunity every single day to give thanks to GOD our Provider. In the midst of all of that junk- the yucky stuff I become more aware of each day, lies the blessed opportunity to give thanks, and to see the absolute incomparable beauty and mystery of the gospel. Every single day, we have the opportunity to squelch the joy of the gospel living and breathing amidst the threads of our lives by living for our self in our flesh or we can choose to offer praise and thanksgiving in all things, therefore receiving the blessing of the uncomparable, indescribable joy of Jesus Christ. We don't get it any other way. Joy, grace, thanks- tied, connected, always.

I'm learning. More and more each day. I'm reading a book by Ann Voskamp called "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully right Where You Are" and it is blessing my socks off! And challenging me in ways that are, to be quite honest, incredibly uncomfortable! I would recommend to anyone to read this book. I can't yet share, but the Lord is working in me. Pray that this work is mighty and changing and undeniably glorifying and  honoring to Him.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas!

May you be filled with joy this year as you give thanks for Christ, the newborn King!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Random recent pictures

reading in the hammock

"act like you love each other!"

Audgy walking Lucy and Reina

My girls...LOVE them <3

Home fellowship - Who is Jesus Christ?

Playa Flamingo

Isa, Daddy, Audgy right before the wave crashed in on them :)

cute little crab right before sunset
Audrey, my gentle yet spirited, warrior

sunsetting, moon rising

Karen and the girls

silly, silly faces

silly, silly parents
baby lizard

"Isn't he cute?"

Ethan and Gatita

McClain family

My Michelle, so grown up, so pretty

The graduate! Matt, Fabiana and Brooke :)

Rogelio and family and Mateo and family

LOCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thalia...did not want her picture taken :)

Rosibel, Audrey and Isa

Sweet Rosa, amigas para siempre

Diana and Mateo

Old friends together again

Abuelo (Grandpa) Armando, Abuela (grandma) Panchita, Brooke and Mateo

Valeria, Audrey, Isabelle, Mariana
Guanacaste toucan in the back field

Visit with the Vaughn's

Here are some pictures of our time with Doug and Karen Vaughn. We had a wonderful time with them. It was really like having family with us and we cannot wait until they come back again. Doug went about the house fixing things and doing whatever he could to make things a little better around here. Karen served in whatever way she could- she washed a million dishes at our house and at church. She did little things around the house that added up to hours of time for me to work on other things I had to prepare for the activities of the week. We shared some really nice down times with them as well, like their first Saturday with us at Playa Flamingo and sunset one night at Tamarindo. They treated us to pizza one night and smoothies at the best little ice cream/smoothie place around here. Karen even recieved some Spanish tutoring from our Isa :) She picked up so much while she wsa here! What may not have seemed like much to them, was such a blessing to us and to the church. Doug and Matt built a huge bookcase for the church that was a real necessity. What was going to only take an afternoon...well, took a little longer, but is already being used and is a blessing. They are missed here, not just by us, as others have asked about them since they've been gone. We look forward to their return!!!
Playa Flamingo: Audrey, Karen and Isa playing follow the leader :)

Home fellowship

Playa Flamingo

computer repair station

Doug treated us to smoothies/granizados and pizza one night after watching the sunset on Tamarindo Beach

on our way to San Jose, just past Liberia, Guanacaste

Fabi's graduation party in Los Guido

Dona Panchita, Brooke, Meg, and Karen

waiting to start the Bible Club fiesta

Doug was the pinata guy at the Bible Club fiesta and Karen helped greatly with the cupcake station.

Everth with his yummy cupcake

Karen, the kids and I with Cruz on our way to San Jose.
We had a great time in San Jose with them, too. It was so nice to travel with them (in air conditioning!!) and be a part of the ministry there with them for a few days.

THANK YOU so much Doug and Karen for your visit, your love, your friendship and your partnership in ministry!

Hasta Pronto!!!

Monday, December 20, 2010

PFK thankfulness

The Lord is good! Please click here to read what Potter's Field Kids are thankful for all around the world.

You can check out more about PFK and Potter's Field Ministries by going here

May you be filled with the joy of the Lord by giving thanks this year for the great things He has done!

Happy Birthday Pops!

Today Matt's dad celebrates 61 years young. We are thankful for Pops or Pappy and love him so much!

Happy Birthday Pappy!

Merry Christmas!!!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Twelve years

Today I celebrate 12 years of marriage to my best friend. I remember well the day we met. I remember well our first kiss. I remember well our first date. I remember well the day it became 'official' that we were dating. I remember our first Christmas together- 14 years ago. Meeting his parents, him meeting mine. Meeting Jesus together, learning to live a surrendered life together, getting married that cold, rainy December day- so young, never imagining what the future held...Now, years later, three beautiful kids, far away from anything really familiar, yet what is close slowly becoming familiar. Years of little, years of very little, years of plenty, years of not so plenty...really good memories, really tough memories; painful, yet fruitful.

The poem from our wedding day described him as my gift from God. Today, I believe that to still be true.

Matthew you are one of the most precious gifts God has given me. I thank Him for you. I love you.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Where to start?

So much has happened...and I am so behind in posting...hopefully I can catch up.

We celebrated with the kids in Bible Club last week with pinatas, a craft and cupcakes. It was great fun and we are thankful that Doug and Karen were with us to celebrate with the kids.

Saturday we all headed to San Jose, Doug and Karen, all of us, and our friend Cruz, who had several doctor's appointments on Monday. After dropping off Cruz to meet her friends, we headed to the Mission house to drop off all of our stuff and change into warm clothes- it was freezing in San Jose! Then we headed to La Finca to celebrate Fabi's graduation from high school. It was a great party and so GREAT to see all the kids and our friends again. The new building is amazing! God is so good!

Sunday we were able to go to church in Tejarcillos in the morning. It was wonderful to see Rogelio and Neris and their kids again and familiar faces in the church, along with many new faces. It was good to worship with them. Then we headed to Los Guido, lunch and then church. What a joy to reunite with the church again.

Two days of Rosa's cooking was a huge blessing!! YUMMY! And serving with Meg again was just plain fun! :)

Monday was our day to accomplish our list of errands. We did get most things on the list taken care of, but everything took so long. We were unfortunately not able to see a couple friends we had planned to see due to the time it took to get everything done. Hopefully next time. We were reminded of why the Lord blessed us with country living and took us out of city life. After just a few minutes in the city limits, Matt was clutching the steering wheel.

We enjoyed oiur time in the city though, and especially at La Finca. The Lord has done and is doing and will continue His mighty work there. I enjoyed catching up with several of the girls there and with Rosa and Hazel and Panchita. It didn't take long for the belly laughs to come with Rosa and Hazel hanging out in the kitchen with them. Sweet times. Also, sweet memories with Thalia and Michelle and remembering the first time we met.

Now, back at home, we fell right into the swing of things with the women's outreach Tuesday night. I unfortunately came back with a chest and head cold and only made it through part of the evening Tuesday. Over 80 women were present however. The gospel was shared and women came to the feet of Jesus that night- Praise God!

Last night, we had our final night of PFK and the kids presented their program to the parents who came. It was so cool to see their hard work pay off as the program was without a hitch.

 A BIG THANK YOU to HICKORY GROVE CHURCH whose generous offering supplied food bags, gifts, cupcakes and ice cream to the kids and parents in attendance. Even a small $2 gift of a bag of silly bands and a jump rope or a bag of marbles is enough to bring smiles to the faces of kids some of whom most likely won't receive anything thie year for Christmas. Thank you, Hickpry Grove, for providing food to meet the physical needs of  these families on a night where the local church met their spiritual needs though sharing the gospel and months of sharing and teaching about who Jesus is and what He has done for them to the kids in the famnilies.

It was a very special time of sharing with the moms and some dads. One mom shared with me the difference she has seen in her son over the past few months. She thanked me many times for the time we have put into the kids.

This morning I reflect on God's goodness in bringing us here for this specific purpose to pour into these specific kids, many of who this community looks at as losers or worthless. But I don't. I look at them as precious children of God, who are created in His image, saved by faith in Jesus, created to do good works that He has prepared for them. They have purpose in Christ. They have value and worth in His eyes, and in mine.

We thank all of you who sacrifice so we can serve here and minister to these awesome kids.

Pictures to come soon!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Thankful

My heart this morning is filled with thankfulness. Last night we en joyed a couple hours with over 50 kids and some 13 or so adults. We had the Bible Club Christmas fiesta and it was a great time. Christmas carols, cupcakes, crafts, yummy coke floats along with a chorus of "oooooooo...que rico!" and most importantly, hearing the good news of our Savior's birth and his offer of salvation to each one of us. If I sat and focused on all the things I wanted to see come of the last three months, discouragement would surely set in...However, I choose to look and therefore marvel, at the work of the Lord. I see His hand on these kids, I see His presence in their faces and their smiles, I see HIM all around me and my eyes brim with tears as I contemplate HIS majesty. I see Rafa, Gabriela, Karina, Anyelo...the list goes on and my heart swells more with each face. Chocolate icing smiles, focused concentration on making the manger scene just right, and joyful cheers as the pinata breaks...ten-year old Everth sharing with confidence how he knows for sure he has eternal life.

This past week with Doug and Karen has been beyond fantastic. I am not sure what our home will be like without them...different for sure. Doug has not had a minute where he has not been working at or fixing something. Karen has done more dishes than are able to be counted, here and at church. (Is washing dishes a spiritual gift? :)  )

I hope all of you back there that keep up on our lives through this blog understand the significance of your comments, emails, letters, and visits to us. They give us great encouragment, boost us up, lift our spirits, challenge us and just plain make us thankful!!!

I am thankful this morning. I am looking forward to a couple of hours this morning with Karen- hitting Tamarindo shops to browse around- something I've never done before! Then, we have a conference call, then lunch, then preparing for home fellowship tonight...getting packed sometime in between for our weekend trip to the city to see our friends in the ministry there. Looking forward to that and the time spent talking on the drive there. Looking forward to seeing La Finca, and all those smiling faces there. Looking forward to seeing Fabi, Rosa, Mariana and Valeria, and Mark and Meg in grandparent mode...all more reasons to be thankful...

What are you thankful for today?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Bone Chilling cold in Costa Rica

Check out the latest news in Guanacaste.  Read below...

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Bone Chilling Cold in Costa Rica Expected To Continue Today


Guanacaste records a chilling 19.9 Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), 3.6 C (38.5) at the Irazú

As forecast, Tuesday was windy and cold. The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) - national weather service - says that today, Wednesday and until Friday, will be much of the same, as Costa Rica enters the final phase of the transition from rainy to dry season.

On Tuesday the temperature recorded in Coronado (northwest side of San José) was a chilling 12.4 Celsius (54.32 degree Fahrenheit), while in Cartago a temperature of 13.1 (55.5) was recorded, 17 (62.6) in Alajuela and a bone numbing 19.9 (67.7) in Liberia, Guanacaste.

In San José the thermometer dipped to 14 Celsius (57 Fahrenheit).


But, the coldest temperature recorded was 3.6 Celsius ((38. 48 Fahrenheit)) at the highest point of the Irazú volcano.
Normal daytime temperatures in San José are 28 Celsius (82 Fahrenheit), dipping to 20 (68 Fahrenheit) at night. In Guanacaste, typical daytime hover in the 35, night time 28.

The low temperatures, but no so low, are normal for December. The temperatures of yesterday are typical in the first week or 10 days of January.

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For the nationals, who have never experienced temperatures like this, it would be rather bone chilling. For those of us who've lived through hard Indiana winters, it really is nothing. However, truth be told, it is fairly serious for those who live in margional areas further inland who have open air homes, tin walls, and in the mountains of Costa Rica. Please pray for families trying to sleep without blankets tonight. Pray for those cold and shivering, not used to these low temps.

It has been rather chilly here,in Guanacaste,  I will admit. I'm in about week 4 of wearing jeans, which says something, since this is a first for me since we've lived here. Doug and Karen are here at the perfect time, since it has been so mild and breezy and cooler at night.

We'll be heading to San Jose this weekend, though, and so I dug out our few cooler  weather clothes we have stored and my fleece I brought back two years ago JUST IN CASE! :)

Who knows, maybe it'll snow :)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Having a great time

We are having a fantastic time with Doug and Karen. Friday afternoon Karen went with me to my discipleship group with Dinorah, Elvita and Ana and then we prepared for home fellowship. We had 11 adults and 19 kids! It was a little ccrazy, but great fun!

Saturday we spent all day at Flamingo Beach. It was a wonderful day of relaxing and catching up and just enjoying God's creation.

Sunday we spent at home during the day and then preparing for the church dinner that afternoon and evening worship.

Today was a busy day with some 60b bags of icing being prepared for the women's outreach next week, house spot cleaned, laundry washed, food prepared for supper, a Spanish class for Karen from teacher Isabelle :), PFK practice at our house and then dinner with our friends and Matt's disciples, Juan and Rebecca.

Karen has washed dishes so many times now, and is just a blessing to have around. Last night she jumped in and did whatever she could to help at church.

And today, Doug took Matt to the hardware store and well...let's just say they were gone all day! They are going to build a bookshelf for Calvary and possibly make some shelving for our house. I think they had fun!

Time is going quickly, but we are so enjoying having them here!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Good friends

Our good friends Doug and Karen Vaughn from MI are here visiting with us for the next week. They arrived yesterday and it has been a great two days already. We were up late last night and only just now getting to get ready for bed tonight and it is a little after 10 PM...we spent all day at our favorite beach, Playa Flamingo and we may have Doug finally convinced to pask it all up and move here! :) It is gonna be a great week. We love them and are so thankful they are here with us :)

And...they brought a suitcase full of goodies for the kids from the grandparents and aunt/uncle for Christmas!!! So sweet, huh? They are gonna have so much fun on Christmas day having stuff to unwrap from family :)

AND! Doug being the jack-of-all-trades guy that he is, we think, has resurrected my computer from the dead!!! He has gotten it working!!! Praise the Lord!!! :) We waited and did not buy another one and now I am so thankful we did!!!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Mike Druley

Please pray for Sharon Druley and her kids and her grandkids as they mourn the passing of Mike today. Mike is no doubt having a ball in heaven now, in all the spendor and glory of His King.

Thankful

We've begun practicing with PFK kids for a Christmas program they will present to their parents in a couple weeks. The kids will be reading from Luke chapter 2 and singing two modern Christmas carols as well as some will recite their memory verses they have learned. It is such a joy to listen to them sing their hearts out. Some have the gift of song, others just want to sing, but it warms my heart to see them and their excitement to serve.

When we decided to organize a program for Christmas, we all (Matt, Victor and I) knew that we did not have this gift of song, howeverm, we knew that the Lord was leading us to do this program. Monday at practice at our house, Kristi, another missionary in this area, came to help out. What a blessing it was to have her listening and giving advice. She came to PFK last night as we had our first run through of the whole program and was really key to the flow of the whole thing. From start to finish it will only be about 15 minutes, but it amazes me how long it takes to get all the details down of where the mikes go, who goes to what mike, and all the little details of tone and all that that I know nothing about.

I had told Victor in the very beginning of the planning that I would need someone who could help me in this area and to pray for that.

 In faith, we walked forward.

And God provided.

Kristi added details last night that I never could have. I was brought to tears as I watched them sing, thinking of how just three months ago, most of these kids would not even talk to us, let alone look us in the eye. Now, we can joke and sit and talk and mess with them. And we love them.

Yesterday was Victor's birthday. We didn't find out that it was his birthday until we got to the church and his daughter told us. So Matt ran out and picked up a cake to surprise him. After we practiced and ate, we sang to Victor and then, spontaneously, the kids all ran at him at once and smothered him with hugs. It was beautiful. We ate the cake and dismissed.

It seems they love us, too. :)

God is good. All the time. God is so good.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Please pray for the Druley's

I know that the Lord has blessed tremendously the Druley family. Many lives have been changed by Mike Druley's testimony and godly witness. Please pray for the family today as he goes to meet Jesus. My life has been made better in so many ways because of Mike. Til we all get to heaven, Mike.