Just wanted everyone to know that we are all alive and well. We have had several weeks without internet, therefore, no updates.
Thank you for your grace! :)
Last Monday (11/21) my mother and father-in-law arrived with a special surprise- my mom! We jumped right in finishing up moving the last of our things from our old house to our new house (we've moved! - more on that in another update), then began preparations for Thanksgiving Dinner. We hosted 22 people in our new home for Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday afternoon. It was our first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner in 5 years and it was a blessed day! Thursday we left for a vacation with our parents. we've been enjoying each other, the beach, seeing crocodiles, a blue macaw, living in the jungle, playing games, eating, and just being together!
Hopefully I'll get pictures up soon- but we have no internet at the new house.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
Just a glimpse into our lives following JESUS as He leads us to serve Him in the nations. Thanks for stopping by!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Multitudes
"Brooke," my friend says, "they are all over."
"Even in the high school?" I ask.
"Yes, even in high school."
I had seen them before, standing on the corner, as I was coming back from Tamarindo one night around 9:00 pm. I've heard about the other known corners. And I've seen the change in my neighbor over the past several months. Her face once held a smile. Now she looks stoic, as if she has no emotion at all, no feeling left in her thin, frail body.
But in high school? This I hadn't known. I hadn't anticipated it. I'm not sure why, given that our particular province or state is one of the leading in the country for human trafficking, being that is close to the Nicaraguan border.
Then, I saw them. I was coming home around 7:00 last night. Night had fallen, as it does every day around 6:30 or so. I was almost home and I saw them walking. My neighbor, whom I had suspected of having a new, umm…profession. And then I realized she was with her sister, who is still in high school, although she already has a small son of her own.
And suddenly it was hard to breathe. My heart hurt. My chest tightened. And they passed. And there was nothing. Not one emotion, not one glimmer of hope in their eyes.
I woke up this morning, burdened for them. The tightness in my chest had not subsided. My head began to ache. As much I want my headaches to go away, they remind me of the drastic effects of sin in the fallen world we live in. As do the emotionless faces of those women.
I have been given the opportunity to praise God and glorify Him through what could have been a life-altering event in my life- the discovery of a tumor in my brain. Yet, God in His mercy, has allowed this in my life with a purpose that I do not totally understand, yet that I embrace as grace and as a gift and that I will use to glorify Him.
I remember when I was young and my Gran would give all of us grandkids Christmas presents or birthday presents. Especially at Christmas, I remember everyone opening the gifts she gave because you never knew what the outside of the present would look like. You see, my Gran thought it quite senseless to purchase special boxes for gifts when she could save and reuse boxes from household items, packaging from things she had purchased or even empty food boxes- specifically and most often used were empty cereal boxes. Often when they were no boxes around to reuse, the Sunday comics became the wrapping paper of choice! So, we'd open our gifts and often see a corn flakes box or Wheaties, as that was my uncle's cereal of choice back then. (remember the commercials?- "Have you had your Wheaties today?") It would be somewhat a disappointment at first. Especially when we were younger and expecting a He-man toy or a Barbie and we thought we were receiving cereal. But as we continued to unwrap the gift, we saw what was inside the disappointing cereal box. The real gift our Gran had picked out with love or painstakingly made by hand. You see, by that point we'd all but forgotten the package the gift came in and were by now elated and excited and all smiles and full of hugs and kisses for our Gran. She had given us what we had wanted all along, it just came a little different than we expected.
How I long for all to embrace life and all its hurt, pain, suffering, injustice, all that is good for what it truly is- grace- a gift in wrapping that may not seem like much to us, may not be what we expected, and in fact may look very, very disappointing at first. Having this tumor could have been much worse than what it is and in fact at this point, still believed to be minor and responding well to treatment. It was very disappointing to me though when I first heard the diagnosis. I was full of fear. And then, the Lord spoke to me. I realized I had the option to remain in that fear or move on and accept what the Lord had given me as grace and a gift. The packaging was disappointing, however if I kept unwrapping, I would realize the gift was what I'd always wanted. And it is, it truly is. I feel wonderful and I know and feel the Lord's healing touch. The ways in which this past month have blessed me are beyond what I can share in this post, and beyond what I could ever imagine receiving, and much more beyond what I ever could have deserved.
Although not life-altering in a negative way, this illness has been so very life-changing for me. I wake up each morning thankful and meet the day different than ever before. I realize the depths of sin and the effects of sin on our complex, wonderfully designed bodies. How mysterious is the human body. So very complex, yet so easily contaminated by disease and sickness and foreign material that is in the evil world we live in. Never was this the Lord's desire, to see all the suffering in what He once looked upon with great joy and called "Very Good." Yet, for thousands of years, life on this earth is still a gift given to us by our loving, caring Creator. Even in its decaying condition, the earth is full of beauty and wonder and it all points to Jesus. We are a sinful people. Completely undeserving of the love and mercy and grace God pours out upon us. When we choose to live in the disappointment of the packaging, and stop unwrapping, we miss out on the True Gift. We miss out on what is beyond anything we could imagine.
And, isn't that the way our God is? So much more than we ever could imagine.
My heart still hurts for my neighbors. How Lord, can I minister to them? Their hearts are hard. How long will you look upon them with your grace? How long will it be before you 'give them up' to their sinful desires, as it says in Romans?
Oh Jesus, I long for Your return. Yet, Father, mercy I pray for the many, many who wander, still lost and dead in their sins, so far from You. They continue to open packages not from You Lord. They open what has the nice fancy wrapping and looks wonderful on the outside but really is just dark, black, sharp and painful on the inside. It really isn't a gift at all, although it looks like it from the outside. Father, open their eyes, let them see what the True Gift is- Your Son, Jesus. Time and time again, some have heard. They know the Truth, but have yet to let it free them. They continue, stiff necked.
Father, have mercy on them. I pray for their repentance and return to You.
Thank You Jesus, for the greatest gift of all- Salvation in You. Thank You for shedding Your blood- again a gift that at first was so very disappointing, so very sad. Yet, what was found? An empty tomb. Empty burial rags. And then…You. Risen again. Risen Indeed! Not dead, but fully alive!!!
May I continue to see all things as they are- gifts from You.
- new life- Welcome Ezra Syrus McKay!!!
- Shaylene's desire to start discipleship with the older PFK girls and Natalia
-Shaylene's work ethic
-You giving Matt the words he needed when he needed them
-Karlee's knack and gift of organizing a space and decorating well
- the joy of a new home!
- the joy and excitement of life as a journey with You!
PS: Last July we were in the States for Audrey's 7th birthday and we had a birthday party for her with all our family. My mom, being my Gran's daughter, creatively used a frozen mini pizza box to hold one of Audrey's presents and an Oreo cookie stick box for another present. Our third child, who loves food, was so excited when she saw theses two boxes! She truly believed that what was in them was what was on the box was her present and since food is something she loves and these two particular food items were ones she does not get to eat in Costa Rica, she was thrilled!!! She was even more excited when she opened the boxes and found her presents, but I had to share that story!
"Even in the high school?" I ask.
"Yes, even in high school."
I had seen them before, standing on the corner, as I was coming back from Tamarindo one night around 9:00 pm. I've heard about the other known corners. And I've seen the change in my neighbor over the past several months. Her face once held a smile. Now she looks stoic, as if she has no emotion at all, no feeling left in her thin, frail body.
But in high school? This I hadn't known. I hadn't anticipated it. I'm not sure why, given that our particular province or state is one of the leading in the country for human trafficking, being that is close to the Nicaraguan border.
Then, I saw them. I was coming home around 7:00 last night. Night had fallen, as it does every day around 6:30 or so. I was almost home and I saw them walking. My neighbor, whom I had suspected of having a new, umm…profession. And then I realized she was with her sister, who is still in high school, although she already has a small son of her own.
And suddenly it was hard to breathe. My heart hurt. My chest tightened. And they passed. And there was nothing. Not one emotion, not one glimmer of hope in their eyes.
I woke up this morning, burdened for them. The tightness in my chest had not subsided. My head began to ache. As much I want my headaches to go away, they remind me of the drastic effects of sin in the fallen world we live in. As do the emotionless faces of those women.
I have been given the opportunity to praise God and glorify Him through what could have been a life-altering event in my life- the discovery of a tumor in my brain. Yet, God in His mercy, has allowed this in my life with a purpose that I do not totally understand, yet that I embrace as grace and as a gift and that I will use to glorify Him.
I remember when I was young and my Gran would give all of us grandkids Christmas presents or birthday presents. Especially at Christmas, I remember everyone opening the gifts she gave because you never knew what the outside of the present would look like. You see, my Gran thought it quite senseless to purchase special boxes for gifts when she could save and reuse boxes from household items, packaging from things she had purchased or even empty food boxes- specifically and most often used were empty cereal boxes. Often when they were no boxes around to reuse, the Sunday comics became the wrapping paper of choice! So, we'd open our gifts and often see a corn flakes box or Wheaties, as that was my uncle's cereal of choice back then. (remember the commercials?- "Have you had your Wheaties today?") It would be somewhat a disappointment at first. Especially when we were younger and expecting a He-man toy or a Barbie and we thought we were receiving cereal. But as we continued to unwrap the gift, we saw what was inside the disappointing cereal box. The real gift our Gran had picked out with love or painstakingly made by hand. You see, by that point we'd all but forgotten the package the gift came in and were by now elated and excited and all smiles and full of hugs and kisses for our Gran. She had given us what we had wanted all along, it just came a little different than we expected.
How I long for all to embrace life and all its hurt, pain, suffering, injustice, all that is good for what it truly is- grace- a gift in wrapping that may not seem like much to us, may not be what we expected, and in fact may look very, very disappointing at first. Having this tumor could have been much worse than what it is and in fact at this point, still believed to be minor and responding well to treatment. It was very disappointing to me though when I first heard the diagnosis. I was full of fear. And then, the Lord spoke to me. I realized I had the option to remain in that fear or move on and accept what the Lord had given me as grace and a gift. The packaging was disappointing, however if I kept unwrapping, I would realize the gift was what I'd always wanted. And it is, it truly is. I feel wonderful and I know and feel the Lord's healing touch. The ways in which this past month have blessed me are beyond what I can share in this post, and beyond what I could ever imagine receiving, and much more beyond what I ever could have deserved.
Although not life-altering in a negative way, this illness has been so very life-changing for me. I wake up each morning thankful and meet the day different than ever before. I realize the depths of sin and the effects of sin on our complex, wonderfully designed bodies. How mysterious is the human body. So very complex, yet so easily contaminated by disease and sickness and foreign material that is in the evil world we live in. Never was this the Lord's desire, to see all the suffering in what He once looked upon with great joy and called "Very Good." Yet, for thousands of years, life on this earth is still a gift given to us by our loving, caring Creator. Even in its decaying condition, the earth is full of beauty and wonder and it all points to Jesus. We are a sinful people. Completely undeserving of the love and mercy and grace God pours out upon us. When we choose to live in the disappointment of the packaging, and stop unwrapping, we miss out on the True Gift. We miss out on what is beyond anything we could imagine.
And, isn't that the way our God is? So much more than we ever could imagine.
My heart still hurts for my neighbors. How Lord, can I minister to them? Their hearts are hard. How long will you look upon them with your grace? How long will it be before you 'give them up' to their sinful desires, as it says in Romans?
Oh Jesus, I long for Your return. Yet, Father, mercy I pray for the many, many who wander, still lost and dead in their sins, so far from You. They continue to open packages not from You Lord. They open what has the nice fancy wrapping and looks wonderful on the outside but really is just dark, black, sharp and painful on the inside. It really isn't a gift at all, although it looks like it from the outside. Father, open their eyes, let them see what the True Gift is- Your Son, Jesus. Time and time again, some have heard. They know the Truth, but have yet to let it free them. They continue, stiff necked.
Father, have mercy on them. I pray for their repentance and return to You.
Thank You Jesus, for the greatest gift of all- Salvation in You. Thank You for shedding Your blood- again a gift that at first was so very disappointing, so very sad. Yet, what was found? An empty tomb. Empty burial rags. And then…You. Risen again. Risen Indeed! Not dead, but fully alive!!!
May I continue to see all things as they are- gifts from You.
- new life- Welcome Ezra Syrus McKay!!!
- Shaylene's desire to start discipleship with the older PFK girls and Natalia
-Shaylene's work ethic
-You giving Matt the words he needed when he needed them
-Karlee's knack and gift of organizing a space and decorating well
- the joy of a new home!
- the joy and excitement of life as a journey with You!
PS: Last July we were in the States for Audrey's 7th birthday and we had a birthday party for her with all our family. My mom, being my Gran's daughter, creatively used a frozen mini pizza box to hold one of Audrey's presents and an Oreo cookie stick box for another present. Our third child, who loves food, was so excited when she saw theses two boxes! She truly believed that what was in them was what was on the box was her present and since food is something she loves and these two particular food items were ones she does not get to eat in Costa Rica, she was thrilled!!! She was even more excited when she opened the boxes and found her presents, but I had to share that story!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Gran
The past two mornings I've gotten up around 5:30 am- that is pretty early for me. I've wanted to lay in bed for longer, but I felt compelling, overwhelming desire to get up and meet with Jesus. So that is what I did. The past two mornings I've been overjoyed and overwhelmed at the depths of God's love for me. He has filled me with His Spirit and I've felt new and fresh and alive.
This morning, as I sat writing in my journal, I became aware of the date and how it has been 13 years since my Gran went to be with Jesus. The memories flooded back and filled me with an inexpressable joy.
I thought of last night on the plaza with the PFK kids, running around in my barefeet and how much fun that was, and thought how she would have been right there with me, running around in her barefeet, too, had she been here.
She took such joy in life. Her smile brightened this world, as did the twinkle in her eyes. Her hands were soft, yet firm. Her hair brilliant silver.
As I began thanksgivng Jesus for all the memories I have of her and for her life and love and influence on my life, my joy grew as I thought about the day Ethan will meet her and all the things he'll have to say to her and how she will sit and listen with great eagerness to learn about her great-grandson. Then I thought about how excited Isabelle will be the day they meet in heaven. Isabelle loves meeting family members and it will be so special the day she'll get to meet her great grandma in heaven. Then, I remembered my Uncle Larry, Uncle Bud and Uncle Jody telling me the stories of how she used to try to catch the pigs and ride the pigs around the farm. Oh how much fun she'll have with Audrey when they meet in heaven.
My thoughts then turned to heaven and the joy and eagerness and longing for HOME turned and stirred in my heart. Tears streamed down as my thoughts drifted to the day when we'll meet, Sweet Jesus.
There is much we know about heaven, and yet so much more we do not know.
Will we know each other as we do here? Will I recognize Gran as Gran? Will my children meet her and know that she is their great-grandma? When I see her will I smell teaberry gum? In her new body, will I still recognize her hands? Will we retain memories from this life at all?
No matter the Lord's plan for our eternal home, when all the saints meet in Glory, one thing is for sure- LOVE will unite and JOY will abound and PEACE will persist and WORSHIP will be life and HE will be LIGHT and all saints will REJOICE!!
- thankful today for precious memories of my grandmother, her investment in my life, her unconditional love for all, the grace she freely gave, her bright yellow kitchen, her clip-on earrings, the way she hid money and other important things in the freezer, her positive attitude, her joy in all things, her life as a servant...
This morning, as I sat writing in my journal, I became aware of the date and how it has been 13 years since my Gran went to be with Jesus. The memories flooded back and filled me with an inexpressable joy.
I thought of last night on the plaza with the PFK kids, running around in my barefeet and how much fun that was, and thought how she would have been right there with me, running around in her barefeet, too, had she been here.
She took such joy in life. Her smile brightened this world, as did the twinkle in her eyes. Her hands were soft, yet firm. Her hair brilliant silver.
As I began thanksgivng Jesus for all the memories I have of her and for her life and love and influence on my life, my joy grew as I thought about the day Ethan will meet her and all the things he'll have to say to her and how she will sit and listen with great eagerness to learn about her great-grandson. Then I thought about how excited Isabelle will be the day they meet in heaven. Isabelle loves meeting family members and it will be so special the day she'll get to meet her great grandma in heaven. Then, I remembered my Uncle Larry, Uncle Bud and Uncle Jody telling me the stories of how she used to try to catch the pigs and ride the pigs around the farm. Oh how much fun she'll have with Audrey when they meet in heaven.
My thoughts then turned to heaven and the joy and eagerness and longing for HOME turned and stirred in my heart. Tears streamed down as my thoughts drifted to the day when we'll meet, Sweet Jesus.
There is much we know about heaven, and yet so much more we do not know.
Will we know each other as we do here? Will I recognize Gran as Gran? Will my children meet her and know that she is their great-grandma? When I see her will I smell teaberry gum? In her new body, will I still recognize her hands? Will we retain memories from this life at all?
No matter the Lord's plan for our eternal home, when all the saints meet in Glory, one thing is for sure- LOVE will unite and JOY will abound and PEACE will persist and WORSHIP will be life and HE will be LIGHT and all saints will REJOICE!!
- thankful today for precious memories of my grandmother, her investment in my life, her unconditional love for all, the grace she freely gave, her bright yellow kitchen, her clip-on earrings, the way she hid money and other important things in the freezer, her positive attitude, her joy in all things, her life as a servant...
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said,
"I am making everything new!"
Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:1-5
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added,
"These are the true words of God."
Revelation 19:6-7
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
First PFK intern video
I accidently posted Shaylene and Karlee's second video as their first...
sooooo...
HERE is their first video:
ENJOY!
sooooo...
HERE is their first video:
ENJOY!
Multitudes...
Since it is Wednesday already, I'll leave off the '...on Monday' part of the title of this post :) We've had super sketchy internet this week and I have not been able to get a connection strong enough to post.
My heart is so full this morning as I reflect on God's goodness.
The joy of the Lord really is my strength!
#'s 2152 - 2156
- Dulce Maria sharing with me her happiness with how Tatiana has imporoved in her English class and her grades are showing that improvement. She credits her time with us and her studying and learning pronuciation at PFK! Praise You jesus!
- seeing the mound of Bible Club t-shirts w/all the patches on them
- encouraging words from friends about the words you give us to share in our communication with supporters
- Helyi's teachings and heart for developing healthier, stronger families
- The vision You've given our team and the way You are developing each of us, the children, and breaking through the darkness
My heart is so full this morning as I reflect on God's goodness.
The joy of the Lord really is my strength!
#'s 2152 - 2156
- Dulce Maria sharing with me her happiness with how Tatiana has imporoved in her English class and her grades are showing that improvement. She credits her time with us and her studying and learning pronuciation at PFK! Praise You jesus!
- seeing the mound of Bible Club t-shirts w/all the patches on them
- encouraging words from friends about the words you give us to share in our communication with supporters
- Helyi's teachings and heart for developing healthier, stronger families
- The vision You've given our team and the way You are developing each of us, the children, and breaking through the darkness
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
PFK Interns 'Charlene y eScarlet'
On October 14th we welcomed Karlee "eScarlet" and Shaylene "Charlene" to Villarreal. They are the new PFK interns serving with us for the next 6 months. On of their many duties is to post weekly videos of life, ministry, and just about anything else :)
This is their first video:
Stay tuned for more videos soon!
This is their first video:
Stay tuned for more videos soon!
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