Park days...

We've spent the past two mornings at local parks in an attempt to just relax and soak up the wonderful sunshine God has blessed us with recently. Yesterday, we went just down the road from us and let Izzy ride her bike. Ethan played soccer and Audrey, well, she just ran and screamed and ran and made all the noise she wanted to :) (OUTSIDE!!!)

Today we went to a park about 10 minutes away from our house. We have come to love this park. It reminds me of Columbian Park for you Indiana folk...Anyway, today we took a kite along with us and had a wonderful time. There are two sections to the park and to get from one side to the other you have to cross over a walking bridge that is over the main highway we take to Tejarcillos (for those who have been here before. We found quite possibly the best playground we've seen so far on the other side of the bridge. It was a wonderful morning!

"I need your kisses"

Last night, as I was putting Audrey to bed, she reached her arms out to me and said, "Mommy, I need your kisses." Awwwww...so sweet. The perfect way to end my birthday. Thanks to all who called or sent me birthday wishes!

"I need your hugs"

Tonight we got home a little later than planned and the girls were both asleep. Ethan was almost there. Matt and I carried the girls into their bedroom and put them in their beds. As I started to walk away from Audrey's bed, she said, "Momma, I need your hugs." Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard? :)

Happy Birthday Isabelle Adair!!!

Today is Isabelle's 7th Birthday! How can it be that she is that old? She woke up this morning and said that her voice was different and she looked bigger because she was 7 now! We are making it "her" day today. This morning I fixed her french toast, we ate tacos for lunch and we'll do what she would like for supper :)

This morning, we took off with the purpose of finding her a bicycle, which is what she wanted for her birthday!






I prayed we'd be able to find what she wanted: "a pink bike with a basket and streamers on the handle bars." Thank you, Lord, for leading us to the right shop :)

Then we took her to her favorite park, where she could ride her new bike, and we also fed the ducks. So far, it has been a fantastic day :)

Please pray for our sweet Isabelle today :)

By the way, we are all better today. Thank you for praying. Late yesterday afternoon, Audrey's fever broke and I started feeling better. Last night Isabelle said that the only thing she wanted for her birthday was for me and Audrey to feel better :) Isn't she sweet?

sick...

Just a post to ask for prayer. We've been hit by a flu-like bug. Audrey and I are both down with headaches, body aches and stomach aches and I've also got some yucky sinus stuff going on. We'd appreciate your prayers.

The retreat was wonderful...but I'll have to post more about it later.

some thoughts

Last night, I talked with our good friends the Blackstock's who are serving in El Salvador. It was wonderful! Both of our familes have Vonage phones and so we were able to talk as if we were in the states. The connection was amazing, I must say. My thoughts afterwards were of how wonderful is our God to allow us the advances in communication that we have today. What life must have been like for the early missionaries who waited weeks upon months for communication with family, friends and churches. We literally have communication at our fingertips with the internet, Skype and Vonage, email and other instant messenger-type programs. I have had the opportunity to "talk" with friends in various parts of Central and South America instantly, and North America, too as well as "seeing" them through Skype and webcam. I am amazed at the ease with which we can communicate today.

Other thoughts: I'll be leaving this afternoon for an overnight women's retreat through ILE (the language school). Although I am no longer a student there, they offer these retreats for missionaries serving here as well. I am excited because all of the "wives" on our team will be going. Pray it will be a great time of fellowhip for the three of us as we generally have no spare time for time together outside the ministry. Pray for the "men" as they'll hold down the forts without us.

blog questions answered

The answers to the blog questions are:
1. I chose the colors red, white and blue because they are the national colors of both the United States as well as Costa Rica. (Way to go Erin! Half-right, Ryan...)

2. The picture is of Ethan and Isabelle and was taken in Nicaragua last August.

Audrey's follow-up

Audrey made sure to remind me to read in the Bible what God said when He made the world and the story about Jesus's death today. After I read them to her, Ethan came in the room and she preceeded to explain to him exactly what I had just read to her. She was very interested in the Jesus's death on the cross and exactly how a person dies on the cross. Her interest was not in a morbid way, but she was trying to understand exactly what it meant. I read to her from her Bible,which is in both Spanish and English and is well illustrated. There are two pictures of Jesus's death- one of Him on the cross surrounded by the two thieves and the next is of the soldiers taking him off the cross after His death. Audrey noticed the detail of the second picture down to the blood on Jesus's feet, hands, head and side. She noticed details like the color of Jesus's skin being more pale in the second picture (after His death) then in the first where He is on the cross but not yet dead. We had a very good discussion of Jesus' death and how very painful it would have been for Him to die on the cross. This was the first time I've discussed with her in detail Jesus's death. Her mind is searching for more information about all that she has heard us talk about. It was so sweet that she took the time to share with her big brother what she had just learned. Please continue to pray for her as she searches at a tender age (she is 4 1/2) for answers that will define her faith.

Audrey Ann

As I was tucking Audrey in tonight, I said to her what I have said many, many nights to both Ethan and Isabelle as they have grown and faced different fears through the nights: "Remember, God is always with you. You are never alone. He is right here with you and there is nothing to be scared of." She looked up at me with still innocent 4-year old eyes and said, "But Mommy, when you leave, God goes with you." I sucked in my breath to keep from getting choked up and said, "Audrey, God is so big and powerful and amazing that He is always right with me wherever I am AND He is always right where you are...even if you are in your room and I am in mine." She then asked if God was with Jesus when He died on the cross.
(Here is a really good look into her mind. She is ALWAYS asking questions- good ones, too, as you can see).

I explained to her that, yes, God was with Jesus on the cross.
She asked me if God made Jesus.
"Yes, God made Jesus, sweetie."
"And God made me, and you and Ethan and Sissy and Daddy and even all the people that I know and all the people that I don't know, right, Momma?"
"Yes, Baby, that is right."
"And God made everything?"
"God made the trees, the sky, the planets, the stars, the land the water- everything you see and everyplace you cannot see- God made it all."
"Does God have a wand?"
"No, Baby, God does not have a wand. God does not need magic. Magic like you see on tv isn't real. But God is. And He is able to all things, even things we cannot understand, like say a word and the land and water and sky are in place, like we see them today."
"Well, what words did God say."
"Well, remember the story of Genesis, when God created everything in six days?"
"Yes, kinda."
"We can read it again tomorrow, ok?"
"OK...Momma?"
"Yes..."
"What word did God say when Jesus died?"
(WOW...I'm thinking...where are these questions coming from?)
"Well, Baby, right before Jesus died, He said 'It is finished.'He said that because He knew that what God had planned was that Jesus needed to die on that cross so that He could save us from our sins. The only way to do that was for him to die."
"But Jesus came back alive, right?"
"Yes, he did, Baby. Yes, He did."

"And God doesn't have a wand?"
"No, God does not use magic. God is real and able to do all things even things that seem imopossible like Jesus being dead and then three days later, alive again. Wands are not real and God does not use a wand."

I told her that she asks really good questions and to keep on asking them. I pray that she does.

Isabelle Adair

Isabelle gave me an update today of the days remaining until her birthday. She has been doing this for about three weeks now :)

(Makes for a good practical math review...heeheehee)

She said, "Mommy, there is only 11 more days until my birthday! I just feel....happy!"

I said "Why do you feel happy?"

She said, "Because I am turning 7, Mommy!" (Duh...I should've known that!)

Then she asked, "Mommy, do you know what the best part of my birthday morning is?"

"No," I said, "What is the best part of your birthday morning?"

"When you come into my room to wake me up singing 'This is the day, This is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.' I love it when you sing that on our birthdays!"

Sometimes, it is the littlest things that make our children happy. Pray with me that we, as their parents, will not permit ourswelves to become so busy and distracted that we forget to make special time for them. Pray that we will take time to make special little moments in each day with each one of them. Please pray that we will continue to establish family traditions with them as they grow that will make lifetime memories for them.

some blog changes

Like the new blog format?
Leave me your comments...answer the questions if you can :)

Do you know why I chose red, white and blue for the background?

Do you know where the picture in the title was taken?

Love one another...

"A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

If you receive our monthly prayer letters by email, you know that we included this vers with this month's update. Just this week, God demonstrated His love to us in a tangible way through young people from Pensacola Florida. Each member of our family received specially made Valentine cards from the Sunday school class of Mrs. Dyster.

My kids were blown away (as were we) by the kindness of these kids. It was as each one of them knew us because of the uniqueness of each card.

Mrs. Dyster and your Sunday School class: We thank you for showing Christ's love to our family :)

Give thanks to the Lord...for the Lord is good

Praise be to God!
Last night...Audrey went to sleep on her own and slept the entire night! She didn't wake up until almost 7:00 this morning! (A big change from 5:30 or 6:00 when she has been getting up!) (Erin- no help from anything else, either! I forgot last night...imagine!)
God promises us he will answer when we call to him (Jeremiah 33:3) and I thank God for your prayers on behalf of Audrey. Please keep praying!

Jeremiah 33:11 "Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever."

Prayer for Audrey

Please pray for Audrey. She is not sleeping well at night and as a result, is demonstrating some pretty poor behavior. Please pray that she would sleep well at night and through the night and that God would grant us patience to keep the behav ior in check, but also sensitivity to her needs as well.

playdate

Ethan and Isabelle had a play date this afternoon after we were done with school. I honestly cannot remember the last time they went to a friends house to play...They were so thrilled and excited! Just recently we have connected with this family and it really is such a blessing for the kids to have friends that they can play with. They live really close to us, too :) We walked there today! Please pray that God would allow us relationships and fellowship with other Christians as we continue life and ministry here.

My mom called me tonight to tell me our friend Beth lost her battle with cancer this morning. While all who knew her can rejoice that she is now with Jesus, it is never easy to let go of someone you love. Please pray for her family, her church family and especially for my Aunt Sandy. Beth was her best friend. It is not easy to be so far away in a time like this.

"I do..."

Just wanted to wish everyone Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow. Although we, my hubby and I, have never really gotten into the commercialism of Valentine's Day nor celebrated with purchasing gifts, there is special signifigance to the day for us. Ten years, February 14, 1998, Matt got down on one knee and proposed to me...and I, of course, said "YES!"

We never imagined then where life would take us. It has been one crazy ride...and I look forward to many, many more years!

Hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow or whenever you celebrate with your special someone!

The Droke's are here!

Just an update to say the Droke family is here! Ron Droke has been here for about a month. He has started the grueling process of language school. the rest of the family arrived yesterday (his wife Meredith and their three youngest kids. Their oldest is in college in the states).

Please pray for them as they reconnect as a family and begin the adjustment to life in Costa Rica.

They are a wonderful family and we are so excited to have them here serving alongside of us.

Thank you for praying.

"One Big Bone!"

This morning, Isabelle was working on her math. One of the story problems asked what woulod happen if you put one dinosaur dinosuar bone that was 4 feet long end to end with one that was 2 feet long. After reading the problem to Isabelle she responded with "We'd have one big bone!"

The Big "C"

Cancer. I hate it. It is sneaky, conniving, and it destroys life. I think by now, the year 2009, everyone must have been touched in some way or another by its effects. When I hear the word, I immediately think of the first part John 10:10 which says that the theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Cancer is a disease that steals from the body it infests, with the ultimate purpose of killing its host and in the process destroying the hosts life. Personally, the lives I've seen the disease take are far too numerous for my thirty years. Both of Matt's grandmother's have lost battles to different types of the disease. Many times, cancer accomplishes its purpose and does steal life, kill and even destroy the life sometimes. There is no known cure for any type of cancer and until the day when medicine is advanced enough to find a cure, it will continue to act like the thief in John 10:10. The eternally good news comes in the second part of that verse, however. In the second half, Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Life with Jesus is the one and only cure to all things of the world. No matter how long or how short our time on earth is, without Jesus, it has been wasted. The thief has accomplished his purpose if your life was wasted and never lived to the fullest with Jesus. My plea to you today is that if you have never given your life to Jesus, if you do not believe that Jesus is God's only Son, born to the Virgen Mary, and that He died on a cross for your personal sins and then rose again from the dead and then went to be with His father in heaven, where He remains now, consider your eternal future. 1 John 5:11-12 says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." The real truth is that every minute, every hour, every day that you do not have Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the thief (Satan) is robbing you of your life. There is an old hymn that I love called "I Need Thee Every Hour." I love it because the truth is, although over 10 years ago, I gave my life to Jesus, I still need him every single minute, every single hour of every single day. The thief (the devil) does not just mess around with those that do not know Jesus, he comes at those of us, who in Christ are his enemies (1 Peter 5:8), like a roaring lion, looking to kill, scripture says.

Some of those I've seen lose their battle to cancer, praise the Lord, are now walking streets of gold with Jesus. Others, I unfortunately know, did not ever give their lives to Jesus and therefore will not share eternity with him. I believe honestly that one day there will be a cure for cancer. God created man in his image and He (God) has given man the capacity to accomplish great things. I believe that man will advance medicine to the point past his own good, actually, and quite possibly may have already done so. But what I pray for even more than a cure for the disease called cancer, is that one day all will know Him (Jesus) as their Savior.

Please pray today for a good friend of mine named Beth in Wabash, Indiana as she struggles to battle the ugly cancer that has tried to destroy her body and rob her of life for almost two years now. Thankfully, she has been sealed forever with Christ (Ephesians 1:13) and has lived abundant life with Him. When God calls her Home, she will be with Jesus forever. Please pray as the battle rages in her body and she fights it in the hospital.

Devotional time in the McClain house

Every morning, I set my alarm to get up before 6:00 am to have my time with the Lord. Almost every monring, Audrey beats the alarm to wake me up. She is very much like me in that once she wakes up she cannot go back to sleep. So she is usually up with me during my quiet time. This morning, as I began to pray, she came over to me and whispered something to me and I stuck out my to touch her as I have come to do, she stood there for a minute then walked away. After I had finished praying, I looked over at the couch and she had gotten her Bible out and was looking at it. I asked her if she had been sharing her time with Jesus and she said "yes, momma!" Our children can learn so much from our examples.

I also wanted to share with you that for several months now, Isabelle has spent a few minuites each night writing or drawing in her own perconal devotional book. Sometimes she writes out things she is thankful for, other nights she just simply draws a pictures as she thinks about what she is thankful for. But this is something that is important to her each night and she really enjoys doing it.

For about a month now, Ethan has been reading through Genesis and also doing his own devotional in the mornings. He has missed some mornings and it has taken him some time to get used to doing it every day, but each day, he reads one chapter each day and then answers three questions, "What is the main idea?" , "What does God want me to do today?" , and "What impresses me most about this passage?" I love reading what he writes and helping him walk through the things he struggles to understand.

Please pray for our children as they begin to walk and grow in their faith. Pray that their faith is something real to them and not something their parents talk about. Please pray too, as they grow and mature, they will seek to make decisionsfor Jesus.

Back from Nicaragua

We had a great time in Nicaragua. We went back to the same place we went in last August. It was nice to receive a warm welcome back from the staff. We really enjoy thhe atmosphere the place has. The staff is mostly all family and they stay on the grounds during their work week. So you really get to know them, if you take the time. This time I made a great connection with one girl who works in the pulperia and the kids made "friends" with a brother and sister that work there as well.

thank you for praying for our trip down last Wednesday. We couldn't have planned it better. God answered our prayers of safety and a taxi driver and even down to the movies on the bus! the trip went well and the only movie shown was the Chihuahua movie. (Cheesy, yes, but defienetly kid- appropriate!). Then, at the border, we found a nice man who works tourism there and he helped us find a taxi driver, named Carlos. Carlos drove us to the hotel. He is a Christian and shared his testimony with us during the hour long trip. He is a very nice man who has only been a Christian 7 years, but has a wonderful story of how God saved his life from an addiction to alcohol and freed him from being a slave of a lifetime of sin. It was really such a blessing to meet him and we told him how we prayed for God to direct us to someone whom we could trust to take us to the hotel. We shared with him that God answered our prayers by allowing us to meet him.

We enjoyed the few days we had at the hotel. This time we stayed in a one room apartment and loved it! There was a small pool that the four apartments shared and the kids loved it! It was freezing cold- but they didn't seem to mind. We also scouted out where we'll stay next time! We'll be going b ack in late April or early May with Matt's mom, Sue. She'll be coming back to visit us during the time when we have to leave the country again. So, she is going to go with us and we'll all head to Nicaragua! The kids spent the whole time this trip planning "all the things we'll do next time with Mimi!"

The climate was really different this time. Even though it is summer time there as well, it was really windy and there was a significant difference in the temperature in the water- much cooler this time. No one seemed to know why, just one of those weather things that happens sometimes. Usually it would be really hot...eithere way- it was still a great trip

Carlos came back to pick us up early Sunday morning, although he told us he normally does not work on Sundays. He drove us to Rivas, which is where we were to catch the bus back to CR. Before he dropped us off, though, he showed us his street and also took us by his church, which was really neat. He lives right in the city and it was nice to for him to share part of his life with us. We shared with us that he has family here in Costa Rica. He actually has a sister that lives in Desamparados, which is about 15 minutes from us. She does not know the Lord and he asked us if he could give her our number, which we agreed. We invited him to call us if he is ever in CR. And he was pleased when we asked him if we could call him when we are back in April. We pray God will allow us to continue the relationship we've begun with him.

The rest of the day was not quite what we expected...but all in all we made it home safely and that is what is most important. There was some confusion with our bus tickets and the bus company actually re-sold out tickets, so when the bus arrived, there was no room for us on it...So, after waiting on the street corner for almost two hours, we watched as the bus drove away, knowing the next one would not be by for 5 more hours. We made our way to the ticket office only to find out that the next bus with available seats was not coming through until Tuesday...YES...TUESDAY! At this point, I was crying...thinking what were we going to do? Well, thankfully, my observant husband saw another bus company right down the street and so we walked down and found out that we could purchase tickets for the 11:00 bus (which meant only about an hour wait). Thankfully Matt had brought extra money (just in case!) and we had enough to purchase the tickets! So, we caught the next bus, which we actually thought was a better company than the first one we took. There was a huge hang-up at the border and we were there for close to two-hours, on the bus...but mad it through with no problems. The drive back through CR was long and slow, due to much slow-moving traffic. We finally arrived back in San Jose around 7:00 PM and then home about 7:40 or so. the girls and were in bed by 8:15! We were so tired. Matt and Ethan stayed up to watch the SuperBowl and then went to bed.

We are tired today and have a lot to do...but we'll take it slow and settle back in.

It is always good to be back home!

Thank you for praying for our trip!

Please pray for us to settle back into a school routine this week. It is always hard to settle back in after being gone like this.

update...

Today was the second week of discipleship in Jazmin. We had a wonderful day today! It is so much fun to spend the entire day with our Tejarcillos team and to be able to be used by God to help another study His Wrod. I just LOVE Tuesdays! We leave about 8 am and spend the entire day there. It is wonderful. We are all tired afterwords but it is great! And the kids love being there. We are really gaining trust it seems with the families and parents. In my morning group, all came with verses memorized and lessons done! That is such a great start! Thank you for praying and please keep it up! In my Saturday group last week I had three girls. This week I had four and they all (but one) came to church Sunday! Praise God!

I'll be away for a few days...we are heading to Nicaragua to renew our tourist Visas and will not be back until Sunday. I am not sure if I'll have computer access. Please pray for our safety on this trip- it is always a little nerve-wracking riding in a bus here (if you've been here you understand why...) and we have an 8 hour trip ahead of us. Also, please pray for little details like finding the taxi driver we found the last time we went (I lost his phone number somehow...) and even down to the movies they play on the bus..last time they were horrible!

Thank you for supporting us in prayer!

PS: I ordered a camera and had it shipped and Mark will be bringing it back from us soon! YEAH!!! Still no pictures until then...

Meg leaves for the states Wednesday. She will be there for about a month so she can visit her new GRANDBABY!!! Her daughter and son-in-law just had their first baby, Noah and Meg, Mark and Melinda will be there throughout February to visit! :)Please pray for their time together to be sweet as they welcome this new addition to their family! :) Pray for their safety in travel as well.

Coco will be leaving the beginning of February to visit his family in Venezuela. He will be through March. Coco brings so much to the ministry and his absence will be felt while he is gone. But please pray for his time with his family. He has been here a year without seeing them. Please pray that he is able to enjoy and fellowship with them and for safety during travel as well.

New discipleship groups

Yesterday we began the new discipleship groups in Jazmin. We started off for the day at about 8:30 and spent the entire day in Tejarcillos, two different times of discipleship and visiting in between. There were over 35 believers who began discipleship yesterday, including many young children who spent their time memorizing scripture.

I ask you to pray for this area, called Jazmin. We do not know what God has planned for us, but we (Matt and I) feel a special connection already to the many peopl who, amazingly, we met only a week ago. Somehow, it feels as if we've known them forever already. We also feel a sense of peace every time we are there. While the nature of areas like this brings a sense of danger, Jazmin seems to be much more peaceful. the kids do not seem to have that hard, rough edge that those in others parts have. The young girls in my group have quickly taken to our girls and our girls to them, which we love to see. :) Please pray God would direct Matt and I and allow us the privelege of ministering here at length with the purpose of developing long-term fruit for His Kingdom.

There were 20 new children and youth that began discipleship from The Pines on Saturday as well as Monday. Please pray for these youth. They live hard lives in a spiritually dark place. The area of the Pines is physically dark as well. You walk in and can get glipmses of sunshine, however, you can physiacally see (and feel) the darkness. The homes are dark inside as well. Please pray for the many youth and families from this area that we have in our church. Please pray for the violence that surrounds them day and night. Please pray for God to give them strength, courage and the ability to not become discouraged. Please give them boldness to share the gospel to their neighbors, to their families and to those who are separated from Christ and lost in their sins. Please pray specifically for special couple named Byron and Joanna. they have two samll children. Their sole source of income is selling DVD's (pirated copies that sell for about $2.00 each) door-to-door. Just last week, Byron was coming back home from work around 8:30 in the evening. He had travelled some distance from here to sell in a different area and had been gone three days. He was walking past what we have considered our "safe zone" near the school when three men and one women jumped him, assaulted him with a gun, and stole his backpack, which had all the DVD's he had not yet sold, plus the money he had earned the past three days, which was about $80.00. (When someone sells DVD's like this, they buy them first then resell them for a small profit on each one). this was obviously a devasting event for this family. Please pray for them to be encouraged in the Word of the Lord. They have been faithful in their discipeship with Rogelio and Neris, but had not joined us in Sunday morning worship until recently. Joanna spent the last week helping us in VBS. Every day she came with her two small kids, even though Byron had been away working. She was in charge of coffee and really took the job seriously. She helped in whatever way she could and it was such an encouragement to me to see her be so willing to help.

thank you for praying for the people that have grown to be family for us.

Please pray also for the last two days of VBS in La Carpio. Praise God for His grace and for new believers.

pictures...

Oh by the way...you won't be seeing any pictures for awhile...our camera has been having "problems" for quite some time and last weekend it finally stopped working...Soooo...Christmas pictures will be delayed once again and unfortunately I have no pictures from VBS...I have been researching cameras online and will be ordering one soon. Thankfully, our friends will be heading back to the states in a couple of weeks for a visit and are able to bring one back for us :)

I would love to hear suggesstions on any great digital cameras (on a missionary budget=cheap!!). I've been looking at both Nikon CoolPix models as well as Canon PowerShot 1100 model. We'd like one that has the capability to take decent videos, as this is something we'd like to begin using for the ministry. What do you think? Respond with a comment if you have suggesstions.

Tejarcillos VBS update

Just a few moments before we begin the day of school...

Around 300 kids attended the VBS in Tejarcillos between the two days in The Pines and the three days in Jazmin. Yesterday at church there weer so many people some had to stand and some kids were sitting on the little stools we use in the Sunday school classes! Praise God for a wonderful week!

Please keep praying for the discipleship groups that begin today in the Pines and tomorrow in Jazmin. We picked up 21 people from Jazmin alone yesterday for church!

Today, the La Carpio VBS starts. The team from EWO arrived yesterday afternoon. It is such a joy to see familiar faces and catch up! PLease pray for the team, our team and for God's prescense in La Carpio this week.

Pray for long-lasting fruit from all three VBS.

Thank you for praying!

VBS Update

Yesterday was a beautiful day! We spent the morning in Jazmin. God was working from the very beginning of the day to take care of all the details right down the very house that lent us the electricity. Our leadership team shared the gospel with over 100 kids and there will be new discipleship groups starting next Tuesday. We have two houses that were offered to host the groups in- PRAISE GOD! Please pray by name for these young girls who I will be starting with Tuesdsay: Katerin, Daniela, Maria, Mariela, Jazmin and Fara. Also please pray for these moms Jessi and Estella who have offered their homes to use. Pray for our young leaders Ana, Lesvia, Roger and Ariel and a girl who we see leadership qualities in named Aurelia who has been helping with VBS in Los Guido and this week in Tejarcillos. Pray for a mom named Marina who we have seen serve in wonderful new ways this week. We thank God for all those from the chruch who God is using to minister to the people of Tejarcillos this week!

VBS

This week we are in Tejarcillos with a week long VBS. We spent Monday and Tuesday in the Pines and 150 kids heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Praise God for the new fruit and for those that desire to start discipleship groups! Please pray for these girls by name as they desire to start with me on Saturday: Maria, Daniela, Fatima, Angie, Daniela, Massiel, Maria Jesus, Genesis, and Joseline.

Pray today for the area called Jazmin. We'll be there the rest of the week.

Thank you for praying!

6.2 Earthquake rocks Costa Rica

Well, thought I'd share the story of yesterday's crazy geological event with you all. Ethan, Isabelle and I were working hard yesterday afternoon at the school table and all of a sudden we felt the entire floor move as well as the house. When it didn't stop, I grabbed the kids and put them in the doorway of the school room and ran to get Audrey who was sleeping at the time. Poor thing, she didn't know what was going on, but the movement had not stopped during the entire time I was arranging and collecting my kids so I felt I needed to get her with us. We all stood in the doorway for what appeared to be minutes, but in actuality the whole thing lasted a little less than a minute. I was, to say the least, a little freaked out. We could physically feel the house shaking and see the tv and the computer moving as well as the florr beneath our feet!

I have felt at least 5 earthquakes since we've lived here, although I am sure there have been more that I just have not felt. This was by far the strongest earthly movement I have ever felt in my life! During the actual event, I was scared, I must admit. (I should probably mention here that the kids and I were alone as Matt had been helping with the VBS in Los Guido all week.) However, afterwards, we all sat around and began discussing what happened and what it felt like and how amazing God is to create a world that does the things it does. So, we began to research earthquakes on the internet for the next two hours or so and found some really cool stuff. We'll be making lapbooks over the next few days of school about earthquakes.

One of the coolest things about homeschool is that we have the freedom to change and rearrange as we like or need to our daily schedule. So instead of doing other scien and an experiement we lived one through a live earthquake! :) I must say, it was pretty cool, the afterthought about what it was like and what it felt like.

The only thought that still comes to mind is the fact that it truly is most safe to head outside when one hits. However, my mind races with the thoughts of the locks we have to get through just to get outside. However, I know that God is good and He was with us :) I trust Him for His divine protection.

There were many fatalities, unfortunately, including two young girls, due to the strength of this quake. The source was an near an area frequented by tourists and many are still trapped due the destruction of the major road leading into the area. Please pray for the families without homes, who lost loved ones and who are stranded or are missing family members.

Click on the title of this blog to go to a news site that has a full story about the quake and pictures. Some of the pictures may be graphic, please be warned.

We saw no major damage to the area where we live. So far we have heard of none in the ministry areas, but time will tell. Thank you all so much for the emails and calls to check up on us :)Praise God we are all ok. :)

Is this for real?

So much has changed over the past year. Today I realized that even though I still have a LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG way to go to even being near fluent at Spanish, there is a HUGE difference between right now and last January. Here's my proof: As I was reading my devotional this morning, the one I am doing in Spanish (yes, I am doing a daily devotional...in Spanish- but wait- that isn't the proof), I was formulating my response to the question in my head. I was thinking it through in English (I think) and then I realized that I was thinking in English and realized that as I had been writing the answer I was probably writing in English, so I prepared to erase it and rewrite it in Spanish. But I looked at the paper and realized my answer was indeed in Spanish. Somehow my thoughts in English transpired to the paper in Spanish- grammatically correct Spanish! This has to mean that I have arrived at some type of milestone in my language learning, right? Everyone always asks the dream question "Do you dream in Spanish? You know they say when you dream in Spanish you have really arrived..." Well, I rarely remember my dreams so I cannot say if I am remnembering them or not...but this...today...must mean something right? (Fishing for some encouragement here :) )

Seriously though, as I look back to the beginning of last year I've gotta laugh and more importantly rejoice at all God has done just in language learning alone. WOW! We serve a mighty God!

Isabelle update

Just wanted to update everyone on Isabelle's condition...She is done with her treatment for asthma and the ever present cough she had has decreased dramatically. However, we have noticed that when she is really active or gets really upset, the cough comes back. So, I am not really sure what to think. I've got the doctor's phone number who saw her originally as well as the doctor we used while in school. We are now trying to decide whether to take her back for a check-up, even thought the doctor who saw her originally said that wasn't necessary unless she did not improve (which she did). I've also noticed that the fatigue she was expereincing has not yet completely went away.

So, we would still greatly appreciate your prayers for her and for wisdom on our part. We are entering a three-week stretch of VBS and I am concerned about wearing her out (this is an ever-present concern with all three kids for me- the worrying mom...).

Thank you for your prayers.

Happy New Year!

It's 12:10 am, January 1st, 2009! Happy New Year!
As I sit here typing this, I am listening to an amazing firework display that will go on for most likely several more hours. Matt and I decided to stay up and bring in the New Year, although all of the states channels have been blocked out and we didn't get to watch the ball drop this year...

The fireworks are amazing, I must admit...I just hope the kids don't get woken up...and that we can sleep. It is so crazy because people just go out to the end of their driveway and light them up as cars drive by just inches away from the sparking firework. I am thankful tonight that our home is made of cement block and plaster and not wood and for all the metal that surrounds it - less chance of fire that way :)
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OK...it is now Thursday morning. The power went off last night as I was typing this and I couldn't finish it. The fireworks went on forever, but thankfully I fell asleep. Isabelle woke up when the power went off and so her and I stayed up for awhile watching them. Ethan was up about 5 minutes when he decided sleep was way better than the fireworks. Audrey, who usually wakes up at the drop of a hat, slept all night :)

Happy New Year to all!

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