Tuesday, November 1, 2011

A journey of discovery

One week from today we will take our beautiful girls to Grandma's in preparation to leave on a week long journey.
We will hop on a plane and fly south to a land filled with a language that also fills our community. We will explore a school that teaches spanish, explore a land that displays the glory of the God as creator and hopefully discover a vision for our future!
We will follow some friends around who are laboring to see Jesus' name proclaimed in a community who struggles to find hope. We will listen for God's voice in how we can pursue Him and live our lives in a way that proclaims His name.
We are praying that we can hear God speak no matter what he has to say!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

My God, My conqueror

So I have been trying to read through Deuteronomy and though most days I seem to fail to be awake before my kids, or take the time to stop when I have a moment...God is being faithful with the time I have been reading this book recently. I also have just begun a new study, Lord I want to know You (The names of God), by Kay Arthur, I'm only on Day 2 and already God is seeming to say the same things to me in both places. Amazing how God works!

I have lots of fears. However, a recent fear that I have been discovering is the fear of failure. I hadn't labeled it as this until today.

In Deuteronomy, it seems over and over again the Isrealites are afraid that things aren't going to work out and that God will fail them. They continue to turn to other things instead. Giants, hunger, you name it they feared it. I began to realize that I had my own giants and hunger in my life. Currently the Spanish language is a big giant looming in front of me! Not only that but this giant is surrounded by the need to be a mother, wife, friend, and disciple. How can I defeat this giant when so many things need to be done? Will I fail someone or something as I pursue this giant?

God brought the Israelites to the promised land. He defeated many things FOR them. Despite their inabilities and their needs, God conquered all! Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

God it is not me but YOU that conquers all things!

Romans 8:37 No in all these tings we are more than conquerors though him who loved us.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

What plans does He have?

We have just finished the 5th (last) level of English class tonight. We will be the largest graduating class in Mission Adelante's history! We have finished with 10 students all of which are interested in creating a 6th level. What a joy it has been to walk with them as they learn English. I admire their ambition. I am trying to learn Spanish and it such a slow and agonizing process. Our students have been very committed and have shown a lot of progress. I hope that we can create a 'level 6' that will help them continue to learn but also continue to develop our relationships with them.

Jacob and I have continued to discuss our ever growing desire to spend more time with our students and so many others in our community who our seeking to make a better life for their families. We are struggling with how we can make more time for this and our seeking to find a way to be more available for them.

Adiella and Keziah continue to bloom before our eyes. Adiella is a great source of encouragement to me as we walk through our daily routines. The other day I was searching for the 'Q' and 'Z' for Adie's favorite puzzle and was getting frustrated with how much of my time is spent looking for things and picking things up. I often am discouraged with how little progress I make in a day! As I searched the Francesca Battistelli song came on...Adie popped into the room and announced "The key song!", then she promptly left the room only to return with my phone and said "I found it!". She is such good reminder for me to keep things in perspective and she shows so much joy in everything she does.

Keziah is joyful!! She doesn't sleep at night, but she is so full of joy that it makes up for it. She loves people and has the biggest, warmest smile of any baby that I know. She loves to make noise with Adiella and she loves to entertain anyone who will listen!

Jacob is my rock. I am often completely and udderly exhausted by the time he comes home from work. He has been very patient with my grumpiness and has been extremely helpful with all the things that DON'T get done during the day. He also has been very supportive and understanding in the things that are undone when he gets home. I am so thankful for his attitude! God knew what he was doing in bringing Jacob as the eldest of 7 so he fully understands how difficult it can be to get even small things accomplished and how quickly the house can explode into a disaster.

We feel like we are on the brink of a large transition. We have always talked about going to a country that speaks Spanish so I can be fully immersed and he can refine his language skills as well. Our two little ones have prevented this thus far, but we feel we may be approaching a window of opportunity. It continues to be hard for me to grasp what it will look like to take a whole family to an unknown land away from everything we know, but I also am continuing to learn that God has the best plans for us and if He wants it for us it will happen. We don't know how much of a change will be taking place, but we hope that it can lead to better equipping us to serve the people we serve and to integrate us more into the community so that we have more opportunities to serve and love them!