Catch Up

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.

I remember the ideas I had of missionary life when I was a child.  Romantic tales of heroism, pouring out one's life for others, sickness, hardship, faith, seeing God do what only He can do, joys, tears, love.

I absolutely love to read.  I have often told people how apart from our family and friends in the USA, the thing I miss most from our homeland are chocolate chips.   And I do miss them sooo.  

But there is something I miss even more.  Books.

I love reading.  

I have loved reading as long as I can remember.

Accounts of the lives of missionaries who gave their all to bring the gospel to a far away land were my favorites.  I think they still are.

Oh, to have a library here.  Of course, if we did, it would be in Spanish :).  But still! 

We are blessed to have the books we have.  I have read of them over and over.  I've noticed that as I've recently re-read many of the missionary biographies that I read as a young girl, I understand them in a whole new way.  My love for missionary work has only grown exceedingly.  But my idea about the entire thing has changed completely.  My heart understands their joys, sorrows, hopes, discouragements, weariness, encouragements, desires.  

I see them differently, too.  Though I know many if not most far surpass me in their faith, they are like we are.  Normal people who simply have been given that burning desire and must go.  

Wives that say to their husband, "Where you go, I will go.  Your people will be my people".

I'm so thankful the Lord called us here.  It isn't easy sometimes.  But it is through those hard times and trials that our faith grows.  

And to be serving the Lord together with my very best friend here on earth...the one I love.

Someone to laugh with, cry with, and share my life with.  

My prayer is that the Lord will use us.  That He will use our children.

He is so faithful and so good!

It's been almost a month since I last wrote.  I always have such good hopes of updating more regularly, but there just doesn't seem to be a "regular" day anymore! 

After our bout with the stomach flu, I came down with a horrible cold/cough.  We have been traveling so much the past week between the process of renewing my visa and doctor's visits that all the "togetherness" in the van led me to share my cold with Daniel.  

And then the kids started to get it.  Only theirs seems much worse....more like a flu.  High fever lasting 5-7 days, no appetite, cough, headache.  All week, our table has been so empty and quiet since it's mostly the younger half that are down right now.  

Between traveling, then caring for all the sickies, along with keeping up with schooling those who weren't sick and the regular house/ministry work, I feel a bit out of sorts!

But there is so much going on for which to pray/thank the Lord.

First, the Lord answered a long time prayer of Daniel's a couple weeks ago and provided us with a "new to us" van.  Our first time in it all together was at the Walmart parking lot in La Paz.  I had to snap a few pictures.  With Timothy 16 now, I know it won't be too long now before these children of ours begin their own lives/families.  This may be the last 15 passenger van we need.  

As we drove around testing everything out, I realized within short order that this vehicle has down right cold working air conditioning!  Sometimes I feel the Lord is too good.   

My handsome driver ;)

And a dozen wonderful kiddos.

Don't worry...yes, I'm only counting 11 there too.  I think Nehemiah was bending over.  We did make it home with them all.  

There have been so many exciting things going on in the ministry.

First, we've had 4 people now come to Christ out in the fishing village of Ensenada Blaca.  This past Sunday, Daniel took all from our church here who wanted to go and held the Sunday evening service out there.  

Abigail was really sick that day, so I stayed home with her and the younger ones, but the micro was packed and they had several new people come to hear the preaching.

Keep praying for the work there.

And this Monday, at 7 am, something exciting happened.  

We started digging to prepare building on our church property.

Our church has been in 5 different places since we've started...homes, rented buildings, loaned buildings.

Last year, our church purchased it's own property and have been praying that the Lord would provide for us to build.

The current building where we are meeting has been loaned to us for the past almost 2 years.

Last month, the owner came over to tell us she will need the building back in June.

So with no where else to go, we will soon be moving out to our property!

Right now, we are working on building a bathroom and storage room.  A bathroom because, well, you sort of need one. :)  And the storage room because we need a place to securely store things.  

We have the plans drawn up and are praying for the Lord to continue to provide.

We'll be out there in about 3 1/2 months.  

Whether it's under a tarp or we're able to put up those block walls, it will be our church home.

A place where the gospel of Jesus Christ will always be preached.

A place where God's Word will be taught week after week.

A few random pictures to close from the past few weeks...

A volleyball game with friends.

Someone who's just about has handsome as his Daddy :)

Benjamin's giant pumpkin!

All cooked/puree'd and ready to make into delicious pies, muffins/breads.

Breakfast in our hotel room during one of our recent travels.

Someone who's just about as goofy as his mother :)

Writing thoughts in her new Bible Notebook.