When Missions is Life

I think the hardest topic for me to write on may just be – Missions.

Everyone loves a good missionary or missionary kid story. We (myself included) love to see pictures and updates about ministries growing and lives being changes. Exotic, embarrassing and unusual stories excite us.

When I look for post ideas this is what you ask for. And, I get it – I love this too! But, can I be honest with you today?

Do you realize weeks and months pass and the word missionary doesn’t cross my mind? What was once abnormal is so normal I don’t realize you would read about? I don’t drive in my town everyday and see unusual things. I don’t try unusual foods but maybe once a year. I don’t strain to understand all the conversations in the bus around me.

Of course I have stories of sadness & pain and guns & danger. I have stories about healed lives & changed hearts and ideas that seem upside down to me & new experiences. But they aren’t my everyday life.

This is my Jerusalem.

I pack bags of food for neighbors because it’s what neighbors who have do for those who don’t. I listen to a friend cry about this broken world because that’s what friends do. I set up play dates for kids to meet and play and I take kids to visit a widow – it’s a pretty normal life. I drive a truck to pick up people for church because that’s what Christian’s do – help others get to church. I teach Bible Clubs because kids need to know about the one who died to save them. I teach reading lessons and wash dirty hands because that is what teachers do.

When all you have known is full time ministry for most of your life – it is life. I think that’s okay. Because that’s what God calls me to – to live life in another country.

I can pull out first experiences for sure. (And, I am working on some for you all too read.) There is still some crazy life stories – but I normally forget they are that abnormal.

It is not lost on my that I get this opportunity to serve the Lord full time. I am so thankful. But I think we forget, or people don’t know, that after many years missionaries have a new Jerusalem and they do normal things everyday.

Praises & Highlights

Good afternoon, Friends.

I thought I would just pop in today and share some different life updates from 2021, so far. It’s been a good year and blessed by the Lord. We have had some challenges but the Lord has been faithful as he always is.

One of the highlights for me, was the salvation of Juan and my little brother David in January and their baptism in February. Their love for the Lord is shining and it was an awesome way to start out this year. We continue in prayer for the salvation of the other children in our ministry and know the Lord will continue to draw their hearts to him.

In February my permanent residency was finished. Another answer to prayer. In Honduras you must live here for five years on visas and then you can apply for permanent residency. The only thing going forward is paying some fees and getting a new ID card every five years. We expected longer then normal delays because of covid closing down offices last year for many months – but it came through faster then any normal time frame. However, my parents are still waiting on their paperwork to finish. We have been told several times it is close but nothing more then that. Please keep this in prayer – that it wouldn’t be to much longer.

Another highlight was my brother Matthew being able to visit for a few days & Emmaline and Nikki were able to visit for a month. We are thankful for the Lord working that out. It was a busy time but we were grateful to have them here to share that time with. We were able to fit in a day at the zoo, another day at the lake together and some park trips with them as well. I may load some pictures from those trips in a separate post, if you guys would like?

All of us sisters shopping.

Let’s see, what else?

I was able to attend my first writers conference – thanks to covid putting everything online. Such a great experience. I met some great Christian writers and learned so very much.

I have two new little readers – so that is an accomplishment. We are able to do more ministries again as time goes by. I redid a few walls of décor in the house. Simple – because that’s not something I am good at. But it does feel good to have some fresh walls.

So, how has 2021 been for you so far? Share one 2021 highlight or praise below.

Water

Washing dishes – scrubbing floors – bathing- washing clothes – cooking dinners – cleaning counters – mopping floors – washing little hands… A staple for life! Do you realize how many times you turn on your tap each day? And without a question in your mind you know you’ll have water… What we Americans take for granted!

Every two days they walk two kilometers down the mountain to fill these jugs at our house. A good hour or two is spent cleaning each one out & filling them back up with water. Then, (when we don’t give them a ride) they load them up on a bicycle and take them up – up one hill, down the next, up another, still higher.

How would you conserve on water if these were yours? How long would they last you? Better yet, how long would you last? I couldn’t say how I’d handle it easily… We’ve hauled our water before, but never more then a week at a time.

This couple lives in a small one room adobe house, not much bigger then your large bathroom. This house is nicely set on a quiet hill overlooking the town. Packed dirt provides a floor and the small door and window serve as the only avenue for light to enter. Her kitchen consists of a shelf and a two burner gas stove her husband recently purchased. (Before that she was going down the hill to a friends house to cook each meal.) Their water is these bottles. Their light is a burning candle.

He works long days as welder and doing any handyman jobs he can get. He makes about $200 in US dollars a month. She spends her day keeping house – a full time job with a life like this. She washes their clothes in the small river near us; but recently it has turned even worse with black water.

But, while helping these people with their physical needs is a huge part of the ministry, their souls are the most important. We can plant and water and share the Word but the work is the Lord’s. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God.” Please join us in prayer for their souls.

“…If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” John 4:10

{Repost from 2015}

Backpacks – 2021

The Lord raised money for more backpacks then any year previous. I know I never posted here, on my blog, but many of you reached out & asked if we were giving away backpacks again this year. It blessed my heart to see your love for this ministry & it was an even bigger blessing to see God answer prayer.

2020 was a hard year everywhere and Honduras was no exception. More then ever these families needed the encouragement to continue on with their children’s education. I was praying the Lord would supply the backpacks because I knew many of you couldn’t give easily right now. God answered.

The Lord also blessed with better prices for backpacks then ever. The family selling them was excited to get to help these children by dropping the price. And, then the school supply store that always gives me amazing prices did so again and because of these people helping their own people in this way we were able to give better quality school supplies then we did in previous years.

100 children received new backpacks. Backpacks full of school supplies & the gospel. Our God is so good.

I want to thank each of you who gave and each of you who were praying. Thank you! And, thank you from these parents and children as well.

A Spiritual Battle

It’s a been a few weeks since I have walked through these poor neighborhoods. I have missed these people.

As I walk I observe anew their lives. There is a cold sadness here. The clouded sky seems to reflect it today. People sitting by the road quietly, there’s town gossip but not much else to be said. Working, begging and scramping for their daily food.

I talk with girls who still haven’t much intrest in the things of the Lord. They were once the liveliest little girls in the area. But now they are 12 – 14 and look worn beyond their years. They busy themselves raising their siblings and working for money for food. Their faces are so blank yet I know there is more pain and stories behind their dark eyes then I could ever imagine.

The devil works hard to keep these people in oppression. He blinds their eyes. This is a hard life of sin & living with the consequences of their loved ones’ sins.

We are called to love and care for these people; to follow in Jesus foot steps serving. But, today I am reminded of the spiritual battle we are in. How these kids need people going to the Father to plead for their souls. Because I can help fill some earthly needs but Jesus can fill their hearts with Joy & Peace!

THANK YOU

Good Evening!

I just realized a couple days ago that I never posted an update of the backpacks for this coming school year. I know I have some readers on here that are not on social media & I wanted to make sure you all knew.

At the beginning on October I posted with a goal to raise money for 70 backpacks. This is my third year doing this campaign & it has been a blessing to so many children and their parents. YOU have been a blessing to them – each of YOU who has so generously given!

So… I am excited to tell you that in 18 days the Lord used you all to provide for 73 backpacks! Thank you & praise the Lord!

73 children who will go off to school with a new backpack full of school supplies! So many parents who have one less thing to buy before the new school year for their children.

May the Lord bless each of you. Thank you!