Changes and Blessings

Two months ago, due to my husband's job, we moved to a different city, nearly a two-hour drive from where we were living.  Because of this move, my husband now travels less over the treacherous highway he traveled nearly every day; and our family is able to spend more time together.

The decision was difficult for my husband, because of our love for the church in which we were working and all the activities in which we were involved.  However, it has been a change for the best.  We have received many blessings.

Do we miss family and church brethren?  Yes!  Do we suffer from "home-sickness" and loneliness sometimes?  Yes!

But God has brought us great joy in the midst of this big change in our lives.

We are expecting our third baby!!!  (I think I am due the end of January.)

Our Little Debbie will be seven years old in September.  After all these years, it will be quite a change for us, having a new-born in our home.  But we are all so very excited!!!

Rejoice with us!!!!

And please pray for the baby and me during this pregnancy.  My first 2 pregnancies and deliveries were very easy, with no problems, and I have been asking the Lord to let me have as easy a time with this Little One.

Below are some photos we took on Father's Day.

 Daddy is the King in our home.  How we love him, and we appreciate all he does for us!!!

  

Weekend Blessings

On Friday, Debbie and I got to attend the Mother/Daughter Banquet that Liz and Mona (my very creative sisters-in-law) organized.  It was all so, so beautiful!  There were a total of 80 present (counting mothers and daughters), and there were several first-time visitors.

Liz gave the devotion that afternoon.  Her theme was "Beautiful for God," and in her devotion she used different beauty products and applied them to how a lady should care for her inner beauty more than her outward appearance.  "Excellent Job, Liz!  Your devotion was a blessing to me, and it challenged me to seek to be beauitiful for God."

 (All the pictures taken of the banquet are in Mona's camera, so I don't have any to share with you.  Maybe she'll share them with us!)

Yesterday (Saturday) Andrew and I were able to go to the mission in San Lucas.  We had a great time.  I am posting some photos that were taken yesterday.

Several of the young men went to hand out Gospel tracts before the service started.

 Andrew snapped a few photos of people who received these tracts.  

How these photos blessed my heart! 

"Lord, use Your Word to bring salvation to these needy people in San Lucas."

 Tom preaching in San Lucas

 

Look what Tom and I got to do!

Do you know what instrument this is? 

 

This instrument is called a "Marimba."  Its layout is just like a piano.

This is the first time I had ever played one of these, 

but Tom and I were able to play several hymns.

It sounded so beautiful.  Our favorite one was "Showers of Blessings."

Doesn't this make you want to come to the mission field for a visit?!

You are welcome to come!!!

Thank you for your prayers for our family.

Must Be Love....

Must Be Love

Deborah Jolene, 2012

The other night, I was in the shower,

and my little Deborah Jolene sat outside the door and said,

"Mommy, listen...."

and she started singing "Must Be Love" to me

(from the children's cartoon, Charlotte's Web).

She said, "Mommy, that's just for you."

My heart just melted, and as soon as I got out of the shower,

I had her sing it again as I recorded it.

I now have this memory to last forever in my heart.

Whither Thou Goest

Whither thou goest, I will go....

Wherever thou lodgest, I will lodge....

Thy people shall be my people, My Love....

Whither thou goest, I will go....

As in that sweet love story long ago....

The same sweet love story now is so....

Thy people shall be my people, My Love....

Whither thou goest

I will go.

"Thank you, My Darling, for 10 love-filled years.

I have enjoyed every step of our journey together, by your side...

as your companion, help-meet, lover.

I love being the one who washes your clothes,
who cooks your meals,

who hears you whistle as you take your shower,

who watches you put your tie on every Sunday morning.
I love being the one who greets you as you step through our door.

I feel blessed that you chose me to be your wife.

I love your smile.

I love the way you brighten the mood just by walking into the room.

Thank you for the many sacrifices you make for our family.

I love you.
Now and always,

and I look forward to the next 10 years with you!"

To see pictures of our wedding on March 23, 2002, click here.


(I am terribly behind on my posts. Our 10th anniversary was March 23.)

Birthday Love

On February 15, I turned 35. (Does that sound old to you? It kind-of does to me, but I don't FEEL old!) But I do feel loved.

Let me tell you about my birthday.

Mom planned a surprise birthday breakfast for me that morning. She secretly invited the ladies from our church to meet us there at the restaurant. It was indeed such a lovely surprise! (My sister-in-law, Mona and her girls **Joanna, Karla, Lydia and Esther** got to be at the breakfast, as well.) I received such beautiful gifts...and one very special one from a new friend, Tammy. (Thank you, Tammy!)

That evening, at the Ladies' evening prayer meeting, Mom made her delicious chocolate cake just for me (in the shape of a heart) . How loved she made me feel!!!

Later, I received lovely jewelry from the ladies in the church.

I received emails (Thank you, Bro. Craig and Jolene!) and many greetings, on Facebook. Thank you, Chandra, Jamie, Monica, Kari, Vanessa, Darlene, Judy, Rachel, Valerie, Sharon, Rachel, Diane, Charlotte, Pam, Angela, Sherie, Jennifer, Larry, Teresa, Lisa, Pamela, Deborah, Karri, Mary, Amy, Hilda, Raylinda, Tisa, Lynne, Misty, Felicia, Dodi, Carolyn, Carole, Gina, Larua, Garry, Judy, Katie, Craig, Ruthie, DeeDee, and Becky.

My brother, Joel, sent me a very sweet phone message ("Happy Happy Birthday. I appreciate you. Thank you for all you do for me. You have a great helps ministry. May your day be special. Love you. May you have many more happy years." --Now isn't that just SO sweet?!). And I also got calls from my sisters, Sarah and Elizabeth.

Now, how could I NOT feel loved?!! I feel so blessed by all the friends and family who took time to send me a birthday greeting. I thank the Lord for the family and friends that He has given me.

One of the most special birthday gifts I have ever received was one the Lord gave me in 2008...my niece, Esther Joy, was born on my 31st birthday ...She is indeed such a joy to have around. We truly do enjoy this little ray of sunshine!!!

Thank you to all who made me feel so loved. I appreciate each hug, each note, each message, each gift. I do feel so blessed!!!

San Lucas!

The Lord laid on my brother, Tom's heart to start a mission in a nearby village called San Lucas. It is a two-hour drive on a bumpy, down-hill, dirt road that takes you to this little village nestled among the beautiful Chiapas mountains between our city and the Capitol city.

The Lord has graciously allowed our family to get to be a part of the beginning of this mission.

The road leading down to San Lucas

The view as we traveled down to San Lucas

It all started about 2 months ago, when Tom and some of the men began going to San Lucas every Saturday morning to hand out Gospel tracts. (In 4 Saturdays, they handed out over 2,000 Gospel tracts to everyone they saw.)

On one of those trips, they were able to speak to the village mayor, who gave them permission to hold a three-day Evangelistic Campaign.

Much prayer and work was put toward planning the Campaign, and on February 2, off we went...close to 50 brethren in 4 vehicles...loaded with chairs, instruments, a pulpit and coffee and sweet bread.

A view of San Lucas as we rode down the mountain...

...See the dome roof? That is where we held services.

What a joyful, exciting atmosphere we experienced as we traveled down that dusty road, headed down the steep mountain!

Nearly half-way down the mountain, Tom received a message, telling him that one of the vehicles had lost it's brakes, and that the driver had turned the vehicle toward the mountain to keep it from going off the steep 15-yard cliff. We praise the Lord that no one was seriously injured...only minor bumps and bruises and cuts...only the pulpit was completely destroyed. (That was the pulpit behind which my father preached for many years, so it was a sentimental loss.)

We were convinced that the devil was attempting to discourage us before the first service even began. However, rejoicing that the Lord had kept everyone safe from serious harm, the men set up the instruments, the sound system, and the chairs. And thus we began the first service in San Lucas on a basketball court, under a dome-type roof.

The brethren handing out invitations to the evening services

The men setting up for the services

The first night, there gathered perhaps 20 villagers, shyly at first...but by the time the preaching began, there were a lot of people standing around listening.

The second night, more villagers gathered; and the last night, someone counted over 135 people gathered for the service. After hearing Tom say that he would like to come hold services once a week in the village of San Lucas, a couple who attended the three nights offered to lend their house for a place to hold the services.

The dome...Andrew leading the choir in a special...as people begin to gather

Andrew, Abdías and Tom singing
For those of you who have been praying for Abdías, I am pleased to let you know that he is doing much better. He was able to attend 2 services in San Lucas!

You can be sure that the vans were full of rejoicing brethren on the way home that last night. We were thankful for the Lord's safety; we were thankful for the multitude of people who had heard the Gospel; and we were thankful for the positive reception on the part of the villagers.

This past Saturday, we had the first formal church service in San Lucas. There were 4 visitors, besides the 18 people who went from our church.

How exciting to be able to experience the birth of a new mission! Please be praying for this new ministry: Pray for Tom as the pastor, and for the brethren who will be helping him. Pray that we may remain faithful
to plow this new ground where the Lord has opened this door of opportunity.

Celebrate Love!

Isn't it wonderful to be loved?!

I am basking in the love of my one-and-only...My Andrew. My life has been enriched being married to this adventurous man. I've experienced many exciting things in the past (nearly) ten years of marriage. I wish each of you knew him. He is just wonderful!

My heart just melts when he looks at me and smiles...a smile meant only for me.

I adore the way he fathers our children...so tenderly, so lovingly.

I joyfully follow him as he serves his Lord. What a blessing to be able to serve the Lord with him!

His sense of humor has picked me up many times...his positive outlook on life has made me see always the bright side of life...his "all will be okay" has settled me down in times I've wanted to over-react.

I appreciate his gentleness. I love the way his voice becomes gentle when he doctors a sick child. All is okay when Dr. Andrew bends over to kiss a little girl's fevered forehead and he says, "This is your medicine. It will make you feel all better."

So many things I appreciate about this man. All year long I take notes, recording in my heart all the things that make this man so amazing.

Have you told your Sweetheart today how much he means to you?

Go tell him now.

And Happy Valentine's Day to all!!!