"Ouch!!!!"

Today, Travis and I received immunizations. You can tell by the looks on our faces that we weren't too happy about it - but I think the nurses enjoyed every minute! ( I am just teasing - they are awesome and compassionate ladies!)

We had a fun week this week. There were some discouraging things that went on in the lives of our families. Yet, we still know that God is faithful and his plans are the best plans for our lives.

Thursday night, our little "neighbor" friend, Eden, and I had a coloring night. Here we are with one of the pictures we colored together. She is a very sweet little girl part of a very sweet family.

Below is a picture of Travis and I at Latino worship night. It was a fun time praising the Lord in Spanish! It is amazing how you can still feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as you worship in a language you don't know!

"And we rejoice . . . ."

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce perserverance; perserverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not dissapoint us, because God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:2 -5)

This week was filled with many wonderful new experiences. We had "special meal" on two days of the week. For lunch, we ate Middle Eastern meals where we were only allowed to eat with our hands. It was a really fun experience for us.

Also, We had "Thanksgiving" this week! A friend of our quad family, the Louderbacks, sent them huge baskets filled with food for Thanksgiving dinner which they shared so generously with our entire region. Even though we won't be home with our biological family this Thanksgiving, we were able to enjoy Thanksgiving with some of our spiritual family on Sunday night and it was an awesome blessing. Thank you Tim and Tina!

Saturday, many from our region ran/walked a 5K race around the ILC campus to raise money for Lottie Moon - We look tired after our race.

On a different note, this week was difficult in ways. Our families have experienced some rough times and I can feel Satan attacking us in difficult ways and using our thoughts and the tough situations in the lives of people that we love to discourage our hearts.

For me this week, my mind was my greatest enemy. I looked around and saw many godly men and women of the faith. There are those who have already been imprisoned and persecuted for sharing the gospel and many with seminary degrees and biblical knowledge far beyond what I possess. Satan had spoken thoughts into my mind and made me believe myself inadequate to be a missionary and even a Christian. In my mind, I couldn’t possible hold a candle to these spiritual giants and I began to wonder if we were doing the right thing in going. However, Friday, God used a session we had on personality to really open my eyes to the lies I was letting Satan feed me. I may not be a great biblical scholar; I may not know the answers to all the questions that someone may ask me. I may not be a talented musician, singer, doctor, seamstress, church planter, volleyball player, or preacher’s wife but God made me exactly how he wanted me to be and I have gifts and talents that I can use to serve him as well. He gives each of us our own gifts and he created us unique so we can use those gifts to serve Him. The physical body has many parts just like the body of Christ. Each part has its own unique purpose to fulfill. When we believe we are not good enough or that we have no gifts to offer, we are saying that God’s creation is worthless. In my situation, I was not only telling God his creation was worthless but I was calling him a liar by saying that I didn’t have the ability to do what he had asked of me.

God set this verse on my heart this week: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139: 14 – 16

Travis took a picture of this rainbow a few days ago out by the pond at the ILC. Today, this rainbow reminds me that no matter what is going on in our lives, God is faithful.

Please pray specifically this week for our families that they would have hope in the midst of any trying circumstances that may come their way. Please pray that miracles would happen where there seems to be no chance and that they would always remember that God, their creator, Savior, and friend is faithful.

Also, please let us know how we can pray for each of you. We believe strongly that it is our responsibility as brothers and sisters in Christ to lift one another up to the Lord and to encourage one another in the faith. Please let us know how we can lift you up and encourage you this week.

"And we rejoice . . . ."

"We cannot but speak of what we have seen..."

"But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must not judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:19 -20

It has truly been an unbelievable week. God has blessed us in incredible ways and we just can't stop talking about it! We got the news back on our truck - the insurance company will be mailing us a check for almost the exact amount that was paid for the truck nearly four years ago - Hallelujah, He is our provider! We would have never been able to sell it for that amount. It was a huge hassle that it was stolen but God turned it into an enormous blessing!

We also want to thank the Lord this week for new friends. To the right is a picture of Janna, Danielle, Tina, and Stacy all headed to our African worship service. These ladies all live in our quad and we are headed to the same region! We have had a joyful time together with them and their families. Even though it isn't even Thanksgiving, we all decorated our quad for Christmas - It is possible that we got a little carried away. Thank you Lord for friends!

Please continue to pray for us as we continue on in our training. Also, please let us know how we can pray for you. We feel cut off from the rest of the world and want to hear from all our friends out there.

Praise the Lord! He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is our strength. He is our provider and protector. He is the Almighty God forever and ever.

We come to worship...

"Worship the Lord in the spendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth." Psalm 96:8 - 10

Our time at training has truly been a blessing to us. We are spending so much time worshiping the Lord through studying his word, prayer, and singing praises to him. We wanted to share with you an experience that touched our hearts this week.

Each Sunday night for the next six weeks, we will be having a cultural worship service in another language. This sunday night the service was in an east Asian language. It was supposed to be a model of the true East Asian house church experience. I use the term East Asian to protect some of our fellow believers in closed countries. When we came in the door of the building, we were all asked to take off our shoes and leave our Bibles at the door. We went in the room and it was dark - people were crammed into close quarters and we all sat on the floor. We sang in an East Asian language and clapped without touching our hands together. The speaker gave a sermon in the East Asian language. It was a touching experience to see how those in countries where the gospel is illegal worship. They cannot come in with their Bibles in broad daylight and sing praises loudly to the Lord. They cannot meet in groups larger than 30 or more than 2 or 3 days in a row. These are the people of the persecuted church. Please pray with us this week for those in the closed countries that the believers might be protected and that they would be able to share with other nationals the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Pray for them as they. . . worship the Lord . . . .

Take the time to watch this video this week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ. It will touch your heart.

Will you go?

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.'" Matthew 9:36 - 38

God has been doing an amazing work in our lives in the short time we have been in training. He has put a great burden on our hearts for the people of Mexico who are lost and dying without the saving power of Jesus Christ.

We have several prayer requests for this week. First, there are several dates that need filling in 2009 for mission teams to come to Mexico. Pray that God would send groups to fill these slots. Also, please pray for the people in all the MAC region that they will have open hearts towards hearing the gospel. Specifically, pray for REVIVAL in Mexico City. Imagine what could happen if a city with 28 million people in the center of the Americas came to Jesus. Also, pray for God to call out others to share the gospel with the people in this region.

If you are interested in knowing more about Operation Go in the MAC region check out the OP GO blog at: http://macopgo.blogspot.com/

Are you one of the ones God is calling? Will you go?

He will teach us....

"Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Exodus 4:11-13

Yesterday we arrived at our home for the next two months - the International Learning Center. We will be spending the next 8 weeks in intensive study before we leave for language school in Costa Rica. The staff at the center will teach us everything from the correct way to study language to theology. It will be a difficult time - trying to take it all in. However, it will also be a wonderful time as we have many opportunities for continuous growth in the Lord.

The learning center is set in a beautiful area and the people here have been very friendly. Please pray for us as we begin our training. Pray that our hearts and minds would be open to what we are being taught. Also, please continue to pray for the people in the Middle America and Carribean region that their minds and hearts would be open to the gospel message.

Update on our truck: It was found in Atlanta stripped of its engine and steering column. Please continue to pray as we wait for information from our insurance company.

" I will praise you in this storm..."

"He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." Luke 8:25

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10 - 11

There are many times when I have passed through storms in my life and truthfully considered giving up and running to the nearest ice cream parlor to drown myself in self pity and mint chocolate chip. Times when peace does not pass all understanding in my soul and the last thing I want to do is praise the Lord for his blessings. For instance, last Sunday night, we returned from a wonderful vacation only to discover our vehicle had been stolen while we were away - and along with it many of Travis' tools and purchases we had made in Atlanta. My heart broke when we pulled into the parking lot and an empty space was left where our car had once stood. I did not long to praise the Lord. In fact, I shamefully admit that I didn't even stop to ask Him for help but rather continued drowning myself in self pity for a few hours until some loving words from my husband - whose faith never waivered - set me straight.

Please pray for us as we deal with this situation - it is frustrating. Yet, we know that God works all things out to his glory. We do not know why our truck and belongings were stolen. However, we do know that God is faithful as he has proved himself time and time again. Pray that the Lord's will be done in this situation and that our attitudes and our hearts are reflectant of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose.

One of my favorite songs is by a group called "Casting Crowns." You may be dealing with a much bigger storm in your life. I encourage you to listen to this song and to know that our Father in Heaven has a plan and that we can praise Him even in the storms. Here are the words to the chorus: "And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm."

I will praise you in this storm...