I ate a bug...

I did... I thought my homemade (by someone else) peanut brittle was extra brittley until I look down and saw the bug. Legs, wings, body, BLEUGH! But I have become Dominicanized. I did not spit it out. I simply opened my mouth in the rear-view mirror to check if there was any in my mouth, swallowed and ate around it. Who am I? LOL. I've changed alot since my move to the Dominican... but one thing has not changed. My love for adventure. I love anything to do with adrenaline pumping, sweaty, exciting adventure. EXCEPT when it is unplanned!
If anyone knows me well, they know I am definitely OCD. I have things and those things have a place. Likewise I have days and those days have a plan. So this weekend when Robersy "surprised" me with a trip to Bani to help his mom move some furniture in to her house I was not thrilled. I have lessons to plan, books to read, important things to do! And my hubby reminded me that it's not all about me (which is, ironically, the book I had planned to read this weekend... God has a sense of humor!). So I packed my little bag and I brought my kindle with the audio version of "It's Not About Me" to listen on the way. Robersy said he thought it would be a good idea. LOL.
As always it was an eye opening and humbling trip. On Sunday afternoon we arrived and chatted with the family. They shared about their busy lives and we shared about ours. We laughed in to the night and watched old episodes of Fear Factor on the static-y television and then it happened. The lights went out. This isn't out of the ordinary here. Our lights in Boca Chica have been going out almost every night this month. In fact, they went out while I was writing this blog. The cool thing was that Robersy's mom and stepdad live out in the country side. In Boca Chica the lights go out and somebody's generator goes on. There is never complete darkness. But out in the country side of Cruce de Ocoa, just outside of Bani... there is complete darkness. You could hear the neighbors rustling around for lanterns and candles. Robersy's mom felt around for her lamp too. The rest of us just picked up our chairs and sat under the stars.
WOW!
Do you know how many stars there are??? I didn't even try to count! The heavens were filled with these tiny night-lights. I couldn't help but thank the Creator. He didn't create them for me... they were created for HIS glory. As am I. Humbled.
That night as we drove to a friends house, where we had arranged to sleep, we basked in HIS glory, sang HIS praises... then it happened again. My darn OCD heart! We had planned to collect the furniture in the morning, put it in Robersy's mom's house and then do the UNIMAGINABLE... have a DATE! This never happens. We usually crawl home after our busy days and slump into bed, but TODAY was our day. Robersy talked about TGIFridays and I talked about romantic walks through the mall. But THEN IT HAPPENED. I had gone to bed early on Sunday. Earplugs in, eye mask on, deep sleep. Until I felt a big hand pull my earplug out and whisper, "Hey Sarah, plans have changed for tomorrow." WHAT! My heart began to beat faster. "What?" I mumbled, without lifting my eye-mask. "Yeh, *** needs our help so we're going to drive to San Fransisco (2.5hrs away) to help them." "Can it wait?" The Holy Spirit pricked my heart, but I kept my eye-mask down not to be convicted. "No, it can't." Loooong Pause. "As long as we arrive in Santo Domingo for lunch that's fine." I rolled over and fell asleep.
Well, wouldn't you know... everything took longer than it should have. "Dominican Time" we call it. When we arrived to San Fransisco around 1PM the family we had gone to help had a table filled with food. My heart sunk again. No eye-mask to protect myself from conviction. Here I am hoping to get to the Capital ASAP and this family has been cooking all morning for us. Convicted. Blessed.
You know, I never got my romantic date. Things are so busy it might have to wait a few weeks. But I did learn alot this weekend. I am a LOT like the Israelites. We shake our heads when we read their story and how forgetful they were of God's blessing. Manna. Water. Protection. But we are EXACTLY THE SAME! I sat beneath stars that were created by the very hands of God, fellowshipped with friends and family, had the honor of helping people that needed help (including the extra blessing of handing out clothes and shoes to those in need), drove through the gorgeous mountain side, enjoyed yummy homemade candy WITH extra protein!, had lunch prepared and ready for us when we arrived to San Fransisco... and I forgot to say THANK YOU to the one who gave IT ALL.
OCD or not, I have no excuse. Instead of complaining about altered plans I need to start praising my Savior for unexpected blessings.
How about you?
I'm going to start by curling up on the couch with my handsome husband, while eating my homemade candy (which is pretty darn good!) and enjoying a date night that is a whole lot cheaper than TGIFridays.
THANK YOU LORD!!!

Hmmmmmmm... Interesting.

1.      Who was Cain afraid of when he said “whoever finds me will kill me” since Cain and Abel were the first recorded children of Adam and Eve? (Genesis 4:14)

2.       Were there 7 pairs of mosquitos taken in to the Ark (Gen. 7:2) or only 1 pair (Gen. 7:8-9)? My guess is 7 pairs since there are so many!

3.       I would have laughed too… Genesis 18:12

4.       Did Abraham lie when he said that Sarah was his sister since TECHINALLY she was his half-sister? (Gen. 20:11-12)

These are a few comments and questions that I’m preparing for eternity as I’m journeying through God’s Word. The Bible is SO interesting when you start to sit down and think about these people as REAL people! Can you imagine God telling your grandma that she was going to have a baby? I mean… it’s funny!

Now that I have your attention… J

It has been an exciting time diving back in to our ministries and praying for our goals for this year. We serve a faithful and exciting God and He has opened doors, closed others, and is faithfully guiding us through 2014 already.

Today I am working on our first prayer letter of the year. We’re asking that you join our support team. I’m not just talking about financially supporting us… I’m begging you for your prayers. God hears them. He really does.

Just last night I tossed and turned with nightmare after nightmare about a battle that I’m facing at the moment. When I woke up exhausted this morning I just talked to God about it. No one else knew that I was even thinking about it. Not even Robersy (mainly since he wasn’t home… he was already at the field playing ball! Lol). But God alone knew. Next thing I know, a friend (who does not call me regularly… he usually calls Robersy) called ME to tell me that he was up and down all night praying for me and then gathered a group of people together to pray over the situation that I was awake all night thinking about.

It’s not a coincidence. It’s God. And that God would take the time to remind me, through a friend, that HE is control. It’s incredible!

That’s what our support team is all about. You pray for us as God lays us on your heart… and we pray for you too! It’s a team. It’s family J

So if you do not receive our prayer letter, please let us know so that we can keep you up to date with events, goals, ministry and lots of prayer requests.

Sorry that this blog is not so exciting… but I don’t want to give everything away that is in our prayer letter! LOL. Send me your email and I’ll add you on the list.

Rslara14@gmail.com

See you next week!

Up, up and away!

Merry Christmas, Happy Boxing Day, Happy New Years, and Happy Kings Day! 

I think that covers it all J It was been an absolutely incredible past month! We were literally up to the wire when Robersy’s transit visa came through and our Bermuda visa was granted. Within the week we were flying “home.”

The thoughts and feelings that passed through my head during those weeks were crazy! LOL. I was anxious… then complete peace. I even became comfortable with the idea of spending Christmas in the Dominican. Then everything came through! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Robersy’s first flight was one to remember. Excitement mixed with sheer fear! He wanted to sit beside the window, but not look out. The flight from Miami to Bermuda he even refused to sit by the window. His favorite part of flying is landing, he says J Flying home was a lot better though!

Our trip in Bermuda was AMAZING! We truly enjoyed every second with our family and Robersy especially enjoyed getting to know everyone in their “natural habitat” haha! Seeing my dad cutting keys and unlocking doors, listening to my mom read a book to her nursery children, playing basketball with the kids at Rebecca’s school and even meeting the kids that Deborah nannies for. We drove past my old high school, hung out with friends, visited old work mates, and ate some of my favorite foods. Robersy finally got to see MY world! It was so worth it. He missed his rice and beans but fell in love with Four Star Pizza.

Having never left the Dominican before, everything was new to him. Driving on the left hand side of the road with the steering wheel on the right, real Bermudian accents, REAL Bermuda shorts (not like the wannabes), Gombeys, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Crystal Caves, and the Aquarium. Oh and wearing sweaters most of the time! He was freezing J

All of the touristy memories aside, it was such a blessing to sit down with friends and family, who have faithfully prayed for us. We were at different houses almost every day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, or coffee. Needless to say, we both gained 5lbs. I blame it on fellowship! God just made Christians good cooks and hosts! What can I say! LOL.

Anywho, every home visit was special and we were so grateful for the invitations. To those that we had to turn down this time, we’ll let you know next time so we can catch up!

We are also SO thankful for the opportunities we had to share our ministry at Calvary and my home church, Paget Gospel Chapel. Although I got excited and went way over our time limit at Paget it was a great time to tell people about what God is doing in the Dominican Republic. He truly has done GREAT things!

But presentations weren’t the only way to get the Word out… Robersy and I were featured in the Bermuda Sun faith section (http://www.bermudasun.bm/Content/FAITH/Faith/Article/Bermudian-missionary-preaches-love/42/140/73504). That was the second time we made the news since landing in Bermuda! Within the first few days of stepping foot in Bermuda, we made Bernews while out caroling with our church. (http://bernews.com/2013/12/carolers-santa-claus-out-on-christmas-eve/).

Deborah said, “Sheesh Robersy, I have lived here for 22yrs and have never been in the news! You come here for 3 weeks and make the news twice!”

So that’s a little overview of our trip. So many precious, PRECIOUS memories!

Robersy’s first trip to Bermuda = success J

So home again, home again, jiggity jig. We are settled back in to our apartment, we’ve already had 2 sets of visitors and we are reering to get back to ministry!

I plan to keep this blog up and going each Monday, so swing by weekly to see what we’re up to!

Prayer for this week:

1.       Discipleship at Lily House and a new area of discipleship too (more details to come).

2.       Preparation for Youth Group which will begin soon!

3.       New support!!! – We are still living off of about $1,000 a month. That means we have $125 per person, per week. That includes gas, bills, groceries, rent, etc. We desperately need to raise more monthly support to stay on the field. If you interested in supporting us…

a.        Visit https://scoresponsor.org/missionaries-staff/shop/lara-robersy-sarah/ and donate.

b.      If you’d like to make it a monthly donation, make sure to click “Make this a Monthly Payment” at the right side of the page.

c.       No amount is too small!

d.      Any questions… email us at rslara14@gmail.com

ALSO REMEMBER!

We have changed our email address because of problems with Hotmail. Change out email address in your address book and STAY IN TOUCH! rslara14@gmail.com