Babies!!!

There are a LOT of babies around right now! In Lily House there are a few and another yet to come… fellow missionaries are having babies… the dog downstairs just had 8 puppies… and the other dog in the area is ready to pop. A lot of little ones around. I've gotten a little used to it now and instead of running away (I’m not a huge baby person… just fat babies since they bounce if you drop them…) I have been embracing it. Not too much though (sorry mom!). Lol. Just enough to admire and cuddle little human beings.

Just so you know... I only put this photo because I
have no photos of me cuddling real babies since I'm
too busying cuddling them to take photos!
This will have to do :) 

But a lot comes with those little bundles! There is pain when you see them fall, triumph when you see them stand, anger when you see them knowingly make bad decisions, joy when you see them make right decisions. There are a lot of emotions for mommas and daddies.

I’ve been experiencing some momma emotions recently.

I praise God for the ministry He has placed us in and for the men and women who we serve with. Together, God has chosen to place several teenagers and young adults under our responsibility.

Between baseball, youth group and Lily House ministry Robersy and I are honored to teach and disciple around 100 young people in total. But that same honor and blessing brings hard days too!

In all seriousness, recently there have been some pretty sad days. My “momma” tears have flowed, my “momma” heart has broken but my “momma” love hasn’t quit.

HOWEVER… Today I want to share a few of the victories that we've witnessed in the lives of our spiritual sons and daughters, because if we focus on the sad things that happen we’ll forever live in the disappointments.

There is SO much to celebrate!!!

Here in the Dominican and around the world it is super common for someone to raise their hand, kneel at an altar or sign a piece of paper making a public statement that a decision has been made when really, inwardly there is no true commitment. But when it’s real… IT’S REAL!

Over the last month and a half we've seen 7 baseball boys, who have raised their hands a million times, truly come to know the Lord as their personal Savior. These 7 boys are particularly special to Robersy as they are some of the oldest boys on the team and basically the role models for the rest of the team. Isn’t God awesome!

Pray for Robersy as he disciples these 7 young men following their decisions.

I loooove discipling and teaching the women at Lily House. Over the past year we have prayed that as these girls grow in their faith, God would then place women in their life to begin discipling too. What a joy to hear M come and share her desire to disciple two young ladies in the youth group. Then L shared her heart to increase her discipleship focus within the youth group as well. God is moving!

During Women’s Conference we made a LOT of contacts in Boca Chica and just this past week we have been able to have meetings and share with two of these ladies in particular. Although no decisions have been made thus far to enter the LH program, there are women seeking and trying to make a change in their lives.

One of my highlights was when L (a different L) visited the Lily House and it was M (the same M – and it was M’s idea!!!) who took her around and gave her the tour in Creole (what Haitians speak) so that she’d feel more at home.

My “momma’s” smile could not be hidden. I love these precious ladies!!!

I had a “momma” smile on Sunday too as some of our young people sang for the church! Precious voices praising the God of all creation… does it get any better?!

You see. Even through the “bad” days when there are scraped knees or bruised elbows from the kids falling so many times, it is the moments like these that say, “It is worth it!”

Praying for all of you other spiritual mom and dads out there today!!!