Letters from the Laras: January 2017

Monday, January 30, 2017

The bigger the better?

I do not have a green thumb.

I blame it on my mother.

It's more like a shriveled, shrunken dead thumb.

It's not like I don't try!!! I love a good bouquet or house plant. I sing to it, give it lots of sunlight and of course water it... well, when I remember. I currently have a little dead Palm on my porch as a constant reminded of my failure as a plant mom. Thankfully I'm better at keeping my kid fed and watered :)

My neighbors, however, have green thumbs, and fingers, and toes!!! I look down upon their fruit trees and garden and fall into an abundance of sin as I lust over their produce.

I wish I had such talent!!! Still, over the last several weeks I have learned a little about plants and trees as I studied for a message I was preparing for a new study group.

Enjoyed some quiet time (and yummy
empanadas) at Lily House.

We always hear about how "the bigger, the better" and though that may be the case in certain situations the reality is that there are many types of trees that grow big and tall, but the roots are small and weak. People may look and say, "Wow! What a fantastic tree!" But the minute a strong wind comes along that tree that appears so "put together" on the outside falls. Why? The roots were weak.

This week as I sat with women on 3 different occasions, from 3 different areas and 3 different walks of life I found that the principal was the same.

As Christians, our roots ought to be firmly planted in the faith of our Lord Jesus. HOWEVER, if the roots are not given the necessary nutrients and care, they will not grow - and in turn, WE will not grow!

What are the nutrients that urge the roots to grow? Time in the Word, prayer, time with other believers, time under sound preaching, etc.

As we seek after God, our roots (faith) are strengthened and our relationship with the Lord grows. This means when trials and temptations come our way and the winds blow, the roots that have been cared for and strengthened will keep us firm! Those who do not grow in their faith are easily blown over - that may mean that they struggle in their faith when tough things happen, but it also means that they fall in to sin easier than someone who has consciously put work in to growing closer to the Lord.

While the women shared their experiences with weak or strong roots it occurred to me...

How many times have I come across someone who seems big and tall on the outside, but their roots (though pften times unseen until the storms come) are small and weak?

My heart's desire is to be strong both above and below the surface so that I might stand strong in the face of temptation while pointing others to the source of my strength and salvation <3

I pray the same for you, friend!

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This week, like I mentioned, I've been getting back in to teaching a little while Robersy has gotten back in to his baseball/discipleship routine. Robersy also had the opportunity to preach on Sunday. Thankful for his love for the Word and his desire to share it with others. The Lord used Robersy... even if He just used him to speak to my heart :)

Youth group is up and running as we kicked things off this Friday. Thankful for those who serve the youth alongside of us!

My big boy!

Josiah with the "big kids" in the back of the truck on
our way to Los Fundos. Don't worry it was on the back
roads and very slow!

Josiah is turning 1 this coming Sunday. I'm not sure if my heart can handle it. He must of grown up over night and though I'm so thankful for his sweet personality, I feel as though time is already slipping through my fingers! Parents of adults will surely laugh, but does it get easier as time goes on? How is my baby almost ONE?! Those who live around here, expect some tears from this emotional momma.

Update on the truck is that there is no update! Continue to pray as others begin to pray how they can be a part of getting us back on the road again.

Until next time, friend!

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

TRUMP!

This blog has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with politics.

Isn't that refreshing...

My head has been spinning as I scroll down my FB news-feed. Saddened by hateful, bitter comments by those who claim to put their trust in God Almighty. Just puts a damper on things, ya know?!

So friend. Breathe. You are in a political safe-zone :)

Meeting friends on the beach.

This week became a little busier than expected as we eased in "slowly" to the ministries that God has allowed us to be a part of. Robersy met with his boys and I enjoyed some meetings with my girls as we evaluated how to take on the new year. Where do the kids need to grow, what are they struggling with, what do they want to accomplish, etc.

It's been exciting!

Then our friend from Puerto Rico came down for a couple of conferences and stayed at our home. It was lovely to show him around and catch up on life. As a former major league player I guess baseball runs in his veins so we had the opportunity to meet his nephew who coaches at one of the major league academies near our home.

Eating underground at Meson de la Cava

It was pretty cool to hear about games and trips and opportunities that have been allotted to this player turned coach. We talked about baseball, obviously, and even asked what things he had experienced during his time coaching here in the DR. Turns out, the majority of the time is spent in the academy.

To be a professional coach or player there is serious sacrifice. Many hours are spent in the gym, on the field, playing, stretching, running, throwing...
the rewards aren't reaped until YEARS of much work and sweat have passed.

New friend at the baseball field.

I don't think it's coincidence that I've been in the book of Numbers during my devotions lately.

At first we focused on the Levites. The Levites were the tribe of Israel set apart for service in the tabernacle.

I'll tell you the truth. At first I actually wrote in the comment section of my Quiet Time Diary "Poor Levites!" Knowing that they were chosen, set apart and given the responsibility of taking care of God's dwelling place! Only a few days later I found myself writing, "LUCKY LEVITES!"

To be chosen and set apart with a beautiful purpose! WHAT AN HONOUR!!!

Then I've been looking at the Nazarites. A voluntary (except for 2 examples we find in Scripture) commitment (for a specific period of time) to God to abstain from alcohol/fruit of the vine, touching dead bodies and having a hair cut in order to be used for service.

Set apart.

I understand that a baseball player or coach is not comparable to the holy promise to God Almighty, but it gave me a visual (I'm a very visual learner) to the call that both the Levites and Nazarites had been given.

Years of service and "missing out" only to reap great reward. For the players and coaches it would be much worldly reward. But for those holy and set-apart for God's service... a part in His inheritance and comparison to the likeness of His Son! What an HONOR!!! What an incredible honor.

We as Christians may not have the particular call of a Nazarite or be part of the tribe of Levi, yet God has called us apart to be called to His holy service, to be a light to the world, to lead the lost to Him. It involves much sacrifice and years of hard work and "missing out" yet the benefits are totally worth it.

Some of those "benefits" unfold as we see people come to Christ, those gone astray return to the Lord and young people growing in their faith.

Of course... the benefits do not come without blood, sweat and tears. Many tears.

And here is where the team/tribe/family comes in. We're all going to face times where the call to be set-apart becomes difficult and work can seem unbearable. Perhaps the tears come often and the "prize" seems too far off. May we come along side one another to encourage and lift up our team mates. Aren't we all in this together?

So, to the
weak,
frustrated,
angry,
tired,
discouraged...
take heart.

1 Corinthians 15:58, " Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Monday, January 16, 2017

Severed Head

I sat in awe as I watched our little one playing with his cousins on the dirt floor in Robersy's village. We had already banished him from the pile of plantains he had gotten into, but playing with the other children seemed to be right up his alley.

Trying to be an awesome mom I brought a couple of super fancy educational toys (#momoftheyear) for him to play with. He was doing great. Sharing. Laughing. Playing. All of the kids were loving it... until...

Our little Dominican loves his plantains.

Along came Robersy's cousin's daughter with a couple of gems. A headless doll, the doll's severed head and a broken toy phone. You would have thought Josiah was holding a hot potato. He threw that Baby Einstein toy across the floor and cuddled that severed head like it was the BEST THING EVER!!! No one could take it from him.

Of course analyzing the germs that were in it's knotted blonde hair (in fact, I personally saw one of the other little girls spit in the hair while she was trying to get the knots out) and dirty face, I tried to do a little switcharoo.

"Here Josiah! Take the nice, clean, sanitized, expensive, fancy Baby Einstein toy!" I may have just said "TOY" without the extra descriptions... but I was certainly thinking the rest.

He pushed it away.

Checking out the goats with Abuelo

He cuddled the severed head to his now tarnished onesie even tighter.

There was no telling him.

And sometimes... there's no telling us.

I shudder at the similarity between Josiah with his severed head and us.

Blessing after blessing placed into our hands by God Almighty.

We toss them to the side and choose the world instead.

We see this time and time in ministry and the church. I can name a number of times Robersy and I have sat there shaking our heads and saying, "What were they thinking?!" But then I see times I've done it too.

Watching Josiah I wanted to scream... "Josiah!!! Don't you see what you have?! This awesome toy and you chose to throw it away for a head! Literally. A head."

Boys toss aside their education for a chance at the major leagues.
Girls toss aside their future for a cute boy.
Women toss aside their husbands for a fling.
Men toss aside their jobs for addiction.

And God looks down upon us and says, "Don't you see what I gave you? What were you thinking? I gave you this precious gift and you chose to throw it away for the world."

Thank God for those blessings, dear friends. Don't toss them away for the world!

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Adventures with momma

This week has been slow as we've gotten back in to the groove of things. We've visited our teens and had various meetings. We're excited to get things going... but enjoying the slow days while they're here.

So as we start off running here are some things you can be praying for.

1. Our truck. The frame is bent, but insurance will not write it off. We have to wait until it is repaired then we're hoping to sell it (unfortunately, it won't be as much as we'd like) and get something we can use for ministry.

He climbs everything!!!

2. Ministry. Pray for our teens in Guayacanes and Juan Dolio that we will be discipling, teaching and training. Our goal is to grow godly leaders for the future.

3. Family. Pray that we might find a balance between ministry and home. We never want to neglect our first call as husband and wife & our second as parents... but want to honor our call outside the home too.

We look forward to sharing what God is doing in our lives in the days, weeks, and months ahead :)

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Drunken Sailor.

HERE WE GO!!!

2017.

It feels as though 2016 left in a blur. Those last few months were a doozy and as soon as we we felt like we could finally unwind over Christmas break, we were on a flight back to the DR. Too quick! Although extremely grateful, of course.

Now we are unpacked and things are in their rightful place... well, they are until my little bulldozer rearranges things. Perhaps we have a future interior designer on our hands?! We can only hope :)

And here we go. Off and running! Much like our 11 month old who walks more like a drunken sailor than a normal human being.

It's incredible to watch and I'm in awe more and more each day as I watch God's design. We help Josiah up and he kind of stops and steadies himself, then he's off! We follow closely ready to help him catch his balance, guide him where he needs to go (or not go) and lift him up when he falls. When he's tired or weak, we simply carry him :)

Aren't we the same? We toddle along, wobbly and unsteady relying completely on our Heavenly Father to take us by the hand and lead us. To steady us. To guide us. To lift us up. And when necessary, to carry us in His strong and protective arms.

As we start off 2017 like drunken sailors, we trust that - while walking hand in hand with our Savior - we might be strengthened in our walk so that we might come along those we serve and those we serve with to do the same for them!

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We're including a few photos from our time away so you can see what we were up to. Robersy had an opportunity to teach in English and preach in Spanish with a super hot translator :) And of course, we had some fun too!