A hearty "AMEN!"

Before I begin... 

It's Robersy's 30th birthday! SO... SHOUT OUT to my hubby and thanks be to GOD for one more year of life! Check out my Facebook page for a sappy post to commemorate the day :)



Josiah has been doing a whole lot of cute things lately. Sometimes my heart literally can't handle it! Yesterday I shed tears over his first art activity that he did while at Lily House. Hand prints formed in to a heart that said "Te amo mami!" - I love you Mommy!

OH MY HEART! 
It's on my refrigerator and my heart melts a little every time I see it, lol.

He is also expanding his vocabulary. His newest word is "crackers" which sounds a little like "poop" in Spanish but we're gonna take it. 






He knows most animal noises. He "Meeees" at the goats from our bedroom window and barks along with our dogs. Actually on Sunday I had to stand at the back of church because he is a little tornado and a gentleman walked in to the sanctuary Josiah pointed right at him and let out a LOUD "ribbit! ribbit!" I'm telling you... I had never seen it before but it's true! There is a resemblance! LOL.

But one of the sweetest things he does I haven't decided if I want to correct.

Manners are IMPORTANT but sadly not taught to many children here in the DR, so I have made it a priority to push "PLEASE and THANK YOU!" He's been doing the sign for "Please" and we're still working on the actual word, but our "THANK YOU!" has turned into a sweet lesson for my heart.


Josiah hasn't quite figured out the difference of saying "Thank you" to Jesus before we eat and saying "Thank you" to someone for something they have done, given, etc.

If I give Josiah a cookie and say "Thank yoooou" urging him to follow, he quickly bows his head, mumbles a few unrecognizable words and then lets out a hearty "AMEN!"

Uhhhhh! Who would correct this sweet gesture!? Honestly we tried in the beginning and I'm sure he'll get it before he's 20 :) But it has been a sweet reminder to where my heart must be.

On our way to the game

I am quick to thank a group for donations or an individual for their help... but I often forget to thank the ONE from whom all blessings flow. 

GOD is so, SO good to us and I often to forget to thank HIM for the blessings HE pours over me and my sweet family every day.

So let me give out a shout out to JESUS...
This past weekend Robersy had the opportunity to work with a baseball team and a group of teens joined us on Saturday as fans to cheer on the players! The game was great, although I was there for the social aspect, heehee, and then as we always do the Gospel was preached following.

I was actually surprised when the invitation was given that no one raised their hand or came to the side. Actually, to be honest, I was a little thankful too. One of the biggest frustrations for us as missionaries is when everybody in a crowd "receives Christ" because many times its because of peer pressure and we've even seen coaches pushing their whole teams up to the front to accept Christ thinking there might be a freebie as well. We just pray that even a few of those might be sincere.

Anyways! Our director waited a few minutes before closing in prayer and my heart almost exploded (along with my tear ducts that must have had a leak!) when I saw a young man from the American team stand up and move to the side to speak to someone about receiving Christ as his personal Saviour.

So many times we assume that those who come down on a mission trip, especially when they're part of a Christian school, are already Christians. What a true act of humility to stand in the midst of over 100 young Dominican baseball players to say... "Hey. I've been living a lie. I don't know CHRIST, but I need HIM."

THAT WAS YOU GOD! YOU DID THAT! 
SHOUT OUT TO YOU!!!

Then it started a ripple effect among a few others who came to the throne of grace as well. 

Isn't HE GOOD!!!







Then, in our hurricane relief efforts, 
GOD used many of you to bring LIGHT to several homes.

If you were to say to "Luci" to most of the SCORE missionaries they would began our little spiel that "THIS is the reality of the Dominican Republic." :) I'm sure that some of you that have been to a SCORE night are repeating the same!

But to those who don't know, Luci is a solar-powered, inflatable, waterproof lantern that we use to bring physical and spiritual light in to Dominican homes.






Using a good friend of ours, Robersy and I have been entrusted with the sale and dispersing of Luci lanterns to homes in the Dominican. This was the first time we reached out to those outside of the Dominican and we were humbled by your participation. 

With each lantern given, we have been able to share the love of CHRIST! 






Some have even received Christ when the comparison is given between physical light and the ONE TRUE LIGHT. MANY seeds have been planted.

GOD used YOU in providing these lanterns as HE called these individuals to HIMSELF and HIS eternal salvation.
Isn't HE GOOD!!!

So today... although I am still truly thankful for YOU... I'm pulling a Josiah and bowing my head and thanking HIM - for HE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS and HE is TRULY worthy of ALL praise.

Blessings!