I heart my pillows!!!

New pillows. That's all it takes to make me happy. New pillows!

But we'll get to that in a second...

Seriously, it has been a whirlwind of a week. As I mentioned in my last, short, kind of boring post I had a bit of a cold so I spent a few days in bed, where I learned a LOT about snot. My poor neighbors had to endure the "Ward/Simpson nose blow" that can be heard for miles so I researched snot. Check this out...

How much snot can a person produce? According to Ask.com (totally reliable! lol)  it depends on the person and health. You can produce up to .94 litres of snot a day, 343.1 litres/year and 1,827,455 litres over a period of 70 years.

I think I made it to that point this past week. Seriously, nasty. Wow, I think this is my second post about snot. Hmmm... changing subjects, but first let me blow my nose... (heehee)

But as I was on the mend something exciting came up! I was supposed to travel with a team to Haiti, but due to some circumstances I couldn't go and so I joined a team from our church that was heading to Moca (in the DR) for a mini mission trip. WOW! What an experience. No, it wasn't a trip to feed naked children or heal the blind/lame/deaf, but it was a trip to encourage a brother in Christ and his church!

On Thursday morning (6am to be exact) we loaded up the bus and traveled about 2.5hrs to arrive in Moca. After a quick breakfast of yuca, sweet potato and salami we held a sort of VBS in the morning. Robersy led game time and others from the team lead singing, Bible story and crafts. Let me say, it was such a blessing to see fellow church members step up to the plate and serve. Some as young as 15yrs old had prepared lessons, songs and crafts! So encouraged to see young hearts eager to serve.

That afternoon we visited homes to invite people to a special service and to share the Gospel. I was amazed to meet so many people that were so content not knowing their destination once they leave this earth. Many shrugged at the question "If you were to die today, where would you go?" and some said that they "hope" that their good works would be a enough. Friends! You CAN know.

Romans 3:23 says that we are ALL sinners and we fall short of the glory of God, but Romans 5:8 tells us that WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS Christ died for us! John 14:6 says that there is no other way except through Jesus Christ, Romans 10:9 tells us how we can be saved and John 3:16 tells us the gift of that salvation... eternal life with Him and not suffering in a place called Hell (the alternative!).

It's all there, I didn't make it up (check it out!)... He wants us to come to Him. We are not promised tomorrow. In fact, in the last 2 weeks I personally know 3 people, who have entered eternity. One only 2yrs old, one 13yrs old and one in his 80's. We are not promised tomorrow. Accept Him before it's too late.


The following day (back to our mission trip) we were able to enter 2 schools and do a mini VBS for each class. So thankful that schools are so open and that the Gospel can be presented.

So all in all it was a pretty awesome trip. I hadn't planned on going... but I am so thankful that I did!

Saturday involved a lot of laundry and meetings, so we'll skip to Sunday ;)

On Sunday morning we headed out to Los Montones (a village about 45mins away from Boca Chica) and as I shared in my FB status, Robersy was preaching. Still, it was so much more than that. In 2009, as I share in Robersy and my long drawn out love story, we served together in a camp. I didn't speak Spanish so it was probably the quietest summer of my life... but I met many other friends that summer too. Together we washed dishes, led the singing, did dramas, swept the cafeteria, and on and on. Those same friends, who stood sweating with me as we washed endless piles of dishes, now serve as the Pastor, the song leader and some even sang in the choir. So blessed to see friends continuing to serve the Lord!!!

Following the service we met up with friends from our church to eat lunch and then headed home to take a Sunday afternoon nap. I remember when my sister, Rebecca, and I were young and our parents FORCED us to take Sunday afternoon naps! I don't know how many times we packed our bags to run away or made plans to move in to our friends' homes. Yeah... now I crave those naps!!! But I could hardly sleep this Sunday! Robersy and I were finally going on our long awaited date! It had been cancelled twice due to unforeseen circumstances and we were FINALLY going to dinner and a movie, but even better we were going to buy PILLOWS!!!!

New pillows on the left and old on the right! lol.

We may seem like an old married couple, but that is all I asked for on Valentines Day. No chocolate, no roses... just pillows. Our bed came with pillows, but I'm pretty sure they are stuffed with 3 feathers. I can feel the mattress through them and, though I am thankful, my scoliosis is not... I really wanted big pillows! But we don't just buy things for fun around here. There has to be a rhyme or reason... Valentines Day was our excuse :)

So friends, I slept well last night. I mean SERIOUSLY like a rock. I dreamed about my pillows while sleeping on my pillows, and though it may mean nothing to anyone else... I thanked God for my pillows! Little blessings in His time.

(Prayers appreciated for the friends and family, who lost the loved ones mentioned in this post. Pray that their hearts may be comforted and peace given as they remember their loved ones).

Wedding Dresses and Cheez-Its

I'M ALIVE!

I know everyone was so concerned after not seeing a blog post last week (if anyone even reads these things! lol)... but I forgot to mention my trip to the United States. My little sister Deborah is getting married in August so we met up in NJ to plan a little and do a little dress shopping. It was a blast! My family is VERY close so the opportunity to spend time with my mom and sisters preparing for such an exciting occasion was awesome.

I packed all the warm clothing I own (2 sweatshirts, haha) and knew that my wonderful sisters would let me raid their suitcases. It was SO cold, but we got everything done that we needed to get done. Her wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses and mother of the bride dresses were all bought. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! So happy! At least the women will be clothed... now it's up to the men :)

The only downside to the trip was that my mom left her camera with me, and I forgot to take pictures of her! HAHA! #selfies. Here are a few of my favs from the trip.

Starbucks, superhero photo bombers and NYC. Good times :)



So all in all it was a fab trip. We saw "Lion King" on Broadway, talked and talked and talked (it's what we do best, haha) and then bought Walmart and Target out of their last boxes of Cheddar Jack Cheez-its. Apparently Bermuda doesn't carry them and neither does the Dominican so we stocked up :) (LOVE THEM!)

But as always I missed my hubby, family and friends here in the DR. It's weird to have your heart in 2 different places. Bermuda will always be "home" but that is exactly what Dominican has become to me too. GOD IS GOOD.

Tune in next week to hear more about what God is doing in the DR!

Hanging with Ken Ham, NBD.

Have you ever felt like your head was going to explode?! Like legit EXPLODE! Haha… after a conference with Ken Ham, I think I’m at that point J In all seriousness, though, it was incredible! Totally not planned, since it was actually for high schools from the capital, but after speaking with a few people Robersy and I were on our way to the conference with the GAP students.

Of course there was a LOT of information. Big topics like carbon dating, Lucy and evolution. However, the Gospel shone through every word that Ken Ham spoke! No one could leave saying that they had not heard the truth.

Got me thinking. Am I prepared to give an answer for the truth in which I believe? Makes me crave my Bible so much more! I just want to soak it in and remember it all.

Here is some truth that I learned/was reminded of…

“In the beginning God…” that should be sufficient, however, I learned some other stuff too.

We are without excuse. Romans 1:20

The earth was created in 6 LITERAL DAYS AND GOD RESTED ON THE 7^TH. Case and point.

Lucy looks like an ape because she WAS AN APE! Not a human. She was an ape. Not a mixture, not an evolved ape. She was just an ape.

Psalm 104 is a pretty awesome picture of our powerful and creative God.

The earth is only about 6,000 years old.

We are all one race.

Also, I want to go to the Creation Museum!

Seriously, there was so much to take in! I still need to read all of my notes and absorb it all again. It was so great and exactly what I needed. With corruption all around us and lies being taught in our schools, it was so refreshing to see how creation screams out that GOD IS, that He ought to be praised and that He is the only way!

Ahhh… so refreshed!!!

The rest of the week was great too ALTHOUGH I had 2 days that I was left wondering, “Um, God, what are you doing?” 2 nights of tears, 2 early nights, an extra run and a lot of prayer left me at peace. My God is a GOOD God no matter what I’m going through and my God is ALWAYS THERE no matter if I can see Him or not.

Today confirmed this truth.

Friend, be encouraged. Stand strong. Stand true! The same God that created the Heavens and the Earth knows your name. Do you know Him?

Be HAPPY :D

Whoever said being a missionary is boring LIED! Seriously, they did.
Tough? Yes!
Scary? Sometimes!
Busy? It is not 9-5, it is 24/7!
But boring? NEVER.

I have had some pretty awesome experiences during my years as a missionary, I have met some amazing people, and have done some pretty cool (and sometimes borderline dangerous/stupid) things too. God knew what He was doing when He called me to this line of "work" because seriously, I love it.

Last week alone I traveled from Boca Chica to Bani (1.5hrs), slept in Bani, drove to San Fransisco (2.5 hours), then to Boca Chica (2hrs). Next day I went with the Pasitos girls from Boca Chica to Punta Cana (3hrs) and back again (3hrs). Then on Saturday we went to Bayibe (2hrs) and back (2hrs). A total of 16hrs in a truck or bus experiencing God's incredible creation!
So there are a few things I'm extra thankful for...

1. I don't usually get car sick. Sea sick, yes, once... craziest adventure of my life to an island with a group until 2 storms collided in the ocean and we were tossed to and fro! Seriously thought I was going to die, but more upset that I barfed up my awesome buffet lunch. lol.

2. I have extra padding on my derriere for comfortable adventures all over the place, haha! (my mom's gonna shake her head after reading that one, lol! I make her proud! haha!)

I remember hearing friends in college say,
"Get a job that pays well!"
"I don't care if I have to sit in an office for hours, as long as I'm rich."
"I'm gonna be a lawyer/doctor/etc. so I can be rich."

And here I am. Poor, but HAPPY!

I get opportunities to lead people to Christ, teach new believers and encourage fellow Christians. I walk the streets/beaches and show prostitutes what true love is and that it flows freely from our Savior. My husband pours his life in to young boys and shows them how to use their love for baseball for the glory of God! Together we teach, train and guide young people to live their faith out loud. And with our team we just HAVE FUN!

Just this past Saturday, like I said, we went to Bayibe. I went with a bunch of GAP students, their director and fellow missionaries... just to play in God's creation. We zip lined, kayaked, laughed and talked. I wish I could show you pictures from our trip... but guess whose camera wasn't charged?! :) Here is one I stole from a friend.

This isn't a post to brag. If you're sitting in an office and are happy... GOOD! As long as you're happy. But my message is seriously to do what God has called you to do. If that is a lawyer or doctor, do it with all of your heart! If God has called you to an office job, glorify His name. But if God has called you to be a missionary and you're holding back because it doesn't pay enough... trust Him and do it! You won't regret it :) The benefits are totally out of this world!

I don't know why I'm writing this, it's just been on my heart alot lately. Maybe you're contemplating sending your child on a mission trip, but hesitating just in case God's calls them to the mission field. Just do it! Maybe you, yourself wants to see what it's like, but don't want to commit to full-time missions. It's ok! We need short term missionaries too!

If you want or need any information about some great missions trips let me know. SCORE is linked with sports, medical, feeding villages, etc. but I can tell you about tons of other ministries too! Not everyone is called to full-time missions... but the Great Commission is for everyone. So whether at home or abroad, get serious and BE HAPPY!

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