This is US!

I don't do this very often on my blog, but those who aren't on my Facebook sometimes miss out on our random photos of life. Instead of a fancy dancy blog... here is a bunch of photos to show you what we've been up to over the last few weeks. 

WARNING. Some serious cute shots of Josiah are included :)

ENJOY!

Josiah and his new friend

Trip in to the city with friends after Josiah's doctor appt.

Daddy and son doing their devotions.

Trip to Constanza with the Lily House team

I was in charge of the turkey! EEK!

Before - bright and early!

After - Guess it was good?!

This kid LOVES his daddy!

LOLOLOLOL - Got snapchat

This is EXCITING!!! Groups who have been out to the street with me
know how badly I wanted this bar to CLOSE! Guess what!? Bar is CLOSED

Ministry in a local school. Thankful for the open door!

We had ice breakers, games and a message

Tons of kids!!!

Such a trooper.

Pastor Nate preaching the Word!

HAHA - This is what full-time ministry looks like when you're a full-time momma too :)

In the afternoon we went classroom to classroom instead of
with the whole school. 

The students loved it!

Some of our older teens leading the games. #discipleship

The guys took turns preaching in different classrooms.

Loved seeing some our young people leading well. #discipleship

Felipe, with his lovely wife Anna, leading a class.

We are thankful for the opportunities to serve, rest, laugh and cry with those we "do life" with here in the Dominican. 

Although we are looking forward to some vacation time over Christmas we love what we do and love who we do it with!

Pus.

I can eat it in a house.

I can eat it with a mouse.

I can eat it in a box.

I can eat it with a fox.

Nope. Not green eggs and ham. But every Thanksgiving I look forward to one thing. 

STUFFING! I could eat bowls full of the delicacy any day of the year. Drenched with gravy of course. Is your mouth drooling? Mine is!

Leave the turkey and the apple pie behind. But stuffing? Thanksgiving can not happen without stuffing!

I'm sure you have your favorite dish too, but we know Thanksgiving is more than the food, football and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's a moment to stop and give thanks.

No matter the tests or trials, the bad days or daily struggles, there is ALWAYS reason to give thanks.

Time and time again, (and especially this month) I've been brought to my knees to say "THANK YOU" to the ONE whom all thanks is due. When the world seems to be falling apart all around us, HE is still in control. HE is still on HIS throne.

Yesterday we stopped to say "Thank YOU!" yet again.

It all began last week with what looked like a mosquito bite on Josiah's palm. I noticed it, cleaned it well and continued with life.

Within a few days the "mosquito bite" had developed a white head. We got it checked, cleaned it up and once again, life went on.

Unfortunately the bite (which the doctor thinks started as a spider bite) became really infected and began to spread. Mixed with fever and rash (which we believe was from a tooth coming in at the same time) we became worried and went to the doctor again.

The bite was opened, cleaned and checked again only to come back more agressive over night.

Long story short, we contacted our pediatrician and after sending a photo we were told to go straight to the emergency room. There we were greeted by a surgeon who cut the whole sucker right off my baby's hand. Most expensive spider bite EVER.

Robersy wanted to take photos during the super-fast-mini-surgery but my phone was dead and quite honestly it was NASTY.

So much PUS! (bllllleeeeeuuuughhhh)

But since I know you're all dying to see the nasty bite. Here it is. 

Don't scroll if you're squimish :)

Before

After

After the surgery. Josiah was not impressed.

All better :)

We are thankful for our doctor.

We are thankful that we had borrowed a car and so we had transportation.

We are thankful for the surgeon (they call him McQueen! He has so fast!).

We are thankful for pain meds :)

We are thankful that it was not worse.

And we are thankful for all of you that will pray for Josiah's continued health and healing.

Friends. This Thanksgiving, no matter what you are passing through, give thanks. 

HE is worthy.

What are you thankful for?

Sine Cera - Without wax

Sine cera – “without wax”

To tell you the truth, Spanish is hard enough to learn. After living here off and on since 2009 I still do not have the language down, so you won’t see me trying to learn a new language any time soon.

HOWEVER, I love to use my Wiersbe Bible Commentary (thanks Carter!) when I’m doing my devotions in the morning. It helps understand the words originally used in scripture and then explains content in a way my simple mind can understand :)

This morning I was studying 1 John 2:1-6 which is more than enough verses since it is SO full of such good stuff! You could literally spend hours meditating on this small passage. But Wiersbe used a beautiful description to help me understand the word “sincere.”

“It seems that in Roman days, some sculptors covered up their mistakes by filling the defects in their marble statutes with wax, which was not readily visible – until the statue had been exposed to the hot sun awhile. But more dependable sculptors made certain their customers knew that the statues they sold were sine cera – without wax.”

“Sincera” – Spanish for sincere.

Do you see it? That’s where our word “sincere” stems from.

In our own lives, the heat of tough circumstances, frustrations, difficult co-workers, unforeseen expenses, etc. etc. ETC. quickly melt away the wax. Soon enough the real me, with all my cracks and weaknesses WILL be seen.

Question is… will I hold together?

To tell you the truth. The last few weeks have not been easy.

If you’re not on my Facebook you may not have heard, but two Fridays ago Robersy and a friend went to go pick up our youth group kids as they always do. Robersy drove our Pastor’s truck and a friend drove ours. Since our Pastor’s truck kept stalling Robersy stopped to check it out and sent our friend on to pick up a load while Robersy figured out what was going on.

Not long after we received a call to inform us that there had been an accident.

To be honest. We still aren’t sure exactly what happened. We know from the driver that something didn’t feel right and before he knew it they swerved off the road, down a slope, through a wall and into a hotel parking lot!

No tires exploded. Even driving on a spare.

No one knows what happened.

It was an accident.

Simply.

An accident.

But remember… there were a bunch of kids in the back.

NOBODY got thrown out of the back of the truck.

Contrary to rumors, NO ONE went through the back windshield (a kid’s head hit it, and shattered it, but he only got 5 stiches. He did not go through.)

Only two kids needed stitches, 3 kids and the driver needed x-rays and 1 kid got a cast.

DO WE SERVE AN AMAZING GOD OR WHAT?!?!

Just so you see the result of the Sovereign hand of ALMIGHTY GOD here are a few photos.

 

Honestly, when we got there that night, the kids were sobbing (scared, not hurt) but we were all asking ourselves, how in the world everyone survived.

GOD.

That’s the only answer!

ALMIGHTY. POWERFUL. MIRACLE WORKING. GOD.

And we are eternally grateful. As are the driver and parents of each one of these children.

But can I be “sine cera” with you?

Medical bills and a wrecked truck were unexpected frustrations for us.

Leaving earlier everywhere we go, carpooling, catching the bus are extra frustrations for us – especially with a 9-month-old.

THEN, as if that weren’t enough… both Robersy and Josiah have had some health issues come up. More unexpected frustrations.

And ministry never stops, so we had a full week of long days and late nights during Baseball Week as well as other responsibilities.

……. And the sun beams down on our statute forms. Melting the wax away. Exposing our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. With Satan rubbing his filthy hands on the sidelines wondering, “Will they hold together?”

I will tell you the truth.

I am not Superwoman. I have cried and worried.

And though he is handsome and would look amazing in tights (HAHA), Robersy is not Superman.

But we do serve a SUPER GOD!

The ONE who has promised HE’ll never forsake us.

The ONE who has promised to provide.

The ONE who brings rest to the weary.

The HEALER.

The MIGHTY ONE.

The GREAT “I AM.”

And those cracks, once filled with wax that has melted away must be filled with TRUTH! Because GOD’S TRUTH is what stands strong amidst difficult circumstances.

I have been blessed to hear TRUTH this past week amongst the “busyness” of Baseball week. I have been blessed to hear TRUTH through a group of homeschoolers and women as they served our local missionaries. I have been blessed to hear TRUTH through the study of God’s Word in preparation for Bible studies and discipleship. I have been blessed to hear TRUTH seated at God’s feet.

I don’t know what you’re passing through. Financial burdens, health issues, Spiritual warfare, doubts, unexpected inconveniences…

Whatever it is that is slowly melting the wax away to reveal to most vulnerable and naked you, speak TRUTH. For it is TRUTH that holds us together.

But what is truth? Better... WHO is TRUTH?

Well, why don’t you check that your for yourself :) JOHN 14:6

If you go and look up those verses you deserve to see 4 bonus photos from my birthday lunch and a girl's day with some youth group girls. ENJOY!!! 

Hands over my ears!

I know the first thing you want to know.

Did we ever find that kid who needed water?

Unfortunately no. But it's funny how God opened our eyes and allowed us other opportunities to serve the hurt and hungry in our community.

We've been able to provide for and love on kids, a new mom, a man from Nigeria and even Robersy's family as needs have arisen... and God has blessed.

Still, that's not the point of why I write today. 

Do you ever remember a time that you and your kids have sat and watched a movie? All of a sudden, that "scene" you forgot about comes on and what happens? Your hands find their eyes QUICKLY! 

Or maybe it was a song. Oh my soul. As I listen back to songs I listened to in the past I am horrified at the hidden meanings and innuendos. Most of the things kids don't pick up on, but if there was a word here or there, those hands quickly cover your child's ears.

An act of love. Protection. Keeping their innocence. Deterring follow-up conversations.

But this week Robersy and I were surprised by a situation where the same hands that are meant to protect seem to be causing destruction in a community, which will effect a city, which will keep a country in the same place as it's always been... or worse.


In an effort to grow our young people in faith and truth, Robersy and I decided to do some school visits. Thankfully Robersy has quite a good standing in Guayacanes, where he coaches baseball, and so he is known by most and welcomed in to homes, businesses and schools with open arms.

I am simply his trophy wife :)

HAHAHAHA. Just kidding. 

However, since I am really trying to work more with the young ladies in our church and community, I got to tag along with my handsome hubby.

So off we went. 

Before we began bombarding the kids in their classrooms and asking their teachers plenty of embarrassing and invasive information (grades, behavior, attitudes, etc.) which they love - especially when they are on good terms with their teachers - we went and visited the Principal and Vice-Principal.

Of course they knew Robersy and so once they had caught up on life we began talking about some events we'd like to do in the schools over the next few months. The teens in church have been excited about missions, but we've emphasized the importance of starting where you are... so... we're starting were they are! 

However, while we were talking I thought... Ooooohh! I know Lily House also wants to speak to young ladies about risks, trafficking and prostitution. Let me put a word in for them too.

So on the topic of problems within the youth of today, I shared that Guayacanes had a very high percentage of young ladies who are involved in prostitution and that it didn't necessarily mean they were selling their bodies for money... many times it's for food, clothing, education...

She raised her hand and motioned for me to pause.

"Ma'am, I know you and your people want to educate ours, but there are some things we just don't want our youth to know."

My mouth literally dropped open.

I looked at Robersy questioning if I had crossed a line and thankfully my Prince Charming repeated everything I had just said in... um... Dominican?! lol.

"I understand completely. But again, there are things that happen and statistics that exist. We just don't necessarily want out our young people to know about them." Then with her hands she covered her ears. "Understand?"

I stayed mostly quiet for the remainder of the conversation, scared to over step my boundaries again, but the vice-principal mentioned several more times throughout the conversation that we "must be careful of what we talk about." She looked at me each time. I smiled and nodded.

As soon as we stepped out of the office I drilled Robersy. "Was it something I said? Was it the way I said it?"

"See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. We choose to live in ignorance."

No matter how you slice it. IT'S HAPPENING! All around us.

Mother's are sending their daughters to the streets and many times even accompanying them there. Husbands urge their wives. Fathers encourage their daughters. Out of simple need to put food on the table, girls go.

And the schools remains quiet. The cities remain silent. The country raises their hands over their ears.

Yet it's happening.

And lest you think this is a blog to bash the Dominican Republic, I beg you to ask, when do you raise your hands?

Two presidential candidates. (I know you just sat up straighter. Stay with me here.)

Both involved in heinous sins and crimes. But we praise them. Pray for America? YES!!! Vote? YES!!! But are we honest with ourselves that there is a whole lot of crap that does not honor the Lord on BOTH SIDES... or do we cover our ears?

Our world is falling apart all around us.
Where sin is praised and those who do right are ridiculed. 
Where are our hands?

For I assure you, there is a difference between trying to protect... and choosing to ignore.

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Let me hop off my soap box and share with you what's going on in the ministry God has allowed us to be a part of.

This past week one of our boys got saved at church! We continue discipling (teaching, training and living along side our young people) young ladies and men from our church, who in turn are reaching out to their peers in their community.

We've had opportunities to sit down with new believers and encourage those who are tired in the faith.

We laugh. We cry. We learn. We grow.

Here are a few photos from youth group this past week. It was "Famous Friday" and so some of the kids dressed up. Robersy was Michael Phelps, Josiah was Rocky Balboa and I was... Robersy :) I just wanted an excuse to draw a beard on my face and Robersy was scruffy that week. LOL!

Nate led the games and Felipe preached the Word. 

We love having fun with our young people!

If you're praying for us this week please pray for a group of men from our church that crossed the border in to Haiti. Pray for their safety and that God would use their time to offer help and relief to those suffering there.

Robersy is off to a conference tomorrow with Baseball Chapel so be praying for his time and then the next week it's Baseball Week! So pray for a little extra energy for Robersy :)

God Bless! And watch where you put those hands.

Thirsty!

Since becoming a missionary in 2009 I have seen a lot of sad things.

Hungry children.

Horrible living conditions.

Dead dogs. Everywhere.

To be honest, sometimes seeing these things over and over again can leave us numb and emotionless to the hurt and suffering around us. I've found my self praying for the Lord to soften my hardened heart. 

As I've prayed, my eyes have been opened to marriages fighting to survive, women struggling to provide for the children she raises alone, children just begging to be children. A lot of the hurt I've seen is in those who should still be playing with Barbies and video games... except most are walking the beaches and streets selling homemade coconut lollipops, fried bread or simply begging.

Sometimes they become just another annoying person interrupting your nap, standing in your sunlight or getting in your way.

But when you look in to their eyes...

The other day Robersy and I were arriving home when we saw a group of boys standing at an "abandoned" housing area beside our apartment. Several people and stray dogs live behind the broken gate. 

In front of the gate is a dip where water gathers whenever it rains. Of course, the puddle doesn't ever stay clean long. With all the people walking in and out, motorcycles driving in and out, the stray dogs rolling their diseased bodies in the cool water, the group of goats that live near by enjoying the fresh fallen rain, the chickens, the pigs, etc. Before long the water is FILTHY!!!

This particular day was following the hurricane that passed by so the puddle was bigger and dirtier than usual.

As we stared out the window to see what had captured the attention of the boys. 

My heart broke.

A thin, teenage boy, up to his knees in the puddle, scooped the water to his mouth over and over again. He was SO thirsty. Desperate for something to quench his thirst.

Robersy ran upstairs to grab some clean water for him to drink... only to see the boy had left. His thirst quenched for a moment with the disgusting water. I dread to think of the consequences that followed.

The image has been ingrained in my mind for the last few weeks, which is why I knew I just needed to share. Only - in my minds eye, the boy looks like you and me.

We are SO desperate for satisfaction, pleasure, happiness, hope, peace... that we grasp at whatever we can to feel full, even just for a moment.

Only to be left empty and broken again.

This past week I had the privilege of participating in a women's conference that took this message out to the women of the Dominican Republic.

Nothing will quench your thirst, besides Jesus!

Nothing will fill that emptiness, besides Jesus!

Nothing will satisfy you, besides Jesus!!!

You can try. But you will end up trying your entire life.

Sadly, we have not seen the boy since that day but be assured we are ready with bottles of clean water... and the precious message of the Jesus Christ :)

This next week our church is heading out to Haiti with physical and spiritual help for those who are suffering. Unfortunately Robersy and I are not able to go because of a conference and other commitments made before hand, but please be praying for them! 

And my kid is awake... ahhh... so until next week!!! GOD BLESS!!!

Gate B32

Portuguese red bean soup is on the stove.

Home made biscuits are in the oven.

Candles are on the counter.

Luci's (solar powered lanterns) are charged.

Matthew... Bring. It. On.

I have to admit. Having a lazy, rainy day has been nice. However, knowing that our neighbors are not JUST enjoying a rainy day should bring us to our knees asking God for their protection as this hurricane heads their way.

As promised, I saved some photos from our time in Pennsylvania. We enjoyed a few Fall activities with my sister and brother-in-law although our attire makes it clear that the fall weather hadn't arrived yet :)

Apparently Josiah wasn't excited for the photo shoot... HAHA!

 As well as apple picking and photo shoots, we had the chance to pop up to the Poconos for a couple of nights. We got to visit with a few of our friends and I (Sarah) got to fly down a 4,000ft zipline! Pretty cool.

We are grateful for the time spent with our family, friends and supporters!

But as I mentioned last week...

During our loooooooong layover in JFK airport it was incredible to see the flights that were leaving and coming in from all over the world.

Robersy, Josiah and I sat and watched a particular flight on it's way to Japan.

The plane was HUGE! Two levels!

The line of people waiting to get through the door snaked quite far from the gate entrance, but once each person had been checked through there was another 20 minutes (yes... we sat and watched) of the airline staff walking up and down the gate area looking for late passengers.

Names were called on the speakers. Over and over again.

One staff member asked Robersy, "Are you going to Japan?"

We laughed and said, "I wish!" But after chatting for a few minutes, the staff member explained that the trip would take over 14 hours. They tried to give everyone coming from connecting flights ample opportunity to get on the flight since it could be several days before they flew to that city again.

Amsterdam.

Zurich.

London.

Santo Domingo :)

Each flight different. Varying on size, number of passengers, and distance to travel... but each one with a destination in mind.

It really got me thinking.

The flight to Santo Domingo might not seem so glamorous because it's ONLY a couple hours from the US border. But Zurich! London! JAPAN! They're so fancy! Double decker airplanes! 

But what good is that million dollar aircraft if it doesn't get where it needs to go?

GOD has been so good to create us with purpose. Sometimes our purpose might not look like others. Just a small aircraft hopping over to the next state.

It's not Amsterdam!

But the magnitude of what GOD has called me to matters little considering I arrive at the destination HE has called me to.

Friend. I don't know about you, but I want to be faithful in what GOD has called me to today.

Instead of looking at everyone else's flight and aircraft... let's just be faithful in what GOD has asked us to do. Let's just GET THERE!

AMEN!?