Talking to animals and the naughty fig tree.

I talk to my dogs.

There I said it.

It's true!

They know when I'm upset or discouraged, many times I share praises and exciting things that happen in my life. 

Chiquita in particular was adopted during a VERY difficult time in my life and poor thing got an ear full as I battled with some pretty dark feelings regarding life, love and ministry. Although she never said a word, she cuddled me as I cried, ran with me when I tried to release the stress, she was always there when I felt like no one else was or could understand me. My sweet girl :)

On my recent trip home I actually found a picture frame that describes our relationship perfectly, "Who rescued who?" God used my dog - even when I couldn't find the strength to talk to God Himself. 

However, I'll admit... there are some times that I talk to my dogs, random stray dogs and even the piglets next door so I won't be considered crazy for talking to myself. lol.

I know the "non-pet people" are shaking their heads right now. HAHA!

But this morning I laughed as I did my devotional. The book of Mark records Jesus talking to a tree! See I'm not so crazy after all :)

But what a beautiful lesson. Mark 11:12-14

"When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.' And his disciples heard it."

Uhhhh! Poor Figgy!

Can you imagine his embarrassment? 

(Hey, Jesus talked to him... let me give him a personality!)

The God of all Creation walks up to him for a snack, and he wasn't ready. Poor fig tree didn't know He was coming! If he had known surely he would have prepared!!!

Of course as the chapter continues we see Jesus teach a lesson of faith as they return and see the fig tree all withered up and dead. (v.20-26)

But God stirred my heart in regards to my walk with Him.

Am I ready at all times? 

I want God to find me ready and serving and growing and learning all the time! I want Him to find me faithful and fruitful. I want to give Him my everything and not be found empty when we finally meet face to face.

Not just on Sundays. Or Wednesdays. But every day. 

Does this mean I can't rest? Heavens NO! Even Jesus took time to rest. But don't waste your life thinking you're "living it up" with the world... when at the end of the day, you're just a fruitless tree. 

It's 2016 friend. Get out there and do something great for the Lord!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's been a great week for us here in the DR.

Baby Josiah is NOT here yet :( But we're excited and ready! Someone does arrive today though, MY SISTER!!! Wooohooooo. Thankful to my brother-in-law for letting me borrow her for the next few weeks. Praying Josiah comes soon so she can cuddle him lots before we meet again :)

Robersy said goodbye to his group from last week and got down to business with the believers on his team. They've started up discipleship again and are putting in to practice what they are learning.

In BIG NEWS Robersy, Josiah and I have been invited to Atlanta in July with 10 of his youngest baseball players. Robersy was asked to chose 10 of his most faithful players and they will play against/with teams in the Atlanta area linked with Parkway Baptist. We are excited for the opportunities that lay ahead this year. Pray that things will go well with the boy's documents and that this can be a very successful trip!

This week I finished up at the Lily House for the time being. I'll be popping in and out until baby comes, but I hope to be back as soon as I can. Thankfully Lily House is gaining a new missionary (Karleigh Jenko) today so timing works well, but be praying for her too. It's definitely not easy leaving home, even when you know God has called you to serve overseas.

Street ministry went well on Thursday. Although I wasn't able to be there, I was able to communicate with some of the girls via WhatsApp while I was at home and my ministry partner was able to get tracts in to several girl's hands and visit a few girls too. Pray for Mieke and Marcia as they continue to have an impact in the Boca Chica area. I'll get back there as soon as I can too :)

We appreciate your prayers as we wait for the arrival of our little one. Continue to pray as we learn to balance baby and ministry and of course take the time to rest... when we can. 

God Bless and HAPPY MONDAY!

Coffee-catching baby bumps and phone-catching puddles

Have you ever watched something happen and it felt like it was occurring in slow motion? 

That was my Sunday. Goodness me. After hardly sleeping the night before and just trying to get out of the door in time, we hopped in the car and Robersy asked me to pray for our drive to church and for the service. I gave him a little glare that I hoped read, "I'm too tired to talk to Jesus." He smiled and said, "Go ahead..."

"God. I need you today. Amen."

My most sincere prayer. Ever. LOL.

Little did I know, God would teach me something through the very words He placed on my lips.

After dropping Robersy at music practice I bee-lined it for SCORE. Surely they'd have coffee. 

Sidenote: I have been pretty good at avoiding caffeinated beverages during my pregnancy, however, there are SOME DAYS that a woman, who is growing a human being, needs some extra assistance. 

I enjoyed sitting with a few bus drivers at breakfast. They took bets on whether I was having twins or triplets while I quietly ate my pancake. 

After finishing up, Anna (a good friend and fellow missionary) and I started the walk over to the church. I just needed to grab my Bible from the truck. Balancing my coffee, 2 bananas (requested by Robersy) and my phone while opening the door... it all went down hill. There went the phone. In to the ONLY puddle in sight. Then the coffee went shortly after.

"God. I RRREEEAAALLLLLYYYYY need you today. Amen."

Thankfully the circumstances didn't get me down (Anna is my witness!). Not sure if it was the coffee in my system or the Holy Spirit within me, but it was just another reminder that I need HIM. 

This morning during Robersy and my "Monday Morning Prayer Time" we got chatting about our need for the Lord EVERY day! Good days, bad days, sunny days, rainy days. We are reminded of the verse that Pastor Nate shared briefly yesterday found in 2 Corinthians 12:9. "But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

The Spirit stirred my heart to jot a note beside the verse "When we doubt His promises, we doubt who He is."

If He says His grace is sufficient. THEN IT IS SUFFICIENT!
If He says He will give us a way of escape from temptation. THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY OF ESCAPE! (1 Cor.10:13)
If He says He will never give us more than we can handle. HE WILL NEVER GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE. (Also, 1 Cor. 10:13)

How do I know? Because I know God is who He says He is... and if I doubt what He says, I doubt who He is.

This week God showed us our need for Him over and over again. In the good and bad.

God worked through Robersy on the baseball field. Preaching, playing and fellowshipping with Dominican and American college aged boys for His glory!

God allowed me to encourage, teach and talk with girls at the Lily House AND encourage others that I've met on the street using WhatsApp (this has become one of my favorite and most useful ministry tools, by the way!).

Although I wasn't able to go out this Thursday, my ministry partner did! She was able to meet up with some ladies and share Christ with them.

Robersy and I were blessed and encouraged throughout the week by groups, fellow missionaries, students and even some of you through your messages and posts. 

We were able to get some things we still needed for Josiah this weekend and today at our appointment the doctor says he's still doing well! Strong heartbeat and almost ready to be here. Countdown is still on (and Robersy still hasn't gotten the hang of the advent calendar... oh well! More for me! HAHA!).

Friends, may our daily prayer be, "God. I need you." because in the good, bad, phone-falling, coffee-spilling, sunny AND rainy days may we admit that we can't do this crazy life without Him. AMEN?!

It's the final countdown!!!

A drummer in short shorts and several men with perms is not what I was expecting when I opened the official music video to the song that has been going through my head over the last few days. Oh 1980's... what were you thinking?! LOL.

Even so, I've been humming away "It's the final countdown!!!" because here we are in January. And January means fresh start, new opportunities AND baby time! AH! Exciting... and very scary. However, since it's fun looking forward to life-altering events, apparently, we're using our Christmas advent calendars for "the final countdooooown."

Robersy hasn't been good at advent calendars since we started dating (could be because he didn't know they existed before hand...) so I'm still in the process of teaching him, by eating his chocolates until he notices. Of course, I am a beast on my own countdown.

I just get excited looking forward to things ahead.

Still, looking back is fun too!

I can hardly believe that 2015 is already behind us. 

Over the past few weeks I've looked back at previous blogs from this year. 

I get teared up reading about the women who have come in to our path. We've seen their struggles and challenges. Heartache and growth. One particular woman I shared about last May when we "cheered" with our honey bottles has gone through a tough time as, several months later, her daughter jumped off a balcony in a fit of rage. Thankfully the teen survived... but she may never be the same physically or mentally. P confesses that she finally understands the value of life and death, but is still torn about making a decision for Christ.

Thinking about the kid that fell out the truck, my trip to Santiago, being chased by a crazy person, falling on the beach, camp, saying "Hello!" to new friends and saying "See you later!" to others... it has been a memorable year.

Things from this past year often teach us, impact us and encourage us for all to come in the new year.
For example, yesterday I was able to chat with an intern that is back to serve with SCORE. She says the reason that she came back was based on the impact that a teen from Lily House had on her life last summer! Wow! Impact made and new opportunities are here!


During the church service on Sunday Robersy did an amazing job allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through him. My heart was moved by the message from Colossians, but one point in particular that he made has really urged me to think. 

After singing "God of this City" Robersy made this point. "God IS doing great things in this city! But my question to you is, are you are willing and prepared to be a part of His great plan?"

I think we'd all say... YES! I am willing to be a part of His plan!!! 

But what if that plan involved tears and heartache and failure to bring us closer to Himself?
Still willing?

And preparation? Am I truly PREPARED? Am I spending time in His Word and on my knees seeking a closer walk with Him?

I know that is my prayer for this year. That day by day my heart might grow to be more like HIS. That I might crave Him and seek Him and that others might be drawn to Him through my life and testimony.


Allow the challenges of last year to urge you to press on in 2016. Didn't finish that Bible reading plan? Slacked in church attendance? Feeling a little distant from your Savior?

Today is a new day.
New year.
Fresh start.

And believe me, each minute is one minute closer to Christ's return so we can all sing together "It's the final countdooooown!"

Holly Jolly... Lazy Dazys

I can honestly say I have never done this level of NOTHING in my entire life.

Well, it's not entirely nothing.

I've organized and cleaned my house, sorted through baby stuff and am working on a "stuff we still need - and time is running short!" list, I've baked cookies and tried new recipes... Robersy has even gotten in to the cleaning spirit and is currently sorting his drawers!

But apart from that we've been pretty lazy.

It's kind of nice :) We needed a break.

So honestly I don't have a whole ton to share except photos from our last few events leading up to Christmas and a couple from Christmas day. 

We enjoyed a couple of days with Robersy's family in Bani and on Christmas Eve we celebrated Noche Buena with a couple of Robersy's boys and their family with a meal like I have never seen in my life. It was a sweet time with a few visits afterwards to other boys on the team and some friends from church. We went home with LOTS of leftovers. Christmas day was celebrated with some relaxation and family time. We loved reading the Christmas story together and talking about what it might be like to have been present the day that Jesus was born. I can't imagine! 

I hope you enjoy the photos. See you in the new year!!!

A party for some of the faithful boys in our church/youth group. 

Another Christmas party and giving out lots of baseball gear!

Baseball players play basketball too I guess :)

Celebrating Christmas with the staff at SCORE. They work hard all year 'round!

We enjoyed the SCORE Christmas party!

Visited the Park of Lights with friends :)

We visited family and friends (this is Robersy's momma)

Robersy's step-dad Gio

Robersy chatting with his grandpa, Fabio.

Then we continued to eat and visit some others closer to home.

We ate a LOT.

Some more than others :)

Sweet friends!

"Santa" even popped by!

Don't judge the moo-moo :) 

So basically it's been a lazy couple of days, but we're thankful for the time to just rest. Tomorrow we plan to do a few visits and actually get dressed to leave the house.. but until then, I'll enjoy one more lazy evening!

Oh hey Christmas, you sneaky little sneaker!

I remember when I was only a few months pregnant.
Robersy recommended watching a movie, I got comfortable and within 10 minutes I was FAST asleep on the couch.
Watching movies with me is no fun.
However, when I opened my eyes, Robersy's face was right in my face! 

***WARNING: Never scare a pregnant woman!***

Freaked me out!
I thought I was going to deliver the baby right on our apartment floor!!!

This feeling came to me again on Friday. 
One week until Christmas?! 
Like Robersy's glaring eyes in my poor sleepy face. LOL.

I can hardly believe that Christmas is here already. 
Where did the year go?

One year ago... and since then so much has happened!!!

Next week I may elaborate a little more on some memories from the year, but today I want to focus on the the next few days ahead.

Sometimes things get SO crazy that they fly by and we miss it.

Even the story of Christ's birth is SO quick (you can read Luke 1 and 2 in about 7 minutes!) that we forget it was 9 MONTHS!

I shared last week about how being pregnant at Christmas has given me some insight on Mary's pregnancy journey (although not at all the same... but, you know what I mean!).

We think a sparkly Angel showed up, had a chit-chat with Mary - boom she was preggo and in a few short verses Jesus was born!

But for 9 beautiful months Mary watched her body transform. Others did too. Comments were made, rumors were spread and very few believed the story.

I'm sure she lost a lot of friends during those 9 months. Perhaps it was one of the most lonely times of her life. But in her womb she could feel flutters, kicks, karate punches and somersaults from Emmanuel, God with us.

I imagine she looked at other children and wondered what Jesus would be like. What would He look like? Would he suck His thumb? What would be His first word? Would He be sociable?

9 months of waiting and dreaming of her little Boy.

As time drew closer I wonder if she experienced Braxton Hicks contractions. I wonder if she had to give up running (yeh, I think I'm at that point people!). And I'm almost 100% sure that when she headed to Bethlehem, she sat side-saddle on that donkey.

***Side Note: that previous thought came to me when I caught a motorcycle taxi to the grocery store last week. Dominican roads are not the smoothest and my poor driver had the sun in his eyes, so he says. Thankfully he was going to speed of a trotting donkey... HOWEVER... oh, poor Mary***

Then it happened. No doctor or doula. No exercise ball or warm bath tub. No options of c-section, epidurals, or pain meds.

And what did they use to cut the umbilical cord?

Emmanuel. God with us.

The most beautiful story in Heaven and on Earth is something incredible to ponder. But when we get "wrapped up" (see what I did there?! lol) in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holidays we miss so much.

One of my favorite songs at Christmas is "While You Were Sleeping" by Casting Crowns.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rqhG2yT-58

Reminds me that even though getting/giving gifts, baking cookies, looking at Christmas lights, searching for a black Santa (yet to find one here...), even being with friends and family is such a fun and CRAZY time... don't lose sight of why we celebrate.

Don't let it jump in your face, send you for a loop and allow it pass by so quickly that you miss out on special times to share the best Christmas gift ever with others. 

Jesus Christ. Emmanuel. God with us!

HE IS HERE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq801o0WyXA
By Darlene Zschech

He is here
The Savior has been born
The one we've waited for
Surrounded by our praises

He is here
The promise of the king
To You our lives we bring
Let your glory be revealed

Joy to the World
Peace to all who love Him
The savior has been born
And all the heavens smile

Glory to God
We bring an offering to You
Join with all the angels
Singing Hallelujah

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE LARAS!!!

White girls can't dance... but I still do.

"Today I choose to dance :)"

Last week I focused on thankfulness and choosing to dance in ALL circumstances, but last night I accidentally took it too far! 

I danced... in public.

Now, let me say, I am all for a little dancing. I love how David danced in the presence of the Lord and I've been able to witness some beautiful dancing. But I will say one thing. This white girl can't dance.

Ask my hubby who desperately tried to teach me in our first few months of marriage. This is the same man that entered dance competitions for fun... 

I try, but I'll be the first to tell you. Don't expect anything pretty! HA-HA!

But in celebrating the birth of our Savior I just couldn't help myself! 

Our God... GOD ALMIGHTY, YAW-EH, SAVIOR, LORD OF ALL... chose to humble Himself and come in human form to dwell among us. EMMANUEL - God with us.

Not only that, but then He chose the most obscure vessel in which to come. A lowly virgin. Mary.

He could have entered the world with a chariot of horses. But He slipped in to our world unnoticed in the unlikeliest place. A stable??? A cave??? Among the animals :)

This week a friend and I had an interesting discussion about the place where Jesus was born. A stable or a cave... either way, I'm just thankful He came! 

And as a side note, let me tell you, being pregnant at Christmas is the coolest thing! I feel like I understand Mary a tiny bit more. I feel for her too. I cringe each time I get on a motorcycle taxi never mind riding a donkey for days!

As I've mentioned before, traditions are a little different here in the Dominican. Now, SOME people go crazy shopping like I'm accustomed to growing up in Bermuda... but in "el campo" (countryside) it is definitely more about family and FOOD! People will travel miles to be with family for a day or two and instead of sitting around playing with new gizmos and gadgets, they'll chat for hours on end while snacking on apples, grapes and gummy candies.

No matter how you celebrate, as believers we have SO much more to celebrate! A King who gave it all up to come to earth, live a perfect but VERY difficult life, and then died a cruel death on the cross... for me.

What greater gift.

Even though we focus on the 24th (here in the DR) and the 25th (State-side/Bermuda/UK/etc.), we have a reason to celebrate every day! Because Christ isn't just a Savior who died... He rose again and REIGNS VICTORIOUS!

For this reason we live and laugh and dance! But of course, He gives us reasons to dance every day!

This week we've watched our risen Savior do some pretty cool things right before our eyes.


A passport received for Y which will then lead to other things for her and her family in the near future.

An open invitation to a brothel on Wednesday morning where we shared the Gospel and loved on the precious girls who feel as though they are not worthy of anything more than selling their bodies on the street.

A Lily who came to the ministry unable to read, read her first book!!!

The church Christmas play went FANTASTIC!

Some families of Robersy's baseball boys came to our church's Christmas play where the Gospel was given and then a few came back the following night for church as well.

A group brought down a stroller that we had purchased in the States. Someone on the team put it together and it's ready to go... we're going to be parents... AH!!!


We have so many reasons to praise the LORD every day of our lives. If you think you don't have a reason, send me a message and I'll send you a list (especially since - if you are living, breathing and physically able to send me a message, you are more blessed than you can imagine).

Enjoy these photos from the week and remember how blessed we truly are.

The lovely dancers before the play

Lights. Camera. Action.

Robersy sharing the Gospel

The cast celebrating after the show.

Always a photo-op :)

A few of our "sons."

After a morning of baking with friends... we got a little crazy :)
This is Tonky.

My sweet Chiquita

Now excuse me while I turn on my Christmas music... and DANCE!

I think the turkey is pregnant!

I've eaten a LOT of turkey in my lifetime. Even though I am not American, we faithfully have it each Thanksgiving, we enjoy it most Christmases AND I savour it sliced on sandwiches throughout the year. I love turkey! 

However, I have rarely had the opportunity to cook it myself. Until this year on our Lily House trip to Jarabacoa...

A fellow missionary and fellow preggo (Sarah D.) was in charge of the bird and she allowed me to help her. After a thorough washing, massage and lots of seasoning it looked ready. 

The oven was set and everything was ready to go... until I remembered. There has to be a reason that people lose their wedding rings and other devices in the turkey's bum. 

"Did you check it?" I asked. 

"I don't think there's anything else." She answered. 

As I bent over and squinted to see what was up the dark canal I concluded, "If there isn't anything else... I think the turkey is pregnant."

I felt as though I got a glimpse into the world of an OB-GYN as I slid my hand in. Doing my best to deliver the Turklet with care.

FUN FACT: A male turkey is called a tom or a gobbler, a female turkey a hen, and a baby turkey a poult or chick. A young male turkey is called a jake and a young female is called a jenny. A group of wild turkeys is called a flock, a group of domesticated turkeys is commonly referred to as a rafter.

I found that when I Googled hoping that a baby turkey was actually called a Turklet.

Apparently "Jenny" was not preggo. Only giblets to be found. However, the turkey rocked and we gobbled it up!

I love that Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there will be times like these. "A time to laugh." (v.4)

But over the last few weeks I feel like I've experienced most of the emotions mentioned in this passage. Laughter, tears, thinking I was dying...

That is where our centipede friend comes in.

An innocent walk with the dogs turned into a confrontation with a foot long centipede. I have never felt so disgusted than having that creature crawling all over my foot and ankle.

I'm not entirely sure how it got there. I was under a tree at the time so I'm not sure if it fell and landed on my foot OR if it had been asleep in the middle of the road and I happened to wake it up. Either way... having a cockroach (basically Bermuda's national bird! lol) across my foot would have been preferable. Especially when that little bugger stung me!!! Right on my big toe!

I have never felt so much pain from an insect. 

I hobbled to the house knowing that Robersy would question my actions (He thinks every time I get myself into things like this it's because I'm doing something stupid. Which is partly true... HOWEVER, not this time!). 

Thoughts of big-toe amputations and an early baby delivery rushed through my mind (thanks Google) but thankfully everything turned out OK. "A time to be born and a time to die." (v. 2) I'm glad it wasn't my time.

There are SO many more stories to tell. One day I will really write a book. But God has called us to a life of adventure while serving Him on the mission field.

In between trying to move while balancing regular ministry, baby classes/appointments and just trying to live a normal life, I have realized one thing. Our life is anything but normal.

I actually LOL'd as I wrote that. As I write this I can hear the pigs running around and eating next door (I'm not being mean about our neighbors... they really are PIGS), I can hear motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) loaded with students on their way to school, I hear a man on a megaphone selling and trading used goods, but I can also see the sunrise.

In this crazy world we live in, there is reason to laugh, cry, sit quietly, love and dance. 

Today I choose to dance :)

Yesterday I did so (in my heart) with 10 baseball boys that just came to hang out/ EAT!!!/ play wii, dominoes, etc.  at the house while I spent some time with a friend.

I'll do so again today with 4 GAP students (students that are here to study for a year) that are coming to help us get the house in order.

And I'll continue to do so each day this week with the many people that God has chosen to place in our path and ministry.

I hope you choose to dance today too!