Stupid Red Cups... Take Two.

Well here we are. 
30 weeks. 
30 weeks of growing a child! 

That means 10 weeks until our lives are switched upside down and we get to meet a little boy that will part of our lives forever!

Recently my sister posted this photo of our trip to Disney in August.

August 2015

In 3 months my body has changed incredibly!!! Although the 30 weeks have passed in the blink of an eye… the change is VERY evident.

November 2015

Looking back even further, I remember Robersy and my first “date.” I’m not sure if we can even call it that since it was at a camp banquet AND we took a translator with us since I hadn’t quite mastered Spanish yet. LOL.

Summer 2009

Once again, those 6 years have passed in the blink of an eye. Who would have known that my banquet date would one day be my hubby!? (Although if you've heard my testimony... I totally knew. But we'll save that story for another day).

I love looking back and reminiscing. Some memories make me laugh. Others make me cry.

Then I think back to how our world has changed. When we laughed at the thought of prayer being taken out of schools... thought persecution was something that only happened in the Middle East... would never have guessed that someone would be recognized as a HERO for changing their gender.

On Monday, although I didn't post, I actually did write a blog. Some of my blogs will never be public. But it was entitled, "Stupid Red Cups." HAHA. You can imagine the rant that ensued. I've revamped my blog to not speak about specific situations since my goal is to not step on toes... just to share my heart and what God has been teaching me. 

But here is my question... How have we become so concerned about cups that we forget about the BIG things?

Remember that video I posted last week?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esxy6ZwpZuQ

From what I have heard this video has been showed in churches, Bible studies and of course shared over 2 million times throughout the internet. 

But do we get it?

Does God's Word just count in some situations and not in others? 

Do we get to chose when it counts?

Do we live it?

Then those stupid red cups. And I say stupid, because they really are. I can honestly say I do not have one cup in my home that has the nativity scene on it, a baby Jesus or even the star above the stable. I don't expect Starbucks to. 

But I take joy in sharing the Christmas story with the girls I work with, their children, the youth group and everyone else who will listen!!! And I dance around my house to all the precious songs about what this season means to us as believers. 

We shouldn't expect the world to get it because 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."

So we know these things. We memorize them (sometimes in 2 languages!), we read books about it, have Bible studies about them, we talk about it in small group, and then we do not OBEY.

Friends. Our world is changing. Our lives are changing. But we can chose to make a fuss about things that we have no control over... or we can take a stand of obedience in our lives and not just memorize/talk about/ post about it. 

And God honors OUR  (that's both yours and mine) steps of obedience. 

I'll share some examples from Robersy and my life this last week.

This is obviously not one of the boys. But we're thankful for Pastor Nate
who shares with the boys on occasions too!

Some of the boys that Robersy discipled... are now discipling others. These boys (teenagers from 16-18yrs old) are the ones that stand up and share Christ with their peers. We're praying for their faithfulness and spiritual growth. We hope they won't just be great baseball players... but we beg God to form them into men that love Him and serve Him with their lives.

A girl that I've have the privilege of discipling made the decision to be baptized this week! Her words to me were "I'm ready to take some steps in my life regarding education, family, etc. but how can I not take the next step in my spiritual walk first!" You go girl!!! 

A group of ladies came to know a girl on the streets over a year ago. I have had the blessing of following up and bringing her to church off and on over several months. Yesterday she gave her life to the Lord. Then a friend who she had brought then led her husband to the Lord too! 

You see... obedience isn't just memorizing. It's taking action.

Friends, before you post - climb on your soap box - or hate on others. Take a look at your own life. Are you taking action in your own spiritual walk? 

I pray God will give Robersy and I the strength to do this daily. How about you?

Home! Home? Where is home?!

I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to fly "home" for a few days. I was able to attend the baptism of my godson and celebrated my little bundle that is on his way too :) It was a busy, but relaxing week AND I got a lot accomplished (a lot of passport stuff I needed to get ready for Josiah). Thank you LORD! It felt good to be "home" but my heart still missed my other "home." I know a LOT of people can relate!

A few weeks ago a friend and fellow missionary gave me a few books to look through. Robersy politely accepted them for me and I stuck them on the shelf with a bunch of other books I haven't read yet. However, I took one with me on my trip back for an "easy read."

It shares about the life of Ruth Bell Graham (wife of Billy Graham) through stories and quotes by some important people - Barbara Bush, Lady Bird Johnson and of course her husband and children.

On the flight home, while I was feeling excited to get "home" and sad to leave "home" all at the same time, I was finishing up the last chapter and found such a timely paragraph shared by her daughter, Ruth. It says...

"One of the deep sorrows of my mother's life occurred when she had to leave the shelter of her home, that secure compound, and go away to Northern Korea to high school. She has often said that God was then preparing her for a lifetime of good-byes. But to a young thirteen-year-old girl whose heart was breaking with homesickness, she had no idea what God's purposes would be and therefore turned to the One she knew she could trust above all others, her heavenly Father. Early in her life she made Christ her home." p. 171, Ruth Bell Graham - Celebrating an Extraordinary Life.

Isn't that cool!

My heart is so torn between Bermuda, Dominican, Scotland, England, Canada and the States since my family and friends are so scattered around, that every time I say "HELLO!" to one person it requires a "GOODBYE" to someone else.

But there is security in Christ. Our safe place :)

Maybe you won't be "home" for Christmas or your loved one hasn't been "home" for ages or because of your circumstances you just never quite feel at "home." If you know Christ as your Saviour... you are always HOME!

Hope you feel encouraged by that today!

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I left you all hanging last week since I was traveling, but as always we appreciate your prayers throughout the week!

Robersy was involved in some clinics while I was gone and he is out and running around with SCORE's Baseball Conference this week. Pray for that! For safety and of course all those ministering and the many being ministered to. They will be playing a LOT of baseball and talking a LOT about Jesus! These are two of Robersy's favorite subjects so he's going to enjoy every minute!

Josiah (our son) is doing well and wiggling a lot. We'll have another check-up next week to make sure we're on track for our last 12 weeks. He loves Kraft Mac & Cheese and since he's kicking so much I have convinced Robersy that he is destined to be a football (soccer) player. Robersy is not impressed!

Although I was unable to go out for ministry the last two Thursdays my friend still went out and said she was able to chat with some of the regular ladies and several of the street kids. It has been a rainy week (which we love - more rain, less ladies) but I'm looking forward to seeing the girls this week as well as arranging our ministry at the brothel in the next few weeks.

Thanks again for your prayers! Please let us know how we can pray for you!