Downsizing and praising Jesus!

So I actually DID write a post last week, but craziness brought me home VERY late in the evening and I didn’t have time to post. But I will post two night so I don’t have to repeat :) Remember I wrote it when I was sick, so forgive any bad grammar or negativity, LOL!

As for this week…

Good news is we are finally moved to our new apartment!!! It took us a week to get here, but it was an absolutely CRAZY week of translating and serving, so it was totally worth the stress. Right now I just have a LOT of laundry to do, but it should be a “normal” week unless …

OH MY SOUL, I have to share this. Right when I was typing that sentence my phone rang! I was going to say “unless God has other plans”… God has other plans I guess. Well at least tomorrow morning. Just going to play with some babies in a maternity ward with a group. This will be good research for plans FAR FAAAAAAARRRRRRR in the future! HAHA.

Anyways, where was I!?

This past week was not only busy, but it was a TOTAL blessing. I served with a youth group from North Carolina (Made me miss my Edgees in Bermuda!!!) and it was fantastic visiting many of the ministries that SCORE works very closely with. From Lily House (I even got to sneak there about 3 times this week! Lol) to Pasitos, to feeding villages and learning about how to provide clean water, it has been great to see how other missionaries are serving and what God is doing close by.

Robersy stayed busy too. As well as coaching and discipleship he had groups come and visit his practices and of course he did most of the moving and running around for the apartment situation.

One of the things I realized this week is how thankful I am for the body of Christ! I must of said “thank you” a million times this week because I was just SO grateful for people who stepped in to help or encourage us. I know I posted about it on FB, but so many interns, baseball boys, missionaries and friends really came to our rescue. It made a week that could have totally caused a heart attack a LOT better!

So that is what God is doing in our lives lately! I’m going to leave you with some photos of last week and of our new place. Enjoy and know that we are praying for you. Please send us specific prayer requests if you’d like! Rslara14@gmail.com

Youth group

JJ sharing his testimony at youth group

Baseball ministry with Robersy

Guest room/office... COME AND VISIT!

Our room

Kitchen/living room

View from the kitchen

Bathroom

Home sweet little home :) Thank you LORD!

GOD BLESS!!! 

Last weeks missing blog!

Well, there’s good news and there’s bad news.

The good news – it wasn’t pride after all. I can handle 9 miles and I can do it well J yay!

The bad news – I’m really sick. I have Chikunguya.

I’m usually a pretty good sick person. 2-3 days tops and I’m back to my normal energetic self. But this virus is straight from Satan himself! Seriously. Check it out (http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/)

In the first few days I had severe joint pain. Couldn’t walk, lift my head, bend my fingers, NADA! Fever, chills, headaches, backaches, just very serious overall PAIN.

Then in some sick deal, my body traded the pain for nausea.

Then it decided it wanted a little of that pain back to go along with the nausea.

Then it gave those both up to take on an extreme allergic reaction to the virus flowing around my body. This includes itchy skin and a full-body rash.

Currently I’m still rocking that rash while the rest of my body is too swollen to wear wedding rings or high heels.

Bear with me for this last part. I think I would have dealt well with the whole thing, HOWEVER, to get rid of the pain I took Tylenol, for the nausea I took nausea medicine and for the rash and itching I took Benadryl. So from Sunday to the following Sunday this is how my days have looked…

Wake up

Take Tylenol

Take Benadryl

Take nap

Wake up

Eat lunch

Take Tylenol

Take Benadryl

Take nap

Wake up

Clean/pack a section of house if able to walk

Eat dinner

Take Tylenol

Take Benadryl

Sleep

To some people that is an awesome week! To me it was the MOST BORING WEEK OF MY LIFE!!! I’m done with being sick. So please, dear friends… PRAY THAT THIS GOES AWAY!!!

Picture taken when I felt a LOT better :)

Today we begin super sports week/Kosmos/moving week/still getting over being sick, etc.

So we are gonna need some MAJOR prayer!

We are thankful to serve, but want to do it with a pure heart so more than anything we do ask that you pray for our attitudes.  We will be mainly translating and hosting clinics. We’re excited, but of course with so much on our minds we just need to FOCUS.

On an exciting note, a friend is here this week so we get to see DEAN! There is something exciting about sharing air with a fellow Bermudian J

So that is life.

Crazy.

But we love it <3

Trusting HIM each step of the way!!!

PRIDE HURTS!

PRIDE HURTS!

I know this because I’m sitting in absolute pain because I just HAD to run 9 miles cuz I wouldn’t let a high school kid beat me. Okay, so he’s a marathon runner…  I’m determined. Okay, so he’s 18… I’m 28, that’s still young right? He’s enrolled in the Marines! I’m in God’s army!!! Haha!

The perfect leg rest

Actually, to tell you the truth it was an awesome run and the pain is totally worth it! The knee brace, Tylenol and Epsom salts will get me through! And pride will get me up tomorrow morning to run again J

Giving it your ALL isn’t a bad thing. In fact, that’s what we’re called to do. (1 Corinthians 9:24)

HOWEVER, there comes a time when we need to take a step back and rest a bit. I’ve been convicted of this a lot lately, but when is it the appropriate time to rest? Life keeps slipping away and I’m exhausted! It seems that whenever that moment arrives, something else comes up!

I don’t know if you’re like me, but many times I’ve got to SEARCH for time to rest. Put it in your schedule; make it a part of your day… FIND TIME TO REST. That is my advice today! To me and to you... REST! Right after I finish this blog, that is what I plan to do :)

This week has been B-U-S-Y!

As mentioned in previous blogs, we are in the process of moving… but sometimes, especially here in the Dominican, moving involves waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Still, we have packed all we can pack and now we wait.

Meanwhile, ministry continues!

At Lily House a new class has been added to the afternoon schedule. SELF-DEFENSE! It is so much fun not only teaching the ladies how to defend themselves spiritually in discipleship and devotionals, but now I am learning along with the girls how to defend ourselves physically! I tried out my new moves with Robersy and, well… I need to practice. Defending yourself is an even bigger challenge when you’re 5’1’’ and can be lifted off the ground!

On Wednesday Robersy has started a new study with his baseball players, while I attend a Bible study with the women from church. Both studies were great! Robersy had awesome reports about some of the older boys wanting to stand up in their Christian walks. He challenged many saying, “Where are you going to be in 2015? Are you going to be right where you are now?” We should ask ourselves the same question!

The women’s study went great and we learned the importance of GOD FIRST in our lives… that is until a lizard landed on me and the Dominicans starting cheering and congratulating me. Apparently when a lizard falls on you in this culture it means that you’re preggo or about to be. LOL! I’ll keep you up-to-date on that one!

Thursday night ministry was AWESOME. Rachel (intern in San Pedro) and I had talked about how we needed to do something for her last night of ministry (until God shows her that Boca Chica is exactly where she needs to be, since I need her in my life!!! Lol). So we made little baggies of toiletries and tracts to hand out to 30 women. Of course, there is always a crowd when we’re giving away free stuff, but it allowed us to meet many women that we’ve never met before.

As well as meeting knew ladies, it was great to sit and chat with our regulars. Please specifically pray for Y and G as there is interest, but still no commitment. This week I challenged Y to read Romans 1 of the New Testament we gave her. Key verses are highlighted, so pray she reads and sees the light!

Friday and Saturday I was in bed with a cold, but once again it was cool to see our youth group leaders step up to the plate. JJ, a summer intern, even shared his testimony in Spanish! So proud of what God is doing through our missionaries, interns and students.

So that is a summary of our week in the Dominican! Seeds still being planted, fruit still being grown… race still being run.

As always we covet your prayers for our spiritual lives, marriage, and ministry.

ALSO, please specifically pray for our friend and founder of SCORE, Ron Bishop who is currently barely holding on to life. He was hospitalized earlier this week with a blood clot, but with other major complications things are worse. We beg God to do His will. God is on His throne and may do what He will, but more than anything we ask God to cover Ron’s family with peace and understanding AND if it be His will, we want to see a miracle!!!

GOD BLESS!!!

I'm a nerd.

Daily confession... I am a nerd.
There, I said it.
I really am!
I watch animal planet, have a fact calendar and love to learn new things.
Two Christmases ago my parents bought me a calendar where you learn a new word every day. I LOVED IT! Best present ever.

Recently I was studying for a devotional that I gave this morning and researched some of the words. I discovered my new favorite definition.

Surrender =  To agree to stop fighting, hiding or resisting because you know that you will not win or succeed.

Now, I have used this word a million times but look at that definition! Just imagine it in the popular hymn "I Surrender All"...

"I agree to stop all fighting, hiding or resisting because I know I will not win or succeed,
I agree to stop all fighting, hiding or resisting because I know I will not win or succeed,
All to Jesus I agree to stop fighting, hiding or resisting because I know I will not win or succeed,
I agree to stop all fighting, hiding or resisting because I know I will not win or succeed."

Of course it wouldn't go with the rhythm or flow of the song, but I'm sure even if it did, it wouldn't be sung as often as it is now. People don't like to give up everything! Bodies, minds, control.

It's something I have to do daily. My will, my way, my, my, my... until it becomes His, His, His, His...

His ministry.
His children.
His plans.

I can try to manipulate everything to be my way, but then it's not true surrender. And that is what we as Christians are called to do. Surrender. ALL!

Making sure to get the con-con

Robersy and I have been reminded of this daily. For example, we are currently waiting for construction to be finished so that we can move in to our new apartment before a new family moves in to ours. Talk about freaking out! We have two weeks! God knows. Can't the guys work faster? God sees. Time is passing by. God is still in control.

Happens in ministry too. I've shared my fears of not being good enough and God says, "Let me handle it!"

And he sure has been handling it!

This morning a friend and I spent time learning how to make rice and beans with a lady we met on street ministry. It was a lot of fun and I actually learned a LOT, but more than that I came to understand why she does what she does. It allowed me to see her in her home with her children and we understand her situation more. This opens huge opportunities for ministry!

We've also been invited to share the Gospel at a brothel later this week. Pray for the Boca Chica ministry that is continuing to grow!

Meanwhile Robersy is coaching a LOT of baseball. But I love that his ministry expands so much greater than that. This past Sunday he even got choked up when he realized it was 2 of the kids birthday and their parents hadn't even realized. The boys have become more than just baseball players... he loves them like his sons. Pray as Robersy continues to share Christ through word and action!

Robersy with his new BFF, Monty

Youth group was particularly exciting this week as Geronimo Ventura (SCORE missionary) came to talk with the teens about living a godly life. Recently we've been noticing more and more teens living a double life. He shared his own testimony and reminded the kids that we are not promised tomorrow! We are excited to follow up with the young people who made decisions and keep pouring in to their lives!

So it's been a fab week and we are praising Jesus for what He is doing here in the Dominican!!!



That's us... how about you?
We'd love to hear about what God is doing in you and through you!
Keep in touch.

rslara14@gmail.com

I've got it!

“I’ve got it!”

If there is ANYTHING I have learned about baseball it is that those 3 words are GOOD to hear! It means, “Quick, get out the way… someone is in control.”

Same at a fancy dinner with friends, “Oh, put your wallet away… I’ve got it.” What do you do? You put that wallet away… someone is in control.

While you’re in the shower and you hear the phone ring. UH OH! Your spouse or kid yells, “I’ve got it!” Great… no need to rush, someone is in control (unless it's your 3yr old and who knows what they're gonna say!!! lol)

But those same 3 words whispered to my heart from the Creator of the Universe still makes me nervous.

Sharing the Gospel

Discipleship

My to-do list

Situations in ministry

Visa applications

Friendships

Loneliness

“Sarah, I’ve got it… TRUST ME! I’m in control.”

“Are you suuuuuure?”

“I’m sorry… were you here when I spoke this world in to existence?”

“I know, but my problems are different.”

“I’ve got it.”

“I might mess up!”

“I’ve got it.”

“No one understands me.”

“I’ve got it.”

These three words have been on my heart a lot this week. But that tiny part of me that still wants to be in control keeps creeping up. Here is a very real example. Are you ready to see the real Sarah? She’s scary.

I think about Thursday night ministry almost every day. And all day on Thursday I freak out a little. I run through the Gospel a million times in my head, meet up with my ministry partners, we pray and then we head out to save the world. But each time I share, I freak out!!! I think while I share too! What if I am sending this person on a righteous path to Hell because I quoted a verse wrong in Spanish? Or what if they followed me along in prayer and it wasn't worded PERFECTLY?

This past Thursday I had a little cry when I got home (sorry! I told you the real Sarah is scary! Lol) just cuz… I’m not made for this. I am SO not perfect.

"I screwed up God :( "

“I’ve got it.”

“No, but I don’t know if they understood.”

“I’ve got it.”

“But what if they prayed and they think they’re saved, but they’re not.”

“I’ve got it.”

You’d think I’d be used to my imperfect state by now (I have 28yrs doing a pretty good job of being imperfect!), but I just wish I was a better tool for Christ.

But as these 3 precious words are whispered to my dark and sinful heart… I realize it’s not up to me! I can try until I’m blue in the face to get everything right, but it doesn't depend on me. The sun does not rise or set because Sarah did or did not get things right. HE’S GOT IT.

That means, “Get out the way… He’s got it.”

That means, “Put those fears away… He’s got it.”

That means, “Relax… He’s got it.”

So I've been putting this in to practice and guess what… IT WORKS J

Robersy's team praying before practice began.

On Friday I truly placed youth group in to God’s hands and, though I was nervous, I knew it was not my youth group or my young people to control. They are God’s. And not only did everything go great, but 2 young ladies accepted the Lord as their Savior!

On Saturday baseball practice was placed in to God’s hands and we had 2 fantastic men come and share Christ with the boys!

A visiting coach sharing the Gospel at practice.

On Sunday we worshiped with our brothers and sisters in Christ, placed our day in His hands and… SLEPT! (Forgive us, we’re pooped!)

And today, as we finished up our to-do list and can do NOTHING more to change certain things on that list, we sat down with a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream (which is near impossible to find here in the Dominican! But we found it, YAY!!!) and we rested in those 3 beautiful words once again…

“I’ve got it.”

May we all rest in His ability and not our own. 

Remember... He's got it.

Life through the eyes of a Bermudian in the Dominican :)

HAPPY BERMUDA DAY!

Although I am far from home, I am filled with pride for the 21 square miles of heaven in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It hardly shows up on a map, but we are there… and we are PROUD!!!

Sure missed being home today… but there has been a lot going on in my home away from home too J

This past week was BUSY!

***You might see that word come up more often as the summer approaches, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing (as long as we keep our priorities right!). We are thankful for the ministry that God has placed in our lives***

On Wednesday there was celebration at the Lily House as we finished up the study of Esther by Elizabeth George. I have been teaching the study for months on how to be a woman that is beautiful (inside and out) and strong just like Esther. On Wednesday the girls shared what they have learned and how God is using the lessons to change things in their own lives. I know God has been teaching me some important things too! We finished off the afternoon by watching “One Night with the King” – the story of Esther – complete with popcorn and plenty of girly squeals through the whole movie J Next lesson starts this Wednesday. Pray that God would use each lesson to mold and make us in to women after His own heart!

Thursday was an exciting day for Robersy! If you know Robersy at all, you know that baseball is his world… after Jesus of course… and hopefully after me J But when he gets to combine his love for baseball and his love for Jesus, it’s even more exciting! So on Thursday, a group from the states came to play with Robersy’s team and they were able to share Christ with them too. This visit from the American teens, that are the same age of the boys on Robersy’s team, came at the perfect time since there are several boys on the team that are seriously struggling in their walk with the Lord. Both the mission group and Robersy’s team left encouraged! It’s funny that no matter how different the language, the culture or the people are we share similar struggles in our Christian walk. Pray as Robersy begins a new study with his boys that will pinpoint areas in which the boys are struggling!

Those were just 2 special says that stood out this week, but we are grateful for the lessons we are learning through ministry every day.

On Sunday we celebrated Mother’s Day and we had the privilege of spending time with Robersy’s family in Bani. Something that I LOVE about the culture here is how family-oriented it is. Every holiday the traffic is horrendous as family travels to be together. I am thankful for the family that I married in to. It is HARD to be far away from my family and I miss them every single day, but God has blessed me with some pretty awesome family here in the DR.

So that’s life through the eyes of Sarah Lara. We are blessed beyond measure as we strive each day to be more like Christ. We fall, we get up, and we carry on in HIS strength and not our own. We appreciate your prayers, emails and phone calls as you encourage us in our ministry. It’s not always easy… but it is SO worth it J

9:30PM... lights out!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28

Most nights I’m in bed by 9:30pm. I don’t have to sleep right away (although most of the time I do), but there is something relaxing about sliding under the covers and allowing the muscles in your body, as well as your mouth, heart and mind, to just REST. 

But then something crazy happens...

My alarm goes off! Then I get up, walk the dogs, run, shower, do my devotions, eat breakfast, head to Lily House for the day, get home, answer emails/messages, cook dinner, clean (I can’t sleep in a filthy house), shower, plan for the next day, read or watch a bit of TV and then I climb in to bed.

From the moment that I get home I am constantly glancing at the clock to see if it’s an acceptable time to climb back in to bed. Then I “rest” and do it all over again the next day! It is a never ending cycle and I never feel truly rested!

I was thankful to experience true rest for a few days this week. To tell you the truth, it wasn't when I was sitting and talking with the other ladies, or eating ice-cream in the mountains, or playing games… it was when I was alone with my Bible AND HEART open.

One of my favorite moments was when I stole away for a bit and sat beside the river. The sound of the river and the view of God’s creation filled my heart with gratitude for the One who made it all! True rest… even just for a moment.

But then we come back to reality. I don’t live in the mountains with a river running beside my home… but the God that was there in the mountains dwells here in Boca Chica too. 

Although it is SOOOO wonderful to escape to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, God has called me HERE, so it is possible that HERE that I will encounter true rest too… but only in the arms of my Savior.

I know for me I need to consciously set time apart to rest, maybe you do too :) But may the true rest we find in Christ give us the energy to carry on serving Him each day.

While I was resting, Robersy was serving... and just so you don’t feel bad, while I’m writing this blog, he is lying in bed reading His Bible finding true rest now :) 

This past Saturday boys came from Bani, San Pedro, Boca Chica, Guayacanes and Juan Dolio to play an all-day tournament that Robersy put together. Although I’m sure everyone went back to their home a few shades darker (it was a HOT day!) each child also returned to their home having heard the Gospel loud and clear.

Pray for boys (and coaches) who made professions of faith and for the seed that was planted in the others!

It’s been a great week, and so it begins again :) But we know it’s not in vain. May God ALONE be praised… and may we look to Him for the true rest needed for each day!