Fun with our teens.....

Our teens have been off school for this week and so we have been trying to think of new and fun things to do on our campus. Yesterday we played water balloon volleyball. If you've never done this, you must try it. Anyone can play and it forces you to work together as a team. It was humid yesterday and many of us were already playing volleyball. This was a great way to cool off and have fun too.
We also had worship last night. It was wonderful. It lasted over 2 hours. As we sang and gave praises to the Lord, He blessed us with a continually growing wind. It was a tangible presences of the Holy Spirit. The night ended with the chair thrown back and dancing taking place in the name of the Lord.
"Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp." Psalm 149:3
We had bongo drums and guitars. Loved every minute of it. Praise his Holy name.

Thank you Jesus, West Kirk Pres. and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

Recently the Lord blessed Meme and her soup kitchen. Every Saturday for over a year now, Meme has gotten up early, cleaned, gathered wood, started a fire or two, and began cooking for 70-120 people. Earlier on in the life of the soup kitchen, she would then invite people, lead the singing and then preach from the Word of God. The Lord has taken the soup kitchen a long way. Now thanks to a generous church from Iowa and Christain school in Ohio, she has a gas stove. God has brought people from a church in Monterrey to help with the preaching and teaching. Praise God for how He uses His team of people to make Meme's burden's lighter and provide for his people.

How quick was that.....

Just last Thursday, April 16th, Greg and I were praying with Edgar and Cony asking God to show us how He was going to provide insurance and other financial needs that they had. Just a little over a week later God brings the James Fund leaders to visit their home. About a month or two ago they were contacting us asking how Edgar and Cony were making ends meet. They wanted to know if he worked a second job. We said no, but were sure why they asked. God has already at work in their minds and hearts to provide more for their family. Just today they committed to providing over what they need to have insurance for their family, diapers, milk, etc. God is so good. As Cony was humbling sharing their needs I couldn't help but smile as Greg and I had experienced God's provisions in similar humbling way. God is so good like that. Praise His Name with us today, will you.

Edgar and Cony of Manantial de Amor

Please pray for Edgar and Cony. They ask for nothing and work so hard. The children's home they work with have primarily teens and preteenagers. They have four girls. One 5 yo, one 3 yo and twins who are 6 monthish. They live off of what the home brings in and have no insurance for their family. Will you join me and them in praying that God will provide all of their needs? Thanks

The power of touch........

We have a group of doctors here. They saw some kids at Manantial de Amor today. After the day, one doctor said I feel like maybe we made a difference in at least one child. Immediate God brought to mind a girl who had been seen by the doctors and was told all was fine. Later she came back to say, am I healthy? I couldn't help to think that these children were receiving a message of care. I mean when you take a child to a doctor whether healthy or sick you tell them they matter. When a doctor checks their ears, listens to their hearts, touches there hands, back, face,,,,,, the message is you matter, you mean something to us, to God. I've said this before, when you treat someone's body you open doors to their emotions, their soul and many times to things spiritual. You give a message of care that allows others to confide in you. As these 2 doctors and one medical doctor continue their week will you pray God will use them as He opens doors to their hearts and speak words of love and care and they give the power of touch.

Recent family photos

Here are some pictures of our boys.
The end of March, Mark turned 8 and Ben turned 12 years old. Hard to believe we have children that old. Luke has been taking Tae Kwon Do and is a yellow belt. While Ben has been enjoying playing baseball. With his height now at 5"6', he is a head or two above this teammates and finds himself playing first base to stretch those long legs. All three boys are getting pretty good in their spanish and this weekend with the guidance of their teachers they are doing a fundraiser for the International Justice Mission. This organization helps investigate cases and frees slaves around the world. I hope to have pictures later. We are extremely proud of our boys and wanted to update you all on what they are doing.

Thank you for your prayers.....

For those of you who know, I spent a week with my parents in Florida. I spent most of my days inside and not by the beach however it very well maybe the visit I remember most. My parents are so giving and have given us 6 kids so very much (for those of you who don't know I'm the youngest of 6 children) . My Mom and Dad have always given so much to us kids, it was nice for a change to give back to them. Thank you for your prayers as my time was special and full of laughter, some tears, and prayer. Here are just a few pictures of my Mom and Dad. My sister also lives in Fl and took my bike riding on some dirt trails. We had a lot of fun and I almost kissed a few trees in the process.

"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Thessialonians 5:17
God is so good. I experienced something this week that I never had before. Many people tell me you know you are fluent in another language when you automatically think in that language or when you dream in that language. Well, I don't know if this totally connects but as I was flying to see my parents last week, I found myself automatically praising the Lord in my head. I don't know if I was just in awe of how great and huge our earth is, or how beautiful the sun and clouds are. Or maybe I was nervous in a subconscious kind of way. Anyway, as I was enjoying the view, words of praise were just flowing through my head. Joy was radiating in my heart. As we flew higher so seemed my spirit was flying high as well. Now that I'm back on the ground I find myself praying for flowing praise to continue to come to mind all throughout the day. Praise the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.

3's About Me:

THREE NAMES I GO BY

* Cathy
* Cath
* Bubbles

THREE JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE

* Occupational Therapist
* Clinical Research Specialist
* Missionary

THREE PLACES I HAVE LIVED

* Lebanon, IN
* Monterrey, Mexico (currently)
* Chicago, IL


THREE TV SHOWS THAT I WATCH

* Amazing Race
* What Not to Wear (I need help)
* any sport my husband watches- tonight MSU beat NC

THREE PLACES I HAVE BEEN

* Alaska
* Glacier National Park
* Jackson Hole, WY

PEOPLE THAT E-MAIL ME REGULARLY

* Supporters
* Staff that i work with
* My family

THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS

* fruit- almost any kind
* Tacos Valle de Santiago
* Salmon


THREE THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
* Heaven
* seeing God work in my life and watching new things around me
* spending the rest of my life with my husband and watching my boys grow up to be men.
I want to know your 3 things! Copy and paste this into your blog and erase my answers and add yours! Let me know you do it so I can read it!!!

He will quiet you in His Love.......

Zephaniah 3:14-17
"The Lord you God is with you, he is mighty to save. Hi will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

The last week I have been visiting my parents. We've had many talks about old times and many times have discussed what type of a child I was. Well, lets just say I'm thankful their memory isn't able to remember it all. It's interesting how I can be 41 and very much an adult and yet still and always will be their child. I was reading this morning how God is my Father. I often have no problem of seeing Jesus as my friend, or Savior. But I often think I'm an adult what do I need a Daddy for. I really need to let God love me as His child. I need to turn to him first. I recently and have done so many times, relied on my husband to take away my pain, to know what I'm thinking or react like I think he shoulc. I often look to my husband or friends to fill a place only Jesus, and my Father God can fill. Do you believe God is mighty to save. Do you believe He will take great delight in you. That he can quiet you with his Love. And just like a father rocking his child, He rejoiced over you with singing. I am trusting my heavenly Daddy to quiet me with his love. Will you?