Choosing what is comfortable......

Sleeping in Getting up early

ice cream sundae Food that is good for me

staying home Getting out to visit a neighbor

keeping to myself Sharing life with others

Not sharing what I'm struggling with Going to a respected person and asking for prayer

avoiding pain Trusting God will see me through and that I will grow

doing only things I'm good at Trusting God will give me strength for

anything He calls me to do

God is teaching me more and more that comfort is over rated. It is. It seems good. But it leaves me out of so many growing moments that the Lord has for me. It leaves me flabby when He wants me to exercise. Sure it can hurt. A good exercise causes small micro tears in our muscles that must exist for your muscles to heal and grow stronger. (that's my Occupational Therapy background coming out). So recently I'm seek God to help me know what to do and not. I'm not relying on my "want to's or don't want to's". Cause with my judgement, I just end up flabby. I don't want that, do you?

Pray for Leslie

Please pray for Leslie, her tumor is growing back. The doctors had said that she might need two shots of this vaccine, however we were all hopeful that it would only take one. It is not fun receiving a shot in the face without anything to numb it. Pray as her family is away from the Lord. Pray that they would seek Christ now.

Del Norte Library.....when you allow God to make your dreams big

God has used Marthas Rojas, the director at Del Norte Children's Home, in a big way. She has dreamed big and the Lord has blessed their children's home. Greg had the privilege to speak at the dedication. We were amazed at a really great place to learn, read and study. What a blessing.

"WE WANT HIM""

"No! You can't take him. WE WANT HIM" were the words that came from the back of the bus. About three of the guys from the group we had taken to the Rio, had their arms around him and weren't letting him go. Antonio, one of our B2B staff guys had jumped on our bus to see if Oscar, one of our jovens, had wanted to ride with him in another vehicle. The guys in the group were not letting him go. They wanted him with them and it was more than obvious. The smile on Oscars face told it all. This is what our ministry is all about- advocating for these kids and teens in Monterrey, Mexico; in Jos, Nigeria; and in Hyderbad, India. We as a staff feel called to give these kids and teens the message that we want them, Jesus wants them. When groups, supporters and advocates join us in saying WE WANT YOU, its God's way of screaming their value from the mountaintops! I hear the echos of Isaiah 41 :9-10 "I took you from the ends of the earth from its farthest corners I called you, I said, 'You are my servant' I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Have you heard God yelling this to you? He is yelling, " I want you." " I have chosen you and have not rejected you." Sometimes in life it doesn't seem this way. Its difficult to understand why things happen to us. But we need to know like those three guys, God embraces us and says " I want you and will not let you go." Have you heard Him?

When God's great plan comes together.......

Group member with one of our jovens

The guys cared for the kids while the women had a makeup time and Bible Study on Holiness

Hope, B2B staff sharing on God's holiness

Group from Atlanta, Ga putting on a VBS lesson for the kids

Men working to build a fence and gate for the soup kitchen

In the morning before we set out with another group to Rio 1, I was feeling uneasy. Would it rain? Will we have woman to come to the Bible study we had planned? The group had a VBS lesson planned? Would their even be children or would they all need to go to school? So many questions that God had to answer that day. As I prayed that morning, God reminded me that if he died for my sins and rose from the dead, He could really do just about anything. That morning I decided that I would trust this Almighty God of mine, which meant I would not worry or fret but trust in Him. Know what happened? The above are pictures of our great day.

I am the vine, you are the branches.......

My boys have been putting together a leaf collection. It has been fun and challenging a like. I remember doing this when I was in school. I remember identifying sassafras tree or oak or maple trees. They are looking up trees like osage orange trees, bouganvillas, and palm trees. This is really going along with what God is teaching me recently. In John 15, Jesus talks to his disciples and saying ,"I am the vine, you are the branches..... abide in me and I will abide in you." Recently Greg and I have been finding life to be difficult. Emotions have been low, ministry has been hard, good, busy and hard. Sometimes things happen to us that make no sense at all. You know the kind of stuff that makes you want to ask, why me? Through these times, I have learned that whether I feel like it or not, I need my time with the Lord. Whether I know He is near or hear His voice, I need to seek Him and trust He is there. When I abide, dwell, keep getting up when I'm too down to care, when I read and read and read the same scripture, when I find myself praying the same things time and time again, I find He is there. It does make a difference. Not because of what I do, but because of who He is. He is there, I am just obeying and choosing to trust. Without abiding I lose out on His promises. I am choosing to get up early, choosing to pray again and choosing to see things how He will show me. god never fails. He never fails. Thank you.

Happy Birthday Ben and Mark

The end of March means birthdays for two of our three boys. We were able to celebrate with birthday parties, a movie outside, sleepover and a day at American's Incredible Pizza. Above is the boys pictures with their teachers. Ben with Ms. Jessica (we didn't get one with Ms. Hope) and Mark with Ms. Ruby. We love you boys.

Pictures of Life in Mexico

Greg and boys on a hike on La Cerro de la Silla

handsome Ben, our 13 year old

SMCA Ancient Greece Olympic Day

Good looking Luke 10 years old

What a cutie, Mark age 9 years old

Easter thoughts....

Greg shared during a foot washing and communion time about how Jesus fulfilled the ultimate of promises of dying for our sins. If he has done such a huge thing for us so that we could live with Him forever, then he can trust Him for all the other promises that are found in the Bible.

Promises like:

-He is always with us

-We have a home prepared for us in Heaven, the things we suffer here on earth is only temporary

-He will give us what we need to do what He has called us to.

-He cares for the orphan and widow

-He will take care of injustice in the end times

- He loves each and every one of us

-He will carry us and sustain us through tough times, suffering and trials.

As I trust Him and praise Him for dying for my sins, I am trying to remember and trust Him for the daily promises that He has made for me. Praise you Lord.