Our new digs

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minus Ben's room. I'll try and get that on soon.

Hurt People Hurt People

A fight broke out before Sunday school class a couple weeks ago. These two boys couldn't be more than 8 years old. Two other women from Back2Back helped peal them apart. The class was chaotic at best. There was a spirit of anger in the air. More than those two boys threw punches at each other. After the class was over these two went at it again. My friend Mandy was able to peal them apart and she stayed with the instigator. Christy, another friend took the other boy and cared for him. Mandy tells how she was praying about what to say to this boy and gave him a hug. In her arms he just broke down crying. Mandy asked his name and he responded "Carlos". Carlos cried for 5 minutes hard without letting up. On hearing this my heart melted as I remembered my frustration throughout the class wondering if the kids were really getting anything. I'm quick to get angry with those kids who always pick fights and often don't take the time to remember that they are hurting too and need the love of Jesus just as much as the others. Some times when my flesh wants to fight back and get angry I need to listen to the Spirit to see if he wants me to embrace that kid, my son, my neighbor, or anyone else who hurts me. Perhaps we can be the arms of Christ by embracing someone that is hurting us.

Seeing a difference.......

I am so blessed in doing what I get to do. Many days I experience the joy of the Lord. Not that everything works out great or is perfect. Often the work that the Lord has us doing we don't see the results right away or ever. We just need to trust that the Lord is doing what He has promised and that perhaps on the other side of heaven we will see the results. Milagros is different. She's one of those cases that God is allowing us to see the differences on this side. Through a very generous donation of several people from a church that was here this summer, Milagros has been able to attend a school for the deaf. Through this opportunity she is learning a lot. This will definitely open opportunities for her. I also am seeing a growing sense of independence in her and her mother. Tere, Milagros's mom sees her daughter as a capable girl verses a dependent the rest of her life. The Lord used this group of people in the lives of Milagros and her family. The kind of impact that will change her future. Almost weekly Tere shares her thanks to God for this group and the impact it is having on her daughter. Praise God for the great things He has done.

I'm choosing not to show you a picture I took.

Yesterday I went to the Rio with a friend of mine named Carter. Carter is a doctor and he was seeing quite a few sick people. All with colds, viruses or bacterial infections. He handed out medicine and we spent the afternoon talking, laughing and asking him medical questions. At the end of our time there, a woman mentioned that some people involved in witchcraft left a doll in the field across the way. This being so foreign to me I went to check it out. It was explained to me that the night before a car pulled up and parked in the field. It was dark and the people at the Rio were unsure of who it was and what they wanted. Fear and concern began to grow in the Rio. After a little time Meme decided that by themselves each woman in their own home was just frightened and unable to do anything. So Meme called her neighbors and had them come together to confront the car. As they did they saw a woman and a man passed out in the car without any clothes on. They woke them up and scared them off. That was about one in the morning. The next morning in the field the people in the rio found a rubbery like doll with two heads and a substance that was supposed to look like blood (not sure if it was)on it. Since it had been several hours when I had seen it there were ants all over the thing. When I asked Meme what it was and why it was there, she stated that it was to scare people at the rio. I had taken a picture of it but decided to erase it from my camera. As much as I was curious and thought of sharing it with you, I realized that I was just perpetuating the purpose of the doll. I have been praying for the people of Meme's rio ever since. This is just a little of what the families are fighting against. I have been thinking of all the kids that play in that field. The image that burns in my memory are in theirs as well. I have prayed that Jesus would take captive that image not just in my mind but the minds of those little ones as well. I pray for protection and strength. I pray those people know that He who is in us is stronger that he who is in the world. Would you pray with me.
So posted here is the photo worth posting. The woman that fight the enemy on a daily basis. Pray for these women, children and men.

Greg preached his first sermon in Spanish

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I am so proud of my husband. They even gave him applause.

Domingos a Douglas

God has laid it on the hearts of Jim and Betty to lead church at Casa Hogar Douglas. The asked Greg to preach and the boys and I went along. Mark and Luke and I helped with the toddlers while Greg preached to the 9year olds to the 15 year olds and Betty taught 5-8 year olds. We began worshipping together in their chapel which is at the top of a hill. We went early to sweep it out and clean. It hadn't been used for a while. It was a great morning to worship with these kids. There are about 75 kids at Douglas and few workers. They are lacking spiritual input. Both the kids and the workers just seemed tired. I believe God used the vision of Jim and Betty to give them Hope. Not sure how that will work, if we will continue to have church there on Sundays or for how long. I am thankful for how God continues to use Greg and how he is using his gifts and is given such joy in return.

God is the biggest WHAT......

Recently heard a sermon from Graham Cooke. He tells his testimony with a statement that I think has really got me thinking. He feels that God has made us all so very differently. He's made us in a way that allows us to experience different parts of him the most. For Graham God is the kindest person he has ever known. For some He is the most loving, for others He is the most forgiving, for others the most gracious. What is He to you? God is the most_______ I've ever known. You fill in the blank.