Last night it rained and guess who forgot to bring in the clothes off the clothes line? I've never had to line dry my clothes before coming here. It's kind of a nice way for me to start my day when it's sunny. Not quite sure what the plan is when it rains. The other thing we quickly learned about the effects of rain down here is that when you have tile floors inside and mud and gravel outside...well you can guess the rest.

As the day progressed, one of our dorm parents, Raul, came by and gave my dog an injection for her allergies. Later, I discovered I had lost gas for my oven and water heater. Within the hour I mentioned it one of the men that serves here, Julian, had it fixed. While that was being done, I went out to the patio and worked with some of the little boys on their reading. I can't get over how eager they are to learn.

One of the little boys here has been telling me all week that his mother is coming to visit him on Saturday. He wants me to take a picture of her for him. I hope she comes and I hope I'm able to meet her and take her picture. I have no idea why her children are here. It could be for so many different reasons.

Living By Faith

Average day. (Whatever that's supposed to mean.) Laundry, homeschool, teaching kids to read, hugs, smiles and pushing kids on swings. Almost sounds like the lyrics to a song I would write. If I looked at those same task with eyes of faith the list of my actions today might look differently. It might look more like praying and listening to God early in the morning as I hang my clothes on the line, influencing and guiding my children in their education, study of Gods Word and enjoying my children, teaching children to read so that some day they will be able to read God's Word for themselves, and showing the tangible love of God. Some may say that's over spiritualizing, but is it really?

I just had an interesting conversation with a missionary here in Mexico. We were talking about what the balance between responsibility and faith looks like. If we are living by faith, then what are our responsibilities? We want to whole-heartedly say "my sole responsibility is to obey God." Yet our culture, our society, wants us to predict the future and say when, where and how are we going to be next year. Most make it sound like it the responsible thing to do. Plan for the future. Plan to have this or that paid off by....or what job do you have lined up when you're finished with what you're doing.

I find that if I voice what I even think I may be doing in the future, that it has a way of guiding my decision making. I start to fulfill my own prophesy so to speak. I so want to live a life that pleases God first and not just by what I do, but by who I am in and through Him. I want to live and walk in such obedience that to say no to something is just as obedient as it is to say yes.

I'm finding that trusting God has been taken to a whole different level. My challenge is to stay spiritually disciplined without keeping a spiritual routine. Each day is different here. I haven't seen two days alike. Even the roosters don't crow at the same time every morning!

Learning to comprehend a new language is challenging, but not a bad thing. It's teaching me to be a better listener. Maybe it will help me be a better listener to what God is saying to me.

These are my thoughts for today. Looking forward to tomorrow because I know the One who gives me tomorrow with all of it's designed purpose.

Preparing Christmas Info. For Sponsors

We've been busy beavers preparing information for sponsors. Not only does all the information have to be updated on each child, but Lynette makes sure that the pictures of each kid are perfect. On top of that we've been making labels with information on each child, labels for each letter of course and then sorting all the kids pictures to get them off to churches and schools that would like to sponsor a child for Christmas. Whew...It's easy to forget all the work that goes into a mailing, especially when you want it to be as personal as possible.

After the mailing was prepared, Tyler and I took a trip to the flea market across from the church. We shared a delicious pizza, bought some headsets for $2.50 and a few other odds and ends and then we tried a slurpee type drink called Tejuino de nieve. It has kind of a lime with salt taste and it's very bright green. Had to try one.

The next thing I'm looking into is a way to keep warm at night. Since there's no central heating and we have concrete walls for our house, it's getting very cold at night. I'm told this is just the beginning and to prepare for December.

Things We Take For Granted

Today we celebrated our 32nd anniversary at Templo Christiano Elim. The service was packed. There was great fellowship during and after the service. It was a great time of sharing what God had done and is continuing to do in LaMision. We were also reminded about the privilege it is to be able to gather in large numbers when many of our brothers in sister in Christ living in other countries are being persecuted for gathering such as we did today. I was reminded not to take the assembling of ourselves in the name of Christ for granted.

Later this afternoon, one of the children in the orphanage asked me to please teach him how to read. I assumed that since he was bright, happy, clothed, fed and safe that he naturally could read too. I gathered some simple books and sat with him. We went over sounds and words together. In just a few minutes I had 4 or 5 other boys wanting to learn to read. The boys that had come to the orphanage as older kids probably had not gone to school and were at the same level as the 5 year old kids that had come to the orphanage as babies and had started school this year. Never had I encountered so much eagerness to learn.

I am learning that I take more for granted than I ever thought I had. I am also learning that most of us have more to give than we ever thought. If we sat down and wrote out everything we know how to do and try to pin point when and how we learned how to do it maybe our eyes would be opened to the great need to pass on what we have learned. A simple thing like the ability to write, read, tie a shoe, to show love and kindness, are things that have been taught. Taught by actions for some, but nevertheless they were taught.

God has blessed us to bless others. Give it all away and watch how quickly you are blessed again.