Just like the man at the pool of Bethesda

I was reading in John 5 about the man at the pool of Betheseda. Here was a man who was unable to walk for 38 years, sitting by a pool waiting for a miracle. Hopeless at this point, and Jesus walks onto the scene. There was a great multitude of people in need of a healing and for whatever reason this man catches Jesus eye. A man, who didn't even know who Jesus was, catches His eye, and Jesus asks, "Do you want to be made well?" The man avoiding the question, answers with an excuse, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus is there, able to heal and the man is missing it entirely, he is explaining to Jesus why a healing is just not possible for him. Jesus doesn't care, He doesn't care that the man doesn't know who He is, that the man doesn't know that He can heal him. There is no faith here, just straight mercy being offered to a hopeless soul. Jesus answers, "Rise, take up your bed and walk". And immediately the man was made well. I was so touched by this story as I often find myself as the man at the pool, stricken with sin, guilt searching for a way to redeem myself. Then for no reason, other than His great love and compassion, Jesus turns to me and says "Do you want to be made well?" and of course just like that man, I come up with all of my excuses of why I can't. Then He heals me, out of His great mercy I rise up out of my affliction and walk once again, no longer paralyzed by sin. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Home Fellowship

Tonight was our first night of Home Fellowship, and I must say we have a pretty cool group of people. It's so neat to hear all the God stories everybody has (even with 9 kiddos running around the house:) ). I always think I've got it made and God does amazing things in my life and it's so crazy to think He is doing those amazing things in everybody's life! I am so blessed by all our new friends and am looking forward to this next year of HF!

Kid Conversations...

In the car while driving...
Cadence: Mommy, you messded my hair when yous was turning.

Next day...
Ryah: Aunt Tara is the greatest girl ever!

Cadence: No she's not.

Ryah: Yes she is, she worships God.

(to aunt Tara's defense Cade thought Ryah was talking about a scary character in a movie and not aunt Tara, she was confused, she is a great girl!)

So cute!

Honduras~ Day 4

Today was our last full day here in Honduras, tomorrow we make the long trek home! It was so cute Ryah made a comment on my blog and told Chris and I to have a safe "drive" home:)! Today is Independence Day here in Honduras so everybody was downtown celebrating with a big parade, it was really neat. We had the chance to visit 2 beautiful villages today. You drive these off- roads for about an hour and a half to these remote villages, it's amazing. We met with the farmers in each village and were able to encourage them in all of their hard work. We visited with the children, one of which Chris accidently asked him "where are you", instead of "how are you" and the boy looked very confused... Also, my poor hubby spent most of the day sick, stomach sick, I feel so bad for him, but he is doing a bit better this evening. As I reflect on this trip I am very thankful God allowed me to come. It is so good to step outside of Orange County and to step into the lives of other people, to hear their stories, to see their life. I have been reminded of the things that matter. It's not about schedules and material items and all my busyness, it's about relationships, most importantly our relationship with God our Creator. He wants us to know Him, to love Him, and to make His love known. That's what it's all about. Our children, it is our responsibility to leave a legacy of Godliness for them to follow, to teach them God's word and to pour into them His grace and love. I am reminded that I need to be God's hands to love the unlovable, his feet to go and share His love, His eyes to see beyond my tunnel vision. I was blessed by all the poor who are rich in Christ that I got to meet and share stories with, or maybe just a hug or a smile. I am excited to see what God will do through our church here in Honduras and through Growers First; which is an amazing ministry that gives people earthly hope through a better quality of life and eternal hope through Jesus Christ. I had a great time with our team, Chris, Mike, Gordon and Dave, along with Eber, Hugo and Suri. It was a blessing to serve in Honduras with them all. I look forward to seeing my kiddos sweet smiling faces wed. morning! Blessed be the name of the Lord...

Honduras~ Day 3

Yet another great day here in Honduras! We missed Kingsfield this morning, but had a great time at the service here at Ebenezer Church. Ebenezer Church is in town, it's a great facility they just purchased in Jan. Pastor Hugo is the lead pastor. Church began at 9am with singing (some oldies but goodies from Calvary), and it was sweet they had the words up in English for us. We obviously couldn't understand the Bible Study but it was neat to see the church and how their Christian culture is. After we headed off to another farming village. The drive is always so beautiful, pine trees (of all things), banana trees, coffee bean plants and just tons of greeness (I know that's not a word but it just describes it best). We were going to visit a church in the village but it turns out that the pastors brother-in-law was killed in an accident yesterday so they canceled church. We ended up at the house of the pastors parents. Had an amazing time visiting with his mom, a women who has an amazing legacy. We sat and listened to her story (via translator), her husband and her have served in ministry since they were young. Starting Bible studies that turned into churches and then would move on, and on top of that she raised 12 children!!!! She was so beautiful and so sweet, and to hear of how the Lord has used her was amazing. Some of the local farmers came by and we visited with them as well. Dave told us to take a look at these faces and remember them when you are sipping your cup of coffee, to pray for them. That really impacted me, I did sit there and take in each one of their faces, worn from many years of hard work and a hard life; and I will remember to pray for them as I am sipping my cup of coffee. Especially now that I have seen all the hard work that goes into each cup and the little profit that they receive from it. It would be so neat to put their pictures on coffee mugs (Carrie catch the vision...!). They took us down to where they are going to build a small plant together across from the church (none of them are believers as of yet, so much to pray for). We hiked to the top of this hill and just took in the beauty of God's creation, and then went to check out the church. The church is a very small fabricated building with wooden benches in it. We sat with the windows open and talked, birds and bugs making singing in the background, it is indescribable. After that we hiked to a waterfall, and then drove back down into the city for a prayer meeting at the church. We prayed with the youth, which was really neat. Almost all of them prayed for their families to get saved, it is very common here for children to go to church without their parents, so sad. After prayer, they had some fun laughing at our driver license pictures, I was trying to explain to one boy that I was pregnant in that picture with my first child and now I have 3, he translated it that I was currently pregnant with 3 babies and seemed very amazed, but I was able to get a translator to help straighten the story out:)! After that we walked for ice-cream and went to the central park, and then when we came back we went to our room and wa-la, they had changed our curtains, bed spread and bed skirt from purple to gold. It's amazing, where do you find that in America??? Anyways, it was a great day and I am so thankful God allowed me to come here and meet these people and try to impact them with love and encouragement the best I can. Kiddos, mommy loves you!!! I will see you soon! Carrie you too (since I know you are reading this faithfully)!:) Till tomorrow...

Honduras~ Day 2

Our first full day here in Honduras. We started the day with a tour of a coffee bean plant. It was very interesting to see all that goes into coffee, and how often the beans are handled in the process. The coffee at the plant tasted great, the best I've had here so far. After that we headed out to a village in the mountains on a dirt road about an hour and a half away, where Suri's farm is. Suri is a local farmer, who is the most successful farmer around, making about $2000 a year. He is a part of the local church. (Suri is on the left in the picture to the right) Please pray for his 12 year old son who has blood cancer, they just found out in June and he is currently getting treatment, but it will be a very long process. The village he lives in is called San Heronimo, a very poor community, you can't even imagine the places these people call home. Cows, horses, dogs and chickens running around everywhere, homes with partial walls and no windows, cement floors, no running water or electricity or appliances. We have so much to be thankful for. We played basketball with some of the kids, which was very fun. I must admit I had a hard time between my competitive side and my sweet side. I mean when the ball gets thrown to you do you just take it and go for the goal or do you pass it on to the little guy you know isn't going to make it because the hoop is 10 times his size? Well, of course I did a little of both.;) The kids were so cute, they wanted to play with you and talk with you, once again I wish I could speak Spanish! We also visited with the people, and had coffee, they were very sweet. It was so beautiful there, green and lush. We headed back into town, and walked around and had dinner. It was a great day. It is amazing to me the joy these people have. Like Suri , who always has a huge smile on his face and is so happy. Here is man, whose son is sick, who works very hard, and according to American standards, has nothing, and yet he has the joy of the Lord. I'm reminded I need to look past my circumstances, and find my joy constantly in the Lord and in Him alone. We have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes God is good when life is good, but I'm reminded here once again that God is good all the time! Eli-Ky, Ry-Ry Scouterpants and Caderbugs I love you and miss you! I'm going to be bringing back some surprises for you!

Honduras ~ Day 1

Well, we took off yesterday from our house at 8:30pm for LAX airport. I sadly left behind our 3 kiddos, one of which was a sicky-poo (and I need to give Kudos to Carrie for taking on the task of caring for sicky-poo Cade all night long as she cried- you’re a true friend girl, thank you!!!), but was also excited about the trip. Our plane took off at 2am, which left us with pretty much a sleepless night. I was really wishing I had one of those neck pillow things, I saw them at Target and thought I should get one of those and then decided not to spend the moo-la on it (next time I’m spending the moo-la on it!), Gordon Henry had one and he looked like he was getting some good rest (or maybe it was the Dramamine the guys took). We had a layover in El Salvador and then headed over to Honduras, arrived about 9:30am. Took a taxi for a 2 hour drive to grab some lunch at a lake where they had a cool 4 story tree house, teeter-totters and cool swings! After that we had another hour drive to our Home Sweet Home. Grabbed a quick nap and went to have dinner with the local Growers First board and off to a musical that the local kids were in, directed by a missionary here in Honduras. Honduras reminds me a lot of Mexico, but a lot greener. The people are very nice. I really wish I spoke Spanish, it’s frustrating not being able to communicate. The food hasn’t made me sick yet, though I did have a some type of miniature crab leg in my soup which made me a bit quesy and there are lizards in the bathroom, but hey this is a mission trip, gotta have some excitement! Looking forward to visiting some farms tomorrow. Keep praying for us! Kiddos if you read this- Mommy and Daddy Love You!!!