November Update and Visit from the Meckles

WOW! November was a month of miracles for us, starting with the birth of our daughter and concluding with a hug and kiss goodbye to Wil and Jane Meckle at the airport. Let me start off with sharing the highlight of my month, meeting Joanna Elizabeth Ramos on November 1^st.

“God gives good gifts” was a phrase that I wrote on a piece of paper in February while coloring with Thomas. Little did I know that God intended on giving us a GREAT gift, a daughter. Right about the time that news began pouring in about ZIKA and warnings not to get pregnant and certainly not to travel was the time that God planned out this gift. It is so easy to succumb to fear and not follow the path that God wants us on. We already knew we were moving an hour and a half away from the murder capital of the world, but now ZIKA! Thankfully, none of these things changed God’s plans. He still intended us to live in Honduras; He still intended us to care for and educate Manuel and Josué; He still intended us to support local ministries; He still intended to give us a GREAT gift. On October 31^st, Thomas and I were coloring together again. I thought about how sick Thomas had been the last two weeks of October, how the sores in his mouth prevented him from eating, but how he was just starting to get better and starting to eat soft foods. I thought about how God blessed us, not only with a church where we have been able to grow spiritually, but also with a wonderful pastor, his loving wife, and four amazing children that would watch Thomas when my labor began. And I thought about Marvin, how thankful I was that God united us almost 6 years ago and how we have grown so much in the past year. As Thomas and I sat on the tile floor coloring, I found myself writing the same phrase I had written 9 months prior, “God gives good gifts.” By the next morning, I was face to face with that “good gift” and praising the Lord for his perfect timing and for this perfect gift. Welcome to our family Joanna!

Bringing Joanna home was a little distracting for Manuel and Josué as they completed their final exams, but they each did an excellent job and were both on the honor roll. Josué even received an award for having the highest average in his class for the whole year. What an amazing thing to see them complete a year of high school. Manuel never expected to have the opportunity to go to high school, in fact both his older brothers stopped studying after 6^th grade. Josué has always loved to study and has said he wants to be a dentist for many years, but he never knew the path that God would open for him to reach his goal. It has been a joy (and an occasional challenge) to share our life and home with these two wonderful boys. 

 

 

 

Wil and Jane Meckle arrived a week after Manuel and Josué finished their exams and stayed for two weeks. The Meckles served for many years with Heart to Heart Children’s Village where Marvin lived from age 15 until we married. In 2010, they invited Marvin to live with them and take welding and English classes in Washington state for three months. To call them sponsors or even friends does not do justice to our relationship. They are FAMILY. Wil and Jane came to Honduras, not only with the heart to help our family during this new season we have entered, but also to serve many others. They brought lots of donations for the ministries we are connected with, built tables for the Home of Blessing feeding program, traveled to the mountains to provide food to families connected with our church, helped in the kitchen for 2 Saturdays at the Home of Blessing, gave an appreciation dinner for the Home of Blessing cooks, and SO MUCH MORE!

 

 

 

 

 

 One of the miracles that occurred during their time here was finding our new rental house. If you don’t consider this a miracle, my guess is you have never looked for a rental in a small Honduran town. We are so amazed at how God has again provided for our needs in His perfect timing. The best thing about this house is its location: less than a block from the church, closer to the boys school, closer to town, and located just two short turns off of a flat paved road. The Meckles helped us to secure this rental and have already blessed us with a table and chairs. I am confident that lots of laughter will occur around that table and if anyone is interested in visiting Honduras, joining us at this table, and partnering with us in ministry over the next year, YOU ARE WELCOME! 

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 were two of the verses that motivated me through the labor and delivery of Joanna. These verses continue to motivate me today. I hope LOVE can motivate you as we enter into the exciting season of Christmas and that you too can see the many miracles that are occurring among us and around the world.