March Update

After enjoying a few cooler weeks of rain and muddy roads, the heat (and dust) are settling over the community of Pena Blanca. The sunshine is bright, the house is hot, and THANKFULLY the grace of the Lord continues in our lives.

We have been challenged this past month with various situations at the school where Manuel and Josue are finishing their last year of high school. After praying about these challenges, seeking wise counsel, and investigating other options for schooling, we decided it would be best for them to transfer to another school in the area. We hope that they will be given a quality education there and provided with the tools they need to succeed in their post-high school education. Both of them hope to attend a university next year, and our hope for them is that they will commit to doing whatever God calls them to. This week is their last week at their current school (exam week), and then they will have a week of vacation that they plan to spend with their families in the mountains. They are such joyful young men, and we are glad they will have the opportunity to shine Christ's light in the village where they grew up.

While I remain occupied with the kids and the home, a new chore chart has helped Josue and Manuel to take on more responsibilities and has helped me to regain some sanity. I have been blessed to get to be a part of the women's group at church, get to visit Eternal Family Project's Learning Center to see some of the girls do presentations, and visit a home for the elderly nearby. While growing up, my mom worked at a nursing home in Chattanooga. She would take me to sing, dance, and just talk with some of the elderly that were rarely visited by family or friends. It was so exciting for me to get to continue this tradition with my own children. Thomas and Joanna were able to bring so much joy to the twelve individuals that live at the home. What a blessing for me to see our 2 year old and 5 month old ministering to others! We appreciate our pastor and his wife helping to open the door for us to serve there. We enjoyed singing, praying, and sharing the word of God. We had the chance to remind the 12 residents of Luz y Vida Hogar de Ancianos "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." -1 Peter 5:10-11

Marvin stays occupied with such a variety of things that it is hard to summarize, but here are just a few of the things he has gotten to do over the last month: repaired school desks, accompanied our pastor to Tegucigalpa, built a grill for our family and neighbors, repaired bars on windows at a missionaries house, drives boys and a couple others to school, paid bills, took trips to San Pedro Sula for groceries or metal, welded a pot holder, roof rack, and garment holder for other missionaries, installed fans at the Home of Blessing feeding program, delivered medicine with our pastors to a village in the mountains, took the boys to visit friends in Siguatepeque, etc. Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." I think this is definitely true when I think about Marvin. We never know what tomorrow brings, but we are certain that God prepared works in advance for us.

The following verses from Psalm 40 were read yesterday at church. How these words have blessed my soul. I hope they bless you too.
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
    but my ears you have opened—
    burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

- Psalm 40:1-8

AMEN, AMEN!