Crocodile

Amazed, overwhelmed, loved... so many emotions today.  And ultimately all I can say is God is GOOD!  We are so blessed.

Just a little while ago God answered several of our prayers, and as I sat (yes crying some) J reminded me of the "crocodile."

The "crocodile" comes from The Inward Journey by Gene Edwards.   In this book, the main character is being escorted throughout time to various stories by angels and they stop in on Job.  The main character asks Job, "how do you deal with this?", "how do you reconcile who God is with this happening to you?", and Job responds with the statement "crocodile."  There is confusion and then Job explains, I don't understand crocodiles.  They are big, they are ugly and they are dangerous, why would you create crocodiles.  God created crocodiles, why, because He is God and He wanted to.  God is sovereign and He will do what He will do and He won't do what He won't do.  To some He blesses with riches and to others He blesses with poverty because He is God. 

The journey that we go on when we accept Christ into our hearts is in no small part to learn who He is.  He reveals that to us.  He is our shepherd.  The Jewish shepherds worked differently than any other shepherd.  Most shepherds walked behind their flock tending to the stragglers; however, Jewish shepherds walked out in front and led their flock.  When multiple flocks and multiple shepherds gathered near the same well to drink water, there were no brands to mark whose sheep belonged to who.  But when one shepherd was ready to leave, he would call out to his sheep, and his sheep mixed in with all of the others would make their way to him because they knew his voice. 

God is moving us so that we would recognize Him when we see Him.  God is working in us so that we will know him when He calls us. 

Thank you Lord for this journey and the ups and downs.  Thank you for your blessings and provisions.  We are humbled.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:1-4

We are the clay, He is the molder

There have been many times along our journey here in the DR where we questioned what God is doing and how.  How are you (God) going to use this (insert stressor or hardship here)?  And I must admit the past week has been extra full of these questions and thoughts and unsureness.  The work continues to move along but we have had several setbacks and frustrations to the point we have asked if we are doing any good or helping anyone here.  And I will admit we had some down moments, but what is so amazing about God is that He always reminds us (even through these doubts and questions) that He is sovereign.  Tuesday was a specifically rough day (following a rough Monday) after having several issues and a morning of meetings that let's say were tough and frustrating as the receiver was unwilling to hear any advice or wisdom or simply correction.  The meeting ended and I felt heartbroken.  Not because of what was said but because it would appear that the last year and a half here has done nothing.  J and I each spent time praying and seeking God, and J came back with wisdom from the book of Job.  (specifically Job 38-39)  God gently reminded us who we are.  We didn't measure the sky.  We didn't set the foundations of the world.  We are not in control of nature and feeding it and birthing it.  This is God's, not ours.  So who are we to take this time and this work and proclaim it as ours?  God may take this time and revamp all of AIM and our staff and the world, or God may take this time and it may fall apart, but this is not up to us.  He has called us to obedience and seeking Him through every work and decision.  We are not in control of the decisions of those around us but merely can offer what God has placed in our life and heart.  And if God sees fit to change the world through this, praise Him for it is His doing! 

So how are we?  We are good.  We are working through this trial and time.  We are praying and seeking God for His direction.  Yes there are tears and heartache, but we know He is guiding us.  He is the lion walking next to us and comforting us against the edge of the precipice in the dark (The Chronicles of Narnia - the Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis).  He is loving on us while shaping and molding us to be more like Him.  So as I have said so many times, we are humbled and grateful for these trials because I am coming to know God more intimately than before.  We are humbled and blessed to be called to this work and this life.  It is not always easy or fun or relaxing, but it is good. 

“I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”  

― C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia - the Horse and His boy    

M is for mouse

In the usual fashion, it has been an eternity since our last post... ok, an exaggeration, but again a good while.  This past week was full of events and fun and mice and potty training and simply life.

We have been working on summer camp planning and budgeting and all the fun stuff to prepare for June and July camps.  J and I are working on the Dominican side (Sosua, Las Terrenas and San Luis) trying to get everything accounted for and budgeted and reserved so our counterparts in the States can work on their side.  (I will admit again, I actually enjoy this type of work.  The administrative side in me comes out and gets to "get down to business.")  Along with this comes an assortment of meetings and phone calls and emails.  But, praise God because everything is coming together very nicely for this year's camps, and I cannot believe we are a mere 4 months away from June Sosua trip.  Wow!! 

In other news, we had several school events last week with Salomon and Freysy.  Both of these guys have been working in their respective schools incorporating AIM's work.  (Think like FCA in the schools).  Allowing the school to develop service groups and outreach groups for their areas and developing the sports outreach.  Here, teachers are allowed to preach and teach the Gospel, pray, sing, etc., so this has been a great outreach in the Cabarete and Sabaneta areas.  It has been amazing to see this work and the quick development in both areas.  On Thursday, we visited Salomon's school for a presentation of donations to a girl whose house burned down.  (Many houses here have a vey low fire risk as they are made of cinder block; however, for the ones made of wood mixed with the consistent use of candles when the power goes out, well you know.)  They took up donations of clothing and food to give to the girl and her family.  We did not get any pictures of this, but it was beautiful and J was able to reinforce the idea that although we don't always understand why things happen, God is always working even through the "bad things."  Then on Friday, Freysy's service group had another project of donating clothing and toys to their area.  They had been planning this for some time and no matter how many times I see it, I always feel overjoyed at seeing these youth reach out to help their community.  Some pictures...

 

 

 

 

 

Over the weekend, Alfre and Marcos planned a tournament in La Cienaga (baseball on Saturday and soccer on Sunday).  This is always a great opportunity to preach the Word to those participating in the tournament and those who are watching or observing from a distance.  Alfre hooked up some speakers (again no "disturbing the peace" here) to listen to Christian music and preach.  Between the people who played and the ones who came out to watch, there were about 200 bodies.  Praise God!  Here are some pictures...

 

 

 

 

A picture of the soccer teams together.  I love how God provides for every need.  These uniforms were donated by some Canadian missionaries and the soccer balls for the tournament were donated by an American missionary family who recently moved back to the States.

 

The soccer coaches with Rafael, J, and Alfre.  This is one of AIM's first actual soccer tournaments, so to see the player and community turnout was amazing.  We continue to pray for God to use this sport to reach the communities and the people.

 

Also on Sunday, Victor was holding a mini tournament with his volleyball girls and other teams.  It was the perfect day for some games.

 

An exciting find, the Supermercado was restocked with Bisquick!!  Basically it takes about 3 weeks to get a new shipment (imported), so when we saw them, we bought 6.  We didn't want to be complete mean faces and take them all, so we left 3 bags.  :)  And now they only import these small bags.  When we first moved here, they carried the larger boxes, but sadly no more. 

And one of our good friends on the street had a birthday.  So we did what everyone does, we made cupcakes and celebrated.  I am ok with any reason to bake something and eat them. 

 

And a picture of Ryann at the baseball games on Saturday.  (I would be in trouble if I didn't put at least 1 picture up of her.)

 

In news on the home front, we started potty training Aubrey about a week ago and praise the Lord she is basically there.  I'm not gonna lie and say there were no fits or tears, but once we got past the "scary change" she has done really well.  Several loads of laundry, a bag of M&Ms, lots of time playing and singing and reading, and we are past one of the major milestones.  WOO HOO!!!

And we caught our first mouse last night.  Several nights ago we had a visitor.  After quite awhile searching him out, he ran away.  However, we found evidence of him again yesterday morning, so we laid us a trap and got him.  The rest of the story I do not know as J will not tell me (and I don't want to know).  But hopefully all his friends will be scared away and not come visit.

In other good news, I am not going to die from lyme disease.  A few weeks ago, J found a tick on my neck.  It was a vampire tick going for the juicy parts.  Luckily just the one though and so far so good. 

And, we now have electricity 24 hours... ok not exactly 24 hours because it goes off every other day for about 4 hours and then randomly sometimes.  But it's much better than only 12 hours a day, so it feels like 24 hours.  :)

Praise the Lord for the work and struggles and everything going on  He is working in us constantly and we continue to pray for this.

Much love!

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.  Jeremiah 15:18