Blessed!

A time of rest. A time to reflect. A time to think of where we are and what we are doing. This brings thankfulness to God for all He has given us in the last year. For the growth He required in our lives through the things He allowed us to experience. What a blessed privilege to serve a God that continues to refine us and bring us ever closer to Him.

We came to Indiana on Nov. 12 for Jeremy & Brittany’s wedding which was the 14th. Lorne’s family was all able to be there and we were so glad that we could come to be with them on this special day. To see a nephew get married puts us in an older phase of life, it seems!

The weeks since the wedding have been a great time of reconnecting with family and friends again. Our family was very blessed to have a house to ourselves while we are here. We have really enjoyed our time together as a family as well. In Mexico we don’t have much privacy and so the opportunity to have some alone time here has been very special.

What have we been doing? Helping my Dad build a new shop. Sewing 8 dresses. Regina & Nevin flying to SC with Galen to bring Rachel back. Shopping for things that we can’t get in the west. Birthdays for Lorne & Nevin. Miller family pictures. Thanksgiving day together with all of my family. Supper invitations. Choir service. Sundays with Lorne’s family. Being blessed over and over!

Our hearts have been torn between two since we are here. Greivin’s were taking our place at the home, but the first weekend already he became sick and then was in the hospital for a while. We would have wanted to return to be with them through this difficult time but had to rest in the fact that God knew all these details before we left and it was all in His hands. We also heard that Gustavo, Marlene’s baby, left to live with his grandparents since we are here. We know how hard those days are and again we just wanted to be there.

We miss Tania more than we can say and are very ready to go back and have our family complete again! It’s hard to explain the feelings we deal with as we are with family here and enjoy that so much yet want to return to our Mexico family as well. Then we face the separation once again and we commit our families and ourselves into God’s hands for the unknown of the coming days. This time we said goodbye to Galen & Edith’s family not knowing when we might be able to see them again as they  plan to leave for Canada in the spring for a term of service there. Also, we face the uncertainty of our sister-in-law Liz’s health. Her cancer has returned and her condition declined. When our families face difficult situations it requires a deeper level of trust in our Father as we commit them into His will and submit to the details that He chooses for each of us.

One day when we were talking here one of the children said something about when we go home, referring to when we return to Mexico. That brought a discussion of “where is home?” I spent a good bit of time thinking about that and concluded that when we are in God’s will, following after the things He calls us to do, at the place where He calls us to be, there we are at home.

There is no greater rest than to be at rest in God!

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

How much is it worth to invest in the life of a child if only for a little time? Will it really make any difference? Only God knows what the fruits will be and yet this week we had a glimpse of the fact that it really does matter.

Carlitos and his sisters (former children here) have been coming with Gordon’s to church regularly. Last Sunday their Dad came with them too. He’s not visited here since we’re here. Gordon preached about the parable of the talents where some had 1 talent while others had 10. His challenge to us was to see what we are doing with the talents that God has given us. After church these children's Dad said that he understands this message clearly because he sees Daniela (5-6 yr. old) using the talent that God gave her. He then explained that he’s been reading his Bible and that Daniela has been begging him to come to church and it’s because of her persistence that he came to the service. Does it make a difference to invest in the life of a child?

On Monday we got a call that Melisa and Kimberli will be leaving to go back to their mother. They decided that it would be on Friday when they go, so we had several days to prepare with them. The girls had been here for 2 1/2 years. It was really hard for Kimberli to think of going. She said she wants to go live with her mom but she just knows that she’ll miss everyone here so much. On Tuesday evening I was talking with Melisa about the fact that no matter where we are God is with us and she can serve God even if she’s not here. She started to cry and so sincerely told me that the reason she so badly wants to go is so that she can tell her mom about God. She had a very real burden for her mother. I assured her that this will be a good opportunity and that by her life and testimony her mom can learn to know about God. Does it make a difference to invest in the life of a child?  
A week and a half ago when we had our last appointment with DIF the social worker set an appointment to come for a home visit the following Wed. She said she’d need to check with her boss for sure but to plan on it for then. That Friday morning I told the children that we were going to clean house before we do school that morning because for my birthday Saturday we planned to go shopping in San Diego. That was also the morning the men chose to do repairs on the generator so we were without electricity all day. I had our bed pulled out to clean underneath, Regina & Nevin had tables moved to mop and clean and there was a general unfinished look about the house when I saw a DIF car drive in. Strange, I thought, since we had nothing on the schedule, but Oh well, so goes. I watched to see who it was and saw that it was the social worker! I knew right away that the time for our house inspection was now! Gulp!! I very rapidly told the boys to fly to their room and clean it faster than they’ve ever cleaned. They later commented that it was the first time they could ever remember Mom saying to stuff things under the beds! Point being speed! Soon there was a knock in the hall with the message that DIF wanted to talk to me. Gina kept flying about and I tried to take my time to allow a few more minutes of flurry. And yes, that was what she wanted and right soon we were back to our apartment for her to check all the rooms. I took her to our room first to give the others a bit more time in their rooms and by the time we came to the side rooms they were so nice and clean! We received a good report in spite of the speed by which it was accomplished. I reminded the boys that that is why we like to live in a clean house so that it’s not a problem when we have surprises. Nevin thought it was probably better that they came then, because if it had been on a day that we planned on them we’d have had everything so perfect it wouldn’t have looked like a family lived here. True, I admit. So, now that was done.

We had a wonderful day as a family on Saturday, the 31st. We took Heidi to the airport in Tijuana to fly to Costa Rica, then we went on to San Diego for the day. We did lots of shopping and ate American food at Long John Silver’s. It was a special day for all of us.

Friday night was slumber party time for Regina and the girls. On Tuesday they helped me thoroughly clean the schoolhouse apartment so I told them they could plan a party for Friday night. Great memories!              
                Little party crashers!

Yesterday Darin left for Indiana so now Lorne and Nevin have the home boys to watch. Makes for an interesting circus! We all have come to appreciate even more the work that Gideon does when he is here! Greivin’s are back and it’s very good to have them here again! They’ll be taking our place when we leave.

My mind is spinning with details of last minute things to be done here to make it easier while we’re gone. Trying to have extra supplies on hand, making sure the jobs are all covered, schedules all in place and on and on. Gina and I are still trying to do some sewing that got pushed off until it now that it needs to be done. On Friday we canned 12 quarts of pumpkin and today Gina made pumpkin pie for lunch. Truly a treat since we haven’t been able to find canned pumpkin here. Check another thing off the list. Only three more full days to go.

I leave with you the challenge as well, what are you doing with the talents God has given you? Make a difference in someone’s life today!