A Year on the Mission Field

It is honestly so hard for my mind to conceive that we have lived in Belize for a year now!!

I just reread my post from the night before we came here. You can read it here.

So many unknowns.  No car, no home, no furniture...  And within a week, God  provided.  He is so faithful to us.  

It has been such a full year.  In one sense, it has flown by and I can't believe it has been a year.  But in another sense, it feels like we have been here longer.  It is hard for my mind to conceive how quickly God has adapted our family to living in a foreign land.  And how quickly and strong the church already is.  This is our fourth church to pastor, third to plant.  Each one so unique.  Each one, we learn and have to adapt.

I feel that God is growing me in so many ways.  Constantly stepping outside my comfort zone.  Constantly learning new things.

We are applying for Residency this week.  It will be a huge financial cost in the beginning, but will allow us to not have to deal with the monthly or yearly costs and hassles.  Please pray for favor as we go to apply.  I believe it will last for five years.

We are in the process of preparing for a team to come and build a house in Maya Mopan.

Here is what they have already done...  Erika is at the top of the mountain with all the village children:)

I'm still learning new things all the time.  Like I just learned recently that I should put a little bleach in the water when I wash dishes since we only have cold water....  Oops, sorry to all who have already visited us.  Didn't know.  Still learning how to make certain foods...its a daily thing.  Searching for recipes, then trying to make them.

Loving the people that God has brought into our life.  Who would have known we would already feel so close to our little congregation?  God is so good.  Even one of the ladies brought Erika GOLDFISH this morning...seriously, never seen them here once.  But she got them from the city.  What a special treat and that she thought of my girl.  I had just recently asked a friend to send some with her husband next month because we miss them...and it is like God said He heard me:)

In a year, I have learned that my Everything is Jesus.  I thought I already knew that, but this has grown in me so much.  Sometimes it is only Him that I can run to.  And isn't that the way it should be?  I have learned more about the spiritual realm than ever before.  I have learned that the enemy is out to bring deception to people's minds, divide Christians, destroy families.  I have watched it in a more real way than ever before ( on this scale).  But I have also learned that, yes, Jesus is bigger, stronger and what people are looking for.  I have learned that God does not allow or cause tragedy, but that He is there when it happens, to comfort and guide people to Him.  I have witnessed that He does the work, we just work with Him.   We are simply His hands here on earth.   He provides the hungry, we just feed them His Word and Truth.  My faith has grown so tremendously and have felt that God is for us, loves us, blesses us and protects us.  He provides, whether it be financial support, prayer support or emotional support exactly when we need it.

Before coming on the Mission Field full time, I had many ideas of what it would be like...they were mostly wrong.  My life is not at all what I pictured it would be a year ago.  God never ceases to surprise me, bless me, make me in awe of His blessings.  I do miss our family and friends, many things about living in the states, but I am also amazingly well-adjusted to this very different life.

I don't know, can't imagine what feelings will be in my heart a year from now.  

So much can happen in a year.

This morning's sermon was about being like a rubberband, that in those times when we are stretched, that is when God can fully use us.  It is so true.  If you are too comfortable, and not being stretched at all, well, I just encourage you to get uncomfortable...

Blessed

Lee and I had debated back and forth on whether we should put Erika in preschool next year (at the church), but had agreed that it was not an option as our income would not afford it. I will begin homeschooling the kids this fall and had thought it would be good for her to go just to allow us to get in the swing of things before we moved. Plus she has done so well in the preschool the past two years.

Sunday, our preschool director asked if I was going to enroll her and I said "no". She said someone had offered to pay for Erika to attend. I was shocked. I don't know if you read my blog...but I am so blessed. Lee was so thankful as well.

I am excited to be home full time now, but with homeschooling for the first time and preparing for an out of the country move, my plate is full, just in a new way. So knowing now that I will get two days a week to purely focus on Josh and Tori, it is a tremendous blessing.

God is already showing us in so many little ways, that He knows our needs and desires and takes care of the details. It is very different for Lee and I to be in the FUNDRAISING mode. It is new and a little frightening. It is a totally different walk of faith for us. We cannot "earn our keep" as we have done in the past, but have to totally rely on the Lord to provide. We, of course, have always relied on Him as we have pastored churches over the years, but this is new and more extreme. But God has called us and we just have to believe that He will get us to Belize because He is the one who told us to go.

When we were at Convention a couple of weeks ago, Frances Chan spoke. This was very special to Lee and I because the week after we told Life Church we were called to the mission field, Frances and his wife also made the same announcement. As we watched it, he expressed so beautifully what we were feeling. At convention, he said so many things that just spoke directly to me, what I am experiencing right now. The most awesome thing he shared was that it is in crisis, or removing yourself from safety, that you are the closest and most dependent on God. That is so true. As Lee and I step out in total faith to what God has called us to do, I feel Him more, I seek Him more...This last year has been amazing as He has pushed me out of my comfort zone big time. But I wouldn't change it. There are so many things that are uncertain about the future, but one thing I know, God goes with me. When I am in Belize and come across a situation that I feel unprepared for, He will help me, He will guide me, and will give me the strength to walk it out.