The Memorable Summer of 2010

It has, once again, been EONS since my last post. I'm not sure why I am coming & going all the time. It's not like I don't like to blog. In fact, I love it. I guess I just feel so redundant. People, experiences, occasions and events have come and gone. Yet right now, the thing that I wish was "gone" is still too much alive and well. The daily grind of our un-farm; as I have affectionately dubbed it, is still a constant in our lives.

This last summer, we were offered a short vision of restoration with the arrival of just under 500 mommy pigs. Unfortunately, it simply added to the stress. We had no choice but to pull together; our 3 early-teen girls working side by side with their dad ALL SUMMER LONG. I hate to use the word "unfortunately," because it sounds so incredibly ungrateful. And when those ladies arrived on the trucks, you can well bet, we all did a happy dance.

Well. No. That's not entirely true. And yes. It was true.

You see, these lovely pink & plump ladies arrived hot on the heels of a devastating summer storm. One Saturday minute in June we had a beautiful, lush country farmyard. And the next...we did not. What used to be hidden in a bubble of stately green trees, is now visible for an entire square mile. No one has to wonder anymore what is in that bush just off Road 31E. It's us!

Needless to say, the damage was devastating. We felt as though we were losing everything. Why God? Isn't our empty farm and unknown future enough????? Why this too? That night I think we were all ready to check ourselves into the nearest looney bin. I wish I could describe it, but unless you've been through a storm that is news-breaking on every channel, it's hard to imagine.

For the life of me, I could not think of one Biblical promise. In fact, if I had thought of any of them, I would have surely thought God to be a liar.

Yes, I hear you telling me that I should know better. And you're right. I do.

When people ask me if we've had a good summer, I say, "Well...it's been memorable." It's all I know to say without launching into a 3 part mini series that would rock prime time television! I say this, because you could explain any one part of our eventful summer on many levels - emotional, financial, physical, spiritual, etc.

The Lord has brought us to this place. I question it. I have no understanding as to why, when He could have stopped the whole thing. And on a day like today, I want to curl up into a ball and cry, because in my human short-sightedness, I can't see the end. I know God can. Of that I am confident.

All day today, I have been remembering that day back in Feb. when I spent some time with God on that deserted Carribean shore. I begged Him for a promise! I was not leaving that beach until He had blessed me! On that day, like today, I was wondering what in the world God was trying to pull! His final words to me were, "Now you see in part, then you will see the whole." I looked down and saw a conch shell washed up at my feet. It was my reminder.

The conch shell sits on my dresser, where I see it in the dim light of every morning, and in the fading of every day.

Isaiah 43: 2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..."

The conch shell displayed on my dresser has been sanded and polished by the ebb and flow of the Carribean seas. The pits and cracks give it character and add to the beauty of this thing created in the depths of the ocean.

Strangely, I can identify with how this shell has be tossed about in the waters. On a day like today, I pray that the character God is trying to build in me, will polish me and turn my flaws into a thing of beauty.

I have had the worst head cold ever these last few days! I hate it because it is stealing my time and efficiency! There is just sooooo much to do at work and at home!

Sydney too, has been dealing with the same thing. The funny thing is, her and I are both in an intense season of ministry right now. I am racing the clock, trying to get invitations out to our Spring Brunch fundraiser for Lifelight and Syd is part of "GO Love," spending every day out on the streets of Steinbach ministering to people around her. This is the mission trip our youth was on this week.

Both of us are kinda doing the same thing. And both of us have experienced much frustration!...and this stupid head cold!

Hmm.... I wonder if we are both under attack?

I continue to be completely dumbfounded at how difficult it is for us to figure out ways to minister and be effective in reaching out to people in our comfort zone. Sydney came home one day from her mission day (they spent every night at home, then returned to the church every day at noon and went out from there.) and said "Mom, this is so hard. We should have put some more Jesus into it today."

I knew exactly what she meant!

While we were out in Mexico, it was so easy to give out a Bible, extend kindness and tell people about our amazing God. Especially in a village deep in the jungle. You can see clearly that you are "set apart" and that you are offering them the same gift that has the power to set them apart.

So why is it so difficult to be "set apart" in our "bible-belt" city on the prairies? We are so woven together in a melting pot of diversity, that you cannot differentiate a Christian form a non-Christian when you are walking down the street. Sydney felt like they really had to scratch their heads to figure out how they could minister and offer the love and peace of knowing Jesus Christ in every-day situations.

I completely understand this because we have our media-driven ideas of what it looks like to minister to the world around us. We minister according to what makes us feel good about ourselves. For example, we feel so good at Christmas time when we have given toys, food or clothing to those in need. No doubt, these are awesome things! In fact, Christ calls us to these acts of caring for others.

But there is one life altering component we forget. It isn't complete without presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many well meaning individuals and organizations who stop at the immediate felt need. Jesus continued to preach the gospel even though all felt needs were not met. He went back to heaven, leaving an entire world of felt needs!

If the immediate felt needs were more important than knowing the truth of God's love and forgiveness, and that He came to free us from lives of bondage and sin, He would not have had to send the Holy Spirit to help us, or bothered to grace us with the Written Word.

Jesus knew that our felt needs are temporary. This life will only last for a little while. And what's more, He understood these felt needs because as God in a man's body, he felt hunger, coldness, limited clothing, and only his sandals for transportation.

The Bible is our toolbox. Without it, we cannot experience the joy and peace that comes from knowing that there is a much bigger plan for us, both here in the temporal life and for eternity.

Eternity.....forever.

Forever is a very long time.

Our Mayan Village Experience

Well, we've been home for just over a week now. I am still exhausted! The time change hasn't helped matters either!

I didn't get to write anything about our experience in Chan Chen. What an amazing way to cap off our trip.

The night before, we packed up as much as we could and early the next morning, put our luggage in storage. By 8:00 AM we were back at Doug & Darla's, along with the team from North Carolina. (I think I have posted that a team from Alabama was coming. But I got that all mixed up! Sorry about that.) I have never met sweeter people!

We all piled into trucks & a 15 passenger van and off we went! Before we could settle into the 2 hour drive, we needed to stop and gas up. For the last hour before you get to Chan Chen, there is NO place to stop for ANYTHING! Not banos (bathrooms) either!!!! Well, good thing we're tough prairie dwellers, cuz we had to stop and use whatever patch of grass was nearest to the road! This is how the conversation went:

Girl: Dad, I have to go to the bathroom!
Dad: Well, we're not anywhere near a bathroom. Can yo wait til we get there?
Girl: How much longer?
Dad: About 15 minutes.

(5 minutes later)

Girl: Dad, I REALLY have to go! How much longer?
Dad: About 15 minutes.
Girl: I can't wait!

(Sound of gravel spewing from sudden stop and truck doors opening.)

Girl: Um, right here dad? (along with a cute little dance)
Dad: RIGHT HERE!
Girl: But I can't!
Dad: Well, what'll it be?
Girl: RIGHT HERE???
Dad: YES! RIGHT HERE!

Yep, she proved to be quite the prairie girl...and she felt soooooo much better after!

When we finally got to the village we broke into 3 groups - one group painted, one held a children's time and one walked through the streets handing out kid's booklets and New Testaments door to door...or shall we say, space to space, cuz I think we actually only saw a few doors!

Our family was one group and we prayed as we walked, handing out the Bibles. A Mexican woman who could thankfully speak some English joined us and translated for us. We walked along what we thought, were quiet, deserted streets. Once we started to hand out the materials, it was amazing how lively the streets got! Who knew there were so many people in this village?

For the most part, it is the younger generation of Mayan people that can speak some Spanish, and no one can speak English. The older generation can only speak Mayan.

Please pray for the younger generation. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth of God's Word to them and that they will feel the urgency to share it with the older generation.

It was amazing to experience this sort of ministry. I am here, back at the warehouse in Steinbach, where it feels like we have a church on every corner! Bibles in our city are readily available. Most of us have at least half a dozen kicking around in our homes. The thrift shops have a bunch on their shelves. The American man that Rick gave a Bible to couldn't get one, unless he ordered it from Amazon! What is so very taken for granted here, is hard to come by at the edge of our continent.

Here, we often think that offering someone a Bible is not enough, or even silly. While we walked along the dusty streets in the village, it took us only an hour or two to dwindle our stack of Bibles and booklets. And what's more, people came, asking for more! This was especially true of the children's booklets. These are the easiest way to present the gospel to these villagers because they are at a primary reading level.

It is amazing to me how we feel as though we are offending or inconveniencing someone if we offer them God's Word and then we don't. It is the only thing we can give that gives real hope and lasts for ever.

...too bad it's so inconvenient.

The Last Few Days in the Sun

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day! We are all really excited about heading to Chan Chen with Doug & Darla and the mission group that has come in from Alabama today. We have been staying at a hotel in downtown Playa del Carmen for the past 3 days, so we will only be with the Alabama group one day.

Staying with Doug & Darla was wondeful, but kinda out of my comfort zone. We have never stayed over at anyone's home - except for family and one time when we were stranded in a blizzard in Austin....nope, not Texas, but Manitoba. I always feel like I am imposing on others, and I've never had any travelers stay at my home. I guess the prairies just aren't a popular vacation destination! I hope that one day I will be able to extend the same gracious hospitality that Doug & Darla extended to us...hopefully to them as well as others.

Last week we spent two days cleaning up the church yard weeding the flower bed and varnishing the play structure at Paamul church. I'm not sure where most of the varnish ended up - on us or the play structure! In the end, paint splattered, hot and dusty, we were all happy with the results. I think the play structure stood just a little taller that day!

After we finished off at the church on Friday, we took in something we had never seen before - CRAB RACES! For any of you who know anything about hermit crabs, "race" would be the last word you would ever use! Never the less, crabs were tossed into a 5 gallon pail, put in the center of a ring. Then it was dumped out with a flourish and the announcer yelled, "and they're off!" Well, I wouldn't go right to "off!" They just kinda sat there till they got tired of the bright light shining overhead and scurried off to find a little darkness. Each crab was marked with a number, and who ever got over the rope first, won! Sounds exciting, don'cha think?

Moving to the hotel was a little sad. I missed Darla's company and I couldn't go to the lady's bible study on Tuesday. The nice part was experiencing Playa del Carmen. In the years we have been coming here, we have never stayed right in the city. God provided this beautiful hotel for us by way of the young Mexican preacher who has connections in the hotel industry. We were able to stay for half of the cost! I am so thankful for how the Lord provides!

By Sunday we were already at our hotel in Playa, so while we couldn't take in church at Paamul, we were able to walk over to the service in Playa. I got to meet the man who was the recipient of one of the Bibles we brought, and again, he expressed his thankfulness. He asked us if we would pray for him, so the three of us found a quiet corner and spent some time inviting the Lord to speak into his life. Not only was he encouraged, but so were Rick and I! I thakn the Lord for allowing me the privilege of meeting and praying with someone who was personally touched by our ministry at Canadian Lifelight.

Monday and today were spent in the sun! We took a ferry across to Cozumel and Rick and the girls went snorkeling! What a great time they had! So did I....ALL BY MYSELF!!!!!!! Browsing the market in peace was my idea of a good time!

This morning we spent most of the morning in search of a bakery! Have you ever tried Mexican baked goods? What a treat! I'm not a huge pastry fan, but you simply cannot leave Mexico without indulging! Finally, by mid-morning our noses found the right place! Hopefully we will be able to remember it for next year! The rest of the day was spent on the beach and then trying to rid ourselves of the sand that seems to find places on and in your body you never knew you had!

I was leafing through my bible today, looking for a passage in acts. As I did, my eyes fell on this:

"Then Peter began to speak:" I now realize how true it is that god does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right."
Acts 10: 34&35

We've spent over two weeks in an area of the world that is vastly different from where I live; save for one thing - the need for Jesus. God isn't any different here than He is at home. The people are, the culture is and so are some of the churches (can you imagine worshiping in an open air church at home at this time of year?!???!)

If there is one thing that I am thankful for, it's that no church, culture or person has the exclusive formula for christianity. Thank goodness! I know I'd be in trouble! Fearing Him and doing what is right is all that is required. This is sometimes really tough to remember when you have been in your own back yard all your life. Even there, we get caught up in it; very comfortable with whatever denomination of fellowship we attend, and how we do things. God's word is the same, says the same and holds the same power no matter what language it is written in.

We all sleep under the same stars at night...
and the same God too.

I feel so blessed to have gotten even a glimpse of those who "fear Him and do what's right" in another part of the world knowing that we will see the same Jesus face to face one day!

Meeting God

I've been having a hard time trying to compose anything for this blog. Most things haven't gone the way I had thought they would and yes, that has threated my outlook on things. I've really struggled with confidence in Christ; that we are partnering with Him; aligning with His will. Each day I wonder what His plan is.

When I choose to look past all the doubt that has piled up in my mind, there is no doubt that I can see His blessings. We have been able to bless and encourage others, helping with a few church projects. We have met fellow Canadians at church...even a family from Steinbach who came in to my warehouse before we left and picked up Spanish Bibles to give out. They were so excited about it and I got to see first hand, the joy it brings to be able to gift someone with the Living Word!

The idea of finding local churches and adding their information to our Spanish material has been well received. So much so, that a visiting Pastor from Mexico City requested that their church too, be added, should Canadians ever make their way to Mexico City! Don't ask me what that's all about! Mexico City was never even on my radar...but I guess it's on God's!

Yesterday I headed out to a beautiful remote beach and spent some raw time with God. I cried and walked and cried and walked some more. I sat on the shore, watching Him in the rolling waves of magnificent blues and greens. I confessed my doubt. I worshiped El Roi; the God Who Sees Me and begged Him to bless me! I asked Him for a sign of some kind...writing in the sand, an unusual sight or maybe a much coveted conch shell that gets washed up every now and then...anything!!

I refused to leave the sea side until He had blessed me. I asked Him to speak to me. I had no Bible or journal to draw from. It was just me. I wasn't expecting much of a conversation. I love Scripture and it's my favorite way to hear from God. But there I was - just me. I offered mself up to Him again; for I'm sure, the millionth time.

And then I heard it -His gentle question on the breeze:
"Why are you working so hard for my favor, which you already have?"
What amazing confirmation! Yes! It's true! I already have His favor! How do I know? Because He calls me 'friend' and reveals so much of Himself and His plan to me, in my small sphere of influence.

Then on the gentle roll of the waves, I heard these words:
"Now you see in part, then you will see the whole."
Over and over again as the waves crashed at my feet, it lulled me.

I was so overjoyed! I had felt this whole time like nothing was coming together. All I could see were these loose ends of ministry moments that just don't seem to connect to each other. God was telling me that it didn't matter if I could see it or not. Is His plan so one-dimentional that I thought I would be able to close it off or check it off on my to-do list? Definately not. Long after I have made my way through the doors of the Winnipeg Inernational Airport and back into the great White North, His plan will sill prevail.

I had been blessed. I got up, turned to make the trek back, and there at my feet was an old conch shell with soft coral grown to it. Clearly, God had been saving it for me for a very long time! It was my "sign." I had asked for it. He delivered. I will never forget that meeting on the beach.

Did You Know That Women Speak More Words in a Day Then Men Do????????

...Especially THIS woman!

You know when you think back on something that did, you have to laugh at yourself cuz it hindsight, it was really dumb, hilarious or weird? Well, that's how I feel this morning!

Yesterday, Darla got back from her mission conference in Alabama. I was soooooo happy to see her! I didn't realize exactly how happy until she offered to go grocery shopping with me. The entire trip, we chatted and laughed as though we were simply together all the time.....well, I chatted! I think I made up for all the words women speak in a week, in ONE, two-hour shopping trip!!!!!!!

I was almost out of breath by the time we got back! I found it so comical that I felt like I really hadn't said all that much with being the only woman in the house for the last week. Not to mention both Rick and Doug are sports nuts, so guess what the topic has been around here? - Golf, olympics, golf and olympics! Doesn't turn my crank much. I can't even spell John Daly's name right, never mind know all the scores and shots he and everyone else took at the PGA! LOL. Well, I'm glad Mr. Daly may now have gotten his Bible! His girlfriend was really curious and leafing through it on the course. It's as close as we'll ever get to sharing Jesus with him and his girlfriend, so please pray that the Bible will make an impact and that God will stir his heart, and when it stirs, that God will send Godly men and women near by at exactly the right moment!

This morning Darla is leading a bible study. It should feel familiar to me, cuz it's 'Esther.' I am looking forward to meeting women who are hungering for the Lord and growing through challenging study.

Here and there over the last week, discussion has come up about the churches I want to visit and find information for to label on our Spanish material in the warehouse. I have begun to realize that just like where we live, not all churches are places you would point people to. We have to be so careful, making sure that they are Christ-centred churches and not tradition-centred. This comes in to play even more out here, because much of the religion here is a mixture of catholic and Mayan. And by now, I'm sure with all the new age movements, it hasn't taken long to throw that in the mix too! Please pray that the churches we connect with will be safe places that people can go to and be nurtured in their faith.

We'll we had quite the thunder storm last night, so the humdity is so high and so "thick" that it feels like you have to cut your way through it. It really hot this morning, but really cloudy to, so who knows what we're in for!

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!

What a gorgeous day today! The winds were high, so the girls and I couldn't snorkel, but Macey and Brook played in the ocean alot. They kept getting washed up onto the sand like a couple of cast aways! Syd and I both sat near the water and read, succeeding in getting our books doused!



Rick and Doug came back this evening a little crispier than they were yesteday. Tomorrow is the last day of the tournament and they are both so glad! The best part ever is this - yesterday Pastor Doug gave John Daily's girlfriend a golfer's New Testament (we packed some of them along in our variety of Bibles we brought with us) to pass on to him! For those of you who do not know who he is, he is a proffesional golfer who has been trying for the last few years to clean up his life. If this is the only thing that is accompished at this tournamnet, it is enough.



Coming back tonight, they both felt kinda defeated. I didn't think about as they were telling me about it, but now that I'm typing this, I think their rough day is a direct result of the enemy. I'm sure the fact that a Bible made it's way into Jon Daily's hands makes the devil really mad!!!!! Please pray that tomorrow will be a great ending to these four long days of voluneering.



Tomorrow morning is church both here and in Playa del Carmen. The girls and I will be helping out with that. Please pray that we will be able to see and fill the needs of the morning - even with the language barrier! Most of them speak english, but it still gets messed up somtimes.



I wish I had something profound to blog about or some amazing words from the Lord. But I don't. So I'm just gonna praise God for the gorgeous day, that the guys made it home safely and that John Daily has an opportunity to read about God's love for him!!!!

The Weirdness of it all.

Well, I'm not sure how the volunteers are doing at the golf tournament, but as of yesterday evening, there were enough of them! Thank God for pulling it all together! Hopefully, that translates to their work on the green!



Rick and Doug left early this morning and likely won't be back til evening. This has left the girls and me here at Paamul all day. The temperature was cool today, so swimming and sun bathing were not on the "things to do" list! However, it seems we will be bringing our allowed luggage weight back in sea shells!!! Yep, great day for shell hunting.



Also a great day for reading and studying. Sitting by the pool today, doing my beth Moore "Patriarchs" homework, (yes fellow biblestudy girls, I'm still with you!) I was mulling over this statement:



"Our difficulties are filled with meaning and far-reaching effects, leaving warm blessing on our earthly journey." (pg. 108 at the top girls!)



While I was chewing on that, I heard the woman on the lounger beside me telling another tanned been-in-Mexico-forever woman about her basic backround - you know, where she was from, how many kids, what she did for a living; stuff like that. She went on to tell the tanned woman that she had grown up on a farm with cattle and sheep.



I too, grew up on a farm. My parents were grain farmers. My kids were growing up on a farm...

I truely know no other life.



I have to tell you, my gut kinda turned. I felt this strange lump in my throat, and even now, typing this, I want to bust up into tears. I can't help it. I know I am working at Canadian Lifelight Ministries and here in Mexico because of God's leading. So when am I done grieving over our loss? Why would it even come up when I know without a doubt that God is working His plan?



I know, I know. I can hear you all the way from here...



"You're in paradise!!!!!!! QUIT your blubbering!"



I will admit, that I want to focus on the word "difficulties" in the afore mentioned quote. I should be focusing on the 'filled with meaning...far-reaching effects...warm blessing" part of it.




It is the strangest combination of homesickness and awe I feel. Right from the beginning of our 'Patriarchs" study, I knew it would speak into my life - IMMEDIATELY! Abraham left his country, and set out for the land God told him to go to. He had no idea where he was going! God never said!



I will only be here in Mexico for two weeks, but the life of farming that God seems to have called us to leave makes me feel a lot like Abraham....cuz I have no idea where we are going!



I pray that "my difficulties are filled with meaning and far-reaching effects, and will leave warm blessings." ...both here in Mexico and back home.

Not So Sunny Mexico!

I emailed most of you already, so this might be a repeater!

We arrived safely, but got up to a frigid, cloudy morning!

We are here in beautiful Paamul, staying with Pastor Doug & Darla. Darla is not here. She is flying from St. Louis to Alabama for a mission conference today. Please keep her in your prayers as they are always needing to raise support.

Our box of Bibles has arrived safely. It had a strip of tape on it letting us know that it was inspected. Everything is still there..in this case, is that a good thing?!!! I'd be ok with someone taking a Bible!

Today is organization day. Doug and Rick are trying to keep the volunteer base up for the Golf Channel at the PGA tour. They are dropping like flys!!!!! The few golfers New Testaments we brought with will come in handy at the tournament. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will move and open doors to introducing Jesus to a few golfers!

Next week we will be finding some churches to get their information so we can add it to our Spanish material at Lifelight. That way we can pass it along according to where people are vacationing. God is all about a global viliage, and yes, we can help from Canada!

Well, I thik I'll head outside to see if it's warmed up any!

I'll try to post pictures yet..once I've got it figured out!

Spiritual Breakthrough

This is sooooo weird. I'm not sure I even remember how to blog. I'm not sure I remember how to write either. I have had no inspiration to write this past winter. Maybe that's because I don't have any more answers today than I did back in October.

I have felt so...I don't know....blah. I love my job. I love my church. I love my ladies cell group. I love our couples cell group. I am involved in ministry wherever I can. Somehow, it has felt as though I am just not very effective in ministry, or growing in ministry gifts.

This January was a season of fasting in our church. I was so glad and very ready to enter into this season. Now, that's not to say that you can't fast at any time of the year. The reason I was looking forward to this is because I felt like I simply wouldn't make it on my own. I really needed the encouragement, accountability and teaching to help me get through it.

Yep. It was exactly what the doctor ordered! In some areas of my life, I saw God's grace pour out immediately! in other areas..... ummm... not so much. Some areas took courage, confession and repentance to pry the doors open. But when they opened just a crack, it was enough to give me the energy to keep at it.

We are told in Matthew to ask, seek and knock, and it will be given to us, we will find, and the door will be opened. I have come to realize that these are verbs. Go figure! Something else I realized was that these verbs need to be used in a marathon format!

The struggle we are in with our farm is definitely a marathon. I love those ministry "water stops" God has set up for me along the way. But it just wasn't enough. I was still thirsty after those little dixie cups of H2O! When I fasted and prayed, drinking in as much of God as possible, I finally felt as though I had stopped at a spring of cool, refreshing water. After all, Jesus did call himself "Living Water."

The thing with water, is that you have to KEEP drinking. How parched, dry and weak do we have to become before we head for the water again? The rule of thumb is that we should be drinking 8 - 10 glasses of water a day. Imagine if we used that rule of thumb for "Living Water?!!!!"

...Now there's food - umm... water for thought!