Maintaining Vitality Part 2: Obedience and Consistency

This is the second post in a series about maintaining vitality and preventing burnout as a wife and mom on the mission field (click here to read the first part). In summary, although missionaries are vulnerable to burnout, we can intentionally and creatively maintain consistent rhythms and occasional breaks customized to our needs.

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..." 2 Peter 1:3a

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Strategy #1: A sacred start to the day

A consistent rhythm that helps me thrive is rising early. A few years ago, I shared about a "typical day" here in La Ceiba, including reasons for an early start to the day. These days, I find it more helpful than ever to spend about an hour to an hour and half (depending on when my kids wake up) alone.

A refreshing thunderstorm early this morning

First, I read the Bible passages for the day according to a Scripture reading plan. I focus my mind on truth I can meditate on throughout the day, and I love working toward the goal of reading through the Bible this year.

Next, I plan tasks for the day, such as meals or errands, and answer emails.

I find this time incredibly energizing for these reasons:

• It's quiet and cool, and I'm alone!
• The rest of the day flows well when I plan ahead, stay organized, and have a disciplined start.
• I thrive on completing tasks in a focused, uninterrupted way, which doesn't usually happen the rest of the day. :)
• Regardless of what the day brings, I can enjoy some sense of accomplishment.

This habit is like making a deposit in my energy/vitality account, a safe and consistent space to gain perspective on life, and a sacred time dedicated first and foremost to the Lord.

Strategy #2: Sabbath

To be honest, a weekly day of rest has never appealed to me very much! But in college God taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of observing a Sabbath.

I was a workaholic, double majoring and double minoring while playing flute in the music department, exercising, and socializing... as soon as I finished homework. ;) Spring quarter of my last year, I felt very convicted about not taking a day of rest, but I thought it would be impossible to keep my grades up and perform a concerto (solo accompanied by orchestra), among other year-end concerts. If I hadn't managed to take a day of rest previously, how could I pull it off now?

Performing with the university orchestra, a big highlight from college

I committed to abstain from homework, practicing, and exercising on Sundays, as much as possible. To my surprise, it was a success! God provided the time and more energy Monday through Saturday for academics and music, and I had more time for Him and for friends on Sundays!

Graduating from Western Washington University in 2003

Recently, I felt the familiar sense of conviction, as I brushed off the idea of Sabbath. After all, taking babies to church (babies and children stay with their parents during the service) and the daily tasks of taking care them just doesn't seem restful, so why try? However, I find that when I prepare ahead of time to keep chores to a bare minimum and simply take a step back, breathe, and enjoy a quieter day to focus on Him, God refreshes me both physically and spiritually -- and this benefits those around me, too, of course!

Obeying God first and foremost is foundational in fostering vitality and reducing the likelihood of burnout, regardless of how this actually pans out as seasons of life ebb and flow. I smile when I think of God's generosity, giving us gifts that draw us close to Him and refresh us: His Word, His presence, solitude, rain, rest, and memories of His faithfulness. I'm curious what you find helpful for maintaining spiritual vitality and would love to hear from you, either a comment or personal message. May we walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit's leading and receive the blessings God has prepared for us!

Invitation to Church

You're "invited" to a Honduran church service by means of this blog post. As one family of believers -- body, building, bride, and other metaphors -- there are many members and many forms of worship. Here is a glimpse of how people here gather to worship and hear the Word taught. It would be inappropriate for me to actually take pictures during a service, so I hope this description paints a clear picture.

By means of introduction, in September Fernando was asked to assume temporary leadership in a church whose pastor had had to relocate. This congregation, in a community about 20 minutes east of La Ceiba, had been without a pastor for two years and greatly desired a leader. Fernando had previously served with a pastor friend at his church in La Ceiba but felt his help was no longer needed. In the past few months, he has really enjoyed getting to know this group of believers, preaching on Sundays and facilitating small groups, children's and youth outreach events, and leadership training.

Because the church met on Sunday evenings and Fernando would usually arrive home late, I hadn't gone with our two kids. But now that they meet on Sunday mornings we can go as a family.

If you hopped in the car with us and came along, we would take you to this community, turning off the highway toward the ocean and onto a dirt road toward a small concrete building. We would pass by children playing and animals, such as chickens and pigs. Getting out of the car, you'd have to watch your step because rainy season creates puddles and mud in the sandy ground, and you'd have to step onto concrete blocks and some wood planks onto the bare concrete floor of the church.

A street in this community (from this link)

You would hear worship music playing in Spanish and Garífuna, and you would be greeted with a handshake at the door. You would see handmade decorations hanging from the wood rafters of a metal roof, feel the welcome breeze from a few fans high on the wall, and take a seat on one of the plastic chairs. You would probably see people kneeling to pray, preparing their hearts for the service, either at their seats or at the platform, where a glass podium, sound system, instruments, and decorative back curtain are located. Open windows would allow you to see people walking by outside, going about their daily activities. People of all ages would trickle in, even after the service officially starts, often greeting each other with handshakes or, between women, the cheek-to-cheek air kiss typical in Latin America.

If you're a man, you'd be wearing nice slacks and a dress shirt, or a polo shirt if you're a young adult or teenager. If you're a woman, you'd want to wear a skirt or dress knee-length or lower. In Honduras, dressing semi-formally is considered important, especially for those who are in front leading worship, giving announcements, or preaching. If you brought your baby or came along with Miss A, women would ask to hold him or her; babies are more than welcome in church gatherings, and other women are always more than happy to hold them.

The service is usually held 9:00-10:15, but starting and ending times are somewhat flexible; people are more focused on the event of the moment than following a firm schedule. After an opening prayer and Scripture reading, worship would begin, and the motto seems to be, "the louder the better." Instead of projecting lyrics on a screen, songs are learned through repetition and, especially in Garífuna, call and response style. Instruments usually include Garífuna drums and rattles, sometimes a drum set, a piano, and sometimes guitar. Raising hands and swaying to the music is common (Mr. J really likes participating in this way!). After the announcements and offering, you'd see Fernando step to the front to give the message.

Fernando preaching (several years ago)

In this community, like others located close to larger cities, Garífuna is still used but is becoming gradually eclipsed by Spanish. Fernando preaches in Spanish so that everyone can understand, but he speaks Garífuna when preaching in more rural areas. People often respond to sermons by calling out, "Amen!" and sometimes clapping. You'd hear very soft piano music in the background during the sermon. Fernando has appreciated the spiritual hunger and openness of this particular group of believers, who give their full attention the duration of the sermon.

After the final prayer, people talk and shake hands before leaving. We, like they, would return home to eat the main meal of the day around noon and rest a bit during the afternoon.

Holding hands on the way to church

Before finishing this post, I have to share about going to church with my parents on a visit to Washington. Right before the service started, there was a countdown (minutes and seconds) on the screen. When someone in front began literally right at the start time, I had a laughing attack. (This is called "reverse culture shock.") How good to know that with different customs and approaches to worship we serve the same God and are the same family!

Best of 2014: Stories, Questions, Fellowship

Part 3 of the "Best of 2014" blog series is about a fellowship group that met to learn oral Bible stories and how this affected their spiritual lives. (If you missed it, here are Part 1 and Part 2.)

The Power of God's Word through Stories

Last year Fernando directed one of our church's weekly fellowship groups. A main activity was learning and discussing the oral Bible stories in Garífuna that Alex and Wilber were crafting for the OneStory project. In this method everyone present participates and learns together. It was an excellent opportunity for Wilber to tell the stories he had been working on and develop his leadership skills by facilitating discussions.

Wilber is passionate about telling Bible stories: this is how became a Christian! Several years ago, Fernando needed to find young Garifuna speakers to test stories he was crafting, and he discovered Wilber had a knack for learning them and relating them to life. Wilber said he wasn't interested in becoming a Christian, but he was always asking Fernando when the next story would be ready! The Lord worked in Wilber's heart, he eventually gave his life to the Lord. Now he is committed to sharing stories with others, and he thoroughly enjoying it.


Fellowship and a Safe Place for Questions

The group developed close fellowship and unity as they gathered together. They shared their struggles, answers to prayer, and questions about faith.

Just the other day, a young woman, Jane* told me she used to sit in church with so many questions in her head. During the past year, she and others could find clarity as Fernando helped them find answers in the Word. She was encouraged with how much she learned and grew last year. Jane said that, for the first time, she and her fiancé have been praying and reading the Bible together.

We praise God for those who could understand and receive salvation and then mature in their faith. They had a lot of fun together, too, and usually didn't want to go home!

 

What Now?

 

This year we would love to see Wilber take on more leadership and help others start fellowship groups in new places. In addition, Fernando would like the group to focus more evangelism so that others come to faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Coming up in Part 4: Growing Pains

 

*not her real name

It Happens Once a Year...

Every July Garífuna Christians come together for four days to worship, fellowship, and hear from God's Word all in their language. This year they met in a rural community near where Fernando is from.

Fernando enjoyed reconnecting with pastors and fellow believers not only from communities in Honduras, but also from Guatemala, Belize, and the U.S. It was encouraging for everyone to share about what the Lord is doing among Garífuna people in those places. About 500 people attended!

Fernando shared a message about how unity is an essential element to expanding the gospel, and he also served on the team that plans and carries out the details of the event. He took Alex and Wilber, who work with him full-time on ministry projects, and it was the first time they participated.

Praise the Lord for those who received Jesus as their Lord and Savior in response to an open-air meeting with the aim of evangelism, and also for how He strengthened His people as they met together.

Unfortunately, I charged the camera battery and forgot to put it in the camera when I gave it to Fernando to take with him (I discovered the lone battery shortly after he left...). This is a picture from two years ago:

Next year we should be able to share pictures with you, but we at least wanted to share these praises with you.

Dramatizing, Batteries, and Cake

This past Sunday our church family in La Ceiba celebrated its 14th birthday. During the special service, the fellowship group Fernando leads performed a drama of two stories they recently learned together ("Creation" and "The Fall"). I intended to take pictures and video, but just as they began, I realized my camera battery was dead, probably because of a spontaneous photo session just before leaving the house:

At least I was able to take a picture of some kids doing a choreography earlier in the service, just to give you an idea of what church looks like (in the middle of a building project):

Anyway, it was great to observe how the group has enjoyed learning the stories and interacting together, including several people who are new to the Bible and church.

The group usually meets at another house each Wednesday evening, and I usually stay home with Baby J. But this past week, everyone came to our house, so I was able to join in the story-telling time. We are thankful for a home where we can have groups of people crowd into our living room for meetings like this. I was too busy serving them cake I made to take a picture, and I didn't want to distract anyone during while the story was being told! Maybe another time.

The latest story was about God's covenant with Abraham. Fernando told it several times, and then we broke into small groups to retell it together. I was able to tell most of the story in Garífuna, not perfectly, but still worth celebrating! After we retold it, Fernando led a short discussion in which people were free to talk about their observations.

In addition to learning God's Word together, another benefit of story-telling is finding out how to improve a current narration. Fernando and I noticed some spots that were difficult for people to remember, and this helps Fernando know how to make revisions.

Please continue to pray for good progress with the Garífuna story set and for the Lord to work in people's lives as they hear His Word. Thank you for your partnership in this work!

Ministry Update (Finally!)

Hi everyone! We want to share with you what Fernando has been up to the past few months:

Garifuna Bible School Happenings

Fernando has been meeting regularly with several pastors who serve on the Garifuna Bible school leadership team as they plan how to support pastors who have started discipleship schools in their local church congregations. Fernando and the other leaders make arrangements to provide these pastors with BILD International materials and help them as they train others. The leadership team has also been laying the groundwork for a new training group for pastors that will start in a nearby Garifuna community next month.

• Pray for each pastor who has started a discipleship school in his church and for the church members to attend, for God's Word to be firmly established in their hearts and for godly leaders to be raised up.
• Pray also for the pastors who will form the new training group next month, for a strong commitment, for excellence, and for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.

Discipleship at Church

Fernando has been teaching a discipleship class at church. While the lead pastor continues to work with a group of adults he was teaching last year, Fernando meets with youth, many of whom are seekers or new believers, learning biblical truth for the first time. Using the discipleship materials that were translated into Garífuna last year has been a great help.

• Pray for these youth to understand, receive, and live out the Word of God as they discover who Jesus is and how to follow Him.

Discipleship and Translation Training

God has bridged two needs to form a wonderful opportunity for Fernando. One need is for another series of training materials to be translated into Garífuna. The other is that many youth are unable to find employment. We praise God for an office behind the house where we are living, where Fernando has invited two young men to come during the week. They read the Scripture in Garífuna, study the discipleship training materials in Garífuna (same as mentioned above), write in Garífuna in response to what they learn, and also do some translation of texts. By strengthening their reading and writing skills in Garífuna, not only are they becoming prepared to translate, but they also are learning more about Jesus and His Word. We hope this is just the start to including even more youth in the Lord's work as He allows.

• Pray for both of these young men to grow in their faith in this process, for them to do excellent translation work, and for the materials they translate to be a great blessing to Garífuna pastors in their studies and as they teach those in their churches.

House Construction Update

As we've shared with you, we feel God leading our family to a Garífuna community, *Wageira, for pastor training and church planting in that region. Fernando traveled to Wageira in January to get the building process started. Before building, sand is collected from the nearby river to make cement. We thank God for the start of this project!

• Pray that as this house is built, God will prepare a home where our family can share the good news of Jesus with others.

Two Months Old

Today Baby J turns two months old! I'll share more about him in the next post, but here's a picture of our sweet baby boy:

Thank you for your prayers!


*pseudonym

Minnesota Trip

Happy November, friends!

I just returned from a trip Fernando and I took to Minnesota. He is currently in Iowa at the annual BILD International conference, the program being implemented in the Garifuna seminary. We'll share more about that when he returns to Washington later this month.

The picture below shows a very special couple, who invited us to Minnesota to share about our ministry with groups and individuals they know. They have been closely connected to the Wycliffe missionaries in Honduras who coordinated the Garifuna Bible translation project, so Fernando has known him since 1992. Since then, this brother in Christ has played a highly influential role in a variety of projects, including starting a scholarship fund for pastors, leading teams to Honduras who have built homes for pastors and widows, and linking several missionaries to those who have supported them. He also is on the pastoral staff of a very missions-centered church, where the BILD program is also used.

He planned a very productive time for us, scheduling about ten meetings and speaking engagements. We also learned a lot from him about fundraising, as he is gifted and experienced in this area. We hope to follow his example in advocating for others and wisely administering resources for the advancement of God's kingdom. It was a gift from the Lord to get to know him better and learn alongside him.

The next picture shows Fernando sharing at a church missions night. There were tables representing countries around the world where the church supports missionaries, and the enthusiasm and commitment to the Great Commission on a global level was palpable and motivating. Fernando did a great job sharing (according to others, not just me!).

A special part of this trip was visiting my mom's cousin and her family. We spent two nights with them and shared at their church. It was fun to get to know them better and talk about what our families have in common. I also enjoyed the beautiful farmland and cornfields where they live, getting a taste of a part of the U.S. I hadn't seen first-hand. We went to a high school cross country meet, and they brought us extra layers since we are not quite used to the cold!

We are thankful for:

• The hospitality and advocacy generously extended to us during our trip. Thank you to all those who drove us places, made meals, and took time to learn about our ministry.
• Your prayers for safe travels, good, health, and stamina. My pregnancy symptoms were much lighter than usual, and I was surprised by how much energy I had!!

Please pray for:

• The people we met with to follow God's prompting as to how to support pastor training and church planting among the Garifuna people.
• Fernando's time at the BILD conference: for good networking with other participants and leaders and for clear vision as to how to further pastor training in Honduras.

Binilaün Bungiu súngubei! (God bless you all!)

Getting Ready to Travel To...

Hi everyone! First of all, thank you for praying for us during some busy days of speaking engagements and meetings. Here were a few highlights:

• I (Alison) met two girls, one a senior in high school at a youth group and the other around 13 at a church, who are very interested in becoming missionaries. I remember being their ages and feeling that same stirring in my heart. What a joy to look in their eyes and encourage them to follow the Lord and see what He has in store for their lives! (I also realized how much I miss teenage girls...)

• We met with a pastor who implements the same program at his church as what is being used at the Garifuna seminary. It was motivating to hear how the Lord saved him and called him to train leaders and develop church planting teams. He was excited to hear about how the Garifuna church is growing, and we look forward to being in touch with him.

• A big "THANK YOU!" to:
• The Grace Community Church missions team and our small group for helping put together a luncheon where we and another GCC missionary could share about our work. We continue to be reminded of the gift of a supportive, enthusiastic church family who cares about us and our Garifuna family in Honduras.
• A friend of mine who connected us with her church to share and prepared a beautiful reception for everyone afterward, and a couple who organized a dessert night at their home. Once again we thank God for those who go the extra mile and demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways.

Of course, we could share more, but suffice to say we have been busy and are thankful for each opportunity to share with groups, as well as catch up with friends for coffee or in their homes.

This coming Thursday we will fly to Minnesota, where we will share with several churches, groups, and individuals about our work (more about that in an upcoming post!). The following week, I will return to Washington, and Fernando will go to Iowa for the annual conference for the program that has been implemented in the Garifuna Bible school. This will be a great opportunity for him to connect with those involved in theological training around the world and consider how to further develop what is going on in Honduras.

Here are a few prayer points for our time in Minnesota:

• For safe travels, good health, and stamina in the midst of meeting many people. I'd especially appreciate prayer for good sleep and for pregnancy symptoms to be minimal (particularly stomach aches and joint pain).
• For fruitful interaction with people and the Holy Spirit to clearly lead those He would have join our ministry support team.
• For God to encourage and bless the special people who have organized this trip and invited us to come.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and each one who has shown us the Lord's love in many ways (you know who you are!).

Fall Happenings

Hello, friends! Here's an update on what we've been up to and answers to your prayers:

Ministry Activities

• Thank you for praying for Fernando when he gave the sermon at the Hispanic congregation of our church, Grace Community in Auburn. It went very well; several people told Fernando how God spoke to them through it. Praise God for this growing church family and for how they have blessed us!

• One of our supporters invited me (Alison) to share with some of her Bible study friends during lunch at her house. Thank you for praying for this time!
• This past Sunday we shared at the church of some good friends and supporters in Bellingham. The pastor and his wife served as missionaries in Latin America in the past and have a big heart for what God is doing around the world. We appreciated the opportunity to meet more people who would like to follow our ministry and pray for the Garifunas.

Friends, Family, and a Happy Arrival

• Thank you for praying for our times connecting with people individually. We continue to meet with friends and supporters to hear about their lives and share in greater depth about how their partnership has made a difference in Honduras. I reconnected with a childhood friend I hadn't seen in about 15 years! It was also good to see a friend from high school I got back in touch with last year.
• My aunt took us to a Sounders game (the rainiest one of the year!). We had a fun time together, a special highlight from our time here so far.

• We visited the Garifuna church in Seattle, where a pastor and his wife were visiting from New York. This brother in Christ has played a key role in the development of the Garifuna church both in Central America and in the U.S. A musician, he wrote some of the first worship songs in Garifuna, and he also was part of the Garifuna Bible translation team. It's exciting to see Garifuna believers serving the Lord in this country!

• A very dear friend of mine had her first baby earlier this month, and I was so excited to meet him. It's a special gift from God that his arrival coincided with our time in Washington, and that my friend and I can share the experience of raising sons just a few months apart.

Plans and Prayer Requests

Here are some upcoming speaking engagements you can pray about as the Lord leads:

• Tomorrow we will share with a youth group in Enumclaw.
• This Sunday we will have a table display at my home church, Grace Community, to talk to people who might be interested in our ministry. We will also give a presentation at a missions luncheon afterward.
• This Sunday evening we will visit a church in Puyallup.
• Monday morning we will meet with a pastor in Burien and in the afternoon with another pastor in Kent.
• On Tuesday of next week we will speak at a dessert night hosted by a couple at our church.

We are looking forward to how God will work at each of these meetings. Thank you for joining with us through prayer! You are in our thoughts and prayers, as well.

Long-Time Friends, Special Events, and Baby News



Here is an update of what we've been doing in the past few weeks, along with praises and answers to your prayers:

 

Church Visits

 

We shared at a church in Tacoma on August 25, and people were very interested in getting involved in supporting pastor training and church planting in Garifuna communities. The pastor encouraged everyone to join our partnership team, and we felt refreshed worshipping and fellowshipping with brothers and sisters who treated us like family.

 

This past Sunday Fernando gave the sermon at the Garifuna church in Burien where we visited last month:

 

He spoke about Joseph from Genesis and how this story illustrates who Jesus is and what He has done for us, which was a great reminder and encouragement to everyone. Afterward we had a great time sharing a meal and getting to know people better. I was really happy to have conversations in Garifuna (even with some Spanish thrown in!) and hear more of these sisters' stories.


Friends, Supporters, and Mentors

We have seen many people in the past few weeks, sharing with supporters about how God has used their prayers and partnership to help individuals, groups, and projects in Honduras. There is nothing better than saying, "Thank you!" face-to-face.

We also have met with pastors from my home church, Grace Community, whose interest in our lives and ministry, as well as their advice, is greatly appreciated.

I was thrilled to introduce Fernando to a friend of mine in her early 90s. She was a pastor's wife for many years, and she informally mentored me when I visited her during high school and college years. Her wisdom and influence have helped me in crucial decisions and have motivated me to live my life for the Lord. What a blessing to have older Christians to learn from.

Over Labor Day Weekend we hosted a BBQ with good friends from high school and their families, the first time we'd all been together in over ten years!


Fundraiser Dinner

On Friday, the Hispanic congregation of Grace Community Church put together a beautiful fundraiser dinner event for us, with proceeds for special ministry projects we have coming up. We are so thankful for Pastor Esau and his wife, Erin, and everyone who came up with this great idea, planned a delicious meal, and did a beautiful job organizing and decorating. Many people helped in a variety of ways with a willing and loving attitude, including a woman who helped all afternoon in the kitchen after taking a half-day off work!

About 70-80 people came, including family friends and church members, a great turn-out! After dinner, Fernando and I shared a bilingual presentation about our backgrounds, how God is working among the Garifunas, the vision God has given for our work there, and how people can get involved. Here are a few pictures:

 

Thank you to everyone who helped, attended, and contributed to the Lord's work! We loved seeing you all there.


Happy Baby News

Yesterday we found out that we will be having a boy! We are grateful for a healthy pregnancy and are almost to the half-way point. Thank you for praying for our baby!


Praise/Prayer Update

• Thank you for praying for Fernando's citizenship process. He just completed the biometrics (fingerprinting) requirement, and we are waiting to receive notification about his interview/civics test. **Please pray he can be interviewed before we travel to the Midwest at the end of October.

• Thank you for praying for our monthly partnership level. In the past few weeks, this has increased from 49% to 57%. Praise God! **Please pray for God to clearly lead those He would have partner with us and for Him to work through upcoming speaking opportunities.

• We will be in the Spokane area this weekend. Please pray for safe travels, God-appointed opportunities to share with people, and an encouraging time with the friends and family we see.

Thanks for visiting our blog!

What Do You Think of Washington?

"What do you think of Washington?" Many people have asked Fernando this question, usually followed by, "Isn't it beautiful?" This makes us smile because it happens frequently and because we truly are enjoying summertime here. This is what we have been up to:

We've been seeing friends and supporters in the area, learning about how they are doing and how we can pray for them. In turn, we get to tell them about testimonies from Honduras, challenges and needs there, and how to pray and help. Thank you to all who have taken us out or invited us to your homes for meals!

After visiting a friend in Bellevue, we stopped at Coulon Park on Lake Washington.

With my long-time friend, Heather, at Kerry Park in Seattle.

We spent a weekend in Bellingham, where I attended college. It was fun to show Fernando around and spend time with friends. We went to church with some friends, and the pastor invited us to give a presentation this fall about our ministry. Hearing about how our friends are actively involved in their churches and community encouraged us, as well.

Spending the evening at Boulevard Park.

We spoke at a church in Tacoma that partnered with me when I was with Wycliffe and has prayed for me during the past seven years. We appreciated the warm welcome and the pastor's encouragement during this time of support-raising.

We visited a Garifuna congregation in the Burien area. It was beautiful to worship with Garifuna brothers and sisters in Washington, learn about how the church began, eat a great home-cooked meal, talk to people in Garifuna, and meet relatives of good friends in Honduras. The pastor has invited Fernando to preach there sometime this fall, so we are looking forward to seeing them again.

 

 

Worshipping at the Garifuna church (video).

 

To celebrate Fernando's and my parents' birthdays, my grandma and aunt came over for dinner and cake. Here is Fernando with his gift, a Seattle Sounders soccer jersey:

 

 

 

Our baby is growing well, and the second trimester is going great. A close friend of mine is expecting her baby next month, so my mom convinced us to take this picture together at her baby shower:

 

 

Here are some prayer requests and upcoming activities:

• Fernando's citizenship application is being processed. Please pray for everything to go quickly and smoothly in the coming weeks, as we wait to find out when he will be interviewed.

 

• Praise God for several people who have responded to God's leading to be monthly financial partners. This a huge answer to prayer! Please pray for our monthly support level to increase (we are at almost 50%).

 

• The Hispanic congregation at my home church, Grace Community, offered to help us hold a fundraiser dinner; proceeds will go to special ministry projects. The ladies will make a traditional Latino dinner, and we will give a bilingual presentation with pictures, videos, and testimonies. It should be a fun event! We are so thankful for their willingness to help in this way! It will be held Friday, September 6, at 7:00 P.M. **Contact me via email, Facebook, phone, or the comment section of this blog for more details and/or to RSVP.** Please pray that God will be glorified and bless those who are making this possible!

 

• Pray for us as we prepare to share with churches, community groups, and youth groups in the coming weeks. We plan to spend a weekend in Spokane next month, so **let us know if you or anybody in that area would like to get together!**

 

Thank you for visiting our blog and praying for us!

 

P.S. What do you think of Washington? If you don't know yet, you should come visit! :)

Praises and Happenings from Our First Weeks in Washington

Hi everyone! Here is an overview of what our first few weeks in Washington have looked like:


Piles of Paperwork

• We've been compiling information for Fernando's citizenship application are looking forward to the day when immigration paperwork is a thing of the past!

It feels endless...!

• Fernando has been studying for his driver's license test and will soon start studying for his citizenship civics test.
• We mailed out our summer newsletter along with an updated brochure about our work in Honduras and a prayer card with a new picture. Amidst all the stamps and envelopes (!), it was fun to write personal notes to people. (Please let us know if you are not yet on our mailing list and would like to be added! We'd love to send you a prayer card.)

Involvement at Church

• We have attended both English and Spanish services at my home church, Grace Community in Auburn, and it's been fun to see lots of people and introduce them to Fernando. Everyone has given us a very warm welcome and made us feel at home!
• We shared about our ministry with the Hispanic church family, and Fernando gets to play soccer with the men on Sunday afternoons.

 

• Last summer, I met with the small group that "adopted" us as missionaries and prays for us, and now we get to join them each week. They're currently doing a study on parenting, so, as parents-to-be, we are soaking up all we can.
• I've been attending a weekly women's Bible study and really like getting to know them women as we study God's Word together.

Filling the Calendar

• We have been preparing travel itineraries for our trip to Oregon this month and a trip to the Midwest this fall.
• We've seen some family, friends, and supporters, and we're looking forward to seeing many more in the coming months! The best part is hearing about their lives, introducing them to Fernando, and sharing about how God is working in Honduras.

Sharing our happy baby news with my aunt

• We have been blessed by the kindness and hospitality continually extended to us. THANK YOU! Please do let us know if you'd like to meet for coffee or a meal, or if you'd like us to share at your church or with a group of friends. We'd love to see you.

New Experiences for Fernando

It's been fun to introduce Fernando to places, food, and activities that are part of life here:

• My dad took Fernando fishing at a lake in the mountains.

• Fernando and I went up to Lake Tipsoo.

• Some good friends invited us to a BBQ on 4th of July. 

Praises

Thank you to...

• Our friends Morgan and Genevieve for giving us a printer they no longer needed.
• My friend Rachael for giving me some maternity clothes.
• My wonderful parents for home-cooked meals and helping us get settled.
• Our Honduran friends and family who call and email us (we miss them so much!).
• Everyone who has invited us to their home, shared a meal with us, prayed for us and our baby, and made us feel so welcome. We love you!

216 Years

April 12 marks the anniversary of when the Garifuna people (Garinagu) arrived to Honduras in 1797. (If you'd like to read more about what happened in their history, click here.) Yesterday we celebrated at church, including participation by the kids and their Sunday school teachers:

Naming objects used in daily life in Garifuna communities, such the woven cassava strainer, cassava flour sieve, canoe oar, baskets, and more.

Reading a summary of their ancestors' history and arrival to Honduras.

 Wearing our "gounu", or Garifuna/African dresses.

Here is a video of some of the worship. At the beginning, you can see a boy playing the wadabu, or conch shell:

Praise God for His hand on the Garinagu and the beautiful ways He has given them to worship Him together.

Thank you to those who have prayed for the new girls' discipleship group. We had our first meeting on Saturday and enjoyed talking about salvation through Jesus and getting to know each other. We expect some more girls to join us this next Saturday and are looking forward to how God will work in their lives.

Biniladün Bungiu súngubei! (God bless you all.)

Christmas/New Year's in Wageira

Happy New Year! We hope 2013 is off to a good start for you. Fernando and I are back in La Ceiba after spending two weeks with Fernando's family in Wageira. We are thankful for a good, safe trip and would like to share a few highlights with you.

We spent one day at a youth conference held at a nearby community, and Fernando was one of the speakers:

I enjoyed continuing to meet with Rosa (pseudonym), Fernando's cousin's wife. We had been studying the Bible and praying together in La Ceiba, and it is exciting to see her grow in her faith as she learns from God's Word. On Christmas Eve day, I joined Rosa and her sister to make tamales:

  Cornmeal dough (masa) with juice from pork meat and other seasonings

 

Preparing plantain leaves

 

Filling the leaves with the cornmeal, meat (pork or chicken), vegetables, and rice

 

Filling the pot to cook it over the fire

 

 

 

Later, we got ready for church, where the service continues until midnight or later.

 

 Merry Christmas!

 

With Fernando's sister

 

Fernando sharing a Christmas message during the service

 

 

People spend Christmas Day relaxing with their families and eating the food made the day before. Fernando and I took a walk with some friends down the beach to a river. We enjoyed coconuts and swimming in the ocean.

 

 

 

While we were there, a truck had to cross the river on a raft. Here is a picture and a video of the process:

 

On other days, people enjoyed soccer games:

 

(No. 15 is a superstar)

 

I enjoyed practicing Garifuna and am encouraged because I can speak much more than I could a year ago. Wageira is the ideal place to learn Garifuna, as it is the language people prefer to speak and there are a lot of people to talk with.

New Year's Eve is also celebrated at church, where Fernando gave another sermon and we enjoyed special presentations by children and youth:

 

At midnight, each family there gathered to pray - probably my favorite moment of the holidays, thanking God together with Fernando's family and praying for each other as we start the new year.

 

Several hours later, there was still a praise party going strong! I needed a little rest, so I took this video:

On New Year's Day, there is a traditional dance called Wanaragua ('mask'). Fernando's cousin dressed up and ready to go:

 

 

After such a good trip, we are back home preparing for the coming months. We would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and faithfulness in our work each day, and for trust in the Lord for our plans this year.

 

We want to say, "Thank you!!!" to those who have sent special gifts in the past few months, which have been an incredible help for the projects we're working on as well as our own needs - thank you!

 

Also, thank you for visiting our blog, and we look forward to sharing with you again soon. Happy New Year, everyone!