Charlie and Devon in Belize

Charlie and Devon flew to Belize on Thursday, Sept. 16 for a 6 week reconnaissance trip to set up our mission and to make living arrangements for the rest of us. As you've probably guessed the girls and I are staying in the states until Charlie and Devon return. Their return coincides with the Global Outreach Missions Conference in November.

For those new to our ministry, Charlie will be training evangelistic health care workers. There is a desperate need for health care as well as the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Belizeans in the remote southern region along the Guatemalan border.

This is a time of transition for us. We are of course enjoying seeing everybody and catching up, but we also want to get to Belize as soon as possible. We are currently on deputation to raise the funds needed to begin and sustain the medical mission in Belize.

You can be a part of this mission with monthly support or a one time gift to:

Global Outreach International
PO Box 1
Tupelo, MS 38802

Please note our account number on the memo line: #3017

100% of donations are given to our specific ministry. The home office keeps NO portion for their operations. And, of course, all gifts are tax deductible.

We need everyones prayers for we cannot do this in our own strength, but in the Lord's.

God bless you all.

Gringo Daddy in Costa Rica

After a near eternity waiting for a delayed plane to arrive - after a missed plane - my Dad arrived in San Jose on July 7. We were all thrilled to see him and to show him our Costa Rican world.

Daddy was eager to see new things, try new things, and do several mission projects. He was a real trooper while walking most places in a deluge. It is the rainy season, after all.

New tastes for him included mango, payjibayas, and mamon chinos. New experiences included attending a Spanish speaking church, riding public buses, and surviving the taxi "thriller" rides. Also shopping at open air markets.

While here, Daddy represented the Voice of the Martyrs four different times. Once to a men's prayer breakfast, once in church, once at a youth camp, and once in our chapel at school. He also helped our family pass out lunches and tracks to homeless people in downtown San Jose.

At the end of one short week it was time for him to leave, and as arranged, he escorted our four children back to Mississippi to have a summer vacation in the country. They're having a great time with Grandmother and Grandaddy and have had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa, as well.

We will join them August 12 for a month of preparation for Belize and to visit family and friends. These are exciting times!

Nicaragua

Well, these next couple of posts are a little late, but I don't think posterity will mind too much!

Because all of our visa forms were lost or stolen, we had to stay in Costa Rica on tourist visas instead of student visas. Which meant that we twice had to leave the country for roughly 72 hours. I have an earlier post of our first trip out that we took to Panama.

For our final trip, we decided to head north to Nicaragua. Some dear missionary friends, the Johnson family, that we went to school with had recently moved to Nicaragua. We would be able to visit with them, stay in their home, and see the work that they are involved in.

We took a pretty nice bus that had a working (albeit, stinky) bathroom that we were very grateful for. At the Costa Rican border we had to get out in the rain and stand in a line with our luggage for 3 1/2 hours. With four children, you can imagine what I was thinking about this situation, but instead of complaining, I decided to pray that God would use this circumstance as a way to strengthen our character (which meant I definitely had to keep a cheerful disposition for the sake of the children). The way Devon, Colleen, Scarlett, & Mary-Esther responded to the challenge can only be called a miracle. I am eternally grateful to God, and so proud of my children for the grace in which they comported themselves.

We were so excited to be back on the bus after waiting for so long, and proud of ourselves, that when we drove for 5 minutes and then had to get off again at the Nicaraguan border and wait another hour, it was almost too much. I compare the experience to giving birth to Devon. How I was happy that the whole ordeal was over, only to be confronted with afterbirth pains. I just wasn't prepared for it! I guess we shouldn't take anything for granted, or get cocky.

We found out later that the Johnsons waited 4 hours on the side of the road for us so that they wouldn't miss us. We didn't have any way to communicate with and tell them of our delays. I am so humbled that they cared so much for us that they gave up their own comfort confined in a van (due to the rain) beside the bus stop.

We immensly enjoyed our time with them and seeing the work that they are doing, but all too soon, we were heading back to Costa Rica. Thankfully, the wait at both borders was less than an hour. Praise the Lord. Our next trip will be to beautiful Mississippi!

Appendectomy and Panama!

This news is a bit on the dated side by now, but I'll relate the details, anyhow. On the 17th of February, Charlie woke-up sick. He first thought it was a virus, and with determination went to school. (Missing a day of school here is like missing a semester's worth of classes in college. Okay, I'm exaggerating a wee bit.)

Anyway, by the end of classes, Charlie was much worse, and wondered out loud whether or not he should go the the hospital. Charlie never wants to go to the doctor, so I began to worry. We went, the doctor ran a few tests, and Charlie was admitted to have an appendectomy that evening. WOW! The medical staff took good care of Charlie, and he came home two days later, minus a little piece of himself, but feeling much better.

Exactly one week later, we had to leave the country for three days, because we are here on tourist visas that last only 90 days. (We had tried to apply for student visas, but all our paperwork was lost or stolen between Miami and here.) There's a good chance there are people in the US walking around with our identities. If you happen to run in to anyone using our names, please be suspicious!

We decided to travel to Panama. The trip included a bus ride of seven hours, a washed out road that we had to traverse on foot. Since we don't have "walking on water" down pat, we all got wet, I obtained some new scrapes and bruises. Charlie, who was still recovering, carried both Scarlett and Mary-Esther across the water at the same time. I have a picture of that. After that unexpected adventure, we went through customs (out-of-doors), and crossed a treacherous bridge on foot with lots of missing planks and railings. We had made it to Panama! Then, after buying return tickets, we took a taxi to the Caribbean and then a 30 minute water taxi to our destination of Bocas del Toro.

Once there we had a good time snorkeling, scuba diving (for Charlie and Devon) (Yes, Devon has his scuba license now. Like father, like son), and playing on the beach. We got to eat on a boat, and actually have shrimp! (All the girls and I ordered shrimp) (Can you say, "like mother, like daughters?)

The way home was basically a reverse of the above without the treading through water bit. The biggest highlight of the way home was sitting right between the smelly bathroom that wasn't functioning and a mother and daughter, where the mother was picking lice out of her daughter's hair and flick them away indiscriminately! Doesn't that just make you itch all over? I was paranoid for a week.

Please believe me when I say I'm not complaining. Just stating the facts. We accomplished our goal, had some fun, and learned to appreciate the simple pleasures of home. What was that Paul said about learning to be content in every circumstance?

Love to you all, and enjoy all the simple moments of life,

Audrey

Preparing for my Day

This morning I was lying in bed, thinking about getting up. I started thinking of the best way to start my day with God when I started comparing what I do to get ready physically with what I do to get ready spiritually. I came to the conclusion that I do alot more to get ready physically.

Physically, I: take a shower/brush my teeth, eat breakfast, get dressed, fix my hair/apply make-up, & feed my family

Spiritually, I: read my Bible & pray, sometimes routine-like, if you know what I mean.

I've decided to apply how I get ready physically to how I get ready spiritually, and see what happens.

Here's my experiment:

1. Just as I take a shower to "clean-up", I will confess my sins to Christ to have them washed in His blood.

2. Just as I eat breakfast to feed my body and give me energy, I will feast on the Word of God, and really let it speak to me.

3. Just as I get dressed for the day, I will put on the armor of God in order to be equipped for whatever comes my way.

4. Just as I do my hair and fix my make-up to "try to look nice", I will sing praises to God Who does all things well.

5. Just as I prepare breakfast for my family to nourish them, I will look for the opportunities that God sends me to minister to other's needs.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for me and my family as I endeavor to seek Him more fervently.

God bless each of you as you follow Christ in your own lives.

Pictures to go with Last Post

Gratefulness and God's Power

It's been a while since I last wrote an entry. I am constantly amazed at how quickly time goes by. This life truly is a vapor. What I really want to share is how easy it is to slip into an attitude of ungratefulness and self-reliance.

The recent earthquake in Haiti has left thousands upon thousands of people homeless, hungry, and vulnerable to to the evil that continues to march on. And these numbers don't include the ones that lost their lives in the earthquake.

Over the last two weeks we have experienced two earthquake tremors (small) that were enough to shake the buildings we were in. They lasted only for 3 seconds, but it was enough to remind me that I am not in control. I can't imagine what an earthquake that lasted for 30 seconds would be like. I am told that those 30 seconds were the longest of many people's lives in Haiti. We make plans, but God directs our steps. (I think that's somewhere in Proverbs or Psalms)

Also, the students at the academy where our children attend, put up signs to remind us to pray for the Haitians, and to be grateful for what we have been given. They were very poignant reminders of how we should direct our thinking. I'm including pictures of them with this blog.

Lastly, my devotion this morning included Psalm 75. God states in verse 3 , "When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who holds its pillars firm." Horrible events happen everyday and sometimes we need to be reminded that God is in control. He has ordered our steps, and will give us the grace to walk therein.

But while we're walking, let's travel with a heart of gratitude and be the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and suffering world.