Resurrection Day!

The same power that conquered the grave lives in me . . . . help me live each day like it is resurrection day.

Home again, home again

We made it home from Nicaragua in just over 12 hours today . . . left at 2:15 a.m. and walked into our house about 3:30 p.m.  Much better than the 16+ hours from last weekend, but still a long, hot trip.  About half way through the trip Stephen said, "I don't want to do this again . . . next time we are going to fly."  He seemed really serious this time, so I just checked on flights for the next scheduled mission trip in December.  Prices are around $300 each--not too bad.  Somehow, though, it seems a little too early to spend the money!

Looking forward to worshiping our risen Lord tomorrow morning with the people of Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva, San Salvador.

Here's a couple of pictures from our campaign last night.

 Hanging out with Matt Kern and his finance, Marcela Diaz!

 First time for face painting . . . not sure I liked being Madam Butterfly!  Ha!

 Everything drama . . . with a realistic Satan

Sharing the gospel for the final time this week.

Happy Birthday and Congratulations

Couldn't think of a better way to say "Happy Birthday" to my sister-in-law, Denise Parris!  It's so difficult to call when we aren't in Managua!  Hope your day is a happy one.  Also a big congratulations to Denise and Michael,on the birth of their second grandson, Robert Matthew Rivera and Jayme and Ramon on the birth of their son!

Wednesday in Managua

It's HOT here--yesterday it was 97 and hot!  There were several team members who were having trouble staying hydrated so they went back to the hotel early.

We had about 40 who came to Kids Club yesterday morning, but the park was totally packed last night.

Sunday in Managua

As always, it's awesome to sing in both Spanish and English during the service this morning.  Pastor Scott Betts from Crossroad Baptist Church preached this morning and Rafa Lopez did an excellent job translating.

This evening we held a family festival in the neighborhood where Pastor Rodrigo and Mirian live.  Little by little parents came with their kids.  Of course, they loved to play on the inflatable and with the balloons.

After the movie and drama, Stephen presented the gospel and Pastor Rodrigo translated.  Several people made decisions and counselors were able to start conversations with several others.  It was a great first step in the community.

Long and winding road

We left our house at 4:15 yesterday morning thinking we were going to Nicaragua on the church bus.  But like so many things here, things change.  There was a small group of us (15) who were able to leave on Friday so we loaded up in two vans (blue and green.)  The larger group would leave by bus on Saturday morning.  Just another example of a good idea (let's leave on Friday instead of Saturday) that doesn't work out as planned because too many people had to work on Friday.  

Finally loaded up and pulled out of the church about 5:40 (already 40 minutes later than the scheduled time.) We traveled about 30 minutes and stopped to get gas in the vans (no one thinks ahead.)  With only 2 per seat, we had a space to rest/sleep.  About 2 hours later, the driver of our van realized  that he didn't have his driver's license--he had left it at the gas station.  Although Stephen offered to drive, it didn't matter because Guillermo's license was the one associated with the documentation from the church and he would be required to show it to drive across the border.  U turn and drive back to the gas station . . . . like a madman.  This part of the trip gave new meaning to the verse, "pray without ceasing."  The green van went on to the next city to wait for us--actually they had it easy!  Pick up the license and U turn and repeat!

During the time, we were listening to oldies on the van radio.  Mind you they weren't Spanish oldies, they were American oldies in Spanish.  Our conversation went like this:

Stephen--I never thought I'd hear "Devil With a Blue Dress On" in Spanish.

Me--What about "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"?  Who would have thought there was a Spanish translation for "a-wimoweh."  

Just so you know, my two personal favorites were "Preciousa," aka "Pretty  Women, " and "Te Quiero Moni," aka Mony, Mony.

We met up with the green van and continued to San Miguel.  We stopped for lunch just before reaching the El Salvador border.  For the last 10 miles or so, the green van had been overheating.  They filled it with water and antifreeze at the gas station, but it ran right through.  After lunch, next stop at a repair shop.  Unfortunately, we discovered that the radiator hose was ruined and the shop didn't have another one.  He patched it (temporarily) and Gerardo decided that he should return to El Salvador instead of continuing on.  Great plan--but now 13 people and all of the luggage need to fit in the van.  After about an hour, packed in like sardines, we pressed on to the El Salvador/Honduras border.

Amazingly, the borders were not packed and we were able to pass through in 20-30 minutes.  Back in the van (by the way it doesn't have air conditioning) for the 100 mile drive through Honduras.  The bad thing is that it takes almost 4 hours to drive 100 miles because the roads are filled with pot holes the size of small countries, the road curves upward through the mountain and there numerous 18-wheelers slow down the ascent.

We reached the Honduran/Nicaraguan border at 6:00 p.m.  Thankfully, those borders were empty and we passed through with little, if any delay.  We had another 3+ hours to reach Managua, with a 1/2 stop to eat dinner along the way.  

Safe and happily we arrived at the church about 10:30 p.m. and at the house of Pastor Rodrigo and his way, Mirian, about 11:00.  We were staying only one night with them, but they gave us their bedroom and airconditioner!  Finally, got to sleep after midnight--one really long day.

Pastor Steve always says that when the trip is filled with obstacles it means that the campaign will be a big success!  So "glad" to be a part of this week!  Once again we say, "next year, we're going to fly."

Prayer Request

We found out today that Stephen's mom (Lorene Parris) had eye surgery yesterday.  She has been receiving injections in her eye for macular degeneration and evidently she got an infection as a result of one of the shots.  Minor eye infections are treated with eye drops, but her doctor felt that she needed a vitrectomy in order to clear out all of the infection and to reduce the chance of vision loss.

Please pray that her vision will not be negatively impacted by the infection and/or the surgery and that her recovery will be easy and without complications, as, in general, her health is fragile.  This operation was on her "good eye," so any loss of vision will obviously cause additional problems for her and for Stephen's dad who is her caregiver.

Thank you for lifting her up in prayer.

We have a winner!

It was quite an experience serving as the Spelling Master for the spelling bee qualifying round on Thursday and the final round today.  I was so impressed by all of the students--they were spelling words in their second language!  First thing on Thursday, I pronounced for the 5th grade--it took more than 130 words to get our top 4 spellers.  It was a great experience for the six students from New Life Christian School.  They spelled very well even though they didn't place in the top four.  Next up was 6th grade--another 100+ words to arrive at the top 4.  Another Spelling Master pronounced for the 7th grade and 8th grade competition.

Today, I had the privilege of pronouncing for the finals.  Sixteen very nervous spellers and as many (also nervous) parents and teachers were in the room this morning.  After an hour of spelling, we had our winners!  Congratulations to Gabriel, an 8th grader at Colegio Americana, who won the ACSI Spelling Bee; Alejandra, a 7th grader,2nd place; Valeria, a 5th grader, 3rd place and Valeria, a 7th, 4th place.

I Can't Believe It's a Spelling Bee

I received an urgent email last Wednesday when I was in Costa Rica.  The email was from the principal of my school asking if I would be willing to serve as a judge for a spelling bee on March 14-15.  The spelling bee is sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International and 5th graders from our school will be participating.  Of course, I said I'd be happy to help.  After all those years of helping my kids study spelling words, I guess what goes around, comes around.

Decisions always have consequences, right?  Today I received an email letting me know that I have been selected as the "Spelling Master" for the 5th and 6th grade students.  Here's the job of the spelling master:


1. Initiate the bee with a practice round. (There is no elimination during the practice round.)
2. Pronounce the word to be spelled and automatically give a sentence. Address it to the contestant.
3. Listen as the contestant spells, and kindly communicate whether he or she can continue in the bee. (Example: “That is correct” or “I’m sorry. That is incorrect.)

It didn't sound impossible until I saw the list of words!  Oh my goodness, get a look at some of these words--profligacy, chasuble, matronymic, thaumaturgist, wedeln--just to name a few.  Nope, never heard of nor pronounced many of the words.  The really bad thing is my ability to pronounce words in English is now all messed up by trying to pronounce words in Spanish.  Note the directions say I have to use the words in a sentence--I'm assuming that they will provide the sentences for me as there is no way for me to create a sentence "on the fly," especially since I'm clueless as to the meaning of many of the words!

Please pray for me as I try to prepare . . . I've been looking the words up online and listening to the pronunciation!  I want all the kids to do well, but I really hope that we can stay on the easy and average word list!

Flying Home

Costa Rica to Guatemala this morning. Love me some time in Guatemala, but not really when it's 5 hours in the airport on our way to El Salvador. Somehow that $150 we saved when we bought these tickets doesn't sound as good today!

Looking forward to popcorn and apples tonight and then sleeping in our own bed!

Flexibility is the Key

We've had a great campaign here in Costa Rica this week.  We have, however, been "flexible."  Last night we set up the inflatable, speakers and everything else associated with our evening campaigns.  We were about 15 minutes in to the evening when two police came by and asked to see our permit.  Pastor Rodolfo showed him the permit letter from the neighborhood, but they told him we needed a second permit from the city.  Evidently, a neighbor called the police to complain about the loud music.  The police were very considerate and told us we didn't have to shut everything down, but that we couldn't use our speaker system.  We skipped the movie, did the drama (no music) with Guillermo telling the story without a microphone and shared and translated the gospel without sound.  Nine people made professions of faith in the midst of all of the distractions and one of them offered to start a Bible study in their home.  So cool to see that nothing surprises our God.

Today we were supposed to share the honesty lesson in a small public high school.  Last night we learned that the teachers union in San Jose had called for a one-day strike.  We had no idea if there would be students and/or teachers at the school.  We arrived this morning and there were some students and teachers, but were only able to share in 4 classes, not the 12 classes we had anticipated.  We spent the extra time going door to door in the neighborhood inviting everyone to the family festival in the neighborhood park  Tonight's campaign was a huge success . . . there were so many people at the park.  I think there were at least 75 kids in line for the inflatable and a crowd full of raised hands after the invitation.

It was a sad goodbye . . . everyone is heading out tomorrow morning.  We are so thankful to have worked with teams from California, South Carolina and Alabama.

Miss you, Mom

Fourteen years ago today, we said goodbye (on this earth) to my mom. It seems like forever to us, but not to her! If you have ever eaten and liked a dessert (or almost anything else) that I have made, then you must know that my cooking/baking pales in comparison to hers.  

Miss you, Mom!  Looking forward to a big family reunion (and potluck dinner) one of these days.

Costa Rica Campaign Began

We met the team from Decatur Baptist Church, Decatur, Alabama; the team from Murrell's Inlet Baptist Church, Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina and the team from Rock Harbor Baptist Church, Bakersfield, California, at Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva, San Jose, on Saturday afternoon and started this year's campaign with a family festival at a private neighborhood.  The evening was cold, windy and there was a light drizzle, but kids still played on the inflatable and families enjoyed the free snow cones, although hot chocolate might have been better.  The movie, drama and gospel presentation were well received by the neighborhood and several people made professions of faith.  It was a good first night.

Sunday morning worship with our Costa Rican friends is always a highlight of our week .  Brandon Holthaus, the pastor at Rock Harbor Baptist Church, preached an excellent message from Philippians 2, encouraging us to "shine as lights" in a dark world.

Baking in Costa Rica

When you first look at the title, you might think it's hot here in Costa Rica--but no it's not.  Instead, I finished my most important work for the day about 30 minutes ago when I took the apple pie out of the oven.  Since it won't be cool for at least a couple of hours, it will be dessert for tomorrow which will give us time to buy some vanilla ice cream.