To my faithful readers, I do apologize for this long period of not writing. I can offer no good excuses.
So here it is a new year. So I will start here and work backwards, and I hope you see the Lord's hand in the things that have happened.
I did go to Cancun for the retreat on November 23. These happen every two years in a different country. Becky and I registered, ate dinner, and then I went looking for my two friends from Colombia. I found them and was so happy to see them as they were just as happy to see me. We hadn't seen each other since 2011. This was the first time that they were able to come to one of these recent retreats. So we spent a couple of hours talking and enjoying each others company. Wow! I couldn't believe that their son is now attending a university in the states and their daughter is now eighteen. Seeing them was definitely a blessing from my Father.
When I returned to my room, Becky told me to sit down because she had something to tell me. As I sat she told me that my brother had died. I couldn't believe it! What a shock. My youngest son and daughter had called trying to talk to me. They both knew that I was going to Cancun and that I wasn't taking my computer. (I don't carry that thing unless I absolutely have to do so. Like now when my son goes in and performs all his magic to bring me up to par). So I called them because I had decided not to fly to IL for his funeral. He was cremated which just creeps me out. Yes, I know. It's everybody's personal preference. I knew that I wouldn't see him for one last time. Becky told me that I could go home, and I knew that, but I just couldn't. Then I started thinking about my kids wondering if they would even go back to IL from KS for the funeral. Then I thought, ok, I'm going back. I called my daughter and told her that I was coming home. She said that she had been praying and asking God to make me come home. That he could speak to me because I would hear Him, and I would do what he said because she needed me to come home. She said it hadn't even been five minutes since she had prayed when I called. So Becky and I made reservations for me to fly out the next morning. So I had one night and two meals in Cancun! But when I needed to see our area director to tell him what was happening, we always met him coming towards us! God is always meeting the need! He told me to go, which I did.
So let's go back from there a couple of weeks. I always give a specified amount every month to the church that I attend in Valle. When I was getting ready to write a check to the church, I thought about writing one for two months, and then I thought no because I would be back in Valle for ten or so days before I flew to KS for Christmas break. And I could write a check then for December. But I wrote it for two months anyway. When my Pastor asked me why, I think I shrugged my shoulders and said that I didn't know.
Well, now we know, because I didn't return to Valle when I was supposed to do so. I came to the states. Jesus said that He would never leave or forsake us. He sent His Holy Spirit to us to lead, guide, and teach us in His physical absence. How faithful He is in every situation. He knows everything that will touch our lives from beginning to end. How I praise Him for His goodness and what He has done for me and my children in the last few weeks. So I stayed at my youngest daughter's for a couple of weeks. My kids came back for my brother's memorial service. And since I was going to KS to visit and to fly back to HN from there, my daughter asked if one of them could meet us in Kansas City, and I could ride home with one of them. Well, it just "so happened" that two of my son's would be there that weekend, and I would go with them. So we met in KC and I rode home with my youngest son and his wife.
I always called my brother every month or so. And we would giggle a lot about the craziest things! I will miss doing that. I didn't get to say "good bye" to my brother, and it really bothered me. However, I am thankful that his son was able to go to my brother's house while the coroner was there.
He was able to spend that time with his father. The coroner said that Donnie, my brother, had a heart attack and had died instantly. For that, I am thankful. But as I was thinking about never seeing him again in this life, and not being able to see him one last time, the Lord gave me the above scripture about our life being a vapor. We're here and then we're gone. What a comfort that was and is. I thank God always for His word. Moses said in Deuteronomy that God's word is not a vain thing, but it is our life. And truly it is. The Lord laid Rev. 12:11 on my heart. We should have an ongoing testimony of what the Lord is doing in our lives. We are covered by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, but we need to be glorifying the Lord with all the things that He does in our life. Some of the things I have mentioned may be considered insignificant to many people, but I know that things happened only by God's intervention and mercy for me. He is the same with all His children, but many times He does things that we don't even notice. We take them for granted. But when we begin to pay attention to the things that are happening in our everyday lives, we will see His hand. People look for the big things and miss the little things. But for those of us that trust Him with our very lives, there are no little things. They are only big things from a big God. May we all give Him the glory that is His.
So tomorrow, I will fly back to Honduras. I am so ready to go. I have been here almost two months! And school will be starting a couple of weeks after I get home for us teachers. I will be ready. I have enjoyed my time here with my family and friends. It has been a time of rest for me. And to help my grandson with the little bit of Spanish homework that he had was a blessing. It was great watching my granddaughter do her routine for her cheer team that competes with other teams in different cities. They do some interesting moves! And my grown grandkids?? Well, they are adults with families of their own! But I have "flashbacks" of when they were little! And they have the cutest little ones, naturally!!! God has been good to me and my children. I always tell the girls in the family that Mother is a good title. And then it gets better with GRANDmother. And the best so far is GREATGRANDmother. Your title just gets better and better! Will I make it to great great grandmother? Only the Lord knows.
So the school year ended with us taking the 9th graders to Amapala. They loved swimming in the Pacific and eating seafood from a restaurant on the beach. We were also able to visit the port of entry near Choluteca, but were not able to board one of the ships there :( Some of them want to continue English classes at my house when school starts. We will see if that takes place. Jesslyn and I may begin teaching English to our church depending on how the Lord leads. There are several that speak some English and others that don't but want to learn. So we will see.
Until later may God bless.
I always called my brother every month or so. And we would giggle a lot about the craziest things! I will miss doing that. I didn't get to say "good bye" to my brother, and it really bothered me. However, I am thankful that his son was able to go to my brother's house while the coroner was there.
He was able to spend that time with his father. The coroner said that Donnie, my brother, had a heart attack and had died instantly. For that, I am thankful. But as I was thinking about never seeing him again in this life, and not being able to see him one last time, the Lord gave me the above scripture about our life being a vapor. We're here and then we're gone. What a comfort that was and is. I thank God always for His word. Moses said in Deuteronomy that God's word is not a vain thing, but it is our life. And truly it is. The Lord laid Rev. 12:11 on my heart. We should have an ongoing testimony of what the Lord is doing in our lives. We are covered by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, but we need to be glorifying the Lord with all the things that He does in our life. Some of the things I have mentioned may be considered insignificant to many people, but I know that things happened only by God's intervention and mercy for me. He is the same with all His children, but many times He does things that we don't even notice. We take them for granted. But when we begin to pay attention to the things that are happening in our everyday lives, we will see His hand. People look for the big things and miss the little things. But for those of us that trust Him with our very lives, there are no little things. They are only big things from a big God. May we all give Him the glory that is His.
So tomorrow, I will fly back to Honduras. I am so ready to go. I have been here almost two months! And school will be starting a couple of weeks after I get home for us teachers. I will be ready. I have enjoyed my time here with my family and friends. It has been a time of rest for me. And to help my grandson with the little bit of Spanish homework that he had was a blessing. It was great watching my granddaughter do her routine for her cheer team that competes with other teams in different cities. They do some interesting moves! And my grown grandkids?? Well, they are adults with families of their own! But I have "flashbacks" of when they were little! And they have the cutest little ones, naturally!!! God has been good to me and my children. I always tell the girls in the family that Mother is a good title. And then it gets better with GRANDmother. And the best so far is GREATGRANDmother. Your title just gets better and better! Will I make it to great great grandmother? Only the Lord knows.
So the school year ended with us taking the 9th graders to Amapala. They loved swimming in the Pacific and eating seafood from a restaurant on the beach. We were also able to visit the port of entry near Choluteca, but were not able to board one of the ships there :( Some of them want to continue English classes at my house when school starts. We will see if that takes place. Jesslyn and I may begin teaching English to our church depending on how the Lord leads. There are several that speak some English and others that don't but want to learn. So we will see.
Until later may God bless.
