...the opportunity to help!

We took off at 9am this morning to pick up two ladies 

from the church. Since our church anniversary is tomorrow

 they were going to pick out some plants to 

spruce up the church building and needed a truck to 

help haul the purchases.  Well, this was an awesome 

opportunity to tag along and learn!

 Little did we know we'd be put to work!  What fun!

Here's what we got to be part of: 

 

 Sometimes in this country we can still feel quite useless; 

opportunities that allow us to serve and help out 

encourage us immensely!

...the Lord's protection today!

We had to go downtown again today.

The kids were all seat-belted in the back seat,

I was looking at the map

and my husband was driving.

I looked up quickly when I felt him braking heavily 

and watched as we crept closer and closer 

to the middle of the busy intersection...
a huge city bus was quickly heading toward the side of our truck.

The bus had the right-of-way - we had made a mistake - 

but was he going to stop?...or even slow down?

Our brakes were slammed but we were still moving.

Were they going to stop us in time?

YES!

We felt the metal of the back half of the bus 

scrape the front of our truck

but

we

were 

safe.

We pulled over with hearts pounding

and thanked the Lord for protecting us!

...a visit from my Paraguayan sisters in Christ!

Usually we meet at the church once a week, 

but the ladies decided it would be fun to take turns 

hosting our Bible study once a month.

Since we are really trying to get more involved, 

I volunteered first.

 

I had nothing to do with the Bible study, 

I just provided the house and some snacks.

 Thanks to my husband and our boys 

we were all ready when they arrived!

We sang, studied a Psalm, prayed and visited while snacking.

 It was a fun evening!

...important documents that have arrived!

After two and a half years

 and an amount of money we don't need to talk about 

(since Jehovah Jireh already provided it!),

we are no longer "tourists"!

We walked downtown to pick it all up today!

We're super thankful that we were able to complete this

even though we are having some
political issues in the country!

...the encouragement we feel after visiting with Paraguayans!

 This is a precious family from our church!

We spent the evening with them in their home.

They were so kind and welcoming.

They insisted on feeding us until we were so 

stuffed we could eat no more!  

 

 Their daughter teaches our boys' Sunday school class!

...a girl's night out!

  It was her idea, the cute one above, 

that thought of this fun get-together!  

She welcomed 6 of us girls (plus 2 babies!) into 

her small apartment, made pizzas for us 

with all sorts of fun toppings

and let us crowd on her bed together to watch a movie!

 Know what bonds our group together?  

We're not all married, 

we're not even all from the same continent!

But the Lord has sent us to the same continent

and the same country to bring His Word 

to those who have never heard. 

That's what bonds us.

I'm privileged to call these girls my friends!

 We finished out the night with some chocolate-covered,

coconut-sprinkled, peanut butter balls - yum yum!

"Muchas Gracias" to all the dads that cared for

all the rest of our kiddos!!

...love notes!

After a particularly tough day of home school 

(I corrected a lot of mistakes and behaviors

and did so without much patience or grace), 

I found the markerboard full of love notes from our oldest son. 

  His patience and grace with me 

brought a smile to my face and my heart!  

Thank you, my precious son!

Later that day I had written my husband a little love note.

My middle son had found it and thought it was for him...

he came running into the kitchen and gave me the
biggest hug ever!  We decided not to tell him
who the note was really intended for!  

   

"Dear friends,

let us continue to love one another, 

for love comes from God."

1 John 4:7a

...a godly husband who loves our children!

 The boys and I tried to spoil Daddy this Father's Day with...

A little barbecue after church (I tried homemade baked beans 

since we can't usually find them here)

Candy bars personally chosen by each son,

Homemade cards with sweet notes inside,

A long-sleeve shirt I was able to find on sale while in the USA,

Hugs and encouraging words!

Thanks for all your love!  We love you!

...the flexibility of our schedule!

We did half of our school day at the house this morning 

and finished the last half at "Health Park".  

 ...a beautiful park that is close to our house: it has
a fun jungle gym and an amazing track
that we love to run and ride bikes on!!

...the opportunity to learn Paraguayan culture at the park!

Who goes to the park?
What do they do there?
What do they wear?
How do the kids interact?

Who takes care of the kids?

 

 ...a friendly little guy that Jordan
enjoyed playing with!

...the ability to exercise and study Spanish
at the same time (here's my favorite guy
walking while listening to Spanish recordings)!

...the encouragement last night from our Bible study leader to be bold for Christ!

...boys that love to read!

 This year during home schooling, 

I cannot get books into our oldest's hands fast enough!

He flies through a book and then asks, "What can I read next?"

 

 This cute guy, is starting to get faster at reading 

and enjoying it more!

I think he's also a bit motivated by his older brother! 

I love when he randomly asks how you would spell 

something when we're at the table eating or in the 

car driving - his mind is just turning!

 

And our littlest guy...loves to be read to!
This little bathroom scene just cracked me up!
Here he is looking at pictures on his own but he could
just sit forever and listen to us read...
especially books about dogs!
(If you ever read to him, be warned...you could get licked!)

...SUN!!!

We were all huddled in Daddy and Mommy's room, 

just laying there under our blankets, even at 8:00 in the morning!!

Then Daddy got up and discovered it was warmer
OUTSIDE than it was INSIDE!!!

So we all rushed outside, in our pj's, and enjoyed the sun!

 On warm fall days like this, we open up all the doors and
windows and let the sun warm our house!

Thank you, God, for sun!!!

...time spent with some missionary kids last night!

...for the sound of laughter!

 

...for the gracious way they endured my homemade pizza 

that just did not turn out right last night!

...for the opportunity to give their dad and mom some time alone!

...a long lost package that now has been found!!!

A dear family sent us a package last year way before Christmas so 

that we would receive it in time for the special day.  

Christmas came and Christmas went...but no package.  

I believe we had lost hope that it would ever be found...

sometimes that happens with international mail.

But the Lord knew where it was the whole time!!!

And here we are in June...celebrating Christmas!!!

 

Warm winter pj's for all made it just in time for the cold weather!

The Lord knew exactly what He was doing!  :)

Thank you, Beasley Family!

Your package made lots of smiles today!