Hynum Family - Adventure in Faith

Cherry Hills Spring Event

2011-04-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

This year instead of selling wrapping paper or cookies Kendyl and Caedon will be the hands and feet of Jesus serving the community during Service Week at their school and are looking for people to sponsor them for this event!

Click this link for more details...

http://championevents.donordrive.com/participant/hynum

Any amount is GREATLY appreciated and is sure to touch lives!!

Yodi's New Wheels

2011-02-01T20:00:00.001-08:00

Many of you over the years have had the opportunity to meet our wonderful dog Yodi, and for those of you who haven't...you are missing out on the most lovable, loyal, dufus you've ever known. He came into our marriage as a package deal with Jamie and has been with us all these years through thick and thin.

Now that he's almost 11 years old his body isn't working for him so well. He's got progressive neuropathy in his back that has now made is back legs almost useless. He can't stand up to eat, he can't do his "business" without our help, and his little tail that used to curl up and wag, well....doesn't.
That is until now!

I'm sure you've seen handicapped dogs with wheels before. Those little contraptions can cost a pretty penny and well, we don't have any pretty pennies. So we designed our own, and after several frustrating modifications, with a little copper piping, roller blade wheels, and a walkabout harness we were finally able to give it test run......

Here's Yodi trying to get a treat before.....

And here he is after..... (notice the little tail, curled and wagging) :)

We're just couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. He seems so happy to get around again!!

Here's a close up of his wheels.

More Art

2010-11-08T06:56:00.001-08:00

After school art is on hold now until the new year but I had to share my most favorite project so far.

Here is an oil on canvas abstract Kendyl painted....

Then the teacher made copies of their abstracts and taught them how to bind a little notebook and make bookmarks out of selected pieces from it. The bottle cap with the bird on it is a magnet.
I think it's pretty cool.

After School Art

2010-09-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

One can get overwhelmed pretty quickly with all the gobs of extra-curricular choices today's kids are presented with. I really don't know how some people can possibly do so much.

We decided to allow Kendyl to choose ONE activity ONE day a week. She wanted Art. We weren't surprised at all. She's always loved to draw and paint.

What DID surprise us was the level of quality instruction she's receiving. At Kendyl's school, all the kids rotate through 5 "specials" during the week: computers, PE, music, bible, and art. Her art teacher, Mrs. MacFarlane also does the after-school art program....and she is awesome! These kids are learning real techniques and using real supplies. I knew this was going to be an awesome program when the first day she brought home this...

She learned all about the range of soft and hard pencils, shaping, and shading with still life. The classic "fruit bowl" lesson. I never learned this stuff until high-school.

Their next project was a study of a famous artist. The kids were allowed to choose from several different pieces that they wanted to emulate. Kendyl chose one of Georgia O'Keeffe's orchid paintings.

and here is her rendition, oil on canvas...

We can't wait to see what she brings home next!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

2010-08-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

As we've shared before, the past year presented some personal challenges that affected us to the core and shook the very foundation of our marriage. This anniversary we decided to renew our vows to each other in a casual private ceremony. We wanted to share this with you because we believe it is a testimony to how God can bring healing and restoration and new life, more abundant than ever before!

Here's a little slide show of the pics we took (with help from the delay timer and a gorillapod) put to a song by Dave Barnes "God Gave Me You".

9 years ago, I pledged my commitment to you with all my heart.
I offered myself to you with all my strengths and weaknesses.
I told you I would love you enough to risk being hurt,
That I would trust you, even when I don’t understand.
I promised to try to see you as God sees you, and to put my faith in Him to help our marriage grow.

Since that day, you have been by my side as we created a family
and so many beautiful memories together.
Our friendship has grown deeper and even more comforting.
Being parents together has been an adventure and watching you be a mommy/daddy
Makes me cherish you even more.

Together we’ve also encountered our share of challenges
And the vows we made have collided with the realities of life.
I acknowledge that I have not always done what I promised to you
and I regret the ways I have hurt you.

Now we have endured a storm, and we stand together, triumphant,
And more confident than ever, in our love for each other,
A living example, to ourselves and others,
Of God’s merciful forgiveness and enduring love.

Today, in the presence of God and surrounded by His beautiful creation,
Having more knowledge of myself and a better understanding of who you are,
I want to reaffirm my love and commitment to you.

I do love you enough to risk being hurt, and I do trust you.
I adore the way you look through God’s eyes,
And I am confident He will continue to help our marriage grow.

Happy Birthday Kendyl!

2010-08-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

This year Kendyl requested to go camping for her 7th birthday so we ended up at Boyd Lake just north of Denver. It was awesome! We decorated our campsite which made it feel more party-like and after surviving the quintessential Colorado afternoon thunderstorm (we had to arm wrestle the wind for our tent) we settled in for a weekend of FUN! Boyd Lake has a sandy swim beach walking distance from the campground and we lucked out on the perfect shady spot for the day. All-in-all a fabulous way to celebrate!

Happy Birthday Kendyl Boo! We love you!

God is Good!

2010-07-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Have you experienced a time when you took a leap of faith, and just trusted God that it was the right thing to do? Something big in your life like taking that job offer, or selling your house and moving, or getting married, or..... the list could go on and on.

Then, have you ever felt the incredible astonishment as things worked out smoother than you anticipated (I mean, come on, when does THAT ever happen) and everything just seemed to fall into place, like it was meant to be?

I've heard other people share stories like that....and once again God has shown that He is Good!

Would you believe that when we moved here to Highlands Ranch, CO our apartment was even better than what we were told and a neighbor showed up just in time to help move the heavy stuff. Within 4 days God provided a job for Nathan. Within a week, an awesome church and Christian school that the kids WANT to go to. Within 3 weeks a part-time job for Jamie that doesn't start till the kids are in school (is your jaw dropping yet?) and within a month, financing on a house that is absolutely perfect for our family for way less than market value! WHAT??!!

There's actually even more things too, like the incredible peace and contentment that comes along with knowing that you are in the hands of the almighty creator and that He loves you and cares for ALL your needs (and apparently even some of your wants!)

Out and About in Highlands Ranch

2010-07-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

There's lot's of cool things about living in Highlands Ranch....but one of the coolest is the fact that the whole community was planned with hiking/biking trails and green space winding in and out of the neighborhoods. We just hopped on our bikes after church on Sunday and headed out for a ride. We passed 4 different playgrounds and countless mountain vistas. We rode for a total of 2 hours and had enough uphill stretches to get in a really great workout! Especially Nathan who had the extra weight of the kiddos and picnic paraphernalia! :)

An Update..... Finally!!

2010-06-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

First of all, we want to thank you for patiently waiting to hear from us. Sorry it has been so long, but we are thankful that this has been such a remarkable time of transformation for our family. Words can't express how much we appreciate you supporting us through it.

We spent our last few months at Link Care Center in Fresno, CA seeking godly counsel and focusing on some much needed personal growth and restoration. After spending many many hours in prayer and hearing from God, we have decided to step down from our position with Operation S.E.N.D. and will not be returning to Costa Rica at this time.

Although this comes as a bit of a let down for us, we recognize that the past year in ministry cost our family in certain ways. By remaining stateside we have been able to focus on the rebuilding of health for our family and are already seeing GREAT changes.

Our time in Costa Rica was precious to both of us and a part of our hearts will always remain there. During our time in language school we not only gained Spanish but developed a great love for the culture and people there that will remain with us for a lifetime. We developed wonderful relationships with nationals and other missionaries alike that we have continued long distance. We many never know the extent of God's purpose for all we experienced in such a short time but we rest assured that His plan is perfect.

As we continue to surrender our plans to Him, we will be relocating to the Denver area in Colorado. We have both applied for jobs there, Jamie as a nurse, and Nathan using his Spanish as an interpreter. We anticipate a season of continued growth and stability for our family, learning to love and receiving God's unconditional love not because of the service we do, but simply because we are His.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement as we served in missions as a family. We'll continue blogging about our journeys because after all.....
LIFE is an ADVENTURE IN FAITH!

What Next?

2009-11-11T21:35:00.000-08:00

First of all, we want to say thank you to everyone for understanding our need for down time right now. We've had a lot of space to just breathe and reflect. Plus, we've received so many encouraging emails that we know we have an army out there praying for us, and we're incredibly grateful to have so much love and support. THIS is what being in the body of Christ is all about.

So what now?

This coming Monday we will head out to Fresno, CA to a Christian counseling center where we will attend their Restoration and Personal Growth Program designed especially for pastors, missionaries...anyone in full time ministry, and their families. We will be living in a campus apartment there and anticipate staying around 2 months. Seeing as this is now mid-November.... yes, that means we will be there over the holidays. We are not sure yet as to the campus policies on travel or visits, but considering the intensity of this program, it will likely be best for us to just have a simple, quiet holiday season, just the 4 of us. We will be sad to miss out on spending quality time with all of you, but we are grateful to be given this time to reconnect as a family.

And we'll gladly accept any belated get-together invites in the new year!! :)

We will have limited access to internet while we're there. Please feel free to continue to send messages and updates and we will try to check them as often as possible. Just know that while we are focused on what God brought us here to do, you may not hear from us a lot, but we NEVER forget about all the wonderful people God has brought into our lives and how much you mean to us!

Oh, and if you just happen to have an extra Christmas card to send out...
(Was that subtle enough?)
Here's our mailing address until January:

Nathan and Jamie Hynum
1734 West Shaw Ave.
Fresno, CA 93711

And as our Pastor Paul reminded us...

Even though we may not agree with God's tactics, or understand them, I trust that in the end we'll look back with Him from an eternal vantage point and say,

"Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay Him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:33-36

Something Heavenly

2009-10-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

I heard this song on the radio last night...... I think it's my new theme song right now. - Jamie

Check it out.

Off the Radar Screen

2009-10-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to let you all know that we arrived safely in Southern California late Friday night. We've been unpacking and settling into Jamie's parents house for an undetermined length of time. Things are still kind of up in the air for us, so we are just remaining flexible and allowing the Lord to guide our next steps.
Since we want to use this time to focus on our family we will be "flying under the radar", so to speak, for a little while. It's very tempting to start scheduling visits and catching up with friends and family now that we're back, but we need to keep things on the down low for a while. We hope you understand.
We also want to thank you for so many encouraging emails and prayers. We had so many we couldn't respond to them all.... we felt seriously loved and supported! It's more encouraging than you can know.

Isn't It Ironic...

2009-10-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't ya know... just two days before we are scheduled to leave Costa Rica, we officially receive our residency!

Even so, we are thrilled about it. This is no small feat. The fact that we were approved by the government only 1 week after turning in our paperwork is nothing short of a miracle (considering it has taken some people 3 months - 2 years to complete this process).

We also have to thank our small Costa Rican church and specifically our beloved Pastor Alex for allowing us the honor of applying under the church's jurisdiction and for all his hard work and patience in gathering the necessary paperwork.

We know God has a purpose for making us residents here so quickly and smoothly....
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

A Hard Letter to Write

2009-10-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

This is one of those letters that you just don’t know how to start, so we’ll just get right to the point.

After much prayer and counsel, we feel that God is asking our family to leave Costa Rica at this time. Recent stressors and events here have highlighted some areas of weakness in our family’s emotional and mental health. Although it is truly tearing at our hearts to have to leave this country, especially after the Lord has so clearly guided every single step, we understand that at this moment in time we are not as well equipped to continue in ministry as we could be. God has specifically shown us that we need to make our family’s health priority in order to serve to our fullest potential.

We believe without a shadow of a doubt that this is still part of God’s big plan for us, even though it seems like a detour. The honest truth is we very clearly see God’s hand in this timing… He brought us here, drew us near to Him, provided trusted counsel, and allowed deeper truths to be revealed…all so we could learn to die to ourselves and learn to trust Him more.

Even though we are confident in what the Lord is asking of us, the actual “doing” of it is very difficult. Please join us in prayer for this unexpected transition back home and all the logistics and adjustments that it entails, for this season of peace, restoration, and healing, and most of all, that no matter what, God’s infinite grace and glory will be revealed. Our hope is to return to full-time overseas service as the Lord directs.

Thank you all for your prayers and support of our family.

To our Financial Supporters

We can’t say thank you enough for your faithful prayers and financial support during this last year.

We want to be clear that any financial commitments are free to change along with this temporary change in plans. We ask that you seek what the Lord would have you do. You may decide to cancel your commitment, or put your commitment “on-hold” until regular ministry begins again. If you wish to continue financial support, your donations will help offset living expenses and counseling while at home or be placed in a savings account to provide for reassignment costs when we relocate to the field once again.

Thank You Countryside Kids!

2009-09-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today after school we went to the post office to mail some letters... and we walked out with 2 big surprises!
Our home church in Oregon, Countryside Community Church (check out the link to the right) made a big effort to share about our ministry with all the kids at their summer vacation Bible school. They learned a bunch of things about Costa Rica, about what we do here, and what it means to be a missionary. These incredible kids then raised enough funds to send school supplies to our kids! They showed such generosity at such a young age.... can't wait to see how God uses them to further His kingdom in the future!

This was such an exciting thing for our kids, (they wanted to wear their backpacks to sleep!) and we are extremely humbled and grateful for your great generosity and support!

THANK YOU CCC KIDS!

click play to view the video

The First Week of....

2009-09-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

This was a week of firsts. After graduation we had a couple weeks to reorganize, declutter, and regroup before jumping into our new routines.

This week Kendyl had her 1st day of 1st grade at Sojourn Academy (anyone know the song from Veggie Tales "On the 1st day...of 1st grade..." I've had that stuck in my head all week) Half of her little friends from Kindergarten moved on to other Latin American countries and she was sad to see them go. There are a few that will stay here for another few months, plus her Tico friends that are in her new class which made her feel comfortable. Plus, being the little friend magnet that she is, she was excited to meet the new missionary kids and help them feel at home. All in all, I think she likes 1st grade even better than K, which says a LOT!

Nathan also started school at Sojourn Academy this week, teaching high school Bible. He has an awesome group of kids, some MK's, some Ticos. They chose to do a comparative study on world religions with a focus on apologetics. We think it's an excellent way for high schoolers to really learn "why" they believe what they believe and be able to defend their faith.

Most exciting of all...Nathan taught his 1st seminary class in Spanish at ESEPA this week! After what should have been a daunting 3 hours of lecture in Spanish, Nathan came home full of energy with his face lit up and said, "THAT WAS FUN!!!" I don't think I've ever seen him so excited before.

He has a total of 8 students in his class, including a Tico on his way to France to work with african refugees (he spent the last three years in Tunisia with his wife and two kids before the Islamic government kicked them out), a young Chinese man studying to be a missionary to Panama, a young Tica working in a very poor Guatemalan refugee village here in Costa Rica, a guy from Kansas and an older Tico couple taking the class "just for fun"!(He is a pastor of a small church and she has a counseling ministry as well as a Masters in adult education). Needless to say, it is a very diverse class.

Graduation Day!

2009-08-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

We did it!
Last weekend we officially graduated from language school!

Almost exactly one year ago today, we packed up our lives, got on a plane, and arrived in this strange city. Our hearts were filled with the hope of learning Spanish and somehow being used by God to impact our new community for Christ.
We knew it would be hard at times, and it was. Being away from home, away from family, and away from familiar surroundings was by far the most challenging part (and still is). But never before have we been in such a place spiritually that made us rely so heavily on God to get us through each day, and there is no better place to be.

It was very touching at our graduation ceremony to see so many missionaries, each marching in behind the flag of their Latin American country of service, ready to head out once again, in unfamiliar territory, to serve God's people.

It was also a very bitter-sweet time as we had to say good bye to so many really good friends that we got so close to through this whole process.

Jamie's parents were able to be here for the ceremony and we celebrated with them on a little vacation at the beach for a few days. Some of our missionary friends from school were able to join us there for some much needed rest and relaxation. It was just what the doctor ordered!

Now we're ready to dive into full-time ministry! WooHoo!

click play to view slideshow

Bailes and Bombas!

2009-08-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Guanacaste Day is a Costa Rican holiday celebrating the annexation of the Guanacaste province from Nicaragua in 1824. Guanacaste is the north-western part of Costa Rica, and is kind of like the "Texas" of Costa Rica with a drier, warmer climate, lots of cattle and cowboys, and a different accent too.

Our school put on a big presentation and we had the opportunity to participate in the traditional dances (mainly because Jamie's teacher put it all together) and hey, why not? It was super fun! The following night we danced them again in the street for the local neighborhood while they enjoyed tamales and chalupas.

Bailes tipicos -- simply meaning traditional dances -- are done with the big flowing skirts, ruffled blouses, and of course a big flower in your hair. In our dances, Jamie's group wore floral patterned skirts, representing the "rural" Guanacastecan woman who cooks, cleans, and works hard in the home but still dresses up and puts on aires. The women in white skirts represent the city girl from San Jose.

Bombas are traditional rhymes or short poems that are shouted back and forth as either fun flirts or taunts (usually with reference to mother-in-laws). Nathan shouts, "If all the men ran out like the silver runs out the women would be left mooing like cows!" and his partner responds, "If all the women ran out like the gold runs out the men would be left braying like bulls!" (Sounds better in Spanish)

For the finale, the men take on the "Toro" in the ultimate bull fight!

click play to start slideshow

The Results Are In!

2009-08-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where did July go? That went way too fast.
We've been working really hard to finish these last few weeks of school strong... and we have some really good news! The test results are in... but first let me explain.

When we first got here, the school gave us entrance/placement exams to assess our current ability (or lack thereof) in Spanish. The written test was all about grammar and then there was an oral test to see what you can do in one-on-one conversation. Being from California we could say a few things like, "¿Donde esta el baño?" and "Yo quiero Taco Bell." Needless to say that didn't get us too far.
So last week we got to take the mother-of-all comprehensive grammar tests and an oral ECO exam which is an internationally recognized system for evaluating language proficiency. Not everyone who graduates from the language school will pass the grammar, in fact some people can learn to speak fluently and still not pass it. In the ECO you can earn a Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced level, each of which divide into low, mid, and high.

And so the results are in...

Drum roll please.....

Nathan received Advanced High on the ECO and 93% on the grammar!
and Jamie received Advanced Low on the ECO and just passed the grammar with a 71%!

This is better than either of us imagined we would get to and when we think of how far we've come in a year...well...it truly is a miracle, and we give all the credit and glory to GOD! He has been so faithful to us.

So the big question is, "Does that mean you guys are fluent?"
We are resigned to the fact that language learning is a lifelong goal but we can definitely say we are a whole lot closer!

Happy Birthday Kendyl!

2009-08-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

Our baby Kendyl just celebrated her 6th birthday! What a beautiful little girl she has turned out to be! We are so proud of her.

This year she really wanted to get her ears pierced for her birthday. Since we couldn't find decent quality affordable earrings here, we found some online and it just so happened that our friend had to go back to the states for a quick trip and she was willing to bring them back down with her a couple weeks before her birthday!

And here's the crazy part...you can actually get your ears pierced by the pediatrician at the hospital! No joke. It's very cultural here that all the baby girls get their ears pierced before leaving the hospital so, I guess it makes sense. Oh, and did I mention that he just pops 'em in by hand! yeeah. But believe it or not it was the most easy, smooth process in the world! Kendyl was a trooper and it was over before she even flinched. She chose to get them done before her birthday so she could have sparkly ears for her party!

She decided to have an everything "strawberry" party so strawberry cake, strawberry decorations, Strawberry Shortcake piñata, and of course strawberries! You get the picture. And of course Jamie had to make a special cake fit for a princess. Kendyl had a fabulous time with her little friends, most of which are other missionary kids whose parents will soon be graduating from language school and moving on to other countries. :(
The party gave her lots of fabulous memories to remember them by!

Happy Birthday Kendyl Boo!

click play to view the slideshow

The Best 4th Ever!

2009-07-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

There is something to be said for celebrating Independence Day in another country. Something about being away from home, without the usual fanfare, creates even more country pride and patriotism!
We gathered up a few of our fellow American's and everyone pitched in for an awesome 4th of July party at our house. Probably the most memorable ever!
The idea was to create a sense of patriotism for our home country for our kids and do some of the things we might usually do at home.
We had carnival games, coloring pages, and candy. We also started a new tradition of "Shuckin' the Dogs" (ie: pealing the individual plastic wrap packaging off each hotdog) and scarfed on chili dogs, rice krispie treats, and red, white, and blue ice cream!
And of course, no 4th of July celebration is complete without fireworks. So we ran out to the street side stand and.... wait.... there are no street side stands here. They usually only sell fireworks at Christmas time. So after 2 days of a wild goose chase, asking here, going there, and finding closed stores, Nathan and our friend Richard were finally successful and brought home enough pyrotechnics to satisfy even the "big kids"!

God bless America, our home sweet home!

click play to start the video

Kindergarten Graduation!

2009-06-03T16:34:00.001-07:00

Our little Kendyl graduated from Kindergarten this past weekend! Our first of many graduations yet to come. It was a big deal on campus as the entire school was dismissed early for it, complete with floral arrangements and tablecloth reception after. The best part was how excited the kids were! They had been anticipating this for weeks. I really don't know how their teachers accomplished anything with them recently. And the smiles on their faces... words cannot describe. We kept our cool pretty well, until they played the photo slide show of their whole year and we saw how much she had grown, plus the music just put us over the edge, and the tears started flowing.

Congratulations Kendyl Boo...We're so proud of you!

Updates and Prayer Requests

2009-05-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Things have been going so well for us since January, we have a lot to be thankful for!

We just completed our second trimester at language school, one more to go, and we're still enjoying it. That's a miracle in itself.

We've also become more comfortable in this culture and language. Everyday isn't quite so scary or stressful. We've learned our way around now, where to buy what, how to call a doctor, how to pay for things correctly...you know, the basics...when you don't have 'em it just creates insecurity.

We've also moved into a different home that is bright and cheerful, has an area for our kids to get outside, and doesn't have the water/mold/bedbugs etc. that we were dealing with before. Since our home is our little haven in this big bad city, that makes a huge difference.

Last December we were blessed to be able to purchase a car, a '94 Hyundai Galloper. It's a 4 wheel drive but still compact enough to squeeze in between the taxis and buses and park in the tiniest spot. We still mostly walk everywhere but we have the ability to get out to ministries on the other side of town, shop at the cheaper store that's a little farther away, and most importantly remain safe by not walking after dark. It's also nice to be able to bless our fellow missionaries here by loaning it and offering rides.

As we approach our graduation from language school, we find ourselves with so many ministry opportunities that we are at the point of having to narrow them down.

Nathan is currently praying over 3 different seminaries to teach at, UNELA, ESEPA, and Instituto Biblico Strom. They all have need for teachers but in slightly different ways and each has it's own teaching style, emphasis, and target students. Two are located here in the city, and one is located about 1 hour away. It's going to be a tough decision.

Nathan is also currently participating in a homeless ministry downtown. Every Saturday morning, the men and women are given a small devotional and breakfast. Nathan and some friends from language school have been staying afterward to do more Bible study with those who are interested. One man in particular shows great interest and desire to learn. Please join us in praying over the possibility of Nathan mentoring this man on a one-to-one basis.

Jamie has applied for the position of school nurse at Sojourn Academy where Kendyl attends Kindergarten. It would be to initiate their first school nurse position and would be part time. The biggest benefits for us would be a tuition discount and most importantly, a work visa. This visa would be a means for all of us to be able to stay in Costa Rica longer term...a huge answer to prayer.

Jamie has also joined a team of women that minister in the local women's prison and is currently discipling a young woman there. The plan is to continue to meet with her as long as she is there. Please pray that the Lord would bless our meetings together to bring this woman closer to Him.

We also have some challenges that we are facing and would appreciate your prayer.

Since he came down with strep throat and pneumonia last trimester, Nathan's childhood asthma has returned. The allergens and climate here seem to affect many people and significantly heighten allergenic and asthmatic reactions. At times Nathan struggles to breathe so much at night he becomes fatigued for lack of oxygen and sleep. Just 2 weeks ago he had a severe attack and luckily our doctor was able to come to our house to provide treatment right away. Please pray for healing and/or the ability to manage symptoms.

Several of our supporters have faced financial difficulties, and our hearts and prayers go out to them. These are not easy times. As a result, we have dropped below 50% of our monthly operating costs. We have been able to make up the difference in order to stay thanks to God's provision through the sale of our home in the states, and the help of our parents. Unfortunately that won't work for the long term. With all the ministry needs before us, it breaks our hearts to think of having to leave due to lack of funding. Please pray that God would somehow bring more people to join our support team so that we can fulfill our commitments here.
A huge thank you to all of you who have been faithfully committed to continuing your support. We can't say thank you enough! Praise be to God!

Happy Birthday Jamie! The big 30!

2009-04-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Turning 30
by Susan Yates Yardly

I dreamed of being sweet sixteen, then magic twenty-one
Now I am twenty-nine and seeing thirty come.
My babysitter calls me ma'am, it makes me feel quite numb.
How can I think of me as old? I've always been so young.

I once could name the ten top songs played on the radio.
Now I turn the rock groups down or hunt for something slow.
Now there are lines around my eyes I thought would never show.
And pounds that used to be above my waist have sunk below.

I was depressed to see how fast my youthful days could flee.
And then I met a fine old man, his age was eighty-three.
His hair was white, his walk was slow and he could barely see.
He called me child and said he wished he was young as me.

Extreme Makeover: Los Guidos Edition

2009-04-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I (Nathan) had the opportunity to help a local family in the nearby shanty town of Los Guidos, one of the poorest areas in greater San Jose. A local missionary family has decided to tear down and rebuild the home of the Calderon-Morales family. Roberto and his wife Liliana reside with their daughter Ingrid, 6 months pregnant, and her 5 year old son in a 350 square foot home in conditions that can only be called heartbreaking.

The house consists of two tiny bedrooms a bare kitchen and bathroom that is something of an indoor outhouse. No real running water, no lighting, no shower. The toilet, sans water tank, sits askew atop a dirt floor; a corrugated drainage pipe haphazardly attached to the back, draining the waste into the family’s backyard. To flush, the family pours a bucket of water into the bowl and hopes that most of it makes it through the pipe; what doesn’t, litters the dirt floor around the toilet bowl.

Our team of volunteers, mostly members of a youth group, spent the better part of the morning just carrying out the trash from the back yard. Immediately behind the house, garbage littered the ground, soaked with the waste from the makeshift toilet; a short distance down the slope—the family dump. We hauled away old refrigerator liners, tires, couches, a car windshield, burned furniture, a dead possum, and maybe 17 broken TV’s. The family, in an effort to prevent erosion, has been piling up whatever they can find to keep their hill from washing away. Sadly, they don’t seem to understand the devastating effects the unsanitary conditions can have on their family: Ingrid’s son is currently in the hospital with a serious infection.

Confronted with the fact of such desperate poverty, it is often hard to know how to respond. I spent a few hours cleaning up the garbage of the Calderon-Morales family; they have spent a lifetime living in it. In some ways, it is easy to judge, after all, they don’t have to throw their garbage in the back yard, or leave their waste on the dirt floor of the bathroom. But then again, after a lifetime, perhaps they don’t know any better, perhaps after so many years of facing a problem so big, it is simply easier to ignore it.

For me, it is almost impossible to describe what I felt that day. In a way, it was a day of sharp contrasts: the satisfaction of helping a family in need with the sadness of seeing a family in such great need, the rugged tropical beauty of the Costa Rican mountains sweeping down towards the valley with the raw stench of human excrement and rotting garbage, the hope of the future with the despair of the present. As I write this, my eyes are filling with tears and I hear my voice, haunting me with the complaints I have all too often voiced for the things that I do not have. Perhaps that is the greatest contrast of all. We who have so much, so often ask for more, while Roberto, standing in his back yard, the smell of poverty so tangible one can almost taste it reminds us: “A veces, no nos toca aprender, sino aceptar. Dios tiene su propio propósito. Él nos ama. Dios siempre nos provee, siempre.” (Sometimes, it is not our place to understand, but to accept. God has his own purpose. He loves us. God always provides for us, always.) A good reminder during the economic difficulties many of us our facing because of the downturn in the American economy.

El Buen Pastor Women's Prison (cont.)

2009-03-23T12:05:00.001-07:00

The living conditions at the prison are pretty bleak. The girls don't have individual cells, only massive rooms with rows of beds, laundry hanging everywhere, cockroaches scattering, all inside damp musty concrete block walls. The prison grounds were converted from an old convent and now look like a horror movie set. The building's ornate decorations and corbels, unkempt, rusty, and falling apart, are as broken and weary as it's inhabitants.

They eat beans, rice, hot dogs, and occasionally eggs, for every meal. They are not allowed to have fruit for the possibility of turning it into alcohol. I'm still not sure why they are not given vegetables. They are allowed outside for 1 hour, only 2 times a week. 20 minute phone calls are scheduled 4 times a week. I really don't understand how they survive.

A local news channel recently did an investigative series at the prison (in fact, the footage was shot the very same day I (Jamie) visited for the first time in February). Unfortunately it is all in Spanish of course. We attempted to translate and add subtitles for you but couldn't figure out how to add them large enough to see. Besides, at the rate we were going uh...it would have been a while. Hopefully you can get an idea of what what's going on and at least get a visual of the ladies and their surroundings.

If you would like to know more about what is being said in the videos, please contact us by phone or email and we would be happy to translate for you.

Women's Prison Ministry

2009-03-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

Last night was my (Jamie)second meeting with Bianca, a 20 year old German girl serving a 6 year sentence for drug trafficking, in El Buen Pastor women's prison. She has been there ever since the day she was caught at the San Jose airport smuggling cocaine in her luggage 1 1/2 years ago.

Bianca is understandably depressed. She is not only alienated from the other girls culturally, but doesn't not even have the privilege of family visits since they are in Germany. She filed papers one year ago for a transfer to finish her sentence in Germany, but who knows how long they will be caught up in red tape. She will not know if her transfer has been accepted until a few hours before she is taken away that same day.

Bianca has recently accepted the Lord but is still not sure what that means in her life, how to pray, or how to read her Bible. I will be meeting with Bianca every other Wednesday night to disciple her. My goal is to just build a friendship with her and allow the Lord to do the rest.

Thanks to Pastor Peter at Countryside, I now have an awesome bible study to do with her called Just for Starters. It has 7 lessons that cover just the basics and even teaches you how to read a passage and how to pray. It is really just perfect for her so I am really looking forward to it!

Thank you all for your prayers and please continue to pray for Bianca as she steps out of her comfort zone and reaches out to the Lord. Please also continue to pray for me, I am out of my comfort zone as well, that the Lord would use me to work mightily in Bianca's life, and that I would step aside and allow His words to shine through.

I will be posting soon on the living conditions in the prison with some local news reels...

Life Lesson #1,367,540...

2009-03-06T15:19:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been worried about something, thinking,"poor me... this isn't fair... how are we going to make it better?" Look out...It's a perfect opportunity for God to issue a reality check.

Last week we were at the end of the month, and the end of our budget. We had about 12,000 colones (about $24) left for food for the last 2 weeks. At first it didn't seem too bad, then our cupboards started getting bare. We share this with you not to make a pity party out of it, but in honesty, for perspective. We started wondering how we were going to make it on this budget. What happens if something unexpected comes up? As the days past, I (Jamie) started getting a little down, thinking, "How am I going to keep my family healthy?" and I began to feel a little sorry for myself. (Have you ever been there?)

Last Friday night, out of the blue, we had an unexpected knock at our gate. There was our friend Richard, with a bag of deliciously BBQ'd ribs and a salad. "I was just walking our dinner guest home," he said, "and we thought we'd share our leftovers with you." There was our dinner and lunch for the next day. Check point #1.

On Sunday, we went to our little church. It's a very simple church. They use an overhead projector with hand written songs, a variety of plain folding chairs (1/4 of which are broken) and meet in the small upstairs room of an office building. The pastor and his family are some of the sweetest and most generous people we have ever met. It's a wonder how they can feed their family of 7 on the average pastor's income, about 500,000 colones ($1200) a month. Keep in mind that groceries here are no less expensive than they are in the states, some items cost significantly more, and the average rent is $600.

After the service, the pastor's wife asked us how we make our income. I briefly explained, in my caveman Spanish, that we receive donations from supporters. She nodded her head and walked away. For a second, I thought maybe I had said something wrong, but then she came back carrying a large, heavy grocery bag. "Here," she said in Spanish, "this is our contribution, it's a gift." Every ounce of me wanted to say, "No, please don't. You need it more than we do." but I graciously accepted it, thanked her profusely, and started walking home fighting back tears as we went.
When we got home, I opened the bag and started to cry. "OK God, I get it. I need to trust you. You will provide. Thank you!"

This is what was in the bag...
rice, beans, pasta, salt, and soup mix...and a whole lot of Jesus!

Salsa, Meringue, Cumbia...que mas?

2009-02-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

Talk about a cultural induction. There's nothing like being thrown into the middle of a crowded dance floor; music blaring, people staring, with everyone around you, young and old, "salsa-ing" their hearts out, to make you find your Latin groove.

Last friday we were invited by Nathan's tutor to attend a concert at the Hotel San Jose. Her father, Ramiro Guzman is a professional musician and plays bass guitar in his own band, Gaviota. They play the most amazing romantic, latin rhythm dance music and love ballads. They have several male vocalists that are so talented, with smooth voices and classic harmonies...look out Enrique!

Usually at these sort of events it takes several songs, if not the whole evening, for people to begin to brave the dance floor. Not so...they started out with several slow songs and the floor was instantly filled with couples of all ages. After a while they livened things up with some salsa music, and the night took off! You have to realize, here they teach their babies to salsa before they can walk...ok maybe after they're potty trained...but seriously, they don't even have to think about it, they just know how to dance.

We sat at a reserved booth for the Guzman family with several of our teachers from language school and some of their spouses. Once we expressed an interest in learning some dances, we never sat down again. They had us on the dance floor learning salsa, meringue, cumbia... you'd think we were training for Dancing with the Stars!

Needless to say we had a great time and learned a lot about social dancing, such an integrated part of Latino culture. We hope to go again soon!

Click here to visit Gaviota's website!

Here's our pics with some sounds bites from that night...

Our first Cafecita

2009-02-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

A Chorreador de Cafe --
the traditional way to brew Costa Rican coffee

Cafecita is the equivalent to the British tea time, except with coffee, of course. Every afternoon, but sometimes not until 4 or 5 o’clock, Costa Rican families gather together for coffee and sweetbread. For those of you thinking it better be decaf...nope. There is only one brand that makes decaf (the one that caters to tourists) and it is about 4 times the cost of regular.

We’ve been told that if you are ever offered coffee at cafecita, whether or not you drink or even like coffee, you take it. Even if you only take one sip, it’s better than refusing it. One of our tutors said about the only acceptable reason to refuse the coffee is if you have a severe allergy and could possibly die. I think he was kinda joking….maybe.

On the other hand, he also told us not to be disappointed if we never got invited to into a Costa Rican “Tico” home. Because all their extended family usually lives in the same neighborhood, Ticos rarely have time or room for anyone else. Actually, they are so big on being friendly, that they may invite you over, but never give directions or a time.

One of our friends at school is a single girl who helps out in Kendyl’s class and she lives with a Costa Rican host family. Last Friday, we had the honor of being invited over for dinner and coffee, and it was our first time to actually sit with a Costa Rican family at their table and share a meal. We had a fabulous time! Picture the quintessential Italian family, everyone pulling up a chair, coming and going, talking over each other at a table filled with food and no room for plates (all except the Italian part of course). Not only did we get a LOT of great spanish practice, and great homemade tortillas, our souls were filled as well. It felt so good to finally be fellowshipping in a home with the people and culture that we came here to be with.

Unfortunately we did not bring our camara (kinda felt like a lame tourist thing to do), so we have no pictures to share with you. Hopefully next time.

Back to School

2009-02-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

Think September… all the stores are filled with backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils. Kids get new school clothes and uniforms; and there is that feeling of looking forward to buckling down, settling into a routine, and fall weath………..um. Well, except that part.
Costa Rica’s school year is Jan-Dec so their big break is at Christmas, and now everything has that back to school feeling, but we are smack in the middle of summer weather. It’s just another one of those things our brains are adjusting to.
We are back in school too, in our second trimester of Spanish language school. Jamie is in classes part-time and part-time with a personal tutor and Nathan is in full time tutoring. He is also enrolled in a general Bible Survey course (in Spanish) at the local seminary where he hopes to teach at in the near future. We are also both serving on the institute's student counsel, Nathan as the Music Director and Jamie as the Rayitos (nursery/daycare) representative.

Here is a little taste of what our classes are like...

Happy Birthday Caedon!

2009-01-31T07:32:00.000-08:00

Our little buddy just turned 2! We had a few of our friends from school and their kiddos over to celebrate and break in our new home. It was a blast! Especially since the birthday boy is just so darn cute! He got Lightening McQueen rain boots from Grandma and Grandpa (he wore them the entire party and refused to take them off, even for his nap), a wooden train set from Mimi and Poppi which he plays with every day, and a green bike with a big red bow on it from Mommy and Daddy (a treat left behind from the previous renters of our house)! Of course we had to have a piñata, no party is complete here without one, but Caedon was so glued to his bike that we just wheeled him up and he took his swings “on the go”. Finally, Caedon blew out his 2 little candles like a pro and our cars cake (that took us two days to make) was devoured at Piston Cup speed.
Happy Birthday little dude, we love you!

E-Dependence

2009-01-27T13:20:00.000-08:00

First of all, we apologize for taking so long to update our blog. It's amazing how our communication has become so dependent on internet. Unfortunately our new home is not yet connected, making emailing, blogging, and Skyping somewhat difficult.

If we have your email, you should have recieved a letter explaining that we do still exist, we did not fall in a volcano, and we will try to be more consistent in updating now that we can use the school computers.

On a side note, I (Jamie) find it very difficult to be creative in a computer lab, in between class times, while others are waiting to use computers (there are only 3 to share between 200 students) so I apologize in advance if the writing and photos become a little lack luster. I will give it my best shot.

All in all, we are doing well. We will be posting some current prayer requests soon as our time is up for today...

Hasta Luego

Until Next Year...

2008-12-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May you allow the Lord to reveal Himself to you and seek His will for your life in the coming year!

As we sign off from blogging for the holidays, we leave you with this beautiful song by Marcela Gandara called "Dame Tus Ojos". Que linda!

Dame Tus Ojos

Dame tus ojos quiero ver (Give me your eyes, I want to see)
Dame tus palabras, quiero hablar (Give me your words, so I can speak)
Dame tu parecer (I want to be like you)

Dame tus pies, yo quiero ir (Give me your feet, I want to go)
Dame tus deseos para sentir (Give me your desires, so I can feel)
Dame tu parecer (I want to be like you)

Dame lo que necesito (Give me what I need)
Para ser como tu (so I can be like you)

Coro (Chorus)
Dame tu voz, dame tu aliento (Give me your voice, give me your breath)
Toma mi tiempo es para ti (Take all my time, make it yours)
Dame el camino que debo seguir (Show me the way to follow you)
Dame tus sueños, tus anhelos (Give me your dreams, your deepest desires)
Tus pensamientos, tu sentir (Give me your thoughts, what you feel)
Dame tu vida para vivir (Give me your life so I can live)

Déjame ver lo que tu vez (Let me see what you see)
Dame de tu gracia, tu poder (Give me your grace, and your strength)
Dame tu corazón (Give me your heart)
Déjame ver en tu interior (Allow me to see your heart)
Para ser cambiado por tu amor (So your love can change me)
Dame tu corazón (Give me your heart)

Kids Christmas Recital

2008-12-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

What can I say...the video says it all. The kids are too cute for words!

It's about 5 minutes long after editing (a length only grandparents can appreciate) but you gotta check out Kendyl's air guitar moves about half way through! That one's for you Uncle Blaine.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Nathan!

2008-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

After a somewhat uneventful birthday, thinking Jamie had not even remembered to make a cake (yeah right!), Nathan walked with Jamie to a friends house to "deliver a serving tray to borrow" and SURPRISE! a bunch of friends were there to party! And not just any party...a scrabble party, complete with sloppy joe's and doritos...oh yah!

God saved us tonight!

2008-12-06T22:31:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: contains content that will make mom's worry (particularly ours)...

Just a few minutes ago (at about 11:40pm) we were walking home from Nathan's surprise birthday party (more on that later) at a friends house. They live just on the other side of the big park about a 1/2 of a mile from our house, so we didn't think of calling a taxi.
Like usual we kept getting ready to leave their house but always got into more conversation and ended up staying later. As we left, we stood outside their gate talking for another 5 minutes.
As we walked passed the park a big police truck drove by, which is semi-unusual in our neighborhood, but then again, just this morning, we saw a guard get out of an unmarked car at the grocery store casually swinging a pistol grip shot gun, so we've become accustomed to that sort of thing and thought nothing of it.
As we rounded the corner near our house, our dear Tico friends, Gus and Joconda, we're standing outside their house. Gus yelled at us, "What are you doing out here! It's not safe!"
Apparently, just 5 minutes before, at the very park we had just passed, Gus and 2 friends who were returning from playing pool were held up by 6 guys all armed with guns. Gus had two pistols held to his head and a shot gun to his stomach. Praise God for their protection! All the robbers got was some cash and a cell phone and no one was hurt.
Praise God that He had us talk five more minutes or it would have been us...the perfect targets...gringos, with kids, and a purse with a Cannon Rebel in it. It just makes us so thankful for His protection, even when we don't know we need it.

PS: Thank you to all of you who have been praying for our safety... keep up the good work!

Thanksgiving Home Away From Home

2008-11-30T17:32:00.000-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for this year! God has blessed us in so many ways...we have our health, friendships, needs and comforts, and we are so happy to be serving Him in Costa Rica. Most of all we are thankful that God uses broken vessels for His glory! What an awesome God we serve!

This Thanksgiving we gathered with our American friends who are also away from home serving the Lord here in Costa Rica. Of course, it wasn't grandma's house...but it came pretty darn close. We all pitched in to buy 20 roasted chickens (which ended up being even tastier than most turkeys) and brought several dishes each to complete our dinner. One lady who recently visited the states thought ahead and brought real sweet potatoes back in her luggage to share with all of us! We shamelessly admit we licked our plates clean and enjoyed every bite! After we were sufficiently stuffed we all hung out and played card games...what a blast!

Prayer Requests

2008-11-19T13:41:00.000-08:00

Here are some things to pray for:

Praise God that our house has sold! We closed escrow, were able to pay off our school loans, and we are officially debt free! Praise the Lord!

Pray for continued language acquisition. We are now at the point where we have learned enough for it to be frustrating when we can't understand something or say what we want to say. Pray that we can push through and finish the last four weeks of the trimester well!

Ask for health and protection from illness. Our school has been like a petri dish, especially in Caedon's classroom. Nathan is currently battling a major strep infection and Kendyl has Scarlet fever. They are on antibiotics. Please ask for speedy recovery and protection for Jamie and Caedon.

Praise Him for providing financially. We have continued to have just what we need right when we need it! It's so amazing to see how God provides!

Thank you for covering us in prayer!

Spaghetti Night with Don Jose

2008-11-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

When we arrived here, it didn't take long for us to strike up a relationship with our street guard, Don Jose. After all, his guard shack is 30 feet away from our front door and he hangs out there practically 24/7.
Jose was born here in San Jose, and has lived here his entire life. He has been the guard in our neighborhood for 12 years and works 12 hours a day, 365 days a year. He told us that this job was the biggest blessing of his life. He explained that before being a guard, he was an unemployed alcoholic and he spent his days just drinking. As a guard, he is responsible for others, is around people all day, and is friends with many homeowners in the neighborhood, all of which prevents him from drinking. He has been sober since he got the job 12 years ago and gives the glory to God!
Among other things, we quickly learned that Jose's favorite "american" food is... SPAGHETTI! So every time we make spaghetti (usually a couple times a month) we bring him a big bowl full. If only we had the camera ready the first time. As Nathan walked up to his door with the spaghetti, his face just lit up like a light and he said, "Que es eso?" with a huge grin!

Some Sights

2008-11-06T18:09:00.001-08:00

We just thought we'd share with you a few our daily sights around town...with a few cute pics of the kids thrown in of course! Enjoy!

Click play, then the pause button. Then you can arrow forward with more time to look.

Christmas in October!

2008-10-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

Today was just one of those days. We had to miss classes to go to the Office of Immigration for what we had hoped would be a relatively painless process to apply for temporary residency. It's been months of headache going through all the red tape and acquiring all the correct documentation and we were finally going to be done! Well, to make a long story short...God had other plans in mind. So after a frantic afternoon, thinking we might have to make a 72 hour trip to Panama to be legal again, then talking with a lawyer, and our school we finally figured it all out. By then we were worn out through and through.
I (Jamie) went back to the school mail room to get my backpack and as I picked it up I looked across the room and saw a package in the "H" box. "It's probably for someone else." I told myself like Eeyore, but then I noticed the name started with "H-Y-" I stepped closer "N-U-M" It was for us! Our first care package! The kids were so excited to open it...it seriously felt like Christmas for all of us! Everything we were stressed or bummed about this week went out the door.

Thank you Curtis and Anna (Caleb and Taylor too) we love you guys!

Battle Wounds and Blessings

2008-10-24T22:35:00.000-07:00

Every Tuesday night the guys play soccer at the school gym. Good fun, good exercise, and especially good for cultural adaptation since "futbol" is the sport of Costa Rica. Everyone here is into it, little kids to grandmas, and everyone in between.
Unfortunately Nathan will be watching from the sidelines for a little while. Last Tuesday a guy missed the ball and kicked Nathan right in the Achilles tendon. We were afraid it might be seriously injured so after an afternoon going to the school doctor, hospital, ultrasound, and Orthopedist we found it wasn't torn but damaged and seriously inflamed and would likely tear if he walked on it. So crutches were the order, along with ibuprofen, ice, and massage. Fine, except that we walk everywhere, to school, the bank, the grocery store, the farmers market, and of course they are not all near each other. On top of that we usually have two strollers to push. We were in a bit of a bind.
That's where the blessing comes in. There is a wonderful Costa Rican family that runs the food tienda at school and they happen to live down the street from us. We had chatted a few times and wanted to get to know them better. They have a car and generously offered to give us all a ride everyday. What a huge blessing! On top of that, we have been able to really build a friendship with them. We hope it is one that we can keep for years to come.

Dia de Las Culturas

2008-10-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

Last friday was Dia de Las Culturas, a holiday here that celebrates all the diversity of all the cultures of the world. Over the weekend there were events in parks and churches all over the city where everyone dressed up and brought food and music representing all different countries. Our kids school also had their celebration and each grade was assigned a country. Then there was an assembly with all the nations flags and a cool dance by the 6th grade class. Afterwards everyone went from class to class to see their presentations and taste food from each place. It was a lot of fun! Kendyl's kindergarten class was assigned Israel so they all dressed as Bible characters. She chose to be Miriam because, "She gets to save her baby brother Moses". It so happened that Kendyl's teacher had dead batteries in her camera so we left ours with her for the day so there are a lot of pictures of her class. PS Kendyl's costume is a pillow case with a curtain tie back for a belt...ya gotta be creative here!

A New Look

2008-10-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the new look of our blog. We just liked this layout and we added a couple new things too.

Notice the new "email subscription" sign up box at the top right. Once you are signed up you will automatically be emailed our latest post the day we post it. It is in a plain text format so be sure to still check in to the actual blog now and again.

Please let us know if this works well and if you like the formating. Otherwise we'll try something else to keep you up to date.

And my personal favorite, the new "recent comments" box where your comments are showcased! We love getting your feedback and hearing what you have to say! Just click "comment" at the bottom of the post you want to comment on, fill out the form, and voila!

We hope you enjoy!

Be careful what you say...

2008-10-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

Spanish translation sometimes gives us gringos a freebie... like the word for car is carro, the word for computer is computadora, student is estudiante, and doctor is simply doctor. Sometimes this truly works in your favor....other times....not so much!

For example,
your "arma" isn't your arm, it's a weapon.
if you have an "injuria" you don't have an injury, you were insulted.
if you are "embarazada" you are not embarrassed, you are pregnant.
if you are "constipado" you don't need the bathroom, you need a decongestant.

Case in point...the other day our friend went to the bakery and wanted a dough nut. He proceeded to say, "Yo quiero una doña blanco y una doña negro." The "ñ" makes the sound "n-ye" as in "piñata". Close...but the word for dough nut is "dona", without the tilde. So, after the entire bakery erupted in laughter, our poor friend realized he had just said, "I want one white woman and one black woman."

It just goes to show how important language school is, otherwise, who knows what we might be telling people! Yikes!

A Call to Prayer

2008-10-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

"He has delivered us from peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

Here are some specifics we are praying about...will you please join us in prayer?

Praise God that our home in Oregon is now in escrow! We will end up with much less than we had hoped due to the current market and will not have the financial "cushion" we had hoped to have for this coming year. We know God is in control and He doesn't need escrow money in order to provide.

Thank the Lord for providing us with fellowship here! We met several families in language school who share our heart for the people and are facing many of the same challenges. It's nice to have comrades and know we are not alone.
Ask for strength to persevere physically, mentally, and spiritually. After 6 weeks, real life has settled in and the challenges of everyday life in a third-world country wear us out. Throw in the mental strain of language learning and spiritual attacks and, well...we need prayer.
Ask for funding to continue our ministry. Pray that He will call additional people to support our ministry financially, and that those who have promised support will remain faithful to their commitment. We are still looking for 4 churches or businesses @ 200/month, 10 individuals @ 100/month, and 10 @ 50/month.
Ask for guidance in ministry decisions. We now have connections at 2 seminaries here. Both have a need for teachers. We also have the opportunity to become involved in a Christian dance company that is changing lives through gospel centered performances, and at a local Christian school where our kids may attend in the future. Pray that we will hear clearly to proceed in obedience.
Worship Him for being our Almighty Savior! What a God we serve! With all the power to control the universe, He cares enough to listen to our hearts. Even though we don't deserve anything, He gives us grace and provides all we need. We feel incredibly blessed to be serving Him here in Costa Rica and look forward to where he leads us.

Meet Maxi and Belle

2008-09-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know us well probably knew it wouldn't take us long to find pets down here. INTRODUCING...MAXI and BELLE!
The latest addition to our family are these two little baby turtles we found at market for 4,000 colones (~$8).
Because of our temperate climate, we can keep them on our back patio where they can get natural sunlight (not reproduced by UV bulbs). The razor wire and bars protecting our patio from thieves protects them from natural predators.
We used a storage box with half the lid for their habitat with some rocks we collected from the river bank. The rocks that stick out of the water provide their "basking" area where they like to warm up in the sun, and the covered side provides shade and a spot to cool down when they need to. They eat lettuce and a variety of other veggies and only a tiny amount of inexpensive store bought vitamins each day. All in all, not a bad deal, especially considering the smiles on our kids faces...now that's priceless!

Click play to view the slideshow

Marathon Training!

2008-09-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 12:1-3
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."

We are starting to feel like we're training for a marathon. Up at the crack of dawn, pushing yourself through the training, stretching, refueling. Get some sleep... and do it all over again tomorrow! Our brains are so overloaded with language learning we come home exhausted and honestly, we get drained emotionally and spiritually too. All endurance athletes know that you have to consume carbs to have enough fuel to not "bonk" out. We desperately crave that "refueling" time each day and it causes us to be so entirely dependent on the Lord to sustain us! You know how food just tastes better when your body is depleted? It's the same with the spirit. The word of God is like a warm plate of delicious home cooked food, and the Holy Spirit is a refreshing gulp of crystal clear water. Even though it's exhausting...it's a very good place to be.

Independence Day Costa Rican Style

2008-09-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Click on the slideshow to view larger pics

Today we celebrated Costa Rica's Dia de Independencia at school. All the kids were decked out in rojo, blanca, y azul and marched in a parade around the campus banging on drums, triangles, and waving little flags. It was adorable.
We adults got a special chapel time and education about the history behind Costa Rica's independence.
Then we got to make our very own "faroles" (lanterns), for the Parade of Faroles that takes place Sunday night. At 6pm the entire country comes to a halt as all TV and radio stations broadcast the national anthem. Then sirens announce the beginning of the parade where children carry homemade lanterns symbolizing the historical "freedom" torch that originally was carried from border to border from Nicaragua to Panama notifying people of their liberation.

A day in the life of...

2008-09-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

So how do new missionaries in language school spend their time?
Here's a typical day...

4:30 - Caedon wakes up saying "Daaady"

4:32 - Caedon gets milk and morning devotions in Spanish and Greek (with a little help from daddy)

5:30 - Nathan wakes up Jamie, Jamie blindly stumbles to the coffee pot.

7:00 - We're out the door, with a few trips back in for things we forgot.

7:25 - Drop off the kids at school and walk to our classrooms.

7:30 - Classes begin.
We have 4 hours of classes: 2 for Gramatica, 1 for Lenguaje, and 1 for Fonetica with a 1 hour free period for chapel, meetings, prayer, or study depending on the day.

1:00 - Pick up Caedon and head to the Terraza -- the student area on campus to eat, study, socialize, or just stare into space for a brain break.

2:30 - Pick up Kendyl and head home in the timely downpour (you could set your watch by it!)

2:50 - Get home, strip off and hang up our soaking wet clothes, plop on the couch and dream about pizza for dinner.

4 or 5 - Cook rice and beans for dinner. Eat. Clean up. Family time.

6:30 - Check the clock and say, "Is it only 6:30?"

7:00 - Bedtime stories, tuck the kids in bed, resist the temptation to fall asleep too.

7-9 - Study, veg out, and try to stay awake until an acceptable grown-up bedtime.

9:30 - Prayer time and Lights Out!

Our Kendyl is Back!

2008-09-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your many prayers for Kendyl and her struggles transitioning to school here. We are happy to report that the bouncy, happy, Kendyl that loves going to school IS BACK! Monday she didn't cry at all, Tuesday she ran the last few blocks to school holding hands with a little friend, and today she was fully herself again! She was excited to go, saying, "Hello...Hi Friend...Good Morning..." as she walked up to her class. She has even been repeating some of the Spanish words and phrases she has learned. We know she was lifted up in prayer by all of you and we are so thankful! Praise the Lord!

Words of Wisdom

2008-08-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

There have been many great speakers this week at orientation, but one particularly got our attention and his words really spoke to us.
His name is John Stam, now Juan Stam. Originally from the US, he and his wife have been missionaries here for 50 years and are now Costa Rican citizens. The Ticos can't even tell that he's a gringo anymore since he has acclimated so much to this culture.
During his talk he gave us tips for becoming trans-cultural, warnings against false theologies, and reported on the condition of the church in Latin America today. All fascinating!
He also encouraged us with some advice about this time of training. "The first thing I recommend is baptism by immersion" he said, pausing to add, "that is, immerse yourself in the culture, appreciate its music, memorize its poetry, pick a soccer team." "Second, get a good hearing aid and Listen! Listen! Listen!" "Lastly," he urged, "get some good camouflage. Try to blend in with the Costa Ricans and learn as Paul did to 'become all things to all men so that some might be saved.'"
Lately, we have been feeling anxious to do what we came here to do... build relationships with nationals and share the love of Christ. It feels like it's going to take forever to settle into daily life here, learn our way around, learn the culture, and learn Spanish! All at a level to be effective in our ministry.
Juan reminded us that Paul, after his calling to the mission field, had at least 13 years before he actually started his ministry. "What was he doing all that time?" Juan Stam asked. "I think he was learning the Gentile culture, learning the language, studying, and being prepared by the Holy Spirit to be a messenger for Christ!"
Just a little reality check.

You can visit Juan's website (en espanol) at www.JuanStam.com

Our First Day of School!

2008-08-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

Each of us had our first day of school this week.

Caedon started daycare for the first time ever from 7:30-12. This part has been hard, with all the tears and separation anxiety...but that's just me...he's been fine! He has two Tica mamas, who only speak Spanish, taking care of him, holding him, singing songs, and playing outside. When we come to pick him up he's usually asleep, strewn across their laps along with 3-4 other kiddos, while they play with his hair or rub his back.

Kendyl is in Kindergarten and has made fast friends with the other MK's and Costa Rican kids too. She has an awesome teacher, straight from graduating in the US, and who knows Spanish as well. The classes are mainly in English but she has art, music, and an hour of Spanish every day with a Costa Rican teacher who only speaks Spanish.

Please be praying for Kendyl during this time. She is having difficulty with being over-tired after the full day of school and is tearful and frightened about the Spanish teacher not being able to understand her and vice versa.

Nathan and I have four days of orientation at language school before starting full speed next week. They have had awesome speakers and hilarious skits and we've learned a lot about Costa Rican culture, safety, visas, and the process of language acquisition. We will have placement tests and interviews to determine our current abilities and will be placed in groups of 4-5 people at our same level for classes. Our teachers are all Costa Ricans and only speak Spanish as well!
We are anxious to get started.

Jamie's Big Adventure!

2008-08-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

Part of our crash course here has been on personal safety on the streets. Although Costa Rica is one of the safest Latin American countries, San Jose, like any major city, has it's fair share of crime. Luckily violent crimes are rare, although they are on the rise, and it is generally muggings and petty theft that you need to look out for. We've been taking our cues from the Ticos (Costa Ricans) themselves... no flashy jewelry or clothing, carry purses under your arm, spread out your money (some in your wallet, some in a pocket, some in your shoe) etc.

This week I (Jamie) walked to the grocery store...by myself! OK, I admit, it doesn't sound so adventurous but it sure felt like it. Nathan and I were both a little nervous about it, but decided that we couldn't live our lives in fear. Since we don't have cell phones, we figured it would take me about an hour and a half. A half to walk, half to shop, and half to get back. After that Nathan would worry. I got my list, said goodbye, and off I went.
I found myself very alert to my surroundings. There's 2 men standing at the corner, a woman is walking a few paces behind me, a motorcycle just drove by and turned around. Then I started practicing in my head saying, "Ayudame!" (help me) just in case.
I prayed the whole way there, and by the time I did my shopping, gave the correct amount at check out, and even asked someone for the time, I was feeling pretty good. When I got home I was all proud of myself. "You should be." my friend Karen said, "There are many language school students who couldn't do that the whole year!"

The Sidewalks of San Jose

2008-08-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

The interesting thing about sidewalks here is that they are not maintained by the city. They are maintained by the homeowner whose property touches it. As you can imagine, this makes for not only a wide variety of styles, but of conditions as well.
Some are bright green or red stamped concrete, some your ordinary variety, some non existent. Most are riddled with cracks, potholes, and dips, rugged enough for a four wheel drive adventure! Not to mention the super slippery moss on shaded areas that is slick as ice in the frequent down pours. It does make the walk to school a bit of a job hazard, especially when you throw in the lack of crosswalks and whizzing taxis.
Actually, we have been throughly impressed with our $20 umbrella strollers that have managed to navigate surprisingly well! We have also enjoyed the exercise it brings as we each maneuver a stroller about 20 minutes up hill to school and back, sometimes twice a day.

Oh, and did I mention the "gringo catchers"? Basically uncovered manholes at the corner of most intersections, named such by the locals who have seen more than one unsuspecting foreigner fall prey to it's depths. In all seriousness, one student of our school a few years back fell in one and broke both legs!
Please pray for our safety as we get back and forth to school each day. We know the Lord is with us, every step!

E-Withdrawals

2008-08-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how you don't even notice how much your life revolves around something until it's gone! When we left home I knew it might be a while before we got Internet access and I was looking forward to the reprieve. No emails to check, no searching eBay for items I don't even need, no Google searches to satisfy random curiosities. I'd have more time to enjoy more simple pastimes like...interacting with human beings!
Well, I was right, and I enjoyed it...for about 3 days (to no fault of the present company). All the information that was usually at my fingertips was gone! How would I find the map I needed, how would I check the bus schedule, how would I find a store, what if someone had an important message for me! AHHH!
Then the withdrawal symptoms set in. I found myself playing every standard game that came on my computer just to have screen time... but you can only play so much solitaire. Pretty sad. (On a positive note, I actually learned to play chess, which I find much superior on the computer, largely due to the undo button).
Actually, after 8 long days, I found that what I missed most was not the searches, or information, but the communication with human beings. I realized that the Internet was my porthole to my friends and family...and home. My symptoms were more about home sickness than anything else (at least that's what I tell myself).
So today, for better or for worse, I am now back in cyperspace! It's good to be back! :)
Jamie

Adios Amigos!

2008-08-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

Well, we're off! We'll be landing in San Jose Sunday night at 8:45. After baggage claim and customs, our friends Douglas and Karen will meet us at the airport and take us (and our 13 bags plus strollers and guitar) to our new house! Please pray for super-human strength to get all 550 lbs of our stuff through the airports. Phew! We're gonna need it!
We want you all to know how much it has meant to us to have your friendships, prayers, and support! We thank God for you all the time!
Adios Amigos!

Pack 'N Play?

2008-08-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Can you find Nathan amongst all our stuff? He's the one grinning like a child on Christmas. Is it supposed to be so much fun packing our entire lives into 6 check-ons and 3 carry-ons? Nathan sees this as a challenge that he will conquer like the Olympic athletes we've been watching the last few days. As far as I (Jamie) am concerned, I'm happy being a spectator. In fact, wake me when it's over!

Here is the contender now...carefully wrestling the bag into position over the scale, calculating each bag to precisely 49.5 lbs. Just under the 50 lb limit. This is gonna be a close one.

I guess Caedon was hoping he'd make the cut! Don't worry little buddy...we'd never leave you behind! Besides you're way under the limit! Just Kidding!

Hasta La Vista, Baby!

2008-08-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

In one week from today we will be on an airplane, half-way to Costa Rica!
Last night we had our Hasta La Vista Party at Jamie's parents house, our final farewell before our departure. We had a fabulous time with everyone and all the swimming, food, and games left us with so many great memories! The only thing that went wrong was... it had to end. We kept putting it off but eventually we gave our final hugs and farewells knowing it would be some time before we saw these beautiful faces again. Up until now our departure was far enough in the future that it felt like a dream, but after we waved goodbye and closed the door, all of a sudden it felt eminent! All that's left now is... to pack!

More Love!

2008-08-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

We just couldn't keep ourselves away from the mountains, so yesterday we were up there again. This time we went to Calvary Chapel Lake Arrowhead, the place where we both went to church and school for parts of elementary school, Jr. high, and High school. Needless to say the memories of this campus go way back...all the way back to when we first met in sunday school in 1989!
Although this church has gone through many changes over the years, we still feel so connected here and we were incredibly blessed this Sunday! Our hearts were especially touched by Pastor Tom as he welcomed us, introduced our ministry to the church, and asked people to come up and pray for us. His words were so meaningful and we will cherish them for a long long time. This was the most emotional service yet as we were reunited with our roots and so many faces that we have missed the last few years. As you prayed, we felt your hands carrying our burdens to the Lord and it meant so much! We want to thank all of those who prayed over us that day...every one of you holds a special place in our hearts!

There's No Place Like Home!

2008-07-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

We spent this weekend in the mountains at Lake Arrowhead, CA where we both spent our Jr High and High School years and the first few years of our marriage. As we drove the oh so familiar roads and smelled the fresh pine-scented air, we were flooded with memories from all our years here and were reminded that no matter where you go...there's no place like home!

We spent Saturday with our good friends, Blaine and Elisa Vanderschuit and their two boys whom our two kids adore! Friends like this don't come along often, especially ones that last long distance. We always seem to pick up where we left off and we know that their friendship will be invaluable to our well being as we face what this adventure has to hold.
We love you guys!

On Sunday we had the honor of sharing about our ministry at Church of the Woods where there are so many familiar faces, some that go waaaay back! Pastor Rod was so uplifting as he prayed for us and once again we felt so much love and support that it was overwhelming. It's hard to be worried or scared about what lies ahead when you feel such a strong backing from so many people!

We also had the opportunity to share with the Sunday school kids about what Costa Rica is like and what it means to be a missionary! One definition was,"Somebody who tells everyone they see about Jesus!"

Thank you to all of you who blessed us with your encouragement, generosity, and fellowship! We'll miss you!

Our New Home!

2008-07-24T07:06:00.001-07:00

Thanks to our good friends Douglas and Karen Johnston we have a house in Costa Rica!
The Johnstons (see their blog on the left) are an awesome couple and are fast becoming our allies in this whole adventure, as they have done, and are doing, the same thing just two years earlier. They attended the same language institute and have secured us a house to rent within walking distance, gave us tips on what to bring and paperwork for visas etc, and will be meeting us when we arrive! We feel so blessed to have them there for us.

Click here to check out the pics they took of our new house in San Jose!

Here is an aerial map from GoogleEarth of our house and school. You can see the path we will likely be walking every day. The big green square is Bosque Park with a playground and the Johnstons currently live on the north east corner! Cool huh!
Click on the map to enlarge it.

As luck would have it...

2008-07-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

Early Monday morning we took one last look around our beautiful Sherwood home, loaded our sleepy kids in the car, and drove away following Jamie's parents in the Penske truck loaded with our possessions. How strange a feeling to be closing the chapter on this season of our lives and anticipating the start of the next, with this hang time in the middle.
Our first day was long, being that we had to go 50 mph to stay with the truck, but our kids did shockingly well! At about the 13th hour in the car, when they should have been completely spent, our kids started singing happily, "Da-ddy, Da-ddy, Mo-mmy, Mo-mmy, we love you so much! You're the best!" and we looked at each other thinking, "How did we get so lucky?"
The second day was light years better due to the very timely location of our good friends Arich and Syble Harrison (check out their blog to the left) and the long overdue visit with them. We only had a couple hours but it renewed our spirits and we left feeling yet again, "How did we get so lucky?" We love you guys and your friendship means the world to us!
By the time we got in to Southern California, Kendyl had finally melted down, which consisted of saying with duress, "It's like we live in the car now!" All in all, not bad for a 4 yr old.
We all made it safe and sound with sanity intact! Thank you all for your prayers!
The funny thing is, our trip to Costa Rica will likely be much easier!
How did we get so lucky? Thank you Lord!

It's Official!

2008-07-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day we can officially call ourselves missionaries!
This morning we were commissioned by Countryside Community Church, a wonderful family of believers we have grown to love here in Sherwood. (check out the link to the left) It was so surreal watching our own video on the big projector screen, hearing the pastor talk about our ministry, having the church pray over us and realizing...this is really happening! Afterwords we realized that Nathan could no longer call himself a student or a contractor, I was no longer a nurse, and we didn't have to say we were going to be missionaries; we actually are missionaries! It's all so very exciting!
In the afternoon, our family and friends joined us at the park for an "Hasta la Vista" Party where we were totally blessed by the love and encouragement we received. It was a bitter-sweet day as we had to say goodbye to some of our closest friends that we have grown to love and were touched by hearing their prayers for us.
As if that wasn't enough, this evening we shared our last dinner with our Oregon family members...let's just say...there wasn't a dry eye in the house! We love you!

Shoutout to Spokane!

2008-07-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

So at 5:30 am on Saturday, after a great 4th of July BBQ and fireworks at the Dominguez', we loaded up the kids in the car and headed out on a 6 hour road trip to Spokane, completely unaware of what God had in store for us there!
What we thought would be a whirlwind weekend of catching up with friends turned into a seriously enjoyable series of divine appointments. Each meeting touched us!
Not only were we overwhelmed by the amount of love and support we received from everyone but we were also humbled as God used us to minister to others as well. We left feeling so incredibly blessed to have lived in Spokane for that short season and to have made such wonderful connections there. If this is any indication of what our future "deputation" trips will be like... we will anticipate them with great excitement!

Thank you all so much for everything you've done for us! We'll miss you!
Wendy, Tom, Megan, Corey, Kim, Adrian, Shanni, Dave, and Heather!

To the Happy Couple!

2008-06-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jeremy and Jessica!

We love you both!

Last weekend Nathan's little bro Jeremy got married! AWWW! It was a beautiful, sunny, SoCal location, in a backyard in Newport overlooking the back bay. We had the honor of being in the wedding party and especially enjoyed the opportunity to walk down the isle arm-in-arm again (thanks Jess)! All four Hynum siblings were reunited, including little sis Beth Anne all the way from Paris! It was so good to see all the extended family again too! What a blast!

Give me S'more!

2008-06-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

We spent this father's day on our first campout of the year, and even though it was pretty chilly at the coast, we would go again tomorrow...as long as we had the Dominguez' and the Tinnin's with us again! We totally love these guys and we had so much fun we might just have to make this into a yearly tradition (well, at least whenever we're home to visit) Take a look at all the fun we had...

Thank you CPK!

2008-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

So get this...last Thursday we went to California Pizza Kitchen with 2 of their "lottery" style coupons, the kind that are in a sealed envelope until a manager opens it and reveals what you have won. The first coupon was a free dinner for 2! So that paid for our meal plus extras for the kids.
The second one was...Dinner for 6! But we had to use it before the promotion ended on Monday. Right away we called up two couples that we had recently met and wanted to get to know better, the Arnold's and the Handley's.
We can honestly say we haven't had so much fun since New Years '06 at the Vanderschuit's (those of you who were there know that's hard to beat) We left on a total high from laughing and talking and we were blown away by how much everyone had in common! I mean everyone had at least one connection to each other person. By the end of the evening it felt like we had all been friends for years! If we didn't have to pick up the kids from the babysitters [which we almost forgot about] we'd probably all still be talking!
And to top it all off...the family that babysat for us was soooooo cool! And that was before Jamie found out the dad was a CIA trained chef who has worked for Bobby Flay!
(To foodies that means he might as well be superman!)
Thank you CPK for an awesome night with awesome new friends!

Sunshine Day!

2008-06-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Although we have enjoyed our time here in Portland, one thing we are looking forward to is more sunshine. Last Sunday was the first sunny day we've had in a while, so after church we packed up a picnic and headed out to the park! We stayed outside all day long to soak up as much of those rays as we could! It was fabulous! The day was topped off with a BBQ on our back deck with our family...what a day! Check out this video, it says it all!

Open House

2008-06-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

click on "Open House" to see our realtor's listing

Our house is finally completely done and on the market! PHEW! It was a lot of hard work but it all paid off! This is like our artwork so we are kinda proud of it! Those of you who saw it before can attest to the dramatic changes. Check out these great pics our realtor took...
and please pray for a quick sale!

Pomp and Circumstance

2008-05-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

There is just something special about graduation ceremonies… the graduates all in their robes marching in line to the music, everyone standing proud to celebrate the hard work and achievement of a loved one, and the sheer elation on the graduate’s face (as Nathan demonstrates so well in this photo) when they receive their diploma! Last weekend was filled with excitement as we celebrated with family and friends and Nathan received his Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies! As if we weren’t proud enough, he was also surprised at his baccalaureate chapel with the honor of receiving the Willard M. Aldrich Biblical Studies Award “presented to the graduating master’s student who has demonstrated the highest level of academic scholarship in the areas of biblical studies, theological research and exegesis”! Are we surprised? !

A big thank you to all of you who were so supportive and encouraging these last two years! We couldn’t have done it without you!

We're in print!

2008-03-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

We just finished proofing and sending our first newsletter to the printer! It all of a sudden feels real…this is really happening…which puts us in a strange place of feeling excited, hopeful, anxious, and honestly, a little scared too! We've made our plans prayerfully and we are confident that God has lead us in this direction. Still, it's a strange feeling putting down all these plans on paper not really knowing what the future holds. We do expect to feel a little bit in limbo for a while during this transition period, but we know, "the Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23 Although we understand that this time in our lives is not always going to be easy, we know beyond a shadow of doubt that whatever difficulties we come across we are serving the all-powerful, always merciful Lord, and He will sustain us! Who could ask for anything more! This will be the first of many newsletters and it's just a very tangible reminder that we are embarking on a very real, new, exciting adventure very soon! We can't wait!

Our First Blog

2007-09-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

Testing, Testing, 1 2 3...