Provision

God has looked after our needs for the 6 years that we have been at Portantorchas. Through the generosity of many different people, we have received gifts of faithful financial support, frequent flyer miles, speech therapy evaluations, dental consults and eye exams, and used clothes and books. We firmly believe that God knows our needs, that He is our Provider, and that He has provided!

I think of how God provided food for the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, and a jar of oil to a widow that didn’t run dry, and how from the very beginning He planned to send a Savior (see Genesis 3:15). He still meets our needs. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

We have students in this stage right now, who are trying to figure out what their next step is, and how they will pay for it. I feel confident to tell them that God truly will provide when they are walking in His will!

I recently saw a sparrow feeding on some crumbs that my girls had dropped outside, and I remembered God’s tender reminder, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink…Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store a way in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”(Matt. 6:25, 26) We were excited to see how God used the girls to fulfill His promise to the birds.

God provides for us. That is a blessing to us. And when we are used by God to provide for someone else's needs, that is a blessing to us and to others.

Changes

Some of you are already aware of what has been happening lately at Portantorchas. Tom was named the Director at the end of January. He will actually maintain most of his duties as Principal also until they can be divided among staff. For those of you ex-students and staff who know Portantorchas, Marco Jr. has resigned from his position as Director.

We have been aware of these changes for a few months and have had time to digest what this change entails. Tom received a wonderful vote of confidence from the Board of Directors, and we have heard many encouraging words from staff members and former students. Nonetheless, it is a big responsibility that will require lots of prayer and all the Lord’s equipping.

I have been reading a book about the gift of the Holy Spirit. One central message of the book is that God equips us to do His work AFTER we say, “Here I am.” When God has our attention, and our commitment, He can proceed to open doors and equip us. He doesn’t want to tell us what our task is and have us back out. And, He isn’t going to equip us for a job we don’t want to do. That would be a waste!

The Christian life is exciting. God gives us surprises. If you are at a place where you are wondering, “What’s next?” then come before God, and tell Him you are available and willing. As you wait to know His will, He will open the doors when you are ready!

We won’t always know what the work will be, or how God will equip us, but isn’t it enough to know that it’s what He has perfectly planned for us?!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. (Jer. 29:11)

Trauma

Our little J. slipped in the bathroom yesterday and bit some big holes in her bottom lip including one little bite that went all the way through her chin. There was a lot of blood and we are still unsure about what will happen with her two top front teeth. The gums are very bruised and we aren’t sure if she damaged the roots at all. Time will tell.

However, she has been so brave! She’s a good little girl, her Daddy says. Today she was as active as ever, singing as much as she always does, and she rode about ½ a mile on her little trike! I think that we, her parents, are more traumatized than she is.

I have to believe that God was preparing me for this event. That morning I really felt a burden to pray for peace, and I was lucky to have a nice, long prayer time (J. was still sleeping and her sisters were off to school). I wrote out a prayer card with a few verses and requests. One of the verses I wrote was John 10:4 “He goes on ahead of them…”. Underneath I had written, “Jesus sees the way that’s coming and will lead me through it.”

It’s amazing to think that as I wrote those words, God knew what was going to happen. And in fact, God did give me the peace I prayed for; when I found J. in the bathroom with a mouth full of blood, I let out only one cry before suddenly I felt peace! And, I still feel it. It has been so comforting to see Him work on my behalf.

“He knows the way He taketh, and I will walk with Him.” From the old hymn, ‘In Heavenly Love Abiding’.

Good Memories

As we head back to Costa Rica today, I take a heart full of wonderful memories and encouragement for the year ahead.
We arrived in Huntington Beach in mid-December and were invited to see a youth ballet production of The Nutcracker. The girls were enthralled! Then, Grandma (Tom’s mother) hosted an Ice Cream Social for 8 of her granddaughters. She told them the story of the Three Trees, dressed them up in party dresses, and served them Dippin’ Dots! Christmas Day was a quiet day shared with Tom’s brothers and family, and a powerful reminder to me of God’s provision for us (see earlier post). Next, in true Marcus fashion, we had a Plaid Party! We all dressed in plaid, Tom’s Mom shared about the family history, and we were entertained by a bagpiper!
For New Year’s, we were invited to the mountains by Tom’s brother. We celebrated his wife’s birthday and our girls played for three fun days in snow –their first time ever! It was my first time back in snow after 11 years, so it was quite surreal for me. It seemed so new! It made me miss Canada!
In between all of these events, we had many visits to the library and local parks, days at the beach, playtimes with cousins, sleepovers, Target!, and donuts. We had slurpees and visits to Grandma and Grandpa's "candy store" - it's really a very classy country store!  We met friends who have been faithful friends to us for the 6 years we have been in Costa Rica. Our girls enjoyed a couple of visits with their “dog cousins” June and Ruth, and got to walk them and dress them up. We attended our old church, NewSong, and visited with former mission team members. They were a great encouragement to us to stay faithful to the ministry God has called us to.
We also met with a former student who is now studying in Southern California. She has a heart for the Muslim world and is hoping to serve there after she finishes school. God used my Missions class to open her eyes to the need. Praise Him! I am excited to see what God does in her life. She will be a blessing wherever she goes.
I say a public “thank you” to everyone who made our time so wonderful. It was great to be back! We will miss you, until we meet again. Continue to be a blessing!

I’m glad it’s 2010!

Happy New Year to you, dear friend!  I hope and pray for you that this will be a blessed year for you, for all it has in store.

I am happy that 2009 is over.  It was, to be honest, a trying year for me.  I saw progress in my walk with the Lord, and He helped me find my way through some struggles and strongholds.  But it was not fun!  I also saw many friends and family suffer with job losses, sick children, and family problems.  I saw friends move on to something new and exciting in their lives and thought, “What about my family?”

But for 2010, I see a fresh palette, “Fresh with no mistakes,” as Anne says in Anne of Green Gables.  I took the girls to the beach yesterday (Newport Beach) and sat marveling at God’s creation and the beauty of the ocean view.  I don’t want to leave California and go back to Costa Rica!  But as I sat praying, I committed this to God, and I told Him that I want to be a blessing to others this year.  I want it to be a blessed year for those around me, and if He can use me to fulfill that, I want that.  I want to spend this year looking up at Him in praise and thankfulness, not looking around in anxiety.

On my next blog post I will tell you a bit about our trip to California, and the joy we had in spending time with friends and family.  But for now, I end with this verse that brings hope to my soul, for all that 2010 will hold, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.” Ps. 136:1

Rich vs. Reality

Tom and I had a date night last week and we went to do a traditional Orange County activity – walk on Balboa Island and watch the Boat Parade. Balboa Island is a very exclusive enclave of multi-million dollar homes on the water. For the benefit of “looky-lous” like us, there is a wide walking path around the island where passers-by can see the Christmas decorations of these homes, both inside and out. It was fun! There were lights everywhere. Many people were having parties that spilled out from their homes and onto their patios. We got to see the festivities and the decorations. There were some very elaborate and ritzy parties. And the boats were amazing also, some with live music and parties too!

I got caught up in all the glitz. It is so much fun to see! Lots of people have amazing decorations, and have spent a ton of $ getting ready for the holidays. We got to enjoy it all without spending a penny.

However, as we walked past all the people and festivities, there were a couple of things that shocked me back to reality. First, we saw an old woman sitting in the window of a dark house, looking out at all of us passing by. She was all alone, hunched over in a wheelchair. Second was a man in motorized wheelchair, surrounded by people at a party. He looked like he did not have any mobility, but that his mind was sharp. I thought to myself how fleeting life is! No matter what we have on this earth, one day we will be taken away from all of it – from fancy homes, from big bank accounts. And then we are left with God. Have we chosen the way of salvation, or trusted in our riches? This earth and its pleasures will all fade. They give us no security after death.

It was a good reminder. Orange County has a way of making you think that life will be perfect if you are successful, beautiful and wealthy. It’s not true. The Bible says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. The rich man feels secure in his riches. But it offers no security.

It’s better to trust in Jesus, in the baby born in a stable, who came to save us from our sins. He has proven His faithfulness to me, and to you, time and time again. Don’t be fooled by this world. Taste and see that the LORD is good!

All I Really Need

How was Christmas day for you?  Did you enjoy time with family or friends?  I hope it was a meaningful celebration of Christ’s birth.  The celebration has been real for me this year in many ways.

We enjoyed a Christmas Eve Candlelight service at a local church with Tom’s family.  The carols were so much fun to sing and I felt very blessed to know the truth of the words we sang. 

“All is well, all is well
Lift up your voice and sing!
Born is now Emmanuel,
Born is our Lord and Savior!”

“He comes to make His blessings known…And let the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love.”

On Christmas Day I awoke feeling so very blessed.  We have good family relationships on both sides, we have healthy children, and food on the table.  We have the promise of an eternal future with Christ.

How many people didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas?  Our world makes us think that Christmas is about us, and about what we can get.  But I realized yesterday that I have received all that I really need.  I received a Savior.  I have received love, and forgiveness, and fellowship.  That’s all I really need.   And that’s what I want to remember and celebrate.

I pray that you also come out of this Christmas season knowing that you have all that you really need. That’s the good news of great joy!

The right perspective

I’ve been thinking about the healing of the blind man in Mark 8:22-26. Jesus spat on the man’s eyes and touched him, and his sight was better, but he said that people looked like trees walking around. Jesus then put his hands on the man’s eyes again, and “his sight was restored”.

I have been praying that Jesus would restore my sight and help me see things from the right perspective. What do I not see correctly in my own life? What are my vision problems?

Tunnel vision: I focus on the wrong things and everything else is lost.
Blind spots: I jump to conclusions about people and situations without seeing all the evidence.
Near-sightedness: I forget the big picture of a short life and long eternity.
Far-sightedness: I am oblivious to the needs right around me.

I earnestly desire that God would open my eyes and help me to see things the way they really are. If Jesus needs to touch me two or more times to help me see clearly, I want Him to do it!

Pray in faith. God can heal blindness in every area of your life and give you the correct perspective.

“Two roads diverged…”

Anyone remember this famous poem of Robert Frost from high school English class?  To refresh your memory:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

It is so easy in my mind to travel the familiar old paths of routine and comfort, impatience or fear.  It is harder to beat down the brush on a new path in my mind.  Maybe God wants to teach me a new way, one of joy, peace, understanding, and patience, but I am too comfortable with my old patterns of thinking.

Here are some examples.

1. Someone cuts me off in traffic. 

Old thinking says, “Hey!  Watch out! You’re a terrible driver!”

New thinking might say, “I hope that he gets safely to his destination.  Maybe he is in distress over something.”

2. My heater breaks and I need to spend lots of $$$ to fix it. 

Old thinking says, “Aargh, I am tired of all these bills.”

New thinking says, “I am thankful that God provided the money to pay my bills.”

We can give more room to the Holy Spirit to renew our minds to think in ways that are more pleasing to God.  There might be a lot of overgrowth to cut through in our minds, but once that path is easier to walk down, we will be more likely to take it.

A story from Rekha (7 yrs old)

This is a break in our regularly-scheduled blog posts to bring something of a lighter note.
Here is a story that Rekha wrote back in March. Enjoy!

The Two Kittens
One is a kitty, the other has mittys.
One is a kisser, the other has a wizard.
One likes cats, the other likes bats.
One has clips, the other has hips.
One has a fit while the other one hits.
One is cute and the other has boots.
One is kind, the other stays behind.
One is a loco (crazy), the other has mocos (snot!).
One has a blanky, the other has a hanky.
SO BEWARE OF THE KITTENS!
One is a kitty, the other has mittys…
The End.

The richness of God’s presence

In our staff women’s Bible study, we examined Moses’ relationship with God.  Exodus 33:11 says, “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”   Wow!  Imagine sitting down and chatting with the God! 

What does it take to achieve a closer walk with God?  I love how God clearly tells us in His Word that God meets us where we are:  “Come near to God, and He will come near to you.” (James 4:8a).   We are not the ones doing all the work to know Him better

I want to be close enough to God so that He can touch me – heal me, restore me, comfort me.  Also, I want to be close enough that I can touch Him, to know His power, to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can be a blessing to others.

There are lots of us on this journey.  Let’s keep walking and seeking Him with our whole hearts.

“You will seek me and find me if you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.” (Jer. 29:13, 14a)

Family Update

We want to keep you informed on what is going on in the lives of our girls.  They are all doing well, praise God!

Rekha is reading anything and everything.  Some mornings we are awakened at 5 a.m. when she clicks on the lamp in the living room and sits down to read.  She is a lot of fun to talk with and we can tell she is maturing in her conversations.  Recently she had two school friends over for the day and they had a blast playing Littlest Pet Shop and running around Portantorchas.

Neena comes home every day with stories from school: who was bossy, who got hurt, who has a new toy.  She loves to be in the know!  She enjoys dressing up and practicing different hair-dos.  Her reading is progressing and we are very proud of her!  Neena also had a friend over from school (plus the rest of the family!) and we got to enjoy her darling baby brother (4 months old).  It was nice to have a baby around! 

Jayna is my constant playmate.  She turned 3 at the end of September and is on target for height and weight even though we still call her “Tiny”.  She loves to paint and read books. Her latest accomplishment is typing all of our names on the computer without help! She wears herself out some days and puts herself to bed by 5:30 p.m. (just like her Daddy used to). 

We enjoy many evenings playing cards or Rummikub together as a family.  The girls love it.  This was Tom’s idea and it has bonded our family together.  Yay, Daddy!

We will be going to California at Christmas through the generous donation of 100,000 frequent flier miles!  Yay!  It’s such a blessing to celebrate Christmas with family.  We can’t wait for all the cousins, parks, libraries, parties, the beach, and of course, the grandparents!  We have lots and lots to look forward to.

6 YEARS in Costa Rica

On October 16 we celebrated (quietly) six years in Costa Rica.  God has been good to us; that's the sum of these years. When Tom and I prayed in 2003 for the courage to "Step out of the boat", we had no idea what it would mean!  We never knew it would mean 6 years (and counting) in Costa Rica, a fulfilling ministry, or a third baby girl!

Someone once told me that God takes us to different places so that HE can work something new in us.  We don't go just for a job.  He wants us to learn something about Him, about ourselves or others.  It's not always easy.  In fact, sometimes it is very painful.  We have had those moments here too!

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."  (Malachi 3:3).  You and I are already silver.  But, He sits and commits to refine us.  If it means us being in Costa Rica to do that, then so be it.

The main reason for this post is to say "Thank you" to those of you who have loved us and let us go on this journey.  Our parents and siblings, thank you for letting us go and always welcoming us back.  Friends, thank you for your interest in us and your prayers.  To the faithful few that have supported us financially and faithfully all these years, thank you also.  We know those dollars have added up and we hope we have been a good investment in God's Kingdom.

Thank you also to the many students that have passed through Portantorchas and through our home.  You are why we are here.  We came to serve you and you have made it joyful!  Thank you for being our friends on this journey.  We will welcome you back any day!

One of Those Days

Today happens to be one of those days. Not a bad day, in fact I did wake up happy and praising God on my pillow.

But you know how it happens, some days are just blah. I am feeling fine, but there’s something that’s bothering me a little bit. Unfortunately for me, if I dig a little deeper, I often find out that I am struggling in a relationship with someone. Maybe they have said something to me that I am still trying to understand the motive for. Or someone has done something that I think is impolite or unethical. At times these little things can eat away at my contentment.

I have found the answer that best satisfies me. I will share it with you because no doubt you have had days like this also, when the world seems carefree, but something is nagging on the inside. I am still working on putting this into practice, and it takes effort, but I WANT to see the fruit of it!

First of all, my happiness is tied closely to an attitude of repentance. We all make mistakes, and we all need a Savior. Knowing that my ransom has been paid is liberating to me. I confess my sins, and I know from His Word that I am forgiven.

Second, I let God do His work in others. Maybe someone has truly done something wrong, or maybe not! Oh well, it’s NOT my problem! “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?” It is God’s work, through the conviction of the Holy Spirit and through discipline, to correct someone’s behavior.

Phew. Even just writing this reminds me of the peace that Scripture gives. God has everything under control. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Thank you Jesus for the gift of today, and for the freedom to enjoy it.

One more friend?

I received an email about a resource that I wanted to pass on to people who are heading off to college and university. Check it out at www.onemorefriend.org. It is a website that encourages Christians on campus to reach out to international students. These foreigners are quite possibly more lonely, scared, and disoriented than those of you who are freshmen, at college for the first time.

I camped on this topic quite a bit in my Missions class. Each of us has a mission field where we are. For those of you who are going to college, your mission field can reach into other countries without you having to step off your native soil. Remember that these students could be great evangelists when they return home!

Make a friend with someone from another culture. Many of you have heard it said, “You may be the only Jesus they will ever meet”.

Prayer Request

We have had a lot going on lately. Tom has been extremely busy in August, hosting a mission team, teaching ESL and the book of Mark, settling incoming students, and most recently, shuttling visitors back and forth to the hospital for a student who had his appendix removed! I have been busy (just) being a Mom and helping in the Children’s ministry at church. September should settle down a bit. Phew!

Along with this, we feel that we are facing some big decisions, especially concerning the girls’ schooling. We are happy enough (and so are they) at their current school. They are fluent in Spanish for their age, their teachers say, which is a great accomplishment. Rekha has good friends. Neena has started to write in Spanish, with no teaching from me. But, we wonder if they would be better educated at home. We are excited to try it out, both Tom and I.

We have a lot of homeschooled students come through Portantorchas, and almost unanimously, they have been great! We would love our girls to turn out like them! They are socially mature and caring, diligent, and well-educated. (Kudos to their parents!).

I have been resting in this verse lately, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4) This is my prayer. I don’t want to fear the results of homeschooling, the responsibility, or having my girls with me all day!

Would you please pray for us in this area? We want to do what is best for our girls. Who better to guide us than the ONE who sees the end from the beginning, and everything in between!

Thank you.

P.S. If any of you have any advice or stories, please write to us!

The kindness of strangers

I was at the grocery store yesterday with Jayna. The man in line behind us offered a roll of Lifesavers to Jayna, and she readily accepted it, saying “Gracias”. He told the cashier to put the candies on his bill and told Jayna, “Just don’t eat the whole roll at once!”

I left the store feeling quite overwhelmed. This has never happened before! What was this gentleman’s motive? Just trying to make a little girl happy? We left the store and I saw the man get into his old car and drive off. What am I supposed to learn from this? All I can think of is that these little acts of kindness remind me of the goodness in the world and the generosity of strangers.

The way that we react to situations and people in life speaks of what we value, whether we realize it or not! Why not share something simple, a little kindness? The more you practice, the easier it will get. The chance to be a blessing to someone will no doubt put a smile on their face – and on yours!

Being part of God’s family

One of the hardest things for us about living here is that we have no blood-related family. Everyone else on staff has family in the country. When I see and hear our staff members get together with their families for different events, I think, ‘What are we missing out on with our own families?’ But God faithfully reminds me of two wonderful things that grow out of the absence of family:

1. Our family times are so rich! We love being with our family in the U.S. and Canada. We try to see each side of our families once a year. Every time we do, I go with the expectation and longing to squeeze every precious moment out of each trip, spending time together, enjoying one another, and building the bonds of friendship.
2. We have a greater understanding of the family of God. Because we are “alone”, we are free to build bonds of friendship in our own nuclear family, with staff, church families, and with our students, of course! (And do you remember who I met at the little store in San Jose?) We even make friends with strangers: some of our closest friends are missionaries that Tom met while standing in line at the Immigration Office!

These past two weeks we added new members to our Christian family: the Mission Team from our home church NewSong. Each of the 6 members of the team has blessed and encouraged every member in our family. We spent time with them in the midst of their ministries to a local orphanage and our own students. It was nourishing to have meaningful conversations and to learn from them in so many areas of life. We already miss them, even though they just left on Sunday morning. The team also found family here: please visit their website to see what they did on their mission trip: www.costaricatrex.blogspot.com

I hope this is an encouragement to those of you who are away from family, maybe away at university, maybe away from your home for the first time. God has a family for you wherever you are. You will find joy and love in that family, just as we have.

Tired and hungry

These past few days have been crazy. New students. Mission team. Neena’s 6th birthday. Homework for Rekha. Bills due the first of the month. Suffice to say that we have not done most of these very well. If you didn’t already know, we make mistakes! And, we are not perfect parents either: Neena had a great birthday, but Rekha cried at the end of the day saying she didn’t get any attention (we sound like 7-year-olds sometimes too!).

Some days I have felt tired by 9 in the morning. I was wondering why and I felt the Holy Spirit chasten me, “You aren’t getting enough food.” It’s true. I am malnourished spiritually. I have been doing personal Bible study, but not always filling up with meals of prayer and Bible reading. It’s been a low-calorie plan.

How can I get fed? How can I have a close walk with God? The answers are pretty obvious, but I want to encourage you with some nourishment that the Holy Spirit gave me while thinking this through…

I was envying Moses today. I read in Exodus 24 how God called to him 3 times to “come up” to meet with Him. Not fair! I wish He would call me.

Then I was reminded of something. God does call me, and He calls you too. From beginning to middle to end of Scripture, He seeks us out! In Genesis 3:9, “the Lord God called to [Adam], “Where are you?”’ In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me.”

And read this! In Revelation 3:20 God says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” This verse doesn’t tell where the food comes from! BUT, it teaches me that when I spend time with God, when I respond to His voice and invite Him in, I will be fed. Wow! That is the answer to my spiritual malnourishment. Yummy. Or as they say here in Costa Rica, ¡Que rico!

Thank YOU

Thank YOU for reading our blog. We have been overwhelmed by the number of people reading and responding to us through it. We feel encouraged to know you are interested in our lives. This virtual family is a big support to us.

We returned last week from Chicago where we spent two weeks visiting Sara’s family, missionary friends, and some Portantorchas students. All in all it was a great time to see people, enjoy parks and libraries, ride the trains, and to refresh ourselves. We were invited to a student’s home for the first time! It was an honor and a joy to meet her family. Another highlight for Rekha and Neena was to meet their baby BOY cousin who just turned 1 in June. He was smothered with love and hugs from their instant fan club. And, Tom and I enjoyed a superb buffet lunch at an Indian restaurant. Yum.

These next two weeks will be busy again. We are hosting a mission team from NewSong, our home church in California. They will be helping to ready the campus for our incoming students (arriving on the weekend) as well as with several of our partner ministries. After only one day with them so far, they have already been a blessing to our family.

Keep us in prayer for the ministry of the NewSong team, and for our upcoming semester. We want to be ready for our students, and we pray that this will be a rich time for them to get to know the Lord in a new and deeper way. Thanks to so many of you who do pray for us. God works through your prayers.