That we will not be forgotten

                                                 

Strength and resilient faith shown in their deep brown eyes. Some young and some quite aged sat surrounding us as we shared a meal together in Bangalore, India.

Widows. 

They shared their stories of being widowed. A few were left with little when their husbands passed away and others were rejected, renounced by family and made to leave their home because of their faith. One by one they shared their stories.

When asked how we could be praying for them, one elderly widow spoke up. In her native tongue she said, "That we will not be forgotten." As quickly as she said it a broad smile stretched across her face, wiping away the deep sorrow that had just been there, "But God has not forgotten, he sent you."

Moved to tears and beyond words my friend and I could only nod, smile, and extend our hands to hold their hands. 

You and I have an opportunity to let these women, over 300 of them, know that they are not forgotten this year. We would like to give them a gift of a beautiful sari, their traditonal dress, this Christmas. Each sari is only $6. 

I have personally had the blessing of being able to place these in their hands a few years ago. You cannot imagine the joy that fills their hearts from this simple act. For these widows this will be the only new sari they get all year.

Maybe this year a sari, or two or ten, could be on your Christmas shopping list!

You can email or direct message me if you want to be a small part of letting these women know that they will not be forgotten.

Sweet Lydia

Lydia Paul

September 12,1975 - September 29, 2011

My heart is sad that time on this earth will be no more with my sweet sister in Christ, Lydia. Peace fills my heart knowing that we will have eternity with our Savior.

Pouring over pictures of my visits to El Shadai, remembering tender moments of tears shared, smiling at the memories of the times we laughed like school girls have been a balm to my heart. May these glimpses provide smiles for you too!

Join me in praying for those who are daily left with a "huge gap" - her husband, Joseph, her daughter, Becky and 63 children who call her mom at El Shadai. Her tasks were many, her presence loving and reassuring, and therefore each are feeling the great loss of someone so dear.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, 

your labor prompted by love, 

and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I Thessalonians 1:3

Memories in a snapshot

Memories in a snapshot... the adventures that God took us on while in Costa Rica!

Click here to view this photo book larger

family missions together

we love missions, near us or abroad. My husband gets to travel all over, loving on orphans and encouraging those called to serve in hard places - he loves it. I have opportunities to travel abroad speak to women, teens and teach children God's truths - I love it. Nothing tops getting to do this as a family. We know this is a tremendous blessing!

Taking our children with us is huge for us. We have been asked, "But what can you REALLY do when you have your children with you?" My answer: be a family.
Many that we have the opportunity to serve are not surrounded by healthy families. The children we get to love on do not see many outside dad's and mom's just getting to be dad and mom. The women I share with are often wives and moms - in need of encouragement.

Our children get to serve by playing - tough job, but somebody's got to do it!
When in India our son played cricket, soccer, and just got to be himself. He couldn't communicate because he doesn't speak Tamil and the children didn't speak English. In Costa Rica the boys speak Spanish. Thankfully for boys grunts are universal and sports are an automatic connection.

Man Time with boys - playing soccer, devo time & ice cream!

Our daughter loves to hold the little one's. In India, most of the time there was a child on her hip. In Haiti, she smiled, held them and played. In Costa Rica she smiled, held them and played.

playing & loving on the little ones

If you have been thinking of going on a family mission trip - stop thinking and start planning. It's not as easy as going solo...but the worthwhile things in life are rarely the easy ones!