Up the Cross Mountain...

Not up the mountain that has a bad attitude...

but up the mountain with an actual cross on the top! :)

[Yes.. pathetically cheesy.]

A week and a half ago the kids had a Monday off from school, so we hiked up the Cross Mountain and then headed into town for a super-healthy breakfast... HOT DOGS!!!

(I know it sounds bad... and potentially was... but it was around 11 when we got back down, so it's totally excusable! :)

All the kidlets wanted their pictures with the cross on top...

so here's Candelaria!

Aron... who was a little nervous he was going to fall with as strong as the wind was!

Diego... with the Southern Comfort necklace he found! ;)

And the oldest man of the house... Marcos!

This was on our way back down; the three boys asked if they could wait while Candi and I made it down to the fence, then they were going to run [screaming, yodeling, slipping, sliding, and crashing into one another of course] all the way down! Before I took my camera out, they had already started so I yelled for them to stop for a second... and this was their pose while they waited on me!

Bien enfadar-ed [very annoyed] with their caretaker... :)

As we sat atop the mountain and looked down on the town of Magdalena, I thought about the Frank Peretti books I've read... spiritual forces of darkness and light surrounding a town and fighting over the souls down in the houses, buildings, and streets.

We aren't wrestling against just flesh and blood... but definitely against principalities and darkness. And Satan hates, hates when God's light is shining. His Word tells us to expect persecution when we walk with Him... and any sort of growth in Christ (maturity-wise, spirit-wise, wisdom-wise) within our church body results in Satan's attacks... on all fronts.

As the kids and I prayed for the town of Magdalena and the people who live there, enslaved to darkness, I felt overwhelmed by sadness thinking of the blindness and hardness of hearts... and then encouraged and lifted up as I heard these kids praying for friends, that hearts would be changed, that Jesus would be glorified, etc. The TRUTH is being preached, learned, taken to heart, put into action... and the seeds are being planted.

God will bring the increase... in HIS time.

Thanks for your prayers... please keep praying for all of us and that the name of JESUS CHRIST, LORD AND SAVIOR would be glorified!

The Beach Chronicles - Part 2

Our "traditional" family pic at the beach during sunset! The apartments where we stayed (just one, not four, no worries!). The kids were quite impressed by the intercom that went throughout the house (a seventies or eighties cassette player was also built-in) and couldn't stop playing with it... :) Candi and I

Zulema and her crew!

Kids (l-r): Kevin, Angel, Caleb and Keyla

Angel and Candi

They get along really well because Angel is so laid back and Candi enjoys bossing him around... ;)

Grandma Mildred, this pic is for you!

The boys enjoyed their new outfits... and kept "acting out" the same kick that Diego's character on his shirt is doing! :)

Jenna's decoration... feathers!

We, of course, had to lather up with lots of sunscreen... Kevin's face shows how he felt about it all!

Sisters in Christ... praise the Lord!

Zulema, Jenna and I

God, help us to always remember this...

And [inevitably + the easiest option] we stopped at McDonald's in Hermosillo on the way home! The place was packed [Saturday], so these were the kids' seats!

Once again, as I post these pictures I am just so thankful for the time we were able to spend together... and I praise God that He has perfect timing. :)

Please continue to pray for our children and staff.

Pray that good will triumph over evil in both the personal and corporate spheres.

Pray that the powers of darkness will be overcome.

Pray that God will be glorified... and He will be!

For He has the "words of eternal life."

"So Jesus said to the Twelve, 'Do you want to go away as well?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.'"

John 6:67-69

The Beach Chronicles - Part I

A week ago, we took a fun (and quick) detour from la vida normal and headed to Bahia de Kino: Jenna, Zulema (a friend and sister in Christ here in Magdalena) and her four kids, and my kids and I.

This was the sign I taped to the back of our large, white, fifteen-passenger robber van!

It was a truly blessed time, and I am so thankful we were able to go... God had His hand upon our time together. :)

Early morning sand art... a tradition!

Our neighbor was super-kind to the kids and gave them leftovers to throw up in the air to the birds... there were a lot of birds; I don't think I've ever seen that many at the beach!

Scaling the wall/ledge in front of our rented house...

We went on an early morning walk and Keyla "wasn't going to get wet."

Yeah right.

Kids + Water = Inevitable saturation

Aron and his "top-hat"

Candi and a starfish she found...

Zulema was using this small shell like a clam opening and closing... pretending it was going to bite Caleb; who continued with this stone-faced look.

It is a serious, serial killer kind-of look.

But when he breaks out in a smile... it's totally worth the wait! :)

Zulema and some of the kidlets walking through the water...

Jenna identified this "fish" as a "mop fish."

I'm pretty sure most of the kids believed her... ;)

Remember the serial killer mentioned above???

But a pretty cute one...!

Angel and Marcos buried my feet and legs (because I was getting burned) and then decorated with these shells...

Two of the many talented architects we had these few days... :)

Zulema and Caleb in the water; this was a feat for her! She is terrified of water... even in swimming pools. I couldn't believe that she actually went in the water, and even stayed there for some time! I think it helped her kids to see their mom go out in the water, too! It was cold, though... ohhhh, was it cold.

Eating sand for snacktime.

One of the dead stingrays the kids found... notice I wrote one.

There were a couple.

And the smelled really, really great.

Which is why Diego got told [forcibly] that we were not taking it home with the rest of the shells.

And that it wasn't even going to hang out on the porch.

But help us out... we only found one with its tail still attached; why is that???

Las gringas... who were getting very, very RED.

You know when you start wearing hoodies and wrapping up in scarves that it's time to go inside.

On a sidenote, every time Candi sees this photo she says:

Ay no, Jenna... me da miedo!

["Ay no, Jenna... that scares me!"]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Go ahead.

Let yourself be smitten. :)

Keyla eating her shrimp cocktail; there's nothing like seafood when you're at the beach!

[Although, admittedly, I'm very, very safe with my choices of mariscos!]

Thank you all so much for your prayers!

I met a gentleman this week who encouraged me so much with how he has been praying for us... for me, specifically. He didn't know me before... I was just a face on a prayer card. But he was interceding for me as his sister in Christ and as a worker in the vineyard. That is what is so amazing about the body of Christ... and prayer specifically. I have been encouraged to continue pleading for and interceding on behalf of those that God has brought into my past and present life... knowing that prayer is truly our strongest weapon in this spiritual battle against Satan for the souls on this earth.

So, truly... thanks for those prayers!

Playtime...

... in water!

What could be better?!?

We went for a walk a couple Saturday's ago and on the way back, we saw that the irrigation hose was on... so, of course, we took advantage of the moment!

Above was Marcos' final piratical look...

... and all three of the ruffians!

[They were pretty proud of their soaked-ness and crazy hair. :)]

An action shot...

[Notice how Candi neatly avoided getting wet... she was definitely a water-wimp this time!]

Who wouldn't want to join in??? ;)

Rito ran through the water, too, just as excited as the boys!

They wanted me to take a picture of them with him, so that he could have a "crazy hair" picture, too. :)

Hence... the four wet males! ;)

Thanks for your continuing prayers. It seems that Satan has found a lot of different ways to start attacking different people and situations down here... please pray against his destruction in the lives of children, staff members, and townspeople. Please pray that the darkness would continue to be pierced and overcome by God's light and through Jesus' shed blood. And please pray that He would guide our every step, keeping us accountable to our thoughts and actions... that He would give us clean hearts and show us any darkness in our lives.

Thank you!

Playing the Background

I'm not sure how many times this song has been played on my iPod lately... but quite a few. I wish I could soak in the message in these lyrics... let it fill me up, spill out through my pores and into everything that I do, every thought I think, every moment that there's the opportunity, the choice, the decision to do MY WILL or HIS.

God, forgive me.

Teach me that Your thoughts are not my thoughts, and that Your ways are not my ways.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." -- Isaiah 55:9

BACKGROUND

by Lecrae (feat. C-Lite)

[Chorus]

I could play the background. I could play the background.

Cuz I know sometimes I get in the way.

So won't you take the lead, lead, lead?

So won't you take the lead, lead, lead?

And I can play the background, background.

And you can take the lead.

[Verse 1]

It's evident You run the show so let me back down.

You take the leading role, and I'll play the background.

I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines.

I'm stickin' to Your script, and I'm reading all Your signs.

I don't need my name in lights, I don't need a starring role.

And why gain the whole wide world, if I'm just gon' lose my soul?

And my ways ain't purified, I'ma live according to Your word.

I can't endure this life without Your wisdom being heard.

So word to every dancer for a pop star,

Cuz we all play the background, but mine's a rock star.

Yeah. So if you need me I'll be stage right.

Prayin' the whole world will start embracin' stage fright.

So let me fall back and stop giving my suggestions.

Cuz when I follow my obsessions I end up confessin'

That I'm not that impressive, matter fact I'm who I are

A trail of stardust leadin' to the Superstar.

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]

I had a dream that I was captain of my soul.

I was master of my fate, lost control, and then I sank.

So I don't want to take the lead, cuz I'm prone to make mistakes.

All these folks who follow me, gon' end up in the wrong place.

So, just let me shadow You.

And just let me trace Your lines.

Matter fact just take my pen. Here, You create my rhymes.

Cuz if I do this by myself, I'm scared that I'll succeed.

And no longer trust in You, cuz I only trust in me.

And see, that's how you end up headed to destruction.

Paving a road to nowhere. Pour your life out for nothing.

You pulled my card, I'm bluffing.

You know what's in my hand.

Me I just roll to trust You, You cause the dice to land.

I'm in control of nothing. Follow You at any cost.

Some call it sovereign will, all I know is You da' boss.

And man I'm so at ease. I'm so content.

I play the background like it's an instrument.

[Chorus]

[Bridge]

I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will and trust Your Word.

And I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred.

And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games.

Got plenty aims, but do they really glorify Your name?

And it's a shame the way I want to do these things for You, yeah.

Don't even cling to You. Take time to sit and glean from You.

And it seems that You are patient in my ignorance.

If ignorance is bliss, it's cuz she never heard of this.

[Chorus]

I could play the background. I could play the background. Cuz I know sometimes I get in the way. So won't you the lead, lead, lead? So won't you take the lead, lead, lead? And I can play the background, background. And you can take the lead.

You can check out the music video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHnZRZiCYHE

Thanks for your continued prayers.

God is faithful.

And He is good.

The Miscellaneous File & A New Kidlet!

Sometimes I just enjoy "cleaning out" the Miscellaneous file that I have in my Photos folder... ;)

Above: I walked into Jenna & Jodi's room awhile back to find Jenna covered in a blanket and with her hand wrapped around the lamp to keep warm! I don't want to make us sound like wimps, but... we kind of are. After living in HOT weather for most of the year... it's easy to get chilly really quickly! :)

This is one of the the kid's favorite dishes... and yes, that's fresh spinach!

It actually gets cooked into the whole skillet mass, and then slathered in Alfredo sauce, but it gives me great joy to dump all this fresh greenery into something that I'm cooking! :)

Have you ever been serenaded by Srta. Jodi?

If not... you're missing out.
If you're not convinced... just look at that pic.
You have to be missing out on something like that!

She came in singing "Vivo en la Casa Rota..." and she took our breath away.
Maybe because we were in audio-visual pain??? ;)

A new little boy arrived on Wednesday afternoon. His name is Jorge, and Jodi will be taking care of him. Here he is playing with Marcos on his first night in La Casa Rota (above).

[By the way, don't let the previous picture of Srta. Jodi scare you about her caretaking abililties for young children... :)]

Jorge is two and a half, came with a broken leg, and has a smile that will melt your heart.
Please pray for this little guy as he heals physically and that Jodi can guide him emotionally and spiritually... "training up" this precious child that God has, in His sovereignty, brought to CVE.

First night photo...

... and this morning!

I am always amazed at how quickly young children can adapt to their new surroundings, and it's a wonderful lesson in learning to be "content" wherever God has us, doing whatever He wills, and living to glorify Him with whatever He has given us.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

I taught Sunday School last week and the topic was the Ten Commandments. I was excited because I've been reading a book by Russell Stendal (a missionary in Colombia) called The Beatitudes: God's Plan for Battle in which he proposes that The Beatitudes are the 10 Commandments of the New Testament. One of the sections really struck me:

"Verse 11 says, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him innocent that takes his name in vain. In the Christian Church we have traditionally felt that this was swearing. But it isn't just swearing. It's saying, 'Thus saith the Lord...' when the Lord did not say it. It's saying, 'Hallelujah, praise the Lord,' when we are not being obedient to the Lord. It's coming in and singing all the songs and saying we are in agreement with the Christian faith and identifying ourselves as the people of God, when we are really not living our life in obedience to the Lord...

The Christian Church is full of people asking for everything under the sun in Jesus' name when it is really in their own name...

If we are just trying to stamp the Lord's name all over the top of our own selfish plans and ambitions (individual or corporate), to dress them up and make them look nice and acceptable: it is taking the Lord's name in vain." - pg. 92-94

This was a wonderful insight for me... yeah, maybe I don't take the name of the Lord in vain. Out loud. But what is my heart doing every time I put my plans above His? When my priorities (which I think are according to His will) are really just my will stamped with the Jesus seal?

It doesn't work that way.

I pray that God will reveal to me, and to each of you, if we are truly walking according to His will... and the areas where we aren't.

Please keep praying for CVE in this time of spiritual darkness. Read Luke, chapter 18, verses 1-8 and be encouraged to continue praying. God has this under control, and He knows the end and the timing... please pray that He continues being with us in the battle!

Visitors from Indiana!

Before I get to our visitors, let me just take you all back to a year ago... remember this little guy? Josias came to us as a four-day-old preemie, rocking our world and changing my life (and those of us all) forever. On March 1st, he turned a year old... praise God! I wish I had a photo of him now to show you, but I don't... only the update that he is doing well and still living in Chiapas, Mexico with his family.

To remember, read Monday, September 13, 2010's post at:

http://upwardeyes.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html

I praise God for experiences like what we had with Josias when we are totally and completely out of our depths and relying totally and completely upon God... sounds like these past couple weeks here, too, doesn't it? :)

HE is good... I'm thankful He keeps working on and through us; we couldn't do it on our own.

So... Jon & Amy came down with their twin girls, Jada & Adia!

It was truly a blessed time with the girls and they weathered a whirlwind schedule, totally different surroundings, strange new people, and lots of other factors amazingly well! Thanks for the effort to come down, Jon & Ames... we loved having you here!

Above: Darilis, Gloria, Candi, and Jada (I think... :)

Jada (left) and Adia (right) sopping up some of the hygienically-sound surroundings at CVE... ;)

Bacteria is technically good for you, right?!?

For the last few years when Jon & Amy have come, Jon has played "gorilla" with the kidlets... specifically Aaron (left) and Diego (right).

They LOVE it. Let me re-emphasize that... they LOVE, LOVE, LOVE romping around, scratching their underarms, hulking out, and making loud, incomprehensible, guttural, gorilla noises. :)

They're getting a little bit bigger, though, aren't they Jon? Not as easy to tackle, tackle, tackle and play for hours... :)


Another time of "gorilla" behind Katie's Cafe... girls and boys!

One evening we headed out to [of course] have tacos before Jon & Amy left. Here was the whole crew! About 30 seconds after we came in and got situated, a woman at the neighboring table came over, stated that she wanted to hold one of the twins, and headed right on back to her own table to introduce her young daughter to Jon & Amy's. Ay, no... you've got to love Mexico. :)

Then again, it seems like maybe this happens a lot to you two... ;)

Another shot from "gorilla" at Katie's...

... but with our dignified and esteemed Director Bill dog-piling onto Jon!

The grass behind Katie's is great for doing somersaults... as the girls showed us! Candi was inspired to start doing them, too. It was most interesting when they ran out of grass and hit rock, sand, or cement... :)

Diego & I on Sunday afternoon.

All these photos are from Jon & Amy's camera, so thanks guys!

Gracias por su tiempo aqui... fue una bendicion para todos nosotros!

Please continue to pray against the powers of darkness here in Magdalena. Satan's only agenda is to destroy and he HATES the Light of this world. Please pray for strength, for wisdom, for endurance... and that we would walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Thank you for the prayers! Keep 'em comin'!