another farewell!

always saying "see ya later!" If it's not to missionary students, it's to our beautiful Costa Ricans! We hired Cindy a year ago to be the Kinder teacher. She has a beautiful spirit and worked well with our little ones (and parents!) Now she has decided to start her own business. We had a little cafecito for her yesterday. One of the parents painted a picture as a gift. She received lots of love and gifts.

The Peanut Brittle Man!

When I go home, we stay with my childhood friend and her husband. At Christmas time, our friends gave us peanut brittle to have on the road. Oh my! So yummy! Ray told us he only makes it at Christmas time, so it was a real treat!

So we stayed with them this month to celebrate Mom's 80th. One night after dinner, Ray said to Denny, "I need to go to Walmart, do you wanna come?"

Little did Donna and I know what he had up his sleeve! They returned with the ingredients to make peanut brittle! It wasn't even Christmas! So we had our cooking class right from the peanut brittle master!

It really takes me back to my childhood. Our pastor always made peanut brittle. He was the king! He would cook it, spread it on a formica top table, make it as thin as possible and he would give it as gifts at Christmas time. So delicious!

Mom turns 80!

I reflected on the invitation for us to be in New England in March and really praised God for His gift to me in being in the U.S. at this time. Missionaries miss out on weddings, some funerals, birthdays, etc.. in the life of the family. That part is very hard for all the missionaries I know. You just can't fly home on a whim. You can't just be there for your nephew's first birthday.

When the phone call came from our District Missions Director and Denny told me of the invitation, I said "When did you say we are going?" He replied, "the event is March 12." I was so excited! "Do you think we could go to PA for Mom's birthday?"

My father turned 80 on Christmas day. We had already asked to use vacation for the holiday so we were there for Daddy's birthday. Even at that time I was disappointed that I would miss my mother's birthday in March. I didn't say anything. In our lives, that is just the way it is. BUT! God already had a plan! He always does!

Little did I know that we would be in the U.S. for March 14th! We drove to my hometown and was able to be a part of the dinner that evening! I am so grateful. So grateful for moments that I don't plan or orchestrate. God does!

So in the last 10 months we have celebrated Mother and Daddy's 60th anniversary. Both of their 80th birthdays and I was there for all three! Wow! It was their special days, however I was the one to receive a God~gift!

So grateful for opportunities to preach Missions

 A few months back our District Missions Director asked Denny to do a workshop at the District Missions Summit. It was so great to spend a Saturday with churches that have supported us in the past or support us now. When you get a group of pastors and laypeople who LOVE missions, the environment is charged. We had so much fun sharing and worshiping, loving and talking! When we fly to the U.S. we connect with other churches to make the flight worth the cost. Denny preached in 5 services, had coffee with pastors during the week. It was profitable and God honoring. We are indebted to so many through the years who have kept us on the field!

 We haven't had a display table in years! The Summit pushed us to get one together. I took Costa Rica coffee packs, and Costa Rica Bookmarks, attached a prayer card to each and used for take aways. Lots of candy and brochures about our need in Cincel.

 In Denny's workshop I gave away 3 Cincel mugs with a little coffee inside and candy. The winners were all ladies. It was fun!

 Denny preaching in Dedham, MA. What a great body that meets in an Italian hall. The church is pastored by a state cop who is also a pastor. It was great!

 Denny preaching in Dorchester. Both of the services that morning were missions banquets. What feasts! It was exciting, faith promise filled and just an excellent day!

we don't say good bye...we say see ya later!

This morning's chapel said farewell to our Minnesota team who has been here for 2 weeks. They leave at 4:00 in the morning tomorrow. For some reason the students don't want to say see ya later tomorrow!

We blessed them with Costa Rican coffee and words of blessings, and prayer. It was a very special time for all of us. Thank God for people who want to pay their own way to serve in missions. Some send with their finances, some go like us missionaries, and some pay their way to work hard on the missions project. It's amazing how we all work together in the body of Christ!