As I'm typing this, I can hear the pounding of the first storm of the rainy season and the rain as it thunders on the tin roof of our building. And even as I sit here, I feel refreshed.   Rain has always had a magical influence on me, symbolizing something powerful and majestic.  I loved the rainy season growing up in Arizona.  August is burning hot, no relief from the temperature and humidity…. Until you see that wall of gray in the distance.  That rolling clap of thunder, that sweet scent that hangs temptingly in the air and the hope that comes with...

God is teaching me about the beauty of new seasons. He's also teaching me about goodbyes. We are a team of 10 now. A team that has been shaped and molded by our creator into disciples, devoted to following His will to the ends of the earth. We have been impacted and influenced by the most amazing people! Shout out to our precious World Race teams, Tharros & ALL.love branch, who had a big part in that! Thank you for ALL you did ot encourage us and lift us up. God is good! He is still amazing me all the time with His perfect timing. It's when I'm...

Oh, the life of missionaries. We’re definitely used to the first two by now. They are the main ingredients of every meal and have become a comfort when I sometimes don’t know what else I’m eating. But the last two are new encounters.   As you know, a World Race team (theworldrace.org) came this week to stay here for one leg of their trip. We love them and are so excited they are here! They do a lot more traveling than us, and have been staying in some places quite rougher than our humble abode. They are thankful for beds and decent showers and padded couches.  ...

God gave us food from the earth. He gave us trees and plants that bear fruit so we can sustain ourselves. He made them as a good thing. He made the vegetation and said it was good. He made the sugar cane plant and said it was good. Here in Nicaragua, sugar cane is one of the biggest exports. To work in the sugar cane fields is a job occupied by many poor and uneducated Nicaraguans. When you don't have the money or resources to go to school, there is no hope of an education. When there is no hope of an education, there is no hope of a safe, well-paying job. There is one option: to work...

Let me spin you a little tale…. This morning I got stung by a scorpion. Always an interesting experience. It is extremely unpleasant to get woken up by something stinging you in the arm.  At first I thought it was another one of these stupid bees that are always flying around that I have gotten stung by numerous times already. I didn't see one though so I looked on my arm and saw what I thought was a big spider. I jumped out of bed, screaming, and then realized it was a scorpion scurrying away. This, unfortunately, woke up all the girls (I'm really sorry guys!!) who then...

Matthew 11:12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” As I was reading the word of God today God spoke to me through this verse. All of the sudden a light bulb went off in my brain and I captured a revelation that God gave me. The revelation is that we should be forcefully advancing the kingdom of God every day that we are living. We are running out of time. Jesus could come back tomorrow. I hope and pray that the kingdom of heaven forcefully advances through me. On this mission trip in...