Weeks 2 and 3

Hola Amigos!

What a couple of weeks. I know it has been a couple of weeks and I am sorry. There are times here when life seems to move at turtle speed and I have all the time in the world. There are other times that I feel like I am busier than I have ever been. I know as we continue to settle in a routine will develop and I will be more consistent at everything including our blog. Sorry there are no pics again...they are not with me as I have time to post!

What a blessing it was to have the Grand Parkway team here this weekend. It was pure joy to have familiar faces around us. They helped accomplish several things at the center and took the Kingdom to people that have never heard it! They also provided me with some much needed towels and cooking supplies from the house in Rosenberg. I am a happy lady in the kitchen now. You that use Pampered Chef tools know what I am talking about! How did we ever function without them? It sure must not have been very fun! I smile now each time I use my garlic press or use a really good knife to chop some veggies because I am reminded of the wonderful people who brought them to me!

We have also had some friends from the team spend some extra time with us at our home. It was such a blessing to have them there and be able to share life with them. I know we are actively praying to find a home that will allow us to continue to do this and allow our guests some privacy. On that note, we have looked at a few houses. We have found either end of the spectrum – not very well built and not enough room or way more than we can afford! Please pray with us that the Lord will lead us to just the right house for just the right amount of money. I am also asking that if less is what we are supposed to be in, that He will help me get beyond any of my personal hang ups to living in and with much less that we had planned. I want to be open to what He has for us and I don’t want to get in the way of that.

My days continue to be filled with running errands and helping with various things with ATC. I had a rough spot this week, but it was the first time I allowed myself to begin processing all the change. God saw me through it and all is well and even more clear! I would appreciate prayer for time to process all of this and continued peace that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Bart and the team from GPBC began a gate at the entrance to Refugio Solté. They also did some more landscaping and laid out the path for the sidewalk to the 2nd pastors’ house. He has a long list of things to do and continues to work on them as he is able. The Generation of Promise girls come tomorrow and he is looking forward to being able to work with them. Eden is having a BLAST. She continues to explore and learn each day. We are up with the sun and down not long after. She has chickens up the road she has adopted as her own and every puppy we see is hers. She has also had a horse in our front yard and met a little girl that lives next to us yesterday. I am just in awe to watch her as she takes in her new world. Each moth is “so beautiful” and each new person is “her friend.”

As we were in church a couple of Sundays ago, one of the pastor’s daughters came and asked Eden if she wanted to come to the back for a children’s time. She did and I went with her to help her feel a little more at ease. I was amazed to see that it was being led by the pastor’s youngest daughter. She had gathered a book, some colors – which they had very few of, some coloring pages, a few pieces of construction paper, an almost empty bottle of glitter glue, and a goody bag for each kid – left by another church visiting from the states I am sure. She read the book and then asked the kids to draw a picture of the story. Keep in mind that she may be 10 years old. Eden joined in and enjoyed it, but quickly realized that this wasn’t her normal Sunday school thing – all the glue she needs, unlimited color choices, all the paint she wants, etc. As per a normal 2 year old – she began to protest. It was her first encounter of not having something she was used to having and learning that this is all there was. There wasn’t a closet in a back room filled with supplies to allow her to craft to her heart’s content. I began to explain all of this to her and little by little she began to understand. Bart and I also talked with her about it several times over the next few days. Her world grew. She realized that there are kids out there that don’t have all they want at the drop of a hat. She realized that what she has been given is a blessing and not a right. Now, will this stick with her forever? Probably not, but what an honor to be a part of growing her world and ours. I feel so blessed that she gets to start looking at the world through those eyes now and not 20 years down the road. I know it will continue to be a challenge her, but wouldn’t you have liked to have started that lesson at 2 instead of 22?

While I was with the kids that night, God began to stir my heart. My desire and my passion for the hearts of the kids here became very evident to me! I began praying that night and continue to do so, that if that is the direction I am to move with ATC that He would lead the way. By Bart and I being here, ATC is now able to expand a reach out into the community around us. There are unreached people groups right here where we are. One group was visited by the GPBC team. There are others here that their own people call The Forgotten – they don’t even speak Spanish! God’s kingdom needs to be brought here! Please join me in praying that the Lord would reveal his plan to us and that my heart would be directed in the right path! I am excited to see where this all goes.

We are still waiting to get a closing date set for the house in Rosenberg. The appraisal has been done, but we are still awaiting the numbers. Please pray with us that the appraisal will be at or above what we have asked for it. This is the one place left where there can be a glitch, but we know our Father has a plan. I have to remember to give it over to him every day, and sometimes several times a day. My worry will do nothing to help the appraised price of the house!

Nana continues to be a blessing here. She has allowed me to do the things I need to do to get us set up and it is such a relief to have extra hands to help either with Eden or things around the house. Again today, I was just so amazed at the shear amount of time it takes to check email. Literally hours! And it was just checked 2 days ago! I continue to pray that her heart is getting renewed and refreshed and that she will return ready to tackle what God has in store for her. It has been such a blessing to share this special time in our lives with her and she has been such a blessing to us.

Thank you each for the prayers that are said on our behalf. Our Lord listens and will not fail! We treasure the words we receive in email and we will soon have a mailing address for you to send things to. Thank you does not seem enough for all each of you has done to help us get here – your prayers, your financial support and your encouragement. We love you each and look forward to hearing from you as I know you look forward to hearing from us. We pray that God blesses you each as you have blessed us!

We love you brothers and sisters in Christ!
Heather