My life feels like a mess right now. My car is mess, the room I'm staying in is a mess, my to-do list is a mess, etc. And it's about get a whole lot messier as I begin to pack for life in another country!

We are now in Pensacola and have been here for a few days now. Traveling has tuckered me out so it feels kinda good to be in some place familiar. However, our stay here is short which means we'll be on the road again soon. As I look at our travel schedule for the next month I can't help but ask myself, "Are we crazy?" 6 more cities to visit, 5 more states, and lots of friends and family to see. Traveling like this is fun, but is not meant for the weak at heart! We are just ready for a place to call our own (this seems like a repeating theme in our lives). And we will finally get that in Guatemala.

While it has been hard journey, I'm still so thankful that God has brought us on it. It has truly been unique. Here are some photos from our last trip in the International Village of Atlanta.

1 and half more months before we leave for Guatemala!

Puerto Rico part 3

"It’s hard to make me cry and get me to go to church, and y'all have done both. And we are going to keep going to church, at least every Sunday." With watery eyes and heavy hearts we listen to Norberto for the last time. We still can't believe how God is moving as we say good-bye to our new friends. Norberto and his family are re-dedicating their lives to walking with Christ!
             Three weeks earlier we are sitting in the church praying for opportunities to make Christ known across Puerto Rico. Looking outside the window, we see a lady and three children standing outside the gated church. We spend the afternoon in their small living room, reading the Bible and getting to know her and the children. We learn that her name is Magda and the three grandchildren belong to her husband, Norberto. After hearing about the kids living in an abusive environment and the grandparents gaining custody, we realize that this family has been through a lot.Our afternoons there soon become an everyday thing and a wonderful friendship develops. The more time we spend with them, the more they begin to open up to us. We learn that they are struggling financially due to the children's medical bills. In our minds this becomes the perfect opportunity to meet a need and show the love of Christ. We raise $750 and accompany them to buy whatever they need, from school supplies and uniforms, to a new washer and freezer.

            Our last Sunday is spent with them at the church Norberto attended 30 years ago! On the way he tells us, “I’ve always believed that Jesus is my Savior, but I had a divorce and moved to another city and just fell away. But I want to start again, especially for the kids.” Two days later we leave Puerto Rico with joy in our hearts and are thankful for the friendship we made.

 

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Puerto Rico Part 2

Good/ Not so good

Good:

Our meetings with Pastor’s have gone great. Each one of them is interested in receiving mission teams to their church and I can see a great partnership forming in the near future.

The other night while we were in the grocery store we noticed some people who looked like us-Gringos! The crazy part is the guy had a shirt on that said “smashville” (Nashville Predators hockey team). They are from Nashville and their church is not far from where we lived. They too were on a mission trip and happened to be staying literally 2 blocks down from us. We spent a day with their youth translating for them and joined them for devotional time one night.

We have gotten to know a family in the projects and have spent a lot of time with them (full story coming soon). I think it has been a blessing for both them and us.

Not so good:

We have made plans with several Puerto Ricans we’ve met and each time it has fell through. I guess building relationships can be hard when you’re only here for a month.

I’m not going lie, sleeping on an air mattress starts to get old.

Even though there have been unfortunate or frustrating things occur, I want to look to God and his goodness instead of a crappy circumstance. God is always good, even when my world isn’t. 

 

See ya in 2 days, America! 

-Amanda 

Oceans

Guatemala has been on my mind a lot lately. With only 2 in a half months before we move there, I can’t help but think about what living there will be like. However I must confess. I found myself thinking about the negative in moving there and not the positive. I began viewing it as a burden and not a blessing. I felt very convicted over it and realized that my attitude needed to change.

Yes there will be hard times. But it is in these hard times and sufferings that God refines us. I just need to trust him.

I am thankful that he is preparing and refining Mitch and I each day for our move. It will be one of the hardest but most rewarding experiences of our lives thus far. I know there are exciting times ahead and praise God for choosing Mitch and I for this task.

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders, 

let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me." 

This is truly my prayer.