Feeling Blessed

I can't help but feel so blessed these days. I have been privileged to participate in the mother's prayer group at the girl's school every Tuesday. The group is called Mother's united to pray (I think that is how it translates). The neat thing is is prayer groups like ours are praying the same verses for our kids, teachers and administrations. Kathy Mehl has been leading the group for several years, and as a result I right from the start I had connections with some of the moms in the school, which normally takes a great deal of time to develop.

Also, I have the tremendous blessing of participating in a Beth Moore study at our church! It is my first time to go through a Beth Moore study in a group. It has been such a very long time to have had opportunities like these. I hope, hope, hope that I never take for granted what a blessing it is to have fellowship with women like this.

Touching Lives with Banana Bread

I would guess that almost every woman in the United States knows how to make Banana Bread, or at least someone in their family that has a recipe. But that is not the case here in San Francisco Gotera, El Salvador.

In the beginning I gave a loaf as a way to say thank you to someone for teaching me how to crochet. After trying the bread, she asked for the recipe. I began to see this as a way to maybe create a bridge to the ladies in the church.

I would give loaves as God lead. I gave some to the ladies at the post office that have always been very nice to our family. The ladies at the office supply store. They now wave to me on the streets, ask how we are all doing. Before they were very nice but after giving a loaf of banana bread to them, wow, what a change.

Many women asked for the recipe, and with the desire to spend time with them. I would offer to show them how to make the bread and their eyes would light up. It grew and grew.

This past month I had the opportunity to teach the ladies of the church in Corinto (daughter church) and our church here in Gotera how to make banana bread. The response has been more than I could have ever hoped.

I have been buying the materials to make the bread from a local bread store. This past week I gave a loaf to the lady that always helps me, also a member of our church. She gave a piece of the bread to her boss and now her boss wants me to come and teach her how to make it.

This recipe although extremely common in the states, has made a tremendous impact in this little ole town in El Salvador. I would never would have guessed the impact it would have. I praise the Lord for the "tool" to touch lives.

Two Very Proud Girls

Both Avigail and Ela tested for their next belt in Tae Kwon Do and received them!


To receive the next level belt, a person needs to perform various requirements which include forms, fighting, kicks, and breaking boards (I sure hope those are translated correctly, I only know the terms in Spanish, imagine that).

Our girls have really done well in Tae Kwon Do. They have learned so much in last couple of years. I think the biggest thing they have learned, and what I am most proud of, is integrity. Doing whatever job with the best you have in you, regardless of what is going on around you.

They were so excited to receive their belts, Avigail, green belt and Ela, yellow! Yeah girls! I am so proud of you!

Just Life

I always want to write something witty or some great experience, but really I don't have anything. I'm just going to share "life stuff". As many of you know we made the decision to home school the girls until they start their school year in August in San Salvador. Before we actually started, I was SCARED for many different reasons. I thought things like, "I'm going to mess this up", "when will I have time to clean?", "how will I confront issues that arise in learning styles?", "how will I handle resistance?" and lastly and most ugly, "what about 'my time'?" As it has turned out, this time has been one of the sweetest times I have had with our girls. Yes, there has been resistance, there has been challenges but I wouldn't trade this time for anything. Here's a little "shout out" to you mom's that choose to home school year after year. I admire you all so much. Your eternal investment in your kids has so much more value than having a clean and picked up house or having your "project list" grow rather than get smaller, more than having "me time" as much as you wanted. I now have a greater respect for you all. May God bless your time and grow you all through it!

Within the last couple of weeks, 2 1/2 years after coming to Gotera, I have had the blessing of having a few conversations, beyond the "surface stuff" with a few ladies at the church. You say, "wow, great you had a conversation with someone, I just had one Sunday with someone". No, what I am saying, is I have tried for 2 and half years to engage a few of these ladies in a conversation and have come up against just surface stuff, aka a wall. Wow, 2 1/2 years, seems like a lot! But really is it? Some people spend 10, 15 sometimes 20 years trying to get in. Although, it has been a hard 2 1/2 years I feel blessed to have finally had a conversation with someone. A great quote from the classic book "The Door in the Wall" goes "Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it". I have found a door!

Lately, I have felt tremendously blessed and overwhelmed with the growth I have experienced lately. In my 40's, I have taken on major things to learn, for example Spanish, guitar, Tae kwon do. When I look back at how much growth and ability that God has allowed, I feel so blessed. But, I do have to say, that it makes me want more! I don't want to settle for what I have learned to this point. I want more!!! I see that so much too in regards to the Bible. I know so much more than I did, oh, but...... I WANT MORE!