I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10b

Hello, New Life...

8/15/2013

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It's nearly been three months since leaving Idaho. We have been moving and settling and spending our time, almost exclusively, as a whole family unit. Luke and Eligh have really grown, but in truth... we've all grown. Seeing things. Doing things. Going places -- literally and spiritually -- we never have before. There is such peace in our family...  love, unity, and JOY that had been gradually leaking out. Being wasted on everything far less worthy. Maybe it's the brighter sun here. Or maybe The Brighter Son... but we are seeing in color again!

And we are so thankful...

With those precious months to:
 -lay on my bed for a couple hours with Nia and just have some long overdue girl talk.
 -wake in the morning to Ben next to me AND have him there again when it's time for bed.
 -read the Bible and entire books -- as an entire family -- everyday.
 -absolutely just soak in the wonder of my children... growing before my very eyes.

I am now rejuvenated and filled-up and ready to pour all I have into life here... no longer as it was, but as it is now.  

I wish I could sketch a picture, here, to explain my thoughts. There is something of a massive and majestic precipice... one that reaches to the bright blue, and I have either: 1) just today, stepped from it's height and am now headed, somewhat in a controlled slide, through the distance to the end at such incredible speed and intensity, with not much more than shoes of Grace and gloves of Mercy or 2) I'm at the bottom staring up at the incredible challenge before me and, with one last big deep breath and my safety harness secured in Christ, the time has come to grab hold of the craggy cliff, put one hand over the other and begin the arduous, yet beautifully rewarding, ascent.

We spent the last few days in orientation and today we began our work. Tomorrow, 7am: helping the Filipina midwives with vitals at the prenatal clinic. Though we've been here for months... I should think it will start to feel more like home now.

Finally. Doing what we came here to do --

For this life is but a wisp --
 so whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God --
...until the time of the Lord shall appear --
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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, so a Bunch of Pictures Are Worth...

8/1/2013

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Take a walk with us through the last two months in photographs:
These are not just pictures of the "bad part of town..."
 these are  town.
 The "decent" dwellings you or I would expect are the exception, not the rule.
Actually a very common sight
The streets are literally FLOODED three times a day with children of all ages (up to college age) in uniform. Arrival at school, lunch, and dismissal.
Our new church family
Pastor Edging (that's his first name) walkin' us through The Word
Ay na ko... (something like that! It means: *sigh*) this poor resolution picture makes this mama's heart sing
And this one does, too. When did my first born grow so big as to be able to actually  run a grill??

The vastness of all we have been taking in has somewhat paralyzed my ability to articulate any single experience... We do apologize! How would I pick something to write on when there was so much to choose from? I have actually gotten up from a restaurant table and left the restaurant from the inability to successfully wade through all the pages and choices of a menu. I have put back all the cds/bath towels/eyeshadows/you-name-its that I had out to choose between, and left the store empty-handed  because the task of narrowing down the options to one was too great. How silly... believe me, I know. And here it has reared it's ugly head again. I couldn't process through the extremeness of the new experiences thoroughly enough to, in any sort of timely manner, give you even the slightest glimpse into this great-big-new-world we are living in! So, incase the pictures didn't do it any justice, let me just say...

It is glorious.

So thank Rebecca Thompson if you see her for giving me a way out when she said, "Just post pictures! No words necessary!" 
Here you have it then... pictures worth at least a few words.
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