Sunday, November 30, 2008

Friday, November 28, 2008

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

It's Begining To Look A Lot Like Christmas



Yes, even here near the equator, it is begining to look like Christmas. Because the Ticos do not celebrate Halloween, the stores here start putting up their Christmas decorations in September after their National Independence day. We actually put up our donated Christmas tree (thanks Blackstock family- we'll be praying for you every time we light it up as you go to El Salvador to serve the Lord!) before Thanksgiving. A first in the Nelson house, I assure you. Now we have our very own Charlie Brown Christmas tree and it couldn't be lovelier.

Now Costa Rica does not have snow, but they do have rain!!!!! They even have a special type of rain in their "winter" (invierno) season. It is called "pelo de gato" which means "hair of the cat". When it first starts falling you feel like it is tiny little snow flakes, except it is 60 degrees instead of 30 degrees. We do get down into the 50s most every night, and so it does feel a little more like Christmas outside with the weather being a little cooler and definitely wet.

Costa Ricans love their Christmas music! We had the privilege of learning some songs in language school. Many of them are about the first Christmas. Funny enough most of those songs are about Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the donkey...yes, I said and the donkey! Apparently a Christmas song is not complete without the little burro in the lyrics. There are also many songs with words that even the ticos could not really give the definition of (just think ra pa pum pum from drummer boy or fa la la la la). My favorite was a song that talked about asking the virgin Mary to come and help the people because the angels were taking all the chocolate for themselves. Yes, very creative to say the least!

The best part for me though was the piñatas. I always thought that piñatas were for children, but not so here! They had one for the female students, one for the males, and one for the teachers. It was funny to watch the teachers (who organized the whole event) trick us gringos with moving the piñatas. As the gringo would be blindfolded and try to hit the piñata, the teacher with the rope would move it up and down, and another teacher would sometimes pull it completely out of the way leaving the gringo swinging fruitlessly in the air. This was all very amusing, but the best part was when the teachers did the same thing to their own people hitting their piñata. Even better was the baseball dive all of them took after the piñata broke and candy went everywhere! They were all spread out on the floor just scooping in the candy with both arms. ¡Que divertido!

Last, but not least, is the upcoming Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It is because of this annual offering we are able to be here and to be a part of the mission work God has given us. We realize the economy is struggling globally right now. We even feel it here as food and utility prices are much higher here than in the US and it tends to make this time of year a little more difficult. We pray that despite the economic struggles that Americans are facing, giving this year will be able to sustain the more than 5500 missionaries currently on the field with the IMB. We know that God is in control, and we thank each of you for your continued faithful support of this vital work God is doing around the world.
This next week is the week of prayer for international missions. We encourage everyone to please take the time each day to pray for missionaries around the world. Christmas is difficult for all of us as we are away from our family and friends, adjusting to a new culture, and missing many of the simple comforts from home during the Holiday Season. Despite all this we are so blessed to be able to share what this season is really all about with the people we are serving. Thank you so much for your prayer support and continued support to Lottie Moon. We would not be here without it.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Blood Brothers (and sister too)

So how do two brothers (and a sister) become blood brothers? They merely spill their blood at the same moment by not following directions, of course. It all started Saturday after we came back from the feria (farmer's market). I needed to wash down the stroller and after I was done I let the kids play in our painted carport area to cool off. It was like a slip and slide for them, and I just told them to not run and fall down, but rather just slide on their knees. All went well for an hour as Kayleigh and Cade slid around on the ground. Then Connor got home from soccer practice. He too was sweaty and wanted to have some fun in the water. As I was cleaning vegetables I heard Cade start crying. I looked and Cade had fallen and smacked his head on the step by the door. He had a nice little gash in the middle of his forehead. I realized right away that this one was going to need some skin glue. Ken went for the always handy first aid kit and I told Connor and Kayleigh that the fun needed to stop. As I was preparing to bandage Cade I heard an ear piercing scream outside. Sure enough, Connor decided to go ahead and slide anyway and was now sporting a deep gash in his leg from the bottom corner of the half-open iron door that he had just inserted his left thigh into. So our little Costa Rican home quickly turned into a M*A*S*H unit. Who knew my nursing triage experience would be so handy here on the mission field? As Ken held pressure on Connor's cut, I cleaned, glued and bandaged Cade. Then I cleaned and bandaged Connor so we could take him to the ER for his necessary stitches. Three hours and 3 stitches later, we were back home and laughing at the whole scenario.

We realized that Connor learned a very valuable lesson about being obedient. It was a teaching moment I do not believe he will forget any time soon. It reminded me too of the times I have been disobedient with the Lord only to learn the painful consequences of my disobedience. Sometime it is momentary pain; sometimes the scars stay with us for life. Regardless of the pain I felt, I know how much it really hurt God to watch me suffer the results of my actions, just like it hurt me to watch Connor suffer the pain from his disobedience.

On a less serious note, Kayleigh too qualifies as a blood brother/sister by losing her first tooth! Although it was not nearly as traumatic (or quite as bloody), it was definitely entertaining. I have been informed by her that I am to cut all of her apples for lunch as she has another loose tooth and does not want it to end up in her apple at school!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Fall of Fun

Our Fall of Fun

This fall has had a flurry of activity for the kids as we have tried to stay busy during the rainy season. The kids have creatively decorated the house with pumpkins, scarecrows and cornucopias.
The school has had some fun days like crazy hair day and dress up in your favorite time period. Connor was a cool rapper with bling. Kayleigh even made some bling for little Cade. Kayleigh was a hippie from the 70's.
Luisa had her birthday in October so the kids made her some cupcakes, a card, and we gave her a new Bible that is bilingual.
Kayleigh continues to take ballet 3 hours a week at the studio around the corner. When she first started she complained about how difficult it was. Now she loves it! They are preparing for a recital during Christmas, just in time for Grammie to come down and see!
Although it still rains everyday, the amount of rain is less than it was in October, so we are able to get outside a little more than before. All this activity has made for some really tired kiddos. This weekend poor Kayleigh was so exhausted I found her asleep laying draped over the chair. Good times for sure!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A Change of Heart


Recently at our women´s Bible study at the House of Restoration we had a discussion of what our lives are like with and without Christ in them. As I looked around the room I was in awe of the visible changes I saw in so many of these women just in the last three months.

Tasha (one of the other Miss.) told me that Liliana came to the house hollow and empty, covered in sores, hair matted, and completely broken. Now I look at her and I see the beauty of Christ. She has a wonderful glow in her smile that shines from inside out. She is a life that was changed by Christ.

Karla was devastated when she arrived at the house. She had recently been diagnosed HIV positive and did not know where to turn. She resented the man that had given her this disease and she was bitter because she felt that now she had to suffer alone. Today she has a peace and a joy. Every time I see her she has a big smile and is so excited to learn more about the new life she has in Christ that she wants to share it with others, even the man who gave her HIV. She is a life that was changed by Christ.

I distinctly remember the day Maria arrived. She came to the house during the middle of our study and looked like she would rather be anywhere but there. I heard her ask another lady, "When will this be over?" Maria now has to return to her parents home. She is only 16 years old and her parents had placed her in the home because of her alcoholism. She is excited about going home, but she does not want to leave the Bible study. She eagerly volunteers now to read Bible passages out loud each week and keeps up with her daily Bible study journal. She is trying to arrange to have her mother bring her each week to the Thursday Bible studies. She is a life that was changed by Christ.

I could go on and on about others like Isabella, Yolanda, and my dear sweet Kalyn (her name in Spanish sounds like Kayleigh, so I call her my hija/daughter). All of these women have gone from death in transgressions to life in Christ, enemies of God to children of God, following the ways of the world to standing for truth and Christ, enslaved to Satan to free in Christ!

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Do people really see Christ in our lives? This question recently convicted me greatly. Have there been times I just tried to blend in with the crowd and go along with what others were saying because I did not want to take a stand, because it was easier? When people look at me do they see me standing for truth in my walk and convictions, or just caving into worldly desires for more stuff, power, pleasure, etc..?

Each of these women is now making a stand. They are telling their families, their friends, even the people they once called enemies about the change Christ has made in their lives. It is easy to hide behind that wall of just saying, "Well, they know I am a Christian, I don´t need to say anything about my life in Christ, they can just see it." But is that all we are really suppose to do, or is there more?

1 Peter 3:13-15 says: "And who will harm you if you are passionate for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you."

These women are living that example in their lives. The change they experienced began in their heart, but enveloped their entire lives. They are willing to stand up to the fears of the past, the peer pressure and remain passionate in their Christian walk. We too cannot be shy about speaking the truth in love. We must be the salt and the light in this world, especially in times of darkness. John the Baptist did this and lost his head for it. Most of the apostles also sacrificed their lives for the truth. Elijah ran for his life because he obeyed God and would not deny God's truth.

We can do no other as children of God but to obey what the words of Paul : "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." 1 Cor 16:13