Travelers Beware

Well, it has been almost a month since we left Ecuador. I was warned that we would experience culture shock, and I really didn't feel any at first other than just the difficulty making choices when there are like 50 snack foods to choose from and like 20 different types of Coca-Cola (cherry Coke Zero is now my favorite!)

I felt like we were doing pretty well, even when we left Alabama and came here alone to Florida. We got settled in and the kids met some neighbors pretty quick. I am still waiting to start my job at the hospital, but in the mean time I have been staying fairly busy. We went to a party for the 4th of July weekend like I posted. It was really a big deal with about 75 other people there from our neighborhood. That is when the feeling of being a stranger in a foreign place sunk in. Ken and I sat alone when the kids ran off to play. We tried to talk to people, but it seemed that everybody already knew each other and they quickly talked about things and people they knew, leaving us out of the conversations. I turned to Ken and said, "I miss Quito". Now he knows when I say that I don't really mean I miss the place, I miss my friends. It seems that no matter where you go, what really makes a place home is the friends that you make along the way.

And so here I am on the side of the road, trying not to be overwhelmed by the quiet and trying to come out of my comfort zone a little as we meet neighbors and make new friends. Although it is not nearly as dangerous as walking next to a canal full of gators, moving to a new culture does have it's share of stress. So please continue to keep us in your prayers as we seek direction in where God would have us get plugged in and how.

Let Freedom Ring

Today is the 4th of July and we are celebrating it in the US for the first time in 2 years. Last night we went to a party at a neighbor's house and were entertained by a brilliant display of fire works despite the constant rain. What seemed odd to us was the lack of patriotic music for the display, just lots of classic rock songs. At one point the sound system was not working properly and a group of people started singing "God Bless America" to the continuing firework display. It felt much more fitting to celebrate this special holiday by singing a song that honor's God and acknowledges His hand upon this nation.

After living overseas I now truly appreciate the freedom that this country has. I can now also say that I am tired of hearing people bash God and His roll in the founding of this great nation. With every year I feel our country is taking a step further away from what He called us to be. We heard an excellent sermon today at Christ Fellowship Church which encouraged us to seek the truth and take a stand when it comes to our beliefs and this nation. As I see the results of taking prayer out of schools (increased crime and now metal detectors) and even the pledge to our flag for fear of "offending" a teacher, I realize our shortcoming as a nation is a need to "tolerate" others without really standing up for what is right and what is true. As Psalm 11:3 says 'If our foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

The pastor pointed out that many lies have been spread about of founding fathers being unreligious or Deists at best. People forget that the Bible was used to draft our constitution and the term "separation of church and state" is nowhere in our Constitution, our Declaration of Independence or any other document associated with the founding of our government and nation. It was merely written in a personal letter from Jefferson to reassure a friend that there would be no state-sponsored religion as there had been in England.

All of this to say that our forefathers never intended for God to not be a part of this nation. To me that is what has made the United States the greatest nation on earth. It is impossible for me to not tear up and thank God personally when I hear our nation's anthem and when I see a soldier solute the flag. It is impossible for me to keep my mouth shut when I hear someone say that we should not make our children learn the pledge at school or that we should not be able to pray in school because of "separation of church and state". That is a lie and we should, no we must, let the truth be known. No more changing our history and teaching a more PC version to our kids so that people can convince us our history is not that of a Christian nation. We are a Christian nation and the moment we allow ourselves to believe otherwise is the moment we lose the blessing of our Heavenly Father.

I am proud to be an American Christian and I say "Let Freedom Ring!"