July 2011 Update

My heart is hard! Its not that I want to choose hardness, its just happens. In the last two weeks, I could have told you more about the roller coaster stock market than I could have about the famine in the horn of Africa. The thought of famine, kids starving, and families being torn apart turns my brain into a merry-go-round. I process the realities of sin. That is the problem. God in his grace has allowed us enough dominion over His creation to deal with droughts, but the drought is not the only root of this famine. Other countries are having a drought, but sin is causing the famine. There is enough food, but war, power, and corruption are causing famine. It tears me up and makes me want to give up. I have no idea what to do with it, but I know I am not supposed to ignore it.

My apologies for that rough opening paragraph. It’s the middle of August and this is our July update and I thought maybe the confusion in that paragraph might allow you a glimpse as to why this is just now getting published. I have had a tough time getting thoughts to settle down onto paper, but I think it has been good for my heart.

We stopped writing updates during our time in the states. It was a blessed and much needed 4 months. Our time as a family was sweet, the fellowship we experienced in our local church was encouraging, and the arrival of Danae was a big answer to prayer.

Words fail our gratitude.

On the 15^th of July, we flew back to Jamaica. It has been good to get back into the swing of life. We are here for relationship and its been good reconnecting. Shortly after our arrival, we hosted some friends from the states who were here for our teammate’s, Blake and Tashi, wedding. It was great having visitors here for such an important occasion. After the wedding and festivities were over, we had a quiet week at home. It was great. We knew that we had some teams coming and we needed some time to get settled back into Jamaica as we had hit the ground running. We are thankful for how everything has gone upon our return.

I know we say this a lot, but we really do feel blessed beyond measure. That is not to say that the hardness of our heart doesn’t spring up into times of deception in which we begin feeling sorry for ourselves. But honestly, if we stop for just a few seconds, the joy comes back as we recognize the blessings we have received. It is our heart to not waste these blessings and we continue to ask the Lord to show us the way. This is our prayer. Thank you so much for your love, support, and prayers. We love the body of Christ! To God be the Glory!