Random thoughts because....well....

my brain is running in several different directions.

Such is the life that we live apparently.

Country wise:

In case you haven't heard the political situation here is once again a tad unstable. We were planning on leaving yesterday to Santa Rosa in loading up the rest of the Wards' things and horse and heading to Balfate today. 'No can do' was the motto for yesterday, today and maybe a bit more. Roadblocks and protests and backlash oh my. I, frankly, can no longer get my mind around it so I'm not going to try. We're just watching, waiting and praying for good balance between wisdom and being stupid.

House wise:

We have new floor. I wasn't sure a couple of weeks ago if we were going to get to enjoy it but I can say it is a dream to sweep and mop. And look at. Amazing the change. Vale la pena.

Since timing has never been our strong point - we also have new (TO US) furniture. Another missionary family was relocating back to the US so we are ecstatic to be the proud new owners of couches that our whole family can sit on. Even have a spot to sit to offer company! We sat down and '''''aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh'''''' was heard all around. I have a stack of books to read for school (catch up on) with the kids all snuggled around.

My house is very clean and dusted with all the changes that have been happening here. SEE - silver linings in a cloudy environment.

Work wise:

Alan is at this very moment welding up a few of the last pieces of bridge re-enforcements for the Mapulaca bridge project. There was a trip on the books for today and tomorrow but those pesky roadblocks and potential other issues put that on the back burner.

Pastor's conference finished up yesterday so the BIG BROWN BUS is back to a plain ol' truck. He did manage to find a new route to Santa Rosa yesterday in taking several of the pastor's to the bus station there. SEE - more silver linings.

The Quelecasque food delivery (Special Needs families) was earlier this week too. The kids and I were able to go this time. It was a smaller delivery because of another trip out there in a couple of weeks and it was a good thing. The river is too high to cross with a vehicle these days so the ladies meet Alan at the bridge and WALK things back. (2 hours on foot ONE WAY) Thankfully, there was one guy with a vehicle on the other side that was willing to load everyone up in his truck (for a small fee) so they didn't have to walk back with all the boxes of food.

****There is a lady out there, Margarita, that is beginning to suffer some major issues with Epilespy. If you would pray for healing and wisdom in finding help for her she would be so thankful. ****

Mental Health wise. :)

Psalm 16

Keep me safe O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, apart from you I have no good thing," As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup, you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let you Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

I read this this morning. I thought it rather fitting. I actually thought it rather fitting for lots of situations and friends in situations.

I like that part about my heart instructing me even at night. But I do find a bit of terror at that thought because some days I feel my heart telling me something I KNOW is contrary to God's word and it toys with my mental capacity and coping skills. Hmmm....I believe my heart needs a bit of discipline as for the focus. Work, work, work; and then remember to rely on what I know, not what I feel.

Which is a beautiful lead in to the next random thought.

Faith is a noun; a proper one in my case. However, I'm going to exercise it as a VERB. In spite of the chaotic-ness of our lives, situation, physical state, mental state...GOD doesn't change. Thank goodness. He is faithful - that is an action that insinuates current, purposed action. Because if we were going on the daily 'meter' of how I felt, acted, or what I said - boy howdy would we be in trouble. If you doubt and dare try to put me on some 'other plain' because I'm writing this or living how we do - just ask some friends that I've been whining to...or my husband. :) I'm working, and it's HARD work I'm telling you, at looking to God's promises and not the current drama that surrounds me in various mediums.

I'll leave you with another piece of wisdom I read this morning from Halley's Bible Handbook.

Habbakuk 3 - Habbakuk's Prayer A cry to God to again perform His miracles, as He had done in the past. Yet Habakkuk speaks with sublime resignation and confidence in the eternal security of God's people (16-19). The lesson of the book is, "The righteous will live by his faith' (2:4). Faith is the ability to feel so sure of God that, no matter how dark the day, there is no doubt as to the outcome. For God's people there is a glorious future. It may be a long way off, but it is absolutely sure. Thus, in the midst of his gloom and despair, Habakkuk could be an optimist of the first magnitude.

Now - THAT is the biggest silver lining of them all.

Abrazos a todos...

Faith