Good Afternoon, Friends! June 29, 2017
We are grateful to God for His faithfulness to us! It's been a month of as many unusuals as the previous month was a month of normal, everyday life. The Home went through some dark days - the girls found a large poisonous snake curling around their curtain rod as they were ready to sleep, Adely found Gustavo lying in a puddle of blood when he fainted in their bedroom and busted open his ear, all the children but 4, along with some of the workers, were sick with the influenza epidemic going around... there were challenges in child care... yet we testify that God is good and He always will be!
We spent 3 days on an only rice/ beans/ tortilla diet as a way of seeking God and asking for His light in our lives. We came away feeling blessed and praising God for His faithfulness to us!
As tough as those moments were, there were also beautiful times! Each year the school has a competition - the first year it was singing, then creating poetry, last year it was a science and math fair. This year they did an art contest, assigning each student to draw a picture of the theme "My God and I" and then presenting it to the parents and a group of 3 judges (brethren from 3 of our Mennonite churches). One by one, they showed us their work of art and then explained what they drew, why they chose that, and with what they made it. There was some incredible talent brought forth - some deep thinking. One had a fellow walking in a dark room towards a large drain hole, but the light of Jesus surrounding him was lighting his way so he not stumble into it, then there were several lighthouses in the midst of a storm, a girl in the palm of the hand of God, a hand reaching out of a cloud holding the hand of a boy who was standing on the mountain reaching up, a girl praying, another girl reading her Bible in the early morning... The one that impacted me the most was a beautiful white lily against a brick wall - a testimony of purity. It was done by one who struggles to say "Yes" to Jesus, but through the testimony, one could see that God is working in this soul. My heart said, "Thank you, Jesus!".
(Photos: Art Contest - Left is Brian sharing a powerful testimony - The wilted flower is his life without Jesus compared to the life he now has as a blooming flower. Right is Karina sharing how God is like a lighthouse to her.)
  
Then too we had a VERY delightful weekend at the 3-day Mennonite youth retreat up in the mountains! Quite a few of the Home attended as it included 14 and 15-year-olds. Although most of our churches are a bit small, there was around 75 youth... We as a family joined them as Misael had a topic on the life of David. There too, we saw God was with us... We had gone the day before as it was several hours away and he had the first topic in the morning. Soon after we got there, he started with the symptoms of the virus the Home battled with... He couldn't sleep most of the night from being so achy with fever. He was flat before and after his topic, but God interceded and gave him the strength to give his topic in such a way that the youth who didn't know, couldn't tell he was sick. Had he been sick before we left, am sure we'd have stayed home, but God wanted him to give this topic and kept him well until we were there and helped him through it - Is God good? Yes, He is!
It looks like Kevin is moving ahead with his surgery in the States to lengthen his one leg. He and Adely will fly up July 18 for his initial appointment, with surgery scheduled for Aug. 2. Will you join in praying for him - it's a very painful process as they continue therapy to stretch the leg. He's been a pillar with the youth - please pray for his spiritual protection as well!
There could be more stories, but lest we make you take off work to read it, we will just ask you to praise God with us for His faithfulness and pray with us that we too can be faithful - even in the hard times!
But one more praise - It's been 11 years since I was able to attend a Miller reunion and my heart kept longing to do so, but each time the miles separated us... Last week I earnestly prayed that IF it is God's will, then HE opens a door. On Monday, Misael's Mom received her visa to go to the States - and I was given tickets to fly her up with our 2 youngest ones, to spend a week with my parents, join them at the Miller reunion, and be there for Mom's birthday. Needless to say, I feel blessed! We're praying for good health that Jeremy and I need not get the virus. (Natalie already had it.)
Yes, God has blessed us and we are grateful.
We too pray for God's abundant blessings on you and yours! May He keep each of you in His care!
For His Honor and Glory,
Misael, Regina and Family
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