Inspiration

We landed back on U.S. soil  (for the first time since we moved to Nicaragua) almost 2 months ago now. It has been such a busy and fun 2 months reuniting with family and friends. Perhaps it took moving far away to realize how much we really value those relationships in our lives. The kids wished for snow and God even sent record snowfall amounts to Michigan this Christmas. It has been incredibly beautiful and restful. 

 I was afraid that when we arrived back in the States, I would be angry at the materialistic and selfish attitudes, especially around Christmas time. But I couldn't have been more wrong. I was surprised and amazed almost daily with the inspiring and selfless people we encountered. As we visited churches, we would often have people come up to us and thank us for our inspiring work as missionaries. I just wanted to say to them that it isn't us, but God who is doing great things in Nicaragua. And He is doing great things in their communities too through people like them. And I wanted to say to them that they were an example and an inspiration to us by the way they selflessly loved others. They were the reason we decided to be missionaries in the first place.

Here are just a few examples of the people we have met in the last 2 months who are living selfless lives loving others:

• About 300 children in need from our home town were given a beautiful Christmas carnival, called "Hope for Christmas" complete with loads and loads of presents and even fake snow.
• Preschoolers from a church in Orlando, Florida collected their pennies and even gave their toys for kids in Nicaragua. 
• A young girl, had no heat in her house, but within hours of learning of the problem, it was resolved by people who care.
• A group of high school girls learn that one of their friends doesn't have food in her house the week before Christmas, and they not only give food, but conspire together to give many gifts. 
• A friend who takes time each week to visit an underprivileged student at a local elementary school and sits and eats lunch with her and makes sure she knows that she matters.
• A friend who doesn't hesitate to let her in-laws move in to her small house when theirs' burns down.
• A group of homeschoolers who give up their own allowance for students in Nicaragua and help them buy school supplies. 
• A woman who works more than 40 hours a week, but still provides constant care for her aging father-in-law in her home.
• An aunt who not only cares for my 96 year old grandmother 24 hours a day, but also all of the neighborhood children who need a place to go to feel safe. 
• A cousin who cares for her step-son with Down's Syndrome more lovingly than if he were her own child. 
• A group of teenagers who gave up their own money to provide Christmas gifts for children in Nicaragua. 

Even though we weren't there for Christmas this year, we were able to send the money that was raised on to Betania Iglesia for the children's Christmas parties. They were able to provide gifts for 200 children in 3 different locations, complete with a big Christmas meal and pinatas full of candy. 

 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

                   -I Corinthians 13:3

Please continue to pray for Stacy's dad, who is undergoing a bone marrow transplant this month for cancer treatment. He is responding well to the treatment at the moment, but it will be a tough recovery.  We plan to return to Nicaragua on February 8, after spending a little more time with him first.