Does anyone in the Bowling Green area know someone who mows yards for a living?

Wow! I don't even know where to begin to describe my trip. It was such an eye opening, humbling experience and definitely encouraging. This was my first trip out of the US and I wanted to travel somewhere to meet Christians who appreciate what they have...physically and spiritually. I definitely had a chance to see that first hand! The visit to Chiapas was truly an experience I'll never forget!

One night this week we had a ladies' class at their house and after the class, Sheila was taking a lady and her two daughters home to their one-room house. I rode with them and when we got there, Lupita wanted to me come in because she had something she wanted to give me. She had several pieces of material that she has embroidered designs on and she wanted me to pick out one and also to bring one back to my mom. The girls were cutting flowers out of their garden to give to me and to Sheila and then the girls wanted me to take one of their mangos. I know this may not sound like a lot but I don't ever remember feeling so showered with gifts. It was so humbling to see people who have so little wanting to give so much. They weren't giving me anything because I needed it...they were giving because they obviously love to give! I began thinking about what we give to God. We don't give to God because He needs anything, we should give because we love God and because we love to give.

On Tuesday we had the opportunity to go to a wedding in the jungle which was a 4-hour drive from San Cristobal. It was definitely an interesting experience and had the chance to meet so many Christians! If you want to see more pictures of the wedding, she posted most of the same pics that I took too.

On Thursday Sheila & I went on a boat ride through the canyon! It was beautiful but it's impossible to truly capture that with pictures. We saw a crocodile and an iguana!

It was such a fantastic week and I'm so thankful for that experience! Jeb & Sheila are doing so much good for the Lord and the Christians there are so blessed to have them! I'm so thankful that Jeb & Sheila are making the sacrifice to be there and it's such a great experience for their kids. I truly enjoyed being with all of them! Will, Sarah and Molly are definitely precious young people!

There is so much more to tell but I can't even put it into words!

I made it to Jeb & Sheila's safely!!! More to come later!

If you know her, you know her at least by one of the names mentioned above. :) A birthday is yet another time that we tend to reflect on our lives and examine ourselves. Many times we see that Christians begin to backslide in their lives...that's what makes it even more encouraging to see spiritual growth in friends who we know and love.

In the many years I've known Terse, I've seen such a tremendous spiritual growth in her! When someone can reflect back and see that kind of growth then we know our years aren't being wasted!

I'm going to add a couple of other names to the list of names we already have for my dear friend. This week while reading in Acts 9, I read about Tabitha, also known as Dorcas. Tabitha is noted as "being full of good works and charitable deeds". That statment can definitely be applied to Terse, therefore we can add Tabitha or Dorcas to her list of names. :) She does so much for others that people may never know about and she has had her part in helping to teach and encourage others. I'm so thankful that God has blessed so many of us with such a friend in her.