The Mustard Seed Blog

Newsletter July 2011

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:53:15 -0600

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July2011.docx

Dios es DIOS!!!

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 19:14:51 -0600

“Dios es....DIOS!” For those of you who don’t speak Spanish, let me translate “God is....GOD!”

We have had a pretty rough October, and after talking with several other friends living here in Nicaragua and in the United States, others have shared the same tough, grueling, fire=testing kinda month. And throughout this month, we have prayed and God has placed the mental visual of the Israelites being pursued hot and heavy by Pharaoh’s armies and they are standing at the banks of the Red Sea...... Ok, do you surrender the dreams and promise of freedom to Pharaoh or do you TRUST in God and take that first step into the Red Sea? They did it..they trusted in their God and took that step of faith and allowed their God to be GOD. He parted the Sea and created walls of water for His people to pass over to the other side.... WOW! I have felt God asking me repeatedly throughout this month....will you trust me to be GOD? I won’t lie....it isn’t always easy.

But today, it was like a gentle reminder from my God that He is who He says He is.....
I was talking with a 22 year old woman who is taking care of her five younger brothers and sisters in an old, converted garage on the highway. She is not only a caretaker, homemaker, cook, washer, cleaner, but also a mom herself to her young son. Oh, did I mention that she is a widow? and an orphan? Her mother passed away from cancer over a year ago, her husband was shot while working, and now she is taking care of her siblings, caring for them until they are hopefully adopted by a couple of great families in the States.
She was pouring out her heart to Michael and I telling us how she is SO ÜBER BLESSED by God...... She doesn’t have all the answers, doesn’t know where the next meal is coming from, or how she will pay for all the expenses that the family has....but she has a tremendous faith in God. She kept reiterating that she doesn’t worry about “those things” because “Dios es DIOS!”. God is GOD and He will take care of them...and He has! Sometimes when they have no food, she says she just cries out to God for the food and the needs of the family....and along comes someone with some food or a sack of groceries. She is depending on God for their “daily bread” and He comes through!!!
Here is a young woman with a heavy load to carry....and she kept saying she IS blessed... I was humbled and thankful to Him who placed this young woman in our path...for her to be a living example for me. My prayer is that I don’t put God in a box and not believe that He is GOD and can do the impossible...because He can! I encourage you to believe that GOD is bigger than any problem, financial burden, a problem in a marriage or relationship...He is GOD! and He can do the impossible!

“Porque para Dios no hay nada imposible” Lucas 1:37

“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

Amen y AMEN!!!

Lisa

Scholarship Opportunities

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:51:58 -0600

We want to introduce you (ya’ll for our Southern amigos) to some really special children from a community called Aduanas Dos. We have started a scholarship program for the children of this community to help pay for their school supplies, uniforms and a feeding program.
Many times children do not go to school because they don’t have uniforms, or they are dirty, or they lack school supplies. What we are proposing to do with the help of the local church members is twice a year plan and orchestrate a shopping trip with the kids. At the beginning of the year we will take the children shopping to get them outfitted for school with their uniforms (physical education and 2 sets of school uniforms, shoes, and socks) and buy them their necessary school supplies (backpack, notebooks, pencils, ruler, crayons, glue, compass, project papers, pencil sharpener and pens....there may be a few more little things). Halfway through the school year (July-August), we will go shopping again to buy uniforms, shoes, and more notebooks and other necessary supplies. We will also start another day at the feeding program which will guarantee the kids are getting another well rounded, full meal. If we are able, we would also like to make sure the children receive parasite medication at least twice a year.

You are probably asking how much this AMAZING blessing would cost....only $15 a month!! What a terrific opportunity to help a child receive an education!!!

We are working closely with the church staff who will help with accountability....we have explained to the children that their part is to go to school and LEARN! The staff will make home visits and check with the teachers to make sure the kids are attending school and participating in class.

Aduanas Dos is a rural community with most people working in the fields, living relatively simple lives and enjoying the quiet country. An average day’s wage for a man to swing a machete in the hot sun can be between $3-4 a day. Most men work temporary jobs clearing a field, construction projects or farming. It has no formal roads, and you have to cross a river to get to the main dirt road that takes you farther back in to the beautiful Nicaraguan countryside. Most homes are one room with homemade partitions to make bedrooms, have dirt floors, no running water and no indoor plumbing.

We have partnered with a local church called Monte de Olivos to evangelize to the next generation by starting a feeding program and helping with a feeding center which is also the children’s church. As you can see from the picture, we are still short of walls....it is an open air center! Poco a poco....Little by little we will get there!

How can you help?

SPONSOR a child!!!
$15 a month or $180 a year will help a very needy child and their family. All parents want the best for their children, but some parents are unable to provide the best, such as necessary tools to educate their children. This is where YOU can fill the gap and be a blessing for the child!!!

Emerson Jorge Manuel Sheyla

Carlo Jean Carlo Junielka Axel

Tatiana Lesly Magdiel Karina

Noleydi Emely Indira Cintya

Brenda Kenia Cristian Fernando

Jesus Duvan Ixzel Ervin

Edwin Melisa Kevin Celeste

Enderson Roberto Eloisa Pedro

Didmara Kevin Nayeli Ingrid

Teachers Maribel and Marta

Sorry for some of the hazy pictures....my camera was starting to fog up. Yes, I know, I need to get that fixed...

Twice a year we will load up the children and take them to Managua and buy shoes, uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies. In addition to the feeding program any surplus that may accrue will be used for medical emergencies and/or micro loans.

So, if you, your family, your company, your church or small group, your class, etc. are interested in sponsoring one or more of these children, please contact:
LISA at mustardseedmissions@yahoo.com or Rod Lambert at rod@redmondcc.org.

We will send out their picture, a letter about the scholarship program and a translated letter from your child. At least twice a year we will have the children write their sponsors letters to give an update on their lives. We thank you in advance for sponsoring a child and investing in their future and in Nicaragua’s hope for the future!!!

Blessings, Lisa

We had to pull this truck out of the river on our way
out of Aduanas Dos

This is Roberto his wife and their 7 day old twins!

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:14:28 -0600

It’s been hard....no, it is hard....to be still and wait patiently for the Lord to act. So many times this week I wanted to think of alternative plans just in case God didn’t act in a timely fashion....haha. Then I would read in His words over and over again about how God is faithful. That is a promise. I may not know what the next step is, but my lesson has been to be okay with it and just follow. It wouldn’t be faith if I knew the step and then took it, right?!?! It is faith to step out in to the unknown and allow God to guide each step in His time. So, this week my faith has been stretched and pulled in many uncomfortable positions.... We have had a pretty rough week. It seemed like everyday we received some bad, uncomfortable, God trusting news.....our car which had been in the shop for a very long time was going to cost another $700 to repair, randomly the bus which is parked at our house had a tire that exploded and our other car had been having brake problems and needed to also be in the shop and a couple hundred dollars to repair. BUT we were able to borrow a car for the 2 days we were down to NO working cars. We have a great group of friends who have been tirelessly working to get our cars back in working order, laughing and praying with us. I thought one day after we just kept getting the bad news that Satan just looks for whatever he can to get to us.....

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:28:22 -0600

We are back after a wonderful 6 weeks visiting with friends and family, eating a lot of delicious, flavorful food, taking in some sun, reconnecting with old friends, and seeing some of God’s wonderful, creative beauty. We were loved on, our cups were overflowing with love, kindness, generosity and refilled spiritually, emotionally and physically.
We started our journey in Los Angeles visiting Grandpa and Grandma Perkins. We immediately left for Disneyland where we spent the next few days taking in the rides and introducing Samuel to the Happiest Place on Earth.

We had such a great time, and it was a joy for me to see the wonder and joy of the magic of Disney through my kids’ eyes. They were awestruck by the cleanliness, friendliness, order, lights and the overall magic of Disneyland. We have included some pictures of the kids for you all to enjoy.

We continued on to visit my family in the Bay Area. It was great to see my sister, mom and dad (aka Oba Kathy, Cha-Chan and GrandDude). Mom has been fighting valiantly against the cancer which has taken a strong hold of her body. She had just finished another round of treatment and was still feeling the effects of the “medicine” trying to kill the cancer cells ravaging her body. She did very well and although she may not have felt 100%, she did all that she could with us and even served up some of her delicious, homemade Japanese food. We were able to stay with my baby sister who had recently bought and remodeled a house.

The kids had an awesome time getting to know her again and following her around like little stalkers! She was their Rock Star and they were her groupies. We had a busy time in the Bay Area, but were able to make it to San Francisco for a delicious bowl of clam chowder and to get my VISA to India. It was an emotional good bye for me, and I am praying for the next opportunity we may have to visit my family again. Please continue to hold my mom in prayer. She is only 53 years old and is fighting for her life. Thank you so much!
We were also able to meet up with Michael’s cousin, Autumn and her family. We were able to spend the day with them as they went school supply shopping, and then we had lunch with Michael’s Grandma who we haven’t seen in many years. They kids were able to meet their aunt, Great Grandma, and have fun with their two ultra cool cousins, Aidan and Jackson.

Our next stop was in Central Oregon where we visited our home church, Redmond Community Church and we were just LOVED on like there was no tomorrow. It was great to spend time with so many wonderful friends and family, and to share God’s ministry in Nicaragua with them. We also had a chance to meet new friends and we are only sorry that we didn’t have more time to have had the chance to get to know more of our church better. We were able to be a part of some baptisms that were taking place, enjoy a wonderful pot luck in the warm Central Oregon sun, and to partake in a special treat..Vevalyn’s much fussed and fought over, ooey, gooey Cinnamon Rolls..

We never really saw Kaia and Ellis during our stay. They were constantly busy playing, reconnecting, having sleep overs and camp outs our entire stay. The only one who didn’t fare very well was our Samuelito who got very sick during the time Michael and I were planning a quick get away to visit with friends in Portland and Seattle. We will just have to plan that trip for another time..... We are so ÜBER blessed to be a part of a wonderful and supportive community and church body. Thank you to everyone....we so needed your love, encouragement and support at that time...ok, we always need it!
Off we went to Idaho to see some friends and family. We had lunch with Michael’s sisters and their family in Boise, which was great.

It had also been years since we have seen them, and now they are all grown up with kids of their own. It was wonderful to reconnect with them! We stopped by Gooding where we enjoyed the FUN company of Michael’s birthday buddy, Marilyn and her hubby Jack Amen.

They cooked us a delicious meal of baked brie, salmon, salad, yam fries and LOTS of fresh corn on the cob. Thanks to Mackenzie who opened up her library and shared her American Girl books with Kaia. Kaia has had her nose buried in her books since we left Idaho. The Amens joined us for our camping trip in the Grand Tetons with our beloved friends, the Mensings. After securing a camping spot, gathering firewood, digging a hole for the toilet and jimmy rigging a toilet in the woods, we were set to enjoy our camping leg of our trip.

Until it was time for bed....we FROZE our first night! We heard the coyotes howling in the distance and the ice forming on our little non four season tent. I don’t think I slept a wink that night. Samuel ended up crawling in to my one man, mummy style sleeping bag. At least he was warm and comfy..... We had a great time kicking around Jackson Hole and viewing some of Dave Mensings Fine Art which was on display at Buffalo Trails Art Gallery on the town square.

For our friends from our TX2 days, we had an AWESOME meal at Chinatown! They even remembered us....I joked that back then, there just weren’t many of us Asians around, so of course, we remembered each other. It was like family coming home! We were saved from the arctic temperatures after our second night and spent the rest of our nights in the comfort and warmth of a cabin at the Triangle X Ranch. We reconnected with some of the Turner clan and had a wonderful evening of sharing what God is doing in Nicaragua while enjoying some homemade venison chili and corn bread. Our kids have fallen under the same spell of the beauty of the Tetons and didn’t want to leave.
We continued on the road to Zion National Park with a short stop to visit our OLD friend Heidi who treated us to some wonderful eats at her golf course. We had a nice time laughing about the old times and talking about where we all were in life now. I love meeting up with those special friends and not feeling like a day has passed since we were last together. I am blessed to have a few of those friends which I am ever so grateful. Heidi is one of those friends.

We finally warmed up at Zion NP and we all had a wonderful time hiking and enjoying more of God’s amazing creation. This was one of our favorite spots as a family and we are all looking forward to returning and exploring more of this beautiful park.

We had the most amazing dining experience at Parallel 88 which is a restaurant that is owned and operated by our friends from our Utah and TX2 Ranch days, Jeff and Cicely Crossland. We have reconnected thanks to Facebook and were invited to enjoy the view and gourmet food of their restaurant. Unfortunately, Jeff and Cicely were taking advantage of a short break in their busy restauranteur lifestyle and were visiting family in the Salt Lake City area. What a bummer to not have been able to enjoy their company , as well as their food!

Yes, we continued on to the Grand Canyon National Park. The kids had been participating in the Junior Ranger Program where they learn about the national parks, participate in educational programs and later receive a badge after taking an oath to care for and protect the national parks. So the kids were very excited to get a badge from the Grand Canyon.

We enjoyed the amazing, breath taking view of the Grand Canyon, walked around the historic buildings, hiked a bit, but finally decided to leave because we have a very active 2 and 7 year old who could very easily slip and fall. Michael and I had a great time sharing some of our very special memories and places- we spent 6 wonderful years under the shadow of the Grand Tetons, and had hiked in to the depths of the Grand Canyon, which was one of the hardest things we had ever done physically in our lives. We had shared with the kids about our hike down the Bright Angel Trail and the difficult, back breaking hike back up the Grand Canyon and it was nice for us to finally show them some of our history.

And no, we are not done....Haha. We went on to Las Vegas where we had a good stay, but have decided that LV is not the place to go with little peeps and a restricted budget. The kids had a great time at the Circus Circus playing the games and taking in the circus acts. Michael and I were ready to leave, so we continued our Perkins family adventure to its starting point in Ventura, CA. where we finished our vacation with Grandpa and Grandma Perkins. We were able rest a little, eat a lot and continue to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a beach town with family.

It was an emotional good bye for all of us, but especially the kids. They were able to learn more about the United States and see some of the most amazing parts of the country. We had all cemented friendships, connections, and had so many wonderful experiences, but it was especially difficult for the kids. They didn’t want to leave their family and friends behind. The beauty of our trip was that there wasn’t any one time nor place when we could have left without it being hard. Every minute of our trip was such a special gift and we treasure all of it!
Our flight home went remarkably well (ok, after having to pack and pay for 3 extra suitcases). Samuel slept for the majority of the flight from Houston to Managua, and we breezed right through the customs in Nicaragua. Gary and Trish Cook were there waiting for us on the other side of the glass. We had finally made it home after 6 weeks in the beautiful country of the United States of America. Thank you to everyone. We are sorry to those whom we couldn’t see or spend a lot of time with, but our prayer is that next time we will have the opportunity to catch up and share. If we didn’t get the chance to meet up, please know that it wasn’t for a lack of desire, we just simply ran out of time!
We are back in Nicaragua where it hasn’t stopped raining, the trees are much bigger, the ground is over saturated and the frogs are singing.... I will write more about our return to Nicaragua and the opportunities God has before us! Sorry that this is so long, but we wanted to share about our amazing adventure to the States. Thanks for reading and God Bless!!

The Mustard Seed Blog

Newsletter July 2011

Dios es DIOS!!!

Scholarship Opportunities

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