Havin' Fun...

You can see from the ticker just why we haven't updated the blog yet...some of our kids are here (Miriam and husband Mike, and Rebecca) and we are enjoying fiesta together. They arrived Christmas night and boy! have we been on the GO?!

After arriving here late Christmas night, we let them sleep until 7:30 :) Friday morning. They brought our gifts for our tico family and some goodies which they had "ordered" - Anthony's playstation3 for which he had been saving for 2 years to purchase! - so we shared our gifts with the fam. Then we left for the bus station and our "3 hour ride" to the beach. What a beautiful place! Saturday we spend all day at the beach and eating. Sunday we returned home and had dinner with the tico fam. Yesterday - to the volcano (too cloudy to even enter the park - boo!), to LaPaz Waterfall Park with animals, butterflies and fantastic waterfalls, and then ziplining! What a FULL, wonderful day! Today we're off to an artisian's haven in Sarchi and coffee planation...time is just passing too quickly but we are having TONS of fun.

Promise more updates and pictures later. Just a teaser...

Christmas Eve Dinner

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New Christmas memories have included different decorations, different foods, different schedules but the same EVERLASTING message - the birth of the eternal King providing salvation for lost mankind. Trust your Christmas celebrates the real reason for the season. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Christmas Program at Church

What Christmas is complete without a church program telling the Christmas story?! Last night we attended our church's program. One of the pastors had written the script and designed the backdrop. The program, the actors, and the singers were superb! Another pastor presented the plan of salvation beautifully. And in return received a precious gift as his mother, for whom they had been praying for 15 or so years, prayed to receive the gift of salvation...the eternal gift of life! What a blessing.

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Merry Christmas!

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You Just Never Know The Impact You're Making!

Miriam was reading in Facebook and found the entry below. I share it with you because I want you to know how blessed I am to have Glynis as my wife and partner in missions. She taught at Christian Heritage Academy in Columbus, GA during the '90's. We have not had contact with this student for many years! What a blessing to read this continuing influence of Glynis in her life. (but I am not surprised!)

"A good memory . . . Mrs. Miller was our Bible teacher, then moved up to our homeroom and English teacher for 11th and 12th. She was one of the most godly women I know. She always referred to her husband as "Mr." David-- I never heard her call him anything else. She was a great example of how a wife should respect her husband. She really cared about us, and she showed it. Of all I learned and didn't learn during high school, I count Mrs. Miller as one of the most influential people in my life."

I say to this student, thanks for blessing my wife!
Mr. David

Prayer requests...

I'll post more later but need to mention a couple of prayer requests for the week...Thursday afternoon is our Oral Proficiency Exam - Glynis at 3PM and then David at 4PM. Pray for fluid tongues and ready recall of vocabulary and verb conjugations. Then Friday David has a MAJOR test on 115 idiomatic expressions. The teacher will write 20 of them on the board for the students to write a sentence with each.

Thanks for holding us to the Father throughout this week especially. We are so thankful for each of you and your prayers on our behalf.

A Different Way of Looking at Fall

Many of you have told us just how beautiful the fall colors have been this year in the states. Some have asked what fall is like here in Costa Rica. Below are some of the fall colors that we are enjoying.

The brillance of RED


The hue of MAROON

The splendor of YELLOW


The variation of FUSCHIA




The brightness of ORANGE



The delicate touch of PINK (yeah, I know it's not a fall color but it is so pretty, I just had to add it too)


And who would think that there could be blooming, in the FALL, right outside our door on the ledge of the porch these African Violets?



Color - a gift from God to display His handiwork! Happy Fall wherever you are.

There are weeks...

There are weeks and then there are WEEKS! Well, last week was one of THOSE WEEKS for me. My mind was filled to overflowing and it began to come out my eyes. I got to the point that I didn't think that anything I said made sense, that I couldn't say even one sentence without errors. But thanks so much for praying for us. It is because of your prayers that we can survive those weeks and get to the other side victoriously.

Usually every week we have to present a Bible study plus other presentations in our conversation classes. Week before last, we had 2 Bible studies on male Bible characters and then last week, we had 2 on female Bible characters. Each one takes anywhere from 5 to 10 hours to prepare for about 20 minutes of presentation in class. Add that preparation to the mountains of review/homework in grammar and the constant introduction/review in daily classwork and just daily life. And the realization that the others in the class are seemingly flying through the day, understanding and speaking with ease. So thanks for praying! It is ONLY through moment by moment prayer and LOTS of study that we survive. When we look back and see from where we have come we are AMAZED. We realize too, our trail doesn't have to keep up with anyone else's however, it can be overwhelming at times...and last week was. Well, enough of that but just wanted you to realize just how much we depend on your prayers, especially to carry us through the times we can't walk. Thanks.

But isn't God good?! In preparing my second Bible study last week, God spoke. Martha was a disciple of Jesus who had opened her home for Jesus to come and teach. In Jewish culture it was her duty to take care of the needs of those in her home and they just kept coming. She had opened her home because she was a disciple and she wanted to hear what Jesus had to say but now was feeling "abrumada" or overwhelmed at all there was to do. Cultural demands and her own expectations of what she had to do overwhelmed her and caused resentment. So she went to Jesus. I love the fact that she didn't confront Mary because Mary's not helping really wasn't her problem. Her problem was within her spirit. Listen to what she said..."Don't you care that...?" And what did Jesus say? "Martha, Martha, you are disturbed and confused about many things. But only one thing is necessary and Mary has chosen the better part, that which will not be taken away." He called her by name. He calmed her inner restlessness, the fears, the self-doubts, the self-imposed expectations. He knew her heart and her desires. He reminded her of why she had opened her home for that which will not be taken away. I don't see Jesus' response as a rebuke to Martha but rather a reclarification of the life of a disciple. And so when I felt isolated and alone I could run to Jesus and say...Don't you care?! Then Jesus called me by my name; He calmed my restlessness; He exposed my self-imposed expectations; He reminded me of my heart's desire; He reminded me of that which will not be taken away; He reminded me of the life of a disciple. Now isn't God good to speak in the middle of assignments?!

Hope your week is filled with reminders of God's goodness!

Update on Stephen's Electoral Results...

Stephen ran an excellent race against an incombent who has been in office for many years. Although he didn't win the district seat on the city council, he came in second with 24% of the votes. Way to go, Son, we are so proud of you!

It is in Your embrace...

Do you ever struggle with self worth? Do you ever think that everyone is passing by you on the road of ministry? on the road to learning Spanish? May you find comfort and hope in the following...

Today I come close. I feel You and I can't resist.
I go running to Your open arms for me.
And I am a child again, innocent through You.
That child has found in Your arms, the Father that there is in You.

It is in Your embrace, my Lord, where finally I know who I am.
In the miracle of Your love - that has given me identity.
It is in the embrace, my Jesus, that I remember that cross
Where You went to die with open arms for me.

The past was erased with red ink (your blood). You loved me;
With Your wound You healed my pain.
And I am a child again, innocent through You.
That child has found in Your arms the Father that there is in You.

It is in Your embrace where is my peace.
It is in Your embrace where is my home.

Vote for Steve (Stephen) Miller

Follow this link for our son's election statement. Scroll down the list of candidates for Steve Miller Election Statement. Stephen is running for Columbus (GA) City Council District 8. If you are in Columbus, listen especially close and cast your vote for the fresh new voice - Steve Miller.

Stephen, we are very proud of you!

Pasatiempos...Fun Times...Prayer Times

This past week in our conversation class, we had to talk about Pasatiempos, or pastimes. The highlight of the week was the day we presented how we enjoy free time at home (as if we had some!). Well, since we are such "party animals" and "love" to play games, what would we talk about? Never fear, since being in Costa Rica, some missionaries have taught us to play Dominoes - Mexican Train and Chicken Foot. So we each presented the rules to the games (in Spanish, of course!) and we played a game of each in our classes. So if any of you are looking for the rules for either game, we'll be happy to forward them to you-- in Spanish, of course!

This week is Spiritual Emphasis week therefore, no homework or exams...this week. Look out the next week though! Pray that we will wisely use the time for review and spiritual refreshment. The speaker is a missionary from the Domican Republic so he has walked the walk of learning and ministry. We look forward to God's Spirit being poured anew on us all.

As you are praying, remember some our friends, Francisco and Yolanda, a young Nicaraguan couple in one of the Sunday Bible studies. He is a new believer. This week, a cousin was defending a friend and both women were stabbed to death. Since there are no other relatives, the family of Francisco and Yolanda has increased from 3 to 6.

Prayer requests for them:
Financially - Francisco is a neighborhood guard, works 6 days a week, 12 hour shifts and earns very little. Yolanda is a part time maid and earns very little. Now there is the added expense of 3 more children ages 1, 4, and 7 in addition to their own 2 year old.

Spiritually - Yolanda has not yet become a believer. Pray for her salvation and that of the children.

Emotionally - The mother was murdered in front of her children. Pray for healing of their young minds and spirits. Jorge, Johander and Kelin miss their mom very much, especially at night. Pray also for Moises as he accepts these new brothers and sister into his home.

These days of uncertainly both economically and politically are days that bring us to the Father. Remember to seek God's wisdom. We have cast our ballots from Costa Rica and encourage YOU to VOTE as God directs.

We will meet you at the throne in prayer! Thanks for praying with us and for us.

Monday Musings

Today has been a special day...a holiday from school. We are having our "fall break."

This weekend we "played house." We were house sitting for some friends who were out of town. It was nice to be able to relax and take things easy. Since we are one of the few married couples living in a tico home, we are often asked to house sit while folks are away from home. It serves as a reminder that perhaps one day we will be able to "feather a nest for us." But each time we are away, we look forward to coming "home." Thankfully God has blessed us with a wonderful home and family who loves us as well as cares for our needs.

Thanks for praying for us. These presentations/Bible Studies we mention are real. David is holding the illustration I used last Friday for my Bible study regarding what God says about the clothing of believers using the armour of God and his notes for his Bible study tomorrow. He used some of my notes, added lots more of his, and is using the same illustration for his Bible study tomorrow on The Armor of God. It is funny how we sometimes use the same base notes and go in different directions with different applications. But isn't it true that everytime we pick up the Word of God, He reveals Himself anew and fresh with individual applications? So next time you are preparing a Sunday school lesson or a speech to share at work or elsewhere, pray for us because we are doing the same preparation as you but forming it in Spanish!

Thanks too for emails and posts. They are such encouragements to us.

Are you there?

We have passed the year milestone of posting to our blog and the map of visitors has been archived. Now it looks as though no one reads...how sad. I miss seeing that map with all the red dots around the world... now it is beginning again. So to all you faithful readers, thank you for following our journey and for reminding the Father of us. We greatly appreciate both.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY and we are thankful for a few days reprieve from studying. It gives us time to "mellow" in review rather than receive new material and it gives us a time to refresh and recharge.

Tomorrow we both have presentations in class. David presents holidays in the United States and I have a Bible study on "clothing in the Bible and what God says about how Christians should dress." I am talking about the clothing of the Roman soldier and thus the armour for the Christian. Pray for us both...there are alot of new words in each presentation. Even though I try to only use words I already know, for some reason there are always too many new words and pronunications. I guess that is how I learn but oh how tongue tied I can become! Pray for us both. May we be a blessing to the other students and teachers around us tomorrow.

Enjoy your weekend!

Just think...

You are not here by chance...but by God's choosing.
His hand formed you and made you the person you are.
He compares you to no one else; you are one of a kind.
You lack nothing that his grace can't give you.
He has allowed you to be here...at this time in history...
to fulfill His special Purpose...for this generation.

These words written by Roy Lesson were sent to me by my sister in her birthday card. Perhaps they will encourage you today as they have me...YOU have purpose and meaning in this life which no one else can fulfill. But you can only fulfill this purpose as you surrender your life to the One who formed you and made you.

Happy Birthday, Glynis

Today is Glynis' birthday, but I received the best gift! For thirty-one years, she has blessed my life everyday with kindness and generosity. She lives simply, but with a profound love for the Lord and a sensitivity to others. She has always been the best mother I have ever known. Our children are the products of her kind and sacrificial heart. She has always been a living example of commitment to her family. I see young women gravitate to her because they recognize in her character qualities they desire for themselves.

In this season of her life, she meets with Lord daily to maintain her spiritual walk. She takes on the difficult task of learning Spanish with courage. In a time when she has little, she is content. She lives as one who has treasures unseen to the eye.

I have the blessing of living with her each day. She has always been a source of encouragement and help to me. What a gift from the Lord! So on this special day, I wish her a wonderful birthday. Glynis, I love you with all my heart.
David

With Empty Hands

Today's Lengajue class included singing. May you receive a blessing from these as well.

You Are All Powerful

The only reason for my adoration is You, my Jesus.
The only motive for living is You, my Lord.
My only truth is in You.
You are my light and my salvation.
My only love is You Lord
And forever I will praise You.
Chorus:
You are all powerful.
You are grand and majestic,
You are strong, invincible,
And there is no one like You.

The second song brought many tears as we sang:

With Empy Hands

With empty hands I come to You,
I have nothing that I give You.
I have nothing of value in me.
I can not impress You.

To You I can surrender my heart,
But it is broken.
Receive it, my good Pastor,
You can restore it.
Chorus:
I put my life in your service, Lord.
It will not be much but I bring it today.
And if my hands today are empty
You can fill them with Your grand power and love;
Use my hands, Lord.

A Recent Test - Write the story of Cinderella

Recently we completed our study of past tense verbs - in the preterite and imperfect forms, thus the test. Thought you might to read what I wrote for two hours...

Había una mujer muy bonita. Sus padres la amaban mucho, pero un día su mamá se murió. Entonces su papá se casó con otra mujer con dos hijas, muy feas. La madrastra se dio cuenta de que todas las personas siempre preferían Cenicienta porque era muy bonita. Ella quería la preferencia para sus hijas entonces ella iba a hacer cosas muy malas para Cenicienta. Cada día ella tenía que limpiar la casa, tenía que lavar y planchar toda la ropa de la madrasta y las hermanastras.

Un día la invitación llegó que anunciado la fiesta del príncipe. El príncipe quería casarse la más hermosa mujer en todo el mundo. Sus padres podían dar la fiesta para todas mujeres. Cada hermanastra fea quería estarse elegida para ser su novia. Cenicienta acababa de planear su vestido cuando su madrastra dijo que no iba a asistir la fiesta.

Cenicienta y sus amigos animales pequeños en la casa estaban muy tristes. Entonces cuando la familia sin Cenicienta salió para la fiesta, ella llora mucho. Inmediatamente el hada madrina apareció. Ella dijo que cenicienta iba a ir el baile en el palacio. Ella sabía el príncipe podía casarse solamente con Cenicienta, entonces quiso hacer todo perfecto para Cenicienta. Ella movió su varita mágica – había un coche de la calabaza. Ella movió su varita mágica – había seis caballos de los amigos ratoncitos y una más por el maletero. “¡Allí!” ella dijo, “¡Disfrute el baile!” Cenicienta gritó, “¿Cómo? Mi vestido es muy feo y yo no tengo los zapatos.” Otra vez el hada madrina movió su varita mágica e inmediatamente ella estaba vestida en el traje de fiesta que era más hermoso en todo el mundo. Y cuando ella miró a los pies, ella vio las pequeñitas zapatillas de crista. Otra vez, el hada madrina dijo, “¡Allí! Disfrute el baile del príncipe, pero recuerda, debes salir el baile entes de medianoche. ¡Así es más importante! ¡No se te olvide!”

Cenicienta acababa de llegar cuando todas las personas miraron la más hermosa mujer en todo el mundo. El príncipe no quiso bailar con ninguna otra mujer. Él sabía que había ninguna otra mujer para él. Ellos bailaron y bailaron y divirtieron. Cuando el reloj sonó a medianoche ella corrió muy rápido y perdió una pequeñita zapatilla sin su nombre.

Nadie sabía el nombre, él comenzó a buscar a esta hermosa mujer. Él visitó cada casa en el reino buscándola. Cenicienta quería ponerse la zapatilla pero su madrastra le dijo al príncipe no había ninguna mujer más en su casa solamente sus hijas. Él acababa de salir cuando Cenicienta arribó corriendo. Ella se lo puso y le quedó. El príncipe supo ella era la mujer.

El príncipe y Cenicienta se casaron y vivieron muy felices.

And that, my friends, is the story of Cinderella!

Recent modes of travel...

Recently when Bill, Vicki and family were here, we had fun traveling around Costa Rica via different modes of transportation. Guess which ones are authentic and which are posed.





















What fun times and what fond memories!

Friendship...

Our very special friends have come to visit and we are having a great time. On Saturday, we took a boat ride down the Sarapiqui River and visited La Paz waterfalls (you can view more pictures from the waterfalls on an earlier post back in May).



Yesterday we visited San Jose and enjoyed some shopping. Then today, a school holiday - Costa Rica Independence Day, we arrived at Volcano Poas just in time to view the crater before the fog rolled in and then toured Dako Coffee Estate.



Tomorrow while we're back in school, they are zip lining and whitewater rafting. Cool memories for a very special family who must really love us to travel from Tennesee, Georgia and South Carolina to visit us. Thanks for making new memories!



By the way, do you know the Friend that is closer than a brother? If you want to know about how to know this Friend, contact us and we will be glad to share with you how we have found that Friend, a Friend for all eternity!

Happy Birthday, David!

Happy Birthday to the man who has grabbed hold to the call of God in His life and has held on faithfully, leading our family and others to answer and follow the same call. Thank you for living a life worthy of following as you daily walk humbly in the footsteps of Jesus living victoriously in the fullness of the presence of God! I love you, birthday boy! You are never too old to learn...Spanish!?

Hold us up!

It will be a week FILLED with challenges and opportunities. We are enouraged to know that you are holding us up in prayer before the Father. We rest in His ability definitely not ours!

El fin de semana...

WOW! It is el fin de semana (the weekend) thankfully!

Welcome, sit down, hold on 'cause Here We Go!

Well, vacation is past and the time has come...time to return to the nitty gritty of classroom language study. Tomorrow we enter our second trimester.

David begins classes at 7:30 and has two hours of Lenguaje (Conversation) before his break time and free period and then returns to class at 11:15 for two hours of Gramática.

Glynis has a similiar schedule except her classes begin at 8:25 and then she has two hours of Lenguaje, short break, returning for two hours of Gramática ending at 1 in the afternoon along with David. We do not have the same teachers so again we will get a mixture of teaching styles.

Do hold us up in prayer as we enter those early school day jitters, you remember...you try to recall what you studied the previous schedule and struggle to pull it back into use...but this time it is in Spanish with all new teachers!

I find encouragement for this trimester from my recent readings - "But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is He that giveth thee power ... that He may establish His covenant." Deuteronomy 8:18

Tomorrow walk in confidence with us..."Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is He which goeth over before thee..." Deuteronomy 9:3.

Say Thanks!

Thanks for your prayers for our rest and refreshment. God has blessed us with both in such a place where the Hand of God was beautifully displayed.

































How could we not be refreshed in spirit and ready to walk the next mile with our wonderful Lord?!


Have you experienced the refreshment in spirit that comes from knowing Him as your Savior? Read John 3.

Vacation at Volcano Arenal

It was just as beautiful as it looks here! This was the view out our front porch each morning...clear and beautiful. On Tuesday night, we were able to see the glow of lava come down the side several times.

We left on Monday morning for our trip to Volcano Arenal and stopped at Denny's for a little American flavor...Grits! This is the first grits we have had since leaving in April.

Don't we look relaxed? And it is just the beginning of the vacation! It was indeed a relaxing time.

Did I say relaxed? If you look closing in the tree you will see David being hooked to his final of 16 ziplines. Don't know if I would say relaxed because he's been sore for two days now?! But it was fun, or so I hear! Me? No, I'm too relaxed for that kind of fun.

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Thanks so much for your prayers for our rest. We are getting some much needed rejuvenation from an intense trimester of Spanish classes. We look forward to some time at the Pacific next week. We will update with pictures from there when we return. It is so wonderful to view the creation of God. He is amazing! All for His glory and enjoyment- and our enjoyment too!

Happy Mother's Day!

Yes, I said Happy Mother's Day because we just celebrated it yesterday. Mother's Day here is always August 15th, no matter the day of the week. The celebration is second only to Christmas celebration. Mothers and older women are HIGHLY respected. Daisey, Rodolfo and the family went to the country to celebrate with Daisey's mom. David and I celebrated by organizing our office and going out for lunch at Taco Bell. Then we celebrated with the family last evening. Nuria makes such delicious cakes and the addition of vanilla chip ice cream only adds to the taste! They gave me a new shirt and two pairs of earrings - how special.

Speaking of special, here's Daisey and Rodolfo: