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!