Well, I had been on a good run of posting on Mondays and I hope I can get this done by midnight tonight. I have been busy the last few weeks with painting the inside of one house and the outside of another. I have been blessed to have this work to pay off some of the balances of our personal bills before we head off to the Philippines. The Philippines!!! I think that it is finally starting to hit me that things will change once we lift off into the sky from Houston next Monday! Our last week at Big Woods in Louisiana.
Wow! I can't believe how time has flown by since we arrived here last September. That's almost 6 months ago! Six months ago I was saying my goodbyes to friends at work, family in Kansas, and fellow parishoners from St. Anthony's. It seemed like it was only going to be a short road trip. When we visited in December though it seemed like forever. It was SO good to see everyone again! It was so exciting to share how good God is and has been to us through our journey. This is just the beginning. I know from when I first heard His voice a little more than a year ago that this was for real. And now the time has come.
With all of the intensive studying and training done, the long hours of driving to the mission base in Mexico, and the awesome fellowship here with our new missionary friends it is time to let our Light shine to the ends of the world! Jesus has called us to build His Kingdom. We are happy and ready to follow where He leads us. We are willing to do whatever He asks of us. We are His!
In our last week, I cannot help but think of all the help we have received from our benefactors. It is with your support that this is starting to take shape. We are blessed when we receive your help and love to pray for your intercessions. We start off every day with the Liturgy of the Hours and include your prayer intentions as often as possible. For those of you who have turned in a prayer intention and have had it answered, could you please comment below. We should praise God in EVERYTHING we do!
It just dawned on me that next Monday I may have to be posting from the airport! There's still so much to do! We are planning a little "test run" with the kiddos sometime this week. We plan on only taking one backpack each and one suitcase for the whole family. The backpacks will mostly have clothes and maybe a few other things that we might need throughout our stops before getting to the island. The suitcase will mostly carry our books and other study material along with other things that we may need for our new home. Stacie has managed to reduce the weight of it to 40 lbs. So, after we all get suited up, we will walk from our house to the end of the road and back. It should be about a half-mile or so. Just a taste of what to expect with all of our gate changes at the airports.
Well, that's about all I have this week. Sorry it was a little short and very choppy but my eyes are getting heavy and I need to rest up. This last week is gonna go by fast! Pray for us, brothers and sisters. We definitely will keep you in ours. Peace be with you.
Ecclesiastes 3:6 "A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away."
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Christian Joy
Over the past week the word JOY has been popping up at me from Scripture. I have also been feeling joyful as our day of departure to the Philippines draws nearer. I remember feeling this way when we prepared to go for our mission training in Mexico last November. I have a feeling God has something SO much bigger than anything we've ever known or prepared for.
This time last year we were preparing for our trip to Big Woods for the "Come and See" event. We were so excited to see if this was for real and as the time got closer to go, the joy was overwhelming. The kids would picture all the "far away" places they would love to go. Their joy was infectious. Finally, the day came and within 13 hours we were in south Louisiana praying and singing praises to the Lord with strangers we had just barely met. It was awesome! It was for real!
Jesus was calling us to serve Him. My dream was coming true. It was not just a thought or some fantasy. It was more than that. He was calling us to serve Him in a deeper way. For some reason, I felt that there had to be more than what we were doing. We always went to Mass on Sunday and had our prayer time at home. I even volunteered my time to serve on the parish council for St. Anthony's in Wichita hoping to become a more "important" part of the Church. Still, my soul was thirsting for more.
Today's reading from Jeremiah 15: 15-16 in the Liturgy of the Hours we read "When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart..." In our last year in Kansas, we had started to regularly go to daily Mass. It was a very joyful time for me to hear the Word of Life. I never wanted to leave. I really believed that Heaven came to Earth and the more that I read the Bible the more I felt alive.
God's timing is perfect! From the time that we heard the call to missions, it seemed as if God was reassuring us. The priest would pray at Mass, "...for all missionaries in the field..." or the day would be the feast of a missionary saint. After this, I would look down the pew and all eyes were looking back to see if I caught the keyword. All smiles.
The thing that got me more and more though was the way the words jumped out from the book. Had I read this before? What version is this? Yup, Jesus was opening my eyes and my heart to listen to that reading on that day for a reason. Here are some of the verses that were read during that time of waiting:
Mathew 19:21 "Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide."
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation."
Luke 12:22-23 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing."
Again, this is not like we had never heard these verses before. These were the same words over and over through the years but with a new meaning and with a new energy. We felt God's presence ever nearer. God's Word was coming alive and jumping out to reach us. God was calling us now. We had to answer and jump for JOY!
Jesus calls everyone every day. He wants you! He loves you! Answer Him today and invite Him into your heart. Be sincere and be ready to listen. I know that what you hear will make you feel more alive than ever! Trust Him!
This time last year we were preparing for our trip to Big Woods for the "Come and See" event. We were so excited to see if this was for real and as the time got closer to go, the joy was overwhelming. The kids would picture all the "far away" places they would love to go. Their joy was infectious. Finally, the day came and within 13 hours we were in south Louisiana praying and singing praises to the Lord with strangers we had just barely met. It was awesome! It was for real!
Jesus was calling us to serve Him. My dream was coming true. It was not just a thought or some fantasy. It was more than that. He was calling us to serve Him in a deeper way. For some reason, I felt that there had to be more than what we were doing. We always went to Mass on Sunday and had our prayer time at home. I even volunteered my time to serve on the parish council for St. Anthony's in Wichita hoping to become a more "important" part of the Church. Still, my soul was thirsting for more.
Today's reading from Jeremiah 15: 15-16 in the Liturgy of the Hours we read "When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart..." In our last year in Kansas, we had started to regularly go to daily Mass. It was a very joyful time for me to hear the Word of Life. I never wanted to leave. I really believed that Heaven came to Earth and the more that I read the Bible the more I felt alive.
God's timing is perfect! From the time that we heard the call to missions, it seemed as if God was reassuring us. The priest would pray at Mass, "...for all missionaries in the field..." or the day would be the feast of a missionary saint. After this, I would look down the pew and all eyes were looking back to see if I caught the keyword. All smiles.
The thing that got me more and more though was the way the words jumped out from the book. Had I read this before? What version is this? Yup, Jesus was opening my eyes and my heart to listen to that reading on that day for a reason. Here are some of the verses that were read during that time of waiting:
Mathew 19:21 "Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide."
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation."
Luke 12:22-23 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing."
Again, this is not like we had never heard these verses before. These were the same words over and over through the years but with a new meaning and with a new energy. We felt God's presence ever nearer. God's Word was coming alive and jumping out to reach us. God was calling us now. We had to answer and jump for JOY!
Jesus calls everyone every day. He wants you! He loves you! Answer Him today and invite Him into your heart. Be sincere and be ready to listen. I know that what you hear will make you feel more alive than ever! Trust Him!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Down But Not Out
I'm sitting in the living room typing this up after just finishing the Super Bowl game on television. It doesn't get bigger than this game. It beats the baseball and basketball best of seven series. Only one game for the championship. It's win or lose. I grew up with football. I love it. I sometimes hate it. I love the sport because of the toughness, the teamwork, and the strategy on both sides of the ball. I hate it because I get so wrapped up in it with stats, anxiety, and a lot of times anger when something doesn't go right for my team. Football was, for a lot of years, a false god I worshipped.
As a kid, I remember Sundays being a day where we all gathered at Grandma's and planned out the day of BBQ, family, and fun. There's nothing at all wrong with any of this except for the most important part of Sunday--the most holy sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus. Oh, yes, we did go every Sunday, but keeping the sabbath holy was definitely not on my mind for the rest of the day. When I moved to Kansas at age 12, the Mass and Jesus were almost completely removed as part of my life. The one thing that I did do was football. And even more of it. I was addicted.
The early 1990s was more of a temptation to keep me hooked as my team was winning a lot more and was suddenly more competitive. I was definitely riding a high when the Dallas Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls in four years. It was not easy having losing seasons after that and knowing that we had bad teams with little to no chance of winning. It was so hard knowing that the only thing that I thought was constant on that day could bring me such pain. I was in deep.
I have sometimes heard drug addicts say they started to realize how bad it was when they hit rock bottom. One day changed my life for good-- thank God! My family and I were watching a game that was coming to a last-second field goal. Make it and Dallas wins. How hard can this really be? He better make this or else.....The kick was up....wide right! For those of you who know me, I am pretty much a cool/quiet guy. Not that day. I grabbed the remote control and slammed it very hard on a pillow that was on the floor. The remote bounced off and hit my oldest daughter on her face and made her cry. I hit rock bottom. I immediately began to feel very embarrassed as all eyes were on me. The room emptied out slowly and my heart was burdened. This was totally unacceptable. I obviously didn't mean to hurt my daughter but it still happened. Stacie had pulled me off to a side and we talked. The hardest part for me to understand was how to let go.
Nowadays things are more calm. I'm not stressed out and yelling at those in the TV. I love life. I have learned about moderation. I don't HAVE to watch every single game. I don't HAVE to watch every single play. My priorities are more in order and I thank God that He has shown me the joy of keeping His commandments. I remember putting ALL of my energy into a game that would be decided by the players not by what I did. I also like to think of my life now and what Jesus has for me if I put all of my energy towards Him! Yes, I sometimes fail (and sometimes miserably) but it doesn't end there. No matter how many times Satan knocks us down we have to dust ourselves off and get right back up and in the game. We are on the Lord's team. Jesus wins!
Vince Lombardi (Green Bay Packers Head Coach-1960s) quote on life: "After all the cheers have died down and the stadium is empty, after the headlines have been written, and after you are back in the quiet of your room and the championship ring has been placed on the dresser and after all the pomp and fanfare have faded, the enduring thing that is left is the dedication to doing with our lives the very best we can to make the world a better place in which to live."
As a kid, I remember Sundays being a day where we all gathered at Grandma's and planned out the day of BBQ, family, and fun. There's nothing at all wrong with any of this except for the most important part of Sunday--the most holy sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus. Oh, yes, we did go every Sunday, but keeping the sabbath holy was definitely not on my mind for the rest of the day. When I moved to Kansas at age 12, the Mass and Jesus were almost completely removed as part of my life. The one thing that I did do was football. And even more of it. I was addicted.
The early 1990s was more of a temptation to keep me hooked as my team was winning a lot more and was suddenly more competitive. I was definitely riding a high when the Dallas Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls in four years. It was not easy having losing seasons after that and knowing that we had bad teams with little to no chance of winning. It was so hard knowing that the only thing that I thought was constant on that day could bring me such pain. I was in deep.
I have sometimes heard drug addicts say they started to realize how bad it was when they hit rock bottom. One day changed my life for good-- thank God! My family and I were watching a game that was coming to a last-second field goal. Make it and Dallas wins. How hard can this really be? He better make this or else.....The kick was up....wide right! For those of you who know me, I am pretty much a cool/quiet guy. Not that day. I grabbed the remote control and slammed it very hard on a pillow that was on the floor. The remote bounced off and hit my oldest daughter on her face and made her cry. I hit rock bottom. I immediately began to feel very embarrassed as all eyes were on me. The room emptied out slowly and my heart was burdened. This was totally unacceptable. I obviously didn't mean to hurt my daughter but it still happened. Stacie had pulled me off to a side and we talked. The hardest part for me to understand was how to let go.
Nowadays things are more calm. I'm not stressed out and yelling at those in the TV. I love life. I have learned about moderation. I don't HAVE to watch every single game. I don't HAVE to watch every single play. My priorities are more in order and I thank God that He has shown me the joy of keeping His commandments. I remember putting ALL of my energy into a game that would be decided by the players not by what I did. I also like to think of my life now and what Jesus has for me if I put all of my energy towards Him! Yes, I sometimes fail (and sometimes miserably) but it doesn't end there. No matter how many times Satan knocks us down we have to dust ourselves off and get right back up and in the game. We are on the Lord's team. Jesus wins!
Vince Lombardi (Green Bay Packers Head Coach-1960s) quote on life: "After all the cheers have died down and the stadium is empty, after the headlines have been written, and after you are back in the quiet of your room and the championship ring has been placed on the dresser and after all the pomp and fanfare have faded, the enduring thing that is left is the dedication to doing with our lives the very best we can to make the world a better place in which to live."
"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."
Sunday, January 30, 2011
My Dream Job
Since I said I was going to start posting on this blog every Monday, I thought I'd better start with a dream I had when I was young. This is one of those special type dreams that seems so real that when you wake up it feels like you're in a new place. I had this dream during our engagement. It is a dream that I will never forget.
In my dream I was walking in one direction. A stranger stops me, points to the ground, and says, "He needs your help." The man leaves me as I continue to stare at the empty ground wondering, "What the heck!" Suddenly, the ground starts to rumble and then sift into the shape of a man. The man takes me by my hand and leads me in the other direction to a church rooftop. We stay there a moment gazing into the darkness until finally a beautiful sunrise reveals the land. After a short while, the view of the land turns into more and more when I realize He is showing me the world.
I had never spoken of this dream at first because I remember waking up and feeling different. I didn't understand what the dream meant or who the man was leading me. I felt a peace that I had never known from a sleep like that. All the pieces started coming together as my relationship with Jesus grew stronger and stronger.
Jesus is the man! He took me by the hand and led me to the rooftop. He was showing me the world and how many people there are that don't know about Him. He needs my help. He is taking me in a direction that I wasn't planning on going. I know, however, that when I reach the end of the journey I will know Peace.
I remember my last days as an aircraft painter at Spirit Aerosystems. I was half-joking with my friends that I was going to be taking a new job. I didn't want to say too much too early. Some would ask, "Is it with Spirit?" I answered with a quick yes thinking that my new boss is the Holy Spirit. "Oh! So it's an international position," they continued. Yes, again. The whole time I knew that my new "dream" job was working with the Holy Spirit in foreign lands as a lay missionary for the Catholic Church.
Below is a song from Rich Mullins called "I'll Carry On". It is one of the best songs that I've ever heard that best describes my call to missions. The beginning is very touching so listen closely. God bless you.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/c-rCF9GsAlQ?rel=0
In my dream I was walking in one direction. A stranger stops me, points to the ground, and says, "He needs your help." The man leaves me as I continue to stare at the empty ground wondering, "What the heck!" Suddenly, the ground starts to rumble and then sift into the shape of a man. The man takes me by my hand and leads me in the other direction to a church rooftop. We stay there a moment gazing into the darkness until finally a beautiful sunrise reveals the land. After a short while, the view of the land turns into more and more when I realize He is showing me the world.
I had never spoken of this dream at first because I remember waking up and feeling different. I didn't understand what the dream meant or who the man was leading me. I felt a peace that I had never known from a sleep like that. All the pieces started coming together as my relationship with Jesus grew stronger and stronger.
Jesus is the man! He took me by the hand and led me to the rooftop. He was showing me the world and how many people there are that don't know about Him. He needs my help. He is taking me in a direction that I wasn't planning on going. I know, however, that when I reach the end of the journey I will know Peace.
I remember my last days as an aircraft painter at Spirit Aerosystems. I was half-joking with my friends that I was going to be taking a new job. I didn't want to say too much too early. Some would ask, "Is it with Spirit?" I answered with a quick yes thinking that my new boss is the Holy Spirit. "Oh! So it's an international position," they continued. Yes, again. The whole time I knew that my new "dream" job was working with the Holy Spirit in foreign lands as a lay missionary for the Catholic Church.
Below is a song from Rich Mullins called "I'll Carry On". It is one of the best songs that I've ever heard that best describes my call to missions. The beginning is very touching so listen closely. God bless you.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/c-rCF9GsAlQ?rel=0
Friday, January 28, 2011
Strength in Waiting (part2)
The post before this one was supposed to have appeared last week. I got too busy and soon I put it on the "back burner". So, this post is an update of the happenings after the waiting had come to a pressure point.
Last week I had come to a point where I felt as if the Lord was telling me to not pray for the sale of our home in Kansas anymore. I had a sense of peace knowing that from here on out the Lord was going to start the "sale" process and that I needed to concentrate on other things. That Wednesday when we prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet we offered it up solely for the sale of our house while letting go of any anxious thoughts. I had felt a lot of pressure weighing on my mind about this (and other worries like the upcoming travel expenses, the waiting for an official invitation from the Philipine Bishop, etc.) for the last few weeks and could feel the weight of waiting bearing down. Sometimes when God quietly works out His miracles, one can feel like he is alone or away from God. I did not expect what was going to happen within the next 24 hours!
Stacie and I sat down one night a few weeks ago to figure out our taxes and to see what kind of refund we would get. I was surprised at first how much we were getting back but with the addition of Julian and other factors it was easy to see why (well, for Stacie, anyway). While the waiting period began after the "Send-off" Mass in December, I had begun to think what would happen to this money. The thought of it being garnished to make future house payments was making me upset at times, especially since I was already applying it to our mission travel fund. Instead of being patient and strengthened at that time, I was worried and anxious. Not at all how Jesus taught us to be.
Fast-forward to the day of my prayer during the Divine Mercy Chaplet. That night while I was checking e-mails and such, my realtor, Sheree, and I started to "chat" online. I asked her a few quick questions about our situation regarding the tax refund and the short-sale process with our house. She informed us about how any money that we have and use for our mission is ours and cannot be taken away. What a relief!! My prayer to offer everything completely to God was being rewarded that very day! Early the next morning, we got an email confirmation of when to expect our refund- January 28. Also, a missionary friend of ours, Sid, came running to our house with a piece of paper in hand- the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro had finally written his official invitation. Everything was starting to take shape and God's hand was in it the whole time. My spirit was leaping and I was feeling the weight of waiting lessening. God is good!
Thank you for praying for us, our dear benefactors, as we prepare for our mission trip to the Philipines. The date is now set for departure on February 28th. We are currently going through our things again and making sure we only take what we think we really need. Our daughter, Meredith, is insisting that we allow her to take only three shirts, a pair of shorts, one dress, one skirt, and one pair of pants, after reading that Jesus said to take nothing for the journey. She even feels guilty taking that! When we left Kansas in September, I thought that we arrived in Louisiana with little to unpack. God is so good to us and we always have more than we need when we trust in Him. Please continue to offer up your prayers for us and also help with our mission travel expenses. Maddie, our oldest, is hard at work crocheting rosary pouches (several different colors are available) as a fundraiser. Meredith has laminated, hand-drawn holy cards for sale with prayers on the back. Thanks again especially to those who are donating to us monthly. This will provide our daily needs as we build God's Kingdom. Several $5 or $10 per month contributions can go a long way. Please consider making your tax-deductible donation today. God will bless you one hundred-fold :)
"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."-Philipians 4:6-7
Last week I had come to a point where I felt as if the Lord was telling me to not pray for the sale of our home in Kansas anymore. I had a sense of peace knowing that from here on out the Lord was going to start the "sale" process and that I needed to concentrate on other things. That Wednesday when we prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet we offered it up solely for the sale of our house while letting go of any anxious thoughts. I had felt a lot of pressure weighing on my mind about this (and other worries like the upcoming travel expenses, the waiting for an official invitation from the Philipine Bishop, etc.) for the last few weeks and could feel the weight of waiting bearing down. Sometimes when God quietly works out His miracles, one can feel like he is alone or away from God. I did not expect what was going to happen within the next 24 hours!
Stacie and I sat down one night a few weeks ago to figure out our taxes and to see what kind of refund we would get. I was surprised at first how much we were getting back but with the addition of Julian and other factors it was easy to see why (well, for Stacie, anyway). While the waiting period began after the "Send-off" Mass in December, I had begun to think what would happen to this money. The thought of it being garnished to make future house payments was making me upset at times, especially since I was already applying it to our mission travel fund. Instead of being patient and strengthened at that time, I was worried and anxious. Not at all how Jesus taught us to be.
Fast-forward to the day of my prayer during the Divine Mercy Chaplet. That night while I was checking e-mails and such, my realtor, Sheree, and I started to "chat" online. I asked her a few quick questions about our situation regarding the tax refund and the short-sale process with our house. She informed us about how any money that we have and use for our mission is ours and cannot be taken away. What a relief!! My prayer to offer everything completely to God was being rewarded that very day! Early the next morning, we got an email confirmation of when to expect our refund- January 28. Also, a missionary friend of ours, Sid, came running to our house with a piece of paper in hand- the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro had finally written his official invitation. Everything was starting to take shape and God's hand was in it the whole time. My spirit was leaping and I was feeling the weight of waiting lessening. God is good!
Thank you for praying for us, our dear benefactors, as we prepare for our mission trip to the Philipines. The date is now set for departure on February 28th. We are currently going through our things again and making sure we only take what we think we really need. Our daughter, Meredith, is insisting that we allow her to take only three shirts, a pair of shorts, one dress, one skirt, and one pair of pants, after reading that Jesus said to take nothing for the journey. She even feels guilty taking that! When we left Kansas in September, I thought that we arrived in Louisiana with little to unpack. God is so good to us and we always have more than we need when we trust in Him. Please continue to offer up your prayers for us and also help with our mission travel expenses. Maddie, our oldest, is hard at work crocheting rosary pouches (several different colors are available) as a fundraiser. Meredith has laminated, hand-drawn holy cards for sale with prayers on the back. Thanks again especially to those who are donating to us monthly. This will provide our daily needs as we build God's Kingdom. Several $5 or $10 per month contributions can go a long way. Please consider making your tax-deductible donation today. God will bless you one hundred-fold :)
"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."-Philipians 4:6-7
 |
| Rosary pouches-$5 ea Holy Cards-$2 ea or 3 for $5 |
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Strength in Waiting
Whew! With Christmas officially over, we are now even closer to our mission posts. The Eckstines and Sid are REALLY close as they get ready to leave for St. Lucia in the Carribean on the 19th of this month. Others will head back to the mission house at General Cepeda in Mexico. Susanna, Teresa, and we are headed to the Philipines in late January but only after receiving an official invitation from the Bishop. All we have to do now is wait and wait and wait...aaagh! This is hard to do after gaining the full momentum from our first short-term mission trip to Mexico and the completion of our Intake program in early December.
We had an awesome "Send-off" Mass at Our Lady of the Bayous in the first part of December. Family Missions Company allowed a break to all of the missionaries to visit family and friends over the holidays. Most everyone left Big Woods and soon the Alvarez clan was left with a few of the other "seasoned" missionaries. Odilio was feeling a strong call to return to Kansas but with little cash on hand it was going to be almost impossible--ok, it was totally impossible. We had enough gas money to get to maybe Shreveport and back (as long as there were a lot of downhills on the way back). Anyways, we decided to pray one night when the call seemed so strong and real. We said,"Lord, this is going to be totally up to you if you want us to go because we see no way for us to do it on our own. You must provide if this is Your will." We'll just sit back and wait.
Not long after our family prayer, Stacie got a call from back home. Her mom, Debbie, wanted to know what our plans were for Christmas. There was nothing really to say except that we were going to plan on a quiet and simple holiday meal together. Surprised that we hadn't made any travel plans, Debbie informed us about a good friend of hers that wanted to give to us. It wasn't an ornament or a fruitcake, but a gift card with enough money for gas to and from Kansas! No, way! Yes!!! We hadn't told any of our relatives about our urge to travel back home but we knew that it was all God. Amazing!
We ended up arriving in enough time to rest and go to the Midnight Latin Mass at St. Anthony's in Wichita. It was SO good to see our friends there again. We even had kept it a secret that we were in town for a few days because our girls wanted to surprise the Leybas (operation: success). We were so blessed with the many invites for lunch and dinner(special thanks to the Swans, Leybas, Reals, Hardys, Habashys, Hauges, and Canos) that we only had to cook once! Needless to say, our schedule was booked every day we were there. One of the sweetest blessings came from our good friends, the Swans, and their 9yr old daughter, Anne. She was so excited to give us our gift when we visited and made sure that was the first thing we did as we entered. Anne had carefully inserted $20 each into two beautifully hand-made cards--One for "Mr. Odilio" and the other for "Ms.Stacie". She offered up some of her Christmas money for our Mission- specifically to go toward our plane tickets :).
So, here we are again. We're back at Big Woods and just waiting. We are slowly trying to incorporate the mock schedule we have set for our life in mission. Please continue praying for us to be patient as we wait for the miracle that God is sending our way to be able to purchase our plane tickets to Manila. Waiting is hard but the glorious reward is worth it!
Isaiah 40:31 "but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
We had an awesome "Send-off" Mass at Our Lady of the Bayous in the first part of December. Family Missions Company allowed a break to all of the missionaries to visit family and friends over the holidays. Most everyone left Big Woods and soon the Alvarez clan was left with a few of the other "seasoned" missionaries. Odilio was feeling a strong call to return to Kansas but with little cash on hand it was going to be almost impossible--ok, it was totally impossible. We had enough gas money to get to maybe Shreveport and back (as long as there were a lot of downhills on the way back). Anyways, we decided to pray one night when the call seemed so strong and real. We said,"Lord, this is going to be totally up to you if you want us to go because we see no way for us to do it on our own. You must provide if this is Your will." We'll just sit back and wait.
Not long after our family prayer, Stacie got a call from back home. Her mom, Debbie, wanted to know what our plans were for Christmas. There was nothing really to say except that we were going to plan on a quiet and simple holiday meal together. Surprised that we hadn't made any travel plans, Debbie informed us about a good friend of hers that wanted to give to us. It wasn't an ornament or a fruitcake, but a gift card with enough money for gas to and from Kansas! No, way! Yes!!! We hadn't told any of our relatives about our urge to travel back home but we knew that it was all God. Amazing!
We ended up arriving in enough time to rest and go to the Midnight Latin Mass at St. Anthony's in Wichita. It was SO good to see our friends there again. We even had kept it a secret that we were in town for a few days because our girls wanted to surprise the Leybas (operation: success). We were so blessed with the many invites for lunch and dinner(special thanks to the Swans, Leybas, Reals, Hardys, Habashys, Hauges, and Canos) that we only had to cook once! Needless to say, our schedule was booked every day we were there. One of the sweetest blessings came from our good friends, the Swans, and their 9yr old daughter, Anne. She was so excited to give us our gift when we visited and made sure that was the first thing we did as we entered. Anne had carefully inserted $20 each into two beautifully hand-made cards--One for "Mr. Odilio" and the other for "Ms.Stacie". She offered up some of her Christmas money for our Mission- specifically to go toward our plane tickets :).
So, here we are again. We're back at Big Woods and just waiting. We are slowly trying to incorporate the mock schedule we have set for our life in mission. Please continue praying for us to be patient as we wait for the miracle that God is sending our way to be able to purchase our plane tickets to Manila. Waiting is hard but the glorious reward is worth it!
Isaiah 40:31 "but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint."
 |
| Samuel, Josh Leyba, Abe, Joseph Leyba |
 |
| Maddie, Claire and Anna Leyba, Meredith |
 |
| Fun with cousins- Kylie, Alli, and Justin Real |
 |
| Intake 2010's last Mission Formation together |
Saturday, December 18, 2010
He Is My Shield
One of my favorite activities during the Intake training program is Desert Day. The whole group of missionaries heads out into the desert with only a sack lunch, a drink, a journal, and ,of course, their Bible. We split up after a quick prayer and sit out there for about 2-3 hours as we enjoy a quiet lunch and quiet reflection with the Word of God. The Desert Day in General Cepeda, Mexico is one that I will never forget.
Intake 2010 started out for the mountains of Mexico in the usual way. The rough terrain coupled with a car full of children can easily distract the driver (me) of the goal for the day. After some time though we finally arrived to see differing elevations of beautiful mountain ranges. Mr. Frank led us in prayer and we went our separate ways. Being in the Mexican desert for Desert Day was already going to be different than it was in Louisiana this day for two reasons: 1. It wasn't in the pasture of Big Woods. 2. My son, Samuel (age 5), was going with me.
We grabbed our gear and headed towards one of the nearby hills with an edge that seemed to drop-off. As we neared the end of the cliff, we noticed a small creek at the bottom with plenty of room to unpack and splash around if need be. The trip down there was more challenging than I expected, and soon I was carrying my backpack, a giant water jug, our lunches, and Samuel! We were walking on the slippery gravel for quite a while when we finally made it to the bottom safe and sound.
Samuel and I ate our lunches and briefly talked between bites. Finally, I turned to him and said,"OK, son, now listen to me. We are in the desert and we are having Desert Day. That means we are supposed to pretend like we are the only ones out here and we that we have to listen to what the Lord says to us from His Holy Book." Then I grabbed Samuel and placed him in a spot that I thought he could stay out of trouble and not get hurt while I tried hard to meditate on Scripture. I should have known better than to think that a 5yr old can sit still for at least 20 minutes in the great outdoors. This was more like 20 seconds!
The sun was blazing hot that day and maybe that was the real reason the creek was so inviting. I asked Samuel to come over by me and told him that he could sit right by me if he agreed to stay super quiet so that I can concentrate on my readings. I strategically placed him on my left side as we were in the open with the sun beating down on my right. My son was safe in my shadow and I was instantly assured that he would not get sunburned. After all of this time and preparation, I was finally ready to start my Desert Day.
A few minutes passed and I still had Samuel in mind instead of opening my Bible. Is he comfortable? Is he getting sleepy? Why is he SO quiet all of a sudden? Is he thirsty? Is he fully protected from the sun? Then, Samuel squirms a little. He looks up at me with his huge brown eyes and says,"Dad, it's kinda hot in the desert."
Nothing at that site was more beautiful or more true than what this little 5yr old boy said. It taught me a lot about my ways and my walk with the Lord. "But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head." (Psalm 3:3) If we truly believe that the Lord is with us every step of the way, then we must be careful the next time we think about complaining about the little things. Someone much bigger than we is already taking the heat. :)
Intake 2010 started out for the mountains of Mexico in the usual way. The rough terrain coupled with a car full of children can easily distract the driver (me) of the goal for the day. After some time though we finally arrived to see differing elevations of beautiful mountain ranges. Mr. Frank led us in prayer and we went our separate ways. Being in the Mexican desert for Desert Day was already going to be different than it was in Louisiana this day for two reasons: 1. It wasn't in the pasture of Big Woods. 2. My son, Samuel (age 5), was going with me.
We grabbed our gear and headed towards one of the nearby hills with an edge that seemed to drop-off. As we neared the end of the cliff, we noticed a small creek at the bottom with plenty of room to unpack and splash around if need be. The trip down there was more challenging than I expected, and soon I was carrying my backpack, a giant water jug, our lunches, and Samuel! We were walking on the slippery gravel for quite a while when we finally made it to the bottom safe and sound.
Samuel and I ate our lunches and briefly talked between bites. Finally, I turned to him and said,"OK, son, now listen to me. We are in the desert and we are having Desert Day. That means we are supposed to pretend like we are the only ones out here and we that we have to listen to what the Lord says to us from His Holy Book." Then I grabbed Samuel and placed him in a spot that I thought he could stay out of trouble and not get hurt while I tried hard to meditate on Scripture. I should have known better than to think that a 5yr old can sit still for at least 20 minutes in the great outdoors. This was more like 20 seconds!
The sun was blazing hot that day and maybe that was the real reason the creek was so inviting. I asked Samuel to come over by me and told him that he could sit right by me if he agreed to stay super quiet so that I can concentrate on my readings. I strategically placed him on my left side as we were in the open with the sun beating down on my right. My son was safe in my shadow and I was instantly assured that he would not get sunburned. After all of this time and preparation, I was finally ready to start my Desert Day.
A few minutes passed and I still had Samuel in mind instead of opening my Bible. Is he comfortable? Is he getting sleepy? Why is he SO quiet all of a sudden? Is he thirsty? Is he fully protected from the sun? Then, Samuel squirms a little. He looks up at me with his huge brown eyes and says,"Dad, it's kinda hot in the desert."
Nothing at that site was more beautiful or more true than what this little 5yr old boy said. It taught me a lot about my ways and my walk with the Lord. "But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head." (Psalm 3:3) If we truly believe that the Lord is with us every step of the way, then we must be careful the next time we think about complaining about the little things. Someone much bigger than we is already taking the heat. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)