Here on our little fishing boat, here are some of the great things we have seen.
1. Visits: John and Jamy Cochran, old friends and long-term supporters, visited us for two weeks, loving us, encouraging us, asking us hard questions, and being with us on a heart to heart level. Much laughter, many tears, and new wisdom and encouragement are coming from this visit. Don Gilbert was also with us for four days here in Montevideo and out at San Geronimo, loving our kids, loving us, and helping us navigate some tricky parenting issues that are on our plate right now. Steve Adams and Carlton Deal lead our community and other invited guests in weekend of learning to sit in silence with the Lord and learning to have His heart for our cities.
2. Roman: I was out for a hamburger the other day when a middle-aged man began to tell me how he just lost his multi-million dollar business and he now wants to understand how Jesus can help him make sense of life. He wants to meet weekly to gain some new set-points for living.
3. San Geronimo: We were able to fix up one of the older buildings and add bunks to sleep nine more people. Now, about sixteen people can spend the night out there and have a bed to sleep in.
4. Family: Toni and Allie were able to take a weekend away, just mother and daughter, last month–NO BABIES! A storm-cloud had descended on our little boat over the last year or so as a culmination of adding new family members, a new school, new demands, and oncoming ADOLESCENCE… We went from a tense “What in the heck have you two done with my parents!!!” to “Mom, Dad, I know life is hard, and I love you guys so much.” I love this family!!!
5. Grocery Coupons: We have severely limited any credit card use during this time, and some friends gave us some grocery coupons last month. Cool.
6. A surprise gifts A call out of the blue came last month from an old friend that wanted to give a one-time gift. We didn’t expect it, and that was how we managed to get a paycheck!
7. Divine Speaking: A new Christian in our community awoke in a panic the other day speaking an unknown foreign language. Okay. Yes. Absolutely bizarre. He had actually been making fun of people who “speak in tongues,” decrying them as psychologically warped people in need of extra-attention. He showed up at our house church asking me, “What does ‘Eloi Hebrae’ mean?” “Why in the world would you ask me that?” “Because I woke up in a panic yelling that the other night. Together we figured out that ‘Eloi’ is Aramaic for God and ‘Hebrae’ Latin for “of the Hebrews.” M~ woke up yelling “God of the Hebrews! God of the Hebrews!” Needless to say, that has inspired him to read the Bible more! And yes, I am still pretty freaked out by the whole thing myself. My grandmother was a tongue-speaking (raving?) charismatic, and several of my friends are, but I am still in wonder over the whole deal.
