Be a Spark!
James 3:5
"But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire."
James 3:5 is referring to the fact that our tongues are powerful and that our words can have a very negative affect. But the verse can be looked at in a postive way to. That when you make a spark for postive change, it just might start a great forest fire of positivity! I want to challenge each of you to BE A SPARK! Find ONE way THIS week to start something positive. Whether it be something big like starting a bible study, or something simple like starting a conversation to build someone up, or to talk about God, BE A SPARK! START SOMETHING POSITIVE THIS WEEK!
In Hocaba, Tim and I made a spark. That spark is now a huge forest fire and we couldn't be happier about it or be praising God more! It is such an incredible blessing to see how God used us to be the spark that started this fire!
Hocaba's physical facilities had been unchanged for years. The sanctuary had about 3 blocks built of a concrete wall when we arrived. This year, we felt God wanted us to do something about it, so we did - well, God did through us. Through our determination and the GENEROUS donations of many of our family and friends, we got the ball rolling.
Now, that there is change and growth and development, so many more people are jumping on and catching the vision. So many more people want to throw their own "logs" onto the growing fire of postive change GOD is making in Hocaba.
People from the church in Merida are donating blocks, and today on a day off from school the young adults group and a few 7th graders spent the day working in the blazing 90+ sun in Hocaba busting, picking up, and hauling rocks for over 5 hours!
Now everyone is on board, Merida's church's pastors are now seeing the fire and wanting to join their support. As more people hear about Hocaba, more are seeing the need and the huge impact a small donation can make and then they donate! The pastors are now sending mission trips to Hocaba for more days to keep the fire going. IT IS SO WONDERFUL! GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!
Today we hauled rocks for many hours to build up the foundation for the part of the church that will be raise a couple feet for the alter. Then after getting lots of rocks, we filled the gaps with sand.
Also, we unloaded 500 blocks donated from the Merida church which will be put up sometime in the next week or so.
After the rock hauling was completed, the barber shop opened. Tim cut David's hair, Sarah cut Brad's hair and I cut Neftali's hair!
Seeing the spark catch fire is such a unique, exciting, fulfilling, motivating thing. Now Tim and I are more dedicated then ever to give our all to Hocaba. In fact, we have started tithing 10% to Hocaba (embarrassingly we hadn't been tithing before). It feels good to do it, and we know it is what God asks of us.
In other Hocaba news, Wednesday bible study continues to go excellently. Our bible study group is doing well, united together as peers. As leaders, Tim and I have formed relationships with each and every kid...its awesome. They are now respectful and always willing and excited to participate! They are always so excited to learn more about the Bible. This week we did 1 Corinthians 12 talking about unity in the body of Christ and that everyone is a needed and valuable member of the body. Then, we did team relay races as our activity to remind us to work together in unity. One of the games was to see which team could put more popcorn kernels in a cup in a given amount of time using only their toes:
Another was to see which team could fill a glass first by filling their mouths with water, running to the cup and spitting it into the cup:
Needless to say, we had a blast!
Sunday School continues to go well. We are excited to see that the same kids are coming almost every week and our typical number is 22.
We are so blessed to have many kids who continue to come week after week to learn about God even though their parents do not come and are not Christians. We hope and pray that these kids will go home and teach their parents. One couple has started to come after their son went to church almost a year by himself!
This week in Sunday School we talked about Ephesians 6 - the armor of God. Our craft was to draw the armored person on a blank puzzle.
The kids loved it! Thanks Matt and Laura Barczewski for getting this craft for us!
Other news: We had Neftali stay for the weekend with us again. Her and Tim hung out alone Friday while I was at girl's night at Nicoles house. Then Saturday me and Neftali went to the park with Angelica and her doggy, then went to Sarah's house and swam for 3 hours with Sarah's girls Alyson and Audrey then hung out the rest of the day. Sunday we did a Bible study before going to Hocaba for Sunday School. It is so much fun having her stay with us and for us to get to know her better. She is such a wonderful kid!
Prayer Requests:
1. That the fire in Hocaba continues to blaze and get even bigger and brighter. So big and bright that everyone in Hocaba is asking where the light is coming from and comes to see for themselves.
2. For the planning of the Hilliard UMC mission trip in June.
3. For Tim and my marriage to be strengthened be our reliance in God.
4. For Neftali that she grows in her faith and maturity and that we can have a postive influence on her every time she stays with us for the weekend.
5. That we have energy and don't get burnt out. We are super busy now, with something after school everyday of the week and something both weekend days. We LOVE it, but still get worn out some times!
6. Continued spiritual growth and reliance on God.
Later in the month, we were blessed with a relaxing vacation in Playa del Carmen with Tim's mom Mary Jo, and sister, Tara. It was an amazing trip! Relaxing, renewing, refreshing! It was great to spend time with family and kick back! And man did we kick back in style! Pictures can say it better than me, so here are some highlights:
