It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Christmas time is here again!  What an exciting time.  Every other year I have been overwhelmed with the gift giving and going from here to there, but this year, I am taking it as slow as I can. I want to remember what this season is all about.  It is about our hope.  The birth of our Savior.  Oh, how much He loved us to come to earth to live a humble life and then die a horrible death in our place so that we would no longer be found guilty.  Then, gloriously, He rose bodily from the grave, defeating death forever!  Hallelujah!  Everything else falls short in comparison to that! 

I am so thankful that we are allowed to spend this Christmas with family.  I can't wait for the Smith Christmas this Saturday, to hear the stories, laughter and singing.  Oh, and don't forget the eating.  My Granny passed down a love for cooking to all of her children, which has been passed down to their children.  It is a feast like no other.  We are also blessed to spend Sunday with my Daddy, Mama, sisters, brothers in law, and nephews.  It has always been a time of anticipation.  It becomes a glorious mess in about 30 seconds.  It's all the children can talk about.  We have to wait until after Christmas to spend time with Rick's family, but there will be sweet fellowship and the sound of children playing and laughing until they are told to lay down and go to sleep.

I say all of this to say how blessed I am.  God has given me an awesome husband, six beautiful children, (plus one that I am sure will beautiful), parents and siblings who love us on both sides, and for that I am so thankful.  This year, I'm taking it all in, a whole lot slower, so that I can remember.  I can know that I am loved and cared for.  We may not always be close together, but our hearts will always have the memories that God has allowed us to make today. 

Next Christmas it will probably be just us in 90 degree weather, listening to Winter Wonderland in Spanish, showing the love of Jesus to the people of Nicaragua so that they may know about His birth, His death and His resurrection.   It is what we have been called to do.  Share His love!  Whether He called you to go around the world for His sake or to go to your next door neighbor, remember to share His love this Christmas season.  

So, when you are tempted to get angry with the crowds of people in stores, busy streets with bumper to bumper traffic, all the parties you "have" to go to, or just the busyness of the season, just take the time to stop.  Stop and be thankful that you have people to buy presents for, people who love you enough to invite you to the get togethers and that you have a Savior who loved you enough to come to earth to give us a reason to celebrate.  Remember, you are blessed!  And remember to pray for a missionary family who is spending time away from their families this Christmas. 

Serving Nicaragua

   Well, we just finished a week-long trip to Masatepe, Nicaragua.  This is the area The Lord has laid on our hearts to serve as full-time missionaries.  It was my first time to the country, although Rick has been several times.  We will be partnering with S.H.E.O. Ministries and are being sent out as career missionaries from Reaching & Teaching.  We are very excited to see what lies ahead for our growing family.  The Lord has been so good and so faithful to us through this process.  His hand has led us step by step as we seek His face.  It is such a blessing to know He desires to use us for His work.

During this recent trip, we were able to accomplish much, although our team was small.  Our two oldest boys were with us and jumped right in and worked hard.  The men poured three cement slabs so people no longer had to sleep on the dirt.  We delivered beds to people, handed out food bags of rice, beans and corn, handed out toys to the children for Christmas, and fed hundreds of people.  It was a big undertaking, but was awesome to see the look on the faces of the children when they received the gifts and food.

The greatest problem in Central America is not poverty, it is sin.   They need to know Jesus and how much He loves them.  They need to be educated on how the Bible says Christians are to live.  We believe God is calling us to this task.  He has on our hearts to build a Seminary to train pastors and  teach women.  We believe with education, a lot of the problems that are occurring will be solved.  It is sad to see such poverty, but if that is our only concern, we have missed the mark.  We are thankful God has teamed us up with S.H.E.O., who shares our belief that we have to teach them if we truly want to be a blessing and help them.  Thank you so much for praying for us.

We are praying for 100 people to committ to $20 month to reach our budget.
Would you pray and see if God wants you to be one of the 100.
Thanks and may God bless you as you pray and team up with us.

THINGS NEEDED NOW:
- Passports for four children

A few things that are always need:
Shoes
Clothes
Hygiene products

What really is needed is battery tools. In some areas where we would like to work, they don't have electricity, so battery tools would be SO helpful. If you feel The Lord leading you to donate, here are some things needed:
- Skill saw
- Reciprocating saw
- Drills
- Grinders

ALL DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE