13 years married to this amazing woman

today marks 13 years that kerrie and i have been married - and 18 since we started dating.

what a wild ride we have been on. because of God's grace (and kerrie's patience and loyalty), we stand together after many difficult years, more in love than we have ever been.

check this out: when we first got married, we didn't have much of anything. we had no money, we were working and going to school, barely making ends meet. but these were some of our happiest times. before long, we had everything. i had a great job, we had lot's of money, cool cars, a boat, nice house, exotic vacations, etc, etc... and it's during these years that our marriage struggled. and now... back to having nothing (this time by choice!), trying to live for others instead of ourselves, and we're happier - and closer - than we have ever been!

i am so thankful for this amazing woman. she is my rock, my accountability, my soul mate, and my best friend. she keeps me pointed towards the truth.

she is a lot of kind & sweet, mixed with a dose of raw & feisty.

she is the embodiment of honesty.

she loves jesus like no one i've ever met.

she is beautiful.

what Esbin is teaching me

please shoot over to the dSg blog for a recent experience...

bball league

yesterday we kicked off our first full sports league. we'll practice and play games every friday afternoon for the next couple months. for me, this was a special day. it has been something that has been on my heart ever since we were called to guatemala.

something about being on a sports team opens up up your heart. there is something unique about the environment that helps you rely on your coach, trust your teammates, and grow together.

and in areas of poverty, where many of the kids are on their own all day long without much attention from parents (even less from dad), this is an opportunity for these kids to learn about relationships, love, grace, and respect. a chance for them to learn about Jesus.

today i felt a special peace. i am so excited about the league. this is where i am supposed to be...

sweep the leg

last week we had a friend visit who has more karate credentials than i can begin to list. he runs a bunch of karate schools in the US and is apparently one of those "experts in everything combative" types.

he asked if he could do a demonstration in Buena Vista... so he came up and showed them some skills, broke some boards, and hung out with the kids. We had a great time and more importantly the kids had a blast. Thanks for coming Dave!

surgery update

stefani's surgery went great!! she was in the hospital for less than a full day, and is home and recovering well. we'll know soon the results from a biopsy on the "tumor", but for now all has been removed and she is healthy and happy. thank you to the people who donated the funds to make this special girl's life so much better. just to think she was suffering every day from the pain of this thing, and now is free from it!! praise god!!

pray for stefani

stefani (see blogs below) heads to the hospital tomorrow morning for her surgery. she'll be there all day before we get an update. please join us in prayer for her!

tired

it has been a great last few days, and tonight i am spent. you know that feeling when you're not necessarily "sleepy" but you're just physically & mentally exhausted?

in the last few days we have had some visitors here who have been so generous. their heart for the poor, this community, our ministry, and our families has left us feeling overwhelmed. while they were here, we packed so many things into a short amount of time. this morning, after getting the kids to school, grabbing quick workout and meeting them for breakfast, we took them to the airport and guicho and i stayed in the city to run some needed errands.

after getting home around 5 we received a call from a family that is here visiting (to consider returning as missionaries) asking us to meet them for dinner in antigua...

finally home around 8:45, a friend is waiting at the door. drunk, broken, and crying, he needs a someone to talk to. we hang out outside the door for the next 30 minutes or so. i prayed for him and tried to share some truth, but i think he was too smashed to hear anything...

i am so very thankful for all god is doing, and praising him for having the energy to try to keep up. but tonight, i am beat. tomorrow is a new day!

SP

to protect his identity because i know he doesn't want any credit, i will call him SP (which is the initials for a nickname he earned by the buena vista kids).

SP and his wife recently visited and poured their generosity on us and our community. in a short amount of time, they have blessed 2 local families with new homes, donated 2 chicken coup businesses, purchased a truck for our ministry, provided a handicapped kid with 10 weeks of physical therapy, gave cash donations and work tools to various dS and 12x12 staff, and felt led to support one of the dS families on a monthly basis.

i am at a loss for words!!!!!!

i almost didn't blog this for fear of embarrassing SP and his wife, but i just had to share it - and say MUCHAS GRACIAS - one more time. to god be the glory!!

love you guys.

our new community of believers

last night god blessed us with a sweet deepStream community gathering, and reminded us of that wonderful feeling of gathering in homes to worship, hang out, have fun, learn from god's word, pray, plan, and dream...

together with the salazar's and schmidt's, we had a fruitful wednesday night "dS" gathering. (we had started the wednesday nights with amy and the salazar's, but the arrival of the schmidt crew almost doubled us!) the evening included a great meal, lots of worship, prayer, some great talk time with the kids, and an adult discussion of galatians 3 that trailed off into many different directions...

there is something so refreshing and even exhilarating about this type of church gathering. the intimacy is intense. it is personal. you can't hide, no slipping in & slipping out. everyone has a voice. we are equally qualified to edify, encourage, teach, listen, suggest, share, and learn. struggles, worries, challenges and needs are laid out on the table - bringing about the opportunity to provide for each other in real and tangible ways. the bond that is created in these environments is strong.

just think of the early church of the new testament, following the death & resurrection of jesus...

devoted to teaching and fellowship... praying and breaking bread in homes... providing for each others needs... having all in common... of one heart and soul, with no belongings the called "their own"... (acts 2 & 4)

this is a sweet picture of the fellowship of believers, and one that i am so thankful god has given us the privilege to be a part of so quickly after moving to a third world country! i am excited about whoever else god may be bringing to multiply our community here in guatemala...