Back from the Cayes

HI all! We just got back safely from a GREAT trip to Caye Caulker. Getting there was quite the adventure...I'll blog more about it tomorrow!

Caye Caulker

We have been so busy for the past 9 months that we have not been able to see much of God's beauty displayed here in Belize. Well, this weekend we are going to take some time off and do just that. We are heading out in the morning to the small island of Caye (Key) Caulker. As you can see in the picture, there is a visible "split" that a hurricane created many years ago that separated the island into 2 parts. We will be staying very close to this split. We will travel by bus ~5 hours and then by boat for ~1hour to get there. We'll take plenty of pics! Have a great weekend!

Grace tells another story

I have been recently reminded again just how awesome our Grace giving God is. Here's the story...

The other night Hannah and I were sitting on our bed (listening to some tunes) at the end of a long hot day, exhausted and really feeling bummed about the lives some people choose to live. There are so many hurting people out there in really desperate situations in the middle of terrible, even unthinkable circumstances, that on the surface appear that they will never change and never get to a better place. Anyways, like I was saying, we were sitting there, probably wallowing a bit, when this song randomly played from iTunes. I know I must have heard this song before but in this very moment I "heard" it for the first time.

Grace tells another story by MercyMe

They say don’t waste your time
You simply cannot find
An ounce of good within the heart of man
They say we’ve got to lay
In the bed we’ve made
And live this life without a second chance
But I’m inclined to say
There must be something more

We’ve been told that the heart is just too far gone to save
But grace tells us another story
Where glory sends hopelessness away
Oh grace tells us another story

They say we cannot change
There is no other way
Get used it cause this is all there is
They say don’t raise your voice
Cause we don’t have a choice
We’re dealt this hand so learn to live with it
Well I have to believe
There must something more

WOW! "We've been told that the heart is just too far gone to save, but Grace, tells us another story!" That was the line that just exploded in my spirit. Sometimes I know we give up on people and situations that seem hopeless too quickly. For us, this was a gentle yet POWERFUL reminder to not give up! To Keep praying, to keep loving, to keep being there. One thing I often ask myself is "where would I be if it were not for grace?" In Romans 5:20 it says "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."

So if circumstances or the situation or even someone tells you that things will not change, remember that Grace tells us another story! Thank you God for your loving Grace that you freely give to anyone who asks! I encourage you to listen to this song and I pray it brings you encouragement and lifts your spirit! Here's a link to the song in video format http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6VKwGuhS2k

Blades update

Thank you all for the prayer and thoughts for Blades. His wound is slowing showing signs of improvement. A few days ago I sat him up in bed for first time in nearly 5 months and he liked it very much!! We now sit him up and exercise his arms and legs daily. He can't wait until he can get into a wheelchair, but unfortunately he'll have to wait a bit longer until his wound heals more. I told him about my blog and that i had many of my friends praying for him and he wanted me to tell each and everyone of you "thank you" and that he "appreciated it very much."

Prayer for Blades

I would please ask all for you to pray for a man known as "Blades." He was paralyzed from the neck down after falling down some stairs in January. As a result of his immobility, he has developed a very large and complicated, life threatening, wound on his backside.

Hannah and I have been diligently caring for him daily for the past 2 weeks since he was released from the hospital. He ran fever everyday for the first 12 days or so, but "Thank God" as Blades put it yesterday, he has not had any fever in 3 days since I changed him to a very strong (donated) antibiotic that is not available here in Belize!! His wound is still infected but we may be seeing signs of slow healing. He asked me yesterday, "Doc (what he calls me), this can heal right?" I was honest and told him once again that yes it can but it is going to take a lot of "TLC" (time, love and care) and prayer. He believes God will see him through this and I would ask that you believe the same thing with us and remember Blades in your prayers. Thanks!