Never Give In. Hold on and hold out until you make it.

Life’s battles don’t go to the stronger or the faster man. Sooner or later the man who wins is the one who endures till the end.  

Despite a crashing economy, rising cost of living, foolish and failing governments, rising risks to health and safety, and a continued decay in moral society: God keeps in perfect peace the mind that is fixed on Him; because they are trusting in Him. (Isaiah 26:3)  

I know; it’s been 13 days since I’ve posted anything. The last two weeks we’ve been preparing for our Open House Summer Evening party celebrating our new beginning here in our city, the beautiful life and home that the Lord has blessed us with, and Activated Ministries near 10 years of service to God and others—of which we’re grateful to be a part.

We’ve been at our new location in Baja six months now, and although it’s been a lot of hard work and many, many adjustments & challenges along the way –We have in fact gone through some very deep waters, some so great that at times we thought would drown us, or at least extinguish our light here. We have walked long roads in the middle of the darkest nights we have known until now. Although we have had a house, we have known what it’s like to be homeless. We have fought, we have held on, we have prayed, praised, endured. Praise God, without whom we cannot even breathe.  –We are deeply grateful that the Lord has brought us this far by faith and that we are now enjoying a life of rewarding service to the Lord and His world here in Mexico.  

Our Open House was a simply a beautiful time. We enjoyed the company of our immediate neighbors and those of our extended neighborhood, as well as so many of our new friends and work acquaintances–the beautiful and fascinating people of our new city.

We relaxed over a pleasing spread of delectable food (thanks to Dr. Chris and her daughter Jules, also to my sister Michelle, and Nikki) and wine (from the amazing cheap buys at Trader Joes –there were Tom’s picks and a few of my favorites

—and then, cool bartending by Dan Johnson, who kept it flowing),

followed by the best fish tacos on any side of the border (thanks to our good friend and seafood restaurateurs Arturo and sons),

live music (Marky, Niki, Jason, Clara, Stephanie, Dan).  
 

Since July 4^th we have labored together—all the dedicated and hard-working folks in our Home to renovate our “new” old house, and renew the outdoors—bringing back to life scores of plants and flowers in the yard, placing a lawn (gardening has become the new all-time favorite family activity, and the kids love going to the nursery to pick out plants and flowers to add to our property), building a playground for our children, painting indoors and outdoors, framing and hanging pictures of our kids multi-faceted experiences and interests at school, on travels, at play, and participating in a regular family affair: the Great Commission (Mark 16:15).  

The people who worked tirelessly on that big to-do list (now-accomplished) were Darren and Sam D, Phil, Sam and Tammy P., Tory, Michelle, Boo, Maria, Timna. People, I’ve seen you give everything you have to make this come together, and I don’t quite know how to express how deep my love and admiration is toward you. 

The other side of this beautiful coin has been that, for all of us, this has seemed to be “the push that never ends” as we have marched on through a number of delays, surprises, and setbacks to get set up and establish our new home and missionary community. I’d have to say that so far 2008 has felt like one big six month marathon, while this past two weeks we have had to garner even more energy and call on the Lord’s strength and help to finish with a final sprint. There’s hardly a single night in the last two weeks that I’ve been to bed before 1am. While there were two nights in a row before the open house that I was up till 3 am (with the others also continuing the work to be finished in time for the big day) and one night when 4:30 am was the hour I retired to bed. So yes, I’m tired. But it’s a good tired. Still, a “very ready for a change of pace” tired. I’m praying for that. Jesus, please do the things only You can do to slow the pace for us and lead us to green pastures and still waters: Restore our souls. And please do help me to do my part –whatever it takes—to make it happen according to Your will. 

Thank the Lord for His help and His joy which is our strength: Today I can say “It’s been worth it.” And above all that I feel, I feel grateful. 

Our children are doing very well in school –each of them are advanced in their studies; they are each discovering their interests and talents which they would like to develop or try their hand at; they are playing in a basketball league at one of the universities here which has a fairly new and so-far successful sports program for children, youth and adults; the kids’ teams have won a few games and their scores and pictures have been featured four times in the local newspaper; they have warmed up to the idea that they can learn Spanish and that one day soon they will be able to converse freely in it, and they are catching the Spanish “bug”; they have good friends, and have made new friends in the neighborhood and from basketball.  

Evie, our “dolly” is still the cutest thing that ever crawled around Baja. She’s cut about 5 teeth recently and done so quite cheerfully, considering they all seemed to be coming in at once (2 more on the way through right now).

Evie makes us feel that there’s nothing more wonderful to her in the whole world than to have mommy and daddy both together at the same time playing with or holding her. What do you do when you feel so loved?  

Grateful. Simply grateful.