Well where do I start?  Lots of changes around House of Hope.  First off most notable is how few kids are here, (around 20) many have gone back to their villages of origin or to their relatives for the holidays and should start trickling back in this week. Also, sadly to say some have died and even more sad to me are the children that have been kicked out!  How is it that this is a children’s home, a place of opportunity for the less fortunate, and can turn away or release kids that have grown up here and call this home, all because of what I see as normal childhood issues? At least from my point of view, “smoking or viewing porn” (two of the known reasons for kids being kicked out) is certainly unacceptable behavior, one that needs to be corrected, but, do I think removing them from the house and the schooling offered with this house is going to help correct anything?  Certainly not!  Furthermore, it is certainly not showing the kids here the love that Jesus has shown us.  All this makes me think of the parable in  Matthew 18:12-14 in how we should rejoice more of the one that was gone astray and was found, than the ninety nine that has not gone astray.  We are told it is not the will of our Father in heaven that even one of these little ones should perish.   And then again in Matthew 18:21 about the number of times we should show forgiveness to one another.  The thing is, without a loving parental guidence or the God loving and fearing rolemodel in the kids lives how can we expect for them to grow in Christ?  How are they going to hear if they have no one to tell them?  Still, even though I have this dilemma  filling my head, I am grateful and feel blessed to be with the people here in La Moskitia.  We took the kids swimming in the lagoon this afternoon and are having a New Years party with the kids watching movies in Espanol and eating pizza from a new pizzeria in town and when Lisa placed the order they asked if she was the “new Katrina?” Not sure how I feel about that. Kinda achey….

           Praying for discernment for us all  here at House of Hope and blessing upon these beautiful children.  Amen. 

In the Hood

I’m certain we all had beautiful moments with our loved ones this past week, and hoping you were able to reflect on some of the things that make you thankful.

Lisa, Taylor and I just got home from five wonderful days at Hood River, OR and a house plum full of extended family (30 total for 2 nights) Lots of eating, playing of cards, visiting and catching up, also several of us were able to get out and up the mountain for some boarding!  What a blast!

Our visit ended with church service and lunch.  I found God’s timing and His message per usual, spot on.  Basically, in so many words the pastor was sharing how we all try to gain happiness and gratification for ourselves in worldly things, and how the happiness and gratification that may come from worldly things are all temporary, also that the real change we often desire in life can only come from God, as He is the giver and sustainer of all creation.  We are told that, “…all things were created by Him, and for Him:”  Colossians 1:16 pastor then said how it would be better for us to think of “how we can fit into God’s plan” instead of thinking how we can “make God fit into our plans.” And isn’t that perfect timing as Lisa and I organize our packing and go over our inventory of things that will be needed on this trip and trying to make it all fit within two carry-ons and one check-in each. No problem 😅

The prophet Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5 sums it up. Some 700 years before the birth of Christ.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions,  He was bruised for our iniquities,  The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,  And by His stripes we are healed.”

Grateful for a loving God, our God is quick to forgive and full of mercy.  As we celebrate this day I pray we all take time to reflect on what is the reason for this Holiday.  To ask Jesus into our lives and to receive what only believing and trusting in Him can give us,  true happiness and eternal life!  Merry Christmas everyone, thank you for reading.

Ok, so today was a travel day for Lisa, Taylor and myself.  We had every intention of being on the road by noon, usually we can make the drive to Hood River in under 4 hours.  Today however, we had the truck loaded and gassed up ready for the open road at 2pm hoping to make it past Tacoma by rush hour.  When we got about 4 blocks from home Lisa says, “Oh shoot! I forgot the stuff to make asparagus cream cheese ham rolls.” I immediately replied, “We got to turn around, those are too good to not bring.”  Then Lisa asks if I had remembered to pack the roaster for the turkey?  Well, good thing we needed to go back home for forgotten foods because I would have been in a serious bind without a roaster to cook the bird in. LOL.  As we are making our way back to get on the highway we realize there is one more stop needed, just a quick Costco stop for pretzel buns, then a quick bathroom stop and we are on I-5 Southbound just in time for a very wet and rainy rush hour commute.  I can be as guilty as the next guy, but I really don’t understand why everybody on the freeway needs to be in front  of the guy that’s in front of him?  I need to remember that even with all our planning and best intentions there is always something bigger at work in our life and simply realizing that helps  remove a lot of stress.  In the end, there is no one I’d rather be in the truck with for 5 1/2 hours than my two girls, and we arrived safely, none the worse for wear.  Thanking God for teaching me patience one trip at a time and allowing me to find peace in knowing His timing is perfect.

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