Robbed yet rich

Last Thursday, in the middle of a beautiful Quito afternoon, robbers broke a window in our living room, bent and broke the bars, then stole our two laptops, ransacked our bedroom and took the rent money and cash from my wallet saved in our dresser. The heavy loss is the info on the computers. Phil and I both work from our home office. It is also difficult to be without computers...I am writing from a teammate' s Kindle she lent us. Slowly. :)

My mother-in-law called today and encouraged me, "Often it is through necessity God works His plan." Yes, I am ever aware of my necessity and my inadequacy. And in my need God expresses His abundant grace. O that my eyes would be wide open to see God's expressions of grace, such as all the ways He is providing, how he blinded the eyes of the thieves when they dumped my jewelry box and left my diamond wedding ring. There is no other explanation for why I didn't feel frightened the night of the robbery or violated by the knowledge that strangers touched my clothes, looked through my drawers, looked through my wallet, saw my name, threw my undies on the floor..men rifled through my place of safety and refuge with evil intentions. Yes, I am overwhelmed with crazy, abundant grace.

My refuge lives in me and cannot be stolen. The things that make us rich cannot be stolen. Life eternal. Love unconditional experienced through friendship, family, community. Even my identity cannot be stolen. Who I am, the daughter of the King, my true identity, can never be taken. HE can never be taken from me, ever.

Casa Adalia -- Girls know how to have fun!

Recently I was appointed to teach one of our life skills classes at Casa Adalia. The topic? Personal hygiene... 

I introduced the theme by holding up a small, stained-glass vase, “I would like to show you a valuable object. What do you think makes it valuable?  Well, it is beautiful. I like to look at it. It is also valuable because it was given to me by my husband Phil. But, if I drop it, it will break. Or if I place it inside a cupboard, its beauty will be hidden. And if I want Phil to know I am thankful for it, I will take good care of it.

The same is true with our bodies. God created us in His image. He gave us marvelous bodies, much more valuable than this vase. BUT, in order for us to enjoy the bodies God gave us or to let Him know we are grateful, we need to take care of them. YOU are a beautiful creation! When we display our outward and inward beauty in the manner God designed, we are able to reveal to the world His incredible beauty.”

We then read together Psalm 139:13,14

Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—You’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

Next, I handed out information on a variety of topics concerning personal hygiene. I challenged each person to create a poster to portray the main points from their handout.  When finished we each presented the information to the entire group. Everyone did a great job. We laughed, we listened, and we learned together. 

At the end of our time we made a natural face mask from oatmeal, lemon and yogurt.  We laughed some more as we blobbed on our face masks. I reveled in the sweetness of our group experiencing such joyful and educational “girl time” in a safe and healthy setting.  Gotta say...I am glad God made me a woman because girls know how to have fun! :)

Kristin, our house coordinator, displays her poster AND face mask!