Just Be ~ Baby Care Love

Happy Easter from these Mighty Men!

Lament, a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. The very word draws my mind downward, like an endless spiral into the deep darkness of ones soul ... the word causes me to cave into a pit of sadness, despair ... it's a heaviness that wraps chains around the neck of my very being, the core of who I am ... I scream stop! ... hope appears to be a distant glimmer ... no, wait, is there hope in lament? ... the anguished cry of bitter solitude, no one to listen ... words are pessimistic, turning the hearer's ears to the depths of this state ... tears flow, tears are nonexistent, the coldness of this cave prevents them ... the fist pounds in anger, the fist raises in contempt of the One who is silent, to the One who is holding ... There! There is the hope ... if one can see it, it's the faintest flash of light on the darkness of the horizon ... perhaps the one in lament needs the eyes of a Seer to see the light, to tip the chin toward hope ... Or, perhaps the Seer needs to let words be silent, let anger cease, let hope lie covered in the vale of lament ... To be the hand to hold, the eyes to see the depths of loss and not attempt to fix it ... to just be. The Seer and the Lamenter, sitting side by side, hands clasped, souls crying to the heart of the Holder, finding peace in just being.

"But I don't want to talk about lament ... I just want everyone to be happy, not sad!" She tearfully lifted her exasperated hands ... offering a verse of hope, a promise, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow ... She is learning ... I am learning. Lament is a season to be celebrated, not fixed, not changed, not hurried on.

Lament ... I am learning ... just be.

Life on the Mountain
Two full weeks compiled in one blog ... Two day El Nido Conference, He lifted me out of a pit and set my feet on a Rock ... Work team of 10 mighty men ... The backhoe came and a mighty work it did ... Extended family Ice cream treat ... successful first round of tests in school, so proud of you Jedidiah! ... washing, cleaning, packing and praying for our EMM retreat ... insert a week in Guatemala and El Salvador ... Flying internationally while living internationally ... And finally, finishing up these two weeks ... Arriving home to our refreshing mountain home in time to celebrate Easter weekend in Costa Rica!

Life in the Desert of Guatemala
Father safely carried us through airports, expired visas, border crossings and blessed us with an Angelic pair to chauffeur us from El Salvador to Guatemala and back again ... then to the airport at 4:00 a.m. ... It's what they do, no matter the hour! ... Finding peace in the chaos, we were fed through relationship with our Central American compatriots at our annual EMM retreat ... Consolation, desolation, lament, rest, connection and laughter ... 100 degrees, poolside, 26 kids, 19 adults, 8 children's ministry workers = 53 ... did I miss anyone?

Life in Quaint El Salvador
We tasted the beauty of El Salvador in less than 24 hours ... got "real" barber haircuts for $1.50 ... enjoyed Pupusas by candle light due to a torrential rain storm that knocked out the electric ... relished sweet fellowship with our Vida220 team ... attempted 5 hours of sleep under the peaceful whirl of church ceiling fans ... And, flew home!

Praises
His wings of protection through all the travel
Spending time with Hannah
Health, healing
Strong shoulders to cry on
The camaraderie of life over seas
Time to just be and hold hands

Prayers
Back to school, back to life
Patience to just be
Jedidiah - sadness, discouragement
Delynn and Gloria as they travel to Honduras to minister to our Vida220 teams during a week of training
El Nido Eye clinic, Team coming from the States to serve our Mama's and their families with free eye care
My swollen left foot - no reason!
Finances for VidaNet vidanetonline.org/friends-vidanet