March 2017

I want to thank each and everyone that helped our sabbatical time possible. We had almost three months with my family in Manitoba and then at the end of December we headed for California and were so blessed to see our family and friends there. Truly blessed to attend the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference where we were spiritually fed and encouraged and also met many new friends.

End of January we were back in Belize and what a joy to be back with our Belize family and friends. Tino our foster boy had improved so much during the time we were gone. He has been getting physical therapy every week and what a difference that has made for him.  Now he can sit on his own and his balance has improved so much as well has his eye hand coordination. He still has a ways to go before he will be able to walk but it is looking hopeful. 

Cory is working on his senior year with Calvary Chapel on line. He continues to play soccer whenever he gets a chance and is enjoying youth group. 

Our ladies study Believing God by Beth Moore is still going on and the ladies feel they are gaining so much through this study. We are back in the swing of planning our 11th annual ladies retreat for the end of May. We are so excited that Gail Arterburn from Graeagle, California is coming out to be our guest speaker this year. Please pray for God’s guidance in all the details. 

I have shared with many of you my desire to see a children’s home started here in our town for children with special needs. Right now we are looking for property that is affordable but also easy access. From me taking Tino to get physical therapy gave the therapist a vision to start a campaign and help other children. Right now there are 12 children receiving therapy because someone has sponsored them. 

Thank you so much for your love, prayer and financial support. 

Psalm 96:3

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

November 2016

As some of you know, I have been praying for the past year about taking a sabbatical. I

have been on the mission field since Brian and I were married 1998, first in Baja California,

Mexico and then for the past 12 years in Belize. A lot has happened in these years and it

felt like it was time to take an extended break to be refreshed spiritually as well as

physically, to spend some quality time with Cory, and also with my family, especially with

my parents while they are still with us.

So here we are in Winkler, Manitoba. Cory and I arrived on October 5th and have already

enjoyed celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving and my Mom’s 79th birthday with our family.

While we are here in Winkler, God has blessed us with our own little two bedroom

basement suit and the use of a car. Cory is managing to keep up with his Grade 12 studies

through Calvary On Line. He’s also doing lots of reading, visiting family and friends, and

trying new things such as the local youth group.

On December 30th we will fly to southern California to attend the Calvary Chapel

Missions conference in Murrieta from the 2-6th of January. After that we will have a few

weeks in the Sacramento and Chico area visiting more family and friends before returning

home to Belize.

It is amazing to stop and look back over these years and see all that the Lord has done. In

2004, after 6 years of serving in Mexico, Brian and I followed the Lord’s call and moved to

Belize. Very soon Brian was teaching and mentoring Christian men who were hungry for

solid Biblical teaching, in our town of San Ignacio and also in Gales’ Point, where we drove

every weekend to teach at a small local fellowship. I had been caring for children in

Mexico, and before that in Canada, so I was thrilled when the Lord opened the door for me

to start caring for little ones in Belize.

After Brian went to be with the Lord in 2007 I knew that the Lord was calling me to stay

in Belize with our son Cory. I didn’t know how I would serve the Lord as a widowed

missionary but God had it all figured out and He kept bringing children who needed care

and love to our home. Over the years we have had many children stay with us, some for

many months and others for a few days or just overnight. The past couple of years have

been quite intense as we had 2 year old twin girls, as well as a 2 year old boy, living with us

for many months. Needless to say, they kept us running and on our toes! After these

children were moved to adoptive homes, Tino came to live with us. Tino was born with

micro-encephaly. He is now almost three years old, and with physical therapy is

progressing so that now he can now roll over and move around on the floor. He is a happy

smiley child who brings much joy to our home.

Whatever the need, or the situation, we welcome these little (and sometimes not so little)

ones into our home with open arms, give them clean clothes and a full tummy and above all

share the love of Jesus with them. And there are many days when, in the midst of taking

care of the children and doing housework or other chores, troubled women or young girls

come to our home looking for help, friends drop by seeking counsel, or just needing some

fellowship and a cup of coffee.

One thing I have learned is that in order to be ready to meet the demands of the day I need

to be spiritually fed daily. God is also showing me that I need to give all my cares to Him as

it is so easy to worry about the mother who is abused, or the children whose mother is not

mentally stable. I have to lift these situations up to Him in prayer and trust that He will

work them out in His timing and in His way.

I see a great need for a place for children with special needs if it were a place to stay or a

place for respite for those parents that choose to keep their precious child. Please join me in

prayer to see where the Lord would want this place to be and for workers that have a heart

to love on and care for children that need this special care.

Thank you for the love, prayer and financial support you have given us over the years. Cory

has started his senior year of high school and like most teenagers seeking to see what

direction God would have for him go in the coming years.

God’s special blessings on each one of you.

May 2016

Our month of May has been busy but so very blessed. This past year a girl named Alicia from Mexico found me on Facebook and now a few months ago she said that her and her boyfriend wanted to get married. She said he had received Christ and they both wanted to live right in the eyes of the Lord. She use to come and visit us (when we lived in Mexico) every chance she got. Now she was asking if I could come to her wedding. She saw me as her spiritual mom and wanted both of her moms at the wedding. Cory and I started making plans to go to Mexico and God went before us and worked out the details. As I drove from San Diego into Mexico I felt like I was home. How familiar things can be even after 13 years. The day before the wedding Alicia introduces her husband to be to me as his mother in law. She told her two sons that Cory was their uncle. She named her first born son after Brian, which is such an honor and shows even after so many years God allowed me to see the fruit of our labor. It was a very God honoring wedding and I was also blessed to visit the Calvary Chapel church in Vicente Guerrero that friends of ours started. We had many God moments. Visiting a ministry that helps abused women and their children, Eternal Anchor who help children with special needs, Foundation for His Ministry, praying with my friend Johanne and so many more. 

After five days in Mexico we went back to San Diego where we met up with some friends and also a trip to Long Beach to visit with my father in law and his lovely bride and niece and her family. It was a truly blessed trip and even when I was kind of out of my comfort zone driving along these busy freeways, Cory was a great navigator. 

John 8:32 was our theme verse for our tenth annual ladies retreat here in Belize. We were truly blessed with the amount of ladies that came. We had around 60 ladies in all. In 2006 when Denise and I started our planning for our first retreat in 2007 we wanted to bless the ladies that we were ministering to and bring them together. Over the years I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support coming Anna Mensie who is a big part of our planning team and Spanish Lookout community. 

Our main team of planning but we get a lot of help and support from others as well. Thanks Rachel, Anna and Denise!

WE have been truly blessed and thanks so much for standing in prayer with us. 

April 2016

This past year seems like it has gone by so fast. As I reflect back I feel so much has happened. Last year in November the twins were placed in their adoptive home. Only a few weeks with one, two year old, Zion, and then Tino came into our home. 

In February is when I got the call that Zion’s birth mom had passed away and if I could bring him into the city so the social worker could take him and his siblings to the funeral. Zion at the age of two did not really understand and when I picked him up at the office I could tell he was friendly with his five older siblings. My heart was saddened when I saw the sad looking faces. The following week I asked the social worker if I could have a day or afternoon and bring all six children together and have a play date at the park. She agreed and we set a day to do this. They had a good time connecting with each other and asked if we could get together in April for Zion’s third birthday. I told them I would see what I could do. Zion left to his adoptive home the day before his third birthday and so I planned with his adoptive mom a few weeks later to join us at the park where we had all the siblings together. This time we  had some time at the park but also went out for pizza. I pray for these five older children and that God would find a special family for them. The five are placed in three different homes and ages 5-16 years. 

Now Tino is the only foster child in my home and he turned two years in February. He has microcephaly which means he was born with a small head and brain. He is very happy and loves people. Physically he cannot walk, talks like a 5-6 month old and he keeps growing and gaining weight. I am not sure how long I will be able to care for him as my back will not  handle me carrying him as he gets bigger. There is a great need for people that have a heart for foster children. Praying for a children’s home that not only takes care of children with special needs but also would be open for some hours during the day for children to come whose parents might need a break. When I think about Tino staying in our home for long term then I can see we will soon need a ramp and a wheelchair for him. Praying for God’s perfect will in his life. 

Thank you for joining us in prayer. I am seeking God’s perfect will in the future of the many children with special needs. 

Cory started eleventh grade this year through Calvary On Line. He is enjoying his studies and he still enjoys a good game of soccer. 

Thank you once again for your love, prayers, and support. 

We thank God for the rain that is coming down right now. We have had a very hot and dry past few months. 

February 2016

I know many of you joined me in prayer for direction concerning Cory and his education. 

We are thankful that Cory was able to register with Calvary on line school and this is an accredited high school in California. He had to get adjusted of the way they did things but he is doing really well now. 

Psalm 6:9

The Lord has heard my supplication;

The Lord will receive my prayer.

January 2016 Happy New Years!!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2
Just finished a study with the ladies at church where we were encouraged to keep the faith and not allow the enemy to rob us of joy and peace that comes from our Lord and Savior. What a blessing to have a group of ladies, even if it is only few of us that meet regularly, to have that fellowship and prayer time together.
Each month has its own blessings and challenges. Beginning of December I was blessed to have Cory return to Belize after his five months in Alaska. He came back with many wonderful stories of all the things he experienced and learned. With being out of your comfort zone does draw you closer to your Maker because He is the only one that always stays the same.
Cory and I met in Phoenix where we were blessed to spend four days with our friends Andrew and Amber Walker and their two beautiful daughters. It was such a blessing to see you after so many years. Thank you for a weekend we will never forget.
The day we came home from Phoenix the social worker brought us a special needs little boy. He will be turning two years in February but he is mentally and physically more at the age of four to five months.
Some of the challenges we have faced in the last month or two is saying good bye to the twins who went to their adoptive family. Do not get me wrong I have peace that they are in a very loving Christian home. After 22 months in my care a special bond does form and they will always have that special place in my heart like so many others in the past. For Christmas Zion my two and a half year old spent two weeks with the twins. He will be the next one to be placed. We are not sure where he will placed at this time but there are several who are interested in adopting him. Praying for God’s perfect will in Zion’s life.
As 2015 came to an end I knew I had to make some decisions concerning Cory’s education and not sure which direction God desired for us to go. I found it hard to celebrate Christmas with feeling the pressure of needing to make a decisions along with missing loved ones. I had to come to the point of seeking peace in waiting on the Lord to see what is next. I was trying to make decisions quickly feeling Cory should be in school as the classes would start after the new year. Covet your prayers as we have started 2016 and continue to seek God’s will in the decisions ahead.
This past week I have had some trouble with getting my emails. So till the problem is fixed please send all emails to my new email address which is graceandmercy1985@gmail.com If you have sent me anything in the past week or two please resend to this email address. Not sure where all the emails went to that were in my inbox on my computer but they too have vanished.
Thank you once again for your faithfulness in praying for us and for all the little ones that have come and continue to come through this home.
 

October 2015

I had the opportunity to be in Sacramento for my father in law’s wedding in September. The whole weekend was a fun time with the Mooney family. I was blessed!! Then I flew to Anchorage, Alaska where a good friend that I met in Mexico met me at the airport. I had not seen Marie since our time serving in Mexico 13 or 14 years ago. She offered to give me a ride, which was a three hour drive to Talkeenta, to the Miller home where Cory is staying. It was such a blessing to see Cory and meet the rest of the Miller family. Cory has grown so much in his walk with God and is very thankful for this opportunity of learning how to not only fish but how to clean and fillet them. He has also had the opportunity to help butcher a moose two different times. He is doing home school along with the Miller children, which is another wonderful opportunity for him. The fall colors were just beautiful beginning of Sept, and the last time I saw fall colors was in 2008. It was truly a blessing and a refreshing time for me. God knows what we need and provides it just in time. We are looking forward to Cory’s home coming in December. 

It is really hard for me to say no when there is a child in need of a safe place. Sixteen months ago when I had a two year old in my care, the social worker called to see if I would be willing to take the twin girls that had been in my care for five months the year before. I could not say no and I was excited to see them again, but it was very sad that they came back in such bad health. They have changed so much in the past sixteen months. I give God the glory for the work He has done in them. This week I had to say no to a child that was only a year and a half needing a place to stay. 

As I seek God’s will for each child that comes into my home I know He is always there. He not only provides for the needs they have while in my home, but He also helps me emotionally let go when the time comes. We are in transition with the twins right now. They have been doing amazingly well with their new parents that will be adopting them. This past weekend they took the twins out for ice cream and had a few hours of fun time alone with them. It will seem very empty once they are gone but I am truly blessed how God has found a Christian home for them. 

Zion is my youngest one, active and full of joy most of the time. We continue to pray for God’s perfect will in his life as well. 

As overwhelming or tired as I have been at times I praise God for sending help. I was blessed that there were loving homes that were willing to take in my children while I went to visit my family in Canada for the month of July. In September Julie Stewart came down for a month and stayed with Zion while I was gone for two weeks. It sure is nice to have another adult in the home when there are three active two years olds running around. Eleven days after Julie left Raquel Enns came to help out. The little ones have kept her busy since day one. The other night as I was preparing supper I found it so quiet because Raquel took the little ones out to play, and they were well supervised. 

Our transportation has been a challenge at times when I like to buckle the little ones in car seats, but still need to have others with me. I have been praying about a need for a vehicle that seats at least eight or nine people. I know God knows what is ahead for us and what our needs are better then I do. If it is on your heart please join me in prayer for a good working vehicle, that has room for the car seats for the little ones, room for the help that comes down, and room for friends that need a ride to church. 

I want to thank each of you that have been supporting us here in prayer, financially and for all the encouraging emails and keeping in touch. I could not do this work here without the help of the physical, emotional and financial help of family and friends. Praying for God’s special blessings upon you.