One thing I have learned here, is sometimes you see the fruits of your labour, and sometimes you don't. Literally… This realization came to me when Elaine (incredibly sweet woman of God!) said to me while I was watering the pineappes. "Oh Laura, we sure are going to think of you and your diligent watering when we eat these pineapples!" I asked the logical question, "How long does it take for a pineapples to grow?" "Oh, 2 or 3 years." She responded. My jaw hit the floor! I had no idea it took that long! I was thinking 2 or 3 months maximum! So no...

My purpose in writing this blog is two-fold. 1. to let all our families, friends, and supporters know a future ministry for our team. 2. to ask for prayer for ministry. A ministry that has touched my heart ever since having the opportunity to participate in is what I call ‘Bar Ministry’ which I had the chance to do with my time in Thailand on the World Race. I was at first pretty nervous to go into bars and talk to women who are labeled prostitutes. I also know my mom was pretty worried back at home only reading blogs about my experiences. But it didn’t take long for me to...

I will use the gifts, talents, and tools within me to serve the Master who created me and them inside me. I will seek to express the Fathers love by helping others and putting them before myself. I will allow my merciful Saviour full access to my life so He can transform my weaknesses into strengths. My past will not define me. For I am dead to my sinful nature and have been made alive through Christ. My decisions will not be selfish. Fort he Holy Spirit dwells within me and will guide me through my choices. My mouth will not be shut. For everywhere I go the Lord will be also. With a bold...

So this is a little late coming, but  a few weeks ago Laura told you all about our NOP night (night of prayer). We have been doing this every Saturday night for over a month now, and lets just say God has shown up and it is incredible. I never would have thought I would enjoy getting up in the middle of the night but I have found so much peace and comfort in intentionally seeking God out. For years I have felt like God doesn't ever directly talk to me but I have realized that I have to show up to hear Him. He is always trying to say something, we just need to sit still long enough...

Last week Moriah challenged each of us. She asked us to write a mission statement and find a "life verse" to go along with it. Challenge Accepted! It began with one sentence, and then it grew. When I finished the actual statement I wanted to be sure that these things I had prayed about and wrote down truly came from God. So I turned to the word. I wanted to find a verse for each sentence in my statement. But the verses just kept coming. Now it is finished. I posting it here as a declaration. This statement is how I want to live my life, and I want each of you reading this to hold...

Here in Panama, Saturdays have become laundry days for me and I have quickly come to look forward to them. Not because of the haul of very dirty clothes, the well used washing machines or the constant beads of sweat accumulating on my upper lip.  Oh no. It’s because of a boy named Aaron. Aaron is one of my kids in the kindergarten class I help teach, he is five years old, the only Chinese boy in class, known as one of the more challenging kids in class and has brought me to tears. Every time we make that trek to the Lavadoria (Laundromat), Aaron shows up, never in short supply...