Bugs!

Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, temptations manfully resisted, meekness, kindness, mercy, and love habitually revealed, are the lights that shine forth in the character in contrast with the darkness of the selfish heart, into which the light of life has never shone. - Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pg.44
“Ahhhhhhh!!!!” my mom screamed; I whizzed around just in time to see a green cockroach dart its way out of the pasta we were planning to have for lunch. We were new missionaries, and still weren’t quite used to finding arthropods everywhere—in everything.
“Should we still eat it?” mom asked, all googly-eyed. I tentatively nodded yes because we didn’t have the resources to just throw it away. We put the idea of ingesting the grimy trail of a slop covered cockroach out of our minds and ate the pasta anyway.
We couldn’t seem to escape these bugs. Weevils, flies, and other vile insects seemed to bombard much of the food we ate.
Before I was sent to another land, I never would have eaten the detestable things I ate in Bolivia. Seeing the extent of the poverty the Bolivian people endured taught me to be thankful for the food that was put in front of me—bugs and all. And through that experience, God enabled my selfish heart to change into a grateful heart.

Flying on Angel's Wings

"The Lord will work for all who put their trust in Him. Precious victories will be gained by the faithful. Precious lessons will be learned. Precious experiences will be realized." - Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pg. 11 I had never felt so green in all my life. My mom and I were flying in an eighteen passenger plane from Guayaramerin to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. At takeoff, the pilot had wobbled down the runway. Is he drunk? Maybe he's just avoiding potholes in the runway. We made it safely off the ground, but landing in Trinadad proved to be more of a challenge. The turbulence that day was so bad that the pilot couldn't get close enough to the runway without being blown off-course. My mom started praying and singing, which uplifted me and the other few people on the airplane, but I was too sick to join her. Are we going to die here and now? No, God wouldn't have brought me all this way to let me die in a plane crash, but what if--? Am I ready? Another jolt brought me and my stomach back to reality, and I had to focus on keeping my breakfast down and my mind clam, though some deep heart searching was going on too. Some people on the plane had started screaming, which didn't help my psyche at all. By the time we got over Santa Cruz, the turbulence had subsided a little, and we landed safely. I felt like lying on the ground and kissing it. I realized that, yes, God had sent me here; He had held me up on angel's wings, and He wanted me to trust Him.

Practicing for Teacher

Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging you present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. - Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pg. 8 Standing in front of my class of eleven student Violinists in Bolivia, I started another lesson. I had quite a diversity of students; some had never seen a Violin before, and others had been picking our notes for a while. Some of my students were sheer naturals in music, while others... found it much more challenging. But there was one girl in whom I saw potential, but she just wouldn't practice! I begged; I told her how much better she could get if she practices, and I finally put her on the schedule to do a special music. Her name was Shelly; her father had bought her a violin and told her to learn it. It was never her choice. One day, out on the soccer field, Shelly came running up to me all smiles calling: "Teacher! Teacher! I was just practicing! I love it!" Oh, the joy in that moment as I hugged Shelly tight and encouraged her to keep practicing. Shelly had finally gotten the experience; she had finally made that decision. When I decide to be a Christian, not because my parents are, but because of my own experience, then Christ sees me a great way off and throws His arms of love around me.

Impression of Bolivia

Does time fly or what? We have been in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for a month and a half now and it feels more like one week! The people here took us in like family and we feel right at home, although we are dearly missing our close friends and family at home! We are very much enjoying the new friends, food, places, insects, animals and way of life. (even though at times it can be gross) :P Several miracles have happened since we have been here and we praise God for them... My mom's wallet was (probably) stolen from her in the market this past Tuesday. She lost $60,(which is a LOT of money here and it was all she had at the time, but we are getting some soon) so please pray that everything will work out. "All things work together for good to those who believe."

Uncle David and Aunt Becky flew in on Tuesday, Sooooooo awesome to have them here! Looking forward to hopfully spending time in next week with them! :D

For those of you who know and keep up with Daniel Adams, (and wondering why no updates), his camera got stolen a while ago and the one he did 5 months ago was a borrowed camera. I have been trying to find time with him to make a video recording of him and his bike. So anyway the update is on its way. :D If you want to view the finished product it will be posted on his Youtube which is MissionLifeInBoliva, and I might post it on mine which is DSGMission.

I think thats all for now!
God bless!
Dominique

P.S. We are hoping to fly to Guayaramerin this upcoming Tuesday. So I will have VERY limited access to internet if any.
Also a BIG thankyou to those who have wrote sweet, encouraging emails or sent little thoughtful carepackages! We really appreciate them all!

Promises of Safety

Mathew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mark 16:15-18 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Psalms 121 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD [is] thy keeper: the LORD [is] thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

As we left our home in the country for the last time this winter, I was starting to miss our friends already, and looked at the future with some regret and worry, but these texts kept coming to mind, and I found peace in them. And God is so good, he painted the most beautiful sunsets as we were leaving, they just kept changing and we kept ooing and awing over them. It must have changed into like 5 different sunsets as we were driving, just gorgeous, it was a reminder that He was with us, and would never forsake us, and that we were doing His will, we were safe in His Hands.

A High but Sad Sabbath

Our last Sabbath at our little church in Northport was a great one over all, I played my violin with a little 10 year old girl who says “I don’t know what I’ll do with out you for 5 months!” for Sabbath school, then I go downstairs to primary and get to hold a friends puppy for about an hour. Once again I’m playing my violin for church song service, but during announcements Mr. Meyer comes up and askes my mom and I to come up front. He then askes for everyone else to come up and surround us and bring their hymnals. They layed hands on us (the ones who could reach us) and almost everyone prayed, such sweet, caring, loving, faith building prayers they prayed. Dedicating us to God. I can still remember some of them. I don’t think there was a dry eye on any of the girls there, and even some of the guys were a little weepy. When the prayers were over we all stood and tried to see through our tears to sing the hymn “Anywhere with Jesus”, had several hugs after church and hardy handshakes wishing us safe travels, God’s speed, saying their going to miss us a lot and asking for updates. Then at a memorial service after church I did PA for the last time, going to miss that too. It is wonderful to feel loved and cared for and to know that your church family will be praying for you as you are in the mission field, I couldn’t wish for a better church family. All of your prayers are greatly appreciated.

'Till we leave the States

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