On the hilltop

As many of you are aware, we have enjoyed renting our place in Sandy Bay.  We paid rent for a couple of years and then the owners needed a property manager and we agreed to maintain the place in lieu of rent.   The owners have decided that they want to come down more often and put their place into the short term rental pool.   We felt good about that, and we began praying that God would lead us to a new place.

We looked at alot of places!!!    Some were small, some had no oven, some were filthy, no fence for the dog,  two places had no driveway!!  Then one day while at the shop we received a phone call from another Canadian named Dennis.  He told us his place was available for rent in May and wanted to let us know first before publizing it.  I stood there with my jaw open, shocked because about 7 years ago we had visited them and I had told Bob that I would LOVE to live up there one day...

This was the photo I took back in 2008

That was the sunset... I was smitten!!!

My first inclination to his offer though was no.   I thought the  rent was way too high but after talking to him more we realized he had dropped the price to about half since we had first seen it.   It is a beautiful 2 bedroom  home, high up on the hill with cool breezes, lovely decks,  amazing views, awesome gardens and so peaceful that it just takes your breath away.

I will be honest.  I felt that it was too extravagant for us.     Too fancy for a missionary.  I thought it was still out of our price range.  Missionaries can be a  strange group because we adopt this kind of 'we can get by on nothing mentality' and believe me I have that running through my veins.  We kept looking for another 3 weeks.   Our son, David felt we should take a step of faith, agree to rent the house on the hill and just see what the Lord would do.

Now here is where the story gets interesting.   When we joined the EFCC Mission last summer we were advised to write various churches in B.C. since we were their district missionaries.  So Bob wrote to about 30 churches letting them know about our ministry and mission.   A lady from  100 Mile House, B.C. had decided to take a 2 week trip to Roatan and she was very surprised when she later got an email from Bob in Roatan telling about our ministry!! She didn't know there were missionaries in Roatan!!   They started to correspond back and forth and the church decided to support us monthly.  How incredible is that?! How good is our heavenly Father!!

they came to church with us

we also took them to punta gorda for the festival

God provides!!!  Just when we need it!! Once we made the decision to move here then the provision started to come in.  It was a step of faith for us and we are grateful for His faithfulness in return.   I want to say thanks to those of you who are supporting us financially.  I know it is a sacrifice to give to us and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  We are here serving because of you.  Thank you.

  One evening I was coming home from Bible study and an island friend asked whether we had moved yet. At the time we were still looking and trusting in the Lord to make it clear. She looked at me and said, "Miss Debi I can help you!  I got money!  You have been so faithful to us over the years!  You have left everything for us and given everything to us so  let me give to you."  I had tears in my eyes.  I was so surprised and grateful.  Last week she gave me our first monthly amount and said, "You can count on me!  God has blessed our family on this island and I am happy to help you!"  So humbling!  So blessed!

We are trusting He will use us in this little neighbourhood.  There are about 8 families living up on the hill and we look forward to getting to know them!

Every window has an amazing view!

Bob on the deck capturing the sunset!

the livingroom, diningroom and kitchen

There is a beautiful master bedroom in our new home and we have decided to use it for a rental retreat by donation for missionaries on the Mainland who need to get away and be spiritually refreshed. And it can also be used for you if you come to visit!!!   Hint hint hint!

 We are excited about what God is doing in Roatan and ask for your continued prayers that we will not miss anything He calls us to say or do here.  There is also a possibility of helping with a new English speaking church in Coxen Hole and they want us to be a part of that.   That would be awesome!

We will keep you posted!  

Every morning I look out over the jungle hills and say:

I lift my eyes to the hills.

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

Today Christena and Rubeen are coming over for a visit!  I am looking forward to that.  Of course, we will continue to minister to our Made in Roatan families!!! (that goes without saying!)   It is just a little further down the road in Sandy Bay and much higher up!!!   :-)