Behind the scenes and into our heart

Many of you are aware that Bob and I are returning to Western Canada to report all the great things the Lord has been doing in Roatan and to continue to raise support so we can remain as His hands and feet on the island of Roatan.
One of the things that we needed was a good visual presentation.  Bob went out one afternoon and filmed some conversations at various artist homes.  When he came home he was discouraged because of the bad sound quality and I had decided it might be easiest to simply do a power point and forget the video aspect.

I felt prompted to write to our pastor's wife, Tish and ask if she knew of anyone who could help us.  She recommended that I  contact Heartify.   She gave a name and I wrote a girl on Facebook asking if they would help us.  We met ethe shop after a long ship day.; we were hot and tired but as we began to unfold some of our story I could see their eyes glisten with tears and I knew they were listening not only with their ears but with their hearts.  They wanted to tell the story of what the Lord has done through MiR.  We were ridiculously overjoyed and relieved!!! I personally felt like a load had been lifted off our shoulders.

Gabe and Ana
Heartify

They came the next day to the shop and the filming began.   The wonderful thing about them is just how unintrusive they are.   After awhile I forgot there was even a camera around.  They stay in the background and begin to document. They made everyone feel so comfortable and at ease.

Basically, they followed us around the island:  at the shop with our artist families and tourists milling around, they captured us on various porches listening and loving and praying, at schools bringing supplies or Tom's shoes, in our home sharing His word with the artists,  in Coxen Hole buying a fridge that one of our artist families had saved for.  They just filmed life on the island for us!!!   Ana came to a RoatanAlive Women's event and she was there filming when I was able to pray with a lady who accepted Christ as her Saviour!!!     You can't plan that stuff.... it is all Him!!  We look forward to seeing the finished work and we will share it with you later!

at the shop

at Roatan Alive

We are grateful for the chance to have the opportunity to have them invest so much time into telling our story and not just telling it from the an information vantage point but from the heart.

YOUR HEART HAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE REASON WHY WE GOT INTO THIS. WE WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY AND WE WANT TO MAKE YOU FEEL SOMETHING. ANYTHING THAT GETS YOUR HEART RACING IS IMPERATIVE TO CAPTURE. WE BREATHE FOR THOSE MOMENTS. - Hearify.

                                    Check them out!

My adventures with Little Guy

Today right after church Bob and I decided to go out for a snorkel.   It has been about a month since we had gone out and we were long overdue.  As we were swimming over the shallow coral I noticed that Bob kept swiping around himself.  I thought maybe it was jellyfish or something, but it turned out to be a tiny little gold and silver fish that just wouldn't leave him alone.  He was probably about an inch long ... a sweet little thing but very persistant! Bob kept swooshing him away and suddenly the little fishie decide to swim by me.

What he didn't know is that I love company of any kind.  I didn't swish.  I didn't swoosh.  I just let him swim by me.  A fishie friend!!!  How sweet is that?   The interesting thing is this little fish swam right in front of my mask.  I should name him I think... Little Guy is his name.  At first I found it rather distracting to have Little Guy swimming right in front of my face and then I realized I liked him company.   He stayed with me the whole time we were out which was about an hour.  That is alot of swimming for Little Guy!!   So what I would do is cup my hand in front of face and he rest in the little pool.  It's true!!  How sweet is that??!

photo courtesy of Seriously Fish

Every now and then he would disappear and I was afraid that a larger fish would gobble him up.  So I would mumble through my snorkel... "hey little fishie, where are you?  come back!"  And guess what he would come right back to the front of my mask!! Remarkable!!!

When I would slow down, he would slow down.  When I swam fast his little fins were working overtime.  It was adorable!!   I think he was actually kinda scared because he was a long way from the shallow where we first met him.  At one point we were at the wall, which for those who don't know, that is where the reef drops off to about 60 - 70 feet deep and Little Guy disappeared for about 5 minutes.   I swam over to Bob, tapped him and said, "Have you seen the little fishie?  I hope he didn't get eaten." I mean really, it's dangerous out there!!   Two big barracuda went by right in front of us.  I had to stop to let them pass by so I was kinda nervous.   Bob popped down under the water and said, "Deb he is there at your crotch!!"  "What?  That is just wrong!"   So once again, I muttered, "Hey fishie, come here, fishie!!!"  And right away he was right by my mask.  I told him he safest by my face not the other end where I couldn't see him.

We made our way over the sand bar, over some nice shallow coral and all along I am telling him, "Okay Little Guy, it is time for you to find a coral head to hang out.  You can't come home with me!"  But he stayed by me.   He stayed the whole way.  In fact a lady from Texas was swimming ahead of me and once we got to shore I mentioned about my little fish friend and she couldn't believe it.  It was really too cute for words!

I didn't know what else to do so I said my goodbye and walked on shore.  Just another beautiful little blessing ... the day I swam with  Little Guy. 

Stay safe little friend.....I wish I could have taken you home!!!  What a treasure!

Who is this Man???

I try really hard to not get out of bed too early but sometimes the beauty of the sunrise just outside our bedroom window begs me to get my camera and go outside.  Today was that day.

Such beauty moves my heart to praise Him!   I stood out on the deck with the only sound of the birds waking up, the breeze was soft and fresh as I lifted my voice to the One who made it all.   Tears welled in my eyes because I still don't take it lightly to know this One so intimately that He is closer than a brother.

I went inside and opened His book. My bible.  I read this:

"He rebuked the wind and the waves and suddenly there was a great calm."

He has authority but not in a dictatorship fashion, not in a cruel controlling way but over all things as Creator God. Such knowledge brings great calm:  in creation and to the created ones.

His disciples said, "Who is this Man?  Even the wind and the waves obey Him!!"

So I wrote, who is this Man?

He is the first born from the dead,

the bright and morning Star,

the government rests on His shoulders,

children rest in His arms.

He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.

He is the great I AM.

The light of the world;

the leper cleanser,

the winemaker,

the One who doesn't throw stones, but speaks clearly:

Go and sin no more!

The advocate.

The intercessor.

The cross carrier.

The burden bearer,

The healer of all disease and sorrow.

The lover of my soul.

the Son of God,

the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world!

The One who whispers:  be still and know that I am God!

The One who rejoices over me with singing,
the cloud painter,

the true and only wise God.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

Ladies Tea and a Surprise

Today we had our third annual Ladies Tea and we were blessed to have the ladies from Orange, Texas help out again.  We are so blessed to be partnering up with them!  Awesome church!   Four beautiful ladies came early and helped arrange flowers, cut fruit and make gift bags.

Madison making beautiful arrangements!

Alice and Patsy blessing the island ladies with gifts.  The smelly powder was a hit!!!

Beautiful Victoria happily cutting fruit!

How beautiful is that?!

I decided to invite all new island ladies ... with the exception of Esther who helps with the singing and Zenola who helps with driving all the ladies home.  We had ladies from Mudd Hole, Sandy Bay, La Colonia, Coxen Hole, West Bay, and French Harbour:

Holding up pillowcase children's dresses from a church in Ohio

My vision for the tea hadn't changed though:  to provide a blessed environment for ladies to gather.  The women of this island work very hard!  They are often Mom and Dad, they go without when there isn't enough food, they hustle to make the ends meet, so I love to provide a place where they can be  spoiled a little bit, a place to have some fun and play some games, sing some songs and to sit, uninterrupted, and listen to His Word.  And lastly:  PRAY!!

We played a bingo mixer and Estrelitta won a copy of Bob's book

Yummy!

Beautiful-ness

This time I spoke from Luke 13 about the crippled woman.  She suffered for 18 long years and yet through it all she still hobbled her way to the synagogue.  Jesus saw her.  He called her forward.  He healed her.  When the religious rulers rebuked them for coming to be healed on the Sabbath, He stood up for her and called her 'daughter of Abraham' Abraham was the father of faith and He affirmed her faith by calling her a daughter of Abraham!   Everyone saw that she was crippled, they only saw the outward, but Jesus knew that she was a woman of faith.  I believe that is why He noticed her.   He wasn't seeing her physical disability, He was seeing that this woman who hadn't had her prayers answered for 18 years was still believing!!!  He was, and is always drawn to faith!!   He recommissioned her into the community for who she really was:  a woman of faith!   Many of us are praying and waiting.  He sees us.  He knows.  We may look crippled, or poor, or under privileged, or dysfunctional but He sees deeper then anyone.  He sees us!!  He celebrates our faith!!!   May we always hold true to Him and His word... no matter what.

Esther, Melissa, Cindy, Cheryl, Maria, Alic, Zenola, Estrelitta, Me,Patsy, Victoria, 

We had a special  time of prayer in small groups and left very encouraged and blessed!!  I realized how much I love ministering to women!

As the ladies were leaving, Bob was driving up the driveway, and I heard Zenola say, Oh what a nice surprise!!!  Our friend from Holland was supposed to be coming and I thought it was Marco.  Can you imagine my sheer delight and shock when I saw our son David sitting in the passenger seat??!!!

What a surprise!!   What a blessed surprise!!   There was a great seat sale flying direct from Montreal and so they booked the ticket on Friday and he arrived on Monday.

I will blog more about our visit later.....

JOY!!!

Senior's Luncheon

This year the luncheon for the Senior's was at Turquoise Bay Resort.  We arrived early and helped put cellophane on the food baskets that were gifts to the oldest person in various communities across this fine island.   There were tents set up on the beach and so we wiped tables and chairs and waited for the Seniors to start to come.

Beautiful Turquoise Bay

This is such a highlight for many of them!  Not only do they get to visit with island friends across the island and even those from St. Helene but they also get to enjoy good island gospel music, eat a wonderful meal, delicious cake and get various gifts.

Sister love

Ursela was our wonderful singer and she can sing and eat her cake too!

Some ladies in the States donated blankets.  How thoughtful!

WOW!  That is one big cake!!!

Bob 'manned' the eyeglass table for awhile.  Someone had donated various reading glasses and it made me realize that that is a huge need on this island!!  One lady in particular was so excited and declared, "Now I can read my Bible again!!"

Reina was so happy with her glasses

My job was to take photos and to visit.  I think I truly had the best job ever!!!  Since we travel all over the island I am blessed to know many of them.  I was going to the car to get my water when I saw Auntie Clara drive up.  Oh joy!!  She is 100 years old now and is unable to walk so I told the driver to drive on the beach and drop her off right by the tents.  Auntie Clara can't see but she can hear very well and when I got in and greeted her with a hug and kiss she exclaimed, Is that you Miss Debi?!  My Mommy!!!  Where is my Daddy Bob???"   I told her that Bob was here and he would help her from the car.   I am not sure why she calls us Mommy and Daddy but she has done that for quite awhile.   Mama and Poppa is a sign of respect... but Mommy and Daddy???  Not sure.  Either way, it is always good to see her.  We put her in a wheel chair and found a nice spot in the shade and in the breeze.  She was happy to sit with Miss Catherine.

Auntie Clara enjoying a chat with Daddy Bob

I got lots of hugs and kisses I tell you!!  I also enjoyed singing along to the old time gospel songs that Ursela sang.  Everyone sang and I think if they could have, they would have danced too.

Each community was represented by the oldest person coming forward, giving a little speech in either English or Spanish and receiving a basket full of food.

This is one of the oldest men on the island

These ladies were ladies to give thanks and receive their food basket

It was such a blessed afternoon!!!

I met a new friend: Miss Gloria from Oakridge.  I can't explain how the connection happens but when it does it is strong and real.  I sat with her for a long time listening to her story about her life here on the island as well as her life in the states.  She listened to my story and was so happy that the Lord called us to serve her people.  Over and over and over there could be heard the refrains of "Thank You Lord"  "Praise God"  "Hallelujah"  It was a song that graced all our conversations.  At the end of the day I realized I didn't have a photo of her and I was disappointed about that.  But who do I see as I am walking to our car??  Miss Gloria standing there waiting for the taxi to take her back to Oakridge.  She was delighted to see me one more time and when I asked if Bob could take our photo she nestled in cheek to cheek.  As I was leaving she told me to come see her.  She said, "I live by the clinic in a small yellow house, just tell people that you are looking for Tia Gloria"  I will!!!  I can't wait in fact....

Friendship defies age....

These  people in 'the third stage of life' as they say here, are full of wonderful stories, long lasting faith and a legacy of enduring through the hardest of times.  I am so thankful to Nidia for helping this up and  having the vision to "love on" the elderly, for those who made donations and those who volunteered to make this event happen.

The wonderful Nidia making one old guy happy!!  :-)

So thankful for Live Again Ministries support and help!

Nothing like being escorted in by a fine young gentleman!

There isn't a seniors home here so it is wonderful to gather them once a year to spoil them rotten.
Want to build a senior's home???   It's a dream of mine.  Too big you say?  Never for our God!!   They deserve that and soooo much more!!!

The lovely Miss Catherine and Deb