Can you help?

Want to adopt a missionary family this Christmas??

We made a little wish list on Amazon to see if some could help us out with some wants and some needs (and maybe some things we could use if the world is about to go nuts :) !  Click on the click below if you can help us out with a little something this holiday season!

 http://amzn.com/w/BVIEA1PK2V4N

We use the Ostberg's shipping address, so please send it as follows and do not include my name:
 
Luke P Ostberg
100 Airport Ave E
C/o Agape Flights STI 27223
Venice, FL 34285

Thank you!!  Merry Christmas!

Court Update

So, we went to court last week.  Ramona, the aunt, had been acting weird.  I went to go see her the day before.  We saw her on the side of the street, I yelled to her to remind her of the trial and she mumbled and drove off.  The next morning, Josh, Luke, and I got to her house to pick her up and she was pushing her motorcycle out of her house (that's where most people store them).  She continued to look down and talk low.  I was sure she was headed to work.  She said she was coming.  I asked, "are you mad?"  No.  "Okay, so you are coming?" Yes.  "Okay, you aren't mad?"  No.  "Okay, why are you not looking in my eyes when you talk."  Silence.  Pushes motorcyle to the rode and orders me to go pick up Daniela's oldest sister.

When we got down the hill, sister was no where to be found.  We left to head back to Naomi's where I left my folder with my passport and kids' papers.  We left for La Vega.

My lawyer was about 40 minutes late.  She is not actually apart of the trial.  I have hired her to stand with me and translate what is going on in legal terms.  She does speak up and sit behind the other lawyer to relay messages and clear up mistakes.  There are always mistakes.  For the 6? time they called Amantina to stand.  She is the girls' mom.  The one that was murdered.  We waited several hours to be told that the psychologist never got the report delivered on time for the court date.  The testimonies from the kids are not ready.

Ridiculous.

The judges also said the other 3 judges had to finish this case.  I asked my lawyer why was this date picked if the original judges knew they had to finish this case.  She had no idea. She said she wastes most of her days in court because it is so unorganized.  We are rescheduled to Dec 16th.  As we all walked out and walked down the hall.  Ramona started talking loudly to my lawyer.  As we hit the stairs, I just kept going.  As her voice got loud, she shouted something using Daniela's name.

So something was wrong all along.

I headed back up the stairs to pay attention to what was going on.  She was shouting that Daniela was giving too much information in her interview and that she was causing problems.  Daniela was talking about Ramona's brother not helping his sister (Amanatina-Mom) after she was attacked.  (Mom's brother would not come and help after she was laying almost dead, he said she deserved what she got, sadly.)  Nothing Daniela stated was a lie in her interview.  She felt it was important to share that info and I am fine with it.  Ramona thought it would cause the courts to call more people in and drag the case on.  She was pitting Daniela's brother against her, saying he knows what was said.  Then, she was saying the neighbor knew what was said too because she was interviewed.  It was a mess.

This family is such a headache.  Dealing with grown adults that act like children.

We left after basically telling her she doesn't know what she is talking about.

Passport Update:
We should be headed back to Santo Domingo this week to sign a paper that will release the passports, they say.  My lawyer said plan on spending the whole day there.  Why?  No clue.  I asked if I could bring the passports home that day, she said she wasn't sure.

Land Update:
We might be signing for the land on MONDAY!  How insane is that??  We have been waiting and waiting!  The man we have been waiting on fly into the country last week and now the title can be signed over.  Super excited!!

Friends from the States flew in last week.  Oh how nice it was to sit around and laugh hysterically with friends.  It made me realize how I miss many people in the States. 

Grabiela (age 9, sister) and her mom from Santo Domingo

Grabiela, Jessica, Daniela, Ethan

Jessica (6), Daniela (11), David (age 14, brother, aka Gordo)

Jessica Age 6

Final Court Day Tomorrow

Thanksgiving was one of my favorites growing up! Mainly because Michael and I would have contests on who could eat the most biscuits.  I think he usually won, but I was a good match for the money.  This year I am spending it at the court house.  I have been waiting for this day for months.  Tomorrow they will finally sentence the girls' dad.

I do have one prayer for this...we saw Mom's sister, Ramona, today.  I reminded her the trial is tomorrow.  She looked down as she sat on her motorcylce and mumbled she would drive herself.  She continued to look down and rode off on her motorcycle.

Not good.

Ramona is the one who pressed charges for murder.  She has to be present at each court date or they drop the case and it is over.  Last time, I let her meet us there and she didn't show up.  The judge moved our case last and I spent the entire day in La Vega.  She finally came after my lawyer was harsh on the phone with her.

I understand it is hard for Ramona.  We have had 5 dates.  She has had to get off 5 days of work.  I think she is over this court stuff and doesn't care anymore.  I am not so sure she is going to show tomorrow.

Lift Ramona up tonight.  Lift her up to do the right thing.

(PS Passports were stopped last week, but it appears after an investigation, they are proceeding.  I will be going back next week and have to take the girls.  Hopefully I can pick them up.)

Lastly, friends from Florida are down.  Man is it nice to sit around laughing with friends from the States.  Such a blessing to have bellyaches from laughing so hard and just act like we are 20.  God is good to us, forever faithful, supplying us with every need...including laughing and fun for the week.

Court Update

I had court this past Tuesday for their mom's death trial.  Mom's sister did not show up to court and she must be present to proceed.  For no reason at all, she decided to not come.  She knows that the case stops if she doesn''t show up.  When we got to court, my lawyer called her incessantly telling her she needs to get there.  We were called fairly early and had to ask the judge to postpone our case until she got there.  We would have been out of court by 10, instead we stayed until almost 4:30pm waiting to be called again.  Then the sister had the audacity to ask for money because she doesn't have gas.  I am appalled because I have to pay my lawyer for entire day's worth of work all because she decided to not show up on time.

I feel like in the USA we have very high standards and respect for human beings as a whole.  I am sometimes so shocked by the way the government is not run the same way.  I am really taken back by things that seem to be so "common nature" to us, is not the same here.

One of the cases before ours was a rape trial.  3 young men, my age, sat in front of us in the court room.  The victim was seated in front of them.  These adult men were acting like children. They were laughing, snickering, whispering, and making sexual gestures with their hands to the man accused of raping her.  The laughing and snickering continued as she return to her seat and off the stand.

How mortifying.

No one said anything to them.

As cases are waiting for the judges on recess, all the inmates have family and friends up and talking to them.  At any point, anyone can slip them something.  Besides that, it was loud and obnoxious.  There was no respect for the courtroom.  Even when the judges are in there, there are people crammed up all the walls and sitting 6-7 people deep on the benches made for 3-4 adults comfortably.  It's unreal.

As our case is called again, the public defender wants almost all the documents like the police report, autopsy, etc thrown out because of dates not put in a specific spot.  The judge denies and the other lawyer says he doesn't know what he is talking about, there are dates.  Image having a child be a lawyer, that is what this young man was like watching.

The judge calls each person to see if they are present and I stand in place of my kids.  Then, she calls Amantina.  The deceased.  We have been to trial 4 times (I missed the first one(...and every time she calls the dead to stand.  I must admit it pisses me off that she cannot write herself a NOTE: VICTIM-DECEASED.  You know, the one this guy over here killed.  The reason we are all here today. 

The trial has finally moved forward into an actual trial.  The dad never got a private lawyer and the judge never even asks him about it.  I bet she doesn't even know that we were rescheduled for that.  I bet she didn't know that we have been there 5 times.  The police report is disgustingly vague, lacking important details, like Jessica and Daniela were present.  Things like he attempted murder on them but their rabbit cage was locked, in which they hid for safety.

The lawyer pulls out the hammer used in the crime with his bare hands. The man that runs notes between the judges and lawyers and remains order in the room, jumps back from his desk in disgust, telling him not to touch it with bare hands.  The lawyer then grabs a pamphlet that looks like something to advertise for Sea World and picks it back up with the paper.  He begins to chuckle as he is putting in the pi public defender's face.  All the while something is hilarious to one of the judges and she is cracking up, hiding her face low behind her computer screen.  Luke pointed to her and I was in awe.

Where am I?  Is this really happening right now?  How dare anyone laugh about anything in this courtroom?  It's nothing for them to have phones out and showing photos, Facebook; I have no idea what they are doing, at times.

We will take the girls to testify outside the courtroom in 2 weeks when they notify me.  Then, our final trial date is Thanksgiving Day.

Another update:  Passports
We went to go get passports yesterday and was denied again.  I hired a lawyer to handle all of that. She said it was ready, we have authorization, I paid her for helping me... then I get to the office and they said that they didn't know I was American.  They can't authorize it there.  Then, the extremely rude lady wants to know where their dad is..I am appalled that I gave her my documents stating my CASE and she is asking me this!  Then, she asks where their real mom is...seriously?  She read none of it after she took it to the backroom to be discussed.  Evidently, that happen in Santo Domingo, too.  Sorry, didn't know you were American.  I was like, are you saying that she did not read this document from the judge?  Because no where in here does it say I have a Dominican Cedulla card, only says American passport.

My lawyer drove all the way to Santo Domingo a few weeks ago.  She is Dominican, so we have no excuses for language miscommunication.  She explained the case and they still were lazy and didn't do anything thorough.  I prayed and got calm quickly.  My lawyer is calling some people.  If we can't process it here, I can go to Santo Domingo and get them for sure.  It's just a hassle because I need to do visas there.  That is a lot of trips to the Capitol and maybe having to stay overnight in a hotel to save on costs.


All in all, I am calm about everything.  I don't think living here and understanding the system gets easier.  Mainly because there is no order.  People are lazy and it doesn't matter.  There is no hierarchy of authority.  A judge grants flying rights, but the passport office doesn't think I should have flying rights, so they deny.  So I have to hire a lawyer to get them to follow their own laws?  Money wasted because you won't get anything accomplished unless you do.   Then, they don't read the documents, make mistakes, and don't care to even apologize or make it work because it is their fault.  It is none of the passports office clerk's business where mom and dad are, I am legal guardian and the judge said allow it.

Let you know about passports next week.  Lift us up.

Higher than Our Ways

A little update to start:   we were finally granted rights to FLY!  Document in hands.  Real deal, people.  We had Dad's trial earlier this week and just as the trial started, the public defender said that his client wanted to have a private attorney come.  In some crazy turn of events that I swear only happens here, they granted it.  I doubt he even has a private attorney hired.   In two weeks, we will go to trial again.  This will be the 5th time he has had a trial date.  I am amazed.  The more that this drags on, the more I think he is going to walk free.  I spoke to a friend here and she said the same.  I really have no emotions to that right now, maybe it will change.  Daniela told me last week at dinner we should give Dad a chance.  I agreed that we forgave Dad and not have any bad feelings harboring, but we will not be hanging out with him and he is not welcome to come here.  Unless he accepts Jesus as Savior, we cannot hang out with him because he is dangerous. (We need to remember that he tried to kill the girls twice.  Once in poisoning (they didn't eat it) and then after attacking Mom...  Sadly, non of this is even in his charges, which should be included.)

Their dad is so odd.  I purposely stare at him in court to make eye contact and he refuses to even look my way.  I often wonder if it is a Satan/Jesus thing going on.   One would think he should have no issue staring me down to make me feel threatened, but he won't look at me.  Funny enough, I am trying to get him to make eye contact to show him I am not fearful of him.  He seems in a trance.  He doesn't even talk to the inmate he is connected to at the wrist.  (Inmates are connected to another, always having one hand free.  Who came up with that crazy idea?  No clue.  Then, when you are called up, you are uncuffed completely.    They are walked between guests, in the aisles, in the courtroom as they enter or exit...that is super creepy.

Now, onto my real reason for writing today.  For several months now my family has been living at the bare bottom of our budget.  Like, I didn't even know we could figure it out this low on money.  I have told the girls since day one, and we have been praying.  I have not spoken much about it because I felt led to stay quiet and not ask.  I have big faith the Lord provides.  That wasn't the test.  At first, I thought, ok, we go low for a month or two, then God shoots our money back up.  Our monthly support is based on whatever God wants to send each month, is what we get.  Fundraising is great and most do it to stay on the mission field, but it isn't what God has asked of me yet.  I am not against fundraising, I just think it should always be Spirit led.  So I waited.  I think it was around month 3,  I got my support email from Padre O (Luke's dad) and I about lost it on God!  LOST. IT.  I waited a few months, now send it back up!  I had faith, I didn't ask anyone for help, I prayed, I scrape by figuring out a budget that is too low to cover my needs, next step is blessing.  Among a few other choice words that are ridiculous of me.  As embarrassing as that is to say out loud, it is true and it helps to see we all have wrong thoughts that need to be checked and changed.  Next month, I think we got an extra $40.  I could have cared less.  To me, I thought, that is nothing.  I got Daniela (D) from school and as we went up the stairs, she said, You got paid today?  Did we get anything more?  I said, yea we got 40 more.  D said, OH, MAMA!  God is so good!  So good to us!  Conviction kicked me in the face.  Talk about embarrassed and knocked on my butt.  I could not even thank Him in that.  Every month we miraculously had enough for bills and food by generous donors which were sometimes anonymous.  But I wasn't appreciative.  I felt like we should not live at the very bottom with nothing to spare. 

I had two people offer if "I needed anything for the girls."  I wanted to say, yeah, give us money!  We need help.  But I couldn't.  There was this weird God feeling.  Every time I wanted to ask them to pay for my lawyer bill (for working out flying rights), I felt God say no.  I had no idea what was going on.  It made no sense, I have 2 people asking and I can't even tell them the needs?  That makes no sense.  I stayed obedient.  Something is here.  Something is going on.  (I remembered a time before I moved to the DR, I had so much money in my account from God's outpouring blessing on moving.  I had a Sunday lunch after church with my girls planned, but I felt God saying no.  I thought, NO WHAT?  It is maybe $15 to eat out, I won't see these people anymore, and you are saying, do not go to lunch?  Why?  I never knew why God told me to not go.  All I ever knew was that He told me to not do something and I needed to listen.  That was the lesson: Listen. 

Last week, Luke and Naomi gave us some money that they felt led to help.  Little did they know that we did not have much to eat until Wed., when we got paid again.   We had eaten sausage a few times and I picked a pack up that day because it was super cheap meal. I can pick it up for 125 pesos and have it for lunch the next day.  Pasta is super cheap and was an option to, to get us to payday.  They constantly bless us in ways that I can never repay, like fixing my car tonight, fixing my pipe earlier today, etc a true resemblance of Acts church... but, anyway, I can pray for God's blessing on them. 

Sunday came and one of the girls' aunts came over saying she wants money for a bus ticket.  I told her I do not have money.  They think Americans are loaded.  All the time.  Sorry, can't help you.  As Monday approached I needed to buy D another test for parasites but couldn't afford it.  When I was at court with the family, I asked them to pay for parking ($1) and they wouldn't pay it, saying I should pay for it.  I literally had like $2 on me and I wasn't about to pay it when they didn't even offer to help me with gas or anything and almost caused 2 accidents because they are super crazy, yelling Dominicans trying to ride 9-11 people in my 5 passenger car.  Anyway, I said we couldn't leave unless someone found a dollar to pay for parking! Finally, they agreed. 

I thought, how can I be so low on money that I can't afford parking!  I decided the next day, ok, Ill write out a check that won't be cashed for a few days and will be ok.  I wrote it out and left $1.37 in my checking.  We got a stool test, couple things to eat for dinner, got Jessica ice cream bc she was promised ice cream for a good day (PS if last year was Daniela's year to drive me insane, this is Jessica's!)

Wed early morning, I got up and prayed.  I remembered it had been awhile that I wrote down my needs to the Lord.  I wrote "Please provide, Lord," and listed out things.  I told God, you promise to provide, but here I sit for over a week with a bill that is overdue!  That is not providing for me.  I saw the list and was super overwhelmed, at first.  As I sat on the porch, I was reminded God knows this list and He already knows the future.


This month my check was deposited and we had 100 over the usual low, I thought okay, I can now pay my lawyer, it was first on my list.  Thank you, God!  But I will ask Padre O to see if FIGHT would approve helping me out with the $30 something more I owed her.  What did I feel God saying?  Yeah, the answer was no.   I reasoned I don't have it!  I only have 100 over the usual.  I took out my journal and crossed off the first thing on my list, attorney bill, and put the date.  (Hilarious, the very next day I could cross that off.)  It would not subside, Phyllis pay it in full with your own money, continued to be felt in my Spirit.  Fine, I can pay that bill in full, alone.  I know You will provide for us.  We have never, ever gone without in the 4+ years I have been here.  Fine.  Ok.  We pay that and the rest will just work out.

Padre O texted me asking if I was ok with money lately, which is totally normal for him checking on us and seeing if we are ok or need help.  I said we were fine.  He asked if we were ready for a blessing.  I said, sooner than later!  What did he say next?  We got a big fat donation.  :)

I got up from my chair.  I got on my knees and cried...sorry that I am such a jerk sometimes to the Lord and He STILL provides.  I don't think I stopped crying for like an hour.  Tears just kept rolling.  I felt led to take out my list and add up the totals.  It covered everything from passports, visas, teeth cleanings, lawyer costs (from the trial, unknown right now what that cost will be), a few PE pants for the girls, and my Jeep needs some stuff fixed.  I so badly wanted to write a blog for these things a month ago for help.  I knew generous people would jump on it and help, but it never felt right.  I knew if I did that, it would be disobedience.  Now, it freaks me out to think if I just went ahead and did it my way, I would have missed out on this lesson and this blessing.  Listen to those, waits, not now, hold on, something doesn't feel right...they are there for reasons.

I went to Daniela's school in my workout clothes.  I was not going to allow her to miss out on the high emotions of this crazy God moment.  The bell had just rang and I saw her running.  I called her over and told her as tears fell from my face and she said WHY SO MUCH?  I said, I have no idea!  The night before, D led the prayer at dinner and said, God I know you give us what You think is sufficient, but we ask You to please give us a little bit more money. 

As much as I have hated this season, I have loved it for myself and kids, too.  A time of prayer and seeking.  A time for asking God to provide.  A time to know real need and to ask God to fulfill it.  Many live on far less than what I have and would LOVE what God provides me every month.  Many things were revealed to me.    There is a closeness to the Lord when you are praying for things like food and bills; for providence if you blow a tire; for help for new school pants...we often never have to ask for those things.  We make our money.  We work overtime for even more.  Not when you are in the field.  I have donors that give generously monthly, some one time, some I have never met before, one I do not even think is a human but maybe an angel? Seriously, who is that friggen lady that no one knows!????  Singles, families, grandparents, my home church, but it doesn't matter who these people are, really....it's God. Crazy.  Really, it is.  Isn't it?

This has gotten long, but even you non-christians love these God stories.  They never get old.  Since having kids, my most fixated thought is that they will follow the Lord.  I do not care if they get the best grades. I don't care if they go to college. I don't care if they can't afford dinner on their table one day. I don't care if they choose to go fight ISIS...All I pray about is that they come to know the Lord and trust in Him as I have modeled.  That they grow their roots deep in Christ.  That they leave no room for themselves.  That everyday they learn how to die to themselves and life for Christ.  Then, will I know that they are perfectly safe, because they are following Christ.  Even in their deaths, I can be rest assured that He provided for them as He willed and He was with them and never left them alone.  All the things I will never be able to do for them.  All I can do is live this life pointing them to Him. 

Jessica came into my bed late one night.  Hey, mama, if you die, who is going to take care of me?  Another mama, Jess.  Well, maybe not. Maybe you'll have a daddy by then. I don't really know, Jess, but I KNOW God will take care of you, for sure.   Okay, good.  Night, mama.  

That was enough.  

Is enough.

Update on Flying

My lawyer told me last week that she has the new judgement from the judge.  She had her include that I can fly, obtain any records, and do anything needed with the kids.  Wonderful.  This is what the judge intended to begin with, but she added it, to be sure there are no issues.  So, then my lawyer went to the passport office and they remembered my case.  They talked it over and said they didn't want to accept it.  Why?  I do not have a Dominican Cedula card. 

Amazing how this country continues to run.  The judge in charge of this has mandated that they allow me to have passport rights and the passport office doesn't want to allow it.  So they say...no. 

So my lawyer went to the Capitol to the main office.  She left my new judgement with them to discuss the case. 

I have not left the country for over a year and a half.  The laws have changed and they are no longer allowing organizations to write letters for their missionaries to be exempt from the taxes to leave.  Technically, I should leave once my tourist visa is done.  I think 30 days.  Maybe 90.  They didn't care before how long you stayed over the time, but now they are cracking down on Haitians here illegally.    We have been TRYING TO GET RESIDENCY since we got here!  It is not that we are not trying.  We have hired a few lawyers and no one really knows the process, or the process changes.  We even once had a lawyer offer to do it through a mafia for an extra charge.  No, thanks.  It is kinda like the kids' situation.   I was told when I signed legal rights that I could get passports and fly.  That still hasn't happened.  Right now, just to leave the country, I will have to pay a few hundred dollars in fees.  Insane.  In January, I hear that those without residency will be paying double the fees now to leave.

I would have left for vacation a long time ago and my fees wouldn't be up this high, BUT they will not allow me to fly the girls out.  Even though, legally, I CAN.  I really can't win in the situation.

 I know God will provide flights and fees one day.  I used to be so homesick, but really, I have accepted not leaving until this works out.  Come January, maybe, we will be flying back to Miami to do residency if it is ready.  If the girls can't fly, I will leave them with a friend.  I don't know who just yet, but I'll just come back that day.  They are well adapted now and I think they would be fine with a friend. 

All is well at home.  Girls are doing great and school is going really well for both of them.  We have been feeling cooler weather but it's also gorgeous out daily!  Our trial for dad is coming up in about 2 weeks, I'll let you all know how that is going.

Just in case you don't do Facebook, we got all the money we needed to buy our land for our safe house!   It is always incredible to see God finish something out.  After years of waiting, looking, and knowing God's will to buid this...here we are!  Love it!  It is not even close to how I thought God would work out the donations and I love that part!  Our lawyer is checking on something this week, but we should be signing. 

Besos!

End of Summer Update

Monday starts the new school year for Jessica in 1st and Daniela will start Wednesday in 5th at a different school.  Jessica's school is full for 5th grade and they recommended Daniela continue with English learning because the majority of their classes are English.  I don't think the education Daniela receives is adequate and they are half day classes, but we can't exactly afford the crazy price Jessica's school charges for education in 5th either.  Anyway, they are super excited to start and I am even more excited for them to start!

Jamie and Matt moved and we have their car now.  If you haven't read that blog on the FREE car, check it out here.  Who doesn't love a good God provides story?! :)  I could not even count the times in the last week the kids have said, "I just don't even believe this, Mom."  I think it in my head everyday, too.  Insane.

Another exciting piece of new is...my lawyer found a judge to change my legal guardian judgement to INCLUDE flying out of the country with the girls!  WOOO HOOO.  Okay, so I am excited that we might be able to fly late this year or early next year, but we will wait to be really excited until I have the new judgement in hand and the passport office gives us passports.

Last new part of life in the Brady house is we have drastically changed our eating.  After Naomi researched that she should be cutting out more for her Gluten allergy, watching Forks Over Knives, and Abuelo O getting cancer.

I had a moment of needing to change.

We never keep lots of things I think of as "bad," like cookies, cakes, chips, sugary drinks, and sodas in the house, but we definitely had a bunch of things that have hidden chemicals.  Like, do I really need to buy taco seasoning with a list of things I do not know?  No.  I can totally season without that packet.  Sounds odd, but I started to get convicted about some things.  Months and months ago, after reading an article on diet soda, I felt so convicted if I know that this is horrible for me and I believe my body isn't mine, can I continue to drink this?  No.  So I quit it.  I must admit, it was so easy.  Just like the day I quit smoking years ago.  I have no idea what day I quit either because it just happened. 

We are moving to clean eating.  We have switched back to all whole wheat/brown rice, we were half and half on things.  I stopped buying mac and cheese (the girls haven't exactly figured this out just yet!) and drastically cut back on anything in a box, packet, and jars.  We've cut back our meat and dairy, too.  I think cutting out cheese in recipes is the HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE!  :)  Seriously, though.  I am proud to say, I am figuring out a new way to get that creamy taste, just in a healthier way.  We are still buying cheese here and there, but are slowly cutting out casein products.

I only drink vanilla and original almond milk but the kids are still being weaned from the boxed vaca milk.  Take a seat for this one... I quit coffee creamer!  Gasp!  I just use the Silk Almond Milk it works just fine.  We have also switched to natural peanut butter.  We aren't completely there yet, but we are moving towards a cleaner eating.  Not a diet, of course.  Life.    Now, feel free to send me on Pinterest, email, or FB your favorite clean recipes!  It definitely takes more time, but it is worth it. I realized whether I send Jessica with cut up cucumber or apple slices for snack or if I sent her with some pack of cheese crap crackers to school, she still ate it.

I was the one making the decision, why would I teach her otherwise? 

Tomorrow is Court...Plans Changed

After contacting my lawyer again through email yesterday, she wrote back this AM and said the girls will not testify tomorrow in court.  She told me not to bring them to the courthouse.  Then, at 1PM she wrote back that someone from court called her and asked that Daniela be in attendance with me.

To say that I am appalled would be an understatement.  I have no idea if they will make her do that in the courtroom.  She WAS never supposed to go to the courthouse because KIDS do not testify this way.  They are supposed to do it outside the courtroom and not have to see the accused. 

This will be the first time Daniela sees Dad since the morning he murdered mom at home.  I told her over dinner that I will be taking her to court tomorrow.  I tried to act as nonchalant as possible, just matter of fact.  (I believe if you have anxiety, your kids are going to mimic you.  If you are calm, your kids will pick that up).  I told that they might be asking her questions, just answer truthfully, and if she doesn't know, just say that.  Then, I told her we would see Dad in the courtroom.  She said, "Oh, I'm scared. What will they ask me?  What do I say!? I don't want to. Why? Why do I have to go?"  I told her to not think of this as something bad, I really do not know what tomorrow is going to be like but I will be right there.

Esther popped in my head quickly out of no where, Holy Spirit helping, ...  I told her that there is a story in the Bible about a women named Esther.  She was placed in a position for such a time as this to do something big and God had chosen her.  I think God has YOU doing this for a purpose.  It won't be easy.  

To my amazement, Daniela said, "she saved her town, mama."  

Wow.  Yes, she saved her people. 

She told me a few weeks ago she felt like she should read that story on her Bible app...and here I am retelling her the story :)  That God of ours.

We head out early to pick up their aunt and head to La Vega.  Lift us up in prayer around 9am.  Last time our case was called first and we went right in.  Tonight, I am going to coach her a little bit about testifying if we have to speak in front of Dad.  Love you guys. 

Keep praying for a miracle of a car for Jamie and Matt while in Florida!

Update on Trial

So, this week came and went.  Check out my last blog if you missed details here.

I went in to see my lawyer with Jamie to transfer the title of their SUV into my name and asked her again about seeing the psychologist to testify with the girls.  She was told that they didn't want to submit the order for appointments for the minors too early.

So, they waited.

Then....take a deep breath... they forgot.

True story.  Couldn't make that up if i tried.  It is too asinine for anyone to ever believe.

Remember? This is the same trial that happened last September and NO ONE was correctly notified in time to testify.  How does this happen again TO THE SAME TRIAL?

We do not have an appt. set for Monday, so if they were to get things figured out, we might be able to go Tuesday.  Wednesday is the trial. 

Naomi asked me while walking this morning if I thought someone might be getting paid off.  My first response was no way, they do not have the money or connections for that.  But, the more I think about this today, I wonder how this could possibly happen again. I hired a lawyer to be on top of this, so this did not happen.  She was not as persistent as I wanted her to be, but at least she was a voice talking to people at the courthouse. 

In times like these, I cling to the night God woke me up and asked me to take these girls for life.  I take that promise and pray, this is yours God, I was obedient and followed suit.  The rest is yours to figure out. I think, this doesnt make sense.  Shouldn't he just be guilty and I get adoption of the girls miraculously???  Guess not.

I think the hard truth is their dad may be walking away from this trial.  There are no witnesses to testify and they have held him for 2 years in jail.  I have no idea if they do DNA testing here, but there has been no talk of those things or his fingerprints all over the place and the murder weapons (hammer and pipes).

I am reading this book Jamie recommended named 1000 Gifts.  It isn't exactly my favorite, but it is totally teaching me to praise God all the time.  I am so grateful fear/anxiety/worry is not a part of my life.  So, I ask myself, like the book had at one part where her child's hand might be cut off by a farming accident,  So what if it did?  Does that change anything about God's goodness? Who He is?  His promises?  

No.  Nothing changes about God in our ever changing emotions and circumstances.

Yesterday, Ethan got hurt, or so Daniela thought Ethan had blood coming from his head at camp.  (Side note: He hit his head hard and was screaming, but he didn't have blood.  It was his red shirt that caused her to think it was blood on his head.)  Daniela about lost her mind in a trauma moment flashback something, crying.  (She does not do well yet in blood/death/accident moments. Instant alarms sound off inside her.  She told me it reminds her of seeing her mom because she had so much blood when she found her.)  I asked her when she already knew that he did not have anything wrong with him minutes later, What if he did have blood coming from his head?  She just looked at me like, you are crazy!  But she had a look of thinking on her face as she squinted her eyes.  I said and that would be okay if he was hurt.

I let her sit with that yesterday and today I asked her about it.  She said, "I was so scared that he was hurt."  I told her that the only thing she could do for Ethan was to pray for him (obviously seek help). Right?  And, if something happens to someone, we can move on from there as we know what is going on... one step at a time.  However, we always continue to move on.

What if Dad does get out?    Okay, what if.  Doesn't change what I know God asked for me, even if Dad requests them back.  I am super thankful God knows how to work in us to stand strong in times like these.  What if God didn't keep me up all night tossing and turning and crying over taking the girls?  I might be sitting here today wondering if God really told me to do that or was this something I thought was good, as others have implied.

Instead, I will just move on for today.  Headed to the river with the Ostbergs and Morleys to celebrate God's goodness in friendships.

Trial Approaching

Mama Espinal's murder trial is set for the 29th, less than two weeks away.  I was supposed to wait until my lawyer called with an appointment from the courthouse to meet with a psychologist to interview/question the kids to testify. 

We have heard nothing.

I emailed and she said this is standard for the system here, 2 weeks ago.  I called her the other day, because we are so close to the trial and these interviews will need to be printed/submitted to the judge before the trial date!  She told me she spoke to the attorney and they haven't sent the documents yet.

Is this country serious?  I often find myself asking that way too often.  How do they continue to run?

I hope that somehow they get us appointments for last minute next week and are able to get the other minors that are witnesses to come in last minute to testify.

Pray with me this week?

I have not been praying for this, totally slipped my mind.  xoxo 

Crazy. Just Crazy.

Have you ever prayed for something and it appeared God wasn't going to supply you with what you asked for?  Maybe years have passed and you know you shouldn't take anything into your hands, instead...just...wait, but you REALLY WANT TO TAKE IT INTO YOUR OWN HANDS?

I've been there for a few years praying for a vehicle or moto.  Every time I think I want to fund-raise for a vehicle or spend money on a moto, I have felt an awkward pause.   One of those "wait" feelings.  I could never, ever shake it, and I have always felt like someone was going to give me a car for free.  Why?  No idea.  I just had this "feeling."  I knew to sit tight and not miss what God had for me.  Luke and Nay even offered his moto at one point and as much as I want to learn so badly to drive one, I never felt good about having it. 

To be honest, transportation really hasn't been too much of an issue until the girls came along, and isn't dire to me even now.  I really don't mind walking places and Luke and Naomi always offer their truck, and allow us to grocery shop with them, run errands, anything.  Luke takes my kids to school/summer camp in the morning.  We have been so blessed by them.  We are never a bother, and they always treat us like family.  You can live without a vehicle, plenty of people do.

So, I have told the kids to pray about it and God would supply it if he wanted us to have one. They tend to cry if I want to walk across town or it is raining out.  But I always told them, "pray about it, pray about it."

Today, Nay and I  went to visit my friend Jamie.  She has been a Christian friend here that I have loved from the minute I met her.  A person that always wants to talk Jesus, really loves Him, and my soul just has always "clicked" with!  When she told us that she was moving to the states in Bible study, I cried inside.  Excited for what God has for her and Matt, but also a mourning of friends that I love so much in a place where all you have is missionaries or people that don't speak your native tongue.   

This afternoon, she told me that she and Matt believes their Xterra  SUV is God's and that He would supply them with what they need, they wanted to GIVE ME the Xterra.  As she read Philippians this AM, things like praise Him, seek Him, don't worry, and He will provide, she was confident with a smile from ear to ear!  They spent days and nights praying to God to show them what to do.  Many days of reading and searching to make sure to do exactly what God was telling them to do.  HUGE decision.  Matt announced that he agreed that God gave the go-ahead to this (way to JUMP, Matt, while also trying to do what's best for your family!)  And so, Jamie told me tonight.  Insane. 

Can I tell you something else that is crazy??  I knew this a few weeks ago when they visited the USA and let me borrow their car.  The whole time I prayed nightly for God to work in their hearts to be obedient to what He has asked them and to provide for them what they need for the move home.  Isn't that crazy!?  Luke said he had a feeling about it, too.  I told Nay and Luke, "what would I do if they offered to sell it to me for cheap?  It would be so hard to say, 'Hey, are you guys sure God didn't tell you to GIVE it to me?  That is what we were hearing."  That never happened because they were obedient to His voice.  What a blessing!?  What a rocket to my faith and hearing God speak!  Sometimes, I think I am crazy.  Other times, others straight up tell me I am crazy about hearing God. 

I came home and told the girls that we were going to knee pray.  As soon as Daniela finished her part, I started to pray, and tears just rolled down my cheeks (as they are now, as I write this).  Jessica in her classic 5 year old way said, "don't cry, mama!"  I took a breath and prayed thanking God.  To the One that is all powerful and in CONTROL of everything.  Giving AWAY your car is HUGE LEAP OF FAITH and just ridiculous!  This family of 4 is moving back to America in August and they NEED a vehicle for themselves.  In their right minds, they would sell this Xterra, make good money, and buy a vehicle when they get to Orlando, Florida (to drive North to Ohio, then on to home in Indiana).  But as it always appears...God had something else planned.  A plan that when others hear about it, they give Glory to God and not to Jamie and Matt.  As they transition back to the USA funds will end through their donors/organization and they will need to rely on God to make way to pay for things. Selling their car for a large chunk...just makes sense.  Funny, because the things God asks of us...often do not make sense and looks crazy to the world.

Tonight as I cooked dinner, I just cried the whole time.  Daniela was cutting an aguacate as I made quesadillas and I told her crying, if you follow and obey God, He will take care of you. That never changes.  You make sure you follow Him and He will take care of you as He always does for us.  I don't have anything more important to teach you then, "follow GOD!"

Instantly, I remembered Charles Stanley preaching about how his mom would knee pray when they needed things and how it impacted him to see God provide.  I cried again.  At dinner Jessica said, mama, you will remember this for a long time.  I said, SO WILL YOU!  We all laughed.  But it is true.  We will talk about this day for our entire lifetime.  We will build an "altar" on this day and talk about this as we go through trials in life and aren't sure how to proceed when we feel pauses...but we will say, look at what God did when we waited.

I needed a faith booster.  I really did.  I needed to know that through this valley, God is still working out so many details.  Even when I waver in faith and am pathetic with believing, God doesn't give up on me and still provides for me. He loves me.  Never leaves me.  In the words of Daniela, "Now, He just needs to answer the prayer for a dad!"

Be praying if God wants you to bless Matt and Jamie.  Contact me if you feel led to donate money or an SUV.  Seriously, be praying and don't ignore the voice. (Pmbrady7@yahoo.com or facebook/text)

WHOOOOOO HOOOOO, to God be the Glory. With tears that do not seem to end and basked in His love all because a family decided to be obedient.  Their decision not only effects me forever, but it effects my children...and one day, they will tell their own children these "mighty" stories of God. 

Obedience.  There is no other place to live but right in the middle of what He wants for you.  His desires for your life.  JUMP.  #praiseHim  #Hisplanisbetterthanyours

Courthouse for Mama Espinal's Hearing

Got up super early to get the kids ready to head to Naomi's for the day as Luke took me and a truck full of the girls' family down the mountain to La Vega for Mama's hearing.

They had a trial months ago, but I was never officially notified of the trial so we didn't go. They didnt even have me listed as legal guardian.  Dad wants out because legally he has the right to be set free because they have taken over a year to investigate and come to a decision in a trial.

As we arrived at the courthouse, we walked through the doors with no pat-downs or scanners.  As we waited for my lawyer, we saw someone hand over their hand gun to the security guard.  She put it into a box with other firearms that were not securely closed.  Luke joked, we know where to go if there is an emergency.  Next, inmates were walking in cuffed to each other in street clothes with each person having a hand free, not cuffed at all.  Mind blown!  The security was just someone in front and someone to the back of these large groups of men walking in.  I went upstairs with the girls to use the bathroom.  Although it is very common to not have toilet paper in bathrooms here, they did not even have a dispenser for toilet paper.  I was so in awe of that.

We went upstairs with my lawyer and the family.  As we waited, inmates passed by us again.

We entered the courtroom.  It had twelve benches, six on each side.  It was very clean, free of mold.  It had the common Dominican tile floors and fans were fastened to the walls to circulate air.  We sat in the back and they turned on an air conditioner.

Blurry! I wasn't sure if I could snap pics!

Soon after two inmates walk in and passed by our legs without a security guard behind them.  They went and took a seat.  THEN, Aunt Ramona said that is him, in the purple.  WHAT!  Like, he just walked in front of us with out both hands cuffed and without a guard??

He looked so different than the photo I had seen of him.  He was cleaned up, hair recently cut, new dress clothes, and new shoes. He has a lot of gray hair coming in.

Public Defense in Black (with the green tassel on head), Dad (Wilson) in Purple

There was a security guard by the wall.  You couldn't see his gun.  As the room filled up, another security guy came in and he had a visible gun.  My lawyer said that the important officials in the room have black robes on and hats.  Each is identified by their colored tassel and sleeves.

Public defense is green.  The judge always wears purple.  I think our side had on white.  Thankfully, we were the first case to be called!  As they had Wilson move to the front, the bailiff realized he didn't have keys.  It was laughable, to say the least.  Then they uncuffed him to freely sit in the courtroom.  Next they called Aunt Ramona and we had no idea where she went.  Water or the bathroom?  I was mortified.  Judge wasn't too happy.

There was no microphone, so we couldn't hear anything in the back.  My lawyer asked me to come up closer to the front and sit as she stood next to me.  A heavy set lady with her shirt unbuttoned halfway down but in one of these black garments standing off to the side, grabbed me by the arm and literally pushed me to the next row, up front with Aunt Ramona.  Although, I felt her to be extremely rude pushing me, I also felt it to be divine intervention.  I wasn't the only guardian standing in for the witnesses, but I was definitely the American in the case that hired my own lawyer to come.  I incessantly prayed Your will be done, be with this judge, let justice be served, fill this room with your Presence, lay Your hands on this judge and on the attorneys, Your will be done, Your will be done.

Wilson wanted to be set free and do a probation of checking in every 15 days.  Judge said no.  She set another trial for next month and all the minors will meet with a psychologist to be interviewed soon.  PRAISE God. 

Although, I am super excited for this, I am also very appalled at the justice system.  The reports are all poorly written and missing valuable information as to what happened and who was present.  My kids and the other minors will be interviewed for WHAT HAPPENED... almost 2 years after the murder.  Ay Ay Ay.  They should have been interviewed a long time ago for this.  So much time has passed and I worry that their memory isn't going to be fresh. 

Thanks for your prayers today!  Next update will be about the trial.

(Next week marks one year since the monkeys moved in!)

Prayers

^{This is the land we found last week for our future trafficking rescue home.  It is truly breath taking.  It feels like home.  I want to go there daily and sit.  It is massive.  It is perfect.  It comes with cows, creeks, mountains, mango trees, avocado trees, corn, squash, an outhouse that has a 30 foot drop for wastes, oh everything, really.  Today, we took the kids to run around and pray over it...again.  We have done this a few times without the kids.} 

But now we are waiting...

This photo is incredible, isn't it?  Great job, God!  Look at that sky!

^{Mark 11:22} “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 

 James ^1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

^{John 16:12-15} “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 

Ethan and Jessi

Jessica, the sweetest 5 year old, ever.

 Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Be praying for us this week, please.  I wake up to this land prayer. I think about it all day long. I end my days praying about it as I fall asleep. I toss and turn throughout the night, rolling over in crazy Holy Spirit prayers asking for Him to answer and then fall back to sleep.  I must admit I am never a fan of waiting for answers...but I praise His name that I even get to be a tiny part of His grand plans for the kids of this country. 

Passports

So we went to get passports again today, but this time I took my lawyer.

Before we went, she investigated the situation and went down to La Vega herself to speak with them.  All was well, they said I could with the situation we have and the legal guardian document. 

Today, I got down there and waited about 2 hours to hear no again.  My lawyer says that she worked on a case like this in college and the guardian was able to obtain passports to travel with the kids.  My case is rare because I actually have rights signed over to me, I didn't just take in a child without paperwork.  It is also rare because I am not married and can't adopt them until I am.  I have not left the country since last year this time.  My exit fee is going to be ridiculously HIGH when I finally do get to go to America for a trip.

One of THEIR solutions today was to sign the girls back over to sister.  Let sister go get passports and then sign me back rights after we get the passports in hand.  I would then apply for visas and could fly with them.  I HAVE NO IDEA how this is even legal today, but that is what BOTH LAWYERS suggested.

I don't even understand why they would let me fly with them if they HAD passports...I just cant request them.  What?

Amazing, I tell you.

I won't be going that route.

It's funny.  Not getting passports actually answered another prayer I had.  One prayer denied and one prayer answered from the denial. Cray.

My lawyer thinks that I can adopt without being married.  This is new.  Laws are super flexible here.  One person says one thing and another person says another.  Hence, I was told by the judge that signed my  legal rights document, "now, you can go to get passports and visas to travel."

Wrong.  But my lawyer is calling the judge and looking into this more. 

The great part today is that I am not discouraged.  Super calm and okay with this.  It use to weigh heavily on me that I cannot leave the country, but it has subsided. 

Life is good lately.  After a few weeks of absolute craziness in the house with Daniela running away and couldn't be found for a few hours, we have had a great month of calmness...except for this new preteen attitude that I am not sure how to handle :)

Daniela has a great counselor that she is working through trauma stuff with that is Christian and is trained in violence theraphy.  Our counselor wanted us to schedule a visit to dad in prison last week, but after much prayer, I lacked all peace to do that.  The prison here is down right scary.  There are only set days to visit and prostitutes and drug dealers are let into the facility.  There are guards but they do not escort you, and inmates are not locked up.  They are roaming free.  We wouldn't be able to talk to dad behind bars or a window, it would be face to face.  No. Thank. You. Sounds like a new round of trauma to me.

Jessica didn't want to go and oddly enough, Daniela did. 

I am horrible about keeping you updated this month.  I am going to try to write a little more often.

Love from the DR.

Growth

A couple weeks ago we started a new 6 month program that we will run at-risk women through to teach life and job skills based on Biblical principles.  Last week, I started the Bible portion of the program.  We have ordered a series by Charles Stanley sermons online, but the mailing system takes several weeks, so we decided to use another one of Stanley's sermon series that deals with first steps of Christianity.  We prayerfully thought that we should start directly from scratch and teach from our hearts and lives.  If you haven't read this blog by Luke yet, catch up here about what is going on ministry-wise with my work in the Dominican.

I take full notes on the sermon in the English, then we watch it in Spanish with the ladies to completely understand what is being said, then we can all talk about it as a group after.  The first one was excellent on eternal salvation.  You can check it out here.

This week the second step was growth.  It was just such a life-changing sermon that I wanted to share what he said...but don't just read this, go over here and check it out yourself.  Totally mind-blowing.

He started out by saying that children of God should grow.  If we do not grow, then something is wrong.  A very important question he posed was to ask yourself, "Am I growing?"

 If you are not growing, you are back-slidding.

WHAT. WOW.

Romans 8:29New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

It is God's will that we be conformed to the imagine of His son, Jesus.  It is His will that you GROW AND CHANGE.  

Parents are role models. Kids should look to us as their number one model of how life in Christ should be, not the Pastor.  Others should look at us and talk about how much we have changed and grown in Christ.  Stanley said, "Can you personally look at your life and say, '10 years ago, where was I?'  Or, have you been back-slidding for 10 years and not realized it?"  My jaw popped open when he said that.  I had never heard it like that, but that is true.  When you are not growing you are moving further and further away from God's path.  You don't just stop reading your Bible and stop following His will, you are not being led by the Holy Spirit and you are falling into sin.  No, this isn't the big sins everyone wants to shout from rooftops and hold signs for... no, these are the hidden sins that have become somewhat acceptable in society.  I just thought people stayed-still.  I can't believe how wrong I was.  I don't know why I didn't see it because I know you can't just live your life anyway you want....yet, I just assumed people were staying the same, in my head. 

Here is a list that Stanley poses to check in your life to see if you are "growing."  Take a minute to pray before you watch the sermon and read this list.  Really ask God to open your heart and break you down to see what you have maybe missed in the busyness of life and ladders...

As we grow in Christ likeness we become-

Aware of sinfulness and our personal weaknesses that need to change

Our response to sin in our lives is quick and repentance follows 

Our spiritual battles become more intense and we rejoice in the opportunity to grow

We view service to Jesus as a high honor, not a burden

We are able to view everything as coming from Him.  He can stop it but He allows it. (I think this one is HUGE. I am often baffled at the amount of Christians that do not consider God in their circumstances and only focus on the object that "causes" it. )

We sense our faith GROWING stronger

Our desire to obey Him becomes more intense, and sin is less attractive

Eager to share what Christ is doing in our life (When was the last time you shared anything with anyone about what Christ is doing in your life?)

We experience an ever increasing awareness of His presence.  The more you are aware of Him, you cannot tolerate sin in your life

WE GUARD OUR PRIVATE DEVOTIONAL TIME.  (As you grow in Christ, this time is non-negotiable.  You make the time to read because you cannot live without this knowledge and Him speaking in His Word.)

We LOVE to spend time with God.

We desire to give more to others, church, circumstances

We have a growing HUNGER in our hearts for God

WE FEEEEEEEL God's love. (Some can say that God loves them, but not feel it or feel like they deserve it.  When was the last time you felt so overwhelmed in His love that you smiled and cried at the same time in the Spirit?) 

Do you experience these? 

I am a broken record with this, but it's because it is true in my life...you have got to make time to read your Bible.  I cannot live without mine.  Mine is falling to pieces and missing like the first 4 books!!! but there are so many notes and dates in their that bring back to memory when God spoke to me, things He did, His faithfulness, His love, His provision, His character etc and I cant part just yet to start a new one.   (I just use my kindle for those books or online.)

I truly hope you click the link and watch the sermon today.  You can totally start anew...right now.  Get back on the path...you know you feel it and keep saying you are going to change something, here you go...

Love from the island!

Prayer

I have about 5 blogs in my head, so I am finally buckling down to write this one out.

About a month ago, I decided to buy the book Is that Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham after Luke was bringing it up in every day conversations.  It was the building blocks to the YWAM founder's journey.  It was exactly what we needed to read.  In the book he spoke about sitting in a room with some of his team and just praying.  Luke felt like we should do that, too.  I thought oh, no big deal.  We can sit quietly and pray out loud or to ourselves.

Oh my gosh!  That is so hard!  You don't even realize how much you pray and talk and maybe listen for a few seconds before you begin praying again.  To sit and just wait.  Then just as you get quiet and still, all of a sudden you are thinking What am I making for dinner?  Is friday a half day for the kids?  I got a headache, wonder if I am getting sick.  Oh, maybe.  Jessica is kinda sick.  Stop talking to yourself!

We did this for 4 consecutive days...for hours at a time.  Doesn't that sound nuts?  I totally agree.  One day we tried to do it at my house while we met.  Fail.  Dogs barking. Neighbors screaming.  Chickens squawking. Cars zooming.  Luke and Naomi learned that day why I try to get up before the sunrises to read and breathe...it's impossible once this area gets moving because my windows don't close.

Each day we would call out things we saw as our eyes were closed and asking God to reveal plans to us.  Australia, red cardinal, thumbs up, M, W, K, temple, mountains, waves/boat, cliffs, black, fox, Bible verses, someone crying to a king like figure.

Just random things.  Or so they seemed random.  I let Daniela join us the day we met at my house.  She goes to a local Christian school that is only half days, so she attends tutoring and soccer some days and some afternoons she is with us.

She saw the crying bowing person.  This was actually a similar vision that the author of the book had seen, Luke had pointed it out from already reading the book.  Daniela has obviously never read the book.  Crazy.  It was depicting the team's devotion to a ministry ship, instead of to God and grieving Him.  She also saw a temple with people but not a church.

One day after I finally started the book, I realized that Australia was on the cover.  There is also a wave (very symbolic in the book) on the cover, too.  I'm glad I'm not moving to Australia. :)

After this time of daily prayers of surrender, we finally found a place to have our prevention center.  We had been searching for over a year and nothing felt right.  Didn't have peace.  One day, we checked on this house and every one of us had peace.  It was almost eerie because we have never had that (the 3 of us) on any place we looked at.  There is nothing at all special about this place, didn't get some killer price, but we waited until it was something He had for us.  And, it happened all of a sudden by checking on this house...that we knew was available for MONTHS. We moved stuff in as soon as we got keys the next day.

Thanks for your continued prayers.  It's exciting when He answers.  More updates to come this week.  Besos!

(PS February is my month of God doing big things for the last few years...  from baptism, to quitting teaching in America, to being hired in the DR, to leaving JCS, starting/working FIGHT fulltime, and now to our prevention center).

Happy 42nd Birthday, Mama Espinal!

Grabiela, Mama Espinal, Daniela, and Jessica crying in the front.  The girls just laugh and laugh at this photo. They treasure it.

Today we celebrated mama's birthday.  I realized yesterday that they only use mami (mommy) when refering to their mom, but never use that word when talking about me.  It is nice to have a way to refer to her instead of calling her "your other mom" or Amantina.

Last night we made cards from my card making stamps and stuff.  Jessica asked Daniela, hey, what color was mommy's favorite?  Blue. Then she asked me what stamp you use for people that have died.  I told her to use the ones for birthday, but she was determined to do one for her being dead.  She found one that had black on it and she said, "I found the one for dead people."  I explained it was just black, but she acted serious and did the cut throat and tongue out sign for death.  Under her breath she said something and I asked her what she said.  She said she didn't want to say it.  She had a scowl look and a roll of her eyes.  Finally, I asked, "Did you say it's because of your daddy?"  She shook her head with a trembling lip, yes.  I really didn't say much.  I just let them talk about it how they want.   I try not to deny them any emotions they have for him or her. I just teach them about forgiveness and how death is very special because we get to be with Jesus and that is the best place to be in the world.

Card making last night

We headed out to the cemetery after lunch today with Luke and Naomi.  We picked up some flowers on the way to a baby shower this AM.  Daniela asked last night if we could go take flowers.  She always wants to go for events, but she never wants to pray or stay long.  Daniela cried twice yesterday over being bothered.  Daniela never cries.  Even when she does, she tries her hardest to hold it in.  Big ball of supression.  Finally, I asked late last night as she had tears about Jessica bothering her.  Are you sad today?  YES!  

We called their sister, Grab, last night and sadly, she didn't know when mommy's birthday was (so I guess they do not celebrate or talk about it).  She left their house when she was 4.  She wouldn't have remembered unless someone helped her with dates.

Luke, Jessica, Daniela, and Ethan walking

Mommy's Plot

Flowers and Cards

We ended the afternoon singing with cupcakes for her.

 The following are some old pics of the girls before they moved in.  They look so different to me and wanted to share.  Happy New Year, Family and Friends XoXo

Daniela at FIGHT's sports camp with Christina.

Daniela with some friends at FIGHT's sports camp.  So tiny.

We had a mission team here the week I took this picture of Jessica last summer.  Jessica would stand there at her gram's house for most of the morning just staring at us. 

The girls home across the street from gram's where they lived with mom and dad. Very small.

One last photo :)
Naomi and I threw a baby shower for Jamie this AM, so Luke babysat the bunch.  They just got a new puppy and Jessica is in love with Ria. 

Jessica