the fruits of their labors

For many of you, there have been moments that changed the very direction of your life. A time or place you can reflect on, when God used his people or His natural creation to show you a glimpse of Himself, that perhaps caused your heart to stir, your mind to question, and your soul to cry out...

Do you believe that can happen at a Fourth of July picnic?

all the kiddos!

 I have to admit...most of the time I don't. One more 'ministry event', same outcome. But that is because I simply take for granted the beauty of the Body of Christ. I have a tendency to keep my eyes focused on the brokenness of the Christian community, of which there is much. What I do not tend to focus on is the redemption and newness that is there as well. I hardly ever think about the reality that I have real, true, Christ-centered friendships in my life. Who I trust. My friends love me, they want the best for me, and long for peace between us to always exist, and I go ahead and assume that is the case for everyone else. The same goes for my marriage. I have a husband who I love and who loves me and our children...we live in a peaceful (75% of the time :)) home, where forgiveness and grace are pillars...doesn't everyone live in a home like this??

No.

On Saturday night we had a great time celebrating American Independence...and an even better time welcoming MANY Spaniards into the fellowship of believers. What did they see? They saw people, at peace with one another, eating and drinking and enjoying this world together. They were welcomed, and invited into a community that is certainly not perfect, and has no power on its own to change lives...but that is ALWAYS pointing to the one true God who is and can.

sweet friends who hold 24 lb babies:)

our new friends...who wanted to learn how to play baseball!

great turn-out!

the spread! hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad...a great taste of home! 

The time was such an encouragement to our team, who were able to see the fruits of their labors. Not just in the number of people who attended that they invited, but that they were comfortably able to fellowship with Spaniards...meaning, the language barrier is not the barrier it once was, nor were their own insecurities talking to new and different people.

determined to blow HUGE bubbles...BY HERSELF.

Land of the free, home of the brave...and cute!

water balloon toss!

the baseball game, with a only one outfielder :)

batting practice!

good times and lots of red, white and blue!

Thank you for your prayers, they were answered. Please continue to pray, that this event would be 'that moment' for many of the friends who were there, that this glimpse into kingdom life would be a life changer!

lots of love,
Ada