July 08

July 2008

Dear Friends,

In the age of fast food and biggie sizes, we have become accustomed to the bigger and faster the better! Not only can we have things bigger and better, but like the Burger King commercial used to say, you can have it your way too! But when we are under God’s authority, it isn’t my way but it is His and it isn’t my time but it is His. With everything moving so fast these days it is easy to forget who is in control.

After arriving here in Costa Rica, twelve years ago, I knew God had spoke to me about starting a children’s home but how and when, I did not know. I had dreams of a home filled with children laughing and playing and to me it seemed like the more children the better—after all so many children were in need. And, of coarse, the faster the better too, so we could help them right away. Now in my mind, I had to hurry and get things moving. Thank God He is in control even when we think we are. He has a perfect time for everything.

After language school and marrying a wonderful man, God did give us many children in our home. We had thirteen for a while and although we loved each one, God gave us five wonderful brothers and sisters and said focus on them and train them up. We later adopted them and we realized God was speaking to us about family. God showed us it isn’t about how many but how well we can teach and love each one, producing something in someone so they can go out and produce it in others. And most important of all, forming a real family!

Recently a group of young people from our home church in Alabama came to visit us. We all went together to see the land, where we are going to build the children’s home. Enrique and I stood and prayed with the young people, whose families have supported us for years. Even my niece, Gracie, who was only a little girl when I left the states, now seventeen, stood with us too. I realized the wonderful journey God had brought me through. It was a very blessed and emotional time for me!

Sometimes bigger and faster seems better, with the fast world we live in, but do we want something that lasts for the moment or something that lasts for generations to come? I can’t see the future but God can and with His help we can change the world one child and one family at a time. In the end, the best things in life are worth waiting for and sometimes take a little longer. When time and love is poured in to something or someone good things are bound to come happen!

We are happy to report, Nini, our new member of the family, is doing well. He is making good progress and is loving school and being in the family. We thank you for thinking of him. We now have eight children in our home. We appreciate you remembering us in your prayers and support.

We thought you would enjoy seeing a copy of the house plans for the first home we will be building on the land, so we have enclosed the drawings in this letter. We hope one day to have five homes built there. We want each child to have a real home where he or she can grow up.

Thank you for all your support and thanks to the Covenant Church in Mobile for coming and blessing us and the families we work with. They will never forget you and the love you showed each one!!

Enrique and Charlyn