"Truly God is good..." (Psalm 73:1)   Sooner or later, we will each face something we cannot understand. When that happens--when the world around us seems to be falling apart and we feel confused and overwhelmed--it is important to remember this foundational truth: God is good.   Too often, in the midst of pain, we think the opposite. We look around at others that are doing okay and wonder why we are the ones suffering. Satan--who always attacks when we are weak--is right there in joining us to challenge God. He tries to shake our faith in God's goodness and His power by whispering, 'If God is so mighty and so good, then why did He allow this to happen to you?'   The way to silence the whining of the flesh and the whispering of the enemy is to remind ourselves of God's great love.   In reading through Psalm 73, it would appear that the psalmist was going through some sort of painful experience or a physical malady. Like we do at times, he felt weak. But he knew the truth about God. Toward the end of the psalm, he said, 'My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"(Psalm 73:26).   We need to remember that God is in control of our lives. That He is working all things together for our good.   We have been having some hard and trying times. Our strength truly seems to be failing at times, but the Lord is faithful to remind of His amazing goodness.   All doors seem to be closed concerning the girls. It has been two weeks already since DIF Navojoa took them and we have not been able to get a permit to even see them for a few minutes. The investigation continues and they tell us till that is over they cannot allow us to see them or talk to them, or anything. They continue to tell us too that Trini needs to come back, that things would progress quickly if she came, which, of course, could just be talk...it is hard to know what to do.   We have been making phone calls to Hermosillo and Navojoa daily, writing letters, etc., but no doors seem to open, on the contrary, things look more somber and we lose heart wondering if we'll ever get the girls back. Although it is said the darkest hour is right before dawn, I don't know that we are there yet, though. Of course, in the midst of all this legal mess we know our Lord is in control and that He will, somehow, work things out for the good.   Also, in the midst of this heartfelt situation, we continue to go about our daily activities, asking God constantly for His amazing strength and joy and the midst of the struggles. He is so ever faithful! When we are going through hard times we feel like the world should stop till we gather ourselves together, or till the situation improves, instead of learning what God wants to teach us through all this He, for a reason, is allowing in our lives.    We are blessed with a group that is here from Minnesota from Paul & Ruth's church. We are extremely blessed to have the Wallestads with us too at this time. We'll have all the communities come together tomorrow, as we do on communion Sunday to celebrate and fellowship all together.    The Minnesota group is helping build a brick room for Carla's grandparents in Mezquital, so they have been busy doing that. They went with us to 'Las Minitas' yesterday evening where we had a sweet time of sharing of the Word, and fellowship one with another.   We are very thankful for all of you that are praying for the situation here on the ranch. Please continue to do so. We long to have the girls back, but trust the Lord has everything under His control and want to put our trust completely in Him, we know He is the only One that never fails.   Continue to pray for us not to be sidetracked by this, as the devil would like us to be. Thank you for the words of encouragement received from so many of you, for the warnings and exhortations to continue focused on the things that matter, instead of grief, discouragement and hopeless...our Lord's arm can still save!    Daniel's perspective:   I continue to thank the Lord for letting me know that this storm was coming. It's a blessing to know that nothing, not one little detail escapes Him. He is with the girls, He is here with us, He is there with you all. Nothing is too big for Him to handle and nothing is out of His capable hands.   Last night we were in Matthew 26. I am always amused at how the Lord lets us be in circumstances that seem to mirror where we are studying His word. (Maybe I should just stick to the last chapter of Revelations from here on out...streets of gold, a river that flows from God's throne, Him being our Light and spending the rest of eternity with Him...) I digress.   Matthew 26, Jesus is in such anguish that He says that His soul is in anguish, even to death! Jesus feels our anguish, He can totally relate. Then when Peter strikes off the ear of the high priest's servant, Jesus tells him to put away the sword. He tells them that if He wanted, He could call 12 legions of angels. (I would settle for one right now). The point is that He is not out of control, and He never has been. The other point is that we ask for God's will instead of our own because He can see the end of all things, the outcome of every little drama. Our hope is in Him and we are standing on the rock. I see what is happening to brothers around the world and I realize that our circumstances pale next to theirs. Still, my soul is in anguish as I wait upon the Lord to come and take us home. Soon, yes, very soon.       God bless you all,   Daniel & Ana