When 11 things go wrong

A ballerina   "I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2) We continue to wait on the Lord. On Friday we were again testifying. We were there in Alamos over five hours. Things just take a long time around here...   We know the Lord wants to teach us patience and other things through this ordeal. May we continue to wait on Him patiently and also learn what He wants to show us. It is hard not being able to see the girls and at least talk to them and let them know things are progressing, but even for that, I am sure, the Lord has a purpose...   Now we wait for Monday and will see what tomorrow brings.        Obed taking his nebulizations   Yesterday morning, Roshon came to our house with Obed, he was having problems breathing. We took him to Cindy, (she is a nurse), and she advised us to take him to ER right away which we did. It turned out he had developed a condition over night known as 'laryngotracheitis' (inflammation of the trachea or windpipe), and larynx. Very similar to croup. He was immediately given nebulizations which helped his breathing right away. The pediatrician, (Dr. Daniel Salas), told us we could bring him home and continue the nebulizations every three hours. He was still not breathing too well, but today he is better.   We continue to have lots and lots of problems with the vehicles. Same thing as always it seems like, we take them to the mechanics, but they are never fixed right. Daniel was taking a van to Las Minitas yesterday morning, but it didn't make it there. Thank God for Cindy and her truck, they were able to tow the van back to the mechanic in Navojoa where Daniel picked up the bus from Mocúzari, it was being fixed. On his way back driving the bus, it too broke down before he made it to the ranch. It had to be towed back too...   Okay, for Josh's sake, I need to let you know of some good news. We had a mini-retreat in Alamos yesterday (Sat. March 7th.) Quite of few women were present. I had already called my sister Elia telling her I wasn't going to be able to make it. Daniel needed help where he was broken down with the blue van, we were thinking Obed might have to go back to the ER, but in the end I made it. I took Lolis & Aaliyah with me. Marilú stayed back with Roshon to help her in case she needed to take her son back to the doctor, which, thank God, was not necessary.   The new Bible studies are going great, the Lord is blessing us so much and He is teaching us new things each day. We really are learning to rely on Him for all of our needs and in the midst of our struggles. How faithful He is!!! Rogelio is back from Baja California after being gone for a bit over a month. A young man named Samuel came with him to be with us for a while. Also, Paul & Pam Cooper are already on their way here, should make it by the middle of the month, or so. It is good to have more help. Thank you, Lord!   Paul & Ruth are here! They came yesterday. It is so good to see them. They will be here for about two weeks.     Daniel's perspective: When something goes wrong, maybe it's just something going wrong. When two somethings go wrong in a row, it might just be coincidence. When ten somethings go wrong in a row, then either you are doing something wrong, or right?   I was sharing this morning in Tesia about how the Lord chastens those He loves. If you are doing something wrong and you belong to the Lord, you will be chastened. The problem is that most people here think that if you start walking with the Lord and your 99 year old mother dies, then it's because you became a Christian.   Of course we know that's absurd. But you would be surprised at how many new Christians get attacked with that very same lie. I was telling them this morning as a sidebar, that that was exactly what Job's friends thought when he was under attack. You must have sinned against God, you must have failed to help the widows and orphans, etc.etc. Even his wife gave him the counsel of "Curse God and die!" I love his response saying, "Shall I accept good from the Lord and not the bad?"  Can you imagine poor Job scratching his head and thinking of what he could have done to be in the predicament that he found himself in? In truth, he knew that his life was in order with the Lord. All his worldly goods, all his children, and then even his health taken away in such a short period of time. Then to top it off his well intentioned friends insisting that Job must have been trying to hide his sin but had been found out! My point is this, if you are walking in the flesh, you will be chastised. (I'm speaking to those who love the Lord.) If you are walking in the Spirit, you will be tried. Peter explains it well comparing our trials to gold going through the fire. The outcome of our faith, once purified by the fire is something much more precious than gold. If you don't want to go through trials, then when hard times come, your faith will be in peril. God is faithful to try us and to build us up so that we can be of use to Him. If your desire in life is to glorify God, then my condolences for the trials that you are going through, but my congratulations for the end product that you are becoming. God bless you all and keep walking in faith. The darkest hour is before the dawn and Jesus is coming soon! Daniel & Ana