Thank you!

We just wanted to give a quick shout to all our friends at Central Baptist Church in Dunn, NC!  We were so blessed to speak with them last Sunday evening.  Jen and I were married by Pastor Tom Wagoner and spent some college and the first 6 years of our marriage attending and serving at Central.  It definitely is a country church and we realized how much we have missed good ol country singing!  The music and warm environment, felt as if we were coming back to a family reunion.  So much fun to see everyone and to talk with some of you.  We wish we could have had more time to hear more about how everyone was doing.  Please email us and share how we can pray for you.  menold.makarios@gmail.com .  Great to see how God has been working in so many lives.  Pastor Wagoner and his wife are dear friends of ours and praise God for them and their work in Dunn, NC.  Their website is www.cbcdunn.com .  Thank you for allowing us to come share what God is doing in the Dominican Republic and for partnering with us.  

We truly are grateful for all the encouragement we have received and for those that have partnered with us.  Your prayers are felt.  We still have a long way to go in our monthly support but we are praying for those who will be partnering with us and know that God will provide.  Our goal is to have all our monthly partners by June 30th so we can have some time to prepare for our Flight out on August 1st!  If you would like to support us monthly please email me your home address and I can mail you info or you can click the donate button on this blog.  The next two months will go fast and we are excited to see how God brings all this together!

Thank you again CBC family!  

Hangin' On...

We were told by a wise man a few years ago that when we took on leadership, we are essentially putting a bullseye on our back for the enemy.  We can say that that is a pretty true statement! This past week has tough mentally, spiritually, and physically.  I won't bore you with all the details but with partnership slowly coming in, our house on the market for a week and no showings, cleaning up the house before we leave everytime, kids getting up all hours of the night, discipline issues with the kids, planning for the next few months based on faith alone... has easily left room for discouragement when walking in my flesh.  Which also leaves room for the enemy to attack our marriage. 

Thank you for those of you who have already partnered with us financially and/or prayerfully.  We are feeling your prayers.  Though it is tough, we recognize the enemy and that he doesn't want us to move forward.  This whole preparation time is growing our faith.  I love James 1.  It is a great reminder of trials and the reasons for them.  Pray that "the testing of our faith will develop perseverance" (James 1:3) and that our marriage and relationships with the kids would strengthen through the stresses of transition.  Psalm 139:23-24 is a scripture I memorized long ago 
 " search me , O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting".  When sin is revealed it is hard to swallow sometimes...thankful for His grace and mercy daily.

There is nothing we can do to make our house sell, to make people partner with us, etc, etc.  It IS all in His hands.  He did make the earth and heavens and all that is in it(Psalm 24:1)... I am sure He has this covered.

Back from the Dominican!

Hola!

Como esta? (See, my Spanish has improved already!) 

I hope this finds you all well.  We arrived home Friday night around 11 pm.  Saturday was a Sabbath for us!  My mind was spinning with all the emotion and realities.
I wasn't sure how to filter through my thoughts and felt a bit overwhelmed and anxious.

Let me back up and say that our 5 days in the Dominican were great.  The team we were with accomplished their task of building a MAJOR, from scratch, wood playground for the Makarios School.  The only thing that was left to do, was add the big plastic slides and tunnels...which will be done by staff there once those things arrive.  I wish you all could of watched the children climb on it for the first time! Many of us were fighting tears back.  Something about watching overflowing excitement in little children...it just melts your heart.

I was able to spend much time with Erika Snapp (Chris and Erika are the host couple there now).  I enjoyed watching her communicate with the natives.  They adored her.  She spends lots of her free time in the "neighborhoods" befriending many.  Anywhere we went with her people would wave and yell, "Er-de-ka!".  The relationships she has built over the last year and a half must be priceless.  She was gracious in introducing me with excitement to everyone.  I honestly thought that people would be disappointed that she was leaving and they would get me!  Instead, many hugged me, welcomed me, and offered their help in any way! 
HIGHLIGHTS:

•  I was intimidated with my lack of Spanish, but a little boy, in broken English, said "you teach me English, I teach you Spanish".  Okay! That was a deal!!!
• When the children there were told that we have cinco children... they got really excited.  I felt at ease more when I watch the children in Los Ciruelos (our neighborhood to be) playing.  I could envision our children growing new friendships with them. 
•  The house keeper for Makarios, Lucia, knitted a beautiful hat for Parlyn.. that was her way of welcoming our family.  My heart skipped a beat!
• Juan, the driver for Makarios, was very protective over us all , especially Little P (that is what we call Parlyn).  She was in her carrier on the ground, and he shoe-d away mangy dogs and then got her a chair that was high up.  When it started to rain, he was very concerned about her getting wet.  The Dominicans believe that babies will get the 'flu' if they are in the rain.  So, he was quick to get me in the 'Gwa Gwa' (van) with her :)
• Watching the childrens excitement on their new playground!  As well as watching a team, work intensely to get that thing up by Friday!  I am so proud of them and their desire to serve the people and their Maker.

There was so much more I could share.

As I mentioned earlier, my mind is spinning with many thoughts and my heart with many emotions. Josh reminded me that we cannot trust our heart, which I needed to hear!  As the members of our team come back dealing with leaving the Dominican, I struggle with leaving my comfort zone.  I came home and could brush my teeth and drink the water...what a luxury!  Air conditioning, sidewalks, playgrounds, fast food with 2 minutes, ... luxury.... Honestly, it is a bit of a struggle to leave a safe neighborhood and enter poverty.  But I am thankful that walking with Christ is were the riches lie.  John 15 is clear that He is the Vine, we are the Branches, and if we abide in Him, we will bear fruit and apart from Him we can do nothing.  He is my strength and I must remind myself daily that we can do this through Him because of His strength,grace, and mercy.  It is in Him alone.  There is nothing in me.

This journey has not been easy.  Josh said as he was sanding the wood in the D.R. for the playground (for like 8 hours)  he thought about how in life sometimes we have to have periods of sanding.  It can be tedious.  It is not fun.  It can be painful.  Yet, the end result, in this case, was a beautiful playground for a greater purpose.  May you be encouraged to persevere also if you are going through things right now (read James 1).  Maybe your life is like a piece of wood that has yet to be sanded, or is being sanded.  I see sanding taking place in my heart right now.  I look forward to the result of the sanding.

Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement.  Keep them coming :)

hola from Republica Dominicana!

After a 2-3 week stretch of non-stop working on partnership letters, working into the midnight hours getting our house ready to go on the market this week, and packing 6 suitcases of our belongings... we made it to the airport for our "7 a.m." flight to Miami and then to Puerta Plata. At the terminal, we hear, "your flight was at 6 a.m.".....I think I had to scoop my jaw off the airport floor. I was so looking forward to leaving the chaos. My expectations were once again put in persepective! We did get on that 7 a.m. flight for a little more cash... I exhaled as the plane took off. :)

I am sitting in the breeze way of the 'Mak house' trying to take this all in... the beautiful mountain I keep glancing at, the sound of the electric sanders that the NC team (Stephani Aycock, The Coats, The Ivaskas, The Magees, and Chuck Walker)are preparing to go build a playground for the Makarios School later this week, thoughts of the friends and family that have served us by babysitting, doing our yard sale, encouraging us and praying for us. It has been special to have friends here to share in seeing what our new normal will be in a few months. The only thing I can make of this is HE IS IN THIS.

We arrived yesterday with a warm welcome! Our room had freshly picked flowers and signs from the neighborhood kids, whom later I had the priveledge to meet. Erika Snapp, who is in the role that we will fill in the Fall, took us to meet the neighbors. It is a small, narrow street, everyone is out . The children are so excited to meet a group of us. They especially were thrilled to meet Ms. Parlyn. The were amazed how much she "looked like their baby doll"...one girl described her rosy pink cheeks, white skin, and blue eyes! (All the kids want to touch her because they rarely see a white baby!) There was a play mate for each of the Menold kids... I cannot wait to watch our children jump in and play hopscotch and how they will learn to communicate with them though language is a barrier. I felt peace that they will fit in just fine!

Today we went to the Makarios School and went to each classroom, a total of 4-5 classes. Next year, second grade will be added. We got to sing and dance with the kids to break the ice some. Many of them wanted to hang on Parlyn... she is a hit! When my kids visit the school, I wonder if they will want to attend! :) ( we still will homeschool, and visit the Makarios School to build relationships) There is a teacher, Johan (spelling?) that will tutor us when we get here, if we want. I am a bit frustrated that we have a language barrier but I am excited to watch that barrier shrink as days go by:).

Anyways, just wanted to update you on how our trip has begun. Thank you ag


ain everyone who is praying, partnering with us, and serving the Lord by serving us. We love you all!

Location:5,,Dominican Republic

Crazy Busy!

The last few weeks have been nonstop preparing for the house to go on the market.

I literally wake up and projects begin until around midnight.  Josh gets off work and starts his projects right away and retires around midnight or so also.  Last night I just sobbed for about an hour.  The fatigue has taken its toll, but I think reality had set in also after our day.  Yesterday, several friends came over and literally ran our yard sale for us, hauled off the unsold items so we wouldn’t have to do another one, bought much of our furniture, and watched our children.  We have had several friends take our children for the day or in spurts so we can do all the preparations to get the house ready for the market.  Not to mention, we are making a trip to the D.R. Monday with ‘little P’ (Parlyn Faith).  The reality of the priceless friendships that I will miss set in.  The reality of selling these (earthly) possessions set in.  The reality of going set in.  I will not lie, it is hard to take in and I have not handled everyday great.  But regardless of the stress, chaos, and emotions of leaving our lifelong friends, family, and what we have known as home… I still have peace to obey and go.  The Lord is gracious in providing this.  He has been evident in the support of the Body of Christ for us. 

As we get ready to head out tomorrow pray for these things please:

My mom with the 4 kids

Our time out there in making preparation for our move there

Our health/safety (especially Parlyn)

Our hearts: that we would not make it about us…but focus on the Savior