Pilgrim passing through...

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.  Psalm 84:5

We are called to live a life of pilgrimage.  A pilgrim by definition is one who embarks on a quest for something conceived of as sacred.  Psalm 120-134 and Psalm 84 are wonderful examples of pilgrimage.  Several years ago as I read this scripture I remember thinking to myself that I needed to start looking at my life as if a pilgrim here on earth.  I believe this was the Holy Spirit preparing me for what we are doing now and many more quests.  When the opportunity  came for our family to move to the D.R., I remember that word “pilgrimage” coming to my mind.  Two hard years later, I find myself asking God, “move again? A new quest?  I just went through some of the hardest lessons in life and now I am feeling settled finally.  Are you sure, Lord? Now my heart is here! ”.

Yes Jen.  The D.R. is not your home. North Carolina is not your home. Remember you are on a journey and the end of that journey; you will receive your Heavenly home. So hold loosely to the places you go.   Remember you are a pilgrim just passing through. I have something else for you now.  Be patient and trust in Me.

I don’t know where the Lord is moving us to or to what He is moving us to.  I do know that He is faithful and will give us strength as we continue on this pilgrimage.

“They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion,” Psalm 84:7.
~ Jen

New Beginings...

Dear Friends,

( Some of you already have recieved this note but we wanted to post this to make sure we didnt miss anyone)

May I begin with the fact that we have been praying about this decision since December. We never imagined that this decision would be so difficult to make.  It has taken 6 months for clarity from God.  The amount of prayer and counsel in coming to this decision has been in great length.  Our hearts have grown to the love the people of the Dominican Republic and the thought of leaving them is heart wrenching.  Yet God has been faithful in answering us and it is abundantly clear that we are to return.  The Lord has made it clear that whatever we are led to in the states, we will have a Kingdom focus.  We are praying about discipleship, church planting, the possibility of career missions or maybe the Lord is going to provide a job that will allow our gifts to be used within the Body of Christ.   We believe the first step of moving in one of these directions is getting back to the states to regroup.   He has directed our steps as Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understandings, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your paths”.  We plan on returning in early August for a time of transition and again will have to practice walking in faith to see what the Lord has in store!

We would like ask that all of our partners in ministry will stick with us through November 1, 2013, as our family goes through this time of transition. We will notify you immediately of any decisions or changes. We need additional financial support to get home.  An estimate would be $5,000.  We are praying about attending a program for missionaries leaving the field and this has been recommended to us due to the challenging times we have experienced here.  The program is called DAR (http://www.mti.org/programs/DAR).  We would appreciate your continual prayers during this time of transition as well.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with us, we would love to set up a skype with you.  Please notify us so that we can make that possible.

We look forward to sharing with you what the Lord has done through us because of your partnership.  God has been so faithful and we are excited to share! Thank you for all your love, care, prayers, and support. We appreciate how you have walked through this journey alongside of us.

For His Glory,

The Menold Family

Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Makarios is Growing!

 Since we last blogged an update,  much has occurred here on the field.  In early January, a team of college students from Austin arrived to serve and in late January a dental team came as well.  What a blessing both teams were to the community here.  This year the dental team consisted of 2 dentists, 3 assistants, and a hygentist seeing the students and the families.  It was wonderful to see them bring relief to many dental problems and so wonderful to hear of the amount of decrease in teeth needing to be pulled in our students! Having our students brush their teeth twice a day at school, as well as the yearly free care by this team is beginning to see fruit.  Thank you Dr. Bud Neeley and his team!

 

Josh's sister, Kristi and her husband, Tony were able to visit us for a week in January as well.  This brought with it many smiles!  They ministered to our hearts by their mere presence. We enjoyed taking them into the villages that Makarios mainly works with and fun to witness the locals shout out "F-in-l-ey" as we visited.  And it was especially heart warming to see Finley gravitate towards her friends from the school by greeting them with a hug or kiss in these villages! And I thought popularity was just an American thing!

In February we took our staff to Jarabacoa for Makarios' yearly staff retreat.  Jarabacoa is in the mountains of the D.R. and has many beautiful sights.   Robin and Heather Allen (Missionary Training International)  flew in to minister to the entire staff and to provide missionary care to the American staff.  The retreat consisted of hearing God's Word, community time, reflecting, and ... fun!  The staff had the opportunity to horse back ride or white water raft.  For many of our local staff, this was the first time to travel from their home town and the first time to do one of these activities.  Our kids were too young to raft, so I took them on the horses and Josh rode the rapids!  Got to love the D.R.-  the 'guides' threw my 3 older children (whom have NEVER been on a horse in their lives) on these (half dead looking) horses... and never said one word to them. The guides took off.  And my 3 inexperienced  un-helmet-ed children rode off too...on their own horse.  Yikes! We rode horses through the beautiful mountainous area to a breath-taking waterfall.  I was a bit worried for the kids safety, and especially worried when I saw my boys smacking the rear of their horse with a stick.  I just repeated that 'God is sovereign' in my head.  And He is!

 

Recently, Josh hired Benjamin Nunez, who grew up as a sponsored child in the Compassion International program.  Benjamin then went on to the Compassion International college and leadership programs and graduates March 18th and has invited Josh to be there which is really exciting to be a part of.  Benjamin is a leader in the church we call home here, Templo Biblico.  It is a complete blessing to see how Josh's prayer of being able to pass on all that he is doing to local Dominicans is coming to life so fast.  Benjamin is gifted by God for this role and is training to fill the Director role here in Montellano.  Makarios also has hired Emmanual "Chorro" Frica who is our maintenance or facilities manager.  He is only just a graduate of high school but is doing a great job managing projects and doing all that is needed to keep the school in shape and running as well as the Makarios House.  Andy Upton previously had this role, and went back to the US in December after serving here for 3 years.  It is just exciting to see God raising Dominican leaders to carry forth the vision of Makarios.  Benjamin has already proven his ability and accomplished so much with Josh. Oh and we must mention our recently promoted librarian, Narolin who is training to help with the accounting and is already doing a great job.  We praise God for how he is bringing all this together in His sovereignty.

Benjamin on the left and Choro on the right in front of the site where we are putting in a well for the school!

This month, Alex Torres came and observed our teachers and trained them and equipped them to be better educators.  We have already seen blessings in the classrooms from his visit!  Makarios will also be hosting a group of around 45 that will come from Hill Country Christian Academy tonight-March 8th.  They will be serving at the school and in our neighboring communities.  We are excited for when we hosted this group last year, we made friends that are coming back to home school our children for that week and offer free babysitting so we can grab a night out minus 5 kids.  The Lord provides relief in wonderful ways.

Satisfaction

What does this mean to you...Satisfied?

Are you satisfied?

I (Jen) want to share with you what the Lord has reminded me of in my own heart recently.  In the midst of a waterline breaking and having no running water for about 9 hours the Lord was speaking ( amazing if we 'be still' and listen in the moments of chaos ). I heard something like this:

 Are you satisfied with Me?  Of course, Lord! What about when there is no water? Oh...  Because I AM your living water (John 7:37).  Are you satisfied with Me when the kids are all in chaos? But Lord, it's been one of those days... Because I AM your peace (Is.9:6).  Are you satisfied with me when you are in stress? If this could just get this fixed, then... Because I AM your burden carrier (Mt.11:28-30).  Are you satisfied with me when you have no power? Try brushing 5 kids teeth and washing dishes in the pitch black... Because I AM full of power! (Ps. 147:5)  Are you satisfied with me when your house is 1100 square feet and 7 people crowd it daily?  Are you satisfied with me when conflict arises in the Body of Christ? Are you satisfied in Me all day long? Ummm, what would that look like Lord?

If I am honest and dig into the depths of my heart, most of the time, I can say no.  IF I was satisfied with Christ every day, every hour, every minute... then why do I fret when my plan is thwarted? Why do I need to feel accomplished?  Why do I compare? Why do I think this or that will make life better? Why does that person irritate me?  Why do I get upset when my born sinner children sin?  Why do I really join that group or league?  Why do I have fears? Why this...  why that?  If Christ satisfies me completely, I would not do the things I do, say the things I say, or think the things I think.

Therefore, I am aware of my lack in complete satisfaction in Christ at all times and pray that the Spirit will transform my heart in this.  Can you imagine being satisfied in Christ alone and what our lives would look like through complete satisfaction in Him?

May we be the Body of Christ that allows our lives to be transformed so that our satisfaction and joy is found in the One who gave Himself for us.

Speck in the eye!

Hello! Wanted to share a quick clip of today.  I woke up this morning and since the coffee pot was fried (for a second time) due to an electrical problem in our house... I struggled in patience for the water to boil so we could pour hot water through the coffee pot filter in our non working coffee pot.  (a homemade french press)  I looked around and the 'mess' in my house was creating an anxiety.. or maybe it was the broken coffee pot? Or, maybe it was my lack of patience, the very sin within me?

I decided to go to the store and get my groceries. A car ride to the store without 5 kids is like a vacation. I knew that I needed to seek the Lord because my attitude was not going in a good direction.  I get in our jeep, put on 'devotionals on CD' that a friend graciously bought me.  The speaker spoke on how we KNOW God is there when things are fine and dandy, but do we tell God we know He is there when "the coffee pot breaks again" or "the house is disastrous ?"  Driving along, I unroll the window because it was a low of 76 and I wanted that cool air! (yes, 76 is cool once you live through 100+ and no AC).  Driving along considering what the speaker is saying, something flew in my eye.  I rub it.  Wrong thing to do. Pain. More Pain.  Can't see.  Every time my lid would close, it felt like my cornea was getting scratched. Still driving in the D.R. Lots of traffic.  Motos flying by.  Still Pain, still not able to see out of the left eye except somewhat out of a watering right eye.  I decide to pull off because I thought I would wreck ( good thing we bought the insurance that lets you go to a hotel instead of jail until authorities figure out what happens if there is an accident).  Call Josh.  Remember that the new PA on staff is on his way to the same store.  I able able to drive to meet him there.  In the store he everts my eyelid (of course customers were all around!) and using a Qtip removes a speck! Yes, smaller than a grain of sand.  The first time my eye lid shut after the removal...NO pain. It felt like such relief.

I asked Josh since I got the speck out of my own eye, can I share a few things with him now? (and he thought I was making a joke..)

Seriously, I pondered that speck.  That teeny tiny thing caused so much pain and discomfort.  It potentially could of caused an accident.  In Matthew 7, we are told that we have to remove a PLANK in our own eye before we pay attention to the 'speck of sawdust' in our brother's eye.  Wonder how much damage a plank would do over time? I am guessing a lot.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  Matthew 7:3

“He Put A New Song In My Mouth” - by Jen

“He Put A New Song In My Mouth” – By Jen

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm  place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to Our God…” Psalm 40:1-3

      Many of you know the struggles I faced the last year plus.  The past year has been one full of trials, stress, anxiety, fears, spiritual warfare, and lots of hanging on…

     Today I want to share with you how good and loving our Creator is !  When he wants to stretch us, challenge us, confront us, grow us, love us, and show us how big and mighty He is… He will use whatever measures He needs to.  He has used answering the call in my life.  When we felt led here, I knew it would not be easy, but I did not know that it would be the very thing to mature me, as Ephesians 4 tells of.  This journey has brought trial after trial, pain  upon pain, perseverance upon perseverance, questioning  upon questioning,  & searching the depths of my heart upon depths.  Through the  ‘heat’ of circumstances it only revealed my lack of trust in God in details, in the big picture, it revealed desires that were good, yet became idols along the way of chaos.  It revealed that every moment must be governed by my God, not me.  It revealed that He will be the only thing that is a Rock and never changing.

     I became depressed here.  Feeling the stresses of daily life here for a  year straight,  my thoughts took me captive.  I was becoming numb to good thinking, scripture, and life in general.  I wanted relief from the daily stresses on the mission field.  I felt imprisoned.  I know we were given peace when called..why on earth am I having to go through this turmoil? God, this is my last cry out… I am doubting You… where are You?

     He hears those calls. He heard it a year ago.  I did not have the faith to wait on Him to answer.  I took it into my own hands and tried to make life more comfortable for me.  “If I just…”etc  etc.  I was hanging on spiritually.  I doubted God ‘s existence even.   I was finally at my end.  That’s when He could work, when I surrendered everything.  My pride, my desire to control, my wants… all had to be surrendered.  He was the only thing I knew that was capable of fixing me.
He put a new song in my mouth, one of thankfulness and praise.  He provided a body of Christ that cared about us.  We were reached out to.  We, as a couple , were given  Biblical counsel.    We started hiding Gods Word in our hearts again (Ps. 119:11).  Matthew 7:24 challenged me to not just read and hear God’s word, but to DO them ( not do what my feelings told me), so that I will be a house standing firm in the midst of the storms.  We were challenged as a couple to write down our frustrations and to then write what we really wanted in those moments.  It was then that I realized that often the person or thing that was frustrating me was not the problem at all.  It was my desire (often good) became an idol in my heart.  And when that desire was challenged, my flesh reacted wrongly-equaling  bad fruit.   Satan was more than happy to show me how ugly my heart was through these trials and caused me to focus on my failures –I began to hate who I was and struggled to accept grace.  But doing this exercise helped me to see my hearts desires that did not line up with His. My hearts desires had become idols and the only way out was to repent quickly as God showed them to me, and in that moment ask for the Spirits guidance.  With Josh doing the same thing, peace was taking place in our marriage and home again.  Suddenly the power going out, the rain on dry laundry, the cat bringing dead animals in, the mosquito's,  the 5 busy kids,  and so on.. Were just that!   I am desiring to submit my desires to Jesus in hopes of producing good fruit (Ephesians 5:8-13).  I want to choose the good fruit over the bad fruit responses, but I can’t in my own strength.  If I focus on myself I only fall in to myself.  As I focus on scripture and Jesus I fall in to him and he has the strength to change my heart (Jeremiah 17:5-10).  I find myself thanking God now more often for hot showers that I get blessed with, the beautiful mountains, the staff I work with, the body of Christ, and thanking Him for– being in control  of ALL things.

      Now this is not an end process, I will forever be in process of becoming more like Christ.  But I am convinced of Paul’s words in Ephesians 4, “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of God, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”.   I know that this is good for me to walk through and I know that if this is making me more like Christ, then I welcome it.  I am grateful that He is the one walking me through this thing called life.

      I encourage you if you are in the midst of struggles or complacency, ask Him to mature you.  It has been a humble experience sharing these “weaknesses” with the Body of Christ but it is the Body of Christ that God has used to help me walk through some of my hardest days.  And don’t be like me, unprepared, trying to do this on my own.  Be ready for the road that follows with assurance that He is in your midst.  I am thankful for the new song in my mouth…and knowing His character better today.  He has shown his faithfulness, his gentleness, his grace…He has truly been my Shepherd.
-Jen

Thankful for these girls - part of the Body!

Dear Friends and Family!

We have been off the radar since we returned from our trip to the states.  Not only were we trying to settle into our new home, a medical team was here, we spent time with new staff that will join us in January, and the unexpected flood engulfed the lower half off the Makarios school.  The flood relief took a few weeks to get the school back and running.  God provided in advance, for a team of mostly men arrived a few days later and were able to help in the restoration efforts.  Makarios was also able to raise a good amount of funds to replace all that was lost.  Not only did the school suffer from the flood, but many of the people of Tamarindo were affected.  Makarios was able to help in relief for many children's families that attend our school, as well as neighbors and staff that were affected.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with the staff and their families.  Christmas is really big out here so Christmas decorations were out long before Thanksgiving... we followed in the spirit and put our tree up a few weeks ago.  The kids are enjoying Christmas lights, cooking, and crafts!  The school has off two weeks around Christmas and our family is looking forward to a time where we can have, hopefully, lazy days and visit places like the capital, Santo Domingo!

In the first week of December, Josh will be traveling to Austin, TX for a board meeting for Makarios as well as being able to get face time with the staff there.  I will be continuing in my daily routine with the kids here while he is gone ( wish me luck!).  Pray for me when I am awaken by our cat bringing in live animals to play with in the middle of the night- usually this is Josh's job to evacuate rodents and flying birds!

Pray for us as we approach the time when we need to decide where the Lord is directing us.  Whether that be longer with Makarios, another ministry, or back to the states and whatever lies there.  Pray that as a couple we will be led in the same direction without confusion.  God is working on both our hearts right now and we desire to know the Father deeper and to bring Him glory in whatever we do.