A Moment of Silence...

Have you ever been so busy that you just prayed for a moment of silence?

Peace & quiet... 

Tranquility... 

Usually, I find myself wanting those peaceful moments in times of busyness & often confusion.

Living in Venezuela, moments of peace are few & everything seems to come accompanied with confusion & a side order of chaos.

One has to look hard & intentionally to find the silence.

The last few months have been yet another whirlwind.

Thus my terrible communications since July... *my apologies*

Team season wrapped up early for us here in Venezuela so that we could head to the good ole' USA for a month.

I wish I could say that we found the silence & quiet there, but we didn't.

What we did find was a sweet time with family, LOTS of doctors appointments, a fabulous time with fellow missionaries & friends, & some much needed new clothes! We ended the trip helping my mom after an unexpected surgery was planned.

All in all, we had a great time... but those moments of silence & peace were still few.

We returned just in time to celebrate the graduation of our dear friend Henry from the Bible School here in Barquisimeto.

Then we began digging our heels in to prepare for the arrival of the Smith family. Not ONE but SEVEN people whom would be coming to work with us!

The Smiths arrived on September 16 & for the next month lived at our house.

We were one big family of 12...

Seriously people... every time we went anywhere we were at least a party of 12 & normally a party of 15 with a few Venezuelan friends thrown into the mix.

We were quite the entertainment for many Venezuelans I am sure!

And again... you can imagine that peace & silence were non existent during this month.

In early October, we did get a few days away to celebrate the wedding of the AMAZING Henry Medina & the FABULOUS Fernanda Vielma.

And yes, that is my incredibly handsome little man Imanuel & the beautiful Merci

What a precious union of 2 lives & a reminder of God's faithfulness to those who save themselves for the one that He has designed for them.

Our time in Mérida was wonderful & I think a little peace managed to creep its way into our hearts & minds.

But, all good things must come to an end & so we returned home to get the Smith family ready to move.

After a month, they were in their home... but we are still working on phone lines, internet, gas service, & several other "fun" things.

Life here is a bit more complicated & those 2 friends, "Chaos & Confusion," accompany most everything.

But God is faithful & has a great plan for our family & for this nation.

Now that brings us to today...

For the first time in months I hear complete silence.

(minus the hammering of construction workers building an overpass beside our house)

Chris & I have been praying about our next steps here in Venezuela...

What to do more of??? What to do less of??? What to begin??? And simply, what to end?

Even in the midst of our craziness over the last few months where everything has been LOUD & CHAOTIC....

We have been in a moment of silence.

Moments feel like lifetimes when you are waiting.

But to God... they are moments none the less.

I am sitting here in the silence as my husband runs errands to help Scott get the phone connected & my kids sleep in because they have been sick.

And I am thankful & blessed.

Thankful that God is in control of both the noise & the silence.

And blessed that He has chosen our family to be a part of His plan for Venezuela.

Wherever you find yourself today...

Rest in the knowledge that God is in control & be blessed.