a huge praise!

 Last month after the Americans left the Vida 220 team, we got together with the Groff family in Belmopan. (a halfway meeting point between us and Southern Belize). We had fellowship together, stayed overnight at a missionary friend (of theirs) house, and spent next day hiking/swimming in the river before heading home.

The "Gravis" (a name that the kids came up that combines both of our last names) children play a rousing game of monopoly

When discussing my conundrum about receiving school books (I didn't have a way to receive them this year), the other missionary suggested we look into Harvest Aviation.  We were pleasantly surprised at what they do and how quickly they processed our request, (to help us get books). They provide a monthly service of flying needed items to missionaries. This flight happens once a month from FL. They provide it for free, but accept donations (hint hint ;) )

out for an ice cream treat with the team (I apparently didn't take pictures while we were swimming)

We had less than a week to get stuff sent to "try things out".  I had my parents and sister send the most pertinent things that were sitting at their houses (a small box of school books and our drivers licences).

not relevant to the blog post but Nathanael did a fun skit this past week in church

Today was the exciting day! We drove to the Belize airport and Nathanael was able to get our two small boxes of items. We are so very grateful!

Zephaniah with our cat: Tacocat

I have to say that in general with the borders being tightly shut, the feeling of living here has been a bit claustrophobic. (I do have a tendency toward those feelings anyway!) I can't get out and I can't get what we need for our school year. It was overwhelming! (and it would be the first time that we were unable to find a way to get our items.  I just didn't make school decisions. 

We were able to start our school year yesterday

Harvest Aviation has been a light to me and provided something we really needed. (Please feel free to donate to them as a blessing to us!  We want them to benefit, they ask for nothing from us!)We are so very thankful.  Not to mention most of my glasses are scratched and we were finally able to get our new pairs. 

What a blessing to be able to see clearly. May God bless you with clear vision today! 

Out with the old..

My blog post from a few weeks ago alluded to the fact that I wanted to record the "little" things.  This will be a "little things" type of post.

Sunday morning a month ago, Nathanael took the picture while Marta was praying


Our van:

Was a blessing given to us the summer of 2017. It has a wonderful engine and as most of you are aware, the transmission was rebuilt on our way to Belize in August 2017. It is steadfast! It also gets terrible gas mileage.  The gas mileage as well as the added expenditure of fuel here makes driving less than economic. Nathanael considered ways to adjust this. 

Misael driving the van full of people on our return trip from Spanish Lookout

One way that people combat the price of gas here is to convert their vehicles to use propane. While it actually makes your miles per gallon worse, the cost of propane is less than half the price of gasoline; thus making a worthwhile endeavor. We had been considering it for years. The monthly trips to Spanish Lookout were what helped make a decision.

Fountain of Life church always serves us lunch! What a blessing. 

Nathanael had a welder friend make a frame for the tank, as well as add a luggage rack.  He then took it to Shipyard. It took less than a day for the conversion.  Nathanael figured out the math. In three months we will have save the amount it cost to have the conversion done: a win/win.

A back view of the van 

The second new thing we got were chairs. When we were sharing a church, the benches worked for church well. Since moving the church, we've been forced to scavenge for chairs.  We just had enough and some Fridays the kids didn't have chairs. Pair that with the fact that some of the chairs here are 15 + years old and weren't well made in the first place; meant that there were times chairs broke. (while occupied) 

Unpacking the chairs

The chairs won't make up for any savings in a matter of months. That being said we are so grateful to have reliable, plentiful seating.

a time of prayer (you can see our palanthera of chairs behind people) 

We are so thankful for the ways that God provided for these needs!

Misael unboxed the chairs