Just Not Fair

It's been a ridiculously long while since we've posted on here. Thanks to many of you, we were able to spend a few weeks with family and friends over the Christmas holidays. It was a MUCH needed time of running around crazy trying to see everyone refreshment. We truly enjoyed every minute of it! While we were gone, Olivia got sick and it turned out to be strep throat. We were thankfully able to purchase the medicine for $4 from Wal-Mart. By the time we came home, everyone was starting to feel much better.


The girls and I flew back to Alajuelita on a Tuesday. The following Sunday, I did not see our friends Marielos & Franklin at church. So after the service, I gave her a call. It turns out they were dealing with a LOT of sickness while we were gone. The thing is... for us when we have a sick family member it causes a little stress. Especially since living here, where we do not have health insurance. But to this point we have never had to choose between feeding our children or getting them a needed medication. Sure, we have sacrificed some things we were "used to" having, but after a year or so I can honestly say we don't miss much of the stuff (except Chick-fil-A). 


On the other hand, for their family, when someone gets sick it is a giant problem. Franklin works full-time at a local grocery store chain, in the meat/butcher department. Marielos stays home with their children, who are 8 and 4. Since October, Franklin's mother has been living with them in their very small home. She has been living with excruciating back pain for more than a year, and finally in October she couldn't take the pain anymore. She and her husband live 4-5 hours from Alajuelita, on a farm way up on a mountain. They have no running water in their house, and no kitchen. They both work the land to make a living. This type of work + back pain = a woman who can barely walk, can't sleep and constantly has a grimace on her face. 


Very long story short - in November I took her to a local private clinic, because she does not have social security here. The doctor looked at her and sent her for a CT scan of her back. She has several herniated disks in her lower back. They have told her now that she needs back surgery - but the earliest she can get in the operating room is October 2012! That is a year from when she came to Alajuelita looking for help. In the meantime, the doctors have given her a prescription for pain medication that will help ease the pain a little so she can sleep and maybe walk. There's only one catch - the medicine is $60 per month. Up to this point, they have been purchasing half of the amount ($30) and she is only taking the pain medicine at night so she can sleep. Thankfully, one of our dear friends just sent me an email saying their family wants to help with the prescription cost.

On top of that, Franklin has been sick for about 3-4 weeks, with a bad cough and chest pain. He went to the doctor, who told them it looks like it could be Tuberculosis. He is waiting until next Monday to find out the results of the exam. Please pray that the results are negative. 

Franklin, Marielos & Alison (Wesley was at school)

What is the point of this rambling story? Sometimes I just get aggravated with how unfair life can be. But then I'm reminded that God is just, not fair. He doesn't give everyone an equal life, but the one that they need. He doesn't provide how we expect, but in ways that blow our minds. And He doesn't need my input on how to handle this particular family's needs. He sees them - every part of them - and He knows exactly what needs to be done. Our job is just to ask Him what to do and then pray for His provision. Don't you think the same rule applies to our own needs? We just need to ask Him for direction and provision. And then lay it down. Stop worrying, planning, and complaining. And just trust Him completely. 

Psalm 145:17-19 -  The Lord is righteous in everything He does, He is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him SINCERELY. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him, He hears their cries for help and rescues them.

A Lesson in Contentment

The past week our family had the privilege of working alongside the team from San Jose Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Every week that we have teams here we're so glad, but this week was especially great since the group was from our home church.

Throughout the week the team did various things, such as taking food to families, single moms, and widows. They also built new walls for a family from our church here in Alajuelita. They prayed with countless people, for their health, safety, peace.

All in all, it was an awesome week. We even saw a volcano. =)

But the moment that sticks out in my mind to sum up the week was a moment we spent with our Pastor's family on the team's last day here. We were invited up to have "cafecito", which means coffee and a snack, typically bread.

It was an awesome time of fellowship and encouragement.

Pastor Miguel took a few minutes at the end, to tell us a little about his parents. They are truly amazing people, and I feel blessed just to know them. Not only are they hardworking, hospitable people, they truly love the Lord and it is apparent in all they do. It's so great to walk up to church on Sunday morning and see their smiling faces.

Don Miguel and Flora have been married for forty years, and they have been believers for 36 of those years. Their children are an amazing testimony to the kind of people they are. Two of their children serve as Pastors, another as a Children's Minister. And they have another son who also loves the Lord.

But the thing he said that really stuck with me was this: "My parents have learned how to be content with whatever they have, in whatever situation."

I pray that I will strive to follow their lead and be content. Not content to the point where I do not try to improve, but content with what God has given us. Content with how He provides, with how He leads.

I am so thankful for having the opportunity to see such an important Biblical lesson lived out in the lives of Miguel and Flora.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12

Fish out of water...

Have you ever thought about that statement?

It's been running through my mind today, and I keep thinking that no other phrase quite captures how I feel.

It's a slightly different feeling from the cliff-diving we did back in November, but all the same, it's uncomfortable. You see, things aren't "how we thought they would be", and the past 9 months have been a challenge to say the least. In the midst of all this 'fishiness', God is working. God is doing great things all around us and even through us on occasion. But it still feels like we need to flop our way back to the fish bowl we call home.

We still speak Spanish at about 15%.
We have a car that spends about the same amount of time in the shop as it does out of the shop.
Our car fills with water when it rains.
It is rainy season. That equals daily rain. Serious rain.
Our 11 month old is teething.
Our 3 1/2 year old is sassing.
Our washing machine is dead.
Our sleep is lacking.
We feel out of place.
We feel unsure.

We are learning to lean on God 100%.

That last statement cancels out all of the ones before it.

As hard is it seems sometimes, and as much as I'm ready to get through this 'phase', it is a good time for me to learn to rely on God. For everything. When we lack friends and family to help, when we lack sleep to keep us sane, when we're all sick at the same time, when we see problems way bigger than we can handle... we just lean. Leaning on Him is what we're all supposed to do, right?

It sounds easy, but our ego gets in the way of our leaning. We like to prop ourselves up. Seem independent...When, in fact, God created us to be dependent on Him.

How's your lean?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

I've still got a lot to learn... hh

Blessed

This past week we had some very good friends come for a visit. One week FLEW by, but here are a few photos of their time here. We are so blessed to have friends that are like family!!

Thankful for other people taking pictures of my precious family. It's hard to keep the camera on all the time, so I really value these photos.

Serving people lunch at Tiribi.

Filling up cups with 'juice'.

Precious Mom, Daniella, and one of her sons (David). She is a single mother with another baby girl on the way. She lives in a very rough neighborhood.

A typical house in Tiribi.

Sweet girls in Tiribi.

The Tiribi river is a place where people throw trash.

Building a new home for a family in Llano. 

People walk everywhere, and carry all sorts of things with them in carts, baby strollers, etc.

Getting 'arm painted' by some cute girls in Calle 6.

One of the great joys of driving in Costa - motorcycles EVERYWHERE! 

Coke in glass bottles. =)

Marielos, Wesley, Alison and Franklin. I love this family, and while our friends were here, they brought shoes that they (and others) had donated for their children. It is awesome to see God provide for His children.

April with Alison & Wesley.

God's beautiful creation!

Nick & April's new favorite food. (Notice it was not my cooking!)

A panaderia downtown - some of the best pastries I've ever tasted. (Not specifically at this place, just in general in CR.)

I don't notice it as much anymore, but barbed wire is everywhere, on everything - fences, houses, businesses...

Arroz con camarrones... yum!!

Hydrangeas growing in someone's yard - they look like the ones from Miracle-gro ads, but I'm pretty sure they've never had any of that stuff. Just good, CR soil!

One of my favorite pictures... Nick's choice of facial expression for his photo with the Toucan.

Our little monkey. 

Nick explaining how the Jaguar grabs its prey by the head, using the chomp of death. 

And I saved the best for last. -___-

Perspective & Provision - May/June 2011

We have been very, very busy the last 6 weeks. So busy, in fact, that we have neglected to share with you about all that God is doing! Please forgive us for not getting this update out sooner.

The month of May was consumed by a trip back to Florida. While there we organized all documents for Residency here in Costa. Our home church, San Jose Baptist, took a love offering and raised ALL of the money needed to pay for our residency application! We were truly overwhelmed by their outpouring of love, and God's constant provision. We also spent some time catching up with friends and family. It was a busy, whirlwind trip, but it was really nice to see loved ones.



Olivia & Ava on Father's Day 2011


As soon as we returned, Jeremy hit the ground running. In the past few weeks, he has worked with a couple of teams that have either built homes or made much-needed repairs to existing homes. We also had two friends come stay with us for a week. They helped out with a team that was here, along with some personal ministry opportunities. But the primary topic of this update is one particular family.

There is an earlier blog post about Franklin & Marielos, here, but for now I will continue with things that have happened the past two weeks. I (Heather) have personally been praying for an opportunity to build a relationship with a woman here, and from the first time we met, I have just loved being around Marielos. It has been a slow process to build this relationship, mostly due to the fact that my Spanish is very crude.

Franklin, Marielos & Allison (Wesley was at school), in front of their new home.

The week we returned, we went to visit them and see their new home. When we arrived, they had what felt like 50 people, crammed into their home. In all reality, it was probably about 15 people, but they were all in a very small living room. And it was storming outside. After the rain let up, some of her cousins left and we were again alone with their family and her Mother and Grandmother. Marielos asked us to please pray for her Mother, because her health is very poor and she has very little income. She told us in that moment that her Mother's "social security" is only a few dollars more than her rent each month.

After we left that day, I told her that we would talk again and see if there was anything we can do for her Mother. As we drove home, I kept thinking about how in the days leading up to our visit with them, I had felt very frustrated and even angry at times, with our situation. You see, the week before that we had no internet (our connection to "home") and our power was working intermittently. Neither of these things is life-threatening, but from my perspective they were very frustrating. In that moment riding home, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me, reminding me that it's all a matter of perspective.

Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to take our friends from Florida to Rosa's (Marielos' Mother) house, so that we could take pictures and see what her needs are. When we got there, I asked Rosa if there was anything they needed. She said "only a mattress", as hers was very old, dirty and flat. Because of her health problems and age, she was having a lot of difficulty sleeping. This is not surprising, considering the condition of her bed. As my friends continued to talk with Rosa, Marielos took me around the rest of the house, showing me her Grandmother's room and their bathroom (with no sink) and kitchen (with no sink, no refrigerator, etc.). She began to cry as she told me that her Mother had no food. She opened the kitchen cabinets and showed me that all they had left was a half of a bag of rice. She said her Mother did not like to ask for help, but that she truly needed it.

That day, Kelli & Kristina took Marielos to the local grocery store and paid for her to buy some basic staples - rice, beans, pasta, etc. It was another awesome opportunity to show the love of Christ to this hurting family. We prayed for them and left for another place. Rosa and her Mother were so grateful for the help, and once again, I thanked God for sending someone to take care of His precious children. He knows exactly the time and the need. Thankfully, because of their obedience, Rosa had food to eat that night.

Today, I was once again reminded of God's love, as a team here from Alabama took Rosa a new mattress. She cried as she thanked them, and continued to ask for prayer for her health and her family. She told them in tears, that she does not want to die. She wants to be healthy and be around to see her grandchildren grow up. I was overwhelmed as I listened to team members pray for her to have peace as she sleeps tonight, hoping that she may finally have a good night's rest.

Rosa (center) with the team members from AL.

No matter what we have going on personally, it is good to be reminded of how GREAT our God is! He knows every detail of your need, my need and even a Grandmother living in a tiny barrio in Costa Rica.

"You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes." Phil. 4:19, MSG

Rosa & Marielos "testing" the new mattress. The verdict? "Bueno!"

Meeting Needs

February was a busy month for us. We started the month off with a visit from Heather's parents and by moving in to a different house. We dropped Heather's parents off at the airport and proceeded directly to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for our mandatory 90 day exit from Costa Rica. When we returned we had a team geared up and ready to build one of our most challenging homes to date for a sweet and needy family. Alex, Rebbecca and their 4 children received their new home 7 days later.

In the middle of the build, the team took a free day on Valentine's day and we tagged along to have a special day together as a family. On this day God choose to sell our truck after 3 long months. Praise God!!!!!!!! We were definitely feeling the love of our Father in Heaven as we soaked in the beauty of His creation and came home to find our truck sold on Valentine's day.

Just one day after the team building Alex and Rebecca's house left, another team arrived ready to build a house for another needy family of five. Eduardo, Carmine, Carlyn, Allison, and Henry were all living in very poor conditions. Their home was built from scrap materials and was the equivalent of a shed that no one would want to even put their lawn mower in back home. This team of 4 married couples worked hard to build this family a new home. On the 3rd day of the build, one of the team members received a call from the states informing him that his home had burned down. Here they were in Costa Rica, building a home for a needy family, and their home burned down in the midst of it. To top it all off, he is a retired fire fighter.

Production slowed down dramatically this day as we all mourned for this family. The locals were offering to go to the United Stated to rebuild Gary and Mary Lynn's house that had burnt down. I was very moved by the genuine heartache our Tico friends felt for this couple they had only known for a couple of days. Our local friends did not understand how insurance works in the U.S. and were deeply disturbed that this couple had lost everything. We had to explain to them that they would be able to rebuild, but it would be a lengthy, strenuous, and emotional process.

We prayed over Gary and Mary Lynn that night at church and they naturally cut their stay short and flew home the next morning. When Gary left, he wanted to give 2 of our construction staff members a gift to show his love for them and the deep bond that they had began to share. Gary was limited on time, so he took 2 shirts out of his suitcase and left them for us to give to Victor and Mauricio. Upon receiving their shirts they understood fully what this man had just done. Gary had given these 2 guys that he had only known for a few days, 2 of the only shirts he had left. All the clothes he had left were in his suitcase. These guys took the shirts home and put them up somewhere to treasure them and to remember Gary and Mary Lynn.

The house build went on full speed ahead after the family's departure and we finished the house on the 5th day of the build. As we were finishing the home on the last day (Friday), Pastor Minor, one of our part time 6:8 Ministries Staff members, went to talk to the family. Pastor Minor came back about 1 1/2 hours later to inform me that Eduardo, his mother Aurora, and his father Javier, had all prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Praise God!!!!! What a good way to finish up a home build and dedicate it to the glory of God! We dedicated the house and the team just couldn't walk away without buying them some new furniture for the home as well. It was a great home build.

This was the best home build yet this year on many different fronts. Now this family has a secure home with indoor plumbing and electricity. The team left the next day and we entered in to a week long break between teams. In this time we have been shopping for a car and getting caught up on some administrative duties. We begin another home build on March 6th with one team, and 2 other teams will be here doing other ministry as well.

Please click on the Expenses page to read about our residency and monthly needs. We are grateful for the unique relationships we have with each one of you. We truly miss you all very much.

with love in Christ,
Jeremy, Heather, Olivia and Ava Hicks

Year in Review

Last year was quite eventful for our family. God has been so good to us, and we have been amazed at all HE has done!

JANUARY ::  We celebrated Olivia's second birthday. It's hard to believe that in just a few weeks she will be 3 years old! She has grown so much this year.

FEBRUARY:: We were seriously praying about what God wanted us to do, and a "curveball" was thrown into the mix - it was not an easy or fast decision.

MARCH :: Our family visited Costa Rica for the first time. It was so helpful to have Olivia here with us on that trip, as we listened for God's voice.

APRIL :: We mailed out a letter to practically everyone we knew, informing them of our upcoming move to Costa Rica.

MAY :: We moved in with our friends, the Tings, who graciously accepted us in their home for three months. Jeremy and I also celebrated six years of marriage!

JUNE :: We enjoyed as much time as possible with family and friends. Since I was 7 months pregnant, that was mostly done inside, in the a/c.

JULY :: We moved in with my parents, to prepare for the changes ahead. They so graciously created a huge space for us to pack, sort, and purge as we began getting everything together.

AUGUST :: We welcomed sweet Ava, who has filled us with such joy these past four months.

SEPTEMBER :: We watched as Olivia became an amazing big sister, and thanked God for having our family around to help as we learned how to be parents of two. (We've still got a LOT to learn!) Jeremy made a return trip to Costa Rica with a team from FBCO, and returned home with greater assurance that this was God's calling on our lives.

OCTOBER :: We began final preparations to move to Costa Rica, including Jeremy's last day at work. It was an exhilirating and scary feeling - the realization that God alone is our Provider.

NOVEMBER :: We made the move to CR - our family made it's final move of 2010. The rest of the month was a blur of trying to get settled in to our new home.

DECEMBER :: We were able to be a part of our first home-building team. Together with a team from Michigan, 6:8 was able to build a new home for a single Mom and her two children. (See earlier post.) We celebrated our first Christmas as a family of four. We were so blessed to have friends to share it with as well. We also put up our first ever artificial tree. After Christmas, we were thrilled to have the Virtue family here - what a great, refreshing week!

As we look to 2011, I'm hoping to continue to see God at work in our lives, and praying that we will be vessels to be used by Him.

Prayer Requests

• Health
• We have several teams coming up this month that will be doing construction projects. Pray that our 6:8 Staff will be led to exactly the people who need our help, and that through a physical need being met, a door would be opened for us to share Christ. What a wonderful way to start of the year!
• Olivia - adjusting to the "reality" of where we live; missing family & friends
• Please pray for our truck to sell soon.
• Our neighbors - pray that we will be able to establish friendships with those who live closest to us.

Giving Thanks!

A lot can change in a two weeks. :)

Today marks two weeks for our family in Costa Rica. It has been some of the most interesting days in our family's life to this point, and we are so thankful to finally be here! The girls are both doing great - Ava hasn't skipped a beat - and Olivia is enjoying getting to live close by to friends old and new!

God has truly taken care of us each step of the way. When we got through the security screening in Orlando, an older couple approached us and asked if they could help us get to our gate. That was a huge help, since we had a baby, a 2 1/2 year old in a stroller, 2 diaper bags, 2 backpacks, and four rolling carry-on bags. They were so kind, and even ended up giving us some money before we parted ways. What a way to start the trip - thank you Lord!

When we arrived in CR, several of our friends were there to pick us up. It had taken them over an hour to get to the airport because of the traffic. Normally it does not take near that long. We were blessed to be able to rent a house that had some "loaner" furnishings, so we were able to get settled in very quickly. CR Craigslist has become our favorite website as we look for used furniture, etc. Jeremy has done a ton of running around with our friends here, trying to chase down the best bargain.

Olivia has slowly started settling in to our new home - after moving around for the past year, it's good for her to have her own room again, and once some of her toys were unpacked, she jumped right back into her usual routine. Play, play, play... and sleep occasionally. :) Mimi (Heather's Mom) was able to come help us for a few days, and that was a HUGE blessing. We were able to get a lot of the rubbermaid bins unpacked, and some of them sorted to use as storage or furniture. (They make great end tables, entertainment center, nightstands, etc.)

Our first Wednesday night we were all able to go to the English-speaking service, which is comprised of 6:8 Staff Families, some other Americans, and some English-speaking Ticos. It is good to have some time to worship and be fed. We had food too, which was wonderful. The kids all go into a room for the service time, and they were able to hear a Bible story, play games, crafts, etc.

Last Friday we took Mimi back to the airport. After we got back to our house, Olivia and Heather were able to go to the Women's Center. It was a wonderful opportunity to see how these women are being rehabilitated from drugs, abuse, prostitution... and the women were so sweet to Olivia. We actually enjoyed talking with them (with Becca & Keisa's help) and even played a game of Uno before we left! We are looking forward to building a lasting relationship with the ladies who run the center, as well as the women who are living there. I (Heather) am so thankful to be able to be involved in the ministries that are going on here!!

Jeremy has also been able to go to Tiribi, a barrio by the river, to look at a couple of construction projects. One of the houses they are looking at re-building is for a single Mom, who has an older son (maybe 8 years old) and a baby that's not much older than Ava. She lives in a tiny little tin-scrap metal shack, and most of her belongings are hanging in plastic bags all over her home. She and the baby sleep on a mattress, and her son sleeps on a couch, which they have to stand on end during the day so they can open their front door. It puts my "troubles" in perspective, and I am reminded to be thankful for a dry home and plenty of food for our children. Here are a couple of pictures of this sweet family. Please keep them in your prayers - I will have Jeremy update this with her name - but for now, our Heavenly Father knows her name and every need she has. Would you please pray that we will be able to be His hands and feet to this family?

Thank you for your support - you are such a blessing to our family, and we thank God for you!! We will try to send out another update very soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Jeremy, Heather, Olivia & Ava Hicks

We are still here, plus one!

The past month since our last post has been eventful to say the least. On August 27th, we welcomed our newest family member to the world!! Ava Leigh Hicks was born at 1:38pm, weighing 7lbs 9oz. She is a beautiful, healthy baby girl with a head full of hair (just like her sister). We have been blessed beyond measure! Big Sister Olivia has been adjusting very well, and we are so thankful for that. It is for sure a HUGE change in her 2 1/2 year-old-world, but she is rolling with it so well.

On the 13th, Jeremy left with a team from First Baptist Church of Oceanway (where he is the Interim Worship Leader) for Costa Rica. The team had a wonderful first encounter with the people of Alajuelita, and I'm sure there will be at least one more post specifically about Jeremy's experiences on this particular trip. While they were there, he was also looking for a house for our family. We have found a home where our family will be living - this is a huge praise!! We also have set a move date for our family, and it is quickly approaching. We will be moving to Costa Rica on Saturday, November 13th. We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we move forward in faith. We feel like we are about to jump off a cliff! It's exhilirating to trust God like that, but incredibly scary at the same time.

Over the next six weeks we will be busy with moving preparations... packing the remaining bins of our belongings, getting medicines and check-ups, getting Ava's passport, and raising the rest of the support needed for our family to live and minister in Alajuelita. We are also hoping to see as many friends and family as possible before we go.

Would you please prayerfully consider supporting our family on a monthly basis? We need a total of $1,200 in monthly support to reach 100% of our family's budgeted needs. We need support partners of all shapes and sizes. You may be thinking that you can't give much, so why bother, but that is not the case. God can use any gift, and we have been blessed by gifts small and large. It is so amazing to see God providing a way for us to go and minister to the homeless, the widowed, the orphaned, the prostitutes - those who are hurting - through our friends and family. It is overwhelming the way He loves us! By "us", I mean all of us. We have already seen God provide in ways that we could not have imagined, and it is a constant reminder that He is capable of so much more than we ask.

We also need churches, small groups, even businesses that would want to join together and partner with us on a monthly basis. It's exciting to see Sunday School classes coming together to pray for the people of Alajuelita, for our family and then to give generously towards the ministry. We are also leaving time open to meet with your group or church to share the vision of 6:8 Ministries, and to paint a picture of the needs in Alajuelita, so please contact us if you are interested.

 

To be a monthly support partner, click on the link below and scroll down to our family to give. Or, if you would rather mail a check, the address is there for you as well. This is also the place where one time donations can be given as well. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to email us (jeremy@68ministries.com). We are happy to answer any questions or concerns!

http://www.68ministries.org/  - Click on "Donate" and look for The Hicks Family near the bottom.

To mail a check:
6:8 Ministries
c/o Linda Swain
RE: Hicks Family
9 Genesee St.
Scottsville, NY 14546

Thank you for praying for our family and the people of Alajuelita. God is at work and He is allowing all of us to be a part of what He is doing in Costa Rica. What an awesome opportunity! We will be updating you again soon, letting you know more details about Jeremy's trip and all that GOD is doing!!

The Two Year Old in Me

Sometimes I look at Olivia and see a reflection of myself. More often than not, it is in times of disciplining or correcting her. A lot of her more challenging traits seem to be inherited from me. For example:

She cannot sit still. One of the hardest tasks for a 2 1/2 year old is to sit still. I see so much of myself in this trait, because I have a hard time "doing nothing". In reality, God wants us to wait on Him, and I tend to get the cart before the horse in all of my planning.

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

She doesn't like to ask for help. Why is it that as a 30 year old, I still struggle with this? It's so easy to see in a child, because there are many things they physically cannot do yet, but aren't we the same way when it comes to life decisions, or stress? Our pride keeps us many times from crying out to God for help. I wonder how much easier my life would be if I stopped trying to do things in my own strength!

She is impatient. When she asks for a cup of water, she means RIGHT NOW. And she lets me know if I haven't gotten to her request fast enough. Patience is another struggle that she deals with daily, and when I look at my little mirror, I see that I struggle with it too. It is so hard to wait on the Lord's timing, direction, voice - you name it, and I can be impatient about it.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 
Isaiah 55:8

She falls down a lot.  For Livi, the falling is a result of different things. Sometimes, she simply isn't looking where she is going. Other times, she is rushing ahead or disobeying. And sometimes it's just a result of life's circumstances, like water on a tile floor. For me, it tends to be my own sins that bring my downfall. Thankfully, when I sin and "fall", God is gracious & merciful to me. He gently kisses my bumps & bruises, and helps me back up - over and over again.

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. Psalm 6:9

She has to be told the same thing many times before she "gets it". Are you this way? I know I sure am. I can read the same scripture over and over again, before I really understand it and apply it to my life. If we are just listening to God but never obeying, then isn't it really the same behavior? Thankfully the Bible says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

She delays obedience. Even when our sweet daughter does "get it" right away, she doesn't always want to redirect. I am SO guilty of doing this towards my Heavenly Father. If she is in the middle of something, it is so hard to get her to switch gears. Her mind is set on what she is enjoying. How many times has God spoken to me, and I replied, "I'll get to that in a minute, God." As I learned from a wise mother, true obedience is immediate, with a good attitude and complete. In other words, if we are truly wanting to obey God, we must obey as soon as we hear His voice, trusting Him in faith, and following through completely until He shows us what's next. 

On the other hand, our sweet girl has also taught us countless lessons about how we should live.

She forgives easily.
Every person she meets is her friend. Even strangers in the grocery store.
She is kind.
She enjoys her life, even on days that are mundane.
She knows how to be happy for others.
She is a nurturer.
She trusts us and for the most part, believes what we tell her without doubt.
She knows how to laugh with complete abandon. To the point where she gets hiccups.
She is honest.
When she loves someone, she lets it be known.

As our family is in this period of waiting, it is nice that God uses our own child to teach us about Him. Please pray for the health of our new baby, Ava Leigh, who is expected to arrive at the end of this month. Also pray for Jeremy as he adjusts to a new, lengthier commute time. As always, please pray for the work God is doing in Costa Rica. We have been hearing very exciting updates of how He is continuing to grow 6:8 Ministries, and we are eager to be a part of what he is doing!

Sushi, Ant Bites & Gold Dollars - v2.0

I started this post earlier, but realized that I had WAY too much info. in it and if we even hope that our friends will read it, I better condense it big time. SO, without further adieu, I give you the bullet-point version of this past weekend:

• Olivia stayed w/Mimi & Papa and we missed her greatly.
• We ate sushi. It was sooo good.
• Garage sale people live by different rules than the rest of humanity. 
• We got bit by a BUNCH of ants!!
• People will buy completely random things, like the lid to a pot, without the pot. 
• Like a watch, minus the band, that we found in the mud. Yes, I am serious. 
• My husband knows how to tarp like a PRO. No joke.
• The day after a heavy rain is humid like no other. 
• It is hard to part with all your "stuff", especially for 50 cents.
• We have amazing friends & family.
• One man paid for his entire purchase with gold dollars. Then I tried to give them back to people as quarters on more than one occasion. 
• Pregnant women + heat + humidity + garage sale + exhaustion = recipe for tears. (Not too many.)
• God has blessed us with two "church families" and both of them are wonderful in their own way.
• There is still a mountain of stuff that we hope to take with us to CR. I have a feeling that the purging is not complete. (This is a good thing, even if it is painful.)

In all seriousness - our garage sale was a great success. We were so blessed by family, friends & even strangers who came by and gave generously. There were so many people who gave above and beyond the "value" of the stuff they bought. I love to see how God is working through His people - and how He provides for us in the most unexpected ways. 

The challenge for the next few weeks is to stay focused, wait on the Lord and trust in His timing and provision for our family. It is a humbling experience to have people willingly sacrifice their time & money to help our family "go". We have never experienced this first-hand. God is so good!!! We are excited about the months ahead for our family, and for our ministry partners. We look forward to seeing God work in ways that BLOW OUR MINDS and YOURS! He is capable of so much more than we can imagine. 

A few prayer requests: 

• Please continue to pray for Olivia.
• Please continue to pray that people would support us as God leads. All our hope is in HIM. 
• Pray that we would be a light to those around us, regardless of our geographical location. 

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

Transitions: Not easy, but necessary

Olivia playing with her friend Elise at their house. When our air conditioning went out, they were so sweet to let us come spend the night in their home. We have awesome friends!

Tomorrow we will begin step one of our move to Costa Rica. By moving to Yulee. Yup, you read right - Yulee. But that's not the most surprising part. The place we're moving is actually closer to civilization than where we've been living the past 6 months. We have some wonderful, generous friends, who have kindly offered for us to stay with their sweet family until we leave the country. Which will hopefully be sometime in late July. Which means we possibly only have 12 weeks until we leave!! That seems crazy, especially since we have absolutely no idea how we will get there at this point.

You see, we have not received a report on the amount of support that has been received in our family's name. No worries, if you've sent in support, it is in our account. We just don't know the total amount as of today. However, we are anticipating receiving that update in the very near future. The sweet woman who keeps all the books for 6:8 Ministries has gone from managing the accounts for 2 families to managing the accounting for 7 families. Whew! Her work load tripled in a very short amount of time. But surprisingly, I do not feel worried (today) - instead we are trusting that God has it all in His more-than-capable hands. Would you please pray for Linda as she takes on this huge task of managing all the accounting for 6:8 Ministries, and the ever-growing staff? Would you also pray that we will continue to trust God and enjoy leaning on Him through this journey we are beginning? It's a new pace for us, and a new way to live...

Back to tomorrow - we will be moving about 90% of the belongings we still have into our storage unit, and our clothes & a few things will move with us to Yulee. In a couple of weeks we will also hold a garage sale to try and sell everything we have left in storage. This will be a huge undertaking, and thankfully God has provided another sweet friend to help with that. God cares about even the smallest details in our life, and He never ceases to amaze me with the lengths He will go to show us His love. Right now we have been blessed by so many amazing people that God has put in our life - here in the U.S., in Costa Rica, and around the world. God's people are amazing!

Specific prayer needs for this week:

• 
  
  Our move tomorrow & for our friends who are opening their home to the four (+1) of us.
• 
  
  For the support we need to move to be given in such a way that it makes our decisions clear for us. We need to decide by the end of the month if we are going to move to CR in July, and have the baby there, or if we'll stay in Jax until after she's born. We just want to obey God in this decision.
• 
  
  For our health - while this seems like such a generic request, it is a huge need. We have been dealing with physical fatigue and sickness with one or more of us for what seems like months. Pretty much since we decided to make this move.
• 
  
  For our families. Please pray for God to give our families peace and comfort about us leaving to serve Him. Pray that the Holy Spirit would give us the right words to say when friends & family ask us hard questions. We want to give Him the glory for everything we do.

Thanks for reading. H

Passport, Hairplanes & Cosa Wica

Well, we're headed to Costa Rica one week from today. We will board an airplane, and leave the country for the first time with Olivia in tow. She has flown before, so we are hoping this will be another fun trip for her and us. Will you please pray for us? We are going to be in CR for 6 days, including travel, and in this short trip we are really praying for God to move. In us, through us, despite of us! We are seeking His face, and praying that He will continue to reveal His plan for our family.

While we are there, we will finally get to meet Spencer's family, along with a few other 6:8 Missionaries. It will be great to finally meet them all, and I'm sure we will love them just as much as everyone else we have met so far. While many things are unknown, we do know that we serve a GREAT and AWE-INSPIRNING GOD! We look forward to sharing more with you when we get back. In the meantime, please be praying for 6:8 Ministries as they are in a period of transition. If you are reading this, then know that we love and are praying for you too.

Generously Treasuring Him,
JH&O

Leap of Faith

Dear Friend,


We are writing today to invite you to become a partner with us, as we answer the call of God for us to serve Him with 6:8 Ministries. To some of you this may seem strange, but God has been calling us to serve Him in foreign missions work for some time now, and He has used many recent events in our lives to lead us to this place at this time. This past October He made it clear to us, through a short trip to Guatemala, that we were to join the team at 6:8 Ministries to strengthen and expand the kingdom of God.

6:8 Ministries is currently focused on loving the people of Alajuelita, Costa Rica, a small suburb of San Jose. Alajuelita is the poorest county in Costa Rica, with an unemployment rate of 70%. Drug abuse and alcoholism are extremely widespread, and the need for the gospel is great. We will join with 6:8 in leading short-term mission teams to serve the local people. Recently we have sensed that God is redirecting our departure date from November to July. While we feel like this is an impossible task, we believe that it is exactly the type of move God wants us to make, fully trusting and leaning on Him to work out the details.

We would love the opportunity to share with you in greater detail about the amazing things that God is doing through 6:8 Ministries, and the places where they serve. We strongly encourage you to visit the 6:8 Ministries website, where you can see all of the current ministries. The needs are great, but God is SO much greater - it is amazing how He is pouring out His love on the needy (Just like He does for us!) through the work of 6:8 Ministries.

We have set a monthly budget of $3,000 and a one-time amount of $20,000 to help with moving expenses. For more information on what the start-up support will be used for, please visit our blog & read the “Moving Budget” post. We are humbly asking if you would consider making a commitment as God leads you. The attached commitment card gives you all the details of how to do this. We gratefully and desperately need your prayers, your ministry partnership, and your financial support. We are excited to see what God is going to do as we surrender our lives to His call. We cannot see ourselves doing it without the loving support of our friends and family. We deeply value your friendship, and believe that God will continue to knit us together as we embark on this journey.

Generously Treasuring Him,
Jeremy, Heather, Olivia and Baby Hicks (Expected Arrival Date: August 28, 2010)