Spies! Who do you believe?

I mentioned to my mom as George was flying home from Guatemala."Mom, I think we are moving to Guatemala." She was quiet, the last time I remember her being that quiet was when I told her I was going to marry George. It's the kind of quiet that takes place when what has been said is true, and nothing you can say will change the truth. Its not that my my mom was disagreeable in either of these situations. It was a state of ponder, because the truth was BIG, important and impactful.

It was several days later I spoke with mom again. She just wanted to know if we would be safe... what is it like there. She had just watched a commercial with starving children, in harsh conditions. I already knew that Guatemala City is the 8th most dangerous city in the world, and George had seen starving children. So I told my mom... "yes the city is dangerous, and kids are starving..."

It was in that moment that I felt God quicken my heart with this choice and I shared it with mom. What spy are you going to be? One of the 11 who gave a bad report or the one like Caleb with a good report? Caleb silenced the 11 spy's with a bad report and said "...we can certainly do it." Numbers 13:30

People want to hear the bad report. How dangerous and hopeless this is. They think that we are going to get there and want to come back. When the people of Israel heard the bad report they to wanted to return to their slavery, the comfort of Egypt, the place they had called home for 400 years.

But this is what God said to them, "...because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him in to the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." Numbers 14:24

My husband came home from Guatemala with a "different spirit" like Caleb (I am not saying we will inherit Guatemala... but perhaps the undeniable presence of God that George experienced)

So as I put my sweet daughter to sleep tonight and as we talked over the anxiety of our decision to move I was reminded of the only scripture my mom made me memorize so many years ago. Psalms 91. I personalized the end of it for Cecilia. It goes like this:

"Because Cecilia loves me" says the LORD, "I will rescue her; I will protect her, for she acknowledges my name. She will call on me, and I will answer her; I will be with her in trouble, I will deliver her and honor her. With long life I will satisfy Cecilia and show her my salvation." (v 14-15)

So what did my spy see?

Matthew 13:44 "the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."

May God draw each of you ever so close to Him. As we continue our journey to draw close to Him on our way to and in Guatemala! Be a spy of a "different spirit" and believe the spy of a "different spirit." The spirit of our living God, Jesus Christ!

Blessings, Vonda

Dear Mom and Dad,

Dear Mom and Dad,

(Dear Mom and Dad posts are dedicated to my parents. Sometimes the things that are going on will seem most interesting to them, because they know me… Oh so well. I hope the rest of you enjoy these posts too! Have you heard the song by Sugarland – Baby Girl. Let’s just say I am their Baby Girl J Proud to be! I wish I could return all the gifts they have given over the years. I use to think it would come in the earthly forms that they always give. My heart tells me that it will be in the eternal gifts of God. I pray unmeasurable blessings upon them for their continued support in all my adventures)

We just had Christmas at Del and Suni’s. It was so good to see all those adorable nephews, yet it was hard knowing that after this summer they will continue to grow without me noticing. It’s a wonder how I will keep in touch with those sweet boys, it already seems hard when I am just two hours away and available to hang out with them 3-4 times a year. So I will give this to God!

We are selling the chicken coop and chickens. Thank you for those sweet chickens and those yummy eggs! Thank you dad for that HUGE gift! I wanted my kids to experience a bit of the country life I grew up with. So thank you for our sort of successful garden (yummy basil this year and too many tomatoes last year) and our small successful chicken house! THANK YOU Papa. Who knew that this beautiful home and all it had to offer would be our stepping stone to city life. Even though I have not been there and I know it will be a “unique” city life… unlike the city scape of down town Denver. I thank you dad for giving my kids some country living in the small town of Windsor, while they were young, before we moved to the big, HUGE city of Guatemala City!

You have both given us so much. As I start to go through things its crazy how often I think “mom and dad gave us that”.

Kids are doing so well… they are so ready to go. I pray they can focus and enjoy the next few months with all the transition. Cecilia packed up her room last week, other than her closet she is down to just Guatemala stuff! We listed her desk today and have already had two interested buyers! Yeah!! Someone asked George for an update on how our -not buying things for Christmas went. So I asked Gabe how it was getting almost “nothing” no packages for Christmas… his quick response was “Great, I loved it J” We were going to sell the boy’s legos… then we realized that the 30 pounds could be packed in one suitcase if that was what they found important to take. Sam and Gabe both said… sell them. It is crazy amazing how ready they are to go.

God is so good to us! I am so thankful that God blessed us with your support and with the ripened hearts of our kids. It is nothing short of a miracle that all 5 of us want to go and that Demar and you are so supportive!

Here’s to hoping you spend next Christmas with us!

Love your Little girl, Vonda

Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Yes today we put up our Christmas tree... finally! We have been waiting.  First waiting for George to come home from Guatemala... and then waiting to decide what to do.  We could go in so many directions with this choice. But as with all things now at the Sisneros house we function one day at a time.

(I just busted into that song in my head... sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you... help me today, show me the way, one day at a time)


It was mid August this year that we decided to stop purchasing "things"... anything, and to purge for one year.  It was a challenge we gave ourselves.... why? Well George would have to tell you exactly why he felt we should do this, but as I spent two days purging our master closet, bath and bed.  Willingly I  went through the motions because I knew getting rid of stuff was a good thing and I knew in my heart that God was moving in my husbands life, but really what was in it for me? I prayed both days that God would show me my lesson in this season of purging.  Twice I felt I should re-read the manna story. I thought about the manna story a lot. Then I read it. God clearly provided enough, enough for the day... the Israelites were told to gather only enough for each day.  Those who didn't gather much had enough and those who gathered too much, well it rotted. The over gathering was fruitless... it had no value to them.  So as we continued to move from room to room and continue to de-clutter and purge I started to understand what I was learning.  All the excess in our life can so easily rot... really it is worthless when we look to Christ to provide there is just no use in gathering excess.  When you get rid of all the excess the stuff that so easily rots, you find the stuff that nourishes, the stuff you love... the manna.

Why do I tell you this story?  Because today we took out the Christmas decorations... our last Christmas in this Colorado home.  The process of purging has made it somewhat easier to see through all the Christmas stuff. I had planned to purge the Christmas decorations this year... I had not planned to get rid of most of it for our move.  So today was the day... there were tough choices to be made, and more lessons to be learned.  I let each child pick out their favorite ornaments.  And then I saved a few. I have less than one box to send to my moms with all things sentimental.... and then about 5 to give or sell.  I threw one box of stuff away.  Anyone need a beautiful 9ft Christmas tree. We agreed as a family that we would sell it now before Christmas if someone wants it! Really it needs to go...   


All this brings me to my next point....
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. -Matthew 4:18-20

I have always thought there was more to this story.  Didn't they have a bit more of a conversation?  Really "fishers of men" and "at once" really whats the rush?  I don't know about you, but I have never quite understood how two men in their right minds would have left all they know... their homes their jobs, their family... to follow another man not really knowing what was in store. "fishers of men" did they even know what that meant? It just doesn't seem like it.

Several people have asked... what exactly are you going to do in Guatemala? and well its a bit of a hard question to answer. Because really God has walked into our hearts and said follow me... I now know why Peter and Andrew left "at once". They were called. So we will go find out what it means to be a "fisher of men" and  we will live one day at a time...  I just wish we only had nets to drop instead of a whole American home full of lovely stuff!

Blessings to each of you!

Hmmm... It is hard to say when it all started.  I could be dramatic and say at creation... or a little less and say the day I was born... still dramatic.  So I will just fast forward a few million years or 39 depending on your taste in drama.  

It was Friday morning early the day after thanksgiving 2011, I was driving George to the church at 2:30 am to drop him off for his 5 day missions trip to Guatemala.  His first missions trip, and on that short 15 minute drive he asked me if I'd sell our house.  I LOVE our house... but if you have been following our minimalism journey you will know that George and I know and are willing to admit that our house is just that a house.  I will follow up with a post sometime about our house... because it has profound spiritual significance to me. But that is not part of this story.  

We were blessed each day George was gone by our friends at Apple and the genius Steve Jobs.  I am thankful God created such an amazing person/company who would produce my I-phone and George's I-pad.  I had coffee with my sweet husband every morning and said goodnight each evening. I think it was his second day he asked the kids and I to pray that he would know why he was there.  So we did.  And He did.  Only George can put into to words what God showed him and how it impacted him... but what I do know is that this trip not only answered many lost prayers of my past, but it is dramatically changing our lives as a family.

We are selling our house, and moving to Guatemala.  We will go as quick as God clears the path! It is my hope that this blog will share our journey with those we will miss and love so much. God willing it will inspire you and others to TRUST our mighty God and live by faith fully in love with the one who created each of us!


Blessings.