What a Privilege

It is a tremendous privilege to get to know these wonderful people and watch the Lord work in their lives.  We "do life" with them.  We share our hearts with each other. Together, we share the love of Christ with those around us who don't yet know.  This is our small group.  Believers no older than 5 years old. Head over heals in love with Jesus. Bold witnesses.  Lovers of the Word of God. These are our partners and family here in Ohrid.  And we are so beyond grateful for each one of them!

Two of them were baptized a few weeks ago.  We met up with believers and seekers from other parts of Macedonia, had a little worship service, listened to testimony of how each of those being baptized had met Jesus, and then rejoiced with them as they stepped into the water to symbolize dying with Christ and being raised with Him to new life.  

So beautiful!

Afterwards, we hung out, ate, and enjoyed true biblical fellowship.

It truly is a blessing to get to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of people in Macedonia. He is faithful and He deserves all the glory and honor!

Lil' Wolfpack

Yep, it's true, #3 is on the way.  Kate and Thomas (mostly Kate) are super excited about the new little Davis.  I am currently 10.5 weeks along and have been having ALL of the normal pregnancy symptoms. We have been able to have the first ultrasound, see the heartbeat and watch this little booger move all around on the screen. Baby D #3 is already an active one. Brian and I even felt him moving the other night while we laid on the couch. So fun. So amazing!!!  Kate and Brian have been trying to come up with names.  For a boy, they have decided on Voltron and for a girl, Voltricia.  Bless.  I am going for a more conventional, less 80s superhero cartoon name. We'll see who wins. Please do be praying for this new little life to continue to grow healthy and strong. Pray that God will be glorified throughout this pregnancy and throughout the life of this little one.  

First Day of School and Other Goodies

Thomas started school last week.  He was supposed to start on Monday but because of a few lacking documents, we had to wait until later in the week.  Here he is with Kate outside their school on Monday thinking he was going in.

And here they are on the day he actually went to school. 

Running into school acting like he is so excited. Well, he was excited until he figured out that he didn't get to play with Kate all day. Poor fella.  

Kate ended up staying with him in his classroom for the first two days.  She didn't seem to mind, other than the fact that she told me "It was exhausting." She makes me giggle, but she is a great big sister! Thomas did much better today and stayed in his class all day by himself.  YAY! Please pray that he will adapt well.

We had a great visit with my parents, Granna and Poppa.

I took them around Macedonia to see a couple of things they had never gotten to experience before.

And I took them on a short vacation to Thessaloniki, Greece.

We ate a delicious Greek dinner at this spot one night and watched the sun set over the Aegean Sea.

So pretty.

We sat by the pool at our hotel most of the time. Kate and Thomas liked the pool better than the beach.

Poppa was a great pool-buddy for the kids. All in all we had a WONDERFUL time with them and were super sad to see them go. It never gets easier to say goodbye to family, but we look forward to seeing them this winter.  

Brian made it back home safe and sound, and no one got sick while he was gone. Thanks for praying.  We are glad to be back together as a family!

When Daddy's Away...

Today, the Big Man of the house left us for the next 18 days. That's right, you read right... 18 days!  EIGHTEEN!  These babies can't wrap their little brains around 18 days. Daddy is the fun one around here.  The one that just plays and wrestles and... well, he is just a big kid when he is with them. It is amazing to watch it all.  

I am in love with that man! 

While he is away, we plan to have lots of mac and cheese (daddy's not a big fan of noodles covered in cheese), watch some fun movies, take lots of bike rides and go for double scoops of ice cream.  And in a few days Granna and Poppa will be here to help us get through the rest of the time of daddy's absence. 

Pray for us.  We have a tendency to get really sick every single time Brian leaves us for a little while. The Macedonians all say it is because we are "love sick," and I think they are being serious.  Perhaps they are right. Either way, pray that we can love without the sick this time around.  Pray that Brian has safe travels and that he fills up while he is gone.  

We are going to miss you daddy!!!

Granna and Poppa, we can't wait for your arrival!!!

Secret Life

This is a great article from the Gospel Coalition.  Read it and pray about what God might have you do. The Secret Life of the Cross-Cultural Missionary

"When comfort is minimized, joy in the Lord is maximized."

"There's a saying that if you drop a frog in boiling water, he will jump out. But if you put him in and slowly heat the water, he will stay there until he dies. The issue for believers will not likely be heinous, public sin. It will be gradually deviating from the course God has laid out for us.

All too often, we treasure our comforts above God's purpose for our lives and we measure our effectiveness in God's kingdom by how much praise we receive for doing our work. Seek His presence and approval over all things in life. If heaven is really eternal and ineffably glorious, the comforts of this world will be drastically thrust into proper perspective.

Yes, there will be a time when the honeymoon phase has ended. Funny foods will still be there. Everyone looking different and not speaking English will get old. Missing your family back home never gets any easier. But seeing people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ is well worth it. And more importantly, suffering through it and having Christ as your only treasure makes it all worth it."

More Than Just a Vacation

About fifteen days ago, in my best whiney voice, I told Brian 'I'm gonna go ahead and leave and just meet you and the kids there.  I have got to get out of here.' My poor husband....  I did manage to make it through the last few days leading up to our vacation and annual meeting.  It was the grace of God!!! We left with Ginna and Hannah and cried as we drove out of Ohrid and out of Macedonia for the last the time as a team.  And then we partied.  We had a blast at our annual meeting this year (as we do every year). Our colleagues from all over Europe landed on a little island about an hour outside of Athens for a time of worship, training, teaching and fellowship.  I cannot begin to express to you (as said in years past) how very beneficial and special these meeting times are.  It is more than a conference.  It is a time when we are reminded of the call, of the gospel, that we are not alone out here.  Our children get loved on and get to enjoy American VBS which they always love.  And they get to hang out with other kids just like them.  We get to worship in our heart language and fellowship by the pool. We get to be trained and spurred in our calling.  It was wonderful!!!!! And we are so thankful.  The Lord supplies all of our needs and we needed this!!!

Greece is a beautiful country (not as beautiful as Macedonia though. ;0)).

With 9 hours ahead of us, I had packed some boredom busters. Gummy teeth were just one of them.

After the 5 day meeting, we said our final goodbyes (on this side) to Hannah and Ginna and headed north about 6 hours to start our family vacation just outside of Thessaloniki.  We went to the beach a couple of days.

We went bowling for the first time (not on the Wii).

The kids were thrilled with their special bowling shoes.  I was just praising God that we had socks.

The little stinker was so proud of every single bowl. Even if his ball didn't come close to touching a pin, it made it to the end of the lane. That was all that mattered to him.  There is a spiritual lesson in there somewhere. :)

We went to a waterpark, which was a blast.  

We spent some more time by the sea,

went to see a the kid's first movie in a theater,

and even played in an arcade.  

(Brian and I have a whole new appreciation for the vacations we took as kids.  And all of that change that we saved up all year long and then rolled and took to the bank the week before vacation, I totally get that now. Thanks mom and dad for making our child-hood vacations so memorable and so much fun!!!)

The last 10 days were just what we needed. We are back in Ohrid.  We are excited about what the Lord has in store for the months ahead. We are recharged, revived, renewed.  Let's get to it... 

Goodbye

This week we say goodbye to our Hannah and Ginna. We love these ladies SO very much. They are very much family to us and we are going to miss them more than I could ever express with words.  

They are our sisters who have walked with us through some dark times. They have prayed for us and over us. They have labored with us.  They have spoken truth to us and had grace on us. Hannah and Ginna, we will forever be grateful for how you have loved us and served us these last almost two years.  

They are our kids crazy fun aunts and I just don't know what Kate and Thomas are going to do without their Aunt Ginna and Aunt Hannah.  Who will have them over for sleepovers to make cookie dough and watch Tangled for the up-teenth time???  Who will love on them like good ole American aunts with cheek pinching and ticklin' and big giant hugs and coffee spewing and silliness and giggles???  

Thank you Hannah and Ginna for loving on our babies, for treating them like your own niece and nephew, for taking time to teach them about the Lord.  I could never begin express my gratitude.  Kate and Thomas love you SO much!!!

(Between a rock and a hard place.)

You are my dear precious friends. Thank you for bearing with me, for being patient with me, for crying with me and laughing with me. Thank you for letting me unload all my ridiculous confusing thoughts on you. Thank you for being there to hold my hand and encourage me through some dark times. Thank you for just being plain silly with me and laughing with me till our bellies hurt.  I will cherish our friendship forever.

We are a family bound together by the Holy Spirit. We are so blessed to have been able to work together with you and to be a part of your life for the last two years. We count it all joy to have been your teammates and family while you were here.  We pray for you as you head back to America.  Be brave. Stand firm in the calling to which you have been called. Keep your eyes set firmly on the author and perfector of our faith.  Love hard.  Obey with reckless abandon. Make the most of every opportunity to share the love of Jesus. Do not grow weary in doing good.  Bear good fruit... 

ABIDE in HIM!!!  

Father, I praise you and glorify your name for all that you have given me in allowing me to know, love and be loved by these girls.  In your sovereign and good plan for me and my family, you allowed us the privilege of serving you together with them.  I exalt your name for how you have used them in Ohrid.  I praise you that they love you and know you.  Thank you for the fruits we have seen from their labor, and Lord we look forward to seeing many more.  Lord, I ask that you fill them up with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom in spiritual understanding. Keep them from fear. I pray that they will know of your love, feel your love and that your perfect love will cast out all of their fears.  Make their path sure and steady. Father I pray that you will be a wall of fire all around them and that your glory will be in their midst. Be their peace, their shield, their strong tower. I pray that they will dwell in the shadow of your wings.  Let them hope only in you O God.  I pray that they abide in you and you in them, and that they will bear much fruit for your great Name's Sake. In the Name of Jesus I ask these things, Amen.

Over a Year

It has been over a year since we baptized three precious believers here in Ohrid (one not pictured).  We LOVE these three more than we did a year ago, more than we ever thought we could. We are so encouraged and blessed to have been a part of their surrender to Jesus as Savior, and now we are a part of watching them be sanctified. We are a body. Brothers and sisters. Joint heirs with Christ.  Lovers of God and His Gospel. Lovers of this city. Passionate about seeing more come to know Jesus for the glory of God here.  We have labored in prayer together. We have pounded out the Word of God together.  They are hungry for the Bible like no other people we have ever known. They love that they can know God personally through Jesus Christ, and they haven't gotten over the thrill of it yet.  May they never!!!

But recently we have been made keenly aware that we are also in a battle.  The last few months have been hard.  We have seen our bothers and sister come under attack in various ways. Persecution from family members, neighbors and friends. Loneliness (they only have each other for fellowship).  No work. Health issues  Lies planted by the enemy set to divide us.  A battle.  One I feel completely inadequate to fight.  I realize it is not mine to fight, and I will strive to rest in that knowledge. It is not a battle against flesh and blood but the principalities of the air.  That is where you come in. Will you commit to pray for these precious believers, your bothers and sisters, to see Truth, to love Truth, and even when it hurts to surrender to Truth, to love each other and their neighbors unconditionally and to bear with one another being eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Will you bear some of the load???

God is in the midst of doing some big things in our group. We average about 10 on Sundays now (yes, 10 is a lot). We have a little youth group forming which is exciting.  Brian has entered into some more intense discipleship times with several other men and the ladies in our group have grown from 1 to 3. YAY!  Big things all brought about by the powerful gracious hand of God.  Don't let the attack of the enemy thwart the moving of the Spirit.  I implore you, pray.  The battle is the Lord's...

Flootball

Thomas loves his "flootball."

 Sweet Baby!

Sufficient Grace

"Mommy, can we have ice cream?"

"Mom, what about ice cream?"

"Mom, are we going to get ice cream?"

"Ice cream?"  "Ice Cream?!"  "Ice Cream?!"

"HUSH!!!!"  That's right. I said it.  I told my children to hush in the middle of the
walking street and I may or may not have told them that if they asked me about
ice cream one more time, I was going to walk away from them and act like I didn't
know them.  Go ahead and throw stones at me. I deserve it.

Later in the same evening:

"Mommy, can we watch tv after bath."

"Maybe a little."

"But what about a movie?"

"No, it's too late for a movie."

"But I want to watch a movie. Why can't we watch a movie?"

"I just told you. It's too late."

"Please."

"NO! And do not ask again or you are going straight to bed."

I turn on the tv, pick a show and start walking away to get a snack fixed for them.

"Mommy, I don't want to watch this."

"Oh well. You can either watch it or get in bed. Your choice."

To say the least I most certainly did not win the mommy of the year award yesterday
or most days for that matter.  Are your stones hoisted and ready to throw???

"Do all things without complaining and disputing" (Phil 2:14) is one of our family
verses that we say often, and lately we have been saying it more and more. Why can't
they just stop all the complaining and disputing. It says so in the Bible?!  Why do they
have to be so doggone persistent?  Why do they have to have an opinion or a question
about everything???  Why do they have to get. on. my. nerves?

URGH!  Perhaps their questions are, "Why is mommy so frustrated?"  "We just want
ice cream. Why is that so bad?" "Why did mommy lose her patience again?"  Or
"Golly, mommy needs a nap." Well, friends, mommy does, in fact, need a nap.
Mommy also needs the Holy Spirit. I need to be empty of me and full of Him.  Mommy
needs to repent of her bad attitude and have grace on the wee little sinners running
around my house.

I had a conversation with a friend yesterday about being taken advantage of.  We talked
about  how sometimes you just have to say 'no.'  You can't let people run all over you.
It is hurtful when people only expect to get things from you, but are never willing to
give anything in return. It's hurtful when people forget all that you have done for them,
when they are ungrateful, and then get angry at you when you don't give them more.
It hurts.

As my sweet friend was feeling these very pains, I tried to empathize. I tried to gracefully
speak truth.  I was one removed and because it didn't hurt me, it was easy to say, "What
does the gospel of Christ speak to this???"

I returned home to the mundane chaos that is our life around here.  Served some coffee
to a random visitor, tried to encourage him and then sent him and my husband out the
door. I returned to the living room, got Kate settled with a book and Thomas settled in
his bed, and with a sigh, I went to hang out laundry, clean the bathrooms, make our bed
(at 2 in the afternoon) and do some dishes.  As I was hanging out the laundry, I played
over the conversation with my friend about being used. My Faithful Father spoke to
me. "Mandy, you feel used.  You are tired and you rarely get a break.  I know. Your
rarely feel served and regularly feel used."
"It's true. I guess that is just the life of a mom, uh?"
"But Mandy, what does the Gospel speak to you? To these feelings?"

The Gospel of Christ says that in His perfect, unconditional love, Jesus came to this
earth to die. He planned to come and redeem me while I was yet in my sin and selfishness.
And when he came, He was misunderstood. He was used and used and used.
"Heal me Jesus." "Jesus, Jesus, make it better." "Fix it, Jesus."  "Jesus, we are hungry.
Feed us."  "Jesus, I can't see. Give me sight." "Jesus, leave everything you are doing
right now, and come with me to my house.  My daughter is dying. C'mon Jesus." He
was used every day. And yet His love remained unconditional. Pure. Perfect. Constant.
Strong. LOVE. And in that very love, He chose to die for us, to be spat upon and
mocked, laughed at, beaten, scourged, whipped and nailed to a cross.  He chose this.
He chose to be used so that we could have life. He chose to show us love in the most
realistic and painfully precious way possible. He laid His life down for mine while I
was His enemy and when I only wanted Him as a lucky charm.

He knew I would think horrible wretched thoughts as a mom, wife, and 'm.'  He knew
that I would be the embodiment of the selfish, self-righteous disputer.  He wanted to rescue
me from that.  He wanted to give me grace to show His glory.  Grace.  His grace is
sufficient for me. It is sufficient for my children. It is sufficient for this people.  Grace, that
undeserved favor and merit that is marked by love and that flows like a waterfall.  He is
enough for those bad days when I feel used.  He knows how I feel times 100,000.  He
understands my heart.  He loves me beyond what I deserve.

And so today, I choose to receive His grace and walk in it.  To be filled up with Him
and emptied of myself.  To be used and taken advantage of by people with ungrateful
hearts and selfish motives. To die. It might hurt, but His grace is sufficient.  

Dog Days in Ohrid

It is hot.  The heat of summer normally isn't an issue in Ohrid, but this year has already been crazy hot.  We have become giant beach bums, and I don't feel bad about it because that is where the rest of the population is too.  When we aren't hanging at beach, we are living like vampires. We keep the shades closed all day long to keep things a little cooler in here.  We have been playing the Wii a lot.  We have had a lot of smoothies and ice cream sundaes, and we have done lots of water play in the porch.

We have even had to turn on our air conditioner. We never had an A/C in any other apartment here. When we moved into this apartment, our landlords pointed out the a/c in the living room and we thought, 'Oh, that's nice, but it's never hot enough for an A/C here.'  We may have turned it on twice all of last summer. This year, we have turned it on a lot.  Brian and I have had to start sleeping in the living room so we could actually sleep instead of just sweating all night long.  Hopefully it will cool off soon and we can move back into our bedroom.

Summer also brings the reminder of one of the big differences between Americans and Macedonians (maybe all Europeans).  Promaja.  Promaja is basically a breeze coming in through a window, from the A/C or from an oscillating fan.  Promaja is one of the most feared things around these parts.  While we, as Americans, roll down windows, crank up the air condition and stand in front of any fan we can find, they run away from such things. They keep all of the windows closed even in the car. Basically they would rather live in a sauna than get hit by a breeze because they are all sure it makes you sick.  It can cause anything from a literal pain in your neck to a sore throat, to a cold. And, you know what? After all this time over here, I am beginning to believe them. It still doesn't seem to affect us, but I believe it may really affect them.  We joke around with our Macedonian friends about it. We like to tell them that Americans are vaccinated against promaja.  We all just laugh at the difference and of course, keep the windows closed and the fans off.  

How Great Thou Art- Take 2

Where There is No... Chick-Fil-A

I just made my man (and everyone else in the family) a Chick-Fil-A sandwich.  It was delicious. After not having it in forever, it tasted close enough to the real thing that we were satisfied and agreed that we are going to have to have it on the menu more often.  Yum. Yum. Yum!

This is the Recipe.  I found it through another expat friend living in Macedonia who posted it on Facebook not too long ago. (Thanks Amy.)  I didn't toast the buns, but I did warm them in the microwave and butter them. I really think it made all the difference. Deliciouso!

God as Father

One of my favorite things about my Lord is that He lets me call Him Father. In almost every single spiritual conversation I have among this people, I love to share the joyous fact that if we believe on Christ as our Savior, we have authority to be called a child of God (John 1:12). I love this truth.

The Creator. Our Father. Righteous Judge. Our Father.  God of all gods. Our Father.  King of all kings.  Our Father.  OUR Father.  This is a truth we should never get over, and while I share it continually among a people who see God only as a mystic, impersonal figure, I think I had lost sight of the implications of God as MY Father.  In one of my Bible studies this week, I was forced to focus on this amazing and beautiful truth once again--to be still and know that He is God, My Father.

Hosea 11:1-4 says, "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them." (emphasis mine)

He loves us. He calls us from slavery and bondage.  We run after man made gods, but He keeps calling. He teaches us to walk and makes us grow. He takes us by our arms. He heals us. He saves us. He leads us with cords of kindness and bands of love. His burden is light.  He bends down to us and feeds us.

Ah! Don't you just love this picture?! God our Father who created the universe bends down to us. Why? For no other reason than He loves us and He longs for us to be satisfied by Him and in Him. He yearns for us. He longs for us to be in fellowship with Him for our own good and for His glory.  This is an incredible truth!  It is one that I can barely wrap my mind around, but I don't have to understand it to rest in it.  I can run to Him, crawl up in His lap and pour out my aching heart. I can tell Him all about the pain and hurt and fear, and He does so much more than just 'kiss it and make it better.'  He gives joy and gladness. He gives peace.

His plan from the foundation of the world was to be our Father and He made a way for us to be in His family through Christ.  The blood shed on the cross covers me and gives me a new name and a new everlasting inheritance.  My Father loves me.  I hope to never get over it!  I am His child. His!!! I pray that I will share this awesome truth with a renewed excitement, and that through Jesus Christ, the people of Macedonia will know Him as Abba Father for their good and His glory.

Princess Party

Once upon a time a little princess and and her mommy decided some mommy/daughter girl time was way past due....

So they decided to have a princess party while the little prince napped.  They got all dressed up for the big event.  Tiaras, necklaces, pretty dresses, high heals, butterfly wings and then they had a photo shoot....

After the photo shoot, we sat down and read some scripture together:

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.    You love righteousness and hate wickedness; The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold.
¹⁴                                          She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors. 

                                                                 Psalm 45:6,13

We talked about what it means to be a princess, where a princess lives, how a princess dresses, how she acts. We talked about our King Jesus and His heavenly throne.  We talked about the Gospel and how when we believe in Christ as our Lord, we become a child of God, thus we become princesses.  We talked about the fact that it doesn't matter what you look like or what you wear. What matters is your heart. It was a wonderful conversation, and I am thrilled to say that Kate is understanding and desiring to know more about Jesus and His kingdom every day.  After that long conversation, we read My Child My Princess by Beth Moore.  It is a book we have read many times before, but this time, we sat and talked about all of the parallels between the book and the Kingdom of God.  It was so precious!  I will forever cherish this moment with Kate. 

After all of the reading and talking, we made Princess Ice Cream Sundaes which just means we put a little bit of every kind of sugary sweet goodness on top of our ice cream with ginormous dollops of whip cream and lots of cherries on top.  We made a delicious Princess Drink consisting of 7Up and Cherry Juice. Royally Delicious!

We watched Cinderella and ate our sundaes, and then we cuddled on the couch.

And Sweet Princess Kate fell asleep before the stroke of midnight.  

I am so thankful for the day we had and for the conversation and memories we shared.  I love my girl.

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." Matthew 25:34

And they all lived happily ever after...

Beach Day

We take most Mondays as our off day.  We don't really get a weekend around here and so we decided after Kate was born that we were going to have to set aside a day every week to spend time together as a family and rest.  Monday is that day, and as much as we can, we protect it.  This week, we decided to take the kids to the beach.  They were so excited.  Brian made the kids biscuits shaped like floaties and Thomas decided he would keep with the theme and just wear his floatie to the table.  

Brian took us to one of the beaches on the other side of the lake and it was BEAUTIFUL and quiet. So nice!

 Thomas is crackin' Kate up like always. Love it!

This was the view from our spot.  

The kids and I had a splashing contest and my abs got a workout.  

Sweet baby conked out mid-afternoon.

We went on a bear hunt, which turned into a frog hunt because over in this little shady area there were frogs everywhere.  The kids loved it. 

We saw teenie tiny fishes, great big momma fishes, baby froggies and great big momma froggies.  

("Three little speckled frogs sittin' on a hollow log...")

This was exactly what our family needed.  We enjoyed His creation, enjoyed each other, laughed, and read and talked about Scripture.  It was restful, relaxing, and so much fun! I can't wait to do it again soon. I love that the Lord made the Sabbath for man and not man for the Sabbath.  He supplies all of our needs! What a wonderful day!