Visions Becoming Reality

The parched ground shall become a pool . . . —Isaiah 35:7

We always have a vision of something before it actually becomes real to us. When we realize that the vision is real, but is not yet real in us, Satan comes to us with his temptations, and we are inclined to say that there is no point in even trying to continue. Instead of the vision becoming real to us, we have entered into a valley of humiliation.

Life is not as idle ore, But iron dug from central gloom,
And battered by the shocks of doom To shape and use.

God gives us a vision, and then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of that vision. It is in the valley that so many of us give up and faint. Every God-given vision will become real if we will only have patience. Just think of the enormous amount of free time God has! He is never in a hurry. Yet we are always in such a frantic hurry. While still in the light of the glory of the vision, we go right out to do things, but the vision is not yet real in us. God has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the point where He can trust us with the reality of the vision. Ever since God gave us the vision, He has been at work. He is getting us into the shape of the goal He has for us, and yet over and over again we try to escape from the Sculptor’s hand in an effort to batter ourselves into the shape of our own goal.

The vision that God gives is not some unattainable castle in the sky, but a vision of what God wants you to be down here. Allow the Potter to put you on His wheel and whirl you around as He desires. Then as surely as God is God, and you are you, you will turn out as an exact likeness of the vision. But don’t lose heart in the process. If you have ever had a vision from God, you may try as you will to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never allow it.

taken from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, July 6th.

Papi Wayne returned last week to Ranco Oasis. The girls were in heaven…

UPDATE: Brooke arrived back to the Ranch yesterday, July 8th!

Worship class has expanded to two guitars!!! The smaller guitar is perfect for little hands and helps facilitate class with two instruments. Thanks! UPDATE: Brooke brought back two more guitars – now totaling four: extra small, small, medium and large!

This is Miriam Aracely Flores. She is a 17 year-old senior that has been involved with our activities at RO4Y. She is interested in spending some time in the States to improve her English – she is currently studying to work in tourism. Last winter, I was able to successfully place one of my junior high students with a family from California for 5 weeks. Any families interested in hosting Miriam, please contact me. Pray also for Miriam as she is planning to teach a Spanish literacy class at the Ranch for adults and children.

After discussing the recent halt of construction work with the men, we decided to place a hold on the construction of our home through the month of July. A.K.A. No $ = no materials = no work. Prayerfully we’ll be able to receive some generous donations to continue construction come August. Pray that the walls stand strong through all the rain!

Picking up the kids for class is a great time to nap...

We signed a contract for internet on the property and should be receiving the free installation this month! Pray all goes well, soon and that the Lord will help make up the difference of $50 a month in our support (This is the only satellite option available to us at the Ranch for under $100 and our package includes cable tv and a satellite phone). Our electric meter was also finally installed. (It has only been 10 months!) We have no idea how much our monthly electric bill will be, but we continue to look to the Lord for his provision.

for both girls.

Please continue to pray for our grounds keeper’s, Jose Luciano, health. He hasn’t been able to work for two weeks. UPDATE: Jose has returned today with his son, Wilian, to help make up lost time.

Continue to pray for Mare and the pregnancy. She is getting big!

Pray for our residency process. It looks promising that we can extend our VISA until the birth of the baby and then apply for residency after the birth (much like we did in Costa Rica). This will make the process simpler and less expensive. UPDATE: I spent much of yesterday organizing all the requirements for the application with the lawyers. Please pray that all goes smoothly and that the immigration office grants us a special extended temporary VISA until the baby is born. Once the kid arrives, residency is a piece of cake. Our tourist VISA expires July 25 and we are looking for a generous extension so we won’t have to leave the country. There is a lot of paperwork to organize in the next week, including receiving some documents from Costa Rica. Also pray for the Lords provision each document has fees and stamps, as well as the lawyer’s fee (praise God he is charging us for the price of one application, not four!($370).

Pray for our safety and health. At least one of us seems to be fighting sickness (cough, colds and diarrhea) every day. Travel on the road is still a huge step of faith; we’ve seen several fatal accidents since living here. Praise God for His protection. Last Sunday, while dropping off some families at a regular stop, a drunk/stoned man approached the bus and started punching and kicking things while insulting me. (Nothing AND No one was hurt, just shocked). We left the scene and brought the cops, but nothing was really done. Pray for this man’s salvation – he has a very bad reputation in the community.

Not our horses, but they LOVE our bananas!!!

This week we are planning to receive help from a young man named Tyler. Tyler came down with the youth group from Texas and felt like God called him to stay for a few more months! Please pray for Tyler’s transition to the Ranch and that God will keep him healthy!!!


ps - follow this link to see pictures of my brother's wedding. Naomi was the flower girls and I was the best man. To login, use your e-mail, then type spann for password.