Update June 2017

Happy Summer! It has been over a year! I have not forgotten you and I finally have a few minutes to write an update from North Dakota where I am currently recovering from Carpal Tunnel Release surgery on my right wrist. I will be going back home soon and in a few weeks have the same done for my left wrist.

School is out! Summer is here! Esther just finished Kindergarten and is striving to be the smartest 1st grader this summer by practicing her reading, writing and math skills everyday. She also loves being outside and near water. She keeps asking for us to take her kayaking.

Isaac is a crazy, sweet almost 4 year old. He is working on all the little tasks he will need to know how to do for Pre-K next fall! He loves dinosaurs, running and park visits. He still cuddles with mom and loves having special dates with mom or dad. He is a joy.

Leonardo is an explorer and a climber at 1 1/2 years old. He walks, he runs, and he climbs everything. And then he runs to give me the biggest hug ever. He has so much peace and loves to share that feeling with everyone.

Last I wrote, I shared how we were worried about having to move. Well, our landlord has changed 3 times since then and is on the market again to change hands. Our current owner has ok-ed 3 children living in the apartment, though when the house changes hands again we could be faced with an increase in rent.

Josh wasn't accepted into the Masters Teaching Program. This was a blessing in disguise because shortly after that we learned of my need for double carpal tunnel surgeries. He is taking a Teaching Reading class one night a week and working full time at a summer rec program through the Saint Paul Public Schools. He really enjoys his work and I have enjoyed being home full time during my medical leave, which will last all summer long. Not being accepted in the program, and me not having to split my time for a part time job has freed us up to do more with our church and family

While surgery was not on my list of things to do, it has proven to be in God's plan.

Jeremiah 29:11

2016 News

Good morning from the Robinsons! Here is a little update on how we are doing. Esther is attending half day PreK, and Isaac is 2 and loves to talk with anyone who will listen. We added another boy to the mix, Leonardo Paz. Leo was born on December 21, 2015. 

We hit a bump in our journey. Our landlord informed us that with our new addition, we can no longer rent from him when Leo turns 1. So we have the rest of this year to find a 3 bedroom place to rent. We also found out that Josh & I have hit the raise caps in our current jobs. So, instead of getting raises every 4-6 months, we get about 40 cents every August. This brings me to why I wanted to share with you all. Josh recently went to an info meeting on a program in our school district. This program is 14 months and will allow Josh to earn his masters and teaching license and at the end he is garrenteed a job on the district. I wanted to share so you can be praying about this with us. Josh & I believe this is the next step of our journey. We are praying Josh is accepted in the program, as they only take about a dozen people. We are excited and nervous for this! 

The Opposite of Livid is Ecstatic

For the last few months Josh & I have been seeking God's will and praying for direction as to where He would have us go next. Today I can tell you that we have said, "Yes!" to go where ever He would send us. Which is perhaps the most important part in seeking God's direction.

As part of our willingness, Josh has accepted a full-time job in the cities, we have signed our very first apartment lease, and are now getting ready for a move in about 10 days!

We are moving to the Twin Cities!!

We will be serving at Mosaic Church of the Nazarene and I can't stop smiling! !

I will miss everyone I have become friends with at First Church but I can't deny how much I feel in the center of God's will right now.  I can hardly wait to see how He'll use us!

2013 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends & Family,

We hope the end of 2013 has you remembering the memories you created in the past year.  That is exactly what we find ourselves doing as we write our letter this year and we want to share some of those memories with you.

What Happened in 2013

January found us volunteering in El Paso, Texas with missionaries on the border of Mexico.  We had just gotten back to the states from taking a huge work & witness team to Northern Mexico.

Volunteering gave us many life experiences and relationships that we wouldn’t have been able to learn anywhere else. We wouldn’t trade this past year for anything.

June found us leading a work & witness team in El Paso without our fellow missionaries.  We learned just how much work it is for the receiving missionaries for a team to come. It was a lot of work but we enjoyed it too.

Isaac was born August 4^th. He gave us a good scare though.  He was an emergency c-section and came out pretty blue, but recovered from that and was gaining weight fast. 

Our volunteer contract with the missionaries ended in August, so we moved back to Minot, ND, where we are serving at Minot First Church of the Nazarene.  Josh is teaching 5^th & 6^th Grade Sunday School and Wednesday Caravan. Deborah is teaching K & 1^st Grade Sunday School and Wednesday Nursery. We’re both directing this year’s Children’s Christmas Play.  We look forward to serving in Minot this coming year. 

Merry Christmas!

Josh Debbie               Esther & Isaac

 

Give Thanks

Giving Thanks. I grew up saying thank you for nearly everything.  At one point, my parents gave points out for doing different things like our chores and being polite - which included saying please and thank you at meal times.  We would celebrate Thanksgiving and then the tradition was to put up Christmas decorations the afternoon after the Thanksgiving meal.  That's when Christmas officially started in our house.

When I entered college, I had roommates who were strongly against Christmas music being played one day before Thanksgiving and some who were against it even before December 1st.  You also had roommates who would have played Christmas music in August if they didn't have roommates who were so much against it. 

Sometimes I have wondered why we are for or against starting Christmas early and last week it hit me.  We were at the mall and noticed the stores getting ready for Christmas already.  Halloween hadn't even passed and they were skipping Thanksgiving and going straight for Christmas.  As Josh and I left, we commented that at least they weren't pretending to be thankful for the things they have. It's true. To anyone who doesn't celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, all it's about is consumerism.  That is why I believe we as Christians should be "anti-Christmas" to some extent and push Thanksgiving for a time.  We need to remind our friends to be thankful for the things and people in their lives.  I am glad to see on facebook that many are sharing one thankful thought a day to do just that.

Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

New Adventures

Wow, Time has gotten away from us.  It's been 4 months since my last post, but it feels like it's only been a few weeks.

June had us hitting the ground running as we made the last preparations for the work & witness team that came from Colorado.  While they were here we worked at a food bank, painted the insides of a church, and organized an outdoor VBS with a home-church.  You can see photos from the week here: Colorado Work & Witness Team  After this week of madness, I understood how un-flexible Cutco really was.  I couldn't dedicate as much of my time as management wanted me to and we came to the conclusion that we weren't a good fit for each other. 

July I found a fulltime job as a Data Entry Person.  I entered data in the evening for medical insurance companies.  The company's downfall was that while I was hired June 27, they didn't want me to start working until July 24 and I guess no one realized that I was 9 months pregnant by then, so I only got to work 2 weeks and I worked until I needed to go to the hospital. 

Throughout July we went to many community events like the Independence Day Parade, Cow Appreciation Day (at ChickFila), Weekly Movie Nights, and 1st Church's Womens Retreat.  I was able to play my violin at the retreat even.

August gave way to many doctor and hospital visits.  Isaac Gozo was born on the 4th via emergency C-section.  Isaac gave us a big scare when he was born, coming out blue and having troubles breathing.  But God is Good and by the time I was out of recovery he was looking like a healthy baby boy!  By the end of the day, Josh's mom was here with us making the extended hospital stay easier on all of us.  Since Isaac was in the Intensive Care Unit, Esther wasn't permitted to see him until he was released.  3 days after being released from the hospital, upon seeing Isaac at his 1st week checkup, sent him back to the hospital to help his jaundice levels go down, which only took 24 hours and then back home we went.

Isaac Gozo Photo

The next week, I (Deborah), came down with a severe allergic reaction to something in the El Paso Amphitheater.  I was covered from head to toe in hives.  When I went to see my doctor, after the normal hour wait, I was told that they couldn't help me anymore because I wasn't pregnant anymore.  So I went to a walk in clinic, saw a doctor in 20 minutes who took one look at me and prescribed me meds that would take a week to clear up.

Soon after this we found out that our volunteer contract would not be renewed.  Our missionary supervisors had this decision under months of prayer and felt God leading us in a different direction.  So, we started planning on making our "vacation" a long-term move to Minot, ND.  We packed everything we owned in our car and were ready to leave when Esther came down with a 104 temperature.  When we took her to the ER the first time, they sent her home and brushed it off as a viral infection.  When her temperature didn't go down still, we took her to the doctor who sent her to the hospital.  After many tests, Esther came home with meds to take over the weekend.

September started us on the move north.  We spent 5 days with my family in Kansas, 2 days with college friends and eventually made it to Minot.  We're now looking for work for one of us.  We started teaching Sunday School at 1st Church - Josh is teaching 5th & 6th grade and I'm teaching K & 1st grade.  Esther and Isaac have fun in the nursery every Sunday morning.  We're getting ready to help teach Caravans on Wednesdays.  They'll be starting up in 3 weeks.  Josh's sister gets married in a week and a half.  Esther's starting preschool coloring books.

We aren't sure what God has for us next, but we are willing and waiting for his call.  Thank you everyone who has supported us this past year with your prayers and financial support.  We have experienced so much in the past year and none of it would have been possible without you.

Our Volunteer Missions Site

Mid-May Update

It's been over a month since I've sat down to write an update.  Life in El Paso is starting to pick up and get busier.  Josh is still working for Pizza Hut, Esther is growing like any 2 year old should.

I've started a part time job showing fine cutlery.  It's a nice job, kind of like those who show MaryKay, but I got 3 days of training and we have managers dedicated to help us succeed.  I also get paid just to show so no one has to buy from me to help me out.  I've done local and virtual presentations, so anyone wanting to help me out can call and we can have fun chatting and looking at kitchen knives together.  So, adding that to the mix of everything we do is showing challenges. 

Esther's baby brother will be here in 2 months or so.  The pregnancy is healthy and normal so far, I am so thankful for that.  We're deciding between calling him Isaac Gozo or Malachi Paz.  I like both names equally, so we might not even really decide until he's here in our arms.

Josh & I are doing the prep work for a work & witness team that's coming to El Paso next month.  I think this is our biggest prayer request, because it's going to be the first team of the summer and we'll be the leading missionaries because the missionaries who normally do it will be at general assembly promoting NBI.  So, it's a bit scary to think that we'll be leading but I know and trust that we will learn and grow by this experience.  Today we're going to one of the Food Banks to see if the team can serve there on one of their days here.



Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

Easter 2013

It's been a good 2 1/2 months since I've given you guys an update.  Probably because the first few months were "too cold" for El Paso to be out at the parks.  We started going only when it was 60 degrees or higher since no one else was out.  The people here tend to stay indoors unless it's above 70, I think.

Biggest news is probably that we found out we're expecting a bundle of joy end of July.  Little Isaac Goce or Seliora Mae will join us soon :)

This week we have been working hard on all of the last minute preparations for an Easter Egg Hunt Josh and I were organizing.  We went to the park everyday we could for some last minute handing-out-flyers.  Besides having a regular Easter Egg Hunt, we had hot dogs, chips & juice drinks for the families - all free.  I think the event went really well.  I would say there were about 200 people there (counting kids, parents, & all the help from 1st church)  lol, I think the ice cream truck made out at our event too.  We didn't buy soda/pop, but if you really wanted it you could get it from him.  I had brought my camera, but was unable to take pictures since we were needed all over the place


Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

Commission Unto Mexico 2012

"Generations ago a white missionary came to us for the first time.  He didn't know any Spanish, just like most of you who've come this week.  But, like you he knew the language to speak God's love to us, like you have."

Those were one of the last things we heard this week.  On the last day in Monclova, Mexico, a few of us stood up and shared how this week had impacted us and a Mexican man shared this, in Spanish of course.  This past week has been filled with many joys, challenges and relationship building.  The construction team finished the electrical jobs, recruited us to help paint many of the orphanage buildings, and repaired the children's playground.  The rest of us spent a lot of time with the orphans.  We played sports, card cames, shared Bible stories, sang songs, had fun with arts and crafts and ate way too much candy.

 Here are a few pictures of our week.  We have a bunch more on Facebook and a few videos on Youtube.

 We sang about 5 songs all week, most of them were from my days of playing in the MNU Marimba Group (Thanks Dr. Baldridge!)

 We loved the food, it was great! I think my favorite when we had white rice with this tomato sauce with veggies and chicken in it, or when we had steak strips and veggies on tortillas.. Everything was served with rice and beans.  We loved it, but by the end of the week there were many Americans who just wanted a pizza or cheeseburger. Lucky for them Monclova has pizza hut, mcd's, etc.  I think it kind of ruins the experience when you give into such little things.  If we're trying to see what being a missionary is like, and then can't go without fast food for 10 days... I don't know. 




Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

December Updates

Our dearest friends and family,

This will probably be the last update you recieve from us this year.  We're actively getting ready for our trip to Mexico.  We're going to Monclova, Mexico - about 3 hours south of border.  We'll be crossing at Eagle Pass, TX.  We're going with a group from Southern Nazarene University, they have been taking a group into Mexico during Christmas Break for over 20 years.  Our team will be going to an orphanage (it's really more like a temporary home for potential foster kids) and we will be doing fun things with the children there while another team rewires the electrical stuff (to keep the building within state regulations).  We hope to teach the children about the 4 types of love God gives us: Love for God, Love for others, Love for ourselves, and Love for God's creation. We have Bible stories, songs, and crafts planned.  I hope they go well and we'll see if taking pictures are appropriate on site (I hope they are)

The Sunday before we leave, we will be directing, Josh will be narrating the Children's Christmas Play at 1st Church.  We're very excited for this.  The whole church will be in a combined service (English & Spanish churches), so our play will be in both Spanish and English.  We let the kids decide which language they'd like to speak their parts in.  Most of our kids chose to speak in Spanish, but Joseph and Mary are speaking English.  We also have planned a power point to have the opposite translation up for the congregation so everyone will be able to follow along. I'm only sad we didn't have more time to practice with the kids.

This past week we have been brainstorming and doing a lot of creative thinking to come up with something for younger teens or even children who have felt a call into missions or even a general call to serve God.  We have come up with something for young teens for sure and I have something stirring within me that would be geared towards 5th & 6th graders.


Prayer Requests:
1. Our trip into Mexico (Dec. 26 - Jan. 5th) & the other 150 people coming.  Some are driving across the country, others are flying.  Please pray for safe travels and safe crossings into Mexico.
2. We're still looking for work.  Deborah has had a few interviews, please pray that she gets a "we want to hire you" phone call.


We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We miss and love you all! (And we miss the snow!)



Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Small Shop Saturday

It's been a few weeks since anyone's heard from us.  We've been doing about the same thing each week: go to the parks, active in the church, etc. Nothing really to note until today.

Our Thanksgiving was pretty good. We had a meal with our friends James and Ashley (friends of mine from a past youth group who happen to be stationed on the base here).  It was my first time roasting a turkey, but it was pretty good.  It was hardly dry at all.

Black Friday has always made us sad.  I mean, think about it: if we are thankful for everyone and everything we have like we say or think we are on Thanksgiving day, what makes us rush to the store and become animals over these limited items?  Were we really thankful? Or was Thanksgiving our excuse to eat and consume way more than we need only to go to Walmart the next morning to consume more in our purchases, which by they way, most people participating in Black Friday admitted that they were there to get something for themselves.  They weren't Christmas shopping at all.

Today was a good day.  We got up and had homemade cinnamon rolls and then we headed downtown to this market small shops were doing.  The city was getting the park ready for the Christmas Lighting Ceremony that'll be on the 1st.  We went by the bank to get some cash, and when Josh and I were surprised with how much I decided to take out, Josh new that we'd need it for something.  While I was in the post office dropping something off, Josh met Jesus (a common name for mexicans or hispanics, for those who don't know).  We walked and talked a bit and found out that his 5 year old daughter was needing a coat and jeans for school and because the weather is getting colder.  We all went to one of the department stores downtown and got his daughter some jeans, a coat, jacket, and his family a gallon of milk. We probably spent about an hour with Jesus while we were downtown.

It is just amazing when God works through us.  I know that we are where God wants us when I don't even realize I'm doing God's work until it's already done and gone.  I didn't know why I was taking out more money than we knew we'd spend, but I did it anyway. Josh didn't have to talk to Jesus outside the post office, but he did.  God is just waiting for us to do things so he can work through us, even when we don't completely understand what we're doing.


Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

Christian Action

 As I remember the summers I attended Church Camps, I remember the different things my counselors did to get to know us and to help us get to know the others in our group.  One question always seemed to be asked and always seemed to puzzle me the most:

"What is your biggest pet-peeve?"

It puzzled me because growing up, I didn't really have pet-peeves.  Only now can I really say that I have a pet-peeve, now that no one asks the question.  My biggest pet-peeve is when Christians refuse to have anything to do with our world.  This can be anything from environmental stewardship to showing God's love to our world.

I have seen a variety of Christians who neglect to preserve our physical world because they believe that the world is going to end up burning eventually anyway, so why should we treat the world any different?  I see this the most probably when I listen to political debates.  Why do you think environmentalists want to try to find an alternative energy source?  Even those who aren't Christians realize that we can't run on oil forever, furthermore they have seen how pollution from oil has effected the earth already.  Those against finding alternative energy sources don't believe that we'll run out of oil until after Jesus' return, so why should we spend our energy finding alternative energy sources?  This also reflects on our consumerism.  We try to consume all we can before we die, not thinking twice about what we throw away.  Does it bother anyone else that America has 5% of the world's population while consuming around 25% of the world's resources and contribute to 75% of the world's global toxic waste?  Maybe if we were a bit more generous the rest of the world wouldn't be living quite so poorly and we wouldn't be wasting so much.

While I do feel strongly against consumerism and not taking good care of the things God has given us and expects us to take good care of, I feel even stronger about not showing God's love to those God has entrusted to us.

I have seen too many Christians who get comfortable reading their Bibles everyday, growing in their faith, but who don't show anyone the love God has placed in their hearts.  They are well meaning, they want everyone they meet to love God like they do, but somewhere between being comfortable and wanting everyone to love God as they do, the message isn't received the way they anticipate it will and it gets frustrating.  Somewhere when we get frustrated, we forget how God loved us when we were still sinners, and we get caught up with all the little things that are wrong with those we are trying to save.  We want to tell them why what they're doing is wrong... drinking, having tattoos, homosexuality, dishonesty, Halloween, ... the list keeps going and it will go on forever until we remember to love them the same way God loved us.  When Jesus was here on Earth, he didn't tell sinners what they were doing was wrong, after they believed in Jesus with their hearts, only then did Jesus tell them to "sin no more".  The only times Jesus confronted someone with what they were doing wrong, he was talking to those who were already Christians, the Pharisees. 

James tell us that "Faith without works is dead" and he is so right!  James 2:14-26

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” 

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

This is about the time most churches are talking about what they should do for their "Harvest Festivals".  A celebration they have around Halloween for the kids in their community.  There are different reasons for having a Harvest Party, but I think the most common reason is to have a safe, fun place for the kids during the Halloween season.  Some have it on October 31st, while others have it on the Saturday or Sunday before then.  These parties are filled with carnival-type games, and tons of prizes and candy for the kids to take home with them.  Some churches even include a time where they formally share the story of God's love with those who come.  The problem I have seen these churches face is they don't know how they can make kids stay for this sharing time.  Which tempts those planning to make their "Harvest Party" about telling the kids and parents why they shouldn't go trick or treating and why Halloween is bad.  I think this is where we've forgotten to love these families the same way God loves us, and you're right, when you take the fun and games out of the night, you can't expect your guests to want to stay.  We need to find a way to share God's love throughout the entire night.  That's why most churches don't have a formal time to share with the kids, they know that throughout the night, each kid will interact with your Harvest Party workers, who will be sharing God's love with each kid they meet.  Not to say a formal sharing time isn't good, I like the idea - just not when it takes the fun out of the night.

I hate to think that we're expressing the idea that Christianity isn't fun, I mean, when we talk about all the things that are wrong in our community, we're only reminding them what we, as Christians, are against.  This only strengthens their belief that Christianity is boring and that we never have any fun as Christians.  We need to make an effort to show the world what we are for and that we have fun everyday in the relationship with have with God, our Savior.


Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

Little Things That Make Us Tick

In Sunday School this last week we were finishing up a lesson about the teachings of Jesus.  We were reading Jesus' famous teachings from Matthew 5-7 and this last week we were talking about chapter 7.  As we were talking about each section, the class became quite animated about the first 6 verses. 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.  Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."

 Do these verses prohibit us from judging others?  I would say no, that these verses are warning us about judging others.  If you can't be prepared to give a reason for your criticisms, you shouldn't judge at all.  It seems to me, that most often the case is that we judge others to give ourselves an excuse not to love others.  Like disregarding someone with a tattoo, or someone who drinks occasionally, or those who believe in a different faith, or those who profess to be homesexual.  We tend to put them in our box of "freaks".  It really bugged me when I've heard of different stands that Christians have made in public (like standing out at abortion clinics or when they went to support Chick-Fil-A)  These stands tend to hurt the Christian image more than help show our compassion for people.  

It's easier for Christians to categorize sins so that they don't have to see people as they are - humanbeings. While I agree with homesexual lifestyle just as much as I agree with lying or stealing, I do not agree with how many Christians are stating how they hate certain types of people because of the choices they are making. Why are certain sins worse than others? I've done my share of my own bad choices, but I'm not condemned for those.

Another point I'd like to make is that when we judge or criticise those who don't believe in Jesus, we are being quite foolish.  Why would anyone change their ways for someone they don't even believe in?  There's no way I would have stopped making my selfish choices if I hadn't been in a relationship with Jesus, the one true God.  

So, we need to stop trying to convince those around us that their choices are wrong until they've made the choice to follow Him.  That is the only choice that really matters anyway, and once they've made that choice, God will start the process in their journey of changing their hearts, minds, desires, and choices.  When we forget this vital step, we are only conveying to our friends and family that they aren't good enough or worthy enough of our unbiased, unconditional love and we should love them this way regardless, since that is how Christ first loved us.


Our Volunteer Missions site: http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR?pxfid=4870&pg=fund&fr_id=1090

Am I Good Enough?

There isn't a time growing up that I didn't feel like an outsider.  I have always had dozens of people that I called my friends, but that didn't keep me from feeling inadequate or keep me from trying to prove to myself that I belonged in my group of friends.  I don't know why I felt this way because I know now that many of my friends really did just accept me for who I was... or am.

I was never enough.. never enough for myself, really.  I know God has tried to show me how enough I was through Him, but I could never see it for myself, or I just didn't believe God.  I had a problem taking God, or anyone for that matter, at His or their word. I always thought that they didn't mean what they said or they would have said horrible things to me sooner or later.  They never did, by the way.

You'd think that these feelings of inadequacy would escape me when I entered college, but they didn't.  Year after year, I'd have my friends that I'd hang with and be watching some other friend's group and be jealous. I'd even see pictures of my friends hanging out and be jealous, I think I still am sometimes. Pictures can be like that though, they can make you feel like you're really missing out, but when you're in the picture you don't remember it being "one of your best memories".

In college I changed friends group seemingly every year for this very reason: feeling inadequate and getting tired of proving myself to people who didn't really care.  They cared about me, but not about me proving myself because I didn't need to prove myself to them.  It wasn't until I met 4 girls that I didn't feel this way.  When I think of it now, I'm a little surprised because these girls weren't people that I was jealous of when they were having fun without me.  I didn't feel like I had to prove myself to them.  I finally felt free to be me and know that they liked me that way.  It was when I met them that I started to believe how worthwhile I was.  

suppose the reason it surprises me is because of how we became friends.  One of the girls and myself had a crush on the same guy, so I didn't really think about being friends with her until one night she wanted a partner to dance in the rain with.  I liked being out in the rain, so I offered to go, all intending to talk about anything but him. Lo and behold, he's who we talked about.  Who knew that fighting over a man would bring two girls closer together and create life-long friends?  I look at the pictures of me with these fantastic girls and I do remember them as some of my best memories.

Called of God?

From time to time, when I'm talking to friends or family about being called to be a missionary, I'll be asked something like, "When did God call you?" and typically you answer with some story about how you were reading some passage and just knew that God wanted you to serve somewhere outside of your home country.  I've known my whole life that I wanted to serve God - it's who I am. 

Or when a church board is interviewing you they'll ask you "How do you know you're called?"  I typically talk about Ezekiel 33 about being a watchman for God, but I recieved my missionary call well before I read Ezekiel.  I knew when I was 12 that I wanted to be a missionary in to Carribean area. 

I am surprised how people expect you to have one or two verses to describe your entire being.  I mean, the entire Bible is about God showing His love to us and urging us to show His love to those around us, it's about adding all we can to God's Kingdom.  So, how can we just grab one verse?  The whole Bible is about missions and if I did want to pick one verse, how could I do so when I haven't read the entire book?

It bugged me a lot when year after year my call would be questioned because I couldn't convince man that I had been called by God. I understand that the church needs to make sure that no creepers get in, but a little more encouragement would mean the world to us who are simply trying to follow God's will for our lives.  Sometime all the hoops everyone has to go through get very tiring. We all need to be encouraged or we risk giving up all together.  That is why I am making an effort to encourage when I can, even when I feel what I'm saying is a little silly.  Most often it's not silly at all to the one hearing it.

Really, we're all called of God to advance His Kingdom. Some are doctors, teachers, or walmart cashierers. We all can make a difference where ever we are, and whatever we are doing we should be doing as if it were for God himself.  I have many friends & family who are truly called to their profession and they're working in the secular world being Jesus to everyone who walks into their personal space. Just because you aren't called to Africa doesn't mean that God doesn't think he can use you.  All God needs is for you to be willing to do his will, and he will use you.

Sacred Days...

Hi! 

 

I've been reading through Romans the past 2 weeks.  It's been very good for me.  I haven't really ever read the whole book for myself.  I had read chapters 3 and 6 before, and I've heard different sermons on Romans before, but reading for yourself lets you think about all the things we don't hear about.  What really made me think Saturday was chapter 14.  When I read chapter 14, God impressed on me a new idea.  That personal convictions are just that - personal and we shouldn't try to force our convictions on someone else. I used the believe that in a perfect world, everyone would have the exact same personal convictions, but that's not in line with what I read on Saturday. 

 

Romans 14:5-9 says "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living"

I know this isn't news to many who may be reading, but it was a revelation to me.  We wonder why we're so eager to judge or look down on others because they drink occasionally or they have a few tattoos or they don't dress like we do or they don't cover their hair or they wear make-up... different people feel differently about these things because we regard them special and we are fully convinced in our own minds.

verses 21-22: "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

This whole chapter is filled with goodness and you should read it for yourself, not only my excerpts.  I could talk about the whole chapter, but I don't want my blog to get too long and I still have more to say about this past week! We have had a busy and interesting past week.

Our Life Happens Brochure

We've been going out for walks in the evening.  We tend to talk to more people then since they are out when it's cooler. We decided to make brochures in Spanish and in English to hand out when we go door to door in the future.  A big thanks to my last job, Project Renew, for the layout.

Josh went to men's breakfast and had an interview at YMCA in the afternoon- he's still working on getting files from KC YMCA to send in with application so he doesn't have to re-do any trainings.

We're keeping the church nice and tidy. It's a big job since the church is big and pulling weeds is a year long job in El Paso, since it doesn't really get cold enough to kill them. We also took the car  in for the state inspection-failed because of engine signal light.  they said the catalytic converters have to be replaced to pass inspection. Still waiting for them to order parts. We're still working on that for our car registration and then we'll be able to get driving licenses. Met some men from Mexico who came by. They talked to us about a plan they are excited about starting involving sending people to minister in the biggest cities in Northern Mexico. We've started going to Memorial Park, one of the bigger and nicer parks in El Paso, to have a fellowship time in the middle of the week with people from 1st Church is they come and join us. We had a nice time last Wednesday with two families.

 

I've applied at walmart and 2 nannying jobs. I hope I get to nanny, I think that would be nice to watch Esther and other kids instead of cashiering.

Saturday was exciting.  Turns out our A/C unit started to leak, so our livingroom carpet was soaked.  So we and another family worked to drying  it out. The repair guy wasn't able to come until today, so we were a little toasty this weekend.  I'm glad he was able to fix it and we have A/C back in the apartment.

Yesterday we led the Border Town lesson on creation from a curriculum we found in the supply closet and it went really well. Josh did it in Spanish and I showed the objects at the right time.  Yesterday afternoon we went to Cielo Vista mall with our friend, Ashley and her son. Last night we went to pastor's house and watched Les Miserables with others from the church.

Our First Sunday

We arrived in El Paso last Wednesday and started unpacking, but it didn't take us long to get settled in and having the apartment look the way we'd like it to.  We have been to Walmart 3 times since then though.  We finally decided to get a baby monitor since Esther has her own room and we found that we don't wake up as quick with all the fans running, we don't hear Esther right away.  The monitor helps with that.

I enjoyed being at church today.  We went to the Spanish service around 9am, and then went to Border Town during the English Service.  Border Town is Children's Church here.  It's amazing.  All the kids are in one huge room that has a puppet stage that stretches across an entire wall with special lights and everything.  Today we just watched and observed how they do things.  We were there with Valerie, who was there with the last couple before they answered God's call to send them to Africa.

When we had a meeting with our supervising missionaries and the pastor here last Thursday, we laid out what our responsibilities will be while we're here.  Sundays we're all pastors, through out the week we are to be in the community and help pastor out anyway we can and we are on the team that coordinates mission trips across the border.  The church has apartments, which is where we live, that they have to house volunteers who come.  We get to get to know these volunteers and keep the apartments looking good for the next volunteers.  Pastor has a lot on his plate since there isn't anyone to clean and look after the church anymore, so we've decided to help out in that area during the day when it's too hot to be outside.  We visit with families in the community in the evenings.  We'll also be involved in the weekly Bible studies at different homes.

I think that's about it for our first week here.  I hope you'll continue to keep us in your prayers and your thoughts.  I know I think of you all often and pray that God's Kingdom comes in your communities as well.

Not Doing Anything

I find myself not doing anything quite often.  I'm not talking about being lazy though.  I mean, not doing something when I should.  Many times, I find myself having something very important to say to a group, while we're discussing something - like in Sunday School, or just when I'm out with friends.  We're talking about something important, and I give no input at all.  Or if I do, when my statement is challenged, or even just asked about - for more information - I shrink back.  Like I'm suddenly afraid to make anymore ripples in the lives around me.

We touched on this thought in many of my theology classes back in college.  Omission is when we know if our hearts that we should do or say something, but we stay quiet.  I hate it when I'm passive this way.  I could be influencing others for God's Kingdom, but something holds me back.  Maybe the fear of not being liked or accepted by those I'm around.  No one I knows likes to be disliked. But every time this happens, I get so mad at myself because I know I should have voiced my thoughts to more than just my husband.

I find I'm just as guilty as the man Jesus talked about in Luke 16.  This is the story about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus.  This rich man saw Lazarus everyday of his adult life, yet he never spoke to him or offered him any of his wealth.  How many times do we see people in need, and just walk past them?  Maybe we think to ourselves "I should do something for him." but if we never do anything, what good was our thought? Did it make us feel better about passing him by?

I need the strength and the courage that only God can give me.  I need to come to the realization that when God wants me to say something, it's more important than what a dozen people may end up thinking about me afterward.  At what point am I choosing not to further God's Kingdom because I'm selfishly afraid to loose friends or family?

I pray that I become the strong woman of God that God knows I can be.  Otherwise, he wouldn't even ask me to say or do these things.

The Nazarene Border Initiative

We are writing to share some exciting things that God is doing in our lives. We hope this letter finds you doing well and that you are blessed by reading it.

We have passionately served God throughout our lives, even before we knew each other. Just like the watchman written about in Ezekiel 33, we feel called to reach out to the lives in the Hispanic communities.

We have been given the opportunity to serve as volunteer missionaries with missionaries Steve and Debbie Baker. The Bakers work with the Border Initiative. The Border Initiative has been planting churches, reaching new towns and cities, and establishing links between the border districts all along the Mexican border, reaching 2,000 miles across the border. We will be moving to Mission, Texas to aid them at reaching out to the communities along both sides of the border.

Great things happen when God is at work!  Already, The Nazarene Border Initiative has been blessed, as a number of new churches have been started, with many individuals dedicating their lives to Christ. God works in amazing ways, and we are honored to be invited to be apart in His great work throughout the Mexican borders. We know that God will continue to bless us by providing the many resources we need to continue our efforts.

We ask that you would keep us in your prayers often as we're out answering God's call on our lives.  If you feel led to do so, we'd also ask that you will partner with us with your financial support as well. With your prayers and financial support I know God will bless us both as we are faithful to His call for our lives.

God bless you,

We love & miss you,

Josh, Debbie, & Esther Robinson                            Future Address:

6151 30th Ave SE                                                    2316 Palmetto Dr.

Minot, ND 58701                                                     Mission, TX  78574

Website: http://www.nazareneborderinitiative.org/

If you would like to partner with us with a financial gift, you may send them to us at 2316 Palmetto Dr., Mission, Texas 78574.  Any gifts will be used to further God’s kingdom and keep us on the field.

The Kingdom of God

It seems to me like there is a natural tendency for us to see the Kingdom of God as something very far off; something that we won’t see until we reach heaven. This is a sad thought and I used to think it too.  It’s so sad because it has affected how Christians live their lives.  The Kingdom of God is not a far-off place in heaven.  The Kingdom of God is here with us right now.

Throughout the Gospel of Matthew I see Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of God.  When he was teaching about the Kingdom of God, he started the same way each time. “The Kingdom of God is like…” and then he goes on to paint a picture of something that needs to be found.  Something that is desperately longed for.  A lost coin; a lost treasure; a pearl of great price – that took a rich man forever to find, and when he did find it, he sold everything so he could have it.  If the Kingdom was something that was unattainable until we reached heaven, why would it need to be found?

The Kingdom of God is fellowship with God.  John the Baptist told us that the opportunity to have fellowship with God was coming.  He was trying to describe to us what Adam and Eve had with God in the beginning.  When Jesus came he fellowshipped with us, which brought the Kingdom of God to us.  When Jesus died on the cross, he made it possible for everyone now and forever to be able to fellowship with God – and on a personal level.  Jesus took away the need of someone speaking on our behalf to God.  We could have fellowship with God now. 

Change is always hard on us, but naturally, things do change gradually over time.  That’s not how the Kingdom of God changed the disciples.  They didn’t gradually stop going to the priest, so he could talk to God for them.  They prayed directly to God from day 1 after Jesus rose from the dead.

Being a part of God’s Kingdom will change how we view and act towards everything around us. We will begin seeing everything holistically, as it has always been. Everything around us belongs to God and is holy. The environment is holy; our physical bodies are holy; our soul is holy; our relationships are holy. If we continue to fellowship with God we will change.

We won’t liter or waste products made from our environment because we know that God made our environment and that makes it holy.  We will feed our souls by reading God’s word, by praying and by fellowshipping with God because our soul is holy and we need to take care of our soul.  We won’t harm our physical bodies with toxins: like excessive drinking, smoking, doing drugs, eating too much or not eating enough because God made our bodies holy.  We will treat everyone we know with respect.  We won’t judge others for their habits, actions or thoughts that are different from our own.  First of all, God is the only judge of those things and secondly, we need to be purposeful in seeing all our relationships as holy.

I don’t want to go off on a tangent, but let me say one thing: We have turned too many fellow believers away from the church simply because we haven’t respected them and we have judged them.  Most often, we don’t even realize that we have judged them, but when they feel that condemnation coming from a fellow believer, they don’t believe you care about them anymore.

By the way, when Jesus was on that hill teaching the people about how to find the Kingdom of God, he was talking to people who already believed in God.  They were people who were searching for more. When we get hungry for more of God, we need to go searching for his fellowship – which is the Kingdom of God.  The reason the first message Jesus and John the Baptist preached was “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” is because you can’t search for more of God if you don’t repent and enter into that relationship with him.  After you know God as your personal savior, you can get hungry for him.  If you search for fellowship with God, you will find it.  That’s a Biblical promise.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

“But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Deuteronomy 4:29