Home sweet home!

I know my home is everywhere I can be with my husband and son. It especially applies in deputation, since you are never home! But today we made it to Alabama! This is where we consider our physical home :) Oh the little things in life we get for granted... a couch to sit and relax, an oven to bake, a fridge to keep Alex's soy milk, a backyard for Alex to play... don't take me wrong! We love deputation so much! And we would have never changed the past 5 months of our lives for anything! We have loved it so much!!! And we're looking forward to seeing how God works through the rest of our deputation :) He has been so good and has blessed us so much! We've seen so many amazing places and there are so many more to come! Wonderful experiences and family time and memories we will never forget. We have also met such wonderful people and can now count on their prayers for God to move in the hearts of Spaniards and for God to use us greatly to reach them with the Gospel! Deputation is a must for us to be missionaries. I always tell Nate: had I not gone through deputation before being on the mission field, I would have been a mess of a pastor's wife ;) So if you are considering deputation, do not get discouraged! It has been one of the best parts of our lives!!! And we wouldn't change it because it has been part of God's plan for our lives. I truly believe God's plans are perfect and I fully trust in His plans.
But I just want to thank Him for everything He has done and continues to do in our lives :)

Oh, and my deputation tip for the day: plastic drawers (dressers) in the back of our van has kept our clothes so much more organized! And now that we are back home, all we needed to do was put them in our closet. No unpacking to do, and it's always easy to find what you need. We keep two of them in our car. It's made our packing and unpacking much easier and eliminated a lot of stress ;)

As for now, I'm going to keep relaxing a little bit and enjoy my delicious iced caramel latte that my husband made me. He is amazing and I love him so much!
Have a blessed day and thank you for your prayers!

Arancha

I admit I get confused with having 2 blogs, a Facebook account, and a Facebook business page... how do people manage to update their twitters, Instagrams, etc etc etc? :D So hopefully you are staying updated between these four things! I just posted about our trip in Utah here
www.nathanandarancha.blogspot.com

I thought about using this blog as an encouragement and help to other missionary wives on deputation. It seems like every trip has something I learn from and that makes our traveling easier :) So here is one! You might think I'm crazy, but trust me, when you are only home 3 weeks in 5 months, everything that can make your travels better are great things ;)

I recently was given an electric skillet and a rice cooker. We bought a plastic bin that could fit these two with some seasonings and cooking ingredients. We easily can bring it in prophet's chamber that don't have kitchens or to some hotels that allow cooking (not many of them do though, so we won't try in these...).

So for a quick, easy, and clean meal, I boiled spaghetti in the rice cooker, browned the meat on the skillet, and put it all together in a crockpot with my favorite Ragu pasta sauce (protected with those crockpot lining bags for no need to clean it later!). In 30 minutes I had supper made and was able to clean it really quick! I helps have a little bit of a healthier meal while on the road and it helps your budget as well! This bin keeps all the cooking together to make it easier to bring it in and out of places.

There are lots of easy and quick recipes that you can make! Sometimes we stay at missions houses for several days with a kitchen area but no stove or oven. So I'm always happy when we can cook something ourselves :)

Have a blessed day!

Arancha

No matter how small we feel, how big our prayer requests are, God cares for us and answers even the smallest prayer we lay before Him. I've asked Him to perform a miracle concerning a dear person's health and an opportunity for him to hear the Gospel. And despite how small I am and how big my request was, He has performed a miracle in that person's life! Praying for his salvation. I know God can do anything and He will. And I know God loves me and cares for me so much, that He will answer even those requests that seem impossible to man. Nothing is impossible to Him, and nothing is possible without Him. I rejoice in having such a wonderful God that loves me and shows His love to me daily in so many ways! I know He loves me, and I love Him too. My prayer is that my love for Him will increase daily.

Thank you God for saving us, loving us, and blessing us in so many ways!

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

In the mad rush of the broad way,
In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
Give to them the Word of Life.

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

I finally started working out again! Now the question is: will I keep it up? I did 40 minutes of cardio and 25 minutes of strength exercises. I'm sooo excited about it! It is one of those things I had stopped doing when I got married, and one of those things that were suggested in a book I read about being a joyful mom. Long days of cleaning, cooking, etc can make you exhausted by the time of supper! I've been reading lot of books and lots of things have changed for the better! So here is a list of things that are helping me stay joyful:

- Devos in the morning: I still struggle with this, because Alex keeps getting up earlier each day, so many times I have to wait till he takes a nap to do my personal devos.

- Praise: One of the things that even do we do them, they are never enough :) Praising no matter what happens, for He knows what's best for me.

- Asking God to show me my faults, and help me improve. I have so many, I've felt horrible for all the mistakes I've made. But I know God loves me and forgives me, and I'm excited about it! Finding these faults is going to help me be a better Christian. I'm so thankful to God for showing me what I need to change!

- Exercise

- Better eating

- A time of relax for myself each day

- Listening to uplifting Christian music while doing mindless tasks: I love music, but I've had an old, pretty much broken computer for the past couple of years. With a full memory! So since God has blessed us with a new computer, I put my favorite songs from each cd I own on it, and I play them while cooking, cleaning, playing with Alex, etc

- Cooking: I don't like cooking, but I love baking. I believe the crock pot is one of the best things man have come up with! Since I started to try it, I've been trying different recipes. It makes me excited about cooking again! My favorite: barbecue chicken and cranberry meatballs.

- Reading books on marriage, Christian womanhood, and raising children.

- And this one is a supposed thing I should do but I never find the time to do it: NAP!!!

There are many more, but it's late and I'm getting a headache... so I can't remember them right now :)

I absolutely love being a wife and a mom. It is such a privilege! I love my family and I thank God for it! It is one of the best ministries a woman can have! I love caring for and spoiling my two favorite men: my husband and son. So all this cookie making, playing games, coloring hearts with my son for daddy, building with blocks, playing outside, etc are little things that brighten my days!

I just added about 15 books to my wish list for Christmas. Yes. I made a wish list for Nate. It might sound wrong, but I know it will help him choose my gifts, and it helps me since I know I will love them. And since my list is like....30 items! It will still be a surprise heehee

Have a wonderful day! Rejoice in the Lord! He loves us so much He gave His only Son to die for our sins and to give us the gift of eternal life! He loves us so much, He has prepared a perfect plan designed just for each one of us! So no matter where we are and what we go through, His plans are perfect! Rejoice! :)

Arancha

John 14:45
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
I often struggled wondering if I loved God enough, or how to know if I loved God like I should. I was trying to measure how much I love Him, and basing it on the wrong things. As I was reading the book "A Wife's Purpose" by Cindy Schaap, she talked about this subject. And it opened my eyes and allowed me to see it in a different way. I am glad I can know I love Him because I keep His commandments. Of course I am not perfect! But I am excited to know that my love for Him will increase as I keep obeying Him more and more. It makes me look forward to obeying God! Not that I didn't obey Him before, but there are always areas in our lives that need to be improved. And there are also areas that need to be completely changed. I have fervently prayed to God that He would show me those areas. He has faithfully done so and He is giving me all I need to change them. I am excited about the changes! And I'm praying I will be faithful and obedient to His Word, and that I will allow Him to change me to do His perfect will and make me the person I need to be. I know I can be quite stubborn or forgetful :) I want my prayer to be like this every day:
"Search me O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."-Psalm 139:23-24

Welcome back!

I have not written on this blog since before I became a mom! :) But I assumed that those that were really interested in me always knew about me through Facebook.... And I barely find any time for reading! Too many things I want to do, try, learn...and I can't find time for any of them!

This year I told myself I had to find more time to learn what I wanted to learn or improve what I wanted to improve. I love photography, I love sewing, I love languages, I love making desserts....One of the things I really wish I could do was reading. I never read for two reasons:

1. I don't have time

2. I don't like reading, besides reading the Bible (even though I've always loved studying!)

I knew reading was good for me, so I decided to push myself a little bit and try to enjoy it! I've already read one book and I'm half way another one! And I'm finally enjoying reading :) So I decided to share a few of the things I've been learning through these books. Some of the things are obvious. Some of the things I've heard a gazillion times. Some of them I've known this whole time. But you know sometimes it just doesn't click or it doesn't hit you! So here we go, for whoever is interested!

I wrote notes on all of them just to remind myself every day of things I need to keep in mind, and things I need to do to be a happy joyful Christian, wife, and mother. But the first one I want to share is the reason why I'm blogging:

- Share with people what God has done in your life. It's something I've done for a while with my friends and family. God has really worked miracles in my life and marriage. He has really showed me I can trust Him and He has proved Himself in my life in many ways. Some difficult times have been harder than others, but it all has been a preparation for our lives as missionaries. Stepping on full time deputation by faith has been easier because of this, and I truly thank God for all those difficult situations He placed in our lives in the past! It has increased our faith and strengthen us spiritually!

My unsaved family and friends have drastically changed the way they see Christianism because of what God has done in our lives! They have seen miracles happening in our lives, and that is little by little making them be more open to the Gospel. And of course, some other times I haven't been the Christian I should have been and I know that has not helped much. So I want to make a point in my life to always share God's blessings and miracles with others.

- My family is my ministry: so many times I've heard that! I know it! I know my family is my ministry! But so many time I've also gotten caught up with photography, church work, helping friends, and I haven't taken care of my family as well as I should so I could please others. It is great to please others. God wants me to help and please others, and of course please Him more than others. But I always have to keep in mind, my family comes first, and if something is going to hinder the ministry God has given me as a wife and mother, then it's probably something I should not do.

- Give what you lack: this one hit me the harderst. It is so easy for me to do things for God that I enjoy doing. But it really pleases God when I give Him things that are not easy for me to give, or things I lack. I am not talking about money here, although money is a good example. I am talking about abilities, gifts, and many other areas of our lives. To me it is very easy when I do photo sessions for missionaries, pastors, churches... I really enjoy it and I want to do it to be a blessing. But I know there are other things in my life I haven't given much from, and I know God would be really pleased if I did. Reading is probably one of them! I do faithfully read my Bible, but I haven't spent time enough doing other types of reading to help me grow spiritually. This is something I want to pray and search in my life. I'm trying to find what things I lack so I can give them to God! And there must be many! But I am so excited to find more so I can give them to my Savior!

I hope this can be a blessing to you! There are many many many other things I've been learning lately! And hopefully I'll share them on another post soon!

Have a blessed day!

Arancha

Christ is the only way!

So I know.... we haven´t posted in centuries!!!! We try to keep our business blog updated and barely have time for this one, but we really want to start using it again for our personal and spiritual life!

There is something I wanted to share with you! Yesterday we started a new series in our Sunday School. It was about the emerging church. Boy! I had no clue that things were going like that!!!!! Churches with disco music and lights, and drinking alcohol? I don´t think so! Hello! We have a holy God!!! But the worst part, churches professing to be Christians but not admitting the infallibility of the Bible and not having an assurance of what the right doctrine is... To me this is sad, because first, how can you follow and live a Christians life if you dont believe that the book you have to live by is completely true? How can you trust God as your Savior if you don´t believe His Word? God does not lie! But to me the saddest part is not being able to live a life where you know 100% that you are going to heaven! God gives us the way of salvation! It`s a free gift that (like any other gift) we will have if we accept it, but if we don´t, the gift is not ours. And that gift is salvation through Jesus Christ. God is so clear throughout the whole Bible: we are all sinners and have to realize that we are and that we need Jesus Christ. We have to believe in Jesus Christ, his dead, burial, and resurrection and put our faith and trust in Him! and we shall be saved! From that point on, eternal life in heaven is all ours! And there is not a greater feeling than that! Living for a purpose, knowing what is coming next and why you are to live the way you live! Knowing for sure why we are here!!! And the best part is that we know this is the only way, because the Word of God says so!

I have shared my personal testimony with many people, and the more I tell people about it, the more I realize about this. I know God is in me, I know God exists and God has saved me! When my life wasn´t right with God, no matter how many things I had, or how cool I tried to make my life, I never felt fulfilled and I never found the peace I needed. Needless to say, when I repented from my sin and my disobedience to God, and decided to live for Him, God blessed my life in a miraculous way! Every day is full of His blessings and the peace and joy I have in me cannot compare to anything! God knows all I need, He has a perfect plan for my life and He has shown me all this day by day! He has led me through the right path every time I´ve asked Him for guidance. So if you ever have a doubt: God is here for all of us, we just have to accept His precious gift and live a life of obedience to Him :) Nothing we do can bring all that into our lives! No religion, no works can! God is so good that He wants to give it to us without us deserving it!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should 

not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

I see God´s hand everyday in my life! There is no greater joy than that!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!!!

Arancha