Jen the Jag

My sister is such a little baller! After a short stint away, she decided to return to South Alabama and play her last year of softball for the Jaguars. She's having an awesome season so far--7 homeruns in the first 15 games! WOOHOO! I like to brag. Read more about her last tournament here....

http://www.usajaguars.com/news/2011/2/27/SB_0227112417.aspx

Jenny would object to my bragging. She would only want me to boast in the Lord, and she is right to object. It is God who has gifted her with amazing athletic ability, and He has purposed for her to use it to bring Him glory. I am so overjoyed to say that Jen is using this time in her life to make a difference for Christ both on and off the field. She is a leader to her team and is using every opportunity to point each young lady toward the Lord. I believe God is truly blessing her decision to return to South and play her last season.

But still...I have to brag...just a little!

American Saturday Night

Adam and I don't often agree when it comes to our music and movie preferences. Marriage has taught us how to compromise, though. I watch his "shoot em' up" movies and he watches my romantic chick flics, and we get along just fine. We do, however, share a common love for country music (well, most country music), particularly Brad Paisley's music. While country music can be a little (ok...a lot) cheesy and contains a WHOLE lot of bad theology, I love that the songs tell a story about life. Granted, a lot of those stories involve alcohol, lost love, and empty religion, but not all of them. I think Adam and I love country music because it reminds us a lot of where we came from. Paisley is a favorite, not only because of his witty lyrics and mad guitar skills, but because we can relate to the things he sings about in his songs. Adam said, "You feel like he's singing about you in so many of his songs." I told him that not every person feels that way, but he does because he's a good ole' southern boy who can truly relate to songs about "tractors, trucks, little towns and Mama." I understand where he's coming from. Growing up he spent a lot of time on the lake fishin' and ridin' around gettin' a little mud on the tires. Now, he spends a whole lot of time waitin' on a woman, but his eyebrows SURE aren't plucked and there's a gun in his truck (or several in his closet). I could go on, but you get the idea.

Anyway, all of that long discourse was just to eventually say that Brad Paisley came to Louisville last night, and we got to go see him in concert! A few months ago, we heard he was coming, and we both decided that was something we didn't want to miss. Luckily, we got cheap tickets and sort of had a late Valentine's day date (since we studied and ate dinner at home on the real V-day...so romantic, I know.) Besides the fact that the people next to us made us get up about 25 times during the show so they could get by to get beer re-fills, the concert was great. Darius Rucker opened for Paisley, and we enjoyed him almost as much. He has so many hits that I hear on the radio all the time that I didn't know he sang. Paisley played for 2 hours---pretty much all his hits. All in all, it was a nice night out and a much-needed break from work and school. Brad ended the show with his song "Alcohol," which was an appropriate choice since much of the crowd was...well, you know....gone!

Here are a few poor quality photos from our seats in the upper deck.

Baby, Baby!

So, the news is finally out that baby Rice is on the way. I almost made it to the 12 week point before going TOTALLY public (although tons of people already knew), but I'm married to Adam Rice. So, of course, we ended up spilling the beans slightly earlier than planned.

We are thrilled about this new season of life, but I have to admit that the whole idea of having a child is still completely surreal. In the moments when I'm actually not nauseated (which have been few and far between), I start to wonder if the little Rice-a-roni is really, truly in there! The idea of parenthood, particularly Christian parenthood, is both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. We have been given the awesome and massive responsibility of raising a child to know, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ! For many years of my life this child (and hopefully others) will be my greatest mission field for Gospel ministry! I am already praying for wisdom, discernment, and grace for this task...often!

Even in these first few months of pregnancy, I have been humbled and driven back to utter dependence on the grace and provision of Christ. Developing complete trust and satisfaction in Christ alone is not necessarily a fun process for sinful, self-reliant flesh. I am so inclined to try to find security in myself! This week, I have been stripped of that. On Sunday, we discovered that my car has some major problems that are costing us a significant amount of money to fix. We've been trying to get around to different jobs/classes with only one vehicle this week. On Tuesday, we found out that all the money left in our checking account had been stolen (fraudulent charges) and that we were going to have to wait a day or so to have it re-funded. Combine these things with Adam's search for a full-time job, crazy pregnancy hormones, and intense nausea, and it makes for a somewhat stressful week. I would love to say that I handled all these (very minor) trials in a godly way by remaining calm and completely trusting God's provision. I have to admit, though, that I had some melt-downs. Poor Adam. In spite of my unfaithfulness, God is faithful to complete the good work He started in me. He will not allow me to wallow in worry, anxiety, and self-pity. In His Word, God has commanded me not to worry and fret about my circumstances but to trust Him because He has promised to faithfully provide for his children (Matthew 6:25-34)! Throughout this week, I have been reminded that God is good ALL the time and that HIS provision in HIS timing is perfect. There will be hard times and trials (ours are so small compared to what some are facing) for all Christians. Life is not going to be easy, but God is sovereign, and He will take care of his children. It has been faith-building to watch the Lord provide already! He has never let us down before! So, why do I fret and worry and "melt-down" when my circumstances aren't ideal?

Matthew 6 reminds me that God knows exactly what I need in every life circumstance. He will provide all that is necessary to accomplish His purposes in me and to bring Himself glory. This applies to the great task of providing for and raising a little Rice to love the Lord! In my utter inadequacy, this gives me deep hope and deep purpose. Praise the Lord for His goodness and grace!

Hiatus

Yes, I have taken a somewhat lengthy hiatus from blogging.

No, I cannot guarantee that I am back for good.

I did make a few updates to the ole' blog. These updates took me WAY too long because I am not blogger savvy in the least. I don't even know if I really like the updates. They will have to do for now.

It's really kind of sad when you update your blog more than you post on it. HA!

I am a tad bit more motivated to record some of the details of our lives because we have some pretty big changes occurring. More details on that later.

AND a friend did recently ask me what happened to my blog. So, I know that at least one person reads it. This should motivate me....

The school semester began today, though. I'm already behind on reading. On day 1.

Therefore, I cannot say when I will be back.....

Hopefully sooner than later.

Village Day 3

June 29, 2010

Great day in the village. Started low as Caleb Mckee was sick all last night. Poor thing! It was his first trip to Nicaragua, and it was his birthday. He laid low most of today and seems better tonight.

I got the chance to work in the clothing ministry today. I so enjoyed picking out dresses and outfits to give the little girls. A lady in the states started a ministry that she calls "Hemmed in Prayer." She and a group of ladies take one pattern and sew numerous little cotton dresses in various sizes and fabrics. As they sew, they are praying for each little girl who will receive a dress. We took a number of these dresses to Nicaragua, and I loved seeing the little girls' faces light up when we handed them their new dress.

I also got to teach in youth girls' ministry today. Since I'm married, the other two leaders designated me to give the sex/true love waits talk (smile). Sexual promiscuity is rampant among teens and adults in Nicaragua because it is viewed as a cultural way of life. I talked to the girls about God's design for sex and the physical and emotional consequences that result from sex outside of marriage. I told them that without Jesus in their lives, they would struggle to keep themselves sexually pure. I think they understood. At least they didn't have blank stares on their faces. Several responded to the Gospel message. Praise the Lord! I must not allow the busyness and craziness of life to keep me from praying for these precious girls as they began their journey of faith in Christ.

Today was not quite as busy as yesterday (for me), since I was not working in the pharmacy. I had more breaks and opportunities to interact with the people. Got to talk to lots of children. A tiny bit of Spanish came back to me after four years of Spanish classes---not enough.

In the afternoon, the youth girls came back and we cut and fixed their hair. I volunteered to fix. Cutting hair is probably not a good idea for me! Most of the girls did not want any of their hair cut. Apparently, long hair is the "thing."

Loved church tonight! We sang a lot of the familiar Spanish songs that I've learned through the years. Adolfo and the band were fabulous, as always. I really missed my Dad being with us tonight. He LOVES worshipping with Adolfo and the band. Today, someone sneezed really loudly and obnoxiously, and I turned around expecting to see Dad standing there (you will understand this if you've ever heard him sneeze). It's so strange not having him here, but we fully trust that it is all part of God's perfect plan.

Mom has been talking to Philipe', the interpreter in the pharmacy. She learned that he does not know the Lord. He seems to be searching. This is his first week working for BMDMI and going out with a team. He came to the church service tonight. We are praying for his salvation. May God move in his heart and open his eyes to truth, drawing Philipe' unto Himself! He sure is hearing the Gospel---a lot! He is such a nice, out-going guy. We've really enjoyed getting to know him and pray that he will see the difference in our lives.

Today we saw 941 patients and filled that many prescriptions. Hard work! Good work!

Showers were quite an experience. While I was in the shower, completely lathered in soap, the water and the light-bulb hanging over me cut off. AHH! Help! Mr. Mike and Mr. Nick (our maintenance men) were already in bed. Someone called them and they were out in a jiffy to fix the problem. One of the water buckets (providing our shower water) had just run out of water, so they had to switch the hose to another bucket. I'm not sure what happened to the power. Anyway, they got it all fixed, and I finished cold shower (that doesn't feel so cold by the time you're done).

Another funny nightly incident: Mom and I decided to avoid the disgusting experience of the bano. It's just such a pain to trudge through the tall, muddy grass in the dark with a flashlight to go into a stinky, roach infested little box JUST to quickly use the bathroom before bed. So, we took styrofoam cups and headed out to find a deserted spot behind the school building. Ha. Much quicker, easier, and less stinky than the whole bano experience, I must say. However, we were a sight to behold (that, hopefully, no one beheld)!

Church Service

Sex talk
Excited about her new dress!

Village Day 2

June 28, 2010

The sun has not been shining brightly, and the rain has fallen often. For this, we are very grateful. One of our interpreters, Philipe', told us that Cayanlipe' is the hottest place in Nicaragua. The rain has definitely helped to keep things cooler. I think the temperature is very pleasant...actually feels cooler than last week in Louisville. However, we've traded the heat for the mud. Yuck! I'm so glad that I brought my old running shoes. Poor Mom only brought flip flops, and she is really wishing for some close-toed shoes as we slosh through the mud. Everyone anticipated dry heat rather than sloshy, rainy mud.

Today has been another busy day. The medical clinic saw 1,009 patients, and the pharmacy filled that many prescriptions. There were not many breaks today. I'm used to a bigger team and more opportunities to sit down and rest. With a smaller team, everyone is needed all the time! The work is tiring but fulfilling. You know that you're doing something valuable---something that makes a difference.

I worked in the Pharmacy most of the day. I always enjoy the pharmacy and the fellowship with everyone. There is always lots of talking and laughing as we work to find the medicines and fill each prescription (FYI: You don't have to be specially trained to work in the pharmacy. You are basically just locating pre-labeled medicines and putting them in a bag for the patients). It was fun to get to spend lots of time with Mom.

The Mosquitoes are AWFUL here, and they absolutely LOVE me (especially my legs). Last night, my feet were being bitten through tennis shoes and socks. WHAT?!? I've been rubbing down in mosquito spray with 100% deet all day long. My legs look diseased with all these bites that I keep scratching. It would be easy to complain about these little pests, but I am trying to keep my mouth closed. I'm reminded of Betsy and Corrie Ten Boom, who thanked God (even) for the fleas that were biting them while they were in a concentration camp during WWII. They realized that God is completely sovereign, even over bugs, and we are to rejoice always. What an example!

I enjoyed helping out in the youth girl's ministry today. Meghan Howard taught the girls about inner beauty and about how God is more concerned with the condition of their hearts than the condition of their outer appearance. She shared the Gospel and several girls responded by putting their faith in Christ.

I have also really enjoyed getting to know the new field missionaries, Timothy and Jessie Crabtree. They are only a few years older than Adam and me and moved to Nicaragua a month ago after language school in Costa Rica for a year. It has been encouraging to talk to Jessie about their call to the mission field and all that God is doing in their lives. They are just so sweet and down-to-earth. I love building new friendships! I hope that we can stay connected with their work in Nicaragua, a country and a people we so love.

Adam preached in the evening church service. He did a great job! I love seeing his passion for the Gospel when he speaks.

Showers and Bed (a little earlier than last night...Gracias, Dios!)

(I'm have trouble posting pics for this post! Maybe later...)

Remembering Nicaragua--Village Day 1

Adam and I just returned from a week-long mission trip to Cayanlipe, Nicaragua. This was Adam's fourth trip and my seventh trip to this country to serve. When I look back on all my summers in Nicaragua, each trips run together. So, this year I decided to keep a journal during my time in the village. I did this for two main reasons. First, I want to be able to look back and remember the details of this trip in years to come--the hard things, the funny things, and the GREAT things God did. Second, my Dad was not able to be with us on the trip this year, and I want him to be able to read about how each day went. So, I'm going to attempt to record a journal entry from each day of the trip during the coming week. Here goes....

June 27, 2010

Today was a day of firsts. It was my first day in the village of Cayanlipe, Nicaragua. It was my first trip to Nicaragua with Adam since we have been married. It was my first day to ride a bus into a Nicaraguan village without my Dad leading our team.

We arrived in the village later than expected. The travel from the mission home in Managua took longer, particularly our snack stop. As we neared the village of Cayanlipe, we passed the village of Canafistola. This was the first Nicaraguan village that I visited as part of a medical mission team ( in 2002). It was neat to see it again after all these years. When we arrived at Cayanlipe, I surveyed that it was very similar to Canafistola and about as primitive as they come. Roberto told us that this village would have running toilets (some villages do and some don't), but when we arrived we found that the toilets were "out of order," if you will. We will be using the banos (aka..outhouses) for the week.

Getting our ministry areas set-up and organized was chaotic as always. There were MANY boxes to be hauled to different areas of the school. Everyone worked together as a team to get things put together quickly. We were all dripping sweat as we hauled things to and fro. I spent most of my time helping in the pharmacy, getting medicines organized into various baskets and packaging worm medicine into individual bags.

We saw the first round of patients late in the day--almost supper time. The first church service started around 5:30, and we didn't finish until around 8:30 (all the patients have to go to a church service and hear the Gospel before getting their card to come see the doctor. So, there is a church service before every group of patients). The clinic saw about 250 patients this first night. I recorded weights on patients' cards before they entered the clinic. This was a challenge, since it got dark around 6:30. I had to do everything by flashlight. Ed Howard preached at the first church service and several responded and put their faith in Christ. What cause to rejoice! This is why we come. We had a late supper and completely missed the first evening church service. Adam went to preach, and none of the people showed up because it was so late. We had our first cold showers of the week around 11:00 and fell into bed exhausted.

The Bano

First people I saw upon arrival in the village
About 1/4 of the boxes we had to carry to get set-up