GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!

My dear friends… This will probably be my last testimony as a working member of the Arms of Love Nicaragua ministry, as the National Director I was until the already past date of April 30th. 2008

Loved ones are not easy to forget. So, probably, now, with more time in my hands, I will be tempted to share glimpses of the lives of the children we loved and protected, fought for and against all tides, for the sake of their being as we have been… The Apples of His Eyes!

But today, is testimony time for us and an obligation to render ourselves to Him, by recognizing His mysterious ways and His planning for our lives!

I have been sometimes told by superficial people that I write too much and is tiresome to read and grasp what I try to say... But talking about our lives and the Lord´s influence on them, it is not a 30 second commercial. It is a lifelong chant to His mercies and grace!

In the Christian realm is customary to say that you must not be showy about the blessings the Lord pours in your life because it can be easily misunderstood as bragging or selfishly self promoting yourself.

In my early missionary days I felt at times like the ugly fish or the circus clown when I was asked to give testimony of my former life and the change experiences since I had accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. now, I know best!

We, me as an individual, as well as my wife and children have gone through innumerable happy and non so happy circumstances, and we have always bounced back from adversities in a way that now after 25 years of serving the Lord we are utterly convinced we have always been safely snuggled under His protecting arms.

When we came back in 2002 to Nicaragua to take charge of this ministry, we were led to believe that we would gracefully grow older and probably die in our country of birth. But the Lord had other plans. He knew He would have to force me out of my complacent state of mind and routine. after I fulfilled what I had to do here (to write the vision on tablets for others to follow up and to set and leave strong foundations for the ministry) and as soon as I did it He also did it! He sent me on my way ahead towards other horizons!

The last 4 months have been a whirlwind of circumstances. All of them have led to a change for the better, a more restful time with our family, a more, potentially, intellectually rewarding service in the advancement of God´s Kingdom on this earth.

I want to refer myself only to some of the most significant events, as a form of encouragement to all those that suddenly find themselves perplexed by the turn of unexpected events or crossroads in their lives.

When you serve the Lord, unselfishly, unreservedly, and without any aggrandizing purpose for your life and deeds, he writes down everything you do and from time to time send your way spiritual rewards and greater tasks to tackle with.

The last 2 years have been full of trials in the family realm at the same time that the ministry flourished by the Grace of God and the support of many Christians who visited us, shared their time with our children and decided to support what they personally witnessed down here.

But events have a way to peak and dip, and revolve, and bring confusion before all waters calm down and become the river of life that the Lord has intended every one of us to navigate on.

Last April we had a very significant family meeting in El Salvador. We foresaw radical changes for the family and an impending reunification of us all.

Gladys and I enjoyed a great weekend in the midst of our former social environment!

Our grandson, Victor Jr. while we were looking at all our grandchildren merrily frolicking at the Mayan Club pool, came out and gave me a baseball cap with the legend

“Relax, God is in control”.

How could we even hint that at those precise moments turning point events were happening back home in Nicaragua?

Then, the call for retirement came and we started to pack to go back to our family. Our human plans were just to rest, enjoy our time, organize our home again in any one of the 2 houses we had left and still remain empty and waiting for us in Guatemala because we decided to come and serve in Nicaragua. Probably plan how to get new cars to replace the ones that were vandalized when we left them to start our missionary time down here.

As a natural reaction, we wanted to surround ourselves with all the things we have accumulated because we are already 71 and 70 years old, and did not want to start over again as newlyweds in a foreign country. Correction! Back in our second home and country, Guatemala!

This naturally brought unnecessary stress as I at the same time had to face all the transition tasks I was demanded.

But then my oldest son, Robert, a wonderful son and Christian, wrote us placing again over the table the right priorities for all of us as a family. He reminded us that we need to empty ourselves and discard all unnecessary things, because if not we would be really distrusting the Lord and his care for us as His followers and servants.

He sent us a power point presentation from where I translated what it knocked us down to Christian sense again.

Under God´s guidance through our oldest son message, we started to bless family, relatives, friends and staff with things that we knew they could need and we could replace with newer ones once surrounded by our family.

Then, we received the call from our Lord to share the last day of Director visit of one of our girls, Catherine Carolina, and to let all of you, our friends, and Nicaragua ministry supporters know that we were leaving. And wow! we have still not recovered from the impact of the torrential chain of events that has followed.

it is not how big or small, prideful or humble, trusting or doubtful, worthy or unworthy we are!

It is how great He is!

GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!