Colombia 2010

Here are some photos from our trip to Colombia! What a beautiful time we had there! It was an amazing country to visit. Nelson was able to meet a whole new world one that hopefully we will revisit soon! He seemed to enjoy it very much - all the attention that is :) He's a very active baby so he did great with all of the walking, bus rides, taxes, mountain hiking, and new foods! What a wonderful child we've been blessed with! I hope you enjoy looking through these photos even though most of you will not recognize any faces. :) We love you all dearly!

(click on the photo of nelson to view the entire album)

Beautiful Life

Isn't amazing how full our days can become. So full that at times we forget to see it's beauty. Look for the beauty in every activity that fills your day. Without them life would be dull. :) Here are some of the beautiful moments life has brought our way!

The marriage and family conference was a huge success! Our families were very encouraged and left with a ton of resources! I missed quite a bit of it because Nelson was teething, and I can not wait to get the DVD next week so I can watch all of it! The Orueta's were with us from Thursday - Monday and were an amazing blessing to the church here! Worship & the Word were totally powerful on Sunday! You can pass the service on to any of your spanish speaking friends :) (link)

Nelson is extremely hyper these days! Wow - That's all I know to say. He's sitting up on his own in the high chair which is really cool. He loves to laugh  &  likes his new sippy cup. He jumps when you stand him up and bounces to the beat when he hears music. It's totally cute! :) 

This weekend we have ESL training & it looks like we will have a good turn out! 

Everyone is really excited about kicking ESL off this coming month! 

I hope you'll begin to notice each and every beautiful moment God sends your way!

January 2010

Wow. We are practically into the second month of 2010! Crazy right? So we've been busy busy - 

Nelson is almost 6 months. New Years Day we went to a park by the beach, but it started raining. So we had our first official "Beach Day" yesterday. It was a beautiful day! Nelson was in awe of the birds and even noticed the blimp flying by. He slept all the way through the night in his own bed for the first time this month. I scram when I heard him cry and realized it was already day light (7:40 to be exact)! He is eating some solids ( sweet potatoes and malanga) and having his cereal. Honestly, He loves to eat! He is also sitting up on his own very well now! 

The Church is growing! We have had an exciting month! Last sunday we had our largest attendance yet: 95. We've had 9 baptized and 4 received the Holy Ghost. 

Bummers: the card from our camera broke so we haven't been able to get pictures other than on the cell phone.

Upcoming events to keep in your prayers: 

Marriage Conference & ESL training this next month!! 

We love and miss you guys! 

Life UPdate!

So, it's been a while since we've updated and alot as happened! This is just a quick little update on our lives. As I'm sure you have all heard Baby Nelson came into the world at 4:50 August 11, 2009 weighing 7lbs 7 oz and 19.5 inches long. He's the most beautiful little boy you've ever seen! Totally sweet. I'm posting some pictures because some of you do not have facebook & have been missing out on all of the excitment!

The church is doing incredible! We have been averaging in the mid 60s. We are having service Sunday afternoons at 2:00, Tuesdays are prayer and discipleship classes, and Thursday worship and small groups. Rene is now preaching on the radio each Monday at 1:00. The website for the program is now up and running. (tiemposdelaverdad.com) This week was the second week to air & we had 31 hits on the website from monday to tuesday which was very exciting. Feel free to visit or pass it on to any spanish speaking friends/family you have! Also the church website has alot of resources. (los-pentecostales.org) We update the website with photos pretty often & hopefully we will soon have video testimonies posted. It's beautiful to see what God does with lives that were totally destroyed and in pieces.

We can't wait to see all you Arkansas folks soon!

Love you all.

The Way of Wisdom

Proverbs 4:4-9, 12-15, 18

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

When though goest, they steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 

But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

NELSONS ROOM :)

Baby Rubio. Maternity Photos

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! (part 2)

Welcome 2009! Our Holiday season was wonderful!! It was wonderful to spend time with family and friends!!!!

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the YEAR!!!"

The Holidays are here! SO be of good cheer! :)
Thanksgiving was wonderful! Someone Renè knew through work called and donated 50 pre-made dinners!!! We spent the morning at the dog park with friends and had Thanksgiving lunch with the Nash's. Then went to Luz's best friends house for a while. Afterwards we took the dinners to Miami & handed them out! I think it was the most incredible thing I've done in my life! We met people who we weren't even sure if they were homeless - educated, reading, but homeless. We saw just how bad the economy has gotten! Here so many people come from other countries not knowing anyone or having much of anything so when times are tough they don't really have anywhere to go! We actually thought this one guy was homeless who ended up not being! Well, the truth is I thought he might be, and Renè didn't want to offend him. ;) Finally we asked if he was hungry. He was like, "DO I really look that bad!" We tried to cover up saying, "that we only had one meal left and we just really wanted to give it away so we though he might be hungry!" ;) As we walked away he said God Bless ... like 4 seconds later he yelled out " You don't happen to know any musicians" ... So Renè began to tell him how incredible our musicians were at church, we talked for a while & then met his friend (who was a musician). To make a long story short Julian, the young man we tried to give dinner too, felt that God wanted them to go to South Beach that night & couldn't figure out why ... when we started walking away he felt we were the ones he was suppose to talk to ... Yesterday, November 3rd, we met up with both of them at the church to talk, sing, play some music, & before leaving Julian was baptized in Jesus Name! It was really cool & exciting!

Last night I put out some Christmas Decor. We decided to not do a tree this year! It's so much work, messy, and not that much fun! I just put out some big bowls of ornaments & some sparkle sticks / a mini tree on the table ... it turned out cute, nice and simple!


@ the Dog Park!

Parts of Proverbs 3 (MSG)

Don't Assume You Know It All

1Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you;

take to heart my commands.

2They'll help you live a long, long time,

a long life lived full and well.

3Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.

Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.

4Earn a reputation for living well

in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.

5Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart;

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

6Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

he's the one who will keep you on track.

7Don't assume that you know it all.

Run to GOD! Run from evil!

8Your body will glow with health,

your very bones will vibrate with life!

9Honor GOD with everything you own;

give him the first and the best.

10Your barns will burst,

your wine vats will brim over.

11But don't, dear friend, resent GOD's discipline;

don't sulk under his loving correction.

12It's the child he loves that GOD corrects;

a father's delight is behind all this.

...

Never Walk Away

21Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;

don't for a minute lose sight of them.

22They'll keep your soul alive and well,

they'll keep you fit and attractive.

23You'll travel safely,

you'll neither tire nor trip.

24You'll take afternoon naps without a worry,

you'll enjoy a good night's sleep.

25No need to panic over alarms or surprises,

or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner,

26Because GOD will be right there with you;

he'll keep you safe and sound.

27Never walk away from someone who deserves help;

your hand is God's hand for that person.

28Don't tell your neighbor, "Maybe some other time,"

or, "Try me tomorrow,"

when the money's right there in your pocket.

29Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor

when he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.

30Don't walk around with a chip on your shoulder,

always spoiling for a fight.

31Don't try to be like those who shoulder their way through life.

Why be a bully?

32"Why not?" you say. Because GOD can't stand twisted souls.

It's the straightforward who get his respect.

33GOD's curse blights the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the home of the righteous.

34He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,

but if you're down on your luck, he's right there to help.

35Wise living gets rewarded with honor;

stupid living gets the booby prize.