Daring to Believe there's a Message in the Mess!

"Following God's plans can be extremely challenging sometimes. Gut-wrenching and intense.  Perhaps you've never faced anything this daunting before, a situation that asks so much of you or hurts in such deep places.  But with the Red Sea in front of you and Pharoah's armies barreling down close behind, you get to find out what the Lord can really do.  He's put you in a tough spot so you'll get to see just how incredibly strong and sufficient your God is.

And others will see it too.  Your life is God's story being told and His character being displayed.  So how does it read?  What does it tell others about the God you serve?  WILL YOU DARE TO BELIEVE THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THIS MESS?  It's quite possibly the best story some people will ever read." -Priscilla Shirer in "Life Interrupted"

Life Interrupted

‎"My friend, this is not an interruption {in your life}. It's a divine intervention. It's the privilege of walking in fellowship with One who will take you to a hopeless place so you can see the hope of God in it's rawest, most redemptive form. 

He'll take you to an ungodly place so you can see the Holy Spirit rising up within you, transforming an impossible situation while transforming lives in the process. 

We don't want to go to "Nineveh". Nobody does. But by running and hiding, we miss being part of what God is doing in our day and age. Like Jonah almost did..." -Priscilla Shirer in "Life Interrupted"

Boy this has spoken volumes to my life!  We are still in the middle of major transition....

The past 3 weeks since my last post have seemed like 3 MONTHS!

Seriously.

Hope to get a chance to do an update very soon!  Until then - thank you to all who have prayed and prayed and prayed for us.  We see God's hand in the midst of our chaos!

WE ARE STILL AGWM MISSIONARIES!

Hey everyone!

We just wanted to make sure that all of our prayer team and supporters know what INCREDIBLE doors God is opening before us.  

We are still Assemblies of God World Missionaries.  We will continue to be AGWM Missionaries.  We are transferring from the "Europe" region and the work with IMM - to working with the "International Ministries" region - working with Network 211.

Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 45:5: "But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives."

This verse has resonated with us.  We have found ourselves in a "pit", just like Joseph, and have struggled with understanding the "why's" of it all.  However, we are beginning to see that God is working it all towards HIS purposes.  We really believe that it is GOD who has brought us back to the states... to do a work within World Missions that will change the destinies of hundreds of thousands of people.  And we needed to be back here - at this moment.

A few people misunderstood and thought this was a paid ministry "job" transfer.  Not so!!!!  We will  continue to be Missionaries!  And we need the continued financial support and and commitment of our prayer team to accomplish this work!

There is a "people group" represented by the internet now that is the largest unreached people group.  People in "closed" countries are now scouring the internet in search of information about who Jesus really is....  Other people are searching on the internet for HOPE for their desperate situations.

This is where Network211 uses 21st century technology to present the 1st century Gospel.  It was founded by Dr. George M. Flattery, the founder and President of ICI University and current Chancellor of Global University.  

Since Network211's evangelism sites were launched officially on October 15, 2008 they have been visited by 5,100,462 unique web site visitors!  They just hit over 5 million THIS WEEK!  Of this number, 381,435 made an evangelism response and 118,858 are in a discipleship connection!  These people come from 236 countries and territories.  Can you say, "WOW"!?

Presently, the Network211 evangelism sites are offered in English, Easy English, Indonesian, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, Filipino, and Vietnamese.  Soon, they will add American Sign Language.  Projected language sites will include the remaining top ten languages of the Internet: Japanese, Portuguese, French, German, Russian, and Korean.  Other evangelism web sites in development are Marriage and Family, The Hope Road (topics include HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking), and sites targeting those of other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.

There is where Brad comes in.  They have the sites - but they desperately need someone to create the video content.  He will begin working on this soon and will travel abroad at times to create the video material that they need for special language groups.  

The Network211 office is located strategically in Springfield, MO so that they can work closely with AGWM leadership and Assemblies of God General Council.  All of those who minister at Network211 are missionaries, General Appointed or Missionary Associates, and raise their financial and prayer support form AG churches in the US.

------------------

A lot of you are asking: "What about your family? "

We had a dream.  A dream God had given us.  Just like Joseph.

And just like Joseph - that dream has taken us down a road we did not anticipate.  Yet do we trust Him.

And just as God worked all of the trials in Joseph's life towards good and towards a purpose - we are seeing Him do this for us.

Miracle #1 - We have a friend that has let us borrow one of his cars until we can get a new Speed the Light vehicle!

Miracle #2 - One of our fellow missionaries down the street from us in Spain contacted us over the weekend.  They own a house in Nixa, MO, (just outside of Springfield) and just lost their renter.  They offered for us to rent their house for less than a normal price.  Thank you Jesus!  We have a roof!  We moved in 4 nights ago with our 2 suitcases and a borrowed mattress!  CRAZY!

Miracle #3 - A friend has offered to help us with rent while we are still paying rent on our house in Spain!  Hopefully, we can be out of that lease soon!

There is a still a lot of chaos before us... we have to ship our belongings back to the states and that may take until December.  However, we got Macy and Mia enrolled in school this week and we are making it!

Please keep praying for our family.  I have been showing improvements with my health - but I still have a long ways to go.

HOWEVER, WHAT THE ENEMY MEANT FOR HARM - WE BELIEVE GOD IS GOING TO REDEEM AND USE FOR HIS GOOD!

We will keep you updated as things progress!

Much love,

Brad, Glenda, Macy, Mia, & Micah McMath

Difficult missionary journeys

I just "happened" across a link to my dad's blog today... and have not been on his site for some time.... this is the last devotion he posted...
http://pastorrustysblog.blogspot.com 

But God...

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. (9) We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally--not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead!

Observation:

Paul does not give details about their hardships in Asia, although his accounts of all three missionary journeys record many difficult trials he faced (Acts 13:2-14:28; Acts 15:40-21:17). He does write that they felt that they were going to die and realized that they could do nothing to help themselves—they simply had to rely on God.

We often depend on our own skills and abilities when life seems easy and only turn to God when we feel unable to help ourselves. But as we realize our own powerlessness without him and our need for his constant help in our lives, we come to depend on him more and more. God is our source of power, and we receive his help by keeping in touch with him. With this attitude of dependence, problems will drive us to God rather than away from him. Learn how to rely on God daily.

Application:

Paul said he went through somethings where he didn't know if he was going to make it through or not. There were times where he was imply in the dark when it came to when, where or how he was going to make it through this dark time in his life. Dark times...dark nights...are tough. Our faith is challenged. Our trust in God is tested. Paul's words and testimony show once again that even when we are in the dark about our situation, God, who is Light, knows exactly where we are. How often do we read in God's Word that it seemed like there was no way out, BUT GOD....

Are you in the dark about the direction God seems to be leading you?

Jon Walker says, "The choice to do His will before we know the specifics... develops trust of His character. This is where many people get into a battle of wills, wanting Him to reveal His plan first. That's not how He works. God wants you to decide in advance to trust Him, believing that His will is best for your life. He knows your hesitancy. He won't be surprised if you say, 'I don't know that I'm willing to step out in faith without knowing everything that's going to happen, but I'm willing to be made willing.' One reason God doesn't give you the full picture... is you may be overwhelmed... it may appear impossible... but that's the point - there's no way you can fulfil your mission without Him."

When Joseph was reunited with his brothers in Egypt, he told them, '... do not be angry with yourselves... it was not you who sent me here, but God... ' (vv. 5-8). Joseph's brothers sold him out, 'but God' used it to preserve the Jewish race. The Israelites were in slavery, 'but God' sent Moses to lead them to the Promised Land. Jesus died on the cross, 'but God' used His death to save a lost world. Oswald Chambers calls God 'The Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments... of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments'. Think back; can't you recall some 'but God' moments of your own where you'd reached the end of your rope and He came through for you?

Prayer:

"Lord, you know exactly where I am today, even if I do not. There are times that I am in the dark but I know you are not. I am facing a situation today that is testing my faith and trust. I am so thankful that I have seen time and time again YOU come through for me. I have many "but God" testimonies in my life. This will be another one! In Jesus name, amen!"

THE BIG UPDATE

Hey everyone.  Just wanted to give you a BIG update on the McMath family in Spain!

Since the emergency c-section and Micah's birth - I have not been well.  Days and weeks were going by and I seemed to be getting worse physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Brad and I could NOT figure out what was going on with me... and WHY.

Four weeks ago we met with our area director's and made the decision for us to come back to the states for me to get medical attention.

I went to see my doctor as soon as we arrived.

After asking me lots of questions and having me give him a detailed snapshot of the past 10 months....

- the intense sickness I experienced in pregnancy

- packing up to move overseas in the midst of that 

-moving 

-pregnancy sickness returning with a vengeance, all the while trying to learn the ropes in a new culture

- not being able to speak the language in our new culture - and trying to attend a language school that ended up not being a good fit because they start at a more advanced level than "beginning"

- emergency c-section because Micah's life was in danger, and how traumatic this was for me

-I spent 4 days in the hospital where hardly anyone spoke English... had to use cave man Spanish, pantomiming, and google translate to talk with medical staff

- When I was discharged from the hospital - they demanded that we pay my bill in full.  $12,000.  Of course we could not do that.  They were very rude and angry.  

-Then I had to walk away from the hospital after that experience and leave my baby there in the NICU

-Going daily to the NICU where hardly anyone spoke English... had to be ok with them saying "your baby is improving" - and not being able to communicate about the details of his health

-Having severe gastro-intestinal abdominal pain for weeks afterwards in connection with the c-section, having extreme loss of appetite where I have been losing weight because I can't eat ANYTHING, and feeling completely physically wiped out all the time 

-------------

He said that I am experiencing more than post-partum - and it sounds like my body is dealing with a little of PTSD.

I was like - "what is that?"

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

The doctor said that just experiencing the kind of chronic illness I had in pregnancy is a huge stress.  Just moving to another culture is a lot of stress.  You combine those 2 together and your body begins to reach the maximum of stress it can handle.  THEN - he said when you add in the traumatic events with the baby's birth, the hospital, him being in the NICU, and the complications I had afterwards - your mind and body begin to do funny things.  After coping with that much stress for that long - your mind and body quit working right.  The neuro-transmitters in your brain shut down because they have been coping for such a long time with so many changes and upheavals... and you end up with a severe chemical imbalance that removes your ability to function as you normally would.  

He feels like under the circumstances - that I have done BETTER than what 95% of people would have.  He also said that just the fact that I can coherently explain to him what is wrong with me and how I am desperate to be well shows that I am stronger than I think and that most people with this much stress and trauma would be in much worse shape.

Wow.  Seriously?  I am doing "well"?  I sure don't feel like it.  There is a storm inside of my body that I can physically FEEL every morning.  I have not been able to get better.  

Then came the whammy:  He said it is his professional opinion and recommendation that we not return overseas for at least 6 months to a year and we are sure that I am fully healed.  My doctor is a well known and well respected physician in our area and has even served on the board of directors for our regional hospital.... so I know he knows his stuff.  

I was shocked.  Not what I expected.  I thought he would just change meds and move on. 

However, being the thorough person that I am.... I also went to see our family physician this week... He ALSO diagnosed me with PTSD and recommended that we not return to the field until I am fully healed - but said he couldn't give a time frame.

We have felt paralyzed since then.  

I NEVER would have thought that something like this could happen to me.  I am the optimistic, conquer the mountain, we can do it, never quitting girl here!  

Having a medical condition arise that is affecting my body and mind has been devastating to say the least.  

We have been trying to process the questions, scenarios, & possibilities... It has been sheer anguish.  Especially when we try to decide what to do about our girls and school.  :(

We left Spain with the full intention of returning.  However, we are facing new challenges.  

God COULD have healed me in Spain.  But he didn't.  We have been seeking Him as to "why" and what purpose and plan does He have for us now... 

The beauty in what we are called to do is that we do not have to be in any one geographical location to do it! ...And we feel we have found the new direction God has for us.  We will be joining Network 211, the AGWM internet based ministry started by Dr. George Flattery.  This is the ministry we started out to work with before AGWM asked us to go to Spain.  They are doing incredible things to evangelize and disciple people online and have a great need for a team member to develop their video content.  After meeting with them this week we feel confirmation that God is opening this door for us here and closing the door for Spain.  We will still be World Missionaries, doing work in many different countries and languages - we will just be working with the media ministry team in Springfield, MO.

We have more questions than answers right now as to how this transition is going to work... And to be honest - I am quaking in my boots.  Everything we own is overseas.  We have our STL vehicle there.  We are now in the states, and we don't have a home.  We have no vehicle.  Our children need to be in school.  And I am still not healthy.

We are SO GRATEFUL for the hundreds of people that have been praying for us.  It has been incredible.  We know that this has not caught God by surprise.... and we also know that He works ALL things together for good.  We hope that one day soon we will be able see what His plan has been through all this.  

Please continue to pray for us as we walk through the next few months of transition.  There are really exciting ministry things ahead of us - we just have to get our family settled and my health where it needs to be!

Much love to you all!

Your missionaries,

Brad, Glenda, Macy, Mia, and Micah McMath

Until the Whole World Hears,

Brad &Glenda McMath

www.mcmathfamily.com

www.sharingoursteps.com

www.thejourneytomiagrace.blogspot.com

Missionaries and suffering

I have been sick in some form or fashion for 10 months now.  

Me + pregnancy = almost death.  ;/   

And the 10 weeks since the emergency c-section has brought one trial after another in my body.

As I cried out to God asking "why" over the past few weeks - I have finally found some peace.  

We had missionaries come by and visit us all throughout the day one day last week....

....and I was astonished at the stories they told me of what they faced their first year on the field.  

One guy had to return to the states after only 3 weeks during their first term for an emergency surgery.  

Another had to go home to the states for an emergency back surgery and ended up being in bed for 7 months recovering in the states.  

One wife went to the field already being a native Spanish speaker and shut down because of the culture shock and hardly left their home the first year.

Tragic stories - but they brought me peace... knowing others have suffered in the midst of their obedience to missions.  

I am not alone in my experience.  

I am not the only one that has faced difficulties.  Suffering does not mean we have missed God or that we are failing God somehow.... these veteran missionaries assured me that many times our suffering is part of the journey.

I am seeing my doctor this week and will post an update soon.

Now I am endeavoring to just walk with God and hold his hand until we are through this.

Trusting Him.  I hope one day I will look back and understand all of this, but even if I don't - yet will I trust Him.

Europe is a dark spiritual climate.  They need an outpouring of God's spirit.  Our work will will not go forward without a fight.  But our God is stronger!

Still recovering

I feel a little stronger each day.... and then have a bad day thrown in here and there for good measure!  However, it has only been a little over 3 weeks since my c-section - but I am wanting to feel whole and healthy again NOW!  I am not very patient with it....   probably because I have 2 little girls that need their mommy to feel good again!

So PLEASE keep praying for us!  Don't stop now!

This entire experience has been a wild ride and quite the cross-cultural experience....
having an emergency c-section in another country when you don't speak the language...
having to talk with the nurses and doctors daily using what I call my "cave-man" spanish or pantomiming....
being totally unprepared for an unexpected crisis....
having 2 little girls to also take care of...


However, God is so faithful.  Our baby's life was spared because our doctor took measures to do fetal monitoring...and that is where he discovered Micah's fetal distress....

Brad's parents arrived just in time to work like dogs and help us through this!  They leave tomorrow - and all they have done since they have been here is work!  Cleaning, laundry, cooking, working on our house that we still have not completely unpacked since we moved in 2 months ago....

They need to go home from Spain and have a vacation!!!  :)

Bringing Micah home!

We were able to bring Micah home last night! We are so thankful to God for His work through this crisis!

Macy and Mia were super excited to meet their little brother for the first time!

We are thanking God that Brad's parents had planned to come "early"! They were able to entertain the girls with lots of fun and shower them with love while Brad and I spent every day at the hospital this week.

No tubes!

Micah officially has NO tubes or wires now! We were able to put clothes on him for the first time too! Dr says he MIGHT be able to come home tonight!!! ....but they are monitoring something with how his heartrate drops after he eats...
Thank you everyone for praying!
Please continue!
1. Please pray God will keep him safe, healthy, and happy when we bring him home. I don't want to live in fear about his breathing.
2. Please pray for me. I have experienced a lot of excruciating pain the last couple of days.

Love to everyone! And much gratitude for praying for us!

Holding time

I got to hold Micah for the first time yesterday.... I cried! Sweetness!
Brad got to hold him today!
He is making great progress! He is totally off of oxygen now!

It's Sunday - and our churches are PRAYING!

Wow at the HUGE progress Micah is making today!!!!!

Starting at 9 AM (Arkansas time) (4 PM Spain time) - Micah was able to go without his ventilator....
It's been off all day!  And wow at the progress!  We got to see his face for the first time without the tubes!

Just got this message: (from Jamie Stein)
Just wanted to let you know that Hyland Park prayed for you guys this morning! Pastor Brad asked Brandon and I to stand in for you guys (what an HONOR that was for us!) and everyone prayed around us for Micah and the rest of you! We hope he continues to get stronger and that you guys get to hold that sweet boy soon! My heart aches for you! Praying hard! We love you guys!


This message about sent me over the edge in tears!  We are so grateful for all the love and support from afar!


We can tell it is SUNDAY!  And our churches are getting the word out and people are PRAYING!!!!!!  Thank you sooooo much! Keep it up!  Please!  Pray for complete and total healing and that we can go HOME!!!!


Let us know if you and your church are praying too!!!  It's so encouraging!

We have seen his face!!!!!

Mask off for several hours tonight! And took some milk from a bottle! First time we have seen his face! So sweet! He doesnt look so chubby when his face isnt squeezed by all those tubes!!
Still cant hold him. 😒

Pics of Micah

We still have not been able to hold Micah... The pictures make him look HUGE....

and...well...he DOES weigh 6.2 lbs!  BUT - pictures have a way of making you look bigger - you know?!  :)

His face is all squished under the tubes - so we haven't even gotten a good look at him yet....  

Our last report from the NICU unit is that he has some fluid in his lungs, they are keeping a pressurized ventilator on him to help push that out; they are watching to be sure he doesn't develop an infection in his lungs; and his BIGGEST problem is that his lungs are premature and not developed fully yet.

We still do not know when we will get to hold him, or when we can take him home.

So please pray that those lungs will miraculously mature, that they will be amazed at his progress, and that we can go HOME!

Baby Micah makes his surprise entrance!

Our baby boy, Micah Bradley was born yesterday by emergency c-section. It was a shock to us, but saved his life... The umbilical cord was wrapped around his body, being compressed... And he wasn't getting enough oxygen... He weighed 2820 grams- which I think is like 6.2 lbs... Our wifi is sketchy at best- and I did not bring my laptop! I will post more as soon as I can. PLEASE pray with us that his lungs will develop quickly and perfectly. He is in NICU on a ventilator because his respiratory system is not 100%.... we have not gotten to hold him yet! ;(

Another little update! :)

I know it is time for my usual monthly update - I will try to do that this week.....

For now, however:

1.  We finally moved into our own house.  Good news:  We have our own bed and soft blankies (I am a SUCKER for soft blankets!)  Not so good news:  I was sick for the first 4 days we moved in and did NOT unpack ONE box!  Ugh!  However, the day we moved in we had several people from our team at IMM show up to help unload - and a couple of the amazing ladies DID unpack my kitchen that day!  THAT was a BLESSING!!!!

2.  Then God sent some angels to help me unpack boxes and put things together for a couple of days!  Oh. my. goodness... what a BLESSING.  I haven't had the strength, stamina, or BRAIN CELLS for that matter to do much - but by the end of the day - I felt like we could at least function!  Being able to find your family's underwear is a good thing!  And being able to see the floor in the house instead of just boxes is also a good thing!

3.  We were finally able to get our own car last week! We are so thankful for Speed the Light.....  without them I don't know what we would do!  I'll blog about that later this week too....

4.  Language study has been "unique" because of many circumstances...I can include those details in a later blog - but for now the GOOD NEWS is that Brad found a new friend that has offered to help him since his class started at an advanced point instead of at a "beginner's" point.  He has been SO frustrated and lost - but last night had new hope as our new friend spent some time with him to explain things.  This is HUGE.  THANK YOU JESUS!  And thank you for praying!

Big smile.  Progress.  Hope.

Looking forward to all God has in store for us to be and do here in Spain.

More later...

Mini-Update

1.  Our container was accepted and passed through customs with no taxes or duty charged!

2.  However, it has been delayed - and THEN all of Spain was on STRIKE yesterday- so we will not receive our stuff until Tuesday of next week (April 3).  So we have not moved into our house yet.....but we are soooooo ready!

3.  Pregnancy sickness has returned for me.  I have been so so sick.

4.  After a meeting with our director yesterday, the decision was made for me to withdraw from language school and focus on surviving the last 10 weeks of pregnancy.  Brad will continue alone.  The classes run until June 1.  Pray for him to be supernaturally anointed to learn and understand.  There are no other native English speakers in his class.  Just 2 Russians and 2 Asians.  So he will have no one to hash out the lessons with...but with GOD he can do it!  :)  Pray, pray, pray!

Update & Prayer Needs

So - the updates are:

We have finally found and rented a house!  Our belongings will arrive via ship this coming Wednesday, March 21st!  Then it is expected to take 1-3 days for our container to be approved through customs and then delivered to our house!  PLEASE PRAY THAT CUSTOMS WILL ACCEPT IT WITH NO PROBLEMS OR DELAYS!!!!!!

So - we HOPE that our container will be delivered this coming Friday or Saturday March 23-24....that would give us the weekend to unpack....we start language school Tuesday the 20th - so we will be very busy during the week now!

My birthday is Sunday, March 25, and Brad asked me what I would like to do for it.  I exclaimed, "All I want to do is to move into my own house and have my own stuff!  It's going to be like CHRISTMAS next weekend!"  :)

We have finally started paperwork to buy our Speed the Light vehicle....and hopefully will have our own car within the next 2 weeks.  We have been blessed thus far to be able to borrow the vehicles of missionaries that are in the states itinerating right now.

OFFICIAL  language school starts for us this Tuesday, March 20th!  We are excited to start getting some language under our belts - but don't know what to really expect....  and of course we are going to be MOVING into our house at the SAME time!  Whew!

PRAYER NEEDS:

First of all we are PRAISING GOD for his ANSWERS to prayers!  Thank you for praying with us to find the right house!  We really feel so encouraged that we have found a house that we feel is a good fit for us.  We asked the landlord to come down on the rent - and they said that they would be HAPPY to come down to our asking price because they would be happy to have US as their tenants!  Wow!  Thank you God for your favor in this!  The family that owns the house has 2 boys - and they are BOTH adopted internationally!  So we have a common bond there!  So our house is great for us and within our rental limit!  Woooooo!  Thank you Jesus!

Thank you for praying for us to find the right vehicle!  After much research and visiting car dealerships - we feel like we have found the right one for us - and it also is within the range of what we have to spend!  Thank you Jesus!

1.   Now, PLEASE KEEP praying!  :)   First of all, pray for my (Glenda) health!  The diagnosis of being anemic and having gestational diabetes is not the end of the world - but it does bring more complications to my health that I am having to deal with during a very stressful time in our lives.  Pray that God will strengthen my body supernaturally, keep the sugar level in my body very low so that I and the baby can remain healthy, and that God will allow me HEALTH so that I can benefit from the next 10 weeks of language school!  The baby is due June 24th - but our doctor seems pretty confident that he will come early since Macy was born 3 weeks early.  Honestly, I will probably be happy for him to come early - b/c that means my body can begin to gain strength.... however I really want to be able to finish this semester of school feeling strong and well!

2.  Pray that God will make our minds like sponges to soak up every scrap of language that we can during these next couple of months of school!  Pray that we will have strength and stamina!  Pray that we will be able to do supernaturally more than we expect (remember we also have 2 children to care for every day too!).  Pray that we will be able to grasp the GRAMMAR, the HEARING, and the SPEAKING!

3.  We are beginning NOW to pray that the baby will be born HEALTHY and HAPPY.  This is big.  We are praying that he will not have any sickness, any colic, any troubles.  For him to be a HAPPY, HEALTHY baby will be a HUGE blessing to us!

4.  Continue to pray for Macy's schooling.  We are already seeing a HUGE improvement in her self-esteem academically.  This has been our first focus....that she be emotionally healthy and positive regarding school.  For the FIRST time EVER - she has been coming home and getting out her homework on her own and doing it HAPPILY! This has NEVER happened!  She has always come home and hated it - and never known how to do it.  We are so THANKFUL for an incredible teacher and school that has a HEART for missionary kids...and that they understand the complexities of what happens when kids switch school and curriculums numerous times.  They are working extra with her to help her catch up.  HOWEVER, there are still math concepts that she is still quite behind in - and has a big gap to cover to catch up with where the class is.  PLEASE PRAY.  We know God can do something miraculous and beautiful here.

5.  Please pray for our ministry team.  At IMM we have developed a partnership this year with one of our Arabi* ministries.  Pray that we will be able to develop, create, and deliver quality outreach pieces for reaching the Musli* people.  Pray that we can deliver with QUALITY and in a TIMELY manner.  Most people have no idea the magnitude of work that goes into creating media.  Most movies/films have HUNDREDS of people on their film/editing staff....and we only have a handful of missionaries here at IMM.  Our work is cut out for us.  We NEED the anointing and blessing of God to pull off the mission He has called us to!

Encouragement

There have been several people that have emailed us during these first few weeks in Spain with a word of encouragement, a prayer, or a reminder of their love and support for us.  


Sometimes....you never know JUST HOW powerful that can be.


Two people that are continually keeping up with our family and sharing prayers and encouragement are Sue Angel from Cabot & Rendy Ayers from Horatio.  I can not even tell you how many times their comments or prayer emails have lifted my spirit after I do a blog update!!


After emailing my parents last week with what a discouraging week I was having, last Sunday night my dad shared with his church, West Memphis 1st AG about our challenges.  Here are 2 emails I received early Monday that BOOSTED my Spirit in a miraculous way:

Praying for you EVERY DAY! I'm sure the adjustment has been rough, especially with the pregnancy, but God sent you and He will see you through.  Try to think back to those days when you sat on the rock outside your home in Huntsville and how you cried out to God for Him to use you mightily. You were willing to do anything He asked you to do. You and God (that is all you really need); His peace will allow you to handle anything else that comes your way!  Please take one hour at a time and only concentrate on the next task at hand!

Take care of your body and that precious baby boy because that is your "stage" right now.  Everything else will fall in line in God's good time.

Please know you have many friends praying for you so try to rest as much as possible and enjoy this season of your life.

Love ya,

Susan Madison

------

Pastor mentioned you in his sermon tonight and asked everyone to pray for you because you had been

diagnosed as anemic.  So, I thought I'd drop you a line and let you know that I pray for the McMaths

every day!!!  I ask God to encourage and strengthen your spirits - to not let you become depressed.

I also pray that God would envelop Macy and Mia with His love and grant that this time in their lives will be positive and memorable.  I also pray that God would give all of you a miracle in learning the Spanish language - on and on.

I love you guys, and I will continue to pray this way and especially for your health.  I pray for a normal safe pregnancy and a normal healthy baby!!!  God knew, before you ever

got to Spain, that you were going to be going through this time with your health, and He is the Great

Physician who can take care of you and your family. He is a good and merciful God.  Remember Philippians 4:6,7 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all

understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (NKJV)

Love you,
LaVaye Harness


Talk about TIMELY ENCOURAGEMENT!  The only PROBLEM is - that of course these words of encouragement set me to CRYING agin!  :)   Hahhhaaa!


THEN- A HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT CAME THE SAME DAY:


I got an email from my friend and Pastor's wife at Monticello, Jackie Underhill:

Glenda.....I have a story to share with you!   God loves you SO much!!

This morning early I got a text from a lady in my church.  She wanted to know if I was awake....she had something to share.  So she called...she said that God woke her at 1 AM and she was speaking the name....McMath....and praying protection and guidance.....over and over... 

She was like...WHAT?  She had to wake up good and think about the name.  Then she remembered they were missionaries to Spain.  So the rest of the night she kept praying....protection and guidance for them.  She even told her husband before he left for work to please pray with her for this family.  She asked me....does this mean anything to you?  I said....oh yes it does!!!   I shared this with your Mom and she encouraged me to send it to you! Know that God loves you and knows right where you are!  

I love you and I am praying for you and your family!!!

Blessings

Jackie

I so appreciate EVERYONE'S prayers.  But somehow knowing that GOD woke someone up who knew NOTHING of what we were going through.....was a comfort that is indescribable.  It was like God was saying, "I haven't forgotten you.  I care about the season you are going through.  I am going to see you through....this is part of your transition....and I am WITH you."

March Update/ 7 weeks in / Complete Transparency

Silence.


I know I went from a daily post about new lessons we were learning.....to complete silence on the blog.


Sorry!  My health took  a nose dive there for a few weeks - and culture shock set in....


Let's just say I didn't have the energy or stamina or brain cells to write anything.....


...and I was feeling so overwhelmed I didn't know how to express anything with my words!


---------
Let's just say it was a tough few weeks for us..... in an attempt to be transparent and open with all of our friends and supporters -here is an inside look:

Brad went through a really overwhelming few days about 3 weeks into this.....

I know they say it is "expected", and "culture shock", and "normal"......

But it was really starting to get to him.....the traffic and driving are different here, we don't speak the language so it is hard to do anything, and FOOD not being good is REALLY hard.  You can't just run out to one of your normal restaurant choices or drive thrus....and there is only so much Burger King you can take.  And trying to buy groceries and MAKE food that taste good is challenging too.....finding similar ingredients, translating it all, ....it can finally just get overwhelming.  PLUS he is trying so hard to continue watching his weight - but when all your choices are BAD - you feel trapped.

THEN - me - the strong tower - well let's just say I broke!

I went through a couple of days where I just felt depressed.  I was really sick for a couple of days.  It was overwhelming physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I wanted the comfort of America....to just go to the store - buy the food I wanted to have (this is REALLY a BIG deal- you miss being able to eat stuff that taste good and is easily accessible) - I wanted my mom...... I wanted someone to comfort me, to help me, to listen to my woes, and encourage me. But I didn't have the physical stamina to even call or email anyone.  I felt like a big uuuuuggggghhhhhhhhhhh......

THEN - we went to church Sunday. I knew I was in a bad place.  I desperately needed some time to connect with God in worship.  Even though I don't know what they are singing - I can still find a way to connect with God during worship.  HOWEVER - it didn't happen.....  both girls were whining and clinging to me the whole worship time....saying they were hungry and that "everything is in Spanish"....

b/c of my own spiritual needs I was REALLY put out.  Then I felt guilty for not putting them and their needs first.  Macy started crying halfway into worship....I think she was just overwhelmed ( the only time we have gone places where EVERYTHING and EVERYONE around us is Spanish is church......) - and I was like - GOD - I don't need this right now.  It's more than I can handle.....

BTW - church STARTS at 11AM here and goes until 1:30.  NOT GOOD for a pregnant, low blood sugar mommy and 2 kiddos.  So I gave the girls crackers to eat during worship and then ate some myself during church so that I wouldn't get sick.  The kids leave after worship to go to "sunday school" - and Macy was clinging to me for dear life.  She did stay in class (there is another missionary kid that goes there and he knows a little spanish so she sat with him)....but just seeing her sit there so unsure of herself while everyone was rapid fire speaking Spanish around her....knowing she felt lost.....

I went to the bathroom and LOST IT.  Not only was "I" feeling overwhelmed...but now I am struggling with making sure I have the proper balance with pushing my child into this culture shock experience....  "Kids are resilient....she'll be ok." .... or "am I going to scar my child?" was the battle I was facing......  and then knowing I was being really selfish by just wanting some time to reconnect with God and get a dose of peace this day without having the added stress of the kids.....

WHEW......boy am I being transparent - but I feel if I don't share this - people won't get a true look at what a new missionary goes through during their first few weeks on the field....

Things have REALLY gotten to me.  This is so out of character for me!  I am usually little Ms. Optimistic!   I feel like a bad missionary because I am even complaining!  (but again everyone keeps telling us that these feelings are NORMAL during your first few weeks....everything in your life is so out of control that even the little things overwhelm you).  I keep reminding myself that at least God did not call us to the jungle where we are sleeping in tents with mosquito nets every night, using a latrine to go to the bathroom, and cooking our meals over a fire!

THEN - we hit a brick wall with the tutoring we were receiving.  We contracted with a lady to do 4 weeks of tutoring in Spanish before we start language school.  The lady does NOT speak any English......and even though she is as sweet as can be - we were so frustrated!  She goes on and on trying to explain things to us... in SPANISH mind you..... but there is a problem....we DON'T know spanish.  So her 10 min raves about why you use a certain word - do not help us ANY!

The first week was ok.  We learned our ABC's and vowels....and I guess we have learned a few things since then and made several observations.....  We are hopeful that our semester in language school will be a much more engaging experience!!  That starts next week!

THEN I went to my doctor last week.  He informed me that I failed the glucose test and have gestational diabetes.  He also informed me that I am already anemic.  Maybe that explains why I have days where I can hardly function....

But to be honest - maybe just b/c I was at such a low spot - I was DEVASTATED.  I have been so hopeful that maybe the rest of this pregnancy would be better than with Macy. It was very discouraging.  We have SO MUCH ON US right now.  I know I should not be this way - but I was like..... "God, can I just get a little break here?"  :)

So I made it until we got home and then I lost it and had a big boo hoo session with God while I took a hot shower.  I have been wanting to be STRONG right now for my husband and kids..... but felt very WEAK!

I know I usually just share the funny and interesting updates.  But this was reality for a few weeks.  And I feel sometimes that people put pastors and missionaries on a pedestal and think they are perfect or never have troubles.  I think it is so important that people realize that missionaries are REAL people just like everyone else.....and that we struggle with being overwhelmed, discouraged, and even depressed sometimes!  We are not super Christians...the only thing that might make us unique is our quest and determination to follow God in what/where He is CALLING us to - even if that means going across the sea!


Now, I will follow this TRANSPARENT/REALITY post up with the beautiful stories of God's encouragement to us during this time and with an update of HOW you can be praying for us as we continue this journey to fulfill God's plan for the McMath family!