Christmas at our house

This year Christmas day was very low key. We attended our church Christmas Eve service and opened presents that night then we stayed up late playing with our goodies. Christmas day we spent the morning watching movies and playing candyland. Then we drove to College Station with Jose's family to visit Santas Wonderland. If you haven't heard of it is a huge drive through Christmas light village. At the end you have the option to go to Santas village where they have a Christmas movie playing and little shops to buy Texas themed Christmas stuff. (I was a bit underwhelmed by the village but the lights were well worth the drive) 

I just want to take a moment to thank all of our friends and family that are supportive of our ministry (in word, action, and spirit) You mean more to us than we can easily express and we thank God for you every day. Please continue to keep us in prayer as we are right now in the tedious part of preparing to go. Gathering financial support, working out details of accepting/receiving that support. Making out a written mission statement, plan. Also for me learning spanish. (If you live near me and you speak spanish harrass me about it. I need help staying motivated about my lessons)

I will leave you with Logans version of the Christmas story and some pictures of this past month.
"Once upon a time baby Jesus and his mommy and daddy went to the farm to live. But there was nowhere for them to live and nobody would let them live in their house so they slept in the hay with the animals. Then the bad Angel took all of baby Jesus' clothes. So his daddy killed the angel. Then the bad king killed all the baby's so Baby Jesus mommy put him in a basket in the water. The Princess found him and he was the King so all the other kings gave him presents."
(I am not making that up he told me that exact story)

Logan and his cousin Domenico

Logan and his cousin Sophia (He loves spending time with her)

Our silly little family

Logan and Daddy decorating the Christmas Tree

Logan hard at work

Timothy "helping"

If daddy gets out of the car Timothy jumps in the drivers seat a.s.a.p.

     

~ Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime! ~

I love Christmastime! Since I live in Houston (for now) I can't say anything about snow. ~although we did get some this year~ But I love the sounds and the smells. The Food. The baking. The gifting. The Food. The family time. The lights. The food. The picking out that special thing for that special someone. Did I mention the food? I could go on and on about everything I love about Christmas and the Holiday season. However there is something I'm not so fond of this time of year. Because we are Christians we love hearing the mention of Christ whenever we buy groceries and seeing little pictures and statues and inflatable front yard thingies of what artists (also known as Chinese factory workers) think Jesus looked like when he was a baby. But the last year or two I've seen a lot of taking Christ out of Christmas. Which is not cool. But I've also seen a lot of Christians stop acting like Christians because of it. So here is my plea to God fearing men and women this year. If someone says Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings or nothing to you today, instead of getting all red in the face and Screaming "Don't you know what this "SEASON" is?!?! It's about JESUS you Jerk!" Try a kinder, gentler approach. Smile act like someone the happy holidayer might actually want to talk to and say "Merry Christmas!" if it is a waiter or someone you traditionally tip give them a bigger tip than normal and if you feel like you can do it from the bottom of your heart throw in a "God bless you!"

I'm just saying. If you weren't a Christian which example would you be more likely to listen to and possibly learn from?

Unfinished Business

Yesterday my Pastors wife spoke about unfinished business. 2 years ago she ran in the New York City marathon and was injured on mile 9. She pressed on and limped over 17 miles to the finish line but she was disapointed with how it turned out. She didn't go in planning to just make it she wanted to be victorious. Last week she got a second chance. She ran the marathon for the second time. Only this time she made it all the way through without any injuries smiling the whole time.

When she was speaking it really struck a chord with me. In 2001 I went to Russia as a Missionary. But my time there was extremely dissatisfying. I didn't get to do any of the things I saw myself doing and my motives were misjudged by my authorities. Because of that my spirit was injured and while I finished that race I crossed the finish line "limping." It almost killed my vision. However my God is a God of second chances! I am in training for my second "race" and this time I am a part of a team. :) I refuse to fail. this race we will be victorious! 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.


We have set a goal of 500 prayer partners. If you would like to be one of the 500 comment on this post and give me your email address. If your not comfortable leaving your email on the comment section you can email me at jklopez04@gmail.com

Blessings!
Kat~*

Team Lopez (minus Dad and Victor)

its a little difficult to get us all to look at the camera at the same time

Eternal Perspective

Have you ever walked into a place that you had never been to and felt that you had just come home?
That is how Peru felt for me. It's extraordinary really because I don't speak the language *yet* and I really haven't been in an environment like there before but it was just as comfortable for me to be there as walking into my church. *warm fuzzies*

This past Sunday Pastor Jack Hanes spoke at our church. He is a missionary to Australia. He spoke about the master key to abundant living. A life focused on serving others. The bible says that a day to God is like a thousand years to us. If we can expect to live about 70 years that calculates into about an hour in God's time. So in other words the life we live here is only about an hour of eternity. If that's true how can we expect to make an impact on eternity when we spend most of our "hour" focused on pleasing ourselves? As he was speaking I was thinking of things I have purchased for myself and how some of those things seemed so important for me to have but what good do they do me? What if I had helped someone in need pay a water bill instead of buying myself that new shirt? And now as Jose and I anticipate moving overseas we are talking about what is actually important enough to make the cut to take to Peru. It's amazing how that can change your thought process. It makes us think more about the eternal. What can we spend our money on that has an eternal purpose? What can we take with us when we move out of our earthly bodies and into heavenly ones?
Wow, I'm rebuked for my materialistic ways. Lord, help me never forget this lesson you are teaching me and always see things through an eternal perspective.

more pictures

I'm sorry it has taken so long to put more pictures up or for us to update this at all we are hoping to get internet set up in the next week or 2 but for now I do what I can when I can.

Peru was awesome. In some ways it was overwhelming just thinking of how quickly we will be living there. All of us loved it and are excited about going back. Jose and I are already getting ready to take a trip to Piura in April.

You are going to have to click on the bottom of this box to see the video because I can't figure out how to make it play automatically enjoy :)

From

Sunday

On Sunday we attended church at Casa De Padre. The pastors were in Arizona at the time. They returned home last night and Jose and I are going to meet with them tomorrow evening about our plan for Piura. Please pray for us that our meeting goes well and is helpful for us to learn some more about what we need to do.

A few things struck us about the service on Sunday that I wanted to mention. We actually arrived about 1 hour into the first service. (traffic in Lima is...very different from the US)  They had just started the message. It lasted about 20 minutes and then he finished up with prayer over the sick/repentant. We stayed for the 2nd service worship. It lasted almost an hour with just a quick word from one of the ministers calling the ushers forward for the offering. Everyone I could see gave something. It was so amazing to me coming from the church in America where the majority of people have to be convinced to give. Before you think these people are giving out of their abundance I think it's helpful to know that the minimum wage in Peru is $160 a month from what I understand it is not based on how many hours you work. Also work is very hard to come by. Because of this you see a lot of people selling things or performing at stoplights. They would rather do that than starve. (You never see people just standing with a sign asking for money.)  

Another thing we noticed Sunday morning as we were driving to church was people standing in line to get into churches. (Every church we saw this at was evangelical.) Picture a club or opening night for a much anticipated movie. I wish I could bottle the excitement I see in the Peruvian people for God and bring it back to America.

Kat~*

Pictures!

I wanted to put up a few pictures for everyone to enjoy :)

our internet connection is very slow so this is only a fraction of the pics we took on the first day.

.

On the way to Peru

We are so excited! (this is toward the end of the trip so mommy was tired)

a roundabout in Miraflores

The Pacific Ocean there are mountains too but it's really foggy so you can't see them

We are up pretty high in a shopping center and this is a walkway to get down to the ocean

So Beautiful

                                               

There are lots of surfers even though it's pretty cold here. Logan really wanted to surf. I told him he's has to wait until he is at least 10. Later that day he said "Mommy! I'm 10 now!" lol

This is a playground close to the shopping center we went to. If you look closely on the left you can see the mountains and the ocean

Logan loves it here (so do I)

We are here!

We arrived in Lima last night at around 11pm. The trip was long with an 8am flight to Panama, 6 hour layover and then a 4 hour flight to Lima. We are about to tour Lima with some of Jose's family.
Hopefully tonight I will have a little time to write out a nice long post.
Thanks you for your prayers for a safe trip!
Kat~*

Jose posted this as a comment so I moved it ;)

I love this and sometimes feel I know some 30 and 40 year old toddlers that act like this.




“Property Law as Viewed by a Toddler” by Michael V. Hernandez.



1. If I like it, it’s mine.

2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.

5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks like it’s mine, it’s mine.

8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.

9. If I can see it, it’s mine.

10. If I think it’s mine, it’s mine.

11. If I want it, it’s mine.

12. If I need it, it’s mine (yes, I know the difference between “want” and “need”!).

13. If I say it’s mine, it’s mine.

14. If you don’t stop me from playing with it, it’s mine.

15. If you tell me I can play with it, it’s mine.

16. If it will upset me too much when you take it away from me, it’s mine.

17. If I (think I) can play with it better than you can, it’s mine.

18. If I play with it long enough, it’s mine.

19. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it’s mine.

20. If it’s broken, it’s yours (no wait, all the pieces are mine).



although funny, there is such a need for real men to step up and lead by example about being and likeness of God! Less than two weeks left until we make a monumental voyage to Peru.

6 days

It is less than a week until we leave. The butterflies, last minute gathering things, and waking up in the middle of the night because I *know* I'm forgeting something important have begun.
Today we bought "flying fruit snacks"  (Logan's name for them) and a few other things for the trip. Logan is so excited about going on an airplane. He has told everyone he's seen today (probably 15 total) that he is going on an airplane in 6 days. We are all really excited.

Please pray for us this week that the last part of the trip will be provided. That we will be able to meet with all the people we need to. Everyone would be healthy, and God would give us wisdom and strength as we do our last minute preparations

Kat ~* 

Two Weeks

Well according to our countdown clock down there \/ we have 2 weeks to go! We are leaving (Meaning taking off from the airport) around 8 am on Friday September 25th. But before we can do that we have a few things going on that we would appreciate prayer for.

1. Jose lost his passport. Actually a 3 year old bandit lost Jose's passport but we can't find it and need to! Tomorrow Jose is going to the passport office to get a replacement (they have a special one for travel within 2 weeks) but it would be great to not have to spend the extra money for it so pray we find it tonight!
2. Saturday Jose is working at a festival to try to raise the rest of the funds we need for our trip
3. Monday-Saturday next week we are moving to our new place (and Jose is still working from 8-(4) whenever he completes the things he needs to)
4. Last week of work and packing and gathering things together before we go

For those of you that live in the Houston area we have couple needs that we are hoping to possibly borrow instead of buying everything. If you have any of the following things and would be willing to loan them out it would be a huge blessing

1 large rolling suitcase
a folding luggage cart for carting around our carseat during our (2) 4 hour layovers in Panama
a rolling backpack for Logan to carry his toys onto the airplane
4 travel pillows
2 portable dvd players for the boys to watch movies on while we are flying/waiting
game cartridges for a leapster

Aside from that any genius (or even just average ;) ideas any of you have about entertaining young energetic boys during air travel would be much appreciated. This is our first time flying as a family and the boys first time flying period so I am open to suggestions

Thanks for all your prayers and support :)
Kat ~*

New beginnings in september

This is my first blog so please know I am amateur in these matters.  This weekend saturday september 5th marked a day that began 5 years ago that is now coming to pass.  The dedication of a place of restoration called Jordan Ranch.  For those that do not know, my family and I have aligned ourselves with a great vision to restore men and families to a place where the blessing is commanded.  In the word of God the Jordan River represented a place of decision and a place of change.  The Israelites had to cross the Jordan river to get to the promised land.  Elijah walked across the Jordan river to get to his destiny. Elisha told Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan.  What does it mean to align yourself?  I asked myself that question for many years of trying to do things my own way. 

I was born in Lima, Peru and came to the US when I was 5 years old.  My parents divorced when I was very young and my mother remarried soon after that.  When I was young I could not explain why I was always torn to find an identity.  I began to suppress my Peruvian culture and adopt the American culture so that I would fit in.  When a boy tries to find a father figure and the need is not met, he looks to a counterfeit father to fill in the gap.  I began to see myself drawn into the temptations of this life and pulling more and more away from a place of order to a place where i was lead by my selfish lusts.  I understand that coming to America meant hard work, but i have heard it say that a parent's greatest investments are not in cars, houses, land, or even businesses but in their children.  My heart's cry for now is to first identify that there is an epidemic that is happening in our world today.  That epidemic is fatherlessness. 

As I continue to blog I will share my life experiences and what the word of God says about the need for men to take the responsiblity to bring order in a world that is plaqued with chaos. 

To find out more information about Jordan Ranch please link to http://westsidecdc.com/jordanranch/JordanRanch/Home.html




Jose
luke 16:12

Bumpy Road and All

Jose and I read the "One Year Bible" in our quiet time. (In case you don't know what that is it's the normal bible but it's put into 365 sections each with a couple chapters of the OT a couple chapters of the NT and a section of Psalms and Proverbs. If your looking for an easy way to read the whole bible in a year that's a great place to start.) Right now the OT section is Job. It's almost entertaining how it feels like whatever we are studying/learning about we always seem to get a little "hands on" training in. Now I couldn't even pretend to think I know what Job went through but we get our own little taste every once in a while. I think just enough to appreciate where Job was coming from. I've always felt somewhat connected to Job I've had conversations with myself that sound like some of the things he says to his friends, for example
Job 23 
“My complaint today is still a bitter one,

and I try hard not to groan aloud.
If only I knew where to find God,
I would go to his court.
I would lay out my case
and present my arguments.
Then I would listen to his reply
and understand what he says to me.
Would he use his great power to argue with me?
No, he would give me a fair hearing.
Honest people can reason with him,
so I would be forever acquitted by my judge.
I go east, but he is not there.
I go west, but I cannot find him.
I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden.
I look to the south, but he is concealed.
“But he knows where I am going.
And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
For I have stayed on God’s paths;
I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
I have not departed from his commands,
but have treasured his words more than daily food.
But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
So he will do to me whatever he has planned.
He controls my destiny.
No wonder I am so terrified in his presence.
When I think of it, terror grips me.
God has made me sick at heart;
the Almighty has terrified me.
Darkness is all around me;
thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere.

He goes from desperation to self righteousness to hope to terror. (I find it odd that he is not a girl, this is more common in the feminine sex...and yes I am talking about myself here) His friends are trying to help him but they are just making things worse. I've heard much greater theological minds speak on this subject and I'm not going to try to compete with them but something God has been showing me in this book, right now, is this. When everything feels like its falling apart my tendency is to figure things out. The who, what, where, why, when and how of the situation. I start getting all busy running around wasting my energy even explaining to God why I'm in the right. When I really need to just trust God and rest in him. You could say I need to "Cast the whole of my cares (all of my anxieties, worries, and concerns once and for all) on God, for He cares for me affectionately and and cares about me watchfully" (1 Peter 5:7) I love that He care for me affectionately! He cares about me watchfully! He doesn't just care about me in the way an employer cares about an employee. He gets a swell of pride in His heart when I tell Him I love Him just like I do when one of my babies tells me they love me. When I'm playing a little too close to the "deep end" His attention is riveted on me. He won't let me drown because He's my Daddy!

So yes. The road is bumpy. There are times that I think it's more than I can bear. But my daddy is with me ready to carry my load :)

Kat~*

Starting out

On September 25th 2009 the Lopez family will take the first of many trips to Peru. Our goal with this trip is to network with local pastors and scout the area we hope to be living in. We will spend 10 days in Peru starting and ending in Lima with Piura in the middle. Our vision is to start an orphanage and a church in Piura, Peru. Our prayer is that our church would be able to reach and minister to men and women and restore families and care for children without mothers and fathers.


I'm going to let Jose share his story in another post but here is my half.

When I was 13 years old I felt the call to be a missionary. I did not know where but I knew Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone"(NLT) was meant for me. I read every missionary biography I could get my hands on and when the opportunity to go on a 10 month Mission trip to Russia presented itself I acted on it. A couple months after I came home I met my husband Jose he told me he was born in Peru and I was quite embarrassed to say all I really knew of Peru was that it is mentioned in a Frank Sinatra song ("Come Fly With Me") After we married we both felt strongly that God was calling us to Peru. It's taken us 5 years to get to this point and we are so excited to be here! A lot of details are yet to be determined and your prayers are coveted as we take this step of faith.

Thank you for reading this and for your support

God Bless

Kat~*