Nica Update:  Receiving More than We Ask or Imagine Dear Family and Friends, I am so thankful for the opportunity to share with you today.  Our time in the United States this summer has been such a gift. We have been amazed at how God is loving us through our Iowa and Ohio family and friends.  So many kindnesses, so many beautiful words, so much patience, beautiful hospitality, so many hugs, so much genuine concern, so much generosity, so much . . . well, grace.  It has been immeasurably more than we could have asked or imagined.  And exactly what we have needed. The week before we left Nicaragua for the United States, I (Lisa) found myself in tears often.  It was so hot and humid that we often went to bed between 8 and 9 at night because we were so worn down by the heat.  I was also not yet feeling well, not eating or sleeping well due to illness and to the heat, and there was so much to do before we left.  I felt like I was spiraling into a place of discouragement.  After now being in Nicaragua for 4 years, we are developing roots in this place where the people who see us at our best and worst every day live.  So, it is becoming hard to leave what now feels like "home" to us.  In addition, our summers in the States have often been exhausting due to travel and church visits and presentations to different groups and getting in health appointments and shopping for clothes/shoes/items we are not able to get in Nicaragua or that are very expensive to buy there.  So, I was also overwhelmed approaching the summer already exhausted and wondering how I would make it. I felt so weak . . . and then God . . . . . .  prompted my friend Kevin (a woman) to send me an email letting me know that the verse Ephesians 3:20, 21 was so strongly on her heart and mind and that she felt she needed to share it with me: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen. She knew that I was struggling and also offered to meet with me.  She came the next morning and read this verse to me - with emphasis - very slowly, phrase by phrase, and talked through it as she read.  Then, she prayed for me a very thoughtful prayer.  That afternoon, my friend Ann came to see me.  Ann asked me many pointed questions and one of them was, "Where do you go to find peace?"  I knew the right answer, and I knew that I was not finding peace because I was not really going to God with all of my stress and worry.  The next day was Sunday and I spent the afternoon watching the movies "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof".  At the end of one of those movies the following words flashed on the screen . . . Ephesians 3:20, 21:  Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen. It was at that moment that this verse became mine.  He gave it to Kevin to share with me.  But, it did not pierce me until He spoke it once again in big bold black letters on a computer screen.  It was one of those moments where you really experience that God sees you – sees into you and lets you know that He knows what is going on in your mind and heart.  It was a moment of conviction coupled with the comfort of knowing that I matter to Him.  From that moment on, I started to ask God just to help me to see His abundance, His immeasurably more, in the days prior to our leaving.   On Tuesday, my friend Terri invited our family over for dinner and we laughed so much and so hard throughout the night that my stomach hurt by the end of the night.  Earlier that same day, my friend Marilyn, gave me 20 or so books that I need for home schooling next year - saving me hundreds of dollars.  The moments of laughter and of receiving the books were times when my eyes were open to see what God had given and was giving me.  I experienced His abundance as I reflected on how God had spoken and worked through Kevin, Ann, Terri, and Marilyn to bring me to a place of expectation to replace my fear, a place of joy to replace my discouragement, a place where my fist became unclenched and I was able to receive. I continue to ask God to help me to see His abundance, His immeasurably more, while we are here in the States.  And I am amazed by all that we have and continue to receive from day to day.  We are sometimes receiving things that don't even really make sense – like being handed a delicious chocolate covered ice cream bar minutes after we arrived off the plane because it was customer appreciation day that day or like receiving free ice skating passes when we arrived at the ice skating rink at the wrong time.  And we have received so very much from the people with whom we have been spending time - in so many different ways.  It is humbling to live this life of receiving.  But, I'm learning that it is through receiving that I grow more deeply in love with The Giver.  This Immeasurably More Giver who asks us only to receive . . . His Son for eternity and His abundance for today.  And through receiving His abundance while recognizing that it is from Him, we are compelled to become givers just like Him. There were several times this past summer when people mentioned how we have made a sacrifice to live and work in Nicaragua.  I remember thinking that we did too our first couple of years there as I grieved the losses of a life that I loved in Iowa.  Now, however, I truly do feel richer than I have ever felt in my life.  We are rich in relationships with people in Iowa and with people in Nicaragua and with those who have lived in both places and are now in other parts of the world.  I think often about the verse that talks about how when you lose your life, you will find it.  I believe we have found far more than we have lost.  Thank you all - each one of you who so faithfully walks with us - for how you have been God's immeasurably more, His abundance, in our lives as well.  We love you. Thanks once again for your prayers for safety and health for us.  I am feeling much, much better – excited that I once again have energy!  Will is now sick, so would appreciate prayer for his healing.  We just completed a trip to Ohio in our old van that has almost 200,000 miles on it. We are so thankful for safe travel.  We will leave July 24 for Nicaragua and ask for prayers for safe travel on this day as well.  Thank you so much for your prayers!  Peace and love to you, Dan, Lisa, Rebekah, and Will Van Zoest PS.  See Pictures Below! Pictured below are a few of the people that we got to see this summer.  There are many others that I did not get pictures of, but who also loved on and encouraged us.  We are so thankful for all of you. Enjoying Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock classmates at our 25th reunion! Rebekah with friends Abby and Bailey. Rebekah and Will love and enjoy their Grandpa and Grandma very much. Rebekah and Will with friends Luke, Alivia, and Reed. Fun in the sun in Celleryville, Ohio with cousins Maria and Meredith. Rebekah and Will with cousins Sarah, Kelsey, and Matt.    Visiting Uncle Elmer and Aunt Betty before July 4th fire works. Success! Rebekah and her cousin Brooke. Pictured here are all of my Dad's siblings and their spouses.    Family Picture in front of the barn. Will with friends Zach and Alonzo. Lisa with friends Michelle, Tina, and Val. Get together with my sister, Brenda,  and my Mom's sister Janet and her family. Our kids love ice skating - it is a taste of the winter they miss. This was our kids' first time tubing.  Thanks again Loren and Joy! Miniature golfing with Jeff and Carol. Rebekah and Will go fishing and camping with Grandpa and Grandma. The Van Jonkweins - Van Rheenen's, Van Zoest's, Jonkers, and Kernweins. Mom, Me, Brenda, Aunt Ernestine, Paula. Dan's cousin Charlotte, Aunt Linda, cousin Maria, Will, Rebekah, and cousin Meredith. Family Picture in front of my parent's house.