Friday, July 19, 2013

Words are so powerful.

My brother and I are members of a Facebook group entitled “You’re probably from Douglasville if” – along with 4,000 other people.  Someone from the group recognized Andrew’s last name and decided to write him a private Facebook message:

Saw your name on the "you must have lived in Douglasville" page and just have to ask ... Is your mom Sally Whatley? She was my 3rd grade teacher. If you aren't, it sure is a coincidence because you sure look like her and I remember that her son’s name was Andrew. If not, sorry I bothered you. If so, just know that she was my FAVORITE teacher and I became a teacher because of her!! : )


After that, Andrew explained to this lady that my mom passed away five years ago to which she replied:

Oh, I am so sorry. I can honestly say that 2008 was the year that I thought of her all the time. I know this because it was the year that we returned to Georgia from North Dakota and I was applying for teaching jobs here in Paulding & Douglas. It brought her to my mind often when I was asked why I became a teacher. I also found out today that you know my brother, Randy. I saw your name on his friend list and asked him about you. I guess it really is a small world. Thank you for your reply. Again, I am sorry that you no longer have your mom here. My prayer is that you WILL see her again because I feel quite certain that she was a Godly woman just based on the memories of a little third grade girl who thought the world of her. God bless you and your family.

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.  Proverbs 16:24

Sunday, May 26, 2013

All good things must come to an end

It is hard to believe that Enrique, David, and I have lived in Costa Rica for almost two years!  My, how time flies.  Our service will be up in August and it will be time to go back to the States.
 
We have formed lots of friendships down here and enjoyed the “pura vida” lifestyle.  Our work here is not done so we are diligently looking for replacements and training them.  I know that other people are passionate about helping children to learn that God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever; God will put the right person in place as the preschool director for our church.  We also know that other people are passionate about small groups and the spiritual growth that takes place inside of a group.  God already knows who will replace Enrique in that role.

Our family and friends in Georgia are very excited for us to go back “home”.  We are too, but there is so much to do in order to get settled!  Before we moved down here, we got rid of all of our furniture, and other things as well.  We will need jobs, a place to live, furniture, and transportation.  Enrique's sister and husband have graciously offered us their car and furniture since they are moving to...China!
                                                        ----------------------------------
Being a part of Openhouse in Costa Rica was a wonderful adventure for us and we felt right in the middle of God’s will.  We feel the same about moving back to the States.  There are lots of unknowns, but we trust that God has it all planned out and whatever He plans is the best plan!

We appreciate all of the support that we have received while we have been here – encouraging letters and e-mails, prayer support, and financial support.  Please continue to support us with your prayers:
  • For us to continue to be an encouragement to our friends and coworkers in Costa Rica while we are still down here.
  • For us to honor God’s great name in all things – in all situations, no matter where we are.
  • For us to trust God with big decisions that need to be made and to be peaceful and content with whatever happens.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Tribute to Gran


I was very close to Gran and spent several weeks at a time with her over summer vacations when I was growing up.  Back then, she was known as Gran Pete, since she lived in St. Petersburg. 

A fond memory that I have of Gran is when I was about 8 years old or so, we bought ice cream cones somewhere and once we left the store, my scoop fell off the cone and onto the sidewalk.  I was so distraught, but without a second thought, Gran leaned down, picked it up, ate the dirty part, and put it right back on my cone, good as new!

Another strong memory that I have of her is when my mother, Gran, and I were in the ocean together and I was afraid of the waves.  They wanted me to swim from one person to the other, but I was scared.  Gran said, “Jennifer, just remember 'What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee' Psalm 56:3”.

Whenever I was worried about something or needed to make a decision, Gran said that she would pray about it.  She would remind me that “the prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.

Gran and me in the 80s.  She made me this dress.
Gran was a true Southern Belle whose home was always tidy and spotless, ready for guests at all times.  And when those guests came, she waited on them hand and foot. 

Gran was a master seamstress who made many of my dresses up until I was in college.  The last thing that she made for me was five years ago.  It was a blue cover to put over the shopping cart before placing my son to sit inside.  She had never made anything like that and said that it was quite a difficult pattern!

Gran was also a wonderful cook who made the best Southern food from biscuits to squash casserole to roast.  She was always cutting out recipes, but knew how to make practically everything without one.

Gran was a great dresser, constantly on the lookout for her next pair of shoes.  She always dressed very well with coordinating accessories.  Her purse was by the door always ready to jump in the car and go out.

Gran and me at the Coca-Cola Museum circa 1992.
I am very ecological (notice my T-shirt in the picture reads "Save the Planet") and would sometimes get on to Gran for not recycling.  She would collect the daily papers throughout the week and then carry them to the trash can!  She’d also throw away aluminum cans and plastic bottles.  I couldn’t stand to watch.  When I would say something to her about not recycling, she would reply that she lived through the Great Depression and had her own way of reusing things.  When I thought about it, I knew that she was right, for she would save butter containers and store food in them, reuse gift bags, and wash the aluminum foil for future use.

Gran was always great at remembering all of her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s birthdays and would send us a little money.  A couple of years ago, she said that she had too many to keep it up – 18 to be exact – and that it would send her to the poor house!  She said that she was going to stop sending cards because it was hard for her to write, but I still got them in the mail.  She even sent money for David’s last birthday and told me to go out and get him a hamburger with it.

Mom, Jennifer, and Gran
circa 2005
About a week and a half ago, as I lay down to go to bed, I began to cry, but wasn’t sure why.  My husband asked me what was wrong and I said that I think that I miss my mom (for she had passed away five years earlier).  I stayed up for a while crying and talking to God.  In hindsight, I think that it was God telling me that it was almost time for Gran to go home to Heaven.

I got to Tampa on Friday and was able to spend an hour and a half at Gran’s side, stroking her shoulder and telling her how much I love her. I’m going to miss talking to her on the phone and laughing at her funny, country sayings that were often politically incorrect.

She was a special lady, strong in her faith, who left a legacy of a wonderful family who love and serve God.   I miss her already, but I know that she is happy in Heaven and that I will see her again one day.  I love you, Gran!




Monday, April 29, 2013

Pura Vida

A guest entry from my brother:

I went to visit my sister in Costa Rica from April 5 to April 12.  I really enjoyed the trip.  Prior to leaving I printed out a map of where they lived in case I needed to find it on my own.  I also had the printed address.  Upon arrival, there was no one to greet us so we borrowed a phone from the over-enthusiastic cabbies and called Enrique.  It turns out that I had the right address, but the wrong map.  I am soooo glad I did not have to resort to using it.  

I was intrigued to learn that one of our dollars equalled about 500 of the local currency, the colón.  Jennifer taught me a trick that when you see a price, you can double it, drop the zeros and then you will have the price in dollars.  For example, something that costs 15,000 colones is the equivalent of $30.  This was a neat and helpful trick.  

Our first day there, Jennifer took us to a volcano and then to a fish-for-your-lunch trout farm.  Both were exciting.  
 

Even more exciting was me driving in Costa Rica.  I tried to blend in with the anything-goes driving mentality, but I think I scared everyone in the car.  A couple of times, my Dad had to cover his eyes.  

My thimble’s worth of Spanish was enough to get by, but I would not want to live there without having someone like Jennifer to bail me out if I got into trouble. My son, William, and I made a good team.  I asked the question to someone in Spanish and he would translate the answer.  

We had a chance to stay in a vacation home of someone Jennifer knows.  It was very nice.  It also served as a reminder of the differences between poverty and wealth both of which appeared to be in abundance.  
My son enjoying the pool at the vacation home.

Another thing that stuck was the fact that there were bars, gates, and walls EVERYWHERE.  I don’t think any place was without them.  

I enjoyed the local food, but my favorite dish was actually a Mexican treat my sister makes that is essentially a fried potato quesadilla (or taco).  

Speaking of food, I found McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Subway (all of which I was able to order from by myself...thank you very much).  It was comforting to see the uniformity of these brands.  The one brand missing was Chick-Fil-A.  I was so glad when I got home to have a Chick-Fil-A sandwich, waffle fries, and sweet tea.

I was touched one day when I took Jennifer and David to the top of a mountain I had climbed that afforded a great view of the city.  Jennifer pointed and said to David “Do you see all those houses down there?  That is the reason we are here...to tell them all about Jesus."

By: Andrew Whatley

Monday, February 18, 2013

The Promise of His Presence

There are very few things that would bring me back to the States unexpectantly, but one of those is the birth of my friend's twin babies.  Unfortunately, I flew back not to congratulate her, but to console her because at 22 weeks of pregnancy, she had to deliver her darling little babies who did not survive.  My dad was so kind to buy a ticket for me to come back.  Just to have time with Kristen and to be with her.

I finally got to see and speak to her yesterday for the first time since her miscarriage earlier this month (She had gone out of town with her husband for a few days to get away).  Until yesterday, we had only been e-mailing and texting a little bit and I was getting my information from a friend.  Kristen wanted to share her story so I just listened.  She showed me a picture of her little babies who lived for an hour or two.  When she finished the account, she asked me for some words of wisdom.  I was speechless.  I told her that I had thought of many things to say to comfort her, but that I had forgotten them all because I was just blessed by her composure.  She's the one who ministered to me!  The way that she and her husband are handling this is amazing and the only answer is God.  And she knows that.

Kristen didn't really cry yesterday because she was all out of tears.  She only cried a little when she saw me crying for her.  I saw her on auto-pilot yesterday, tired from sleepless nights of pain and heartache, and not believing that this is real.  I also saw a great strength in her that is only revealed in us when difficult times like this arise.  In our weakness is when God shows up and takes over and we can see Him handling everything.  I could easily understand how a person could lose her faith over this or how a couple could drift apart or even get a divorce over this, but not Chris and Kristen.  They display God's peace that passes understanding that He promised us.  They have grown stronger as a couple because of this.  They could have chosen to distance themselves from God and from each other because they don't understand why this happened, but they are trusting in God and have faith in Him.  They choose to believe that He loves them so much and is saddened by this tragedy too.  They know that His plan is greater and that He is in control.

Yesterday's sermon at church was excellent and God spoke to my heart about my friend's situation (and all of us when we go through hard times).
Here are the highlights:
  • We move into the direction of the promises we choose to believe.
  • God cannot love us more or less because God loves regardless.  (He is the definition of love.)
  • Peace comes not by resolving the problems of the present, but by trusting in the promise of His presence.
With the last bullet point, we can choose to focus on the problems of the present or experience the promise of His presence.  Jesus assured us that we will have problems - not maybe, nor possibly, nor perhaps, but we will - because we live in an imperfect world with sin.  But that's not where the story ends.  We will have problems, but Jesus has overcome the world and we can rest in the promise of His presence. 

They are optimistic and want to try again this summer; I was gladdened by this news.  Please pray for Chris and Kristen who feel God's peace, but need healing for their broken hearts.  They say that "time heals all wounds", but it doesn't.  God heals all wounds and He will heal theirs.