Bound For More Than I Realized

When Portugal Bound began, I used it as a way to keep my family and friends in America updated as to the happenings of our family.  A place to post pictures of the kids as they grow, and of us as we gray.  A way to say, "I don't email pics anymore....go look at my blog."  It took the blame off of me when not every grandparent received the same picture as the next in their in-boxes.  I'm all about equality, I guess.

Over time, my blog morphed into my online community of newly met friends all across the globe.  I've met other Christan women, pastors wives, missionary wives, moms with more kids than I have and folks with problems much bigger than my 'drying clothes in the winter' and 'language difficulties'. 

When I reflect on my childhood/adolescent years, I remember thinking that there had to be more to life than what I was experiencing at the time.  School/peer influence/bullies/bad grades...etc.  I remember thinking that I was bound for much more than life in 'Hickville' AL. (I always called it.)

As I matured, barely graduating high school and began working to support myself and a long distance relationship with my future husband,  I developed a twinkle in my eye.  With the promise of his hand in marriage I was guaranteed to go places!  I had it all planned out.  We'd get married after he graduated from The Academy, we'd be shipped off to some snowy capped region of Colorado.  Maybe eventually spend some time overseas.  Just long enough for him to serve out his indebtedness for his West Point degree.

"This is it!"  I'm getting out of here!  Finally!

Then it happened.  Michael called me one evening from New York.  He'd had an accident at school during football practice.  He'd torn his acl.  After a few surgeries and entering his Senior year, it was determined that he would not be fit for duties as an officer in our United States Army.  Therefore upon graduation he would be released of his obligation to serve his 5 year commitment.

There went the snowy capped mountains and life in some exotic, far away country.

"That's okay."  I tried to encourage myself.  "As long as I have him.  I'll be just fine."

And so today.....I not only have him, my extremely handsome husband, but I have HIM.  The Creator of the universe and the Savior of my soul! 

I was bound after all, for something bigger than I had imagined.

I get to spend my life working alongside my husband, raising an incredible group of kids and serving my Lord....ALL at the same time.

I no longer have a clue what my blog is all about.  I'm finding it more and more difficult to come up with worthy posts....but this one thing I do know......My LORD is worthy of all praise and glory for my life and the ministry HE has trusted us with here in Portugal.

May HE bless and may we see souls saved and lives changed.

God's Promises

Some days here in northern Portugal I often wonder if the rain will ever stop.

Rain, wind and gray skies that never seem to let up.

I never knew how much I needed the sun, until I went an entire month without seeing it last January.

Now I never take a pretty day for granted. Always giving thanks to God for sunny skies and having a need for sun glasses.

A few days ago after a long night of rain pelleting against the window and wind so strong it sounded as if the clay tiles were rising on the roof, I walked out the door to find this....



A full rainbow! I could actually see both ends! Contrary to popular belief, there were no pots of gold, but rather corn fields and vineyards.

I know what the Bible says....but ashamedly that doesn't stop me from questioning His word at times.



But on this morning His promises were so clear, so loud and so very beautiful!

I couldn't help but to repent.

God is Faithful!

Unworthy Blessings

Missionaries sacrifice.

They sacrifice family, friends, culture and customs. They miss the fellowship of like minded believers. They do without certain frills & foods that define us as Americans and they normally never complain.

I'm not complaining now, but rather sharing with you my blessings.

Tori, fellow missionary wife in Croatia posted recently about No stick Cooking Spray.

What? No Stick Cooking Spray? You ask.

Yep...that's one of the things we wives sacrifice.

We don't have fast food options like you guys do in the states. So that leaves us wives in the kitchen each and every lunch and dinner trying to come up with a meal. Neither do we have the convenience foods that one American family may have their pantry and freezer chock full of. So we start from scratch. And this usually doesn't even include no stick spray. ---I know...ouch!

Tori couldn't buy it in Croatia until recently. Her husband just about sprinted through the store to show Tori his fantastic discovery. She jubilantly filled her buggy full till she saw the price, exchanged it in her head and discovered that each can of "Pam" spray would cost her about $16. So with much sadness the cans, every last one of them, went back on the shelf.

I just about cried when I read this.

To have it so close.......

Not having it at all is one thing, but having it so close and not be able to afford it is another. It's worse I think.

You see Missionaries not only have to keep themselves 'afloat', but most have to pay the rent, utilities and furnishing of the new church plant that may or may not have a few folks attending. For us in Portugal the Euro/Dollar exchange rate is terrible. It's better than it was last summer, but still it's not good.

$16 Pam spray just isn't in the budget. Even if it does make life in the kitchen just a little easier.

My heart goes out to her. She had a friend send her some last year, but those cans are long gone....sniff, sniff.

I too had some cans sent to me at Christmas time from a dear friend. She sent three cans. Liquid gold I call them. One is almost ku-put and I have two more precious cans left. I don't use as much as I did in the States spraying as little as I can get away with. My nightmare is to be without this stuff again. I don't want to think about that....



Hazelnut coffee creamer....an absolute treat for me!



Chili, Ranch, taco, cheese, and gravy mixes. Ahhhh...the convenience!



Don't forget peanut butter. How do you raise kids without it?



A huge "Thank You" to everyone that sent packages this Christmas. You know who you are, and so does our Lord. May His blessings be upon you!


Monday Michael went in search of portable tables. The kind most churches use in fellowship halls. We were told how difficult they are to find them here. We were so excited and thankful when he found these 6 foot folding tables! One step closer.....


And look at these cuties waiting for school to begin. I better go...



God is so Good!
Have a great day!

What I Found In The Box - Guest Blogger

Without fail, every single time we receive a package here from the States, it contains at least one completely unexpected but perfectly appropriate item. Normally what friends and relatives send has been requested and tremendously appreciated. Boxes have included peanut butter, Velveeta cheese, Kool-Aid and clothes. Simple things without a doubt, but secrets about which the Portuguese have no clue. For example, our girls often take Kool-Aid with their snack to school and have to tell their classmates that it is just, “the juice of America.” Such statements are glorious in their simplicity and perhaps more accurate than the average adult would admit, However, with upturned noses, our pedantic European friends often remain in the dark regarding some of America’s most precious treasures, including the freedom that comes with Christ’s forgiveness.

But the packages, oh, how timely are the packages - each one a conscious reminder of how our heavenly Father always knows best how to bless His children. He, as all great fathers do, cares for both our needs and wants. Many times the two, our need and wants, remain deftly interwoven and inseparable.

Our latest package came less than two weeks ago and a majority of the contents have already been ravaged, even with my feeble attempts to ration their Walmart-y goodness. The surprise of the box though was a book called “The Shack,” written recently by William P. Young. While I don’t normally read modern, living fiction writers, I try to read each book I receive as a gift. This was no different. I would try.

Dutifully, I began a novel about a man who spends one weekend by himself, in a shack with all three members of the Godhead. It’s fiction, OK? And, yes, he spends a weekend with God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Each appear in very surprising personifications, which I will not spoil for you, but for which you should be prepared seeing that they most likely will fly in the face of our American mindset.

Dutifully, I began, curiously I continued, and worshipfully I completed the book. My soul and spirit soared with each turning page, although troubled at times my heart ached and dared to process what my mind comprehended. I finished the book with a firm commitment to live each day striving to recognize God in everything that I do - as my Father and not some idea or delusion of my imagination. Everyday, I want to cultivate my relationship with the Lord, just as I would with my dad or my wife. That’s the essence of Christianity - a relationship with a living, caring God.

With a few statements I disagreed, but I have firmly decided not to play judge and jury with minor nuances and semantics. Want to know what I learned? Preconceptions are inevitable but never insurmountable. In turn, they are detrimental but should not be completely disastrous. The Lord gently reminded me that He doesn’t fit in my theological box, but He longs to be part of my life. From The Shack, I learned that He’s “especially fond of me,” and at the same time, that He’s especially fond of you too. Want to know what else I learned? I learned that what I found in the box, wasn’t what I thought was in there.

Written by Michael Andrzejewski for The LaGrange Daily News