{preparing for rain}

yes my beautiful friends it’s the rainy season here in Mexico {and when it rains it pours}.  plus with the horrible drainage systems, {or the lack thereof} it makes things ten times worse!

last weekend we had activities at the ranch with these beautiful people.

these niños are some of the original families that Genesis worked with. they use to live in close proximity to the ranch but now many have moved to neighboring towns.  we get the great opportunity of bringing them back to the ranch once a month to play.

despite the fact that it rain up until the wee hours of that morning…  it turned out to be a gorgeous day and we were able to carry on with all our plans.  {thank goodness because we had no backup plan.}

it was a little muddy driving into the ranch on the{mud} road but I’m always looking for a good ‘ol iowa {mudding} experience.  {please someone tell me they know what that is}

this week we have invited 18 niños from {durango} to play at the ranch on Saturday.  it sounds as if a rain storm wants to join in the fun too.  but this time we have out rain or shine plans in place.  we are ultra prepared. 

yesterday afternoon Alex and I moved all of the mattresses and bunks from one of the tent/dorms into another, in order to have a shelter to play all the indoor games we can possibly wrap our little minds around.  {I think we might be crazy.  thinking we can keep that many littles entertained and us sane for 7 hours in one 20x20 tent… whee} 

we pulled all the table games we could possibly get our fingers on.  {candy land, mancala, twister, and uno were defiantly in the mix.}

we bought a 24 pack of microwave popcorn for a movie in the afternoon.  {I smell veggie tales in spanish brewing.  my favorite!}

I was happily, thrilled, {yup} to find a TON of play dough.  {check}

we made sure to go to all measures to make sure that this weekend is a success, rain or shine.  all this preparation made me think about what kinds of lengths I should go to, in order to prepare myself for storms in my life.

now not every storm gives us this much warning.  it’s not like signs drop down from heaven telling you when you’re car is going to break down, that you are going to loose your job, or that a family member is going to be sick.  sometimes those things hit us blindside.  right up side the head and BOOM.  there you are totally unprepared.  what are you going to do…? what am I going to do…?

 

I think the key {not that I got this all figured out or together…  NOPE} is to obviously get ready before hand by using all the defenses {Jesus} has given us.

{Ephesians}

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

¹³ Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶ withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸ with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

I like how it says “…and, having done all to stand.  Stand…”  that simply means all we need to do is prepare, prepare, prepare, and then wait for the rain or the shine.  {simple right?  not!}  but we get the concept and we keep trying to prepare more, standing through rain storms, and always rejoicing in hope. 

   

in my own heart I feel it’s in a constant state of preparation. 

and for this weekend we are ready…  but stay tuned for lots of stories {I’m sure} of our adventures.

xoxo