theTREIFactor

WARNING:  The following story may contain some graphic details that might make it difficult for the reader. Sunday morning Mike and I took the bus to church with our friend and fellow student Josh LaFever.  I took the opportunity to flip through my bible to find a passage of scripture for class devotional Monday morning.  We attend a very small church (Cuidad Belén) just outside San José.  It takes about 10 minutes by taxi - a little more by bus.  The area is known as Calle Blancho (White Road) and it's in a pretty rough part of town.  I had just picked the passage in Judges 6 about Gideon when our bus came upon somewhat of a traffic jam.  A very narrow two lane road with cars parked on both sides--only one lane of traffic getting through.  The bus driver allowed some on coming traffic to go then proceeded forward.  Well, another vehicle realized that it was in the way and had no where to go.  The driver put the car in reverse and back...

     As I start this blog, I am bedside next to my mother-in-law, Eileen.  Doctors diagnosed her two years ago with double lung cancer and gave her a 15% chance of making it through 6 months of chemotherapy.  A little over two weeks ago, Mike and I flew back from Costa Rica because it didn't look like she would make it through the weekend.  While her condition is all over the board, and we were prepared to "let her go" without seeing her again, I am not sorry we're here.  There have been some very precious moments spent with her and she still manages to make us laugh through the tears.  She has been a formidable lady over the years and such an example to me.  I am so thankful God brought me into this family.      I met Eileen more than 14 years ago, and what struck me most is how she welcomed me as one of her own.  And that's how she was with everybody it seems.  Eileen didn't have "casual friends".  There were...