let it begin

Well, today we taught our last classes at Palabra de Vida. Tomorrow we are going on a little field trip kind of thing with the kids, and then we will have to say goodbye to most of them . . . It's been a very difficult time for me, and the littlest things, like shutting my classroom door and erasing my whiteboard for the last time, are really getting to me. All of the kids have been so great, throwing surprise parties for us, writing us little notes, and giving us big hugs. Suffice it to say we will miss them A LOT. Please pray for us as we begin this time of transition.
Here are a couple of pictures - the first one is my 9th grade class (in a pyramid after several failed attempts), and the second one is my 10th/11th grade class. They are amazing kids, and I have grown to love all of them . . . please keep them in your prayers as well as they too experience change in their lives.

New phases of life bring . . .

new blogs!! I figured that when we move back to Ohio, it won't make much sense to use our "Kandels in Costa Rica" blog anymore. Sad, yet exciting . . .
As I was pondering what I should call this blog, I tried to think of the types of things I might post about. It will probably be everyday stuff, but I thought, well hopefully it will include the purchase of a house, new jobs, and the starting of our own little family. All are things that could make us anxious, but we know that God has a plan for our future. He has taken care of us so well up until now, and we are excited to see what is in store! Sooo, the title comes from Matthew 6:25-34 . . . "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
So, as we close out our time here in Costa Rica, we are thankful, and we anticipate all the things that God still has planned for us. I'm hoping to share these things with all who want to follow along. Until then . . .