On the Road...

I know.

I have neglected the blog, but I have not forgotten it!

I have not had the time to read or write like I thought I would on this cross-country road trip. I don’t think I will be able to post our family mosaics and will just have to let Ricky’s post, pictures and videos documenting our trip on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) suffice.

I do hope to have some time on our longer drives coming up to occasionally write a pondering ;)

Getting Going

• First weekend  of August: After the kids returned from the grandparents house, Ricky’s dad and brother came for a visit. They took the big kids out one day while Ricky and I worked and watched the baby. We all went out to lunch after Raphael’s baby dedication at church :)
• Second week of August: A friend visited for a day; we left for Wilmington for a week (Ricky took vacation); we had a meeting about Wycliffe with our old church small group and a few other close friends; we stayed with some neighbors from our old neighborhood our first two nights and visited other neighbors while we were nearby; visited more friends; I spontaneously got to go to a movie theater with a friend while Ricky watched the kids; and, we got to share with the missions committee we used to be on at our church in Wilmington — so surreal and neat!
• Third week of August: The only thing out of our normal activity was having friends over for dinner one evening ;)
• Fourth week of August: We held a home meeting at a friends' house (for 10 :) and then had a sleepover; we babysat the four boys while our friends took the girls to the farmers’ market to help them sell their coffeeWe ; went to a back-to-school party and our church’ baptism/pool party; a friend came to visit for a day; we tried to celebrate Micaiah’s spiritual birthday but he started to feel sick :( ; and, we hosted our small group one last time before our big trip!
• Raphael began crawling in Wilmington! The big kids and I had to babyproof the house when we returned. And soon after, he began to stretch out his arms to us to be picked up ;)

I 

• School verses: Micaiah -- Psalm 1:1-2  ; Aolani -- Galatians 5:22, Psalm 128:1

Peeled Bananas

 Why is your newsletter called Peeled Bananas?

A woman from Asia once said that reading the Bible in her national language was like eating a banana with the peel still on it. But having the Bible in her heart language, the language in which she dreams and thinks, was as satisfying and delicious as eating a peeled banana.

Playing Catch-Up

• First week of July: We go to a birthday pool party for the kids' friend; we took a day trip to Boone; Ricky met with friends; and, Micaiah got a haircut.
• Second week of July: I have friends come over every day to help me either plan school for the next year, clean, cook or teach school; a friend comes stay overnight; we have Candle in the Window (like a Christian airbnb, kind of) visitors from Missouri come for dinner and to stay one night (and I received a massage from a guest!); we had the honor of sharing with our sending church about Wycliffe Bible Translators; and, then we went to our church's groundbreaking picnic.
• Third week of July:  I have friends come school the kids for me so I can work in our home office; I participated in some MailChimp webinars; a friend from college came for an overnight visit; we went to another birthday party for a friend of the kids; and, we had a summer small group picnic gathering.
• Fourth week of July: More help abounded this week; Aolani had to go to ER one day because she had chest pain and shortness of breath (turned out to be intestinal gas; blueberries don’t agree with her!); I got to go to a luncheon for mothers and talk about birth while Ricky took the kids to the doctor for Aolani’s follow up; and, we met my parents to pass on the big kids so they can enjoy their week with my parents :)
• Fifth week of July/early August: All I know is that the kids had too much fun (cousins, pool, aquarium, beach, water park, mini golf, gymnastics center and time at the farm!) Meanwhile, we got to go on double date with good friends to a new ice cream and bakery shop; friends would come over for a little each day to free me up to office work; another close friend came to surprise me and take me on a date downtown; and, we took Raphael to a friends’ house while we had the privilege of meeting with the elders of local church that we are connected to (fun)!
• During the month of July, Raphael got his first two teeth (bottom front); his hair started to grow and turn honey-colored; and he began to rock on all fours preparing to crawl :)

• School verses: Micaiah -- 1 John 4:7, Matthew 4:4, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Psalm 63:1  ; Aolani -- Psalm 55:22, Galatians 5:16, Philippians 4:12-3

My Favorite Corrie Ten Boom Quotes

"You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”

“Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”

“What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.”

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”

“It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability that counts.”

"This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see."

“The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.”

“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible."

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

“There is no panic in Heaven! God has no problems, only plans.”

“When I try, I fail. When I trust, he succeeds.”

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”

“The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.”

Rays of Sunshine

• First week of June: More friends come help address letters for me; a friend comes to help homeschool the big kids; and, we pack up to head south for the rest of the month.
• Second week of June: We stop by my parents’ farm for a night before we all meet my brother's family in Hilton Head for family vacation — which was relaxing and allowed us to get caught up on our Wycliffe work so we’d be ready for training. 
• Third week of June: The onsite portion of our Wycliffe training, called Equip, began and lasted two weeks. We learned too much and came back feeling inspired and overwhelmed! It felt like living on a college campus. There was a wonderful program for the kids, and they made many close friends :) After just two days Aolani said, “I think this is my new home.”
• Fourth week of June: They gave us a free weekend to enjoy Orlando. We took the kids to the Magic Kingdom for a day, arriving at noon and leaving the park at 2am! We had kept this adventure a secret and didn’t tell them until right before we left to go ;) We stopped at DaySpring to recover for a couple nights before returning home.
• When we were packing tea bags for me for the trip, Aolani exclaimed, “All this tea? Mom, you’re going to be drunk!”
• When Ricky got home from work one day, Micaiah asked, “Was justice done today, Daddy? Did she go to jail?”
• This month Raphael began to eat solid food tooth (blended smooth), sit up alone (surrounded by pillows though), and bathe sitting up in the tub. He wakes twice a night, normally. Everyone fell in love with him in Florida! 

• We didn't school this month, so no school verses ;)

Wholehearted Willingness

After God had spoken "Now” and released us to GO into full-time, international missions work, we prayed for almost two months before moving forward.

It was during this time that I felt Him asking me a question. And I knew that I had to do a little soul-searching first and not simply or impulsively answer.

“You are willing to die for a people group, but are you willing to suffer for them?”

And I knew that He meant voluntary suffering. Being willing to give up what little bit of health I had left. Lay it on the altar as a willing sacrifice.

It seemed different to suffer for not renouncing your faith in Christ versus suffering for a people when someone else could go.

That’s like voluntarily having the severe restless legs I had during pregnancy (intense pain and sleeplessness). Who would volunteer for that?!

I don’t like suffering. Death? Please! Torture gives me the chills.

But suffering is coming for everyone no matter what — voluntary or involuntary.

Really, it was a matter of obedience. Would I be willing to go wherever He sent me even if that meant embracing more suffering?

Of course, I would quickly shout, “Yes!” But He was telling me to wait and ponder, so that my “yes” would be deep in understanding and full in knowledge. A wholehearted acceptance.

There was no Aha! moment. Just prayers. Because suffering for the Bibleless is suffering for Christ.

I was praying a lot that God would help me to have His heart for people and love others more than myself. And I would pray that I would learn to trust His Spirit in me to endure with faith, love, and joy.

I’m still praying. But I am much more confident in my yes.

*I know Wycliffe Bible Translators would not send its members into wanton endangerment or ignore health concerns. I think that God just wanted me to wrestle with this and trust Him even more than I already do.

News, Changes, New Changes

Hi friends!

We are honored to share some exciting news— we have recently joined Wycliffe Bible Translators! I’ll share a little of the story now.

While we always knew that we were called to worldwide missions (since before marriage), we had never felt clear direction from God regarding specifics. Even though our heart never wavered, we were unsure of what our specific role would be. We have had two careers, two moves, and three kids while we waited.

Beginning in the summer of 2015, we began to feel anticipation, like some big change was coming (we thought it was my healing, which may come anytime!) Then in October 2016, God released us to pursue Wycliffe Bible Translators! What a surprise!

After much prayer and a long application process, we became official in April. We are now in the process of being launched to our first assignment, Public Relations for International Media Services, based at the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, North Carolina. Our assignments (and location) may change over time as the Lord leads. Please visit here for more information about joining our team.

We can share more of the story when we are traveling. We are honored to call you friends and greatly appreciate your communication, care, prayers, encouragement, and all support for our family!

Goal –
We must have 100% of our partnership team before we can be released to our assignment. The target date for our move to Waxhaw, North Carolina, is May 1, 2019.

Travel – 
Ricky will likely finish his current job this fall. We will leave soon after to travel cross-country to visit old and new friends. Please be in touch!

Note – 
We want to make it clear that if you are unable to provide financial support at this time, please do not avoid us! We treasure a relationship with you, no matter what!

Prayer Requests – 

• Develop partnership team
• Old and new relationships 
• Homeschooling during this time 
• For Ricky to strongly finish court reporting 

What we want to do for you – 

• Pray and intercede 
• Encourage and bless 
• Share passion
• Spread the vision

Gratefully,
Ricky, Aidan, Aolani, Micaiah, & Raphael  DiMartino

Rolling into a Blur

• First week of May: We enjoyed a day visit from a friend; had old neighbors over for dinner; and, helped host a health and wellness event for the Marshallese in our community (we even had an interpreter). My friend taught, I organized, and Ricky had a Poppin’ Party with all the kids!
• Second week of May: We had more friends over for dinner; Ricky worked out of county most of the week; and, Ricky’s dad and brother came for a long weekend. We went to Sierra Nevada in Asheville one day and had a blast, but I think I got food poisoning that knocked me out for a day. Thankful that the big kids still got to go to church and small group :)
• Third week of May: Ricky’s brother took his dad to the airport to fly out and picked up his mom who flew in to visit for a week — Ricky’s brother got sick the next day and had to leave two days early; the big kids got haircuts; we got to go on a movie theater date; a friend stayed the night; and, we all went to Boone for an overnight mini-vacation and to celebrate 11 years of being yoked together ;)
• Fourth week of May: Ricky worked out of county three days this week; Aolani and the adults had dentist appointments and celebrated with milkshakes afterwards; went to a friend’s birthday party; and, went to small group.
• Fifth week of May: A dear friend took our big kids along with her kids to a local children’s museum for a day; we went to an old friend’s house in the mountains for dinner (reconnected with one of my teachers from high school!); went to a Marshallese birthday party for one year old twins that was still going on after midnight :) ; a friend visits overnight; and, Ricky invited some Marshallese teenage boys over to watch basketball.
• After much thought and discussion, we decided to give Aolani a dollar a day during the week for all of the ways she helps me around the house and with the baby while Daddy works :)
• I helped Micaiah change his first poopy diaper!
• Raphael grew really strong this month! He rolls and moves around everywhere. He’s teething and sucks/chews on his fingers. The hair on his head is finally growing. He is quick to smile, and he poops twice a day. He is getting louder and more talkative by the day. He especially loves his family and siblings. He nurses for about five minutes every hour and a half. And he still sleeps from around 1am until 1pm, waking twice to nurse. Generally, he naps three times a day. We started solid food toward the end of the month — avocado and butternut squash. He is beginning to really like playing peekaboo and started playing in a walker. Raphael is also really responsive to me — enjoys my presence and wants me. Overall, he is still a happy and easy baby whom everybody loves and adores!

• School verses: Micaiah -- Psalm 51:10, Romans 14:11, 2 Timothy 1: 7, Mark 16:15  ; Aolani -- 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Peter 1:24-25, Ephesians 2:8, John 8:12, Romans 8:37

Called to Peace

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

Colossians 3:15

This is a popular verse in our home. And it has been for me for years now. But recently the Spirit illuminated a new depth of meaning that I had been missing.

I used to always focus on the first half of the verse, thinking the second half to be more like a directive telling me how I needed to behave. "Act peacefully since His peace rules your heart.” Not that there’s not truth to that, but I don’t think that’s what Paul is saying here.

I think Paul is getting at God’s action and not ours.

He has called me to be in and dwell in peace. It's not a call to action but a reminder of this gift He has for us. He wants for me to have and know peace. Imagine the Father beckoning His child to come get dessert.

So come and get it! For He is calling you to peace.

Focusing on Friends

• First week of April: We had a friend visit one night; started taxes; had a sleepover with our friends; celebrated my birthday by going out to a cafe with a friend (and Raphael); and, went to small group. 
• Second week of April: Taxes continued and completed; and, we got to visit a friend and see his new house and share a meal and games. 
• Third week of April: We went on our second annual cabin adventure with two other families (great friends); there were seven little boys (6 and under) and only two girls! The kids had a blast! 
• Fourth week of April: Ricky had to work out of county all week; my mom came to visit us for five days; we hosted our last missions committee (and are now stepping down); went to small group; and, held a tea party for Aolani. She invited seven girlfriends. She dressed them up upon arrival, and then they painted Kwik Stix flowers, did puzzles, drank tea and ate homemade strawberry shortcake, and played Guesstures. Ricky and Micaiah went to join a friend and his sons begin building a fort. 

• School verses: Micaiah -- Matthew 5;14 & 16, Psalm 97:8-9, Joshua 24:15,  ; Aolani -- Psalm 34:10 & 18, John 15:13-14

Open Expectancy

When Raphael was a newborn and it was time to feed him, he would lay across the Boppy on my lap and just open his mouth, wanting and waiting for me to put the nipple into his mouth. Knowing I would do it.

I keep thinking that God wants us to trust Him like that. Going to Him with open hands, expecting Him to fill us and nourish us.

Let’s go to Him with that confidence in His goodness (Heb. 4:16, Ps. 81:10)!