Christmas 2011

Christ ~ always Christ
Heartwarming Christmas movies
Remembering childhood Christmases
Intimate family celebration
Snow on Christmas day!
Two hundred kids loved on
Music filling the house
A new puppy, Bella
Saviour's miraculous birth

Ashaninka volume 18

Rainy and muddy.....this was our day for the big Christmas party at the Ashaninka community.  Hot chocolate, made from chocolate bars, cinammon, cloves, sugar, powdered cocoa and evaporated milk for 150 people, a slice of the traditional Christmas sweet bread for each, called paneton, and a toy for each child were what drew the crowd.  The kids acting out the day of Jesus' birth, singing songs about God our Father, and the reading of Luke 2 were hopefully what will stick with them.


A new believer, Emma, from Pichanaki, heard what we were going to do and insisted on donating the gifts for the kids.  We know God will bless her for her generous heart.

 Lydia, our Ashaninka host, insisted on making the hot chocolate over her open fire, getting up early to get the water good and boiling and using cacao beans from her trees to add to the flavor.  We know God will bless her for her servant's heart.

A pastor friend, his daughter and two friends, all from Lima, traveled the 10 hours to share Jesus' love with these people, bringing with them games for the kids, songs, and many smiles.  We know God will bless them for their sacrifice and love.  This is actually the 4th year they have gone to this community to give some Christmas joy.  They are the ones who introduced us to this group and are very loved and appreciated.

A week later, we reapeated this whole thing at the Ashaninka elementary school of 107 kids and 4 teachers, which was a new and sweet experience for us.  The kids were rewarded for their accomplishments during the year and performed poems, songs and dances.  We were the honored guests, but were the ones who left being blessed.

A baby changes everything

Don't you just love that song?  "A baby changes everything"  Isn't that the truth!  Babies change our schedules, our sleeping habits, our perspective, our desires, our passion and our convictions.  One baby changed the course of history.  JESUS.

I imagine a young, frightened Mary, holding Joseph's hand as she delivers her firstborn.  I imagine her praising God, praying to God, trying to grasp what is happening.  And HE was born.  A human baby, crying for his mother's milk.  GOD, the baby.  How would you care for God?  How did Mary treat him, teach him, look at him?  So many questions I would love to ask her some day!

This baby did indeed, change everything.  He not only changed Mary and Joseph's lives but my life as well.  Without this miraculous birth, life would be meaningless.  Without his perfect life, there would be no hope.  Without his death and resurrection, I would be lost.


"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.....and His name shall be called Wonderful, Prince of Peace, Counselor, the Mighty God......"


My whole life has turned around
I was lost but now am found
A baby changes everything, yeah,
A baby changes everything.
Faith Hill

Ashaninka volume 17

Tonight we planned our big Christmas party which is scheduled for this Thursday, the 15th now!  There is a group from Lima also coming to help us.  We pray the seed of the Gospel will be planted in many hearts on this day, and that Christ's love will be felt through us.

As we sat around the table on tree stumps (they always give Brent and me the biggest ones, I wonder why), while the newest baby slept in a crude hammock, Kati and Edison were confronted once again with their need of Jesus in their lives.  They both admit that if they died today, they would be in Hell, but are not ready to accept Christ's gift just yet.  Please pray for them with us.

Little Mizula usually has secrets for me that go something like this, "Will you bring candy next week?"  or "Can you bring Coke next time?"  She is 4 years old and as sweet as she can be.  Of course, I can't say no to anything she asks, so this time her little secret was "Do you have some shoes my size?"  My heart just broke.  I looked at her foot and made a big deal of measuring it and promised to return with some shoes for her.  I'll probably return with Coke, candy, shoes, cookies, toys.......who knows?  (The picture below is of her.)

I have been limping around for 2 weeks now with an injured foot (dropped something very heavy on it), so Lydia took pity on me and told me to sit down (on a big tree stump) and prop my foot up.  She then proceeded to pour an oily substance from an old, dirty bottle all over my foot and gently massaged it.  She used a dirty stick to get out more and some of the chunks that were in the bottom of the bottle.  She was using snake fat.  I didn't ask if she had killed the snake or how long she had had this particular bottle of fat.  I just humbly thanked her for her kindness and told her I would follow her instructions and see if my foot felt better in the morning.  It didn't...... but the fact that she cared for me and tended to me so gently touched my heart.


She is such a servant.  She has gathered some cacao beans and has them drying in the sun so we can use them in our hot chocolate on Thursday.  She does what she can, just like the widow in the Bible who gave everything.  She made sure we were loaded down with mangos, papayas and even a small watermelon from their orchard.  I hope they are learning from us, but I can say with certainty that we are learning from them!

Ashaninka volume 16

How fun it was tonight to watch the baby ducklings follow their mother around the yard!  Also to watch the roosters and chickens wandering around.  The puppy, the little cat, the bats and the numerous bugs!  It is such fun for animal loving kids!

The air was filled with excitement as we planned our big Christmas party, to which the entire Ashaninka community is invited (all 70 families).  There will be around 120 kids and we are going to have the traditional paneton, which is Peruvian sweet bread, a must have at Christmas and hot chocolate, made the Peruvian way!  I have made many huge pots of this hot chocolate over the years but never over an open fire.  Our Ashaninka friends cook each day outside, using fire wood.  So, this will be fun and new, making hot chocolate on a blazing hot day, over a hot, hot fire!  I wonder if the taste will be affected by the smoke, I'm sure it will be.  Can't wait to taste it.  Each child will bring his own cup, mug or bowl and there will be a gift for every child.

We will play games, we will sing and we will share Jesus with all gathered.  This is an opportunity like none other.  We have not met the great majority of this community and we can't wait to meet them.  I hope we will be accepted with all of our foreign-ness.  Please, please pray that the seed will be planted in many hearts on this day (the 22nd of December) and that this will open the door wide for us to go back and revisit the ones we will meet for the first time.

Tonight, Ernan came.  He is a 9 year old boy who lives an hour up the side of the mountain and walks this hour every morning to school and every evening home from school!  He was shy but he stayed and listened to the story of Joseph.  The Bible repeats "But God was with Joseph" throughout his story, even in the worst of circumstances.  The kids repeated over and over - "But God was with Joseph", "But God was with Joseph".  As He is with us, every minute of every day.

A Christmas tree's journey

Brent's and my second Christmas together as a married couple found us counting pennies and unable to afford a Christmas tree.  Our first Christmas had been spent with family so we didn't really feel the loss or necessarily want a tree.  This year I did.  Some dear friends found out we didn't have one and were just aghast at the thought, so they generously gave us a check with enough to buy a huge, gorgeous artificial tree, and also gobs of ornaments and decorations.  The tree touched the ceiling in our little apartment and was bigger than any of our furniture!  I sat for hours and just looked at that tree, it was beautiful and decorated exactly how I had dreamed it would be!

The following year, we enjoyed the same tree.  The year after that, we were traveling on deputation to go to Cuba so the tree and fixin's were all stored.  The following Christmas, we were in Cuba and bought ourselves a sad, scrawny little tree and decorated it with sad, scrawny little ornaments.  The following year, we were with my parents and heading back to Cuba.  The following two Christmases we used our sad little tree in Cuba and were thankful for it.  The next year, we came to Peru and actually shipped our precious tree and set it up in our even smaller apartment in Lima.  Oh, how happy I was to have that tree again!  It survived storage well and was as lovely as before for the next 2 years.  The following year, we were in the U.S. with my parents once again and the tree was stored.  The next 4 years in Lima we were able to fully enjoy our great tree, used the same ornaments and added new ones each year.  A couple years ago, we spent Christmas in Texas in our own home, so we bought ourselves a small, not too scrawny tree and new ornaments.  We called it our furlough tree.  We are now back in Peru and last Christmas got our dear faithful tree out of the musty, dusty storage room and set it up, still with some of the original ornaments.  It is showing some age but is just as beautiful as ever.  

This Christmas, we are here in the jungle of Peru and once again, big green is stored and we have bought ourselves a small, scrawny little tree and some new ornaments.  I was a little sad, but the thought of digging all of our Christmas paraphernalia out and stuffing it into the back of our car and bringing it here, to set up in our even smaller apartment......just didn't seem right.  So now we have our Pichanaki tree and my sadness disappeared as soon as my Lucas started dancing around and saying how pretty it was!  My perspective was made right once again.  After all, it's only a tree.  Christmas isn't about trees and life isn't about having what we desire.  I love that tree and all of its trimmings and I'll never forget D & D who gave us the money for it.  I love the journey of my life more, though, and that tree will just have to wait until we're ready to pull it out again!

Now I need to go plug the Christmas tree lights in and enjoy our Pichanaki tree!

Thanksgiving 2011

T ~ Three amazing children, each a unique gift from God
H ~ Husband of integrity and love
A ~ Andes mountains outside of my window
N ~ New mercy every morning
K ~ Kindness from the heart
S ~ Silliness and laughter
G ~ God's faithfulness and power
I ~ Invitation at my heart's door to come and sup
V ~ Voices of children joined in song
I ~ Interest in me by a true friend
N ~ New beginnings
G ~ Growing in grace

Ashaninka volume 15

Tonight was a night of firsts.  Lydia is 40 years old and has never seen a Bible in her own dialect, Ashaninka.  We have been talking about finding some Bibles for a while and were surprised tonight when Emely came, proudly carrying an Ahaninka New Testament someone had given her mom.  Lydia started reading it immediately.  I couldn't believe how big some of the words were, some with more than 20 letters in them!  Lydia used it to follow along in Matthew where Brent was reading in Spanish.  She said she was going to pepare herself by reading it and comparing it to Spanish and try again to share the Gospel with her family.  She is also excited to read it to her mother, who does not speak Spanish.

Another first for Lydia tonight was when her 2 year old little girl, Katerine, climbed a large orange tree!  Our study was interrupted by a call for help and we all ran over and there was tiny little Katerine, way up in the tree.  She was stuck but didn't seem the least bit scared.  Her mother, however, was!  Giant Brent was able to reach her and get her down and everyone was happy.

Also a first for the 3 adults was that the "Lord's Prayer" is only a model given to us by Jesus, not an exact prayer we need to repeat over and over every day.  The Catholic church teaches people to repeat this prayer, either as a way to show your desperateness to get something or your sincerity in repentence.  The idea that it is a prayer Jesus used to teach us how to pray and not a magic prayer, was new to them.  I think they understood.

A first for me was to learn that if anyone in this communtiy is caught stealing, child or adult, he is beat with a thorny vine from a certain tree.  The thorns were described as needles that release a poison that numbs you as it goes in.  Yikes!  Safe to assume thieves are as uncommon there as are doors and windows!

Not a first for us, but still so sweet, were the kids picking fruit off the trees and offering it to us as a gift.  They never want us to leave empty handed and it just shows their heart of thankfulness and humility.

Church janitors

I can remember the church janitors from every church I've ever attended!  Church janitors often have a thankless job, but oh, so important and necessary.  I appreciate their job much more now that Brent, the kids and I have the big job of keeping our rented church facilities clean!

Our rented space is on a dirt road so it is constantly dusty.  The wonderful roof that was constructed by our friends from Lima and Texas has several considerable leaks so when it rains, there is plenty of water to mop up.  We like to have soda and/or snacks almost every time we meet, so there are inevitably stains, glops or crushed chips on the floor.  When we hand out candy to the kids, probably 10 wrappers make it into the trash and we have found chewed gum in every conceivable place.  Then there are the two bathrooms.  There is usually evidence of a rat friend or two, and other......stuff to clean up.

I am so proud of our kids, who are really a huge help and have hammered nails, scrubbed toilets, swept, mopped, painted, cleaned 80 chairs from top to bottom, picked up trash, sanded......on and on I could go, and all of this in extremely hot conditions.  They are such a blessing to us and I know God sees their service and will reward them for it.

Mostly, I am just so thankful for the men and women who's job it is to keep our churches clean and in order.  I remember the O'Mears in Kennesaw, GA, an elderly couple who volunteered their time to clean our large church building.  Take a minute and thank your church janitor this week!

Ashaninka volume 14

We forgot repellent tonight.  Yep, the mosquitos were happy.  Tomorrow we really need to go get yellow fever vaccines, been putting it off.....

Kelly, our 15 year old friend who received Christ recently is on our hearts this week.  She goes to high school in Pichanaki so she takes a moto taxi (a motorcycle with a covered seat on the back ~ there are hundreds of them here, they are the main mode of transport) every day to and from school, and has to buy two uniforms and all of her school supplies to be able to study there.  I have wondered where this money comes from.  Her family lives on selling their produce and her dad's night watchman job, which pays very little.  We learned that she is "sponsored" by a Catholic nun.  To receive her "allowance" from this lady, Kelly must attend Catholic studies and do chores at the church.  She really wants to leave this, but won't be able to go to school otherwise.  We are praying for wisdom to know how to help her.

I had such fun handing out brand new dresses to all the little girls tonight!  Oh how I wish I could have given them each ten dresses and new clothes for all the boys too.  A group of ladies in the U.S. has a sewing ministry and they make dresses by the hundreds and send them to children who need them.  I was able to get 20 of them and make 15 girls smile.  A heartfelt thanks to the ladies who made the dresses, God knows who you are!

Something I love about these people is their thankfulness.  The kids learn early to say thank you and to share.  They are the most unselfish people I've met.  It is such a pleasure to work with them and have them for our friends.

Pure Joy International

Pure Joy International is a ministry to missionary wives around the world.  I had the privilege of attending their Lima retreat last month and it was excellent.  Pure Joy International is made up of a group of women who love the Lord with all their hearts, have the desire to serve Him and let Him use their gifts and talents, and who have a heart for missions.  They raise financial support from churches and treat 50 missionary wives to a free 3 day retreat.  Not only is it all inclusive and very relaxing for us, they travel with a music team and several teachers and counselors.  They also come, after having spent hours in prayer for each one of us, by name.

This time was such a treat and such a challenge to me personally!  The teachers were well prepared and vulnerably shared from their hearts.  It was really cool to meet another Miriam Ruth and especially to be challenged by her to memorize books of the Bible.  She was a special blessing to me.  Another blessing was hearing Sharon Smith share.  She and her husband were missionaries in Ecuador for 30 years and are now working in the BBFI home office.  These women are human and faulty just like everyone else, but have allowed God to work in a wonderful way through them.

The theme of this retreat was "Take Off The Mask".  What an important message for us women!  Wearing a mask of happiness doesn't make us happy.  Wearing a mask of importance doesn't make us important.  Wearing a mask of a perfect marriage does nothing to change reality.  Wearing a mask of kindness in public does not make us a kind person.  Wearing any mask is silly, really.  We may fool others, but we know what is in our heart and so does God.  It's also likely that we're not really fooling as many people as we think we are.  May we all be real, transparent and vulnerable.  Masks are for Halloween!

God gave me a most special gift at the end of this retreat.  My name and others were called and we were asked to go to the back of the room.  I had no idea what for.  When a lady handed me a huge stack of cards and said these were from my home church, I burst into tears and just couldn't believe it.  First of all, someone from Pure Joy had taken the time to contact my church, Central Baptist, and explain that I was going to be in Lima, etc.  Then someone at Central had to pass the word to those who wanted to send cards, collect them all and mail them to AR where they were packed in someone's luggage and brought to Lima and handed to me.  These cards meant the world to me.  For me, that was the highlight.  Thank you, Central friends!

Ashaninka volume 13

Vilma's 5th baby was born this week, in her wood house.  I am amazed at the strength of these women.  Lydia laughed at my wide eyes and said, "All five of mine were born at home too, and the last one came early so my husband had to help me and he had no idea what to do!  I had worked in the orchard all day long with pain but figured it would still be a few days......"  Yeah, my eyes stayed wide for a while.

Some of these children are malnourished and/or don't have a healthy diet, which affects their abiltiy to concentrate.  Brent has been working with them to learn John 3:16 and it is taking a while.  Some of the 8-10 year olds just can't seem to memorize it.  Songs, on the other hand, seem to stick quickly and easily.  We have quite a group of singers.  I want to video them one day singing "Jesus Loves Me", it is so touching and beautiful.

Lydia and her daughter, Kelly, are hungry to learn.  We sat on the tree stumps in the dirt living room and talked about God's power to help us understand the Bible when we read it.  As we talked, the hugest frog I've ever seen hopped in, followed by a chicken, which was followed by a tiny puppy.  All without as much as a glance from these ladies....all in normal day, I guess.

Kelly has also started coming to our church in Pichanaki for Friday night youth group and has brought several friends.  She may just be our first children's Sunday school teacher!

I'm pretty certain I receive more of a blessing on these Thursday evenings than our Ashaninka friends.  I get hugs, kisses, more hugs, smiles and sweet conversation.  Our heart's desire it for all of these friends to be our brothers and sisters for eternity.

Family

One of the hardest things about church planting in a foreign country, for us, is missing the encouragement and edification of our church family.  Whether it be worship, play, shooting the breeze, prayer or praise, being with other believers refreshes us like nothing else.  Our lives are enriched, we are able to share our gifts with others and our oneness in Christ binds like nothing else.

The weeks and months and even years we've spent trying to build something from nothing are very difficult, as any missionary would say.  Not having consistent fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ is definitely one of the things that make this journey a challenge.  We sense and feel (physically it seems, at times) the huge family size hole in our hearts and miss so much the familiar ease and comaraderie we have with other Christians.

As new believers are added to the church, it is with much rejoicing, and joy in the knowledge we will once again be surrounded by family, albeit new members we are only beginning to know.  The relationship with new believers is different, but sweet and wonderful just the same.

Family is a gift.  Family we will spend eternity with is a treasure beyond measure.  Love your church family.  You need them!  They need you!

Ashaninka volume 12

Ashaninka volume 11

After praying to meet more of the adults in this community, yesterday we met five adults.  One, a young mother of four, was in labor with her fifth.  This baby, like the other four, will be born in her house without the presence of a midwife or doctor.  Oh she has plenty of sisters and friends who will help out, but I was so surprised to learn that people still do that, especially these folks who live five minutes from a hospital.

We also met a sister and brother of Lydia, her brother-in-law and her mother.  Her mother, Rosa, stands at about 4'11", may weigh 90 pounds soaking wet, and looks much older than she is, with her deeply tanned and wrinkled face.  She speaks very little Spanish and we were not able to share with her from God's Word, but hope to soon.  We learned that she was "given" to an older man as a little girl for him to feed and raise until she was of child bearing age, then she became his "woman".  This was once the custom in this community.  Thankfully, it is not anymore.  In many Ashaninka villages, it is still practiced.  It just broke my heart to hear her story, of how she was abused and used to produce children.  I yearn to tell her of a man, who is also God, who loves her for her and who gave His life for her.  I wonder if she will believe me.

As the children played tag, climbed trees, ate bugs and ran around, we sat in the shade of a large thatched roof, while Lydia explained how they make one of their typical, all natural drinks called masato.  They cook down yuca and purple sweet potaoes until they are mushy, smash them all together with sugar and leave this mass in a pot in the hot sun.  Then they strain the juice from this and drink.  After a few hours, it starts to ferment.  After three days, everyone gets drunk from it.  They give this to their kids from the time they are babies.  I wonder if this has anything to do with their propensity for alcoholism.  Brent and I were both offered a glass.  The smell about knocked me over and the polite sip I took was enough to bowl me over.  To say the fermenting process was well underway would be an understatement.  Thankfully, these are not the type of people to be offended if we don't like what they offer.  More for them.

Ashaninka volume 10

Who needs drugs, alcohol, thrill seeking or chocolate????  A rush like no other is witnessing a heartfelt prayer of repentence and acceptance of God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!

Last night, as Brent sat on a tree stump, me on a wooden bench beside Kelly, and Lydia on the ground on a palm mat, two precious souls were saved.  Lydia is 40, has 5 children, is married to a nonbeliever and has always had a deep hunger for God.  She has gone to every type of church there is, knows many answers to Bible questions, but still had no idea where she would spend eternity or if she was a child of God.  She was so ready to receive Christ.  With many tears, she pleaded with God not only to save her but to make her a witness who would carry this message to her family.  Her daughter, Kelly, is 15, a Junior in high school, washes other peoples' clothes by hand to have some money, and is also very open to God's truths.  She also was ready to take this leap of faith.  She knew she was missing something and timidly and tearfully, asked God to save her and make her part of His family.  She said later that she felt a chill wash over her during her prayer.

We are so happy for these two, yet it only increases our burden for the many more around them who are lost.  Lydia desperately wants her husband to believe and for her whole family to grow together.  She has an adult daughter, Kati, a 12 year old daughter, Lily, a 10 year old son, Kevin, and a baby daughter, Katerine.  Please pray with us for them, as well as her husband, Eduardo, and her many siblings, nieces and nephews.  Also, her 70 year old mother, who is very ill and wants to die, rather than be a burden to her children, is unsaved.  She speaks very little Spanish, believes deeply in witchcraft and is very unfamiliar with foreigners, so with Lydia's help, we will go see her tomorrow and try to reach her heart with God's Word.

Rejoicing with the angels today!

Ashaninka volume 9

Ashaninka living is truly communal living.  There are no locks on doors or windows.  As a matter of fact, the house we meet in has no door!  The windows are all open, no screen or glass, just open.  They are fiercely protective of their own and as a community, trust each other to protect each other in the case of any type of robbery attempt or invasion of any sort.  No need for doors or glass.

I think of their unusual trust in each other.  At least it's unusual for us North Americans.  It costs us to trust. We're hoping with this all or nothing way of trusting, the Ashaninka friends we meet with will find it easier to trust in a Heavenly Father who longs to help, protect and be there for them.

This week, we continued to talk about God and His patience, mercy and strength.  As Brent taught, I watched as little Stefany played with and nibbled on a campanero, a fly-like insect, fat and at least 6 inches long.  It resembles a cicada in the U.S. but bigger.  Yes, I said nibbled.  It was campanero night.  The kids make homemade campanero catchers, made with very long bamboo sticks and a plastic cup or bottle attached to the top.  They will catch these insects by holding the cup up in a tree or up on a high pole or anywhere they have seen a bug.  Hard to explain, easy to do.  This is a very common snack and I learned how to prepare it.   I watched as the kids pulled the wings and legs off, bit the head off (bug still living) and just played with and handled it until it died.  Oh, I forgot the squeezing it until all the, uh....pee is out.  Then they fry it, salt it and wa-la - a crunchy snack....... or a remedy for asthma, whichever you are in need of at the time.  I just came out and said it.  I'm a bad missionary.  I said GROSS and asked them to please not ever ask me to eat one because I couldn't do it!  They laughed and laughed!!!  I sighed in relief.  No expectations, that's good.

Lydia said there were a few adults she knew of who would be interested in studying with us.  This was a great encouragement and we are hoping to meet these others very soon.  We are going to start having kids' time first, then adults, as the needs and capacity to think and understand are so different.  We long for God's moving and leading in this group of people.  We want to have some Ashaninka brothers and sisters!!!

I was presented with a large, beautiful mat made from palm leaves, knitted together by Lydia.  The desire to give and share is so ever-present and I continue to learn from these folks, poor in material goods, but rich in kindness and unselfishness.

Ashaninka volume 8

Update from last week ~ the Ashaninka folks did indeed run off a bunch of invaders last week, armed with bows, guns and rocks.  We were informed that there were no deaths, apparently a significant fact.  They are hoping this will not happen again, but are ready if it does.

Tonight, sitting under a black sky full of bright stars, being eaten by mosquitos, we all memorized John 14:6 together.  As we said it over and over, fast, then slow, then faster, I silently prayed it would sink into the minds and hearts of Angie, Stefany, Cody, Lily, Ivan, Kati, Jonatan, Violeta, Emely.....to name a few.

It is Ivan's 11th birthday today.  There was no cake, no present, nothing to celebrate his day.  I hoped our singing to him, the big hugs and small gift from Kyall would help make the day a little more special for him.  One day, we hope to celebrate his spiritual birthday!

We were so happy that Eduardo, who has always avoided our meetings, sat in and listened for about 10 minutes.  It's a start.

Carrying a huge papaya, a bag of oranges, and these faces in our hearts, we left, anxious to get back and pick up where we left off.  God is at work!

Remembering

Remembering is one way we say thank you.  It is also one way we honor those gone before us.  It is also a good way to stay in love.  Remembering gives value to the memory.  It is the most natural way to relive and revive sentiments, good or bad.

Ten years ago right now, Brent, Olivia and I were in Cuba, in a friend's house, sitting, then standing, then sitting again on their hard, uncomfortable furniture.   I was weeping, Brent was somber and Olivia, playing at our feet, was oblivious to our shock.  On clear days in Cuba, radio waves from Miami reach the island.  That morning, Brent had been listening to Miami news on our small radio, when he called me to the kitchen and told me to listen.  We both sat down and listened to Dan Rather as the unimaginable events of that day unfolded.  Being in Cuba, and at the time, the only Americans there that we knew of, we were unsure what to think.  It became obvious very quickly that our country was under attack, so we nervously walked to our friend's house who had a satellite dish so we could see for ourselves what was going on.  Our friends were out of the country, so we explained to their landlord the situation and asked her if she would please let us in so we could watch their tv.  She very kindly unlocked the door for us and stood watching with us for several minutes.  The Cuban people wouldn't know anything about this until the 8 o'clock news that night, and then, only a brief, edited version.

I have thought about that day every September 11 for the past 10 years, as have thousands of others, I'm sure.  Today, I can hardly bear to watch the news and relive that day and I didn't even lose anyone I knew.  I don't remember because it's easy or fun.  I remember because it was a day that changed history in this country and the world, and because it's my small way of honoring the memory of those lost that day.

God bless America.

Ashaninka volume 7

Sitting outside tonight, enjoying the coolness and the occasional bat flying by, we talked about Noah, the ark and God's patience and goodness.  120 years to repent and earn a round trip ticket on the ark, yet nobody accepted!

As the children colored, I was able to talk to Kati, who is a young mother of two, born and raised in this Ashaninka community.  Her husband is from Lima, so the community had to vote on whether they would accept him and give this couple a piece of property to build their own home.  They are now in the process of building a wood platform 6 feet off the ground, with about 100 square feet of living space.  This will take months, as money is very tight and materials are bought when possible.  Edison, Kati's husband, was out fishing tonight so they would have something to eat tomorrow.  They also have a 3 year old son, Omar, who is very sick right now and there is no money for medicine.  Life is hard.  Life is harder without Christ.  Please pray with us for this sweet young family.

On another note, "invading", or moving onto someone else's property and setting up a shack or small house is very common in Peru.  As a matter of fact, Pichanaki is so big because of the thousands of people who invaded one man's property and there was nothing he could do about it.  The police will get involved sometimes, but have to be willing to fight, have rocks thrown at them and even be shot at.  Needless to say, usually the invaders win.  There is a large invasion happening now in Pichanaki, down by the Pichanaki River.  This river runs right through Ashaninka territory and they are now worried there will be invaders on their property.  We saw a man leaving the community with a big bow and arrow tonight and were told they were arming themselves, ready to fight for their land.  They are requesting permission from the military to use their hunting guns as well.

We don't know the end of either one of these stories.  God is in control, and in this we rest.

You know you live in jungle heat when......

1. To soften butter, just set it out for 10 minutes

2. You need a sweat band just to clean the house

3. The wet laundry dries in less than 30 minutes in the sun

4. The boys homeschool without shirts on

5. You have to change shirts at least 3 times a day

6. You can't leave anything chocolate out, it will melt

7. Sometimes 3 cold showers a day just aren't enough

8. The cold showers feel heavenly

9. Fans are the most important pieces of furniture in the house

10. Sleep is impossible without a breeze from the window

11. "Professionals" work in shorts and flip-flops

12. At any given time, you will see men and boys shirtless

13. Standing in line at the bank, the only building with A/C, is a pleasure

14. The sun burns right through clothes

15. People native to the area call the heat "fatal"

Ashaninka volume 6

Last week, Brent handed out and explained the meaning behind "wordless bracelets".  You know, the bracelets with colors that represent sin, Jesus' blood, growth, purity and Heaven?  I love those!  Seeds are being planted in the hearts of these people who hunger to know more about God and to have peace in their lives.

Last night, most returned wearing their bracelets and the meanings were reviewed once again.  And again.  And again.

For the first time, Eduardo, Lydia's husband, actually conversed with Brent for quite a while, which was significant because he usually avoids us.  He shared war stories, literally, from his military days, which were also the days of terrorism in Peru.   He was an intelligence agent in these mountains where he still lives.  He slept with a machine gun, a grenade and a flare by his side.  According to him, he was kidnapped twice, once had seven machine gun barrells shoved in his mouth, breaking many teeth.  God allowed him to live through that, although he doesn't acknowledge God.  Now his living room is being used to teach God's Word and many nights, he's right above us on the second floor.  We can only pray he is listening.

Each week we see, hear or learn something new about the Ashaninka people.  This week, we learned that bugs can be used as toys and/or food!  Kyall got a shock when his little buddy ate the head of a huge, fat, alive, fly-like bug that he had been swinging on a string like a kite.  When I say huge, I mean like 5-6 inches long with bulging eyes.  I am so glad I didn't see that.  Once again, we came home with a new fruit from backyard trees, called a caimito.

We are feeling very burdened to reach more of this community.  Of the 70 families, only five are represented in the Bible studies each week.  Please pray with us as we seek to meet, befriend and include many more very soon.

Ashaninka volume 5

Our host in the Ashaninka community, Lydia, wanted to show us the chacra (orchard) that she and her family own and cultivate.  So armed with plenty of bug repellent and not enough sunblock, we traipsed through the brush, forged a couple of small rivers (in our tennisshoes), tried to keep up with our machete carrying friends and were amazed at the amount of carambola, cocao and banana trees surrounding us.  We also saw their hundreds of yuca plants, cotton, beans and watermelon plants.  I watched in amazement as Emely, a 10 year old girl, shimmied up a tree, barefoot, as fast as a monkey.  She grabbed a large shell, Lydia hacked it open and we sucked on cocao seeds (which taste nothing at all like chocolate, but will eventually be used to make chocolate).  We watched as Lydia used her machete to pull up yuca and hack away at the unwanted weeds around it.  We finally made it to the Perene River,  where the kids had run ahead and were happily splashing and playing in the mud and murky water.

Hiking back to the house, my thoughts were on how hard these people work.  Day after day they spend in the scorching sun, being eaten alive by river mosquitos and every other kind of mosquito, physically spending themselves so they can eat and send their kids to school.  I don't pity them, just admire them.  I also have a greater appreciation for the ease we have of buying fruits and vegetables already harvested and ready to eat.

As we gathered in the crude living room, seated on a wood bench, tree trunks or the dirt ground, tired and wet, all of us, somehow we were able to turn our attention to God's love and His marvelous creation.  We thanked Him aloud, each one speaking his thanks for something specific and my heart was blessed.  The children were shyly thankful for mangos, oranges, people, stars and animals.  Lucas was thankful for swimming pools.

Just as Lydia reaps what she sows, so do we in life.  We humbly sow love and God's words, trusting to reap souls for Christ.

Ashaninka volume 4

Tonight we were welcomed with a big bowl of carambola or "star fruit" and a big bunch of bananas, both taken from back yard trees.  Brent competed with a birthday party across the street, so we're not sure how much of the lesson sunk in, but it was sweet to watch the eyes light up at the realization that God created mango trees and apple trees, with US in mind!  His great love for us from the beginning is staggering.  After the lesson, we sang and sang.  These people love to sing!

The mother in me worried tonight as several of the children were coughing a deep, ugly cough.  I asked if they had medicine to give them and was told no.  I selfishly prayed for protection for my own kids as I looked around at numerous runny noses and listened to the coughs all around.

While Brent was hearing from Edison, the only adult male so far that comes to the study, of his sordid past and his hesitiation to reconcile with God, the kids were running free and happy, barefoot, all of them, from age 3 to 13.  I took a picture and was begged to take more, more, more pictures....just one more, just one more and of course, they all wanted to see each one afterward!  As the flash flashed, Edison admitted to being unsaved and unready.  Please pray for Edison's salvation and for grace and wisdom to minister to these sweet people.

Behind the meat

As I walk through the air conditioned grocery chain in the U.S., glancing over the assortment of ground, deboned, filleted, fresh and clean meats, I don't even give a second's thought to the people behind it all, who have raised, killed, cleaned, cut and packaged it all for the consumer's ease.  I just expect it to be packaged and weighed right, priced fairly and easy for me to buy.

As I walk through the hot, stinky, dirty and crowded market in the town of Pichanaki, glancing over the assortment of cow legs, whole chickens, sides of pigs, dripping chunks of beef, all hanging from hooks in the open air, I get to see the people behind it....there, literally, behind the counter.

The fresh meat is cut up and hung daily.  No cleaning is really done, because....well, why is it really necessary?  If I want beef ground, the kind sir will plop a chunk of bloody beef in his not-so-clean grinder and push it through with his bare hands.  He'll then bag it and tie it up nice and tight for me, also using those same bare hands.  If I want pork ribs, the kind lady will take down the huge pig hanging, hack it up for my viewing pleasure and send me on my way with my ribs, wrapped in brown paper, that may or may not keep in all the, uh, juices.  If I want a chicken, the lady may or may not chop its head and feet off, depending on how busy she is.  The chicken will inevitably still have feathers that need plucking and will definitely need to be cleaned thoroughly before cooking.

I am thankful for meat and the variety we do have.  I just miss the nice, labeled meat section at Wal-Mart.  That's all.

Ashaninka, volume 3

As in all dark, unevangelized places, the spirit world is a very real and common thing.  Most will have stories of ghosts, "happenings", things they've heard, etc.  Today, we talked about this and we could see the fear in the children's eyes.  I'm sure they've all heard the stories too or maybe even experienced demonic activity themselves.  Brent shared with them how God is much stronger and bigger than anything else.  What's more, He is the Creator of these fallen angels that torment, destroy and confuse.  He can crush them if He chooses and they certainly can't touch His children without His permission.

Today, as the children sucked on their lollipops, as I walked the fussy baby to the back of the house where the chickens roam free and the vegetation is thick and alive, as ears and hearts were open to Bible truths.....God was there.  That's the amazing thing.  Our big God who has more power than we can fathom, was in that little mud living room with us, His Spirit helping us understand, enlightening us.

As we walked away under the black, black sky covered with stars, I could just sigh and smile and hope....

Please pray with us.

"Special" days

My kids are always wanting to do something "special" or have a "special" day or a "special" dessert.  I understand this because I love special things and events too!

What I am trying to learn and teach is that each moment is SPECIAL!  Today is worth celebrating.  Right now is special and wonderful.  Each day is a gift, each moment a celebration of life.

Sounds romantic and even spiritual, doesn't it?

So, even the moment when sweat is pouring down my back, one child is whining, the other making a mess - even THIS moment is special???

So, when the whole day has seemed a waste of energy, time and resources - even THIS day is worth celebrating???

So, the minutes of illness, the minutes of strife, the minutes of gritty life - even THESE minutes are worth praising God for???

YES, YES, YES!!!!

Every moment is a praiseworthy moment.  Every minute is made for joy and celebration.  Each day is a beautiful, extravagant gift from the Creator of all things Himself.

Even TODAY and RIGHT NOW - let's praise Him together!