Dangers of drinking "Mate"

Today started out like the rest trying to get up early. When I was at home getting up at four thirty in the morning was not that difficult. Going to the gym, getting to work on time, running at lunch and most of the time going by the church working on what was going at the time. Along with going to our children’s events.
Now we fight to get up by seven, spend time with the Lord, work on strategy, get our kids started on home school, (that is not as simple as it sounds) trying to find something for the one of the kid’s home school, finding out the today is a national holiday and some places are closed. So the places that have became accustom to your bad language are closed and you have to find a new place the says “que!” several times before they ask you, “your not from here are you?” And…..after they laugh at your accent you finally find out they don’t carry what you are looking for. So they start telling you where you can go, then after following their instructions you find out that this place is closed and you decide that it’s best just to wait till tomorrow when things will be open.
Living in a foreign country you have to spend more time with the children, it is a must. So my son and I have started riding mountain bikes together. I have been cycling on the road for a few years. This mountain bike stuff is a little different but not much. My son has just turned 14 and wanting to do something but not sure where his interests are, so we are going to give riding a try. I think he thought the old man wasn’t that fast but he didn’t take long for him to realize that there is a little more to riding that just pumping the pedals. Anyway we had a good time, the second time we went out. For the first time we had to come back because his bike malfunction.
We finished up the day with returning home after a good work out. Mama had supper ready (eggs, bacon, toast and sweet tea, doesn’t sound that special but when your five thousand miles from home it is like eating a good steak). Now that supper is finished I decided to fix me some “mate”. But I’m using my thermos with a Uruguayan pour top.
Hence the title, the top didn’t work that well and I poured scalding water over my hand. Not sure what degree burn but it is pretty red. We found some burn ointment and applied it over the back of my hand. Found some strong pain medicine. Now I’m drinking my mate and writing a short journal of my day. Now, I have an important question that I would like ask who ever is listening. To see how people from the outside looking in, would view my day and how God fits into this great plan of missions. Just a question.
Now it would sound as if I was frustrated but as I write this, I can’t help but laugh at my day. I love where God has me. I’m thankful for time he is giving me with my kids. I pray daily that I would be able to share the love of Christ with the people he places in my path

Visiting nationals

Yesterday we visited several nationals in a small town called "La Charqueada". There is about 1500 people that live there. Some very interesting visits. The First was a repeat, it was a lady that we had gained some other contacts from. It was a very pleasant visit. The next were the some of the most difficult. This lady had a daughter that is mentally handicap, 20 years old. She has a problem with her tongue in that it is continually growing. She is not able to go to the doctors because the Government has denied any benefits. She shared her struggles for about 45 minutes and apologized several times for rambling on. We asked her later was there anything we could pray for her about. She only asked that she could care for her daughter properly.
The following visit was not as emotionally hard to handle but more physically hard to handle. It was a thatch house. Very dirty with flys by the hundreds seemed like thousands. We were able to share with them and they said they had received Christ earlier that year but It was probably not the first time they had done it. That will be something to deal with later.
We had a few others but those were the ones I wanted to share. The reason for all the visit in the small town is to notify them we will starting a bible study in the IMB mission house near the plaza. Many times people have tried to start a work here but has not continued. I really feel that it will take a strong national family to live there to minister there daily. Maybe God will raise a leader up out of what we are doing. To a small town it has a lot of history with Baptist works. We'll see what God will do with what the Pastor of TyT and I during this time.

Six months and still standing!!!!

Well we have been in our town now for 6 months. We spent our first year living and studying in Costa Rica. What of year of ups and down. (spiritually and physically) The next 4 months we lived in the major city till our house was ready. One week before Christmas we made the decision to go ahead and move. Knowing we would only be there for two weeks before we had to go to Chile for two weeks of training. (One week of sight seeing in South Chile)
As time goes on I will catalog days, weeks, and months what I face here on the field, through my eyes. I learn daily each missionary sees things a little differently. Be it how, what, when, where to do things.
First and foremost I am so thankful for all the churches back home that support the IMB with their prayers and financial support. That "support" is so crucial in that we are able to focus on what God has called us to do.