Mama is Gone :o(

We made it through our first day without mama. Teresa went with some other friends on a 4 day break. The kids and I are trying to carry on but the how quickly you learn where the glue comes from. Monday went well though. The kids pitch in and did their part. Feeding was a little difficult. I'm not a cook so ham sandwiches were the choice for lunch and chavitos and melanesas for supper.
This morning was oatmeal from our states stash of cinnamon role flavor oatmeal. CoraBeth is flying through her school work but is complaining a little bit with her throat. We'll see how that comes out. Garrett has been emailing with one of his school mates over the issue of suicide and what the Bible says about it. It has been a good challenge for Garrett. If your are thinking "red flag issue" with this kid. I have read the emails and they are only debating a little. I don't think there are any issues that need to be dealt with but I will monitor it just the same.
CoraBeth is a having a little trouble with some word problems and they look like I will have problem with them as well. So I better go. Thanks for all your prayers.

What a Week!!!

Has been a busy week, It seems as though just living takes up all our time. Getting up, getting the kids started on school. Eating lunch, and then getting the youngest ready for her afternoon school.
Teresa does such a wonderful job on taking care of us I can't say enough how much I love her.
Well the week didn't start off to good. We have decided the physical therapist and I that I have a bulging or herniated disc. I have been exercising more and started on the rehabilitation process. I think in time and good exercising I will recover. Just learning to cope with the pain and learn how not to be a pain to deal with, things will be fine.
How easy it is to forget the simple things back home. My family had sent us some Martha White blueberry muffins. Teresa fixed them one morning this past week. As I watch my nine year old cherish every bite. I couldn't but help but think how we should cherish every bite of the Word of God the way I watched my youngest taste every bite of those blueberry muffins.
I have read and continually go back to a book that a fellow missionary let me borrow called the "The Strategy of Satan" by Warren Wiersbe. It has been good for to learn how the devil wants to sift me and deceive me. It has been even better how God has given me the tools and armor to defend against his attacks. I would not be true to myself or God if I told you everything was going just perfect here. I sometimes think I'm not qualified to do what our mission board wants. Or that I'm not as spiritual as I should be. I have answered the call on my life and I want to so bad to please our Lord and Savior. Some days I wonder what am I doing here. I can't share my heart with people here like I could at home. The language is not coming as fast as I would hope it would come. I know our only purpose is to please our Father but you can't help to think that you don't want to let down the folks back home that have given for us (my family) to be here. You don't want to let down your fellow colleges as well. When you know that some believe that I should have more theological training than I have. I have received so much encouragement from fellow M's. And though I might not acknowledge it well, I do appreciate all of the Godly advice.

Enough of that, yesterday I received with Uruguayan honor, my first portable “parrilla”. Grilling out as we call it is something that the Uruguayans pride themselves on. The Pastor of the church here makes them and many other type of metal objects. He is good at making these and other type items. He is a modern Paul; he just makes “parrillas” en lugar de tents. Most of the gente here in the campo do not use “carbon” but burn wood down and cook over coals. It sounds easy but there is a little bit you have to learn about what wood is best, how long will it take and how hot to get the fire. I think I will catch on quick, because as I was growing up I remember many times as my dad and his friends would cook on the 4th of July. They would use hickory wood and spend just about the whole night cooking pork and chickens for the next day of feasting. Just thinking about those days makes my mouth water.

So much I would like to say but sitting here in front of the computer is not good for my back. Teresa and I are off to get our bed that we have had made. I’m excited about not having to sleep on the floor. The simple things we take for granted. I hope all this rambling made some sense. Until next time may God bless your steps.
Quote of the Day…I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I've met.
Dwight L. Moody

Missions Misunderstood

A Must Read!!!
Missions Misunderstood

Sordos..........The Deaf

The are called "Sordos" here in our country. We had the privilege of having two sordos and one of the strategy coordinators for the deaf stay with us last night. What testimonies they had. One of their names was Rubin. He told of how his parents didn't know that he was deaf till he was six years old. Many other trials he had as a young adult. Now he is help leading a deaf Church in Montevideo. The other one was named Tono. He told how before he came to know the Lord, how he was always fighting and having some severe stomach problems. Now he lives a very tranquil lifestyle. And his stomach has been getting better. He told of how he couldn't get his government help pension and how he thought that it would be an impossibility to get it. He asked the church to pray for him and his situation. One month later he started receiving his pension and one month after that his wife also started receiving hers as well. He gave all the credit back to God and now his a powerful witness to many other sordos here in our country. The church where we attend has taken on this ministry and we have seen some very positive results. We have a 18 year old young lady that has learned to sign very rapidly. She has lead a least 3 if not 4 to the Lord leads a disciples class every Saturday. She is also teaching anyone interested in learning signing on Tuesdays and Thursday nights. God is really showing off in this ministry. My wife and daughter have been going to the classes and it has had very positive effect on both of them.

It's Been A While..............

I've received a few emails asking if I was ok. Due to the fact I haven't posted anything lately. I'm fine. I have been down in my back and sitting at the computer is a little tough. It seems to be getting a little better but still very difficult to walk. I can ride a bike with little problem. I know it doesn't make sense but that is the truth. So I will probably go riding later this afternoon. My son and I have a race April 2nd that I'm no where ready for.
Speaking of racing. Garrett and I did our first father and Son race last weekend. We did ok considering that I haven't been able to train much with my bike. Garrett did a great job considering also it was his first race. I hope that this sparks an interest in him for the future. "Los vemos". (we'll see) For me it was great seeing him work hard on the bike. Let me see if I can step you through the race. We started from a hotel in Periapolis. After a 1/2 mile we started a first climb. Came back down the same road and went a ways till we started our next climb that was extremely steep. A lot of the riders where off their bikes pushing. I believe Garrett made it the whole way. We hit some flats then again another good climb. That climb all where off their bikes due to it was one path and everyone else was off pushing. We hit some rolling hills later and kept a pretty good pace. We come out and hit a road that went along the beach and a strong head wind. Garrett did a good job of pulling a little, then he quickly tucked in behind me and we caught a few riders. We turned off the beach road onto some sand and it got pretty touch with the sand.
We finally hit some dirt roads with rolling hills and then on into town. We finished 8th out of 27 father and son teams. When we crossed the finish line Garrett wanted to hold hands up high and thank the Lord for us finishing the race. Garrett was really concerned for my back, but God blessed that time together and this will be a memory that I will not forget. It was only a 40 kilometer race and it took us a 1 hour and 54 minutes to finish.

First day of School!! (Nine years Old)

I know some of you are saying,"we still have several months till our kids get out and yours is just now starting". Well, seasons are reversed were we live. So our daughter will be continuing her marathon of school. Let me explain. May of 2004 our kids got out of school. We immediately went to MLC and there they continued a type of school, some academics and some other VBS type stuff. As my son points our also there was no summer off involved in any of this. After MLC we had a few weeks off then off to Costa Rica in August starting school for all of us. The kids had a school program that lasted till we left in August of 2005. We left three days early from CR to accommodate Ms in our country. Upon arrival to our country the kids started their homeschooling. Now rolling into 2006, they are continuing their homeshooling but our daughter is doubling up as they say. With attending a national school (in Spanish) and taking English home schooling to boot. Wow, after writing all that down, I'm surprised they have kept it together like they have. I have to say God has taken care of my kids and has given them more intelligence than I could ever wish for. Many people have asked why MKs are a little different than the average kid. Well that is just a touch of what they go through on the field. There are many and I mean many social walls they climb as well. I love them and thank the Lord for them daily. My 9 year old sweetie and my 14 year old going on 20 son are gifts from God and I'm thankful he has seen fit to give me two wonderful human beings.
I also want to apologize for my rambling on...I am not a writer by no means. I hope my thoughts are not to scattered and my grammar is not to bad.
May you see God's blessing daily.

Let us all go to the River!!!!

What a day!!! God gave some amazing grace today. After reading Guy's post and not sure what to expect at our baptism. It was a beautiful day. We started by loading tables, chairs and food into the truck. Another church came down for a joint service. We baptized three new creatures of God today. After they were baptized, as they were coming up out of the river, they were singing and praising the Lord. We came back and ate and fellowshiped. After that we had a time of singing and observed the Lords Supper. My friend later shared a brief word from scripture. Later we played some games and drank "mate". I know that sounded like rambling but now let me go back and fill in some details.
Surprises for me.
1. Pastor asking me to pray and serve the bread.
(my Spanish definitely is not were it needs to be)
2. Seeing how many that didn't partake in the LS, and knowing what that means to them and me. 3. How well they took to playing horse shoes.

Recovering!!!

I know all of you have been wondering how my burns have been after my thermos attacked me. Some of the skin on the back of my hand is starting to peal. And which reveals an interest color of pink. Enough of that. Sorry not posting sooner. After the attack of the thermos, the next day I went up to my cubby hole to plug in my fan, I threw out my back. So sitting at a computer has been a little difficult. But I'’m suffering for the Lord :o)
Well my nine year old daughter has been hard at workevangelizingg her friends. She plays "“barbies"” with them daily. Thursday night she spent the night with one and they stayed up till 4 in the morning. She was a trooper and got Friday morning and completed her school week taking all her test. Then on Friday night they had a lock in for the young girls and she invited the same little girl she spent the night with. God is using her greatly. To understand where I'’m coming from, you have to understand the culture here. It seems children are able to cross the cultural making friend thing easier than adults.
We also have a twelve year old boy that enjoys hanging out here daily. (All day long with our fourteen year old son) I have been debating how much I let him hang. Friday was the four year anniversary that he lost his dad to a motorcycle accident. To what everyone has told us, he is a little "“hellyun" (my word) with everyone else but so far he has been fairly polite. My son has done a great job on helping him make some correct decisions. He is (was) a church member'’s son. So how much permitir, quien sabe.
May God continue to bless your travels and blogs.

What is "Mate"?

What is "Mate"? Mate is what coffee is to Some Americans but times ten. Here is a link for the a description to Mate. It has an interesting taste. I heard a volunteer last night say that it taste like what a horse barn smells. I don't think so but everyone has their opinion. Mate to the Uruguayans has many uses. Let me try to explain. Even different social classes use it for different reasons.
1. Middle to Upper class uses it as a "check out my mate cup and new thermos. Like the social class is determined by how classy your Mate products are.
2. Also the most important is that they use it as a get together with friends or a friend and discuss the days events. (Political, social and who is new in the neighborhood type stuff.)
3. It is a big step if you are invited over or to sit down and drink mate with a group of folks that you are trying to reach with the Gospel.
4. It is pretty cheap to drink, So the lower class drink it in place of eating. Numerous times I've been told that mate is drunk because they can't afford to buy a complete meal so the tea helpl curb the appetite.
Check out the "Mate" site, it has some good information on the whole story of "Mate".