I thought I would share a general overview of Uruguay as well. Again this is not mine. I apologize if this offends any one. Hope this is informative and not to much detail.
History of Uruguay
The only inhabitants of Uruguay before European colonization of the area were the Charrua Indians, a small tribe driven south by the Guaraní Indians of Paraguay.
The Spanish arrived in the territory of present-day Uruguay in 1516, but the Indians' fierce resistance to conquest, combined with the absence of gold and silver, limited settlement in the region during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Spanish introduced cattle, which became a source of wealth in the region. Spanish colonization increased as Spain sought to limit Portugal's expansion of Brazil's frontiers.
Montevideo was founded by the Spanish in the early 18th century as a military stronghold; its natural harbor soon developed into a commercial center competing with Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires. Uruguay's early 19th century history was shaped by ongoing fights between the British, Spanish, Portuguese, and colonial forces for dominance in the Argentina-Brazil-Uruguay region
Montevideo was founded by the Spanish governor of Buenos Aires in 1726 to secure the area against Portuguese infiltration from Brazil. It changed hands frequently during the Spanish-Portuguese rivalry of the early 19th century, until, partly through British intervention, it became the capital of independent Uruguay, established in 1828 as a buffer state between Spanish Argentina and Portuguese Brazil.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
"Carnaval" in Uruguay
I found this some time ago and pasted it in my personal documents. I don't have the original author. This is not me for sure. But this give a general overview of "Carnaval".
Carnival Week is considered the annual national festival of the nation. While the Carnaval extends to all the country with important events in several cities of the interior, the main activities are made in the capital of Montevideo.
Although this ‘fiesta’ is officially only given two days of public holiday for the Carnaval Monday and Shrove Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday, most shops and businesses close for the entire week. Homes and streets are grandly decorated, humorous shows are staged at open-air theaters, "tablados" or popular scenes (fixed and movable) are erected in the commercial districts. There are many competitions for murgas, black societies and lubolos, humorists, parodistas and magazines
The preparation of the Carnival begins months earlier with the election of the zonal queens; often in December of the previous year. The Carnival of the Promises or the children's parade occurs at the beginning of the month of January
The official launching of the Montevideo Carnival done with significant pomp and ceremony calling upon representatives of the national government, carnaval groups, and various local officials including members of the commissions responsible for the preparation of the celebration in each Zone of Montevideo. The Department of Culture is the main organizer of this annual national festival.
A great highlight of the Montevideo Carnaval is the Parade of the Calls in the old districts Sur and Palermo. The Calls evoke the encounter of the "enslaved black" of the colonial days and in the freedom of the Candombe, which has made a fundamental contribution to Uruguayan culture. A featured event of Montevideo Carnaval, the attracts the most visitors "Desfile de las Llamadas" is a big united parade on Montevideo's Avenida 18 de Julio.The 'black' carnaval is called "Las Llamadas" ("The Calls", because in former times the different carnaval groups "called" each other with their tambors). Many seats are sold in advance for this parade.
There is also usually a major parade on January 6th, as the observed holiday of the epiphany marks the beginning of the Carnaval season in many cultures
The local commissions are very important in making the Carnaval great each year. Besides establishing a citizen partnership for the administration of the Carnaval with local government, they hold the Queen contest and raise funds for prizes and other expenses of the Carnaval. The decentralized quality to the Carnaval is part of the long heritage of these citizens committees dedicated to improving the quality of life of the neighbors and, fundamentally, deepening the democracy.
Candombe is the afro-black influence that is the star of Montevideo Carnaval as it salutes the African origins, the trials of the enslaved black during the colonial time and the great capacity for renewal through the Carnaval arts. Candombé is a drum-based musical form of Uruguay. Candombé originated among the Afro-Uruguayan population of Montevideo and is based on Bantu African drumming with some European influence and touches of Tango.
The barrel-shaped drums, or tambores, have specific names according to their size and function: chico (small, high timbre, marks the tempo), repique (medium, improvisation) and piano (large, low timbre, melody). An even larger drum, called bajo or bombo (very large, very low timbre, accent on the fourth beat), was once common but is now declining in use. Tambores are made of wood with animal skins that are rope-tuned or fire-tuned minutes before the performance. They are worn at the waist with the aid of a shoulder strap called tali and played with one stick and one hand.
Carnival Week is considered the annual national festival of the nation. While the Carnaval extends to all the country with important events in several cities of the interior, the main activities are made in the capital of Montevideo.
Although this ‘fiesta’ is officially only given two days of public holiday for the Carnaval Monday and Shrove Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday, most shops and businesses close for the entire week. Homes and streets are grandly decorated, humorous shows are staged at open-air theaters, "tablados" or popular scenes (fixed and movable) are erected in the commercial districts. There are many competitions for murgas, black societies and lubolos, humorists, parodistas and magazines
The preparation of the Carnival begins months earlier with the election of the zonal queens; often in December of the previous year. The Carnival of the Promises or the children's parade occurs at the beginning of the month of January
The official launching of the Montevideo Carnival done with significant pomp and ceremony calling upon representatives of the national government, carnaval groups, and various local officials including members of the commissions responsible for the preparation of the celebration in each Zone of Montevideo. The Department of Culture is the main organizer of this annual national festival.
A great highlight of the Montevideo Carnaval is the Parade of the Calls in the old districts Sur and Palermo. The Calls evoke the encounter of the "enslaved black" of the colonial days and in the freedom of the Candombe, which has made a fundamental contribution to Uruguayan culture. A featured event of Montevideo Carnaval, the attracts the most visitors "Desfile de las Llamadas" is a big united parade on Montevideo's Avenida 18 de Julio.The 'black' carnaval is called "Las Llamadas" ("The Calls", because in former times the different carnaval groups "called" each other with their tambors). Many seats are sold in advance for this parade.
There is also usually a major parade on January 6th, as the observed holiday of the epiphany marks the beginning of the Carnaval season in many cultures
The local commissions are very important in making the Carnaval great each year. Besides establishing a citizen partnership for the administration of the Carnaval with local government, they hold the Queen contest and raise funds for prizes and other expenses of the Carnaval. The decentralized quality to the Carnaval is part of the long heritage of these citizens committees dedicated to improving the quality of life of the neighbors and, fundamentally, deepening the democracy.
Candombe is the afro-black influence that is the star of Montevideo Carnaval as it salutes the African origins, the trials of the enslaved black during the colonial time and the great capacity for renewal through the Carnaval arts. Candombé is a drum-based musical form of Uruguay. Candombé originated among the Afro-Uruguayan population of Montevideo and is based on Bantu African drumming with some European influence and touches of Tango.
The barrel-shaped drums, or tambores, have specific names according to their size and function: chico (small, high timbre, marks the tempo), repique (medium, improvisation) and piano (large, low timbre, melody). An even larger drum, called bajo or bombo (very large, very low timbre, accent on the fourth beat), was once common but is now declining in use. Tambores are made of wood with animal skins that are rope-tuned or fire-tuned minutes before the performance. They are worn at the waist with the aid of a shoulder strap called tali and played with one stick and one hand.
A Taste of Home!!
What a surprise day before yesterday when I found cilantro on the counter of our fruit stand. It was the only pack. You rarely see fresh herbs here like cilantro. I bought it and guess what we did with it. you guessed it. Salsa... I went today and bought tomatoes, onion and garlic. We had some jalapenos that we bought by the gallon at the Brazilian border and whala.. Salsa. We don't have any type of corn chip so we are going to attempt to make some chips after lunch. The smell just flooded the house and what a tasty odor it was. The kids where besides themselves with excitement. Especially CoraBeth, who likes to eat jalapenos with popcorn. Anyway just something I thought I would share.
A friend from the states was asking about Carnival here in Uruguay. I tried to explain a little, but to be honest I don't know the origin and why it is still celebrated in detail. So I'm trying to put together something that will explain it better than I did.
A friend from the states was asking about Carnival here in Uruguay. I tried to explain a little, but to be honest I don't know the origin and why it is still celebrated in detail. So I'm trying to put together something that will explain it better than I did.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
"Facing your Giants"
My mother sent me this book, not knowing exactly what I am facing daily. She knows of what we are going through but doesn’t know what we are going through. This book keeps pulling me back to read some great illustrations, examples of David’s life and how he failed but also how he pleased God. I recommend this book to all facing giants in your life, small or large, most of the time it is an accumulation of the small ones that usually bring us down.
In the first chapter he leads out with this verse. “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.” 1 Samuel 17:48 (NLT).
48 Now when the Philistine made a move and came near to David, David quickly went at a run in the direction of the army, meeting the Philistine face to face. 1 Sam 17:48 (BBE)
I love these two translations. For us First term folks, it seems we face so many Goliaths. The Language Goliath, The Culture Goliath the Ministry Goliath, The Health Goliath and even the Family Goliath. It seems we focus so much on the Giants and that is all we see.
I like what he brings out in verses 45-47 of chapter 17. It almost sounds like David is arrogantly bragging about God but it wasn’t that he was bragging it was the only thing he was thinking about (God). The soldiers we mentioning nothing of God only their enemies, so I keep reminding myself when those Giants keep arising to attack, focus on God and not the “Giants”.
As Lucado says, “Giants. We must face them. Yet we need not face them alone. Focus first, and most, on God. The times David did, giants fell. The days he didn’t, David did.
In the first chapter he leads out with this verse. “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.” 1 Samuel 17:48 (NLT).
48 Now when the Philistine made a move and came near to David, David quickly went at a run in the direction of the army, meeting the Philistine face to face. 1 Sam 17:48 (BBE)
I love these two translations. For us First term folks, it seems we face so many Goliaths. The Language Goliath, The Culture Goliath the Ministry Goliath, The Health Goliath and even the Family Goliath. It seems we focus so much on the Giants and that is all we see.
I like what he brings out in verses 45-47 of chapter 17. It almost sounds like David is arrogantly bragging about God but it wasn’t that he was bragging it was the only thing he was thinking about (God). The soldiers we mentioning nothing of God only their enemies, so I keep reminding myself when those Giants keep arising to attack, focus on God and not the “Giants”.
As Lucado says, “Giants. We must face them. Yet we need not face them alone. Focus first, and most, on God. The times David did, giants fell. The days he didn’t, David did.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Here we Are.....
Tonight we have met for the first time. We are missing three others. The one in the orange shirt is deaf and mute. He is apart of the deaf ministry the a young adult female started before she left to go to the capital city to study more sign language. With these fairly new believers we are going to attempt to turn Treinta y Tres and surrounding areas upside down in the next year and half. I believe I will be introducing a whole new concept to these guys except Garrett. About sharing your faith publicly and aggressively fishing for men. I'm praying that these guys get hungry for souls and we see a revival spread through our little town.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Scary thought..
I receive a variety of devotionals via email. This is a scary one for me, do to the fact there are several churches wanting to model after this church. For me it is disturbing that they would want to try to interpret Matt. 28:19 into making friends instead of making disciples. I can make friends all day long but when I really care about someone is when I share the Gospel. God did not call us to make friends he called us to make disciples and he would give all the Blessing (friends) we could ever need. This is just one of the reasons that Christianity is declining.
Friends first
by John Fischer
The Great Commission is all about making friends. Now I know Jesus said, “Therefore, go and make disciples …” (Matthew 28:19 NLT), but Jesus himself showed that you can’t make a disciple until you first make a friend. “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.” (John 15:15 NLT)
So what Christians have called “witnessing” for some time really should be more like building relationships. It’s what you do over the long haul of a relationship that counts so much more than door-to-door canvassing of the neighborhood.
In the movie The Big Kahuna starring Danny DeVito and Kevin Spacey, a young salesman fresh out of Baptist college goes on his first business trip to a convention with a couple seasoned veterans from his company. In an attempt to land a CEO (“The Big Kahuna”) of a very large account as a new client, the young Baptist, played surprisingly close to a real Baptist by Peter Tarrantino, ends up the unlikely one of the three who has the best shot at talking with the CEO.
But instead of talking about the company he represents and setting up his partners with a meeting, the Baptist ends up spending the whole conversation witnessing to the man about Jesus. When his co-workers find out about this, Spacey goes ballistic. A hot-headed argument ensues between Spacey and the rookie salesman over the place of religion in business, and Danny DeVito, the oldest and wisest of the three, tries to calm them both down and provides some very sensible advice. What he says to the young Baptist should be heard and considered by all Christians. It goes something like this:
“The minute you lay hold of a conversation in order to steer it in a certain direction, it ceases to be a conversation, it’s a sales pitch; and you aren’t a human being anymore, you’re a marketing rep. If you really care about the man, ask him about his kids … his wife … his dreams ...”
It’s the difference between pushing an agenda and truly caring for somebody. If you care about somebody, you want to know what he or she is thinking, what is the person’s hopes and dreams, joys and disappointments – in other words, what are the things that make that person human. Friendship is all about finding common ground, and it is out of this common ground that what is shared will have credibility.
Friends first
by John Fischer
The Great Commission is all about making friends. Now I know Jesus said, “Therefore, go and make disciples …” (Matthew 28:19 NLT), but Jesus himself showed that you can’t make a disciple until you first make a friend. “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.” (John 15:15 NLT)
So what Christians have called “witnessing” for some time really should be more like building relationships. It’s what you do over the long haul of a relationship that counts so much more than door-to-door canvassing of the neighborhood.
In the movie The Big Kahuna starring Danny DeVito and Kevin Spacey, a young salesman fresh out of Baptist college goes on his first business trip to a convention with a couple seasoned veterans from his company. In an attempt to land a CEO (“The Big Kahuna”) of a very large account as a new client, the young Baptist, played surprisingly close to a real Baptist by Peter Tarrantino, ends up the unlikely one of the three who has the best shot at talking with the CEO.
But instead of talking about the company he represents and setting up his partners with a meeting, the Baptist ends up spending the whole conversation witnessing to the man about Jesus. When his co-workers find out about this, Spacey goes ballistic. A hot-headed argument ensues between Spacey and the rookie salesman over the place of religion in business, and Danny DeVito, the oldest and wisest of the three, tries to calm them both down and provides some very sensible advice. What he says to the young Baptist should be heard and considered by all Christians. It goes something like this:
“The minute you lay hold of a conversation in order to steer it in a certain direction, it ceases to be a conversation, it’s a sales pitch; and you aren’t a human being anymore, you’re a marketing rep. If you really care about the man, ask him about his kids … his wife … his dreams ...”
It’s the difference between pushing an agenda and truly caring for somebody. If you care about somebody, you want to know what he or she is thinking, what is the person’s hopes and dreams, joys and disappointments – in other words, what are the things that make that person human. Friendship is all about finding common ground, and it is out of this common ground that what is shared will have credibility.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Another First.
I know that this might be a regular for some in different parts of the world. Even here, it is pretty common occurance with others but for us it is the first of I’m sure many. You asking all right already what is it? "Lice" Teresa found the critters last night in Cora Beth’s hair. It was pretty large, you could see its legs. Well Teresa entered the living room with her finger on it and asked me, "What is this thing?". I shrugged as any good husband would do and said not sure. Why not go over to our neighbors, who I’m sure have had experience with this and ask her. Well Teresa returned and it was confirmed. Cora has lice but they didn't see any more so we felt confident that a good medicine wash and treatment we would be safe. So off we went to do the first treatment. After the treatment you take a fine tooth comb and pull out any that may be dead and also to locate eggs. Well... guess what, I'm figuring she might have had them for while. We found or the comb rather found many more. Needless to say Teresa and I started itching pretty good at this point. Well after all and all, we treated Teresa's hair and what little of my hair and we didn't find any. The directions say to wait another 10 days and treat again. I'm surprised that it took this long for any of us to get them. Oh... you might be asking what about Garrett. Well he keeps his hair cut down to his scalp that he is not a good candidate for the littler critters. I apologize for not having pictures. Our camera was damaged we waiting on a few things. If any more spawn in the future I will attach pictures. Hope you enjoy. Oh yeh, if anyone has some home remedies on killing the buggers please let us know. We using some expired stuff we brought back in 2004. Thanks again.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Please Don't hold this against me :o)
Things I learnt in Alabama
Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Alabama. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Alabama, plus a couple no one's seen before.
If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
Onced and Twiced are words.
It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy.
It's not a garden hose or simply a hose, it's a "hosepipe" (one word). Knowed is a word too! (I knowed I wasnt supposed to do that; but I did)
Fire ants consider your flesh as a picnic.
People actually grow and eat okra. (and like it!)
Mama-nem means the whole family. ("Are mamanem comin?")
There ain't no such thing as "lunch". There's only dinner and then there's supper.
Backards and foreards means I know everything about you.
Jeet? is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat yet?"
You know you're from Alabama if:
1. You measure distance in minutes.
2. You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
3. Stores don't have bags; they have sacks.
4. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.
5. You use "fix" as a verb. Example: I am fixing to go to the store.
6. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car…for your OWN car.
9. You know what "cow tipping" is.
10. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, chili powder, and ketchup. Let’s not forget pepper sauce for the turnip greens!
11. The local papers cover national and international news on one page but require 6 pages…for sports.
12. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.
13. You find 90 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm."
14. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.
15. You know whether another Alabamian is from east, west, or middle Alabama as soon as they open their mouth.
16. Visiting Wal-Mart is a favorite pastime known as "going to Wal-Marts."
17. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chili weather.
18. A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola, or pop... it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example "What kinna coke you want?"
19. Fried Catfish is the other white meat.
20. You understand these jokes.
Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Alabama. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Alabama, plus a couple no one's seen before.
If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
Onced and Twiced are words.
It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy.
It's not a garden hose or simply a hose, it's a "hosepipe" (one word). Knowed is a word too! (I knowed I wasnt supposed to do that; but I did)
Fire ants consider your flesh as a picnic.
People actually grow and eat okra. (and like it!)
Mama-nem means the whole family. ("Are mamanem comin?")
There ain't no such thing as "lunch". There's only dinner and then there's supper.
Backards and foreards means I know everything about you.
Jeet? is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat yet?"
You know you're from Alabama if:
1. You measure distance in minutes.
2. You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
3. Stores don't have bags; they have sacks.
4. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.
5. You use "fix" as a verb. Example: I am fixing to go to the store.
6. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car…for your OWN car.
9. You know what "cow tipping" is.
10. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, chili powder, and ketchup. Let’s not forget pepper sauce for the turnip greens!
11. The local papers cover national and international news on one page but require 6 pages…for sports.
12. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.
13. You find 90 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm."
14. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.
15. You know whether another Alabamian is from east, west, or middle Alabama as soon as they open their mouth.
16. Visiting Wal-Mart is a favorite pastime known as "going to Wal-Marts."
17. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chili weather.
18. A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola, or pop... it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example "What kinna coke you want?"
19. Fried Catfish is the other white meat.
20. You understand these jokes.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Facing your Giants by Max Lucado
For me this book was right on time. Lucado put you in the history looking at David's life. He used scripture and imagination to illustrate how we can face our giants of today. Though I wish I could face them with victory like David I seem to fail or back down like David. I take that back, I am victorious some days then it seems I go two steps back. Never the less God is King and in control. One of Lucado's quotes I liked, "Giants. We must face them. Yet we need not face them alone. Focus first, and most, on God. The times David did, giants fell. The days he didn't, David did. (Page 8).
As I was preparing to come to the field now 4 years ago. I was told by the IMB that I had to loose weight to continue the process. (Some 50 lbs) I put so much effort in loosing weight, getting in shape, participating in 10 triathlons, adventure races, running my first ultrathon of 50 kilometers. Now looking back, even though getting in shape is important and especially for me, I wish I would have put just as much effort into preparing spiritually. I'm not saying I didn't, just that looking back I think I could have done things differently. Now looking ahead with half my term left, I'm trying to catch up. It has become my spiritual ultrathon. Disciplining myself, lifting spiritual weights, working through the small injuries, and doing the long spiritual runs on the weekends. 24 But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. Acts 20:24 (MSG)
As we dive more into the book of Lucado, I look forward to seeing what God is going to show me through the life of David.
As I was preparing to come to the field now 4 years ago. I was told by the IMB that I had to loose weight to continue the process. (Some 50 lbs) I put so much effort in loosing weight, getting in shape, participating in 10 triathlons, adventure races, running my first ultrathon of 50 kilometers. Now looking back, even though getting in shape is important and especially for me, I wish I would have put just as much effort into preparing spiritually. I'm not saying I didn't, just that looking back I think I could have done things differently. Now looking ahead with half my term left, I'm trying to catch up. It has become my spiritual ultrathon. Disciplining myself, lifting spiritual weights, working through the small injuries, and doing the long spiritual runs on the weekends. 24 But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. Acts 20:24 (MSG)
As we dive more into the book of Lucado, I look forward to seeing what God is going to show me through the life of David.
Year and Five Months and Two AGMs.
Well we just returned from our second AGM (Annual General Meeting) and we are glad to be home. We were able to see some friends we haven't seen in a while and make new friends. Listening to good preaching and going over new ideas with leadership. Visiting with some of our language school friends helped us to realize that they are going through some of the same struggles we are, and dealing with them in different ways.
I've got a good question to anyone that would like to chime in. First we know God is going to take care of us. We know what he has done for us in the past. We know by his Word how he performed miracles in the Bible. We know all the facts. Why is it so hard to believe in those facts? Why is it we let emotions control our decisions? For us on the field we know we were called to missions but yet we have such a pull to our home country. So much that it overcomes us. I know the answer is in the God's Word but how do we apply it to our flesh? Can we apply it to our flesh?
I've got a good question to anyone that would like to chime in. First we know God is going to take care of us. We know what he has done for us in the past. We know by his Word how he performed miracles in the Bible. We know all the facts. Why is it so hard to believe in those facts? Why is it we let emotions control our decisions? For us on the field we know we were called to missions but yet we have such a pull to our home country. So much that it overcomes us. I know the answer is in the God's Word but how do we apply it to our flesh? Can we apply it to our flesh?
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Seeking God
I'm trying not to become a blog junky by no means. I read my share of blogs. especially of my fellow missionaries from around the world. I just read the latest from "Tales from Middle Earth" I thought is was worth sharing. Please keep all the missionaries in you prayers. One thing that I was taught early on and am experiencing even more. The front lines are lonely. I feel that God has called us not only to the front lines but maybe he calls us to the front lines so he can get us alone. That is not grammatically correct but makes sense to me.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Garrett is Back!?
Garrett and his buddies made it back for Monte Argentina. They went to participate in a youth camp that is host by the Word of Life Ministries. They do a great job of evangelizing the kids and starting them off on the right foot in discipleship. Garrett came back with great stories and memories that he will not forget. I’m so thankful for the WOL ministries and their love for the Lord. If you want to know more about them click here. On the subject of Salvations we had an answered prayer with one of the guys that went. Williams is his name. He made a profession last Tuesday night and we will start discipleship once we return from Paraguay in a week and half. Thanks for all your prayers and we look for to hearing from you all.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Russian Red Neck?
First let me clarify, I'm from Athens Alabama. I have studied cross cultural adaptation but this takes the cake!
Live!!! From Russia!!!
Theee Leningrad Cowboys!!!
Live!!! From Russia!!!
Theee Leningrad Cowboys!!!
Friday, January 12, 2007
"Facing your Giants" by Max Lucado
I’m reading one of the best encouraging books I’ve read in a while. “Facing your Giants” by Max Lucado. It is some good reading. I would encourage any Christian to read it and especially my fellow missionaries. When I finish it I’m thinking of taking each chapter and sharing how it has helped me see God’s will for my life.
Adapting....
In my post before last, I talked about adapting to different things on the missionary field. I’m going to attempt to explain a little about what I was talking about. I am going to use terms I understand and not big words or phrases that the average person in church doesn't. Especially me. What I have found reading many blogs. The “elite” continually use words that are not any where in the Webster’s or any other reference I use. My grammar is not perfect and I will misspell words. So with that said off we go.Adapting to language and culture….
Well, for me I can not separate the two. I wish I could explain how they are not separate but to me you have to learn the culture if you are going to learn the language as well. Let me give you a little history of my language learning. We went to Costa Rica to learn the Spanish. I worked hard to learn vocabulary and verb conjugation. I learned real quick that no matter hard I tried, my mind would reject any rational explanation to why they go around the block to say a very simple statement. When we left Costa Rica I felt I could at least go to the grocery store and buy food for our family. When we arrived here in Uruguay, I promise you I thought they were using some tribal language because it did not sound like Spanish. (there are no tribes or Indians here, they were run out or killed out in the conception of the country. So many different sounds, not to mention different words but I didn’t realize so many different words till after another six months in the country was I able to understand simple statements. Now I have spent the past ten months or so trying to work on conversational skills.
Now how adapting to the culture has effected adaptation to language… Well if you can’t understand what they are saying and how they are saying it. You can’t understand the explanations they are giving for why they do certain things. Yes people have written papers on the culture of Uruguay. (A very few) I have learned that those people wrote about the people where they lived and in this short time Uruguay I have learned that the people in the urban setting are very different people than the people in the “campo” (country). They have a few things in common but probably most common thing is the drinking of “mate”. That is another post as well. Till next time…I will post more about adaptations.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Ticket and a License to Drive
Sounds simple…go done to pay for a ticket. (Running a red light and driving without a licences...well not really I had Ala and a Costa Rican just not what they wanted as the time because there has been times those would have been fine.) Where was I, oh yes paying a ticket. Off I went to pay on Tuesday but forgetting that this is the time for vacations so they close at 1:30pm everyday till school starts back. So I go back on Wednesday to pay, getting to the window the guy tells me I have to go across the street for someone to assign value to the points on the ticket so they will know what to charge. Off I go; arriving to a puzzled look on another gentleman’s face and telling me no they should know what the value. Back across the street, the original guy asks a lady there in the office what to do and thank goodness she had the original copy of my ticket to discuss price and why I was driving without a license. I went on to explain the best I could in Spanish that we were in the process but had not received our “cedula” (social security #). And that we were told my immigration that we could drive on our North American licenses with our passport. Well they had not heard that so I paid a hefty fine for driving without a license.
Next page…We (Teresa and I) were off this morning early to stand in line to attempt to get our license. The first gentlemen took our passports and stateside drivers license found our visas from us entering the country in November(from going home for my dad’s death) seeing this and stated that our visa was to expire in February 26 and that our license would be good till then. Well seeing this we went to the gentlemen I talk with yesterday and asked him what we could do to obtain a license.
I and you don’t have the time for me to explain what all happened but that is just a taste of what we deal with daily. He went on to tell me "don’t worry if you get a tick just bring it to me and I will take care of the fine". Until you can get your “cedula”. What fun.
Next page…We (Teresa and I) were off this morning early to stand in line to attempt to get our license. The first gentlemen took our passports and stateside drivers license found our visas from us entering the country in November(from going home for my dad’s death) seeing this and stated that our visa was to expire in February 26 and that our license would be good till then. Well seeing this we went to the gentlemen I talk with yesterday and asked him what we could do to obtain a license.
I and you don’t have the time for me to explain what all happened but that is just a taste of what we deal with daily. He went on to tell me "don’t worry if you get a tick just bring it to me and I will take care of the fine". Until you can get your “cedula”. What fun.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Ministry Meaning
What is the meaning of Ministry? I guess the meaning is different for different people. For me, it is my life. I have had a hard time adapting that into my vocabulary. But over the last two years adapting to a different language, a different culture, a different people I live with and different people I work with, has had a very deep, deep effect the way I look at ministry. Adapting to a different type of work I definitely don't want to forget that. So saying that when I say I need to look at the calendar to see what we will do in the ministry I'm actually saying, "Let’s look at the calendar to see how we are going to schedule our lives into what God has planned for us this year".
Adapting to a different language...well that has definitely not happened yet. I want to so bad to really share what is on my heart in regards to the Word. It might shock some but it is not happening. I have studied, talked and went way out of my comfort zone and still have not progressed to where I want to be. They tell me (they being the vets) that some just don't get it the first term. Well that answers why so many don't come back after their first. This whole tongue thing I wish it was a gift still given. I sure would be praying, and not privately either.
Adapting to a different culture...well that is not all that bad for me. My wife and kids not sure. Well CoraBeth has adapted but she was 9 when we got here. Garrett not sure. Teresa...you'll have to ask her yourself.
Adapting to a different people... nope, nope, nope, I'm trying but that is one thing I won't adapt to but just acept that is the way the people are. I don't have the English vocabulary to explain. I love them and except them and that is the best I know how to do at the moment.
Adapting to a different way of work...nope, nope, nope, not sure if that will come around. Teresa and I talked about that last night. She doesn’t know how I keep from going crazy. When I say I was a bricklayer it really goes much deeper than that. I took large masonry projects (i.e., schools, hospitals, grocery stores.) was give a schedule (deadline) and then asked to do some impossible tasks with literally no one on the crew. I would then start hiring, recruiting, begging, motivating and begging to do more. I loved the fast pace work schedule. I loved looking back at the end of the day and seeing what we had accomplished physically and then after the job was over all the friendships that had been formed by everyone accomplishing what they didn't think they could.
I just started laughing because after rereading what I wrote...it is exactly what God has asked me to do here. I'm just having a hard time seeing the results. That is probably the biggest thing I'm having problems with.
Sorry this is so long...I working on blogging on a regular basis.
Not sure if anyone passes buy but this has been good to write about anyway.
May God Bless your "Ministry"!!!!
Adapting to a different language...well that has definitely not happened yet. I want to so bad to really share what is on my heart in regards to the Word. It might shock some but it is not happening. I have studied, talked and went way out of my comfort zone and still have not progressed to where I want to be. They tell me (they being the vets) that some just don't get it the first term. Well that answers why so many don't come back after their first. This whole tongue thing I wish it was a gift still given. I sure would be praying, and not privately either.
Adapting to a different culture...well that is not all that bad for me. My wife and kids not sure. Well CoraBeth has adapted but she was 9 when we got here. Garrett not sure. Teresa...you'll have to ask her yourself.
Adapting to a different people... nope, nope, nope, I'm trying but that is one thing I won't adapt to but just acept that is the way the people are. I don't have the English vocabulary to explain. I love them and except them and that is the best I know how to do at the moment.
Adapting to a different way of work...nope, nope, nope, not sure if that will come around. Teresa and I talked about that last night. She doesn’t know how I keep from going crazy. When I say I was a bricklayer it really goes much deeper than that. I took large masonry projects (i.e., schools, hospitals, grocery stores.) was give a schedule (deadline) and then asked to do some impossible tasks with literally no one on the crew. I would then start hiring, recruiting, begging, motivating and begging to do more. I loved the fast pace work schedule. I loved looking back at the end of the day and seeing what we had accomplished physically and then after the job was over all the friendships that had been formed by everyone accomplishing what they didn't think they could.
I just started laughing because after rereading what I wrote...it is exactly what God has asked me to do here. I'm just having a hard time seeing the results. That is probably the biggest thing I'm having problems with.
Sorry this is so long...I working on blogging on a regular basis.
Not sure if anyone passes buy but this has been good to write about anyway.
May God Bless your "Ministry"!!!!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
The Folded Napkin
The Folded Napkin .
A Truckers Story (If this doesn't light your fire, your wood is wet!!!)
I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His
placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy.
But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and wasn't sure I wanted
one. I wasn't sure how my customers would react to Stevie.
He was short, a little dumpy with the smooth facial features and
thick-tongued speech of Downs Syndrome. I wasn't worried about most of my
trucker customers because truckers don't generally care who buses tables as
long as the meatloaf platter is good and the pies are homemade.
The four-wheeler drivers were the ones who concerned me; the mouthy
college kids traveling to school; the yuppie snobs who secretly polish their
silverware with their napkins for fear of catching some dreaded "truck stop
germ" the pairs of white-shirted business men on expense accounts who think
every truck stop waitress wants to be flirted with. I knew those people
would be uncomfortable around Stevie so I closely watched him for the first
few weeks.
I shouldn't have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff
wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my truck
regulars had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot.
After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought
of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh
and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. Every salt
and pepper shaker was exactly in its place, not a bread crumb or coffee
spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table. Our only problem was
persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were
finished. He would hover in the background, shifting his weight from one
foot to the other, scanning the dining room until a table was empty. Then
he would scurry to the empty table and carefully bus dishes and glasses onto
his cart and meticulously wipe the table up with a practiced flourish of his
rag.
If he thought a customer was watching, his brow would pucker with added
concentration. He took pride in doing his job exactly right, and you had to
love how hard he tried to please each and every person he met.
Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was
disabled after repeated surgeries for cancer. They lived on their Social
Security benefits in public housing two miles from the truck stop. Their
social worker, who stopped to check on him every so often, admitted they had
fallen between the cracks. Money was tight, and what I paid him was
probably the difference between them being able to live together and Stevie
being sent to a group home. That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place
that morning last September, the first morning in three years that Stevie
missed work.
He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a new valve or something
put in his heart. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome
often have heart problems at an early age so this wasn't unexpected, and
there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and
be back at work in a few months.
A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when
word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine.
Annie, the head waitress, let out a war hoop and did a little dance in
the aisle when she heard the good news.
Belle Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at the sight
of this 50-year-old grandmother of four doing a victory shimmy beside his
table.
Annie blushed, smoothed her apron and shot Belle Ringer a withering look.
He grinned. "OK, Annie, what was that all about?" he asked.
"We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay."
"I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was
the surgery about?"
Annie quickly told Belle Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at
his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going
to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to
handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it
is." Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Annie hurried off to wait on
the rest of her tables. Since I hadn't had time to round up a busboy to
replace Stevie and really didn't want to replace him, the girls were busing
their own tables that day until we decided what to do.
After the morning rush, Annie walked into my office. She had a couple
of paper napkins in her hand and a funny look on her face.
"What's up?" I asked.
"I didn't get that table where Belle Ringer and his friends were sitting
cleared off after they left, and Pony Pete and Tony Tipper were sitting
there when I got back to clean it off," she said. "This was folded and
tucked under a coffee cup."
She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when
I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something
For Stevie".
"Pony Pete asked me what that was all about," she said, "so I told him
about Stevie and his Mom and everything, and Pete looked at Tony and Tony
looked at Pete, and they ended up giving me this." She handed me another
paper napkin that had "Something For Stevie" scrawled on its outside. Two
$50 bills were tucked within its folds. Annie looked at me with wet, shiny
eyes, shook her head and said simply: "truckers."
That was three months ago. Today is Christmas eve, the first day Stevie
is supposed to be back to work.
His placement worker said he's been counting the days until the doctor
said he could work, and it didn't matter at all that it was a holiday. He
called 10 times in the past week, making sure we knew he was coming, fearful
that we had forgotten him or that his job was in jeopardy. I arranged to
have his mother bring him to work. I then met them in the parking lot and
invited them both to celebrate his day back.
Stevie was thinner and paler, but couldn't stop grinning as he pushed
through the doors and headed for the back room where his apron and busing
cart were waiting.
"Hold up there, Stevie, not so fast," I said. I took him and his mother
by their arms. "Work can wait for a minute. To celebrate you coming back,
breakfast for you and your mother is on me!" I led them toward a large
corner booth at the rear of the room.
I could feel and hear the rest of the staff following behind as we
marched through the dining room. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw booth
after booth of grinning truckers empty and join the procession. We stopped
in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups,
saucers and dinner plates, all sitting slightly crooked on dozens of folded
paper napkins. "First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess,"
I said. I tried to sound stern.
Stevie looked at me, and then at his mother, then pulled out one of the
napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he
picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table.
Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath
the tableware, each with his name printed or scrawled on it. I turned to
his mother. "There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on that table,
all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems.
"Merry Christmas".
Well, it got real noisy about that time, with everybody hollering and
shouting, and there were a few tears, as well.
But you know what's funny? While everybody else was busy shaking hands
and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy
clearing all the cups and dishes from the table.
Best worker I ever hired.
Plant a seed and watch it grow.
At this point, you can bury this inspirational message or forward it,
fulfilling the need!
If you shed a tear, hug yourself, because you are a compassionate person.
May the true meaning of Christmas fill your heart and help you to enjoy
this joyous time of the year. Spend this time with your family, friends and
loved ones and don't forget those less fortumate than you!
Well.. Don't just sit there! Send this story on! Keep it going, this is
a good one!
A Truckers Story (If this doesn't light your fire, your wood is wet!!!)
I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His
placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy.
But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and wasn't sure I wanted
one. I wasn't sure how my customers would react to Stevie.
He was short, a little dumpy with the smooth facial features and
thick-tongued speech of Downs Syndrome. I wasn't worried about most of my
trucker customers because truckers don't generally care who buses tables as
long as the meatloaf platter is good and the pies are homemade.
The four-wheeler drivers were the ones who concerned me; the mouthy
college kids traveling to school; the yuppie snobs who secretly polish their
silverware with their napkins for fear of catching some dreaded "truck stop
germ" the pairs of white-shirted business men on expense accounts who think
every truck stop waitress wants to be flirted with. I knew those people
would be uncomfortable around Stevie so I closely watched him for the first
few weeks.
I shouldn't have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff
wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my truck
regulars had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot.
After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought
of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh
and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. Every salt
and pepper shaker was exactly in its place, not a bread crumb or coffee
spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table. Our only problem was
persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were
finished. He would hover in the background, shifting his weight from one
foot to the other, scanning the dining room until a table was empty. Then
he would scurry to the empty table and carefully bus dishes and glasses onto
his cart and meticulously wipe the table up with a practiced flourish of his
rag.
If he thought a customer was watching, his brow would pucker with added
concentration. He took pride in doing his job exactly right, and you had to
love how hard he tried to please each and every person he met.
Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was
disabled after repeated surgeries for cancer. They lived on their Social
Security benefits in public housing two miles from the truck stop. Their
social worker, who stopped to check on him every so often, admitted they had
fallen between the cracks. Money was tight, and what I paid him was
probably the difference between them being able to live together and Stevie
being sent to a group home. That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place
that morning last September, the first morning in three years that Stevie
missed work.
He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a new valve or something
put in his heart. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome
often have heart problems at an early age so this wasn't unexpected, and
there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and
be back at work in a few months.
A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when
word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine.
Annie, the head waitress, let out a war hoop and did a little dance in
the aisle when she heard the good news.
Belle Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at the sight
of this 50-year-old grandmother of four doing a victory shimmy beside his
table.
Annie blushed, smoothed her apron and shot Belle Ringer a withering look.
He grinned. "OK, Annie, what was that all about?" he asked.
"We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay."
"I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was
the surgery about?"
Annie quickly told Belle Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at
his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going
to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to
handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it
is." Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Annie hurried off to wait on
the rest of her tables. Since I hadn't had time to round up a busboy to
replace Stevie and really didn't want to replace him, the girls were busing
their own tables that day until we decided what to do.
After the morning rush, Annie walked into my office. She had a couple
of paper napkins in her hand and a funny look on her face.
"What's up?" I asked.
"I didn't get that table where Belle Ringer and his friends were sitting
cleared off after they left, and Pony Pete and Tony Tipper were sitting
there when I got back to clean it off," she said. "This was folded and
tucked under a coffee cup."
She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when
I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something
For Stevie".
"Pony Pete asked me what that was all about," she said, "so I told him
about Stevie and his Mom and everything, and Pete looked at Tony and Tony
looked at Pete, and they ended up giving me this." She handed me another
paper napkin that had "Something For Stevie" scrawled on its outside. Two
$50 bills were tucked within its folds. Annie looked at me with wet, shiny
eyes, shook her head and said simply: "truckers."
That was three months ago. Today is Christmas eve, the first day Stevie
is supposed to be back to work.
His placement worker said he's been counting the days until the doctor
said he could work, and it didn't matter at all that it was a holiday. He
called 10 times in the past week, making sure we knew he was coming, fearful
that we had forgotten him or that his job was in jeopardy. I arranged to
have his mother bring him to work. I then met them in the parking lot and
invited them both to celebrate his day back.
Stevie was thinner and paler, but couldn't stop grinning as he pushed
through the doors and headed for the back room where his apron and busing
cart were waiting.
"Hold up there, Stevie, not so fast," I said. I took him and his mother
by their arms. "Work can wait for a minute. To celebrate you coming back,
breakfast for you and your mother is on me!" I led them toward a large
corner booth at the rear of the room.
I could feel and hear the rest of the staff following behind as we
marched through the dining room. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw booth
after booth of grinning truckers empty and join the procession. We stopped
in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups,
saucers and dinner plates, all sitting slightly crooked on dozens of folded
paper napkins. "First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess,"
I said. I tried to sound stern.
Stevie looked at me, and then at his mother, then pulled out one of the
napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he
picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table.
Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath
the tableware, each with his name printed or scrawled on it. I turned to
his mother. "There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on that table,
all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems.
"Merry Christmas".
Well, it got real noisy about that time, with everybody hollering and
shouting, and there were a few tears, as well.
But you know what's funny? While everybody else was busy shaking hands
and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy
clearing all the cups and dishes from the table.
Best worker I ever hired.
Plant a seed and watch it grow.
At this point, you can bury this inspirational message or forward it,
fulfilling the need!
If you shed a tear, hug yourself, because you are a compassionate person.
May the true meaning of Christmas fill your heart and help you to enjoy
this joyous time of the year. Spend this time with your family, friends and
loved ones and don't forget those less fortumate than you!
Well.. Don't just sit there! Send this story on! Keep it going, this is
a good one!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Chirripo Costa Rica.....
This is from our Language school days. We had climbed to the highest point in Costa Rica and was able to see another one of God's amazing views. We were able to see both Atlantic and Pacific ocean at the same time.
We started at 4000 feet and slepted at 10,000 feet. The next morning we got up before dawn and finished the 2000 more feet to see the sun rise. God is amazing. I love him more and more each day.
We started at 4000 feet and slepted at 10,000 feet. The next morning we got up before dawn and finished the 2000 more feet to see the sun rise. God is amazing. I love him more and more each day.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Dad
I wrote this sometime ago and pulled it off the post for some personal reasons. I was written long before we found out that he had cancer. He died from the complications of the cancer.
My Dad passed away this pass Saturday morning on November 4, 2006. I'm pretty sure he never read this post, he wasn't much on reading or looking at the web. But we do feel confident that he knew the Lord. We made it home for the funeral and are staying till after Thanksgiving. For the ones that knew Dad loved him. I could write more but....well it's just best I leave it at that. I loved him. In that face you see are many years of hard work. I was able to share about 12 years of that work with him. I feel very fortunate to have been able to have done so. I love you.
"I'm not good writing and I realize this. So bare with me as I try do pay tribute to my dad. My dad and I were able to talk the other night for a short time. We both came to tears as we recalled our times together when I was at home. My dad so misses our kids and can't bring himself to talk to them because each time he comes to tears.
I was so privilege to have been able to work along side my dad for many years in the Masonry business. He taught me how to work. Even now I have no doubt that my Dad can work me into the ground. He knows how to get the job done. He is a problem solver. And I hope I can be the problem solver that he is now.
I love my dad. I love the way he pays attention to details when it comes to work.
I love my dad in the ways that he helps people when they are down.
I love my dad in the ways that he loves my kids.
I love my dad in the ways that he loves my wife. And most of all
I love my dad in the ways that he loves me.
I'm not sure if my dad will read this. I hope one day that he will.
I'm not sure if my dad knows Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. That is not for me to judge. My dad knows whether or not if he knows the Lord. And the Lord knows.
I love my dad for how people view my dad.
At one point I think my dad thought I was taking his grandkids away from him but that is not the reason. We have come to the mission field because my dad also taught me to be obedient. I want to be obedient to my Father in Heaven. I come to the field to share the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
My prayer is that he will understand this. I don't mean this in an arrogant or sarcastic way. My dad will understand this more clearly when he aligns himself with what the Word of God says.
Dad I love you and I thank you for all you have done for me. You have taught me to work, to be faithful and to be obedient.
I will always remember the good times and the bad, we had working together. We will be home soon to visit."
We did get to visit him in September before he passed in November.
Thanks to all for your prayers and support.
My Dad passed away this pass Saturday morning on November 4, 2006. I'm pretty sure he never read this post, he wasn't much on reading or looking at the web. But we do feel confident that he knew the Lord. We made it home for the funeral and are staying till after Thanksgiving. For the ones that knew Dad loved him. I could write more but....well it's just best I leave it at that. I loved him. In that face you see are many years of hard work. I was able to share about 12 years of that work with him. I feel very fortunate to have been able to have done so. I love you.
"I'm not good writing and I realize this. So bare with me as I try do pay tribute to my dad. My dad and I were able to talk the other night for a short time. We both came to tears as we recalled our times together when I was at home. My dad so misses our kids and can't bring himself to talk to them because each time he comes to tears.
I was so privilege to have been able to work along side my dad for many years in the Masonry business. He taught me how to work. Even now I have no doubt that my Dad can work me into the ground. He knows how to get the job done. He is a problem solver. And I hope I can be the problem solver that he is now.
I love my dad. I love the way he pays attention to details when it comes to work.
I love my dad in the ways that he helps people when they are down.
I love my dad in the ways that he loves my kids.
I love my dad in the ways that he loves my wife. And most of all
I love my dad in the ways that he loves me.
I'm not sure if my dad will read this. I hope one day that he will.
I'm not sure if my dad knows Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. That is not for me to judge. My dad knows whether or not if he knows the Lord. And the Lord knows.
I love my dad for how people view my dad.
At one point I think my dad thought I was taking his grandkids away from him but that is not the reason. We have come to the mission field because my dad also taught me to be obedient. I want to be obedient to my Father in Heaven. I come to the field to share the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
My prayer is that he will understand this. I don't mean this in an arrogant or sarcastic way. My dad will understand this more clearly when he aligns himself with what the Word of God says.
Dad I love you and I thank you for all you have done for me. You have taught me to work, to be faithful and to be obedient.
I will always remember the good times and the bad, we had working together. We will be home soon to visit."
We did get to visit him in September before he passed in November.
Thanks to all for your prayers and support.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Getting back to the Basics.
The fact that I haven’t posted in a while??? Well many factors, time, direction and probably most of all confidence. I read all my favorites and realize I just don’t have the ability to write the way they do. I know once I get past that I will write more frequently and share more about what God is doing in our life.
I guess I need to change the name of this blog due to that we have completed our first year at our place of appointment. It has flown by. Touched by many ups and downs. Meeting many different people, tasting many different foods, experiencing different cultures. God has many reasons why he has put us here, one that I can see, is that we are here to see the lostness not only of Treinta y Tres but of the world. For me to reexamine my direction in my life personally and the direction I take my family. Each day I realize how precious my family is to me and how I haven’t taken them seriously enough. I’m thankful that God has looked after them a lot better than I have. His promises are so evident each day. Thank you Jesus for you Mercy and Love.
These past 3 or 4 weeks we were able to go home to visit. (First time in about two years.) What a blessing it was to be able to visit family and friends. To hug my mama, ride bikes with my brother and to find counsel with my pastor. And one of the tuff things was to see my Dad. It was a shock to see him eat away to nothing. If you didn’t know he is fighting cancer. Fighting is probably not a good word more like battling, to all the cancer soldiers; I deeply love you for your attitude to fight this disease. We returned to the field not knowing what God will allow to happen. My dad’s hope is to be able to lay brick again, my hope is the same but more than that I’m thankful I find comfort knowing that God is in control. A saying from a friend that has so rung true in these past days. A song that speaks to me as well, “His Eye is On the Sparrow”. And many parts of God’s Word I find comfort.
Happy is the worshipper of the Lord, who is walking in his ways.
2 You will have the fruit of the work of your hands: happy will you be, and all will be well for you.
3 Your wife will be like a fertile vine in the inmost parts of your house: your children will be like olive plants round your table.
4 See! this is the blessing of the worshipper of the Lord.
5 May the Lord send you blessing out of Zion: may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you see your children's children. Peace be on Israel.
Psalms 128:1-6 (BBE)
This is just one picture of many that I want to share. This my best friend doing what she does best. I love you babe!
I guess I need to change the name of this blog due to that we have completed our first year at our place of appointment. It has flown by. Touched by many ups and downs. Meeting many different people, tasting many different foods, experiencing different cultures. God has many reasons why he has put us here, one that I can see, is that we are here to see the lostness not only of Treinta y Tres but of the world. For me to reexamine my direction in my life personally and the direction I take my family. Each day I realize how precious my family is to me and how I haven’t taken them seriously enough. I’m thankful that God has looked after them a lot better than I have. His promises are so evident each day. Thank you Jesus for you Mercy and Love.
These past 3 or 4 weeks we were able to go home to visit. (First time in about two years.) What a blessing it was to be able to visit family and friends. To hug my mama, ride bikes with my brother and to find counsel with my pastor. And one of the tuff things was to see my Dad. It was a shock to see him eat away to nothing. If you didn’t know he is fighting cancer. Fighting is probably not a good word more like battling, to all the cancer soldiers; I deeply love you for your attitude to fight this disease. We returned to the field not knowing what God will allow to happen. My dad’s hope is to be able to lay brick again, my hope is the same but more than that I’m thankful I find comfort knowing that God is in control. A saying from a friend that has so rung true in these past days. A song that speaks to me as well, “His Eye is On the Sparrow”. And many parts of God’s Word I find comfort.
Happy is the worshipper of the Lord, who is walking in his ways.
2 You will have the fruit of the work of your hands: happy will you be, and all will be well for you.
3 Your wife will be like a fertile vine in the inmost parts of your house: your children will be like olive plants round your table.
4 See! this is the blessing of the worshipper of the Lord.
5 May the Lord send you blessing out of Zion: may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you see your children's children. Peace be on Israel.
Psalms 128:1-6 (BBE)
This is just one picture of many that I want to share. This my best friend doing what she does best. I love you babe!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Our First Volunteer Group!!!!
Wow!!!
What a great time we had with the Carlton Rivers group from Georgia. They arrived on Saturday at noon. We got a bite to eat then off to "33". They rested Saturday then they ministered to the Sunday school classes at our church. That evening they handled the worship service with one their team members singing and leading in the Spanish music. Monday we Prayer Walked all day. They were bushed and reading for some rest. Tuesday we got an early start. We headed to where they minister last year and they reacquainted themselves with the group. That evening we were invited to a public salon (public gathering place). To share with the children of the barrio. We puppets, and gave bags of goodies and tracks. That night we showed a movie. We didn't see any decisions but it was a good time making contacts and building relationships. We headed back that night which was about an hour drive. Wednesday morning we got up and headed to the capitol city of Montevideo. They took a 3 hour city tour. Ate supper and off to bed for a good night sleep before the long travel day on Thursday back to the States.
They were a fantastic first group. The minister and loved on the people. It was a blessing to all.
If all the Churches would get actively involved like this one. Wow what a difference we could make in the Kingdom.
What a great time we had with the Carlton Rivers group from Georgia. They arrived on Saturday at noon. We got a bite to eat then off to "33". They rested Saturday then they ministered to the Sunday school classes at our church. That evening they handled the worship service with one their team members singing and leading in the Spanish music. Monday we Prayer Walked all day. They were bushed and reading for some rest. Tuesday we got an early start. We headed to where they minister last year and they reacquainted themselves with the group. That evening we were invited to a public salon (public gathering place). To share with the children of the barrio. We puppets, and gave bags of goodies and tracks. That night we showed a movie. We didn't see any decisions but it was a good time making contacts and building relationships. We headed back that night which was about an hour drive. Wednesday morning we got up and headed to the capitol city of Montevideo. They took a 3 hour city tour. Ate supper and off to bed for a good night sleep before the long travel day on Thursday back to the States.
They were a fantastic first group. The minister and loved on the people. It was a blessing to all.
If all the Churches would get actively involved like this one. Wow what a difference we could make in the Kingdom.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Does it Matter?
Does it matter...?
I wonder does it matter what we do if God already knows what is going to happen. We evangelize but God knows who is going to follow. According to several of my friends. And the discussions we have at the end of discussing how we are going to plan an event. I hear these words "well what ever we do it doesn't matter because God is in control". I agree God is in control but does it matter/ I'm not sure who comes by my blog but if you have some thoughts please I would love to hear them.
I wonder does it matter what we do if God already knows what is going to happen. We evangelize but God knows who is going to follow. According to several of my friends. And the discussions we have at the end of discussing how we are going to plan an event. I hear these words "well what ever we do it doesn't matter because God is in control". I agree God is in control but does it matter/ I'm not sure who comes by my blog but if you have some thoughts please I would love to hear them.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Teresa and the cutie.
We made some new friends in Argentina as well. And the little girl was cutie. Not only the little blonde girl but the one she is holding as well.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
One of those biggest fears.
| I guess one of the biggest fears that you face, or I face anyway, as a missionary is that time when your parent or parents will pass on. No one has passed in my family but a scare has happened. My dad is in ICU with blood clots in his lungs. Everything is stable and I’m praising God. But back to the topic... I can still look back at the days I didn't have that hope in the Lord. When I didn't think about what will happen after death. Or what will happen to my loved ones after this time on earth. Will I see them in eternity? Man, how do people without that Hope live with those thoughts? I am so thankful for the Hope I have and the peace I have in the Lord. I read something today from A.W. Tozer that said.” God cannot use a man until he has hurt him deeply.” I don’t have the whole context to what he was writing. So I wonder is that a general statement or was he referring to something specific? When my brother told me of the news of my dad, a world of questions went through my head. Did I witness to him enough, hard enough, or direct enough. Are the ones that believe my dad is saved, from knowing him in his younger years, are they right? Just one of the fears we face on the field. I’m thankful for our Lord… 27 May peace be with you; my peace I give to you: I give it not as the world gives. Let not your heart be troubled; let it be without fear. John 14:27 (BBE) |
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Some thoughts or Questions.
Why is it that most missionaries go home during the first year on the field?
Why do so many suffer during their first year on the field?
Why do kids not want to go to Sunday School at their church?
Why do the missionaries find it hard to accept the way the church is worshiping?
Are there answers or are these things that we have to accept?
I read Step’s blog on https://www.blogger.com/atom/19596668 “Some of us shouldn’t be here”. And I have posed that question to myself. Should I be here?
Looking at the first question….I think I will be very open here and share what I’ve been going through as of late. At the moment my wife and I are as far apart emotionally as we have ever been. When back in the states when would get to this point we always blamed it on the fact we didn’t spend enough time together. We would spend time together, work on our relationship and things would flourish once more. Now on the field we spend more than enough time together. Where is the break down? I think we have started rebuilding but we both don’t seem to be eager about doing it. I think she is dealing with some emotional stuff and I know I am. Now before everyone gets worked up and says “oh, just give it over to God” or “You are not where you need to be with God” or any other spiritual answer, I have been and will continue to pray and study with God on what I should do next. When at home I would always talk with my close friend/pastor and my wife would do the same. We would talk together about issues that we dealing with about each other and work them out. We have done that as well, most of the issues dealt with me and I agreed that I needed to change some things. Marriages go through the ups and downs. I know this. Maybe I’m over reacting. Maybe I’m using this form of communication to vent. Or Maybe God is going to teach me not to be so transparent to the world. This is probably God’s intent. I’m sure I will find out within a few days. But this is real stuff. Living on the field is not a bed of Roses. My pastor always said that Ministry was all about Pain and Sacrifice. I only thought ministry was tough in the States.
Now the next question….Why do so many suffer during the first year on the field?
Well let’s eliminate the first year if you went to language school. For us that wasn’t much of a transition. It was like living in a big city in the states and you were confined to “little Latin America”. The next year that you are actually at your place of service that is the first year. I only say this for clarification. Now let’s eliminate the culture. I know this adds to the mix but I don’t want to talk about that in this post. Let look at the church aspect of it. First we have been advised not to get involved with any leadership positions. We have been advised to only participate on the level of helping with small projects but not to teach, lead or have any direct impact. (Financially speaking). So at the moment our Baptist church is about as dead as you get. I don’t see any spiritual growth. I don’t see them worshipping God in such a way I think is pleasing to Him. And if I was a visitor seeking God, I wouldn’t see him there. Now my next statement might alarm some but by no means does it state my doctrinal view. But if I (visitor) was searching and come across a congregation that was enjoying God’s love and expressing it in such a way that I thought it was pleasing to God I believe I would have to go there. Now that those churches do not stand doctrinally where I stand so as a mature believer I choose not to worship there even though it is tempting.
Now with our kids they don’t want to go to the Sunday School. Our girl doesn’t like to go because the other kids are so disorderly and boys hit girls and it is permitted. So we struggle with making her go. Our son doesn’t like to go youth functions because basically it is not any better than the Sunday services. Dead as a door nail. Now I was taught if you not going to help be a solution to the problem. Do not complain. Well I’m not complaining just stating the facts. I would love to be a solution to the problem but I’m not allowed and I’m not the pastor. (I wasn’t a pastor in the states either so I doubt I could help in that area any way).
Well this has been long enough. I apologize if this has been like rambling. I didn’t answer all the questions. But have touched some. Maybe I post another later.
I know God wants to teach me something. Maybe he is showing me that I’m one of those that don’t need to be on the Mission Field.
Why do so many suffer during their first year on the field?
Why do kids not want to go to Sunday School at their church?
Why do the missionaries find it hard to accept the way the church is worshiping?
Are there answers or are these things that we have to accept?
I read Step’s blog on https://www.blogger.com/atom/19596668 “Some of us shouldn’t be here”. And I have posed that question to myself. Should I be here?
Looking at the first question….I think I will be very open here and share what I’ve been going through as of late. At the moment my wife and I are as far apart emotionally as we have ever been. When back in the states when would get to this point we always blamed it on the fact we didn’t spend enough time together. We would spend time together, work on our relationship and things would flourish once more. Now on the field we spend more than enough time together. Where is the break down? I think we have started rebuilding but we both don’t seem to be eager about doing it. I think she is dealing with some emotional stuff and I know I am. Now before everyone gets worked up and says “oh, just give it over to God” or “You are not where you need to be with God” or any other spiritual answer, I have been and will continue to pray and study with God on what I should do next. When at home I would always talk with my close friend/pastor and my wife would do the same. We would talk together about issues that we dealing with about each other and work them out. We have done that as well, most of the issues dealt with me and I agreed that I needed to change some things. Marriages go through the ups and downs. I know this. Maybe I’m over reacting. Maybe I’m using this form of communication to vent. Or Maybe God is going to teach me not to be so transparent to the world. This is probably God’s intent. I’m sure I will find out within a few days. But this is real stuff. Living on the field is not a bed of Roses. My pastor always said that Ministry was all about Pain and Sacrifice. I only thought ministry was tough in the States.
Now the next question….Why do so many suffer during the first year on the field?
Well let’s eliminate the first year if you went to language school. For us that wasn’t much of a transition. It was like living in a big city in the states and you were confined to “little Latin America”. The next year that you are actually at your place of service that is the first year. I only say this for clarification. Now let’s eliminate the culture. I know this adds to the mix but I don’t want to talk about that in this post. Let look at the church aspect of it. First we have been advised not to get involved with any leadership positions. We have been advised to only participate on the level of helping with small projects but not to teach, lead or have any direct impact. (Financially speaking). So at the moment our Baptist church is about as dead as you get. I don’t see any spiritual growth. I don’t see them worshipping God in such a way I think is pleasing to Him. And if I was a visitor seeking God, I wouldn’t see him there. Now my next statement might alarm some but by no means does it state my doctrinal view. But if I (visitor) was searching and come across a congregation that was enjoying God’s love and expressing it in such a way that I thought it was pleasing to God I believe I would have to go there. Now that those churches do not stand doctrinally where I stand so as a mature believer I choose not to worship there even though it is tempting.
Now with our kids they don’t want to go to the Sunday School. Our girl doesn’t like to go because the other kids are so disorderly and boys hit girls and it is permitted. So we struggle with making her go. Our son doesn’t like to go youth functions because basically it is not any better than the Sunday services. Dead as a door nail. Now I was taught if you not going to help be a solution to the problem. Do not complain. Well I’m not complaining just stating the facts. I would love to be a solution to the problem but I’m not allowed and I’m not the pastor. (I wasn’t a pastor in the states either so I doubt I could help in that area any way).
Well this has been long enough. I apologize if this has been like rambling. I didn’t answer all the questions. But have touched some. Maybe I post another later.
I know God wants to teach me something. Maybe he is showing me that I’m one of those that don’t need to be on the Mission Field.
Friday, June 09, 2006
A Busy Time!!!
| It has been a while I know. We spent the last few days of May getting ready to leave for Argentina. Our Church came down to Argentina to work with the Word of Life bunch. We made plans to go and meet and minister with them there. It was a great time. We were there for about 8 days. We were able to see our pastor and his wife. Reinstablish some friendships and make new ones. The Church brought down a great team this year. I was impressed with all of them. But one of the guys really sticks out. His name was Adam. He has M.S. He could use every excuse not to come. Yet he came with enthusiasm, love and a willingness to be used. He has a heart of gold and I pray that he will reach many people for Christ. In working with this WoL group in Argentina, they are trying to teach the churches to evangelize by going door to door. It is a new concept but they seemed to really enjoy talking with the people. They had several of the young leaders interested in sharing their faith door to door. I was encouraged as we were sharing at the homes they (young leaders) were taking notes. I really think they have got a lock on what direction they want to go. In this door to door campain, we shared the Gospel with over 600 people and over 200 of those excepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. I have no doubts they will do a great job in following up with all the decisions. They have a missionary there from the WoL , named Will Herndan (Hope I spelled it right). He really has a passion to see all of Cordaba touched with the Gospel. |
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Bike Team Rocha! con Treinta y Tres.
The is one of the bike/evangelical impacts we did with the Missionaries from Rocha.
Each year they take there youth on a bike ride and do evangelical impacts in town across the eastern side of Uruguay. I think the Rocha team did over 500 kilometers of riding. They are a great bunch of kids. The Missionaries Cliff and Cinthy Chase are good people. They will be going home on stateside assignment for about a year. Enjoy the video!!
Each year they take there youth on a bike ride and do evangelical impacts in town across the eastern side of Uruguay. I think the Rocha team did over 500 kilometers of riding. They are a great bunch of kids. The Missionaries Cliff and Cinthy Chase are good people. They will be going home on stateside assignment for about a year. Enjoy the video!!
What am I doing?
I know that God has brought me here. I know that without a doubt. I have had the opportunity to make friends with several non believers here. I will continue to do this. Are they open to hearing the idea of starting a bible study in their home? Who knows. I want to build these relationships up and not push them away. I have asked myself, "where you going to push them too, Hell #2. They have said they are more interested in who I am on the inside and not what I say I am. I'm not really sure how to interpret this but it is a start. I have asked myself now, "How am I going to touch every person here in this Department of 49000 with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Is it possible to know that every person has heard it. What means are available with limited resources? What obstacle do I face? (The main one being the language.) Who will be on my team? (God will have to give me one) Some have said that I have to work with local Pastor to accomplish the goals here. I'm not sure how to take that one as well. The Pastor thinks he has done all that can be done. But we know that there is a lot more work to be done. I want so bad to start doing something but not sure where to start. I'm thinking of starting some ESL classes for the poor. I have also had the opportunity to ask several students learning English if they would like to come meet the next volunteer team coming in. They had to agree to come church, because that is where the group will be. Also I have asked them to accompany us on our Prayer walking. I'm sure how that will turn out but my goal is for these students to here the Gospel. In regards to these students I was able to talk with for about an hour. I asked several questions but I responded to several questions they asked as well. I was curios on how they view living here. They all said they were bored. That there was nothing here for them to do. I asked "if they could change something about here what would it be?"again I'm looking at ways to reach the youth. The all responded that they wanted a place where they could sit, talk, eat a little something and listen to music. At the moment they sit at the main drag, watching the traffic go by. I have a lot of quick answers but it has to go much deeper that. What to offer them that doesn't require a ton of money. I'm wanting a drawing card. Unfortunately the church can't offer anything that would interest them. The music is dull, and they don't have the resources to offer anything. What to do? |
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Done this already.
I wrote a pretty lengthy post and lost it all. Don't really have the heart to do it again. But here it goes in a short version.
April was pretty busy with bike rides. Some friends from Rocha came over by bikes. We wanted to show a evangelistic movie but rain dampened it a little. We woke the next morning and left on a 100 kilometer ride to Santa Clara. We stopped there ate, camped and showed a movie. There a few contacts made but no decisions. We came back the next morning by way of a shorter route. Arrived here in Treinta y Tres showed a movie in the plaza and made some more contacts. All in all it was a good time for the kids to share with the kids from Rocha.
Teresa and I have started our language learning again here in Treinta y Tres. Our tutor is very professional and teaches English. Teresa loves the class room stuff. You know me, class room is not my cup of tea. All in all it is going well. Through it all, God has opened up a tremendous door.
Today Gemer (tutor) asked me to come back tonight and talk with one of his advance classes. The reason was to discuss about how his classes could interact with our volunteer groups we have coming from the states. Gemer has said that he is a believer. And I will dive deeper into that later. I talked with the students and they were very open to the opportunity to be able to interact with the groups. At the moment I have 8 youth (17 -18 ) interested. Tomorrow I will talk with two other classes about the same thing. God is really open the door to touch several youth. We have also asked them if they were interested they could come over eat and practice their English. After talking with that group tonight, I got some good insight on what to be praying about. The kids asked me, did I like living here? Well of course I said yes and that is the truth. It is a nice to place to live. They thought I was crazy. They said it was boring with nothing to do but Saturday nights sit on the main drag and watch cars go by.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
La Charqueada bound!!
Forgive me for not posting in while. I have been hesitant here lately on several things. I've really been trying to seek what God will have us do here in Treinta y Tres. Long term. I've pretty much decided to start some ESL classes in the poorer barrios. We'll see how that turns out.
Off we go today. Really it is not that far from our home here in Treinta y Tres. We going with the pastor today to a worship service every other Saturday. This has developed from the pastor here. It will be interesting to see how this works. In the past missionaries have tried to start works there but have dwindle down after they left. So this will be interesting to see how a national handles everything. I'm observing very closely how things develop. There are a lot of cultural things that I see happening and I wondering how we can fit into this picture. I'll keep you posted.
Off we go today. Really it is not that far from our home here in Treinta y Tres. We going with the pastor today to a worship service every other Saturday. This has developed from the pastor here. It will be interesting to see how this works. In the past missionaries have tried to start works there but have dwindle down after they left. So this will be interesting to see how a national handles everything. I'm observing very closely how things develop. There are a lot of cultural things that I see happening and I wondering how we can fit into this picture. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
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.
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.
Friday, March 24, 2006
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
Saturday, March 18, 2006
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.
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.
Monday, March 06, 2006
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.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
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.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
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.
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.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
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".
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