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!!

Here is something New!

I'm trying this video insert for the first time. We'll se how it goes.

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?

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.

They said they want somewhere they could go, sit, eat and be with friends. This town is loaded with teenage kids. I'm really praying hard on what to do next. Anyway I have really been encouraged by what God is showing me and I look forward to what he will show and teach me tomorrow.

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.

Education doesn't change life much. It just lifts trouble to a higher plane of regard.

What a Word!!

There are people I know who won't hurt me. I call them corpses.
- Randy K. Milholland

Mama is Gone :o(

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

What a Week!!!

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

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

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

Missions Misunderstood

A Must Read!!!
Missions Misunderstood

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

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

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

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

First day of School!! (Nine years Old)

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

Let us all go to the River!!!!

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

Recovering!!!

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

What is "Mate"?

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

Dangers of drinking "Mate"

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

Visiting nationals

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

Six months and still standing!!!!

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