Baby Missionary 101

So Weak

2010-12-01T22:31:00.005-06:00

When you go overseas to serve as a missionary, one of the repeated pieces of advice is to be aware that now everyone back at home will most likely place you on a pedestal of sorts. They'll think you're this super spiritual person who is closer to God on the prayer chain than your average Joe back home. You get the adventure. You get the crazy stories. You get the radical healings, the spiritual encounters, the miraculous provision. You're a missionary. So watch out for this attitude. Be careful of how others will perceive you when you speak to them. Don't let it affect you.

Well I bought in to it. To be completely honest and transparent, I bought it. Or at least a version of it. No, I'm not better than any other brother or sister. No, I don't think that crazy adventures and the accompanying stories should be mine by right. And no, my prayers don't get to God faster than anyone else's.

I did, however, come back expecting, in the back of my mind, to be strong enough spiritually that I could resist old temptations and hardships, that all the things that tripped me up before I left, and even during my term, would no longer be there. Or if they were there, I would be able to gracefully dance around them, proving to everyone that I was different, that I had changed, that I was more intimate with Christ than I had ever been before.

I am different. I have changed. And I do believe that my relationship with Christ has reached new depths. But one fact that has not and will never change is that I cannot do it on my own.

Those hardships and temptations and struggles that I wanted to simply dance around, those things I expected to be able to do on my own. And I can't. Ever. In fact, I'd even dare to say that in some ways I'm weaker than before. I understand more clearly than I did that I truly cannot exist without my Jesus. I can't do the right things. I can't even think the right thoughts in the privacy of my own mind. Not without His help and intervention. I am weak.

Weak may not be a bad place to be. The weaker I am, the more dependent I am on Christ, and the more I rely on Him and His power instead of my own abilities that always fall way short. I can try to do it on my own, and often I do. And every time I'll end up in the exact same place, as I have each time before. On my face, crying for forgiveness and begging for His help, pleading with Him to save me from myself. I can't do it by my strength alone. And in my heart of hearts, I don't want to. I'm sure I will again - this tends to be one of the repeated struggles in my life - but I am trying. And He knows that. Which gives me hope and encouragement unlike anything else could.

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'"

~2 Corinthians 12:9

Even when I don't understand, nor see how it could be true, Jesus's grace is always sufficient, His power truly made perfect in my weakness. After all, it always has before.

Orientation of the heart

2010-11-02T15:30:00.003-06:00

"As for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise You more and more.

My mouth will tell of Your righteous deeds,

of Your saving acts all day long-

though I know not how to relate them all."

~Psalm 71:14-15

I'm officially back home in Arkansas. On Thursday, I'll have been home for a grand total of 3 months. It feels like I've been stateside for much longer than that. To be honest, it has been a huge struggle for me to adjust back to life here, especially where relationships are concerned. But God is still sovereign and He still provides, despite my doubts and disobedient rebellion. I recently got a job as a teller at a local bank in Conway. Part of the job includes going to a week of training in Little Rock, which has allowed me to spend some real quality time with my dad. Suffice it to say that when I think on it, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and humbled at the love of my Maker who cares so much about the details and relationships in my life. That short paragraph is the update of my life.

Today in teller training, one of the ladies I am training with shouted out "Hallelujah!" near the end of one of our breaks. We all looked at her, half laughing at the suddenness of it, getting caught up in her laughter. She wanted to give testimony, but didn't want to offend anyone who didn't think that God was good, but since He is good, she just had to tell us about how God has provided for her and her family right when she needed it. With only $10 left in her bank (yes, training implies that we have a job, but due to pay periods, we have yet to receive a paycheck) a year old settlement from a car crash finally came in today. God is good.

I keep thinking about psalms that I have read and psalms that I've prayed and psalms that have been stored away in my heart. So many of them claim that the psalmist will speak out about the greatness of the Lord, God's goodness, proclaim His righteousness and faithfulness before the multitudes and in the tabernacle, even going so far as to promise to always praise the Lord because the psalmist truly knows that God is good.

God is good. I know it, too. But how often do I speak up about it? Not very often. Yes, when I'm with like minded friends, I'll open up. And maybe every once in a while when I'm with good friends who don't share my faith, but they know of it and accept it. But to a room of people that I've known for only a short time and about something as personal as finances? I would have tamped down the overflow of gratitude and joy at God's goodness and saved it for later, for a specific audience.

I know that not everyone can open up and share things like that with others. And it's not the actual speaking out that I was so touched by. I think what made this so memorable was the realization that she didn't block the joy that God gave her. Her outburst was from an overflow of a grateful heart.

Hasta Luego

2010-08-02T01:14:00.006-06:00

Here in Ecuador, they often say 'hasta luego' (see you later) or 'chao' instead of 'adios.' Adios has too much of a permanent connotation to it. You say it when you know you will most likely never see that person again. My time here as a journeyman is coming to a close. The love Christ has placed in my heart for the people of Ecuador and the missionaries who minister to them has not diminished with approach of my last day. If anything, it has increased. It is with mixed emotions that I prepare to go back. While I am excited to see my family and friends there, my heart is heavy at the thought of saying goodbye to my family and friends here. It's time to say goodbye to people who are now family to me and to friends who have become so very precious to my heart. It's time for despedidas, final café dates, and last minute visits. But it is not a time to say Adios.

As a Christian, I live with the hope of eternity, of forever. Fellow believers have the same hope and belief. And while it is sad to leave, not knowing if or when I'll have the chance to see all these people again in my earthly life, I can rejoice in the fact that I will be able to spend eternity with many of them. Forever being with them in worship of the Lamb, of our Jesus, knowing that never again will we have to say hasta luego and adios will become a forgotten word. Even this is a poor attempt to express how much of an encouragement this hope is and the peace that comes with the knowledge of this promise.

God is good. Always. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Even today, as I was hugging the necks of my students and friends at my despedida, God is good. Even when what was once normal and comfortable and familiar now seems intimidating and unsure and the unknown, God is good.

It's really hard for me to realize that 2 years have passed. My mind knows it as a fact, but my heart refuses to register it as a truth. In a matter of days, I will be returning to the States. But I know that I'm going back a different person than when I left. Jesus has changed me so much, has grown me and has taught me. These changes may not be realized or seen by anyone else, but I know that they've happened. I have a burning desire to live a life of obedience to God, knowing that His plan is better and is good, just as He is good. The Bible has become even more so my foundation, for it is the Word of God; it is true and it is perfect. I honestly don't know what impact my being here has made, but as a dear friend reminded me, being obedient and faithful always makes a difference. And when you are obedient and faithful to the Lord, I believe the difference you make will bring glory to Him. And that, after all, is the point.

"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let Your glory be over all the earth." ~Psalm 57:11

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." ~John 1:14

"I am the Lord; that is my name!

I will not yield My glory to another

or my praise to idols." ~Isaiah 42:8

Poetry and Truth

2010-04-19T02:08:00.003-06:00

Psalm 103

Praise the LORD, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

As for mortals, their days are like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children—

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the LORD, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

Praise the LORD, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the LORD, my soul.

Catching Up

2009-09-11T18:06:00.047-06:00

I'm sorry that it's been so long since I last updated this. I'll just pick up where I left off and try and catch everyone up with what's been going on here, while doing my best to not make this post monstrously long.

June & July

The summer M's finished up their time in their respective villages of El Chaupi and Tubigachi. They spent several weeks building relationships and simply pouring themselves into the villagers and because of this, the churches that have adopted this area have had wider access to

these areas. These girls glorified our God by simply living out their faith. People could not understand how these young girls would leave their family and the States just to come to their town in Ecuador. In some ways, it's similar to how we don't or didn't understand why Christ would come from heaven, make Himself nothing, just because of His love for us and His desire to save us and provide a way for us to have an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe. It is now December, and these churches are still seeing fruit from the labor of these young women. If you're interested in being a summer missionary, or know someone who does, go check out thetask.org. Also, pray that the Lord will start raising up guys and girls to come next summer.

Remember the village of Cajahui Alto? Remember how there was 1 believer in the entire community? A few weeks after our trip to that area, the entire village voted to have a community wide Bible study. Also, they came in to see various gospel films that the Codys have shown and stayed for the whole film. To the best of my knowledge, they are still meeting as a community about once a month for these Bible studies and to learn more about Christ.

Jess and I also had the chance to go to Peru for a few weeks in June. REAP Ecuador, our

team, is under the umbrella of REAP North, which is based in Lima, Peru. Since

REAP North is older than our team, Jess and I went there to observe how to use the International World Changers students that we will have here in Ecuador next July.

This was probably my favorite trip of the summer. Most of the people that I went to language school with are now in Peru. It was a great time of simply catching up, especially with Mindy McCord, one of the closest friends I have made since coming on the field. Jess and I got to meet and be encouraged by so many wonderful believers, both students and leaders.

It was also exciting for me to be able to sing and praise the Lord in a communal setting IN MY OWN HEART LANGUAGE! After the first night's meeting, I was so filled with the joy and peace

that comes from simply being in the presence of my Savior. Now that is not to say that one cannot come before God's throne in a different language, but there is something morepersonal about praising the Lord in a language that you understand the nuances of. We journeygirls, Jess, Mindy and myself, also learned how to cook for a couple hundred students.

One afternoon, we spent a good portion of the afternoon making potato salad and helping to cook dinner, including the massive pot of green beans. And yes, it really did take all three of us to stir that pot. Once the week was over, Jess and I stayed in Lima for a few more days, doing the tourist thing, drinking Starbucks, which we don't have here, and having a hilariously fun time with the IWC leadership. They are basically amazing people and some of my favorites!

When we returned from Peru, Jess, Rick and I took the summer M's and Sarah, a girl who was an intern for the Wollets this summer, to Sucua for a week on a jungle trip. Sucua is about 9 hours south of Quito and much warmer. Jess and I joked that we were able to have our one week of summer time. We joined up with an evangelical pastor in Sucua and visited areas around there with him. In one place, we met a woman whose song had broken his leg a few weeks before.

She had no way to get him to a hospital since she had several other children and her husband had left her to start a family with another woman in a different village. We prayed for her and her son, and I hope brought some comfort as we loved on her while she mourned and grieved with us. We also met with the church there that the pastor in Sucua had started. They meet under this little hut of sorts, while waiting and praying for an American church to come build them a building.

On a different day, the pastor told us that he wanted to take us up into the mountains to a village that was an hour and a half away. He also warned us to dress warm because it was very cold. Well, Sucua is pretty hot, so we thought that this village probably wasn't that cold, just cold to him since he was adjusted to the heat. Wrong!! The higher we drove, the colder it became. And rainier. We stopped at an overlook to take some pictures and we instantly realized our mistake as most of us were in shorts and t-shirts. Oh, and the hour and a half drive turned into over 2 hours, including driving over the top of a few waterfalls, and through one where the bridge had been washed away.

We finally made it to the village and visited with a few families there while waiting for the school to let us play with the kids. We met the only 2 believers in the area, a very old, tiny man and his daughter, both of whom were advanced in age. Please pray that more people will believe in this community. We eventually were able to play with the children in the school. Duck, duck, goose is a favorite, as is teaching them Bible stories by having them act them out as we read them. Such fun! After this, we taught them a song in spanish and english, which Rick then taught them in "chinese." Rick, by the way, does not know chinese. If I can find the video, I will post it to share with you. It's pretty funny.

When we returned from Sucua, Courtney, Elizabeth and Joy left for the States. We had a prayer retreat for all the missionaries in Ecuador that ended in a celebration of the 4th of July. Katie, Brittany, Yvonne and Sarah stayed to help with VBS for the missionary kids.

It was a good time of fellowship, refreshment, a chance to worship together, and nights of acting like little

girls at a week long sleepover, since all of us chicas were able to stay in the same cabin. Plus s'mores (we had a fireplace in it), jumping on beds and movies. Good times.

After this, the girls all returned home, and the rest of our team took vacation to the States. At one point this summer, Jess and I were the only REAP Ecuador team members in the country.

August

August brought everyone back to Ecuador, including new team members and Jess's family for a visit. A journeyguy named Jonathan Jackson transfered to our team, and a masters lady named Patti Merrit also joined us. Patti and I now share the ESL responsibilities. She teaches the beginner level and I, the intermediate level students. Our ministry has changed a bit as God's direction for it became even more clearer, but I will touch on that later on.

The most exciting part of this month, I believe, was the fact that Jess and I got to move out of our old apartment into a great new one!! If you remember, it seemed like nearly everything in that old apartment that could go wrong, did. So, we are now in a 2 bedroom, 4 bathroom (yes, 4) apartment with a balcony, rooftop access, and very close proximity to the office, which is super nice for me since I teach there multiple times a week. Although it was stressful to move and there were a few speedbumps along the way (i.e., they found and had to fix black mold in the kitchen cabinets), we finally got settled. This is the first place that has truly felt like home to me. I'm very grateful for this.

In August, I also was able to take a little vacation and go to Puerto Lopez, a town on the beach, with Gary and Julie Clifton, their son Matthew and Julie's parents for a few days. We stayed in a really nice hotel, played in the very cold pool, and took a boat trip one day to go whale watching and to visit an island called La Isla de Plata (silver island). It's also known as the poor man's Galápagos. The island is covered in a dry tropical forest that appears to be dead and silver, but is in fact living and well.

During the dry season, the plants and trees shed all their leaves to protect their roots and to preserve the moisture that is caught in the dirt below the thick layer of leaves. We also saw blue footed boobie birds, whales off the coast, and frigate birds. On the other side of the island, sometimes you can see sea lions and otters as well. After we ate lunch on the boat, people had the opportunity to go snorkling. Gary jumped in, and Matthew was so fascinated that he wanted to wear the mask as well. I attempted, but was just a little too out of my element for it. But it has made me more determined that one day, I will do it!

While we were hiking around the island, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with a mother and her two daughters who were from the States. It struck me as how much easier it can be at times to explain Christ's offer of salvation when you already truly understand the culture of the person with whom you are talking. And yet I have shared my faith more with those from a latin culture than I have with people from my own culture.

On the way back from Puerto Lopez, we stopped at a KFC in Santo Domingo for a bathroom break and to get something to snack on as we headed back into Quito (we wanted to get through the mountains before it got dark since they are not the safest nor best roads). Unfortunately, when I got home that night, I woke up with altitude sickness mixed with food poisoning from the KFC french fries I had eaten. Julie's mom got sick as well, but not as badly as I did. I became dehydrated and my vacation ended with me spending a day and a night in the hospital, hooked up to an IV. But I have a great missionary family. For the entire time I was there, I was alone for maybe a total of 3 hours.

September

This month was a little bittersweet, as the Cliftons accepted a job and transfered to Spain to work with South Americans there. While we miss them greatly, we are all very excited for them and the work that they get to start doing over there.

Patti and I also started our revamped classes this month. We both teach 2 classes a week. One meets on Wednesday nights, and the other on Saturday mornings. We found and bought some ESL textbooks and now have a more structured class that lasts for 12 weeks at a time. We also started discussion groups again on Thursday nights. I have included a portion that we are calling scripture training. As this groups is aimed at helping our translators better their english skills and increase their confidence, we are also helping them to better understand the ideas that they will be talking about. For example, the more they understand what the Bible teaches about who Jesus is, and what grace means, the better they can explain it and translate the idea, not just the word. Jessica and I also began teaching an english class on Tuesday nights at the baptist association here in the city. This class was a lot of fun, and we have developed some very special friendships with national believers here.

October

We finished the association class near the end of October, and celebrated it with everyone at a banquet in a cafe in Carapungo, complete with dinner, entertainment, worship, a message, and presenting certificates to our students. It was a lot of fun for us, once we found the place. Jess and I got lost on the way there, but latin culture helped us in this, since the event that was supposed to start at 7 didn't begin until 8:30.

At the end of October, Ecuadorians celebrate el día de los difuntos, or the day of the dead. It is a quichua custom that has spread to the rest of the country over time. Everyone meets at the graveyards and cemeteries to eat and remember their loved ones who have passed away. The communities will also sometimes pay the priest to come and perform a mass, which includes the reading of some of the names of the deceased family members. The catholics believe that since passage into heaven is works based, the soul of your loved one might be in purgatory, and so, just in case they are, if their loved ones on earth lift up enough prayers, then God will bring the soul from purgatory to heaven.

Please pray that the people here will learn and understand that salvation is not based on how much you can do, or how well you do it, but simply on a relationship with Jesus and believing that He is who He says He is.

Jess and I were able to go with one of our students named Fabiola and her family to experience this day. We drank colada morada (a warm, fruit drink), and although we did not get to eat wah-wahs (breads shaped like babies that are traditionally made and eaten at this time of year), we will not forget that day. Since it is a family oriented day, one woman had her baby with her at the cemetery. God provides ways for us to tell about His love. I mentioned that we do not baptize babies. Of course, this is a very strange idea, so I was able to explain to Fabiola and her relative how baptism is a public expression of your faith in Jesus once you accept Him in your heart and believe in Him, which is all you need for salvation. Please pray for Fabiola, our student and friend, that she would keep asking questions and be thirsty for the truth.

November

This was a very fun and busy month for me. Rick asked Jonathan and me to go out with a team to El Chaupi for a week. For me, this was a real time of refreshment. I was reminded of why I am down here in the first place. It's all about sharing Christ and His love. The hostal owners, Miriam and Boanerges (bo-an-er-es), have been captivated, curious about and thirsty for more understanding of Jesus and the Bible from the first trips that this church has made. This craving only increased when the summer Ms stayed with them.

Every night during this trip, we tried to have a bible study in El Chaupi. Most nights it was only Miriam's family, and our team. One night, Drayton, the team leader, Jonathan and I met with

Miriam and Boanerges to talk with them about what it means to be saved and what baptism is. Both of them professed to have put their faith in Jesus and wanted very much to be baptized.

That weekend, the day before we left, our team and their entire family, including the dogs, rode in a taxi truck for about 15 minutes, and then hiked up and through about 2 or 3 pastures and down a trail to a stream that ran through the valley. Drayton baptized Boanerges, and then Boanerges and Drayton baptized Miriam in the very cold water. With the exception of those of my sisters, this baptism will be one of my favorites. REAP Ecuador's first baptism!

Also, that night when Drayton talked with Miriam and Boanerges, the other two team members and the translator went to speak at a church service one village over. So I translated that night. God used that situation to show me that yes, I can tell about His love in spanish. I no longer can hide behind the excuse that it's too hard to do in spanish.

While I haven't been keeping my mouth closed this whole time, I do know that I haven't been speaking out as much as I could be. Praise the Lord for the times when He takes away our security blankets until all we have is Him and Him alone. He is the best security blanket that we could ever ask for, once we trust and allow Him to be that.

2 days after we returned from this trip, I boarded the plane to go home to the States!!! I spent about 2 weeks home for the first time in a little over a year. It was wonderful to be able to see my family and friends again.

Although there was not too much culture shock, I was great entertainment to Meagan and Melissa when we went to WalMart. I am so grateful that I got to go home. God truly has blessed me with so much love from my family and the best friends a girl could ever have.

Although it was such a good time at home, there was a little heartache. I would ask that you would lift up a prayer for my home church in the states, as our pastor has resigned. Pray that God's will would be done through the whole situation and that broken and pained hearts would be healed and comforted by the Spirit.

Since things rarely go as smoothly as planned, my one day flight back to Quito turned into two fairly long days. Yet in the middle of that, I found opportunities to share the gospel with a lady on the plane next to me, and a latin woman in Miami while we were waiting for our flight to

Ecuador. Also, I got to spend the night with my Aunt Joy and Marshall, meet one of her sons and his wife (I meet a new cousin every year) and their beautiful twin daughters. Even while exhausted, I was really encouraged by them. Thank God for family, no?

While I was home, we had an early Thanksgiving, and then I had another here with my missionary family. It's always so much fun to get together, relaxing, laughing and simply enjoying each other's company. Jesus makes good on His promise in Matthew 19:29.

December

Things are beginning to wind down for Christmas time ministry-wise. This week will be the last week for my classes, although Patti's will continue for a week longer. In 2 weeks, we will have several students arriving for a trip to La Merced, led by Jess and Jonathan. Please pray for their safety, both here and returning, the work that they will do, that the Spirit will start even now working on the hearts of the people these students will come into contact with, for Jess and Jonathan as they lead them, and for my dear friend Geovi, the translator for the trip.

Thanks for praying for us. We rely on those. God bless!

Hello All

2009-06-10T11:30:00.007-06:00

Our summer Ms have been in their respective villages for about 2 1/2 weeks. They're almost done with their time out there! Every time we go visit them, there are so many wonderful and encouraging reports. They have so many open doors in their communities. The girls in El Chaupi have even been able to continue a bible study with their host family. Not everyone in their village is happy with this family's choice to follow what the bible says instead of traditions, so Mirian and her family have experienced a little bit of persecution and village shunning over this. Please lift them up in prayer. Pray that God will continue to give her strength to stand for what she believes. She even went to the priest and told him that what was in the Bible is correct and he wasn't teaching it! In a catholic culture, that takes a lot of guts.

The translation trip that I went on was wonderful! We were in village called Cajahui Alto, about 2 miles away from the active Tungurahua volcano. She talked to us all week, and spit ash and steam almost continuously. It was gorgeous to see. That is a picture of her to the left. You can see the stream of ash coming from the top. We held a medical clinic for those in that

community and others around. There are only 3 or 4 believers in this entire area, so it was wonderful to be able to share bible stories with these people as well as physical help. The team from Oklahoma was absolutely wonderful and a real blessing to me.

Last week, Jessica Dooley, a journeyman from REAP North in Peru, visited us. Yes, there were 3 Jessicas in one apartment. Needless to say, trying to get each others attention was interesting at times! She came to take pictures and to help REAP Ecuador with our new website! Feel free to check it out: www.reapecuador.org

In a few hours, Jessica Franks and I will be boarding a plane for Peru. We'll be there for 10 days to help with the International World Changers students. After we return, we'll be taking our 6 summer Ms and driving to Sucua, a jungle village about 10 hours away from Quito. Please pray for travel safety for all involved: us, the Summer Ms, and the 50 IWCers that will arrive in Peru tomorrow morning. Also pray for Jess and I as Secua will be our longest road trip that we've driven here in Ecuador. I'm excited!!

Here is Jess and I standing on Pichincha, with Quito spread out behind us.

Thank you for praying!

Summer Ms

2009-05-21T20:57:00.006-06:00

So our 6 summer missionaries are here!!! They arrived last Friday night. Courtney, Brittany, Yvonne, Joy, Elizabeth, and Katie are absolutely wonderful and hilarious girls. All this week they have been living at the Nazarene Seminary right outside of Quito. They've had a full week of orientation, which Jessica Franks did an amazing job of putting together. Please pray for them as they go out to their two villages, El Chaupi and Tupigachi. We will take them out to their respective places on Saturday morning and they will live in these communities for 4 weeks. Pray for their adjusting to these new cultures, as well as the people that they'll meet over this next month. Also pray that God will show them persons of peace and other ministry opportunities. Here are 4 of the 6 girls, along with Jess and I.

Here are all 6 of our girls:

Also, next week I am going out with a team to Ambato. I will be helping another IMB missionary couple, Mark and Sherry Cody, as a translator for a medical team they are taking to the mountains around Ambato. Please pray for us as we serve out there and for the team that is coming in to work with the Codys.

Thank you for praying and God bless!!

April Adventures

2009-05-05T22:03:00.019-06:00

Where to start? April is now over, but it was a really fun month.

For starters, Karla, Matt, the Hands-On peeps and I went to Pululaua. This is one of the few inhabitable volcanoes in the world. And yes, I mean inhabitable.

Technically, it is still an active volcano, but since there hasn't been any activity in a few hundred years, people now live in the crater. It is gorgeous. The hike down and back up is very steep, but Jason and I still managed to beat everyone else back up.

I'll admit, he almost had to drag me up the last little bit! A few people passed us on the trail with their horses loaded with items they were taking back to their homes. There might be an actual road down to the inside of the crater, but if there is, we didn't see it.

Of course the month of April brings to mind two fairly important events. The first one, of course, is Easter. The second - my birthday!!

Easter was a lot of fun. On Saturday, I went over to the Clifton's house to dye Easter eggs.

Gary and Julie are a missionary family who live here with their 1 year old son, Matthew. Julie grew up in Africa, so dying eggs with her was a ton of fun! I got to show them the tricks with the crayons. We used vinegar and food coloring to make the dye. A few drops in the vinegar, and you're all set. Well, when Gary was trying to make the blue, the top of the blue food coloring fell off, dumping about half the little bottle into the cup. Needless to say, we could make a very blue egg in just a few seconds! A good tip, though - don't try to make an egg look like a soccer ball. It doesn't really turn out very well. On Easter Sunday, the roomies and I met Matt and the Cliftons at the church by our house and then went over to the Clifton's for lunch.

Delicioso! After that, the Brooms came over and the kids hunted Easter eggs. However, ever since then, Matthew has evidently decided that eggs are playthings.

He tried to 'help' his mom pick up the eggs Sunday night when we were making dinner. If he had gotten his hands on one, the egg mixed with his favorite game of 'Oops' (yell Oops, throw the toy/keys/whatever down and laugh as someone gives it back to you. Repeat.) could have made for an interesting situation in the kitchen.

Now, my birthday! The weekend before, my cousins, Brett and Brenda Cargile, cooked me a wonderful birthday dinner. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls! My favorite.

Afterwards, we had a delicious cake that their boys, Quinn and Christine, said must be a pink cake. Complete with trick candles that acted like sparklers and would not go out! You can just imagine Brenda and Brett holding out the cake while simultaneously trying to lean back out of the range of the sparks flying off the candles. I'm pretty sure I impressed the boys when I

licked my fingers and put out the candles. On my actual birthday, Karla, Matt, the Hands-On students and I all went to TGI Fridays where they made sure the waiters sang to me and surprised me with some gifts. It was a very fun night.

One thing that I has been emphasized in my life is how God answers prayers and meets our needs. For example, the roommates and I have been saying how we really need to exercise and be more active. Well, the elevator broke, so we are now in the habit of taking the stairs.

Our elevator is temperamental at best, so the stairs seem quite a bit safer. The other thing that we've been needing to do is meet our neighbors. One Wednesday night after I got home from my ESL class, Karla and I were making our dinners. I had just turned off the stove when we heard a knock on our door. Leaving my spaghetti noodles in the water, I grabbed my key to unlock the deadbolt and answered the insistent knock. It was one of our guards, Fredi. "Vamos. Hay fuego en el apartamento abajo." "Let's go. There's a fire in the downstairs apartment." On the basement level of our building fridge had a short circuit and caught on fire. So we got to meet all of our neighbors while hanging out in front of our building for a few hours. We are the youngest residents and the only gringos.

The fire was a mini-drama in itself. No one was at home in the basement apartment, so the guards, Fredi and the guard from across the street, couldn't decide if they needed to break down the door or not. I think they finally did since they went in search of a fire extinguisher. Our guard shack didn't have one. So the guy across the street came running over with his. However....it didn't work. So somewhere they found a small water hose. About that time, the police showed up on their motorcycle. If you call 911 in Ecuador, it goes to the police station. They dispatch people to come check things out, and once they see that the fire is real, they call the bomberos, or firemen. So after we've been outside for about an hour, the firetruck comes rushing down our little street.

The sirens brought all the people out. On the building next to ours, children were climbing onto the roof in order to get a better view, and Karla and I had a lovely conversation with an older man who lives in the apartment complex across from ours about other places that have burned down in Quito. Well, we're pretty sure that's what he was saying since his spanish was a little difficult to understand. Another hour passes, and we have an all-clear to go back into our building. Our friends, Mark and Sherry Cody, come over to help us make sure that our apartment is okay. The fire did not get past that basement apartment, thank God, but there was smoke in the air in Karla's room, 3 floors above the fire. We packed a bag and had a slumber party in the Clifton's living room. The Codys were also staying there, so we had a great time hanging out that night and the next morning. Mark went over that following morning to air out our place for us, and when we got home that afternoon, the smoke smell was completely gone. God kept us and everyone in our building safe, and we finally met our neighbors!

Time for the ministry updates: I am teaching 2 ESL classes every week. And I love them. Our classes aren't very large - usually about 5 or 6 people - but we do have some new students that joined us during April. It's wonderful seeing their English improve, and they are quickly becoming my friends as well. On the first Saturday of April, we had a día libre, or free day. Everyone met at Ruby and Fletcher's house (2 of our REAP team members who used to do ESL) for vegetable soup, South Carolina style, and a few rounds of taboo. In both english and spanish. I was excited since my team did guess a few of my cards when I had to describe them in spanish! All in all, it was a lot of fun and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. We had about 10 - 12 people show up. After the majority of people left, Karla and Anna, a visiting journeygirl, came over and we played several hands of Cuarenta (40) with the office crew. Cuarenta, or Forty, is a very popular card game down here. Most of the nationals who work in our missions office are in my ESL classes. Wonderful people!

Since my job is also to work with translators, I have started what we are calling

discussion groups. We meet every Thursday to practice speaking English with those who are interested in translating for teams that come

down to work with REAP. Whereas the ESL classes focus on teaching grammar as well as speaking, these discussion groups are for those who already have a high level of English and we focus on becoming more comfortable speaking english in front of others. This Thursday will be our 3rd meeting, and each time we gain a few more people. It's exciting to see.

Since these activities were in the beginning of the snowball effect, I have been able to go to a town called Carapungo twice a week to play with children in the Voz Andes medical clinic waiting room. We color, make crafts, and I read them bible stories while they wait to see a doctor, or while their parents are dealing with the medics. It's a lot of fun and I enjoy it. On Friday afternoons, Paula has asked me and a national woman named Janneth (Janet) to start a

kids club in the park by Janneth's house. So over the next few weeks I will be modeling for Janneth what it means to lead a kids club, and then eventually hand the reigns over to her to lead. Pray that God will use our efforts and that several children in Carapungo will hear the good news, and that Janneth, a new believer, will become a wonderful leader of this ministry.

REAP Ecuador will have 6 summer missionary girls in a few weeks. After training, they will be split into 2 teams and go to the villages of El Chaupi and Tabacundo, where they will work in the communities for a month. These are areas where there is very little evangelical presence,

so these girls will have the challenge of carving out places where they can become a trusted enough part of the community to be able to share Christ's love.

(Me, Karla, Matt and Jessica F. on Easter. Not really sure what Matt did, but we love him still. Jess just has a special way of showing it.)

Please pray:

that the summer Ms have a fulfilling time down here, and are effective in their outreach in their respective villages.
that more churches would be willing to commit to be REAP partners. There are just too many lost and completely unreached people in Ecuador for us to be able to share the hope and freedom we have in Christ without you getting involved.
for ESL classes and discussion groups.
that we would all be bold in sharing the good news.
that I would be able to develop close friendships with nationals here, and that I will learn to be content whatever the circumstance.
for the kids club in Carapungo and for Janneth, as well as the outreach being done in the clinic.
that God will pour out His spirit on Ecuador and all believers - nationals and not - will once again realize how urgent it is for the good news to be shared with all of Ecuador.

Thank you for praying! I know that I truly could not handle everything down here without your interceding for me and the people down here. ¡Dios les bendiga a todos! I love you all.

As the deer...

2009-03-16T22:49:00.004-06:00

"You, God, are my God,

earnestly I seek You;

I thirst for You,

my whole being longs for You,

in a dry and parched land

where there is no water."

~Psalm 63:1

Lately, this has become my prayer, that I would long for God like this. Like the way someone longs for a drop of water in a dry and parched land. Life here has settled into a routine, and I'm fighting my familiar battle of settling for the mundane. Pray that I will crave Jesus like this once more.

As of now, REAP North now has 2 ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, one on Saturday mornings and one on Wednesday nights. I am really enjoying them! Teaching is pretty fun! A typical class starts off with a review of the previous week, a lesson in grammer, break, and then bible study. All of this is done in English. Already I've seen some of the students improve in their grasp of English and grow in their confidence. The number of students that come vary each week, but there are those who come no matter what. Sandy and her husband Freddy, Daniel and Diego are quickly become good friends of mine. Especially Sandy. She encourages me in my spanish as much as I try to encourage her in her english. If you would, pray for these friendships and these wonderful people as they are growing closer to Christ.

ESL is one of the ministries I am in charge of. The other one is translator ministries. Basically, I have the challenge of developing and maintaining a pool of translators that REAP North can use when we have churches come down on trips to their adopted people groups. This week Kelly and I will be traveling to a few places where they teach english to see if we can find interested translators. Please, please pray for us this week. So many things could go wrong, and we could easily offend the wrong person and end up with doors shut in our faces. Please pray that God will draw out several potential translators, that Kelly and I will have the words to say, and that the professors and department heads will have favor on us.

Last Sunday, the Hands On girls, my two roommates and I got to go to a massive house church. Actually, there were about 4 house churches combined. They were celebrating a baptism. It was really neat to see so many people come together, gringos and nationals, to worship God and celebrate how He's been changing their lives.

So earlier today Karla and I went to get copies made in preparation of visiting the english places this week. Traffic was pretty heavy, so she dropped me off at the copy store, and was going to drive around the block. I was out of minutes, but I had my phone with me so that she could call me to tell me when she was close to the store again. However, as the copies were being printed, I realized that I had left the rest of my money in my bag in the car. I didn't have enough on my to pay for all the copies and I wasn't sure how close Karla was at the time, since I couldn't call her. Well, God does provide for all we need! I glanced out the door, and happened to see Vicki and Terri Lassiter, a missionary couple living here in Quito. Neither one of them had their cell phones, but they loaned me enough to cover the copies. I hadn't even thought to pray about what to do, but God knew my needs and helped me out anyway. How good is He!

And to end on another good note, I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of driving stick shift! It's actually quite fun.

Thank you for your prayers. Love you all!

Playing Catch Up!

2009-02-24T22:21:00.019-06:00

Guatemala:

I met some wonderful people, both national and American, and made some awesome friends who I cannot wait to go visit again. :)
I had a total of 3 amazing teachers while at language school. They pushed me to get a better grasp of spanish, and I was able to talk mostly about the bible with my last teacher. She even started going to the evangelical church some of us attended! That alone made my time in Antigua worth it.
Kelly, one of my fellow M's there, was able to start a bible study with some of the teachers from our school.
Everyone there in language school with me all went to the beach, Monterrico, for our Thanksgiving break. Technically the school did not let out for this holiday, but we took an American weekend. It was beautiful and super relaxing. Brittne found a house that we all rented so we could stay together. Since it was outside of the city, we had the beach mostly to ourselves all weekend.
I had the privilege of helping a church in town, El Camino, move buildings. I was able to stretch my sheet rock hanging and mudding skills. It was fun to be involved like that, and I met some wonderful people dedicated to sharing Jesus with Antigua.
For Christmas, I spent some quality time with one of my roommates, Stephanie, and Kelly at a place called Earth Lodge. We went for dinner, but had orders from our house mom to be home by midnight. We were back with about 10 minutes to spare, and at midnight, the entire sky light up with fireworks that lasted for over an hour. It was beautiful! We ran up to the roof to better enjoy the view. After it settled down a bit, Steph and I shared tamales with the family (traditional Christmas food), and shared some family time by opening gifts that our host family bought us. The tradition is to stay up very late, eat tamales, and open presents after midnight. Very fun!
The next day, several of my M friends and I went to Keith and Penny Stamp's house. This couple has truly opened their home and heart to us. A lady from China who was staying in my house for the weekend came with us and had the opportunity to hear the Christmas story and the good news about why we celebrate Christ's birth.
For the rest of the week, I hung out at Lake Panajachel with Ryan and Britt. One of the places we stayed included key chains that were bigger than our heads!
I rode my first moto/motorcycle/scooter. I also learned to like coffee and now actually enjoy a cup!
In our first month (I think), most of us climbed volcano Pacaya. We watched lava flow about 10 feet away from us, ate dinner by lava light, and roasted marshmallows. Delicious!
Thanks to a couple from my church at home, one of my roommates was able to receive a bible in her own language. As far as I know, she is still enjoying it!

Ecuador:

I have completely moved into my new apartment! It is nice and open, and I love living here, although it can have it's quirks.
Speaking of quirks, our washing machine decided that it didn't want to hold all that water. So our kitchen floor was covered with about 2 inches of water. But it made for a hilarious and interesting afternoon.
I have two roommates, Karla and Jessica. Yes, another Jessica. Our team is still trying to figure out how to separate us. These girls are a true blessing and have quickly become my close friends.
Added to that list of friends God has given me (which is also an answered prayer) is Matt, a fellow journeyman, and a group of Hands-On students who are here for the semester.
I discovered that I have family here in Quito! Yes, my 4th cousin and his family live here. It's nice to be able to talk about places in Arkansas with them since they actually know exactly where I'm talking about!
I recently got back from a missionary ladies' retreat. These women here are hilarious!
I have learned how to cook at high altitude. Turns out I became quiet the chef when I moved down here. Or at least that's what the roomies tell me. :) Although Jessica and Karla are still in charge of the pressure cooker.
I have had many opportunities to travel since arriving in Ecuador. My second week here, I found myself in Peru for a REAP team retreat and training. Jessica is in charge of summer missions, so we have been traveling to towns outside of Quito in preparation for students this summer, and in a few months we might have another opportunity to return to Peru for a week.
The REAP Ecuador team is an awesome mix of people. We have all gotten along very well, and have been helping one another with our respective ministries. I feel like I have family here. Well, besides the family that I do have here.
Last Saturday, I taught my first ESL (English as a Second Language) class solo. As far as I could tell, it went really well, and I enjoyed teaching it. Soon I hope to start another class during the week as well as an English bible study for those who are interested.

Prayer Requests:

Pray for the ESL/translator ministry.
Pray for the teams we have coming down from the states.
Pray that God will lead churches from the States to come adopt areas here in Ecuador so more people will have an opportunity to hear about true and freeing salvation.

Thank you for all your prayers and your patience with me and my updates.

Love you all!

Quick Update

2009-01-09T17:57:00.002-06:00

So this really won't be much of an update. I am leaving for Quito, Ecuador, on Monday morning. My flight is at 8:30, so I should be in Ecuador by 1 or 2. Today we had our 'graduation' from language school. I think it was the first time that they have done this, so it was an incredibly sweet gesture from them. I hope one day that I can come back and visit.

Anyway, once things get slightly more stable, I hope to fill everyone in with a little more detail about my time in Guatemala.

Love y'all!

Stepping Forward, Keep us from just singing. Move us into action. We must go!

2008-11-20T12:33:00.000-06:00

I've been in Guatemala for a month now. A month that has felt like it has stretched out for a long time, and like it has gone by in a flash. A month is enough time to get settled into a routine. In some ways, this is usually helpful, but it can also be distracting.

I've got my routine down pat. For the most part, I know what happens each day. However, I've also been able to hide behind my routine. And I forget my passion, my reason for being. I forget my God. I forget that things like this happen:

A few weeks ago, some of us went to a tour of a coffee farm and a Mayan music museum. It was incredibly interesting and pretty fun until the last part. We watched a movie that showed various national holidays and celebrations with authentic indigenous music in the background. This film, in many ways, was a tour of the idolatry that goes on here in Guatemala every year. That last scene stuck with me and hit me hard. About ten Guatemalan men were crowded into this little hut-like structure. In the middle was a 2 foot high stone statue of a man's face. These men had decorated this stone statute with clothes, a straw hat, and necklaces, and had placed a cigar in its open stone mouth. They sat among the flowers that surrounded this statue, praying and singing to it. One man was dancing in front of the statue, and poured whiskey into its mouth. Everyone was swaying, reaching towards the statue, praying out loud, moving. Everything and everyone was moving. Except the statue. The cold, gray dead stone statute. It broke my heart to see that these people and their parents before them have been ministering to and serving a statue that doesn't have the power to do anything. It can't help them. It can't hear their prayers. It can't rescue or save them from anything. It can't affect the future. Yet they have given so much of their lives to it. For nothing. Granted, you could the same thing about me and the life that I have dedicated to my God Jehovah. However, there is one huge difference. My God is alive. He moves. He hears. He sees me. He sees and knows you, too. He cares. He passionately loves and desires relationships with those who seek Him. And He alone has the power to answer my prayers and to change my life.

Also, last week at dinner, Doña Ruth, my house mom, told me a story about a Christian couple who studied Spanish a few years ago in Antigua. There was a student who lived with Doña Ruth who had run out of money. This couple continuously reached out to this young man, helping me out, buying him meals and caring for him out their loving hearts. By the way, down here, they make a distinction between Catholic and Christian. By saying that this was a Christian couple, she is saying that they were believers and followers of the teaching of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer and Savior, and they were protestant. You are born Catholic here. Anyway, it touched me to realize how this couple's compassion and caring affected Doña Ruth after all these years. It made me begin to wonder how and if I've been touching the lives of others as well. Am I leaving a mark that will make people say "Oh! That's what it means to follow Christ" and that will bring Him honor?

And now my heart is slightly heavy as I write these words. Last night, I went to the Wednesday night bible study at La Iglesia del Camino, the christian bilingual church that we found here. Well, God pretty much led us to it on our first weekend! Today, I'm asking for your prayers. One family was robbed yesterday; while the parents were at work, thieves broke in, tied up their housekeeper and their two children, and robbed the house. Please pray that our Daddy in heaven will wrap His arms around them and give them security.

There is another man in the church who also has a story to tell. The pastor described him as a man has been working on changing his life and letting God change him. However, his family has not been happy about this. So, they kidnapped his daughter earlier this week. He found out yesterday that she has been murdered. Because of his faith in Christ Jesus and because of the changes that true faith demands. Please, please, please pray for our brother. He is hurting right now.

At the same time, he also has hope. In the midst of all of his pain, of the death of his daughter at the hands of his family, he can lift his head and take strength from his God and King. God is truly using this church to reach out to Antigua, and Satan does not like it one bit. Granted, these are some of the largest roadblocks that the enemy has put in the path of this church, but this isn't all. And I doubt that it will be the lsat of them. However, I do know that if this church has grabbed Satan's attention in such a way that he feels threatened enough to attack them, then God is going to use this church in mighty and powerful and effective ways. We can have hope in this even while holding onto one another in our shared grief.

To some of you, this might sound completely ridiculous. How can I talk about having peace and joy during something like this?! Because I know the One in whom we have placed our hope. Who or what do you put your hope in? What helps you look forward to tomorrow? What gives you a desire to wake in the morning when life seems to be completely against you? All of our material things will disappear - they have to! It's the natural way of things. Look at the economy for the past few years. So many families lost their homes, hurricane victims lost nearly everything they've held dear, as have recent fire victims in California. Why would you put your hope in something that you know may not be here tomorrow? Even the closest friends and lovers desert us at some point, whether it be voluntary or not. Why would you put your hope in someone from whom you can still hide your darkest secrets and fears? Someone who can never know you 100%. The only one who will never leave nor forsake is God. Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can stand up under the responsibility of being your hope for everything that life throws at you. He alone can and desires to handle it all. He's just waiting for you to let go and give Him your hope by giving Him your trust and all of yourself.

If you would, pray for me? I went to the doctor on Monday and found out that I have a sinus infection. I've got medicine now, but I've missed two days of language class this week. Pray that I'll get better soon (I'm already feeling a LOT better than earlier this week), and that those two days won't throw me off too badly.

Also, please pray for friends of mine in Costa Rica, John and Kathy Ward. They are like my family. They found out yesterday that Mrs. Kathy has two types of cancer. Pray that Jesus will sustain them during this time, and will heal Mrs. Kathy of all traces of cancer. They're trying to set up times for a future surgery and treatment methods with the hospital in Costa Rica and they keep running into frustrating doctors and lots of delays. And pray that John will find in Christ the strength he needs to face all of this with his wife.

I love all of you!

"But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore You did not desert them" ~ Nehemiah 9:17

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go..." ~ Genesis 28:15

You said, “Ask and I’ll give the nations to you.” Oh, Lord! That’s the cry of our hearts!

2008-10-24T12:15:00.002-06:00

Just to let you know, this will most likely be a fairly long post. :) So, I have been here in Antigua, Guatemala, for a week and 2 days. It seems like it's been so much longer! Maybe it's because my adventure began on my flight out of Little Rock. I ended up having a conversation with the gentleman sitting across the aisle from me for most of the flight. This might sound like it's nothing out of the ordinary, but all I wanted to do was sit in my own little world and not talk to anyone and simply dwell on all that I was leaving behind. Well, Jesus said no. He told me to start talking to the man next to me. I argued for a bit, wanting to hod onto my self-pity for a little longer, but Jesus is a persistent friend. And I'm so glad that He is! I ended up meeting a really neat man. (Hi Mr. James!) The most interesting part is that during our conversation, religion and beliefs kept coming back up. It isn't exactly routine for me to have a religious conversation with a stranger; I usually wait until I know someone a little bit better before bring up this topic. Well, while waiting for my flight from Houston to Guatemala City, my new friend gave me a gift. It was a book called Three Cups of Tea. So far it is a really interesting book about how one man is influencing an entire culture by loving and helping the people, specifically the girls. I mention this because God used it to begin conversation with a man on my flight to Guatemala.

While we were landing, a man two seats away from me asked me about my book. He ended up helping me through customs and helping me find my luggage. God totally gave me someone to help me since I was the only one from my group on my flight and I arrived an hour before everyone else. After I finally got all of my things (yes, I arrived with all of my luggage), I went outside into the waiting area and was met by the drivers of the language school where we are studying. One of the drivers began speaking to me in Spanish. Not ten minutes into our conversation we were talking about how to interpret the Bible, about how Jesus speaks into our lives, how for me it is about a relationship and not religion, and about other things of this nature. All in Spanish! Haha, who knew that my very first theological discussion in Spanish would happen within my first hour in a foreign country? I'll pick up this theme of 'random' religious conversations later on.

Shortly after our group arrived in Antigua, we were sent to our various host families. With one exception, we all live with different families. I absolutely adore mine! I live with a widowed grandmother named Ruth. Her house is absolutely beautiful, the food is delicious and she is one of the sweetest women I've ever met. She has an employee named Maria who helps her take care of the house. Maria lives here during the week, and then goes home on the weekends to spend time with her daughters. Doña Ruth also has a cook who comes in during the day; the cook is also named Maria and she has an 8 year old daughter named Flor who comes with her. In addition to me, there are 4 other language school students who also live here. Inga, a girl from Norway; Chenel, a girl from the States; Stephanie, a girl from Germany; Lachy, a guy from Australia. Needless to say, our table is very full and very fun at meal times. All of the students speak English, but we try to also speak Spanish as much as possible. Especially when we are eating so as to not be rude since Doña Ruth eats with us. (Doña is a title of respect). Oh! I almost forgot. On our second day here (first day of classes), we had an earthquake! A 6.6 earthquake hit Mexico and we felt it here. Well, some of us felt it. I slept through it since I was taking a nap. Although as Bryan pointed out yesterday, if I hadn't slept through it, I probably would have been late for it!

Now the school. The name of our school is APPE (pronounced Ah-Peh). Their way of teaching is very different from anything I'm used to. All sessions are one on one. So basically it is like having a 3 1/2 hour conversation with someone Monday through Friday, and my classes are entirely in Spanish. Class is held in the APPE school building, which has a large main room and a few other smaller rooms that are full of little two person tables. We attend class from 8 am to 12, with a 30 minute break in the middle of our sessions. My teacher is named Amabilia, and she is wonderful! Now, remember what I was talking about? The "random" conversations I had? We arrived in Antigua on Wednesday, and had our first class on Thursday. On my very first day of class, Amabilia and I discussed how Baptists are different from Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses, and what baptism is - it's significance and the reasons we baptize. All in Spanish. Day two rolls around. While going through flash cards with verbs on them, we come across the verb "confesar," which means "to confess." So, we have a conversation about how Catholics confess to priests, and whether forgiveness comes from a man or from the Lord, which leads to a conversation about repentance. Yesterday, we talked about the Day of the Dead (basically like Halloween) and what the Catholic church thinks about it, and the differences between Catholic church and Protestant church. And today we talked about the Day of the Dead again and about purgatory. I prayed that God would make me effective and that He would use me, but I guess I just didn't expect it to be so soon!! Jesus still comes up in my conversations on a daily basis. I'm really excited about what He's going to do through us here while we're in language school.

As some of my friends at home have noticed, I don't have access to the internet all the time. Last week - I think it was Friday morning - John, Ryan, Mindy, Leah, Kelli, Brittni and I were walking around town looking for a place with free wi-fi that is close to our houses. We found this really neat place called El Camino Café (The Way Café). We went in and ordered some delicious food and the waiter, Manolo, told us his testimony in English. Turns out that this Café also doubles as a protestant church called La Iglesia del Camino (The Church of the Way - Acts 9:2). We all went there on Sunday and met some awesome people. Their services are bilingual, including their Wednesday night bible study. The people there are wonderful believers and incredibly sweet. We've been able to start building relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It has also become one of our favorite hang out places.

If you had an opportunity to look at the pictures in my previous post, you probably noticed that I was dressed in indigenous clothing. Yesterday, Mindy, Leah, Mrs. Linda, Christine and I went to the textile museum. It was really neat to see the different clothing patterns from various people groups and to hear a little history about the outfits. In the middle of this tour, our guide challenged our tour group to go to an evangelical church sometime. He shared the gospel by quoting John 3:16 and he also shared his testimony. Awesome, ¡¿no?! After the tour, we told him how much he encouraged us with that and Leah asked him where he goes to church. There are not a lot of evangelical churches here, so we were curious. Turns out that he goes to church in a village close to Antigua, which is where several of us are going to visit for church on Sunday! I love these seemingly random connections. They just shout that God is at work here. Think about it! I'm in a foreign country, planning on going to church on Sunday in a village that I've never been to that is too small to be on a map and it is possible and highly probaby that I've already met on e of the members of this church! I love it when God coordinates things like this.

Thank you for your prayers. If you would, pray for:

our continual good health and safety
our host families and for opportunities to reach out to them
our language classes, that we would be able to glorify God in our learning and that we would learn the language quickly so that we can communicate effectively
our teachers and for opportunities to talk to them about Christ
the other language students in our houses, that we will be able to share the good news with them
all of my family and friends back home
all of my friends and fellow missionaries who are traveling to their different countries, will travel to their countries, are in language school, and/or are settling into the new homes world wide.

Some people have asked for my address. You can send letters to:

Jessica Brooks

Colonia Candelaria No. 29

Antigua, Guatemala

I don't know about the security of packages, but I will find out. I love and miss all of you. Thank you, friends, for your faithfulness in praying for us. If there is any way that I can pray for you, please, let me know. I love you!

"I am the Lord, the God of the whole human race. Is anything too hard for me?" ~Jeremiah 32:27

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." ~Jeremiah 33:3

I wanted to put these up while I have internet access!

2008-10-23T17:31:00.006-06:00

Here are some pictures. I should have my actual update written for you tomorrow. So much has happened, but for now I hope you enjoy the pictures! :)

One of the volcanoes around Antigua and the Mary statue that "protects" their water.

This is a panoramic view from my roof:

The school we attend has various trips we can take. We went to the textile museum today. Below is a woman weaving on a traditional Mayan loom, and the other is me dressed in traditional indigenous clothing. Think I can pull it off? Haha!

John and Leah in front of our school playing frisbee. Below that is Christine, John, Ryan and Leah talking after classes. Supposedly 'not' candid. :)

Another volcano by my house and another shot of one of the 3 volcanoes around the city. I took both of these pictures from my roof.

This is a beautiful place, no? Love you all!

Quick Update

2008-10-15T17:02:00.002-06:00

I´m here in Guatemala. I´ve started to get settled at the house I´m staying at. It´s with this charming older lady named Doña Ruth and the people who live there to help her take care of this awesome house. Evidently there are also 4 other language students living here and I will meet them in a couple of hours at dinner. One of my friends who came down here with me, Kelli, lives right next door, so that´s been incredibly helpful. Instead of staying in the house, doing nothing, we´ve been out exploring Antigua. It´s a pretty neat town. Right now I´m writing to you from an internet cafe that is in the same room as a barber shop. And you have to walk through a hallway, a place to make international calls, and then a travel agency place in order to get to it. Like I said, we´re exploring. :) Anyway, today has been full of adventures and awesome meetings, but I´ll save them for the next update when I have more time and hopefully my own computer to use.

Love y´all!

Not long now!

2008-10-13T17:36:00.002-06:00

So it's getting to be about that time. I leave on Wednesday morning, 6 am. Of course, I have yet to pack and I'm still running around trying to say bye to everyone. I think it's official - I know way too many people. ;) Just kidding.

I kind of feel like I'm in an emotional limbo. As much as I hate saying goodbye and don't want to miss people, I'm also ready to be down there, doing what I know I'm supposed to be doing. I keep thinking of when Jesus told His followers that whoever loses home, family, friends, etc., for His namesake will receive a hundred times in return. Although I know I'm not technically losing anyone....in a way, I am. But, the thing is, I'm already looking forward to what's in store, to what it is that Jesus has planned for me - both in deeds and in our relationship. So, although leaving is hard and I'm going to miss everyone and they will miss me, I am so excited about what's in store.

I fly to Guatemala early Wednesday morning. I'll be at language school there until some time in January when I will fly from Guatemala to Ecuador. I won't be home again until my term is up. And I'm so incredibly excited.

I love all of you.

I'm back! With a guest appearance!

2008-10-06T17:37:00.002-06:00

To be honest, I am a little intimidated to write a QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

---

Hi-yo. Jexica is currently occupied by a film script. So now I, her best friend, will keep you entertained for a few brief moments. Hokay, so here's the earth. Well that's a sweet earth you might say. ROUND. For the last, like, 12 months, Jexica has been ripped away from my heart. But today SHE'S BACK! But only for a moment. So, I'm afraid to blink for fear she might disappear forever. Le sigh. But, seriously (srsly) folks, you guys are lucky to have a wonderful woman such as my Jexica out there spreadin' the love. God's love. . . and mine. She better spread my love as well. Tell all those ecadorians that I love them. Emily too. Now this could mean one of two things 1)I love Emily or 2) Emily also loves the ecadorians. E-coasters. Luckily, I meant both. And now you're confused. I just wanted to fill this with some words and love and such, so Jexica won't be so intimidated by teh blogisphere.

Also, my lovely cat Serling added some thoughts of her own (all those QQQs)

crank it up fo' sho.

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Soo.....I haven't read the previous part yet, so I'm not sure what Sarah wrote. But I'm sure it's awesome. Like her.

Anyway, I was just saying that I've been really intimidated about writing this post. So much has happened in the past few months, that I don't know how to write about all of it. I guess that I should just preface this with saying that I can't write about all of it, so I won't. :)

Well, I'm home safe and sound. I've been trying to see everyone and finish packing away things at my house. I don't know how I have so much stuff! I really want to give most of it away and be done with it.

Orientation was amazing. At times it was difficult and slightly stressful *cough*CULTURESHOCK*cough* but the friendships I made there are invaluable. I honestly feel like my family has increased from knowing them. Living with 300 people who have the same passion and calling as I do is nothing short of an amazing experience. I've been home for 5 days, and I still miss them all. It was also a time of stretching. God has grown me in so many ways and, just like the vine, has been pruning me in preparation of leaving the country. I might be sent out by my home church, and I might officially work for the IMB, but it is my Lord and God who is my true boss. I'm going out to be about His business, and His business alone.

On that note, I'm going to end this ....interesting.... blog. I'm really curious to go read what my dear friend has added to my blog. :)

This is what it was supposed to say.....

2008-09-12T19:36:00.000-06:00

August 2008

"You are my servant"

~Isaiah 41:9

Snapshot of Orientation

Hola, friends! As I sit here writing to you, I cannot help but be excited about and grateful to God for the past four weeks. I am in Rockville, Virginia, for Field Personnel Orientation (FPO), which is an eight week program designed to help prepare us for living and serving overseas. There are currently around 300 people here who have answered the call to missions (about 100 of those are children...many under the age of 4).

Everyday all the adults gather together in one large room for sessions that last from 9 to 3. These sessions cover a wide array of topics, including many different techniques that are used in overseas outreach, and are presented by various guest speakers. Yesterday we had a guest speaker on anthropology who was from Tennessee. He actually knew where Jacksonville and Cabot, Arkansas, are! My favorite speaker so far is a man who refers to himself as our Uncle Ken. He and his wife, Aunt Beth, adopt the missionaries at every FPO. He is a very loving man who spoke about the persecuted church. He has interviewed many believers from around the word who are suffering persecution because of Christ.

God has called Uncle Ken to share their stories so that we may also learn what they have learned in their sufferings. While listening to him speak, the Lord laid it on my heart to share some of what he said with all of you.

"The persecutors strive to silence witnessing as quietly as possible." With this mindset, we can either be on the side of the persecutors or on the side of the persecuted, even here in the U.S.
"Sow by ones, reap by ones. Sow by groups, reap by groups."
The way in which people were reached for Jesus will be how they will reach out to others.
EVERYTHING that God has ever done in His Word, He is still doing today. Muslims begin to seek God because of dreams, visions, and miraculously obtaining Bibles. Hindus and Africans are coming to faith through the Holy Spirit healing large numbers of people.

God has truly blessed me with the friendships that I have made here. It is wonderful being surrounded by people who are chasing God in the same way you are. The people here are amazing and the sense of community we have is very strong. Pray that we will encourage one another and praise God that we are here!

Quichua Indians of Ecuador

As many of you know, I am going to Quito, Ecuador, in order to teach English and work with those who are willing to be translators for volunteer church groups who come down. This means that I personally will be focusing on the people who live in Quito. However, I am part of a team called REAP North whose focus are the Quichua Indians who live in the Andes mountains of Ecuador.

The Quichua are an indigenous people group who have inhabited Ecuador since before the Incan Empire The Spanish later conquered them, and even today they are victims of racism due to the widely held view of Indigenas as the scum of society. They are an agricultural, rural people. Because of their past, they know how to be flexible in order to survive. This aspect has saved them and also condemns them. Their system of belief blends Quichua superstitions, Incan elements, and Catholic/Western traditions.

Pray that God will help the Quichua grasp His authority. Due to their principle of complement, the Quichua believe that nothing, not even God, stands alone but that all things have a balanced half - man and woman, life and death, day and night. Ask God to open their minds to the idea of His absolute authority. Pray that God will give the members of my team who are already in Ecuador the wisdom and words to reach this fascinating and colorful indigenous people group.

Ecuador: At a glance

Ecuador is one of the largest producers of roses.
Cuy is considered to be a delicacy. What is cuy? ....Guinea pig.
Quito is the capital city with an elevation of 9,000 ft.
Ecuadorians tend to group up around cash registers rather than stand in straight lines.

Ariel View of Quito, Ecuador. My future home!

Population: 1.5 million

Pray:

Pray for everyone here at FPO. Pray that we will be sensitive to how the Holy Spirit is trying to change us.
Pray that the difficulties in getting visas will disappear.
Pray for our health, especially that of the children here.
Pray that houses and cars are sold for people going overseas long-term.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners.

~Isaiah 61:1

I'm actually here....

2008-09-12T19:05:00.000-06:00

Week #2 of orientation is officially over! First of all, I want to say thank you to all of you who have been praying for me this week.

Let's start with my health (prayer request #1!). I'm pretty sure that I had a fever all day on Monday, but of course I was stubborn and didn't want to admit it. We had begun our first of three sessions on spiritual warfare, which was led by the IMB (International Mission Board) President, Jerry Rankin. It was very interesting, but I'm sure my lack of good health was not conducive to my learning a lot. I woke up that night with a 101* fever. Not cool! So all day Tuesday was spent in my room, fighting a fever that came and went all day. Due to the ILC's (International Learning Center - the place I'm staying at) policy, I had to stay in my room for another 24 hours after my fever broke. So, the beginning of my week was slow going, but the second half has been wonderful! Like most people here, I'm now dealing with sinus issues and a sore throat. Keep all of us here in your prayers! Also, one of the girls here is fighting off an ear infection. Would you lift her up as well? Thank you!

Coming up here, one of my bigger fears/worries/anxieties/whatever was the thought that I wouldn't make any friends here. Boy, was I wrong! God has truly blessed me with allowing me to make quite a few wonderful friends fairly quickly. It's a wonderful thing to know that I don't have to explain certain things about what's going on in my future because they all understand; they are in the same place I am. I also got to connect with other parts of my team in Ecuador. A couple is currently living in Quito, doing research about the Quichua people. I was able to call them and get all kinds of information about Quito, and about the apartment I'll be living in! I am even more excited, but I also began to become a little anxious. Since they are doing so much traveling for their research, this couple, the Dickersons, are not as plugged into Quito as I will be. The same old fear started to creep back into my thoughts and my heart. Will I be able to make friends there? Will I meet anyone who I can hang out with? Will I end up being the weird Americana who hides in her apartment unless she's teaching English classes? It was while I was worrying about these things that I realized how God has provided friends and friendships here in Virginia. He spoke straight into my heart. He said, "I know how I made you. I know what you need. If I've taken care of you like this, here, how much more so will I provide for you when you're in Quito? When you're even more dependent on Me?" How great is our God? Seriously!

During the week, we spend the majority of our days in sessions and workshops. I'm basically back in school - it's just missionary school! :) For the most part, they are very interesting and I'm really enjoying them.

Anyway, so much has happened in this week that it is nearly impossible to sum it all up and still keep this update to a length that people will actually read! I'm truly enjoying my time up here. Keep praying, please! I can feel them. If you want to know more about a part I didn't elaborate on, shoot me an email or message me. I love and miss you all.

Pray:

* that I'll get everything together and taken care of for my Visa

* for my team partners as they're traveling a lot in Ecuador

* that I'll draw closer to God and let go of my fears and worries

* that I'll get over this sinus stuff and sore throat

* everyone here dealing with health issues