Is Leprosy contagious?!

One look at Burt's ankles... and we were all wondering... but NO... it turned out to be a massive attack of mosquito bites... 

It has been an incredible week... for all of us... the children are precious, and the blessing of seeing their faces soaking up all we share, and ours soaking up all they pour out to us.  As we begin our last full day with them, it is already hard to think of leaving them tomorrow... but that is tomorrow, and there is MUCH to be done today.

The families have had an excellent time processing the teaching as well, and we continually are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be here.  

We send our special thanks to all who are praying, and special love & greetings to our Dear Ones- one request to say "Hello" to Jeanine. ;-)

I haven't quite taken my 3,977 pictures... but am getting close...so anyone who would like to see the slide show, let me know...

Thankful to be ON the Team, and FOR the Cause,

Zoe

Moving on...

Our Team spent yesterday touring an old island... so very sad and humbling... but Kermit had it right... it is so good to see it redeemed, and folks playing soccer and just living there now...  then had a true "native" lunch & supper... complete with local flies feasting with us... and trying the local fruit (eating only the inside of course...).

Today we met for church around the table, sang, shared the Word, focused on our part in the next week... and prayed.  Talked with Big Bird... running short on sleep and long on responsibilities... please pray for renewed rest on the flight to "Mexico".  We travel today to the area where we will be staying this week... praying over those we will pass... and that our hearts and bodies are ready to be poured out in service.   Blessings to all on this Lord's Day... we are thinking of you all, and praying for your time together today.  Zoe

Safe Arrival

The team had a smooth trip to "Mexico"... and have arrived safe and sound... and excited to see all the Lord has for us to do here...

It's cool and dry... ha..ha..ha.. oh, yeah... it's a "dry heat"... ha.ha...

We've changed into our native dress, and are ready to head out for a day in the city...

More later... Zoe

Burt is ALIVE.

Well... I think I am going to live.

The past few days have been rough. Although, from an optimistic perspective, I learned a lot about how the medical system works when you are only running on 2 cylinders. Monday morning I became very nauseated by some of the food out in the bush, and with a few days of that, I soon developed a terrible headache. I'm usually pretty good when it comes to pain, but this was the most painful experience that I've ever had. That started on Wednesday morning. It was amazing that I made it onto the plane from Caracas to Denver in one piece. Once we got to the Guest House, I crashed and tried to sleep all day. Wednesday night was just awful. When I wasn't sleeping, I had a headache. And the headache was keeping me from sleeping. Vicious cycle.

Thursday was just as bad. Thank God that there was a doctor who has worked in the field for over six years staying in the room right next to me. His initial diagnosis (and remains the current one) is that I came into so much foreign material while staying out in the bush and I developed a severe sinus infection. He was able to go to a pharmacy and get me some initial antibiotics and amazing little Vicodin pill. That did a great job of relieving the pain enough for my body to get about 3 hours of good sleep. I woke up, and the pain was back. At this point, we were worried about all those nasty bugs like Malaria and Typhoid and Meningitis that I paid an arm and a leg to be vaccinat

ed against. 

Lemme tell ya. Prayer is an amazing thing. About the time Dad was able to get in contact with some of the church members, there was a prayer chain going. Within a few hors, the pain had calmed down to a mild headache that was manageable with some ibuprofen and tylenol. 

It is now Friday night. The pain has yet to come back as fierce as it was yesterday and the day before. That deserves a WOOHOO!

But it was a good experience for me as I look back. As I'm sure Chavez and Consuela will agree, as well as Ricky, Lucy and Rosa, that getting sick is a natural occurrence here in Latin America. Our bodies just aren't ready to handle the stress we put them under. Especially as I'm just now hitting the Week 3 marker. But there are plenty of things that I was able to take note of.

Water is everything. So

metimes coming from our wonderful square state, we get used to the dry climate. And sure. It gets hot at home. But it rarely breaks 1oo degrees, and we never see a week of 115 degrees everyday. So many times what would normally work back home as far as water consumption is not enough for over here. That was my big problem. I thought 2 liters of water was plenty for a day out in the bush. Definitely not. So then your body gets dehydrated.

We also spent a lot of time NOT eating. Breakfast here is very light, and so is lunch. But many days our dinner was up to our own means. That meant snacking on tuna and crackers because we had no language skills to go out and get food. So with little nutrition, and in no way was it balanced, we were slowly wearing away. It all starts to eat at your immune system, until you ultimately crash.

So with not nearly enough water, and poor nutrition, my body didn't have the stamina to fight off this sinus infection. And it hit hard. But praise God that I am starting to feel better. I still have the nagging headache. But I would rather go a week with that than another day with the full on [elephant stepping on my head] headache.

One of the suggestions I have to those looking into going outside of the country on later trips, is to start (about 6 weeks before you leave) taking a daily multivitamin. That way, if you have to go a few days without good food, at least your body is able to maintain some of the important vitamins and minerals to keep your immune system running.

Pray for Ernie. He has also been dealing with illness as well. For the past few days he has been fighting a bronchitis of sorts, and also dealing with dehydration. Again, just another way for dehydration and malnutrition to rear its ugly head. He has been sleeping better, but recently he has been feeling nauseous when around food. Pray that as the team comes in tomorrow morning, they will be able to love on him and encourage their pastor.

Tonight is the last night of Phase Two. Phase One was Chavez and myself in the country of Mexico. And the second Phase was Ernie and myself in Venezuela. Now, we begin Phase Three. This involves 7 more team members arriving tomorrow morning, and our awesome youth pastor coming on Monday. This team will be in charge of the children of those working on the field. They are doing a VBS of sorts, and it is going to be exciting to see what the Lord will do to minister to these kids. Ernie is going to be leading the spiritual aspect of the retreat for the adults. Then later in each day some field workers are going to work on team building exercises with the adults. But the main goal is to provide a relaxed environment for a vacation and for families to spend time with each other. Some of the older teenagers go to boarding school, and that means this retreat will provide time with family that wouldn't normally happen. So pray the Lord will bless this week and make it an enjoyable experience for all who are involved.

Also pray for those who are in the air tonight. They will have to hit the ground running, and I can already tell you that Culture Shock will be a big element in their first few hours here in Denver. It is just so much unfamiliar territory that if you aren't accustomed to international travel in developing countries, it will hit you hard. So pray that until Ernie and I meet up with them, they are able to stay calm and not get into any trouble. Not that they will, but that is worst case scenario. The Denver airport is pretty easy to manage. But it all comes back to the Culture Shock. Once you step off the plane and onto the tarmac, it hits you that you are now on the other side of the world.

On a lighter note... we have found a somewhat familiar animal here in the wilds of Latin America. It turns out, Wiener Dogs are quite common guard dogs here in the region. They aren't really the most effective of guard dogs. But they are pretty good at climbing into holes and catching rats and snakes and 

squirrels. So I guess they serve a purpose. It's more of a purpose than our Wiener Dog, who just lays around all day. But we did notice even these dogs manage to find hours and hours to snooze in the sun.

Drugged up on pain meds, and ready for bed,

-Burt

Latin America can be mean sometimes.

Thank you for your continued prayers while Ernie and I are in Venezuela. We got rain today! What a blessing! It was quite a downpour here in the capital, so hopefully the rain made it out to the bush as well, where some volunteers are working on a farming project.

This farming project needs LOTS of prayer right now. I was able to see it today and learn about how it is working. Basically, some volunteers are trying to teach conservative farming methods to the people here. The traditional methods just aren't working. Because the culture says you are more important if you have more land, the resources are poorly used, and each man ends up owning more land than he has time to plant, weed, irrigate, etc. So the volunteers are trying to teach methods that involve using less land, more even distribution of seeds and fertilizer, and a more strategic plan to eliminate weeds.

Unfortunately, culture usually trumps common sense and an open mind. So when a bunch of foreigners come to the village and want to show a better way to farm, it is rejected solely on the basis that it is new. Or they will say, "Well, white people may farm that way. But it won't work for us." So the whole project is generally frowned upon. On top of that, they have already begun planting seeds, and if they don't get consistent rains, the seeds will burn up, and then there is nothing to show for this new farming method. So pray that, although the odds are against a productive harvest this year, God will provide a harvest that is enough to show the benefits of this conservative method. If the people of Venezuela can see that even in bad years the harvest is still greater, they might adopt this new method.

Also pray for the volunteers working in the fields. Almost every day, sometimes twice a day, the people of the village stop by the farming project to tell the volunteers that they are ridiculous and that this new farming method will fail miserably. It is so discouraging o these volunteers to have to deal with this day in and day out.

I also was able to experience another side of the Venezuelan people, when I was allowed into a formal argument. It is one thing for two people to argue. But when there is a major conflict that needs resolved in latin american culture, it involves the whole village. A man was accused of performing animistic sacrifices last week, and it was brought before the village last night, while I was there. The short version of the story is that there was no sacrifice made. But the conflict arose when the man was openly accused in front of everyone, instead of the accuser talking to him in private first. It ultimately turned into a matter of church discipline. Both men were believers, and it was a great way to show conflict resolution within the small church in the village.

If only it didn't take 3 hours last night! I wasn't in bed until midnight or later. And I woke up around 5. So it's been a long day. And unfortunately, right around the time Ernie gets better from his most recent bout with dehydration, I eat breakfast out in the bush, and consume some well water that has put a nasty bug in my system. So pray for both Ernie and I, as we realize that Venezuela can be a harsh place at times.

We have only one more full day here in the capital. Hopefully, both of us will be able to leave our rooms and have the energy to see some of the urban ministry here in Caracas.

With both the fan and AC going strong, I bid adieu to our readers, so that I can go to bed.

-Burt

At the end of the road... (the ends of the earth?)

It is amazing how God can completely alter your entire plan, but still work it out perfectly. We finish camping and spending time with a completely unreached people group. After a night of rest, we meet up with Brandon, a man who has been on the field for maybe 7 months. But he is so fired up to share the Word. It is amazing. We go with him to see some of the ministry projects that he is working on, with the idea that we were going to continue through the day following where God led us.

So we go to the river, where a man supposedly live that we wanted to greet. Well, apparently he only lives there for about 3 months out of the year. But that is okay, because going into a village while trying to find this man allowed us to meet and pray for another individual that we met.

With a new set of instructions as to find this fisherman, who was thought to live ten minutes from town but actually lives about and hour from town, and keep driving. Throughout the day, we meet and interact with people as they direct us to this fisherman. Even when we couldn't remember the name of the village, God provided ways for us to figure out the little details.

By the time we find the right village, we encounter a large group of men who claim to know the fisherman. They direct us to his home. But as soon as we enter through the door, Brandon immediately knows that it is the wrong man. Turns out that this man has the EXACT same name as the fisherman we were looking for. And on top of that, both men live in the same village. I don't know how that didn't get extremely frustrating for all the people in the village!

We were literally a translated sentence for asking permission of this older man to leave his house and continue searching for the fisherman. But out of the blue, this man said that he had met some people in Caracas that had the same faith that we have, and that our faith was much better than his, because followers of the Lord keep their promises and show mercy and love. Bam. Within five minutes we had an open invitation to explain why we can be so loving and merciful to the people of Venezuela. He was very open to the concept that we share the love that our Father shows to us. He was an older man, and it was obvious he had lived his life, and realized that his faith just didn't work. But he wasn't ready to jump on the Salvation Wagon just yet. He was still apprehensive to the concepts that involved turning away from his old faith. Pray that Brandon can make many more visits to this man to share the Word of God with him. 

After a spiritually exhausting day, we crashed in our room and drove to Caracas this morning. Now I am Skyping with the fam, and waiting for Raquel and Jaime to take us to dinner. So for now... rest...

-Burt

...As we encounter a Venezuelan Samurai...

Wow! The Lord has been doing amazing things in this part of the world! Haha. Excuse my excitement. Now that it is out of my system, I can continue. =)

 

We arrived in the country of Venezuela, which is southeast of Mexico, on Tuesday afternoon. It was quite an interesting flight. Ernie and I were amazed at how relaxed other countries are in terms of security in airports.  As we got off the plane, there was a man seated behind us who pulled a 3-foot souvenir sword from the overhead compartment. Talk about crazy!  And it was perfectly normal too. Maybe our society is just too over cautious. Who knows.

 

As we drove through the capital city of Caracas, our colleagues Raquel and Jaime safely navigated through the THOUSANDS of motorized scooters. It was amazing that we were not involved in a single accident! Fortunately we arrived at our rooms at the time we did, because as soon as we got to the rooftop (which was where our room was located) a massive dust storm blew through, followed by a downpour of rain. It was so strange to think that a dry place like this Wednesday we took off bright and early into the heart of Venezuela to spend time with the indigenous people of the country. This was a very exciting time. The people that we were trying to reach were a nomadic group that followed the water and grasses with their cattle. Praise the Lord that we were able to find them after many hours of searching. And not only did we find them, but they were very gracious and allowed us to spend the night in their camp. From what Raquel told us, this was the first recorded time that our organization was able to camp with this people group. Talk about cutting edge!

 

These people were very hospitable, and were very open to our conversations. We asked them a lot about their culture and lifestyle, because we know very little about them. And they also asked us many questions about our home. This led to the questions of why were there. They were amazed at the fact that we wanted to share with them stories from the Word of God. Because their culture is based on oral history, stories are much more appropriate than providing a written scripture. Ernie was phenomenal at telling relevant stories that were simple, but not patronizing to the people. They were quite open about stories that pertained to our Savior, and this was so encouraging. Our Lord was working very hard on the hearts of those men and women that night.

 

The next morning we continued to share stories with these people. It was important that they were able to know the stories well enough to repeat them to their friends and family, so Ernie retold some of the stories from the previous night. It was only when we were ready to dive deeper into the story of our Savior, was when a religious teacher showed up from a nearby town. It was very obvious that the word had spread, and he came to argue apologetics with us. It was at this point that the doors we had worked so hard to keep open were shut. But we pray that our Father brought that man for a reason, and we know that those people were able to hear the Good News. Pray that the Holy Spirit convicts them and shows them the void that can only be filled with the redemption our Savior offers. And pray that the stories from God’s Word were not told in vain. Our hope is that those stories are retold to the extended family of this village, and that the Good News is spread through that family, and ultimately that people group. Raquel and Jaime plan to return in several weeks to continue the process of telling stories that show them to way to our Lord.

 

As simple as it seems, pray for rain. Just stop right now and say a simple prayer, asking for rain in this part of the world.

Okay… Done? Good. =) Rain is so crucial here. When your whole life is based on your livestock, the grass in your fields HAS to grow. The people we visited lost many of their animals because the rain has come late this season.  So as your pray for us, pray for rain, so that the people here will know that the strangers that visited their village really do know an Almighty Lord who can bring rain to their fields. Pray that their wells do not run dry this season, so that they may be blessed with strong cattle.

 

The rest of today was spent driving through the country, spending time with Raquel and Jaime. Ernie and I are working herd to gain a broad perspective on the work that the Lord is doing here in Latin America. So the time with our colleagues gave us a lot of insight into the many great things that He is doing here.

 

And so, as I sit here in our bedroom, with the television that has one channel (It is in a language I have never heard of. But all that I have gathered from this foreign Soap Opera is that the main character has escaped from prison, held up a bank, and has just out that his primary female hostage was his teenage girlfriend. I’m quite interested right now.) I pray that our Lord grants us the wisdom to accurately and compellingly continue to share stories from His Word, so that an unreached people group may begin to know Him as their ultimate Savior. And I pray that the church body at home will have the same prayer this week.

 

Ciao!

Burt and Ernie

Travel News

(This update is being posted by Ricky, on behalf of Señor Ernie, due to technical issues with Internet access while he travels)

We have arrived at our destination. All is well, although a bit tired. We saw rainy season . . . huge dust storm followed by huge rain storm! Internet is very slow so we may not even be able to post to the blog. If not, we will send the info via e-mail and Ricky can post for us. We will leave for the more deserted regions tomorrow. It will be good to get some sleep.

Travel was interesting. I sent Burt a note as I was getting on the plane in Atlanta. I was seated next to this cute kid. Then I found out that she had been separated from her parents. I volunteered to move so her mom could sit next to her. Guess what . . . 8 rows back . . . next to a woman with her baby and another woman. God has a plan. The woman with the baby had a husband 12 rows up. The other woman offered to trade with the man, who would now be seated next to me. Turns out he is a man from "SL" who is in charge of all of the organic farming efforts in "S" and who has an office in "Mexico City". We had a great 8 hours together and left having exchanged business cards. He invited me to his home if I were ever to come back to "SL"! Pretty Cool Huh!

In addition, my new seat had a large wad of chewing gum in the seat belt, obviously un-noticed until it was all over my pants. The stewardess worked for 20 minutes to clean up the mess . . . on the seat belt! She asked how I could be so calm and collected with such a mess. What an invitation. Turns out she was from Aurora and graduated from Hinkley HS!

Do keep us in your prayers. I'll share more, but it's a nap before orientation with the M's.

Blessing!

--Señor E.

Chavez has leprosy. Just kidding.

No worries. He just got a funky rash on his face. It looks like it is going away. It is possibly from the medicine we are taking. But pray that it is gone in the next few days. He is also experiencing aches and pains. Possibly from the medicine. Maybe just Mexico. Who knows.

We are nearing the end of the first leg of the adventures that our Lord has for our church here in Mexico. It was an awesome experience that involved exciting possibilities for future trips to this part of the world. We are excited to come home and share some of the ideas we have gathered from our time here. 

Today involved a lot of driving from Mexico City to a city about four hours north of Denver. This is where we are staying for the night, and will continue in the morning towards Denver. It was very relaxing to be able to spend the evening on the beach and in the waves, and also had a really good dinner with Poncho and Gabriella. Plus, I get to bust it funky style with the mosquito net that is hanging around me. this is the first instance that we have used them so far in the trip.

Thank you so much for your prayers, and know that they have not gone unanswered by the Lord. We have gone so much further with His strength than we ever could have on our own. We now ask for safe travels. Both for Chavez as he makes his way home, but also when I catch up with Senor Ernie on Tuesday and fly to nearby Mongolia. I will be on the emotional drain from this first part of the trip, and I can already tell you that if I were to try and do all of this by myself, I would fall apart at the seams. I thank God daily that we have been given so much strength to work hard and endurance to continue being an encouragement to those who live here.

Well, it is getting late here, and since we are getting up early to leave tomorrow for Denver, I need to get some sleep.

Hasta la pasta!

Burt

TIRED and more Tired with a side of TIRED

OK right back at it! Burt and I got home from being out in the bush today. We had a lot of new experiences and we will take home some great memories but nothing could be as cool as seeing these people view and hear "the Story
" for the first time! Pray that this can be the beginning of a new life for them AND also pray for the people here in Mexico that serve them.

We got home around noon and have been trying to catch up on sleep and e-mails etc. Tonight we will have dinner with a man that Consuela met and shared with on our last visit. We also want to deliver some books to this man as he is an English teacher here in Mexico. These will be our last Blogs till we get to the internet. We will make our way back to "Denver" where Burt will meet up with Ernie and Chavez will fly home.

See you later

Burt and Chavez

Chavez jumping in here to write about day 2 out in the bush. We awoke the next morning several times dealing with heat and humidity issues. Our tent didn't have AC and there was no wind.....so needless to say we didn't sleep well or stay dry. :( We had 2 breakfasts. The first consisted of peanuts and tea the second was leftovers from the night before. The LITERAL left overs of the sheep included, lung, intestine, kidney, stomach and liver. All taste great and both Burt and I never got sick. After a breakfast of firsts, medical treatment was given to some horses in the village by one of the men in our group. He also gave some horse hygiene advice to the farmers before we headed to the second village. We stopped along the way so that other horses could be treated. When we arived in the second village we drank tea and had an afternoon nap under the village tree. After our nap we walked around the village looking at the fields and various trees. In the evening we again showed the film Ricky, Lucy, and Rosa made. It was a HUGE hit! Everyone enjoyed the film and tried to find themselves or friends they knew in it. Like the night before we also showed "the Story". After the films we ate a late dinner, and had an even later bucket shower. This time though everyone showered with 2 goats and probably a few toads. The shower facility had no walls and had a great view of the field with sheep bedding down for the night.

Till next time this is Chavez and Burt

I'm with a Goat.

-The following few blogs were posted on Friday, but for the sake of our tired memories, we are writing in the present tense.

Today we took 3 pick-up trucks and left for some villages out in the bush. The drive took several hours and mud made the trip difficult at times. At one point we had to pull the 2nd truck out of the mud puddle. The first village we went to had been hit by a brush fire and they lost most of there food and parts of their village. When we arrived with their food a celebration broke out. Children turned over bowls and used them as drums, and women danced as the men unloaded and distributed the food and supplies. We ate dinner in the village and shared the video Lucy, Ricky and Rosa made on the last visit. We were also able to show "the Story" on the DVD player. Today was the first time most of these people have heard of our Savior. Satan was working hard to slow the process, but thank God that the video was able to be shown in its entire form. For a while we were afraid the DVD player was going to break, and other times we were heavily distracted from others in the village who weren't watching the movie, but everything worked out.

It was a late night, but it was also a very encouraging one to see the way the Holy Spirit could work in the hearts of the people. I had the pleasant and relaxing experience of showering outside (with a bucket) behind some of the homes. I even had an audience. There was a goat that wandered into the shower facility and decided to hang out with me until I was finished. I am currently "one up-ing" Chavez on our contest to have the most... unique... experience here. =)

Did someone call for take-out?!

Last night we were able to deliver some of the pictures that we had been given by Rickly, Lucy, and Rosa. To give those pictures away was a lot of fun, especially when some of the children had not seen their own picture before. And although my digital camera has a display with a playback feature, its not the same as being given your picture to KEEP. =) The amazing thing is that they remember the times that our last team was here as if it had happened earlier that day. It is amazing to think about the impact that our teams have on these people.

Today we we able to sleep in, somewhat, and relax during breakfast. Once we were dressed and ready to go outside, we went to the market to buy fabric so that more traditional "mexican" clothes can be made. That is a major boost for the people who we meet, because us attempting to wear traditional clothing shows a level of respect for the culture that many white people who visit Mexico don't care to show. So we went to some of the fabric shops in the market and the took it to a tailor to have our clothes made. The plan is that as more teams come to Mexico, they can hit the ground running with clothes to wear, which also is impressive to the people with which we come into contact. So for those future travellers to Mexico, you will have plenty of sweet threads when you get here.

Later this afternoon we will be travelling to Oaxaca to load three pickup trucks full of food and supplies that we will be delivering to villages in the middle of Mexico, some of which were villages where Ricky, Lucy and Rosa took pictures. It will be about a three day trip to delver th food and spend time with the people. So Chavez and I will be out of contact until possibly Friday. Please pray for God to move in the lives of those whom we meet, especially since there is a real chance that the Gospel will be presented for the first time to some people. Pray for safe travels, especially since our vehicles will be going hrough rough terrain, with little room for mechanical failure. It would be a LONG walk back home. Also pray for fair weather. Rain would be great for the land and crops here, but we also don't want it to hinder the delivering of the food. Can we ask for a continual light misting? Perhaps what you get at amusment parks. That would be AWESOME. =)

We humbly ask for prayer with regards to a friend of ours, who spends a lot of time with Poncho and Gabriella. He has heard the Gospel many times, but the continuing pressure from family keeps him from taking any sort of "next step" concerning his relationship with God. We have seen that he understands much of what we say, but lately he has been stuck on some of the differences between our beliefs. So we ask that God grabs a hold of his heart and shows that He can fill any void that we have in our hearts and lives.

So for now Chavez and I will be resting until we leave to deliver food.

Adios!
-Burt y Chavez

Welcome to Mexico City!

We mudded our way into Mexico City today. The area had much more rain than anywhere else we have been previously, but Diego navigated in, around, and through the puddles (some could be classified as ponds and/or large bodies of muck). Needless to say, it was a lot of fun.

We passed new candidates for the "Carcass Calendar". These will be open to review later in the month. (If you are unaware of this publication, please consult your nearest pastor[ AKA Senor Ernie].) Hopefully these new pictures make the cut.

We had a wonderful meal with Gabriella and Poncho in their home once we arrive in Mexico City. Currently we are looking through the 7-8 lbs of pictures. Chavez feels like Kinkos. We will later distribute these photos as soon as possible and reconnect with the families that Rosa, Ricky, and Lucy met earlier this year.

We also spent time with Poncho and Gabriella as we watched the videos that was made in the previous trip. We are excited to see the response of the people, because many of them were involved in a skit concerning prenatal health issues.

Today we are primarily getting settled. Tomorrow we expect some rain, but pray that the electricity stays on. The last time it went out here it didn't turn back on for about 20 hours. Almost 20 hours of no power here is like a strawberry limeade with no strawberries. You could do it, but you'd much rather have the strawberries.

Hasta la vista from Mexico City!
-Chavez y Burt

Stopped for the night

Hola!

This is going to be a post that is somewhat delayed. As I’m sitting on my bed in the town of “Ranchero”, I have realized that I need to write down the day’s experiences while I still remember them. We may not have Internet for a while. But if I can type this up on the laptop, I will have a better recollection for those reading at home.

Today we left with Diego and his son from their home to travel to meet up with Poncho and his wife. Throughout the night our prayers were answered in the form of rain. We awoke this morning to a light sprinkling that was a great way to cool off the climate, as well as control the dust. So it was a true blessing. We then set out for Ranchero, which is the meeting point in between the homes of Diego and Poncho.

We went mudding today.

“It was awesome!”, says Chavez from across the room.

Basically the rain intensified the farther east we travelled. Almost as soon as we left Diego’s home the rain had stopped. But the mud remained. It definitely made the drive to Ranchero much more interesting. One of the newer concepts to our idea of Mexico is grass. Most of the time, it is too dry and hot to grow much vegetation. But with the onset of the rainy season, grass can seed and grow. It looks like a massive carpet of green stretching across everything. It’s something that makes the whole area seem like a new country.

As we arrived in Ranchero around noon, one of the first places we stopped was a restaurant that served an excellent rice and peanut sauce. Diego was very willing to pray in the native language, as to allow anyone listening to hear us. We then walked all through the town, performing the traditional greeting with them. It is a process that shows a lot about how we aren’t just tourists, but that we care about the people and their culture. It is more lengthy than a common “hello”, but is not too long, and can be done with little knowledge of the language.

Many people wanted to know why we were there. Diego was very accurate in explaining that we were there to show them the way in which they could have a right relationship with God. In fact, Diego was able to share the Creation to the Cross message. The concept is about as simple as the title. It is a basic Gospel message that can be understood within the context of the culture. Many people were coming in and out of the conversation, but one man really was interested. He asked many questions, and understood all of what was told to him. He shared with Diego that he did indeed want to believe what Diego was saying, but we knew culturally that it was very hard for him to make any kind of life changing step with so many people around. So hopefully the seed that was planted will grow, and that this man will see that he needs an Almighty and loving Savior that can save him and wants a personal an intimate relationship with each and every one of His children. That concept is very hard to grasp here. The idea of a loving and personal relationship is far from what they are used to in their current religious practices. But pray for this man extensively. A seed was for sure planted in his heart.

That evening a younger man was able to show us around the hospital that was recently built in Ranchero. The government and UNICEF partnered in building the compound, but somewhere in the process, money was not given to hire staff or provide equipment and supplies. So the entire building is vacant. Pray that the funds will arrive soon, since this hospital, when operational, will be one of the nicer places to be treated in the entire area.

After a delicious moonlit dinner, I am slowly dozing off. So I think it will be a good time for me to sign off.

Hasta luego!
-Burt


P.S. The highlight of today was when we were leaving the town that Diego lives in. About five minutes after leaving the ton, we were pulled over by the police who were siting on the side of the road. They really just wanted to find something that we were doing wrong, and possibly receive a bribe. ultimately it came down to them checking everyone's seatbelts. Knowing my luck with the authorities, along with my extensive knowledge of their ways, I was the one that was thought to be wearing my seat belt wrong. I was in fact fine, but it was slipped under my arm, and not seen by the police at first.

Who would have expected it. I get to now say I have been the reason we were pulled over OUTSIDE of the US also! =P

We're here!

We have finally arrived in the wonderful country of Mexico! After 12 hours of flying and 5 hours of awesome car time, we have stopped for the night with Diego and his family. Chavez and I are slowly getting used to the time difference, and freezing, frigid, sub-arctic temperatures. ;) The windchill today was great; it felt around 115 degrees outside! =D It is the beginning of the rainy season here, so please pray for rain, so that crops will grow to provide food for the people.

We had the opportunity to spend some time with children that live around Diego's home. The name of the game was Uno. Not kidding. Uno. No codename here. We also had some time to drive around the town in which Diego lives. The culture of the area is still settling on us, so pray that we are able to adjust quickly to the societal norms, so we do not step on any toes, or over any lines.

Adios mis amigos!
- Burt and Chavez

And so we begin

Hey!

Well the time has finally come! It is "Burt" here for everyone to read ("Senor Ernie" will be joining me in a few weeks.). I will attempt to continue an ongoing account of my travels. Your prayers have been felt even before I have gotten onto a plane! With the everything running smoothly, I am now ready to depart on our 8 hour flight to "Denver"*, with my faithful companion, "Chavez". Upon our arrival in Denver, we will meet up with our friend "Diego" and his son, who will later take us to their home.

But for now, surviving the plane trip is my biggest concern.

If I get to Denver and begin posting nonsensical blog posts, blame either the slow loss of intelligence due to boredom, or perhaps food poisoning from the airline food. ;)

As we begin this amazing trip, pray that we are able to be an impact and an encouragement to those whom we will meet.

In about 12 hours, we will be ready to board the plane!

- Burt

* For security purposes, many of the names used in the following posts will be changed to the ones in quotes. If you need to refresh your memory, please see Chavez and Consuela's blog to become reacquainted with some of the names. 

First night of DNow

Island boy report:

We started DNow last night and Praise God! there were 16 decisions. We watched the movie and everyone was laughing and crying and clapping all through it. What a powerful tool. The band from the TCF church played with us and it was great. All the kids were singing and doing all the motions.
There are a total of 56 kids in attendance. We originally thought that there were going to be 43 or so so the extra few kids are an extra blessing for us.
We will be praying for your service this Sunday and ask that you pray for the rest of DNow for more decisions that need to be made.

To God be the Glory, Great Things He has Done!!!

WMD ENGINEER

Listening: Anberlin
Status: Euphoric

In the words of Tony the Tiger, I feel "grrreeeaaatttt!". This place surpasses all concept of beauty. I've seen the majesty of snow. I've felt the spray of the ocean from Hawaii. Culture made my skin tingle in Korea and Belarus. This place is rich with history, corruption, culture and beauty. I wish you could be here. I think about what we would be doing, saying and reflecting about. You are here with me somehow.

Fortunately, I haven't suffered from jet lag. Praise God! I think I've found the cure for it... just stay up the whole flight. Aside from the short trip from Denver to LA, I stayed up the whole time. Delirious but with eyes wide open.

Yesterday, we drove around the entire island stopping at WWII memorials, gorgeous bays, souvenir shops and then ending the day in a elbow-to-elbow crowded street market. I've also been building spit ball weaponry (hence the WMD Engineer title). I'll post pictures when I get home. For now you're imagination will have to remain in the fog.

I've been reading Matthew during my quiet times. Currently, I'm in the beattitudes section. Something I've been mulling over is Matthew 6:1-4. It was a huge reminder that I'm not here to prove something to myself or to others. I'm here to serve God by serving others. He is the only one watching who matters. Mediocrity might pass with people but it won't pass with Him so I'm going to give this trip everything I've got to give so He will be glorified.

Today, we will be having lunch with the other leaders for Disciple Now. Then, we will be recording a video somewhere on the beach fat with action. You may see a spit ball or two.

Love ya and miss ya!

Kristen Elliott (WMD ENGINEER).

Packed and waiting

Well...we have packed and are ready to go! All we have to do now is wait until tomorrow morning to fly out.
Here is our schedule if you want it to pray specifically:

6:00 AM - fly to Los Angeles
7:30 AM (their time) arrive at LAX

10:30 AM (their time) fly to Honolulu
1:20 PM (their time) arrive in Honolulu

2:30 PM (their time and a tight connection) fly to Guam
6:10 PM (Tuesday their time) arrive on Guam.

Pray for safety. There is a lot of wind picking up outside and it is supposed to be cold and nasty here tomorrow.

Blog at you later.

Islandboy

Ready to depart

Hey all,

The Guam Mission Team 2009 is getting our suntan lotion ready and laying out our Hawaiian shirts and other necessities to be ready for our next trip to Guam. Just kidding!!! We are excited to be going to lead the island's first ever Disciple Now.
Our team members are: Scott Duffer, Bill Ingram, Randy Trahan, Brenda Rains, Kristen Elliott, Sarah Elmore and Rebecca Elmore. We'll see if we can come up with names later.
As you can see I Scott, am Islandboy. Aptly named by Courtney Goertz.

Trying to Fit Back In!

So, we are finally home. Our flight from Washington, DC to home was downsized, so we waited in the airport another 6.5 hours, but it was in our own country and we made it home! We were tired, longing for "home food" and excited to share with everyone what a wonderful journey we had been on. The group that met us at the airport had signs and soda and hugs and excitement that overcame our jet lag. It is good to travel and make new friends, but nothing beats coming home to our old friends!

There have been adjustments to being back. We have all had rounds of various illnesses, but we are recovering. It takes some doing to get back to the fast pace we run at in this country. The other morning, I heard a car honk their horn next to me and I found myself looking to see where there might be a goat running on to the road! We slowly melt back into our weekly routine--work, church, school, home--and yet we scramble to make sure that the new memories we have do not slip away too quickly. I don't want to just "settle back in"; I don't want to forget the smell of the dust and smoke, the smiles as people realize I have no idea what they are saying (and they love me anyway). I have been injected with a serum of experience from another culture, and once again it has changed me, I think for the better.

We are going through our pictures and video and looking for opportunities to share. Part of the struggle is the time it takes, because every picture has a story, and to tell that story takes background, and explanation. It also takes time to sit back and remember exactly what I was doing and feeling as the picture was taken, who else was there and what I was thinking... and soon I realize I am not getting much done, just reminiscing. It would go so much faster if I could just take you there with me!

The reaffirming "welcome home" from those who know us is of great comfort. We would not have been able to go without the help and support of so many. Though we were in the culture, the bridge there and back was built upon the love and prayers of all of you! And through us, there are many more people who now know about you, even though you have never met. They know you through us, as we told them about you, and someday you may meet face to face, say hello and drink some tea!

Sorry.... typing that last line made me cry.

I realize that the greatest meeting would be to share around our Father's table, rejoicing in being part of the same family. But for some of the people we met, that may never happen. Though we know their names and can see their faces and hold their hands, their culture binds them to a religion of works, trying to please a distant, uncaring deity and never knowing if they are being good enough. They do not know that there is a better way, with a loving Father, who even now reaches out to them, to lift them from their dusty prayer mat and draw them to Himself. He wants a relationship with these people, and there is so much to do to let them know He loves them. To do that, WE must love them--not love the journey, not love the exotic feel, not love the praise of others for what we are doing, but we must love THEM. And they can be in their country or ours, on their street or on ours, in their home or in ours, but we are called to love. That is the job that I/we have before us.

Going on a trip like this requires much preparation; physically, mentally and spiritually. Coming home is equally as arduous. I do not know if the future holds another trip back, but I do know that a part of me lives there every day, and when I pray for my friends, the list is now longer. What a blessing this has been!

Ricky

What a Blessing it has been

We depart in a few short hours.  Time has flown by, but yet it seems as if we've been here a long time (in a good way).  We reconnected with people we knew before coming over and made new friends in the process.  These new friends are people we will reconnect with on a future visit.  We have been blessed in so many ways, and we are thankful to all of you for your prayers throughout our visit.  Mostly, we are thankful to our Father for keeping us safe and blessing our journey every step of the way.  

This is a special place to me. In many ways the visit was like looking at part of the world through a fish bowl.  People are curious about us; not in a bad or suspicious way at all, but in a hospitable and friendship sort of way.  Everyone was kind, offered food and tea - all in an effort to extend the visiting time to get to know us better.  They brought us into their culture, which was a very special gift.  I, personally, am excited about a future visit.  

On another note, we had the opportunity to visit some other workers throughout our visit. One of the team members was from Indiana and went to Ball State University AND we attended the university at the same time.  Small world indeed.  To make the world even smaller, another woman we met here has a daughter who used to live in Aurora and now lives in Parker.  

We look forward to sharing more stories and pictures about this special place upon our return home.  We will continue to blog once home, so check back again.  Thank you for your continued prayers as we make our journey home.  

Rosa

A Look Back

As we are headed towards home, my mind is replaying the many experiences we have gone through over the past 14 or so days.  As a team we have talked about what to share, who should share, and how to share.  It's been such a privilege to be a part of the journey.  Thank you for being our support.  I have learned a lot about the culture here, seen things that have made me laugh, and things that have made me cry.  I have touched the hands of children, women, and men who were eager to share their homes while giving me a glimpse of their lives.  They have touched my heart.  They have asked for nothing from me but a copy of the pictures that we will bring to share with you as well.  

A part of the reason that we have come to this place was to encourage and support.  It's my prayer that I have been able to do that.   It's my desire to see others follow in my footsteps.  Maybe that someone will be you!  On this journey we connected with two groups that we met on our first journey.  

I shared in a previous post about visiting the village of my namesake.  On our way out of town we stopped by that village again.  We were greeted by everyone and so it appears that they have begun the process of "moving on" in the grief process.  As we were gathered on the mats there was a lot of chatter and laughter.  Later "Gabriella" explained that they were recounting our first visit to their village.  They remembered where we sat, what we ate, how we joined them for the midday meal and then came back "late at night" to eat under the moonlight.  (I remember that very well too --- it was my first experience eating something that was "presented" first so that I would know it was the best they had to offer.)  They remembered giving "Ricky" and I our new local names and patted me on the shoulder as they talked and laughed about that.   It was an easy to come and visit back then, it still has an impact today.

In a few days "Poncho and Gabriella" are hosting a medical team from Arkansas.  Yesterday we stopped at the facility they will be using and realized it was one of the medical facilities we saw on our first visit.  That visit (which was done by flashlight because it was so late at night) was the initial contact made.  It was a simple task for us to "tour" the building in 2007.  Once the contact was made, there was a reason to stop and greet whenever "Poncho and Gabriella" were in the area.  Those visits opened up conversations which lead to discovering a need for dental and eye care.  Discovering the need gave the medical team an opportunity to come and provide dental and eye care to the local villages.  

I'm sharing these thoughts because every journey we take in life begins with a single step.  That step may be small or it may feel like a huge leap of faith.  Whatever the case is, that step is never done alone.  It has been orchestrated by our Father who has an even bigger plan in mind.  I have no way of knowing what is happening in your corner of the world.  I don't know what impact, if any, the experiences that Ricky, Rosa and I have shared in this blog will have on your life.  What I do know is that even a small step will have an impact on those around you.  It's my hope that you will be obedient in taking the steps that are laid before you.  

Lucy 

Worship In The Night

Sunday services will never be routine again. Father showed me how wonderful it is to gather together publicly, in a nice building, with lots of music and praise. To go out and speak about it at work, to my neighbors and to my family. In America, we are truly blessed!

On Saturday night, we were able to go to church with our hosts. They gather weekly with a few local believers, but it is hardly routine. They travel a different route each week so others will not know where they are going. They go to a house outside of town, where all of the lights are turned out. Approaching the gate, a person was watching for our arrival; otherwise, we would have used a special knock to signal them. Sometimes they meet in a room, but this night the moon was bright so we gathered in a circle of chairs in the yard. Either way, flashlights are the only light that is used, so you can see to read. After some pleasant talk, a couple of praise choruses are sung, verses are read, there is a time of teaching, prayer and worship through offering. Another prayer and we are free to move back into the night. We have heard a couple of cars go by on the road, and voices of people walking toward the town, but nobody knew what we were doing inside the walls of the compound. The vehicle moves out onto the road before the lights are turned on and we make our way back home. 

On the way, we pass the home of a marabout, a religious teacher. In his yard, under a bright light, young boys are gathered to recite the verses of the Koran. Sent to study by their parents, these boys, mostly 6-10 years old, spend the day begging for coins to bring back to their teacher. Now, at 10:30 at night, they are still up doing their study and recitations. You can hear there voices chanting as you pass by on the street. Long days for such little ones, yet they are a part of the society here that is accepted and seen every day. For the people we were with, their faith must be practiced in small, private ways that will not arouse suspicion that could lead to the loss of homes, family and jobs. 

A couple of weeks ago, three were baptized in the river. It was done at night, again by flashlight, far enough out of town to not be caught. To be a believer here means true commitment; making a choice to live a life that cannot be expressed in words to those around you, but knowing that you are changing on the inside. It must be a faith that grows in darkness, surrounded by silence and shrouded in secrecy, while the young boys are displayed openly as true symbols of the religion that rules here.

We did not know the language that was spoken. We knew the story that was shared, and the melodies of the songs, but not the words that were used. It did not matter that we were seated in the dark of night, or that we had to quietly come and go. Instead, we felt humbled and in awe of this group. We were allowed to be part of a corner of the kingdom that is striving to be a true light, a glimmer of hope in a great darkness, a response to a system that teaches hardship, suffering and toil.

Sunday services will never be routine again.

Ricky

How Time Flies

Tomorrow we begin our journey back to home. We leave "Mexico" and travel to SL, but not straight to the airport. We will stop by "Miguel & Bianca's" for a brief hello and to drop off some pictures and the following day head inland for a day of work with Diego and another lady team member we did not meet on our last trip. We are looking forward to being able to share all of the types of work being done here!



There are times that I look down the street or watch people in the market and think that it doesn't seem that long since I was here last. It certainly has not felt like we have been here 13 days, yet the plane ride seems like a long time ago. I guess that the pace, the expectations and certainly the concerns seem to slow down here. In this place, it is more important to stop and talk, sit and have tea, than to get to your next assignment. When you get there, the work will still be waiting, but you will have gained by having spent time with a friend. An important lesson I will return with, though one that is certainly hard to implement in our culture.



Yesterday, we thought we were going to film a staged skit with actors in a controlled environment. Have we not been here long enough to know not to expect things?! We arrived, were greeted and offered drinks, and then taken outside to where the skit would be staged. In front of a crowd...live...with animals...and wind. The actors would take turns sharing a megaphone, meaning they would only be heard over the crowd when they actually faced the camera. And to add to the drama, our microphone was picking up a radio station and was useless. If we can edit this project together, we will call ourselves "Houdini & Co."! But in the midst of all of this, the folks were truly happy to have us there, and before we left, we were allowed to "speak" over them. Truly more important than anything we got on tape.

Over the next few days, we are unsure of what kind of Internet connections we will have, so blog posts may be few. We plan to continue this after we get back home, because there is so much to share and this allows us a space for that. We hope you will stay with us! Also, check out the photos we added to our earlier posts, just for a better glimpse. Thanks for all you are saying for us to the Father.

Ricky

His Heart's Purpose

Almost two years ago I took my first journey to this place. A very dear friend, who knew me well, told me that my journey "would claim my heart and that I would never be the same". At the time I didn't have a true grasp of what that statement would mean. Today it became very clear. It is the culture of this land to give guests a local name when they come to visit. It is a sign of honor and welcome. Typically the name given is one that belongs to someone in the home you are visiting. On my first visit my name was given to me by the son of the chief and I was honored to be named after one of his daughters. Today we had the opportunity to stop by and visit that village.

When we entered the gate it was immediately apparent that something was different. Unlike the last time when we were greeted as soon as we entered the village by everyone who lived there, today there was no joyous greeting. A few of the women were busy washing clothes, most of them were seated under the tree or by one of the homes. Some were quietly talking, most were silent. The men were also seated quietly together. The children continued to play but even that was quieter than normal. None of them ran to greet "Poncho" or "Gabriella" -- something we have come to expect at every place we stop. We joined the small group of women seated under the tree and in a matter of minutes learned that the mother of my namesake had just recently passed away. The family was still in the time of mourning. We sat for some time with very little conversation. Slowly most of the women who had been seated outside the house came and joined us under the tree, leaving the three "daughters" alone at the house. Directly in front of me was the daughter that shared her name with me and somehow I felt a connection.

As we sat there many memories replayed through my mind. I remembered meeting this spry little lady who was quick to laugh and share whatever she had with the guests from America. While the story of hope had been shared with her there is no way to know how it had impacted her life. Our Father asks us to reach out and share our story of hope. The urgency of why we made this journey became so abundantly clear. It isn't any different on this side of the world than it is in my home. My friend's words came back to me -- this journey has affected my heart and I am different than I was. Even as I sat quietly under the tree and prayed blessings on all who were affected by the situation, I also asked for wisdom and resources to reach those who still need to hear the story. Whether you are the one called to come or the one called to stay and support, your role in this battle is important. Don't miss the opportunities that are laid before you.

Lucy

What? I'm Camping?!?!?!?!

Camping is not something that I particularly enjoy. My family did it when I was growing up. Sleeping on the ground in a wet tent (it almost always rained), or even in a trailer wasn't an enjoyable experience for a teenage girl. The other activities related to camping -- specifically taking care of personal hygiene -- were even worse. So as an adult it was something that I successfully avoided at every opportunity. As you might image the trip to the village for a 3 day 2 night camping adventure wasn't in my wish list of things to do in my life. I wasn't prepared for all the "suddenlies" (those moments when our Father intervenes in our day to day activities to reveal His purposes for us) that came along with the experience.

The ride to the village has been well documented by "Ricky" and "Rosa" but I will add that we had many opportunities to "live the culture" along the way. "Poncho" gave me a "fruit" from one of the trees where we stopped to rest. I was told it had a citrus flavor and to eat it like a piece of hard candy. The texture was gummy, not like chewing gum but rather like a piece of sticky taffy. The taste was unique and difficult to describe. It had the sweetness of a raisin but then became bitter. I can't honestly say that citrus ever to came to mind.

We arrived in the village warm and dusty to be greeted by all. We were able to get out the cameras and begin working almost from the moment we arrived. (A dream come true for the team.) It was a challenge to catch them while they were working and not have the posed shots, but we managed to get some very fun pictures. We set up the tents just as the sun was beginning to set and immediately became the focus of attention. It was like putting together a jig saw puzzle for some of us but we managed to get them up, and get our items settled by the time the evening meal was ready. Bedtime followed soon after.

The second day we traveled around the area and gathered data to create a documentary for "Alfonso". We were able to greet at every village and get a close and personal glimpse of their lifestyle. Back at the village that evening we were entertained by the children doing the "Shepherd Dance". I believe that the dance tells the story of how the shepherds leave the village and take their flocks to the field and then return to the village. It's a very important part of their culture and was used in the documentary as well. The instruments they use are a couple of metal bowls with lids turned upside down on the ground. They add other items like plastic water jugs to create a different sound. The use of a spoon or flip flop rather than hands to create the beat adds another dimension. The first evening we were there"Ricky" used his musical skills to join the children as they beat their drums and practiced the dance. There was much laughter that came from the circle of musicians at his gestures. Even more laughter came when the "Toubak" (white man) joined in the dancing as well. It was captured on tape but will probably never be aired in a public setting.

Just like home, the difference between the city life and the country life was very distinct. Country life is more gracious and peaceful existence. They have their daily chores but also find time to enjoy rest. The ladies do sewing and visiting. The men gather for a card game. The young boys sat on a donkey cart and played cards as well although there seemed to be more talking during that game than actual playing.

Our last morning in the village "Rosa" and I were treated to an African cup of coffee. It was an experience that is best explained in person rather than on a blog but suffice it to say, they really like their sugar. As we were taking down the tents in preparation for returning home it occurred to me that the voices and sounds that have become customary were not there. I looked up to see that the entire village had pulled up benches, mats, and blankets closer to our area to watch the process. All the chores, meal preparation, and play had been stopped. We were the focus of the entire village. It was a little disconcerting for a rookie camper.

There is much more to share in future blogs but this is what I learned in my experience. We have a Father who calls us to "go out among them and share the good news". Sometimes that news is in the stories we share. Sometimes that news come in the form of meeting a need. Sometimes He asks us to step outside of our comfort zones to learn what He needs to teach us. Always, there is something to learn for both sides. The Father can take any situation and use it to heal, help us grow, or to teach a simple truth. As I lay down in my tent each night, it was my hope and prayer that I was an instrument He could use.

Lucy

The Country Girl

The last time I wrote I mentioned a ceremony for honoring the dead that we’d been tasked to film. Those plans got scrapped, so we moved our schedules up one day and headed out to the country side to film and photograph “Alfonzo’s” family and life in the country. The trip took six hours by vehicle on a bumpy dirt road. We stopped in every village along the way to greet more of “Alfonso’s” family. The trip takes three days by horse cart, so the six hour drive didn’t seem so bad. We were treated with grandiose hospitality throughout our three day visit. They served special foods, performed a dance, talked and laughed with us during our stay. The family was expecting us to arrive with cameras so everyone was eager to get their picture taken and then see their picture instantly on the camera. Sometimes it was difficult to get pictures of them working and going about their normal day because they always wanted to pose and “be on film”. We toured all areas of the family’s village including a reforestation project, a brick making plant, and the ever exhaustive task of getting water from the well. We captured the family’s day to day routine and documented health care procedures. It was a rewarding experience indeed. “Ricky” is editing the footage now in hopes to get the documentary completed soon.

A trip of this kind involves reaching for God’s comfort in some way. The difficulties come in different packages for different people. As many of you already know, I have a very tender heart for animals. I’m not vegetarian, but picking up meat prepackaged at the grocery store is just fine with me. Life here is not that way, and I knew that going into this trip. (Life on the countryside back home is not that way either.) Upon our arrival the eldest man of the village told us that the family was so excited about our visit that everyone chipped in to provide the best meal they had to offer. A shepherd was sent out to pick the best sheep from the herd and provide it to us for a meal. The entire process for providing meat for eating and nourishment is a ceremonial event and not taken in vain. It’s difficult for someone like me to think in this way, but I hardened up quick and enjoy the food. And yes, I did actually like it. Another night a different shepherd hunted our meal by moonlight. He came back with fox and rabbit. The ladies prepared it with spices and cooked both over an open fire just for us. We ate on the ground by moonlight. I made it through and actually enjoyed the experience, but only with God’s help. Thank you for your prayers in this area. The easy foods for me to enjoy were the starches! Couscous and rice prepared over open flame, and fresh bread baked right from the oven were all delicious. In fact the second day we were there I was greeted with a serving of warm bread for breakfast. I praised God for some food closer to home.

I fell in love with these people in a very short time. It was a little tough to keep the eyes dry as we packed up the truck and said our goodbyes. They waved and gave big smiles as we drove off and continued to do so until our truck was out of site. I have grown in a big way as a result of this experience…in more ways than I can possibly write about today.

I plan to share some funny stories about the trip to the village later in the week. We also plan to post a few pictures to the blog.

Rosa

Return Of The Bench Monkey!

On our last trip here, "Chavez" and I rode the whole time on the rear side benches of a Land Rover. Less padding, less air conditioning, sun through the window and more bounce to the mile than the other seats! This activity earned us the name of "Bench Monkeys", which we bore proudly. I have now continued that tradition!

We have just spent the last 3 days in the home village of "Alfonso", a friend who wanted our help with a video. We will create a documentary on life in the village, showing their day, their crops, health care, the surrounding area, a reforestation project and other scenes to help with development in the area. It was a 4-hour journey once we left the paved road, covering the terrain on dirt two-tracks (where there was a path). We had to stop and greet other members of his family on the way, so the trip out actually took six hours. And the bench monkey part? In order for all of us to go, and for "Alfonso" to join us and show the way, someone had to ride in the back of the truck! I sat on a cooler with a chair pad, wrapped my head in a calla (a traditional head wrap) and bounced along in the sun and dust! "Chavez", I hope I did you proud!!

No matter what the ride was like, it was worth it for the experiences we had. We were treated royally, with special food, the children danced for us, we toured the area and people were expecting us to come and take pictures, so we had total freedom to operate. We learned new words, made new friends and got an up close and personal persective on life in a small village of less than 30 people. There was no way that we could recreate the time without the friendship of "Alfonso", his trust of "Pancho & Gabriella" and the willingness of his family to open up their life to us.

And yet for all the joy we experienced in the village, we must remember that they do not know the one who sent us. Please pray for the people in that region, that the relationships we now have would open the doors for them to know more about the followers of JC.

The ladies will share more about this trip later. Thank you for your part in support of this trip!

Ricky

Thoughts to Share

We started the day in a leisurely manner. Rosa is feeling better after a good night of rest. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers that we know were essential for such a good outcome.

I thought this would be a good time to share some of the experiences and observations that have taken place in our time here. We have certainly been pleased to visit with people we met in our first visit. We also have had opportunity to chat with some who attended the English Classes that "Chavez" and "Consuelo" led. The students have done well in their teachers absence. It was fun to converse in our language and learn some French and Pulaar words along the way.

As we were walking through the market the other day we heard a commotion and looked to our left to see a goat run past 2 women and over several large baskets filled with items to sell to get to a large bowl filled with bags of peas. Both women had baskets of items in front of them, which gave the goat a definite advantage. He didn't stop or get distracted by the number of items he had to jump over to get to the peas. There was a lot of yelling and some pushing and tugging but the goat was not deterred. He was focused on the peas and the women were not very successful in stopping him. I'm not sure how many bags the goat ate before a man came and pulled him away because we were laughing so hard. As I got into the truck to head home I thought "sometimes the goat wins". Later I got to wondering whether my "Father" wishes I would be as persistent in focusing on the tasks He gives me to do as the goat was on getting the peas.

Africa has some rather unique sounds that you hear every day. In the morning, just as the sun is rising, you can hear the donkeys , sheep and goats as they wander through the streets looking for something to eat. As the sun comes up you hear the people in the village as they begin their day. Sometimes it's the voice of the ladies as they are headed to market, or the children as they walk to school. In the evening you can hear the donkeys, sheep and goats as well as the "Call to Prayer" that is amplified throughout the evening. As we spent time on the roof last evening, in addition to the usual sounds, we could hear the reciting of verses from the Koran by the men and young boys of the village. It sounds like a constant hum but you could hear some very distinct voices as they recited verse after verse. It continued for several hours and we were assured by "Gabriella" that it is nightly event. What a lesson in commitment and focus. What a need there is to hear the stories of our Father. Pray that we will find opportunities to share as we continue to meet and greet.

The last obervation that I will share is that of the people. As we have journeyed across the country and then walked through the markets and streets of "Mexico", I noticed that we were always greeted with a smile and warm welcome. Maybe the smile is brought on by the appearance of Americans in native dress, but I suspect that it is more than that. The people have learned to be content with what they have. They are proud and eager to share what they have with any guest who visits their home. If only I can be as eager to share what my Father has given to me.

We are traveling tomorrow to a village that is west of "Mexico" to meet with a man and shoot some video. It is about a 4 hour journey and will require that we spend a couple of nights camping to get everything completed. We are excited and honored to have such an opportunity. Pray that all goes well. We will share our experience when we return.

Lucy

Meetings

Hola! Rosa here.

We are having an exciting time here in "Mexico". We met with a doctor and his administrator yesterday to discuss an upcoming project involving sanitation at traditional ceremonies for honoring the dead. Specifically, their concerns are about hand washing. There are not enough hand washing facilities to support the hundreds of people that come. Also, some people simply do not use the facilities provided, or do not use them properly. We have been invited to attend one of these actual honoring the dead ceremonies which occurs on Thursday. Our assignment is to photograph and film the current method, which is the less than sanitary method. From there the method that doctors would like to become the norm will be staged with actors and we'll film that. We'll produce this video while we are here and leave copies with the doctors. Our prayer is that God will use our expertise to produce a valuable product for the people here. We also pray that the plans discussed with officials thus far actually occur. We'd ask that you also pray in this manner. It should be an exciting time on Thursday.

Today we picked up the outfits that we each had made. We bought the material here and hired a tailor to sew it to our measurements. "Lucy" and "Rosa's" outfits were ready. "Ricky's" will be done on Thursday.

"Rosa" is not feeling up to par today. It's nothing serious, but pray that she passes this hurdle soon. Our schedules are about to pick up tremendously, and she'd like to be at the top of her game.

Until next time,
Rosa and the gang

UP & RUNNING!

This is an addition to a previous blog done by "Chavez & Consuela" about their experiences in the city of "Mexico". This is now a place for you to follow those who are sharing their stories about travel with a heart's purpose. You may want to go back to the previous blog to refresh your memories, because we will be using some of the same names, for security purposes. The group that gave you this address can provide that one as well.

This is "Ricky" and "Lucy", accompanied by "Rosa", and we are excited to be in "Mexico". We thank those of you who helped us with our transfer in New York City, as the change between airports went smoothly. We left town at 8:05 am on Jan. 1st and arrived in "Denver" at 5:30 am on Jan. 2nd. We were met by "Pancho" and "Gabriella", who took us along to a place of rest and orientation. There we met "Diego" and "Juanita" and their three kids, who work in another city. We will be spending some time with them again when we start our journey home. After spending the night, we traveled on to the home of "Miguel" and "Bianca". "Consuela" had warned us about the cuteness factor of their children, and she was right! Playing with them was very enjoyable.

There was a man who had come to "Miguel's" house looking for food, and "Miguel" had shared a story with him. He invited "Miguel" to come to his village, along the river, to share more stories and to meet his family. We were blessed to be able to go along on this first visit to the village! "Pancho" drove, with "Miguel" calling his new friend several times and being assured that we were very close. After a couple of hours of bouncing around in the back seat of the truck, and numbing various body parts, we were able to find the right village (though now several other villages can tell of a visit by white strangers). When we left, a man who guided us out (only 1 hour in the dark across dirt trails) told us that years ago, the village had bought a potion to spread that would confuse government officials trying to find the village; guess we looked like we fit the category!

We were warmly welcomed and escorted into the man's home. He introduced us to his wives, his father and two other men who had come to meet us, and the walls were quickly lined with women and children wanting to hear and see us, with those who could not fit in the room trying to look in from the windows. Imagine one of your classrooms with 40 people in it, only with no lights, covered windows, a dirt floor and only one door for ventilation. Up close and personal! We were given something to drink, followed by ceremonial tea, and "Miguel" and "Pancho" told them of our purpose for coming. After hearing another story from "Miguel" and allowing "Ricky", "Miguel" and "Pancho" to "speak" over them, the house and the village, photos and video were taken. That caused excitement! The children sheiked with joy every time the flash went off, and adults were lining up mothers and other relatives to be in the photos. As the sun was going down, they invited us to stay longer, but we thanked them and headed back to "Miguel & Bianca's" house.

The next morning, we continued on our travels, arriving at "Mexico" in the afternoon and settling in. We will continue to update this blog as we go along; Rosa is going to share about our meeting with officials from the hospital.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers! We can really feel your presence.

Ricky