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