A day in the life of MK's

Last week Brandon went with a small group from our church to Salto, Uruguay to assist the Sanders family in distribution of tracts and information about their new church plant. From what I understand our young people and the Sanders teens had a lot of fun with eachother. I will probably get myself in trouble for this, and I sincerely hope I don't offend anyone with this quote of Brandon from a note he wrote. Please note they did not joke around like this while they were passing out the information, just when they were sightseeing.

I do plan to have him blog about the more serious aspect of his trip. Until then enjoy reading about the fun an MK can have on the mission field.

1: Ask where non-existant streets and stores are and watch people either tell you that they don't know, or be too proud to tell you they don't know and give you directions to no where.

2: Act like you're a gringo that doesn't know much spanish, and go around asking for directions to the jungle to see the monkeys (there is no jungle in Uruguay).

3: Try not to laugh while people deny you a 5 peso donation to "The Foundation for the Assistance of Children with Chronic Diarrhea", while your accomplice stands behind you complaining that he "really has to go!" (we didn't actually pull this one off...there are only so many hours in the day, hahaha.)

P.S. Lest anyone call me a horrible MK, Salto is NOT my family's place of ministry, and we were only there for three days (not enough time to even see the whole city.)

This week's character quality...Deference

It is our desire that the young people, and adults, involved in the youth ministry would grow in their faith. Each young person has a devotional book which includes a section for sermon notes. The theme for this first SIGMA block is based on the character qualities of Christ. Each week's devotions have a different character quality - deference, thankfulness, honesty, meekness, and self-control. It is our prayer that each young person would understand more of what it means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ; that they would know just who Jesus Christ is; and that most importantly they would place their faith and trust in Him for their salvation.

Tonight was another great youth meeting. Throughout the past week we were encouraged by the number of verses being said to us and the leaders and close to 200 verses were said this past week!!! One Christian growth book and one missionary biography were read. A mission project is being planned. Five visitors were brought. And over 60 ministries were counted - young people playing in the orchestra, teaching or helping in Sunday School, and a mission trip to Salto, Uruguay to help the Sanders with their new church plant were among those counted.

Click...

I love the moments when confusing things finally click in my mind. About 3 years ago, through tutorials, I learned to use my computer to scrapbook digitally. I had days, weeks, where I could not grasp what in the world the tutorials were talking about. There are still things I don't get but now I can scrap on my computer with relative ease.

Spanish has been a different story, it just hasn't clicked. Though I have been pretty immersed, have taken language classes, used computer helps, etc. the ability to understand the words being spoken has escaped me. Often times, as is in English, the native speakers can't explain to me why they say the things the way they do, they just know it's the right way to say it. So for 20 months Spanish has been swirling around in my head more like a rip tide than a flowing stream of thought.

Three weeks ago, Scott and I started intensive Spanish classes with Rebeca Valiente. Rebeca is from Peru and has been using the materials used there to teach missionaries Spanish. Each day after starting with prayer, we quote verses that we have memorized, we quote from memory the books of the Bible, and then we read aloud a chapter of Romans. Then we get into the conversation and question answer period using the verbs of the lesson...all in present tense for right now. We have 16 hours of class time and at least another 8 hours of study time. This has done wonders to firm up Spanish in my mind. So much so that I am actually able to comprehend much of what I'm reading and hearing.

Thank you all for praying for us as we learn Spanish. We know for some it clicks right away and they learn with very little effort. Unfortunately for us it has taken more time and definitely a lot of effort. But finally it is coming. Your prayers are working!

Update 3 on Belen

With sighs of relief we rejoice with Belen and her family that her tumor is benign. I've been told that Belen may be transferred back to Colonia the end of this week. She is doing very well and still eating, drinking and talking. The only problem she has had is fluid build up in her head. I'm not sure if that is a result of the trauma of surgery and will resolve with time, or not.

Please continue to pray for the Mengens and for other families whose news is not so good. This week our friends, Shawn and Sandy Smith, received news that Andrew's tumor is enhancing. Meaning that it is either growing or necrossing, neither is good. They are 11 months into their new life in the brain tumor world. I know they have been a blessing to other families thrust into that horrible reality. And I know they would greatly appreciate your prayers.

SIGMA Begins

For several weeks we have been preparing to begin a new youth program here in Colonia. Scott and I had two full years as SIGMA team leaders in our church in North Carolina. We also had several months after that helping in the youth department while we began deputation. I can't tell you how thankful we are for having had the opprtunity to train under Jim Ogle's leadership. The things he taught us about young people and working with them are a tremendous asset to us. We have accessed that training to begin a new youth program.

I guess I should call it SIGMA modified. For now we are only have 5 weeks. After this period we will announce a winner. Have a couple weeks break, announce new teams and do another 6 weeks. In March, Lord willing, we plan to have the full school year SIGMA year.

Here in Colonia we have our youth meetings on Saturdays. So tonight we kicked off SIGMA. Our team leaders are Gabriel and Rebekah Chauvie, Pastor Daniel and Amparo Lopez and Pastor Archie and Ruth. They all did a fantastic job cheering on the young people as their rosters were announced. Then later in playing the games. They encouraged the young people to pay attention and to take sermon notes by setting that example personally. Finally they did a great job explaining the "rules" about verses, points and projects in their team meetings .

We came home with 4 very excited young people. I took some videos on my cell phone of the games. I hope you enjoy the excitement.

Happy 5th Birthday Isabel!

I cannot believe another year has passed so quickly, and now, Isabel is 5. I had fun teasing her this morning about whose birthday it was.

We've had a very full week. Monday we enjoyed celebrating her birthday with our Peruvian friends. Their daughter, Cesia, turned 5 on Sunday. Somehow this fact escaped us last year. So this year we had their parties together. It was a princess Strawberry Shortcake theme. I made a simple cake this year - strawberry with strawberry frosting and sprinkles. We played simple games and painted faces.

I've tried to post photos but for some reason blogger doesn't want to let me. I'll try to remember later.

Lies We Believe About Marriage

After four hours of Spanish class I wasn't too sure my mind was in a state to teach the ladies Bible study last night, but God intervened and kept my mind working. It turned out to be a great lesson. Several of our ladies questions were answered in this section of the book. As we read the many verses applying to marriage the ladies heard straight from God about the blessings that can be had if they counter the lies believed about singleness and marriage with the truth from His Word.

LIE: I have to have a husband to be happy.

TRUTH: The single ladies learned that happiness is not found in (or out of) marriage. There is no person who can meet our deepest needs. Those who wait on the Lord (including for a mate) always get His best. God has promised to provide everything we need. If He will receive more glory from her being married, then He will provide for her a husband.

LIE: It is my responsibility to change my mate.

TRUTH: The ladies learned that God can do a far better job of changing
our husbands than we can.

LIE: My husband is supposed to serve me.

TRUTH: The ladies learned that God made us to be the helper to the man. We are never more like Jesus than when we are serving others so we ought to seek to serve not seek to BE served.

LIE: If I submit to my husband I'll be miserable.

TRUTH: The ladies learned that submission places us under the protection of God. Our willingness to place ourselves under God-ordained authority is the greatest evidence of how big we believe God is. Our submission to our husband should demonstrate the way the church is to submit to the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Since the ladies are reading the books on their own and then we meet I have used more of a review format with the studies. At times I will teach on the chapter as a whole and hit on the individual lies. Other times I will use the Walking in the Truth book to help clarify some things for the ladies...and for myself. I am constantly amazed at the sweet teachable spirit of our ladies. Their hearts are tender towards the things of the Lord and God is able to change them into His image as a result.

After the study was complete, well most of the study, we had to stop for lack of time, we had a birthday party for Amparo Lopez. She and her husband are missionaries here, from Peru. It was so much fun to surprise her with the blanket that we made, that she thought was for one of our older ladies. The ladies also brought gifts for her and we had lots of sweet treats. I'm thankful for my friend, Amparo. I'm so looking forward to seeing how God will continue to use her here in Uruguay.

Remember...

We all remember seven years ago when for the first time, at least for my generation, we experienced the fear of being under attack on our own shores; The wondering of what was coming next; The concern of just how many planes had been hijacked and how many more buildings would be destroyed; The realization that thousands of lives were sent into an eternity. It was a day we will never forget.

Until someone told us, or we heard the reports over the news, many of us were oblivious to the terrorist attacks. And when we did realize what was happening, the day was so extraordinarily beautiful that it was difficult to really believe something so horrific could be occurring.

We felt better knowing the planes were grounded and, other than military patrols, the skies were void of air traffic. There was a certain odd feeling though when we gazed into clear skies no longer streaked by jet exhaust. Then came the ominous, disquieting feeling of having the world we've always known come to an end.

Those who had loved ones in New York and Washington DC experienced the range of emotions of intense grief for those who lost a loved one to intense relief for those who knew their loved one was safe. We grieved and rejoiced with them both.

And then the war began. One on our own shores and one abroad. The frustration of losing certain freedoms - traveling by air with nail clippers, baby bottles of formula, medicines, etc. The questioning fear about every middle eastern person boarding a plane.

Still today, seven years later, the experience of September 11 seems almost like yesterday. Today, we remember those who lost their lives, those who sacrificed their lives to try to stop what seemed to be inevitable, those who searched for survivors and those who go to foreign shores to protect our shores.

Today, we remember!

God Will Make a Way

In Spanish the word Prueba means proof, evidence, sign, ordeal, trial, exam or test. Yesterday a simple drivers test "prueba" became a significant ordeal "prueba". A week ago Scott told me that we had an appointment to take our drivers license "prueba". My response was to sigh and ask God to help me forget about it. Those of you who are wondering why I didn't ask for help in studying, I most definitely would have requested help had there been anything to study. Though Scott asked a couple times at the entendencia they told him there was nothing to study. We asked Uruguayans who also told us the same thing. It wasn't until we were in the midst of taking our tests and I was fighting back the tears that the exam officer told us there are study materials on the internet. GRRR!!!!!

I tried to focus on the test as I fought back the tears and the frustration. As soon as I would get my focus back I'd realize I had no idea when I was supposed to use my horn, how far from the curb or the corner I needed to park, what the speed limit is in neighborhoods, the difference between a cebra and a regular crosswalk, etc. In my discouragement I kept thinking, "Well, there is no way I'm passing this test and I'll not be able to drive here anymore." Then "God will make a way." would come into my mind. If it weren't for that reminder and that I'm not a quitter I believe most of my test would have been left unanswered.

I thank God for the reminder that He can work things out. And for the reminder to trust in Him and guard my heart. I'll admit after I turned in my test and they called me to have my picture taken I thought, "Man, they have a wasteful system here because there is no way I passed that test." And then as Scott went to take his moto test he told me that my license was being printed and as soon as I had it I could go on home. "HUH? Did they even grade my test?" I wondered. I was still so upset from the test that after I paid for my license and put it and my cedula into my wallet I hadn't taken the time to realize what had happened. As I drove home "God will make a way." came rushing back into my mind. Indeed He had!

Scott told me when he got home that they didn't grade our tests. Evidently our US drivers licenses were enough proof to pass us even though we probably failed the prueba. I still have a lot to learn about my response to God when He puts me through a prueba.

Pray for your missionaries! Pray for them for all those things that seem to be little, mundane, and simple. I'm not sure about other missionaries but I have found in my life here in Uruguay that the simple things are often the ones used by the devil to overwhelm me and get me to question God. Even so, I need only to remember the faithfulness of God. God will make a way!

Update 2 on Belen

This afternoon Belen is recovering from a second surgery. This time the doctors found and removed a very large brain tumor. The last report I had was that she was out of surgery and recovering. Please continue to pray for her family and her recovery.