I'm FINISHED, I'm through, I'm done... this blog will only be kept for now as an archive, and for occasional updates on our family. I've been rather indecisive for the last year or so, but I've finally decided!! If you have read me before, please change your bloglines subscription, or other reader to:
I only have a just a second here, but wanted to say that we will be driving to Trujillo again tomorrow and next. So, anyone who reads this blog can pray! For a little more current info on our life work, see our ministry blog here:
We assume the sun will always rise. It always has. But it rises because God continues to will it so, not because it must in and of itself. I breathe, not because I am a smoothly functioning breathing machine, but because He who holds my breath in his hand wills me to breathe, as He wills the squirrel to breathe in the oak grove beside my house and the crow that perches in the scrub pine.
The will of God is not a given quantity. It is creative, dynamic, flowing action. Jesus participated in that action by submitting to the Will and moving with power along the "appointed way," according to the "appointed time," choosing the Father's will above his own.
The sun does no choosing. God chooses--every morning so far--to make it rise. Yet the Lord of the universe asks me to choose to follow Him--to participate, as Christ did, in the flowing action which is his will. "Dwell in my love. If you heed my commands, you will dwell in my love, as I have heeded my Father's commands and dwell in His love" (Jn 15:10 NEB).
Author: Elisabeth Elliot Source: A Lamp For My Feet Scripture Reference:John 15:10
"The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.
Instead, the APA urged therapists to consider multiple options — that could range from celibacy to switching churches — for helping clients whose sexual orientation and religious faith conflict."
Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue.
Federal funds for abortions are now restricted to cases involving rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. Abortion opponents say those restrictions should carry over to any health insurance sold through a new marketplace envisioned under the legislation, an exchange where people would choose private coverage or the public plan.
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, 'and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ~ Matthew 24:3-14
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." ~ 1 Timothy 4:1-2
When I hear these things, I think the end must be soon. I can't believe this. You know what they are doing don't you? The Bible says that homosexuality is sin. But, if they (worldly psychologists) come at it this way, they will get a whole bunch of people thinking that, 'If being a homosexual is something you can't help, then believing and supporting the Bible is bigotry. The Bible must be wrong.'
Oh, Holy God, help us who remain to be faithful witnesses!
...and the government healthcare program (that I don't support, BTW) is going to cover abortion? Killing its own citizens?! Hello? Scary enough as that is, I know that it won't stop there.
However dreary this is, there is one way in which this news is encouraging:
Jesus is coming soon.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
I have become the kind of blogger that thinks up blog posts in her mind and RARELY gets them posted...
I'm just TOO busy!
But, heh. Life isn't about blogging... it's about living, right?
Well, the last weeks have been SO full of traveling from Tarapoto (the jungle) to Trujillo (the city), finding our house all packed up, not wanting to unpack because I'll be packing again at the end of the month, needing bowls, plates, cookware etc, having to unpack it... Sorting kids clothes because my kids came back to winter in the city from the hot and humid jungle looking like RAG-A-MUFFINS! We got haircuts (all of us) and made the wardrobe update/transfer, and now we're feeling MUCHO mejor {better}.
The last two weeks, Micah has been uber-busy with preparation of classes, interpreting for the English guest professor, teaching his own classes and running the program for the practical hands-on side of things at the Institute. Which has left me at home (surrounded by boxes) with the kiddos trying to figure out what to do first...
So far, like I've mentioned, I've unpacked clothes, sorted half of our stuff in the storage closet (extra bedding, crafts, clothes to grow into, etc) and have yet to go through the other half. I've got to get rid of loads of stuff, becuase as of now, the plan is to find a tiny apartment here in Trujillo that we can use as a base for every module that we come back for IBEM... and take the rest to the JUNGLE. I only want to take the bare necessities to Tarapoto though because the humidity is not very friendly towards anything paper or fabric. So... decisions, decisions.
I'm working on inventory-ing clothes, shoes, and homeschool stuff so that I can stock up when I am in the US in August. To make a long story short, about a year ago Micah's parents bought him and PrettyPinkPrincess tickets to fly back to take some classes, and PPP wasn't able to fly... so NOW we're using the credit for that ticket and my airmiles to make a trip before the credit expires! Yay.
So, that brings you all about up to speed on my life :)
My beloved is back from the depths of the jungle! Yay! He traversed rivers, knee-deep mud, narrow trails with heavy foliage, over burdened boats... he even waded through waist deep murky waters to bring us back a few precious momentos: (Although, I guess that's not the ONLY reason he went...)
This and a 10ft. snakeskin...
Now, where are we going to put these?! :S
The trip went REALLY well. Lots of exciting jungle type accounts... stay tuned for a full report soon :)
To be transformed into the image of Christ I must begin to do the will of the Father in the same place where He began: He emptied Himself. There is for any serious disciple, quite simply, no other starting place. It is a matter of beginning today to say no to yourself--specifically, about something you've been insisting you must have, specifically about something you have been refusing. This is step one. You travel the road "toward Jerusalem" from there, gladly taking up the cross (which is step two: saying yes to God) and following, knowing where the road led Jesus. It did not--and don't forget this!--end with a cross. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven.
His prayer for us is, "Father, I desire that these men who are thy gift to me, may be with me where I am" (Jn 17:24 NEB).
Author: Elisabeth Elliot Source: A Lamp For My Feet Scripture Reference:John 17:24
Wednesday morning I waved goodbye to a very full pick-up truck packed with sacks, music equipment, boxes, people - packed in standing in the back as well as in the double cab. They drove away with my Beloved husband standing in the back with a giant grin on his face. He was waving as he dangled out the back holding fast to the railing. In that pick-up truck with him were most of the people that I know in this city. Hours away from most of the people I know, I feel...
Alone.
My bed is only half full. I am the only responsible person in the house. I take out the garbage, I pray for the kids at bedtime, I do the errands, I make the meals and fix things when they break... and I do these things alone. No one will come by. I won't go out to visit anyone. It is strange after 13 years together to be alone ...even if it is for only a week. Thank goodness it is only a week.
---
But I have my kids here. So I am not alone. And they aren't alone either because I am here with them. This city is full of people who would help me if I asked them to and we can make new friends. I am only a phone call away from loved ones even though separated by miles of road, river or in some cases ocean.
Not alone.
But even if we don't always have each other, God will still be here. He's the best friend we will ever have. He knows us completely and still loves us more than anyone else ever could. He hears every word we tell him even before we tell it, he'll never forget it either. He will never leave.
OHHHHHHHH, my word. We had a moment yesterday involving this VERY spider.
Keep in mind, these photos represent these in their actual size! Spider: 2.5" diameter leg span.
Let me explain:
One day, I walk into the room and I find this humongous spider on the floor (it was big and very black on its underside).
Here it is, and it's upside down, so I think surely it is dead, so I go over with my flip flop to flip it over to have a look - and OH MY LANDS it jumps up! Fast forward... Micah and I are bent over the thing and Micah has his arm around me (we've now determined it's about to breathe it's last, so it was safe...) and he pretends to FLING the thing up onto me! (It hopped, twitched and acted really strange but it didn't actually get on me).
I then proceed to FLING my protector's arm right off of me and then kick him for his cruelty as he attempts to keep his hold on me! I was scared! He was laughing harder than I've seen him laugh in a LONG time!
MEAN.
He sobered up after he realized how much he'd riled me... and I WAS able to calm down in a few minutes.
He reverts to this grade-school-type-humor every now and then, and I must admit, it usually cheers us all up, but... usually it's at someone else's expense!
Cockroach: 2" long... represented in approximated actual size!
I felt some little-creepy-crawly-feeling on my leg yesterday as I lay in bed waking up. I thought to myself, 'Oh, it's probably an ant or spider'. So, I got up - and YIKES - to my amazement, I saw Micah fling a HUGE thing out of the sheet! It was a cockroach just like the one above. Oh. yuckity-yuck-yuck! I can't believe this! It is one thing to have them in your sewer, or even occasionally in the kitchen... but in my BED!!!
Oh, Lord... help me!
The most hilarious thing is what Micah said after killing the thing, 'I felt something from my ankle up my leg, but I just thought it was your foot!' HAHAHAHAH! It'd crawled up almost his whole leg before it came onto mine and I got up! I guess leg hairy-ness must desensitize your nerve endings that you could mistake a HUGE cockroach crawling up your leg for someone's foot!
Sleeping with a mosquito net would avoid this, but it's also stifling hot! We have just screened in our windows and openings instead... Maybe it's time to fumigate again?!
For those of you who are praying... don't stop just because I'm about to tell you that things are pretty much completely back to normal! ...pretty please!! :)
Yes. We've had electricity for a whole week now, with only a few intermittent interruptions. All the roads are unblocked and we all have gas again... (gasoline that is :)
GuerillaGuy has been sick though - 105.7* (taken in his ear). Everyone in the neighborhood is either sick, just recovering or about to get it. (I'm praying the rest of us don't get it) It seems to only last a couple days, and I don't know what *it* is, but it includes super high fever, dizziness, stomach ache and head ache.
Tylenol seems to take care of the worst of it all. The rest of us are drinking LOTS of water with a regular dose of GSE and hoping, hoping, hoping we don't get it!
We say that we are willing to follow Jesus. Peter said he would go with Him to prison and to death, not expecting that either would likely be required. Let us settle it once and for all--to follow Him will mean death. Not crucifixion in the literal sense, probably, but the coming to the end of ourselves, our expectations, our dreams. He must bring us to that end in order to bring us to the beginning of the Christ-life. "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live," was Paul's testimony (Gal 2:20 AV).
But does this mean none of my hopes will be fulfilled? Is it all wilderness and sorrow? The people of Israel must have asked this while en route to Canaan. Must we follow so far? And when they were desperate for water, God led them to Marah where the water was bitter. Terrible disappointment. But then--the miracle of the tree that made it sweet!
How far shall we go with Him who calls us to fellowship with Himself? Shall we stop dead in our tracks if the water is bitter? Shall we turn tail and run if we glimpse a cross? "Whoever cares for his own safety is lost" (Mt 16:25 NEB). Think of missing the miracle of the water. Think of missing the resurrection.
Savior Christ, I want to go the whole way. Keep me from faltering today. Show the tree that transforms bitter water, and help me to live in its shade.
A girl I knew in high school (who, now of course, is no longer a girl), is a GREAT photographer! Occasionally, I peruse her blog, because I really enjoy looking at her pictures of life with littles. Today, I found this HILARIOUS family foto. You absolutely MUSTsee it!!
Today at lunch, the restaurant had the news tuned into the session of Congress dealing with our situation in the Amazon regions of Peru. This news has grabbed everyone's attention because of the violent situation that developed last Friday because of the confrontation between the police and the natives (see my last post , here and here). On the way home this evening we saw tanker trucks (petrol) coming from the direction of Yurimaguas (apparently, they are letting traffic through on both ends now!) and the streetlights even came on! yay! Life seems to be settling down a bit. But at no small price.
My own summary: The government has made mistakes, but neither are the natives without guilt. Both sides are have committed grave errors costing lives. This is a big deal, and resolution seems remote. Neither side is very willing to concede anything to the other. I don't really specialize in analysis of these kinds of things, even though we have our share of opinions. We can see a little of both sides. The natives have a right to land, and that right ought to be established and protected. The government ought to seek progress and the responsible development of natural resources form a big part of that. Needless to say, there is serious division all over the country, and people have taken sides, knowledgeably or not.
It's complicated - I'm certainly glad I'm not a politician. As of this writing, the gov't has suspended the laws that have outraged the natives. We'll see what happens next.
I mourn for the souls whose earthly lives were cut short, and for their families that will miss them. In comparison to what people experience daily in the Middle East, this is nothing. Yet, for us, it is unexpected and new. I'm pretty confident that there probably will not be any more bloodshed for some time. I think it was a big shock to the whole country. Rightfully so.
And of course, we're hoping that the road can stay clear for the next several months so that we can get to and from Trujillo a couple of more times by car. Who would've thought that this would be our reality several months ago when we came here?! Well, of course... God did. :) We can rest in that!
Friday, June 5, 2009 - The natives are getting REALLY restless
So, the protests are still going strong.
There are thousands of angry natives (who really are natives... they use blow guns, and bows and arrows). They have been blocking the only road into our city from the coast for the past month and a half. They've also been blocking the same road out of our city to the next city, Yurimaguas. There they really have it worse off because they have no road out on the other side, only the river. They have the petroleum, but they can't get chicken, cookstove gas and the price of the basic necessities is through the roof! Chicken which is normally S/7 a kilo ($1/lb) is S/29+ a kilo ($5lb). A tank of cookstove gas is normally S/33 ($10) is now S/150 ($50)!
We are better off, but still not by much, and who knows for how long. The city has run out of gasoline here. The gas stations are out! Tarapoto (where we live) is run on gasoline. They'd been rationing electricity, turning it off at nights and such. They will soon have to cut our electricity completely, as it is produced by big generators run on gasoline and the reserves have come to an end (most likely tonight... I hope I get this posted in time!).
Today, the police arrived...
And some of them will not go home to their families.
Many natives have also died for their cause.
Here's the yahoo news article: 16 Killed in Peruvian Amazon Clashes (we have heard 22 killed... so far, we've heard rumors of possibly hundreds of casualties as the natives' casualties have not been counted before being hauled away)
I have candles ready, but it's late enough, we'll just sleep tonight, and figure out the rest tomorrow.
We are conserving gasoline, and the cookstove's tank of gas (that's running out in the city too & getting pretty expensive).
If we do run out of power, we won't have access to computer and possibly no phone for awhile. But we'll do our best to keep in touch.
If we needed to, we could fly out.
We don't feel in any direct danger.
In a time of crises, people's hearts are often more sensitive to the LORD... pray that we would be shrewd harvesters!
Sometimes things work themselves out faster than expected and tomorrow might be a whole different story! (though that seems somewhat unlikely at this point...)
The post I posted yesterday about peace, was what I shared at our women's meeting yesterday... I feel it was really a message directly from the LORD. I keyed in on the situation here instead of the global aspect of peace in the Middle East. God's help for us is perfectly timely as ought to be expected.
God is so good!
I am my Beloved's and He is mine.
Can you find Tarapoto? It should be to your right, follow the yellow (brick road) toward the ocean (left) to find Bagua Grande where all the action is right now. Then if you follow that same road all the way through Olmos down to Chiclayo, and then go south straight down the coast to Trujillo... then you've gone our route to Trujillo. Use the little hand to adjust the map so that you can see the cities mentioned.
Friday, June 5, 2009 - I couldn't have said it better myself...
Don Kardong - This man is a man after my own heart. Surely and truly.
I don't know him from Adam, but he speaks truth in this one regard...
When the city has threatened undetermined length of power outage starting tonight because of the riots/war happening in our region, among my first thoughts was, all the ice cream in the ice cream shop will melt!! You might guess where we went after lunch today...
AP - Quoting from the Quran for emphasis, President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" Thursday and said together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East.
Here are some links to video of the speech: HERE and HERE.
Way to go Obama, for attempting to promote peace!
20 There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but joy for those who promote peace.
~ Proverbs 12:20 (New International Version)
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
~ James 3:17-18 (New International Version)
However, let us not forget,
22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."
~ Isaiah 48:22 (New International Version)
8The way of peace they do not know;
there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;
no one who walks in them will know peace.
~ Isaiah 59:8 (New International Version)
All men CAN have peace with God through the sacrifice of Christ...
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
~ Ephesians 2:14-16 (New International Version)
The Lord ALONE is the source of lasting peace.
Anything else is only temporary, either that or entirely false.
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.
~ Psalm 4:7-8 (New International Version)
3You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
~ Isaiah 26:3 (New International Version)
...and someday soon He will establish permanent peace! Yay!
7Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
~ Isaiah 9:7 (New International Version)
Beware of false predictions of peace... it has happened before!
10 " 'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth.
~ Ezekiel 13:10-11 (New International Version)
8 " 'How can you say, "We are wise,
for we have the law of the LORD,"
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
has handled it falsely?
9 The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.
Since they have rejected the word of the LORD,
what kind of wisdom do they have?
10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men
and their fields to new owners.
From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.
11They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
"Peace, peace," they say,
when there is no peace.
12 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when they are punished,
says the LORD.
~ Jeremiah 8:8-12 (New International Version)
How should we then live?
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:6-8 (New International Version)
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"a]says the Lord.
~ Romans 12:17-19 (New International Version)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
~ Galatians 5:22-25 (New International Version)
And so, my friends,
33The God of peace be with you all. Amen. ~ Romans 15:33 (New International Version)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - Parental Rights threatened
Did you know about this? Please read. Parental rights are very important as the foundation of society is the family:
A parent’s right to raise their children as they see fit is a time-honored American tradition, but today it is being threatened. The Supreme Court’s Troxel v. Granville decision in 2000 undermined a 75-year heritage of Constitutionally-protected, fundamental parental rights, which 8 of the 9 justices abandoned. At the same time, a growing body of international law fuels activist judges to legislate foreign standards from the American bench, while treaties such as the United NationsConvention on the Rights of the Child would subject parental decisions to government oversight and international review.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (MI-2) has proposed HJR-42, the Parental Rights Amendment, to stop the erosion of parental rights in American courts while simultaneously defending our laws from international invasion. Please, visit parentalrights.org to learn more about the Amendment, and to join their email network by signing the petition to protect parental rights.
Author: Elisabeth Elliot Source: A Lamp For My Feet Scripture Reference:
Spiritual Transport
Most of us experience from time to time happy feelings that we think are somehow religious. We feel that we are in a special way in touch with the divine. Our hearts are "strangely warmed." But most of life is not like this. We do not live on the Mount of Transfiguration. We are not riding continually in chariots of fire.
When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure from them, He said, "Believe in God. Believe also in me."
The obedience of faith requires that we do our work. We must go on day after day, simply and humbly, not waiting for chills and thrills. Grace, not revelation, is our daily bread. Grace is enough. Receiving that, in the portion given according to the lovingkindness of our God, we must act responsibly in the situation in which He puts us, as the disciples had to do when left behind at Christ's ascension. No doubt they felt bewildered and abandoned and would like to have risen with Him through the clouds. When the angels suddenly stood beside them and asked why they were gazing into the sky, they "came down to earth," as it were, went back to Jerusalem to the lodging where they belonged and carried on with their prayers.
Lord, help me today to receive what You want me to have and to do my work as a good and faithful servant.
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Excellent job, Sarah! I wish you could be my personal photography teacher, 
