hearts for Mexico

My one trip to El Mosco

2010-09-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Skagit Valley Dahlias

To recap...or you could just look below at my last blog....but quickly, Last February while I was in Oaxaca I felt that the Lord was directing me to finally go back to school to earn my BSN. I am now in my first semester at Liberty University Online, and am having a ball studying Philosophy 104 Christian Worldview, and Theology 104 Introduction to Christian Thought. I have never had the privilege of studying at a faith-based school before, although I have been fortunate to have Christian instructors in not only nursing, but recently in Statistics and Chemistry.

But I must reiterate, I am having a ball, or should I say, I am being revived studying in a systematic manner the truths of our faith. Certainly I have had much of what I am studying preached and taught to me over the last 40 years, but never all at once in such a scholarly fashion.

So even though it has been my goal to tell you about my time in Oaxaca, studying has kept me busy! I am also working part time at Mira Vista Care Center as a nurse. At the same time we are still working at getting our business Riverclay Studio off the ground. And besides babysitting grandchildren and church activities, our daughter and her family is here visiting from Mexico where they serve as missionaries.

Our granddaughter Elisabeth's 13th birthday

Kai in the Alps Candy store just outside Leavenworth WA

Mama Faith and Kai feeding the horses at Stonewater Ranch, Plain WA

Grandson Isaiah, their friend Daniel, and Kai

...Back to Oaxaca
In the two months I was in Oaxaca this year we had medical missionary students from Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York. You can learn about their studies if you just scroll down to my previous blogs. Since much of our focus was on educating this amazing young women of God we only made one trip to El Mosco. But it was memorable.

La Regíon de Ixtayutla
For me it was a little difficult, partly because I was in pain most of the time, and also because as far as I knew, it would a long time before I visited these mountains again.

The trip up to El Mosco is long and bumpy. A little less long and a little less bumpy than it used to be. Many kilometers of washed out road has been replaced by paving and more than one river we used to ford is covered by bridges. Still, most of the sights are the same, the donkeys and campesinos hauling wood, the same lunch stop at San Jose de las Flores, and the same climb up through the pine forest down into the dry region of Ixtayutla. Every time I look down onto the familiar road and little cluster of hills where I know that our clinic is hidden I always say, "honey! I'm home!"

the entrance to El Mosco

The same faces greeted us, the children are bigger and now we have real showers and doors on the bathrooms (still using sheets for the showers). Lobo, my favorite Mexican dog, wasn't there to greet us this year. I had expected him to die years ago, so finally he did.

The particulars of the trip blur a little, as it has been many months, but somethings are recorded by photos. And then some things I could not photograph but will never forget.

Yucuya'a
Maybe three or four years ago, I remember Laura starting to cry as she described how one mother said that she and her children had only had tortillas and salt to eat for a month. Now it was my turn to cry.

Susan unpacking the mobile clinic in Yucuya'a

Lorena, Saul, Angela, Leti and Sheila setting up the pharmacy

The last two years Saul and his nursing student sister, Lorena, have been covering the pharmacy and I have been interpreting for the doctors. This is hard, not just because interpreting through three languages is grueling work, but you hear things you would rather not know.

you start with a very large tarp, some rope...

...add lots of sheets and clothespins and chairs, and you have 3 consulting rooms
and a waiting area

Family after family came into our makeshift consultorios (consulting rooms), and the mothers said the same things. "The children have no appetite." "They eat a little tortilla and they get sick." "Yes, their father is in the home. He goes out to the fields, but he doesn't find anything."

After several hours working we needed to eat. We were faint from hunger and worn out. But as we went into the dark little adobe where people were waiting for prayer, we had to turn our backs to the hungry people. Not only did we not have enough to share with the over one hundred people that had shown up, their stomachs would not have been able to tolerate our tuna salad sandwiches.

I stood there, hungry, tired and overwhelmed with my back to them and I just broke down. I have never seen such hunger or such need.

Reading blogs and Facebook messages from people who stayed when I left, I know that at least two trips were made to bring people up to Yucuya'a. To read more about our trip and others after I left check out http://nessblog.com/roca .

As usual, we left Yucuya'a late. I remember the not uncommon anxiety of driving those roads in the dark.

El Mosco
I wonder if I will ever be able to chronicle the changes we have seen in the people and the place of El Mosco. I remember the first church meeting I attended outside, up against the end of the building where we see patients in the day and everyone sleeps at night. Everything used to be so dry, ugly...and the kids we so little, and wild.

Hermana Francisca at worship

Now the baby that was born that week we first visited, Pastor Miguel's youngest, is in school. There is a church building and it is full of Mixtec believers. Pastor Miguel preaches from a portion of a Mixtec Bible that he is helping to translate. And there is an orchard between the clinic and Hermano Primo's house, and sweet smelling orange trees scent the air.

a picture I too on our first visit in 2004

nearly the same view this last February 2010

We saw some of our usual patients. I put aside medications for Rufina and her daughter, like I always did when I was running the pharmacy. I think this was the first time that we didn't have to administer nebulizer treatments to Pastor Miguel and his son.

As I was interpreting for Dr. Dave, we had a woman who was seven months pregnant, very thin, with pain in her lower abdomen. I took her outside to the bathroom to get a urine sample to test for urinary tract infection, and as I looked at the chem-stick I realized that although there didn't seem to be an infection her glucose was at the top of the reading. We checked her blood for glucose and it was over 500 (normal is 70 to 114).

She said she had been to the hospital and they had turned her away. So we wrote a note from Dr. Dave explaining our findings to the doctors at the hospital. Dr. Dave said, "Tell her this, if she wants her baby to live she will have to go to the hospital soon."

Hermano Pablo, Rufina's husband, brought us his brother who had been unable to keep food down for four months. He was skin and bones. He had been to the hospital, given something stomach acid, and sent home. Dr. Dave got a detailed history and it was very clear, there was a blockage that was preventing food from reaching his intestines, most likely cancer. He would certainly die soon if he didn't have surgery. Again we wrote a note to the hospital and told Pablo that his brother had to take the note to the hospital.

I was very sorry that Eddie wasn't there with us, had he been there, he most certainly would have transported these two patients to the hospital. Eddie has made numerous trips to the Jamiltepec hospital 2 hours away. Every time Eddie takes people to the emergency room they are received and they get good care. We think it may be Eddie's presence that convinces them to keep the patients. I hope that Dr. Dave's signature had the same effect.

the man's knee is at the top of this picture, the tumor was below the knee

We had one patient in his 50's who had been to the hospital. He had a large fluid-filled tumor below his knee. When he was at the hospital, they took x-rays and told him he had a tumor, then sent him home. It is likely that he had told the doctors that he would not allow them to amputate his leg, I cannot recall. But I am sure that we told him, that if he wanted to live, he would have to let them take his leg. We talked to Laura about the possibility of finding an orthopedic surgeon at a hospital down the coast.

I never can resist a picture of taking pictures of Dr. Mary Kay with babies

As I recall that last trip, a few things stand out in my mind, that I haven't yet shared. One is that usually at the end of every consults the church people who have let the unbelievers see the doctors first, finally come and see the doctors. There are always the same last prescriptions, and always the same upper respiratory infections and requests for vitamins. And I don't know whether they are always sick, or whether they just need the attention.

But sometimes it gets discouraging, always sick, always parasites. We always people who would soon die if they hadn't gotten to us, who would have died had we not been there. Then I remember, there is much health there, spiritual health. The darkness will never overcome the light that we have been able to bring to these mountains. And Jesus is that light.

Oh, and there was one more thing to tell you, but that will have to wait. I must do justice to that story.

Lupe
12/12/74 - 3/12/10

I do have a prayer request. We are praying about taking a group from our church to Oaxaca in early March. We need direction and if we get a group together, we will need fund-raising ideas.

I left my heart in Oaxaca

2010-08-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

In Mount Vernon WA with our youngest grandson Damien

Well, it has been forever since I posted a blog. In April my email address and all my contacts' addresses were hijacked, lost them never to be regained.

Those of you who are reading this will be mostly from my Facebook friends list, some of you will be new to my blog. Because you are on FB you know all about Eddie and Riverclay Studio, well here is the rest of the story.

When I left for Oaxaca in January we knew that it could be a long time before we or I made the trip again. Knowing that, I carried a sense of grief with me much of the time I was there. I had longed to be a missionary for so long. And in the last 7 years I had experienced such incredible things, worked with such incredible people and seen God fulfill so many promises.

I did not want to cease to call Oaxaca mine, and I did not want to ever think that the people who had become our loved ones, our family, in Cacalote and El Mosco would be a part of our past.

in Pueblo Viejo with Carmela and Laura

Even now it is unthinkable. Oaxaca has become our other home.

The view from the comedor of the clinic

So when I left Eddie in Washington for two months last January I told him that it was going be a "God and me" time. I told him that I expected God to speak and tell me what was next for me and missions.

And one day in February I felt I understood what God was saying to me. There are many needs in our little area of Oaxaca that remain unmet, needs that have been calling to me. And suddenly on that day early in February I realized, I needed more education if I was going to make a difference.

Dr. Mary Kay, Marcial, me and Vernessa RN

In 1998 I graduated with an Associates Degree in Nursing, which made me an RN. But now it is time for me to earn my BSN (Bachelor's of Science Nursing). This degree will make me eligible to do in the U.S. what I do in Mexico, basically Public Health Nursing.

I must admit that I was a little afraid that going back to school would take me away from missions, but the Lord is so precious. He knows us each so well; He knows how to speak to our hearts.

My patient Hermana Carmelita

One day, as all this was going on in my heart, I found myself in the very humble home of Hermana Carmelita who I was visiting to give wound care. To examine her wound I needed her to move from where she was sitting to her bed, just a simple pivot transfer. But to my surprise she was unable to transfer as before, she was dead weight, but I transferred her anyway. After I dressed her wound I recognized that she was depressed and needed prayer.

As I held her in my arms and I prayed for her, my Spanish was articulate and expressive. I remember thinking,"I finally can speak Spanish and I am leaving". And at that moment the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "I will not take THIS away from you".

My doubt and fear disappeared and faith returned. The next day was filled with joy as began to see a plan set out before me.

But oh how my faith would be challenged in the days that followed. By Monday I was in severe pain, and nothing I did or took would relieve the pain. Of course, transferring Carmelita I had injured my back, herniated my L-5 vertebrae.

Laura introduced me to a California surfer-chiropractor in Puerto Escondido, whom I visited numerous times. Between those visits, Flexeril, lots of rest breaks and prayer I made it through 4 weeks of clinics and a trip up to El Mosco, in almost continuous pain.

Filling last minute prescriptions in El Mosco last February

So to keep this short I have decided to tell the story of my last days in Oaxaca in sections. I will post this now and then continue with the rest of my story over the next few posts. I hope you will read them and that they will help you join with me in prayer as I proceed in the direction I have been given.

Let me say that even though I entitled this blog "I left my heart in Oaxaca" I certainly have enjoyed being home in Mount Vernon. It is good to spend time with our grandchildren and kids. We love our church and continue to build important relationships.

I guess my heart in pulled in two directions and I am blessed to be in love with people and lands on both sides of the border. Amen!

Life with the Elim Students at Roca Blanca

2010-02-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

Nurse Vernessa, daughter-in-law, hermana Carmelita and student Sheila at home visit

Impingement of Sciatic nerve, probably...

Well it has been a wild week for me. Mostly I spent it on my back in severe pain. Never, I say never, will I try to transfer a non-weightbearing patient again. I have spent the last week on my back in bed or on the floor, or pacing trying to get some relief from the worse most persistent pain I have ever experienced.

It started with a precious woman who I had the joy to care for. She was homebound so we were visiting her to make sure she was taking her meds and tracking the healing of a bedsore she had developed.

I have really been happy to see that my little training in wound care has served us well with her wound. However the other day when I went to check on her she wasn't in her bed so I went to help her transfer herself to a position where I could examine her. She had been able to support herself before but suddenly I found her in my arms dead weight! Rather that put her back I moved her to the bed. I thought "I may pay for this later".

Two days passed, I was fine. I took a "me day" in Puerto. I took a micro into Puerto Escondido, had Pan Frances at Cafecito. I walked the beach while talking to friends and family on the phone. What a wonderful day that was. That night I noticed a little tug in my back. The next morning it started hurting more, and it all went downhill from there.

Laura informed me that we had a great chiropractor in Puerto Escondido and I was grateful to make his acquaintance Wednesday morning. But the spasms had gone too far, and the inflammation and pain was so severe that one visit wasn't enough. The muscle relaxants and anti-inflammants I was taking wasn't making any difference.

I finally tried a strong pain reliever called tramadol. That only made me extremely nauseous. Thursday night found Laura loading me into the car with my pillow, my water bottle, and my barf bag in hand as I was crying in pain. I felt like a laboring woman going to the hospital to deliver a baby.

Quite an embarrassing sight as I think of it now. We RN's often say, "every patient deserves a nurse" and the Lord blessed me to have Laura.

Off we drove down the winding road to Puerto at around 9:30 PM, in a light rain. She had to drive slowly because of the rain, and a convoy of 5 white semi-tractor trailers in front of us on the road.

The appointment at the chiropractor's was quick and culminated with me utilizing my barf bag violently. I was sent home with some directions to lay on the floor, elevate my legs on a chair and apply ice. And so, after a hard night, the pain began to lessen.

Friday around 5 PM I rose from my bed reluctantly and walked across the campus. I ate a little white rice, took a little ice tea then went up to the top floor of the guest house and enjoyed the cool breezes courtesy of the earlier rains.

Well, that was probably too much information. But suffice it to say, I am recovering, wearing a support belt and being very quick to "lay on the floor and apply ice" at the slightest suggestion of pain.

Elim Students

Dr. Mary Kay showing Bethany how to test for the Babinski reflex on Rosie

Our life here these days has been a combination of student lectures by Drs. Dave and Mary Kay, plus clinical days with patients who come to the clinic. The students sit in on the consults and discuss with the doctors the ailments and finer points of diagnoses.

Sheila using an opthalmascope

I am enjoying the lectures when I can sit in. I interpret for Dr. Dave when he sees patients. Actually, Dr. Dave's Spanish has improved so much, I usually just sit in to help him out with understanding the patients, but this week he was using more English so the students could understand what he was saying.

Me interpreting for Dr. Dave, Kaie and Vernesa

I would like to recommend that you check out Drs. Dave and Mary Kay's blog. There are some good stories to add that I can't write here. There is a pretty graphic picture of a wound that I helped the students dress, with a pretty sad story. But a good warning to take diabetes seriously. When you are done reading this, go to http://www.nessblog.com/roca/ You may have to type it in the address.

Feliz Cupleaños Saul
Saul and his sister Lore, who is a nursing student and has been with our clinic for years

This last week we have also enjoyed a birthday party. Saul, one of our clinic staff turned 30!
We had tacos, iguana tamales, jamaica and chocolate birthday cake.

we had a great feast!

And to add to our celebrations, Dr. Eder who has been serving at the Corban Clinic for, I believe, 3 years, as our resident doctor. Has received his "titulo" which endows him with all the rights and privileges of a physician. We are so very proud and happy for him.

Dr. Eder, Paulina and Nelly

I suspect that if you look back through the archives you should find the pictures of Dr. Eder and Paulina's wedding. Last year they added a precious little jewel to our clinic family, Nelly! She is such a happy baby, complete with her daddy's dimple.

So, goodbye for now. Less than 3 weeks until I return home to my honey in Mount Vernon. I can't wait...but still there are many days of clinic, and classes and patients and an outreach up to El Mosco. We leave Fridays morning. Please pray for my back!

I'll close for now, I have to get the medication shopping list ready for tomorrow's trip to Puerto.

Tetepelcingo

2010-02-11T18:14:00.000-08:00

Last weekend’s outreach to Tetepelcingo started with inventory of the mobile pharmacy and a trip to Similares where we get our meds. By Wednesday suero oral (rehydration fluid) was made and the vitamins were all counted, bagged and labeled. Thursday the rest of the mobile clinic was collected and packed. On Friday the air-mattresses were tested, the sleeping bags were counted and almost everything was loaded into Dr. Dave’s truck.

Angela, who looks remarkably like my daughter-in-law Amanda, labeling vitamins

Bethany counting vitamins to bag for the outreach

Susan bagging Suero Oral, that is concentrate for dehydration fluid

Saturday bright and early we were ready to go. Hurray! We were served pancakes and bananas and off we went. Four vehicles and 28 people headed for the Mixtec town of Tetepelcingo. We were 8 Elim students, Dr. and Peggy Smith (a dentist and nurse from Klamath Falls, OR), 3 of the language school students plus the regular staff, including our two lady dentists and their husbands.

Peggy Smith R.N. triaging patients

We arrived around noon and had soon set up the dental area, three consulting rooms, a room for prayer (all made with sheets, cord and clothes pins) and, of course, the pharmacy. We added a triage space for Peggy to help with the patient load, and a couple chairs where students took vitals and weighed patients.

Laura and Pastor Pedro giving meds and instructions to a patient

Tetepelcingo is a good sized town, with the usual concrete and brick house, and a good number of the stick homes we see here in Cacalote. The people of the town differ a bit from the people of El Mosco in the Ixtayutla region in that they speak more Spanish and appear much more prosperous and healthy. They have a more educated presentation as well. We saw very few in the traditional costumes of the coastal Mixtec. They also seemed to be more used to having outsiders in their midst, we were certainly noticed and watched, but generally we felt safe and accepted.

Joann and Correen, the kids and balloon relays

On this outreach we had the Roca Blanca Language School students plus two of their teachers with us. The students provided a program of the children who accompanied their parents to the clinic. There were exciting games and relays, crafts, dramas and Bible stories.

Bible stories in English and Mixteco

The language students are still learning the language so they had their teacher Ruben to interpret for them. Ruben, whose wife is one of our dentists, is a well-educated Mixteco who lived a few years in the U.S.A. He was able to interpret English to Mixtec without going through a Spanish interpretation. Anyone who has worked with us in the Mixteco villages know how very cool that is!

the children were great, cooperative and responsive, here is Ruben interpreting

I worked in the pharmacy as well as an interpreter for Dr. Dave. We had some interesting cases. The one that stands out most in my mind is the 33 year old woman who suffered from seizure disorder and had taken Dilantin since childhood. She had been married, or perhaps juntada(lived with a man as his wife) and had three teenage daughters. Her husband had left her for another woman, and she longed to be able to go out and work like other people.

We explained that her medication could control her seizures, but she said that no one would hire her for fear that she would have a seizure in their presence. She also seemed to be having trouble controlling the seizures and an increase of Dilantin had side effects she couldn’t live with. She pressed and pressed for Dr. Dave to do something for her. She reminded me of the woman in the parable in the Bible who would not rest until the judge gave her justice.

It is difficult to change a person’s seizure medications when you cannot be there to observe on a routine basis. But as she was so persistent we added another anti-seizure drug to her regimen which was to be increased a little each week. We hope that she will come here to Clinica Corban for Dr. Dave to review her response to the new medication in 4 weeks. And we pray that she get the control of her life and seizures that she so greatly desires.

Rosie cleaning teeth and Bethany assisting

The Elim students worked taking vitals, in the pharmacy and with the dentists, as well as shadowing the doctors. They had just had a week with Dr. Alex Smith learning all about dental care.

Sheila helping Dr. Adriana pull a tooth by holding the light, Susan R.N. looks on

We stayed in several homes, and many of us stayed in tents. We were fed royally at the pastor's home. As usual an army of ladies came together to make soup and tortillas, mole and many other tasty dishes. I had my first hot Mexican chocolate made with water and I loved it!

I found these pots everywhere in the village, they were hand built. I was very inspired!

After clinic on Sunday we held a joyous and lively worship service in the street. I was very aware of the neighbors that stood around and listened. I took me back to the time when I as a child would listen to the people in the church across the street sing and wonder about what their faith was like.

I went forward to give a testimony and next thing I knew I was being asked to give an invitation. It embarrassed me a bit, but it was wonderful to pray for those who came forward in response to the wonderful message about God's love.

Spanish student Tim helps with worship

As I prepare to close, I have to mention that I am in an internet cafe as I cannot get sufficient internet service at the base, at least not enough to post a blog. Please forgive the many errors you encounter in this blog. I won't have time to proof read it too well.

I am surround here by the voices of the Elim students talking to their parents and families on Skype. It is delightful. I am enjoying their company so much.
Today is Saturday, Sunday we are going to give a birthday party for one of the clinic staff. We have shopping to do so I will close!

Well deserved pehaps, certainly appreciated time off!

2010-01-30T14:19:00.000-08:00

How do we let off steam at Roca Blanca?

Well, of course there is the beach, I have only gone swimming once so far, it is not like I can just go out and jump in the ocean, although we have a few who do. The waves can be rough and I have a particular respect for places where people have drowned. It is better to drive to Roca Mar down the beach or go to Puerto Escondido.

Berta and I spend workdays with Drs. Dave and Mary Kay at the clinic when we have patients. Tuesday and Thursday are regular clinic days when people come to see the doctors. We have had some interesting, and challenging situations.

We see 20 to 40 patients on any such day. Of course we are always on call.

As often as were able this last week, we sat in on the Community Health Evangelism courses with Dr. Jody and the Elim students. Molly was overseeing the students course work through the week but had to go home Friday morning. Prior to her departure we all had some great times. The classes were full of skits and games and lots of laughter. We also got in a few movie nights complete with popcorn.

Molly modeling her very cool hairstyle, which I may try to copy when my hair gets longer

Thursday night before Molly left the moon was bright and just one day shy of total fullness. We built a fire on the beach and had one of the best salchiche roasts I can remember. Remember that Mexican hot dogs (salchiches) are served with mayo as well as mustard and ketsup. We didn't make S'mores, but enjoyed roasted strawberry flavored bon bons (marshmellows).

The best part I think was the music. Two guitars and one big jembe were passed around between several talented musicians. I stayed out for a long time, but if I had stayed a little longer I would have been able to join in on all the Veggie Tale songs....bummer.

Spanish language student Issac helped build the fire

Clinic director and language school director Laura and David with Eric, Issac's dad

Bethany, Angela and Susan roasting salchiches

Cafecito!
This morning we all got up before sunrise to get dressed and head on down to Cafecito to enjoy their fantastic breakfasts. Many enjoyed the Oaxacan Chocolate filled croissants....but I had the Pan Frances con tocino, as always! The occasion was Dr. Jody's departure from Roca Blanca. She is now on her way to Mexico City where she is going to try to find someone to give her a yellow fever vaccine, and to work on obtaining her visa to Ghana, where she heads to next.

oops, you can barely see Dr. Jody behind Susan!

From there we took to the beach to watch the waves and the surfers, then a little shopping on the Adoquin and then the public market.

I discovered how to avoid buying stuff that though I really want it, I really should not buy....don't carry more than $150 pesos on you! Still, there was one really nice dress I wish I could have...

I found the simple silver necklace to match these new earrings...just got to wait until I feel justified to pay the $200 pesos ($16 US)

Well, I thought a light-hearted blog would be nice. Some thing quick and pretty, so I hope you enjoyed it.

Dr. Alejandro and his wife/nurse Peggy arrived last night. He is a dentist and will be teaching the Elim students what to do when there is no dentist. I also found out that I have to have a medication shopping list done by Monday morning so we can take advantage of the Monday discount day at our regular pharmacy. Friday we head out on a medical-dental outreach to the Mixteco.

Parting words

Eddie says "hi"....I talk to him almost every day. He had a wonderful time babysitting our grandchildren last week. He played dolls (Tinkerbell and Rosey) with Kaitlyn (age 3) last night. He said she really was very verbal and seemed to have a good time with Grandpa. I talked to Amanda this morning and she said that 11 month old Damien is standing up on his own. I also talked to my Sarah and Grace....they are getting so big...I look forward to seeing them in March.

And finally,
I cannot close without telling you about Alyssa. Little Alyssa has been in many of your prayers. She was born in Oaxaca, her parents are Bible translators to the Mixtec people we work with in El Mosco. Her birth was traumatic, she suffered profound anoxia, and the last few years her survival has been a miracle, and a blessing to her family who love her deeply.

Today their home and arms are missing one little angel who has now gone to be with Jesus where she is healed and whole. Please pray for Kevin, Laurel, Kyle, Dani and Gaby as they realize a new meaning to "treasures in heaven", and as they live and survive through the next weeks and months.

Always something different

2010-01-25T20:34:00.000-08:00

It is almost 10 PM as I sit here outside the wireless connection at Misión Victoria. I was going to do post this blog 2 hours ago, but as I was eating my cerviche tostados we got word of a patient arrival. It turned out that she needed a lot of care, so I just got away to post this.

Language School at Roca Blanca!

Eric, Timothy, Correen and Issac Anderson with Spanish Academy director Dave Nelson

Maestra Paulina and Joanne with Paulina and Dr. Eder's little girl, Nelly

This January David Nelson started the Spanish Language academy with 5 students. The Anderson’s are a family of four preparing to work in a children’s home north of here in Oaxaca. Joanne, the other student, is getting ready to start her Master’s work in ESL and wants to experience learning Spanish as an adult.

I try to check in with them to see how they are doing often. Eddie and I both remember what a challenge it was to study this intensive language curriculum. We fixed dinner together Wednesday night, fried chicken and baked potatoes! On the weekend I showed them how to use the micro to go to Puerto Escondido, and I introduced Joanne to her first Tlayuda! They seem to be doing good. They are smiling a lot more this week than last week. I cannot think of a better place to study Spanish than Roca Blanca!

Bethany from Lancaster, PA experiencing her first Tlayuda!

...and more students

Vernessa with little David Solomon

Last Friday we received a group of student from Elim Bible Institute, Lima, New York. Elim is a missionary training school that is over a century old.

Drs. Dave and Mary Kay, and Clinica Corban are hosting a Community Health Assessment and Development course for medical missionary students. Today we started classes with Dr. Jody, a pediatrician and missionary who lives north of here in Zihuatanejo. Jody works with CHE (Community Health Evangelism), a global community health mission organization. She is with us for a week teaching a effective, holistic model for improving community health and sharing the gospel.

I will be attending as many of the class hours as my clinic responsibilities will allow. We began today by looking at the scriptural imperatives of living in the Kingdom of God; God’s plan for His people to live in the fear of the Lord and worship Him, as well as be stewards to nurture His creation. God’s word directs us to act “justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). And we spent a lot of time discussing what that meant.

Dr. Jody helping us consider how to involve community involvement and ownership of their own health projects

We considered what many have called “the social gospel” which seeks to meet the social and physical needs with little recognition of the individual’s need for a Savior. One of the students said that was like getting them all cleaned up and nice and pretty for hell.

And also we recognized that to just preach the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ without obeying his mandate to be stewards and to stand strong for justice was ignoring the whole gospel.

Rosie and Angela show how the community's solutions to their own problems can be more sustainable and effective than those solutions brought in by outsiders

It was a stimulating time, including thoughts on how to utilize community health models including missionaries, health care professionals and individual members of the community.

If you have read any of my blogs or heard me share about the indigenous group we work with in the mountains of Oaxaca, you are aware of the darkness and the emotional and physical health issues we deal with. This afternoon we looked at the beliefs that were the roots of the values that lead to the behaviors (domestic violence, witchcraft, drunkenness, kidnapping young girls to make them wives) that result in the consequences of poverty, depression, illness, illiteracy and hopelessness that dominates the Mixteco people that come to our mountain clinics.

Katlyn and Katie assessing and assigning care to patients!

We agreed that their belief that God doesn’t love them results is no hope and no vision. We believe that this is key to understanding the health problems of the Mixteco. Recognizing this we talked about how we can bring in hope and model the love of God, and how evangelism can be relevant to the needs of a community. Medicines, sanitation and clean water is just the tip of the iceberg.

And today was just the first day!

Dr. Jody cited Multiplying Light and Truth Through Community Health Evangelism by Stan Rowlands. I hope to obtain this book when I return to the States.

Finding ways to make Community health evangelism practical

As I listen to Jody’s teaching I am inspired to consider what God would have me do with this information. When I left Seattle 3 weeks ago, I told Eddie that I thought God had something to say to me while I was here alone without him. Hopefully many of you know what it is to have an experience or hear a message that gets your attention, and you go to the Lord and say “is this going to change my life?”

So if any of you out there are still thinking that you want to get involved with our work in medical missions, or community health outreach…keep your ears open. We may be getting together latter this year to begin considering what God may have us do.

Life without Eddie

Well, I am grateful for a good phone connection (when I walk 4 stories up to the top of the guest house) and I talk to him every other day, at least.

Just a little info on my life here without Eddie. God has blessed us with such wonderful friends here. Berta (Bertha) comes from upstate New York with Drs. Dave and Mary Kay. She has become a close friend, and my partner in crime. We can get rather silly, and she goes right along when I make up words to some old Mexican ballad about the guacamole.

Berta came to the U.S. from Colombia when she was 16. My grandmother’s mother was born in Colombia, and Berta sounds, and acts…and tells stories like my grandma used to do. Sometimes I hear her down the hall telling one of her stories, and it sounds just like my grandma with all the exaggerated expressions, with the same vocal cadence and the same accent. Perhaps my family will even look at her picture and see a little resemblance! She is a great comfort to me.

I have moved into a tiny room in our bodega (storeroom) but as my air-conditioner is still in route, I am using Dr. Eder and his wife Paulina’s room (they are not using it this week!) Their air-conditioner works and I have been enjoy comfortable nights of sleep!

Yes it is hot! The students keep saying, “I cannot believe it is January”. But this is a normal January for me since I have spent every January in Mexico since 2004. As usual I am covered with mosquito bites, I think my repellent must be out of date. But all the same, this is still the most beautiful of places. Sunrises and sunsets, palm trees, water lilies, beautiful white herons, dramatic magpie jays, funny little geckos, and the crashing surf…and in the evening a cool breeze off the water, yes I am glad to be here.

Just wish Eddie was here too.

Roca Blanca Again! with a difference (sigh)

2010-01-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am again listening to the sound of waves with the sticky feeling of sweat and bug repellant on my arms and legs. I am sitting outside the mission office grateful to have internet service and also grateful that the air is cooling down. The heat is pretty constant here year round, it is either hot and humid, or hotter and miserable. But right now it is pretty nice.

We saw the Oklahoma Baptist University nursing students off this morning, and I took it easy most of the day. Dr. Eder, Dr. Mary Kay and I just now saw one of our old diabetic patients, dressed his new wound, and gave him a big injection of Rocephin, then I rushed over to the comedor to eat a couple cow's liver tacos.

I arrived a week ago at Roca Blanca. When I arrived the nursing students had already been here for a week. I arrived on Friday night and on Sunday morning we left for two day medical outreach. I also filled the roll that both Eddie and I usually perform together, showing the team around Puerto Escondido on their off days. I took them shopping and showed them where to find the various gifts and goods they were looking for. Then we went to El Jardin for Franco's fantastic pizza.

the team purchased kilos of fresh coffee at "La Casita"

Playa Manzanilla

Yesterday Laura, our clinic director, took them snorkeling while my partner in crime, Berta, helped me do the rest of their shopping. Juggling their money and their lists was a real feat. We ran all over the Benito Juarez Public Market looking for tortilla presses and lime squeezers. But I finished in time to join them at the beach and have some tacos dorados and limonada con aqua mineral!

Yucucha'a

Two days after I arrived at the base we left for the Mixteco town of Yucucha’a, about two hours up the coast in the foothills.

We saw about 100 patients and enjoyed good fellowship with the Mixtec Christians of Pastor Baltezar’s church. We enjoyed their hospitality and even got to join in on a birthday party. The most memorable part of the outreach, beside some very interesting cases, was dancing with Adina and her husband.

The birthday girl dancing with her husband

Dr. Mary Kay and OBU Master's student Brenda get down!

I interpreted Spanish to English for Dr. Dave Ness for a day and a half. We did use a Mixtec interpreter, but many of these villagers spoke a lot of Spanish. We saw many interesting cases. One 15 year old girl presented with what Dr. Dave said would be diagnosed “tuberculosis until proven otherwise”. She was cachectic (skeletally thin), had a chronic cough, blood tinged sputum, night sweats and fever (102.1). We saw a woman with uncontrolled diabetes who needed to be on insulin, a man with emphysema and one with alcohol induced hepatitis and a woman with a possible mild bowel obstruction.

With emphysema, this patient gave the students the opportunity to hear many kinds of abnormal lung sounds

There are times the mobile clinic setting is limiting. We found ourselves having to refer many of those we saw to the hospital. Some had already been to the hospital but had not received sufficient care and treatment, so Dr. David and Laura had to write letters to the hospitals to make recommendations which we hope will be heeded.

We also saw a thin, lethargic young mother with the most doleful expression, who brought us her one year old. She said he wouldn’t eat. Indeed, he wasn’t quite 20 pounds, his skin was dry, his hair was dull and patchy on his head, and he was fretful as his mother held him. She said he didn’t eat more than a little tortilla, and some atole (gruel made with milk and cereal). She admitted that he drank refrescos (sodapop) and dulces (candy), but he refused to eat beans or other foods, and refused to drink milk.

We did some teaching and I tried to encourage the mother to take the child to the public heath center where they could register her children in a program for malnutrition, and maybe assist and teach her. After she left, our interpreter said she knew the family, that the husband smoked marijuana and mistreated the young mother, and that they could not afford good food. She was so depressed, I pray that she has the motivation to take advantage of what the government has to offer them.

Where's Eddie?

Well, as you may realize, Eddie did not accompany me to Oaxaca this year. He is busy working on getting Riverclay Studio completed. Hopefully he will start working in the clay by the time I get back in March.

We have many friends here at Roca Blanca. Everyone I see wants to know where Eddie is. They all miss him, he is such an important part of our work here. It has been one week, and though I do miss him, I more regret his absence because of how others value his presence,. He brings such encouragement and laughter to everyone, and he has made so many friends.

Well It is getting late, and my battery is running low so I will say good night.

Christmas Blessings!...don't miss the video at the end...

2009-12-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is just a few days away and although I have spent aimless and unproductive days where I could have been writing Christmas cards these last couple months have been so busy that we have been overwhelmed.

As you may know Eddie is opening a ceramics studio in old downtown Mount Vernon. The building we purchased has been a challenge. We are fixing it up for not only a studio and show gallery, but also for us to live in. Our 5^th wheel “cabin” located in the Alger community called Whatcom Meadows will soon be our "weekend cabin" as we join the downtown community.

This will be our kitchen!

Micah putting in the floor in the loft

We have spent many a day, morning to night, working. After the loft is livable, the clay studio needs to be outfitted and Eddie needs to begin working on his art. We have two potter’s wheels but Eddie is currently focused on hand built pieces and developing new decorative techniques. A few family members, including myself are looking forward to getting our hands muddy and seeing where our creativity will take us.

So, you may wonder, are we going to Oaxaca this year? Well, yes and no.

On January 7^thI will be returning to the mission where we have worked for the past 6 years. I plan to stay at Roca Blanca for two months.

It will be difficult in many ways going without Eddie. I have spent several weeks there without him before, and quite honestly, I missed him terribly. Also, Eddie’s contribution to the clinic outreaches as well as what his humor and ability to build relationships brings to the experience of our visiting teams will be missed. But it is essential that he stay, work on the studio and begin what has been a longtime dream.

As I prepare to go I look forward to working with Laura and David Nelson, Drs. Mary Kay and Dave Ness, and our dear friend Bertha, as well as the Mexican clinic staff.

with Drs. Dave and Mary Kay at a Clinic family bbq

I will be returning to Roca Blanca after 10 months absence. There have been many babies born while we were away, I am eager to hold them and see their parents who are dear to us and are part of our Mexican family life.

There are new programs and groups this year, Medical missionary students from Elim Bible, the new language academy and others. When we return there is always some kind of change in staff and housing. It is always a little scary to know that I am going into a new situation.

distributing medications and giving administration directions with Inez who is interpreting Spanish to Mixtec

Still every year the Father proves His faithfulness. The new faces of the outreach teams, the open hearts, the longing to know God’s presence, the desire to serve, this is what outreach teams bring with them from the states. What they bring gives me life which I seek to return to them as I minister to them.

The faithful missionaries like the Nelsons and the Kershners at Roca Blanca, or PastorMiguel and Pastor Carmela in the Ixtayutla region, or dear Rebecca and Arnulfo in Nopala inspire and challenge me with their faith, constancy, and honesty dealing with real life and big challenges. Sometimes for me all I do is arrive and let God do His work.

Brrr...it's cold!

Unlike Mexico, it is cold here in Washington in December! Eddie and I did have a months respite from the cold when we made a visit south to Cofradia where our daughter lives.

We spent a few days with friends who have a schooner in Mazatlan with our family! Here is our granddaughter Elisabeth.

Kai kept us on our toes, he seemed to get a little seasick when we went sailing, he didn't say so, but he got real quiet and just wanted to sleep. But we did have a wonderful time...and saw the first whale of the season!

It was great joy to me to see my grandson helping with the rigging. Thank you Pat and Jeanne for your hospitality and kindness to our family. If anyone plans to be in Mazatlan check out the Schooner Patricia Belle for a wonderful diversion. www.patriciabelle.com/

A time for Thankfulness

This has been a difficult month for me physically. I am not used to the cold which creeps into my joints and makes everything an effort and saps my motivation. I find myself wanting to whine and complain.

But then I remember a sermon our youngest son Micah gave at Thanksgiving this year. The point was that we are so blessed (and Eddie and I are SO VERY blessed) and yet we complain when things are not perfect and in so doing we ignore what God HAS done for us and in so doing display our ingratitude for His goodness.

I have been so guilty of this.

Little neighbor Nathan with Sarah, Grace and Josh at the Christmas parade in Mount Vernon, we watched from outside of Riverclay Studio, our downtown studio location!

So, may Eddie and I express our gratitude to God, and to you dear friends for your love this year. Look at what we have to be grateful for!

Eddie hold Damien, our newest grandbaby. How happy we are to be able to be close to them. We rarely say "no" when our kids ask us to babysit.

We celebrated Christmas early with Micah's kids as this year they are going to spend Christmas with Amanda's mom in Montana.

Joyous Christmas to you

So as our Christmas greeting to you, may you rejoice and be comforted by a grateful heart this year. As you look into the new year may you be held by the knowledge that God's faithfulness never fails. And may you care for those you love and hold them close.

Thank you for your prayers in 2009, for your love and kindnesses towards us and our children.

Love Eddie and Leeann

P.S. I would like to share a song that has ministered to me this Christmas

Gavilanes...one little Cora church

2009-11-14T11:53:00.000-08:00

On November 11 we flew from Santiago to Gavilanes, a small, inaccessible Cora village perched up on a rugged mountain deep in the Sierra Madres in the Mexican state of Nayarit. We had been invited by Pascual the pastor of a small group of Cora believers.

Gavilanes is north of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. It can be reached from the end of the road by 6 hours on a donkey, or by foot...or by plane in 25 minutes.

A phone call informed us that our host was transporting bags of cement on donkey train all day long and wouldn't be back until dark on the day we arrived. So we were left to find a place to wait.

The airstrip runs through the center of town. We were let out of the plane and the pilot said he would pick us up at 9 in the morning on the 13th. We talked to someone who said that Pascual lived "over by those trees" and so we headed off in that direction. When we got to where we thought the house might be one of the few people passing us said that Pascual wasn't there. So we sat down in front of a house, in the shade and waited.

It turns out the place where we found to rest was Pascual's house. It was right across the street from the Albergue, a boardinghouse for children who had to travel to Gavilanes to go to school.

Soon a giggly little girl appeared and told us that her daddy was Pascual. Soon her grandmother came out, greeted us, and led us just one house down and showed us simple rooms that had been prepared for us. We had been waiting on Pascual's doorstep. There were two rooms swept clean, with beds where we stretched out and fell asleep.

We woke starved, I was wishing that we had packed a lunch, as our host and hostess were not to return until later. They had not expected us until the next day. But their daughters Ester (9) and Delicia (12) made us some hot tortillas and served us water....and did that simple meal taste wonderful!

It got dark early it seemed and by 6:30 P.M. the Milky Way was bright in the sky. Lina arrived, and then Pascual and we ate some more tortillas and a little eggs with tuna and talked into the night.

A lonely Cora church
Earlier that day, as we sat in the car waiting for the plane to take us to Gavilanes, Jay outlined his purpose for our visit. He said we would be going to encourage Pascual and the church and also assessing how to support Pascual's ministry without creating dependency.

In Oaxaca we work with a Mixtec church that is well supported in many ways, with fellowship, leadership, plus physical and medical support. They know that they are not alone. But here on this mountain is a man called of God, and his extended family with very few other believers for miles around.

Pascual sharing his testimony and what it is like being the only Cora believers in their village. It is quite a remarkable story. His father's testimony is also remarkable. Make no mistake, God can make Himself known to the seeking heart without a missionary if need be.

Of course everyone hears about the believers who are out by themselves, alone, persecuted by those around them. But this was the first time I witnessed the hunger for fresh springs of living water from a visiting minister. Pascual quickly called together the church of about 10 adults and we had meetings at 10 AM and then again at 6 PM.

Jay preaching on the importance of using the gifts God gives us to serve the body.

Preaching to the Cora
To reach the heart of a people the gospel needs to be presented in the language of their heart. And so Jay and Faith have been working at learning Cora, studying and having biweekly sessions with their "maestro" in Mojocuautla, the Cora village nearest their home and mission base in Cofradia de Cuyatlan. Jay and Faith lived with their family in Mojocuautla last year to try and get closer to the culture.

Jay and Faith found that the language of the Cora in Gavilanes was clearer and more precise than what they are trying to learn. However, although there are those who do not understand Spanish, almost all of the people, especially the children, speak Spanish. This is very different from the areas we serve in Oaxaca where only the men seem to speak Spanish.

Jay with his "Proclaimer" the New Testament in Cora. The battery is rechargeable by plugin, crank and solar power.

The Cora Church in Gavilanes

Lina and Pascual sing a duet.

The Cora people in this village are very different than the Mixtec we work with in Oaxaca. They are open and friendly, the little girls giggling as they walked by us. They responded with "buenos dias" as we greeted them. Eddie and I were used to suspicious looks and avoidance in regard to strangers such as ourselves and were impressed with the difference.

Pascual and Lina's children, Ester 9, Delicia 12, Eliezar 1 and Josue 4. They have two teenagers in a school in Durango.

Eddie and I have made more trips up into the mountains and eaten more indian prepared tortillas than we can count, but we have rarely had this kind of reception. The kind where you are given the best beds, and when you eat you know that the people can barely spare what they are giving you.

Breakfast, yes, that's a blue tortilla!

The most trying part of the trip was the bathroom situation. Simply, almost no one has bathrooms. When we asked Delicia where to go she looked at us blankly and gestured toward the hillside that drained downward toward the canyon. There is a boarding home for the school which serves other villages in the area and on three occasions Faith and I asked permission to use their bucket flush toilets (oh, ah, heaven!)

The bathroom area, not the shack. Actually, it didn't smell, and the pigs seemed to keep it pretty clean.

But at night we had to walk out to the hillside to the communal toilet area turn off our flashlight and squat in the dark. Gratefully most people experience convenient constipation in these situations.
We toured the Central Salud, a clinic manned by one doctor and aide which serves at least 5 Cora villages in the region.

Merchandise and supplies are brought in either by plane or donkeys.

There is always a little celebration when you return to toilets and civilization. We celebrated by going to SUBWAY!

One last word, please keep Jay and Faith and their children in your prayers as they seek how they are to fulfill their call of "church planting" among the unreached Cora people.

Fear of Flying

2009-11-14T06:06:00.000-08:00

This blog has turned into two, just because once I started writing it got too long. Ever since I watched Julia and Julie I have been self-conscious about blogs that are all about me, but here goes.

When I arrived in Jay and Faith's village we began to discuss the trip to the Cora village, Gavilanes. I found that as Jay described the area as one that had been evangelized by Hermana Fe and her husband as early as 1964, I became more and more anxious about the impending small plane ride up into the mountains.

It so happens that Hermana Fe was widowed the first time when her pilot husband crashed, and then widowed again when her second pilot husband crashed as well. It didn't help that the mechanic that worked on our car told me of a trip he made in the same area by plane. The next time his pilot went up, he flew into the mountainside and died.

When I realized that I was becoming depressed I wrote a few letters to some praying friends who I knew would hold me up in prayer. How wonderful are those faithful women.

I was calm when we arrived at the airstrip. Then, as the pilot and Jay discussed the cost of the flight, it was determined that we could not afford to take the plane that would hold all of us (four adults) and our gear. So the pilot began asking our weights, and determined that it should be okay for us all to take the smaller plane. We left about a third of our gear in the car, loaded the rest in the back of the plane, and climbed in.

I was so grateful to be the "Señora". The pilot gave me the only available seat. The others had to pile in and sit on our luggage on the floor of the plane. Hmmm, I had been comforting myself with the expectation that the pilots who had crashed their planes were in old planes without the modern equipment and instruments....yeah right!

There in front of me was nothing that remotely resembled "state of the art." the radio appeared to be ripped out, replaced by an ill-fitting unit attached to headphones that were lying on the dash the whole time during the trip.

Still I was calm. And as I looked at the fuel gauges in front of my nose I saw that they were bouncing on EMPTY. Hmmm, I nonchalantly motioned to the gauges and the pilot who had been chatting loudly the whole flight, pointing out the landscape and towns, laughed and said those where the auxiliary tanks. Then he pointed to other gauges that we bouncing just below the FULL level.

And as he continued to talk, he had learned to fly in Sacramento, California, I leaned my head against the window peering down at the lush mountains, rugged canyons and winding riverbeds. I was calm the whole time with that strange kind of peace that I hope you understand. The kind that says, "hmmm, where would be a good place to land in a pinch...or crash, hmmm" and almost lulls you to sleep. That is the peace that passes understanding.

Later the others said it was bumpy, the pilot said we were fighting a headwind, but I was singing to myself...

"He is no fool, if he would chose
to give the things he cannot keep to buy
what he can never lose.
To see a treasure in one soul
that far outshines the brightest gold.
He is no fool, he is no fool"--Twila Paris

Gavilanes

The trip back was great, a quick 25 minutes...such beautiful scenery.

In January I will be flying from Seattle to Houston on a big jet, then taking a smaller jet (the kind with one seat on one side of the aisle and two on the other) the rest of the way to Oaxaca. As I get older I am finding that flying is harder the more I do it rather than easier. But I do believe it is a choice to believe and trust when the flight is out of obedience to the call.

The song I sang flying back to Santiago was...

Come and join the reapers, all the kingdom seekers
laying down their lives to find them in the end.
Come and share the harvest, help to light the darkness
for the Lord is calling Faithful men. --Twila Paris

Oh that I would be found faithful.

Thank for the prayers!

What is happening!?!

2009-10-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

What is Eddie doing?

So as you know it is time for us to be packing ourselves off to Oaxaca....but not so. Instead every morning for the last month Eddie has been getting up early and driving down to Mount Vernon and putting on a tool belt.

Quickly stated, it has been Eddie's dream to get back to working in clay. Many, many years ago he earned a Bachelor's of arts in Religion AND art, more specifically, ceramics. Over the 37 years of our marriage a collection of dry clay, kiln supplies and a potter's wheel has followed us wherever we went...or rather was kept in storage.

At the beginning of this year the urgency to get a pottery started increased and so we both have been praying for that opportunity. And suddenly, in September the best of all possible opportunities revealed itself. So Eddie and his brother-in-law Paul have been devoting day after day to getting things done.

Our grandson Isaiah has been up from Mexico to go deer-hunting with his other grandfather and the plan has been for us to drive him back to his parents on our way back to Oaxaca. But as Eddie is not going back to Oaxaca this year, we are making a relatively short trip down to where Faith's family lives to return her son...and to celebrate an early Christmas.

I certainly will have a lot to tell you about that trip when we return. It promises to be an adventure as we plan to fly up to an indigenous church comprised of Cora believers, and maybe even visit with an old friend who is in Mazatlan with his 85 foot schooner!

Eddie and I plan to be back here before December so we can finish up the work on the studio and apartment that we will live in upstairs. Then on January 6th I have a ticket to fly to Oaxaca where I alone will work for a couple months. Eddie will start working in the Studio.

This is quite the change for us, but we do not doubt that God is leading. And He is suggesting much more than this as we look to the future...and Mexico continues to be calling.

Isaiah chipping plaster to reveal the 100 year old used brick underneath.

The current exterior is interesting as Eddie once was a very popular shoe repairman here in Mount Vernon. I cannot wait to get that awning down, and reveal the windows underneath.

Our neighbor across the street, The Tattered Page...used books and fresh espresso. We are on the Old Downtown strip. It is a great place and all of our neighbors are excited that we are coming to join them!

Just a taste of what it looked like to start.

Eddie's current interest is in handbuilding and art.

However we will have a couple potter's wheel in the studio...which will be a place where people can see art taking place! I am praying that the right potters come to us to sell their art on commission.

Here is a taste of what our loft apartment will look like. It is smaller than your average apartment, but twice the size of our 5th wheel living space. We are looking forward to living in town, it is a really pleasant place to be and hang out. Our annual Tulip Festival attracts millions of tourists yearly. We have a Farmers' Market half a block away, and not a few great restaurants, coffee bars and of course, the Skagit Valley Co-op and Deli which is OUR favorite hangout.

More later.

Lovewhitewater and YD Adventures Summer Staff Training

2009-05-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

July 6 2009

LOVEWHITEWATER

That's my man! So we have been married over 36 years. Every now and then I realize how wonderful it is to be in love with this man. It has not always been fun for either of us, but we praise the God who gave us the power, worked the miracles...and gave us the gumption and vision to hang on.

It feels like we are living the rewards!

So not only do we head off to Oaxaca every year to work with an amazing group of brothers and sisters at Roca Blanca, but He has given us a great church AND an unbelievable bunch of crazy outdoorsy people to share life with as well. That crazy bunch is our Youth Dynamics Adventures family.

Eddie's email address is lovewhitewater@hotmail.com. Mine is lvlvwhitewater @hotmail.com..... do you get it? (I love lovewhitewater!)

At 62 1/2 years he has become one good lookin' guy!

In May we had a group from our church, the Gathering, join us on the river for the YDA Annual Fundraiser.

Eddie's crew

For Eddie to show you a good time you have to paddle hard. Wimps don't get to do the fun stuff, it just wouldn't be prudent...or safe!

Summer Staff Raft Training

Eddie and I went over to Stonewater Ranch the from the 6th to the 15th of June to help out with training the new summer staff on the river. Eddie brought his experience, and ability to don two wetsuits and stay in freezing water. I brought my ability to drive a van and trailer, my ability to tan well and The Gathering Storm by Winston Churchill.

Staff was trained in all that they need to know and do to run the river, from inflating and rigging boats (we use electric blowers, and top the boats up with the hand pumps)...to keeping your clients safe, and giving the clients a fun time... as well as opportunity to reflect on the revelation of God experienced by the beauty of His creation and the ways of the river.

At the put in I do little things, like filling water bottles and helping collect stuff for rigging (cam straps, carbiners, paddles, etc).

On client days I help hand out equipment (wetsuits, splash jackets, PFD's), I also shuttle the drivers down to the take out, go and pick-up the lunch from Safeway and set up lunch. I follow the float down the river stopping at various places to watch them pass. I stay available with my cellphone for safety. I meet them at the take out and help with all the equipment.

We leave for the river at 7:30 AM and get back around 6:00 PM, and I do all the driving, I don't know why I get so tired.

Sizing up a client and giving him or her right size wetsuit...now that is a challenge. After they get off the river we wash the wetsuits....do you know how much work it is to wash and hang 40 soaking wetsuits?

I love working with these feminine, mighty women of God!

Shane was in charge of training

Rafts do capsize from time to time, and the guide has to know how to right the boat. Eddie must have been in the water for an hour here in a eddy helping the new guides practice flipping boats, climbing on to boats and unflipping them. This is not an easy task....just getting up on the upside down raft from the water is hard, hard work, especially for women. We do not have the upper body strength the guys do.

And then they had to be able to do it in the rapids...the most likely place where their boats would flip.

And of course, they need to know all about getting their clients back in the boat. This is called throw bag practice.

Can you say "recirculating"? It takes power to get out of some situations, and skill!

The Wenatchee River is all about skills.....reading the river, avoiding danger, keeping your clients safe....

and screaming like a girl!!!!!!!!!!!

oh, and getting wet

and bonding through challenging adventures!

Please view our new promo video

It is quite a privilege that God has given us to be out in the wilds with kids challenging them with life and knowing God. It is an amazing thing how God touches them. It takes "camping ministry" to a whole new level.

Now it is July and I am back home working....and Eddie has just headed back to the other side of the mountains to join an extended trip on the Lower Salmon River in Idaho. You might find a little about what he can expect to experience if you check our archives.

I on will be working, and also volunteering at some migrant camps with a local clinic. I look forward to being with Mexicans again!

Grandma and Grandpa Kelley...Catchin' up on things that matter

2009-05-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Damien Xavier
It has been a long time hasn't it. I have been busy not working. We returned from Oaxaca at the beginning of March just in time for the birth of our 7th grandchild, Damien Xavier Kelley. The first of our family to carry on the Kelley name!

Sorry but Grandma has to show off! The one with the vest and tie was taken the day after I watched a movie on Winston Churchill, I was amazed at the resemblance.

And even though his eyes may be bluer than his sisters, his hair is not red like hers as this picture suggests!

Auntie Faith and Damien

It was a thrill for the family that everyone was here in Mount Vernon to welcome the little guy. In the last couple months all the grandkids have had lots of time to get to know their cousins.

Busy not working

As we consider our next season in Oaxaca, we are also enjoying Washington. We have been delighting in the family, and establishing ourselves in the lives of our grandchildren.

As undoubtedly you have been touched by this recession, so has the medical industry in this nation. That means that even nurses have had their hours cut back. People are losing their health insurance and non essential care is not an option for many.

So even though I am still employed at Mira Vista, I haven't worked for a month, and am scheduled to work two days in June.

But as my daughter said, "Mom, I am so glad you aren't working. Every time I have asked you for help you have been right there!"

It has been a wonderful thing to be able to be Mom and Grandma. God is providing and we are blessed.

As you may remember Jay, Faith and their three children, who are full time missionaries in Nayarit, Mexico, have been on a 9 month furlough. They left yesterday to return to their work with the Coras, an indigenous group up in the mountains not too distant from where they have lived these nearly 14 years.

Before they left, Jay and Faith attended a language acquisition intensive in Colorado to help them gain tools to learn the Cora language. They left their three children with us and Marilyn and Josh.

So yes, three kids in a 31 foot 5th wheel was a bit tight, but we had a wonderful time...we live in a beautiful, ruggedly wooded park, which includes trails, playground and a pool!

He could climb and slide all day if you let him

Elisabeth indicating that Kai needed his diaper changed

One one of the many nurse logs in our woods

The Gathering Family Hike to Bowman's Bay and Rosario Point

One of the really wonderful parts of being back in Washington is being with our church family. What a great bunch of people. There are so many young families with a commitment to community. It is wonderful to know all the kids and parents in your church, to eat and play together. It is so much like what our kids grew up with in Poulsbo so many years ago.

Church family hike to Rosario point, that is Micah and Kaitlyn in the left forefront of the picture.

Pastor Josh with D.J. Grace and Sarah probably looking at bugs

Sand and water and sunscreen, Sarah Joy Kelley

Eddie carried Kai the whole way. I was so impressed with his patience. It was a long day and still, when Kai got cranky, Eddie was calm and gentle. His patience sure outlasted mine, fortunately I had Eddie and when I wore out, Eddie was still going strong. It felt like the roles were reversed, don't remember that he was that understanding when our kids were little. Grandpa's are amazing creatures!

Isaiah, Elisabeth and Kai TenBrink

My girls, Marilyn and Amanda Kelley. These gals are both very capable in women's ministry, as well as mothers. And they keep our sons happy. Oh, and they like to plan family get togethers. Who could ask for more?

Please Pray for Jay, Faith and the kids' travels back to Mexico. They are hauling a trailer, and have many miles to go.

Grandpas Kelley and TenBrink just before departure with Elisabeth and Isaiah

At our final family BBQ before the Ten Brinks returned to Mexico, it was work, but we got a photo of us with the grandkids!

But wait, there is more,

but it can wait a few days. I will be letting you know what God has us doing this summer and how you can pray for our ministry. But one more shot from Grandma's Brag Book...little red head Kaitlyn watering Grandma's flowers....

Carpe diem!

Working the soil

2009-01-30T05:34:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I posted our blog on our work in Oaxaca. We have had a rough time with the Internet at the base. Now that we are home and we have Internet I can get caught up.

James River Assembly

In January, James Olson, a long time Roca Blanca associate brought us a construction, medical and dental team from Springfield MO. Our plan was for 3 days of medical/dental clinics and putting a concrete floor and tile roof on the church in El Mosco. If you look above the group smiling for the picture, you can see the expert Mexican abañiles working on the roof.

It is a long drive from Roca Blanca to El Mosco, only 85 miles, but we measure travel times in hours. It takes 5 hours depending on how many delays for construction or vehicle breakdowns. The sights have become very familiar as we pass through each little village, pass corn fields, herds of cattle and groups of people carrying firewood on their heads or burro. We travel over rutted roads and through several stream and a recently completed 10 km section of pavement. We climb up into the mountains, they are dry but beautiful, covered with fragrant pine trees. Often we find ourselves in the clouds.

As we come over the mountain ridge and then down into the Ixtayutla region things become dry and brown again. On this trip we found that something new was added to the usual sights ... it says "no to the hydroelectric project". (more on that next blog)

El Mosco

A surprising sight greeted us as we drove in to the gate at the El Mosco clinic, the bathrooms were torn down. There were men working in concrete to complete the replacements: brick toilets and showers. How wonderful, however incomplete! Hmm, bless Isidro, he dug a hole out behind the building for us to use that night, and bless Eddie who put up some sheets so we could have some privacy.

The next day we were able to use the facilities without doors. Bucket showers are wonderful under the black starry Oaxaca sky!

We unpacked all the gear, set up tents, washed all the dishes, swept the floors and Gris made the first of several amazing meals.

Laura is always last to get her food, she makes sure everyone else is taken care of first.

We start our mornings early in El Mosco. Coffee and Marias (cookies) at around 6:30, prayer and devotions before breakfast around 8:30.

David is very pleased experiencing his first atole! A hot beverage made with rice or oatmeal.

Construction project

The construction crew got right to work tearing up the hard pan that had served as the church floor and mixing cement the Mexican way.

One of the team members Dwayne, had been on the original construction of the building we have used as housing, clinic and kitchen since 2002. Tracey, Keith, Bruce, Dwayne and David sweat alongside the Mexican workers who had come up from Cacalote to help on the project.

Isidro and Angel take a break with one of the El Mosco kids, Martín.

Hermano Primo was the first baptized convert in El Mosco. It was he who gave us this land for the clinic. His son Miguel and daughter-in-law Andrea attended the Bible Institute at Roca Blanca and now pastor a growing congregation. Here Primo shows off the completed floor!

Medical and Dental outreach
Our medical team included the nursing students from ORU as well as Dr. Tom and Cynthia his wife and Dr. George, his wife Robbin, and Cathy and Crystal from his dental office.

Nursing student Hannah checking in patients

Dr. Tom, a specialist in internal medicine, found working in a mountain clinic without diagnostic studies like blood tests and MRIs an interesting challenge. He was fantastic, and we hope he joins us again soon! Do you see Elisabeth in the background? We were so blessed to have her with us for a couple weeks.

Nursing students Mary and Jenn worked with Cynthia, Tom's wife, who is a pharmacist! It was so wonderful working with her, besides her skills, she had such a desire to serve and expressed a great desire to return with her family. (yeah!)

You know Drs. Dave and Mary Kay. You can see in their faces why it is such a pleasure working with this couple. God has been so gracious to bring us together.

Me with a very able Mixteco-Spanish interpreter, Hermínia. Lupe, Laura's adopted daughter, a nurse, has taught her about medications and various medical procedures. For this reason I only gave her a few instructions on how I wanted her to teach the Mixteco patients who received prescriptions, and she was able to work independently. This freed me to do so many other things!

Dr. George with dental patient Jose Luis.

Cathy cleaning Pastor Miguel's teeth.

Dr. George teaching nursing student Brittany.

Infection control in the dusty dirty mountains, how wonderful that Dr. George brought his staff. Crystal sterilizing equipment.

Some closing shots

Helen worked wherever she was needed, taking temperatures or helping Gris and was a real blessing.

The food was remarkable, everything was fresh, beautifully presented and the salsas were just the right degree of spice and flavor and not too hot. When I asked Gris where she learned to cook for Gringo tastes she said that she watched cooking shows.

Whenever the Gringos come to the mountains the ladies gather to sell their woven servietas.

Llano Verde and prayer

Besides El Mosco we were scheduled to visit two other villages. However political situations, mixed with resistance to gospel often changes our plans. We were able to hold a very successful medical-dental outreach in Llano Verde, however. We were not permitted to take photos.

The evangelistic campaign was very successful as well. Over the 3 days we were in the mountains we saw over 325 patients and 77 responded to the gospel and prayed with brother Jesús our evangelist.

Later when we got the report from Jesús, Carmela, our missionary who works in this area and pastor the small church in Pueblo Viejo made an important commentary as she prayed. She said that the 77 people that responded were seeds. And that the soil must be worked in order to have a true harvest.,

I reflected on what Carmela prayed as we drove home. It brought to mind the parable of the sower, or as I prefer to call it, the parable of the soils. Some think of evangelism as broadcasting the seed, or planting seeds one by one. I have always felt it more important that I first work the soil through prayer, and friendship and through showing the love of Christ.

We are called to make disciples of all nations. It is not so much a call to make people like us. In truth our U.S. culture is separated from the light of the gospel as much as is the Mixteco. Indeed there is as much darkness in the U.S. as in the region of Ixtayutla and El Mosco. Still, that does not excuse us from going outside of our home territory, for Jesus told us to "Go!"

Sofia and Cathy with the children. The time we spend with the children, with each individual is working the soil. Every laugh and smile prepares the soil, as it restores life to neglected ground.

There are things in the Mixteco culture that Americans would call wrong and bad, things that are no longer culturally acceptable in the U.S., things like illiteracy, domestic violence and malnutrition. There are things that I have seen that I still find hard to process, let alone explain, but I will speak of those later.

Please pray that the Light of the Gospel spread through the land of the Mixteco. Pray that God's love will prepare the soil of every heart by our service and by God's revelation.

La luna ya se metío

2009-01-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

Life in Cacalote

Before we get down to the hard work of the week that looms before me, I thought that I would share with you some of the fun and recreation we enjoy living on the coast of Oaxaca. I know that many of you are dealing with winter and snow, and more snow...

Last week I attended my first Cacalote Quinceñera. I was told that it would be "like a wedding" and indeed it was. The Quinceñera is the 15th birthday celebrations held for Mexican young ladies, sort of a Sweet Sixteen but bigger. This young lady's name is Melinda . The ceremony was at the Cacalote Church which we have been attending. There was worship, a sermon and much admonition to serve God and dedicate her life. She also made a proclamation that her intent was indeed to give her life to God in every way.

After the service Melinda and her attendance and the whole party walked from the church up the hill to the family house. Here Chris Cook is helping to slow down traffic on the highway so the Quinceñera party could cross the road.

Hermanos Lida and Leti enjoying the party.

When we arrived the lot next to the simple house was decked out in balloons and decorated tables and LOUD band was playing. A cow had been killed to provide us with delicious barbacoa. There were lots presents for Meli, and quinceñera recuerdos (nice party favors) handed out to the guests. The best gift, given last, was a desktop computer that Dave and Laura Nelson helped provide. Meli is a serious student and wants to be a doctor!

Presents are presented personally

Sunday morning

I took these pictures of Cacalote on my way home from church on Sunday. We live here and often go out tacos since it is a long walk to the base for dinner, and a short walk to Maria's for tacos. Yipee! she is now also serving tortas. We have eaten there 4 times this week.

Although there are more and more brick houses, the houses are usually of stick which come from the coconut palms which surround us on all sides.

Eddie teaching backgammon to Chris, on the beach

So far we have been able to enjoy weekends on the beach and in Puerto Escondido kicking around, drinking limonada con aqua mineral. Chris Cook's parents were the first doctors to come to Roca Blanca, and Chris has been here since he was little guy. Last year he graduated from the Bible school. This year he is working with the Clinica Coban (named after his brother who is with the Lord). He is a great kid and we are enjoying hanging out with him.

Weekends Mexican families come to the beach to relax. Just beyond these folks is the spot where I like to swim, it's calm and clean and wonderful.

Me helping Dr. Dave with minor surgery

My primary respondsibilities revolve around the Mobile Clinic and clinic outreaches. I organize, maintain, inventory and purchase for the mobile pharmacy. Then on outreach I run the pharmacy, fill prescriptions, teach and supervise the volunteers and students and give instructions to the patients on how to take the meds.

I also help in the clinic with interpreting for the English speaking doctors, help with procedures, and fill prescriptions when I am needed.

Happy 50th Birthday Hermana Laura!

Angie, Laura and Lupe

Last night we surprised Laura up at Hermano Mauricio's house with balloons, iguana tamales and rain! We tried to ignore the drops that fell, our host provided large umbrellas and we stood waiting for it to stop. Which it didn't.

Angie and I wet and cool!

Here are our nursing student from Oral Roberts University, Hannah, Mary, Brittany and Jennifer. Every year we get to work with a nursing leadership class that is with us for a month. This group is always one of the highlights of our year. Right now they are busily counting vitamins and ibuprofen and bagging them for this week's clinics in the mountains.

Brady, who is supposed to be a picky eater found out that iguana tamales were really quite good, but I am not convinced.

Murray, Melody and Brady Papke have left the base this morning after working here for 3 months. They are professionals who have been working with the directors of Roca Blanca, Duane and Sue, to establish a capital plan for the development of the ministry. That means that they worked together to define the vision and set dates for projects so that financial support can be presented in a way that business people can understand and invest in God's work here.

Las Mañanitas

Every morning Eddie and I wake up to Las Mañanitas which is the morning song played over the loudspeakers in Cacalote. It is the traditional birthday song. So in that today is actually Laura's birthday I talked a few people into joining me in serenading Laura at 6:15 in the morning. Do you know how dark it is then? The stars where bright as I walked to the base in the dark, but it was scary because I heard dogs barking and wondered if they were after me. They weren't.

La luna ya se metío (already the moon has set) words from Las Mañanitas

After the song I went to the top of the guest house to watch the sun rise. The moon was the smallest sliver in the pale sky. As I looked over the beach the fishermen were putting out, their motors sputtering loudly. Two of the nursing students were jogging on the beach, and then a little later I saw Eddie walking next to the surf as well. I think I two ibis gracefully glide over the base and land in a coconut tree. As the sun broke over the horizon I saw that everything was greener because of the rain.

And then to work.

Our first team....

2009-01-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

As I begin this blog my ears are still filled with the riotous laughter of our last night with the team from St. James United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The St. James United Methodist Church team as they were introduced to the Cacalote church

Back in the mobile clinic

Eddie will tell you that he doesn´t speak much Spanish but when he is working with teams he is sought out to speak to patients as we take vitals and information.

Jim weighing patients

Dr. Eder´s wife Paulina taking blood pressures in Charco Redondo

Barbara taking tempertures

Pam, Dr. Ross´wife Linda and Jim count vitamins, acetaminophen and ibuprofen for the pharmacy

Outreaches in three new villages

We did three days of outreach in different villages on the coast. Charco Redondo and Azufre were located in the Chacahua area which racially goes back to the time that black slaves either escaped or survived shipwreaks and populated the edges of the lagunas of Oaxaca. These black Mexicans are called "morenos". They live on and fish the coasts alongside the mestizos. Voodoo has also been brought to the area by these people. We also went to a little town called La Cañada a little more inland.

Hermano Maurico and Hermano Jesus praying for patients as their medications are being prepared.

These towns are being evangelized by graduates from the Bible institute here at Roca Blanca. It is they who will do the work of discipling the many, many who responded the gospel during our outreaches.

Rita R.N. and Dr. Ross in the pharmacy

When we were in La Cañada we had the familiar experience of trying to close up shop and pack up our pharmacy, while other needy patients kept arriving. Although you want to say you can take no more patients, usually it is those who arrive late that need us the most. This time a young woman with uncontrolled diabetes, and two little ones with impetigo got our last moments' care.

I was so blessed as I watched Dr. Ross Taylor work as it got dark, giving his undivided attention to the patients with his interpreter, Josue, at his side. Josue is Brazilian by birth but is now associate pastor at St. James United Methodist.

Berna and Angie, and yep, they are going to parents in May!

Altogether again!

Wednesday afternoon when we arrived home in the mosquito infested twilight we were delighted to be greeted by the rest of our Roca Blanca family minus one, Drs. Dave and Mary Kay Ness, and our adopted kids Berna and Angie! And surprise! Dave Nelson´s daughter Miriam arrived unannouced with them. Berta is back in Virginia helping her sister who is recovering from surgery. We hope to see Berta soon!

Casa Hogar de Nueva Vida

Friday, the day before the team flew back to Tulsa, we all went to the orphanage Casa Hogar de Vida Nueva in Puerto Escondido. Sally´s granddaughter back in Tulsa had suggested that a good gift for the orphans would be their very own Bible. So when we visited them we had the thrill of presenting each child with a Bible engraved with their name. What a wonderful inspiration. The directors of the orphanage said that it was an answer to prayer as the children had been asking for Bibles. And these were really nice, expensive Bibles which were bilingual, wonderful for the teenagers who are studying English in school.

Ashley got to hold the baby, of course, people were standing in line to hold her.

Eddie could hold two at once

These two little ones are sisters, who were brought to the orphanage with their older sister. Vicki, the "mother" of the home said that soon that week the three little girls would be going to Oaxaca City to another orphanage. Casa Hogar is full to the brim and just recently got the three little ones pictured above, they simply cannot stay.

The children with all their new, engraved Bibles

Mary Kay was directed by this little girl to sit down and read her new Bible story book to her.

The night before the team left, we had a wonderful dinner together on the 4th floor of the Mission Inn (the Roca Blanca guest house). After dinner Dr. Ross shared a inspired message challenging us to look into the heart of God and find where and in what way God has called us to express the love of Jesus.

He impressed me with the example of Mother Theresa´s work with lepers, likening those who live in the United States to the lepers who have lost their ability to feel. The difference being we are a nation of people who do not feel the pain and desperation of the sick, the poor and destitute in our world.

Please keep us in your prayers. We have two teams arriving this week and will be going up into the mountains, and to El Mosco.

From long underwear to sandals and bug spray

2009-01-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

So we started here on December 30th

Our road at Whatcom Meadows.

we needed to digout everytime the plow went by

...and arrived here on December 31st!

Back at Roca Blanca

Ben, Eddie and Dave enjoying a Roca Blanca breakfast the day after New Years

We were met by David and Laura Nelson in Acapulco and got to do some traveling up to a town north of there called Petatlán to pick up David's son-in-law Ben Clark who had been speaking at a youth function. We had a delightful reunion and swift return to the base in Oaxaca, that is to say David made short work of the winding Hwy 200 we call the Costera.

We quickly found ourself on the beach with hundreds of Mexicans enjoying the last few days of their Christmas holiday. Eddie also went out beyond the waves and snorkeled with Dave and Ben, and got too much sun for his first time out. I enjoyed watching all the people, even the vendors were out. I tried to go into the waves but the danger of being knocked down and reinjuring my ankle kept me from really having a good time.

The next day we got to go the church in Cacalote with the team that arrived January 3rd from St. James United Methodist of Tulsa, Oklahoma. After a long and lively worship Ben preached and Dave interpreted.

Ben reviewed with us the excuses that Moses made to God when he was called to bring the Hebrews out of Eygpt. He said, "Who am I that I should do this?" He said, "Who are You God that you should send me?" He said, "Send someone else!"

He challenged us to put aside the past, our insecurities and excuses that hinder us from doing God's will and sharing the Word of God with others. He asked us to examine "who" our God is, how powerful and how worthy of our full devotion and obedience. And then Ben said, "the thing that really breaks God's heart is when we say, "send someone else." God has poured His love out on us, gave His Son to make us whole and make us saints. He has honored us highly and chosen us to do this work, bring the gospel to the nations. *

I am reminded that the missions pastor, Nick Harris, from His Place always says that we are God's "Plan A" for bringing the gospel to the world and making disciples, and that He has NO "Plan B"!

Something else that Ben shared with us was from the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the death. Jesus knew what he was going to do before Lazarus died. He tarried with his disciples and did not come and heal Lazarus. And then when He knew that Lazarus was dead he went to the bereaved sisters to comfort them. And in their sorrow and pain he wept with them, even though He knew what He was about to do.

That speaks to us in this: Jesus is with us in our sorrows and in our pain, and He loves us and comforts us, even though He knows the glory and amazing things He will accomplish through what we suffer. It reminds me that we cannot say to God, "Who am I?"because He is making us into living examples of His power, mercy and grace. And we are made more able and qualified to speak of the God we know, ready to answer the question "who is God?". It also empties us of ourselves so we can only say "Here I am Lord, send me"

This little guy got up on the stage a couple times to join the band Sunday morning

See Eddie, he likes to hold babies, sometimes whenever I hold them they are not wearing diapers, as is often the practice and, well you know what happens.

Here are a few favorite pictures that I took before we left home.

Our dear friends Diane and Dr. George Kina, a couple who we credit as mentors and family that showed us the Love of God when we needed it most.

Midori's mama Laura was Kai's mama Faith's best friend growing up. Midori took the microphone after Kai, then jumped back and wiped her mouth, apparently Kail had left it quite wet!

Little angels Lusana Spitler and our granddaughter Grace waiting for the children's Christmas program to start

Christmas Eve Candlelight service at The Gathering, Eddie is on the right, and you can see Micah leading worship with the guitar.

We pray God's blessing on this new year for each of you. Last year it seems that much of the time I was surviving His faithfulness, and living under His mercy....and though that continues, in this precious time that the Lord allowed us to be with our family we saw so vividly the blessings he has poured over us. This next year my theme will be "Celebrating His Faithfulness!"

*I could not do justice to Ben's sermon, but whenever we listen to a sermon we hear God's word to us. So forgive me be if I didn't express it just right!

Coming soon, our first medical outreaches...

Kelley Christmas at Stonewater Ranch

2008-12-19T13:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas in the Northwest-Winter wonderland!

It is freezing! It is bright and sunny and MSN weather says it is 21 degrees. The fir trees are loaded down with dry snow and every few minutes snow falls creating a powdery cloud in the woods.

It was our plan to be here in Washington with our family for Christmas even before I broke my ankle. Still, I have found myself thanking God for allowing me to be here from the time of my surgery in October. We have had lots of time with our children and grandchildren, as well as our church family.

Stonewater Ranch

This last Sunday our children and their families joined us at Stonewater Ranch for 3 days to celebrate Christmas early and enjoy the snow.

Laura, Marilyn's sister, and our granddaughter Elisabeth enjoying hot chocolate

Monday morning we ate our traditional Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, the kids opened presents, and then we went out to play in the snow while the turkey roasted.

Sarah our little princess always in a dress

Kai with his first tricycle

a lot of clothes needed....it was cold, especially for this Mexican born baby!

Grace sledding, the Lodge in the background

Laura making snow angels

Isaiah trying to snowboard on a sled with Eddie's help, Kai in the cold with his poppy, Jay

We ladies planned the menus but when it came time to cook, Josh and Micah took charge

PreChristmas dinner

Hanging out together

Jay, Isaiah, Faith, Kai and Elisabeth TenBrink

The next day, we drove over to Leavenworth, the Northwest's famous Bavarian village. During the spring and summer we do much of our whitewater rafting in this area. It is beautiful in the winter, reminiscent of the Bavarian Alps.

Laura, Grace, Marilyn, Josh and Sarah

Amanda, Kaitlyn and Micah (plus new baby boy due in March)

These are taken from the bakery where we retreated to eat our sack lunch of left-over turkey sandwiches, and drank hot cider. Outside the bakery they decorated a tree for the birds.

The morning we drove back home the snow had returned with a gentle vengance. The weather service predicted 2 to 3 feet of snow over the next 24 hours so we had to get going.

So the snow continues...

Oaxaca on New Year's Eve

My ankle has been on the mend, and I have been learning to walk again. Physical therapy has been helping, still I use a cane occasionally, and wear a brace to help with the swelling.

We fly from Seattle to Acapulco on December 31st and will be met by Laura and Dave Nelson. It will be different to go from below freezing temperatures to the mid to upper 80's, but we are ready.

Still, Christmas is coming.

Celebrating with gifts and Christmas dinner on December 15th has kind of taken the stress out of Christmas for us. Next Sunday is the children's program at the Gathering. Christmas Eve we will have a beautiful candlelight service as well.

I would like to invite any of you able to join us to The Gathering Church on Christmas Eve at 7:30.

We pray that you and your family have a special Christmas. May God's faithfulness show itself as you review the year, and may His mercy cover you and comfort you every day.

finally part 2

2008-10-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought it was time to finish my blog on our trip to Spain before Christmas comes and we leave for Mexico.

Dad and I at Plaza España

Sevilla maravilla! The last blog left us in Sevilla. I am reminded of how Guadalajara, Mexico is called the most Mexican of all Mexican cities...in my mind Sevilla is like that. But then, I have much more to see, like maybe Barcelona.

I think the most thrilling of all the things we did on the whole trip was the Flamenco performance. It was more than I could have imagined it would be, wild gypsy music, flying polka dots, pounding feet, castanets and the fascinating hand movements!

Sitting with fellow tourists waiting for the show

It's all about polka dots! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case you would have to feel the music and the pounding, and well, just be there to appreciate the spectacle!

Gambas, or as we say, prawns, stuffed in an avocado. Dad and I enjoyed wandering, as best we could with me in a wheelchair, the narrow streets and relaxing with tapas (small portions of a variety of Spanish foods).

Gibralter Rocks!

The Rock of Gibralter
A special feature of our trip was pulling out our passports and crossing over into the British territory of Gibralter. We had an amazing tour guide who drove us up and down the rock, making us laugh and fascinating me with history... all in English.
We also enjoyed real British fish and chips!

Barbary Macaques aka Barbary apes are all over Gibralter

Dad found this outside of a pub!

Torremolino, on the Mediterrean Coast

Here I am by the pool in Torremolino...that is my casted foot in the foreground.

One of my aspirations of this trip was to swim in the Mediterrean Sea, sigh. The best I could do was escape solo in my wheelchair and amble down the side walk next to the beach. I developed some skill and strength and was able to climb some pretty impressive inclines when left to myself. Okay, there were a few times when I got stuck and needed help getting up curbs, but people were so friendly and helpful and sympathetic.

Policia patroling along the beach, it was amazing how good looking the Spanish men were!

My dad and I worked out a system of him offering to help when he thought I needed it, and I trying to do as much as I could. It was always a pleasure when out of the blue one of the people on the tour offered to help.

Vincent from Toronto helping me enjoy the Alhambra, the famous Moorish palace in Granada.

The Alhambra

The Alhambra, aka the red fortress is probably the most visited tourist site in Spain, and it is amazing.

The foundations were laid around 1240 and it was completed around 1350 or so by a Moorish sultan. It was later a palace of Ferdinand and Isabella when they drove the Moors out of Spain in 1492.

Unlike the Moorish built cathedral in Cordoba, there is no lollygagging around here. You make an appointment for a tour and you stay with that tour, because there are lots of people behind you....

The tour guide had to have a lot of patience with me as there were lots of steps and I had to keep getting in and out of the wheelchair, aided by crutches, and my many helpers had to drag my wheelchair up and down.

Moorish art and architecture is a breathtaking thing. Everywhere I looked I realized that my mouth was hanging open in amazement.

As we left Granada we drove through the city and I thought, I could spend a week here! Perhaps someday.

Our Last Supper

I had to take a picture of this plate. Little tiny clams, as many as you want, roasted red peppers, and olives. Oh, did Dad and I enjoy the olives!

And then they brought these little fried fish. I have watched the girls in Oaxaca eat them and said, "no way!" But then my dad said, "they're like french fries!" And I called for some mayonaise...that's how I eat french fries in Mexico. Those little fried fish were great, bones and all!

Our tour guide MariLuz, who worked so hard to make our trip enjoyable. She obtained the wheelchair and crutches, and demonstrated how to climb up into the bus, and get down. I don't know how we would have managed without her.

This was the group we traveled with at our last supper

Here is Jesus, who was quick to get my wheelchair out as soon as we stopped so I could get out and try not to slow people down.

It was a wonderful experience. My dad and I talk often and reminisce, we talk about tapas, and olives and Flamenco...

As you know that when we returned to the U.S.A. we had to return to Washington rather than continue on to Oaxaca. It was 3 weeks after my injury that I had surgery. The doctor said that it hadn't begun to heal, and that it probably never would have really healed. I would have lost my mobility if I had not had surgery.

I am now starting to walk, still with crutches, but I am bearing weight, and going to physical therapy. We have reservations to return to Oaxaca on December 31st!

Holy Toledo, Sevilla maravilla and Gibraltor rocks! part I

2008-10-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

Starbucks is not only expensive, it can be a dangerous habit!

At the Starbucks where I had my accident.

Well as most of you know, my father and I went on a tour of Spain a couple weeks ago. I had never been to Europe, though my dad had many times, and I was very excited. The flight proved not to be the ordeal I imagined, and I definitely prefer 767's to 737's or MD80's.

The tour started off with a bang, or should I say, thud. While waiting for the Welcome Dinner, and while my dad was taking a nap, I thought I would step into the Starbuck's on the corner.

Well, it was a wrong step. I lost my balance. And rather than the humiliating fall that we all have had from time to time, the kind that we hope no one notices. It was quite public and resulted in the calling of an ambulance.

I knew at the moment I fell that I had broken a bone. I could feel it break. And never had I felt so much pain. It is interesting to note, dear nursing friends, that in Spain they use the 1-10 pain scale just like in the U.S.A. I told them it was an 8 to 9! (It was a 10 actually, but I have always thought that 10 was an exaggeration, now I know better.)

My poor dad, he was awakened by a phone call and the words "hija" and "hospital". He was surprised by how well his "little Spanish" served him. He spoke and understood enough to get into a taxi and find me. I am sure that he was relieved that it was just a broken bone.

For my part I discovered that the Spaniards of Madrid are very easy to understand, much easier that most Mexicans I know. I got good care and was seen by a traumatologist, who set my broken bone. They were so kind and empathetic. Of course afterwards, not having a discharge planner, they told me to leave the wheelchair I was using when I got in the taxi, and literally put me out with no crutches or means of getting around.

I got my "Welcome dinner" by room service at 11:00 at night. But good, but good!

Sparing the pitiful details, let it be said that office chairs with wheels can prove useful in a pinch, and a simple chair can be used as a crutch and offers a place to sit when you get tired, which happens quickly when one is hopping around on one foot.

Our tour guide, Marie Luz, bent over backward to obtain a wheelchair and crutches for me to use, and in the end I saw Spain as best as one could in that situation.

Dad and I at Plaza España in Madrid, with Don Quixote and Sancho....before my fall.

We also toured the royal palace in Madrid, and I was amazed by what we saw, mostly on the ceilings. My dad took this picture and a guard quickly pointed out that there were signs everywhere prohibiting the taking of photos. Fortunately, she didn't smash his camera and I have this reminder of the palace's beauty.

Holy Toledo!

The tour of Toledo was a fast walking tour over cobblestones so instead my father and I toured the town square. While enjoying thick hot chocolate, best eaten with a spoon, and churros, I began to make a list of the places I want to visit with Eddie one day.

Toledo was the Visigoth capital prior to the 8th century. Wikipedia says that under the Moors it came into its Golden Age and Jews, Moors and Christians lived together harmoniously. It was taken by El Cid, famously played by Charlton Heston in the movie! It is encircled by the Tagus River as well as an ancient wall. And is very cool.

To Cordoba, and a bit of history

We enjoyed first class dining on the AVE train. By the way, if you wonder how Spaniards eat...less food, more wine!

The AVE high-speed train took us to another great city reconquered from the Moors. It too had winding streets, and a fast walking tour, so I went by taxi to meet the group outside of the Cathedral of Cordoba.

Enjoying my first taste of independence in a wheelchair, I did some window shopping in Cordoba.

Cathedral of Cordoba

Wikipedia tells me that the site had been a Roman temple, then in the 600's a Christian Visigoth church was under construction when the Moors took over. It was completed in 784 A.D. and was at one time the second largest mosque in the world. It was reconsecrated as a Catholic church/cathedral in 1236 by King Ferdinand III.

hard to get good photos due to the lighting

When I entered this mosque turned cathedral, I felt the wonder of being in Spain fall in on me. I was always being encouraged to keep up with the tour, I tried to avoid being pushed in the wheelchair. I knew I could get the info on Wikipedia, I just wanted to be there, and take it in. LOTR fans...it was like being in the Mines of Moria, the halls of Khazad-dum. The pillars of marble, onyx, jasper and granite went on and on in such an eerie light.

There were many kind members of our group that were eager to help me keep up. I discovered how nicely wheelchairs move on marble, as opposed to cobblestone!

The tour guides and other Spaniards have no qualms about discriminating against the gyspies, and warning you to stay clear of them. Something about being quite adept with sticky fingers. This gypsy hounded Dad until he gave her something, (she said she was hungry, but wouldn't take the food I offered). I had to teach Dad to say "Acabo de regalarle" (I just gave you something), as she and her companions kept coming back to him.

Sevilla maravilla

We spent the next 3 days in Sevilla. I was set free from the tour guide and got to enjoy the marble floors and amazing sights of the cathedral, third largest in the world. The sights included Columbus' tomb and well...too many to describe.

I love the ceilings!

Hard to see, hard to photograph, but this tomb, with 4 kings carrying the casket of Columbus is impressive, and severe. Apparently Columbus has graves all over the Caribbean...seems they kept digging him up and moving him, possibly leaving parts as they went. They say he traveled more dead than he did alive!

One of many views of the cathedral

The cathedral was built on the site of a mosque which was torn down, and inside the tower is a minaret with a ramp that circles round so a horse could be ridden to the top. Of course I only heard about it, but Angie and her mother, Mary Ellen, from Calgary, made the climb!

Mary Ellen and Angie from our tour group, I really appreciated their company! Angie learned her Spanish in Oaxaca, down the coast from where we work.

more cool photos

outside yet another royal residence

inside the same royal residence, the Alcazar

I also admire floors and walls...

I had fun taking these pics. I was on my own, no one pushing my wheelchair, I was able to mount the ramps and that gave me such satisfaction. Of course, when you need help, you need help and you are very grateful for it! Thank you so much Dad!

but wait, there's more....

obviously there was more to the tour, but this is longer than I wanted to go today.

Coming Soon, Flamenco dancers, Gibraltor rock...and Granada!

Tent Camping

2008-09-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

Thank you Mr. Coleman!

I once watched a History Channel program on American camping along with the history of the American love affair with the automobile. Mr. Coleman invented the campstove, and the propane lantern. Since then his logo is widespread over America, and most of my camping equipment, including the 10 x 17 foot tent that holds two large Coleman air mattresses and a portable crib.

Kai's first nap in a tent!

Last weekend we went to our favorite campground, Tumwater Canyon. Located on Hwy 2 in the North Cascades, east of Stevens Pass. Our daughter Faith and her children started camping here with me 9 years ago. This year we included their new family member, Kai.

Isaiah was just about 4 when we started camping, now at almost 13 he was so much help, from putting up the tent to blowing up the mattresses! I heard Faith exclaim at one point, "Oh, I love having big kids with a baby around!" Either Elisabeth or Isaiah were there to watch Kai while the other helped with our camping tasks.

A Fine and Pleasant Misery **
Camping is a pastime which takes all the usual chores or living at home outdoors, and increases the challenges of everyday life by adding insects, dirt, threat of rain, subtracting indoor plumbing and electricity.

There is no question about it! Our generation has gotten soft! In fact, when we walked to the bathroom, or scavenged firewood. We thought we were at the RV show! Hugh trailers, 5th wheels almost as big as the one we call home, charming tent trailers, and motorhomes of all makes and sizes.

Only the backpackers, which we once were, work harder than the tent camper. Backpackers prove how little you need to survive in the wilderness, because they have to carry it all on their backs. Car campers see how much they can cram into their pick-up!

The trick to a successful tent camping experience is preparedness. As Louis Pasteur once said, "Camping favors the prepared"*. Murphy's law assures us that if we are overly prepared we will only need half of what we bring, but if we leave anything out, that will be the one indispensible item.

But hey, whatever you should have brought is never forgotten again.

The campfire

The first thing I did in the morning was build the fire, and the last thing at night was to stir the ashes and spread the coals far apart and make sure they go out. A fire starts best for me if I use scavenged wood partly burned covered in candle wax. I drug Isaiah all over the empty campsites digging through the undergrowth looking for free fire wood.

The campfire is used for roasting hotdogs, marshmallows and toast, frying bacon and eggs,grilling tortillas and keeping water hot for coffee, hot chocolate and washing dishes, babies and dirty feet before bedtime.

Still it exceeds a one star hotel in Mexico (costs the same and feels cleaner)

Over the years Eddie and Jay have not been able to join us on our Tumwater trips, so we go alone with the kids. When two women camp together as Faith and I have over the years, camping involves so much work. We put up a tent, pump up air mattresses, put up tarps to prevent rain (Murphy's Law), gather wood, build fires cook meals, wash dishes, wash kids. I can understand why any woman would think we were crazy to look so forward to camping.

But camping was a gift my father gave me, and a gift Eddie and I gave to our kids. Besides the work, we also play by the river, explore, play in the dirt and relax in the beautiful northwest wilderness.... and of course, again, there is the wonder of looking into the campfire, watching the coals dance and glow, and listening to the sound of the river at night.

Camping builds memories, and traditions which some say are the result of shared suffering and meeting unique challenges. Miseries that none of us would relish, like cooking my special ham, potatoes, cheese and eggs in the pouring rain, or waking up in the middle of the night surrounded by water, practically floating on your air mattress, can be tolerable if you can spend one night around the fire making smores, or experience the family content, away from television or electronic devices.

Isaiah and Elisabeth eating MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), military field rations, issued years ago which Grandpa found in his stuff), probably the same issue that their mom and uncles ate when they were kids.

Walking to the bathroom in the dark with my dying flashlight, I looked up into the Milky Way and I remembered why I love this place. I have always said that "any night spent in a tent was better than a night spent anywhere else". There is nothing as cozy as a warm sleeping bag on a cold morning, unless the air mattress has gone flat in the night.

Elisabeth beating me at backgammon by Chiwaukum Creek

Well, some of you understand and are agreeing with me heartily, the rest are shaking their heads, especially those of you who told me that your idea of camping was a 3 star hotel.

Staying at Tumwater puts you about 20 minutes away from the lovely Bavarian village of Leavenworth

One last glance at baby cuteness!

Well, as I close, I will tell you that Eddie and I will be leaving Washington is less than 2 weeks. We have a lot of planning and preparing to do. We head for Mexico and expect to arrive in Oaxaca by October 10th or 11th. But before that....

I will be on a 10 day tour of Spain with my father, while Eddie housesits in Palm Springs. If any of you have any unused Euros laying around, you are welcome to donate them to my spending money fund for Spain. You can send them to me at P.O. Box 1946, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, by September 16th.....I would be ecstatic to receive them!

P.S. Did you know that Eddie and I sleep in a tent when we are up in the mountains in El Mosco?

*Actually, Pasteur said that "Luck favors the prepared mind", so he could have been talking about camping.....or germ theory.
**A Fine and Pleasant Misery is a wonderful, humorous book by Pat McManus

Summer reading and a great cloud of witnesses

2008-08-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2008
The Great Cloud of Witnesses

I have long been one who loves history, and believes that we are made richer and wiser by learning from others' failures, as well as their successes. And so as a believer, I have found that biographies of the saints are not only enjoyable, but also encouraging to us as we seek models and mentors in our daily walk with Christ.

Hebrews 11 has been called the "hall of Faith" a Bible hall of fame. Verse 4 speaks of Abel who By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

My summer of reading
I have just completed a biography of John Newton (writer of the great hymn Amazing Grace), prior to that I read the biographies of William Wilberforce, J. Hudson Taylor, Mitsuo Fuchida, and Adoniram Judson. And although I need to read Iberia in order to prepare for a short tour of Spain, I really must find my small bio of George Mueller to read as a break from the hefty Michener volume.

Except for the book on Fuchida, the man who led the air attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and later became an evangelist (book is entitled God’s Samurai), the other books have been about believers who changed their world.
Early this year I found a copy of Prisoners of Hope, Our Story of Captivity and Freedom in Afghanistan in the bookshelf at the Clinica Corban, where I work in Oaxaca. I found myself inspired by the book, but it left me craving another. Back to the bookshelf, Deadline by Randy Alcorn, a riveting Christian whodunit (that is: who done it…aka murder mystery). Suddenly I realized that every gringo on the mission base was reading something other than their Bibles, I guess the hard work in the heat demanded that we rest our minds with entertainment. We began passing books back and forth, and okay, we did the same with DVD’s, but you know, books are more portable, and the pleasure lasts longer!

So back to the topic of the Great Cloud of Witnesses, when I got home I started digging through the mounds of books that Eddie and I have packed away. And then I started putting them on my Facebook iRead. Then I started looking at what others were reading. Then I started ordering them from Amazon (free shipping!)

Okay, back to the topic again! We all have our preferences in books, theology, Christian living, Self help…..I don’t learn that way. I learn from observation and reflection of what I see and hear. Biographies of the saints who have lived their faith in difficult times are my teachers!

My Hall of Faith
Over the years I have learned many things from the biographies I have read.

“No hole is too deep that God’s love is not deeper still” from Betsy and Corrie ten Boon, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boon

He will sustain us through desperate times, and even in our suffering He will give us the opportunity to know Him as our companion and lover. Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose.

The man who helped form my approach to faith suffered some of the same
emotional struggles I have suffered . Oswald Chambers, Abandoned to God by D. Mc Casland.

God saves some who are so far from faith others would consider them hopeless. I recognized that their humility at having been so low gave God the opportunity to use them in mighty ways. And they never forgot that they were “great sinner(s) and Christ is a great Savior”. John Newton, From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by J. Aitken, and God’s Samurai by G. Prange. These two books also demonstrated by contrast how the believers you surround yourself with effects your effectiveness.

We should chronicle the signs and miracles along our way that demonstrate God’s faithfulness in our own life story. Walking God’s Trail by Steve Saint.

Social justice is part of our commission, and God uses true believers to reform a society. Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by E. Metaxas.

Five men gave their lives just so the Waodani (once called the Auca) would be present at the Throne. They chose not defend their lives with guns because they were ready to die, and the savages weren’t. Jungle Pilot by R. Hitt, and Through Gates of Splendor by E. Elliot

The testimonies of these saints have helped form my walk with Christ. These men and women gave their lives; they suffered as I never have. They deemed Christ worthy, and they loved the lost with their very flesh and blood. They call me up from my whining and complaining to be grateful, faithful and true. They pound deeply into my spirit the determination to be like them in one way or another.

Oh, and I almost forgot Gladys Alward, Amy Carmichael, Ann Hasseltine Judson, Sarah Boardman, and most of all Catherine Booth. I have never been much of a feminist, because I have never needed to be. In the church since Christ set us free, neither male or female, the gospel has been advanced across cultural boundries by women, such incredible women!

I encourage you therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

It's finally summer in the Great Northwest

2008-08-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

I always say the people of the Pacific Northwest celebrate summer. There are times when summer seems so short, when it seems like it has been raining forever...and then the sun comes out and we forget all that!

We have been camping, river rafting, picnicking, working on our deck, we even got over to Leavenworth and the Stonewater Ranch. We finally got to see the Leavenworth's community theater's annual production of the Sound of Music! And I have spent many hours by the pool reading, getting too hot, jumping into the water, and then reading some more.

The Gathering CampOut at Fort Casey

The campfire is the center of every great campout and so it was with us. Mercedes from Spain was with us, it was her first time camping, or sleeping in a tent. She even got to build the fire one night!

From Fort Casey it is a not too long walk to the Keystone ferry which takes you to funky Port Townsend. Amber W. got in on the Josh Kelley family portrait.

Sunday morning we had a Kelley family breakfast. I camped with Micah and Amanda. We had an all electric kitchen. Here is Amanda making the pancakes. My other daughter-in-law Marilyn commented on how good I was at bringing luxury to camping as I showed her my cafe con leche with foamed milk (a french press can easily foam hot milk!)

Grace, Kaitlyn and Mercedes. Mercedes really enjoyed Kaitlyn, in fact Kaitlyn was more disposed to letting Mercedes hold her than Kaitlyn's grandma.

We had church outside. I appreciated Josh's short sermon. He spoke of how our church is a community, a family living together. So a campout with campfire and s'mores and all the other outdoorsy fun is spiritual activity where we grow in relationship.

Micah and Matt leading worship. I got a great video of one of the songs, but I forgot that my singing was recorded too....so I will spare you the misery. Pity, the song was one of my favorites.

And last weekend was the Gathering Church Picnic at the beach!

As Mercedes said to me. "Your church has so many young families, so many children!" And their were kids everywhere, and they, and their parents had lots of fun.

Christa and Luke

Mercedes

At the end of July it was time to say good-bye to Mercedes. We had spent some good times with her, and bonded well. As she and I were driving back from Fort Casey together, she asked me many questions, and told me about churches in her home city of Burgos, Spain. As we know, the gospel is not readily available in Spain these days. She was impressed with the life and the joy we enjoyed as we worshipped together. Church where she lives is strict, solemn, and apparently doesn't have many young people.

She also asked me about the word Grace. She liked it very much as a name, Josh and Marilyn's daughter's name is Grace. But moreover, she noticed that we used the word a lot more than as a name. And she wanted to understand what it meant. I started to try to give here one or two of the many definitions and explanations we have all been taught, but I realized that she would have to understand what God's grace was to her as she sought it out. And so that is what I ended out telling her.

When we said our good-byes we were touched at the huge tears that fell from her eyes when she realized this was farewell. Later Marilyn suggested that she wasn't used to the affection that it is common to us, and she loved it. I suppose that Spanairds are not Mexicans.

Thank you Paul!

Last week Eddie's sister's husband Paul brought his great skill and experience, and tools to help us finish our deck. Now we have almost double the living space! I love it.

Paul framing the roof

Eddie building our new fire pit. We also put up a roll-away tarp that can be used to cover us and the fire in case of rain.

My dear friend Carol came out to help me break in the outdoor living space. Eddie stayed at Paul and Suzanne's place while Carol and I enjoyed a couple days of fellowship. Carol had just returned from an outreach to Uganda, and we had a lot of talking to do. She also brought us a gift of beautiful windchimes that continue to bless us.

The Ten Brinks are coming! the Ten Brinks are coming!

We are all anticipating Jay, Faith and the kids arriving sometime soon from Mexico for a 9 month furlough from the mission field. And also, we are all very excited about Amanda and Micah's annoucement that we will be getting a new grandchild in March.

Isaiah with his graduation padrinos Pola and Juan Luis

Isaiah graduated from primaria in Mojocuautla. He did very well in the bilingual (Spanish/Cora) school and was one of three who won an academic olympics that sent them Tepic for more competition. He said to me "but I haven't graduated from my English 6th grade".

Almost time to return to Oaxaca

It is hard to believe that we will be leaving for Mexico in 6 weeks! That means I am back to reading my Bible in Spanish, and we need to get that big garage sale organized! (we say that every year) And this week I notified Mira Vista of my last day available for work (Sept. 10)

We have stayed in telephone contact with Laura and David, and Angie and Berna...and by internet with Dave and Mary Kay. Facebook has also been very useful to keep us close to the happenings with our family in Mexico...so I am ready to get back to see everyone face to face.

But before that I get to have one very special adventure! My father and I are going on a tour to Spain! On our way down to Oaxaca, Eddie and I will stop at my dad's. Eddie will house sit for Dad while we are in Spain (Sept.24 to Oct. 5). From there Eddie and I continue south planning to arrive at Mision Victoria by October 10th.

Prayer Requests

So as I close, I would like to ask you again to pray for us.

--- for Mercedes as she goes back home

--- for good time with family in this short time left

--- that the Lord will provide what we need for travel and living expenses which will obviously be more this year

--- for our health, that my joints, knees and shoulders, settle down and I be able to give my all in the work we do, and many outreaches in to the mountains

--- for Oaxaca and the people of the mountains, that God will break through the darkness and bring light to the people of the Ixtayutla region

Support for our ministry can be sent to The Gathering Christian Church, P.O. Box 512 Mount Vernon, WA. Write the check to The Gathering, and put our names in the "notes" section for a Tax deductible receipt.

Summertime....for now

2008-07-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I blogged. Life has been the same pretty much for me, working four to five days out of the week at Mira Vista Care Center. Eddie has been driving over the mountains to guide on the Wenatchee River with YD Adventures on the weekends. And I have been too tired to go with him. So I have been reading, reading, reading....I love missionary biographies!

Okay, the sun did come out every now and then, and very gratefully, we had a sunny, albeit, cool, Father's Day!

Laura with some buttercups she found on the trail

Grace looking at little creepy crawlies found in the stream.

At Last...Summertime!

Until last week, every day was the same grey and wet. We had an unusual amount of rain and the river was full. The sun came out around June 21st. I know that wherever you are, you are likely experiencing wild weather, or flooding, or rainy season (in Oaxaca), but the people in the Great Northwest are taking a break and having a joyous time celebrating summer!

Marilyn, Grace, Eddie and Sarah

Daddy Micah resting from long days of getting their new house ready to move into, and 21 month old Kaitlyn.

Micah, Amanda and Kaitlyn

Sarah enjoying her first S'more of the year!

Of course the best part of being home is being able to spend time with our sons and their families. We just had our first barbeque and s'mores. We have been enjoying the pool too! In fact yesterday I took my dirty clothes over to the laundermat, and swam while the clothes were washing.

Eddie spent all day yesterday babysitting Grace and Sarah, and I helped Micah and Amanda clean the new house so they can move in. I was greatly entertained by Kaitlyn's antics. When she is well fed, not tired, and not afraid that her mom is going to go away she really warms up to me.

Welcome Mercedes

Mercedes making her first S'mores.

Josh and Marilyn have an exchange student from near Madrid, Spain, a lovely girl named Mercedes. Laura, Marilyn's sister, is enjoying having someone to hang with and help her with Spanish.

Mercedes made real points with me by asking if I weren't Mexican, "because my Spanish is so good!" She sat with me in church Sunday. Though she speaks good English, she needed help with unfamiliar words like "outcast" and "worship" (Josh was preaching about the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.)

The Gathering

We have been enjoying being a part of The Gathering. We attend two different homegroups, depending on which days I have off. Josh, has been preaching on the book of John, and I really enjoy his teaching. If you go to the website of the Gathering (in the sidebar to the right of the blog) you can listen to the sermons.

I am looking forward to the church campout in July. We are hoping that a group from the Gathering will be able to come to Roca Blanca for an outreach in November or October.

YD Adventures

Eddie at the lodge at Stonewater Ranch carrying his river gear

This was a hard shot to get, my camera just isn't fast enough, or maybe I used the wrong setting...Eddie is at the top of the photo in the yellow "coolie" hat, going through the rapids we call "Slant Six".

Eddie won't be going on the Gathering campout because he will be on the Salmon River in Idaho with YD Adventures. He also helped with the guide training this year, spending a week out at Stonewater Ranch, where we have so many friends.

Mr. & Mrs. Steven Erickson!

Last year when I was on the Salmon River I spent a lot of time talking with a young man named Steve. As we rode down the river on a gear boat he told me about his growing relationship with another YD staff guide, Katy.

It was so sweet, as it always is, to listen to the heart of a young man of God growing in love and maturity, with God, and with a beautiful young lady. It was wonderful to celebrate their wedding this summer along with their family and so many of the YD staff

Mira Vista Care Center

I have been working at Mira Vista since I was a nursing student in 1997. Mira Vista provides skilled nursing, and also long term care for the elderly. We care for more acute cases than a "nursing home" and so the work is always challenging.

I have come to recognize that caring for the elderly is a high calling. My co-workers and I do something that is often only recognized by the patients, their families and God. It is our pivilege to give dignity and value to people who are forgotten by society. We participate in some of the most intimate times of change and loss in the life of a family.

It is very hard work for me emotionally, especially as I age, and as I have lost my own mother. I am starting to care for patients my husband's age, and that is a bit of a shock....and disturbing. Still, I am able to give so much love, and it is reciprocated day by day by day.

One of the best parts of my work at Mira Vista, besides the patients, is a wonderful staff. Above all is our Director of Nursing, and our Administrator. Every year when I return from Mexico, they have done something to make ours the highest quality facility and a pleasant place to work.

With a few of my favorite co-workers, Aida, me, Lolita and Myra.

"I forgot I wasn't in Mexico"

I had a funny thing happen the other day. I had a young patient (62 years old) who suffered from chronic pain. I had done all I could to relieve her pain, including a warm blanket to her aching shoulders and ribs. When she sighed and said, "well, it's better, but it still aches so..." I just didn't know what more to do. Suddenly I found myself reaching out to lay hands on her to pray. I forgot I wasn't in Mexico!

Please understand, I have learned, and taught much about spiritual assessment, how to address patients' spiritual needs. But a nurse always needs to respect their patients wishes and always asks permission to pray.

But sometimes when you are having a tearful heart to heart with someone, you just naturally squeeze the hand and close your eyes and talk to the Father. And how good it is to bring the Lord's loving presence into that precious space.

I told the above story to one little gal, the widow of a Pentecostal pastor. She said to me, "Honey, you can pray for me any day!" And I have.

under His mercy

All our love to you all. We all are going through the days challenges learning more and more what it is to trust the Father. I have been suffering from a lot of serious knee pain these last few days. I know that many of our beloved friends are also finding the faithfulness of Christ in suffering.

As I read the histories of the modern day saints, missionaries who gave every last bit of devotion to Burma and China, and even to the abolition of the slave trade...I am humbled. I have not yet touched the full measure of suffering these mighty ones have known. Still, God does not minimize our individual sorrows, but promises to be with us and carry us!

2008-05-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Since the focus of our lives these past few weeks has not been so much what we are doing but what God is doing in us there won't be too many pictures.

It is good to be back at Whatcom Meadows, in our own home, albeit a 31 1/2 long 5th wheel with 3 sliders. Our location is among the trees, and the air is fresh, and the rhodies are blooming!

And whenever there are other people here, they are on vacation, and therefore in a rather good holiday mood. There is laughter, renewing of friendships, the smell of grilling meat, the laughter of children. The swimming pool is open too!

I always feel a little conspicuous when I head out to work in my scrubs, obviously not one of those who enjoy Whatcom Meadows as a vacation home, but rather my half of the year residence.

But this little place, fancy by our standards, a far cry from what WE call camping, is already full of memories for me. The best ones are those where I have been on my face worshipping my Father.

May I assure you, I am no super spiritual person…but there has been a lot or things happening in my heart and spirit and to fall on my face is the only way I can respond when I see what He has been doing.

That is why I want to share the following song with you. When I listen to Jesus Adrian Romero, it obviously takes a little while for me to understand what he is singing (he sings in Spanish). Then, as the understanding emerges I am struck astounded by what God is saying. Truly, many singer-songwriters are prophets, Jesus Adrian Romero has been that many time for me.

Que Seas Mi Universo by Jesus Adrian Romero
When I first began to understand this song, it broke my heart. It convicted me to the core. You will not be surprised, I hope, to know that working hard day by day, even if you are in a mountain village in Oaxaca can cause one to become a “Marta”. I have been too busy, over many months, if not years, to take the time to truly nurture the relationship that had caused me to say, “Here am I Lord, send me!”

So these past couple weeks I have been redisciplining myself in many areas. I don't look at the computer until I have spent time with the Lord, I fill my quiet with quiet, or the Word of God, reading inspiring bios of missionaries, and pursuing prayer.

And then Sunday, Scott Ramin was preaching, and what I heard is that “our zeal should consume us!” And it brought me back to this song. So I told Scott that I would copy the words, and translate them.

So now if you like you can click here to hear the song. On the side board you should see the link that you can use to watch/hear the song on UTube.

Que seas mi universo That you would be my universe
No quiero darte solo un rato de mi tiempo
I don’t want to give you just a little of my time
No quiero separarte un día solamente
I don’t want to separate just one day for you

Que seas mi universo but that you be my universe

No quiero darte mis palabras como gotas
I don’t want to give you my words like drops
Quiero un diluvio de alabanzas en mi boca
I want a flood of praise from my mouth

Que seas mi universo That you would be my universe
Que seas todo lo que siento y lo que pienso
That you be all that I feel and think
Que seas el primer aliento en la mañana
That you be the first breath in the morning
Y la luz en mi ventana
And the light in my window

Que seas mi universo That you be my universe
Que llenes cada uno de mis pensamientos
That you fill every on of my thoughts

Que tu presencia y tu poder sean mi alimento
That your presence and power would be my food
Oh Jesús es mi deseo.. Oh Jesus, is my desire.

Que seas mi universo That you would be my universe
No quiero darte solo parte de mis años
I don’t want to give only part of my years
Te quiero dueño de mi tiempo y de mi espacio
I want you to be owner of my time and space

Que seas mi universo That you would be my universe
No quiero hacer mi voluntad, quiero agradarte
I don’t want to do my own will, I want to please you
Y cada sueño que hay en mi quiero entregarte
And every dream I have I want to submit to you
Que seas mi universo

That's all for now...

Home again, brrrrr

2008-05-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

on the way home...

When last we blogged we had left Jay and Faith and were heading for the states. We made good time and spent one more night in Mexico (Hermosillo) and drove all the way to Palm Springs, California the next day.

We really had a good time while staying in Palm Springs. My dad loves to be the host with the most, and is an amazing cook. But in addition to his fried chicken and excellent omelets, he took us out to a very fine dinner that I will not soon forget!

My dad teaching a young museum visitor to fly --- on a flight simulator!

Dad is an honorary member of the American Volunteer Group, aka the Flying Tigers who flew to protect China just before WWII.

Dad is a volunteer/historian/educator who practically lives at the Palm Springs WWII Air Musuem. I need to recommend this place to you! If ever you are in the Palm Springs area, it is a wonderful experience. Ask for my father, Robert Andrade and tell him that you are a friend of mine and he will give you a royal tour. Check it out on the web. www.air-museum.org/

Greg and Terri's granddaughter Eevie, with her mommy and daddy, J'aime and Erik

Another highlight of the visit was just hanging out with my brother Greg, and his gorgeous, gracious, loving and dearest wife Terri. You might guess that she is one of my best friends. We always have the best time together!

Eddie's aunt and uncle hosted us in Atwater, California. Doris and Allen shared their home and family with us, and we agree that stopping to visit this lively group will be a must on our trip from now on.

Feeling well rested, and unpressed for time we decided to check out the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield between Sacramento and San Francisco. It was a fun diversion, made me miss my homeschool field trip days.

Soon we were passing the familiar highway signs of Corning and Orting and the Olive Pit, and then Shasta Lake and Mt. Shasta. We spent the night in Grant's Pass, and I swear I was awaken by the 4.1 earthquake they had off the Oregon coast.

The next morning we woke to northwest drizzle, but we were so happy to be back in the land of the evergreens. There is a certain comfort given by being surrounded by green, rich, wet unchanging green. Now as for the rain, I know that it is important in the the maintaining of the green...still sun is preferred.

Entering Washington

Soon we were home in the embraces of our dear, dear friends Carol Kinsman and Connie and Lynn Erickson. The next day we arrived back in Mount Vernon to the hugs and giggles of our little granddaughters!

Princesses Grace, Eddie and Sarah. Grace and Sarah are Josh and Marilyn's little girls.

Our sweet Kaitlyn is Micah and Amanda's baby/little girl. She has grown so much. The first time I saw her get up walk, I was a little surprised...she still is the baby to me!

Back to the River!

Soon we were heading over the mountain to be with the Riverpeople of YD Adventures.

you may think that white stuff along the road and on the mountains is snow, but we call it "whitewater fuel!"

We love driving over Steven's Pass to the town of Plain. This year there is a lot of snow pack, and as it is still very cold, and likely snowing at the top, we are hoping for a long rafting season.

Usually when we go over the mountains from the westside to the eastside of the Northern Cascades, we hit sun around the summit or just beyond.

However Eddie's first trip this season was a bit wet and cool. But somehow that didn't curtail the water fighting! Here he is explaining the finer points of throwing a bucket of water.

The next morning driving home we woke to such clear skies and crystal views. It seemed we didn't get too much sun from them on, but on Mother's Day, which was forcast to be cloudy and rainy, we got a lovely gift of Sun!

A Happy Mother's Day

Well, as you can imagine, spending your Mother's day morning listening to your oldest son preach and your youngest son lead worship with some of your favorite songs makes for a very promising start.

After church we have, for the past several years, gone out to a beach, or hike on Mother's Day. This year we drove up Mt. Erie on Fidalgo Island. The view was breathtaking. So was running around after the little girls trying to keep them a safe distance from the edges of the cliffs!

Best take of the annual Josh Kelley family picture includes Marilyn, Josh, Sarah, Grace and Laura (Marilyn's sister)

Well, tomorrow I start work at Mira Vista Care Center. I have been there since I became a nurse, over 10 years now. They are so gracious to let me leave and let me return every year. I always feel a little nervous getting back on the floor, but as Eddie has reminded me, I always enjoy it.

Bienvenidos A la Casa de Los Abuelos

Here is our "cabin". A 31 1/2 foot Hitchhiker II with 3 sliders. Sometimes it seems big, sometimes it seems small.

It certainly is cozy, as long as the dishes are done and the bed is made, and we keep the floor clear of clutter.

You might wonder how we adjust from living in the heat of Mexico, living in a community of different people, always busy, always planning, always on the go, to the quiet, the cold, the rain and the "just us" of in a "cabin" in the woods.

It has been wonderful to be back with the kids. Our daughters-in-laws are gracious ladies and good mothers, and we love them. Both of our sons and their wives work closely together especially at church. I have already been to two women's activities, as well as worship services and homegroups, and our kids have been right in the middle of it all, as Josh preaches and Micah leads worship.

It is a nice church, some call it of the Emerging Church style. Lots of friendly young people, and also a few folks our age. As Scott Ramin put it, "I am glad to see you back Eddie, now I'm not the oldest one in the church anymore!"

The congregation has grown since we left in November. They focus on community, which can keep one busy, but makes one feel a part of a family, and that is something we are used to in Mexico.

Speaking of Mexico, I find myself checking all of our friends blogs to keep up on what is happening there. I guess I spend too much time on the computer. That is a comment on how I am doing. We still need to get into a routine that will care for our bodies and hearts.

Too often the computer, and some video about the tragedies going on in Myanmar and China takes my time away from the Word. The rain discourages getting out and walking, although yesterday I found that an umbrella makes pleasant a quiet walk with the Lord.

Specific prayer requests:

1) my health and survival in menopause

2)We desire to use our time effectively while here, especially in relationships, and building ourselves spiritually.

3) That the Ixtayutla region freed from its spiritual bondage

4) Please pray that the Lord strengthen us physically and spiritually as we rest and prepare to return to Oaxaca in October.

I posted these photos for the family and friends who would like to see more photos of the kids, here is the latest album. http://picasaweb.google.com/Sweetaabuelita/FamilyPictures

On the road again, in Mexico

2008-04-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

"On the road again..."

Everytime we set out we sing that Willie Nelson song, and when we pulled out onto the deserted Cacalote street at 5:00 in the morning, and then on to the "Costera" (the narrow winding road/highway that leads up the Oaxacan coast) Angie joined in singing from the narrow backseat of our little Toyota 4x4 pickup.

It was such a pleasure to have Angie with us. God is so gracious to give us family when we are so far from home. Traveling in their bigger Ford F150 4x4 pickup, Drs. Dave and Mary Kay had Bertha, and Tina (a friend from near Guadalajara)with them .

It was a pleasant two days, driving up the Pacific Mexican coast, especially when we reached Michoacan State. Here we are on one of the many deserted beaches examining sea turtle tracks and nests.

Turtle tracks!

"Guadalajara, Guadalajara..."

That's another favorite song of ours, sung by mariachis, and we played it as we drove into this great city!

Many of you don't know that Eddie and I lived in Guadalajara to study Spanish. We got to stay in a hotel in our old neighborhood! It was fun to see the old sights!

Whenever we get the chance, we take our friends to Tonala, a suburb of Guadalajara where much of the amazing art sold around Mexico is made. Pottery, glass, stone and marble, as well as paper art and tin and wood...and at the best prices!

Our favorite destination is Don Jose Bernabe's gallery and pottery. Bernabe's work is amazingly expensive! I asked him one day, "who buys your work?" He told me that most was sold in Europe and the USA, "governors and presidents..." You can see examples of the pottery online!
http://www.altamex.de/index.php/language/uk/cat/c25_Jos--Bernabe.html

If you would like to see some idea of what Tonala is like, this is the town website http://www.tonala.gob.mx/artesanos/iniciales/a-barro.php.htm

Mary Kay and Bertha watching one of Don Jose's sons applying petatillo (fine stripes that cross) to a pot.

Dave and Eddie listening to Daniel Bernabe talk about their 5 generations of famous pottery.

Soon we were headed toward Nayarit, and the rest were headed for Laredo and points north in the USA. Soon we passed out of Jalisco State and into Nayarit, and then the town of Cofradia where our daughter's family lives.

Cofradia and Mojocautla

We arrived during the chili harvest, and everywhere you went there was the warm sight and smell of chilis drying in the sun.

Up in "Mojo"

Jay and Faith, as you may know, have moved their family up to the village of Mojocautla, about 40 minutes from their home in Cofradia. Please note that the house may be made out of mud and sticks, but it has the fastest internet connection we have had in Mexico via satellite!

They are there to learn the Cora language, and so the children are enrolled in the bilingual Spanish-Cora school next to the Mojocautla house.

Isaiah was sick the day I took these photos, but here is Elisabeth leaving for school, and with her friends and other Cora students. This school is the best they have attended in Mexico. It has won awards and Elisabeth reports that..."the teachers are very dedicated!"

Faith reading to Kai up in the "Mojo" house

Back in Cofradia...

We stayed at their home and played with the kids and rested. Here is Isaiah 12 1/2 years with Kai 9 months. Elisabeth is 10 1/2. The two older kids are great readers (Elis is very fast) and bilingual (and quickly learning Cora). I am impressed that they do all their schoolwork in Spanish! Faith is taking a break from homeschooling right now.

Faith with her best friend Pola, who should be delivering her fourth child (and first boy!) any moment now.

Mazatlan, Sinaloa

We left Cofradia right after church Sunday morning and drove to Mazatlan where we hung out and enjoyed a little local color...

baby in a sling, actually in my pareo

Mexican corn...roasted or boiled, served with lime and salt, on the stick or in a cup.

We had a great dinner on a lovely plaza in an old district of Mazatlan, not far from where Jay and Faith lived 14 years ago when they were in YWAM.

We left the next morning and headed for the border...you don't take pictures at the border anymore. We did see Border Patrol van deliver some would-be illegal immigrants at the border, carrying their things in clear plastic bags and holding the straps that had bound their wrists...sigh.

For some reason it was hard to leave Mexico, it always is. No matter how much we miss our Washington children and grandchildren, we love Mexico, and Mexicans. He has given us hearts for Mexico, and vision for what He wants to do through while we are there...

but that is another blog.

La Boda -- The Wedding

2008-04-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I am sure you saw this coming! Those of you who have been to Misión Victoria and worked with Laura, or have taken classes with David will surely want to see the pictures!

When finally it was time for me to hand my clipboard and pharmacy inventory over to Sarah, I was more than ready. I spent the next 2 weeks helping out a little in the clinic, helping with Laura’s many wedding details, and physically began to recuperate from the previous 4 months.

La Novia y el Novio- The Bride and Groom

The beautiful bride

Laura came to Roca Blanca in 1991 to help with the establishment of the ministry of Misión Victoria. A Registered Nurse, her ministry focused on opening areas closed to the gospel, and the medical outreaches into unreached areas were second only to the intense prayer that proceeded Laura and her teams’ contact. Over 70,000 people have been served by her ministry over the years.

David with son Nathan and daughter Miriam before the wedding

David has been a missionary to Spain, and a pastor as well as a itinerant missionary here in the states. Currently he is teaching at Christian School in upper New York State. We first met him earlier this year when he led a group of his high school students to Oaxaca this February. He is well loved for his crazy sense of humor. His subjects are music and Spanish.

After their honeymoon they will be going back to New York so David can complete the school year, and Laura can spend sometime away from the clinic, just being a wife. They will return to serve together at Misión Victoria. David has much to give the worship school, and hopefully develop further the vision for a Spanish language center at the base.

Lupe and Ann making last minute invitations

During the last week I have thought about you as I watched so many people work together to make the wedding happen in the true Mexican style. That includes: hand delivered, often handmade, invitations, purchasing and personalizing “recuerdos” (gifts given out to all the guests), obtaining the cows, butchering, digging a pit for the Mexican barbacoa, and baking 74 separate cakes which were to be placed on each table.

Angie helping me do the last minute shopping for the rehearsal dinner

Lasagna and lots of roasted garlic
Friday night I prepared the rehearsal dinner. My week was filled with lists and shopping, and lots of helpers. Saturday morning the base property was covered with teams for set up, flowers, decorations, cutting open coconuts and making the coconut water that was served.

Sarah serving lasagna

Linda Andrus, Dr. Ross and Linda Taylor and Ann Classen at the Rehearsal dinner

Misa helping with the decorations

Arranging dozens of flower baskets to line the aisle

Padrinos

Because Laura is so greatly loved by everyone, she was assisted in cash and practical gifts of service by churches and individuals from all over Oaxaca, and the U.S.A. There was even a patient who cut and delivered wood for the barbacoa.

wedding cakes were in every refridgerator on the base

Also very important are the Padrinos, who pay for the cake, the rings and other specific items. Eddie and I were padrinos de pastel, along with Ann and Ralph, and Vicky (the baker) (remember, there were 74 cakes!) Drs. Dave and Mary Kay were padrinos de anillos (the rings). It was a great honor to be part of the wedding for someone we love so much!

Little Princesses

Hani is one of my favorite little girls, when she walked she picked up her skirt and carried it just like Cinderella did in the movie that she has watched so many times!

The five little flower girls almost stole the show

La Boda

Laura's brother Leonard walking her down the aisle

Mexican weddings can go long, that's why they let the couple sit down....

Rebecca wasn't the only flower girl who fell asleep

Wearing the wedding lasso

I am afraid that I cannot represent for you all the specifics of the wedding. There were many Mexican elements, like the “lasso” and pillows given to couple for to represent their prayer life together. The service was about 2 hours long. There was worship and a very personal message from Duane Kershner, the founder of Misión Victoria.

"Beso, beso..."

Duane forgot to tell them to kiss before he sent them back down the aisle as husband and wife, so every now and then throughout the reception people would begin to chant, “Beso, beso…” (kiss, kiss…) and then after they kissed, the chant changed to “Otra, otra…” (another, another…).

It was a lovely night, so much rejoicing! For me the loveliest part was when David sang to Laura “Here, There and Everywhere”. We all just stood and watched and held on to our husbands and wives, it was very touching.

Well that was more than I intended to write. The following morning at 5:00 A.M. , Eddie, Angie and I, plus Dave, Mary Kay and Bertha, headed north back to our homes. I am writing this from our daughter’s home in Nayarit.

But that is another story.

READ MORE ABOUT THE WEDDING: www.jebojang.com or http://sarahbethcooper.blogspot.com or http://danbimartin.blogspot.com

Revisiting Chiapas

2008-03-31T16:10:00.000-07:00

Eddie, Dr. Mary Kay, Bertha, and our good friend Ralph Classen left this morning for Chiapas. I am afraid I forgot to give Eddie the camera, and as he is a great editor, but not a writer, I will send you the blog address for Mary Kay when she reports on the trip. However, some of you were not receiving our newsletter when we went to Chiapas a couple years ago, so I thought I would share some of our adventure, last time...

Misty mountain dwellings in Nueva Ybaho

19 March 2006

Recollections of Chiapas, and Gratitude

Chiapas As you may know Eddie and I spent several days with Dr. Angelica and her husband Dan traveling. We went to the southernmost state of Chiapas, and then also spent a few days in Oaxaca City.

Chiapas is almost always described as one of the most beautiful, richest in natural resources, and the poorest of all the states in Mexico. I had meant to do more research for you, but busyness and weariness prevailed, and all I have for you is what I saw…and what I feel.

Spending time among indigenous groups here and with the simple campesinos where our daughter and her family live, we take poverty in stride. Actually I don’t even think much about poverty, it is just reality that people are undernourished and have little. They sell handicrafts or work fields for pesos. They walk for miles, sometimes days, to gather sticks to haul on their backs or burros for their cooking fires. Their clothes, even their brightly and intricately adorned huipeles are worn for weeks on end, dirty and worn, because they have no others. Their feet are bare, wide and calloused from walking the trails deep with dust, and rough with rocks. If they have sandals they are held together with twine.

There is a difference we see between the Christian Mixtecs and the people who come to us with their illness and pain at our mountain clinics. In the Christians we see smiles and industry and purpose. In the others we see hopelessness; lately we have seen depression…and now, that we have been to Chiapas, we have seen fear.

Las Abejas
In the mountains of Chiapas, among the indigenous Tzotzil we met a different kind of people. Las Abejas, the bees, are a group of Tzotzil that like other indigenous of the region, are fighting for their land and their lives. They are descended from the ancient Mayas and have been in these mountains for many centuries.

Sign at the entrance to the Zapatista village, the las line states, "Here the people command and the government obeys".

Unlike the Zapatistas, the Bees have sought to change the situation with non-violence, education and public awareness. Poor as they are they have internet and a computer and they reach out to the world, as have the Zapatistas, with their cause.

Our guide to Chiapas, Angelica’s husband Dan, has worked for many years with an organization called Jubilee Economic Ministries. He introduced us to this misty green world, decorated with bright red coffee berries and distinctively dressed women with colorful ribbons in their hair and their local style of huipiles.

He gave us a little of their history. Embracing the gospel of peace, taught by a priest who has since been sent from their region, sympathetic with the Zapatista goals, the Bees have suffered greatly. If you search recent history, and the internet you will learn how on December 22, 1997 at the church in Acteal, a group of mostly women and children that had gathered to pray for peace, and presumably their rights, were attacked by a paramilitary group.

Chapel where Acteal massacre occurred

At least 45 were killed that day, others injured. They say that throughout the little villages they could hear the gunfire. As we walked through the mist and mud from house to house to treat the sick, we could imagine how the sound must have shattered the silence.

Eddie preparing for bed

Our weekend in the mountains We slept in little houses made of wood, 1 x 12’s with one inch gaps so you could see out, their were no windows. Kitchens were separate buildings with a cooking fire of sticks on the ground in a corner. There was no other escape for the smoke except for the door which was kept closed against the cold and the rain, and so as you gratefully sat at the long table with your hot, just slightly sweet coffee and tortillas, the smoke permeated your clothes and hair.

Me brushing my teeth, wearing everything I had brought to try to keep warm

Our hosts were the leaders of the villages. Their president, Augustino, along with different town representatives accompanied us through the villages, and into each home translating and demonstrating remarkable compassion for each individual.

Some of the women who fed us

Beautiful dark faces, and smiles, most of the men spoke Spanish. As we ate together over a thin soup with a chicken leg, and perhaps a potato, they spoke of their children and the hardship of obtaining education. If they can afford it they send them to other villages, which are ruled by the PRI party, or to the city San Cristobal de las Casas. Their children suffer discrimination daily from teachers and students alike because they are from The Bees communities.

Abejas radio, unregistered station to the Abejas standing for the rights of the mountain people.

Dan as a representative of a Christian human rights organization was presented with the latest dream to have their own secondary school. It would be a school where PRI and Zapatista students could be taught along with the Bees, without discrimination.

Dan, Dr. Angelica with Catalina and her family

Before I conclude please let me share just a few more snapshots of our weekend among the Bees. We met Catalina, a young woman who was in the church when the Acteal Massacre occurred. She has had many surgeries to try to restore some function to her right leg, her sciatic nerve severely damaged by a bullet. She carries many other bullet scars on her body.

A woman with a sick baby came running down the road as we started to leave, Sabino met her and translated for us.

We met Sabino, a very young man with a family, who serves his people as a healthcare worker. He accompanies village people to the city and translates for them at their hospital appointments. He had a list of appointments for “massacre victims” on his calendar. He runs a small clinic, receiving no income from the government, only the aid of his neighbors whom he serves. He was with us on a house call, as we returned to our car, he saw a woman carrying a baby running toward us, “the baby has been sick with bad diarrhea!” Angelica examined the baby there in the road, and I dug into the mini-mobile pharmacy I had packed to see what little we had left.

We treated Nicolas who for years has suffered surgeries including a cystostomy to deal with the results of a near fatal accident that shattered his pelvis. He told us in Tzotzil how he had been fasting asking God to let him get rid of the bag that he had with him all the time and urinate normally, or let him die. As Augustino translated for Nicolas, he seemed to be broken hearted over the plight of this man. “Please, please, if you know of any one who can come and help him.”

We made a quick visit to MayaVinic, the headquarters of the fair trade coffee cooperative that the Bees run. We also went further up the mountain to visit the Bees clandestine, or rather, unregistered, radio station and gave our greeting to the listeners.

Another world It was a whirlwind tour of a world I might not even have read about. It was odd how the reality of what had happened there, and what these people are still suffering as a displaced people driven from their ancestral home could not penetrate my heart. My people have never lived in one location for much longer than 15 or 20 years. We have never suffered attack. We have never lived with the constant fear of strangers with guns breaking into our homes. My mind would not grasp it.

As I stretched out on my bed in my room here in Roca Blanca, my body clean from my cold shower, I sighed. How good to be in my own bed. As the air conditioner droned on my mind began a litany of “thank you’s” to God.

I am thankful for the privilege of sleeping on boards in a remote mountain village, for the opportunity to walk in the rain and mud and see things I could not have imagined. I am so grateful for a clean hotel room, a hot shower, clean sheets, and strong antibiotics to combat the consequences of our adventure, and a steaming bowl of comforting herb tea.

”The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked has no such concern.” Proverbs 29:7

I also am thankful for things that should not only be available to us who live in a rich western culture. I am challenged to pray and consider what part believers should play in obtaining justice for the poor. I did a quick search on my computer concordance found many scriptures about justice.

In my mind, obedience to what God has spoken to each of us individually to do is paramount, but when it comes to prayer, I cannot close my eyes and call myself innocent when I have not sought the heart of God about how I will care for the poor, and fulfill Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair….

March 31, 2008

It is Monday night at Roca Blanca. As we wait for news from Eddie that they have safely met up with Dan, a ministry team from the Bible school here has returned from Chiapas.

They just gave us exciting reports of God's move on the young people ages 12-15 at the church where they brought teaching and ministry. One of the team reported overhearing a child only 8 or 9 year crying out to God, "Lord, teach me how to serve you!"

I look forward to our team's return, and report!

Strength to the weary

2008-03-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, …Isaiah 40:28

This has been an interesting couple of weeks. Expressions like “burn-out” and “culture shock” and “hitting the wall” have been used between some of us, and also “just plain exhaustion.” All the same when Troy, Cheryl and the 5 nursing students from ORU arrived, I found myself revived. Troy has led this team for 10 years, and he has become a special friend. Cheryl was the instructor/leader of this particular group, which as always was remarkable in their willingness to serve and dedication to the Lord.

Disappointments turned to praise

We were excited as we headed for El Mosco. The plan was to hold our first clinics in San Lucas and La Cuchara. People from these towns had traveled long miles to reach us during previous clinics, but we had never been to their villages.

It turned out that the authorities of the each town decided that they did not want us coming. We were rather disappointed, but were able to change our plans to include Xineyuba and Ixtayutla. Both of these towns have in recent years rejected and even repelled the presence of evangelical teams.

In Xineyuba we rarely get permission to photograph people, so I usually take pictures from behind

Carmela (missionary), Troy and Laura interviewing patient

For myself, I did not feel the excitement going to these towns, as I had anticipated breaking new ground in San Lucas and La Cuchara. But the work was good. The students were wonderful, and we saw many patients. The doctors some some interesting cases, and students Brittany, Noma, and Thomas worked hard with Sarah in the pharmacy while I handed out the meds and gave instruction through my translator Saul.

Dr. Dave interviewing a patient in an unfinished house in Xineyube

After the children helped pick up all the garbage around the clinic, Bertha had them all wash their hands, then handed out cookie. We were so blessed that they pitched in to help without the promise of reward.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

At the end of the last day, we returned back to our base. We were planning to leave the next morning before dawn so Bertha and Mary Kay enlisted all the children to help clean up the grounds. Meanwhile I helped Dr. Dave remove a cyst from the toe of a lady from Llano Verde. I bandaged her foot and provided her with her medications and bandage supplies while Dave went to find some dinner.

Soon we were all enjoying a wonderful meal prepared by Dalia our cook. I plopped myself down by the kitchen door, trying to inconspicuously feed my favorite dog “Lobo”.

Suddenly it seemed to me, all the local church people had joined us. Mary Kay, Dave, and Troy were at the far side of the patio with the adults. Mixteco translators went back and forth helping the Spanish translators Elisabeth and Bertha. Laura ran to and fro doing it all. At the same time, the near side of the patio had filled with children.

Noma, a nursing Senior originally from Swaziland painting fingernails

To my left Ashley was singing a Spanish Bible song to the twins (Alicia and Victoria) and Camila. I watched their faces, for what seemed like a long time, and marveled at their beauty. To my right Noma was painting little fingernails; the tiny hands were spread out before her as the girls crowded in. Thomas and Martina were playing Frisbee with the boys. The whole place was filled with laughter and love.

As I walked through the crowd, I still felt the numbness of exhaustion…

Then I realized that someone was asking me about medications. I found my headlamp, secured it around my ponytail, and started mixing Amoxicillin suspension in the dark.

Finally all the people started to leave, Miguel and Andrea, Primo and Francisca, Inez and Maria, Rufina and Pablo, and all those children. “Nos vemos en la boda!” (I’ll see you at the wedding!”) I called to each as they disappeared up the hill, into the dark.

Then it was time for a quick meeting. If we were to beat the road construction crew and avoid a 3 to 6 hour delay, we would have to get up at 4 A.M. and leave at 5 A.M. So we spent the next hour in feverish packing and cleaning. We finally got to bed at around 10 P.M.

Comfort, comfort my people

Saturday morning after we returned to the base we had a “debriefing”. We admitted to our exhaustion, and to disappointments. But as we reviewed all that we had seen God do, we recognized how gracious and how faithful He had been. We saw that He arranged circumstances in such a way that our hearts’ desire to see people’s live touched was realized time and time again.

Maria and Raul. Many years ago I met Raul when he threw rocks at me. Later that day he and his mother received Christ. They came out to help with the outreach to Xineyuba and Ixtayutla.

Not only did 18 individuals choose to follow Christ during this outreach, we also saw one person healed through prayer. We saw evidence of changed lives when some who had received the Lord in years’ past outreaches came and joined in the work.

Can you see the twins, Alicia and Victoria, their little sister Marisol is the little one in the front.

Suffer the little children to come

But the most wonderful part of our debriefing for me was when we talked about the children and how open they were, and how responsive. Those of us who have been coming back year after year have seen these little ones grow up and change. Some of the growth is physical, but we see so much more than that.

Sometimes people say that short-term work is not a good use of your time and money. But I have heard the testimony of Mexican Christians whose lives were changed by Americans who came to their town, and played with them as children.

Those of you who have over the years come to El Mosco and played with the children, I want to encourage you. The loving, the smiles, the time you have given to these little ones are preparing the soil of their hearts to receive the seed and produce good fruit.

Elodia helping prepare for weaving

Work hard, play hard, trust harder

2008-03-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I had better get a blog done as we are currently waiting for the next group to arrive, and we leave for El Mosco on Monday.

Surgical Campaign

When I last wrote we were finishing up our surgical campaign. We saw 4 patients, only one of which was a cleft palate patient.

I was hoping to have a good before and after picture of little Gisela, 14 months old. But when she came back to the clinic a week after the surgery the wound on the left had opened after the stitches dissolved. I didn’t feel that I should take a picture of her scabbed lip. Hopefully I will be able to show you a picture of her healed face one day.

Mary Kay assisting Chili while Dr. Dave looks on. This was my first opportunity to serve as circulating nurse in a cleft lip surgery, it was fascinating!

Everyone is rejoicing
Beside the surgeries, we rejoiced at one particular event that took place when our surgeon, Dr. Chili was with us. He and I got to visit between surgeries on Sunday and he told me a little about his spiritual search.

The next morning when he came to see his patients here at the clinic, we were informed that he and his friends were going out to the beach. They were going to baptize Chili! The previous night, just after the last surgery, Chili had an important conversation with Dr. Terri and his friend Mark. Chili made the decision to follow Christ, or as we say in Spanish “entregarse a Cristo” (which expresses better the act of surrendering one’s life).

It was exciting to us all who have worked with Chili to be able to witness his baptism. After Mark and Terri dunked him under, they grabbed their surfboards and tried to catch a few waves before they flew back to the States.

Right here Chili is telling Pastor Florentino (who had minor surgery on Saturday), "I really feel new!" as Eddie and Dr. Mary Kay look on.

Playa Sol Beach Club

Eddie and I have tried very hard to relax and recover from 8 weeks of teams and outreaches. We spent two days at the Playa Sol beach club, just swimming, reading and playing backgammon (surprise, I won most of the time!)

Do you notice how tan we are? We arrive back in Washington in May, it will probably be faded before we can wear shorts again.

Despedida de Soltera (farewell to singleness)

Wednesday I hosted a Bridal Shower for Laura. It was very well attended. But I forgot that Mexican’s tend to arrive late for events, and I didn’t help by not letting everyone know about a change of location.

So when only a few women had arrived, I saw that Dr. Mary Kay was accompanying Laura to the place where we were to surprise her. Eddie helped us out by faking an injury. When Mary Kay and Laura examined Eddie’s "sprained ankle", Mary Kay said he needed some ice. When Laura went to the clinic to get ice, she met a “real” patient who was suffering from asthma.

In the 45 minutes that Laura took to care for the patient all the rest of the guests arrived, and we were able to pull off the surprise!

Eddie miraculously recovered from his injury shares in the "surprise!"

Rachel dressed up in a wedding dress made of toilet paper!

Lord let me be like Abraham
Today has been interesting. The last few days I have been carrying a weight of concern about my family in California, among other worries. I was feeling burned out and tired in spite of our times of rest. On top of that my computer suddenly started going bad.

This morning, Bob, one of our wonderful computer geeks gave me the bad news that my hard-drive was dying. (I remember commenting, " if only that were my only problem.") So Bob and I walked over and talked to Berna, and Berna pulled a brand-new hard drive out of his desk, a hard drive with twice as much space as my bad one!

Then I walked into another office and told my friends Rachel (see above) and Dambi that God had solved my computer problems quickly, “I wish that the other concerns could be solved too!” Rachel said, “Can we pray for you?” And pray they did.

This ended out to be a great day. Bob had my computer up and running before lunch and the Lord moved greatly on my heart and lifted the burden. He spoke a word from Romans 4:17-21 into my heart while the ladies were praying.

"He (Abraham) is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead.

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."

Abraham has long been my hero in faith. And I am reminded that when I can see no answer or solution, I can admit it, but recognize that God is in control and He will bring a solution that I cannot yet imagine. I will continue to give glory to God!

New Staff
No, this isn't the flying nun, it's Elisabeth. Elisabeth and her husband Joseph have just arrived to work with the clinic and other Roca Blanca ministries through August. The fancy hat is what we had to wear in surgery.

Also with Elisabeth, Sarah here will be taking my job with the pharmacy through July. Here she is working late, sitting next to me as we work on our medication order for the next outreach.

Oral Roberts University Nursing Missions Class
Another group from ORU just arrived. We will be heading out to El Mosco for 3 days of clinics. With them is Troy, who we look forward to seeing every year.

Well, good-night. This letter may suggest that prayer is very appreciated. Thank you to all of you who pray so faithfully.

Worth writing about, February 28, 2008

2008-03-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

It is Thursday, we just got back, we start a surgical campaign on Saturday and I don’t want to forget what we just did, so here goes. We said good bye to high school students and the next day greeted 12 people from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. All but a few were our age or older. Quite a difference!

Back to the Itayutla region again. The cars made it all the way, but one didn’t make it back. We held clinics and children's programs for 3 days: Pueblo Viejo, Itayutla and a new village, Caña Muerta, while half of the group helped with the building project of the new Bible school in Pueblo Viejo.

Caña Muerta
This was our first visit to Caña Muerta. Before we started work, I walked away from the adobe where we set up the clinic to take this picture. One Mixteco mother shielded her little girl from me, afraid that I would take her picture. My Mixteco does not include, “Don’t worry, I am not going to take your picture.” I was distressed that I caused the mother to fear. Hence, this is the only picture I took.

The people were wary of us, and slow to come. Brother Florentino has been visiting here, and the town’s president made the invitation for us to hold clinic. Bit by bit people arrived. When the toys and gifts came out, they became bolder. By the end of the day Bertha had the children gathered around her singing, “Jesus yo te amo” (Jesus I love you) in Mixteco.

The spiritual care team spoke with many people and seven people prayed to receive Christ, including the village president. Before we left we all held hands and sang and prayed in Mixteco, Spanish, and finally English. As we left rejoicing, Bertha called out, “This is no longer Caña Muerta (dead cane), but Caña Viva!”

Delivered from out fears!

That night we arrived back in our El Mosco base early and every one got a shower. We ate and began to wonder where the construction team was. Just before 9:00 P.M .Laura made a phone call and was informed that the team had left in Stewart’s SUV around 6:00 P.M. They should have returned before 7:00!

Anyone of you who have driven around the Ixtayutla area, or out to Pueblo Viejo, know how winding and narrow the roads are, and also how steep the cliffs are. Two of the women there with us had husbands on that team, and one a son. The prayer was fervent and loud, and somewhat desperate.

Immediately, as we conjectured all that could have happened, the rest of us collected tools and a chain for towing, meds, sheets and equipment for trauma care, and sent for a Mixteco translator. Laura and all the able body men, including two doctors headed out in the dark. Eddie stood in the back of Bob’s pick-up with a high-powered flashlight scanning the steep drop-offs.

Mary Kay held on to one of the walkie-talkies and we received reports as the search team, collected information from the various individuals they passed on the road. They found out that the car was abandoned by the entrance to Pueblo Viejo, but no one had seen the men. Then, probably no more than 5 to 10 minutes later, Laura’s voice said, “They are all here, they’re all safe!”

Then we listened as the men spoke back and forth to each other towing Stewart's crippled car back to our base; no easy feat in the dark on those boulder riddled, narrow roads. And soon they arrived back at our El Mosco Clinic/base.

They had broken down and were waiting by the road for us to pass on our way home from the clinic, but as we had left early, we never came. Finally, they had started walking. We felt like they had been delivered, but I guess what really happened is that WE were delivered from our fears. It was an interesting night, with a real sense that the darkness was trembling, again.

The Lord renewed our strength
This outreach, following so closely after the Lima Christian School trip, proved to be a tremendous victory for me. I was tempted to fear that I would not have the strength. But on the contrary, I had more energy than I have had in a long time. And because I was there I saw God do many wonderful things, and answer many of my prayers.

Pueblo Viejo clinics have often worn me to tears of exhaustion. It has been an area with much opposition and oppression. However, as we packed the cars, the local people surrounded us, they seemed to be reaching out to us, almost in friendship.

A couple years ago Modesto, quite drunk, had physically tried to prevent us from passing on his property to the church. But this evening, he chatted amiably with Eddie, and then translated from Mixteco to Spanish as a neighbor brought her sick baby to us. He shared with Eddie that he no longer gets drunk. He proudly introduced his little boys to us. He allowed us to pray for him before we left. I asked God to give him a “good name” among his people, I also prayed that he would be known as a man of God.

Before and after other outreaches, always there is El Mosco
Nothing inspires my writing like good pictures, a good story and a good flesh wound! I got great picture of the morning that half of the medical team stayed back at the clinic while the other half went out to set up in Ixtayutla. Sometime we have so many patients at El Mosco that we have a hard time making our schedule with other locations. Sometimes the people who come are locals and can come back later, other times they have traveled several kilometers on foot.

This mother came from Llano Escondido, with her very sick baby and a 15 year old son with a seriously injured foot. Here Bertha is translating from Spanish to English, the Mixteco translator is out of the picture.

As is often the case, we spent most of our time undoing the damage that the local mountain remedy had caused. Here the boy had cut his foot. The family couldn't get the bleeding to stop (we don't know if they applied direct pressure) and so they took a rag, set it on fire and applied the burning rag to the wound to stop the bleeding. It worked, but also caused a painful burn. Dr. Mary Kay had to anesthetize the wound and debried it before we could dress the cut.

It turned out that the young man had heard the gospel before and was ready to pray to receive Christ.

Irina filling prescriptions off of our truck before we left for Ixtayutla

From behind the Iron Curtain
The next great blessing was working with Irina. She is a nurse who came with her husband Valary, Ukrainian immigrants to the U.S. Getting to know Irina was thrilling to me. Her father had been imprisoned in the USSR for his faith before she was born.

I loved working with her, she was so competent, and had such a desire to understand and speak with the people. By the end of our clinics she was pulling a little paper with Spanish expressions out of her pocket, and speaking to our Mixteco translator Apolonia.

Apolonia, Irina, me and Jori in Ixtayutla

Stephanie and Jori using puppets to teach about dehydration

Dr. Brian setting a broken arm for Bonifacio in Ixtayutla, Pastor Carmela assisting

The team was lead by Dr. Brian and Stephanie Kidman., Their missions and life experiences reflected our own in many ways, and that was so comforting to me. Dr. Brian saw patients, along with Drs. Dave and Mary Kay, and between them we gave away a lot of medicine, as we saw about 150 patients.

First Assemby of God, Souix Falls, South Dakota
Some of the team member were in their 70’s. They were on the prayer team working with brother Florentino. They kept very busy. After the outreach we spent some time recreating with them, including a bird-watching trip on the Manialtepec Lagoon.

They were a very encouraging group. I am sorry that I don't have any pictures of the team that went out to Pueblo Viejo and worked on the construction team Larry, Steve, Valari, Stewart, nor of the prayer team, Bill, Adrian June and Susan, nor of Jaina who so faithful took vitals for patients she couldn't talk to because of the language barrier.

Their church puts a very high priority on missions, foreign and home missions. A church of about 800 people with a missions budget averaging $325,000, pretty impressive! We were invited to visit them whenever we can, and I hope that we will this fall.

God bless you with hearts for the Lost

As I close, I am reminded that there could be some of our readers who long for the opportunity to come and see the ripe fields of the Mixteco or Chatino people. You are reaching the unreached in your town and neighborhood, but feel drawn to the "uttermost parts". Truly it is a life changing experience to be out of your comfort zone, and to listen to God speak of His love to the unreached.

One last image....we wanted to get out early on Thursday morning to make a house call, and what did we find blocking the driveway and gate....a red pick-up. I was told that the driver had come at 3 A.M in the morning to bring his sick child to the witchdoctor up the road and had left the car there. So....many hands make light work...well not quite, but they were able to lift the truck and push it out of the way!

In and out of the mountains

2008-02-23T08:40:00.003-08:00

About an hour before we left for El Mosco with the Lima Christina School group, as I was sending my last blog to you, I asked Angie, “when does the next group come?” And she said, “Saturday, you get back from the mountains on Friday, and leave again on Sunday.”

So it is Saturday morning, I get up early to watch the sunrise, read Oswald Chambers, then I make coffee. The med shopping is already done for the next trip and I am doing the laundry so we can pack. We left most of the mobile clinic, plus our tents locked up in the El Mosco clinic. We pick up the new group around 3:30 this afternoon.

This morning we plan to go and rest by a nice pool, as soon as we get off our computers.

Car troubles
We took 5 vehicles loaded with people, gear and supplies. Halfway up the mountains we had car trouble and had to load the kids into the back of an open truck and Eddie and I accompanied the crippled truck down the mountain. Halfway back the driveshaft broke in half, here is Isidro and Eddie removing it. Isidro drove to a safe place to store it without difficulty in 4-wheel drive, only using the front two wheels.

Llano Verde

We saw nearly 80 patients in Llano Verde while the students helped distribute food and toys and played with the children.

You might be familiar with these boxes of high protein meals by now, which are loaded here on the burro. Again we were told by the doctors, the greatest problem here is malnutrition. We left what we had left of the "dispensa" with the president of the town to distribute to the most needy.

Jeff and Maureen Leathersich, a Physician’s Assistant and nurse who spent 2 years working on a medical boat on the Amazon joined our medical team. They were great. Maureen was the most experienced help I have ever had and she made everything go so smoothly. They can come back any day!

We got back late and, as always, had patients waiting for us in El Mosco. God gave us a special blessing with a total lunar eclipse! In the dark of the moon, the stars shined brighter than usual, it was amazing. Sorry, no picture.

Pueblo Viejo and El Mosco
The next day we arrived late to Pueblo Viejo due to more patients, and one very sick pneumonia patient in El Mosco. In Pueblo Viejo the students did a program for the children, made balloon animals and played with the kids as before.

Dr. Dave examining a young patient, who was unusually cooperative!

When we arrived back to El Mosco, we found a man who had been carried in a hammock lying on the ground on a blanket waiting for us. We ran over two liters of I.V. fluids and gave antibiotics for pneumonia, probable sepsis and likely liver disease. He and his family spent the night.

In order get out of El Mosco we awoke very early, packed and left before sunrise. The doctors and Laura carried the patient and his family in the back of their truck and he was received at the hospital in Jamiltepec.

As we drove out of El Mosco we encountered a couple walking up the drive way, at 6:45 in the morning. I opened the window and said, "regresamos el domingo en la tarde!" (We are coming back Sunday afternoon) The needs are so great!

We arrived at Roca Blanca just after noon and we saw the team to the bus terminal that evening. It was a great time. We really enjoyed getting know Dave Nelson. We really didn’t want him to leave. But he will be back soon….in time for his wedding April 12th!

Afterwards, Drs. Dave and Mary Kay, Laura, Eddie and I talked over a light meal and some yummy frozen mochas. We love the little family God has given us here.

Please keep praying

So, tomorrow we leave for El Mosco again. We will be with a medical, construction and children’s ministry team. Please pray for us.

We get back on Thursday and on Saturday and Sunday we will be holding cleft lip surgeries…phew!

Thank you for your continued prayers!