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I am sitting in my kitchen waiting for my Christmas cookies to come out of the oven, with a fan on at full blast. On the houses around town there are Christmas lights and people making plans to celebrate Christ’s birth. I am amazed that Christmas time once again is here. I am surprised that I have already been in Ecuador for five months. So much has happened that I haven’t even had time to realize that time is passing.
This past weekend we were busy non stop. On Saturday we held a Christmas party for all the kids in our church and the kids in the countryside that we have been ministering to. We spent most of last week sitting in the entryway to the mayor’s office. We had asked the mayor and another high up political person if they would donate toys for us to give to the kids, since the kids we work with most of them most likely will not receive Christmas presents this year. We had received some of the toys (30), but we kept going back to see if the rest of the toys had arrived. To our dismay they didn’t come through. So the day before the party we paid someone to drive us to the neighboring town to buy 60 more toys. Friday night (10:30-12:00) we hung up balloons, streamers, put out chairs and made sure the toys were sorted between the girls and the boys. Early Saturday morning we picked up the cake and rice with chicken (five different women in the church made the rice for us). Then we waited for the kids to arrive. We had about 100 people show up; about 30 of those were parents. We had wanted to have a clown for our party, but the people we had asked couldn’t do it. So last minute I was the one leading songs and games (and no I didn’t dress up as a clown). I was suddenly really grateful for all the times that I had done the VBS songs in Costa Rica two years ago. I pulled out my CD with the songs and suddenly everything that I had planned to say with each song and the hand motions that I used in Costa Rica came flooding into my mind. Then we played musical chairs as well as other games. When I was just about to run out of ideas, in walked one of the gals we had asked to be a clown; she was dressed up as a clown. I was filled with relief. She came in and I was so happy to turn the microphone over to her. Then we served rice and cake to everyone. Then before they left we gave each kid a toys and a little bag of candy. When the kids all left we saw candy wrapped, spilled coke, rice, balloon fragments all over the floor. We swept, mopped, and then swept again (I am sure we still missed some spots). Even though at the end we were all worn out we were happy that we were able to bless kid’s lives.
Also this Saturday there was a young adults Christmas party (a mix of the people from our church and the mother church). The guys, who I have been playing music with, and I played Silent Night at the party. The violin player told me afterwards, “Jenny, I was so nervous my bow was shaking.” The sax player exclaimed, “We did it and they liked it!” It was exciting to see their excitement over playing that piece. For our Christmas Eve service (at the mother church) we are playing Silent Night, Angles We Have Heard on High, and Oh Santisimo Felicisimo (a Latin American tradition Christmas song). I hope and pray that as they continue to learn more about music, that they will teach others what they have learned.
For the past 5 years I have chosen every year a verse to focus on. Starting in December I start praying to God to direct me to what he wants to teach me during the up coming year. This past year I have been meditating on Psalms 1:2-3. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” If we want to prosper and if we want to yield fruit then we need to be planted in God’s word. It is through keeping our eyes on Jesus that we can accomplish things that last for an eternity. I have seen how true these verses are. Throughout this year there have been times when I faithfully looked to God and saw exciting results in my life as well as in the lives of others because I was able to be used by God. But there were also times that reading my Bible became something I did when I had time that also affected my life. Little things come in the way that distracts us from the source that we need to cling on to. I want to be prosperous in my life and bear fruit but I need to keep myself planted in God’s word. My prayer is that you also will be planted in the living water.
Praise
-My Sunday school class is growing (when everyone is there I have 25).
-Our Christmas Party for the kids worked out.
Prayer
-As I begin training someone else to teach Sunday school. (So that when I leave the kids still have their class)
-Most of the kids that we are reaching out to come from families that do not know Christ, pray for their salvation.
-Absalon and I are currently visiting some people who are willing to listen to us as we share the gospel with them, but they have hard hearts. Pray that God will work in their lives.
-My health (I have amoebas and a cold)
The first week of November, I helped out a medical team. A group of physicians, doctors, nurses and dentists arrived from Alabama to treat people in two little towns that are couple hours from San Carlos. OMS asked me if I would be willing to help translate for the team. The medical team was here reaching out for five days. Over all they saw between 150 and 260 patients a day. There were many others who we had to turn away because we didn´t have enough time to treat everyone that came. In the first town where we were, I translated for two dentists and a dental assistant. The dentists were just doing extractions. The dentists saw about 50 patients a day. There were people of all ages that came. There were old men who begged the dentist not to take out a specific tooth, even though it was rotten because that tooth held up his dentures. We also had 4 year old kids who came in with all four of their front teeth rotten and worn completely down that they needed them taken out so infection wouldn´t set in. Besides translating for the dentists I also held peoples hand who were nervous and wrote down information on little cards about each patient. By the end of the day I was exhausted. Then in the next town they rotated translators around and I registered the patients before the nurse and doctors saw them. In both towns the church was there to minister to the peoples spiritual needs. Many of these people had never shared their faith before and I was asked to encourage and help them out as I had time between patients. Also since the time I have update my main focus of ministry here in San Carlos has shifted a bit. I am still visiting people, but I am starting to take a more and more active role working with the church here. In our church Absalon´s wife was teaching the Sunday school class. She had kids there from 2 years old to 15 years old. She told me how there are other kids who haven´t been coming to Sunday school because it is hard to teach the little kids and the bigger kids at the same time. So we decided that it would be good to split the class in two groups. For the past three Sundays I have been teaching the older kids, from 10 to 15 years old. We set up a tent in the empty lot across the street from the church and have Sunday school out side. Some days it is nice outside, but the hot time of the year is coming. I am teaching them about Pauls ministry. I have drawn a large map of the Mediteranean and as we go along we draw on the map Paul´s location. We also sing songs and play games. It is nice to be working with junior high kids once again. Please pray that God will show me who I can bring along side me for me to teach how to teach Sunday school. The goal is that person would then take completely over when I leave in May. The other responcibility that I have now is helping a cell group. A cell group of young adults came to me a couple weeks ago and told me about some of their plans and asked if I would be willing to help them get started. They have the desire to buy tracts and Bibles to give out to people who do not have the money or access to Gods word. They also would like to take a trip up towards the Amazon river to reach out to remote areas. As a result of this passion the leader of the cell group bought a van this weekend that will hold 7 people. I have been helping them raise money. To raise money twice a month they are selling food. We sold 60 plates of rice, beans and chicken. A couple weeks ago we sold tacos. I went with the guys into town to buy the groceries for tacos. Then 5 of us made tacos. I was the one telling them how to make tacos (Other LatinAmericans DON´T eat Mexican food). We sold 65 soft tacos. (They were actually similar to a burrito supreme.) They had rice, beans, meat, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole and of course cheese. People at first didn´t seem interested in buying the tacos. But then after they tried them we had people calling us asking for more. We ended up having more clients than we had tacos. At church last night they were asking me when was the next time we were going to make tacos because they would like to buy them again. One of the things that I have really been enjoying about working with the church here in San Carlos is seeing the passion and excitement the people have for Christ. They have a clear vision of what Jesus has done for them. I have heard stories about people who were about to commit suicide and how a Christian came up to them and said what you are about to do dont do it, God loves you. A girl told me how she had told God, if you are real send someone to my house to tell me about you, and sortly afterwards someone came and shared the gospel with her. A guy told me about how God healed his back from a terrible accident. Others who have been rescued from drogs and alcoholism. These people know what it is like to live in a hard and sinful world. When they accept Christ they really choose Jesus completely. They have no desire to turn back. We also need to love God and not take for granted where God has rescued us from. We should be thankful for his salvation, so thankful that we are truly excited to tell others what he has done for us. So thankful that it shows on our faces. Do you truly appreciate what God has done in your life? Do you truly understand what an amazing gift God has given us? If not, I challenge you to search Gods Word and ask God to overwhelm you with gratefulness for what he has done in your life. May this Thanksgiving be a time to give thanks to God for not only providing good food, but to thank God for his salvation.
Praise- Our little church is moving in 2 weeks to a bigger building.Praise- The mayor is contributing 50 toys for us to give to the kids for ChristmasPrayer- Work with the kidsPrayer- We will keep spreading God´s word to othersPrayer- My future plans (I am thinking about joining OMS for a longer possition).
As we start to wind down our time here we’re finding ourselves increasingly busy with preparations for departure. There’s been many a lunch and dinner invites as well as questions on what were doing with our furniture and miscellaneous house stuff. So far almost all of it’s spoken for as either a gift or sold.
Although we have only two weeks left in our neighborhood, we still find ourselves with last minute opportunities to share.
In the past few weeks we’ve been able to show the Jesus film for kids to over 300 children in our area with the possibility of making it 400 before we leave. It’s the story of Jesus as seen through the eyes of children who might have lived during the time Jesus lived on earth. At the end, one of the children invites viewers to have faith and believe and pray their first prayer. What an awesome thing it was to hear classrooms of children from ages 6+ whisper as they repeated the prayer to ask Jesus into their lives.
At times we feel we haven’t done enough. But as we’ve been reminded, only God will truly know what he’s used us to do here. We have been extremely blessed in our last 9 1/2 months here sharing in the work of our Colombian brothers and sisters and pray God would continue to work through us as we return to Canada.
Joe & Alicia
Hola mi familia y mis amigos~
What a joy it is to be back in Colombia. I have been here for a month now and at times I can’t believe it. I can’t explain the happiness in my heart. Other than to say, I am in total awe of who God is and how real He has made Himself to me over the last 10 months. Many of you know most of the story, so I’m not going to re-tell it again, but I do want to give God all the praise.
DIOS ES MI PROVISION
My life the first two weeks was a transition once again, but oh how wonderful it has been. It has had its ups and downs, but God has been faithful through it all. I’m am so glad to have the knowledge that through the valleys and on the mountain tops…God never changes; His love is still the same & He never leaves us or forsakes us. Life my prove to be difficult but as we continue to trust in God, He will see us through to victory because His Word is true and it tells us that as children of God, we are more than victorious in Christ Jesus.
One thing I’m learning is the necessity to be real with people and to also have the proper boundary lines. People need to know how faithful God is even in the midst of the difficulties of life. He will see us through to the end and His will for our lives is nothing less than perfect.
When I first arrived, I stayed with Patrick and Rachel for a few days as I readjusted to life in Colombia. I then moved in with a wonderful family, who I have enjoyed immensely. I have two sisters and a little brother (Lizeth, Sarah, & Josue). Aldolfo and Angela are my adopted parents here. They make sure that I am well taken care of. They are also wonderful Spanish teachers. I have lots of conversations with them and learn lots of new words everyday.
Currently, I am continuing Spanish class and working with the soccer club in two neighborhoods. I also take walks around Acevedo, the neighborhood I live in, and talk with the different people I have meet and practice my Spanish. It has been a good experience building relationships with the people here. I have gained many friends in the young people around here. It’s fun to walk down the street and have all the kids yell to me and run up and greet me.
WHO KNEW ONE COULD HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH ONE DIE
I am learning so much… I don’t know where to start. The other day I went to a couple’s house from the church for lunch with a bunch of other people from the church. About 10 of us gathered around a table for about an hour of fun with only one die. I am learning that there are lots of things to do with what we already have.
I have also been learning a lot of new techniques for coaching/playing soccer. I am so amazed at how little I knew when it came to coaching/playing soccer after playing for 12 years. In which case, I am remembering that I need to be a continual student of my surroundings and learn something new everyday.
NEW PEOPLE, NEW PEOPLE, NEW PEOPLE
I am meeting new people all the time and sometimes their names are difficult to remember, but it is always fun to meet new people. I know right now you are thinking new Colombians and you are right, but I have also met a new American. Her name is Erin Ross and she is here working with the soccer club. She has been a huge encouragement to me and a wonderful friend. She is living with a family that is close friends with the family I live with.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and thoughts over the last month. It has been awesome. Some specifics that you can lift up in prayer are: For the rest of the team as they prepare to return to the states and are figuring out God’s will for their next step. For my ministry as the plan is continuing to be worked out.
Praise God that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
You each hold a special place in my heart!
Love in Christ,
Gretchen (Ana)
What fun it is to bring smiles to the faces of kids and youth! Joe’s dad and Alicia’s brother Nate came for a visit for 10 days - each carrying a hockey bag full of shoes given from supporters in B.C. Thank you!
We are having fun giving out the shoes to needy people in the area where we work. We simply pack up a few backpacks of different sizes, and head out to find people to bless with these gifts.
One family in particular lived in a 400 square foot wooden house, with Dad, Mom, and 8 of their 10 kids (one of which had her own daughter). We had visited this family in the past and were greeted with smiles, especially when we opened our backpacks and were able to give every one of them except 2 (to whom we later brought pairs) a perfect fitting pair of new shoes!
Thanks to everyone who helped make this project possible!
Joe & Alicia
Here is what an average day might look like.
7:30 Wake up, eat breakfast
9:00 Wait for Absalom to come to go visiting
9:15 Visit a teacher who is not a Christian who has cancer
10:30 Stop by Monica’s place to find out that she is not available for the 5th day in a row
10:35 Go door to door sharing God’s word and passing out tracks
11:00 Stop by the mother church and talk with the pastor and his secretary
11:45 Arrive back home
12:30 Eat lunch
1-3 Clean apartment, do dishes, wash clothes, play a game on my computer, go check email, run arrends
3:00 Wait for Absalom to arrive
3:15 We go visit Marta and Geovanny for their discipleship class
3:20 Talk to Marta and Geovanny
3:45 Start discipleship class
4:30 Go to Anamaria’s house to see if she is home
4:35 Stop by Adriana’s house just to visit
5:00 Go back to my apartment
5-6 Finish cleaning, finish laundry…
6:00 Eat supper
6:30 Shower
7:45 Head to church
8:00 Church starts
9:30 Church finishes
10:00 Arrive home to find a cell group meeting in the lower level of my apartment meeting
10:005 Join cell group as they finish up
10:30 Cell group finished, talk to people in cell group
11:00 Get ready for bed.
11:00- 12:00 Read and fall asleep
This is a sample of what a Thursday might be like. Every night there is something I can go to either at the daughter or mother church. The people we visit change daily but generally this is what it is like. Also there are no two weeks with the same schedule. On the weekends it is a little different. Saturday morning I go to the market to get my fruits and veggies for the week, then in the evening I teach a basic music theory class. Sunday I help teach Sunday school in the morning and have church in the evening with the rest of the day off. Some of that free time we sometimes go swimming.
I hope this gives you a better idea of what I am doing.
Jenny
So we’re in a small river town visiting a few churches. Its Sunday morning, and we have to travel about an hour to get to the next town. We were unclear on the mode of transportation we would take until we saw a motorcycle tied to some boards with ball-bearing wheels sitting on the rail-road track. We piled on and enjoyed the view. What happens when another moto-tabla comes the other way at us on the track, you ask? Well, the pallet with the lightest load is lifted off the track to let the heavier one go by. What about the train, you ask? Well, as a moto-tabla operator you really want to know the train schedule pretty well, which isn’t too hard, because there’s only one train that goes back and forth between the towns a few times a day. So when it gets close to the time when the train is supposed to come, we just haul the moto and the pallets off the track and wait for it to pass. The train is only two or three cars long, so it doesn’t take too long to go by. We had a great time…thanks for praying for us:)
p.s. check out the moto-tabla video here
Some days are just filled with fun and excitement when we get to do something we love. Not too long ago we got to invite a few of the neighborhood kids to go to a professional soccer game. The thrill and joy on their faces was priceless as they ran to get permission from their parents to see if they could go. So, off we went and their passion for fútbol (soccer) oozed out of their words and expressions as we watched the game. To top it all off, they got to kick the ball around on the main field after the game and meet some of the players. Oh, the sweet times when we get to do the things we love and enjoy!
Yohan, Fernando, and Daniel - Please pray for the Lord’s protection over their lives and that their hearts would be captured by our Heavenly Father.
Soccer in Colombia is big. Even the dirt soccer fields in the poorest neighbourhoods are constantly filled with kids, youth or adults playing at anytime. There are 2 professional teams in Medellin – which have created a good strong rivalry. We had the opportunity to take a group of kids to a game, thanks to the Christian Union Sports Club – a ministry started by other OMS missionaries. A professional soccer team from the USA was here for 2 weeks playing professional teams from Medellin. The purpose was to draw crowds of non-Christians to the game and players from the USA took time to share the gospel with them during half time.
And so, we took 10 energetic boys to the game. Some might call us crazy (we thought we were too), but it went relatively well. The challenging part was getting them there – requiring 2 bus rides and a trip on the metro. We promised them if they were good, we’d take them up the metro cable, which we did. This was a big deal for them since most of them rarely ride the bus, let alone the metro!
We enjoy being able to treat these kids with experiences they might not ever have, and at the same time building relationships with them, talking about, and showing God’s love for them via simple people like us.
This month we also were able to visit one of our team members, to see where she works and encourage her. Kayleene is working with a team outside the city of Medellin in a small town of only a few thousand people called versailles. This town is situated on a ridge in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by farmland. It was a great weekend of doing ministry with her and also enjoying the quiet, peaceful countryside. Joe also had the opportunity to preach on Sunday morning - a good challenge for him!
Thank you all for your continued prayers, support and encouragement! It has been a challenging last couple of weeks, with its frustrating moments. We know it is the devil trying to discourage us in our work here. Please pray that God would continue to give us strength and endurance during both the moments of joy and the times of frustration.
Joe & Alicia
Pictures:
1 - Kids and kids groups
2 - Joe’s birthday party
3 - Soccer game
4 - Town of Versailles
