Day of the Dead

We have found that in each culture there are different celebrations honoring certain people. In Costa Rica they had a big celebration to honor the farmers or their country. Here in Ecuador they have a celebration honoring the dead.

Every year on November 2nd as a result of the combination of Catholic and indigenous beliefs, the Day of the Dead takes place among families. They see it as a way to "catch up" with the ones who are no longer with us but have a life in a different world. People pack lunches of traditional food, flowers and offerings for the dead and head to the cemeteries where they spend the day as a family talking, eating, cleaning up the gravesite and speaking to the dead person. Ceremonial foods for this festivity include colada morada, a thick purple drink served hot made with raspberries, blueberries, cinnamon, pineapple and other fruits. To some this drink symbolizes blood showing the life of the ones that have moved on from this existence. The other traditional fare is the guagua de pan. This is a piece of bread shaped like a person. They decorate the bread with icing and it often has a filling of guava paste, chocolate or cream cheese inside.

Although the tradition of visiting the cemeteries has declined in the urban areas, it is still very common to see the bread and morada sold here in the stores for celebrations in homes around the city. Last Tuesday at our national women's Bible study I took my neighbor, Adrianna, to celebrate the holiday together at the home of one of the ladies from the study. She made the colada morada from scratch and we had two types of guagua to eat. The drink made fresh is wonderful. I tried to make it at home with a mix...not so great, but fresh, fantastic! The bread is a little sweet and really good with the guava filling.

The children at school even enjoy this tradition as all 3 of our kids had parties in their respective classrooms. Cade's daycare combined Halloween and Day of the Dead with having the children decorate their own bread and having them wear costumes and hunt for candy. I was told that Halloween in not permitted here in Ecuador as the current president does not desire for any foreign holidays to be a part of Ecuadorian culture. I don't believe the people necessarily care about that because plenty of moms, dads, and kids were enjoying their little version of trick or treat at the party.

One interesting fact is there are 3 national holidays over this same weekend. For the celebration on November 1st, All Saints Day, they have colorful parades and festivities in the southern provinces of the Sierra honoring their favorite Catholic saints. The 3rd of November marks the Independence of the province of Cuenca, so it is a 4 day holiday weekend for us.

Fall is Here

Last week was a great time for us as we received our crates from the U.S. We spent most of the weekend unpacking boxes and rediscovering old memories. Every once in a while I could hear one of my children exclaim, "Wow, look at this! I didn't know I had this!!!!!" I too was excited to open up my kitchen things and most especially all of my family photos.

We are almost done unpacking now and one of the wonderful things we discovered were some of our fall decorations and Halloween costumes, just in time for the fall festival at school on Saturday. Here are a few of the photos of the kids from the festival. It was a fund raiser for the high school students to go on an upcoming mission trip.

The picture of Kayleigh receiving the roses is one of the fund raisers, roses and kisses. She received a rose from each of the men in her life, Daddy, Connor, and Cade. It really made it feel like fall for us, especially since the rainy season has started.

Thanks again to everyone for their prayers over our crate. We received most everything we packed and are only missing one box of china and some shoes, so we are very grateful to finally be settled in.

$4

Expendability

A few years ago I knew I heard God speak to my heart as I sat in a dark theater watching the movie "End of the Spear". Little did I know, I would find myself just 3 years later in the very country where those 5 great missionaries, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian willingly gave their lives to share the gospel with the Huaorani people.
Last weekend we had the opportunity to go to Shell, Ecuador, the home of Nate Saint and the MAF mission and landing strip. We saw the building Nate had built to house visiting missionaries. Unfortunately it is in bad repair these days for lack of funding to keep it up, but there is so much history within it's walls. Before dying on Palm Beach (the site of the attack) Nate Saint spoke the following:


"...This very afternoon thousands of soldiers are known by their serial numbers as men who are expendable. During the last war we saw big bombers on the assembly line, row after row, powerful, costly implements of war! Yet we all knew-we actually knew that many of those bombers would not accomplish even five missions over enemy territory. We also knew that young fellows, many of them volunteers, would ride in those airborne machine-gun turrets, and their life expectancy behind those guns was, with the trigger down, only four minutes. Tremendous expendability!
We know that there is only one answer when our country demands that we share in the price of freedom, yet when the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelization, we often answer without a word. We cannot go. We say it costs too much.
God Himself laid down the law when He built the universe. He knew when He made it what the price was going to be. And the lamb of God was slain in the counsels of God from before the foundation of the world. If God didn't hold back His only Son, but gave Him up to pay the price for our failure and sin, then how can we Christians hold back our lives, the lives He really owns?
...Missionaries constantly face expendability. And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives. They forget that when their lives are spent and the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.
Some might say, isn't it too great a price to pay? When missionaries consider themselves - their lives before God - they consider themselves expendable. And in our personal lives as Christians isn't the same thing true? Isn't the price small in the light of God's infinite love? Those who know the joy of leading a stranger to Christ and those who have gone to tribes who have never heard the gospel, gladly count themselves expendable. And they count it all joy.
'Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone,' the apostle Paul said. 'I die daily. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.'
'And Jesus said, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time...and in the world to come eternal life.' " ~Nate Saint

Ecuador is a very different place today than it was 50 years ago, but there are still many who die in the jungle by the spear. As recent as 2 years ago a lady and her 2 children (ages 16 and 9) were speared presumably by a group of Tagaeri Indians, cousins to the Haurani. But here is the amazing thing; right now our mission is training several of the Huaorani and Shuar people the stories from the Bible. These men are learning these stories because they want to go to the Taromenane and Tagaeri tribes and share the good news with this unreached people group.

Before we left the US I had many people ask me why we would give up our cushy middle-class American life style to go to the murder capital of the world (Caracas) and be missionaries. Well, all I could think was, why not? I have found more joy in the last year-and-a-half of living in God's will than I had in 10 years of living in my own. Although many may consider it a sacrifice, we consider it a privilege. Maybe that is because we know that the largest sacrifice we can make is that first step, the willingness to go. I do not believe God calls all of us to go across the globe to share the gospel. We can and must share the good news of Christ with our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family. I do think however that we must be willing to go, and if indeed the Lord has called us, we will never know true joy until we heed that call.

I believe if you had asked any of those 5 men that gave their lives, or even the 9 children and 5 wives they left behind, if it was worth it to see a unreached people not only come to a saving knowledge of the Lord, but also to reach out to their enemies and share the gospel it would have been a resounding "Yes!".

To the Ends of the Earth

Caught Up in the Middle

Here are some recent pictures from our trip to "both" of the equators. The original was placed before GPS in a location by French explorers, and the last pictures are of the actual equator about 200 yards from the original. It has a museum as well as many indigenous artifacts. There are also all kinds of cool tests done at the real equator to show the difference in gravitational pull.

Runnin' on Empty

This last week marked 6 weeks here in Ecuador for us. The children had a one mile "fun" run at school this week for each grade. I call it a "fun" run in quotations because there is nothing fun about running a mile at close to 10,000 feet above sea level. I can say personally that your lungs feel like they are on fire just after a 5 minute jog. Combine that with the dense smog that covers the city on any given day and you can say it is a unique form of torture for a new gringo.

This week we all had a small bout with a stomach bug, so I was especially proud of Connor and Kayleigh for running the race. Kayleigh and her friend Olivia had the two best times for the girls in her 2nd grade class, completing the mile in 9:50. Connor placed 2nd with the boys in 4th grade with a time of 9:03. I am so proud of both of them. It would have been so easy to just give up and say, "Well, I'm not really use to the altitude yet." They both plugged on and not only completed the race, but finished it strong.

During this last week we have been somewhat discouraged by recent news of cutbacks throughout the mission board that have resulted in cuts in our medical benefits, retirement, and salaries due to a sharp decline in giving through the Lottie Moon offering and Cooperative Program. This cut in funding may affect many of us with small children in the ability to stay on the field long term. For us it is like the race is not only being run at a high altitude, but now it is also going up a steep hill. It would be so easy to say, "Well, we're not really ready for this uphill climb, we haven't even gotten use to the altitude yet!" But we are told in Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

This is our motivation in times of struggle and trial. In the race there are many obstacles and points when we need encouragement. One of my fellow IMB friends remarked as the children were making their way around the track, "I wonder if they would give up if we were not here cheering them on to continue." I mused on that thinking that those words were probably very true. In the face of hardships without encouragement and hope, is it not easier to just give up? But is it not the prize at the finish that motivates us more than anything? 1Corinthians 9:24 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

We are a long way from the prize at this point, but we must continually keep it in the horizon. In those days that we receive bad news or discouragement from the obstacles that surround us, we must focus on that prize at the end. I remember the first time I ran a marathon I reached the proverbial "brick wall" at mile 21. I remember in training one of my friends who had run many races told me, "At some point towards the end of the race you will face a "brick wall". You will think that there is no way that you will be able to take another step, much less make it to the finish line. When that happens you will have to remind yourself of your motivation for running in the first place. You must envision that and keep a hold of that to drive you to the end of your race." Wise words. As I reached mile 21 I heard the shouts of my family and friends as they encouraged me to continue the race strong.

We know we have barely begun the race. I can still hear the crack of the starter gun ringing in my ears, but already the uphill climb has begun. Although the prize looms in the distance, we have to pace ourselves for the

distance we must run. With this in mind we cling to what Phil 3:12-14 says, "Not that I have become perfect yet; I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upward to receive in Christ Jesus."

Operation Walk

This last week has been a wonderful and exhausting experience for me as we had a team from the US come for a medical mission. The group of Operation Walk consisted of Orthopedic surgeons, medical doctors, anesthetists and an anesthesiologist, recovery room nurses, OR nurses and techs, floor nurses, physical therapists, medical students, PAs, translators, and volunteers. The plans for this trip have been in the works for quite a while, but I was fortunate enough to be a part of it at the last minute. I provided anesthesia for many of the 40 patients we did surgery on that week. There were knee replacements and hip replacements for people of Ecuador that could otherwise not afford the surgery. Some of these people had arthritis so bad that they had literally been bed bound for years.

One gentleman I did anesthesia on was 38 years old and had not walked for over 3 years. It was exciting to see them take their first steps after so many years of immobilization. I was privileged enough to be a part of the whole week by unpacking supplies, giving blocks, helping recover patients, and even assisting them in taking their first steps after surgery.

One man in particular touched my heart as Dr. Taughton (the physician that helped arrange for me to be part of this group) came in to pray for him. I had put in the man's spinal/epidural for his surgery and remembered how kind he had been. As we visited in the room Dr. Taughton asked me to translate a prayer he wanted to give for this kind gentleman. As Dr. Taughton finished his prayer the man had tears in his eyes and told us that he was so grateful to God for sending us to help him. He wanted us to know that he and his family would be praying for us as well.

One of our last nights the Foundation that helped plan this trip had a banquet in our honor and presented us with gifts. I especially enjoyed it as they presented all the doctors with Panama hats. A little known fact to most is that Panama hats are actually made here in Ecuador.

Our last day at the hospital we had a group picture with the patients. They had all walked to the end of the hall with walkers and crutches for the photo. While there they wanted to express their thanks to us for all the work and time we had put in that week. Some people had worked literally 14 hour days at the hospital. I was so touched as I listened to person after person say how grateful they were and how they would never forget our kindness. Many people said that they knew that they would never have been able to walk again without our help. One lady cried as she told us, "I have nothing to offer to you for the wonderful gift of healing that you have given me except my tears".

This week I saw some wonderful acts of kindness and selflessness as so many people sought to serve these wonderful Ecuadorians. I thank God for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful mission and pray that the Lord will give me many more opportunities to make a difference in the lives of these beautiful and amazing people.

Snickers

There are times in your life when you get a sinking feeling you are being taken for a ride. A couple of weeks ago I had that experience as I was following directions in my car from a Ecuadorian lady that I had been waiting on for almost an hour. I had one of our missionaries in the car with me including my 3 children. This lady was giving me instructions to a house that held the prize we sought, a little male Yorkie. As we drove further and further away from the safe part of Quito into the "hood" I was just certain that this lady had some kids waiting to carjack us or take the money I had brought to buy a puppy for the kids.

I found myself driving up a VERY steep hill in a stick shift truck (only my second day driving it by the way), praying that we would find this place soon. I could sense my friend Gail ( an MK born and raised here) was feeling a little uneasy too. We came to a small shack perched beneath the street and the lady in the car with us called the owner of the house on the phone telling her to come out with the puppy. As she came up the many stairs from her small abode I could not see any dog and was keenly aware of a group of teenagers some 50 feet behind us. When she approached the truck she lifted up her poncho and there held the cutest little puppy I have ever seen. At that moment my children fell in love and I knew that I would not be able to leave without that puppy. The children played with him in the back seat as we haggled on the price, the papers (she didn't have any with her, but said she could get them), and the shot records (didn't have those either, but once again said she would get them.

We agreed on a price and I started to drive us back down the mountain into town so she could produce the papers and a receipt for the dog. The lady and my friend Gail were having a discussion about Christ and I could tell that this lady didn't think too much of Jesus. She kept saying that Jesus didn't love dogs, whatever she meant by that.... When we got to the corner she immediately opened the door and said she needed to leave there. Of course the traffic cop waved me to go, so I had no choice. No papers, no shot record, and no receipt. But we happily went on our way with a pooch named "Snickers" by the kids.

Our first night was rough as he threw up and then passed blood in his stool. I was certain he had parvo and had Ken take him to an all-night vet clinic nearby. The vet recommended a special diet and some medicine. Within a few days we had a happy, healthy little guy with a sweet personality all his own. Snickers is now one of the family and we couldn't imagine life being nearly as fun without him.

So Fly!

Here are our photos from the trip to the rainforest to zipline in Costa Rica. The kids chose to do this instead of having traditional birthday parties. It was a blast!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Well, we have had a lot of changes over the last 2 weeks. We hope you enjoy our latest photos.

Home Sweet Home

I am so sorry it has been forever since I last wrote anything. As I write this I am sitting in the hallway next to the 12th floor apartment of one of our fellow missionaries "borrowing" their wireless internet. We hope to have our internet hooked up sometime on Tuesday, so I promise to be more faithful to write then.

Let me tell you a little about our new country and what our impressions are - the good and the bad. First of all I want to say that we really like Quito. The city is very clean and the people appear to be very hardworking. In the mornings I have been going to a large park about 3 blocks away called Parque Carolina to run. Well, let me rephrase that, at 9,500 feet I guess I would say slowly jog. I felt good today though because I passed a bunch of guys in their 50s. I then had to hold my side and pant like a dog about 2 minutes later, but it was a small triumph.

There are over 40% indigenous here and it is very evident in the street. We have seen many Quichua women and children selling candy, fruit, etc., on the street. My heart breaks for them, especially the children. I am always fearful for the little ones as they weave in and out of traffic to sell items to people in cars.

We live in a large apartment building and have already met several of our neighbors. (I just met two of them sitting our here in the hall typing this, ha,ha). The people are friendly and I seem to understand most (but not all) of what they say. I look forward especially to getting to know our neighbor directly next to us as she is expecting her first baby any day now.

We live very close to the airport and get to watch the planes come in very low over the buildings. It is amazing to watch. Yep, I hear one now. I hear they are opening a new airport outside of town in the next year, but I know the kids will really miss watching these huge jets fly over.

It is cold here! Since we live on the first floor of the apartment I have found heat must really go

up, because it feels like ice in our place. I think we went Tico living in Costa Rica for a year and now I need to let my blood thicken back up. We haven't suffered too much from the altitude (except my slow morning runs of course) but we do find ourselves needing a little extra rest.

Tomorrow Ken is supposed to go up the Teleferico which is the second highest cable car in the world to the top of Pichincha, one of the nearby volcanoes. This picture to the left shows what he should see looking down on Quito as he goes to the top. Now some news from the kids. Connor and Kayleigh had their birthdays and we decided to get them something here as it would have been difficult to bring anything else in those 19 pieces of luggage we brought along. Connor got a skateboard and Cade a little scooter. They ride it on the back porch and a cool skate park over at Parque Carolina. Kayleigh got her ears pierced and I promise to add some pictures of her soon so everyone can see. They seem to be adjusting well, and are enjoying a well deserved break from school. They will start Alliance Academy on September 7th.

Last but certainly not least, God has blessed us with an amazing missionary family here. They had a welcoming party for us when we arrived and even had cupcakes for the kids and sang Happy Birthday. The ladies here have gone out of their way to help us learn our way around and adjust. I thank God for the blessing that they are to us. I also want to thank all of our family and friends that prayed for us during this transition. When we were told we couldn't fly last Saturday I was at first very upset to be bumped from our overbooked flight, but God turned it into a blessing as we did not have to pay for our extra baggage and had an extra night of rest we desperately needed before leaving Costa Rica. Yes, God is definitively in the details! We are excited to see what all God will do these two years we serve Him in Ecuador and learn more of Him among the people.

La Finca

Last Sunday we had the privilege of going to the 60th birthday party of a friend of ours here from Costa Rica. I met Jaime because the chamber choir he is a part of needed a pianist, so I was able to fill in for them a couple of months for some concerts. Jaime and his wife certainly know how to throw a birthday party in style. The theme was the "Wild, Wild West" with fun games, great bar-b-que, great tex-mex, our chamber choir, and even a mariachi band. With over 200 guests it was easily one of the best fiestas we have been to! Enjoy the pics.

Quito

We wanted to share our exciting news with everyone. We are going to Quito, Ecuador! After a long 5 weeks of praying and fasting we were glad to hear the news that a new place of service has been found for us until the doors open up for us in VZ. I have placed a slide show of a few of the photos from Quito on the right hand side of the blog. Some interesting facts about Ecuador: The city of Quito is home to about 2.5 million people and lies 20 miles south of the equator. The currency of Ecuador is the US dollar. There are over 40 different indigenous nations with over 40% of the population being indigenous. Ecuador is also home—despite its small size (it is a little smaller than Colorado) —to a great variety of species, many of them endemic, like those of the Galapagos islands (located 600 miles west of the coast of Ecuador). This species diversity makes Ecuador one of the top eighteen megadiverse countries in the world. The geography is varied with the snow capped Andes mountains, beautiful white beaches, Amazon rainforest, and the region encompassing the Galápagos Islands. Cuy (guinea pig) is a popular dish among the people in the mountains. It is served roasted and I'm told tastes like chicken.

We are excited about our upcoming move and rejoice in all the Lord has planned for us as we seek to serve Him in Quito.

RIP Nacho

It is always hard to have a pet die, but I believe perhaps even harder when you watch your pet die. We have had little Nacho now for a little less than a year. The kids knew they were going to have to say goodbye to our little furry friend when we left, but we always assumed some friends of ours would give him a good home and we would say goodbye in a bittersweet way knowing he was still swinging around his cage like a monkey and entertaining somebody else just like he always did us.

Thursday morning when I got back from my run I found him trapped in the window of his little house that is in his cage. He had 1 paw and his head stuck out and his color was really dusky. I got Ken and we got him unstuck, but you could tell he was struggling to breath and very flaccid. I had the kids hold him for a little while knowing that when we came home from school he would probably be gone. Sure enough when we came home Nacho had passed on and so we decided to have a funeral for him. The children decorated a box for him to be buried in. Connor played "Amazing Grace" on the guitar and Kayleigh read the 23rd Psalm. Afterwards we had a hard time explaining to Cade that we couldn't dig him back up and put him in his cage. We have said goodbye to 3 pets now in the last 1 1/2 years and this one I believe was hardest on the kids just because they knew the little guy suffered. The kids wanted to know if they would see their little "luchador" in heaven and I told them that if the lion was going to lay down with the lamb in heaven that surely there would be room for a little hamster named Nacho Libre.

"Glory"

I made this video for an upcoming praise and worship time we are having at school for our last chapel. Most of the photos are from people and places of Central and South America. The message of the words are so powerful. "Glory" by Selah and Nichole Nordeman

Walking the Desert

Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt you were walking in the desert? When it was so dry in your life that you could almost taste the sand and feel the heat? That was how I felt about 2 weeks ago when we were waiting to hear about where we would be going. I was struggling with wondering if we were really where God wanted us, because if we were, why were there so many obstacles now? Why did I feel like we were out here in the Sahara alone? Does anyone know what I am talking about? You try to remember where you must have turned left when you should have turned right. You find yourself looking back at the signals and wondering if you imagined all the signs as if they were an oasis that was only a mirage.

This is where I found myself when ironically we had our Spiritual Emphasis Week at school, but it wasn't really ironic at all. I feel that it was God's answer to my spiritual thirst. During the morning sessions with Iva May and just the ladies I heard Iva talk about the need to not just go through the motions in our daily quiet times (as I had been doing lately), but to really reflect on what God was saying to us through His Word and our prayer time. She encouraged us to start a Bible journal that helps us to see the lessons God is showing us each day during our quiet time. Although I have often had prayer journals, I never even thought of having a Bible journal. How wonderful it is to reflect on what is truly important.

The part for me most of all that hit home was when her husband, Stan, in the evening session talked to us about the Israelites being in the desert. He read the passage in Numbers 9 that talked of the Lord using a cloud by day and fire by night to guide the Israelites. That when the cloud/fire lifted from the temple, day or night, a day, month or year, they were to follow it. They were never forewarned of where they were going or even when they were going. They were to merely be obedient in the call. He pointed out how difficult that must have been after a long day of traveling when they were tired and had finally eaten and put the children to bed and then the pillar of fire moves beckoning them to follow. I am sure they probably wanted to say no way, but they realized that without the great I AM, they were nothing. Without Him guiding them, they would be lost in the desert. But what truly grabbed me in this lesson was when we read the passage in Joshua 10 where the Israelites marched all day and night with Joshua. Then they proceeded to fight all of the next day, and when Joshua asked God to stop the sun they continued fighting through the "night" into the next day. How could they do that? Because God had conditioned them in the desert for 40 years, following the cloud by day and the pillar by night. It was not for nothing, this intense training. God had a purpose.

And so I know God has a purpose for us when we go through those tough times in our lives of trials and tribulations. God is not just testing our faith or showing us how much we need to depend on Him. He is preparing us for what lies ahead. And as the Lord showed Hagar in the desert when she cried out for mercy, the Oasis is right in front of us if we will only open our eyes and see. His Word is that Oasis and our prayers are that cry. So with each of these moments in the desert I pray that God draws me ever closer to Him knowing that He is the eternal spring in a barren and thirsty land.

Freedom is Never Free

I was sitting here and looking at all the posts on Facebook of 4th of July activities and comments of thanks about our country's founding fathers. I was reminded of the price paid for that freedom, a price many other country's citizens are unable or unwilling to pay. Below is a poem that reminds us of the cost of freedom. As we celebrate this important holiday and our heritage as US citizens I hope that all will give thanks to God for our freedom and pray for the soldiers that continue to pay the price to keep our freedom. God bless all of you and God bless America.

FREEDOM’S PRICE (Tribute to Declaration of Independence)

"In God we trust," on our money appears

Showing our faith down through the years.

Behind the flag we call "Old Glory"

Lies a valiant and courageous story.

________________

The Declaration, as Jefferson penned it,

Called for British rule to be ended.

Unalienable rights of freedom were told

When John Hancock etched his signature bold.

________________

Fifty-six strong and courageous men

Took in hand a goose-quill pen.

Knowing the risk, and holding life dear,

They signed the charter, ignoring the fear.

________________

Five endured torture which took their lives,

Never returning to their wives.

Twelve homes were looted, plundered, or burned,

And nine men died in a war they had spurned.

________________

Four sons were captured or otherwise lost,

Of these brave men who counted the cost.

Their gallant echoes of the past

Speak of a heritage rich and vast.

_________________

Now, we cherish this land of ours

And give praise to higher powers.

God has smiled on its fruited plains

And blessed its wealth of golden grains.

__________________

The Star-Spangled Banner proudly waves high

Over these brave men, and we know why--

Independence won by master design;

Freedom gained through Providence Divine.

617729

There are many times in my life when I have heard others talk about how they reacted in a crisis and I have said, “Well I wouldn’t have done that, I would have…” I have discovered that in the midst of a crisis reactions can be so fast that you never truly realize the danger until it has passed.

Today a kid walked up to me on the street while I was walking from the school at 9:20 in the morning and said, “¡Deme todo!” (Give me everything!) He literally bumped into me when I tried to walk past him and I replied, “¿Qué?” (What?), because I did not realize that he was really robbing me. I was not scared. He was just a 20-something punk kid, but then he showed me his “pistola” saying in Spanish he had a gun and I needed to hand everything over to him. For those of you that don’t know, I was in the military, and I immediately looked at the gun and thought it could be a fake. Then again, I thought about the fact that he was bold enough in broad daylight to rob me, so it might just be real. I handed him my book bag and he asked me for my money. I told him I didn’t have any and then I started yelling, “¡Ayúdame! ¡Él me robó!” As he ran off, I chased him around the corner. He jumped into his waiting car and sped off as I memorized the tag number 617729 and the type of car (a gray Nissan sedan).  I turned to see who had witnessed this and found a man in a white van willing to help me as I wanted to write down the tag number. A lady nearby had seen the car speed off and she too remembered the last 4 numbers of the tag, and saw where the car had turned up the street. The kind man in the white van, José, called the police with the information. The nearest small police station was actually ¼ mile down the street and we waited about 3 minutes for them to show up. When they never did, José drove me the couple of blocks to the station. The police were there and after giving them the information again (they received it the first time, but I guess had not planned to leave yet to catch the man) they left in a motorcycle and police car. I will give the lady cop credit in that she found a large assault rifle, grabbed extra clips, loaded it, and got into the patrol car like she meant business. The two guys looked really “tranquilo”, but she was loaded for bear. Atta girl!

  Anyway, I am told that the police need me to go downtown and fill out a report to be able to do anything, and even then they believe the car and tags are stolen. I can say a friend was robbed about two weeks ago by a guy in a similar gray car and matching this kid’s description, and a couple just a week before that all within two blocks of the school. If all this happened so that he can finally be caught I am happy to forfeit my books, backpack, Franklin translator, and tape recorder, but I will say that losing my favorite little red Celtic HCSB Bible hurt some. There was also in my backpack a Bible study in Spanish called Vida Abundante with a simple study on the gospel of John. Most of all I pray he reads that. That alone would make it worth it all to me. I pray he comes to know the Savior that can heal and forgive. I thank God that my children were not with me, and I ask all of you to pray for this man and for the safety of the people at our language school. God is sovereign and I know that no one is beyond His power to save.