So yesterday I had this blog all written out. I had even published it and announced it to facebook and twitter. Then because I am amazing, I deleted it never to be seen again, in a way that is both frustrating and entirely too complicated to explain. So I'm back with a new and completely different blog post. Because once I write something down it's out of my head never to return, unless I read it. Aren't you glad you know that now? I feel better just having written it down. ;)
The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of packing, moving things, sleeping on the bus, getting to our new town and home, trying to figure out exactly what the most important things to buy are with our limited resources, buying 4 mattresses and strapping them to the top of a car roughly the size of a prius. Going to the car shipping place every day for several days in hopes that ours had arrived. Going to Starbucks more times in one week than I ever have in a year just so we can check our internet stuff, putting the kids to bed and going out with Jose for a hot chocolate just so we can breath and flirt with each other. Practically living at the mall where all the things we need are sold so we can check and check and check the prices of the stuff we need. Watching our boys exult in the joys of having a yard after a year of living in an apartment and almost 3 years of living places where we had no yard. (We have decided to call Timothy dirty harry, because his hair is all over the place and he has developed a dust cloud similar to charlie browns pal, pigpen.)
You can add into the list Jose working with a printer so we can get flyer's made up for inviting people to church, a Dr's appointment, and all the other things I'm forgetting that Jose will remember and that is what our last 2 weeks have been. Just typing that makes me tired. I think I need a nap now. ;)
God has blessed us tremendously and we have been able to get quite a few of the things we needed. We now have a table and chairs, mattresses, a fridge, and washing machine. We also got a double burner to cook on until we can manage to get an oven. For the curious, the things we are still praying for are as follows.
*bed frames
*a living room set
*an oven
*a bigger bed for me and Jose
*rugs
*chairs for our church services
*a lectern or podium of some sort for Jose to preach from
*a set of pots and pans
*a trampoline for the boys and the kids that come to church
Obviously there are more things that we need or could use but these are our priorities over the next few months. It's really amazing how much stuff you need to make a house a home. But with or without "stuff" we are blessed to be where we are. This house is exactly what we prayed for. Everyday I walk around and thank God for everything he has done for us and blessing us with the amazing people that pray for us and support us financially. You are all a blessing to us and we really do think of you as a part of our family. Thank you so much!
The story of two crazy people with one amazing God
Showing posts with label It's official. Show all posts
Showing posts with label It's official. Show all posts
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
First Day In Lima
The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, and it's not over! We arrived in Lima last night around 12 with all of our 13 suitcases. Jose's dad had alreay secured and checked in to our hotel so he picked us up at the airport with a taxi-van and his rental car and we managed to fit everything into those 2 vehicles. We got a great night of sleep (8 hours! I can't remember when the last time we got that much sleep in a bed. maybe a week but it seems like months)
Today we will start looking for a place to stay a little more permanently. We also plan to stop by Casa Del Padre and check in with them.
There are so many ways we recieved favor and have seen the presence of God in our lives in this time it is absolutely amazing! We feel everyones prayers and are so thankful for them.
Next blog I plan to put up some pictures...but for now I gotta' run. God Bless!
Today we will start looking for a place to stay a little more permanently. We also plan to stop by Casa Del Padre and check in with them.
There are so many ways we recieved favor and have seen the presence of God in our lives in this time it is absolutely amazing! We feel everyones prayers and are so thankful for them.
Next blog I plan to put up some pictures...but for now I gotta' run. God Bless!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
3 Days left...
We are in Florida! Getting in some family time with Jose's family. Tonight we are eating Peruvian food and staying up way too late! We got blessed with a nice hotel room and are enjoying a little bit of chill out time. I'm not sure how soon we will have internet access in Peru so just please pray for us Tuesday we have to be at the airport in Miami at 4am. Logan has been getting motion sickness in the car and we are not sure how the airplane will be because this is a new thing. I have stocked up on dramamine and we are trying everything we can.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
August 1st
Today as we were driving to church I noticed one of those time/date/temp clocks that some buildings have. It said August 1st. 11 months ago we decided to leave in August. At that time it seemed like August was so far away I might never see it. But here it is. We are leaving Houston in 9 days and the U.S. in 22.
Time is flying by. Excited and nervous are the main feelings right now for all of us. Butterflies abound.
If you are wondering how I feel and you have ever been pregnant that is a pretty good way of describing it. We are about to birth something. We think we know what it will be like but we can't really be sure until it's time. Some people (most actually) are supportive and happy for us and some are not. We have been looking forward to and planning for this for a long time. And here it is!
We will be traveling a lot for the next several weeks so please pray for safety and sanity since we will be logging lots of hours on the road with small children.
Also thank you for those of you that have committed to pray for us and support us financially. As you can see on the right our list of prayer partners is slowly but steadily growing. We can't do it without you so THANK YOU!
Time is flying by. Excited and nervous are the main feelings right now for all of us. Butterflies abound.
If you are wondering how I feel and you have ever been pregnant that is a pretty good way of describing it. We are about to birth something. We think we know what it will be like but we can't really be sure until it's time. Some people (most actually) are supportive and happy for us and some are not. We have been looking forward to and planning for this for a long time. And here it is!
We will be traveling a lot for the next several weeks so please pray for safety and sanity since we will be logging lots of hours on the road with small children.
Also thank you for those of you that have committed to pray for us and support us financially. As you can see on the right our list of prayer partners is slowly but steadily growing. We can't do it without you so THANK YOU!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Peruvian Children
I've been working on a few projects in preparation for our trip and some exciting things that are coming up. I came across a bunch of statistics that are really heart breaking. While I don't put my trust in statistics these are a good indication that we live in a hurting and dying world. I wanted to share them so those of you that are interested and/praying for us can have an idea of what we will be working with.
Many children in Peru are sent to work to support their families in spite of child labor being against the law. Two out of ten children ages 6-11 work and there are more than 3 million children working in Peru.1 Due to the high and persistent levels of poverty, Peruvian children are often sent out by their parents to earn money on the streets. This might be by selling sweets or crafts, begging, performing acrobatics, or in one of many other ways.
Studies show that 90% of street children come from rebuilt (with step-father or step-mother) or mono-parental families, or from rural families that had 'given' their child to other people (relatives or not) to be raised by the latter in the city. 2
Children are often blamed and at the receiving end of family disputes so much so that the streets appear as a better alternative than the family home. Too scared and afraid of another episode of violence, the children run to the streets for the comfort and refuge they so badly seek. One research project found that 73% of the street children they interviewed cited family violence and child mistreatment as reasons for taking to the streets. 3 The report also suggests that most street-living boys in Peru are children who had become 'scapegoats' in their family; blamed for causing conflict and stress, and maltreated when their families were going through a crisis.
These statistics illustrate not only the need for a safe haven for homeless children. They also illustrate the need to build godly men to reverse the curse of fatherlessness. Our desire is to teach these “men” that “Maturity doesn’t come with age but begins with the acceptance of responsibility” (-Edwin Louis Cole) and not just accepting responsibility for yourself but for those around you.
1 UNICEF (2008)
2 Bustamante, D., ‘Family Structure Problems, Child Mistreatment, Street Children, and Drug Use’, cited in Schraeder, A. et al, Prevention of Street Migration (1999)
3 Consortium for Street Children
Many children in Peru are sent to work to support their families in spite of child labor being against the law. Two out of ten children ages 6-11 work and there are more than 3 million children working in Peru.1 Due to the high and persistent levels of poverty, Peruvian children are often sent out by their parents to earn money on the streets. This might be by selling sweets or crafts, begging, performing acrobatics, or in one of many other ways.
Studies show that 90% of street children come from rebuilt (with step-father or step-mother) or mono-parental families, or from rural families that had 'given' their child to other people (relatives or not) to be raised by the latter in the city. 2
Children are often blamed and at the receiving end of family disputes so much so that the streets appear as a better alternative than the family home. Too scared and afraid of another episode of violence, the children run to the streets for the comfort and refuge they so badly seek. One research project found that 73% of the street children they interviewed cited family violence and child mistreatment as reasons for taking to the streets. 3 The report also suggests that most street-living boys in Peru are children who had become 'scapegoats' in their family; blamed for causing conflict and stress, and maltreated when their families were going through a crisis.
These statistics illustrate not only the need for a safe haven for homeless children. They also illustrate the need to build godly men to reverse the curse of fatherlessness. Our desire is to teach these “men” that “Maturity doesn’t come with age but begins with the acceptance of responsibility” (-Edwin Louis Cole) and not just accepting responsibility for yourself but for those around you.
1 UNICEF (2008)
2 Bustamante, D., ‘Family Structure Problems, Child Mistreatment, Street Children, and Drug Use’, cited in Schraeder, A. et al, Prevention of Street Migration (1999)
3 Consortium for Street Children
Thursday, July 1, 2010
All moved out
I'm sitting next to a window listening to the quiet tapping of the rain. Across from me is my son who desperately needs a nap but thinks that naps are over rated and is pretending his Jacobs ladder (current favorite toy) is a whistle. The thunder is rolling in a very relaxed way. It's so soothing. Exactly the kind of weather for blogging or taking a nap
As of last night we are officially, completely, moved out of the last home of our own in the united states. Right now we are staying with some wonderful friends that (mostly) don't mind when my kids run around like wild Indians or try to play with their baby like she is a doll.
I still have a pile of stuff in their garage to sort through and stacks of things in our room to take care of but we are out of the house and I have 5 weeks to figure out where all the stuff should go.
Honestly the hardest thing for me to get rid of is clothing. I'm trying to be brutal but when it comes to things like the worlds softest jeans that fit perfect when you first put them on but by the end of the day the only thing keeping them up is my constant tugging its hard. I guess I should act like it's a friend that's moving. I'm great at being logical when it comes to friends clothes.
I am really thankful for all the amazing friends we have. Abby, Six, Cisco, and Melissa all came over with no advance notice to help us clean, pack and throw stuff away. Then my sister came yesterday all pregnant and everything to help me wrap it up. I know we would not have been able to do it without the help of all these awesome people. So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
It's kind of surreal. We are really leaving. I mean like really, REALLY leaving. The next 5 weeks in Houston will be spent tying up loose ends and hopefully spending time with people.
Then the part I am really excited about. :) visiting friends and family I haven't seen in years! I'm so excited. I feel like a little girl.
If you have not yet signed up to be a prayer partner please do it! All you have to do is pray for us I know there are more of you praying for us than we have on the list so let me know!
As of last night we are officially, completely, moved out of the last home of our own in the united states. Right now we are staying with some wonderful friends that (mostly) don't mind when my kids run around like wild Indians or try to play with their baby like she is a doll.
I still have a pile of stuff in their garage to sort through and stacks of things in our room to take care of but we are out of the house and I have 5 weeks to figure out where all the stuff should go.
Honestly the hardest thing for me to get rid of is clothing. I'm trying to be brutal but when it comes to things like the worlds softest jeans that fit perfect when you first put them on but by the end of the day the only thing keeping them up is my constant tugging its hard. I guess I should act like it's a friend that's moving. I'm great at being logical when it comes to friends clothes.
I am really thankful for all the amazing friends we have. Abby, Six, Cisco, and Melissa all came over with no advance notice to help us clean, pack and throw stuff away. Then my sister came yesterday all pregnant and everything to help me wrap it up. I know we would not have been able to do it without the help of all these awesome people. So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
It's kind of surreal. We are really leaving. I mean like really, REALLY leaving. The next 5 weeks in Houston will be spent tying up loose ends and hopefully spending time with people.
Then the part I am really excited about. :) visiting friends and family I haven't seen in years! I'm so excited. I feel like a little girl.
If you have not yet signed up to be a prayer partner please do it! All you have to do is pray for us I know there are more of you praying for us than we have on the list so let me know!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Stream of Consciousness...
I should not be blogging. I should be finishing laundry, packing bags, getting rid of stuff, cleaning...You get the picture. Unfortunately when I look at my house right now I see piles of stuff everywhere. It's like one of those shows where you see a bunch of small piles but then the camera zooms in and they are actually alive and taking over the entire space. OK, not really...I mean, they aren't alive. (or are they? they sure seem to reproduce) Add to that 2 wonderful little boys that like to "reorganize" and I feel like I'm losing my mind.
Yesterday I burned a pan of rice. and when I say burned I mean epic burning. The pan and lid and even my little bamboo utensil thingy are burned. The rice was turned into something resembling a tire. My whole house was filled with smoke it was bad. The reason all this could happen without my notice was I thought I turned the burner off but I actually turned it on high then drove down the street to take Jose to work. I was gone maybe MAYBE 20 minutes. yikes! I have learned to take the pan off the burner if I'm going to leave the house. And I'm still being reminded because my house smells like burned rice. Anyone know how to get rid of that smell? Oh well at least I'm moving out in 3 days. I think I will take a break from cooking for a little while. (and Fortune Village & Sushi Hana sing the hallelujah chorus-they love us...is it bad that we are recognized at 2 restaurants in our area?)
I had 2 friends come over today to pick up a couple things. They both left with full cars. I am forcing people to take my stuff. (Me"you want this blender." Them "no, that's OK" Me "No, seriously you WANT this blender") <----insert evil laughter...Ahem. Anyone want to come over? I have lots of stuff left =D
Yesterday I burned a pan of rice. and when I say burned I mean epic burning. The pan and lid and even my little bamboo utensil thingy are burned. The rice was turned into something resembling a tire. My whole house was filled with smoke it was bad. The reason all this could happen without my notice was I thought I turned the burner off but I actually turned it on high then drove down the street to take Jose to work. I was gone maybe MAYBE 20 minutes. yikes! I have learned to take the pan off the burner if I'm going to leave the house. And I'm still being reminded because my house smells like burned rice. Anyone know how to get rid of that smell? Oh well at least I'm moving out in 3 days. I think I will take a break from cooking for a little while. (and Fortune Village & Sushi Hana sing the hallelujah chorus-they love us...is it bad that we are recognized at 2 restaurants in our area?)
I had 2 friends come over today to pick up a couple things. They both left with full cars. I am forcing people to take my stuff. (Me"you want this blender." Them "no, that's OK" Me "No, seriously you WANT this blender") <----insert evil laughter...Ahem. Anyone want to come over? I have lots of stuff left =D
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Stream of Consciousness...
Most little girls play cinderella or sleeping beauty. Not me, I played Wendy from Peter Pan. I loved pretending to be a mother taking care of my "lost boys." I should have known God would give me little boys. It's hard to recapture the fun of being a make-believe mother living in a forest when you are wiping noses and bottoms, making lunch and taking care of bloody noses. When you live in the forest it doesn't matter if you have dirt on the floor. The floor is dirt. (consequently my floor might as well be dirt right now. I sweep and before I can even "swiffer wet jet" my floor it's dirty again.)
Sometimes I look at my day to day life and think "wow, how much longer is this going to last?" I have a hard time just living in right now. When I start to see a dream coming true I want to run up to it and wrap my arms around it. I don't like the waiting part. Which you would think I would be used to. A couple years ago when we would talk about moving to Peru I would get kind of nervous. The nervousness that comes from not knowing what your getting yourself into or what it will be like. I still don't know what it will be like. And I'm sure I don't know what I'm getting myself into. But I'm deliriously happy to be going now. When we arrived in Peru last September I was less than dazzled by the airport and exhausted from the trip so I can't remember exactly what my first thoughts there were. I do remember the first day there. I fell in love. The way I hear people describing their feelings for Italy or Paris. That is how I felt there. All I could think was "I get to live HERE!?" So now I'm counting down the weeks and days until I get to go back. Only this time we actually get to do something! We get to minister the love of Jesus to a nation of hurting and dying people.
When Jose initially spoke to the pastor we will be working with the first year he told him our heart is for Piura. He said we were the third couple that mentioned Piura to him and nothing has happened. No one has followed through. Can you imagine what God must have in store for that part of the country? I am giddy just thinking about it.
(aren't we cute...especially him!)
Jose and I were both in wedding's last week. Mine was Sunday (and I have NO pictures) :( His was Saturday. Both had brides named Melissa. (odd) They were both beautiful and I am so happy for both of them. I've been able to see both of them grow up in their relationships with God and I've been able to watch both of their relationships (with their husbands) blossom. I love you girls! I pray for both of you and we take our roles as your sister and brother in Christ very seriously! Congratulations Mrs. Greenwade and Mrs. Echevarria!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Happy Birthday to me
I figure I am allowed to wish myself a happy birthday since I'm generally in charge of birthdays around here.
Maybe it's because I'm getting older but the last couple years I have gotten very introspective on my birthday. This year I'm thinking about where I've been and where I'm going. As many of you know I've moved a lot...a lot, alot. Because of that I've never felt like any one place was my home. My church is home because I know I'm loved and accepted there. When I was in Peru it felt like home too. I don't have any real reason for that. Maybe it's because that's where I'm supposed to be? In Jose's arms is home because I feel safe there. A lot of places are home. And a lot of places aren't. Sometimes it's surprising where home is and where it isn't. (I sound like yoda..."mmm, much confusion in you there is"...and yes Jose has turned me into a bit of a star wars geek)
Jose and I are celebrating Saturday at a Peruvian buffet. *WOOT* I love Peruvian food (good thing huh?) Today since he had to work we didn't do very much but he made me feel well loved. He tried to get the boys to leave me alone so I could sleep in...brought me lunch and got me an ice cream cake. I'm pretty sure I gained 15 lbs today. I went to the park with the kids today while Jose was at Man Church. I met up with some friends and took my camera to take pictures of our merriment. I got there first took like 5 pictures of myself and the boys but as soon as my friends got there I forgot to take pictures. That is the reason I don't have any pictures of most of my friends. I get too interested in talking and totally forget to capture the moment. *sigh* Anyway my sweet friend Abigail got me froggy cupcakes and a cute shirt I can't wait to wear. (I love presents! Thank you Abi!)
In other (Peru related) news we are leaving houston in less than 11 weeks! Time is flying by right now! So much still to do and yet I am feeling more and more ready everyday
Maybe it's because I'm getting older but the last couple years I have gotten very introspective on my birthday. This year I'm thinking about where I've been and where I'm going. As many of you know I've moved a lot...a lot, alot. Because of that I've never felt like any one place was my home. My church is home because I know I'm loved and accepted there. When I was in Peru it felt like home too. I don't have any real reason for that. Maybe it's because that's where I'm supposed to be? In Jose's arms is home because I feel safe there. A lot of places are home. And a lot of places aren't. Sometimes it's surprising where home is and where it isn't. (I sound like yoda..."mmm, much confusion in you there is"...and yes Jose has turned me into a bit of a star wars geek)
Jose and I are celebrating Saturday at a Peruvian buffet. *WOOT* I love Peruvian food (good thing huh?) Today since he had to work we didn't do very much but he made me feel well loved. He tried to get the boys to leave me alone so I could sleep in...brought me lunch and got me an ice cream cake. I'm pretty sure I gained 15 lbs today. I went to the park with the kids today while Jose was at Man Church. I met up with some friends and took my camera to take pictures of our merriment. I got there first took like 5 pictures of myself and the boys but as soon as my friends got there I forgot to take pictures. That is the reason I don't have any pictures of most of my friends. I get too interested in talking and totally forget to capture the moment. *sigh* Anyway my sweet friend Abigail got me froggy cupcakes and a cute shirt I can't wait to wear. (I love presents! Thank you Abi!)
In other (Peru related) news we are leaving houston in less than 11 weeks! Time is flying by right now! So much still to do and yet I am feeling more and more ready everyday
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Musings on moving and our current life
This month has been (and continues to be) crazy...
this month Jose is standing in a wedding and Logan and I are in a different one. My baby brother graduated from college today. Jose's baby brother graduates from high school in 2 weeks. On Tuesday Jose and I celebrate our 6th anniversary. Next week I'll be 28...at this point getting older doesn't bother me...maybe because the vast majority of people think I'm 20 or so. I don't know. Maybe I'll change my mind when I turn 30?
Every time I look at the calendar or someone mentions getting together with me before we go I realize how soon we are leaving. I remember thinking in January that I can't say we are leaving next year anymore now it's THIS YEAR. Now it's less than 3 months away. We are moving out of our house in July...anyone need house stuff? We are getting rid of everything. Thinking about getting rid of everything makes me realize how little all that stuff matters. I look at some of the stuff that was *so important* for me to have back then and now I'm giving it away.
I'm feeling a greater dependance on God lately. I know I talk about it alot but I guess that's because that's what I think about right now. I'm relying on God to take care of me even in the most minor scheduling details. For instance I wanted to take a short trip with my extended family before we leave and in spite of 7 adults with very busy lives we managed to work out a weekend that we can all do it. That may seem easy to you but it has proven very difficult for us to accomplish in the past so I see it as a miracle.
this month Jose is standing in a wedding and Logan and I are in a different one. My baby brother graduated from college today. Jose's baby brother graduates from high school in 2 weeks. On Tuesday Jose and I celebrate our 6th anniversary. Next week I'll be 28...at this point getting older doesn't bother me...maybe because the vast majority of people think I'm 20 or so. I don't know. Maybe I'll change my mind when I turn 30?
Every time I look at the calendar or someone mentions getting together with me before we go I realize how soon we are leaving. I remember thinking in January that I can't say we are leaving next year anymore now it's THIS YEAR. Now it's less than 3 months away. We are moving out of our house in July...anyone need house stuff? We are getting rid of everything. Thinking about getting rid of everything makes me realize how little all that stuff matters. I look at some of the stuff that was *so important* for me to have back then and now I'm giving it away.
I'm feeling a greater dependance on God lately. I know I talk about it alot but I guess that's because that's what I think about right now. I'm relying on God to take care of me even in the most minor scheduling details. For instance I wanted to take a short trip with my extended family before we leave and in spite of 7 adults with very busy lives we managed to work out a weekend that we can all do it. That may seem easy to you but it has proven very difficult for us to accomplish in the past so I see it as a miracle.
Friday, April 30, 2010
T-Minus
86 days until we move out of our house...
96 days until we leave Houston to visit family and friends on our way to Miami...
110 days until we leave Miami for Peru...
This my friends is what life in fast forward feels like...So much to do so little time
96 days until we leave Houston to visit family and friends on our way to Miami...
110 days until we leave Miami for Peru...
This my friends is what life in fast forward feels like...So much to do so little time
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
New Year, New Adventure
It occured to me the other day that we can no longer say that we are going to Peru *next year* it is now this year that we are going. I can barely believe it and I can hardly stand it! I'm so excited about going that it's always on the corner of my mind. Today was a big day for us as our Pastor officially signed off on our mission. He gave us some great encouragement also. It's so awesome to have his support :) We will be the first missionaries raised up and sent from Powerhouse!
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