my boys

During Peru there were two little boys that I connected with in two different villages. Even though I just spent a day with each of them, I miss my time with them. It is a little hard to know I probably won't ever see them again, because even if we return, we probably will not return to their villages (the local missionaries do the follow-up with each village). So I share my love of these little boys with you….

Junior

In the first village, I had noticed a mother sneak up the side of the hill that was covered in brush to watch as the children played Peruvian dodge ball. She had an infant baby with her, and her son, who looked to be four years old. I noticed her son couldn't walk right and he couldn't talk either. He watched the other children play, and sometimes came to the top of the hill to crawl around before his mother would call him back. As I watched, I felt a tug in my heart to go talk with the Mother. I introduced myself the best I could with the little Quechua I knew. She told me her son's name was Junior (pronounced "hoo-nee-or"). I felt a connection already as that is the nickname I call my brother. I motioned to Junior's mother to see if I could hold him, and she had such a surprised look on her face that someone would actually want to hold her son. She nodded "yes" and I picked up little Junior. It broke my heart that because a little boy was handicapped, his mother would be surprised someone would notice him, let alone want to hold him. We are so blessed here in America, in more ways that we ever know.

Holding my little man.

Junior and his mother.

My second little boy was in village three, and I had the opportunity to hold him after he had fallen asleep in his big brother's arms during our children's program. He gladly let me hold him so he could color. I had time to sit with this sweet little boy and his sister later while other children were playing ball. She called him Hermano, "brother". He was such a sweet little guy. And I loved his sister too.

Holding my little guy from village three.

He's awake. His sister is helping him look at the camera.
Typical older sister. Haha.

Aren't they just beautiful children?

She took such good care of him.

Sitting with his sis.

So if you get the opportunity to hold a child, don't let it pass, for there are children all over the world who would dearly love to be held.

peru

Stopping to stretch our legs in the Sacred Valley

We are home from Peru and we had an amazing trip. We have been so blessed with the prayers and support given, and we know this trip would not have been possible without the many people who stepped up in so many ways while we were gone.

Machu Picchu

Our time in Peru seemed to go so quickly, from the moment we arrived in Lima, where we spent the night in a missionary guest house. From Lima, we flew to Cusco where we traveled by bus through the Sacred Valley to a town called Ollantaytambo where we took the night train to Aguas Calientes. The next day we took a bus to Machu Picchu. This portion of the trip was intended to allow us to acclimate to the altitude, but was so much more as we toured the ancient Inca ruins. We would be spending most of our time in Peru at elevations of 11,000 to 14,000 feet. The mountains in this part of Peru are especially beautiful. That afternoon we returned to Aguas Calientes where we took the afternoon train to catch our bus back to Cusco. Toured Cusco the next day, visiting markets and historical sites, (and a huge parade) and then caught our plane back to Lima. Our 8-hour bus ride (a neat double decker) to Hauraz went safely, and it was nice to stretch the legs again. We were now in the hometown of our missionaries, Ade and Rachel Yanac. Ade took us on a practice hike in Hauraz up to the cross overlooking the city. It was a bit of a tough hike coming off the bus ride. The day ended at Ade and Rachel’s home, where they served us a meal as a group and we were able to spend time with their family.

Life on the trail. Good sleeping!

Tuesday started our trek up the mountain to our first village. The next five days proved to be amazing and humbling as we worked with the children in each village. Our team was working alongside the AWI missionaries who had translated the New Testament into the Quechua language. Together we would do a children’s program in the school (passing out children’s Bibles, teaching, and coloring) and then we would spend the afternoons playing with the children. In the evenings, the families would come and watch the Jesus Film and then we would share testimonies and pass out the Bibles to each family. 

Such pretty colors

The Quechua people are so beautiful, and their traditional clothing is very colorful, with the full skirts and tall hats. The stars at night were so clear and the sky full of their beauty. It was the first we had ever seen the Milky Way that clear and so close. Nights were cold as we slept in our tents (around 30 degrees), but as soon as the sun came over the mountains in the morning, it was again hot. We were incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful team, and each day of the trip we were reminded of what a special group we were with!

Lunchtime on the trek

With the AWI missionaries. (Ade next to me.)

a walk with my son

We were at the farm recently and I wanted to take a walk in the field to look for arrowheads before the ground gets worked and the field planted. I had my little man with me, and for some reason he thought we were looking for corn. (It had been planted in corn last year….) He wandered behind me for awhile.

"Mom, I can't find any corn."
"Alright, son."

We walked to the edge of the field. Whack!
Whack. Whack.
I turned around. What is he doing?

I was half tempted to tell him to quit hitting the corn stubble, then he stated to me:
"I'm getting the bad guys for you." He smiled so big and gripped his make-shift sword from a corn stalk and continued to whack away.

"Don't go too far Mom. I'm your protector." Whack Whack.
"Oh no. The bad guys broke my sword!"

I turned around, waiting patiently as he stripped another stalk back to get a new sword.

"Ok, you can go now." Whack, whack. "Oh, they got me!"

We stop. I say to him: "Pick up your sword. Don't give up now. Don't let the bad guys win."

He whacks away for a few more rows. "Ha, Ugh, Yah!" Whack, whack.

A few steps more, I ask my little prince, "Are you alright?"
His cheeks are bright red; he is breathing hard.

"Yes, Mom. I'm going to get all those bad guys for you. I'm strong. I'm your protector."

He gave it all he had, whacking away at the corn stubble with his sword. He was proud of his work. We walked to the edge of the field and hopped on the golf cart. He put his arm around my neck and gave me a kiss.

He smiled big and said, "You are my beauty…….and I'm your prince."


I didn't find any arrowheads, but I found something even better. My little four-year-old son fought a valiant battle and won….and he showed his mother that the greatest battle for a man is fighting for what he loves. He was never taught to be this way, but his Creator instilled this into him. And I am proud he wants to be a protector.

the cost

I've had some requests to start blogging again, so I will intro 2014 with some thoughts of late.

I am reading three books right now, and those combined have given some great insight and urgency into my life. David Platt's Follow Me; Adoniram Judson, a biography of America's first missionary, who served in Burma; and Fit to Serve by Coach Powers.

My dear friend Noel, serving as a missionary to the Czech Republic, gave me Coach Powers' book to read and it has been very encouraging to my goals to get my body in shape after having three children. Powers states that "humanity is the pinnacle of God's creative work….and our physical fitness is wholeness in the body and within one's spirit." Though we live in a fallen world, God wants to restore as much as possible so that we can accomplish our destiny and finish the race set before us! The point of our strength should not be to impress the world with outwardly beauty but instead to find our strength to serve the Lord with obedience and abundance. I love this line from the book: "The first reason we should become physically fit is because Jesus paid for our freedom." Our bodies are important because, with them, we carry out our mission assignments to further the purposes of his kingdom.

Follow Me. A call to die. A call to live. David is such an incredible writer  - if you haven't read the book yet, I definitely suggest you read it. Reading this book deepens my conviction that in the next ten years other countries will begin sending their missionaries to America, because WE are lost! David has this paragraph from the book that speaks on repentance. "We can't fathom a Christian on the other side of the world believing that a wooden god can save them, but we have no problem believing that religion, money, possessions, food, fame, sex, sports, status, and success can satisfy us. Do we actually think we have fewer idols to let go of in our repentance?" I have many friends who are missionaries, but as the Lord hasn't called us to a foreign mission ground, we are building our ministry here, where I guarantee taking a stand for Jesus will become increasingly more unpopular and controversial. It is imperative that we teach our children to be willing to walk away from everything this earth has to offer and stand for Jesus, even in the face of death.

I found the biography of Adoniram Judson in the church library. The more I read the more my heart wanted to know about him and his journey. Judson was the first foreign missionary from America, and his heart was for the people of Burma. His translation of the Bible into the native Burmese language is still the only Bible translation for the Burmese people. His life was filled with heartache, starting with the miscarriage of his first child on the boat from America, the loss of his wife Ann, and two more of their children. Judson remarried a widowed missionary's wife named Sarah, who also died along with four more of their children. Judson remarried while in America to Emily Chubbock who returned to Burma with Judson, where their daughter Emily Frances was born. In 1850, Judson's wife Emily would lose both 61-year old Judson, and their newborn son Charles within ten days of one another. Two years later she would die at the age of 36. To love a people so much as to sacrifice everything so that they know Christ is what this life is truly all about! To this day, there are still people risking their lives to save the Karen and Kachin people of Burma, and they need our prayers!

To bring it home, when you give it all to Christ, it all is for his glory. He knows what will bring to him the greatest glory, and we submit ourselves to his mission, and pray for those who are lost. My dear friend Pat was such a man, and his wife Cheryl is so strong in Jesus that even in her loss she brings hope. I look at Emily and Judson….and Pat and Cheryl….and know that serving with your spouse in the greatest journey on earth is never for naught. The cost is great. 

habitat: local build

For July's ministry focus I am featuring Habitat for Humanity. Jeremy and I have worked with them for several years now in different capacities. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Jeremy led three teams of men down to rebuild homes near the Ninth Ward, over a period of three years. I helped organize and raise funds/supplies here, as it was a men's-only trip. The guys took all the supplies needed down with them. We even arranged for our favorite chef and her assistant to be there and feed the men daily. It really was amazing as they finished out several homes in the period of one week.

For those unfamiliar with Habitat for Humanity, it is a Christian organization that builds home for people in need, whether from natural disaster or a need for a new start. They state on their website that they have more than 1,500 local affiliates in the United States and more than 80 national organizations around the world. They have helped build or repair over 600,000 houses and serve more than 3 million people worldwide.

Our latest venture with Habitat is really special to us because our friend Stacy is in the process of getting her home built. We are really proud of her because she has dedicated many hours so she could start her build, as well as become a part of her local Circles group to actively move out of poverty. This home is an exciting change for her family.

Starting in the morning: no walls.

Two sides up. Doing prep work for the third wall.

Stacy's goal for this house: to run an air nailer. 

Mission Accomplished!

Building the final exterior wall before the rain hits.

Jeremy and Matt nailing the top plate.

Ralph, 85, was a pleasure to work with.

Ralph and Loraine have worked over 30 years with Habitat.

All four sides up.

This will be an ongoing project we are helping with this summer until it is complete. Again, we are very excited for Stacy and her family.

If you are interested in being involved with Habitat for Humanity, I recommend you start at the local level and get a taste for what they do. It is pretty amazing. They respond to natural crisis across the United States, so there is opportunity to get involved in the capacity as well. They always need hands to help with the work.

Visit their website at www.habitat.org

manna: drive for the 100

Thank you for the ideas on who to support and feature during our June Drive for the 100. We were introduced to a new local ministry called Manna by our friend Vicki. Manna gathers food from companies like Panera Bread, Brethren's Home in Greenville, WalMart, Krogers, and the food pantry in Sidney and then creates meal packages for local people in need. Manna has volunteers that pack and deliver the meals - no one in turned down from receiving a meal. Manna, and organizer Donna Reed, work hard to make this ministry a reality. They are not funded by any one organization and depend on donations, grants, etc.

If you too wish to support this ministry, please email me directly and I will provide you with the information.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink....whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:34, 40

laura: worldrace 11n11

This month I would like to introduce you to my friend Laura who is now preparing herself for a mission called the WorldRace. She will be leaving everyone and everything she has known, to go with a group of people on mission for eleven months, touching the lives of people all over the world. It was a big move and I have seen so much excitement as she prepares for this journey. She will be traveling to Ireland, Romania, Ukraine, India, Nepal, Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, and Taiwan.

Laura with a little friend

I was first introduced to Laura's desire to go on mission last summer when she told me she was accepted to be a part of the WorldRace. She informed me she was selling most of her possessions, moving back in with her parents until she left (she has been on her own for awhile now), and dedicating herself to the mission to which she has been called. So what will she be doing on this mission? Holding babies, building homes and churches, fighting human trafficking, living in real communities and sharing Jesus with people the world over.

You can help! Really. Laura needs to raise $15,000 to fully participate in this mission. Essentially, she is living off of that amount for one year, while traveling to several communities around the world, eating what they eat and living like they live. If 150 people give $100 she will be covered. So what is the next step? You can be a prayer partner, you can financially support, you can help raise funds, you can create opportunities for Laura to share what Jesus is doing in her life.

1. Visit her blog, get acquainted, and click "Support". 
2. Follow her blog while she is on mission: http://lauraschaefer.theworldrace.org 
3. Print her support card (below) and share with friends
4. Allow her to share about her upcoming journey at your church or school
5. Fill a jar with spare change and let kids join in the fun of supporting a missionary
6. Send tax deductible support via mail to:  Adventures In Missions P.O. Box 534470 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470

Caring for others in Jesus' name truly is the adventure of a lifetime, whether they are in your community or across the ocean. For the least of these we share all we have been given, because Christ gave all for us!

ladders from heaven

My children have been afflicted with a virus for the past week and a half. It started with Elauna, then Frederick, and finally Claire. The virus causes high fevers, makes the kids very tired (where they sleep several hours a day), and very thirsty but with no appetite. Claire peaked at 104.6 degrees with her fever, so we were taking this serious. We have been doing a lot of praying and staying home.  We don't take children around others if they have a fever within the past 24 hours....I hate to share sickness. After that long at home we are really ready to leave the house and see people again.

When I was younger, my mom would show us the rays from the sun and call them "ladders from heaven."  It always is a source of joy to see them, especially on days where they are so beautiful coming from the sky, shining through the clouds down to the ground. We would say someone was praying or their prayers were being answered, and especially liked the days they were at our house.

This morning, the sun was shining through our window as I sat playing with the children. I was trying to FaceTime my brother when I noticed it shining on our faces. It reminded me of how the Lord had answered my prayers this week to heal my children. They all three are feeling much better, back to their active, talkative selves. I wanted to catch the moment and remember to be grateful for the goodness of the Lord.

just one step

"In the winter of wet years the streams ran full-freshet, and they swelled the river until sometimes it raged and boiled, bank full, and then it was a destroyer."                           John Steinbeck, East of Eden

It is no longer snowing here in Ohio; it is raining. And raining. The pretty coat of white has been replaced with gray skies and fog. It would be very romantic as seen in a Jane Austen movie with English countrysides and proper manors. And lush green gardens. They always seem to edit out the continual sound of the rain with the melodies of a string quartet. 

quiet country on a gray day

I love watching flooded rivers flow with the power of the water. They can sweep entire trees down the river as if they were twigs. I remember when I was in elementary school I watched an entire embankment disappear as a wall of water pushed it over, and full grown trees folded in half and washed away in a matter of seconds. It was awe-inspiring, and a bit frightening. I was amazed at the power of the water. As I was driving in the rain today, through flooded roads and muddy driveways, I was reminded of the flood stage at harvest. In Israel. 

local river cresting its banks

fast current

soon to cover the road

both overflows from Echo Lake 

This relatively small river was nearly over the bridge, and the water was moving at a fast pace. I would not dare walk through, or try to swim in a river such as this. It would be risking my life. Yet, when Joshua was asked by the Lord to cross the River Jordan at flood stage, he was obedient. He and half-a-million people walked on dry ground. The Lord commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. He said, "Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged." Why? Because if you do as the Lord has said, he will be with you wherever you go. What did the Lord require? Obedience - to everything written in the law. A commitment to his word - for it to be always on our lips, to be ever mindful of what it says, and do everything written in his word. Speak. Remember. Do.

This is a time of new beginnings, new resolutions, new ideas. I am a planner. I am futuristic. I would like to accomplish many things in 2013. As my mind rushes through the year, trying to ensure I have the many months covered with my plans, I hear his voice behind me saying...."This is the way, walk in it." The Lord is asking me to be obedient. The Israelites did not know how they were going to cross the Jordan; they just knew they were going to cross the Jordan. The Lord is asking me not to over-plan: just be obedient. 

What does it take to be obedient? Just one step. The first step. And then the next.

"Now when the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.....until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." {Joshua 3:15-17} When we are obedient, the Lord will be with us. Take that step to the water's edge - whatever....or wherever....that might be for you. He is waiting to turn your flood into dry ground.

a matter of conscience

On Tuesday this week I had ordered 4 of a product online that I had created for Christmas presents. The item (YES, I am being cryptic because intended recipients read this blog) arrived Friday. I was impressed with the quality of the workmanship, and how quickly it had arrived. When I had ordered said item, I was able to use a coupon for 50% off the total order. Can you tell it sounds like the perfect transaction?

Today, in my email, I had a coupon for buy 1 get 2 FREE. This sounded even better, so I thought I would chat with customer service to see if they would refund my account because it was within the same week. (Some stores will do that). While I am online with customer service, I decide to run the numbers from my purchase earlier in the week. I had actually saved MORE than what this new, incredible deal would save me. Oops, didn’t I feel like a heel! Then it gets better…..the customer service rep offered me a $25 refund on my credit card.

This is that moment of conscience.  And you learn a lot about yourself in that half-second.

I felt horrible I had wasted her time.  I declined the offer stating that I was very pleased with my order this week and how well it had turned out. I could have had $25 free that I didn’t deserve, but the bitterness of undeserved gain is not worth it.

farm country

It was harvest time at redpepper farms this past weekend, and it sure was fun. The kids loved riding in the machinery - combine, tractor, and semi - and even helped walk the fields to pick up corn that fell off the combine. Jeremy had a really nice planting of corn and we were blessed with the produce this year. How great was the feeling to fall into bed each night exhausted knowing you had done a hard days work.

Combine filling grain hopper

Tractor and grain hopper pulling up to semi

Blake driving tractor with helper Frederick

Next rows to run

Jeremy carrying Elauna to ride in combine

Grain hopper filling trailer on semi

Claire gets a kiss from dad while waiting at the elevator

Blake carrying Frederick to the tractor

Jeremy and Blake

Drink station

"The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest." Psalm 85:12

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness."   2 Corinthians 9:10

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."   Galatians 6:9

in all circumstances

I wanted to name this post "Murphy's Law", but the Lord quickly spoke to my heart and reminded me of his words to "give thanks in all circumstances." Some of the crazy things that have happened this week are down right laughable, others not.

The freezer. We came home tonight to unload groceries only to find our deep freezer was completely thawed....apparently our breaker was malfunctioning or it was hit by lightening. As I was pitching our meat and emptying freezer boxes full of food into the dumpster, I was wondering the good. "Give thanks," he said, "and be grateful." So I began.

• I dumped the applesauce: my sister-in-law had so graciously made it for us last summer when I was pregnant.
• I dumped the fish: Jeremy and my brother had caught some when we were in North Carolina last.
• I dumped the whipped topping: our friend Foster had given us some great varieties from his work. I kept the tiny milk jugs for my daughter to use with her play kitchen, thanks again to Foster.
• I dumped my freezer jam: remembering some family meals with Jeremy's family where they always served homemade jam.
• I dumped the meat: the steaks, the roasts, the hamburger, and wishing I had shared more of it with my family and friends. This freezer should have been empty for other reasons.

Somewhere floating in the back of my mind were the words a friend spoke to me recently that she now cans most everything because she once lost a freezer full of food. (I don't remember who said that, but your words live on....take credit for them, please, whomever you are). There was good: I remembered so many things while emptying the freezer, and I give thanks for those memories, the kindness showed to us. We have been so blessed.

The heart. Thursday my Dad had a heart attack and was taken to the emergency room, then careflighted to a local heart hospital where they were able to put a stint in. Watching my Dad get packed into an ambulance (the pain very high for him even though he is so strong) and then seeing him with tubes everywhere was a jolt. He did maintain his sense of humor the whole time, joking with the EMT that he was allergic to hospitals and doctors. His poor nurses kept telling him he wasn't allowed to leave yet. While I was praying for my Dad, the Lord led me to read Psalm 112. Here is an excerpt: "Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands...They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."  Tonight, I give thanks. My dad is home from the hospital! Thank you to so many for your faithful prayers.

Elauna's note to Papa