Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Witnessing a Miracle

White is done, red and gold to go! Stay tuned for a sweet looking Aztec!

Sometimes it's hard to decide what to write on here. Of course there is always stuff happening both around me and in me, but what would be interesting to somebody else? This morning I had the opportunity to feel really out of shape. I got up early to visit a school that we're going to visit in August with the team. My guide drove his motorcycle pretty slow, but he walked fine. After visiting the school for about an hour I turned around to head back. My guide was a teacher there, so he stayed behind. Walking back up the hill by myself I had to stop more than once. I think the folks here would give the Kenyans a run for their money in a marathon. The school was really cool though, because it really was in the middle of nowhere on the outermost edge of our municipal. The director there was really excited to have us come.

Yesterday I had a really cool opportunity. Leslie woke me up early and asked me if I would mind going with Duane to the City in the airplane. To make a long story short, a lady here in town had received results from a CAT Scan indicating that she had a mass in the posterior lobe of her cerebrum (and of course your brain is a very bad place to have a mass/tumor). Originally she had gone to the hospital because of really bad headaches and dizziness, and her doctor now wanted her to have an MRI done in the City. She couldn't have made the trip on her own, but Duane and Leslie offered to pay for half. Well, the lady, Elvia, had called Leslie about 4 am with a really bad headache, and Leslie told her that Duane had a flight planned to the City that we could take her on. My job was to stay by her side in an unfamiliar environment for the testing. (Duane and Aaron had a meeting with the FAA of Guatemala about improving our airstrip.) So I got to know this lady pretty good throughout the day. We starting out praying when her 6 kids dropped her off at our hangar in the morning, we prayed in the plane, and we prayed all the way through her exams. She said that during her exam lights and sounds where going off all around her head, but she just kept praying to God to take the mass out of her head. They finished the exam about mid morning, but we had to wait until afternoon to pick up the results. That gave us lots of time to talk about how good God was, and how we were going to believe him for a miracle. She told me that although her husband had become a Christian a few years ago, he still didn't have much patience with the kids. She said, "I don't mind dying so much becase I know where I'll just be with God, but I worry who would take care of my kids. If God will wait until they're older I would be so happy." Well, we prayed (and of course that made me hungry), so I took her to Pollo Campero, a Gutemalan's favorite fast food place (kind of like KFC). Finally it came time to pickup the results.
They just handed us a packet, and at first she didn't want to open it. Finally, when we were back at the plane she asked me to open it and read the letter. Honestly I didn't want to. I was fine to believe God for a good report, but when it came time to look at some real-life photos of her brain, I was afraid of what they might show. They showed nothing! We read through the report (because I don't know how to read the pictures) and the specialist said the only thing abnormal in her brain was some sinusitis. I told Elvia that they might have to cut her nose off (she hit me for that) but that according to the note there were no signs of a mass! God is so good, and it was a wonderful experience to witness a miracle. Just as much of a miracle was dropping her off in the evening. Her children and husband ran up and hugged her as she smiled and told them that the results came back clear. During the day she had told me what her life used to be like. Before accepting Christ her husband had been a hard drinking, cheating, wife-beating piece of work (although she didn't exactly use those words). Now she said he is a new man. "It's not fair that while my home was a mess I was healthy and now that my home is good I'm sick." Again, I just encouraged her with how much God loved her and her family. Oh, and Elvia went all day withought any pain in her head! We encouraged her to take her results to her doctor in Quiche, but said to keep trusting in God.
I will contiune praying for Elvia. Whether those reports came back good or bad, God wouldn't have changed, and He won't change. He loves us, is the perfect father, has the power to heal, and wants as many people as possible to walking into the open doors of his kingdom. Elvia will die someday just like you and me, but that doesn't change God, and I don't think it's as big a deal to Him as it is us. But for now, I'm asking that he would allow Elvia to raise her kids and be the example of Christ's love that she is to the people around her. So often I only see problems and sicknesses that people are not healed of. It has been so encouraging to witness this miracle, and I'm going to be believing for more because of who I'm discovering God to be.
Tomorrow we're heading into Unilla, Zona Reina again. This time we'll be taking a Dr. Pedro the dentist with us. The community leader is expecting a lot of people. These trips are always very physically draining, but spiritually revitalizling. I know that we take the name of God with us, and before Him goes all light, power, and life. Our desire is that the people of Unilla would experience Him. If you happen to get sweaty tomorrow, please think of us and throw up a prayer.





Thursday, July 23, 2009

Moving Mountains


My hope and prayer is that spiritually God is moving mountains in Guatemala, setting men free from alcoholism, healing the sick, and caring for the poor. But on our way back from Coban yesterday David and I literally saw a mountain that had fallen in a year ago. The road used to pass about a third of the way down from the top, but if you look at the bottom branch to the left you can see the bulldozer that has been working to keep a temporary road open at the bottom. And so yes, David and I also made it back from our trip safe and sound. My body is a little tired from the 9 hour ride, but we made it there and back the same day. The ride home (a different way) was the prettiest part, seeing this huge mountain that had caved in and also a highway that went alongside a crystal blue river. We did eat at McDonald's for the first time in months and explored a cave (for a small fee). In McDonald's we met an interesting character named Brad. He was a young guy from Georgia riding his bike to Panama and back. We invited him to sit with us, so we listened to his story and shared Jesus with him. He was a very thoughtful guy, but I'm not sure where he stands with God. I can't imagine living in the world without a relationship with my Creator. It's not always easy, but I'm grounded, hopeful, and know that I'm never alone.

Today I visited two schools that we'll be doing a kind of Bible School at later in the summer when a team of American high school students come down. It's still amazing to me that the municipal director and the teachers are so open to us talking about Jesus in the public school setting. As long as we don't bash somebody for not being a Christian, they are extremely supportive of us sharing the creation story and talking about Jesus who died for them. What an opportunity we have to share Jesus with these kids that live in some of the most remote areas in Guatemala. Most of the teachers drive their motorcycles close to an hour from town and then walk sometimes another half hour to get to school. Most of the kids are Mayans, and so the youngest ones don't speak any Spanish yet. We'll take translators with us for the days we visit.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Taking a Ride

I'm writing this one a night early, but I just wanted to let anyone reading to know that David and I are planning on making a trip to Coban tomorrow on or motorcycles. It's our day off, and whether the girls here understand it or not, riding a motorcycle can be very spiritual! Coban is somewhere we've never been. It is supposed to be a really pretty place that is well developed compared to the areas surrounding it. Lots of the people we serve in the Zona Reina conisider it to be the closest place for medical and economical help, and for most of them it's still a several hour walk plus 6 hour bus ride. Duane also would like us to check our the runway there for the future. Anyway, I hope we don't warrant to many prayers; David and I are pretty safe on our bikes. We're planning on about a 4 hour ride there.

Today at clinic there were over 60 people, but everthing seemed to flow smoothly and peacefully. It helped to start out seeing the family from last week that wanted to get back in church. This week they came as a FAMILY including the husband/dad. During the week he gave up drinking, and went to church with his family. That is nothing short of a miracle. Armando and Leslie talked with them, encouraged them, and help again with food. Thier little boy is still very malnourished, but was a little more alert today and hopefully on the road to growing.

I don't know if you'll get the pleasure of riding a motorcyle today, but it's my hope that you find something in your day to enjoy simply because God put it there for you!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Some pictures...

A picture tells and thousand words, so I thought I'd do more uploading than writing this time.....



Today I got some fish! Duane and I flew in to pick up our good friend Adrienne from the City, and I brought home my boys (they're all male).



This past weekend we helped some families from here and the Zona Reina go to Quiche for cleft palate surgeries. This is one of the little girls, "before and after."



The Aztec is finally ready to paint! Aaron, David, and Joseph have been hard at it the last several days. (Rachel has some good pictures on her blog!)


I don't think I've ever put any pictures up of pastor Joel and his family. It's been fun and a learning experience to work with them in their church every week.



Duane just built a new counter-top for his "office" outside of clinic. He and I usually start off by praying for the people, sharing a message, and then scheduling the patients for the day. This past Saturday David (Katie's dad who is here visiting and you can see behind Duane) shared a word with the people.


As always, I really appreciate any and all prayers for me, the ministry, and the people we serve. I've told a couple of my friends that I really can tell when people are praying. We see so much need, without Jesus we could never have enough within ourselves to offer the people here. It's kind of been a rough week, for no single reason, but as spent some time before the Lord today I was just greatly refreshed. Thanks to all my friends and family who pray for me.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Missing the Milking

Well, David (Salvador's son) is back this week, so I kissed the cow goodbye. Okay, so I didn't kiss her, but I told her fair-well until David's next day off...

Yesterday morning our diabetic lady and her family came to our door again. Her name is Micaela (not Adrianna), and her husband, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter all drove up in the son's truck to learn how to take her blood sugar and give her insulin. They were so polite, even taking their shoes off at the door before they came into clinic. It was funny to see the girls walking around barefoot and the guys in their socks, with a pile of the family's shoes at the door. Leslie and Katie instructed, quizzed, and then quizzed again the family on how to take care of Micaela. I got to spend some time with the Miguel and Manuel (the son and dad). Miguel is still thinking about accepting Christ, but at least he was honest. Manuel confidently said that he was a Christian now. We talked about their history and went over how to pray. They should be back this Saturday for clinic.

Today the road to Chiminisijuan wasn't as bad as last week. The road crew (about 25 men with hoes) have really worked it over. The way the road crew works is the community schedules work days where all the able men of the village get together for a community project. Where there are no machines, there is power in numbers. The most memorable thing from today in clinic was a family who came in close to the beginning. Leslie knows the story better (I was busy with some of our nutrition kids), so you can check the ministry blog for a more detailed story. When I walked over at the end though, Leslie and Armando (our Quiche preacher/translator) where praying with the woman and her three kids to rededicate their lives to Christ. The dad wasn't a very good dad. I'm pretty sure he's drunk all the time. But it was really good to see this mom and her kids so hungry for God. The little boy was leaning forward in his chair to hear every word from Armando's mouth! Times like that remind me of why I'm here. (You can see the family in this picture as they walked out the door).

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Movie Night

Our dairy cow and I have gotten pretty close this week with our workers taking a week off. Normally twice a day I walk out to the pasture with a feed bucket. She looks at me. I look at her. And we both know someone is going to get milked. The bad part of all of this is when I forget in clinic and tell Leslie or Katie that a mom is milking good (what I'm trying to say is that she's nursing). I blame it on Spanish.

Last night with the help of the gang here, I finally showed a movie in the town park. There were a lot of young people for the half-hour motocross video and then about 80 people for the longer "Fireproof." The movie has action, comedy, and a good message about marriage, AND comes dubbed in Spanish. Several people asked when the next movie was going to be, so maybe we can make it a monthly thing.

A total of 5 people died in town this week, so it was a really sad time. Almost everyone is related it seems, so my message outside of clinic was about the resurrection that all who trust in Jesus can look forward to. My words didn't seem sufficient for the situation, but I think people were listening. Later in clinic our diabetic lady came back (I think her name is Adrianna). Last week I blogged about her and her family. Once again, her sugar was over 600, and she needed IV fluids and insulin. If God doesn't do something to either heal her or inspire her family to start taking better care of her, she will not live much longer. Today we prayed, and told her family that they could come back in the middle of the week if they wanted us to explain how to check Adrianna's blood sugar and give her insulin injections. We'll see if they come.(Adrianna, her husband, and daughter prayed with Tomas and Leslie to accept Christ into their hearts today.)

Last, at my dad's urging, I opened up the bee hive for the first time. He said I needed to check that they were making plenty of comb and raising new bees. This picture doesn't show a whole lot (the bees were pretty mad at me at the time I took it), but here is one of the frames. To my surprise there was a lot of comb, a little honey, and lots of larvae.
So that's my recap on milking, clinic, and honeybees. I hope you enjoy whatever little things in life that God has put before you today.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Peach Pie


Duane and I like to build memories involving pie, and pie requires fruit. For this I was really grateful for the people of Chiminisijuan at clinic on Tuesday. We got two bags of peaches and a bunch of bananas from a couple of the ladies, and today I got peach pie from Rachel and Leslie. Life is good.

Really, I've always been bothered by how I so easily measure life as good or bad depending on my circumstances. For example: Pie= life is good; Flat tire= life is bad. This kind of outlook honestly makes everything seem pretty crazy, life pretty meaningless, and emotions like a roller coaster. That's when I remember that God never changes, and that He tells us in the book of James to pray to Him without doubting. He says, "Don't be a wave on the sea tossed back and forth by the wind (circumstances). Trust me."
We had some pretty bad circumstances yesterday. While we were at clinic receiving our gifts of fruit, Duane was picking up the man from the City whom he had taken to the hospital a few days before. I didn't realized how bad the situation was. Duane said that this young man (early 30's) from a small isolated village in the Zona Reina had fallen off his horse and broken his back. Some of the community members pitched in to help the man make the trip (they offered Duane $50 for the trip which is a huge deal for them). Surgery didn't help much though, so the man is paralyzed from the chest down. Additionally, Duane said the guy is skin and bones. Even after praying with the man it was just hard to see him go not knowing what kind of care awaited him back in his home. Duane took it really hard.

Later that afternoon, Duane made another emergency flight. Late in the afternoon the ambulance from the "health center" in town (staffed by a couple local nurses and a doctor, all Guatemalan) showed up at our gate. They wanted oxygen for a newborn who wasn't breathing and had aspirated (breathed in) myconium (amniotic fluid tainted with the baby's feces) during delivery. This happens when the baby gasps for air too soon because of distress during delivery. Anyway, Leslie and I ended up rushing to the health center behind the ambulance with suction, oxygen, and a pulse/ox machine. Leslie helped work on the baby for several minutes as that was her specialty in the States, but the most we ever got was a faint heartbeat. Duane flew the little girl, a nurse who was breathing for the baby, and the dad to Quiche, but upon arriving in the ER they pronounced the baby dead. I don't think I need to say a whole lot more. It was just a terrible situation. Upon entering the room in the health center we recognized the mom and dad from clinic. Just three days before I had said hi to the dad as Leslie or Kaite did his wife's ultrasound. Again, we prayed with them and contiue to pray.

It's hard to move forward when tragedy comes, and it's easy to think everything's great when you're eating peach pie! At any moment in time there is probably someone enjoying peach pie, and someone else at deaths door. God alone is unchanging and a fail-safe in this life. That's why I want to know Him better. Now, I know every good and perfect gift comes from God, so I'll keep enjoying my peach pie, but the state of my heart and mind is dependent upon God alone. He says that he loves me, and I believe him. His Word the Bible tells me what he's like along with all the promises of the good he has prepared for his children. I hope I can always remember that if my confidence is in anything other than God, then the wave I'm riding could crash at any moment. Wherever you are, I hope you can make a decision with me to rely upon God who is always there for us.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Work, Eat, Pray

That's what I did today. The best part was a toss up between the eating and the praying (but there were no beef ribs involved, Jeff!).

In Guatemala the "volcano" method of pouring concrete is choice when there's no concrete mixer. As you can see though, we do have our own concrete truck! The old Dodge severed us well on this last pad of the shed. We worked until lunch, and then ate some really good fried chicken. Leslie thinks we don't mean it when we tell her the food is good (because we tell her that everyday) but I assured her it's the truth. Here's some pictures of our concrete.








In the afternoon we invited Duane as a new member to our exclusive "Pray for San Andres" club. Actually it's just the first time he was able to leave his other responsibilities here without feeling too bad. Prayer was good. I'm learning that God never changes, but that I don't have Him figured out yet. He is I believe always wanting to do something new in our lives and show us more of what He's like. "Hey, watch this," I can hear him saying. I hope I'm never too comfortable to put a limit on what I think he can do in my life.

Yesterday clinic was busy in San Andres with just Leslie, Katie, and I seeing patients, but there weren't any emergencies like on Saturday. Candelaria came again with her kids, and Paulino stopped by for his weekly... for the second time. After church I went to Juan Carlos' again for another visit (there's usually food involved). He's learning to play the guitar, and also needed a ride back to Canilla. Here you can see him sporting his "old man" outfit because his wife and family were making fun of his pants.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Salvador's "Taller"

I told Salvador and Maynor that they should open their own bicycle "taller" (tire repair shop). They probably didn't appreciate me taking their picture, but after I explained the internet to them, I think they understood that it was good for business. Actually it's just Salvador's flat tire that he's had for two weeks, and we were just finishing picking up trash after clinic.

Whew was clinic eventful today! There were over 70 people, which is normal, but we also had some strange cases. My first strange case was the crazy lady who comes through every two months. After treating the illnesses I could see: high blood pressure, yeast infection (I didn't look but took her word on it), and ringworm, she began to tell me about all kinds of things I couldn't see. Leslie warned me as I gave the lady her blood pressure medicines that I was getting ready to hear that her ear hurt, head hurt, and that she couldn't sleep. Sure enough, as I handed her her pills she told me that a bug was in her ear. I looked (it was clean), and told her that the bug must have left. Content with that, I asked her if she wanted to pray and then sent her on her way.

The next case was a little more grave. An older lady with a blood glucose level over 500 (80-120 is normal) came in with her son and daughter. She was all skin and bones from living at a such a high sugar level, and her body was starting to shut down. Her blood pressure was 60/40 and she also had blood in her stool. In the past she had come to us, but says that she wasn't able to come back regularly because no one could take her. Well, today her son (who just got back from the States) was with her and said that he wanted to start taking care of her now that he was home. Our advice was for him to take his mom to the hospital, but they said they had gone before and the hospital had done nothing...probably because they were a poor indigenous family. Anyway, they weren't going to go, so we did what we could. We started the lady on IV fluids, gave her insulin, and moved her into the clinic living room for about four hours. Before they left we were able to pray with several members of the family and share Jesus with them. I don't think they had ever been in church of any kind, but the son (who was the only one who could read spoke good Spanish) asked for a Bible. After advising him to start reading about the life of Jesus in of the book of John, I charged him with the duty of pastor for the family! His sister laughed when I told him that it was his job to read to everyone else and teach them what the Bible said...

The third surprise came in the middle of giving the last lady her IV fluids. Someone started pounding on the clinic door and a young man carrying a 9-year-old boy ran into the room. The boy was shaking like he was having a seizure, but it turns out he was just really scared. We put him on the exam table and found only minor scratches on his arm and a small bump on his head. It turns out the young man was driving too fast on his motorcycle and hit the little boy in the road in front of clinic. Everyone was just really scared. The mom came in crying, the young man was shaken up almost as bad, and there was a big crown trying to find out what was going on. In the end everything ended up OK, but it could have been bad mainly because of the underlying racism that still exists in many people's minds. The young man was a latin, and the boy was mayan. Also, if you hit someone here and don't go to the authorities it's possible that a couple months later the injured party will come back demanding money. In an effort to do everything right, Leslie actually took both parties into town to get everything in the open and stop rumors from spreading. The guy ended up giving the family some money anyway probably just to keep peace. The whole experience just showed me how much people can make a big deal out of nothing, especially in a crowd.

So after picking up trash in the courtyard and taking a picture of Salvador's tire shop, we went in to get lunch ready. Duane had just got back from a medical flight to the City. A man from the Zona Reina fell of his horse and needed an emergency flight during the morning. For the first time in our history of emergency flights an ambulance actually beat Duane to the airport and was waiting with a stretcher when he arrived. On his way home, Duane brought some Americans back for our friend Tim who runs the orphanage in San Andres. Tim and Sebastian came over in the afternoon to pick them up, so it was good to see them. Then we ate a late lunch and went to play some more volleyball at the river. I won twice and lost once...but we don't keep count :).

Hannah leaves back for Houston tomorrow. We'll definitely miss her in clinic tomorrow in San Andres. The diabetic lady who got the IV fluids is still heavy on my mind tonight, and I know there will be more people tomorrow who have a lot of needs. When I think about the future, and everything that's going to come my way, it's easy for me to feel overwhelmed. But as I wrote in a previous Blog, I think that's because I normally imagine the future without God in it. I'm not going to have to meet all of those people's needs tomorrow, God is the one who will be there to do it. I just have to follow His lead. This morning was the same way. I was nervous as usual about what to share with the people before we started clinic, but I felt like God was asking me to make a visual prop to help me explain what Jesus does in our lives. He comes to live in our hearts in the place that only He can fill; His heart comes and joins itself with our heart, and we are a new creation. I only had about 5 minutes after breakfast to put something together, so I used cardboard from a box in the garage and my pocket knife to cut these out. I think the people liked it because they thought I was a terrible artist, but it really helped me hold their attention! Later I used the same pieces to share with the diabetic lady's family. At first only the son was listening to me share about Jesus, but when I pulled out the cardboard pieces the whispering in Quiche stopped, and they watched as only Jesus' heart fit into the void of the human heart. You know, I was really close to not making these stupid cardboard pieces, but I felt like God had urged me to do it. How many times do I feel Him directing me, and I shake the feeling off? If we listen, I believe God is always speaking to us....Sometimes maybe there's nothing big, but His word (the Bible) is always there with us to guide us in what's right. If nothing else I know he is always just saying that He loves us.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Movies and Parents

McMuffins, movies, advertisements, new cars, lottery tickets...these are all things that I saw yesterday in Guatemala City. We made a trip in with the 182, and it was my first time in the City in a while. That place is like a different world from here (and anywhere else I've ever seen as far as the drivers go!). There are nearly all of the luxuries of my native St. Louis, if you know where to look. I'm not saying it's all bad (like the crazy drivers), but it's just different...It all made me reflect on life.

And then this morning I read a passage in a book that really made me think about all the
entertainment we humans have created for ourselves. Is the world not fun enough, dramatic enough...hard enough for us, that we need hours of television, movies, and internet to be entertained? I think we've almost created two worlds for ourselves, the real one and the make-believe one.

Speaking of movies, I think I got the speakers we have to work this afternoon. I would adjust the speakers and run to the other side of the yard to listen, so I'm sure neighbors were wondering what was up. I went to town to scope out the feel in the "centro" on a Friday night, and to talk to a new friend, Mike. He's lived in Canillla all his life and thinks the movie idea is good (so I hope you can see that I'm not against all movies, just the out of whack need-for-entertainment that I think ails so many people).

Anyway, clinic is tomorrow, and that's always a dose of "real world" for me. There's this little girl named Helen who comes in nearly every week. I've wanted to take a picture of her, but never wanted to make her mom feel weird. Enough people are always staring into her stroller, and I know her mom feels safe at clinic. Before I knew her, Leslie tells me that Helen's parents took her into a hospital in Guatemala City for a couple months, but that the doctors never attended to them. Eventually the money ran out, and they all returned home, disillusioned with the health care system. Helen has hydrocephalus (the natural fluid in her cerebrum doesn't drain like a normal person), so her head is really big. Helen is about one year old I think now, and when her parents first came to us the doctors didn't expect her to live. Multiple times we believe God has miraculously caused the swelling in her head to go down (we measure it's circumfrence every other week. Last week it was down to 53 cm from 55), but there are still bad weeks. The last two times Helen's mom brought her in she had a really bad rash. She also still can't sit up on her own, because she can't support the weight of her head.
It always touches me how Helen's mom takes such good care of her. Outside in the courtyard before she comes in I notice that she is constantly talking to her, rocking her, and kisses her often. I have also made a couple trips to their house just to check on them and pray. Always Helen is being taken good care of. Although Helen's situation is very sad, I believe her parents still have hopes of her growing up normally. I hope she does, but I believe it will take a miracle. That's what we're believing for, week by week.

Although Helen is just one of many very sick kids that come through our doors, she has been on my heart for several months and I thought her story is worth sharing. I don't like to ask for tons of prayer that I know probably won't happen (my own prayer life has much to be desired), but I know Helen is on God's heart and mind and that nothing has happened or will happen to her that He is not aware of. He loves her more than anyone, and that's why I believe it's important that we stand with Him on her behalf. For some reason God likes to include us on what He's doing.

Also, Helen's mom is only one of hundreds of parents who buy numbers and wait hours in line to come into clinic. Sometimes throughout the week a family or just a mom and a baby will come to our door and knock. My first reaction is annoyance because it's not a clinic day and I'm busy with something else, but when I see that it's a parent, risking their neck to bother the gringos because they're worried about their sick child, my heart softens. A couple weeks ago a lady walked over 5 hours to get to our gate for her 1-year-old boy who had pneumonia. She didn't speak Spanish, and came by herself. I know she had to be so nervous inside, but love for her boy drove her on. If we, who are bad and imperfect can love our children that way, how much more does God who is perfect love us? God is the perfect Dad, and is willing to go greater lengths to lavish on us His love than we could ever imagine. And why do I think I need to watch a movie to stimulate my emotions?A rare syndrome has also caused this red, hemangioma on Helen's face. Sometimes these leave in time. Also this is an old picture and Helen's head is about half the size as it is now.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Christian Gambling

Well, it may not qualify as gambling but David and I bet each other who could break into the "honeymoon sweet" today the fastest. I don't know who locked the lovely guest room, but no one had a key. The best way in seemed to be through the two identical windows on either side of the door. David beat me my about a minute, but I think it's because he knew how the window latches worked. So now that I lost, I'm at Davids mercy for who knows what in the future.

I needed into the room to test out the projector and sound equipment. My plan is to show a dirt bike video in town followed by "Fireproof." We just watched the movie, which is dubbed in Spanish, and I think it has a good message about marriage that the people in town would receive. I'm still praying a lot about the night and making preparations. The speakers didn't work so well in my trial run in the honeymoon sweet, so I'm going to have to see who might let us borrow some...

Later we went to play volleyball at the river (today was our Sabbath day of rest for the week). My team won the first three games and lost the last two...but we don't keep count :). My bee food is about done cooking, so I need to go, but I wanted to post something tonight. Whenever you read this I hope you are enjoying your day and trying to make someone else's better!