Our First Visitors... Are Here!

Jessica's parents are "M's" in the country of Kazakhstan.  From Nov. '09 to March of '10 they are on Stateside.  There is only one problem with that... we are not Stateside!  So, Don and Diane have packed up their bags once again to make their first trip ever South of the equator!

They arrived on Jan. 26th, a little tired, but safe and sound.  What a sweet reunion it was hugging those grandkids again.  Adrielle and Boden were beyond excited for Grandma and Pa-Pa's arrival.  They are still beyond excited each morning they wake up with Grandma and Pa-Pa still here in their house!

The kids have enjoyed playing some of their favorite games with the Grands, a little Hide and Seek and Horsey Rides.

Lots of goodies from the States came with them.  All kinds of food, clothes, beauty products, fishing flies, and some new toys too!

The day had a perfect ending... story time with Grandma & Pa-Pa with a new book and new jammies.

And the adventures continue!  More to come soon...

Kids Festival at Coyahue

Thank you to all who were praying for the event that took place last week in the Mapuche community of Coyahue.  Here is a glimpse of the festival from last Friday and Saturday.

There was music, singing, and Bible Storying...

There were sweets, treats, and Chilean fare...

There was face painting...

There were balloons...

There was fun and games enjoyed by all ages...

Country Kitchen

A very common country served lunch may consist of fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumber, or tomatoes and onion, drenched in oil and salt.

Perhaps a large block of fresh cheese accompanies the meal.

And from a large mound of fresh dough... Sopapillas!

First, roll into small balls, then flatten out and fry.

Delicious!

Poppy Field

As we were driving out to the country the other day, we rounded a bend and came across the most delightful surprise, a playful field of wild Poppies!  Adrielle and I had fun doing a little photo shoot, and I thought I would share some of my favorites.

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands."

Isaiah 55:12

Summer of Missions

Today we were privileged to share with 40 or 50 youth from the Baptist church we attend when we're here in town. They are preparing for summer missions activities next week. We were asked to share about how we were called into missions. To do so, we shared some background on how we came to know Jesus, how we met, and how we came to the point we're at now. There was quite a stirring among the teens when we mentioned that we met doing summer missions! Afterwards we were invited to stay for lunch. They are spending the week at a home in the country ("camping out" wouldn't be the right phrase ...more like having a sleep over at a house that also happens to have pigs and sheep and dogs outside). The open setting gave opportunity for Anders to get his bald head sunburnt while playing a friendly game of soccer. It was girls versus guys...except Anders was asked to play for the girls team. Before you get laughing too hard, there were a couple other guys who joined the cause! Meanwhile, Adrielle and Boden were overly doted upon and enjoyed leading the big kids in a few rounds of Simon Says and hide-and-seek. It was all fun and we pray the Lord motivates other young lives to live for eternal ends!

After looking at these pictures, you might take a moment to pray for these young folks as they spread out to share about Jesus next week. They will split up and go in smaller groups to five different locations. There they will spend the whole week doing various forms of outreach, service and evangelism. Anders will be joining one group for the day next Thursday (1/14/2010). May the Lord use their faithfulness and may He spark something in some of those hearts to be the harvesters Jesus asked us to pray for! (see Luke 10:2)

2009 - Miles In Review - "Rolling" In The New Year

Get it? Rolling...roll-ing, you know, like a cinnamon Roll. Oh yes, we are having a tasty start to 2010 and we hope you are too.

Perhaps a new tradition has begun here at our house. Jess made cinnamon rolls completely from scratch, including the cream cheese frosting. One word: Wow.

And, as we sit here waiting for our sugar coma to take over we thought we'd take a moment to review what has been, for us, a rather well traveled year. According to our rough calculations on Google Earth, as the crow flies, we have traveled no less than 18,968 miles - that's 30,525 kilometers, in 2009!

Let's see, at this time last year we were in Colorado Springs, CO.

Then we traveled the Kansas City area for our Missouri/Kansas "farewell tour," as it was duely titled - January.

Then back to Colorado Springs, up to Denver and off to Virginia for FPO (Field Personnel Orienation) - January through March.

...Back to Colorado Springs - March/April...







...And down to Albuquerque for Easter - April...








...Grandma's house (Colorado Springs)...

...Denver...Atlanta...San Jose, Costa Rica - April 27th!

San Jose, Denver, Kansas City...A Bittersweet Reunion - August.

One final stint in Costa Rica - August...

...And finally to Santiago, Chile via Lima, Peru - August 16th.

A few more hours on the road brought us...home. Temuco, Chile. August - December

...And the adventures continue. Whew! What a year.

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." -Psalm 139:9-10