welcome home, Katie!

with a special friend: Herodia

From across the parking lot Katie waved her arms quickly, almost frantically: apart from the cool demeanor that is our daughter. She motioned us to park and hugged us both. 

The hot Paraguayan summer had kissed Katie's face and styled her hair into the curls I so love. She showed no signs of the 10-hour flight and couldn't stop smiling. She helped her teammates pull hand-carved, 7-foot arrows from a plastic tube and presented one to Bill. "Happy birthday, Dad!" A missionary is born.

Over the weekend Katie introduced us to her three-week missionary journey. The extreme heat, incredible insects, unusual foods and camp-like living conditions didn't discourage Katie from embracing her purpose: to bring the love of Jesus to the Ache people. It appears that she and her team served with a love that only God can provide, one that ignores physical discomfort and lack of American culture and convenience.

Herodia, an 11-year-old beauty, stole Katie's heart. They giggled together every day. Little Chuchugi, a boy of about five, showed up each day for VBS, eager for the games and lessons.

Many children memorized and recited scripture in the barn-like church of Chupapou. The team rewarded them with small prizes, but God's Word is hidden now in their hearts.

The missionary who led the team, Viktor Gomez and his wife Christina, inspired Katie by their tireless dedication to the Ache people. Viktor spent six years learning their language in order to speak God's love into them.

It's good to have you home, Katie. But I'm certain you left a piece of your heart in Chupapou, Paraguay.

a favorite little boy: Chuchugi

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.

Habakkuk 1:5

Tomorrow, another of my girls who's now home!



souvenirs

Moved. That's what I am. In reading the posts from other Lighthouse mission teams, I am moved to witness transformed hearts. What joy to see college kids serving others joyfully, tirelessly. The Ethiopia team, working alongside Project Mercy, heads home today. One of its members wrote this:

“I have started thinking about how I will be or want to be different when I get home. The thing that hit me last night was that my needs are smaller here, and I hope they stay smaller when I get home. Simple things like food I am seeing from a different perspective. At the DC [dining commons on campus], we are offered so much. We waste much of it, but the thing that hit me is how much we eat beyond what we need. There is nothing wrong with enjoying what you eat and eating your fill, but our concept of “full” is skewed. Thinking through needs, especially with food, brings up the idea of “enough” in my mind. In America, at home, at school, we have enough. Even when we look at the food we are blessed to have on our shelves and say, “There is nothing to eat,” because it doesn’t happen to be what we want, we still have enough.”

As I read posts from the various teams, I am humbled. These 20 and 21-year-olds are God's hands and feet, and especially His heart. They have been affirmed of God's absolute goodness and provision. As they find their place in the world, they are examining their motivations and passions as young believers. It's pretty darned exciting if you ask me.

I'm getting excited to see our Katie this Friday, and what she's brought home from Paraguay. Not in her suitcase, but in her heart.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

on the home stretch in Chupapou, Paraguay

While Katie's mission team had a one-night break in a neighboring town this week (hotel cost: a whopping $10 per night!), we received a short e-mail from Katie, but also the team leader has updated us as she can. From two days ago:

Team leader Taylor Ehrhard called a little while ago and said that the team is doing well! The team has been busy in the Aché community of Chupapou building bathrooms and getting to know the people there. She also mentioned that a family who is visiting the community is recording some of the Aché’s music, so a few of the more “musically-gifted” team members are helping out with the music project. What an unexpected and unique service opportunity that will have a lasting impact on the culture there!

I'm curious to know whether or not Katie joined the music project. She does have musical gifts, but doesn't always let others know it. God wants us to "open" our gifts, I always told my kids!

It's very hot in Paraguay ... it will take some adjustment for the team to come home to temps that are 80-plus degrees colder! They might even miss the bugs and sleeping on the floor.

But more challenging, I imagine, will be that they must leave new friends among the Aché they have grown to love. I'm praying these final days will be full with the richness of serving God in Paraguay.

(Check out updates from all the Taylor University Lighthouse teams here.)

hearts

As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:13

My good friend and sister blogger, Karen Dawkins, commented that she's praying for Katie's amazing heart. (As she serves in Paraguay.) I appreciate Karen's kind comment and it started me thinking.

As my children came along, I prayed a prayer for them that went something like this:

"God, good grades and trophies and athletic ability are all good, but it's not the main desire for my children. Give them the courage to always speak the truth and to be humble. I ask you to grow faithful and servant's hearts in them. Make them people after your heart, Lord. Let them hurt for the lowly and give to the needy. Give them the passion to be a friend to those with none. Give them words to encourage and build up others."

God has a lot to say about the heart. He zeroes in on it over and over throughout scripture, due to the fact that without a change of heart, we cannot have a relationship with Him. I tend to love the world and all it offers, but John tells me that all this will pass away. Instead, I'm called to love and obey only God. (1 John 2:15-17) A change of heart is in order!

A quiet, introspective young woman like Katie would not choose to spend three weeks in extreme heat with no hot showers or other conveniences, and work with people whose language she doesn't speak unless her heart was set on a higher purpose. How thankful I am that I prayed for my children's hearts. And that God is honoring my prayers.

... set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:1

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Psalm 139:23

yay: from Paraguay!

Yeah, yeah, I know I preached on the virtues of letting go of kids earlier. How I wouldn't have contact with Katie in Paraguay this month. But what do you know, she got internet access for a few hours last night and we received an e-mail. Loved it!

Mission work is suiting Katie well. She reports that the team is bonding with the children and building relationships with the Ache adults. The host missionary, Victor, is helpful and talented and speaks several languages. It's hot in Paraguay, but there's plenty of shade. Not too many bug bites. She was getting her first hot shower last night!

Finally, "happy birthday, Dad. I love you all and hope you're having a great January!"

Well. I know my girl is having the best January of her life.

wonderful words from Paraguay

Surprising, wonderful words from the southern hemisphere! The team in Paraguay was pleasantly surprised to get some internet access. This email arrived this morning, written by one of Katie's teammates. It helps me picture how they are and what they're doing! Here we go ...

Today is day five in Chupapou. This week has been busy with construction work on the the bathrooms, VBS with the kids, and night services with the community. We have all been connecting with the kids and attempting to learn some Aché so that we can talk to them. Most of us run around speaking a combination of English, Spanish, Aché, and giggles, which the kids seem to understand pretty well. On the downside, we have met a lot of large insects and frogs…

Before we arrived in our village, we spent a few days in Naranjal, at the house of Victor, our host missionary. There we made plans for our time in the village, got to know the family and the Argentinian translators who are working with us, and spent a day at Iguazu Falls (which was way bigger than Niagara!). It was a good time to bond as a team and get accustomed to the culture so we could better serve in in our village.

We also had an opportunity to visit two other Aché villages, Puerta Bara and Ypetimi, to prepare us for our time in Chupapou. We went to a church service in Ypetimi and had the privilege of worshiping with the people and taking communion with them. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that their prayer for us was one of the most moving things things I have ever experienced. We could not understand the words, but their passion for the Lord and joy that we were going to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ in Chupapou was evident to all of us. It was really a beautiful moment, and we were so thankful to have experienced it.

We have about ten days left in our village, and are excited to continue to serve and build relationships with the people as we encourage them in their walk with Jesus. Please pray for continued patience with the language barrier, health and safety for our team, and hearts focused solely on serving the Lord and following where He leads us.

120 degrees!

Only a little news from Paraguay has trickled in this week, where my daughter Katie's on a mission trip. The team made it safely to Chupapou on Tuesday, where they will minister for two weeks. It was about a 7-hour drive and probably not the best of roads. Their accomodations are "better than expected," which Katie thought would be mats on the floor of a building, so not sure about that.

Yesterday we received word that the temperature had reached 120 degrees. And also something about lice ... Wow. It takes intentional prayer to focus on the team's ministry rather than the challenging living conditions. I pray that their VBS with the children is well-received and goes smoothly. That they'll have the strength to carry out the physical tasks before them. That the team is connecting with the Aché and communicating the love of God effectively. And that everyone stays healthy and hydrated!

If you'd like to keep up with the team's updates, as well as the other Lighthouse teams, go to this site.

... how can they hear without someone preaching to them? John 10:14

Also ... happy birthday today to a special friend, Pat Power. Love you, Pat!

look among the nations

Here's the Paraguay Lighthouse team 2012!
Katie's in the second row, second from the right.

Take a moment, look at each of these young, excited faces. They are giving three weeks of their lives in a hot South American land, taking the good news of Christ to the Aché, a people who only recently gained access to God's word in their native language.

The team will serve for three weeks, but the fruit of their ministry might not be known for a long time. I pray for them. For strength, conviction, and hearts and hands intent on serving.

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.  Habakkuk 1:5

news from Paraguay!

I'll admit I've been a little anxious to receive some news from Katie's Lighthouse mission team in Paraguay. All I knew is that they'd safely arrived on Thursday. An email came in this afternoon with good updates!

The photos here are of Iguazu Falls, which the team visited on Saturday. They are taller than Niagara Falls and more than double the width. And they're in Argentina!

Here's the latest:

[Team leader] Taylor Ehrhard called a little while ago with a team update. The past few days have been good. The team visited an Aché community called Puerto Barra Friday and Iguazu Falls on Saturday. Yesterday they went to church in the morning at the Ypetimí Aché community and had a meaningful time. The Aché there prayed for the team with hugs and emotion; they are excited that the team wants to help their fellow Aché in Chupapou. Last night the team went to church in Naranjal, the small Paraguayan town where they have been staying; it is also the LETRA Paraguay Bible translation headquarters. It is very hot (upper 90s).

This morning their host Victor Gomez gave them an overview of the translation project and orientation on Chupapou, to which they are headed tomorrow. It will be approx. a 6-7 hour drive. The road conditions should be good as there has been a lack of rain and the dirt roads should be passable. Today they are preparing in more detail for VBS and other teaching and ministry they will lead.

Praises include that the team is healthy and doing well, they have a great attitude and maturity according to the leaders, and they have appreciated the time to get organized/acclimated prior to starting the ministry.


Prayer requests include tomorrow’s travel, continued good health, and their initial entry into Chupapou to go well so that they can build good relationships with the people.

I'm so excited for Katie and her team. Thanks to so many for your prayers and support! It sounds like tomorrow will be a rigorous day. I continue to pray for effective ministry, God's provision of every need, and the health and safety of the entire team.

off to Paraguay!

New year, new adventures for our family. Our daughter Katie heads back to her campus in Indiana, Taylor University today, but only for one day before she boards a flight - several flights - for Paraguay! She's part of a Lighthouse team through Taylor, who will spend their January term on international mission trips. Two of Katie's brothers also went on Lighthouse trips: to Thailand and Poland.

Katie's super-excited about this experience, where she will serve the Ache people, who until 40 years ago were a primitive jungle people. You can read updates on the team and their mission, as well as the other Lighthouse teams here.

Thanks to those of you who have donated funds and supplies to Katie's mission. Most of all, we pray for the team's safety, provision, and effective ministry. We're proud of you, Katie. Have a wonderful three weeks!


Katie with her niece, Ashlyn.







Lifeline

We spent part of this afternoon checking out the new offices of Lifeline Christian Mission in Westerville, Ohio. What a dynamic organization made up of people with a heart for ministering Christ's love to those in need.

For many years we have sponsored children in Haiti and two of our sons have joined Lifeline missions teams in Haiti and Honduras. Lifeline has also expanded their reach to El Salvador, Cuba, Canada and a Navajo reservation in Arizona.

gratitude challenge day 13 - I'm so thankful for Lifeline and to partner with them

in meeting some of the needs of a hurting world.

55 years ago today

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

- Jim Elliot

(A post borrowed from one year ago.)

At four-thirty sharp Marj Saint eagerly switched on the radio receiver in Shell Mera. This was the moment when the big news would come. Had the men been invited to follow the Aucas to their houses? What further developments would Nate be able to report?

She looked at her watch again. No sound from Palm Beach. She and Olive hunched close to the radio. The atmosphere was not giving any interference. Perhaps Nate's watch had run a little slow.

In Arajuno, Marilou and Barbara had their radio on, too. Silence. They waited a few minutes, then called Shell Mera.

"Aranjuno calling Shell Mera. Arajuno standing by for Shell Mera. Any word from Palm Beach, Marj? Over."

"Shell Mera standing by. No, no word as yet. We'll be standing by."

Not a crackle broke the silence. *

This scene unfolded fifty-five years ago today in the jungles of Ecuador. Five men, spurred by a passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ, ventured deep into the Ecuadorian jungle in an effort to reach an isolated tribe known to attack all strangers: the Aucas.

At an agreed-upon time, their five young wives sat by their radios, waiting for a message that never came* ... for all five men had been savagely speared to death.

Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the murdered martyrs, Jim Elliot, wrote the story of unconditional love and complete obedience to God in Through Gates of Splendor. It became the best-selling and most powerful missionary story of the 20th century.

It is a book that moved me like no other, and I often encourage young women to read Elliot's writings. She is an incredible woman of God, wife, mother, and author.

If you've never picked up Through Gates of Splendor, do it. The sequel, Savage My Kinsman is equally riveting: the story of Elisabeth's journey back to minister to the Aucas, along with her three-year-old daughter Valerie. Valerie Elliot Shepard, now a pastor's wife, mother and grandmother, speaks around the country. My daughter heard her speak last year at her college.

 Elisabeth Elliot today (from http://www.elisabethelliot.org/)

* from Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot.

passion and purpose

I'm thinking about purpose today, and how my true purpose in life intersects with my dreams. Thinking back to my younger years, I recall a number of dreams for my life: some outlandishly unrealistic and others simply put on hold for "someday."

I realize that childish dreams are giving way to those of greater purpose, of a spiritual nature. And  I wonder: am I too old to pursue a completely new, and as my family might imagine, surprising path for life?

As a teenager, I harbored a completely romantic dream: to live alone in a small bungalow at the beach, supporting myself as an artist. Funny to ponder now. Not that I wanted to live as a hermit all my life, but this pre-marriage, pre-family, naive goal seemed like the ideal way to start life as an adult. Then came college, marriage, the work world, and immersion in twenty-five years of motherhood.

A new dream is now rearing its head. Last fall when I spent several days with my dad during his hospital stay, I marveled at the nurses and other medical staff. They were skilled, efficient, calm and caring. I took copious notes on dad's diagnoses and medications. I imagine caring for sick and hurting people, as well as their families. But then, reality pulls me back: a new career at my age? One that requires years of training? Perhaps such musings are due to my nurturing nature, a by-product of all my years as a mother.

As I write, our friend Rob Dawkins (pictured here), a family physician in North Carolina, is headed to Haiti with a team of medical staff to spend ten days providing medical relief in the wake of the recent horrific earthquake. Rob is responding to a life-long passion. This intrigues and draws me. In fact, the idea of mission work has been on my mind for some time. I picture myself in Haiti, holding a hurting child, praying with a destitute mother, sleeping on a simple cot. I wonder if I could. I wonder if I should. I ask God, why have you given me these thoughts, these tugs on my heart?

I believe without a doubt that God creates each of us for unique purposes. His Word affirms this over and over, and it excites me no end to realize that while my job of rearing children is almost over, I can be certain new tasks lie in my future. How amazing to trust that God's ways will, in the coming years, intersect with my passions. In fact, he's the one who GAVE me the passions in order to fulfill his purpose for my life. Brilliant, if you ask me.

What about you? I'd love to hear about your passions and purpose in life, and how you see them changing.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

hope for Haiti

 Haitian people seek refuge at Lifeline's Grand Goave headquarters.

How horrifying are the photos and reports from Haiti, which suffered a 7.0 earthquake last week.

My family has a connection to Haiti: our church, Delaware Christian, supports Lifeline (sending work teams to Haiti several times) and we have sponsored three different children there for several years through Lifeline Christian Mission. We have no idea of Jamesley, Valancia or Manita's condition; we have faith that God and his workers are taking care of these children.

Lifeline Christian Mission is in their 30th year ministering in the desperately poor country of Haiti. Founders Bob and Gretchen DeVoe have worked tirelessly all these years to establish a mission, orphanage and school. They have been God's hands and heart in Haiti (along with many other fine organizations), feeding, educating, supporting and loving thousands of Haitian people.

If you have a desire to help in some way, go to Lifeline's website. There you will find specifics to help meet immediate needs, as well as the ongoing needs that will be required for years to come.

Lifeline is a solid, reputable organization and I am certain - and thankful - they will be a literal lifeline to the people of Haiti.

January 8, 1956

At four-thirty sharp Marj Saint eagerly switched on the radio receiver in Shell Mera. This was the moment when the big news would come. Had the men been invited to follow the Aucas to their houses? What further developments would Nate be able to report?

She looked at her watch again. No sound from Palm Beach. She and Olive hunched close to the radio. The atmosphere was not giving any interference. Perhaps Nate's watch had run a little slow.

In Arajuno, Marilou and Barbara had their radio on, too. Silence. They waited a few minutes, then called Shell Mera.

"Aranjuno calling Shell Mera. Arajuno standing by for Shell Mera. Any word from Palm Beach, Marj? Over."

"Shell Mera standing by. No, no word as yet. We'll be standing by."

Not a crackle broke the silence. *

This scene unfolded fifty-four years ago today in the jungles of Ecuador. Five men, spurred by a passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ, ventured deep into the Ecuadorian jungle in an effort to reach an isolated tribe known to attack all strangers: the Aucas.

At an agreed-upon time, their five young wives sat by their radios, waiting for a message that never came* ... for all five men had been savagely speared to death.

Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the murdered martyrs, Jim Elliot, wrote out the story of unconditional love and complete obedience to God in Through Gates of Splendor. It became the best-selling and most powerful missionary story of the 20th century.

It is one of my favorite books, and I cannot believe that my local Christian bookstore gives so little shelf space to Elliot's writings. She is an incredible woman of God, wife, mother, and author.

If you've never picked up Through Gates of Splendor, do it. Read it, read it, read it!

* from Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot.

Elisabeth Elliot today (from http://www.elisabethelliot.org/)

Lighthouse 2010

Over 100 college students rang in the new year by packing off to seven countries around the world. They comprise the Lighthouse '10 teams of Taylor University. At least four of my daughter Katie's friends are on these teams, recently arrived in places such as India and Ecuador.

While their classmates are back on the frigid Upland, Indiana campus for "J-term" (a 3-week January term), the Lighthouse teams are encountering other cultures and serving as God's hands and feet.

Our sons David and Dan also joined Lighthouse teams in past years. David's Thailand trip took him all over the country, and a highlight was working in a mission school in northern Thailand. His homestay with a local family was ... interesting.

Dan's trip to Poland coincided with a record-cold January as the team ministered to young people and paid an emotional visit to Auschwitz.

It's inspiring to me to see college students travel and serve others. Click on the link above and follow their progress!

from India, with love

My daughter Katie has always wanted a connection with the past, particularly grandparents who lived and died long before Katie was born. Last summer, as Katie helped her Grandma (Elizabeth Haller) clean out a drawer, she found a treasured link to her great-grandmother who died when Elizabeth was just an infant.

It is a letter dated November 18, 1916, written from India to Katie's great-grandmother Muriel Thayer who was ill. The illness is mentioned in the letter and we are guessing that the letter might not have reached Muriel before her untimely death in December 1916. The writer was Muriel's friend, Mayme Scott, a young mother and missionary wife. After a long paragraph on her baby's growth (the baby was speaking Hindi) Mayme went on to describe her struggles with keeping a good cook:

You are not the only person with servant problems. I have them, too. Just now I've been having trouble with a cook. These things worry me and make me nervous. It isn't any fun doing the cooking myself with the equipment we have. I nearly smoke my eyes out every time I have to do it. And each time I say I'm going home to America if I don't get a cook soon.

She then goes on to describe their mission campaign, an effort to bring the gospel to local non-believers. Mayme was excited about a new Indian preacher who dresses very simply in Indian fashion and lives simply too. He was of the Brahman caste - the highest caste there is. He preached twice a day for four days and his sermons were an hour and a half long. The church was full each time and people listened attentively.

Aside from this interesting look into a missionary's life 92 years ago is the letter itself. Three hand-written pages were surely not unusual at the time. Letter-writing was a typical - or only - means of communication between friends, family and lovers.

I've always had a sense that a letter is a piece of its writer and shouldn't be discarded. So in my closet are letters from my parents, grandparents, husband-to-be and children. When I occasionally pull them out to read on a rainy afternoon, they magically transport me to a place, time or relationship that is no more. They remind me of how precious people are to me, and of the brevity of life.

Those letters tell me to love those in my life and to leave written words, for perhaps someday my great-granddaughter will read not my blog, but my letters in her search to connect her life to mine.