Another Christmas In Loja

 

 Today we will be spending our third Christmas here in Loja. Our first Christmas here was to visit Rebecca for three weeks and see the ministry that she and her family were doing. It was the week I walked into an empty MK classroom and felt God telling me that this was where I was supposed to be. 

 On the second Christmas we were living here and enjoying the newness of everything. We chased trash men down streets, recovering precious cans, started Spanish classes, cringed when I saw small children out near the streets and in cars hanging out windows, Kept a close eye on the ground as I walked, encase I encountered dogging bombs or a hole that would devour me. We were concerned whenever the water or electricity was out. I would panic if I thought we were going to be late for something or someone else was late, if I thought I had to cut the legs off the chickens when I purchased one or eat the feet when they were in my soup. It took several months to learn that the sirens that let children know school was in session, were not tornado warnings. I was afraid to take a taxi or bus on my own.

Today I feel like we are normal here. Sometimes I think life is the same old same old, just as I did when I was in the states. We have learned we can let the trash go for a day or two, that if we miss the trash truck we can walk it to the large container in the park, and that we can also put the bags out without the containers. I am now able to carry on a short conversation in Spanish. I take taxis and buses on my own. When the water and electricity are off it just means the dishes and showers get done another day, and I can live without internet. Well I can live without internet for a day or two. The school sirens are now how I tell time. First one 7:00 time to think about getting up, second one 7:15 get out of bed you sleepy head. Children in cars without safety seats no longer give me the willies.

 I can now cut off chicky legs with the best of them. I can now be fashionably late and it not bother me much and I see the lateness of others as a blessing sometimes. Sometimes God sends us a hail storm or flood so that it won’t get boring.

I still keep an eye out for doggy bombs and holes, I don't eat the chicken feet in the soup and God still says this is where we are supposed to be.

A gift that will keep on giving

What will 24 dollars buy this Christmas? Here in Loja your family would be able to support education for a missionary child for a year. Twice a month we have two programs for the children of missionaries. One is Kids club that includes children from several mission agencies.

The other is a parents’ night out for the SIM missionaries so that the parents can have a few hours to themselves. There is also tutoring for the children who do not attend the Study Center for their main education. Your support will help with supplies for the Clubs and for tutoring, give your family a child to pray for who is also serving with their family here in Loja and give your family the opportunity to serve with Terry and me here in Loja. 

We have 23 children. With your support you will receive the child’s name and will be able to write to them either by email or postal service. This would be a wonderful gift for your children to give this Christmas.  Your church mission group or children's Sunday School class could adopt an MK.

 Please send your gift to

Gateway Global Outreach

PO Box 591

West Chester, Ohio 45071–0591

With your donation please notate that it is for Kid's Club support.
Don't forget to include your name and address so that we can partner you up with a missionary child. Please email us so that we can send you the Child's name and you can start praying for them.

Have some Cranberries and Pumpkin pie for Us

This next week is Thanksgiving in the States. Here it is another day to work and go to school. Terry and I will be celebrating with our Sim family Wednesday.We will travel to Gonzanama which is about an hour away over some pretty awesome mountains. I will be sure to take my over the mountains medication.

This morning Terry was sick so he wasn’t able to go to church service. I was so tempted to stay home with him. You see I would have to do some things that I normally don’t do on my own. I would have to go to church on my own. I have ridden the bus on my own to church but he has always been there to meet me. I would have to sit in the service by myself, ride the bus home by myself go to the grocery store after church by myself.

 

If I had not gone to church this morning I would have missed some lessons, like don’t stand in front of the bus door after getting in, don’t put your hand on the rail next to the door that you shouldn’t be standing next too, ouch, don't be surprised when a sweet little old lady puts her arms around you to keep her balance in a crowded bus. Also, just because it is a national holiday and no one else is paying bus fare doesn’t mean I won’t have to. I am sure there would have been more lessons if I had gone on to the grocery store after church but I chickened out. 

Terry and I want to thank you for your support and prayers. We are thankful for each of you. Know that we are your hands and feet here in Loja. All of you have a wonderful time of fellowship with family and friends. Please eat some cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie for us. The picture above is not the bus I was on today.

Thoughts on a Piece of Candy

I was helping in Sunday school today and one of the teachers passed out candy to each of the children. The candy was inexpensive and each child was given a different kind. Not one of the children said I want that one or complained about the candy given. Not one child asked another to exchange what they had. Each child was happy with the candy given him. 

I had to think of the times that I have been given a gift and thought, hey I wanted something else or that other person got something better or different from me. Thoughts of ungratefulness. Oh how ungrateful I have become. 

Watching the children I couldn’t help thinking later about my thankfulness and my ungratefulness. How did I become so ungrateful, is it because I have so much and that I just take it all for granted. 

My prayer today

Dear God make me like those children. In the small things make help me to be grateful and in the large things help me to be grateful. And God if I can’t be grateful take my toys away so that I will understand what being grateful feels like again.