Summer 2016

Although it seems like we are living in the fast lane of life, God is good. We are a little over halfway into our time in the USA and, although I am ready to not live out of a suitcase, I am hesitant to go back and jump back into school. You see, this has been a good summer. We have been able to see friends from many different circles. We have feasted on favorite fast food joints. We have driven all up and down the West Coast. We (and by that I mean Ed) have battled a few mouse nests in our car for said road trip... ok, maybe that wasn't so great, but it's a story!

Over all, God has shown us again and again how beautiful the Church is. We have been welcomed by new church groups and reconnected with former communities. We have enjoyed lunches and dinners and just hang outs with many people. And although it's been two years since we were both back, it feels as if we just left thanks to so many people's hospitality. We have been reminded how amazing our supporters are and that we CANNOT do what we do without their prayers, words of encouragement and friendship.

So, although life in the States does not feel normal, it has been beautiful!

And here are some highlights so far :)

Ed's farm house

Lighting paper lanterns

Sunset on the beach

Girls weekend with the Besties (and Quatchi)

Hiking at Lava beds with Sarah's parents

Celebrating Father's day with my grandpa

Redwoods

Alcatraz prison

San Fransisco

This and that

Usually in a blog post I try to have a topic or theme or story. But sometimes that doesn't really work. So today I thought I would share random pieces of our life in Bogota that isn't really that connected.

Just outside of Bogota is a cathedral built into an old salt mine. It's a beautiful work of art!

Some of the smaller towns outside of Bogota have a more traditional look with brick roofs and white washed walls.

All middle and high school classes share classrooms so each teacher is given a desk in the teacher office. This is Ed's desk on a normal day.

The natural beauty of Colombia is outstanding. There is never a bad view.

Sometimes the teacher office is a place of work, while other times a lot of goofing off happens :)

While coming back from the teacher retreat there was a long stop while a land slide was cleared. For this guy selling treats it was a great business opportunity.

One time at the local mall a whole parade of women dressed in white gowns walked around. I have no idea why.

Peanut butter is a rare fine here- and expensive. It's almost $5 for a small jar!

Hanging out with some of friends on break sometimes means going on a Ferris wheel.

One of the theme parks in Bogota- with a good discount on Wednesdays (we learned!)

Ed's not too excited about his tummy treat! Shaved ice with sweetened condensed milk!

Ed, always known for his fashion, made a sweet hat while horse back riding on the retreat.

Benditos!

God is so good. So faithful. So wonderful.

We arrive back in Bogota early this morning so blessed! It's a series of small, rather quiet thing, but has been God's gentle way of saying "I love you" and "I will take care of you". Here's the list of the last 48 hours:

1- Financial support- Friday we received news that all of our one-time financial needs have been met! And more than met- exceeded! Fund raising for a living is a nerve racking, yet faith building experience. One that tickles the back of the mind saying "is it really going to happen?" "is this really worth the effort?". But then God provides and BAM- doubts are gone and God is working!

2- Travel Vouchers- Saturday morning we headed to the airport in Portland. As we were waiting at the gate, the gate agent offered $300 in vouchers is anyone would like to take a different flight. Since we had a really long lay over in LAX, we figured it would be an easy way to save some money for future airline purchases. We headed to the gate and within a few minutes we were booked for a later flight- still giving us time in LAX for our connection with $600 in airline vouchers in our hands. Thank you Lord for providing a little extra boost towards our next trip.

3. Flight connection- Our middle flight (LAX to Houston) was scheduled to arrive just in time for us to make our connection. Unfortunately we left LAX late and delayed our arrival time. This is my least favorite thing about flying- tight connections. While I went to the back to go to the bathroom I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask the flight attendant if there was any way we could be sure to make our connection. She said that the flight would know we are coming and wait for us, but she would be willing to ask passengers to stay in their seats to let us off the plane quickly. I thanked her and calmed a little. Turns out we landed at our scheduled time (!!) and the fligth attendant did make the announcement and many people let us through. Turns out there were a few other people making the same connection as well. We exited the plane to search for our next gate. Turns out is was right across the hall. Literally. It was only 2 numbers apart! We didn't have to run and it was easy. I breathed a sigh of relief! Praise God for the little things!

4. A ride home- We arrived in Bogota early and were shuffled through immigration fast. It helps that it was 5 in the morning and the immigration officer looked like he could use some coffee. Our luggage was first on the carousel (another benefit of a tight layover!) and we headed through the door with no problem. I called the family who volunteered to pick us up and they were just around the corner so within 20 minutes of landing we were in the car heading towards our apartment. I am so grateful to live and work in a community that helps each other out. I didn't have to bargain in Spanish for a taxi or wait for traffic.

Again, I am feeling blessed this morning! And with this view outside my window I leave you...

Northern Bogota on a Sunday morning

Moment of joy #8.. why I do what I do

This week and next I get to spend some extra time with my students during elementary day camp. This is a time for them to have some extra practice in English and some structure during the vacation time.

This week our theme has been “pizza” and we’ve had a lot of fun making pizzas and talking about our favorite toppings. As part of our lesson today we asked the question “is there pizza in the Bible?”. One of my students answers was actually quite clever- “no- because they didn’t have pizza during those times”. Probably true.

I then asked my students if there was ever food in the Bible. They thought of communion and when Jesus multiplied bread and fish to feed large crowds. I then proceeded to share the story of God providing quail and manna in the desert. We then talked about how God provided for the needs of his people. I then posed the question: “How does God take care of our needs?” and here are my students responses:

Student 1- He gave us Jesus

Student 2- Jesus died on the cross

Student 3- Jesus washes away our sins

They get it!!! They understand that our need is to be close to God and we can’t do that on our own. They realize that Jesus is not only the answer but the provider of this salvation.

I was blown away!

I was expecting answers of God’s provision to be “God gives us food” “God gives us family” “God gives us a home”. Oh, those are all true- but there is so much more than our physical needs and BOY did my kids hit the nail on the head!

There are times when I struggle with teaching in a Christian school. I believe in the transformational power of the gospel. I believe that God longs for us to train His children to know him and love him. But sometimes I doubt that Christians schools really help students understand Christ.

Today I was proved wrong. All year we have been teaching the kids about who God is and His plan for the world. We looked at creation and the beautiful perfect world God created. We saw the fall of man with Adam and Eve. We rejoiced with the birth of the savior. We cried at his painful death for our sake. And we hope in his return. All year we have taught our students these truths. All year we prayed over them and waited on the Lord to work in their hearts. And today I saw these truths rooted in their lives- not by my words or teaching but because they know Jesus. They understand and they believe!

 

Here are some fun pizza activities from this week!

Pizza restaurant dramatic play!

Pizza puzzles

Drawing our favorite pizza and who we eat it with (apparently the dog is hungry too)

Taking my order

Making a yummy pizza!

Painting our paper mache pizzas

Moment of joy #7… on adjustment

How do you know that you are adjusted to a new place? When you do a victory fist pump for an errand that once caused you stress and now seems like second nature.

When I first moved to Bogota, grocery shopping was a challenge. Where were the best places to buy? What prices are reasonable? What is that thing and should I eat it? Should I go to a variety of little shops or get everything in one place? What was once second nature (heading to WINCO) now was a chore… for about a month. Then we found our groove and shopping for food is as normal here as it was in Oregon.

There are other things that take longer to adjust to. For us lately, it has been the ability to navigate the health care system. Ed is going in for bimaxillary (2 jaw) surgery next week and in preparation for this procedure, there are a lot of little steps we must take in order to be ready.

I come from a culture of convenience. One stop shopping is the norm. Have you been to target? or Wal mart? or Fred Meyer? You can get clothing, food, hygiene items, electronics, and even dog food all without leaving the door. Or take hospitals and doctors offices. You can get your blood test done, see a specialist with only a quick appointment, or get you prescriptions sent directly from the office to the pharmacy.

Colombia is different. We go to one office for photographs and molds. Then to another office across the street to take a blood test. Our orthodontist is a 15 minute bus ride away. And the clinic where the surgery takes place is somewhere else.

At first this “running around” frustrated me. I didn’t always know where to go, what to ask, and how to make sure the results got where they needed to be. It was hard work and different from what I was used to in the States.

We had a moment a few months ago where Ed needed a blood test so we went after school. We arrived to the clinic after being lost on the same block for 20 minutes in the afternoon. I went to the receptionist and explained what we needed. She looked at me confused and asked if we were there to pick up results. I said, no we haven’t done the test yet. She then looks at me like I am the dumbest person in the world and tells me “blood tests are only in the morning”. Apparently that was common knowledge to everyone but us. We left and made plans to return the following morning- which we did with success.

Living in a new place there are so many little things that don’t always come easy when you are from the outside. I have decided though, to try to look at the big picture and not to let frustration overwhelm me. By having one place to give blood samples one clinic can serve 100s of doctors without the doctors having to purchase the supplies needed for the occasional blood test. By having photos and molds constructed in one office, they can have higher quality equipment that is used on a frequent basis rather than an individual office hoping they can afford the tools they need. Even the clinic our surgery will be in is specialized in the equipment that the doctor needs for this particular type of surgery.

So although this means more running around for us the patient, the doctors are able to have exactly what they need and provide the best care possible. What’s different is not always wrong. There is logic and a system. From the outside the system is confusing and frustrating, but in reality it does work!

And this week when we went back to the clinic for more tests we knew to go in the morning and it was a 10 minute process! *first pump*

Easter week in the Holy Land

Last night Ed and I arrived home from a two week trip to Europe and Asia. Our main purpose was to attend “FarBeyond” the global conference for our organization in southern Turkey, but since flights are so expensive and it lined up with our Spring Break we were able to take some extra time to explore some other cities and countries.

I think the most powerful place we visited was Israel. We connected with a friend of a friend who took us all over the country to see the sites of the Bible. It was amazing to walk where Jesus walked and see what David saw. Since today is Easter- the amazing celebration of the death and more importantly the resurrection of our Lord- I am going to try to tell the story using pictures of what we saw in modern-day Israel.

<Disclaimer- This is from my memory and what pictures I took. Historians probably have a more accurate understanding of these sites and where they align with the Biblical account>

Palm Sunday-

Matthew 21:7-11  They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. ⁸ Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” ¹⁰ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” ¹¹ And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The Damascus gate. Most likely not the gate Jesus entered, but it is beautiful!

Parable of the tenants-

Matthew 21:33-41“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. ³⁴ When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants^[c] to the tenants to get his fruit.³⁵ And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. ³⁷ Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ ³⁹ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. ⁴⁰ When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ⁴¹ They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

A Bible-times wine press in the Garden tomb area

 

Jesus laments over Jerusalem

Matthew 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! ³⁸ See, your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹ For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

The modern-day “old city” of Jerusalem; over which Jesus wept

Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple

Matthew 24:1-2-Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you,there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

The western well, which in Jewish tradition is thought to be the only remaining wall of the great temple. This is also commonly referred to as the wailing wall.

Passover with the disciples

Matthew 26:17-19 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him,‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”¹⁹ And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

We were able to celebrate Passover with some people in Jerusalem. This is Unleavened bread, bitter herbs and other garnishes from the Passover celebration.

 

The upper room where it is believed Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples.

Jesus prays in Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”

I can’t remember if this is the Garden of Gethsemane or the garden on the Mount of Olives- but it is a picture of what it might have looked like.

Jesus goes before Caiaphas

Matthew 26:57-58 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸ And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.

There is a church built where it is believe that Caiaphas lived

Steps dating back to the first century where it is believed Jesus walked when he was brought to Caiaphas.

Peter denies Jesus

Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” ⁷¹ And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

In the court yard outside the church representing the high priests house there is a statue with a rooster on top remembering where Peter denied Jesus.

Jesus goes before Pilate

Matthew 27:1-2; 11-14 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. ² And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor…¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” ¹² But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”¹⁴ But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

This is the first station of the cross in the Catholic tradition and it is where Pilate’s house was believed to be located.

Jesus is beaten and mocked

Matthew 27:28-31 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters,^[d] and they gathered the whole battalion^[e] before him. ²⁸ And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹ And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

A church is built on the place where they believe Jesus was beaten and mocked.

Jesus is crucified

Matthew 27:33-40 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ³⁴ they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. ³⁵ And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. ³⁶ Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. ³⁷ And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” ³⁸ Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹ And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Protestant tradition believes that this rock face might have been Golgotha and at the base was where Jesus’ cross was raised. (The Catholics and Orthodox traditions have a different location in the Church of the Holy Spulchre).

Jesus’ body is buried

Matthew 27:57-60 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹ And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud ⁶⁰ and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

In the Church of the Holy Spulchre where Jesus was buried (top) and where his body was prepared for burial (second).

 

The Garden tomb- where the Protestant tradition believe Jesus was buried.

Jesus rose from the dead

Matthew 28:1-10 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay.⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and said,“Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN! HE IS NOT HERE!

 

Over all it was a beautiful time to remember the life that Jesus lived on earth and see where it walked and taught. The most important reminder, however, was the Jesus came so that he could die for us. He was willing to suffer, to endure tremendous pain, and to die as a criminal so that we can live with relationship with our heavenly Father. Love is amazing!