FIRST one down, only three more to go!

A full semester has passed since my last post.  I have officially completed my first semester into the Masters of Science in Social Work at Abilene Christian University.  I still don't have my grades back but I think I passed all my classes. 

All things considered, I think I know more than I did back in August.  Good, right?  I have a much deeper understanding of the social policies and the history of social welfare in the United States.  I think I understand a little bit more what social workers do (they don't just take kids away from their parents). However, it is really broad so I won't go into a lecture on social work.  I would like to give you a highlight of this semester.

I struggled a little in the beginning with my English.  I know, hard to imagine that four years in a Spanish speaking country would change me.  Thanks to mom and James for reading countless papers over review boards, research questions, ethical dilemmas and more.  I am studying with a cohort of about 11 other full time social work masters students.  We have all our classes together so you can imagine that we have begun to know each other pretty well.  I had class all day Monday and Tuesday.  On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I had my internship with the local MHMR, the Betty Hardwick Center.

My work during this semester at the MHMR was mostly with the Mental Health intake department and the crisis services.  I shadowed two LPC's (Licensed Professional Counselor's) in the intake area.  We listened to what was going on with the client and then determined if they fit the eligibility requirements.  I have learned a lot about mental health disorders through this work.  The crisis department focuses on helping people in the community who are suicidal or homicidal.  I shadowed the LPC and MSW (Masters in Social Work) on crisis assessments in the local hospitals, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, psychiatric hospital, juvenile detention center and more. Some of the crisis calls were not too serious and we were just called for precaution but others were difficult and very sad.  The suicide rate here in Abilene is very high.  The job that we have is very serious and can often mean life or death.  Needless to say the burn out rate for workers in the crisis area is very high.

All the rest of my time, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and evenings, were spent doing homework.  I talked to some other friends who are doing other masters programs and discovered that what I affectionately like to call the Master's roller coaster of emotions fits about every full time program.  Within a week I will be so sure that I it is impossible to complete the assignments that I will be in tears, the next day I will on top of the world sure that it can be done only to hit the valley the next day.  If any of you have seen Tangled (my favorite movie) it is a little like the scene where she is leaving her tower for the first time.  The feeling at the end of this semester is only utter relief that I get a few weeks break before starting all over again.  They assure us that the first year is the hardest and the classes lighten up in the second year.  Why you ask?  Only because we will need to focus on writing thesis.  Yes, a thesis.  Of course they had to bring this up on our last day of classes right before we are about to enjoy a break. Come on!  Let us live in a little denial for a few weeks!    

I have also been working with OM Ecuador via internet this semester.  It has been a challenge but we have survived so far.   They are starting a new one year program called Transmission 4x4 that is a training time and traveling ministry across Ecuador for foreigners.  It will start next year.  We have had some missionaries come back to Ecuador and a few more work on extending their time on the mission field. 

Many of you know that in September my mom was diagnosis with non-hodgkins lymphoma.  Her spleen had grown to double the normal size so her doctor had her get a PET scan.  This cancer thankfully is a slow growing cancer and we had caught it in the very beginning stages.  She had four weeks of chemo where her only side effects (that she shared with me) was an inability to sleep at first then a very irritable attitude.  Her blood work now shows positive results and she will get another PET scan in February.  She has been joyful and at peace during the whole process, which she attributes to God and the prayers that have gone out.  I would like to say that dad and her children were also at peace and joyful but ...  What can I say, I have an amazing mom. 

My plans for the next couple of weeks are to spend some quality time with my family and catch up with friends.  I also am praying about the next steps to take in regards to my living situation.  My aunt and uncle had graciously allowed me to live in their guest house free of charge this whole semester.  However, they are moving soon so I will need to find a new place.  I am excited to see what God has planned.  He has never failed me and I know that if my time living here out on a ranch has been awesome then wherever He will move me has to be that much better!  Pray with me about my decision and that God will be very clear with what steps I need to take.   If you can and would like to meet up with me, these next four weeks are the perfect time for me!

Two of my new friends and classmates

Here, there and everywhere.

The last 3 months have passed by in a blinding blur.  The 24th of May I traveled to Iquitos, Peru to help with a medical and sports clinic and a pastors conference. Upon arriving back to Ecuador I had three short weeks to pack up my life and head back to the USA on the 24th of June.  I was in Georgia for a few days then on to Texas and my family.  Since then I have been all over not seeming to stay in one place for more than a week, until today.  Today I have arrived to my little house in Abilene to prepare for my graduate work to begin.  It starts with orientation this coming friday, the 24th of August.  Anyone else noticing the repetive 24?  Also on the 24th of July I purchased (part of it at least) a car.

As you might imagine, the change from almost four years in Ecuador to being back in the states has been an interesting transition.  I still fight the urge to say "Hola" when I answer the phone.  And though that is a funny example it has not always been so entertaining.  I find myself constantly overwhelmed by the endless options presented to me at every turn. It took 4 weeks before it sunk in that I was not getting on a plane in a week or so to head back to Guayaquil.  Because of my constant travel I have had a hard time finding my footing.  But bit by bit, each day brings me to the end of this reentry time. I have not forgotten Ecuador or the things I have learned but I am slowing learning once again how to live in the USA.  Though going into Wal-Mart still gives me a headache. 

It has been wonderful to see my family and friends in this time.  I am also excited about my up coming studies and am trying not to be anxious.  The program is two full days of class from 9 - 4pm then 16 hours or more weekly of practicum work.  I am not completely sure what to expect.  I am also learning what it means to live out Hebrews 11:1.  There are a lot of things that I am hoping for and a whole lot of solutions that I do not yet see. The amazing thing is that time after time God keeps reminding me that He is faithful, always faithful.  He has brought me thus far and I know that He will not abandon me.  Lets keep walking by faith.

If you want to catch up and will be in the area or Dallas area, let me know!

He looked at me and smiled

Just when you start to wonder if what you are doing really makes a difference something happens.  It happened for me last week when I was doing our normal weekly visit to the hospital.  I had been visiting with 8 year old Justin.  He had been moved about 10 days ago to an isolation room so I had to wear a mask to go in to visit him.  A couple of our volunteers looked a little scared about the fact that I was entering and encouraging them to do so as well.  Until I explained that we were not wearing the mask to protect ourselves but to protect Justin as his already weak body with an almost non-existent immune system had an infection in his blood.  Any small sickness could be fatal to him.  Ever since he moved into the isolation room Justin has not wanted to talk.  He smiles and giggles almost the whole time but not a word.  I wonder if has anything to do with be stuck for days in a room with someone who continually places the blame on you.

He has been there for 8 months now and his mom right alongside him.  It is understandable that she is sick of being there but I don't think she realizes the psychological effect that it is having on her son.  "Justin we are still here in this hospital because you won't eat!" "I'm so sick of being here and sleeping on the floor every night".  It is hard on the whole family it seems, but even more so on Justin.  The mom seemed to suddenly have a change of heart a couple weeks back and started being positive and smiling again.  We were not too surprised though as we had been praying for this exact thing to happen.  Justin too has changed, he has started to eat more on his own.  He moves around more and bring out his old school books to study.  I saw his old school pictures from when he was 4, 5 and 6.  He was so chubby and healthy looking.  So completely different from this little boy with a swollen stomach and his skin stretched over bone.  This is effects of the indiscriminate HI Virus. I caught myself despairing, wondering if it even makes a difference these few hours we can spend with them.   Then I saw him.

I couldn't tell you his name but I knew his face.  It was so familiar.  His eyes caught mine as I moved toward him and he smiled.   I did know him though something was different and he knew me too!  When I was in front of his bed he started speaking and already my brain registered this as something unusual, as I don't recall having a complete conversation with him before.  He was excited because once again there were guys with guitars here with us.  Then I knew, he was the little boy from the isolation room that was here in the summer of 2010.  He would always watch from the window as we would pass by with our coloring pages and guitar.  Thankfully our volunteers were not afraid to go into his room mask and all.  As he started telling me with a huge smile that he remembered the songs that were played and the love that we gave.  Then it hit me, love always has an effect.  Maybe it's  an effect that isn't measurable and that you cannot weigh, but it leaves an imprint. 

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor 13:13

Go give a little love!

Trust spoken - Do you dare to share?

Wednesday was an interesting day.  I was just finishing a 5 day sports and ministry conference and training.  It was the end of two weeks in a cold and rainy Quito.  Finally I was on my way to the airport to my beloved, warm, humid and sorely missed Guayaquil.  After being rather sick from a stomach bug the day before I was blessed to be traveling with a healthy and strong group from Guayaquil who helped with my suitcase.  In the hour and a half taxi ride from the campgrounds where we had been staying to the airport, I was seated next to a pastor.  We discussed the conference and some strategies that we would like to put into place in Guayaquil when he asked me how I got started in missions.  I shared my story with a lot of details as we had so much time.  When I got the current place of how I am trusting God to provide a full scholarship to study my masters that is more expensive than $40,000, the taxi driver could not hold back his disbelief.  I then realized that he had been listening to us share our testimonies the whole way.  So I asked him if he thought that these things were impossible.He seemed in awe of the things that have happened to both of us.  This opened the door for us to share the gospel to him and there driving to the airport he prayed to begin a life of trust and faith with Jesus Christ.  I was so excited.  How awesome it is that God can use a simple overheard conversation to change a life!  

We arrived to the airport and since I hadn’t eaten much in the last two days, Pastor Hector invited me to eat a sandwich with him.  He received a call while we were waiting.  After getting off the phone he said to me “Tabitha, I want to speak a word of prophecy over you.  You will receive this scholarship that you are waiting for. I know because I also applied for a scholarship to study my doctorate and I just got off the phone with the lady who informed me that I received this scholarship.” This made me think that I might have received word about it so I said “I would really like to check my email right now.” He took out his ipad and handed it to me.  So I got into my email and there was one message waiting for me sent earlier that day.  I RECEIVED THE SCHOLARSHIP!  There are a few more details to work out but there it is, ACU here I come.  How great is God!

Summary:  I see a masters program that is interesting and that I have peace about studying.  See the cost of studying at this university, momentarily freak out and start wondering why I had to choose one of the more expensive options to have peace about.  Find out that there is a full scholarship for those studying in my field.  Find out that being bilingual is a requisite.  Then that there is only one of these scholarships. Share with my friends and family and trust God.  Then have the opportunity to share the gospel because of sharing my testimony about trusting in this situation.  Someones life gets changed.  Then find out that I got the scholarship.  It blows my mind to realize how God is like this and always has been.  He just wants our trust.  Here is my story, share yours!  


More details to come soon on the plan!

ALWAYS BE JOYFUL!

The third annual Medical Mission Trip with OM Ecuador kicked off on Saturday the 24th of March with 10 visitors from the USA, 1 Finnish girl, 2 South Africans, a Chilean and lots of Ecuadorians!  We went to the incredible town of Cadeate on the coast of Ecuador.   During this week I had the joy of translating for Bryan Kaiser with God's Eyes Ministries during his eye exams.  Our phrase for the week was "Always be joyful" from the verse in 1 Thess. 5:16.  We would quote it when we were happy, when we were gritting our teeth with annoyance or when we wanted to cry from frustration.  It helped to remember why we were doing what we were doing.  So remember ALWAYS BE JOYFUL!

As a translator this year instead of the coordinator, I found myself amazingly relaxed with few responsibilities.  I also got to truly experience the work of a translator day after day.  It is hard work and more draining than coodinating. I am very impressed with those who do this type of work full time.  I can say that I only messed up once this week when translating a phrase from Bryan, I turned to the lady and said "Did that work for...." then I stopped abruptly and both she and I burst out laughing.  Bryan just looked at me confused and I finally got my breath to say "you didn't realized that I just spoke to her in English too?" This usually happens more than once on a long week of translating.  Bryan was also practicing his spanish phrases and I think he added this one to his list "Mira la nariz" - "Look at the nose".   Which was the phrase that we would say to the people just before he shined the light into their eyes as they typically shut their eye or rolled it back into their head so he couldn't see the whole thing.  I would typically say "Look at the doctor's nose, no, not your nose, the DOCTOR's" as for some reason their first response was to cross their eyes and look at their own nose.   In general I really enjoyed my work with Bryan and helping someone who many times had never owned glasses get to see the world.  There were hard parts too, like when you had to tell someone that they would not ever get to see, or that they had lost the use of their eye or that only a surgery that we all knew was way out of their budget would get their sight back.  I remember one case very clearly.  There was a young man, about 33 years old, who had horrible sight.  After Bryan examined his eyes he told me to explain to the young man that because he didn't get the opportunity to wear glasses about 20 years ago the vision in his left eye had been so bad that it would never see again.  He looked at me so hopefully when Bryan was talking to me in English.  Have you ever seen hope die right in front of you?  I think I saw it in this man.  But thankfully we were able to help him see almost perfectly out of his right eye. 

We got to help a family with glasses.  The mother didn't have her right eye, it just never had grown.  We were able to give her glasses to help her see out of her left eye.  We also prayed that God would preform a miracle on the eye that never grew.  We didn't see it grow right there but I believe that it can!  Her oldest daughter was a special needs child about 13 years old.  She didn't smile, ever.  Her mom explained that she couldn't see anything and to eat she would pull her head down to about three inches away from the food with the good eye directed towards it just to eat.  We pulled out a super powerful pair of glasses and put them on her.  I think that was the first time I saw her really smile.  Then one of the volunteers from the USA started making funny movements about 10 feet away and she died laughing because she could see it!   She stood quietly during her younger sisters exam with her eyes fixed on the rest of the church and the people moving around to the different medical stations with a smile.  Imagine seeing for the first time something more than blurs.  Another young lady of 16 came with her mom to get glasses.  The mom needed very strong glasses.  She told us that the daughter also needed glasses as whenever the daughter wanted to see something the mom would take her old glasses off (the wrong prescription of course) and loan them to the daughter just so she could look at something.  16 years old and she never had a pair of glasses.  When we made her glasses we began to talk to her.  I was able to share the gospel with her and she prayed with me.  It was excited to see how not just her physical eyes were opened but also her spiritual eyes.  I showed her where to start reading in the bible that we gave to her.  

There are stories after stories like this.  I am in awe of what God has been able to do through this incredible ministry.  I know that the medical clinic side also saw lots of people, helped families, and saw healing.   It was an extraordinary week.  Only an extraordinary God could do something like this.  If you want to see more about God's Eyes Ministries you can look at it at God's Eyes.   I was blessed to have this opportunity! 

40,000 sandwiches

Remember when Jesus preformed an incredible miracle for a hungry crowd?  He took  two fish and 5 loaves of bread, blessed them and broke them into pieces.  It not only feed the 5,000+ crowd but there were also baskets full of left overs!  Sounds like a lot of fish sandwiches to me.  But let me explain what has started me off on the 40,000 sandwiches spin... 

It started over a year ago as I began to pray about my future and where that would lead me.  Not the next year or two, but in life where was I headed.  That's a big question and for someone whose biggest commitment has been studying in university... it felt even heavier.  I had many options but no peace about taking any.  My initial two years of commitment ended with OM a year and a half ago and yet I continue without a plan.  I love working with OM and God has taught me so much in my time here.  The needs are enormous, but I feel so unprepared for the work that I am doing.  So I began to look for opportunities to study, but nothing seemed to fit.  I passed the deadline to make a decision and the pressure just increased.  Some told me to just decide and it would all work out.  But things have never worked that way in my life.  God has always shown me the next step since the time I started making decisions for myself.  I have never doubted my place and what I do because of that.    

After much searching and almost giving up on the idea, I came across the Masters of Science in Social Work at Abilene Christian University.  After talking with the director of the program and praying some more I began to put into action the idea of taking a 2 year study leave from OM to continue my studies.  I applied, they accepted me.  I am now in the process of applying for financial aid because here is where the 40,000 sandwiches come in... per year.   I am ready and willing to work for what I need to study but with this amount there is no way.  I also cannot go to school on loans as that would majorly delay my return to the mission field and Latin America.  So I am praying for a miracle!  I am praying that the fish and bread turns into an abundance shows God's glory!  And I want all of you to be in on this as well because God does amazing things!  


Already God has provided housing through my aunt and uncle who live in Abilene.  I am praying about transportation, medical insurance, classes and books.  It is an exciting experience trusting God for something so much bigger than I could reach myself.  Also just this week they informed me that there is one full scholarship available to someone applicable who is bilingual in English and Spanish.  It blows me away...  I will find out in May if I receive it for the Fall semester.  

Please pray for OM Ecuador and the Andean Region as there is still a large hole to fill in the area of Personnel.   I also help out with the logistics for our yearly Missions school, teaching classes, lead the hospital ministry and work with the youth on Santay.  It will not be easy leaving them even if for just a time. 

Its my birthday and I'll ...

Every year my birthday comes, as all birthdays do.  But for me my birthday marks the almost half year mark of being in Ecuador.  This year on the 19th of February I not only turn 28, but I also officially have been in Ecuador for 3 years, 5 months and 4 days.  It is hard to imagine that so much of my life has gone by and people still tell me how young I am.  Yes I am young, but I have also lived.  So I thought I would celebrate some of those things that I have lived in this birthday and on this sort-of anniversary of my time in Ecuador.

1. Having over 18 roommates/housemates from more than 9 countries.  That should be enough said.  There are countless ways of doing things and I think we have tried all of them.  We have broken countless cups until now we have gotten wise and have plastic cups.

2. Learning a new language - Spanish.  It was not easy and it did not come fast.  But after reading almost the whole new testament out loud in Spanish.  Taking countless hours of classes, making mountains of mistakes and talking incessantly - here I am.

3. Preaching.  Over the years I have taught children and youth hundreds of times, I have given testimonies, reports, presentations, dramas, and workshops.  But I have not preached, until recently.  In January, while I was in Colombia I was asked to preach in a church, not once but twice - in Spanish.  So I did, I preached over missions and helping the poor.  I think it must have gone ok as the pastor asked me to preach again the next time I came to Colombia.   Thanks mom for making me take all those public speaking classes... though I hated them at the time.


4. Traveling alone. Though it sounds a little scary it really isn't.  Mostly I have traveled alone when going to another country, like Colombia, Costa Rica, South Africa, Holland and Peru among others.  I have become an expert at spotting people who are looking for me though I had never seen them before.  As I have the annoying habit of forgetting to ask for contact information, I arrive to the country wondering who will pick me up and how I will get where I need to go.  Germany was quite the experience but I learned how the public announcement system works in the Hamburg train station!

5. Organizing Medical Mission Trips.   There are a lot of things to consider when bringing a team of doctors and nurses to your field.  The first one that I organized with the help of my team was in April 2010, then again in March 2011 and how we are in the middle of planning the March 2012 Mission trip.  


6. Drawing Cartoons.  I don't really have a great talent to draw but I love drawing with black ink pens.  There is are several comics that  have drawn about our time in Ecuador.  They are stick figures but pretty funny ones.  


7. Interesting foods.  I have eaten tripe, intestines, blood sausage, heart, guinea pig, chicken feet, and hoof soup.  Just about any fruit you can think of I have had in a juice - they love juices here.  Plantains in about any form that you can think of, they are yummy!  And rice, lots of rice.  


I have witnessed lives changed, heard testimonies on the greatness of God, seen miracles, held the hands of dying children and felt the presence of God.  I am not an amazing person.  I belong to an amazing God.  This was not my plan, this was not what I had wanted to do with my life as seven years ago I flatly told God that I would never be a missionary.  This is His plan, this is why I can keep going even on the tough days.  He is the keeper of my soul.  He directs my path.  

Not to us, LORD, not to us 

but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness. 

Psalm 115:1

the fear of colombia

Colombia is mostly known outside the Latin world for three thinngs: the FARC, drugs and coffee.  So when I told my family that I was going to be in Colombia for three weeks, naturally it scared them.  I arrived in Cartagena, Colombia on the 19th of January to this sight

Needless to say it didn't strike fear into my heart.  The purpose of my trip was to help Martha Ardila get started with the work in OM Colombia.  We began a long two weeks of visits with pastors, churches, missions groups and ministries.  I was impressed and awed with the local church's desire to get involved in missions and saddened by the fact that the majority of pastors were wary of missions organizations because they believed that we are only out to steal their best sheep from them.  It became obvious to me that the first focus for OM Colombia needed to be on one of the nine core values of OM - Esteem the Church.  So we have set a course for OM Colombia to seek ways to better involve the church in the mission process so that they will realize that it is the church that sends the missionary, not the organization.  During our time in Cartagena I was also given the chance to preach in Spanish about missions

Martha and I

In my two weeks in Cartagena, I also had the opportunity to visit several ministry sites.  We went to the women's prison where I met a woman named Wanda, arrested for being a drug mule.  She has a powerful and sad testimony.  We also visited a girls house were 25 girls live with a family and are treated like family.  They had me translate the songs to a Disney movie (in dubbed musicals the music stays in the original language).  We also visited a very poor neighborhood on the 'wrong' side of town.  It has a lot of problems with gangs.  Mabel the missionary who has a preschool foundation there showed us around the neighborhood and it was obvious that she is loved by all.  As we were leaving we had to go by a different route as there were gangs fighting on the corner where we had arrived a couple of hours before.  Yet nothing that you will not find if you went on the dangerous side of any big city in the world.  It strikes me as odd sometimes that we are will to serve God as long as it is safe.  Yet the funny thing is that the most needs are where it is not 'safe', because everyone is scared to go, no one helps.  

Preteens in the 'bad' neighborhood

The famous coffee on the coast comes in a dwarf cup.

 We also visited a nearby town where HIV is very prevalent and gave a Church's Channels of Hope workshop.

Centro Cristian Betel Church is a channel of HOPE

My last week was spent in Bogota, Colombia a huge city full of people.  I stayed with the Echeverri family as Hugo, a local pastor is going to take the role of representative for OM in Bogota.  We also had a very full week of pastor and church visits.  I am happy to say though by the end of my time in Colombia I am so excited about the direction that OM Colombia is taking! I also had a chance to speak in a youth group and to teach a group of 30 pastors, of which only three present were women.  It was an exciting trip, I want to go back!

Hugo, me and Martha - GO OM COLOMBIA!!

Teaching the pastors

Evidently I didn't do so bad

Speaking at Juanse's youth group - forgot to take the picture while speaking