Translating the Barking Pastor and Spinning

In June I had the privileged of going to Peru with an awesome group from Beltway Park in Abilene, Texas.  The purpose of this trip was multifaceted, the first part was a pastors conference. We arrived to Peru late Thursday night and even later to Huacho, where the conference was taking place.  Tommy Hood, the missions pastor at Beltway Park, asked me to translate the sessions for the first evening, Friday.  Of course the role that I was going to play in this trip was translator, but for some reason I thought I would get more than just a few short hours to get re-acclimated to speaking Spanish all the time.  During this previous year in Texas, I have not had much opportunity to practice my Spanish.  Upon returning to the U.S. last June I experienced a strange phenomenon where my prayers and conversations with God switched from English to Spanish.  Then in January I moved in with roommate and one owned a chihuahua.  I told the chihuahua that since she is is a chihuahua then she must speak Spanish and only spoke to her in Spanish from then on.  I also had a short work experience as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant where I spoke more Spanish than the majority of the other waiters.  To summarize my Spanish practice over the last year, I spoke to God and a chihuahua and very little elsewhere.  

Tommy began to share in the evening session missionary stories from other parts of the world where Beltway teams had gone.  While he was sharing a fascinating story about Trinidad and Tobago, there was a part where he was talking about this barking dog, which he copied to better relate his point.  I very calmly translated "and the dog barked just like the pastor just did." I then waited for Tommy to continue.  He, however, did not know that I was not going to bark so he waited.  Now, let me please point out that sounds do not have to be translated considering that there is no translation!  I don't translate sounds, or so I thought.  The congregation caught on to the fact that Tommy was waiting for me to bark and that I didn't want to.  So they began to giggle. I realized at this point that I had to do it, so I swallowed my pride and did my best to copy Tommy.  Everyone roared with laughter and I am pretty sure that my face turned a very deep shade of red.  It wasn't over though.  The barking dog came back and as soon as Tommy copied the dog.  Everyone began laughing and calling out encouragements for me to copy Tommy, this time I just barked without pausing.   We repeated this a few more times.  After translating for three hours that night, I was dead tired.  The whole trip passed somewhat in a blur and I didn't have a lot of time to process what we did.  When one of the team members asked me what I thought about what we were doing one evening, I just looked tiredly at them and said, "I don't know what I think because I have only been thinking everyone else's thoughts for the last 5 days". I am making this point for a reason, First, because I am just now processing what God has done in my life over the summer.  And finally to illustrate the point that I had decided something for myself (that I was not going to translate sounds) and that it required me to change my plans.  

I flew directly from Peru to Ecuador.  I had been anxiously awaiting this day for over a year.  Once through immigration and customs, I walked through the sliding doors and immediately saw my friends, Cira, Darren, Mafer, Mercedes, Emily and Michaela.  I think it was seeing Emily and Michaela Facanha, my team leader's two youngest daughters, that caused my heart to overflow.  This was the first time in my life that I have cried because I was so happy.  The month passed quickly.  I was able to connect up with the youth from Santay Island (one of my previous ministries), work in a Medical clinic in Tenta, Ecuador, and listen to my team member's hearts.  At first it was a little strange because I was coming back with a completely different role than what I had before, but soon I was at home again.  Roberto, my team leader, looked over at me at one point and said "Tabitha, sometimes it feels like you never left." When I did leave I was not as sad as the previous time.  It seems like my heart finally understood that these friends and practically family are part of my heart and always will be.  It doesn't matter where I am living or what my role is, they are part of me.  

This all brings me to the spinning.  Many of you will remember the illustration of God as the potter and us as the clay (Jeremiah 18).  Recently someone said over me, "Tabitha, you are the clay.  And what does the clay do? It spins. God molds." This began to hit home.  See something happened back at the beginning of June that I was not expecting and it caused me to start to ask God, does He really want me to go back to Ecuador or was that my plan.  Many of you might be thinking that I am weak and wishywashy to arrive back to the USA and then be thinking that I possibly shouldn't go back.  Previous to June, I had not even considered it.  God has been gently reminding me that He is the potter and I am the clay.  When I consider what it means to just spin, it makes me think of control.  Who has the control?  Not me.  Who decides how the clay will turn out?  Not me.  What does it require of me?  Complete surrender.  What is complete surrender?  Surely giving up my country, my language, my culture, my customs, and my things is enough, right?  You would think that giving up all these things would make surrender all the more automatic, but I have realized something, my pride wants to say that it is enough.  God is telling me something else.  He is telling me that He wants everything, not just my willingness to give up possessions, but my studies, my marital status, my career, my thoughts, my sins, my good works,  my dreams and my plans.  It means everything.  Sounds like I will be left with nothing right?  Do I really believe the promise, "but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The eight previous verses talk about our plans in life.  Do I dare trust God with Ecuador? Yes, I do.  Even right now my heart is at peace.  I do not know what the future brings, but I do know that God holds it in His hands and He will direct my paths.  I do not know what to plan for other than to seek His face everyday.  I want to spin. 

A Mototaxi in Peru

Medical Clinic in Tenta, Francine (New Zealand), Tabitha (USA), Dr. Diego (Ecuador), Candy (Ecuador)

Mom and Dad in Tenta, Ecuador

Yes, I did swim in the Guayas River, tradition...

My Ecuadorian family (minus three), Michaela, Sebastian, and Emily

One Year and Counting

I SURVIVED MY FIRST YEAR OF GRADUATE SCHOOL!  I still find my self confused in the mornings when my alarm goes off trying to remember if I'm late to class.  I feel uncomfortable watching a movie without a book open in front of me.  I have an irrational fear that haunts me that there is still one more assignment that I haven't finished.  But I'm told this is normal for grad school, so I'm not too worried.  I completed 32 hours of grad school and 400 hours of internship and I didn't go crazy!  They did make the mistake to talk to us about the second year (another 32 hours of class and 500 hours of internship AND a thesis) just as we were finishing our first year... But for now I will just enjoy my freedom!  Social work is an interesting field and it is applicable to many situations. 

Now for the fun part, the news!  I have the opportunity to return back to Latin America this summer!  On June 27 I will fly out to Peru with a small team from Beltway Park Baptist Church to translate.  After that I will fly to Ecuador from Lima, Peru on the 6th of July.  I will be with my team there for one month (the 7th of August) and I am so excited!!  Please pray for me in this journey. 

My first semester I lived with my aunt and uncle out in the country, however over Christmas break I moved into town near my University.  The house that I moved into had one nurse and three nursing students.  I was the only non-medical person, needless to say it was a pretty open house.  All of the girls attend my church too and by the end of the semester we all ended going to the same small group during the week.  This small group is amazing!  I started attended on Thursday nights in January.  Around 30-35 people attend, most are graduate students or professionals, some are married and some single.  We took a mission trip to a little town in Texas over spring break.  We ministered to the house parents at a youth ranch.  It was an amazing experiences because God came and blessed these people (and us).  They told us that many groups come to work with the kids but this was the first time that a group had come just to focus on the workers and it was a needed relief. 

I spent most of my time this last semester working on projects for my classes.  So there isn't a whole of interesting things to say about that :).  I still struggled with my English and writing papers sometimes came out with Spanish grammar styles...

God has been using this past semester to teach me about peace and rest in the middle of craziness.  Craziness I definitely understood even way before graduate school, but peace?  That was something that I desired but couldn't seem to quite attain.  To be honest, I have struggles more with worrying about finances during this last year than I have in a very long time.  However, it has been pointless to worry and I see that now.  I know because every month God took care of my needs, sometimes though unexpected ways!  Actually most times through unexpected ways.  I have been teaching Spanish classes and tutoring in my spare time.  Now I am looking for a month long job but so far that has been a fruitless search.  But still I am not worried. God has taken care of me through every step.  I know that I am where He wants me to be and doing what He wants me to do.  Now it is up to Him to take care of everything else!  I want to stay in this peace and trust in God and who He is, when you pray for me please pray that I will continue to know Him more!  That is what I need! 

Thank you for continuing to follow me in this journey!  And for your patience when you don't get updates every month! 

Kristen, Natasha and Me (two of my classmates and friends)

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

 

A Day in December

Maybe you have heard about missionaries and subscribe to their updates, maybe you have gone on mission trips or been a missionary.  I wanted to unravel some of questions of what does a missionary do with a look at a day in the life of Tabitha.   This is not what every missionary´s life looks like and it is of course only one day, Tuesday December 6th 2011.  

8:00am  Drag myself out of bed and to the coffee maker wondering why I'm so tired yet again.  Soon the rich frangrance of only the best coffee in the world comes wafting through the house, yes that is right - ecuadorian coffee, the day is already looking better. 

9:00am  At the office for our morning prayer time. 

9:15- 10:15  Frantically answer and send messages to people asking why I have not written them and why I have not completed projects that they have asked for.  Also lets not forget about the email saying that that there is still room to send one of our ecuadorians to the OM Ships in Jan!!  YES!!  Also the summary of all the things that I do in OM for the lawyer who is preparing my visa renewal papers.  

10:15am Leave for the Children's Hospital where I go every tuesday for ministry.  This time Marcy, Mafer and Yessi went with me, it is nice to have a team.  We walked in the hot ecuadorian sun to the first bus stop to catch the #12.  There are no seats so we squash ourselves into the already overcrowded standing room.  A little grandmother gets in after us and starts her speech on why we need to give her money.   We slide between the people to get off at our next stop for the #42.  Thankfully less people.

10:45am Upon arriving to the hospital I put on my light purple smock that the volunteers use, explained to the guard that the three ladies following me were also volunteers though they didn't have the purple smock.  We waited for the only working elevator to take us to the fifth floor.  A little lady about the size of a tall gnome stared up at me the whole way, I think she was trying to figure out what a gringa was doing in the hospital.  We arrived to the newly painted wing for children with Infectious Diseases.  

Here I asked the nurses about Melissa.  I had talked with and prayed for Melissa several times before.  She was so thin and the last time was hooked up to many machines.  They told me that she passed away just a few days after we lasted visited her.  The last thing she asked me was to bring her coloring pages of butterflies the next time I visited.  

11:00 - 12:00  We divided up and began to talk with the children and their care givers.  I got to talk with Michelle.  She is 13 and was there with her uncle.  She also was very thin and her face was very swollen.  She seemed to be in pain.  Every time I visit I bring a picture children's bible to read stories to the children.  I asked her if I could read to her about the story of Christmas and she gave me a small smile and moved her head slightly on the pillow to indicate yes.  We read about Mary and the angel, Jesus' birth and the shepherds, then I asked her if she knew why it was so important and joyous that Jesus was born.  When she said she didn't know why, I read to her the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.  She told me she wanted to know God too and we prayed together, she could barely breath out the prayer after me but I assured her it is what is in her heart that counts.  After praying she had a beautiful smile and a small tear in her eye.  I hope to visit her again before I go home on the 15th.

12:00 -12:30The head doctor calls me into a surprise meeting with her and two other foreigners.  They want to do summer camps for children with illnesses in Ecuador and are looking for an organization to partner with.  They are not religiously affiliated but are not against working with groups that are.  Interesting possibilities.  The return home was uneventful in #13 bus.

1-2pm  LUNCH! only I haven't had time to go shopping lately so it was peanut butter and crackers, good thing I like peanut butter! 

2-6pm  Back in the office.  emails about the OM Ship, training, insurance, people interested in our mission school, other interested in the volunteer program, a couple of error messages from my computer, freezing screen, unfreezes, more error messages, screen freezes, stays frozen, hard shut down and go home.  

6-9pm  Turn on my laptop.  Open my email, 2 minutes later it opens. For the next 2 hours I try to respond to personal emails and catch up on current news in the world.  Got the fan on high as there is no airconditioning and the computer overheats easily.  It wouldn't be such a problem but as it is dying a slow and dramatic death, well it is only slightly frustrating after realizing what it would be like without a computer all together!  Went out to a yummy little hole-in-the-wall empanada shop two blocks away to get supper for me and my roommate, still need to get groceries.  Get frustrated with the computer, turn it off, there's more to life than internet. 


9-10:30  Draw a picture of a little boy from another orphanage where we used to work while listening to Jars of Clay Oh My God.  I wonder where he is now?  He was so little then and already so hard hearted.  Why are there so many injustices in the world?  I read three chapters in a book loaned to me by a friend called Note to Self.  It tells me to keep singing, I like that.  Look out all you who get sick of me singing the parts of Christmas songs that I know, over and over again!  Time in prayer.  Ok I think its better to go to sleep now.  Tomorrow it starts all over again. 

The song stuck in my head:  Joy to the World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Going to Baños

19 youth, 10 leader, 4 days, 13 hours of traveling... 1 incredible trip.

We went to Baños (it means baths not toilet!!!) for the second annual Santay Youth Retreat.  This little town full of waterfalls nestled in the andes mountains approximately 6.5 hours from Guayaquil was officially the furthest that these 19 youth had ever traveled in their lives.  Thats a little hard for this Texas girl to understand considering that with 6 hours of travel you haven´t even gotten halfway across my state. 
This weekend retreat had the theme of Freedom.  They heard maybe for the first time about what it means to be free in Christ.  We also got to see some awesome waterfalls, a huge volcano and natural hot water springs.  I absolutly love nature and seeing the raw beauty that God created.

On Saturday night we went up to a lookout point, it was dark so I am still not sure of the point but it was fun!  We made a fire and cooked hot dogs while trying to stay warm, keep in mind that the coldest that Santay gets is the low 70´s and it was in the 40´s that night.  At least 10 of the youth came up to me super excited at different points saying ¨Tabita, tabita, LOOK¨  Then they exhaled very deeply, ¨Look!  SMOKE!!!!!¨  It was the first time that they had ever seen their breath visibly. 

The good news is that we arrived back to Guayaquil and Santay Island with all 19, I kept counting in the bus everytime we had a bathroom break.  Scary realizing that you are in charge of the well-being of so many, not just physically but also spiritually, a bit sobering.  I loved the time that we spent together but left the weekend with a stronger burden for these young people to truely encounter the Living God.  Though we had several good sessions, there was not much outward response from the youth.  However, we did see some pretty neat things happening with one of the girls.  She had struggled with gastritis for years, during the weekend several of the leaders prayed for her and for healing.  The next week when we went back to the island, Mafer was so excited to share with us that she was healed, she was no longer taking the medicines and had no pain at all!!  Little by little they are seeing the hand of God at work in their lives!  Keep praying for the youth of Santay!

The lame will walk!

I would like to share with you three short stories of what God is doing in one of our ministries. 

OM has been working with Santay Island for over three years now.  There has been many attempts at discipleship but little response in these years. Many on the minstry team were begining to get discouraged from the lack of response that we saw in the people, until about two weeks ago.  On the 12th of September once again the weekly ministry team went to Santay for a small bible study and program with the children and youth.  I was walking along one stretch of island together with a visitor, Deborah who was going to share with the adults that day.  We managed the trails and the creaking 2x4  raised walkways and at the very end of our route Señora Elsa called out to us from her little house.  She invited us to come up as she had a story to share with us. 

When we walked in, we saw that one of the other teams of two, Riana and Steve were already inside.  But we sat down on the few chairs that she owed as she began to share her story.  About two months ago, She was going from one side of the island to the other but because there was so much mud she went by canoe.  In this little canoe Eva (a very young mother, also a resident of the island) and her little baby girl of about 1 and a half years were also going with her.   As they were rowing, they noticed that the waves were very strong that day.  [The island of Santay is located between two rivers, as the rivers are connected to the ocean the river also has a tide and certain seasons the river is a bit rougher than others].  At the moment Elsa paused her story to explain that in her 59 years she had lived on the island for over 30 of those.  When she got married she moved to the island, but she had never during that time learned how to swim.  Because of this she had a great fear of the water, that only got worse when her husband suffered from a heart attack and they found him dead in the river about a year ago.  Back to the story, at that point a large wave hit the canoe just right and turned it over.  Señora Elsa went over one side (towards the center of the river) and Eva and the baby girl on the other side.  Elsa told me "Even though I couldn't swim, I couldn't think about me.  There was that little baby who needed help.  So I began to yell, 'save the baby' as I struggled to stay above the water."  The young mother was frozen with indecision, save her baby or save Elsa.  However, the baby was not visable as the sinking canoe trapped her under the water.  Elsa went under several time and was taking in water, though still shouting for someone to save the baby.  The nearest neighbor, Veronica, wanted to help but she had a little 2 year old clinging to her leg and for fear of her child following her into the water could not help.  At this critical moment another large wave came and pushed the canoe just enough for the baby to come loose and she popped up to the surface of the water.  Eva grabbed her baby and swam to the shore.  But Elsa had gone down and said that she wasn't going up anymore.  "I figured that it was the end for me" She said.  She had been struggling with feelings of uselessness and loneliness since her husband died.  But as she was preparing herself for her final moments, a miracle happened.  She doesn't know how but the next thing she knew she was at the surface of the water and swimming!  Her neighbor, Veronica confirmed that later saying "We were sure that she was lost for goodk, yet there she was dog-paddling to the shore."  Elsa told us when she made it to the shore there was not a doubt in her mind that God saved her, Eva and little baby.  "Tabita," she said, "I knew, I KNEW at that very moment that God had a plan for me."  She decided that going to the bible meetings and just listening was not enough for her.  She began to pray, and not just in her house but out in the community.  This is almost something completely unheard of for the Santay people.  Right then she prayed with us as well.  God has great plans for Elsa and Santay!

Just when I thought this one story was amazing enough, we went to the next house to invite Veronica to the meeting.  Veronica greeted us from her porch and asked me "Tabita, did your co-workers tell you about what has happened recently with my family?"  I didn't know what she meant, so I asked her to tell me.  She told me that her husband was working on Santay so their family moved to the island about six months ago.  She has two little girls.  But things were not going so well between the two of them and as her husband began to hang out more and more with the men from Santay he was falling into some bad influences.  They began to think about seperating.  They were sure that there was no way to work it out.  Then some guys from our team challenged the Santay men to a soccer game, and surprisingly they won!  After the game, they invited the men to come to watch a movie, the movie was Fireproof.  After watching the movie, Veronica's husband, approached one of our workers, Darren.  He told him that he needed to talk to him.  Veronica didn't tell me what they talked about, I am not even sure she knows.  But he came back a changed man.  He quit hanging out with the bad influences.  He began to work on his marriage and things rapidly improved between him and his wife.  He began to read his bible in the morning and evenings and he prayed.  Veronica was astounded by the change in her husband and grateful that God made a way to keep them together.

My heart was overflowing at this point!  There is no way that things could get better that day!  Or so I thought.  Deborah and I walked back to the place were we were going to eat lunch together and Riana came up to me extremely excited.  "Tabitha!  You will never guess what happened!!" And the third story of the day began.  Riana explained to me that she along with Steve had been visiting an elderly man for the past three weeks.  Like Veronica and her family they were new to the island because of the recient construction.  However, this man was in a wheel chair.  This situation has a greater impact when you realize that everyone lives in houses 10 feet off the ground with basically a ladder to get to the house.  The paths are in the dirt and the majority of time it is mid-calf mud because of the constantly rising tide.  The places were the mud is too deep you have to walk on narrow, rotting planks that are raised up about three feet off the ground.  It isn't exactly handicapp friendly.  The first visit that Riana and Steve made together to this man, Modesto, was exactly three weeks before.  It was in this visit that they realized that he was handicapped as before those who visited him just thought he was sitting on the porch.  Riana urged Steve to share the whole bible study with Modesto as he was not able to go to the meetings.  So Steve shared everything.  Then they both felt strongly to pray for healing for him and his legs as he had a lot of pain in his legs for the last 13 years.  He cried as they prayed for him.  Then they left him with the instructions to get up everyday thanking God for healing him even if he felt pain.  They returned the next week but they were not thinking that he would actually be healed.  When they got to Modesto's house, he was waiting for them.  He was so excited.  He shared with them that for the first time in 13 years the pain had left and he had stood up.  He was not walking yet but this was the first time he had not had pain.  They prayed with him again for complete healing.  It was here that Riana got really excited!  That day when Steve went to visit Modesto, once again he was waiting for Steve to show up.  This time he greeted Steve with "I want to know your Jesus, please tell me how!"  They prayed together and he gave his life to Christ.  He was still afraid to try to walk but was very excited to show Steve all the things that he could now do without any pain.  We are trusting that complete healing will come to Modesto!

What incredible testimonies, all in one day!  It was about a work that has been going on for years and finally we are seeing fruit.  God is so good!  It is through His awesome work that will draw the people of Santay to Him!  We serve a mighty, powerful and living God!

¿Hablas Español?

I decided that I was not busy enough so it was time to add something new.  SPANISH CLASSES!!  I have only taken one class in literature since finishing my basics in February 2009.. Most people who hear me speak spanish say that I speak well, that is until they begin to listen to the grammar!  Anyone that knows me realizes that I like to speak, and if I am quiet there is something wrong.  This has helped my language skills immensely.  But is also means that I have picked up the local accent after speaking for so long without correction.  Some might say that is it great but when I tell you that the local accent here sounds a bit like innercity slang in the states, you might change your mind.

The obvious thing to do after deciding that you want more classes is to go and take the test to see which class you will end up in.  Ok, I have to admit that the perfectionist in me was thinking, "oh great,  even after 3 years of speaking spanish they are going to put in the basic class because of my grammar.." I was on pins and needles to find out what really is my Spanish level!  Then came the email, "We are inviting you to join in the Spanish for Forigners Program in the Intermediate II class."  YAY!!  I don't speak like a kindergartener!!  This class includes a lot of studies in the subjunctive form and contiditional, which is good cause I avoid using them (we don't really have subjunctive in English).

I am taking the class every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:30pm to 6:30pm.  Becuase of this I have to rearrange my work schedule a bit.  For my first day, yesterday, I left my office at 3pm on the dot.  First, I took the city bus #12 and then the Metrovia.  The Metrovia is a innercity bus a bit like a subway but in bus form.  In my three year in Ecuador I have not had much reason to take the metrovia.  There are several reasons to avoid it if you can.  #1 it is always packed.  When I say packed, I mean you are touching at least five people at all times on all sides unless you are blessed and get to stand next to the wall, then it is only three people pressing into you.  #2 at 3:30pm it is hot, bright sun, and no airconditioning.... a hundred people packed in... you get the picture.  #3 it has the highest percentage of pick pocketing than any other place, as everyone is always touching someone. #4 when I get on alone, I am the only natural blonde in the whole bus..  Thankfully my stop is the second one after I get on the metrovia! 

I was greeted to the university by a little iguana on the wall.  I meet my teacher, Janett and my fellow student, Iris from the Netherlands. It feels a little strange to be back in classes, it reminds me of my time at Dallas Baptist University.  I even start to put my clothes out the night before as I did in University, as I am going in to work earlier thus getting up earlier.  And anyone who has seen me in the morning would know why I shouldnt trust my judgment directly after waking up.  In my class, we had a mini-debate in spanish.  Iris and I had to choose a profession and then debate which of two would have to jump off of the balloon so it wouldn't pop.  Instead of choosing typical profession she decided to be the Queen of Holland and I was a Helecopter Pilot bringing aid to the hungry and needing in Somalia.  We both had some good points but eventually I bit the bullet and jumped.. but only because as a pilot I had a parachute! 

I hope that this new time of studies will be a blessing to my other areas of work and that I will have opportunites to share God's love with my teacher and classmate. 

Seeds Sown & Planes Flown.

From the 30th of May until the 30th of July we held the 2011 Transcultural Communication and Mission School in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Fourteen student participated from three different countries. It was an incredible time. I was highly involved in the logistical details and the classroom side of the school. This school was such an encouragement and blessing to me as I had been praying for the students by name since March. Truly lives were changed during the school, and not just the students! There were four weeks of outreaches throughout Ecuador. They ministered to churches, schools and a children's foundation. Some of the fruit is already showing from this school as we sent out one of the fourteen this morning for the OM Ship.  There are three more scheduled to go out in January, plus several others who are still working on the details on where to go.  It is days like these that I LOVE my job!  

On the other side of the coin we have had a lot of goodbyes lately.  First we had to say goodbye to the fourteen students who are wrapped firmly around our hearts.  Next the three short-term helpers who were here in June and July: Kyndall from the USA, Niklas from Germany, and Marcel from Switzerland.  I had the privilege to lead the team of short-termers and they not only helped to fill in the gaps that were left by our staff needing to teach and mentor in the school but they also added greatly to the ministries themselves.  We were able to do a special empowerment program in the Children's hospital during those two months.  Also our dear friend and co-worker Seth Rikard, has finished his two year commitment and is heading for Oxford to study apologetics.  We are so excited for him but yet sad for the gaping hole that is left here in Ecuador.

                               Our dear friends, Seth and Wendy

May God bless you with a restless discomfort

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.


May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator,
Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Savior,
and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide,
be with you and remain with you, this day and forevermore.

AMEN

It has been two days since I first read the Franciscan Blessing, and I cannot get it out of my head.  Then this morning in our team devotional this scripture was read that to be honest I never recall hearing before. 

Jeremiah 22:16
"He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy;
Then it was well.
Is not that what it means to know me?"
Declares the Lord

For months, years, my heart has been crying out for those who are oppressed, for the injustices of the world, for those in poverty and the hate and bitterness that causes us to lash out blindly at anyone weaker than us.   Where we are working these atrocities pour out abundantly, in a personal way that makes it hard to ignore and forget like we might do with the stories on the news or the horror stories that are beginning to be so common in families and communities now days.  But it isn't enough.  What we are doing isn't enough, you must join in this fight.  I don't want to tell sad stories but trust me I have plenty.  It would be pointless if guilt pushed you into doing something in this fight.  I plead with you to fall on your knees and beg God to cover you and fill you with this blessing.  Only with Him will we be able to make a difference. 

Another recent reason that is adding to my burden for the oppressed is a new project that we will hopefully begin implementing in the local children's hospital where I volunteer every week.  The majority of patients are from families in extreme poverty, often needing to choose between buying food or medicines.  I have been discussing with the doctors possible opportunities and projects that we could put into place during the two months were we have short-term volunteers.  Just last week I agreed to write up a project concerning patient empowerment, but not just in relation to their situation as a patient but also in their everyday lives as well.  I have struggled in writing this project as we will be facing many challenges, such as a high turnover in the participants, varied age ranges, some participants with illiteracy, and most who are not from the area.  However, these are the desired results from our project:
- Empowerment leading to more personal responsibility for health situation thus creating less dependence on the doctors and staff leading to a more holistic health care.
- A presence of more positive attitudes and an improvement in staff/patient relationships.
- An understanding how God desires to see empowered people turning away from hopelessness and helplessness.
- A deeper understanding of the role of community in our personal struggles and how we effect our community.

Tomorrow I will present the idea to the head doctors on the wing where I volunteer.  I appreciate your prayers towards the success of this endeavor against the mindset of poverty.