truth #26: Addictions

On Valentines weekend, Sharon and I went to a Christian camp for young people as the following Monday and Tuesday were a holiday (Carnival).  This was the first time in eight years that I have attended a camp as a participant!   There was also another first that I had during this camp... the first time to play futbol in 20 years.  I played at age six on a little kids league.  I haven't played since.  The girls in my cabin talked me into being on their team even though I told them I had not played in years.  Once on the field I find that they are putting me in the forward position (whatever it is that they call that position these days).  Whew!  I had a chest cold and we were in Quito which is for me going from 5ft altitude in Guayaquil to 10,000ft...  Our team lost but during this feat I learned something about byself.  I like futbol!  A lot!  New addiction!  I also made many new friends and contacts.  One great friend who I met up with again and was reminded how much I enjoy her company is Candy.

Next.. My 26th Birthday

This year I decided to go all out, well all out for me, and have a real birthday party.  I invited lots and lots of people and still missed a few with the instructions of bringing a plant if they wanted to bring a birthday gift.  You might ask where this desire for plants comes from.  Some might say my Dad who is the expert of all green living things or the lack of green that we have in my concrete world of Guayaquil but honestly I don't know.  On my trip to Saraguro the two weeks before I picked up to rose bushes and another flower that I don't know the species.  It was during this short time that I realized I actually enjoyed having plants around.  I like talking to them, watering them and even talking to them by name.  Yes, all my plants have names.  You might think that is silly so did most people who brought me a plant but by the end of the night everyone was wanting to know the name of the newest arrival!  In this picture you see me with Michael and Anneke Bolt and their beautiful gift. Her name is Rebecca.  And the other picture with Sharon and I is our 'christmas' present from Isabel.  He/she does not yet have a name though we are all calling him/her by a different one.  Those names include Ursela, Henry and Kevin. 

I of course still have other addicitions like coffee, reading and vegetables but it is nice to find new things to like as well!  God has been so good to me during my 26 years of life, I have been blessed by the family that I have, true friends and the blessing of getting to know so many different believers from all over the world!  I am excited to see what this new year of life will bring around!  To God be the Glory!

truth #25: On your mark, get set, GO!

February 5 - 7

I have never understood the inner workings of the set up of a short-term mission trip until now.  Budgets, options, legal issues, where, what, who, when and how..  After putting together the basic line up of what will happen April 17 -24 on the OM Medicial Mission trip to Saraguro, we decided to make a visit to the town to pull together the final details.  

Roberto, Cira, Michael, Anneke and I  took a flying trip to Saraguro on Friday the 5th of February.   We looked at hotels, talked in-depth with the pastor of one of the two evangelical churches for 15,000 of the Saraguro community and began finalizing things.  The Church Light and Truth is very exciting about the fast approaching trip and the practial ministry opportunity that this will provide them for their community.  We are still looking for volunteers from the USA to come and partner with us.  If you are in the medical field and would like to help pray about coming.  If you are not medical at all... NO WORRIES!  We also need you!  There are many jobs that need to be done on a medical trip and as long as you are willing and flexible then you are perfect for the job!  Please contact my uncle, Dr. Eddie Moore - eddie_moore@yahoo.com , for more details and you will need to go to this website to fill out an application  http://www..omusa.org/go/medical-missions/short-term-trips.  It would be great to see you!

 

The Church Light and Truth 

Pastor Miguel and Michael

Saraguro

Just a sighting of Llamas on the way to Saraguro.

truth #24: I am my own worst enemy

For some reason, I had thought that looking to Jesus was a one time deal, now I am more convinced than ever that looking to Jesus only makes us look more.  It seems that I could almost feel proud of my accomplishments this week, the way that I looked to Jesus in a very frustrating situation instead of letting the situation take over me.  Instead I find that my knuckles are still white with my grip to Him, my eyes so dry because I am afraid to blink, because if I do then maybe I will fall again. Oh how easy it is to fall.  This week has been fascinating in a practice of what I talked about last week, looking to Jesus. 

There are 60 seconds in each minute with 60 minutes in each hour with 24 hours in each day and 7 days in one week..  That makes for a lot of choices in just one little week.  So, I would like to refer this conversation to a specific event that occurred this week.  Most of you who know me well, understand that I am an independent person, stubborn at times, and in a word a somewhat strong personality.  My grandfather used to say that I could argue with a fence post, which has gotten better over the years.  Also, I HATE it when something is done unfairly, to me or to others.  YES mom, I do realize that this world is not fair!  (a quote that I heard daily during my teenage years)  It is thus in my nature to fight against those injustices whither it be by educating poor children or playing by the rules in a board game..  And though I do realize that there are exceptions to the rule, for the most part, these things are like rubbing a cats fur the wrong direction to me.  I have a friend who has an unfortunate habit of saying things that irritate me.  One of such occurances happened during this week and I must be honest and confess that my initial reaction was not good, I was angry at the rudeness of the statement made by my friend.  Then I heard that small voice asking me "Why are you so angry?"  then I recognized that it was not anger but rather hurt.  I was deeply hurt that this person would treat me in such a manner.  So I asked God an either/or question, should I do this or that?  He simply told me to pray.  Pray for my friend, not that they would see 'the light', not that God would fix them but instead to pray blessings, protection, wisdom, peace and joy over them.  The hurt began to fade, forgiveness and healing were possible.  Was I able to do this myself?  HA, not at all, like I said previously, my eyes are still dry because I am afraid of blinking and falling away. 


Maybe this all seem childish to you, maybe you don't have the same struggles as I do, but I must admit it was the way that God so clearly showed me 'my way' vs 'His way' that was of importance and not so much the event.  Because, it is when I surrender that He holds me, when peace comes, and when it all works out. I am sure that there is a way to look to Jesus and still be able to blink but I have to admit that I still don't trust myself. You see I realize that I am my own worst enemy when it comes to looking at Jesus. I am struggling against my selfish reactions and desires, my independence, my idea of justice.  I am struggling against me.  As long as my eyes are on Him my 'self' has no power.  So if I have to go through this life with dry eyes and cramped hands then so be it, as communion with Him is worth every second.   And do I fall?  Do I mess up?  Of course, but as I said previously He tells me to look to Him and not at what I have done, bad or good. 

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ."  Philippians 3:7-8

truth #23: less of me is better

Many of you know that shortly after arriving back in Texas on the 19th of December a surprising event occurred. Early in the morning of the 21st, I was in the hospital having an emergency laparoscopic appendectomy after a night full of the worst stomach pains I have had in my life. This event led to a lot of firsts in my life...

-being a patient in the ER
-having morphine
-wearing one of those airy hospital gowns for more than 30 min
-having surgery
-eating hospital food
-having to politely call someone to take me to the bathroom every 3 hours
-having a panic attack.. silly I know
-staying overnight in a hospital
-having saline solution pushed through my dry IV... OUCH
-being in public with my pant unbuttoned on purpose

It was a very interesting week before Christmas let me tell you! I passed that whole week under the influence of prescription drugs so my Christmas day was a little hazy. When people kept pointing out how often they caught me with my eyes closed, I just simply said "I'm awake! and just resting my eyes!" They didn't tend to believe me. My parents took great care of me and I will forever be grateful that they insisted that I go to the ER. So many friends and family have mentioned how good it was that the whole thing happened after I got back home instead of in Ecuador. That made me start to think about things a little more closely. I realized that if this had all happened 48 hours earlier, I would not have gone to the hospital, at least not until my appendix had burst. That could have been very dangerous and possibly deadly. And this whole thing happened at the beginning of my trip giving me two weeks to recover before I flew back. Also, Seth from OM Ecuador was back home in Georgia with Lennart and they were returning to Guayaquil on the same flight as me. Meaning that they helped me with my bags as I am under strict orders not to lift anything over 15 pounds.

I am two days from the three week mark and have only three more weeks of careful living until I go back to normal. I am doing much better and healing fine. This whole situation really helped me to see once again how God is orchestrating everything in my life even when I don't see it at first.  Thank you for your prayers as I know and see that God is answering them!

When I titled this post as 'less of me is better' I was just thinking in the sense that I am now better off without my appendix as it was giving me all that trouble.  However, this also ties into what God has been teaching me lately.  I have found my self very frustrated over the last few months with my own self, work and others.  I had been praying about the situations so much and it felt like so little was happening.  It wasn't until I was sitting in the airport on my way home and writing in my journal when I began to realize that my mindset was wrong and thus my prayers were also in a sense wrong.  I had been praying so hard for God to fix things, to give me the strength to fix things to do, and fix, and about every other active verb you can think of when the only thing that He desired for me to do was to look at Him, not at me and not at my problems.  It sounds so simple, just focus on Jesus and everything will work out.  But what does that mean, to focus on Jesus?  I am still figure that one out.  But I am learning as fast as this stubborn person can, that my job isn't to fix everything in life but to look to Him and He will show my in His time whatever it is that He wants me to work on.  It isn't and easy thing for me to learn and I am spending everyday seeking to hear His voice and what it is that He wants to tell me in that moment.  Life is a lot more peaceful that way. 

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

Isaiah 26:3

truth #22: Tabitha says: Gordagordagorda

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We have so many things to be thankful for. Here is a short list of things I am newly thankful for this year:

-Family (especially after seeing the lives of the orphans)

-Supporters (Couldn't do the things that I am without you!)
-Electricity (not having it several hours each day makes one thankful)

-Running Water (again our water has an electric pump.. connect the dots...)
-Internet (to talk with my family, friends and keep up with the world news)

-That God is always good (not said lightly)
-Daily food
-Cold weather
-Good friends

-Letters in the mail

-Nights were you can see the stars (never here..)

-Silence (learned to appreciate this one cause of the little dog next door with the big voice)

We had a night of celebration Friday the 26th of November in my house. Let me just preface this by saying I never truely understood all that went into a Thanksgiving until this year, my mom and my aunts are my heros! Seth, Sharon and I began cooking at 1pm for the 20 guests we were expecting at 7pm. Did I mention that we still are under power cuts and it goes out everyday from 4 to 6pm... just another little glitch in the preparations. Thankfully we have a gas stove!! Also there is not such thing as cranberry sauce, we looked in almost all the stores! However just for your future knowledge, blackberry jam is very similar. You also cannot find velveeta cheese, the kind that Seth needed for his mac and cheese. So we made it, yes that is right we made velveeta cheese. It turned out well but not quite the same.

First came the turkey. Yes Sharon and I voted unamously for Seth to get the turkey struggle, he didn't even get a chance to say no! It turned out great and two hours early!! What can I say none of us have ever cooked a turkey.

Then I made my family's famous dressing and for those of you not from the south it is similar to stuffing but not made inside the turkey. Sharon helped me with the tasting.

Sweet potates - recipe courtsey of my Aunt Etta. These are a little different as the sweet potatoes here are purple instead of orange. Funny isn't it?

We also had mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, steamed green beans, gravy made from turkey drippings (yay Sharon!!), my mom's famous rolls (already becoming famous in Ecaudor), and salad.

We all stood around the very long table (no kids table this time!) and prayed, then explained the tradition of Thanksgiving and the foods. It was a great time of fellowship and getting to know each other better.

Shura and our friend Isabel brough pie: Pumpkin and apple. As you can see Seth is really enjoying his pumpkin pie!

Then last but not least the HUGE clean up! Thanks everyone for helping!!!

truth #21: The Ecuadorian Turkey says: Gordagordagorda

Thanksgiving is a week and a half away. I love this holiday, I think that it is my favorite of all the holidays. Mostly because it is hard to commercialize as Thanksgiving is made up of Family, Friends and Food. I am sad to miss my third Thanksgiving with my family. I think that is one of the hardest things about being a missionary. I really like my family: my Papa and Earlene, Uncle Eddie and Aunt Jeanette, Uncle Gerald and Aunt Polly, Uncle David and Aunt Cynthia, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Jerry and Aunt Etta, Erin and Jeremy, Ethan and Sarah, Bryan, Deborah, Delancy, Jessica, Brandy and of course my Dad, my Mom, my incredibly intelligent favorite older brother Jason and my incredible cute, favorite little brother James. I just wanted you guys to know that I am thinking of you during this time.

Well the three North Americans currently on the team, Seth (Georgia), Sharon (California) and me (TEXAS!), we decided that we would like to share a little of our culture with the OM team. So on Black Friday we are going to put together a little Thanksgiving dinner. We are trying to keep it small as none of us have ever cooked the whole Thanksgiving meal! So we think that there will be around 13-15 people. The current menu look like this:

Turkey - Seth (First time for all of us to try and cook one so if you have tips...)
Dressing - Me (family recipe)
Mashed potatoes - Sharon
Sweet Potatoes - all (recipe from Aunt Etta)
Rolls - me (just guess, yes that is right Tina's famous rolls aka Mom's rolls)
Green Beans - all (no recipe, we will just make something up)
Gravy. all (another experiment)
Macaroni and Cheese - Seth

Pumpkin Pie - Shura (My field leader's wife. She is an AMAZING cook!)
Apple Pie - Isabel (Good friend and I hope that she is an amazing cook :)

We will search high and low for the cranberry sauce but... no guarantees . I hope that all of you will enjoy your holidays. Oh and just for the record in Spanish Gordagordagorda means Fatfatfat.

truth #20: A day in Santay Island

My first note of this day is to inform you that our team has officially grown by two people. Seth Rikard and Sharon Heathorn have joined us for respectively two and one years. Also a volunteer from the USA for a sister organization called Cristo Vive, Mindy Wormwood is staying in my house and has worked with the OM ministries for the last three months

Much has changed since I last gave information about Santay Islands. The majority of these changes rest in the fact that I now speak communicatable Spanish. Let me share with you this weeks experience as it was a great one.

It all started with me bartering the taxis to get a $3.50 ride instead of $7, evidently that taxi thought that blonde hair does equal stupid. 30 minutes later five people pop out of the little yellow taxi buffeted by the smells of decaying fish guts, fresh fruits and fried meat. We meet with our little team there in the friendly neighborhood fish market and then attempt to gracefully step from canoe to canoe until we settle in the one that will take us across the river. Thankfully this week the waves on the river were not too high, at least until going home so I didn't get soaking wet.

We eat a quick lunch of sandwiches and juice in the local restraunt, which looks just about the same as the other houses in the island just with a bigger porch. Then the division, that is dividing out team into three groups as we now meet with the adults in three different divisions of the 36 houses, 12 in each group for those of you wondering. I have been working with the middle group of houses every week since last April and this time Seth joined me. I love these ladies but you can never be sure who is going to show up (including the lady of the house were we normally meet, Valeria). Last week we were giving a discipleship lesson on Who am I in Christ only to realize that none of the people attending were Christians. So it turned into more of a 'Who I am in Christ and Who You could be too' lesson. After this lesson I talked with one of the girls who attended and Paulina accepted Christ!! Praise be to the all powerful God! So this week I was not at all sure what we would run into with the topic of 'Spiritual Warfare'. Holding my breath we walked down the dried mud path past the puppies, chickens, ducks, goats and pigletts to Valeria's house and surprise of the month SHE WAS THERE! I was very happy as she is one of my favorite people on Santay. Isabel came about fourty-five minutes later to join us. And so we began into the deep topic of spiritual warfare. We talked about the devil and demons and God and angels. But when I was talking about how we have nothing to fear if God lives in us because He is more powerful than anything, Seth leaned over and said "Maybe we should also see if they are christians... like the last time" So I carefully asked them if they had ever decided to trust Jesus with their lives and both timidly shook their heads no. So we talked about what it meant to be saved and what exactly Christ did for us. After much discussion, I asked them if they wanted to make this decision. They both looked at each other and then shyly looked at the floor, no answer. Then Valeria spoke up quietly, "I would like to make this decision but I have no idea how to pray." It was the fear of praying outloud that was stopping them. So I thought for a minute and then asked them, "Do you remember when I first came here and how I couldn't speak and spanish so I just smiled all the time?" They both giggled and said yes. "And now look at my spanish, not so great grammaticly speaking but you at least understand me, right?" Again they giggled their agreement. "And what would have happened if I had never tried to speak spanish with you? Would I be able to speak now?" That made them think and when they said, "No you would not have learned anything" I could see that they understood that this was the same about them praying too. And so we prayed. Me first, then Valeria, then they repeated after me as they were still unsure of how to pray. It was sincere, they understood what we talked about and I could see it in their faces. There is not a church building on Santay or a pastor only us who come every Monday to teach them. I will be very excited to see how these two new believers grow in the coming years. They still have so much to learn as the children and youth on Santay have a good and rather complete knowledge of the Bible but the adults know very little. They didn't know the stories of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the disciples. So starting next week we will begin on a new stretch of teachings over Bible stories. I am excited to see what God will do next week!

Then kissing my Bible study ladies and new sisters in Christ goodbye, I went off to teach my class of teenage girls. Paulina was there, the new believer from last week. And two other of my Loca chicas. Honestly, these girls who live on a secluded island in bamboo huts would fit in fine with any of the junior high or high school girls that I know back in the states. Well they also cook, clean and care for their siblings daily along with the permanent attachment of their hand to their cell phone. We left the island as always to multiple goodbye kisses, lots of 'chao's, and them running along the shore waving until we are out of sight. Another day, beautiful day. Thanks for sharing this day with me!