Surprise!

I had a wonderful birthday Thursday and so Friday I was caught off guard when I walked into our dark apartment and was bombarded by "SURPRISE!!!!" followed by lots of confetti and balloons! Here are a few shots from our fun evening.

Olivia trying out the princess party hat.

Our Bolivian friends slaved away all afternoon making "Pique Macho" a favorite Bolivian dish.

"Pique Macho" consists of potato fries, beef, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, onions, hot peppers in which you lather it all in ketchup along with mustard and mayonnaise if you're Bolivian ;)

One of my best friends Michell and I showing our big plates of Pique.

Pinata in the dark!

Olivia loved playing with the 1,000+ little confetti balls that were scattered through the entire apartment! Thankfully everyone helped clean up before they left :)

My awesome brother-in-law Spencer, blew up over 100 balloons, they literally covered the entire living room floor and then some. We decided to play pictionary on the balloons by guessing whose face was on the balloon.

Some of the drawings were pretty comical!

Olivia has loved having Uncle Spencer here for a visit. She refers to him as "Nana" :)

After the party we weren't sure what to do with all the balloons so we decided to sneak them all into our friend's apartment while they were out.

Olivia of course had to help as well!

Their kitchen was covered in balloons. Late that night when they got home we could hear them popping balloons until 11:30pm. We're pretty sure they decided to start popping them so late to get back at us ;)

And this is how Olivia fell asleep that night. She was completely exhausted... can you tell?

Not a brain tumor PTL!

Praise the Lord, Chris' student, Josiah, has had a complete turnaround! The mass in his brain was not a tumor but rather an abscess.

Here's an update from our mission director on his current condition:

• Josiah is out of ICU and is recovering well – the doctors are happy with his progress
• An abscess on his brain containing 20ml of pus was drained on Thursday night last week.
• He is talking and eating again and regaining his strength.
• While there is still a road to walk – all the initial signs are good – he has feeling in his limbs, great hand to eye coordination and fortunately has not lost his dry sense of humour!
• Please continue to pray for his complete recovery

Update on Chris' student.

Sunday we went to visit this student of Chris' in the hospital (no name for his privacy) and it was a difficult time for all. He wasn't able to get an MRI done on Sunday because there is apparently only one doctor who could give the MRI and he was no where to be found. Chris' student ended up having to wait until last night at about 6pm to get the MRI.

The result: It's not a brain tumor, but rather a HUGE mass. The family must pack up quickly and leave for the states in order to have the mass surgically removed. Please pray for wisdom on the doctors part and a quick recovery. Also please pray for this family. They are very close to each other and this is obviously very hard for them.

Chris' student said something I thought was pretty remarkable, "If all of this draws the students in my class to God even the slightest bit it will make it all worth it". Wow what a statement! He said this because this year was pretty tough and his class has really been struggling spiritually. He's been a spiritual leader in his class despite a lot of criticism.

Please, please pray for this family and the new challenges they are about to face.

Urgent: Prayer Needed!

Please pray for one of Chris' 11th grade students who has had severe migraines and has been vomiting for 3 days straight. He was taken to the ER yesterday and the doctors think he may have a brain tumor. His family has had many trials since they have been here in Bolivia (they came the same time as us last July) and it is clearly obvious that the devil is trying to get a stronghold on their family. They all love the Lord and their children have been a shining light at the school this year. Please lift this family up in prayer! Chris is about to head over to the hospital now. Pray that the prognosis won't be as serious as the doctors have presumed.

What makes the world go round?

Soccer & Chicken of course!

This evening Chris took 6 of the wheelbarrow boys to a soccer game. Most of them had never been to a game before so they were more than excited! Especially since life here completely revolves around soccer.

After the game we had the guys over for dinner, and yes chicken was on the menu. Another Bolivian must!

Olivia had an absolute blast with the guys! She thought they were the most hilarious fellows she'd ever met. She also tried stealing their food on more than one occasion!

Contentedness.

Being a missionary is interesting because so often it feels like you don't have a "home". Is your home the country you live in? Or is it where your family lives? Or is it where you grew up?

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8

Last week, I was desperately craving all kinds of foods from back "home"- Subway sandwiches, big luscious salads (that I can eat without getting deathly ill), Papa John's pizza, and the list goes on and on. Missing comforts from home isn't wrong, but it becomes a sin when it sidetracks you from your walk with God. When you start putting your own needs before others and before God. Lately, I haven't been alert. I haven't been putting my guard up and the devil knows my weaknesses. He knows where to strike me next.

Listening to Chris speak on Jer. 29:11 yesterday was so encouraging and comforting, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord."

God has a plan for my life, he's brought us here for a purpose and knowing that makes me so content. There's no place I'd rather be!

I am so grateful God renewed a new sense of contentedness in my life yesterday. I enjoyed every minute we were able to spend with the wheelbarrow boys. I can't even express the joy I get from having the opportunity to serve the poor here in Bolivia whether it's cleaning baby bottoms at Salomon Klein to baby washing each Saturday. It is a privilege. It's a privilege that we are able to be here because of God's grace, because of those who support us, and because of those who pray for us. So a big THANK YOU to all of you who have stood by our side, who have encouraged us, who have prayed for us!

We really couldn't do it without you guys.

When the devil shoots flaming arrows your way how do you guard yourself? How do you stay alert and self-controlled?

Mother's Day w/the Wheelbarrow Boys.

This afternoon we had a feast and I mean FEAST for a group of boys who started out working as wheelbarrow pushers in the Saturday market.

This group of well-mannered boys come from the South end of town which is very, very poor. They all come from rough homes where neglect and drunkenness are all too common. However, looking at these boys you could never tell they came from such a rough part of town. They are so happy. They are so filled with joy.

Do you know why I think this is?

A few years ago a missionary couple made the effort to reach out to these boys. This couple had the boys over every Sunday for lunch, they discipled them, and they truly loved them as their own. Unfortunately this couple has had to return to the states as they have retired from the field.

How has this affected the boys?

Instead of these boys running to the streets to find "acceptance" they are thriving in school, one is in Seminary, and another works at a Compassion site! Christ's love is truly flowing in and through these boys!

Olivia thought they were pretty fun and she loved all the attention they gave her!

How the afternoon went...

Chris began by sharing a devotional in Spanish on Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Then we feasted. There was tons and tons of food- thanks to an amazing missionary named Lorna who cooked and cooked and cooked! Bless her heart!

Main course: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, carrots & broccoli, and cucumbers.

Dessert: chocolate cupcakes w/Hershey kisses (those are hard to find here!), lots and lots of jello (Bolivians LOVE jello!!), and huge servings of ice cream to top it off.

Somebody sure loves chocolate cupcakes!

In honor of Mother's Day the boys got together to Skype their missionary "mom". How sweet is that?! And the day ended with a game of soccer, who would of thought??

What a great beginning and ending to an amazing day!

Why I love this country: Reason #1

Reason #1: Food is CHEAP!

Just a few minutes ago, a fruit truck pulled up to our door loaded with all kinds of fruit: apples, bananas, grapefruit, mandarin oranges, papaya... it's like having the farmer's market right at your door step! I love it!

I splurged and bought 6 bananas and 13 mandarin oranges for a whole 4 bs (.57)! The thing I don't understand is when they give you the prices the quantities are always huge. I mean who can eat 25 bananas before they go bad? They always look at me a little shocked when I just ask for half a dozen.

So they call this winter.

We are going into winter (April-October) can't you tell?

Blue skies. Green grass.

Sunglasses and sunscreen a necessity!

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Olivia's 1st experience with a sprinkler.

It wasn't quite like she was hoping.

Some things are better from a distance.

Simple encouragement.

We love living in Bolivia really we do. Now only if we could convince our family and friends to join us- life would be splendid!

Our hearts are here and we know this is where God has called us, but this road doesn't come without a few bumps.

When we moved to Bolivia last July, we had anticipated opening our home to foster kids. We found out soon after that this would not be an option for us our first year here. We were both completely devastated but took it as an opportunity to trust God. He knew why this door had closed and He would open it again in His timing.

Well, we are beginning to see the door cracking open ever so slightly. Now it's not hard to find kids who need a home, but we want God's wisdom in all of this,

Tomorrow, we are going to look at a house that will be available to rent in July. It is spacious, perfect for more kids, and is in a great location (wonderful since we don't have a car!). We are a little hesitant to rent a house as safety then becomes something to think about. Right now, we live in a very safe walled compound with a guard who sits on watch and a German shepherd inside in case our guard happens to fall asleep (which unfortunately happens more often than not!), but if we moved to a house this would not be the case. Many missionaries here have had their homes broken into at least once if not twice or more. It is common, but even so I'd rather not experience it! Please pray for us as we look into some different housing possibilities.

On Sunday, after church, we chatted with some friends of ours who have 8 foster children (all under the age of 7) and 4 biological children. They are in the process of adopting 3 of their foster kids, which is beyond wonderful! However, once they do so they will no longer be allowed to foster, leaving 5 children without a home. Is God opening this door for us? PLEASE pray for God's wisdom and clear direction in our lives at this time.

Is God opening the door for you to care for the orphaned? There aren't just kids in need of loving homes in 3rd world countries. You'd be surprised how many kids are in foster care in your state. Check it out. Read the facts. Choose to help.

Even if you can't become a foster parent there are countless ways you can help.

Simple ways to encourage foster families:

• Offer to babysit so that the parents can get away for the evening (you may need special permission to do this so look into it first).
• Buy a bag of groceries and leave them on their door with a note saying how much you appreciate them and what they do!
• If you're a handyman ask if they need anything fixed. Leaky roof? Squeaky dishwasher? Car in need of an oil change?
• Offer to cook dinner and drop it by.
• Donate clothes and toys.
• Provide a listening ear.
• Pray for their family often.

Madly in love.

More of the "famous" three!

Olivia wasn't too sure about the babies.

Can I take this cutie home with me?

The calmest baby I have ever met... and she's been this way since she was a newborn!

Olivia had fun playing with the other toddlers- all 20 of them!

When Olivia was younger, we could never get her chubby thighs to fit in the "bumbo" seat, but somehow today she managed to snuggle right in.

XOXO

Thank you for "bare-ing" with us!

Lately, we have felt like we are barely hanging on. All of our electronics have started going haywire! Our Internet, TV, and cell phone started malfunctioning last week along with our toilet! Now, we can survive without the first three, but the last I'm not so sure about. I'd rather use our indoor plumbing than squat in the middle of the road even if it is common here!

Fun fact: Did you know that we can't put toilet paper down the toilet?? Yep, we have to put it in a little bucket next to the toilet. YUCK!

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Yesterday, was election day and on this day motorized vehicles are not allowed. Do you find that ironic that election day just happened to be on Easter?? Basically no one could go to church unless they lived close enough to walk. Fortunately for us, we usually walk to church so we were still able to go. Usually there are around 300 people at the service and yesterday there were only about 30 or so. The reason for not allowing motorized vehicles is that during elections they don't want things to get out of control. We're grateful that the elections yesterday were very peaceful.

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Last week, Olivia had a play-date with 3 of the younger kids from CDA III. They were excited to play with new toys and she was excited to have someone to play with! Although my house was a complete disaster in the short four hours they were here, I absolutely loved having them over.

This sweet little girl A. came to CDA when I was a volunteer there three years ago. Wow has she grown! Despite some serious medical issues, she is such a fighter and a real sweetie.

Picnic time on the lawn

(I thought it might be easier to have our dog clean up for us!)

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After church we enjoyed a BBQ outside (the weather was beautiful!)

with a great group of friends.

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

I Cor. 15:57-58