4:30am Perimeter Hike with LIFT

    4:oo am came pretty quickly yesterday. Suzy had to push me to turn off the alarm... I had already incorporated the sound of the static coming from my alarm clock into my dream. I got up, packed my things, and walked the 8 minutes from our house to El Refugio.

     What was I doing up this early, you ask? On March 11th a group of 30+ came from Camp-of-the-WOODS in Speculator, NY. This group is mainly comprised of 18 - 26 year olds who have set aside a semester or at times 2 to be a part of their LIFT program. LIFT combines Biblical training, camp ministry experience, missions training and exposure, and outdoor adventure. These guys go canoeing, backpacking, and do some serious hikes and climbing. Just today they left to go summit a mountain here in Ecuador. So, I got up that early yesterday to do the perimeter hike with them here on El Refugio's property. I would venture to say that this hike is the most difficult one that we have to offer within our property.

     It was a rough hike. I've acclimated really well to the altitude here, but in truth, I haven't done any really long or strenuous hikes since being here. Nor have I gotten up that early in... years, probably.

     But I tell you what, the spiritual picture that I experienced and envisioned while on that hike was powerful. The majority of those hiking were wearing head-lamps, as the sun had not come up yet. The first 15 minutes was an uphill incline, but not terrible. The following 45 minutes - hour was straight up the mountainside, and very steep. There were people in front of me. There were people behind me. I stopped a few times briefly to catch my breath, have some water, and view the stars, lights of Calacalí, and the lights moving further away from me and approaching me.

     This was the thing that struck me the most. I was a part of this line of lights-- from the head-lamps. You could clearly make out this line of little lights bopping up and down, highlighting the flow of the path we were hiking. It was cool to see all of these lights; in front of me, showing the path I was about to walk, and behind me, seeing where I've just come from. And there were so many lights! There was probably just under 50 of us doing this hike. As I stopped, people would pass by me. I would hear them encouraging one another, laughing together, and on more than one occasion someone passing would offer some of their water.

     So here's my picture. This is the body of Christ. We are all walking on this path... little lights for Christ, hiking a difficult path in a dark world. We're taking this narrow path towards the summit. We're tired at times, alone at times; but we're not alone. There are many others walking the path and they are happy-- they're filled with joy as they walk towards the goal, offering help and encouragement to their brothers and sisters. Though it's tiring, it's worth it. Our bodies actually like the exercise, and the view at the top, the reward-- it's totally worth it.

     It was a cloudy morning and we were in the mountains, so we didn't get a really crisp, defined, or colorful sunrise. But the view was awesome. And I will certainly be doing the hike again.

     Ask yourself this today: Who do I know that needs that extra word of encouragement today? Who is in need of water or is sitting down because they're so tired? How can we laugh with, encourage, or be there for someone else who is walking on this path with us?

The view from the top: The town of Calacalí

Our Fire Pit

    We still don't have internet access. It turns out this process of getting internet may be even more complicated than we thought. Apparently to receive internet services from the main/best internet company in the country, you have to have a Cedula number. A Cedula number is basically the equivalent of a Social Security Number. Anyone not born in Ecuador uses their Passport number to stand in place of a Cedula number. The problem is, the amount of numbers in a passport ID and the amount of numbers in a Cedula aren't the same. So computers won't allow a passport number in place of a Cedula number. Therefore... we are going to have to look into private internet providers... so the process continues. Would you join us in prayer about this? We'd really like to e-mail, skype, FaceTime, update our website, blog, and connect with people on facebook... among other things... from our home.

    But not having as much technology at home does have up-sides. For instance, it gave me the time to hunt for big rocks and make a fire pit in our side yard. It gave us time to collect wood from El Refugio, and then start a fire in our fire pit. We had time to simply sit around the fire, pet the dogs that live with us, play with Kaia, and enjoy watching her take in the first fire we've had at our home here in Ecuador.

   So, this is a much shorter blog entry... but maybe that means more of you will read it all the way to the end! And, pictures are always more fun, anyway, right?

   Lulu, the oldest of the dogs on our property, gave birth to a little black puppy a little over a month ago. He's a rolly-polly little guy, like the mouse 'Gus' from Cinderella... so yesterday we gave him a name: Gus.

Lulu, the mother of our new little guy, Gus

On Suffering.

This has been quite the year of transition for us. Kaia turns one this weekend, and it’s crazy to realize that just a year ago we were ‘living’ at the International Teams headquarters in Elgin, Illinois, without a daughter. Before that we had been ‘living’ in many different spare rooms as we traveled around the country support raising for 4 1/2 months. We had difficulties and trying times over the past year: car problems, learning to care for a newborn, packing and unpacking over and over again, living in a foreign country (Costa Rica), learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture (twice, now), and many processes to go through with governments, embassies, and visas. 

Adjusting to life here in Ecuador really hasn’t been bad. There have certainly been ups and downs, but it is so good to finally be in the country we’ve been working towards for close to two years now. At the beginning of this month I went to Santa Clara, an area in Quito where there are vendors that sell handmade wood furniture. This furniture is typically cheaper or the same price as non-wood or partial-wood furniture that you would buy in other bigger stores. The other cool thing is that you can commission people there to make furniture pieces to the sizes and styles you prefer. Obviously, they’re skills are varied and perhaps limited, but it’s cool that you can bring them a picture from a catalog and they can try their best to replicate it. This doesn’t cost any more than the pieces in their shops... it just costs more in that you can’t take it home with you that same day.

We decided to commission the vast majority of the wood furniture we wanted through these various furniture makers in Santa Clara. I actually ended up working with 5 different men from different store fronts when all was said and done. The time estimations or promises ranged anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks. One guy I worked with said 2 weeks and delivered early-- in 11 days! Three others got me their furniture within 12 hours of when the promised. The 5th has still yet to deliver. He told me two weeks. Then he told me 3 weeks. Then he told me in three more days. That was supposed to be today. Tomorrow will make 26 days. 

One of the pieces of furniture we bought

When he didn’t stick to his word the first time, I was angry. All of the others had delivered on time (relatively) and he tried telling me that I had written things down wrong and they still had another week. He has outright lied to me several times now. It’s frustrating. But it’s not the end of the world. It would be really nice to have our coffee table and a cabinet to put our sheets and blankets in that are still sitting in a suitcase... but it’s not the end of the world.

The truth is, I have responded to this whole situation like it was the greatest injustice ever committed. I got pretty heated. And I think a lot of it was just every hoop we’ve had to jump through and every frustrating process and lie we’ve encountered coming to a head in this one situation... but I was so silly in thinking of how terrible it is that I don’t get to have a coffee table to put my feet up on yet.

This is not suffering. There are people suffering for the gospel all over the world. There is persecution and terrible acts being committed against christians who are living their lives openly or secretly for Christ. I have a friend from college who lost his wife to a battle against cancer today. I remember meeting his wife, Christie, our freshman year... I buried her dorm-room window in snow with a friend of mine. Today she left behind a daughter under 2 years old and a husband who is now a widower at 27 or 28 years old. This is pain. This is suffering. 

And yet Christ is in our suffering. We had an annual team conference this weekend, and I had the opportunity to talk briefly with our soon-to-be interim team leader. He was telling me how glad it made him that in the face of adversity-- in our hardest, most trying times, that is when God is most glorified. Those are the times that we realize we are not capable, we don’t have the strength or ability, and we are forced to rely on God to fill in and empower us because we simply can’t do it ourselves. When we fall back in exhaustion and inability into the arms of Christ, He takes that soft, malleable clay and makes beautiful things. And He uses us to do and say amazing things. So this leader was telling me how excited he was for these coming challenging days to arrive, where he would be pushed in difficult ways to grow, be used, and allow Christ to use him.

Jason and Christie Engelmann 

So I will rejoice in the face of suffering and difficult times. I will cry, I will journal, I will make art, and do anything else I can to get the emotions out... and I will lay my body and will down in the hands of Christ to use me and glorify my creator. For He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ever hope or imagine. 

I will miss my friend Christie... and my heart aches for her family-- especially for her husband and daughter. But what a joy to know she ran the race in Christ’s name and that now she is in glory with our Father, praising His name with the angels and those who have gone before us. Amazing.


 -jim

We are in Ecuador.

   It has certainly been far too long since we wrote an entry on this blog. Since our last post we have left Costa Rica, safely arrived in Ecuador, searched for and bought a car, celebrated Christmas and New Years, moved out of our director's house to the house at El Refugio temporarily, searched for a house to live in, and signed a lease for a home in Calacalí.



   How have these things gone, you ask? Well... let me tell you.

1. Flying out of Costa Rica was a little crazy. We had a lot of bags, had to pay extra baggage fees, and almost were bumped from the flight to leave a day later. We weren't, however. Kaia did pretty well on the 2 hour flight, though she did roll off of the seat about a minute into our arrival into the plane. But it was a smooth flight, Paul (our director) picked us up without a hitch, and we quickly settled in to staying with his family.

2. Staying with Paul's family. Paul and Beth had 2 kids: Jack age 4 and Carleigh age 2. I say had, because less than a week into staying with them, Beth gave birth to their son, Tilghman! We stayed at their place a bit longer than expected to help with their new family of 5!

3. Searching for a car. Danny is an Ecuadorian from El Refugio who has been assigned to us as an 'on-boarding' host. He and his wife Katy are meant to help us acclimate and aid us in things that are difficult to do in a new country: i.e. buy a car. With his help, we bought a 1998 Mitsubishi Montero within the first 2 weeks. We've already put many miles on it and are so thankful to have a way to get around!

4. Christmas and New Years Eve were spent with Paul, Beth and their kids. It was really nice not to just be on our own, and we had a great time making and eating yummy food, opening presents, watching Christmas specials, and of course watching fireworks!

5. Moving out to El Refugio. We've been staying at the large house on the property of El Refugio for over a week now. Howie and Mary Scholl are another missionary couple on our team and they're back in the States spending the holidays with family. So, they're graciously letting us stay at their place while we find out own place to live in.

6. Which brings us to our last big thing: Our house! Paul had his eye on a home really close to El Refugio for quite some time, but never saw the owner. In the past he had left his phone number hoping to hear from the owners several times, but never heard back. Then, one day as he and I were leaving El Refugio, he noticed a car in front of the house. We stopped by and talked with the people who were there. Long story short, it was their vacation home that they only stay at about twice a year, and they were eager to rent it to us! It's a perfect location with great outdoor space, chickens, a couple of dogs, and we truly believe God prepared this place specifically for us!

7. Moving in. So, we've had the keys for a while now, but have yet to spend our first night there. Why, you ask? Well... we have no bed. They should be delivering it today, however. Also, the couple pieces of furniture in the place are on loan temporarily from our landlord as we wait for our furniture to be made/delivered. But! In the meantime, we've been painting, buying things we need to survive, and I've been installing ceiling lights. We'll post more pictures once it's filled with our furniture and is more presentable... in the meantime, I'll give you a sneak peak of a before and after painting picture. If you want to see all of the before/after photos, check out our facebook album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.408670405878561.99958.184517298293874&type=1

      So, things are great! We're settling in, taking things slowly, and are excited to begin easing into relationships, ministry, and the like.

 Happy Friday!

 -jim

Graduation and leaving Costa Rica

         It's with mixed feelings that I write this blog. This was our last week in Costa Rica and this morning we had a graduation ceremony at the institute. We've been as busy as always, so I feel as though I've been cruising along the highway at 70mph and suddenly we've slammed on the breaks. Our apartment is basically empty now, all of our bags are packed and piled high... and we drive to the airport tomorrow at 7:30am.

And then the next stage of the adventure begins.

     We'll be staying in Quito with our team director, Paul, and his family when we arrive tomorrow. Goal #1 is to buy a car. Once we have a car secured, we head out to El Refugio and will house-sit for the family that lives in the house on the grounds while they spend Christmas in the States-- until about Jan. 15th. Our hope is that we will have a living space (preferably a house) secured by this time.

Family picture at Graduation in front of the Ecuadorian flag

      It was hard saying goodbye to friends we've made-- both missionary friends and Costa Rican friends. We may end up seeing some of the students/missionaries again. Most if not all are serving in Latin America, and we'll no doubt be in other countries for conferences or things like that at some point. But our tico friends... they'll just be here. It's harder saying those goodbyes, knowing that the only way we'll ever see them again is if we come back to San José, Costa Rica.

     Please pray for us as we transition into a new culture, as we look for a place to live, and as we spend  Christmas away from our families.

 ... on to Ecuador!

 -jim

Our last time leading worship in Costa Rica: at Graduation, all in spanish

 

Thanksgiving-Soccer-Christmas!

Kids swinging at the Piñatas

         Happy Thanksgiving from Costa Rica! We've had a crazy, but incredibly enjoyable past 24 hours. Yesterday morning at this time I was just finishing up a written and oral grammar test. Suzy was at the doctor with Kaia for her check-up and a few shots. I spent the rest of the morning on my 'route,' talking with Costa Rican men around our community. I came home, ate lunch, and just over an hour later we were heading back to campus to prepare for the Roblealto Christmas party.

          Roblealto is the name of an orphanage home/community here in Costa Rica. Several families live on a piece of land together and other children who don't have families or homes live with them. Every year the students at our language school hold a Christmas celebration for all of the kids from Roblealto. There were about 200 people in all from Roblealto in attendance yesterday! In addition to buying each child a Christmas present, we organized a carnival (essentially) with games, face painting, dinner, Bible stories, music, and piñatas!

Suzy & Kaia with the food, waiting to deliver it to the kids

         Our family bought gifts for 2 different children-- a board game for one and a soccer jersey of a local team for the other. One thing I noticed as I looked through the Christmas lists of the children was that many of them wanted soccer balls, goalie gloves, soccer shoes, and jerseys of their favorite teams. Soccer is such a huge part of the culture here, it's really pretty incredible! I'm not sure if you can fully grasp just how intertwined soccer is with the culture until you live in a latin american country.

          I was recruited to paint faces. I sketched about 15 different full-face paint options as well as a few random things I could paint on cheeks or arms. Of course, I included the crests of the two most popular soccer teams. I had no idea just how popular those would be... though I should have anticipated it.

         Suzy helped to coordinate all of the food for the event. She and 3 other students baked and frosted 200 christmas tree shaped sugar cookies the day before the event and also prepared boxes of food to distribute to each child at the event. Each box included a subway style sandwich, a juice box, chips, and the homemade sugar cookie. And of course, as you can see above, Kaia helped, too!

        So, the day before Thanksgiving, we held a huge Christmas celebration, and I painted face after face with soccer logos. The cool thing was that after the Roblealto event, I went with a group of students and a couple of Colombians to a soccer game featuring one of the two most-liked soccer teams: La Liga de Alajuela. With tickets only costing $6 a person, it's a great cultural experience-- and it's just really fun, too! It was fun to talk with the boys while painting their faces about the fact that I was a fan of their team, too, and that I'd be going to watch the game in just a few hours.

Two of the Roblealto boys with La Liga's crest on their faces

          The event went great! The kids loved the games, ate great food and loved opening presents with items they had specifically hoped to receive. And after the event, I joined up with some friends and we took the bus to Alajuela. It was an incredible game and the crowds were alive with excitement! As we're leaving Costa Rica in just over 3 weeks, it will be my last soccer game here, and it was a great one to go out on! La Liga won 2 - 1, and that win put them into first place in the division. Needless to say, the Liga fans were rejoicing!

The group of 'gringos' from our school

         And today is Thaksgiving. We started the day with some banana chocolate-chip pancakes and coffee, watched a Garfield Thanksgiving Special, and have been having skype and facetime conversations with family members all morning. Our power just went out about 5 minutes ago, so unfortunately I doubt I'll get to post this before we leave for our Thanksgiving celebration. We're getting together with 4 other families from the language school and we're all doing our best to create the typical dishes using slightly different products with necessary modifications... but I'm sure all of the food will be wonderful! I any case, It'll be fun to gather with other brothers and sisters in Christ and give thanks for the many blessings Christ has bestowed upon us!

       So, as we celebrate this Thanksgiving, we are thankful for where God has us in this moment in time. We are thankful for the culture we are in, we are thankful for the culture we've come from, and we're thankful for all of the amazing people in our lives. We're thankful especially for our family and friends who are supporting us in our response to God's call in our lives and are making it possible for us to be where we are. Without all of you, we would not be speaking Spanish as well as we are in this moment, nor would we be about to embark upon a new life in Ecuador in three weeks from now.

    Therefore: Thank you! Thanks for caring about us, praying for us, and being involved in our lives. We are so thankful for all of you! May God bless you richly!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Your friend,

 -jim

Paul.

      This week I want to tell y'all about a good friend of ours. Paul Jones is a 36 year old from Ohio. Paul is single and is a pilot. He worked primarily regionally in the East Coast and a bit in the Midwest, but he has also made flights down to Texas and many other locations. He even fixed up a plane that he then flew solo in all the way up to Alaska. 

      When we arrived in the end of April, we had a very small group of incoming students. There were 10 of us total. Four of us were men, and the other 6 women. Jeremy McMillan and I are married and have children, and Tom and Paul were single. Tom was in his 60's and though Paul and he varied quite a bit in age, Paul kind of took Tom under his wing. As the two single men of our class, Paul helped Tom quite a bit in learning/understanding spanish, and they spent quite a bit of time together. I had a few good conversations with Paul last trimester, but as all new students, we spent a lot of time just adjusting to the culture, new language, and routine of daily life.

Our Grammar Class 1st Trimester: Top row is me, Paul, & Tom

      Tom left after one trimester, leaving Paul as the only single guy. Others left, too, leaving our '2nd trimester class' at a grand total of 8 people. Jeremy, the other married guy came in with a decent amount of spanish, so he was placed in a higher language class. So this trimester Paul and I are the only guys in grammar class together. Not to mention that three of the other women exclusively tutor... meaning there are 5 of us taking full-time classes. 

     At any rate, Paul and I have become very close. He's a dear friend, and a true joy to spend time with. He's also a guitarist and singer, so we've had multiple chances to play together and lead worship alongside one another. He's got a heart of gold, and we're excited for the ministry he's going to be doing in Guatemala. 

Paul and I at a Costa Rican soccer game

      Being that he's a pilot, his ministry has to do with flying. He's being sent by a ministry organization called Missionary Air Group (M.A.G.) and will basically be pioneering the ministry in Guatemala. I should mention that Paul worked stateside with a missions organization learning the nuts and bolts mechanics side of airplanes as well. So, not only can he fly the planes, but he's a mechanic and is completely capable of repairing and caring for planes of many varieties. 

       There aren't really any landing strips in Guatemala, and therefore there's not much going for this country in terms of smaller planes being able to transport people for ministry, emergencies, health care, delivery of much needed supplies, etc. So this is where Paul comes in. He will be traveling around  Guatemala, building relationships with villages, towns, and individuals to build trust and eventually build landing strips for airplanes. As he develops more and more locations for planes to land and take off, ministry throughout the country will be able to occur faster and when necessary. 

       So, please pray for Paul. He's going to be staying here for another trimester, meaning that he'll be here in Costa Rica through April, roughly. It has been such a blessing both for Suzy and I to have someone that we feel so comfortable with living just down the road. It's also been a huge blessing for me to have someone that I click with in such a strong way as a brother in Christ, but also just as a really strong friend. Whether we want to have brunch with someone, go for a hike, play games, go to a soccer game, or just talk for hours, Paul seems to always be there for me (and for us) and has really been a defining presence in our time here at language school.

     I should also mention that Paul is an incredible photographer! At the school's harvest (halloween) celebration, Paul took pictures all throughout the night, and took this amazing one of our family at the end of the night. 

To follow more closely what Paul is all about and what he's up to, his blog is: 

http://hishangar.blogspot.com

Wishing all of you a wonderful start to your week!

 -jim