Flexibility

Cecy and I have just returned from a "sand safari." Have you ever seen a desert of salt thousands of miles wide and dozens of feet deep? Go to southern Bolivia, where you will find a town made of salt. Salt is processed and exported around the world. Have you ever seen flocks of flamingos migrating? What about herds of llamas and alpacas, a wild fox? A bubbling volcano with geyers shooting vapor into the morning sky? A night sky with millions of stars (that all have names!)? Have you ever been so cold that water froze, you had no heat, so to sleep you crawled into a single bed with a friend (that would be Cecy!)? Have you ever traveled with a tour group that never shut up for 3 days straight, in a four-wheeler that bumped over rocky roads for hours upon end so that you didn`t know which hurt more, your ears or your butt?--try to doze! Have you ever longed for warmth and a firm bed so much that you could hardly enjoy the view? As you can see, our trip south was with mixed emotions. the beauty of God´s creation, along with the harsh physical conditions.

Overall it was worth it, but at the end, I realized it was time to head home. Time, money, and energy was running out. We needed to rest, after pushing hard for 2 weeks. I searched different options and every door was closed except to La Paz. So today we returned in train and bus (10 hours) to the same hotel, and slept the afternoon. Tomorrow we are going to shop and visit a museum about Che Guevara and Bolivia and get a pedicure/ manicure--it´s so cheap here. Then Saturday we will leave for a 3 day, 2 night "vacation" in the southern Bolivan jungle, with waterfalls, and hikes and beautiful views, a pool, massage therapist, etc. The whole trip might cost $40! Then we return to La Paz to leave the following day for Peru. We will spend about 9 days traveling through southern Peru, staying in interesting spots along the way until Lima, where we will stay a couple days until leaving for Colombia. Our goal is to be in Buenaventura for Jaime Useche´s Explosion around the 16 (the event is Oct 19-21).

I feel good about the decision and hope to have a future opportunity to travel to the south of South America--little by little (besides as an American I need a visa in advance for Paraguay, and to enter Brasil costs $100 for a 5-year visa--all in God´s timing). Better fewer passport stamps but more thorough, enjoyed, and restful time. Thanks for praying! God is guiding. He is the warmth--of my soul--that I can always depend on!

Greetings from La Paz, Boliva!

Cecy and I arrived from Peru without problemas. We thought about staying one more night in an island, but decided in Cusco we´d seen enough ruins and museums. So we went directly to La Paz, only stopping for lunch in Copacabana. Today we climbed the mountain Chaclacayo, which is 5,500 meters (maybe 13,000 odd feet--I don´t really know). We took it slowly and made it--I´ll download pictures soon. Afterward we went to the Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna)--which looks like the moon's surface--an incredible day. We are worn out! Tomorrow we head for Uyuni, a salt desert. We will be there 3 days and then go to Chile, where I will again have access to Internet. We are eating well--chicken, bread, eggs, fruit, and veggies--all local. The boliviano is 8 per dollar, so it is very cheap. I bought 2 cotton sweaters for $3.50--very exciting as I didn´t bring enough clothes. Oh, people think Cecy and I are sisters--Cecy always rolls her eyes and says, I´m going to buy green contacts so I really look gringa! But really I want to look Latina--so I need to buy brown contacts. We are thinking about dressing up as each other for Halloween, as I think it is celebrated in Colombia, which is where I will be for my 30th birthday! Much love. Please keep praying for us. We have met wonderful people and are feeling better, havingg finally aclimated to the high altitude.

Machu Picchu--now I have the correct spelling and pronunciation. A picture book of one of the wonders of the American world doesn´t do justice to the beauty of such historical monuments. To imagine the intellegence and creativity of the Inca people is astonishing. What have we built in the last century that will last many centuries more, with little decay? The snow-capped mountains, sun peaking through a cloudy sky, and the valley with slats made for specific growths of vegetation. Machu Picchu is about 4 hours from Cusco, so it was a long day. But interesting. There is a rock full of energy; though not permitted to touch, one can feel the energy coursing through one´s body. The architecture, rock walls with mortar and clay, and customs practiced made Cecy and me feel that we had entered another world. She said, Although I´m Peruvian, I feel like a foreigner. One interesting point: the people were relatively short, not the giants we imagine. They used intellegence, rope, and animals to pull the rocks up to the 2,800 meters above sea level.

Thank the Lord, we are feeling better. We´ve adjusted to the climate, so we were able to do a little climbing today without problem. We keep trying new foods--the trout is one specialty here, as is alpaca (similar but smaller than the llama). We will visit some art museums tomorrow and then leave for the south of Peru, Puno, to the famous Lago Titicaca, which is even higher and colder. But I bought an alpaca scarf and hat today so it should keep me warm.

Cuzco

After a 20 hour trip, Cecy and I arrived in Cuzco, at 3500 meters above sea level. The trip, altitude and freezing climate has made us a little sick with a cold. I ma in jeans, socks, jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves! It's like a late October Kentucky day. Still we arrived safe and sound, have a nice little hostel room, with everything nearby. We will pass the next few days site seeing Machu Pichu and Cuzco. I am happy to be here. Thanks for continued prayers for our safety and health.

“God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way?” Psalm 19:11

From Lima to Cuzco!
I'd forgotten how much I love Latin America. The Spanish church just isn´t the same, although it was great to worship in Spanish and make new friends. The ice water to bathe, the roosters, the language, the grocery store and market and streets, the environment, time with Cecy, the food--fried bananas, rice with milk, fresh fruit--nothing compares. God is with me! I am in the right place and am happy here. Everything in me tells me so and already I am here-"home" is where my treasure is, where my heart is. After one day in Lima, Cecy and I are off to Cuzco and Machu Pichu, where I will write again to keep you updated on the journey of my Travelin' Shoes.

FREEDOM

You're so busy squabling for scraps from the king's table that you've missed your God-given right to something better: There's a difference between us: You think the people of this country exist to provide you with possession. I think your possession exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.

--William Wallce in Braveheart

Note: I'm thankful to be part of a country that 230 years ago fought for my freedom and continue to fight to keep me, and many others, free, not just here but around the world. Like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other presidents who saw the bigger picture--a futuristic picture--and fought for freedom, I want to take up arms against the enemy, fighting with prayer and truth. My desire is that people have not only physical but spiritual freedom.

FLY AWAY: SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER

It’s time again to “fly away” to my glory-land. And I’m finally ready. It has been a very challenging three months, but the Lord has opened my eyes and nudged me toward my long-time dream of serving Him full-time with children. Cecy Wong, one of my best friends, shares that dream. We are intent on raising support for the construction and upkeep of two children’s homes in Iquitos and Leticia (with dorms, dining hall, school, and chapel) and transforming the overlooked street and village children into a healthy, educated, and Christian generation. God has not forgotten these jewels and He has enabled us to see them, creatively help them, and get trained to work with them. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and prayer during this journey. Hang on tightly as you venture with me on an exhilarating adventure!

TENTATIVE ITENERARY 2006-2007

☺September 11: Lima, Perú
☺Sept-Oct: travel with Cecy thru South America
☺October 14-27: Buenaventura, Colombia: help Jaime Useche with evangelistic crusade
☺November-January: Iquitos: build fence around our property, street kid ministry, ESL
☺February 17: Leticia, Colombia: Cecy’s wedding to David (from Bogotá)
☺March 2-May 21: Bogotá, Colombia: Children at Risk YWAM school
☺June 20: home

PRAISES

☺2nd Lasik surgery corrected my eye vision (did I mention the operation was a gift?!)
☺3 months at home seeking God helped to correct my spiritual vision and give me a clear direction toward the fulfillment of His purpose in me, His workmanship (poem)—the Faces of Christ retreat greatly aided this healing
☺Spent a lot of time with close friends: Gallery Hop and hangin’ out with Natasha; Kentucky Kingdom with my nephew; “Little Women,” Brown County, and trip to see my grandma with my mom; baseball game, hiking, and parties with my dad; “My Fair Lady” with step-mom and sisters; swimming, cooking, zoo, and New York with Ahlers; Huber’s farm to pick fruit which I used to bake; horse show and swim party with Walker; Messianic church with Christie; dinner with supporters/friends
☺Natasha and Jessica had healthy baby boys
☺Received covering from my home church, Nueva Vida/ Southeast Christian (as well as a $1000 donation) and pastor Daniel Ramirez; and Jaime Useche, director of YWAM Leticia
☺Fund-raiser: saw many people, raised $1500
☺Taught 2 Spanish VBS—kids accepted Christ
☺Translated at health clinic weekly
☺Was inspired by many missionary biographies
☺Spoke at churches and SS classes
☺Good chats on the phone with Cecy
☺Have everything on my shopping list (for now!)
☺Eagerness to go!

PRAYER REQUESTS
☺Safe traveling with Cecy this next year
☺Meeting the right people on our month’s adventure
☺Cecy’s US visa would come through
☺Our dreams would mesh as we seek God’s will
☺Monthly funds would come in, faithfulness of supporters
☺YWAM Bogotá school: cost for me and Cecy covered (www.colombiastreetkids.org)
☺Cecy and David’s wedding, marriage, and ministry
☺Strength and wisdom as we work in Iquitos this fall
☺Building up a ministry team
☺Planning of building projects and mission trips
☺Many will see Christ’s love in us and BELIEVE!

FREEDOM'S FLIGHT
By Rachel C. Deal
September 6, 2006

In agonizing pain, William Wallace cries out
“FREEDOM!!!!”—Arousing the crowd
And so Scotland unites—so noble and proud

They draw their swords in an emotional flood
Facing the enemy and paying with blood
Straggling home, covered in mud

Yet what happens after freedom is bought?
What is the purpose of those lessons taught?
What gives value to the battles fought?

The Scots forget and are captured once more
And from their way of life, cruelly torn
Making them wish they’d never been born

Let us remember, so we don’t fight in vain
Freedom is two-fold: First fought to be gained
And then ever after, it must be maintained






Note:
I recently forced myself to watch Braveheart, and while Wallace indeed had a brave heart, his people did not maintain the freedom that he died for, and so years after the initial independence (Battle of Bannockburn, 1314, under Robert Bruce’s command), Scotland was recaptured by the Brits.

Lesson learned: What is the worth of fighting, sacrificing, and dying if only to forget to maintain the freedom gained?

Thanks to Glenn Ahlers for putting this idea in my head