Louisville, KY, USA

It has been a month since I've written. I spent a few weeks in Buenaventura, teaching English and helping with some low-income families (including buying an outfit for a little girlfriend of mine); I also provided $250 to help a poor family start a business, selling a delicious oatmeal drink in the streets. This will enable them to survive. I love lending or giving money to hard-working people to start small businesses, endowing them with a sense of honest respect.

After my time there, a Colombian friend and I I traveled six hours to Armenia, the hometown of my pastor Daniel Ramirez, staying with friends and visiting with Daniel's uncle. The following day, we took an 18-hour bus ride to Bucaramanga for a missions conference, which lasted a week. I spent time with the Leticia team and met with Jaime Useche to discuss future plans. He has asked me to join a team who goes into the Amazon communities working with disadvantaged and disabled children, helping with their spiritual, educational, and physical needs. I will begin that work after the four-month YWAM training school in Bogota, called Children At Risk (March-June).

After the week in Bucaramanga (where I suffered from some intense stomach pains), I went to Bogota with my friend; we stayed with a Christian family, the same we had stayed with the month before. Two nights later, the day before I was scheduled to leave for the Amazon, I had such intense stomach pains, throwing up, screaming with pain, that I went to the hospital, actually a private clinic. The doctor, who I later found out was the "best surgeon in Colombia," said he needed to operate immediately, that I had appendicitis. So he began with a laparoscopy, and saw that part of my colon was twisted around my appendix and had to cut me open. Next Tuesday I get my stitches out, so I'll know better how I am healing. I feel a lot better. The first week after the surgery I could barely move, and my friend helped me a lot, caring for me in the clinic and at home. The doctor suggested I go home to recover. So I worked out my visa (it had expired--but I had no problem getting it extended) and plane ticket (it's stand-by, but Delta provided a wheelchair and much help all the way, because I could barely walk and could not carry or lift anything).

I came home December 20. I spend a short time with my family, but have been at home resting a lot. I get tired quickly, but am not in as much pain as before. I can walk and sit up without help, although sometimes it hurts more than others--the stomach muscles get used for everything! I am happy to be home for Christmas, with family and friends, volunteering and resting. I have many doctor's appointments in the next couple weeks, plus will go see my grandma before leaving the States. I love the Christmas lights and festivities and music--I miss that in Latin America. But at the same time, I am eager to return to work.

I plan to be here until January 17, when I go back to Colombia. There is a mission trip coming in and I have been asked by a pastor friend to help translate. Then there is a week retreat in Leticia with Jaime's team. Then I'll be a couple weeks in Iquitos helping Cecy prepare for her wedding, which I am a part of. Speaking of Cecy, I was supposed to help her with Christmas for the kids, and although I was not there, I sent her $300, which she used in buying gifts for needy children, giving them a special Christmas.

I have been spending my free time researching street children, reading When Invisible Children Sing by Dr. Chi Huang (he spent about a year in the streets of Bolivia, helping and studying the kids and later started an orphanage of respect not rehibilitation). I cried over the movie Hotel Rwanda, thinking about my newly adopted brothers and sisters (by the Ahlers family) from Liberia. How much I want to go and help. I see myself in the near future spending time in Liberia and eventually adopting kids myself. I am "adopting" a Liberian boy and a girl, becoming a "mother of love" to them, writing them letters and sending them gifts (kind of like Compassion Int'l). I really want to eventually write children's stories about these kids who have suffered--the world needs to hear the "invisible children singing."

Next week, I'll include an invitation with directions in my newsletter that I will mail out, but I will invite you now to a "Travelin' Shoes Ministry Get-together" at Bob Richman's (see directions) on Friday, January 12, from 7-8:30 PM. It is NOT an open house or a fund raiser. Just come to hear updates of my ministry see, pictures, ask questions, and pray for me. There will be snacks and drinks. This is a good way for me to see everyone, as I can't personally visit you all, due to my health situation and shortness of time here in the States. My plan is to return to the States late fall 2007 to spend more time with friends and family and to have a fund raiser for 2008's mission.

Concerning funds--many people generously raised money to help me with my hospital stay. I am using stand-by tickets, so flying is relatively inexpensive. I have insurance which should cover about 2/3 of my hospital bill, which was more than $1500 (but might have cost many thousands if I'd had the operation here in the States). I had to replace my laptop, which was another unexpected cost. But God is always faithful! I am appreciative of faithful monthly supporters, as well as the one-time gifts. Due to the extra expenses incurred, I lack $600 for the YWAM Bogota school, plus $200 for a plane ticket to return to Colombia. Those are my only imminent financial needs right now. I appreciate everyone who has been praying for me and giving--the Lord will richly repay you in many ways--watch and see that He is GOOD!!

Have a Merry Christmas! For the Invisible Children, Rachel