Iquitos

I've been here for two weeks. Missing my dad. Doing a little bit of ministry work. I ask for continued prayer for me (my emotions), my relationship with Josue, and my team (our work with the children). Thanks so much.

Still in the US

Rest, like patience, can be active or passive. I'm taking another 2 weeks to rest at home before returning to work, November 13. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

My Citizenship is in Heaven (Phil. 3:20)

O Lord I live here as a fish in a vessel of water, only enough to keep me alive, but in heaven I shall swim in the ocean. (A Puritan prayer)

As I live more in another country which calls me, I realize that my citizenship, my heart, is not completely at home here; rather another country, the heavenly one, is calling me. I am a spiritual being having a physical experience. Now after experiencing my dad's illness and death, and reading a few books on Heaven, I understand a little better what it means to store treasures in Heaven, for where my treasure is there my heart is (Mat. 6:21).

Louisville, KY

Where do I start? I spent 6 weeks with my dad here at home, before returning to minister in Iquitos and a nearby community "Samito" for three weeks. Then the call came to come home as my dad was really bad. He went to dance with the angels a week later. I have been in shock, trying to understand my world without my dad. It has been a traumatic year, but "God is with us." May He receive glory and may we see His face ever nearer.

Heaven Near
Rachel C. Deal
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Norton Suburban Hospital, room 512, cancer ward

I can’t believe your time has come
That it has come so soon
I watch you and I can’t do anything to help
In this hospital room

Life doesn’t seem to be very fair
It’s hard to let you go
I selfishly want to keep you here
So your wisdom can help me on

This is a valley with shadows of death
Shadows that will soon pass
Light—so real—will fill you up
And guide you to a place of rest

You are brave and have fought so well
I don’t know how you’ve coped
Although you knew you had few days left
You’ve let us focus on hope

I love you so much and I’ll miss you greatly
But I don’t want you to be in pain
Eternity is at hand
My loss is heaven’s gain

I grieve that we won’t have more time together
I don’t understand God’s ways
But I do believe that in your life and death
God’s receiving glory and praise

Because I know you love the Lord
I have nothing to fear
It’s as you said in these last days:
Heaven Near

"Cielo Cerca"
Domingo, 30 Septiembre, 2007
Hospital de cáncer, cuarto 512

No puedo creer que tu tiempo haya llegado
Que haya llegado tan rápido
Te miro y no puedo hacer nada para ayudar
En este cuarto de hospital

La vida no se parece ser justa
Es difícil soltarte
Egoístamente deseo que te quedes aquí
Para darme más sabiduría

Esto es un valle con sombra de muerte
Sombras que pronto desaparecerán
Luz—tan verdadero—te llenará
Y te guiará a un lugar de descanso

Eres valiente y has luchado muy bien
No se como lo has hecho
Aunque sabias que tenías pocos días de vivir
Nos dejaste enfocarnos en esperanza

Te amo muchísimo y te faltaré un montón
Pero no quiero que sufras
La eternidad esta cerca
Mi perdida es la ganancia del cielo

Me aflijo que no tendremos más tiempo juntos
No entiendo a Dios
Pero si creo que en tu vida y muerte
Dios esta recibiendo la gloria y alabanza

Porque sé que amas al Señor
No tengo nada temer
Es como dijiste en estos últimos días:
“Cielo cerca”

My Daddy

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.

Jesus came to take my daddy home last night at 6:30 PM ( Thursday, October 4, 2007 ). Denise, Angie, and I had the privilege of experiencing the sacred moment of his last peaceful breaths on earth. As we wept, Denise read him a love letter, and I read Psalm 23. Then he was welcomed home by the angels and those who have gone before him. As much as we will miss him and long for his wisdom, humor, and presence, it is a relief to know that he is not suffering anymore, that he feels no pain or sorrow, and that to him it will seem like minutes when he is meeting us with the angels when our own appointed time comes. Our prayers were answered and he is completely and forever healed.

The obituary, along with sympathy expressions, will be in the Sunday paper:
Visitation: Monday, October 8, 2-8 PM at Highlands Funeral Home, Taylorsville Road and Dutchmans Lane. Visitation: Tuesday, October 9, 11 AM- 1 PM , Southeast Christian Church. Followed by Service: 1 PM , Chapel

Disappointingly for both of us, Josué was denied a visa, as he does not have the financial stability to show that he is returning and we are not (yet) family—I did get a ring September 26, the day before I came home! But as He has been always, God is with me, as my Father and Lover.

This is a surreal, bittersweet time for me and my family. Thank you for your love, prayers, and kindness.

Louisville, KY
i'm feeling so much better--thanks for praying! i needed the rest, and time with my dad. i've become his chofuer and am becoming familiar with the hosptial, for which i'm thankful. he's doing ok. we appreciate your calls, cards, and visits!

I've been at home 2 weeks and am still not feeling well. I appreciate your prayers so that I can be a blessing here at home, as well as recover fully to be able to return next month to the Amazon. My dad took his first intravenous chemo and is doing better than expected, although still struggling with side effects. We appreciate your continued prayers for him, especially for the health of his left kidney and a lessening of nausea. Thanks.

USA

I have been so busy (and then sick) that I haven't been able to update my blog. A lot happened during the week that I spent in Iquitos. I hung out with Josué and with friends (I made 2 new friends--girls with whom I work in the ministry). I also translated for an American team and taught a Bible story at the children's club--it's just what I love doing, and I was able to apply some things I learned at the Bogota school--I realized that Josué and I have very similar visions with the street kid ministry. Right before I left I ate something bad on the street and got salmanella and have been sick ever since. I got home Friday, July 20 and my dad went to the hospital Saturday. I couldn't go visit him as I was contagious (with fever and diarrhea), in fact I was in bed all last week, but now my dad is home and I am feeling better, although my stomach hurts and I am tired (probably the antibiotics). My dad is happy to be home, and resting. He starts the 2nd round of chemo Friday. Please pray for his healing (and mine!) and for our time together. I plan to return to Iquitos early September to work (translate) at a pastor's conference which will be held 10 hours away in a village in the Amazon River; we are expecting 40 pastors from 12 communities--some as much as a day away by boat. We will also be doing a children's event as well for several hundred kids. It should a powerful event. I will also be working with the children's clubs and teaching English. I will not have a fund raiser, but do ask that you consider supporting me monthly or one-time. I do have a short wish list:
gift certificate to Walmart for medicines, foods, and clothes
semi-nice light jacket/ pant suit (for airplane/ church)
rain jacket
RVR 1960/ KJV bilingual Bible
comfortable walking sandals (perhaps from a store like Quest)
Thank you! I hope to be able to see many of you while here, although my main purpose is to spend time with my dad at home. Thanks for understanding and supporting and praying for me.

Graduation--I made it!!!! Pictures have been updated--from throughout the school, the month practice, and my graduation. I am so happy to be finished and to have learned a lot about how to minister to children at risk. It was very challenging and I discovered that I still need to learn more about working in a team; especially with other cultures. However I also discovered that I have grown in responses to conflict, that I definately have a gift in working with children, and that my ministry is teaching children to know God more and experience inner healing from past hurts. One life goal is to pray and intercede for transformation in the lives of those with whom I work, fighting in the spiritual realm, and to be faithful in my personal time with the Lord. This will give me strength and wisdom to teach and minister to others. Thanks for your prayers and support during these past four months. I will be in Peru next week to update further.

George Müller: Man of Faith and Miracles
By Basil Miller

Advice to strengthen one’s faith (p.58-59):

1. Read the Bible and meditate upon it. God will become known to you through prayer and meditation upon His Word.
2. Seek to maintain an upright heart and a good conscience.
3. Do not shrink from opportunities where your faith may be tried, and therefore through trials, be strengthened.
4. Let God work for you, when the hour of trail of your faith comes, and do not work to a deliverance of your own.

“Would the believer therefore have his faith strengthened, he must give God time to work.”

Avisos para esforzarse la fe:
1. Lee la Biblia y medita en ella. Dios está conocido a través de la oración y la meditación en su Palabra.
2. Busca mantener un corazón justo y una consciencia limpia.
3. No huyas de las oportunidades donde tu fe podría ser probada, y entonces a través de las pruebas, será esforazada.
4. Deja que Dios trabaje para ti, cuando la hora de la prueba de tu fe venga, y no trabajes para rescatarte solo.

“Que el creyente entonces tenga su fe esforzada, tendrá que dar a Dios tiempo para trabajar.”

June 8: The ambassador of Norway came today. We chatted briefly. He was nice. I spent most of the afternoon cooking and cleaning. Then I worked with some of the kids on a poetry activity. I read a little and spent some time reflecting on the past year—that has included many changes. I am feeling better being here and haven’t had problems with the program; I’m just not in agreement with it being a program. But I think the staff try, more than I realized. They are really hard with the kids, but if they aren’t, the kids get into trouble. They get into trouble anyway. I think there’s a balance between being firm and loving—you can’t really have one without the other—otherwise it’s abuse.


June 10: On Thursday morning the leaders left for a meeting and spent the night in order to go to the market, returning at 5pm Friday evening. Jessica and I, with the help of some others, were in charge of 23 former street kids!!! Many are responsible and helpful, leaving us to deal with a few real problem kids, who are stubborn, disrespectful, and disobedient. But the Lord has been kind and helped us to maintain control from morning to evening to complete the chores (I collaborated with cleaning the kitchen—it was so dirty—and homework (I helped with English), do a devotional, and play with the kids. It is not something a person can do every day and not get burned out quickly. It is not a job I would want, but I with my family and team could help children like this, along with their families if possible, but in a different manner—in love. Being firm is necessary, but yelling unkind words or commands only continues the pattern these kids received from childhood.

Right now, it’s 5:00pm, the kids are all playing nicely, no one is yelling or putting them down. We are dealing individually with the problem kids (two at present). It’s a big responsibility, but the cook and gardener (with their 3 kids) live here on the farm, and an older man is here helping out (he’s with my problem kid who has been rebellious all day). Jessica is helping her problem kid wash clothes. He just punched one of my kids, who has returned to playing soccer with the other kids. I am tired. We are going to celebrate the birthday of one of the girls, and after dinner, I’m going to put the little ones to bed and hopefully watch Shrek 3 with the older kids, and then fall into bed—exhausted. What an experience. I learned that in letting them play and let out their frustrations and not being so on top of them that they suffocate, loving them and being firm. Being in charge of the younger kids and the girls was a little better than Jessica’s house, as the boys didn’t listen to her at all. The staff has not been kind to us, and I rather enjoyed the time alone, but I didn’t sleep well, due to the extra responsibility. I cannot think it was the best decision, but last night, a staff came to help out. He went on a school field trip today, so Jessica and I could stay with five kids at the farm—we played ball, and swung, and I read and got a little sun. Jessica and I are extremely tired, and I’m just here to love and help the kids.

June 11: It has been a challenging week. I have had the opportunity to love, listen to, play with, pray with, and do poetry activities with the kids. I swung with a couple kids, prayed with one for a while last night, held one on my lap while we watched a movie today—the little things are big to them. However, the staff are very hard on the kids—this is a rehabilitation center, not a ministry or family. One kid ran away on Friday and there hasn’t been a lot of concern for him, although the staff looked around for him and I believe talked to the police today (Monday). I wanted to go to La Vega today to email, but it was a holiday and one staff wasn’t here, so I stayed. However, I felt sick in the afternoon and slept. I have a lot of physical comforts, bed, food, water, sunlight; I don’t even mind the cold water. But the way the institution is run makes me sad. I am learning some good things, and I enjoy working with the kids—they usually listen to me—I don’t yell. Occasionally I raise my voice, but very rarely. And if I say something, I carry it out—I don’t make empty threats. Today I cried, because of the yelling and constant correcting—it’s not done in love. I got yelled at by the cook for something a kid was doing, then Jessica comes crying because the staff at her house yelled at the kids for playing outside, when she told Jessica that they should play outside. She and the staff girl at my house have taken advantage of our presence and left, leaving us in charge—not really the point of our time here, but I’m sure they are tired. However after 3 months of school, and many stresses, this past week hasn’t been easy. I will truly be glad for this school to end. I have indeed learned what NOT to do! I trust God has led me here and continues to teach me more about Him—and to depend on Him completely. Thanks for praying for me (and Jessica) over these next two weeks—for health, patience, and sanity (with the staff more than with the kids—sadly)! Please keep in touch.

June 12: The prodigal boy came home today—brought by police. He was found staying in a hotel, they called the police when they heard the news report about him via radio. Since he came home, the tension has left and everyone is breathing easier. I played with the kids and had a more enjoyable afternoon. My stomach stopped hurting, and my headache diminished (it never completely goes away—the altitude really bothers me). I finished an interesting and sad book about street kids in Brasil called Asphalt Angels. It was a beautiful day. Several times today, the very staff girl that I prejudged that I would have problems with made jokes with me, talked to me, and included me—amazing! God taught me yet another lesson in listening and seeing deeper than outward appearances.

Tomorrow, June 13, I go to La Vega to the Internet café and to eat out with Jessica. I am tired—it’s once again 9pm and the alarm sounds way too early—at 5am. Goodnight!

I´ll be sending out photos soon.

La Vega, one hour outside of Bogota
Pacto Belen Children’s Ministry
Saturday, June 02, 2007

I learned something about myself the last couple of days—I’m changing. Thursday night at 7pm, the director, who has been disrespectful especially to the foreigners since the beginning of the school, told me and Jessica that we were going to the ministry NOW. Jessica was upset but I kept my cool and calmly asked her for a couple hours so we could finish getting ready and so I could keep my call date with my dad. She said fine, but at 8pm said she hadn’t understood me. Well, I talked to my dad and then we left at 9pm in a taxi, arrived at 9:30 at another ministry, and left around 5:30am to La Vega, a town an hour outside of town, where we will be working in a children’s ministry for the month of June (until the 27th). It is beautiful here and we should get one day a week off to go to a nearby pool and Internet and eat out and rest. The lady in charge of our practicum told us we would be in a room together and not in the house with a staff that is immature and unchristian. Guess where I am? When we arrived, the director of the two houses told us we would be split up. Jessica could not handle being in this house with this staff girl, who is not here this weekend due to our complaint. So I am here. I told the director that our leader had promised to not put either of us here and I would try and if I couldn’t handle it, I would let her know. She said that’s fine. This is the house with the younger boys and the 4 girls, which is fine with me. On Friday upon arriving, I prayed with them, played with them, and helped them with chores. So for now I’m fine.

Today I realized that my call and work requires many sacrifices and death to the flesh. If I trust in God’s love for me and allow Him to love through others, He will complete things in me that would lack if I had chosen to not obey His call. Jesus Himself for a time left His comfortable country and chose a difficult life to bring love. God sent Him and He obeyed. And because of His obedience, many were touched and changed. God has called me to the same, to let Him love through me, so that 1) I will be complete and 2) others will be touched and changed. It is a life of sacrifice, but also of blessing. I am happy and know that in God’s love for me, He will give me the desires of my heart—in marriage, work, children, travel. I love Him and want to worship and serve Him, in this month, and for the rest of my life.

So I’m learning and growing. I’m thankful for the work that God is doing in me—what He has started and called me to, He will finish and give me the strength to do. Please pray for me over these next 3 weeks here at La Vega—for peace, patience, self-control, love, gentleness—hahaha—well, that I will walk in the fruit of the Spirit! And for rest and concentrated times with the Lord, to meditate on His transforming Word and to hear His voice in my heart. Thank you. Blessings!

The poem The Real World was inspired by a book I am reading called Nothing But a Thief, the Street and her Children, by Danielle Speakman. If you want to understand the life and needs of street children and really all of us, I highly encourage this book.

The Real World
By Rachel C. Deal
June 2, 2007

Where do I live?
Where do I sleep?
What do I eat?
What do I know?

That’s my world

Where do you live?
Where do you sleep?
What do you eat?
What do you know?

That’s your world

Pain and hunger
Tears and fear
Happiness and love
Desires and hope

That’s our world

Can I understand you?
Can I walk in your shoes?
Can I see your point of view?
I choose to leave my world and live in…

The Real World


El Mundo Real

¿Dónde vivo?
¿Dónde duermo?
¿Qué como?
¿Qué sé?

Esto es mi mundo

¿Dónde vives?
¿Dónde duermes?
¿Qué comes?
¿Qué sabes?

Esto es tu mundo

Dolores, hambre
Soledad, lagrimas
Felicidades, amor
Deseos, esperanza

Esto es nuestro mundo

¿Puedo entenderte?
¿Puedo caminar en tus zapatos?
¿Puedo ver tu punto de vista?
Elijo a salir de mi mundo para vivir en…

El Mundo Real

Scars
Rachel C. Deal
May 25, 2007

I have never felt such pain
Sobs that go down so deep
I have no words
How much can I bear?

I know God has not forsaken me
That He is in control
I am not angry
But I think my heart might break

Jesus understands
His heart did break
When those He loved
Took His life

He conquered death
And dwells in heaven
But one thing remains
The scars on His hands

God has been with me
Through all my sorrows
Through the valley of the shadow
I am not afraid

After a while
I won’t remember the sting
I will heal
But the scars will remain


Cicatrices

Nunca he sentido tal dolor
Sollozos que bajan al profundo
No tengo palabras
¿Cuánto más puedo aguantar?

Sé que Dios no me ha abondano
Que El está en control
No estoy enojada
Pero siento que mi corazón se va a quebrar

Jesús entiende
Su corazón se rompió
Cuando los que El amó
Le quitaron la vida

Venció la muerte
Y vive en el cielo
Pero hay algo que permanece--
Las cicatrices en sus manos

Dios ha estado conmigo
A través de la tristeza
A través del valle de sombra
No tengo miedo

Después de un tiempo
No recordaré la punzada
Sanaré
Pero las cicatrices permanecerán

God's Promise

Isaiah 43: 1-5
This is what the Lord says--He who created you, O Rachel, He who formed you: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...you are precious and honored in My sight and I love you...Do not be afraid.

Psalm 27: 1-6
The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? When evil advances against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident...For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock...at His tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

God does not promised that I will not pass through hard times, but He has promised to be with me through them and not let me be harmed. So in tough situations, I will praise the Lord.

My Daddy
My dad is in the hospital after an operation to remove his kidney and a cancerous mass. We were praying that the surgery had removed all infected cells, but yesterday's results show that the cancer is outside the kidney in the fatty tissue and a couple lymph nodes. My dad and stepmom, who is a faithful and positive support, consulted with an oncologist and he will begin treatment in the next week or two, after my dad recovers more from the surgery. He goes home soon. Although this is sad news, my dad seems to be at peace and hopeful; he told the oncologist that "we look forward to the journey." It is a great shock for me and I am taking it pretty hard, being far away (although I talk to them daily). However, I know God is with my dad. The other morning in my devotions with God, He told me that God will be glorified. Later that day, my dad said the same. He is in the hands of the best Doctor, and I must trust Him.

Bogotá, Colombia
A Ministry Outreach

On Monday, my team helped out a church to go to an isolated community that needs Jesus. We had been praying for this event for several weeks and all of us chose different groups to support--activities with children, cooking, nursing/ dentistry, beauty care (manicures and hair cuts), and evangelism. I wanted to be part of the evangelism, but when I arrived, I felt that God wanted me to serve. He put it in my heart to give hand massages with the manicurists. Every person who sat in front of me was an opportunity from the Lord to share the love of Jesus. God gave me wisdom to share the gospel, using the gospel bracelet (with the wordless book colors), and He gave strength to my hands to give massages from 10 am to 2 pm. Then we had lunch for 1000 people, along with some choreographies. It rained off and on, but the people stayed around and many heard and saw and felt the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. It was a good tired at the end of the day!

Bogota, Colombia
YWAM Base
Entering the last week of classes...
Thank God!

It has been one hard school--three months of stones and walls to climb over (if I don't want to fall down). (It has been an emotional NIKO, the survival camp.) I almost have fallen several times, but God has been faithful to help me through and provide an out to give me just the strength I need to make it through the dark night. And joy comes in the morning!

It has been a challenging school from the week leading up to the start to the end. I have made friends and am learning to love people that do not understand me or are able to at present. I have received many tools to guide me and help me form a ministry based on the needs of the children to give them the love of the Father, and have suffered through some classes (because I either didn't understand, agree, or was just dealing with other problems and struggling to participate). I have reconciled with my friend Josué and encountered a difficulty with my friend Cecy. In every decision, every day, the Lord has shown Himself real to me.

I have had oportunities to minister and be ministered to. I have cried over sin, over past hurts, over my dad's sickness. I have worked through some wounds and found healing in Christ. I have read 10 books that have taught me more about leadership, children, ministry, and the Father-heart of God. I am creating a project that the Lord is developing in me to enable wounded children to express themselves through poetry to lead to inner healing and a closer knowledge of God.

The month of June I will be in a ministry to observe and apply what I have learned. Pray with me that the Lord leads me to the best location for me and what I want to do, in working locally with the community as well as in education.

It is very cold here as always, and I always appreciate the moments of sun. I struggle with the altitude, one reason that I have not felt well here. I long for Iquitos and its warmth--and my room and bathroom and bed! I know it was God's will that I complete this school, but living with 10 (very different) girls in one room, and being with them plus the one guy for 3 months straight has been difficult. Plus the director of the ministry hasn't been around much, and the director of the school has been another challenge--the way she has run the school, and there is no other staff (there's no team).

Thank you for your support, financially and prayerfully--for me as I finish this next month and make decisions afterward, and for my dad's health and all my family. These last two weeks have been really tough, but God has carried me in His peace and rest. I am grateful for His power and leading in my life.

Back to Bogota

The event Saturday morning at the Colombianita, a two-block shack town of 250 children plus the adults, was a success! (see photo)They are recyclers, going through trash to find cans, bottles, and plastics that can be recyled, so it is very dirty and ugly. But the children are beautiful. I was a clown and helped to draw a crowd, participated in the children's songs, one of the choreographies, and acted like a child during the Gospel presentation, asking questions and praying the salvation prayer with the children (and some adults)! The presence of God was present, especially during the prayer and I feel that God is there and has not forgotten "these untouchables."

Prayer Requests:
That the Lord will show us as a team how to deal with specific situation;
That I will be respectful, loving, and patient with my team;
That I will be given an outreach location for the month of June where I can observe Christian and family principles--working within the community and teaching and have a kind family with whom to stay;
and that I will rest better at night so as to not be tired during the day to learn everything I can in this last month of classes.