October 29, 2009 at 5:36 pm (Uncategorized)
Our good friends Andrew and Holly Pearson are here in Peru as well. I’d like to invite you to read (or watch) their blogs. Andrew’s blog is www.mediainmissions.wordpress.com, and Holly’s blog is www.hollycpearson.wordpress.com.
Below is a video Andrew made describing one of the cultural (and religious) aspects of this month. Near the end of the clip you’ll also get a funny little commentary from my husband. Let me know what you think!
October 28, 2009 at 2:59 pm (Ministry, Missions, Peru, Prayer Requests)
It’s been forever since I talked about Suhjey. Just wanted to let everyone know that she has improved dramatically. The doctors and nurses have called her “the resurrected one.”
She did have to have a tracheotomy while she was so critical. Since then it’s been removed.
One amazing thing–during the Pastor’s conference a few weeks back she sang a song–”Great is Thy Faithfulness”–as a tribute to what God is done in her life and how He has brought her back from what seemed to be certain death. We serve a God of miracles and He is faithful to the end.
Here are the lyrics to the song she sung to honor the Lord with her life:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
October 28, 2009 at 2:00 pm (Prayer Requests, Vision Baptist Church)
I would like to ask you all to be praying for my pastor’s family in the death of his father Charles “Papaw” Gardner. Papaw accepted Christ and then changed what it meant to be a Gardner. He changed his family name from one of alcoholics to one of preachers and missionaries. God has done a great work in many lives because this man accepted and followed Him. Below is an excerpt from his blog www.austingardner.net :
Mr. Charles W. Gardner, age 80, of Harriman, Tennessee, went to the loving arms of his Savior from his home following a stroke, Wednesday early morning 12:55 AM, October 28 surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Gardner was born August 6, 1929 in Elkhart, Indiana, a son of the late Dorsey Mason and Daisey Velma Gardner. He was also preceded in death by his brother Franklin Coleman Gardner. Mr. Gardner was retired from Dupont and Lockheed, and a longtime Beef and Chicken farmer in the Adairsville and Gordon County, Georgia area.
He was a member of Swan Pond Baptist Church in Harriman, Tennessee.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of fifty-six years, Carolyn P. Gardner; son and daughter in law, Austin and Betty Gardner, pastor of Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, daughter Felecia Gardner still residing at home, son and daughter in law John and Donna Gardner, Edward Jones Financial Advisor, daughter and son in law Vicki and Bob Orfield, School Nutrition Manager and Walmart Customer Service; grandchildren, Chris and Andria Gardner, Stephanie and David Young, Joy Soncco, David and Katie Gardner, Amanda and Jon Wade, Beverly and Jeff Tubb, Jenny Dickey, Chris Dickey, Marcus Orfield, and Megan Orfield, great grand children, Jacob, Hannah, and Andrew Gardner, Philip, Dave, Ronnie, Andrew, Matthew, and Jonathan Young, Benjamin and Lelia Soncco, Jonathan and Hannah Wade.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the Peru Bible College via Macedonia World Baptist Missions, P O Box 519, Braselton, Georgia 30517
I will put up the funeral arrangements once they are made.
September 17, 2009 at 9:34 am (Lessons Learned, Marriage, Ministry, Missions, Peru)
Had my first major frustration in language school yesterday. I’ve had minor frustrations before learning the language. But, yesterday was bad–really bad. But, I am amazed at how God turns the bad around to teach me something good.
I failed my first test yesterday. And for those of you who know me, that is a BIG deal. I don’t like to fail. I don’t like to mess up. I would venture to say that sums up about all of us. But, I react sinfully and pridefully when I fail or mess up. It’s completely wrong to do.
God had been using this time in Peru–this time when there are fewer distractions and more time to focus on Him–to show me areas in my life that He has probably wanted to deal with before. It’s amazing how easy it is to run from God when you pile on distraction after distraction. Here it’s a different story. Am I busy? Certainly. Are their distractions? Of course.
But, being here in a different culture, opens your eyes to those ugly things in your heart. I don’t know how it happens. It’s a mystery to me. But, I am so thankful that He can use things–even things like failing a test–to teach me lessons.
I was very frustrated–even angry–when they brought the test back to me. I knew I had not done well, but to see 7 of the 25 questions wrong hit me hard. I wanted perfection. And I didn’t get it. I wanted to build my pride by thinking I have accomplished a great deal in the language. But God had a different plan.
Little by little, He’s been teaching me that I don’t have to be “perfect” to have worth in Him. He’s been teaching me that my trying to have everything together, everything in order, is nothing but a show. Others can see through it, and I am sure the only person I am fooling is myself.
Now, I am not advocating that I should just run around like a mess and do nothing profitable. I am just saying that many times I look to my accomplishments for my sense of self-worth and satisfaction. All along, here in Peru, God has been using little things–things like failing a test–to show me that I should find my worth and satisfaction in Him.
Thank you for praying for me while Robert and I are here. I want to post some observations about culture shock and how it affects your relationships soon. Again, thanks for all your love and support!
September 3, 2009 at 2:50 pm (Uncategorized)
I know that it’s been forever since I’ve written. Some of you have been wondering if I’ve fallen off the face of the earth. I apologize for not writing more and will be working harder to send more regular updates.
Suhey has made a miraculous recovery. The doctors even have called her the “resurrected one!” She is out of the hospital and at home with her baby Pamela. She still has some recovering to do, so keep praying for her. Plray for the two fo them as well because the doctors did say that they both have heart problems. I will let you know more about that siutation when I know more. But praise the Lord for his mercy and healing!
July 20, 2009 at 7:14 pm (Missions, Peru, Prayer Requests)
I apologize for not sending this out sooner. I had an dental emergeny and had to have a wisom tooth pulled this morning. I am here at home recovering. I would appreciate your prayers for a quick recovery.
The baby was born last night. No name yet for the little girl. They have intubated her to keep her alive. Suhey did live thr0ugh the surgery, praise God. She is currently in stable condition in ICU here. Both mom and baby still have a long road ahead of them. Please continue praying.
I will keep you posted as I know more. Thanks so much for the comments, emails and postings on Facebook about this situation.
(And I apologize if this post is a little wacky. I am taking some pain medicine for my mouth right now.)
July 19, 2009 at 11:07 pm (Uncategorized)
I just learned from Robert that Suhey has taken a turn for the worse. It looks like she most likely won’t make it through the night. The doctors have told Wilbur he needs to make a choice. Robert told me that most likely they will be taking the baby soon. Please pray for wisdom and strength for Wilbur, and that God will work a miracle in this desperate time for Suhey and her baby!
July 19, 2009 at 3:17 pm (Ministry, Missions, Peru, Prayer Requests)
Thanks for your prayers for Suhey and the baby. We learned this morning that it seemed like Suhey was going to slip into a coma yesterday, but the good news is that she didn’t and has actually been becoming a bit more responsive. She’s not out of the woods yet, so please keep praying for her. I will keep you updated as I know more!
July 17, 2009 at 8:53 pm (Ministry, Missions, Peru, Prayer Requests)
Please be praying for Wilbur and and his wife Suhey. Suhey is pregnant and is roughly 2 weeks away from having her child. She has been hospitalized for some time now with an extremely bad case of pneumonia. This situation is very urgent. She is too weak to give birth and also too weak to have a c-section. The doctors say she won’t be able to recover from either option. They can give her medicine to help her pneumonia and hopefully she would be strong enough to have her baby, but there is a great chance the medicine will harm the baby. Please pray that God will save the lives of both mom and baby. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and dad.
July 14, 2009 at 9:49 am (Uncategorized)
Okay, I know it’s been forever since I have written. Needless to say we have been super busy these last two weeks. I hope to catch you up on most of it within the next week–but don’t worry, I won’t be writing novels! I’ll send short little posts highlighting the major parts of what’s been going on.
We arrived safely in Peru on time–well, just a few hours late due to a flight delay. However, our luggage did not! It did arrive just fine a few days later, though. Turns out to be a blessing in disguise in my opinion. Since the luggage didn’t make it to Lima on time, we didn’t have to pick it up out of baggage claims, carry it through customs and then check it again for the flight to Arequipa! The luggage ended up going straight to Arequipa and we didn’t have to cart around such a big load in Lima!
Also thought you’d like some pictures of our current apartment–which was Chris Gardner’s office space–and also the progress on the apartment being built–the one we will ultimately live in!
Our bedroom
Our living room
We also have a bathroom and kitchen, don’t worry! Here is the progress of the permanent place:
Early stages, I know. But, as of yesterday it looked like most of the walls were in place and the frame for the roof is up.
I’ll update again with pictures and more information about what we’ve been up to in Peru. God’s doing a great work down here–in the ministry and in our hearts. Please keep praying for us.
Also, Robert is working on our monthly prayer letter, if you’d like to receive it by email, please let me know by leaving a comment. We miss everyone back home!
