His sermon starts around 43 or 44 minutes in. . .

Click here to watch last’s night service at Vision Baptist Church.

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

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.)