What is Unseen

We get stuck on stuff.  The story about "The Boy and the Filberts" by Aesop gives us a great visual through words:

A boy put his hand into a jar of filberts and grasped as many as his fist could possibly hold. But when he   tried to pull it out again, he found he couldn't do so, for the neck of the jar was too small to allow the passage of so large a handful. Unwilling to lose his nuts but unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears.
A bystander, who saw where the trouble lay, said to him, "Come, my boy, don't be so greedy. Be content with half the amount, and you'll be able to get your hand out without difficulty."

 Now, the moral of that story is "Do not attempt too much at once", but I think there's another side.  I say the moral of the story could also be:  "When we don't let go, we get stuck."

II Corinthians 4:18 offers some great advice:  "...we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

It's all about the Unseen.

Let go of the stuff, whether you have it now or not.  It's OK.  I can say that.  We have/had stuff.  We were big stuff at one point too.  This move to Brazil was a HUGE change to what we were used to.  We had to let go of  the stuff to move on.  Literally.  

I made a music video presentation (all original photos/video clips) based on one of my favorite songs, "Steal My Show", by TobyMac.  It's a great visual of some of the things we had to let go of, but came here to see.  Oh, and work on that unseen eternal stuff.  Now that's good stuff.  ;-)

Btw, leave it in the small screen because it blurs when you expand it.  Sorry.  But not bad for my first music video. If you prefer, you can click on the following link for the YouTube version.

Youtube Video option

Ramblings

My thoughts have been so disjointed lately, that I figured that was the best title for this post!

We have officially become homeless.  It sounds worse than what it really is.  We have moved out of our RV and will be selling it.  Meanwhile, through a series of events, we ended up house-sitting for a Florida family who live off a canal and have a pool.  We see yachts every time we look out the back windows.  Sheesh. 

Robert and Andrew helping clean one of the yachts.

The boys have been eating up every minute here.  Josh has caught and cooked a crab every night.  Robert drives his RC boat in the canal every chance he gets.  Andrew can't believe how many kids channels there are on TV.  Bill and I are enjoying the amount of space.  I am specifically enjoying cooking and baking.

From here we move into a friend's home on the 25th of November and fly to Brazil on December 13.  We have been sorting through all our RV things to decide what absolutely needs to come to Brazil with us and what needs to go on pallets to get put in a container that probably won't arrive until another 3 months from now.  Ouch.

Since houses in Brazil don't have basic appliances like refrigerators, ovens/stoves, and even cabinets, we hope to take either a microwave or counter top large toaster oven and maybe even a burner or two.

Typical kitchen in Brazil (especially a rental house)

We will do one last International Dinner fundraiser December 1 in Fort Lauderdale.  The Brazilian bible study group we have been attending will be helping with the meal.  Yum!!

Believer's Bridge International Dinner 

There is so much going on that the reality of moving to Brazil to live there hasn't really hit us.  In the back of my mind I know what it will be like, but I worry for the rest of the family who has never done anything like this before, nor speak the language.  A few positive things are: we do know some people there already and the Brazilians are VERY caring and giving.

Christmas will be different this year.  Not only because it will be celebrated in another country, but because I realized these last few days that whatever presents we try to buy need to fit in our luggage, along with the microwave or toaster oven, all our clothes, kitchen items, bedding....  You get the picture.  Gift cards are not an option as there is no such thing as a Walmart or Target there. So, I haven't figured out what to do.  Maybe we can celebrate Christmas 3 months from now when our container arrives...

I am still homeschooling the kids.  Robert is doing an online program, but it is not the same.  The good news is it is accredited so if we stick with it he can go to any college when he graduates.  Josh is doing SOS (Switched-On-Schoolhouse) which is a computer program.  Andrew and I are doing the usual workbook system.

I am amazed I have not gone insane.  What doesn't kill you, strengthens you?

On that note, I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!  We will have a PO Box here in the States.  Our faithful volunteer has been checking it for us weekly and lists all the mail we receive.  Not sure if we will have her send accumulated mail to us or just ask her to scan letters so we can at least view them online.  If you just want to communicate with us, email will be best.

Bill and Becky Rowley
PO Box 374
Pelham AL 35124

bill@believersbridge.org
becky@believersbridge.org

Home!

Words cannot express the full extent of what it feels like to be home.  The only comparison that keeps coming up in my mind over and over again is what it will be like when we are in our resurrected bodies in our real homes.  Just like living in the RV pails in comparison to living in a real home, so I can only imagine it will be when all believers are home with our Creator.  "Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere..."  Psalm 84:10a

A fun stop-over at a beach in Florida



The long traveling is now over.  We are home to stay for awhile.  We have experienced things that many will never know, much less attempt.  But, like Paul with his missionary journeys, it was needed.  We had to visit churches, family, and friends to share about the ministry in Peru, and possibly soon to be in Brazil.  We have applied to several churches for financial support, shared the need for Bible teachers, whether on a Bible study level or seminary level, and best of all made some new friends and saw old ones.

Presenting our "Pennies for Pastors" program to an AWANA's group 

Display board

As a family, we homeschooled and got to see some amazing places and scenery.  When we first started, we set out November 2011, leaving our home on the market to sell since Bill had been let go July 2010 and we weren't even making enough to pay mortgage.  We went ahead and applied for a home loan modification, leaving the results in God's hands, knowing that if we had to sell we weren't sure where we would live.  One thing remained true:  we felt sure God wanted us to stay in ministry.  The faces of the Peruvians who had cried out for help to send teachers kept coming to mind.  Who would step up to the call? 

Painting the house to sell

We lived in our RV from November 2010 to February 2011, visiting Texas, Utah, and California.  At the beginning of February we got the news that we finally qualified for a home loan.  We took the house off the market, ecstatic God had allowed us to keep it.  We returned home for about 3 weeks before heading back out to visit friends and churches in Florida, Texas, back to Florida and several other places. 

We came back home for maybe one week every month, the details have become blurry in my mind.  All the while we continued to homeschool, up until June, sometimes having some fascinating places to visit, like St. Augustine, the Alamo, several science museums in various states, some of the missions in California, and who knows where else!  Most of the time we sat in the main section of our RV doing "regular" school.

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, FL 

Free cookies and hot chocolate, compliments of coupons to Flying J/Pilot

Josh studying about the Titan Missile II in Tuscon, AZ

For one week in August 2011, Bill, Robert, and I took a mission trip to Andahuaylas, taking 2 others who helped teach classes to the Quechua.  This was my first time meeting our national missionaries, and they couldn't wait to meet the wife of the "jefe" (Spanish for "chief").  Seeing photos of the people and area was one thing, but visiting was something else.  The grateful hearts were evident as we worked together, sharing truths of what God's Word had to say.  After all, this is what they wanted to hear.  To know and understand the meaning of Scripture so they could teach it to others.

Lunch time!

Celebration at the seminary in Andahuaylas, Peru

We came back for 2-3 weeks, I believe, and soon after started homeschooling and traveling again, mostly to Florida.  After much discussion, we agreed we needed to make another trip out West to continue seeking financial support and follow up on the interest in working with Believer's Bridge to send teachers to Andahuaylas.  Once more, we left in November (2011).  This time we found a renter who needed a place to stay.  We didn't have much time to evaluate this person's habits, but felt God had orchestrated the events.  We needed some extra money and they needed a place to stay and could not afford a regular rental place.

Once again, we visited Texas, Utah, and California, with one exception.  During the previous summer (July 2011), we had hosted a team from Faith Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ who came out to do some tornado relief work.  We needed a place to leave our RV while we drove to Utah (were we celebrated Thanksgiving and my parent's 50th wedding anniversary) and a family in their church offered their home.  So, after returning from Utah, we spent a little bit of time with them and their church.  My aunt is also in the area, and we were able to visit her and her church, which happened to be a church that used to support my parents.

AZ team and some of our church people

This trip turned out a little different than the one in 2010.  We did a lot more "dry-docking", which means we did not have full hook-ups most of the time so we could save money.  It also meant water became like gold and we had to be very frugal with it.   I've said it before, but bares repeating:  there's a reason God only gave us boys!  And these were the hardest times of the whole trip.  And we'll leave it at that.

Desert camping

Meanwhile, back at the "ranch", turns out our renter assumed they should only pay part of the utilities, even though they were the only person using the house.  There were a few other things going on, but I'm only going to mention this.  Ironically, the message at the church we were visiting happened to be on Paul's unfair trial.  So, even though I felt furious over the situation, Bill and I felt God saying, "Vengeance is mine.  Don't get furious, but keep calm.  Yes, it is unfair and you have the right to exact payment, but I'm testing your response to this." 

Our last stop was supposed to be 2-3 weeks in Kingwood, Texas.  After this we had planned to meet with some of our missionaries who are home on furlough, as well as another of our board member.  Within a 2 day span, several things happened.  Bill had a calm discussion with our renter about needing to move out, the church in Kingwood canceled their meetings, and plans for meeting our missionaries and board member also got canceled.  Just like that we were free to go home.  Our anxiety over dealing with our renter long-distance could now be dealt with in person.  And we will leave that situation at that.  The point is not to gossip but to show how God works.

We are excited to be home.  We have space!  And a real office!  We are even more excited to see how God is still working some miracles.  Our dryer's heating element apparently burned out.  It had been having problems before we left.  So we put out a plea on FB and email to see if anyone had an extra one we could have.  That afternoon Bill called me up and said, "Someone we don't even know is going to buy us a new dryer!"  How cool and neat is that?  I love it when God's people work together for good.  Our pastor will be delivering it Sunday from this wonderful anonymous donor.  So, if you are reading this, Thank you!!

Voila!  Office, kitchen table, school room, bedroom - all-in-one.

And last, but not least, please pray we will get financial support from the churches we applied to.  I have not mentioned before how much we are living off of, except to a select few, but our income is only about $1500.  Our paycheck has been $1000 for the last year or so.  Obviously we have been able to pay bills and survive, mostly because we have received some large donations and we have been frugal (we didn't buy any gifts for Christmas this year, not even for the kids.)   Josh also helped start our "tent-making" business of selling jewelry, which helped us pay for gas and we used some to splurge on a Cracker Barrel outing.

www.rowleycreations.com

And I think that is the point of me feeling free to disclose the amount.  God will be able to use us to encourage others who struggle with finances, because let me tell you, I struggled with it for months.  But now I see that God uses everything to His glory.  It's not about the situation, it's about your heart.  Once we learn this, He can do amazing things through us.

It's good to be home...  Joy unspeakable!!

Here's an awesome verse for you:

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

II Thessalonians 2:16-17 

Praise and Prayer, and everything in-between

We left our house Thursday, November 10th, heading west, with stops in Texas, Arizona, Utah, and eventually California. 

Praise: We were able to speak at two Sunday School classes at Kingwood Bible Church and reconnect again with some new supporters.  (We had a salsa and chips "picnic" in the parking lot as we sat around and talked.) 

Praise:  We were also able to see family on Bill's side who "happen" to live in the same town (most assuredly a God coincidence.)  They treated us out to eat and boy, did our kids eat!  Good thing both places were buffets.  At any rate, it was good to catch up.

Another praise:  About 1 1/2 weeks before we left, we were able to get renters for our basement.  It is only temporary, but helps keep the house occupied while we are gone and also will help our support.  However, we had been using it for our office and had to move everything out (and think about packing for a 3+ month trip.) 

Prayer:  We ended up with colds, all at different times and various degrees.  Not fun, and added more stress.  Please pray we will recover soon as we still have coughs and some yucky stuff.

Here are some photos of time spent with family in Texas.  We went to a park and it just happened to be Pioneer Days.  They had hey rides, rope tying and all kinds of other things.

Reproduction of a storage area.

Fun on stilts.

Homemade see-saw.

Hmmm, barely enough room for four.

Since we were in Texas and we had to go through this area, we decided to stop by.  Can you guess where we went?  (btw, this became a field trip for the boys... how fun!)

The famous Alamo church building/fort.

Our next stop was Arizona.  So, we stopped by the PIMA Air Museum.

There are hundreds of airplanes!  And the kids had fun pulling each other in the green wagon...

A retired Presidential airplane.

Our next stop was Ogden, UT to visit Becky's family. 
We made it there just before the snow started falling.



There's a few more praises:  we have set up a new program called, "Pennies for Pastors".  This is a way that anyone can help an indigenous leader/pastor just by giving loose change.  So many pastors in the Andes region of Peru where we work go without basic needs that we set this program up to be used in churches, classes, organizations, you name it, to encourage anyone ages preschool-100yrs+ to help other believers with basic needs.  Due to the exchange rate, pennies and loose change can make a HUGE difference to someone in another country.

We set up a website for it at:   www.penniesforpastors.org

SO, the main praise is:  we will be launching the program with Washington Heights Church's Awana program starting January 2012.  If you think your church or organization would be interested, let us know!!

Also, we will be speaking to the pre-K-2nd grade next Sunday at Washington Heights about our mission work, and then onto the Spanish church (also part of Washington Heights) to present to them.

It has been good to see family again and soon to celebrate Thanksgiving.  And on Saturday we will be celebrating Becky's parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. 

There is a LOT to be thankful for!!  We hope "y'all" have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Under Construction

It's been a while coming, but I've decided to tweak the blog style/template once again.  Down the road it will probably change again only because we will most likely be switching over to Word Press (a content management system that is all the rage lately... although I have messed around with it and like it.) 

For those of you that don't like change, sorry.  I know it's hard to get used to something and the rug gets pulled out from under you.  It will be OK.  Sometimes change is for the better. 

I hope to also add much more information about Believer's Bridge so folks can have a full understanding about what that is and what we do.  And we'll go from there.  I've noticed Blogger (which is where this blog is hosted) also keeps updating the way we can tweak things, so I'll be exploring their new additions to see if there is anything worth adding.

If you view this blog through your mobile, you may not notice too many changes since it will only show the basics (makes for easier reading I think.)  Beyond that, I enjoy graphic design and doodling on the computer/internet so I think of this as my "Becky" time. 

"I am the first and I am the last;
   apart from me there is no God.
⁷ Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
   Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
   and what is yet to come—
   yes, let them foretell what will come.
⁸ Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
   Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
   No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
Isaiah 44:6-8

The other, that, and this

"This, that, and the other, Part II" seemed too obvious.  Just go with it.  :-)

So, over a week has gone by and I'm finally posting.  It's been a  l-o-n-g week.  I'll endevor to give some highlights, seeing as I can't remember everything.

Let's start with some things I forgot to mention before.  A few praises in the support-raising efforts.  We visited Calvary Chapel Birmingham 1 week before we came to Florida.  The first week we were here we received an email from them saying they felt God had us meet for a reason and they would like to support us for $30/month.  Woo Hoo!

We also submitted an application for missionary support to another church in the Birmingham area before we left and hope to hear back from them soon.  Our main reason for visiting Florida was to follow up on our request for support from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale.  Bill thinks it could take up to even a year to get support from them, but God is amazing and He is in charge.  Keep praying for the doors to stay open and the process to move effeciently there.

This past Sunday we just had some friends tell us they'd also like to support us.  Awesome! 

The kids visited ReachFM radio station today and got a fun tour.  See photos below.  It is also home to Creations Studies Institute, which has a museum and they also offer Elementary and Middle school science classes.  As we walked by, they were having a class for some homeschoolers.  I ended up talking to the teacher and she invited Andrew back for the afternoon for a free class.

Bill ended up taking Andrew, and in the course of events, he and the teacher got to talking about Believer's Bridge.  I guess our ministry really touched her because she ended up giving Bill some money for the ministry. 

SO, there is some encouragement on the support raising side.  The numbers aren't high, but the hearts behind the supporters are gold. 

We have been meeting with friends and friends of friends.  In fact the next few days are already booked!  The other highlight was Bill was able to share about Believer's Bridge on ReachFM this past Sunday night.  I'll have to see if we can get the recording so we can post it.  From that, he met a man who works with Food for the Poor, where we will be taking a tour tomorrow. 

Tonight Bill is meeting with the man we first met when we got here who helps with translating Chuck Misler's work into Spanish.  Who knows where that will go!  God has this intricate way of weaving an incredible tapestry of time, events, and people.  Some things may seem weird to us, but if we have learned anything on this journey, it's to obey.

We will be wrapping up our time here soon and be back in our Alabama mansion (anything will feel like a mansion after weeks in our little RV casita.)  From there we hope to continue meeting with other churches to request financial support and see how they can partner with our minstry.

Here are a few photos of things we've done.  Enjoy!

Andrew making an "omlet-in-a-bag".

Once you put your scrambled egg(s) and desired ingredients in the bag, you boil it for 3-5 minutes.

Little blurry, but voila!  "Omlet-in-a-bag."

ReachFM (94.5 in Fort Lauderdale) studio (and no, it's not live.)  This is where they can record and broadcast later.

Not the best photo, but this is the live studio and the DJ is behind the computer monitor.  Bill and Robert on the left.  The gal in purple is just visiting.

Robert by the entrance to the Creation Studies Institute.  They only open on the weekends, so we weren't able to tour it.  But this wooden dinosaur was pretty cool.

As water reflects the face,
   so one’s life reflects the heart.

Proverbs 27:19

This, that, and the other

This is what happens when life becomes busy.  There's no way to create a common theme.  The best explanation for everything that has happened since being in Florida (officially a week now), is this, that, and the other.  So without further ado (which, by the way, is from an old Norse phrase, "at do", or "to do"), let the story begin.

Narrator:  (preferably read in an English accent)
"It was a sunny day when the Rowley's arrived at the RV park in South Florida.  They were cheerfully greeted by the 2nd in command, who(m? - all you grammar buffs can use the correct form...) they had come to know on their previous visit.  With all the pomp and circumstance they could muster (which was absolutely none), they detached their newly acquired car, parked the RV, and set up home.  This took all of 28 minutes...."

"Having arrived on a Saturday, they took full advantage of the situation and attended the Calvary Chapel evening service, conveniently located only a few minutes away.  Sitting in the cafeteria for service, they were able to meet with a friend who had recently journeyed with them to the remote area of Los Angeles, in Peru of course." 

"It was their good fortune (although I don't think fortune had anything to do with it - more like providence really) that this friend introduced them to another friend who was involved with Koinonia House, a ministry of Chuck Misler.  His responsibility (from what this narrator could gather) was to help with translating materials (or at least oversight of it) into Spanish. Coincidence?  I don't think so!  Phone numbers were exchanged and hopes of something more coming of it were in the minds of both."

"The following days became a mix of homeschooling for the mother and children, hunting for suitable 'office' space for the husband (anywhere quiet and a sturdy table, with preferably electric outlets), who worked on setting up meetings and responding to emails."

"Thus began their 47th? (they've lost count at this point) adventure since they embarked on this incredible, and at times baffling, bewildering, uncertain, and yet inspiring, courageous, and promising experience.  It is certain the journey is not over and there's still more work to be done."

End narration.


Yep, it's never boring around here.  Of course, Robert would disagree.  He's in the "I'm bored" stage.  But I remember going through that too.  However, one thing I have resolved to do is find things to keep the kids occupied so 1) they don't get into things they shouldn't or aren't good for them (oh you know, drugs, bad influences, rampant internet-related things...) and 2) so I don't have to hear, "I'm bored.  There's nothing to do."  I've decided to make a MakeDo box.

Yes, a MakeDo box.  I actually got the idea from a website.  It will be a box with reusable parts that boys (I guess some girls too) would like.  Things like hinges, small solar panels, nuts and bolts, electrical wires, gears, etc. that the boys (mostly Robert b/c he's into that) can create things with and take apart.  I might have to make each boy one for their likes.  We'll see. 

Something else I got back into is menu-making.  I learned how to create a menu paper set-up thing-a-muhjig from, believe it or not, a Calvary Chapel seminar a long time ago when we used to live here.  I've never forgotten it and use it frequently.  I'd like to show you what I do:

a.                                                                 b.

        

First, get a plain 8 1/2 x 11" paper.  Fold it in half and fold in half again (a).  Open and fold those sections in half, so it looks like (b).

Next, you will fold the paper four times the other way.  Once that's done you will have a perfect set-up for a weekly menu.  Just write, "Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner" on the short side inside the last 3 "boxes" and the days of the week on the top 7 boxes.  Make sure to black out the top corner.  Should look like this:

Now you have to come up with a menu!  You can also use the back side to create a 2nd week of menus!

Enjoy!!

PS- I will try to post how to make the quilt squares for the quilt I started soon.  (Of course, I can't continue it until we get home again, but I did take photos before we left.)

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."  Galatians 6:9-10 

RV Travel, Take Two

Well, we have just about everything we need to finally travel again. 

The last thing to do is attach the tow bar hooks to the new (used) car we bought to replace the Toyota (that finally bit the dust.)  But one came up on Craig's List that fit our requirements.  It had to fit 5 people (somewhat comfortably), be a stick-shift (so we can put it in neutral while it's being towed and not ruin the transmission), get good gas mileage, and be in a specific price range.  The car we found, ironically, was a Saab. 

A Saab, for those of you who don't know, is a sports car.  And the makers also make fighter-bomber airplanes.  But back to the car.  It truly has some get up and go, even with 5 people in the car.  And a decent amount of trunk space.  Another plus for all the ministry things we need to cart around. 

But I'm tickled that we ended up with a sports car of all things.  Just don't let it fool you.  Yes, we still are missionaries and under-supported.  Somehow, though, God has given us an uncanny ability to get good deals on just about everything.  This past year has felt somewhat like what the Israelites must have experienced while in the desert.  They always had manna, and their sandals never wore out. 

So, with just about everything ready to go, we should be heading down to Florida for a while to continue working on ministry ties and hopefully raising our support. 

On a lighter and funner note, Joshua came into the kitchen during lunch today and asked, "Where's dad?", and I asked him why.  He said, "Because I'm going to have a Bluegill (type of fish) for lunch."  My response, "Yep, you definetly need dad."  Apparently he had caught it during his break from school (we homeschool.)

If I got stuck on an island, I think for awhile I'd be a vegetarian, until I got desperate and decided the fish looked a whole lot more satisfying.  But for now, I'm content to have fish sticks.  ;-)

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 
I Peter 3:15b-16

Quick Update

This will hopefully be short and sweet.  (Although, if I had something sweet I would want it to last awhile...)

If you missed out on the last month or more of our Rowley Adventures, in a nutshell:
We had to pack for 3 different trips:  1)staying in Florida for 4-5 days (summer weather), 2)staying in Andahuaylas, Peru for 1 week (winter-ish weather), and 3) staying in Maryland for almost a week when we got back (back to summer weather).

Then we returned home for almost 2 weeks and we are supposed to be heading to Florida in our RV to spend 2 months there.  Well, a few things have happened and those plans have been delayed.  1) There is a hurricane off the coast of Florida (RV's and hurricanes do not mix well... ok, actually they do, mix that is... but we don't want that to happen!), 2) we had to reissue a special card and the state of Alabama will NOT forward it, so we HAVE to wait for it here at our AL address, and 3) our power has been out since yesterday. 

Those are the major factors contributing to our delay.  SO... please pray for patience, strength to endure the inconvenience of no electricity, and for the special card to arrive by the end of the week (and hopefully the hurricane will have blown over by then too!)

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. "  Romans 5:3-5

It's a missionary! No, it's a painter! No, it's the Rowley's!

A funny thought caught Bill's attention the other day.

He paused in mid-action (he was painting) and said, "You know, in the last 3 weeks we have done all kinds of things.  A marriage, a mission trip, and now we are painters.  And I'm sure you could throw in a few other things too."

It seems there is almost nothing we haven't done.  Or places we haven't been (35+ States and 12+ Countries, poor areas, rich areas, etc.)  Or experiences we haven't lived (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, accidents, sickness, 15,000ft+, etc.)  Or people we haven't met (addicts, criminals, foreigners, political figures, religious figures, etc.)  And the list goes on.  It seems funny when we compare our life to the average person.  In any country.

The normal people live in one home, work one job, send their kids to school (or at least school in the same place), and watch regular TV shows.  We don't have cable, we live out of our RV for practically 1/2 the year (or other places), home school all over the State, and are in the middle of raising support and trying to supplement it by doing odd jobs here and there.

It seems our family could be a Reality TV show in itself.  Maybe we could call it, "Where in the World are the Rowley's Today?", with the subtitle of, "Don't Try this at Home.  It Might Make You Dizzy."

We've been home for 24 hours now and it has been nice to sleep in familiar beds, eat at a familiar table, eat familiar food, and just plain ole' relax.

In fact, we watched the movie, "Soul Surfer" last night.  Wow.  Really neat story about a surfing teenager who lost her arm to a shark.  Christian family in Hawaii who attend a Calvary Chapel (woo hoo for Calvary Chapels!)  It was especially neat to see the real girl in the interviews and special features at the end of the movie.  What struck me was the peace she had overall.  She seems to live life as it comes, being at peace with whatever it may dish out.

I think that is what is helping us cope with our constant change.  I can't say we have constant peace, but it is easier to roll with the punches when we take each event as opportunities, not headaches. 

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  Philippians 2:12-13

Helping Tornado Victims

We have been blessed with a team of 5 guys from Faith Bible Church in the Phoenix, AZ area.  They got in contact with our church to ask if they could coordinate coming out to help the tornado victims in the area.  And you know us, we opened up our home to house them while they are here.

It has been Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.  And the ride has been a blast and exhausting.  These guys drove 27 hours in 2 days to get here last Saturday!  And their humor and commodore has been great.  They started working out in Oatchee (or something like that...I'm too tired to find out the exact spelling).  Between yesterday and today they tore down the remaining structure of one couple's home:

They are using a winch to remove the last rafter.

 Men from our church helping remove nails from reusable boards.

AZ team removing debris.

AZ team, our church team (Andrew in front of Bill and I), and another team 

in front of the last wooden frame.

Cleaning up ladders and misc.  Now the family can build a new home on the foundation.  Woo Hoo!

Here are just a few photos of some other devastated homes around the same area:

And here is the base where volunteers come to get "marching orders", drinks, and lunch.  All operated and put together (including the tent) by other volunteers.  Was pretty amazing.

This is where they will be working tomorrow (July 20) to help sort through and throw away debris.  Lots of work ahead of them!  (I will be staying home with Josh and Andrew, but Bill and Robert will help out).

We have enjoyed having the AZ team here.  They have also enjoyed our lake and field:

One of the men playing baseball with Andrew.

Getting some fishing in.  Seems the duck want in on the action too!

It was  pretty exhausting today, but so worth it to help these folks out.  And now is the time to help when FEMA and other organizations have pulled out.  As you can see, there's still a lot to do.  Hopefully some of the people being helped will be encouraged.

The AZ team will be leaving Friday morning to head back to their homes.  Meanwhile we have enjoyed laboring and fellowshipping (especially the wonderful meals that our church family have been bringing over for us to enjoy!)  Tomorrow will be a Brazilian meal and we will also share some of our ministry videos.  We have enjoyed talking about ministry, both sides.  It's neat to see fellow believers work together for the common good.

Well, I wanted to update folks on what's been going on in our little part of the world.  Seems we never hold still.  Although, I am looking forward to some down time tomorrow while the crew is out working. 

 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21