Houses are overrated anyway, right?

Funny thing about homes is you become attached to them.  Literally.  And most homes are securely attached to the ground.  Honey, they ain't movin'.  And most of the time, neither are you. 

Unless you join the military.  Or work on the mission field.  Or your company moves you.

There are probably other things like being born to a nomad or circus family.  I shudder to think of that lifestyle.  In fact, it makes our current lifestyle sound downright stable.  (And apologies to anyone who lives the nomadic or circus lifestyle...kudos to you.)

Let's see, in the last 2 years-ish, we have lived out of our RV for 19-20 months, total.  As you can imagine, everytime we returned to our secure home (the one without the wheels attached), we hugged the ground.  Well, not really.  But it did seem we got easily lost in there...2,200+ ft of space vs our 200 sq ft of RV space.

Speaking of lost, where was I?  Oh yes, living in a tiny RV for that long can drive one crazy.  Wait, that's the wrong topic for this subject, although it does have it's merits.  I'm fine.  Really.

What I was going to say is, I never realized how flexible one can become when one literally has no home.  Our secure home (the one without wheels and 2,200+sq ft) recently became a rental home.  And in our quest to make the best possible decision on what to do with our furnishings, and data we had accumalated from friends in south Brazil, we sold or gave away 3/4 of what we owned.  On a side note, we now know we will need to take furnishings down in a container b/c it actually costs less.  The cost of living in south Brazil is, interestingly enough, much less than in north Brazil.

Anywho, when we moved out of our real home, our youngest son commented, "We're actually homeless!"  To which I responded, "Not homeless, just houseless."  After all, houses are overrated anyway, right? 

The epitome of our houselessness (there's a mouthful!) came a few days ago when we had to take the RV in to get the transmission fixed.  It created a kind of funny and interesting situation.  What does one do when one's home is "in the shop"?  Imagine trying to explain that to your kids! 

The first night we stayed in a hotel.  But the next day when we were supposed to pick up the RV, we were told they needed another day to fix it.  We really did not want to spend more money on another hotel.  In short, while mentioning our dilema to a group, one lady spoke up and mentioned we could stay in a camper they had.  Very nice.

At the end of that day, Andrew asked, "So, where's our home tonight?"  Now, how many kids do you know (including yours) that wouldn't whine or complain about not having a "real" house to live in?  If nothing else, at least our kids are fine with whatever comes. 

One of the homes we visited in Brazil had chains running from the gutter to the ground.  Bill decided to take a photo and send it to Andrew to tell him that the homes in south Brazil had to be chained to the ground so they wouldn't drop off the earth...  That's just Bill's personality.  Life is never dull.  So, thought I would share that since we've been talking about "secure" houses.

By the way, can you guess what the real purpose of the chains are?  Hint: it has something to do with the gutters when it rains.

While you were sleeping...

...we avoided an accident!  And yes, you might recognize that title from a movie that was made a few years ago.  But it seemed to fit perfectly.  Except in our case, God's angels were working overtime last night.

We were on our way to the Anza-Borrego Desert for a few days of R&R before we headed into San Diego.  Bill and I were talking in the front of the RV and I had just finished saying, "Well, we need to make sure we pray often to stay aligned with God's will as we continue growing Believer's Bridge."  The back wheels fish-tailed and we swerved into the other lane.  There was no on-coming traffic which was the first praise.

Bill gently guided the RV back to our lane but it felt like we had blown a tire so we pulled over on the shoulder as far as we could.  Adrenaline running, Bill and Robert jumped out the RV and started looking to see what was the problem. 

After a few minutes Bill came back and said he couldn't see anything.  He turned the engine on and tried moving the RV forward.  A horrible noise came from the back but the RV didn't budge.  So the guys took the car off the back and Bill got the idea to see if he could back up the RV.  It started to back up but the whole RV shook and made a horrible noise and stopped.

As he went back outside he saw one of our wheels in the middle of the road!  After recovering it he looked at the area and found that the lug nuts had broken off and the second tire (the RV has 2 wheels per side in the back) was still on but angled funny.

What seems to have happened is the lug nuts broke and that made us swerve but the tires stayed on.  Second praise.  If they hadn't, we are pretty sure the RV would have fallen on it's side or at the very least ruined the axle by breaking or bending it and who knows what other damage could have happened.

As it was, the wheels stayed on until Bill backed the RV up, but only one came off while the other continued to hold the RV up.  Third praise.

We have AAA RV coverage (fourth praise) so they were finally able to locate someone who could tow the RV backwards to a tire auto shop in Brawley, CA.  The town was only 12 miles from where we pulled off the side, but the tow driver had to come from 85 miles away. 

Bill put on the flashers to the RV and car and put a flair on the road since the RV was barely off the side of the road.  The fifth praise was it happened on a straight stretch of road with clear visibility on both sides.

So we slept in the RV (the tow driver put the tires back on, but w/o the lug nuts and bolts) in the auto tire parking lot and Bill talked to them in the morning.   The owner of the shop seems to be a Christian and Bill also told him about our work in Peru.  I believe he is from Mexico.

Right now we are waiting for Bill to come back with more lug bolts but he has to drive to El Centro to an Auto Zone which has them for $2.50 versus the $15 ones they originally wanted to get. 

SO, we are all safe and VERY thankful for the miracle that happened.  Thanks to all who pray for us!!  There seems to never be a dull moment around here...  Once we get the wheels secured we plan on heading to the desert and RELAX!!!

The "crooked" tire

The huge tow truck hooking up the back of the RV

And that, folks, is what an axle looks like...

Have home, will travel...unless the wheels fall off.

 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."  Colossians 4:2-6 

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 

A Saab Story

- Disclaimer:  Robert came up with the blog title -

But I thought it was pretty funny! 

Anyhoo -
We made it to Florida, towing our newest family vehicle behind.  A 2000 Saab 93, four door, stick-shift, gets good gas mileage, and can fit the 5 of us, plus some trunk space.  And the price was right.  And remember all that painting we did not too long ago?  Well, that payed for the Saab. You can read why we needed a new (used) car here. 

In true Rowley fashion, we put the tow bar brackets on ourselves.  In order to tow a vehicle behind an RV, you can do one of 3 things:  1) Attach tow bar brackets to your vehicle and use a tow bar, 2) Use a car-dolly, or 3) Use a trailer. 

I was going to take photos of the before and during process, but by the time I found the camera and had the time, Bill had already put the bumper back on and was tightening the bolts on the brackets.  So, here's the final result of our do-it-yourself project:

Normally you would put the brackets inside, directly on the frame, but the frame on the Saab turned out to be a little different than we expected.  So... we had to cut out about two 6" sections of the foam on the other side of the bumber, stack four 6" pieces of 2x4's, drill 1/2" holes all the way through the 2x4s, through the frame and through the front bumber.  The bolts you see sticking out are actually 8" long.  Like I said, wished I had gotten some before and during photos so you would understand what I just said!

Needless to say, we got everything worked out and made it to Florida.  Woo hoo!!



Best cleaning tool a girl could ever have

I finally found it.

The tool of dreams.  A girl's best friend.  The be-all and end-all of cleaning tools.  The creme de la creme...
Well, you get the picture. 

Today I tasked myself with cleaning the RV for our scout camping trip this weekend.  As I began organizing items into various piles (oh you know, like dirty socks the boys forgot to bring in from several weeks ago, and half-empty water bottles, and the like) I was finally able to see the edges on the top part (the overhang area).  And it needed some TLC.  So I came up with this brilliant idea of using a vacuum.

Since we had just finished fixing our dryer vent and used our shop-vac to do it, I thought, "Hmm.  It's light and small.  It will fit just nicely in the RV and I can lug it around w/o all the weight." 

It was a magical moment.  The heavens opened up and angels started singing.  At least in my imagination.  It was pure bliss.  That little shop-vac sucked everything up!  Including ants, small Lego's, and various sundries things.  I think it even picked up some stray chiggers.  Probably hanging out with the dirty socks....

I was so shop-vac-happy I decided to come inside and look for the wide attachment tool to do the floors.  Genius.  You know those hard-to-get corners?  Have no fear, the shop-vac is your answer.  Just point the nozzle in there, and wa-la, instant clean (unless it's glued in there...then you have different issues.) 

And did you know it can do cushions too?  Yes, this amazing machine works on anything.  In fact, I shoved it into a dark corner and who knows what went up it.  Probably some more Lego's.... 

I think it can even do liquid items.  But I haven't tested that theory (with my machine) yet.  And let's hope I won't ever have to. 

But I did decide that little machine is coming with me now wherever the RV goes.  The only thing that could have made it better was if it had been pink or purple. ;-)

Update on Bill

Well, things did not clear up or start improving through out the night last night and early this morning.  Which also translates into: we did not get much sleep.... 

SO, we braved the Florida traffic and found a MinuteClinic, which are inside some CVS'.  The lady Bill saw seemed very knowledgeable and they were able to figure out that he had an allergic reaction to some other medicine he had taken.  So now he is on meds which have already started to work their magic.  A praise from this is the pharmacy lady gave us the medicine at $5 instead of the $29 it rang up at. 

Meanwhile, Joshua has been learning all about how to run his own business.

It all started when we were at our friend's for Memorial Day.  He and the daughter got out some paper crafts and he made some cards to sell.  He also made some necklaces and oragami items.  Well, just take a look and you'll get the full picture (and yes, pun intended). ;-)

The savvy business guys showing off their wad of cash. ;-)

" For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
   you alone are God.
 ¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD,
   that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
   that I may fear your name.
¹² I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
   I will glorify your name forever. "
Psalm 86:10-12

Getting Along

We have officially been in Fort Lauderdale a week now.  And we have met with several folks already and enjoyed fellowship with some long time friends.  I have especially enjoyed making new friends and being back at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, our home church when we lived here.

RV living seems much easier this time around.  It really has become a second home away from home, even in 200 sq feet of living space.  We have everything we need.  Not everything we want.  But I think that's what makes it OK.  The whole family has learned to get along w/o what most Americans think they need.

In other news, Andrew went coconut hunting.  He was dead set on finding a real coconut on a real coconut tree.  Bill finally found one in Calvary Chapel's landscape.  I probably shouldn't be confessing this, but yep, there it was, glistening in the Florida sun, hanging low enough to grab(ish).  Well, Bill had to hoist Andrew up a little, but the brave boy clasped his prized treasure in his hands and twisted it loose.  Victory at last!

And then we took it back to the RV and Andrew and Josh cut it up.

They drank the juice...

...and mom had to throw the discarded shell away.  Go figure.

And finally, the last bit of news is Bill got a fever starting Tuesday afternoon and the next thing we know he has a rash all over his upper body.  He's had chills and fever off and on since.  If it does not improve by the morning we will be heading to a doctor to see what the verdict is.

We have self diagnosed it as possible sun poisoning (he had gotten a deep sunburn from our Sebastian Inlet stay) or it may even be mono.  Either case, there's not much that can be done except get through it.  So meanwhile I have been trying to coordinate ministry events.  Kind of a different role for me, but I am learning a lot.

That's about it for now.  Please pray for Bill and that it is not infectious and the rest of us will stay healthy.  Thanks!

Mission RV Wins!

It is official.  Mission RV is the name chosen for our RV.  For awhile I thought it was going to be George, but a few more people voted and that was that.

Today was a day of everything.  We have set up meetings, we have met with people, we did some grocery shopping, and Andrew and I tried going to the library to set up an account.  Much to our dismay, they were closed due to "budgeting cuts".  Okay then.

As a side note, for any other RVers out there, if you stay in an area for a decent amount of time, you can probably get at least a temporary library card at your closest library.  Just use the RV park address and that should be good enough (along with driver's license and any other info they may need).  Think free DVD's, books, audio CD's, and more. 

I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!!  Not sure what we will be doing, but I think it will be a cookout with our "pool friends".  And it will also be my birthday, so a double fun day. 

Blessings!

Settling In

Most things have been put in A spot (there is no guarantee it will stay there...), and schooling is more or less done for the day. 

Our wonderful friends invited us for dinner last night, and their daughter made an AWESOME chili.  She made it with beans made from scratch, which I think is why it tasted so good!  I will try to get the recipe and maybe post it.

They also have a swimming pool which the kids thoroughly enjoyed, and hope to enjoy more during the time we are here. 

Update on the "Name the RV" (we were supposed to get a name by last Sunday, but due to my illness and life getting crazy, well, we extended the time).  We are down to a tie on 2 names:  MissionRV and George.  If you have a vote, leave it in the comment area.  Otherwise, may the best name win!

Just a short note for now.  Don't forget to check out my Couponing tab.

Oh, also pray for us to "make the most of every opportunity" and to "not be anxious for anything, but in all things, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make our request known to God." (Phil. 4:6)

Beach Life

We made it to a favorite little out of the way RV beach spot and have enjoyed all the things it has to offer, including swarms of mosquitoes and sunburns. 

I did wake up early enough to get some sunrise photos on the beach.  I just about didn't since our neighbors were up til 1:30am having a "good 'ole time".  So once I bravely fought my way through all the mosquitoes to get to the car, I barely made it in time to see the sun just coming up. 

I would love to get a real camera.  We have a Powershot and it's pretty good.  But there are details and shades and shadows and colors I know it's not picking up.  I also know there are techniques that I need to learn.  It would be neat to get some great photos in Peru when we go in August.

I will post photos when we get some real bandwidth.  I tried to upload some but I only have one bar on my Internet connection. 

OK, switch gears with me for a minute.  I want to make an analogy of the mosquitoes and sin.  Yes, mosquitoes and sin.  Sin is such an irritating and destructive thing in our lives.  Kind of like mosquitoes.  And you can try to kill them one by one on your own but it's impossible to get them all.  And they keep coming back day after day.  And some can be deadlier than others.

Enter the mosquito spray.  Wa la!  You spray it on and the mosquitoes are repelled by it.  Much like becoming a Christian.  You become a Christian and it becomes much easier to repel sin, but the sin hasn't gone away.  We still live in a world surrounded by sin. 

Now, Christ has guaranteed our salvation so we don't need to keep asking Him to save us daily.  BUT, we do need to keep putting the bug spray on.  Or in this case, "take up our cross daily". 

I just thought it was an interesting comparison.  It's not perfect.  I thought of all kinds of flaws with it, but it made sense for that part. 

Well, we hit the road again and should arrive in Fort Lauderdale this afternoon where we will stay for a little while.  I'm curious to see what doors God will open and close this time.  It's never boring.  ;-)

Photos:

It's hard to see, but there is a puffer fish by Robert's foot (puffed up).

Puffed up Pufferfish,      .......and when he's not puffed up ----->

Hermit crab, without the shell.

You can barely see it, but there's a tiny crab on Andrew's thumb.

Sunset at the inlet.

We saw plenty of pelicans.

Messing around with the camera and seeing what kind of photos I could get.  Liked the rocks.

Sunrise on the beach.

The road "home".

On the Road Again

Well, no one got left behind, although each brother is wishing we had....  And the house is decently cleaned (it's still on the market).

We are on the road again and headed to Florida for a little while.  But let me catch up on the last few days since my last communique.

We had great intentions on dotting our "i"s and crossing our "t"s, so to say, with our 3 page list of things to do before we left.  Everything was going pretty well until I (Becky) got a 24 hour sickness which had me as sick as a dog.  I was out.  Until my stomach disagreed and I argued back.  The stomach won and decided to empty its contents.

Needless to say, I was delayed in cleaning and packing but somehow we were able to put it all together.  The house got cleaned, things got packed, mail was put on hold (except for this week - someone is picking it up for us - and if you are reading this, THANK YOU!), and all those little details. 

There were quite a few humorous moments as we frantically scrambled to our deadline.  I can't recall all of them right now (something to do with getting back to normal and finally relaxing), but there was one moment today as we were so close to having everything ready (imagine an RV full of Publix bags packed with food items and who knows what not and me trying to put them in their spots before new bags came in) when Joshua looks at me and with dry humor says, "You know, our life would make a hit TV show."

I burst out laughing.  He was so dead on.

If you have known us for any length of time, you know we are anything but normal.  Our lifestyle is so different than the average American that if our life was filmed you'd laugh with us, cry with us, wonder why on earth we made that choice and not the other one, be exhausted from just watching us, and who knows what else.

Well, the best I can do is write a blog and provide some photos for now.  Although, I am glad you don't always get to see the worst of us.  And aren't we all?! 

I am SO grateful for God's mercy and grace.  We all fail miserably at living life perfectly.  At not making the best decision.  At not extending grace to others.  At not submitting to God's plan.  Mostly because our minds argue with what we think is right and wrong instead of seeing it through God's wisdom.

Grace.  Such an incredible gift.  Even though sin entered the world because of our disobedience, God had mercy and offered His grace.  We can either choose to accept it or turn away.

Well, I will keep you updated as I can.  I REALLY do not want to get sick again.  We hope to stop at a free spot tonight and at a beach area for the next two.  Kind of like a mini-vacation.  I get to take pics of sunrises!!  West coast was sunsets, now we are on the sunrise side (which really isn't a sunrise if we want to be technical, but then again, "earth rotations" doesn't sound as pretty).

"Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."  John 1:16-17

Counting Down

We have begun our Florida trip count down. 

We will be leaving for Fort Lauderdale this Sunday.  And Bill has created a 3 page "Before We Go" check list.  Hmmm....   We will see how much gets done.  I'm just hoping we don't leave anyone behind!  And hopefully leave a clean house.

Hair cuts are done.

Toyota is almost trip-ready.

(Our last trip we took our SUV loaded on top of the trailer.  This time we will be renting a car dolly to tow the Toyota and hope for better gas mileage.)  Which, by the way, we were able to get gas cards from Publix a week ago or so and only paid $40 for every $50 card.  Basically it comes out to 20 cents less per gallon of whatever the current price will be.  Not bad.

Mail hold and whatnot are figured out.

Fridge is starting to get emptied out (which has made for some interesting meals...).

RV spot(s) have been reserved.  We are "splurging" on a couple days at a fun spot we found off the beach in FL on the trip down.  I get to see ocean sunrises!!!

I could go on and on and I am sure some of this stuff you wouldn't have thought about having to do.  Things are a little different when you will be away from your home for longer than the usual few days to weeks.  LOTS of things to think about and do.  At times you feel like you have a split personality!

SO, to commemorate I have updated the blog (did you notice the new tabs?  Check 'em out) AND I would like to have a poll to come up with a "name" for our RV!

 Here's what I would like to do. 

I will make a poll from the first 5 name suggestions I get.  Leave a comment with your name suggestion for our RV in the comment area below and come back to vote once I get the poll up.  Poll will close Sunday afternoon and the winner announced.  (At least that is the plan.)

SO, get your brain juices flowing, be creative, and may the best name win!

Here's a few photos of our RV to help you out.

Heading Back

I am looking forward to learning where the best stops along the way are.  And maybe even some free activities we can do.  We used to have a McWane Center Science Museum membership (which also means you can visit other science museums for free in other states) but have put that on hold until we feel we can "splurge" again.

In other news, we are continuously amazed at how God weaves the interactions of our lives when we commit to obeying. 

We were invited by a friend to come speak to a Sunday School group at Kingwood Baptist Church, TX this past weekend.  So, have RV will travel.  We were able to "boondock" in their parking lot and once again enjoyed our short showers.  This time Bill added a bit more bleach than usual to the water tank (helps keep it sanitary) and let's just say we are sparkling clean!

Bill shared about Believer's Bridge and what we are doing to the adult SS class.  Many were interested and one couple has decided to partner financially with us.  I think God blesses those that in faith commit to something that they have just heard about (Heb. 11:7).  We have many financial partners who knew us but this is the first who have committed w/o having gotten to know us (months or years before).  So if you are reading this, Thank You!!

We also had a few who gave a one time gift.  Thank you to those as well!  We are also excited about the connection that was made.  Our hope is to return sometime in the near future and strengthen the bond.  In fact, we are hoping to host an International Dinner in the area.  We'll keep you posted when we do.

Meanwhile, we are on our way back to our "regular" home.  In fact, time for lunch!  So, until next time, keep the faith!

Update on RV restoration

We were able to get the front put back together again and left AL Thursday evening.  Yay!!

There are still a few interior and exterior details to be done, but it has held up (pun intended) quite nicely.  There is actually less bouncing which really made us incredibly thankful that nothing serious (oh, like kids falling out the front) had happened on our CA trip back.

So, in our excitement that the front was fixed we neglected to realize we hadn't gotten some essential items packed (oh, like sleeping bags/blankets/front curtain/sugar...yes, sugar).

We DID remember to pack pillows.  If I had to forget bedding, I'm glad it wasn't pillows.  Needless to say, we used whatever we could find for blankets last night (jackets and so on).  Can you say "missionary living"?

We are just about to our Texas destination.  Looking forward to sharing what Believer's Bridge is doing in Peru (and soon Brazil) to other folks.  For those that know our work, please pray for receptive hearts and new supporters. 

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Phillipians 1:3-6

"Short" Texas Trip

Maybe we just love to travel. 

Or maybe we have begun to prioritize our lives differently now that we have immersed ourselves into helping the Peruvian nationals understand and know the Bible. 

Maybe it's both.  Well, whatever the reason, we are off to Texas for a "weekend" trip to visit one of the churches out there to share about what Believer's Bridge is doing in Peru, and hopefully, soon to be in Brasil.

At least we hope it will be in our RV.  As of this moment there is a BIG, open, air-conditioned space in the very front where the top sleeping area used to be.  On our way back from the previous trip, Bill noticed a gap on the side of the front.  He patched it up, and since we've been back we've had to tear the whole front out and redo it.

One lady I told about it said, "I didn't know you could do that."  You're not.  But if you know anything about us, we are not your normal/average American family.  In an era where it's common to "throw away, give-up, buy a new one, or take it to the shop", we opted for the "economical, fix-it-better-yourself" method.

Thought I would show you the current before and after photos. 

This is what we found when we "opened the can of worms".  Water had been getting in and wreaking havoc on the wood.

Handy-man Bill taking it apart.

The new air-conditioned version.  Hmm, not sure it would travel really well though.  ;-)

An inside view.  (And lots of fresh air)

The reconstruction in progress.

The new front part.



Well, the good news is we should be able to have it travel-ready by late afternoon.  Otherwise, we will be leaving tomorrow for Texas.  Either way we are making sure we do it right. 

Also, I can't tell if I'm getting sick or if it's just the change in weather, but I keep getting that muscle-ache feeling you get when you get the flu and also nausea every so often.  Whatever it is, I have been drinking Bolthouse drinks (the immune and Vit. C one) and resting as much as a mom can who has to homeschool, do laundry, get the RV ready and clean the house before we leave (it's still on the market to sell). 

All that to say, Please pray for me.  And Bill, as we fix the RV.

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. "  I Thessalonians 1:3

The end of the beginning

We are officially back at our casita in Alabama. 

Felt good to have open space again.  And do laundry.  And make real pizza (we had either been doing it in the microwave or cutting it up and doing small pieces at a time in the toaster oven).  So, even though our RV has an oven it does not work well and burns the bottom of anything.  So we just don't use it.  So you can imagine the relief to have a real, LARGE oven again.

I think Bill took a 20+ minute shower.  The water pressure is great.  And it's a relief to not worry about if we will run out of water. 

But I have a confession:  I'm having "culture shock".  It's a term used mostly for folks who live in two different types of countries for long periods of time.  Because of the sometimes extreme differences in living (due to how one has to live, what is available, possibly different language, and just overall cultural differences) it takes a while for the person(s) to adjust back. Thus, culture shock is very common to long-term missionaries.  I had not experienced it since coming back from Brazil in 1988. 

After having to limit ourselves to not wasting water, being content with what we had, and living in crowded conditions, I didn't even think about what it would mean to go back to "luxurious" conditions.  In fact, I hadn't really considered what we have (here in our AL home) luxurious.  Until we spent a few hours readusting back in.  I was overwhelmed at the amount of space and water pressure.

It made me think about "The Rich Young Ruler" (Matthew 19).  About what we really are willing not to hold on to.  When a person becomes accustomed to any way of living, anything different is hard to get used to.  But Jesus points out that it is especially hard for those with great wealth.

Again, I don't consider what we have luxury in comparison to the average American home and what you would expect to find in the American culture.  In fact, our RV is pretty bottom-of-the-barrel when you consider we have started living out of it for about 1/2 the year.  (BTW, we really do need a bigger RV since we will continue to live 1/2 the year out of one.  5 people in an RV w/o slide outs has been hard.  IF any of you know of someone who would love to donate one to Believer's Bridge, we would be ecstatic!!  And it would be tax-deductable.)

So, the challenge for us (that's right, you and I), is to learn joy in our lives, not our possesions. 

That's not to say we sell everything and live in a tent.  I am saying, don't put a certain means of living above God's place in your heart. 

I do believe God uses all kinds of people to reach other kinds of people.  Having also been in "high society" situations, I understand the protocols associated with that type of environment.  It would not make sense for someone living in poverty to try and evangelize someone in that position.  Or vice-versa. 

Joy in our lives, not our possesions. 

Well, the RV journey may have ended for a little while, but our ministry is growing.  As with anything, it takes time and determination to establish something.  Please keep praying for the ministry of Believer's Bridge and God's use of our lives as we continue growing. 

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..."  "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."  II Timothy 1:9 and 14

Hangin' out in Texas

So, day 5 on the road and the last 2 have been in Texas.  The saying is true, everything in Texas is HUGE.  Especially when you take the lower portion.  BUT, we have been chuggin' along and having a pretty good time overall. 

As usual, my family enjoys, uh, making the most of every opportunity.  Some would call it being goofy, I prefer to see it as learning moments (some more goofy than others...).  With that said, we've had some great "opportunities" lately.

For example, I announced yesterday that Joshua would be next in doing the dishes.  Next thing I know I hear Robert say, "Quick!  Fill the sink up!", with Bill on his tail yelling, "Andrew, get out of the sink!"  Good grief.  I'm starting to think I could make a small fortune making comic strips out of our life experiences.

The guys are watching "Flywheel" as I blog.  Great movie by the way.  And I hear lots of laughing, so there must be lots of comedy along with the great message it brings (honesty even when the going gets tough - it's a Christian movie).

The favorite line so far is, "You both look like two marshmellows trying to get out of a hotwheel car."  The only reason I know that is the boys keep repeating it....  My favorite line is, "I'm feeling anxiety right now, but it's like a peaceful anxiety."  Kind of a reflection of our lives it seems.

Operating Believer's Bridge hasn't always been easy.  In fact, there are moments of grueling work and times of doing what's right even when it's hard.  There have also been times when we experienced miracles when we needed them. 

For example, our printer ran out of black ink and the ink we had ordered didn't arrive when the company said it would.  We needed to make flyers for our International Dinner so we decided to overide the controls and see if we could squeeze a few more pages out.  1000+ pages later, it was still working!! 

Life brings so many moments.  Sometimes we get it "right" and other times we blow it.  Other times we grow and change, and yet other times we harden our hearts.  Listen, the road will get hard, but choosing to follow in God's path brings peace.  Even if it's "peaceful anxiety". ;-)

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
" 'I have told you these things, so that in me [Jesus] you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world' ".  John 16:33

More photos:

We spent our last day in Carlsbad with Bill's parents.  So of course we spent most of the time on the beach...

All 3 boys.  I had fun playing with the settings on the camera.

I'm going to miss this...

Snow in Southern California.

Just so there's no doubt, EVERYTHING is big is Texas...

Pima Air Space Museum

Airplane graveyard

Thought I would give you a glimpse of our everyday living in our 200sq ft home...

The "office", the bedrooms, the kitchen and eating area, movie theatre, schoolroom, and anything else you can think of space.

On the Road Again!

We are headed home again after living in the RV for 4+ months.  Have I mentioned it's 200 sq. ft. of living space...?  for 5 people?...  mostly boys?  (I just wanted to clarify for any new readers out there.)

Wow.  What a trip.  It was a new experience for all of us.  Between the constant hall shuffle (that's where 2 people fight for the coveted hall space), the constant stuff shuffling (that's where we creatively find new places to store stuff), and the constant synching of schedules  (that’s where we make sure someone is not stuck with all the kids or w/o a car ), we survived the adventure!

But the ministry adventure is far from over.  In fact this is the end of the beginning.  As we head home we hope to take a little bit of a breather from work and the constant activity.  We are feeling a little bit physically drained, but encouraged by the awareness of the need for Biblical training in remote areas of Peru (and hopefully, in the future, Brazil). 

Since I haven’t put up any photos lately, I thought I would make this update short and fill it with more photos.  Some of them are from awhile ago and I had forgotten about them until recently.  So, sit back, grab some popcorn and a drink and enjoy.  J

The guys recieved mail from our church youth.

Mission Bay (San Diego, CA) at sunset.  And no, the SUV and boat are not ours.

By Mission Bay at sunset.  Gorgeous!

Having a pic-nic at Balboa Park.  (And no, we really aren't trying to

advertise for Cheetos, PureLife, and 7Up... but now you know what we had...along w/ an awesome Sub).

Fountain at Balboa Park (Josh and Andrew by it, and Robert acting all cool...)

The famous Pea Soup Andersen's restaurant.  We stopped by on our way back from visiting

friends in Santa Maria, CA. 

Robert and Josh prefer to have their own fight instead of taking the picture pose....

Sunset on the West coast...

More sunset photos!

Mt. Helix overlooking El Cajon.  Awesome sun rays.

Our newest prayer card photo.  Also taken at Mt. Helix.

I have a few more photos, so check back in at another date.  Meanwhile, please keep us in your prayers as we travel the 2000 miles back (and that gas prices won't be too bad!).

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."  I Timothy 6:12 

Quick update:  We did an International Ministry Dinner and it went great.  We had a Brazilian dinner (thanks to Denise Rosa, the Brazilian Pastor's wife ~ they work under Shadow Mountain Community Church) and a video presentation.  We hope to do one in Birmingham and Fort Lauderdale.  If you are near either of those areas, stay tuned!