Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
God's Protection
To my most amiable readers;
So I'm still getting the hang of this rowing thing...it's quite an art, and one not easily mastered. So Wednesday I got in my boat and was rowing along a line of docked yachts, I rowed past the last one and found myself in the direct path of a large fishing boat. If I rowed forward it would only take me three or four strokes to get out of his way. The thing is, rowing forward is very tricky and I'm terrible at it. If I tried that it's doubtful I would get out of the way in time. So I had to row backwards, putting myself even more in his path, but it was the only way to move quickly. The men on deck were laughing at me, obviously sensing my panicky, jerky movements. Clearing the boat I quickly (quick for me,not for an experienced rower) turned my boat parallel to theirs to take the waves headed at me. If you point in to the waves, the water leaps into your boat (the boats are only about four inches above water line). These were the biggest waves I had taken so I tried to remain calm and keep balance. Ahh...that's over....no not quite. As I was still taking waves, I turned to see yet another boat heading my way! Away I went again, trying to make my shaky arms and legs work. By this time I was on the other side of the channel, frazzled, taking in the waves of the second boat. Wow...thanks God! I've decided I like rowing, I dislike water traffic. I felt like an amish buggy on a highway.
Your Devoted, Sarah
So I'm still getting the hang of this rowing thing...it's quite an art, and one not easily mastered. So Wednesday I got in my boat and was rowing along a line of docked yachts, I rowed past the last one and found myself in the direct path of a large fishing boat. If I rowed forward it would only take me three or four strokes to get out of his way. The thing is, rowing forward is very tricky and I'm terrible at it. If I tried that it's doubtful I would get out of the way in time. So I had to row backwards, putting myself even more in his path, but it was the only way to move quickly. The men on deck were laughing at me, obviously sensing my panicky, jerky movements. Clearing the boat I quickly (quick for me,not for an experienced rower) turned my boat parallel to theirs to take the waves headed at me. If you point in to the waves, the water leaps into your boat (the boats are only about four inches above water line). These were the biggest waves I had taken so I tried to remain calm and keep balance. Ahh...that's over....no not quite. As I was still taking waves, I turned to see yet another boat heading my way! Away I went again, trying to make my shaky arms and legs work. By this time I was on the other side of the channel, frazzled, taking in the waves of the second boat. Wow...thanks God! I've decided I like rowing, I dislike water traffic. I felt like an amish buggy on a highway.
Your Devoted, Sarah
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Okay...so we get a little bored sometimes. She is wearing a beautiful headpiece crafted of the finest cut-up water jug with the embellishment of a broken spikey rubbery ball type thing. Dustin stretched that ball over his entire head one time (he's the reason plastic bags have warnings on them) and it snapped up to his nose, dragging his upper lip up to his nostrils in a bizarre snarling expression. I have a video, send check or money order to...
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Fruit...
To My Most Amiable Readers,
A hike, a shuttle bus, a ferry, another bus, and a car trip later, we're home from the mountains. Wow, what a time! For those who are less than up to date, we went up into the Andes with our Chilean co-missionaries, Eduardo, Juanita, and their two children for five days. We made base camp on our Chilean friend's property in an area called Llanada Grande. From there we hiked to different families living in isolation, encouraging the believers and sharing Jesus.
On Saturday we hiked about two hours in, enjoying the beautiful mountains and seeing the flocks of sheep and cows meandering free in the valleys. Having no water and little food, we sustained ourselves on the wild blackberries, plentiful along the trail. We then went fishing (Dustin in his boxers due to our uncanny ability to get the lures stuck under logs, and I with Edison on my back). I caught a small salmon, too small to keep, but not too small to feel smug about. From there we hiked to the land of a family we had met on the trail the day before.
We shared cafecito (coffee and bread and mate) with them, got to know them, and then Eduardo shared with them that it wasn't enough just to believe in God, that you had to make a personal decision to accept Christ into your heart. When he asked the four daughters if they would like to accept Christ, we heard, "Si. Si. Si. Si." Allelulia! We have four new sisters in Christ!
Thanks be to God for this fruit!!
The trip also had the blessing of teaching us to suffer well. Long hiking with two small children, struggling with the language, washing clothes by hand, being hungry, hot, and grumpy, the long hours on buses and ferries, and bathing by means of five-gallon bucket...God taught us to persevere and continue to do good, praising Him for each small blessing. Of note; while we were hiking for a long time I was so thirsty and prayed that God would provide for me a glass of nice cold water. About an hour later we visited the aforementioned family and the first thing that greeted us on entering their home were large glasses of ice-cold coke!! *Which is extraordinary, as they don't have refrigerators.*
Rejoice with us that God is gathering the harvest for His glory! Amen!
Your Devoted Sarah
A hike, a shuttle bus, a ferry, another bus, and a car trip later, we're home from the mountains. Wow, what a time! For those who are less than up to date, we went up into the Andes with our Chilean co-missionaries, Eduardo, Juanita, and their two children for five days. We made base camp on our Chilean friend's property in an area called Llanada Grande. From there we hiked to different families living in isolation, encouraging the believers and sharing Jesus.
On Saturday we hiked about two hours in, enjoying the beautiful mountains and seeing the flocks of sheep and cows meandering free in the valleys. Having no water and little food, we sustained ourselves on the wild blackberries, plentiful along the trail. We then went fishing (Dustin in his boxers due to our uncanny ability to get the lures stuck under logs, and I with Edison on my back). I caught a small salmon, too small to keep, but not too small to feel smug about. From there we hiked to the land of a family we had met on the trail the day before.
We shared cafecito (coffee and bread and mate) with them, got to know them, and then Eduardo shared with them that it wasn't enough just to believe in God, that you had to make a personal decision to accept Christ into your heart. When he asked the four daughters if they would like to accept Christ, we heard, "Si. Si. Si. Si." Allelulia! We have four new sisters in Christ!
Thanks be to God for this fruit!!
The trip also had the blessing of teaching us to suffer well. Long hiking with two small children, struggling with the language, washing clothes by hand, being hungry, hot, and grumpy, the long hours on buses and ferries, and bathing by means of five-gallon bucket...God taught us to persevere and continue to do good, praising Him for each small blessing. Of note; while we were hiking for a long time I was so thirsty and prayed that God would provide for me a glass of nice cold water. About an hour later we visited the aforementioned family and the first thing that greeted us on entering their home were large glasses of ice-cold coke!! *Which is extraordinary, as they don't have refrigerators.*
Rejoice with us that God is gathering the harvest for His glory! Amen!
Your Devoted Sarah
Monday, February 27, 2006
To My Most Amiable Readers;
Here's the lowdown on us: we just got back from Valdivia, a small city to the north of us, three hours by car, where we went to cheer on and spend time with the rowing team as they competed in the nationals. It was overall a disapointing time for the club, though one of the youngest girls got a gold medal. I was amazed by the eight-person boats; due to their length, they come apart in the middle for transport! While in Valdivia we watched a boat parade at night and visited an old Spanish fort. We also grilled a Cierra fish, which is one of the only fish I've ever tasted that "tastes like chicken". Truly.
Sophia looks like she has chicken-pox due to the dozens of small bites on her body. They are either fleas or bed bugs or a combination of both. I wonder how many parents give serious consideration to putting flea collars on their children? Please pray that the bugs would die a swift death and give our little one some peace.
Wednesday we leave with Eduardo and Juanita for the mountains on a mission trip. Please pray for safety and that hearts would be open to receive God's message of reconciliation.
Your Devoted Sarah
Here's the lowdown on us: we just got back from Valdivia, a small city to the north of us, three hours by car, where we went to cheer on and spend time with the rowing team as they competed in the nationals. It was overall a disapointing time for the club, though one of the youngest girls got a gold medal. I was amazed by the eight-person boats; due to their length, they come apart in the middle for transport! While in Valdivia we watched a boat parade at night and visited an old Spanish fort. We also grilled a Cierra fish, which is one of the only fish I've ever tasted that "tastes like chicken". Truly.
Sophia looks like she has chicken-pox due to the dozens of small bites on her body. They are either fleas or bed bugs or a combination of both. I wonder how many parents give serious consideration to putting flea collars on their children? Please pray that the bugs would die a swift death and give our little one some peace.
Wednesday we leave with Eduardo and Juanita for the mountains on a mission trip. Please pray for safety and that hearts would be open to receive God's message of reconciliation.
Your Devoted Sarah
Monday, February 20, 2006
Far Side Wisdom
A funny on the importance of pulling with equal strength on both sides...In training we use one red oar and one green one. When you pull unevenly you hear a shout, "Rojo!" or "Verde!", but most feared of all "Yacht!"
Saturday, February 18, 2006
From the Bottom of the Dogpile
To my most excellent readers;
I've seen dogpiles happen, I've even participated in a few, throwing myself atop a mass of giggling, jostling people, though I carefully avoided the "shoe in the face, knee in the gut, no way to breathe" positions of the lower layers. Well, as of yesterday I have been the laughing, breathless poor soul on the bottom of four or five dogpiles, which consisted of from ten to fifteen 9-12 year old children. You don't have to do anything special for cracked ribs, right?
Yesterday we went out to the Tenglo Island property where our house church is hosting a three-day camp for children from a children's home (not a true orphanage, the children return to their homes to sleep). The children's home circumstances are such that they are not cared for properly by their parents and so spend their days at the "Casa de Los Ninos".
Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but we developed a game, whereby I got a small headstart running, and they all chased me and tried to tackle me. Once they got me down, by tripping or full out tackles, they all jumped on top of me to my exclamations, "OOOoooff! Ha ha hah aha! OOOoooof! Ayudame!!! (help me) Ha ha ha haha hee! Oof! I can't breathe! (resorting to English in my panic) ha hahahah aha!".
It was good times. The kids got to pick blackberries all day and swim in the ocean, interspersed with Bible teaching and roughhousing the gringos. One of my high points of the day was combing out the long tangled-up hair of a small timid girl. She looked so bereft and I was overcome by a surge of "mothering". A longing filled my heart to somehow make her my daughter and take care of her forever. Maybe someday the Lord will lead us to adopt!
Thank you, fellow pilgrims (I just read Pilgrim's Progress and very much like the analogy),
Caio!
Your Devoted Sarah
I've seen dogpiles happen, I've even participated in a few, throwing myself atop a mass of giggling, jostling people, though I carefully avoided the "shoe in the face, knee in the gut, no way to breathe" positions of the lower layers. Well, as of yesterday I have been the laughing, breathless poor soul on the bottom of four or five dogpiles, which consisted of from ten to fifteen 9-12 year old children. You don't have to do anything special for cracked ribs, right?
Yesterday we went out to the Tenglo Island property where our house church is hosting a three-day camp for children from a children's home (not a true orphanage, the children return to their homes to sleep). The children's home circumstances are such that they are not cared for properly by their parents and so spend their days at the "Casa de Los Ninos".
Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but we developed a game, whereby I got a small headstart running, and they all chased me and tried to tackle me. Once they got me down, by tripping or full out tackles, they all jumped on top of me to my exclamations, "OOOoooff! Ha ha hah aha! OOOoooof! Ayudame!!! (help me) Ha ha ha haha hee! Oof! I can't breathe! (resorting to English in my panic) ha hahahah aha!".
It was good times. The kids got to pick blackberries all day and swim in the ocean, interspersed with Bible teaching and roughhousing the gringos. One of my high points of the day was combing out the long tangled-up hair of a small timid girl. She looked so bereft and I was overcome by a surge of "mothering". A longing filled my heart to somehow make her my daughter and take care of her forever. Maybe someday the Lord will lead us to adopt!
Thank you, fellow pilgrims (I just read Pilgrim's Progress and very much like the analogy),
Caio!
Your Devoted Sarah
Friday, February 17, 2006
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Friday, February 10, 2006
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
New-Found Delight
To my most amiable readers:
Some of you may recall the scene in "What About Bob" where Bill Murray has conquered his fear of sailing ("conquered" being roped to the mast and forced to sail). He belts out in a joyous voice "I sail now! I'm a sailor! I sail!!!!"
Well, friends, "I row now! I'm a rower! I row!!!"
Today I went out in a double boat with my instructor, at the ripe old age of fourteen, behind me coaching me as I rowed up the channel. It was awesome. I was cruising!!! "I row!!!" Er...you'll have to excuse my outbursts, I get a little over-excited about my new hobby.
Now there is much yet to master; like rowing in a straight line not willy-nilly all over the channel, rowing in rhythm with my partner rather than clobbering his oars with mine, avoiding bloodying up my hands by catching them on the other hand's nails while crossing them in front of me, not running into other boats, not getting my shirt gobbled up by my rolling seat, not rowing unevenly at different depths, and so on.
Funny thing is, beginner that I am, I possibly could compete in my age group at the Nationals this month. I'm not a huge fan of humiliation, but hey, who can say they've competed in a foreign rowing finals?? But no, I'll go and cheer on my friends and hopefully learn a thing or two.
It's so great getting to know the rowing kids and their families. With God's help I hope to be his ambassador there, showing the joy and love of Christ.
Your devoted Sarah
Some of you may recall the scene in "What About Bob" where Bill Murray has conquered his fear of sailing ("conquered" being roped to the mast and forced to sail). He belts out in a joyous voice "I sail now! I'm a sailor! I sail!!!!"
Well, friends, "I row now! I'm a rower! I row!!!"
Today I went out in a double boat with my instructor, at the ripe old age of fourteen, behind me coaching me as I rowed up the channel. It was awesome. I was cruising!!! "I row!!!" Er...you'll have to excuse my outbursts, I get a little over-excited about my new hobby.
Now there is much yet to master; like rowing in a straight line not willy-nilly all over the channel, rowing in rhythm with my partner rather than clobbering his oars with mine, avoiding bloodying up my hands by catching them on the other hand's nails while crossing them in front of me, not running into other boats, not getting my shirt gobbled up by my rolling seat, not rowing unevenly at different depths, and so on.
Funny thing is, beginner that I am, I possibly could compete in my age group at the Nationals this month. I'm not a huge fan of humiliation, but hey, who can say they've competed in a foreign rowing finals?? But no, I'll go and cheer on my friends and hopefully learn a thing or two.
It's so great getting to know the rowing kids and their families. With God's help I hope to be his ambassador there, showing the joy and love of Christ.
Your devoted Sarah
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Milk Jug Megaphone
To my faithful readers,
Today I accompanied Deborah and Jordan (our coworkers children) to their rowing practice due to my increasing interest in the sport after viewing them compete in the Nationals. The director allowed me to follow them with him in his motor-powered boat as they did drills and endurance training. Sea, wind, and sunshine...and Don Angel shouting through an open-ended milk jug. Don Angel...the characteristic sea-boat captain, old, weathered, felt hat in place, suspenders, and a touching burden for the youth of Puerto Montt.
Upon reaching the club house, a few of the kids taught me basic rowing form on the training machine. It's great because it shows the strength of your pull, the miles per hour, and the time. It's more complicated than I thought, timing the arms with the legs and the posture, and I'm not even in a boat yet! They encouraged me though, saying that I was a quick learner and had potential. Don Angel has invited me to join, and at five dollars a month (covering training, use of boats), I think that's a no-brainer. I hope I'll understand what he shouts at me through the milk jug!
Furthermore, it's been a blessing to get to know the kids on the rowing team. We chaperoned their camping trip last weekend, and it looks like we'll have many more opportunities to share our lives with them, and hopefully, Christ's love.
I've got a few prayer requests:
-childcare for when I am rowing
-that God would speak to Daniel (a dear friend who wants to know if God is real)
-that we would be a blessing
Your Devoted Sarah
Today I accompanied Deborah and Jordan (our coworkers children) to their rowing practice due to my increasing interest in the sport after viewing them compete in the Nationals. The director allowed me to follow them with him in his motor-powered boat as they did drills and endurance training. Sea, wind, and sunshine...and Don Angel shouting through an open-ended milk jug. Don Angel...the characteristic sea-boat captain, old, weathered, felt hat in place, suspenders, and a touching burden for the youth of Puerto Montt.
Upon reaching the club house, a few of the kids taught me basic rowing form on the training machine. It's great because it shows the strength of your pull, the miles per hour, and the time. It's more complicated than I thought, timing the arms with the legs and the posture, and I'm not even in a boat yet! They encouraged me though, saying that I was a quick learner and had potential. Don Angel has invited me to join, and at five dollars a month (covering training, use of boats), I think that's a no-brainer. I hope I'll understand what he shouts at me through the milk jug!
Furthermore, it's been a blessing to get to know the kids on the rowing team. We chaperoned their camping trip last weekend, and it looks like we'll have many more opportunities to share our lives with them, and hopefully, Christ's love.
I've got a few prayer requests:
-childcare for when I am rowing
-that God would speak to Daniel (a dear friend who wants to know if God is real)
-that we would be a blessing
Your Devoted Sarah
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
A Bit of Calculated Nonsense
Dear Friends, greetings!
For those of you who are of the Dutch persuasion, we have experienced the Chilean version of our beloved "chicken barbeque". For the nondutchies out there, a "chicken barbeque" would be a fund raising event in which you buy a ticket and pick up a sack with: half a barbequed chicken, a baked potato, coleslaw, iced tea, and some kind of sweet. Well, here they have "curantos" and this curanto was to benefit the rowing team. You get a mesh bag stuffed with clams of all types, pieces of roasted chicken, sausage, and beef, and some, well, I'll call them mystery dumplings. Then you also get some cilantro based sauce to spoon into the clam shells before you slurp the meat out. Quite an experience.
This weekend we're going to Puerto Oktay with the rowing team as chaperones on a camping trip. Should be good times, it's always nice to impose a fast on our bedbugs. Yes, they are still viciously turning me into a human smorgesborg. Hey, it could become a new fad diet, Lose weight through Blood Loss!!
What more? We're still living in the same place, but have added some door locks to shared areas of the house, and miraculously, it keeps people out! Huzzah!
Just finished "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis, and "A Passage to India" by E.M. Forester. If you've read them, I'd like to know your impressions. Tomorrow I start "Pilgrim's Progress", a volumn I'm embarassed to be reading for the first time.
Yes well, blessings friends, May God be with you!!!!!
For those of you who are of the Dutch persuasion, we have experienced the Chilean version of our beloved "chicken barbeque". For the nondutchies out there, a "chicken barbeque" would be a fund raising event in which you buy a ticket and pick up a sack with: half a barbequed chicken, a baked potato, coleslaw, iced tea, and some kind of sweet. Well, here they have "curantos" and this curanto was to benefit the rowing team. You get a mesh bag stuffed with clams of all types, pieces of roasted chicken, sausage, and beef, and some, well, I'll call them mystery dumplings. Then you also get some cilantro based sauce to spoon into the clam shells before you slurp the meat out. Quite an experience.
This weekend we're going to Puerto Oktay with the rowing team as chaperones on a camping trip. Should be good times, it's always nice to impose a fast on our bedbugs. Yes, they are still viciously turning me into a human smorgesborg. Hey, it could become a new fad diet, Lose weight through Blood Loss!!
What more? We're still living in the same place, but have added some door locks to shared areas of the house, and miraculously, it keeps people out! Huzzah!
Just finished "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis, and "A Passage to India" by E.M. Forester. If you've read them, I'd like to know your impressions. Tomorrow I start "Pilgrim's Progress", a volumn I'm embarassed to be reading for the first time.
Yes well, blessings friends, May God be with you!!!!!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Stateside Minutes
Hey Friends,
Well, we are stateside for Dustin's sister's wedding, and have submitted ourselves to a barrage of health check-ups, dentist appointments, and of course, wedding preparations. We are staying in his parent's motor home, and it's wonderful. For the first time in three months we're not living with anyone else!
It's strange the things you buy when you may not have the opportunity to buy them for a few years...seven bags of couscous, two elephantine sized jars of peanut butter, scads of chocolate chips, enough Swiss Miss to feed a boy scout troupe, and a couple of pounds of unsweetened baking chocolate.
It's weird to be here. It feels more like "time travel" than "coming home". It feels like we've simply plopped right back into the life we left, almost like we'd never gone to Chile. Can't say I'm fond of the feeling. It makes our departure date seem surreal. Am I really to tear myself away from these people I love again?
Blessings,
Sarah
Well, we are stateside for Dustin's sister's wedding, and have submitted ourselves to a barrage of health check-ups, dentist appointments, and of course, wedding preparations. We are staying in his parent's motor home, and it's wonderful. For the first time in three months we're not living with anyone else!
It's strange the things you buy when you may not have the opportunity to buy them for a few years...seven bags of couscous, two elephantine sized jars of peanut butter, scads of chocolate chips, enough Swiss Miss to feed a boy scout troupe, and a couple of pounds of unsweetened baking chocolate.
It's weird to be here. It feels more like "time travel" than "coming home". It feels like we've simply plopped right back into the life we left, almost like we'd never gone to Chile. Can't say I'm fond of the feeling. It makes our departure date seem surreal. Am I really to tear myself away from these people I love again?
Blessings,
Sarah
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Año Nuevo
Well friends, a happy new year to all of you!
We celebrated by hosting a party at our home with our Chilean and American friends. The men took command of the grill, dousing the various meats with cumin and oregano, and spraying water on the coals to bathe them in moisture. Us women folk made tomato/cilantro/onion salad, lettuce salad, potato salad, spiced plum tart, and plum cafouti. We then had some impromptu dancing, though Dustin and I have forgotten our merengue moves, but exhibited some fine swing. We then were treated to a skit on marriage which proved hilarious (especially as all the actresses were single). Around 2:00 in the morning, the dice came out and Dustin proved himself Farkle champion of the new year.
We leave soon for the states for Dustin´s sister´s wedding. If anyone wants to call us while we´re stateside, call 717 285 7566. We´ll be in PA from the 6th to the 17th. Blessings!
Sarah
We celebrated by hosting a party at our home with our Chilean and American friends. The men took command of the grill, dousing the various meats with cumin and oregano, and spraying water on the coals to bathe them in moisture. Us women folk made tomato/cilantro/onion salad, lettuce salad, potato salad, spiced plum tart, and plum cafouti. We then had some impromptu dancing, though Dustin and I have forgotten our merengue moves, but exhibited some fine swing. We then were treated to a skit on marriage which proved hilarious (especially as all the actresses were single). Around 2:00 in the morning, the dice came out and Dustin proved himself Farkle champion of the new year.
We leave soon for the states for Dustin´s sister´s wedding. If anyone wants to call us while we´re stateside, call 717 285 7566. We´ll be in PA from the 6th to the 17th. Blessings!
Sarah
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