I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness
to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question,
lifting the heart to God whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts. It's
easy to talk oneself into a decision that has no permenance, easier
sometimes than to wait patiently.
Elizabeth Elliot
We call him the DogMan of Manizales and met him on the highway with 27 dogs
he had rescued from life on the streets. He is a one man humane society.
| Our
Mission |
Photo Gallery |
| Monthly News |
Prayer Requests |
Our Mission
To
follow God's will for our lives so that we can serve Him in all we do,
go wherever He leads, and share His amazing love with those around us.
2) Guayllabamba, Ecuador - Tulcanza Family - Local Missionary Church with two outreach locations
3) El Batan Missionary Alliance Church - Ninos de la calle en riesgo
4) Just For Kids Orphanage - Valle de los Chillos, Ecuador
5) Home of Hope - Malawi, Africa, Canadian Missionaries
6) Missionaries and mission trips that God plants in our hearts
Photo Gallery
The beauty of nature and God's handiwork is around us every day, just
outside our window.
Every where we went along the road, we found something interesting to look at.
Up on the Nevada de Ruiz, at about 14,000 ft., all kinds of interesting vegetation can be found.
This was the first "road kill" we've seen since we've been here and
it turned out to be a type of "water possum" - a chucho
Just some fun stuf we found in the flowers and chewing on the leaves
I don't know if you feel the same way, I think the back and the front of the peacock are equally beautiful.
Continue
to support missions around the world:
1)
Cusco, Peru - Romulo Tupa - Local Missionary2) Guayllabamba, Ecuador - Tulcanza Family - Local Missionary Church with two outreach locations
3) El Batan Missionary Alliance Church - Ninos de la calle en riesgo
4) Just For Kids Orphanage - Valle de los Chillos, Ecuador
5) Home of Hope - Malawi, Africa, Canadian Missionaries
6) Missionaries and mission trips that God plants in our hearts
Photo Gallery
The beauty of nature and God's handiwork is around us every day, just
outside our window.
Every where we went along the road, we found something interesting to look at.
Up on the Nevada de Ruiz, at about 14,000 ft., all kinds of interesting vegetation can be found.
This was the first "road kill" we've seen since we've been here and
it turned out to be a type of "water possum" - a chucho
Just some fun stuf we found in the flowers and chewing on the leaves
I don't know if you feel the same way, I think the back and the front of the peacock are equally beautiful.
Monthly
News
It's funny that Easter is tomorrow, and we haven't seen hide nor hair of the Easter Bunny! Unlike the states, you can't tell the time of year by the various holiday decorating times. Not a jelly bean, Peep, or malted milk ball in a bed of green plastic gras to be had. I have to say that that is both good and bad in that I like the fun part of the holiday, though I know the greater importance is in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Here, it is all about the religious aspect with processions in the streets depicting the journey to the cross at Calvary. The greatest gift to mankind was not at Christmas, but on the cross for our eternal salvation on Easter Sunday. I find it interesting that when people say they can get to heaven by just being a "good person" and doing "good works" that it would mean that Jesus died for nothing. For me, that is the value in reading the Bible to see God's word for myself and what it really says about faith in Christ as the only way necessary. I'll put some verses at the end of the newsletter just in case anyone wants to find them easily.
Life has been an interesting challenge since February when we came to the realization that no matter what plans we had laid for ourselves, God had other plans in mind. I think that even though you know that God always has a better direction for you than you have for yourself, you still have to try and strike out for yourself! God does expect effort on our part, but more than that, He expects obedience and faithfulness.
Out at Panaca, the argricultural farm park, we had fun with the pigs!
You can't tell, but this is where a landslide was they are trying to repair on the way up to the Nevadas (mountain ridge) at about 12,000 feet.
If you look at the picture on the left, you get a better perspective.
To make a long story short, we are still working on where we will be next year, but the three places that we still have opportunities with are in cities where we already have mission contacts set up: Lima, Peru; Quito, Ecuador; and here in Armenia, Colombia. Steve has committed to his education degree and will be finished in one year, allowing us to get back to our original plan of being able to teach and do mission work. We have to look at the IR experience as God letting us make decisions for ourselves, and then letting us see that it might not have been the best decision and the consequences that will have to be dealt with by us.
I have tried to catch a good picture of the rain --since I say it is always raining--
hopefully you can at least get an idea of the quantity!
So we wait...and hopefully we will get a commitment in the next two weeks as far as where we will be. I know it will sound silly -- even though the smart decision would be to stay here because of the situation available -- but we are really tired of the lack of food variety here! When we ask each other, "What do you want for dinner?" We really know that it means another piece of pizza.
Steve is holding our pet for the day. They like to knock themselves out on the
glass so we often find ourselves having to revive them!
Prayer Requests and
Praises
Prayer for the Day: Lord, I always seem to be in a hurry. There seems to be so much to do and so little time. Help me ot live on Your timetable and not my own. Give me patience, Lord, and acceptance of Your will and Your way. Amen.
Prayer
1. The mission group coming from Georgia in July to help with several mission projects
2. Our job situation to be resolved
3. A missionary to work full time in Quito with the boys' home opening in July
4. Funding for the missionary position
Praise
1. Our car is still running with minimal problems
2. The weather was good this week for us as we had to stay around the house this spring break
3. Continued good health
4. 17 people committed to the Ecuador mission trip
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It's funny that Easter is tomorrow, and we haven't seen hide nor hair of the Easter Bunny! Unlike the states, you can't tell the time of year by the various holiday decorating times. Not a jelly bean, Peep, or malted milk ball in a bed of green plastic gras to be had. I have to say that that is both good and bad in that I like the fun part of the holiday, though I know the greater importance is in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Here, it is all about the religious aspect with processions in the streets depicting the journey to the cross at Calvary. The greatest gift to mankind was not at Christmas, but on the cross for our eternal salvation on Easter Sunday. I find it interesting that when people say they can get to heaven by just being a "good person" and doing "good works" that it would mean that Jesus died for nothing. For me, that is the value in reading the Bible to see God's word for myself and what it really says about faith in Christ as the only way necessary. I'll put some verses at the end of the newsletter just in case anyone wants to find them easily.
Life has been an interesting challenge since February when we came to the realization that no matter what plans we had laid for ourselves, God had other plans in mind. I think that even though you know that God always has a better direction for you than you have for yourself, you still have to try and strike out for yourself! God does expect effort on our part, but more than that, He expects obedience and faithfulness.
Out at Panaca, the argricultural farm park, we had fun with the pigs!
So as all our plans seemed to fall
apart and we looked to be jobless and homeless by June -- Steve was
laid off from his job as the economy tightened here as well -- we
continued to put our faith in God's plan. Unfortunately because of the
timing, we had missed the chance for other jobs and I had turned in my
notice at the school. We started a 14 day prayer journey at church that
turned into a 40 day journey for us as we talked with God about his
plans for us. It is interesting that when you ask for answers, you have
to be ready for the door-closing ones as well; but, that at least tells
you which direction not to go!
You can't tell, but this is where a landslide was they are trying to repair on the way up to the Nevadas (mountain ridge) at about 12,000 feet.
If you look at the picture on the left, you get a better perspective.
To make a long story short, we are still working on where we will be next year, but the three places that we still have opportunities with are in cities where we already have mission contacts set up: Lima, Peru; Quito, Ecuador; and here in Armenia, Colombia. Steve has committed to his education degree and will be finished in one year, allowing us to get back to our original plan of being able to teach and do mission work. We have to look at the IR experience as God letting us make decisions for ourselves, and then letting us see that it might not have been the best decision and the consequences that will have to be dealt with by us.
I have tried to catch a good picture of the rain --since I say it is always raining--
hopefully you can at least get an idea of the quantity!
So we wait...and hopefully we will get a commitment in the next two weeks as far as where we will be. I know it will sound silly -- even though the smart decision would be to stay here because of the situation available -- but we are really tired of the lack of food variety here! When we ask each other, "What do you want for dinner?" We really know that it means another piece of pizza.
Steve is holding our pet for the day. They like to knock themselves out on the
glass so we often find ourselves having to revive them!
Our excitement for the month was
hearing from the exchange student from Bolivia that had stayed with us
in Norwich when I was in high school! Thirty years later we are back in
contact and looking forward to getting together and visiting Bolivia
later this year. The magic of the Internet that didn't even exist when
we were in high school helped us get back in touch!
We are looking forward to the mission trip in July and what God has in store for us there, as well as just waiting on His timing for the rest of our lives at this moment. Praising Him in the high and low moments keeps us focused and really looking at what is important in life. If you are finding yourself in a similar situation, just remember that some of life's greatest lessons are learned when we have to step back, regroup, and refocus on God.
Steve and Cathy Carpenter
Verses to check out - Ephesians 2:8-10; 3:11-13 Romans 3:22-24; 10:8-10; 5:1; 11:6 Galatians 2:16; 2:21; 3:24
It is our faith and desire to please God that leads us to want to do good works, not a need to work our way into heaven.
We are looking forward to the mission trip in July and what God has in store for us there, as well as just waiting on His timing for the rest of our lives at this moment. Praising Him in the high and low moments keeps us focused and really looking at what is important in life. If you are finding yourself in a similar situation, just remember that some of life's greatest lessons are learned when we have to step back, regroup, and refocus on God.
Steve and Cathy Carpenter
Verses to check out - Ephesians 2:8-10; 3:11-13 Romans 3:22-24; 10:8-10; 5:1; 11:6 Galatians 2:16; 2:21; 3:24
It is our faith and desire to please God that leads us to want to do good works, not a need to work our way into heaven.
Prayer for the Day: Lord, I always seem to be in a hurry. There seems to be so much to do and so little time. Help me ot live on Your timetable and not my own. Give me patience, Lord, and acceptance of Your will and Your way. Amen.
1. The mission group coming from Georgia in July to help with several mission projects
2. Our job situation to be resolved
3. A missionary to work full time in Quito with the boys' home opening in July
4. Funding for the missionary position
Praise
1. Our car is still running with minimal problems
2. The weather was good this week for us as we had to stay around the house this spring break
3. Continued good health
4. 17 people committed to the Ecuador mission trip
return to home page