Drudgery

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Galatians 6:9

When we first started thinking about full time mission work, I have to admit I was pretty excited contemplating the adventure of it all.  I imagined ourselves setting out each day healing the sick and afflicted and sharing the good news of God's redeeming love to people who don't yet know.
Well, that's pretty much what we still do every day, but some days we wake up wanting to call in sick or just getting through the day and waiting for the weekend to start.  Even thought we have some great days and even recently many new people coming to Christ, we get weary in the drudgery of day to day life. So in essence our work is work like any other job. It reminds me of that old Dunkin Donuts commercial about the guy who gets up early every day--"time to make the donuts!"

This even happens to our church partners, lamenting that people just don't want hear about the Word of God.  One of our volunteer promoters was pretty grumpy at the end of clinic a couple of weeks ago because very few of the patients asked for prayer after the consult.  He was wondering why he even wasted his day to be there. Well, yesterday, I tried to make a point of taking patients over to him, especially ones that seemed to be struggling emotionally or spiritually.  I asked him how it went, and he beamed that he spent a good long visit with one couple talking about God's love and the church. He had invited them to services and they seemed eager to visit.  I was so glad to see the renewed enthusiasm in this brother and thanked God for the lift of spirits.

This week we have our friends from our home congregation of Eastside Church of Christ with us. They are all excited to be here and their enthusiasm rubs off on us, so that we remember what a blessing it is to be living this adventure full time!

Trip to Chile

Last month we took a leave to go see Kemmel's dad who had been hospitalized in Chile where he lives.  After two long flights(3 hours and 6 hours) separated by an overnight stay in Bogota due to cancelled flight, we arrived in Santiago about 10pm local time.  Then we made our way to the bus station to take a midnight bus ride to Chillan where Kemmel's dad lives.  We arrived at 0530 and were welcomed by Kemmel's brother Bobby and taken home where his stepmother Marcia fed us and we went to bed for a few hours.
Our time there was difficult as we were only permitted to visit during the one hour visiting time each day--one at a time. But the rest of our visit was good as we got to spend time with family there.  We bundled up each day bracing ourselves for the winter cold which was a little more than expected, haha.  We even made a couple of side trips to Santiago and Concepcion where we did some good urban hiking.  In Concepcion we stayed at an AirBnB right next to the building  that came down during their big earthquake several years ago--a little sobering!
But after a few weeks we had to pack up and come on home and get back to work.  It was hard to leave knowing that Kemmel's dad has a long recovery ahead of him, but trusting in God to help him through it.
When we got back we were greeted with messages and phone calls and hugs from staff and patients and friends who had been praying and were glad to have us back.  It felt good to be missed and we are so grateful for the hard working team we have here and the help from Sheri and  Dr. Feliciano Lux who covered clinics for us.
We are also thankful for our supportive churches and Health Talents for giving us this time to be with family and put our minds at ease.  Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.

Callie, Bobby, and Ron (Kemmel's brothers and niece) 

Midnight bus to Chillan--they take their buses seriously!  Only $12 a ticket for a 5 hour trip.

Fish Market in Chillan

Downtown Santiago

Love us some fried empanadas!  This place in Concepcion had great shrimp and cheese ones.

We visited the port town of Talcahuano.

Sea lions taking over this boat!

So many goodies in market--dried figs, raisins of several varieties, dried apricots and cherries.

Bobby and his girl Javiera accompanying us on an urban hike one day.

Notice I have on a parka and Kemmel in his light fleece!

Planes, trains and automobiles!

Downtown Santiago

Downtown Santiago with a view of the snowy mountains in the background.