Im here and smiling!

May 16th, 2008
Hola mi Familia y mis amigos
First let me apologize for the lack of communication thus far. Although on a different flight, I arrived the same day as the North Park team which created a bit of distraction from my regular scheduling. I do not yet have my schedule, but I will post that information as soon as I get it. There are times that we will spend a few nights in the Chaparae (jungle) but other than that, I expect to be able to be near email weekly. I will update my blog a few times a month, I imagine. This of course is not a promise, only my expectations. The work I am doing currently is not something too big, but we have realized even in these little things God’s work can continue to be done. (I’ll write about the updates on all the orphanages at a later point) Even the work behind the scenes needs to get done.
Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes through out that first week. Missed my flight (due to another flight running late), lost baggage, and flying alone left me feeling rested after a great deal of time to relax in the La Paz airport. It was wonderful. God was very good to me through out the day, lifting my spirits just when I needed them to be so.
Arriving felt good and right. Having the team here has been a huge blessing to me. Feeling like a bit of home came with to see me off. Of course, this is a selfish thought, but Andrea and I have allowed ourselves to continue to feel this way J. Andrea, is another huge blessing to me. She will be here for the next six weeks. She is my roommate and friend from last year. Words can hardly begin to describe how wonderful it has been to have her here. Tomorrow we will get two more interns, who will share a room with us. (There are four other interns here currently all leaving at different times).
Because the team is here, I do not quite know where things stand with what my ministry will look like. I continue to work hard on my Spanish, but also continue to struggle. I have prayed a few times looking for a ministry I can work with in English. I know that I did not fly this many miles to speak English, but there are a number of students who want to learn English and students who are children of missionaries that I would love to work with. Playing with the orphans is a great deal of fun, but I cannot do that everyday for the next 7 months (at least that what Mike Timmers thinks –more on this later).
I’ll try to wrap this up soon, let me just highlight a few things:
My Birthday:
Thank you very much for the kind letters, cards, emails, and facebook messages. My birthday was a tough day, but I was surrounded by love. The interns bought me cake and the team sang Happy Birthday. It was wonderful & a great surprise.

Things that have made me smile:
-Peanut butter
-Hannah Schultz made me a beautiful book with letters and poems from friends. It was so thoughtful and I love reading it.
-I appreciate the skirted women on the doors of bathrooms. The word for girl or woman seems to change a lot.
-I have been given a great deal of grace for my lack of Spanish.
-Customs was a breeze. Yes Paul, you were right.
-Light switches are opposite
-I am giant and overweight here J

Timmer Family:
They are absolutely wonderful to us. Emily, their second to youngest one, let Andrea and I play American Girl dolls with her. Really, this was such a treat. Its nice to have moments like this that are simple that are not such a struggle. The Timmer Family is made up of:
Mike and Bonnie
Tiffany who is getting married this summer and goes to Hope College in
Michigan
Ashley who goes to Colombia in Chicago
Mallory who graduates high school in a few weeks and will be attending Hope
Sydney who will be a junior in high school in a few weeks
Emily who just turned 10 year a few weeks ago
Gracie who is 3 years old and adopted, although very very very much an equal part of
the family.

Well, I apologize for the length of this, I imagine though they wont get any shorter. Sorry about that. But let me conclude with a few prayers requests: Andrea and I have been very blessed to not have gotten sick from food or from water. A number of those on the team are sick or have been sick, so we pray for continued strength and health. I also ask for continued grace with my lack of Spanish and ability to continue learning.
Thank you for your faithfulness,
Love and Blessings