Help Wanted! The Need is Great!

Vern and I attended the South American Leadership Forum that our mission held in Bolivia.  With working in Venezuela we do have a huge heart for reaching South America.  Often times we are having missionaries come through here from more of our Asian fields but we don't really hear much of the present realities of our South American works.  Therefore this forum was a great way to meet some of our South American Leadership teams and to hear from them first hand of the needs and challenges on each country we work in down there.  Many of our South American works move very slowly.  We have had a lot of missionaries retiring and not many new missionaries are going to some of our South American countries.  So there are great needs to be filled!  We are so thankful for our time in Bolivia.  Our hearts were greatly moved by meeting so many faithful servants who have been plugging away serving the Lord in some very challenging works.  Pray for more laborers!  

Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus

Because of the conditions in Venezuela many Venezuelans are fleeing the country and looking for a place to live.  Thousands are arriving to Peru.  It is of course difficult to find work and a place to live. The school Charlotte works at has seen the challenge of how hard it is for the Venezuelan refugees and wanted to do something about it.  The school had been collecting food and they also spent a chunk of money buying blankets and sweat shirts.  On the day we were there the teachers and students put together care package bags to give out.  Each child left school that day with a bag to give out to a Venezuelan refugee in their neighborhood.  But the school did not stop there.  The staff also invited Venezuelan refugees in for a delicious chicken meal.  It was totally a God thing that we happened to be there on that exact day.  The gospel message was presented and the love of God was lived out in a practical way to these families.  Knowing we had worked in Venezuela the principal asked Vern to say a few words.  It was such a great opportunity to connect with these dear people who have gone through so much in life.  Our lives can NEVER ever compare to what they have just lived through.  Although, we can relate to having to leave a country that we loved so dearly.  Venezuela was the only home our children knew and so we know what it is like to leave a part of your heart behind in Venezuela.  This day and event left such an impact on our lives as we saw the "church" in Peru taking action in trying to impact their community and these refugees who are struggling with real life issues.  

In the Classroom

Our next day in Peru was spent going to school with Charlotte.  It was so much fun to spend some time with Charlotte's class and to see her in action.  Her students love her and she has such great opportunities to invest spiritually into these precious lives.

Landing in Lima

Vern and I just returned from a two week ministry trip to South America.  Since I didn't bring my computer with I did not update my blog during our trip so I will have a few posts on some of the highlights of our trip.  Our first stop was Peru.  Our plane was making a stop off there and our niece teaches in a Christian school there so it was a great opportunity to visit her and the ministry she is involved with.  It just so happened to be Charlotte's birthday so we spent the first day exploring Lima and the city that she calls "home" and celebrating her birthday with her.

On the Final Lap

On Saturday was our open house for the public to come up and walk around and see all of our students and their houses.  It was so good to pop up there and connect with our students, give them a hug and encourage them on in this their last week of jungle camp.  Their time has been good but challenging as well.  As you think of them pray for them in these last days.  Tomorrow the ladies will be taking off first thing in the morning for a two day hike on the Bruce Trail.   The Dads will be juggling caring for their children, doing the wash, cooking, etc. which is all more challenging in their jungle camp houses with their clay ovens. Our students will be moving down from the bush on Friday.  Then next week they will start a much deserved four week break before classes start up again in the fall.  

Road Warrior Stats

So last weekend Titus and I drove like crazy to Chicago, then Titus, Alyssa and I made our way to TN, and then Titus and I returned home.  We traveled over 1,800 miles on this mad dash road trip.  I am very thankful for the safety that God gave us.  We traveled through MI, IN, IL, KY, TN, and Ohio.  And for anyone interested I will post a few Stats of what I observed on this road trip.

 # 1 STATE FOR ROAD KILL -  MI wins this one.  However,  I was pretty impressed that in KY I did see a truck out picking up a dead deer.  So maybe MI is just a state that doesn't clean up its road kill as well as others.  But regardless MI, always has a lot of road kill.

# 1 STATE FOR POOR ROAD CONDITIONS -  Although I think MI needs a lot of help to improve their roads KY was worse.  There were TONS of pot holes.  I think I was especially aware of them as I was driving in the dark in the pouring rain.

#1 STATE FOR TRAFFIC STOPS - KY wins this category as well.  Ohio had a lot of patrol cars out but they were hardly pulling anyone over.   However KY was constantly pulling cars over throughout the whole state.  So either lots of people in KY love to speed, or maybe the state budget was lacking and they needed some more income.  

#1 STATE THAT HAD THE CHEAPEST GAS - TN comes in the winner on this one.  I paid $2.52 a gallon.  I was pretty excited as in the Chicago area it was well over $3.00 a gallon.  However, I always fill up in IN before making it into the city so I can get in and out without having to fill up there.  

The Countdown is On!

On Sunday the ladies in the Schroeder family came together for a Bridal shower for Alyssa.  Due to the timing of the wedding and how far away it is, many people will not be able to make it to the wedding.  So it was nice to celebrate with Titus and Alyssa and to welcome her into the Schroeder family.  The ladies put on a delicious spread of yummy food and Anna made some beautiful decorations!  (Since Vern and I both come from large families it will take years for Alyssa to actually meet everyone.)  In only 36 days Alyssa and Titus become husband and wife!

The Beautiful Bride to Be

6 of the 25 Schroeder Cousins

Titus connecting with two of his Uncles