Monthly Archives: August 2013

One step forward, two steps…

Praise Reports!

Kalea is doing well with her potty training

We have hot water in our shower! (Yes it does get cool enough to use it!)

For everyday God graces us with life!

For the sunshine and the Momma bird we can see in her nest from our back porch.

For UV flashlights and that we continue to discover the scorpions before they find us. Alan was able to clip the tail off the one in the video and do a little experiment. It appears that they cannot climb smooth metal, so hopefully we´ll scorpion-proof our house asap.

Prayer Requests:

Continue to pray for language learning for Colleen and Kalea…for motivation and ease!

To guard our health by making healthy food choices and exercise

For continued partnership in prayer which sustains us physically, emotionally, and spiritually

What we´ve been up to…

Over the river and through the woods, to the Foster´s house we go! We literally do this to get to our house! We cross the river about 5 times. The road through the river curves and turns and goes up and down. Certain places are surrounded by virgin jungle, where you can hear the monkeys holler (hence the name, howler monkey). Alan left for a few days to work in a community with members from the church, and Kalea and I ventured out for a day trip to “town”, about 45 minutes away by car. This was the first time since living in Panama for one year that I have gone out on my own! (Well with Kalea, but without Alan). When big rains come (which is expected nearly every day in the afternoon) the river swells, and so you can´t cross the river in a car, you have to wait.

When Kalea and I returned from our trip I knew it had rained, and I knew the river was up, but I had trouble gauging the first crossing. I quickly learned that it was too high. Water began filling the floor of the car! I prayed quickly out loud, whew! Our car made it! Kalea was chanting in the background of me praying, “God helped us through? God helped us through?!” We waited another two and a half hours before driving through the rest of the river crossings. We were passed by at least four groups of people on foot, and on horseback. As we waited, I felt it was difficult to be patient. Waiting isn´t always fun, and we don´t always understand its purpose. What challenges are you facing? There is no river too deep for our God! I pray that you are finding peace and patience as you go about your day!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6

Alan visited Villa Caleta with Neldo and Obdulio. Although they were successful in replacing the pump controller that had been fried by a lightning strike, they found that the windmill had been destroyed by another storm and another electrical part was damaged. It felt like one step forward, two steps back, but the system should be able to be repaired and even improved upon to avoid future damage such as this. We stayed with Obdulio´s parents who are a joy to be around. Plantains over the coals was a treat that I hadn´t had in a while.

Be warm and well,

Los Fosters

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzglo5fgOlQ&rel=0]

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August update

We´ve enjoyed being at home in Catrigandí for a short time, although its a lot of work to re-habitate a house that is largely exposed to the comings and goings of the jungle. I got two sealing 55 gallon drums to toss our stuff in while we´re away. Best $20 I ever spent.

The capacitor on the washing machine Pastor Einer gave us exploded, so Colleen has re-mastered washing in the river, which is actually a very useful and necessary skill to have here… both for practical and social reasons. Of course, they don´t carry that part at our dry goods store at the end of the road, so the impending gratitude is growing daily as we await the part and washing consumes more of our time. 

ImageColleen started her first basket weaving with the help of our dear friend, Andrea. This is another important social/economic activity that should help her develop relationships. Some of the larger baskets can take a year or more to complete with the artist working daily and sell for thousands of dollars. Kalea also continues integrate well. Non-toxic markers are always a big hit.Image

We travel tomorrow with Neldo and Obdulio to Villa Caleta to repair the components of a photovotaic powered water system. Please pray for safe travel and open doors to good relationships… also that the weather will cooperate. Rivers are beginning to flood as we get into the wet season. We had wait a while to cross the river to get home the other day. I may have to fab a snorkel for the old car.

There are certainly some beautiful parts of creation here. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4.

Paz y Gozo,

Los Fosters

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