The following is a nice link to some work our friends are doing in Thailand. God is working in so many good ways.
Alumni use their talents to advance Thai school
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Monthly Archives: May 2012
Our next steps.
Language school in Costa Rica, August 2012
Move to Curahuasi, Peru, Summer 2013
Initial Commitment for 5 years
But our hope is to stay for our lifetime
Which do you want first?
Which do you want first? The good news or the bad news? This question always presented a conundrum. Bad news first so that the good news can cheer you up afterward? Good news first so that you’re ready for some bad news? We had some “bad” news yesterday concerning our preparation for Peru. It wasn’t that bad– one disappointing piece of news, one thing that was just an unexpected change. After going through a bit of wrestling with defensiveness, I was doing the dishes in the evening and it seemed like God reminded me that He had given us the good news first. We have had several amazing answers to prayer in these last few weeks. We were able to reserve a convenient and lovely home in San Jose, in a good public school district, right next to the language school, with the same bed sizes that we have now (these details matter!). This house is currently being rented by our new friends at the language school, friends who are actually moving to Cusco, so we’ll be able to see them in Peru. (See May newsletter for more details.) We found out that we have some time to prepare the kids for Spanish immersion school since it doesn’t begin until February. The Father has given me a fresh peace about “getting everything done.” God has been faithful. After the kids were in bed, Will and I were going over our mailing list and supporters list. It is a humbling realization that these wonderful people want to help you do the Lord’s work. Again, more good news.
I was reflecting this morning that the Bible often mixes the good news with the bad news. In Genesis 15, God tells Abraham that he will have descendants (good), that they will be oppressed and enslaved for 400 years (bad), and that God Himself will vindicate and rescue them (good). John 15 and 16 are full of these contrasts: they will kick you out of the synagogue and think that they are doing God a favor by killing you, but the Holy Spirit will be with you and teach you what to say; I am going away, but the Counselor will come to be in you forever; “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33.
AC
A message from Dr. Klaus John
Dear Will,
We train nurses and a few national residents. We help 400 children every week to come closer to Christ. And in fact the existence of the mission hospital is to thousands of Peruvians proof that God loves them. Over the past 4 ½ years we have celebrated 1,200 church services. Every day at least a 100 new people enter the hospital for the first time. That means that so far 120,000 different people have been exposed to the gospel at our hospital during the first 4 ½ years only.
In June we will be starting the school project. The school could touch thousands of lives with the good news of Christ as well.
Klaus
Allison, Will, and Dr. Klaus John
Saturday
Annie convinced Allison to let them try tie-dying. 
Braum’s ice cream. Birthday cake flavor.
Rode from our house to White Rock Lake. The kids are real troopers on their 16 and 18 inch tires. I think they pedal 4-5 times for every one revolution I do on my bike.
Piano Recital.
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They played great!
Breakfast with Grover, Jana, and Teddi Pinson
The Pinsons are old friends of ours from Corpus Christi. They are great people and are a great encouragement to us. Grover was the pastor of our church, Windsor Park Baptist Church for the three years we lived in Corpus Christi, TX. Grover and Jana Pinson arrived at Windsor Park around 2005, and Grover has been a faithful pastor to this body of Christ from a small beginning to a not so small current status. When we joined the church in early 2006, there were no other young families at the church besides the Pinsons, and at first glance from my perspective, there was hardly anyone less than 60 years of age, with most seeming older than 70. The total population was about 20. Grover and Jana served this older remnant with enthusiasm and love. Every week, Jana faithfully cooked Sunday lunch for the entire congregation. This tradition of service and fellowship continues to this day. Grover worked jobs outside the church to financially provide for his own family’s needs. They have been a wonderful example of sacrificial servant leadership to us. Because of Grover’s connections to the South Texas School of Christian Studies where he taught Masters levels classes he had many connections to young seminary students. These students followed him to Windsor Park, serving the church with their training and enthusiasm. Several ex-pastors have made their home in the church, finding it a place to rest from their life’s labors for Christ. Over time many of the older members have died receiving their eternal reward, being replaced by younger families. It is a special place, and we are glad to have been a part. When we began raising support to do missions, this church is the first place we called. They welcomed us with open arms, and we are glad to be back in a more active relationship with them.
Bible Study Fellowship
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A bedside view of Allison reading her BSF notes on a Monday night before her class meeting on Tuesday morning.
Last night was the last night of my second year of being a discussion group leader in Bible Study Fellowship. BSF is focused on average, ordinary people studying the Bible together and teaching one another about the good things of God.
It has four components: 1. Daily questions about a passage of scripture being studied. 2. A discussion with small group members regarding the questions. 3. A lecture over the studied passage of scripture. 4. Five or six pages of typed notes reviewing the previous weeks study.
It is a great resource for studying God’s word and allowing Him to work through the Bible and the Holy Spirit to change your character to become more like Christ. It has a children’s program, so Allison and the kids have all been a part this year giving us a bond in our study of the Acts of the Apostles as well as many of the new testament letters. The BSF training program has been a huge blessing in my life for many years, but especially the last two as I have served as a discussion group leader. To be exposed the the wisdom of Godly men as they searched the scripture and pursue God has been a great blessing. I am going to miss it greatly as we move to Costa Rica and then Peru. If you are interested in learning more about BSF check out their website at http://www.bsfinternational.org.
What is actually going on in Peru?
Diospi Suyana’s website goes to great effort to describe the work they are doing in Peru. The following is a short description of the work.
What is the focus of Diospi Suyana Hospital? Diospi Suyana exists to serve the mission of Christ to the Quechua people of Peru and to accomplish the following objectives:
Improvement of medical care for the Indians and the impoverished rural population through outpatient and inpatient treatment, training of native Indian nurses and “Promotores de Salud” (community nurses), cooperation with existing government medical facilities, patient education about prevention of communicable diseases, and affordable medical care for the poor sponsored by charitable donations
The spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ in cooperation with native churches through hospital chaplains, mass media, the testimony of missionaries, and services and Christian events at our amphitheater with 4,000 seats
Enhancement of the social status of the Quechua culture through the choice of an Quechua name for the hospital, the treatment of patients with the utmost respect, the use of the Quechua language as a means of communication (at least at a basic level), and the training of indigenous co-workers
Celebrating the Snow Star Festival in the Peruvian Andes – NYTimes.com
This article helped me understand more of the syncretism of the religious life in Peru. The Peruvians pictured in this story are carrying crosses on their pilgrimage in order to dance all night in worship to the mountain gods.
Celebrating the Snow Star Festival in the Peruvian Andes – NYTimes.com.
cairesonmission 