Updates
Joy.
The countrywide strikes have settled down a bit and most of the roads are “restricted” instead of completely blocked off, so some food and gas is getting through – when the road is there. The one road that crosses the Andes and connects us to the capitol was washed out again (100 meters broke off into the river) when heavy rains hit earlier this month and caused landslides. The repairs are underway and some trucks with provisions were allowed through, so stores and gas stations are restocked. We praise God for his provision and constant care.
Vann has been putting in some long days this month working so hard to get the Howe family’s house ready to move in by the end of this month, but it’ll still be another week or so for the finishing touches to be completed. He has finished the electrical connections, water supply, installed the water heater, hooked up all the drainage, set the toilets, and is making sure that they’ll have internet up and working right away. It’s so close!
Vann is building a chicken coup and inclosure
I have struggled with my health spiraling out again, so my doctor had me double my steroid dose last week. It is miraculous how immediately it helps, and the heart failure whenever I stand or walk is gone! It takes effort, discipline and God’s grace to be thankful in the midst of suffering, but he blesses a thankful heart with his joy! Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
The kids are all doing well, thank God. They are all three excelling in their classes. Ethan still has migraine headaches that come too frequently for comfort, but he soldiers on like his dad. He and Corynn enjoyed attending their international student’s formal gala, proudly wearing their Peruvian accessories! Clara is such a delightful help and companion for us as we all figure out how to live apart from her siblings – that has proven to be a more difficult adjustment since being all together again for Christmas. Their departure after such a wonderful visit for the holidays was hard – it just made the permanence of the separation sink in that much more.
Thank you all so very much for your precious prayers for us – you are holding our arms up like Aaron and Hur did for Moses. We feel so blessed to get to be here and do this work, but we couldn’t do it without you and we pray God’s abundant blessings on your lives!
“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” – Elisabeth Elliot