Daily Bread

There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.

- Charles Dickens

    

We had a special gift to buy bread for children this past Christmas. We fed many hungry children, and their parents. They heard about God as they enjoyed the bread. Now they have joy daily as they enjoy the Bread of Life. They first saw God through bread, now they see Him through His Word, and have Him in their hearts.

Matthew 4:4  But He answered and said,"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

Antique Aunt

I John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, 

for love comes from God."

   When I was a child I spent many hours with my great aunt, Aunt Flora. She was in her golden years and loved to crochet. I like to think of her as my antique aunt, cherished, valuable and not forgotten. 

    The beautiful dress in this picture was crocheted by Aunt Flora, just for me. Actually, it was for my doll, but now it is on my bear that was given to me by a friend. Both are reminders to me of lasting friendships.

   Many children in Bolivia call me aunt. It is a form of respect for your elders in this culture. I often wonder if they will remember me as I remember my aunt. Aunt Flora was more than an aunt, she was my friend. When I had a problem I could go to her house, and she would take time to talk, sometimes for hours. Looking back, it was love that came from God. 

   Aunt Flora is gone now, but her memory is lasting. She was a mirror of God's love for me when I was a child. I hope I am a mirror of God's love for children, an antique aunt like Aunt Flora.

   The tiny book sitting on the bear's lap was a gift from a close friend. In it is a quote that sums up Aunt Flora's life. She left a lasting impression of God on my heart.

Some people touch our 

lives only briefly...

while others leave a

 lasting impression and

 are never forgotten. 

                            

 from...  FRIENDS

 are the family we

 choose for ourselves

A Book of Quotations For Friends

Faith Not Fear

   Yesterday we encountered a dangerous situation when armed intruders entered our area. The problem was confronted while God's people prayed. Prayers were answered, and everything returned to normal in a short time.

   Often we fret first, then pray, when we should pray first and not fret. One of our greatest blessings in the ministry is our faithful prayer partners. We know they pray evening, morning and noon, and we see God answer. Prayer changes things.

   "Can you imagine life without fear? What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats?"
    --Max Lucado, Fearless: Imagine your Life Without Fear

Mud ~ Marriages ~ Mesh

Psalms 127:1 "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it;"

   When we started building Rumi Rancho, the local people found it strange that we were working together as a couple in every detail of the construction. We know this because our neighbor, who is the president of our community, told us years later. They call us, Tórtolos, love birds.

   Tórtolos are similar to mourning doves in our area; their name in Spanish translates, love birds. They are known for working together to build their mud bird houses, and they mate for life. Their houses are so meshed together with mud and twigs they never come apart. The birds can always be seen working together. Sometimes you can hear them squabbling, but they always return to their mud house together. 

   God's creation, these love birds, gives an example for marriage. A marriage may not be perfect, but God's plan is perfect. When we come apart, God can mesh us together again. The more we are meshed together, the harder for us to come apart. God's perfect plan is to let Him build the house, so we don't labor in vain. 

             The Lord can build our house and mesh us together, 

           so we won't come apart. Mates for life, like the Tórtolos.

   

   "Nature is God's first missionary. Where there is no Bible there are sparkling stars. Where there are no preachers there are spring times...
    If a person has nothing but nature, then nature is enough to reveal something about God."---Max Lucado                               

Gorgeous George

Acts 13:36a “Now when David had served God’s purpose,
 in his own generation, he feel asleep;”

 
   George was gorgeous and lovable and fulfilled his purpose here in Rumi Rancho. He wasn't a watch dog as much as he was a watched dog, watched by all the kids. They loved to see him come running when they called for him. He would barrel towards them and give them kisses with lots of slobber; they loved it, and him. The smiles and laughs he brought into kids' lives couldn't have been given by anyone else, in the same manner, except by him.

   George only had six short years on earth and then fell asleep; but his memory is etched in the heart of many kids forever. He gave joy and love to all who knew him. He had a purpose in Rumi Rancho. If God can use a dog to give joy, how much more He desires to use us. When we fall asleep for the last time, will we have served God's purpose like David? Will there be slobber of love on smiling faces from us, as the love George left on kids' faces? God has a purpose for each of us. Are we serving our purpose?

    I know not everyone believes in doggy heaven or the story that follows, but I think this quote from Billy Graham gives pet owners comfort. And I like to think George is waiting at Rainbow Bridge.

    "God will prepare everything for my happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there." Rev. Billy Graham

   By the edge of a wood, at the foot of a hill,

is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

when their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

for here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

the time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

and then side-by-side,

they cross over...together.

                            at Rainbow Bridge

                                   Inspired by a Norse legend

Pots of Puchero

Puchero is a typical dish for this time of the year here in Cochabamba. Last week I was invited to enjoy a lovely afternoon in a beautiful house, with a gracious and elegant hostess. There were 80 ladies present, and the meal was this typical stew, Puchero, celebrating the harvest in the valley. It was delicious and the afternoon delightful!

Puchero

6 pieces of beef with bones (beef shanks work well)

6 pieces of chicken (skin and excess fat removed)

1 onion diced

2 carrots, julienned

1 jalapeño pepper, minced

1 tomato, diced

3 ears of fresh corn cut in half or 6 mini ears of frozen corn

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1 head of green cabbage

6 medium-sized, round, red-skinned potatoes, peeled

1 bunch of chard, roughly chopped into large pieces

Salt and pepper to taste

1 t. dried oregano

1 t. dried parsley

1-2 green onions,  finely sliced on the bias (optional)

1 1/2 cups fresh pumpkin or other hard squash, cut into medium-sized chunks

9 cups water or more if you prefer extra broth

•                In a large pot combine water and beef. Bring to a full boil then lower heat to a slow boil, cover and let cook for about 30-45 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for another 30 minutes.

•                Add the onion, carrots, jalapeño, tomatoes, corn, pumpkin or squash, chard, potatoes, salt, pepper, parsley and oregano. Continue cooking for 15 minutes.

•                Add cabbage and garlic. Cook for 15 minutes or until all vegetables added are tender.

•                Add green onions. Cook for 5 minutes longer.

•                Adjust seasonings if necessary.

        It's typical in Bolivia to add pears and sausage to the stew.

         Psalms 94:19 "In the multitude of my thoughts within me
                               thy comforts delight my soul."

Misty Morning Margaritas

Mark 4:16 “Others, like the seeds sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.”

   My name in Spanish is Margarita, for Margaret. Margarita is also the word for daisy in Spanish. I hope I can bloom in rocky places like these margaritas in Rumi Rancho.

  This misty morning, the sun peeked out and the rains ceased, at least for a few hours. We were walking around to check for flooding on the property when I found these margaritas flourishing in the rocks. Amidst all the rain and flooding, these beautiful flowers sprouted from a place where nothing should be growing.

   When we were building our house, we were given these stones that had been on a city street. We put gravel between the cracks, and over the years they seemed to be cemented in the ground. For anything to be growing out of these cracks is almost impossible, yet this beauty emerged.

   The seeds were planted, and spread from other plants with the wind and rain, then fell on rocky land. It is usually dry here most of the year, and because we ration water the plants never get as much watering as they have this year. While there is flooding and devastation all around us from the rains, we see God's beautiful flowers blooming in hard places because the seeds were watered. 

   Some of our people here are facing a rocky road in the next months. Their land is under water, some waist deep, and their crops of corn and alfalfa are gone. But God can bring beauty out of hard places. Let's plant and water even in hard places, so others will receive His Word with joy.

If these margaritas can bloom out of the rocks, 

 we too can bloom in hard places with God's help.