CHRISTIAN HIGHS & LOWS !
To family and friends afar off,
As you know our camera was stolen recently, we now have a replacement, thankfully, but we haven’t taken many photos, so I hope you feel like reading.
Even as a Christian, life is full of highs’ and lows.
Paul says……..”I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
I can really relate to this because I have experienced the contentment in both situations. But still, I find I have low points in my life. That is not to say, I am not trusting God in all things. Even in the low’s I continue to trust God. What I am saying is that, I am a human being with feelings and emotions and the situations around me do affect me. I feel low at times, yet, I have an anchor for my soul.
I want to share an excerpt from my journal describing one of those low times……….
13/8/08
Such a dismal day, thick fog, drizzling with rain, it’s been like this for days, unusual in Agosto, unusual in Lima anytime ! I’m walking along in slippery, slimy mud, no pavement to walk on………welcome to Jicamarca, el Porton to be precise. I need to get to the internet cafe; Greg opted to stay at the casa, the better of two evils if you ask me. Greg is not too well, he’s been unwell on and off for a couple of weeks now. We have an appointment at the Cardiologist on Tuesday.
So, I’ve just walked pass a man urinating on the wheel of a bus …..lovely! Though it’s a common sight, I will never get used to it.
As I splatter along, disgusting smells invade my nostrils, my sense of hearing is assaulted by the noise of various different radios blaring, a mixture of Reggae-ton, or, cu … cu … cu…..Cumbia. Competing noises from car and bus horns add to the chaos. Then to top it all, walks by the rabid dog, wretched to say the least, it’s just skin and bone, somebody should shoot it! Out of compassion for it’s suffering, given a pistol, I would. I feel almost sickened by it all.
I’ve tried 6 different chemists to buy Greg the Betaloc tabs which he needs, not one chemist has them in stock …….. …hopeless.
Before that I tried to get some advice off the vet, our guinea pigs have come down with some dreaded disease which looks like leprosy. Could I get any advice? ........ noooh! the vet is not available.
Poor Greg, he had a terrible day, shooting and burying the dead guinea pigs. He had a good plan, but it was destined to doom. I put 5 of them into double thickness black plastic bags, thankfully the girls helped me. It was Greg’s job to get rid of them. He threw them down into the huge crater nearby; unfortunately the bags split (Peruvian quality) and out popped the guinea pigs, scurrying around the hole. Greg was worried he might cause an epidemic ….. hmmm!........ What did you do in Peru……Yes, well ! We caused a major epidemic and wiped out half the population! He felt he had to do something. With his air gun, he shot the pigs dead, but it was a bloody mess. He had to go down into the crater and bury them somehow, so the rabid dogs wouldn’t eat them and spread more than just rabies.
It’s a crazy place ! We have a bizarre range of duties which include killing cats and guinea pigs, mending clothes, gluing shoes. We bring correction and discipline balanced by love and affection. We are the judge and the jury. Yes we wipe their noses but we also bring hope to neglected, desperate children. They are so needy. We make financial reports and spreadsheets, and have to be nothing short of diplomats to maintain funding with the Germans. We hire and fire people, create contracts of work, organize grocery shopping, create menus and have days out, just for fun. We keep in touch with family and friends, pay bills, order water, fix electrical problems, patch up broken windows, repair holes in the roof, and lock up gates to ensure safety. We try to make a homely environment by making a wood fire on cold nights, and getting a good DVD to watch while eating popcorn. We take photos and have them around the house in frames which inevitably get broken. Man! I could just keep going on and on, it’s never ending.
On the bus coming home, I felt kind of special, the female conductor refused to take my fare, she addressed me as Hermana, “bendiciones Hermana”, she said. (blessings to you sister). Then within minutes, like a ton of bricks, she came down on a middle aged man who was trying to evade paying his fare, she insisted that he pay the correct fare of 70c not 50c, she explained how petrol had gone up twice recently (like everything else) and was determined that he should pay the full fare. This puzzled me, could she possibly appreciate the work we do?
-----------------------------------------------
On reflection, I felt, I was erring on the side of negativity; yet, I couldn’t deny the truth of the situation. I don’t want to ignore how I feel (at times), but I do want to acknowledge that, even during that time an inner contentment remained, because my contentment is grounded in God, not in the situation.
We may be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
In His service and still grateful !
Bridget and Greg
Prayer Points:
1. Healing of emotions and bad memories for Katty.
2. The girls in general would feel settled and contented at the house.
3. Olimpia turns 18 this year, pray that we can find her some employement.
4. Spiritual growth amongst the girls & boys at HopeHouse.
5. The team continues to work towards the same goals.
6. God’s guidance regarding furlough for Greg and I, possibly sometime next year.
7. Greg’s health.
8. We may know God’s grace towards all of us, but in a personal way.
Praise Points:
1। Most of our girls have adapted to Greg and I living in a separate house।2। Financial support has increased since our last newsletter.3. We have employed two new staff who share the position of ‘mother’. They have been with us for two months now and are both very reliable, a true blessing.
4. It was determined from Patty's final eye appointment, that she does not need an operation to maintain her sight, provided that she continues to use eye drops. 5. In June the teams from Colorado and Atlanta have again blessed our socks off.
As you know our camera was stolen recently, we now have a replacement, thankfully, but we haven’t taken many photos, so I hope you feel like reading.
Even as a Christian, life is full of highs’ and lows.
Paul says……..”I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
I can really relate to this because I have experienced the contentment in both situations. But still, I find I have low points in my life. That is not to say, I am not trusting God in all things. Even in the low’s I continue to trust God. What I am saying is that, I am a human being with feelings and emotions and the situations around me do affect me. I feel low at times, yet, I have an anchor for my soul.
I want to share an excerpt from my journal describing one of those low times……….
13/8/08
Such a dismal day, thick fog, drizzling with rain, it’s been like this for days, unusual in Agosto, unusual in Lima anytime ! I’m walking along in slippery, slimy mud, no pavement to walk on………welcome to Jicamarca, el Porton to be precise. I need to get to the internet cafe; Greg opted to stay at the casa, the better of two evils if you ask me. Greg is not too well, he’s been unwell on and off for a couple of weeks now. We have an appointment at the Cardiologist on Tuesday.
So, I’ve just walked pass a man urinating on the wheel of a bus …..lovely! Though it’s a common sight, I will never get used to it.
As I splatter along, disgusting smells invade my nostrils, my sense of hearing is assaulted by the noise of various different radios blaring, a mixture of Reggae-ton, or, cu … cu … cu…..Cumbia. Competing noises from car and bus horns add to the chaos. Then to top it all, walks by the rabid dog, wretched to say the least, it’s just skin and bone, somebody should shoot it! Out of compassion for it’s suffering, given a pistol, I would. I feel almost sickened by it all.
I’ve tried 6 different chemists to buy Greg the Betaloc tabs which he needs, not one chemist has them in stock …….. …hopeless.
Before that I tried to get some advice off the vet, our guinea pigs have come down with some dreaded disease which looks like leprosy. Could I get any advice? ........ noooh! the vet is not available.
Poor Greg, he had a terrible day, shooting and burying the dead guinea pigs. He had a good plan, but it was destined to doom. I put 5 of them into double thickness black plastic bags, thankfully the girls helped me. It was Greg’s job to get rid of them. He threw them down into the huge crater nearby; unfortunately the bags split (Peruvian quality) and out popped the guinea pigs, scurrying around the hole. Greg was worried he might cause an epidemic ….. hmmm!........ What did you do in Peru……Yes, well ! We caused a major epidemic and wiped out half the population! He felt he had to do something. With his air gun, he shot the pigs dead, but it was a bloody mess. He had to go down into the crater and bury them somehow, so the rabid dogs wouldn’t eat them and spread more than just rabies.
It’s a crazy place ! We have a bizarre range of duties which include killing cats and guinea pigs, mending clothes, gluing shoes. We bring correction and discipline balanced by love and affection. We are the judge and the jury. Yes we wipe their noses but we also bring hope to neglected, desperate children. They are so needy. We make financial reports and spreadsheets, and have to be nothing short of diplomats to maintain funding with the Germans. We hire and fire people, create contracts of work, organize grocery shopping, create menus and have days out, just for fun. We keep in touch with family and friends, pay bills, order water, fix electrical problems, patch up broken windows, repair holes in the roof, and lock up gates to ensure safety. We try to make a homely environment by making a wood fire on cold nights, and getting a good DVD to watch while eating popcorn. We take photos and have them around the house in frames which inevitably get broken. Man! I could just keep going on and on, it’s never ending.
On the bus coming home, I felt kind of special, the female conductor refused to take my fare, she addressed me as Hermana, “bendiciones Hermana”, she said. (blessings to you sister). Then within minutes, like a ton of bricks, she came down on a middle aged man who was trying to evade paying his fare, she insisted that he pay the correct fare of 70c not 50c, she explained how petrol had gone up twice recently (like everything else) and was determined that he should pay the full fare. This puzzled me, could she possibly appreciate the work we do?
-----------------------------------------------
On reflection, I felt, I was erring on the side of negativity; yet, I couldn’t deny the truth of the situation. I don’t want to ignore how I feel (at times), but I do want to acknowledge that, even during that time an inner contentment remained, because my contentment is grounded in God, not in the situation.
We may be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
In His service and still grateful !
Bridget and Greg
Prayer Points:
1. Healing of emotions and bad memories for Katty.
2. The girls in general would feel settled and contented at the house.
3. Olimpia turns 18 this year, pray that we can find her some employement.
4. Spiritual growth amongst the girls & boys at HopeHouse.
5. The team continues to work towards the same goals.
6. God’s guidance regarding furlough for Greg and I, possibly sometime next year.
7. Greg’s health.
8. We may know God’s grace towards all of us, but in a personal way.
Praise Points:
1। Most of our girls have adapted to Greg and I living in a separate house।2। Financial support has increased since our last newsletter.3. We have employed two new staff who share the position of ‘mother’. They have been with us for two months now and are both very reliable, a true blessing.
4. It was determined from Patty's final eye appointment, that she does not need an operation to maintain her sight, provided that she continues to use eye drops. 5. In June the teams from Colorado and Atlanta have again blessed our socks off.
posted by Bridget and Greg | 1:34 PM
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