Thursday, April 22, 2010

No, I Haven't Fallen Off the Face of the Planet


It's been a long three months since I last updated y'all as to what is going on down here. I apologize (it seems every time I write an update, I'm apologizing...). I had plans to write at least one while I was in Ecuador, helping out with the training (it was even already typed up), but then the worst luck hit me when my laptop got stolen... among other things. But I promise to write every two weeks, until I'm finished down here in Peru. I pinky swear, there! ;-)

The training in Ecuador went very, very well! Puyo, Ecuador would be a perfect retirement spot!! I'm just saying... haha We had a solid group of 5 guys who really understood what the missionary's life is all about, and what it means to BE the church... amazing!! I wouldn't be surprised if the 3 Latins all joined up with one of our teams; the other 2 are IMB Jouneymen. I spent the first two months there onsite helping out J with anything that needed to be taken care of, and then we left the training in the last month in the capable hands of other Xtremers. The training ends in 8 days so please be praying for these young men as they are trying to listen to the Lord, and find out where they should be serving.

Right now, my principle job has been to finish our Xtreme Team Training Manual. There have been interesting moments, to be sure, while I've been working on it; moments that make it seem like I'm never going to finish it, but I need to just keep my head up, shake off the little roadblocks, and keep typing until it's done. :) The English version is almost completed; after that, I have to start on the Spanish version: seeing what classes I already have, which ones need to be translated, and then put them all into one manual for our Latin partners.

Other than that, there's not a whole lot going on down here. I haven't wrestled any gorillas, gone tooth-and-nail with a jaguar, or beat down an anaconda lately. I know, I know, I'm losing my edge... hehe Next month we have our annual team meeting in Lima, so I'm really looking forward to that! My mom is even going to be there... be that good, or bad... :-P haha No, I'm just kidding, I'm excited to see her. Then just a few days after that, I go home for a short vacation to see my brother's graduation, hang out with friends, and go on a cruise to celebrate Michael's finishing high school.

Please be praying for a few things these next few weeks:
  • Patience for me to get this training manual done.
  • That everyone's travels to our annual meeting in Lima is safe.
  • That I can stay focused on being in the here-and-now and get my jobs done, instead of thinking only about going home in 6 months from today (not that I'm counting... :D).
There are a few praises as well:
  • All of our teams are going to be able to make it to the annual meeting! There was a large possibility they weren't going to be able to, but they are!
  • This training manual is almost done; there IS light at the end of the tunnel!! haha