A big prayer request...

It's amazing how fast life can slap you upside the head eh?  I've been back for what?  A day and a half?  =)

So...here's the situation...

Maribel and I had a meeting with the owner of the house and her lawyer this morning.  She and her husband have been home visiting from Spain for the past few weeks.  On the upside, supposedly the roof is fixed.  The next big rain will tell.  On the downside, they want $5000 US more for us to continue living here. 

For those of you who don't know, we have what's called an "anticredico" with the house's owner.  We pay a portion of the value of the house, sign a contract for a specific amount of time and then when the contract is finished we get our money back.  So, except for some basic upkeep, we'll end up living here for free.  Which is great for us.  It's good for the owner as well, but that's harder to explain in simple terms.  Chalk it up to life in Bolivia and leave it at that.  I can explain more at another time if you want.  At any rate, it's now time to sign a new contract.

As I said, the owners want to add another $5000 more to the amount we've already paid.  Which wouldn't be that big of a deal (like I said, we eventually get the money back)...except that we don't have it.  As many of you know, I was just home in Canada raising money for our building project, and we did see some money come in.  Unfortunately, when money is designated for a specific project, Revenue Canada says you can't use that for something else.  Like paying paying $5000 to the owners of the house for the anticredico.  Which would probably be tough to explain to Revenue Canada anyhow.

I guess what it comes down to is that we need to raise $5000 as quickly as possible.  I know many of you have given sacrificially to us already and I want you to know that we greatly appreciate that.  Maybe others of you have been thinking about coming on board financially, but haven't made a decision yet.  If I could ask that you prayerfully consider giving towards this need.  I'm not really great at this part of running a ministry (as I think we probably all know), but I do believe with all my heart that these guys are worthy recipients of our help.  And so...that's why I'm asking.

This situation does reinforce the fact that there is a need for us to increase our level of monthly giving (what we receive monthly from donors).  At one time I had built up a buffer of funds for emergencies and situations such as this.  But over the past year, with the growing costs of food and classes, we've used up those funds.

If you'd like to help us, through either a special gift or by coming on board as a monthly donor, just drop me a note at ken.switzer@iteams.org or contact my mission directly at 1-800-465-7601.  They'd be happy to help you. 

This has been a bit of a stressful day as I'm sure you understand.  =)  Thanks for praying and considering this.  I'll keep you updated on how things are going...
 

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And I'm back...

So...obviously I made back to Bolivia safe and sound.  After a sleepless night in Cartagena waking up and wondering every hour on the hour, if I was going to have to fight with the various airlines over the weight of my carry-on...no one even looked at it.  =)  Well...I guess more acurately would be to say they didn't weigh it.  They definitely looked at it. 

Columbia is a tough country to leave.  We had to go through four different security checks where they completely took my bags apart (my friend said that they actually handwand x-rayed her stomach).  And, as it turns out, it also makes US Customs people twitchy when they see you're arriving from Columbia and headed for Bolivia.  The customs guy looked at me...looked at my customs form and said, "Door 15". 

Door 15 led me down a long corridor (all by myself) to another big, kind of scary, set of doors.  Through that door was a big area with x-ray machines and tables and little cubicles that I was pretty sure I didn't want to go into.  A big security type guy took my form and asked me why in the world I was coming from Columbia and leaving for Bolivia.  I earnestly explained that I was a missionary and was headed back to Bolivia where I work with ex-street kids (I get that into every conversation I can).  He looked sternly at me and then started to laugh and told me I could go.  So I did.  Quickly.  Before he changed his mind. 

Then I had an 11 hour wait in what must be the most boring airport in North America.  I couldn't even check in for the first seven hours so I had to push all my luggage around with me. 

My funniest moment came later at the American Airlines desk when I could finally check in.  My first bag was over weight...but just.  The AA lady gave me the lecture about over weight bags, but I could tell her heart wasn't in it and she let me check that bag.  I pulled that one off the scale and put the other one on. 

Yea...it was even heavier. 

So she told me that for sure I couldn't check that bag unless I took something out of it.  So I opened the bag and pulled out a big bag of coffee that had been given to us at the conference.  She said that yes, that was enough.  I promptly (in full view of this lady) put the bag of coffee into my other over weight bag that she'd just checked in.  She didn't even notice.  I laughed...but I made sure I used my inside voice.  You don't want to get the airline ladies annoyed with you.

After that it was just a seven hour flight beside a big, old guy and I was home.  It was funny...it was Jimmy, Andres and Roberto who met me at the airport in Santa Cruz, with no other adults there (Jimmy had driven).  Which was fine...it just felt strange that it was just them...my guys are growing up.  =) 

And so here I am.  I kind of got tossed into the deep end of the pool that first day.  I got to sleep for a couple of hours and then Maribel arrived and told me that the mom of one of the guys we know was at the house and was waiting to talk to me about her son moving in.  I had to tell her (for a number of reasons) that he wouldn't be able to.  Then it was one kind of intense conversation after another all day.  It was all good mind you...just a bit much all at once.  Today wasn't much better...but I'm sure it'll slow down soon.  This is what happens when I'm gone for awhile.  =)  Guess that means they missed me...

Thanks for praying everyone!  Miss you all...
  

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Columbia...

In the ongoing adventure that is my life, I find myself in Cartagena, Columbia. Yes…I know…

Contrary to the strongly voiced opinion of the lady at the airline’s check-in counter, my overweight carry-on did not, if fact, make the plane crash. We arrived just fine. Granted my carry-on was heavier than my checked luggage, but if it doesn’t bother American Airlines…it shouldn’t bother you. It’s the only way I can get all my books and heavy stuff (heavy stuff being the two kilos of chocolate my friend bought me in Austria) on the plane. For the first time ever in my experience, an airline decided to weigh all the carry-ons. So I got busted. The lady told me that if I could get my carry-on down to 12 kilos, she’d let me get on the plane.

Since I was starting at 21 kilos…it seemed that was going to be quite a feat. After three tries I managed to get it down to 13.5 and with a sad and imploring look (and with my shorts falling down from 7 kilos of books stuffed in the pockets) the lady let me get on the plane. Then of course, after that experience I was paranoid the rest of the trip. I kept expecting someone to notice that I could barely lift my bag into the overhead compartment and start yelling at me again.

I guess I should mention why I find myself in Columbia. Life as a missionary is an interesting one, but it definitely has its ups and downs. On the downside, you live thousands of miles from your family and friends…not to mention 7-11’s and Wal-Mart. On the upside, you do get the opportunity to travel and see cool places. It doesn’t happen every day mind you. But it does happen. My mission is holding their regional conference in Columbia this year, and since it wasn’t far off my trip from Miami back to Santa Cruz, I thought I’d attend.

It’s been interesting and very encouraging so far. The founder of International Teams, Kevin Dyer, is speaking and he’s been great. Interesting side note (to me anyhow), I was on the plane with him and his wife from Miami. I actually knew he and a few other IT missionaries were going to be on the flight, but after my battle with the grumpy airline lady I got distracted and forgot. So while Kevin and his wife and all the other missionaries on the flight sat together and visited at the gate, I was sitting in the food court reading a book. ‘Cause you know…that’s so much better than meeting the guy who started the whole shebang.

I didn’t remember they were there until we were in line at immigration in Columbia. Even funnier was that after I remembered and saw them in the line, they talked to the young couple who had been sitting beside me on the plane. They were the other IT people. We sat beside each other all the way from Miami and didn’t talk at all. In our defense, I slept and they were excited about being able to watch a movie in English on the private monitors we all had. So…you know…the priorities of a missionary…

Last night Kevin talked about the history of IT and the different stages it’s gone through…the difficult moments and the celebrations. Then tonight he talked about some of the things he’s learned over the years. Like I said, it’s been very interesting. So much of what he shared felt very applicable to my situation, as I’m moving forward with our building project. Kind of an in over your head but excited to see what God is going to do kind of thing. There were so many moments I felt like he was talking directly to me (and he even kept looking at me…although that might be because I shaved my head and I look like Mr. Clean).

At any rate, we’re only at the halfway point of the conference and I already feel much more encouraged and ready for this next step. It’s good to hear from those who’ve gone ahead of us and learn from their experiences and wisdom.

On Thursday I’ll be sharing in the morning session (just for a bit) about the home and ministry in Santa Cruz. I’m excited and a little nervous (terrified?) at the same time. I’m excited to talk about what God’s doing, but it’s still kind of nerve wracking to get up in front of a crowd of people who’ve been doing this for a lot longer than you have and talk about your work. But it’ll be good.

Besides…I get to spend the afternoon snorkelling, so I’m sure that’ll help me forget any stupid things I manage to say in the morning. As another side note, Cartagena is a pretty cool place. It’s very historic. I’ve only seen the old part of the city from a distance (I’m going on a tour on Thursday) but people tell me it reminds them of Quebec City. So that should be interesting. Our hotel is on this crazy, narrow peninsula with about a hundred other hotels. Tonight we had supper in the seafood restaurant on the 23rd floor with a 280 degree view of the city. Amazing stuff…

Anyhow, feel free to pray for me on Thursday. I’d appreciate it. I’ve been enjoying getting to know some of our other missionaries from across Latin America (basically I knew no one), but I’ve decided I’m the only missionary (possibly on the planet but certainly within IT) who isn’t a morning person. We were put in groups of three to pray together and my group decided (well…two of them decided) that we should meet at 7 AM. I was like, “You want to get up in the middle of the night to pray?” I got them down to 7:30 over breakfast. And breakfast rocks here…so it’s working out. =) Don’t worry…God knows me…he understands.

And in my ongoing quest to annoy everyone in Canada…let me just share that it was + 33 C today and I spent a couple of hours sitting on the beach reading a book. I also got a foot massage from some lady who wouldn’t leave me alone (it’s a common thing here I guess). You’re supposed to pay for it, and I told her no a bunch of times but she wouldn’t give up. She went ahead anyhow and then I explained that I didn’t bring any money to the beach so it ended up being free. So…not my fault…

And…oh yea…and did I mention I’m going snorkelling tomorrow?
 

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Talking with Andres...

This is a short interview I did with Andres when he was studying about why the opportunity to live at the house was important to him.  Andres went on to complete his degree in Finance Engineering (Business) and now works for the ministry handling the finances and much of the day to day running of the ministry.





 

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A prayer request...

UPDATE BELOW...

It's been a strange couple of years health wise for me.  It started when I got rear-ended with my truck and they thought I'd broken a vertebrae in my neck.  The medical people suddently came over to my bed after looking at the x-ray and tried to stabilize my head.  Of course they didn't have a collar so they made one out of cardboard and gauze.  It didn't really work.   

Then there was the crazy "Ken you only have one kidney.  And it might have cancer." conversation.  That was a weird one.

And now it's Typhoid and a stomach that doesn't really like most foods.  I've lost 30 lbs (which is nice) but I'm tired of not really knowing what's going on.  As a weight loss system I don't really recommend it.

Anyhow...tomorrow I'm off in the cold and snow to Kindersley (a couple of hours from Saskatoon for those of you who don't know) to get a camera put down my throat.  I've had this done before and it rates high on my list of things I don't like much.  So I'd appreciate prayer. 

Thanks everyone.  I'll let you know how it goes...  =)

UPDATE:  Things went well.  I was sitting there in my smock and robe watching all the old people recover from their test (there was a line) and everyone seemed to be in good spirits.  I thought, "Maybe I'm just the wimpy one..."  I've had this test done before, and I HATE it. 

When when it was my turn to get an IV I asked the nurse about it and she told me that they knock you right out.  Seriously?  Excellent...  So I was in my happy place when they stuck the big camera down my throat (unconscious).  As per usual, my blood preasure and heart rate dropped during the exam (that's normal for me) so they kept me in a bit longer than everyone else (ie. the 80 year old grandpa) but that was fine.  The lady paramedic was kind of cute.  Although...she was in her paramedic uniform (I think she was just helping out) and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why the RCMP were in my hospital room.  I also seemed to think that talking about my boxers would make me seem cool.  Seriously kids...don't do drugs.

The nurse didn't know much about the results, but she said that if it was anything serious, the doctor would have asked to talk to me before I left.  He didn't.  So whatever it is, it seems it's not a big deal.  I'll know more next week.  So...there you go...
   

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