The Hendersons ~ On a Journey 4 Him Weblog...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Hello, Beloved Family, Friends, and Prayer Warriors!

First, we would like to apologize for our lack of communication over the past few weeks. We love each of you and covet your prayers. 

Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  ~1 Peter 5:8

The past few weeks have been very difficult for our family. Due to issues that we WERE having in our marriage, we sadly turned in our resignation to IMB Connecting, and on October 19, we returned to the USA.  

At this time, we are seeking God’s face for insight into our future. Putting Him first, He is showing us His unconditional love and directing our paths on how to make our marriage and family unity stronger.

The children have almost completed their second week of school at a private Christian academy in our town. Through family and our friends at the school, God has blessed our children with a seemingly smooth transition during a very bumpy and unexpected journey back to the States.

We hope that you will continue to bathe our family in prayer daily:

• Marriage
• Family
• Children (school, friends, routines)
• Transitioning back to the States (home, need for jobs, etc.)

Also, please don’t forget to pray for our Peruvian friends and family’s needs (IMB teams, villagers, students, and interpreters)—spiritual, emotional, and physical.

         Thanks so much for your support and prayers!! 

We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

~Psalm 124:7-8

 

Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.

~Isaiah 40:28-31

Another Road Trip 4 HIM

Yesterday, Brian and the George Greene team arrived back safely into Lima. It was great to see good "home grown" MS folk down in the DEEP South (America) sharing the gospel with us. :)  Nick Wolfe, Dusty Sherrell, Ilene Read, and Bobby Walley came to work in the Chillon River Valley.

Sydney and Skylar got out of classes a little early due to teacher conferences being written in as part of their school day. After 45 minutes of teacher conferences, we traveled across town and met the team at the Indian Market. They were happily buying their last souvenirs to take back home to Mississippi. It was fun to spend a little quality time with the team before they left for the airport. 

Brian says that the George Greene trip was a good one!  They were able to gather much information about different happenings in the villages over the past few months. They also had a baptism service at the river. Thank God there were no broken legs on this go-around!! The team was able to work in a school in one of the new villages located/adopted during the April trip.

This past week was a bit of a struggle. While Brian was out of town, we all have been a little under the weather. Sydney's cold from last week had been passed on to Felicia, who had gotten a sore throat and a very stopped up head. Then, poor Skylar caught the cold and ran fever on Wednesday.  Although everyone is feeling somewhat better, please continue to pray for good health in our family and in the families at the kids' school. This cold/cough seems to be something that is being passed around from family to family to teacher.

Tomorrow, Felicia leaves out with a team from Kentucky.  It's the team that our family actually visited during the summer in the States.  She will be gone with the 10 member Kentucky group, 4 interpreters, and another M until Thursday.  Please pray for safe travels, health, and for the ministries they will be doing as they share the gospel in the Chancay River Valley. Pray for the people that will be hearing the gospel!!

Pray for Brian and the kiddos as Felicia travels. 

Continue to pray for our family:  spiritually, emotionally, and physically! We thank you in advance for each prayer lifted up to our Father!

Stay tuned for the monthly newsletter; it will be coming out after Felicia's travels and return back to Lima.

 

 

 

George Greene Is Heading Our Way SOON!!

Brian made it back last Wednesday night with the Watson Chapel team who had traveled 8 + hours away from Lima on a vision journey.  They traveled to high altitudes of 16,000 ft. He got to see and drive in snow.  The pics are breathtaking, and are further proof of what an awesome Creator we have!! The team arrived back with smiles and was in good cheer of their travels and witnessing of what God has in the works for them. The group visited our Wednesday night Bible study and traveled back to Arkansas soon thereafter.

Meanwhile, we've helped Sydney get caught up on several weeks of make-up work.  Skylar didn't really have much, which was a blessing.  It took my effort on my part to keep prompting Sydney to "getter done."  LOL.  Most days in La Molina are sunny and warm, which is very different from the rest of the gloomy gray Lima. She would rather be outside playing in the afternoons than bundled down with homework and extra work. 

At first, I've had many allergies due to the dustiness of this house and mountainside. It's a gray mountainside behind the house, and it blows straight in.  The house is nice and spacy, and we have a big yard, which is a plus, but the floors and sidewalks are always dusty! One could sweep SEVERAL times a day and get tons of dirt out of the house.  Therefore, sneezing and stuffed up noses are common for me. In addition to allergies, Sydney got a full-fledged head cold, along with coughing this week. We were told that several had been sick at school with the same mess. She actually stayed home from school yesterday from the constant coughing. Please pray for our health. 

Brian leaves again on Sunday.  A team from the George Greene Association will roll in Sat. night. Please pray for the team and him as they travel to the Chillon River Valley. Pray for the people they will be sharing with to have open hearts and to want discipleship.  Pray for the kids and me as we will be in Lima.

 

 

 

On the Field

Thanks for all of your prayers.  We finished up our final packing Wednesday night, August 31, and Bro. Mark Williams hauled us to the airport on Thursday morning.   Thankfully, we had an uneventful, un-delayed flight back to Lima. Two of our friends picked us up at the airport late that night and delivered us safely to the guesthouse. Friday morning, another great friend, came over, the other two joined us, and we all headed to the house to move furniture and all our belongings from storage into the house. 

On Saturday, we have our first day of lessons and Bible studies. God has sent three fabulous ladies (college students/a volunteer) to help minister to the nationals in our classes.  On Sunday, we went to church and then headed over to "officially" move into the house.

This week has been busy:  unpacking, making some more repairs to the house (no water many hours per day for the first couple of days, no hot water, etc.), catching the kids up on 3 weeks of missed school work, unpacking, running errands to the store, getting Brian ready to go on a vision journey with a team, unpacking.  Did I mention unpacking?  haha!  I also met, went over ideas and plans, and hung out with the ladies who are now part of the teaching ministry. In addition, we had a "packed house" on Wednesday night for Bible study.

Brian left early yesterday morning going to Huanuco, which is about 8 or so hours away from Lima. The kids and I headed across town to class with a sweet teammate who came to pick us up and give us a lift. All went smoothly, and I so enjoy seeing all the Peruvian faces that I've missed the past 2 months. 

Our Vonage phone has died, so if you are trying to reach us, you will need to Skype with myuser name, or send me an email asking for our Skype telephone # (which we'll use until we get a new Vonage box sent in). 

Please keep us in your prayers:

*  traveling/catching rides and taxis to classes and other events

*  our health--physically (our allergies have went haywire due to adjusting back to the dusty concrete desert), emotionally, spiritually

*  children's continued transition back to Peru, into classes, and into a busy routine of life

*  Brian and teammates as they travel and conduct a vision journey (the altitude was 16,000 ft. yesterday, and he had a terrible headache)

*  Lindsay, Kaleigh, Liz, Jim, and us as we build relationships and teach classes/Bible studies

*  For students and interpreters to open up to the Holy Spirit as we teach them about Christ and train Believers to be national partners

*  the lost who desperately need Christ

*  our families who are back in MS

 

July/August Prayer Newsletter

After a fun-filled stay in Mississippi, we are getting ready to head back to Peru!!  Please keep our family & families in your prayers.

Also, Brian's grandfather is having a heart cath. tomorrow.  Please keep him in your prayers.

  Download July August 2011 newsletter here! :) 

 

Mississippi Happenings

We've been in Mississippi for over a month now. 

First, we had to kind of overcome the culture/environmental shocks that we experienced, and are still slightly experiencing, from being back in the USA.  I mentioned some of those things in an earlier post.  It still seems so quiet and empty when we are driving around town and even in Mobile. No horns are blaring, and the traffic is so orderly.  I see no public transportation, such as taxis or buses.  In addition, it is stinking HOT and wet/stormy in Mississippi, unlike the cold, damp winter  (drifting in from Pacific Ocean)  in Lima. Also, I still notice myself grabbing and kissing everyone up side of the head, which is a very typical Peruvian greeting.  I may get some crazy stares, but I keep forgetting! Ha!  :)

Second, Skylar and I both had appointments at our doctors for more check ups and to have some final paperwork sent in to our medical mission.  I am still waiting on results from one labwork, so that I can scan and send it. Skylar was given a different test and diagnosis about his stomach,  and this doctor also agreed that he does not have acid reflux. He discontinued taking the medication prescribed in Peru, and is taking an over-the-counter medication to get his system in check. All seems to be going fine.  Please continue to pray for complete healing on his digestive system. Pray for God's will on our getting medically cleared quickly. Our airline tickets will be purchased as soon as we get clearance. The tentative date for us to return to Peru is around August 30.

Third, Brian has worked the ENTIRE month (and is still finishing up) on building an enclosed shop. It's up, and the camper has been moved over to the lot that Brian's mom and dad had cleared and waiting on us to arrive.  Please pray for Brian's aches and pains to go away! We still have to move the things out of the crate, get the crate moved over to the lot, and everything repacked back into it.  We possibly have less than 2 weeks in MS to do this. :S

Fourth, we have been sharing our hearts about what God is doing in Peru. We have had the honor of sharing with Pleasant Hill Methodist Ladies' Group, Midway Baptist's Youth (VBS), Bexley Baptist, and at ABC's Music & Missions (GA's, RA's, and Mission Friends).  We also were guests at M4 Kid's Camp. In addition, we have had the privilege of sharing breakfast, lunch, and even dinner dates to share the great things God is doing with our friends . This coming weekend, we have been invited to travel to Kentucky to visit with and speak to Grace Baptist; they have a team that works through our REAP North Peru team, sharing the gospel to villages many times each year.  We will be gone a week. Please pray for our safe travels and health, and for God to speak through us in a mighty way!

Last, but definitely not least, we have been enjoying seeing our friends and family while we are in Mississippi.  Cookouts, Gringo food, and great family and fellowship....

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for my grandmother, Nerene Miller.  She was hospitalized tonight with her heart.
• As our time narrows down in Mississippi, please be praying for us, especially the kids and grandparents, as we get ready to transition  into our next journey for HIM. 
• The kids will go straight back to school, and we'll have to play catch-up on the weeks they have missed.  Pray for our getting back into a routine and for the make-up work to be done quickly and easily.
• Pray that the mission house's repairs (that we will be moving into) will be completed upon our return,  so that we can move our things straight in. 
• Pray for the Kaleigh, Liz, and Lindsay, as they travel to Lima mid-August; pray for them to stay God-centered and for Him to use them mightily as they come to help me teach EFL and Bible studies to Lima students and intepreters.
• Pray for our team, which has been downsized and shifted around. Pray we stay focused on HIM, make wise decisions, and let Him work through us in a mighty way.

 

The Miller Family Get-together!

 
Joyce's (aka Granny) Birthday

 

The Slab for the Shop

 

Finishing Up the Project
 

July 2011 Prayer Newsletter

Happy Fourth of July!! We hope that your day is blessed. 

 

We have arrived in Mississippi for 2 months. You'll find a link for our prayer newsletter below for a summary of June's events.

 

Your prayers and love mean so much to me. A simple thank you is not enough for you. We know God will bless you for your service to Him.

Download July 2011

Transitioning Back Into the Land of Gringos!

Getting readjusted to the USA--

• WOOP WOOP!  First time I have driven (with the exception of the week I drove and almost had a nervous breakdown in Lima--ha!!) in 2 years! I CAN still drive!  I LOVE an automatic transmission!!! There is NO traffic, and the few vehicles that are on the roads stay in their own lanes and get into turning lanes to turn! HAHA!
• Although we had lots and lots of choices in Lima, there are WAYYYYYYYYY too many choices in WalMart and on the menu in fastfood restaurants. In Lima, you basically have to cook mostly from scratch, UNLESS you want to pay a huge price for the few prepackaged mixes that are offered. Brian and I both feel a little overwhelmed.  It's the first time I went into WalMart in 2 years.  I can't say if I actually liked the experience.  HA.
• It's odd to hear English everywhere we go!  In the Atlanta airport, Sydney said, "Mom, they are speaking ENGLISH!!"  HAHAH!  Brian and I felt back at "home" when we heard 3 Spanish-speaking males shopping/talking in Lowe's. I just stood nearby and listened.  HAHAH.
• I'm having to relearn to wash dishes again (using a 2-bowl sink and liquid soap). I only had a one-bowl sink in our apartment. We bought a round tub of solidified soap, in which you wet and rub a sponge into, wash the dish, and rinse it. We do not fill up the sink with water. Also, we do not have to filter our water to drink!
• The heat and humidity here is WOWZA!!!  We left in Lima's winter. The closer to the ocean, the less chances you'll see any sunshine. There's a common saying that the sky looks like the belly of a donkey.  The mist rolls in from the Pacific, and everything is damp and cold, which can make one chilled to the bone.  It was in the mid-60's, which makes it feel much colder than a 60's in Mississippi.  To step into 100 degree weather was a little overwhelming to say the least. My leg doesn't like it; it's been swelling more than usual, so please say a prayer for the bloodflow to be good, no clotting, and for the swelling to go away.
• We're getting used to air-conditioning. Of course, we need it here, but when we first arrived, our bodies took a little getting used to it.
• If I greet you with a hug and give you a cheek-to-cheek touch (or even give you a kiss on your cheek), please don't think I am being forward or too friendly for your liking. In Peru, that is the typical greeting. :)  I love Peruvian greetings!!
• Although my Spanish was fairly basic, I have caught myself saying, "Gracias," and I've heard Brian using Spanglish, too. We aren't trying to "show-off" the few words we know, but it's just a matter of habit.  HA!
• We didn't subscribe to cable TV in Lima. Skylar and Sydney are enjoying all the kid channels!
• Hmmm.  We can actually flush our toilet paper here!!!  In Lima, you only flush IF YOU WANT TO DIG IT BACK OUT BY HAND. Ugh.  hahah. I won't mention which one of us learned this mistake the hard way. 

I'm sure there will be many, many more things that I've forgotten or will notice later.  :)

Do pray for our transitioning. As soon as we get adjusted, it will be time to head back, and we'll have to restart again.

Pray for good times with our families. 

Pray for safety and our health. 

Pray for quick and uneventful medical clearance with our company.

 

Time to Head to Mississippi for Two Months!

Well, last week was a little hectic, to say the least. Last Thursday, a moving truck came and moved the furniture and appliances into storage. We slept on the floor Thursday night, and the kids finished up their school on Friday. Friday afternoon, we moved the final items from the apartment into storage and attended the kids' awards program at their school.  Friday night, we moved to a hotel on the other side of town to Miraflores, where most of the other M.'s reside. On Saturday, we attended a former M. and her fiance's wedding. It was a blessing to see the happy couple exchange their own personalized vows.  We moved to another hotel on Saturday night.

Our Sunday will be a day that is implanted in my brain forever. We went to church. After the service, there would be a concert and baptism service in the afternoon.  Freddy, who I mentioned in our last post for prayers, wanted to go, and so did Anibal. Pastor Daniel asked Brian to assist in the 10 baptisms. At the end of those baptisms, they asked were there any more who wanted to be baptized. Brian stared over our way. Seconds passed by, and Freddy said, "I'm going."  I thought he meant he was leaving the service. He shoved his wallet, phone, and things from his pocket at me. In fact, he meant he was going to be baptized. He was going in the clothes he had on. What a special moment!!! He headed up to the stage, and I ran over to the side so I could catch his baptism on video. Brian was given the honors!!!  WOW!!!  God is at work. Freddy followed through in Jesus' command to be baptized as a symbol of obedience and to publicly proclaim he is a follower of Christ.  AMAZING!  Thankfully, another friend, whisked Freddy to the back and rounded him up some dry clothes. After all, it IS winter here!!! :) There is no heating in the facilities.  Pray for him; God has a special plan for his life. He is a pro at skateboarding, and he has the opportunity to not only be a great role model for others, but pray for boldness as he can share Jesus to others through his giftedness.

Freddy, Felicia, & Anibal waiting on the baptisms & concert to begin

 

 

Pastor Daniel & Brian performing one of the 11 baptisms

We've seen doctors and gotten bloodwork and immunizations done in preparation for our medical clearance for our company. We still have some other appointments and paperwork to be completed when we hit the States. I received great news that my bloodclot is 90% clear now!!  Praise the Lord!!!  I was given an okay by my doctor to travel.

Tomorrow night, we will head to the airport to travel to Mississippi in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Pray for safe and uneventful flights for us. Pray for there to be no re-clotting in my leg as we travel.  Pray for our dear friends/family that we'll be leaving behind as we head to see our families in Mississippi.

The Moving Has Begun!

Ok, it's official. The moving has begun.  The M. living room set is wrapped in plastic, unusable at this point. I've wrecked out the clothes in my closet and most have been moved to storage.  I am living off of little stacks surrounding our bed. When we head to Lucedale in a week and a half, the wardrobe will have to change. It's winter here, so the temperatures are milder than the hot, steamy Mississippi.  The dining room table and chairs are gone. We are using our office chairs and Brian's desk as our "table."  The kids' beds are gone, but they are using their mattresses.  Today, Jim helped us haul, so we have a total of 5 small truck loads in storage.

Everyone but Skylar (so far, so good!) has had some sort of little accident in our moving. Last night, as I was trying to pick up and shove a suitcase full of my clothes out of the way, it landed on my sandaled foot, which happened to be the former "bad" leg, breaking my big toe's nail in half and squishing it. OUCH!!!  Today, Sydney and Brian got banged in the head with boards from the bed from the Jimmy Holcomb suite. HAHAHA!   In addition to the minor incidents, I am highly allergic to stirring in the dust (remember, we live in the desert by the dirt mountains), so my nose is SO stopped up, and it is running nonstop. I collapsed into the bed this evening with a Benadryl.  Pray we quit being accident prone and that my head will clear VERY soon so I can think correctly to pack.

At the beginning of next week, I have several doctor's appointments (my echogram got cancelled last week). By the end of the week, we should be moved out of the apartment (so they can paint it for the owner), and moved into a hotel across town.  Then, the apartment has to be cleaned and such before we head to Mississippi.  Skylar and Sydney will finish up school on Friday.  On Saturday, we have a wedding to attend! 

Please be lifting us up through all this busy-ness. Pray especially for all our M./translators as they share the gospel.  Many, many are traveling right now or will be traveling soon!  Some are traveling non-stop for the next few months on back-to-back trips, and some are on long trips with summer M. college students (as long as 2 months!!).  Please pray for team unity, clear communication, strength to endure, health, safety, and for God to do a great work in and through them!

Please help us pray for Freddy, one of our newest friends who accepted Christ, as well as a new translator for REAP North. 

Thank you guys for your prayers!!  See some of you really soon!.......

Blessings from Lima!