Green Christmas

We finally made our destination. It feels so good to be staying in a home and to be far away from buses. I haven't ridden in a bus or a taxi for almost a week and it feels almost heavenly. Since we got to town we have been helping a mission in the city of Santa Cruz who is feeding 4500 homeless people for Christmas. We are the delivery boys I guess you could say, hauling ovens and an entire cow, in parts of course. Last night we went to the streets and began to hand out meals to the homeless and we literally saw people crawl out of the sewers to come have a meal. Once again I am humbled, I have learnt that I need a lot of this whole humbling thing in order for God to use me. When I look at what we have done for work in the past week, month I can´t list too many things and it frustrates me sometimes cause I am a real doer, I like to see physical accomplishment. But all three of us can quickly agree that their has been a dynamic work in progress and it has been in our hearts, in our character, the way we treat one another, our attitude towards the frustrations of cultures and the list carries on. I am beginning to grasp the concept that God will always be stretching our character and causing us to grow for as long as we all live. It is marvelous really to think that the God of all the earth takes delight in us and is not content to leave us where we are. Christmas is a heartbreaking time for us and we cannot help but think of home. When you really love people I think you really can actually hurt to not be with them. The missing home changes from memories to a pain in ones heart that makes you want to do anything to take your mind off of home. I love my family, I love them more than words can describe and I cannot help but image them at home today surrounded by all the beautiful snow. Bolivia is a different world at Christmas, there are lights everywhere and loud music to celebrate. Traditionally here the Christmas starts tonight and goes all night with loud music, lots of food and lots of family and friends. We will spend our Christmas eve at the home for homeless boys. It is where we are spending our next month. Hanging our with boys ages 10-19 who have literally come to the home straight from the streets. Tonight we will celebrate the Lords birth with them. It is truly a time to celebrate as we can see the redemptive power of Jesus in the lives of these youth. So as we are missing home in our hearts we will celebrate with our Latin brothers and sisters a green Christmas here in Bolivia! Daniel

Seeing Snow

It was late last night that we three passed through the Andes Mountain range. It was a long and cold bus ride, something that we did not anticipate. But as the sun arose over the great peaks I saw my first snow of the season. It was illuminated brilliantly by the sun and reminded me of home and the deep snow that has engulfed our farm over this past month. Since leaving Quito we have been blessed abundantly in our travels. We had the oppourtunity to meet four other travellers that spoke english and who were wandering down the same path as us for a brief time. They were incredible people and encouraged our spirits greatly. There is something about good conversation that can just transform a 35 hour bus trip into a highlight. Along with these amazing new friends we have also been able to see much of the unique country side that is solely Peru. From Ecuador to Peru the landscape has changed in drastic ways. Ecuador was a magnificent view of mountains and thick vegetation. But it was almost as if a line had been drawn between the two countries. Peru´s coast was an absolute desert. A place filled with massive dunes and rock. And then along the road small communities of people who have carved an existense out of the barren wasteland. In Lima we stayed with our friends in a nice little hostal close to the ocean. There we had an oppourtunity to surf and hang out with some of the locals. From Lima we ventured out to a small oasis town in the middle of the desert called Huacachina. It was there that we got to try some sand boarding on the dunes of Peru and also cruise around in dune buggies. We are slowly learning that no matter what the sign advertises it is rarely that which you expect. Prices and times are constantly adjusted to whatever the sign is not saying. So with only one more long bus ride ahead of us we are all sitting and waiting here in La Paz with anticipation. Please pray for patience as many things on this journey have seemed to get lost in translation with the locals. Also pray for our time in Santa Cruz with Ken Switzer, that we can be a huge blessing and encouragement to his ministry. Lehmann

Quito

It´s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Shops filled with gifts and shoppers, Santa is visiting in every mall. There is shiny wrapping paper and Christmas candy in each window. The palm trees are being lit with many different lights, and the weather has dropped as low as 20 degrees C. We found ourselves playing in a Nativity scene, on a shore line park of Panama City. While we were in Panama we saw the Canal, many ships, and beautiful views of the large downtown of Panama´s tall skyline. It is very beautiful there. We found that, like Costa Rica, Panama is very Americanised. Even their currency is American dollars. Our short stay in Panama held us back from a deep look into the Christian lives being lived. The people of Panama, were incredibly loving, and warm to others, but it is an openness that is not searching. Perhaps the 'in your face' message of the fires of Hell we saw while we were there, is not the Grace and Truth Christ intends for these people. To relate to this culture is with warmth and love. The most foreign part to these people, is good examples of father figures, who display commitment and responsibility to their children, who will also be those supporters in the future. Now we are in Quito, Ecuador, searching for direction in our travels. We are awaiting God to teach us about this country, to show us his sorrows and victories. We are living in a hostel, that is very cheep and has been a very in depth look at a specific need God has in this City. We feel we are called to spend some time praying for victory in a spiritual battle, and to ask for Cleansing. If you can help us pray for this break through, change will begin. We expect God has us called here to be his, and that we would share his love with people here that he loves. Today our experience of the city was very rich, we went to a hill top that looks out over the city of 2 million people as we suspect. An incredible view of the city´s rolling hills, spotted with large catholic churches everywhere. We even got to check out Huge Cathedral Tomorrow we expect to seek deeper into the life of Quito, and maybe find more to do. In the next few days we will be continuing further south by bus to Peru, and down to Bolivia, where we are excited to meet with Ken Switzer. Thank you for praying for us. Kenton

Panama City

We are here in Panama city. Our back up plan of leaving will be flying further South on friday, but we are also searching options of transportation possibly water. Today we went to the Panama Canel and watched a huge ship pass from the Pacific on it´s way to the Atlantic. We are very excited to see the plan unfold, as we continue our journey to Bolivia. We would ask that you would pray for our hearts and minds to be open to hear God as we plan, also that we would have unified thinking. We are very greatful for the many blessings from the People in Costa Rica and pray blessings over them. The Guys, in Panama City.

Words cannot do Justice

This morning I woke up once again needed to look around the room for a while before realizing where I was. It's still hard to believe I am in Central America, a completely different world from my home. Words cannot describe nor pictures contain the experiences that I already hold in my heart after only such a short time. The small town of Poas on the side of a Volcano now holds not only memories but experiences, the kind that sit deep inside your soul and begin eroding away at some of the deep misconceptions you have had about people, and the way you thought life ought to be. Tico people are simple yet so incredibly vibrant in color, affection, music and worship. From the first day I felt that I was at home in a foreign community with a foreign language. I really have to laugh looking back now only days later. We went to peoples homes who didn't speak a lick of English and our Spanish has been very limited to the point of what Tico's call Nada. Yet amazingly it was not so much the work we did at the farm or the singing in church that I think back on as the impact we left rather it was the times sharing meals in homes. Often after our meal of rice and beans was finished they would find a guitar take me to a relatives house where all the rest of the brothers, nephews, neices, grandparents ect. ect. were and they would kindly ask me to sing a song or two, or many. I was overwhelmed at these experiences my heart bouncing not with nervousness but a joy for singing love songs to my Lord with my spanish friends, some of whom likely were not Christians. Then the best part always came when they would sing some songs for us! I cherish those times of deep fellowship. It taught me that you don't always need words to truly connect with people, the smiles and the gestures exchanged between them and us spoke a lot more loudly that most words I have spoken. It has really been a blessing to have music and I am content that I don't need any kind of special talent in order to do so. Just two nights ago we sat in the small apartment of some newfound German friends and had a wonderful time of worship, to them it spoke much more loudly because in Germany worship in such a setting is an unheard of event. God has been faithful to open our eyes everyday to see glimpses of His heart in the people we meet. One day last week we took a drive to a place they call ''little hell'' it is a large drug traffic area with elementry schools all around. We met a man and wife who feed the children in this broken neighborhood out of their own income which comes from selling temales wrapped in Banana leaves on the street. My heart was broken I couldn't help but think about all the things that I have, usless toys, clothes I don't need, junk food I always buy and mounds of usless expensive things that to a North American seem like a staple. Their income was less that 400 dollars a month and from that they feed over 70 children a day! Wow. I want to let the Lord break my heart for the things that break His heart. I believe this was one of them. I have learned a lot about culture and I have seen a lot of glimpses to things that I want to learn. Mostly things of Character as that is what traveling usually seems to do. I can feel myself changing from the man I was a year ago or even a month ago. Today I turn 24 it is a sobering day for me because I feel very far from home, I often feel like I need to be acclomplishing things in my life and learning some kind of carreer and here I am playing with kids and lounging around in Costa Rica. But if I have learnt one thing in my 24 years, it has been that there is no better place in the whole world than to be in the will of God. He has so many good things in store for each person if we would only stop and listen. Obedience means sacrifice but it leads to a world of blessings that can never be found alone. I miss home today my mother always made the best cakes. If I could ask for one thing for my birthday it would be to have strength to walk in obedience every day of my life and that it would speak loudly so others might desire to do the same. Thanks again for your prayers we can literally feel a wall of protection in dark places. Daniel

Pura Vida!

Status Of Faith

Today was a dose of reality for the three of us. For today we left our home in Poas and returned to San Jose. This past week has been a time of challenge, refreshment and more than anything a time of becoming family. It started off being blessed by a fellow Canadian who owns a bed and breakfast here in Costa Rica. His name was Martin Borner and the place was Posada Mimosa. When we arrived the sun was just beginning to set below the mountains. The flowers seemed to be illuminated from an inner light and the air was moist and warm. As I looked around, the view almost brought me to the point of tears. It was a glimpse of Heaven reminding me that we are only passing through, the great treasures lie on the other side of life for those who choose them. The evening consisted of a wonderful meal, poolside, with fantastic company and conversation. It was a blessing like no other I have had. From there we journeyed to the magnificent city of Poas, where we spent the next week. To try and capture this experience in words could never do it justice. The people are so vibrant and filled with life. They embraced us as family and took us into there homes for meals and fellowship. We felt so welcomed into their community, that leaving has been quite a difficult ordeal. The youth of Poas were incredible, not for a moment did we feel like outsiders, despite the language barrier. Thinking back, I have what seems to be a lifetime of stories just from this past week. And although I do not have the time to wright them I ask you to think of truly incredible relationships in your life and cherish them. I have realized that we three are in a school of grand proportions this next year. Where we will have the opportunity to learn from so many individuals. The people here taught me the embrace of hospitality and fellowship. And that to give of self is more precious than any amount. So I ask that if your praying for us pray for unity and that we will be developed into men of Godly character. I desire to learn hospitality and to be someone who reaches out to those around me. Here are some pics of the people and scenery from this past weeks adventures. Much love and Pura Vida! Lehmann