Dearest friends, prayers and supporters,
I don't know how many times I've sat down to write this update and have been interrupted! I'm finally getting this done even as little sticky hands try to touch the screen.
family
Our family is doing well, despite a little sickness. The last month we've all suffered from a cold, Milan being the final one to catch it. He has quite a nasty cough, but no fever. We just hope it doesn't get any worse. Pray for him.
Aside from runny noses.. our kids are doing great, growing as fast as ever. Milan just turned 8 months, has seven teeth, says papa, waves, gives kisses and claps. He's such a determined little boy, right after he learned to crawl (at six months, he started standing up and now he's cruising along the furniture, at times letting go, trying to walk. We are so in love with him and are so thankful this addition to our family. Isabella is such a fun, bright little girl. She dances and sings all day long, loves to make Milan laugh and is already talking about going to school (preschool that is) and wears her backpack wherever she goes. Ricky and I are blessed.
ministry
The last several weeks we have seen many new faces at church. Some of whom we have prayed for for months, wondering if they would ever make that step toward Jesus. Jorge, who came on full-time in July, receives many of the neighbors for a mid-week Bible study at his house. His desire to serve the Lord is apparent in his compassion toward the many broken and lost people in the city.
Jorge and Karla kept normal activities going for the three weeks that Ricky, the kids and I spent in Chile.
our travels to Chile
We were blessed to take a small break to spend with our family to celebrate Chile's 200 years of independence! Our days were filled with lots of good food and fellowship. We also had an interview with the US embassy to register Milan's birth abroad and apply for US passport and social security no. Although he gains US citizenship at birth because I am a citizen, we still had to go through a process of proving my US citizenship with several documents and numerous questions of where I lived and when, throughout my life. Though it was apparent I lived my entire life (until now) in the States, it still made me nervous that they wouldn't accept our application. They did, and we're thankful because without a US passport, we were told, Milan cannot travel to the States, not even with his Chilean passport.
back home, what's next
Now, we are back home, making preparations for the end of the year that seems to being coming upon us quickly. We are receiving a group of wonderful friends and doctors in November for a medical clinic. Each year, their visit is such a highlight!
We also are making preparations for the annual children's Christmas party! Can you believe I just said Christmas? Much to my surprise, I heard that in the US, you all are starting to see Christmas decorations for sale already! I love the fall that gives way to the Christmas season, but we are experiencing Spring here in Cusco. The rainy season is just about here. Today we are loving mid-70s warmth, but yesterday we got caught in a hail-storm that left us and many others trapped inside a shopping center, where the plastic roofing could not cover us from the invading ice the size of a marble. We waited out the worst of it, covering the kids' ears as the sound of the hail pounding on the roof was incredible.
As I close, I just want to express our gratitude to you for your prayer. We have several prayer requests, so please continue praying for us!
-for good health
-for Karla, who may return to Tacna at the end of the year to work, which means we need someone who loves children to come and serve our amazing kids in 2011
-for the upcoming Christmas party and for the $2,000 we need to raise for it to bless over 200 children this year (by month end we will send out another email concerning the Christmas party)
-for church property, we are still searching... And for a space to rent for our business endeavors
-for 2 interns for 2011, focus is in music ministry and children's ministry, a basic knowledge of Spanish is a must. (Write if you have any more questions about these wonderful opportunities to serve God)
-for a keyboard for the church and we are still in need of 3-4 laptops for our after-school ministry
We thank God for you,
In His grace and peace
Tracie, Ricky, Isabella y Milan
Iberoamerican Ministries
PO Box 1493
Monroe, WA 98272