Earth. Wind. Fire. & Rain.
It is deep winter in the southern hemisphere, and dry season here in the jungle. I very much enjoy this season for the cooler nights, fewer mosquitoes, and dry earth to walk and drive on instead of mud, with the exception of the wildfires all around and thick smoke that insufferably pollutes the air for weeks on end.
Our dear indigenous neighbors choose to burn their farmland in the middle of dry season every year, and the fires burn out of control and inevitably burn their neighbors’ land as well. This is not a surprise or a new problem. About half of the years that we’ve lived here we have had to fight wild fires that run unchecked from every direction.
This year the fires came closer to our buildings on our base than ever before. We nearly lost our camp cabins due to gusts of wind that blew the fire across our firebreak. Our base is safe thanks to the wonderful men of our own base as well as those of our neighboring missions and their willingness to run to help us when called with their water tanks. Vann fought this fire for seven straight days and nights when God finally sent the rain that so many of you had been praying for, and the fire was mostly extinguished. Even though we are out of imminent danger, we are still on fire alert until October when rainy season comes again.
When not fighting fires, Vann and crew have made some amazing progress on the Round Robin house! He is teaching a couple of local guys how to hang and finish drywall, so that is moving along nicely albeit slowly while they learn. If they can learn it well, they will be among the very few in this area who have this training, so should benefit them to have one more marketable skill.
Vann has set the tub and shower pan, and with some of my help, finished wiring the outlets, switches, and electrical panel. He is working so diligently to get this house finished!
One of the families that will be living in the Round Robin was just staying in our one-bedroom apartment with four kids while they waited for a flight out to their tribe where they are working. It will be such a huge blessing for them to have some space to stretch out and rest when the house is ready!
Our Clara is home!!! She had a wonderful time visiting and working with family this summer, but boy are we delighted to have her home with us again! Her senior year will be full of dual enrollment classes as she works toward graduating high school with her first two years of college classes completed. We are very proud of her hard work!
God is in control of all the earth, the wind, the fire, and the rain. We trust him to take care of the elements while we do everything within our power to steward well that which is entrusted to us. A huge “Thank you!” to all of you who pray for us, support us, and encourage us! You absolutely help keep us going along with the amazing grace of God. May everything we do be to the glory, praise, and honor of his great name as we make him known among the nations!
Continuing to pray for safety through the dry season! Great to see progress on the missionary homes.
Your recent letter was real relief (rain) for which have been praying. I enjoy reading your post and am so blessed realizing the wonderful impact you have made to the glory of God.