The Glover Family Weblog

Time for an update!

I just realized that I had not updated our blog since August! I am about to post the same articles printed in our last November newsletter. This is mainly for those recently-made friendships and prayer partners who did not receive the newsletter. As for those of you who have already read these articles, a quick update: God is blessing the work of our Ecuadorian partners who are working in Iquitos in our absence. The church is growing both spiritually and numerically. Two of them recently traveled to a jungle village to encourage a group of believers struggling to start a church. Please pray for two Christmas outreach events scheduled for December 18 and 20. Pray that families will be reached for Christ!

Here are the newsletter articles. (Plus some new pictures!)

A Thankful Heart

Often we never see the growth of the seed we’ve planted. Sometimes I contemplate why our efforts seem to prove fruitless. But God convicted me of not having a thankful heart. He reminded me that he is working. After all, our involvement in this ministry began with a simple prayer in an Iquitos hotel almost seven years ago. Was it God’s will for Jake and I to continue coming to Peru? As I look back I see the many obstacles and challenges, but I am so thankful that God said YES! Over the past two years we’ve seen new works take root and established works flourish. We’ve seen the birth of a new church in Iquitos that will be a partner in missions to the jungle. We also see the potential to start a work that will lead to the evangelization of a currently uncontacted people group. God has been faithful and we rejoice because “He who began a good work in (us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

A Daily Blessing 

One sprout that has been a huge blessing is our house helper, Ketty. We met her soon after arriving in Iquitos. She was looking for work and I was the mother of a 2 yr old and newborn. It took time for us to be able to understand each other, both in speech and action. But she has become one of our most loyal friends. She loves my girls like her own children, and her 8 yr old daughter is one of Hannah’s best friends. If you’ve come to see us, you’ve most likely eaten her cooking which at times has included alligator and turtle soup. Other missionaries tell me that a good empleada is hard to find because you never know when they will show up. Ketty, though, has often waded through the flood waters of her neighborhood in order to come to work. At times I discover that she has gone above and beyond to repair a torn shirt or broken figurine. I know that she works because she needs the money, but I also believe that she has grown to believe in what we are doing. In March she went with us to the jungle and on the trip home we talked about salvation. She told me that she had accepted Christ but had not been baptized. In October she went again on a trip to the jungle and was able to take part in the Bible Studies as well as give her testimony.  She came back very enthusiastic about her faith. She has shared with us that she and her family still have many changes to make in their lives, but she desires to follow the Lord and she is thankful for our example. She and her family have been coming to our new church plant and this Sunday Ketty will be baptized! Pray that God will bless her obedience and allow her to be a testimony to her family.  Pray also that God will provide for her and her family while we are in the states.

Another blessing of this past year has been watching how God brought our family together with Rafael and Marisel Graña and Juan Carlos and Noely Zegarra. We all share a vision to make disciples both here in Iquitos and the jungle. Iquitos Bible Church is currently meeting in the Zegarra’s home, but may have to move to another location before we return next year. Rafael and Marisel will be living in our house most of the time we’re in the states, however we’ve been praying about whom could stay here during the months of December and January while they travel to Florida for the holidays. God answered and is bringing a team of five Ecuadorians (1 couple and 3 singles) to live here and carry on the ministry of the church in our absence. Among other things, they plan to start a youth ministry and host a children’s Christmas event. Pray that Iglesia Biblica de Iquitos continues to grow numerically and spiritually. Pray also for the team of Ecuadorians as they work during the months of December and January.

The Girls We Love

Hannah Elise… “God is gracious”/ “Consecrated to God”. Our Hannah is content, easy-going. Usually singing, sometimes dancing, often play-acting scenes from her favorite fairy tale. Loves dresses, tiaras, and tea sets. Loves coloring, painting, and drawing. A daddy’s girl who also loves her mama. Talks most of the time, in one of three different languages: English, Spanish, and her own unique mumblings.  Likes helping mom bake and running errands with dad. Likes books and princess movies and can quote sections of her favorites. When disciplined, she makes an excuse or whines. She does not readily accept a challenge (currently refuses to ride her bicycle). Is friendly with most, but close friends with few.  She is beautiful, nurturing, creative, and affectionate.

 

Abigail Sophia… “Father’s Joy”/ “Wisdom”. Our Abigail is confident, spirited. Usually running, sometimes jumping, often climbing.  Loves kittens, cats, puppies, and small dogs. Loves coloring (the walls), toys that make noise, and bouncing or kicking a ball. A mama’s girl who also loves her daddy. Doesn’t say much yet in any language, but is eager to repeat, “No No, Hannah!” Likes rearranging the sofa cushions and refilling her cup at the water dispenser.  Likes sand boxes and all forms of peek-a-boo. When disciplined, she giggles or throws a fit. Embraces a challenge (no fear of the swimming pool).  Is not friendly at first, but later will put on a show.  She is cute, decisive, adventurous, and silly.  

 

May – July

Jake had the opportunity to go to Angamos, a village on the boarder of Peru and Brazil. He and summer missionary Obbie Todd met with the Matses people, an evangelized group, in hopes to make plans to reach an uncontacted nomadic people group. Praise the Lord the Matses were receptive to future training and excited about reaching this other group. Pray for a return trip planned for this year.

A church team from Long Beach Mississippi came in July. They worked in the two villages of Peruaté. Our friends and ministry partners Rafael and Marisel Graña were also able to accompany them on this trip as well as many of our Peruvian partners. Praise the Lord for those who received Christ and were baptized this week! Continue to pray for the baby believers and future church in these villages.

We had family time with my parents in June as they came to celebrate Hannah’s 4^th birthday. Then we enjoyed a retreat to the desert to attend a conference with other IMB missionaries. Praise the Lord he protected our travels and granted us a renewed vision.

A student team (from Southwest Baptist University in Missouri) arrived in May. All of them spent at least 4 weeks out working in the villages, but two stayed 8 weeks (basically all summer). They lived in the villages cooking, hunting, fishing and ‘doing life’ with the people. They also were able to teach and disciple in areas that are hard to reach at other times of the year. Praise the Lord for these students and their sacrifice this summer! Pray that the seeds they planted would continue to grow for the glory of God.

A poem entitled “Both women”

I see you walk balanced

a tub of river-washed clothes on your head,

a machete in your right hand.

I watch you cut wood for the breakfast’s fire,

bathe your children in dirty water.

I hear you laugh when I explain my fear

of actually swimming out there.

Why do I envy you?

You were born into this world

and are its expert.

You don’t see your life as hard,

you simply live.

You don’t long for that which

you don’t know you lack.

You will live your life

serving your family

and your God.

Yet I will always look at you

through tainted eyes.

Not wanting to be you,

knowing what I would have to give up.

Much of which I believe is better,

but much of which I know is unnecessary.

But if I were you…

Would I struggle less with contentment?

Would I be brave and naturally beautiful?

…not fearing, not hiding, not wanting?

But we are both women.

Both fallen.

Both restored.

This is all that matters.

Family Trip to Jungle Villages

In the days leading up to our trip we experienced many setbacks and even into the first day had to frequently change our plans. Here is a run-down of pre-trip events…

• Monday Ivan and Jennifer were still in Apayacu (visiting family) and said they would return Wednesday. When Wednesday rolled around, we discovered they were still in Apayacu. So we decided to pick them up on the way. (No need for them to pay to get to Iquitos only to leave again the next day.) However, due to this, we were unable to have team time for training and prayer earlier in the week.
• Tuesday Jake took the boat to the shop in order to have some repairs done. It was not ready until the last minute, late Thursday night.
• Wednesday Aladino told us his wife needed to be at work Monday morning. So we planned to cut the trip a day short, returning Sunday night. Thursday, we were told she could not come at all. While we were disappointed at this, we were glad that we could spend more time in the villages and return on Monday as planned.
• Thursday our designated boat driver had to cancel, however Jake was able to find another.
• Friday morning we received a call that there was a hole in the gas tank and gas had leaked all over the boat. It turns out there wasn’t a hole, only problems with a connecting hose. They were able to clean things up and this only delayed us about an hour or so.

So as you can see, we began the trip frustrated and a little disillusioned. We arrived in Santa Lucia Friday afternoon. We greeted some of the believers and “set up camp” inside their school building. We spoke with the pastor and discovered two things: a pastor from Iquitos had recently visited them, and some local seminary students working with the church in Pebas were planning on coming the next day to teach for a week.  Since we felt the church was healthy and seemed to have sufficient support from others, we decided to go elsewhere. We did spend one night in Santa Lucia and had an evening service in order to encourage them and explain why we were choosing not to stay. The next morning we left and went to the nearby village of Santa Rosa. Last year several trips were made to this area and they have a small but excited group of believers. They were very glad to see us. Jake, Aladino and Ivan were able to teach four lessons and often discussed the topic of baptism. Twelve believers said they wanted to be baptized in March when the team from Wedgwood returns.  They also decided take up a collection and send back one of their men with us so that he could purchase the needed materials to finish his house, which they would also make their church. Praise the Lord!

On a personal level, I considered this trip a milestone for myself. Not having been to a village in almost five years, I was somewhat fearful of carrying my girls along. But God was very faithful. Hannah did great. She played wonderfully with the other children and grew to like bathing in the river! She was happy and playful most of the time. Many would call her “blanca” but while her Spanish is impressive, she didn’t have a clue they were referring to her. I honestly believe that she doesn’t see herself as that different from them.  So, overall, she adjusted great to jungle life. We even had to scold her often about keeping shoes on her feet!  Abigail did well at first, but ran a fever off and on for about 24 hours making her clingly and cranky. We knew her body was probably just adjusting to the environment, but prayed she would not grow worse.  Thankfully, she never developed any other symptoms and after a day felt better. Even with Motrin in her system she laughed and grew more comfortable with our team members. She was amused by the chickens and often called them “kitty”.  I helped Jennifer teach the children some, and Hannah helped too as we taught them the motions to many songs. I continue to process so much of what I’ve seen and learned, but perhaps can write more on that later. More than anything, I enjoyed simply being out as a family and observing first-hand what God is doing!

 

Going and Coming Home

Soon after Thanksgiving we left Iquitos and spent a few days in Lima. Then on December 1 we flew to the United States for the first time in over two years. Some of our first comments after seeing things through new eyes … It takes so long to get anywhere! The houses are huge! Everything is so pretty and so clean! We enjoyed spending a lot of quality time with family and friends and allowed ourselves to put on a few extra pounds due to delicacies like Chick-Fil-A, Dr Pepper, Tex-Mex, home-cookin’, and of course (this one’s for my father-in-law) fried okra! We were able to visit several different churches and see many of you. In some ways it was as though nothing had changed, but there we were back in the states with TWO children. New Year’s Eve weekend we drove with Jake’s family to Amarillo to see his great-grandparents. At this time Hannah finally started to ask, “When are we going back to my house?” She was ready. Of course she loved all the attention and many new toys, but she was ready to be in her home. I began to realize that the longer we live outside of the United States, what Jake and I consider home, what we consider more comfortable, more familiar, will be more foreign to our girls. The familiar for them includes riding in a moto taxi, or knowing that we must speak Spanish when the neighbors come to play. They don’t seem to notice the smell of trash on the side of the road or the lack of options at the grocery store. It is all they know. I too often try to reconcile the world I grew up in and the world I now live in. But I have to give up at the impossible and simply admit, somehow they coexist. When we decided to obey God’s call to come and live in Peru we didn’t know exactly how long we would be here. And in many ways we still don’t. Jake often says, “We just do the last thing we know God told us to do.” After being in Iquitos a year I realize that so many of my fears and expectations of missionary life were exaggerated. Both the bad and the good. Things have not been as scary as I anticipated. But on the other hand I’ve asked myself, “Have I truly demonstrated the faith that so many believe me to have? Have I lived with no regrets?” As I look back on the first two years of our journey I can honestly say that I do have some regrets. I haven’t taken advantage of every opportunity the Lord has sent my way. I haven’t always been courageous and bold in sharing my faith. The end of 2011 will mark the end of our first missionary term. I hope to look back on this year and say that I have no regrets. I desire to embrace everything that the Lord may lead us to do this year. I desire to press on through my still-broken Spanish and use the gifts God has gifted me with to be a witness to others. I humbly ask that you pray for me in this. It will be a busy year, a hard year, and an exciting year!

Poem by Faith Marie Terry

Here is a poem by a student from the South Carolina team. I wanted to share it with all of you.

It’s sunny even when it’s cloudy here,
but there is darkness everywhere.
Food connot contain the hunger in this place,
The look of wonder is in every face.
The emptiness unfolds as daily deeds are done.
But when the seeds are thrown,
they soak up the empty space unknown.
They grow and sprout into what they should become,
slowly making their way into His kingdom.