I got my hair highlighted and cut today. She arrived at my house at 9:55 a.m. and left at 5 p.m. She also cut and highlighted a fellow missionary's hair. Should it really take 7 hours to do 2 people's hair? NO! But yes, if you live in Peru. Just another example of how life is REEEEAAAAALLLLLLYYYYYYYYY SLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW here and nothing gets done in a timely manner. If you get one thing marked off of your to do list, then you have had a highly successful day.
So if you tally up the hours, I bought birthday party supplies and got my hair done in an 11 hour time span. Can you imagine wasting 11 hours on such trivial stuff in America? I couldn't have 3 years ago, either. But now I don't have a choice. :)
Well, my dear Ally's party was a success. Everyone who was invited showed up and we had a lovely morning. 4 of the mothers stayed for the 3 hour event. We chatted, played bingo, opened presents, cake and just enjoyed ourselves. All was well! After everyone left I layed down for a much needed nap. I woke up and felt very empty inside. I began to cry! I realized that the reason I had been avoiding a BIG party for several years is because no matter how many "people" show up, it is not the same without the friends that you have history with. And what about the grandparents and aunts that were there the day your child was born? What is a party without them? No one at the party is truly invested in Ally or loves her like long-term friends and family can and do. I know it sounds petty, but it just broke my heart and left me aching for the familiarity of birthday's past. The day was sweet, but I must say that it was just empty. I was just there experiencing it, but not truly LIVING it! Anyway, I cried for about 30 minutes and then I got over it and realized this is just another piece of my old life that I am grieving. And at times, probably when I least expect it like Saturday, the grief will rear its ugly head and I'll have to deal with it. But I would be ungrateful if I didn't say that I am extremely blessed with many new friends here that desire to establish deep, lasting friendships like the friends back home did. So once again, I press on and try not to look back too often. :)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Equipping for E-Ministry Blog Tour
A friend from my church back home asked me to post this link on my blog. She has a website on how to evangelize and have a ministry online. She is having an open house/tour on her blog. Click here if you are interested.
More culture babblings
So the entire reason I wrote the post about being Peruvian is because the other day I sat down to eat a chicken breast and, to cut it, I pulled out a butter knife instead of a steak knife. Now, here in Peru, you will be hard pressed to go to a restaurant and find a steak knife, even for the toughest of meats. They will ALWAYS give you a butter knife to cut your meat. So that thought process got me thinking of how much I've changed, especially since I sat down to cut my meat with a butter knife when there is a perfectly good knife in the drawer. But wouldn't you know it, I wrote the entire post and I forgot to include the defining moment:
I am officially Peruvian because I cut my meat with a butter knife!
And now I am Peruvian because instead of shopping at one store to by all of my stuff, John and I go from Mercado to Mercado, store to store wheeling and dealing to get the best prices. We spent all morning buying party supplies and boy was it difficult. It is nothing like walking into Wal-mart or Target, grabbing your stuff and going. You have to search for what you want by asking the woman behind the counter because you aren't allowed to touch anything, haggle prices, shop and compare, wait for them to confirm if they actually have the item or not, etc... And it's super hot, there are a lot of people and lots of words that we don't know the names for. I was SOOOO missing Wal-mart and Dollar Tree this morning. So what I could've done in 1 hour or less in Wal-Mart took us about 4 hours here. But the good news is that my Empleada is here to help me clean, cut veggies and fruits and get ready for the party. So even though so much time was wasted this morning, think of what I am saving with her valuable help! She is even going to come tomorrow, on her normal day off, to help before, during and after the fiesta. Normally a grandma, aunt or friend would help in this area, but since we are overseas, it's just Maria to the rescue and since I'm paying her, I don't need to feel guilty one bit.
The baby is now done nursing, so I am off to prepare for the FIESTA!!!
I am officially Peruvian because I cut my meat with a butter knife!
And now I am Peruvian because instead of shopping at one store to by all of my stuff, John and I go from Mercado to Mercado, store to store wheeling and dealing to get the best prices. We spent all morning buying party supplies and boy was it difficult. It is nothing like walking into Wal-mart or Target, grabbing your stuff and going. You have to search for what you want by asking the woman behind the counter because you aren't allowed to touch anything, haggle prices, shop and compare, wait for them to confirm if they actually have the item or not, etc... And it's super hot, there are a lot of people and lots of words that we don't know the names for. I was SOOOO missing Wal-mart and Dollar Tree this morning. So what I could've done in 1 hour or less in Wal-Mart took us about 4 hours here. But the good news is that my Empleada is here to help me clean, cut veggies and fruits and get ready for the party. So even though so much time was wasted this morning, think of what I am saving with her valuable help! She is even going to come tomorrow, on her normal day off, to help before, during and after the fiesta. Normally a grandma, aunt or friend would help in this area, but since we are overseas, it's just Maria to the rescue and since I'm paying her, I don't need to feel guilty one bit.
The baby is now done nursing, so I am off to prepare for the FIESTA!!!
Tomorrow is Ally's 8th birthday party and we are expecting about 14 little girls. Can you believe we even know that many people now? God is so good. So today and tonight will be spent preparing for the fiesta. I am kind of nervous because it is the first true party I have hosted in over 2 years and my first real one in Peru. I'm just not sure what to expect with a bunch of quiet little girls. At least if there are crazy boys running around things never get dull! My boys will at least be here so maybe they can add some spice to it. Of course, with Jaxson there is never a dull moment.
Miles has been really sick for about 6 days with his first full blown cold. His nose is running green, as well as his eyes, and he is coughing with a ton of congestion. Needless to say, this has made him demanding and irritable. We feel so bad for him. I don't have plans to take him to the doctor unless he spikes a fever and then I will be concerned about his lungs b/c they don't sound very pretty. But right now, he doesn't have a fever.
The mission team left and although things went "okay" it wasn't as successful in reaching the area as John had hoped. The team was wonderful, but they were working in an area where John doesn't have many relationships and we are virtually uknown there, so people become hesitant to participate, because they don't know who we are.
Parker spent 2 days this week vomitting and missed his first day of school. I felt so bad for him, but I did enjoy having him home with me. No one else has come down with it yet, but Avery has complained of a tummy ache.
John is finishing up his seminary class for this semester. He will have officially completed 20 hours of seminary in about 3.5 years. At this point, He will have a Master's in Divinity in about 7 more years. I keep telling him that "slow and steady wins the race."
And me...I'm okay! :) Nothing stellar to report and nothing negative either (PRAISE GOD!)
Gotta go prepare for the fiesta.
Miles has been really sick for about 6 days with his first full blown cold. His nose is running green, as well as his eyes, and he is coughing with a ton of congestion. Needless to say, this has made him demanding and irritable. We feel so bad for him. I don't have plans to take him to the doctor unless he spikes a fever and then I will be concerned about his lungs b/c they don't sound very pretty. But right now, he doesn't have a fever.
The mission team left and although things went "okay" it wasn't as successful in reaching the area as John had hoped. The team was wonderful, but they were working in an area where John doesn't have many relationships and we are virtually uknown there, so people become hesitant to participate, because they don't know who we are.
Parker spent 2 days this week vomitting and missed his first day of school. I felt so bad for him, but I did enjoy having him home with me. No one else has come down with it yet, but Avery has complained of a tummy ache.
John is finishing up his seminary class for this semester. He will have officially completed 20 hours of seminary in about 3.5 years. At this point, He will have a Master's in Divinity in about 7 more years. I keep telling him that "slow and steady wins the race."
And me...I'm okay! :) Nothing stellar to report and nothing negative either (PRAISE GOD!)
Gotta go prepare for the fiesta.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
I'm Peruvian NOW!!!
If you live somewhere long enough, eventually you are going to assimilate (SAT word) into the culture whether you like it or not. Well, I have assimilated in many areas after living overseas for almost 3 years.Here are just a few ways that I have become Peruvian/Latin:
I drink, and prefer, my "water" (not soda though) without ice and at room temperature.
BEEP BEEP! My horn has become as important as the brake pedal! I probably average 10-15 honks per car ride.
I don't leave messages on voice mails anymore. Why be the only person who does it?
I wear Jeans when it is hot outside.
My baby doesn't go anywhere without a blanket so that he can have is body and head covered even if it is 85 degrees outside.
I eat rice at least twice a day (when I'm not trying to lose weight).
I stay up really late and sleep in (when the kids weren't and aren't in school).
Instead of eating at 7, 12, and 5 p.m., my eating schedule has become 9 p.m., 2 and 7 p.m. or later.
If I drink coffee, I prefer it with hot milk and definitely not a powdered cream.
We have at least 2 bags of fresh bread in our home at all times.
Our family eats at Menus (the cheapest place you can eat which averages $2-$3 a plate for an appetizer, meal, drink and desert) at least once a week instead of a franchised restaurant.
Instead of shaking hands, I greet everyone with a kiss on the cheek and a light hug.
And I greet EVERYONE in the room this way.
I don't wear much makeup anymore. Maybe this is laziness instead of cultural assimilation! :)
90% of all of our meals are prepared from scratch and we don't each too much processed foods.
And....we have an empleada that cleans our house 2 times a week. She does the laundry too. Okay, now I'm just bragging. :)
My life is rather laid back, very flexible and subject to change at a moments notice (typical Peruvian).
I have become more "non" commital.
I use to be a "confrontational" persona and didn't hesitate to say "no." Now I find myself saying yes even when I don't want to and I avoid confrontation at all costs.
I dream in Spanish and am constantly translating songs into Spanish in my mind.
Our house has gas stoves, gas dryers and a gas heater.
We have no air conditioning and the windows are open most of the time.
All the doors are locked and unlocked from the inside with a key.
What's a dishwasher?
I don't have to pump gas anymore because it's all full service.
WOW!! Boy have I changed and my life, too! And that's not EVEN touching on the spiritual realm. I could do a post about that later if you are interested.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Prayer for Chile
We know 2 families, from language school, that are serving in Santiago, Chile. They are the Dwyer family and Admundson family. Please pray for them as they minister mightily in the devastated areas of Chile.
Also, our mission has many missionaries serving there as well. Here is a recent update from one such family. This will help you know how to better pray. Isn't it neat how technology puts us in contact with missionaries that we wouldn't have had 25 years ago. Amazing! And now we can pray mightily and specifically.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)
"Please continue to lift up the situation in Chile. Pray for peace for the people who are living in Chile who continue to have aftershocks. Please read below the update given to us by Karen and Charles Clark (CSL-European South Latin Cluster).
"First of all, thank you for all your prayers, emails, phone calls and donations. We certainly feel your "partnership," love and concern for us during these days! I want to refer you to this link http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=8475&LanguageID=1709 for some news from the front lines. Charles continues to be in the south working with volunteers in the most affected areas. We have two projects underway in addition to meeting emergency needs of food, water, and hygiene items. One project is for mass food preparation and distribution in several towns/municipalities. Thousands of meals a day will be prepared and distributed. Our US volunteers are working hand in hand with Chilean nationals to get this job done. Also, there is a project for building temporary shelters for families whose homes were severely damaged or collapsed completely. These two projects are being funded directly by Baptist Global Response, an arm of the International Mission Board. In addition to the BGR teams of volunteers, we are expecting many others to come and help. The idea is for churches in the US to adopt a city and come and help, working with Chileans and local Baptist churches. There is an incredible opportunity not only to serve in a tangible way, but to share the hope that we have in Christ."
As you can see from the update, volunteers from the states are needed in prayer AND on the front lines AND for financial support! How can you help?
Also, our mission has many missionaries serving there as well. Here is a recent update from one such family. This will help you know how to better pray. Isn't it neat how technology puts us in contact with missionaries that we wouldn't have had 25 years ago. Amazing! And now we can pray mightily and specifically.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)
"Please continue to lift up the situation in Chile. Pray for peace for the people who are living in Chile who continue to have aftershocks. Please read below the update given to us by Karen and Charles Clark (CSL-European South Latin Cluster).
"First of all, thank you for all your prayers, emails, phone calls and donations. We certainly feel your "partnership," love and concern for us during these days! I want to refer you to this link http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=8475&LanguageID=1709 for some news from the front lines. Charles continues to be in the south working with volunteers in the most affected areas. We have two projects underway in addition to meeting emergency needs of food, water, and hygiene items. One project is for mass food preparation and distribution in several towns/municipalities. Thousands of meals a day will be prepared and distributed. Our US volunteers are working hand in hand with Chilean nationals to get this job done. Also, there is a project for building temporary shelters for families whose homes were severely damaged or collapsed completely. These two projects are being funded directly by Baptist Global Response, an arm of the International Mission Board. In addition to the BGR teams of volunteers, we are expecting many others to come and help. The idea is for churches in the US to adopt a city and come and help, working with Chileans and local Baptist churches. There is an incredible opportunity not only to serve in a tangible way, but to share the hope that we have in Christ."
As you can see from the update, volunteers from the states are needed in prayer AND on the front lines AND for financial support! How can you help?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Introducing.....
Emmy Pearl Robinson born March 14, 2010 at 2:44 pm weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce, 20 inches long. Kitty and baby are doing great!!!!
A GREAT day for a BABY!
Sundays are excellent days to have a baby! Please pray for Kitty as she is in labor with baby #7 this morning. She sounded great when I spoke with her around 6:45 .m. And please be praying for the other 6 at home. Everyone is SUPER EXCITED!!! We keep singing around the house this a.m. "Mrs. Robinsons having a baby. Mrs. Robinsons having a baby." Join us in prayer and excitement for this Godly, sweet family.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A blog challenge and prayer request
I was looking for some clip art of some sweet praying hands when I came across this guy! I thought it would be a fun challenge to ask my blogging friends to write a blog that they could use with this clip art. I will link your blog post back to this picture on my post. Let me know once you have written it. Go for it girls (or guys)!!
Without the sweet praying hands, I ask you to please be praying for the mission team and the work they are trying to do in Santa Rosa/Gosen. Pray it is in done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray that God's Spirit would draw the people (not a great turn out today) and that He would use the team mightily while they are here. Our entire Phamily is going out tomorrow. Please pray for us as well.
What are the Pham's doing on this lovely Saturday?
While John and Parker are out with the mission team, the other kids and I....well....
see for yourself!
Friday, March 12, 2010
You know you're a missionary when.....
a mission team brings you a bag of American candies and your kids ask what Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are. They had never heard of or even tried them. Can you imagine? I could hardly believe it, so I shared a little with each kid and their taste buds were freaking out with excitement. Can you blame them? It's the small things in life that bring such joy.
Also, the same team brought Kit-Kats (nope, they haven't had those yet either, but I will definitely share). And, they brought the kids some Peeps. She said we couldn't have Easter without Peeps. God is so kind. Just earlier this week I was thinking about how cool it would be to have some Peeps for the kids. They DEFINITELY know what those are. Now, if I could just get my Cadbury Egg cravings satisfied..... :)
And yes, I know that candy has absolutely NOTHING to do with Easter!
So in love......
After a LOOOOONG DAY!!
Posing for mommy in this special blanket that fellow Missionary June Tate hand made for him.
I LOVE HIM! I LOVE HIM! I LOVE HIM! I seriously just sit around kissing him all day long.
He took the blanket and pulled it around his face like this. I also want you to see this outfit. Kitty and I have been passing it back and forth for at least 10 years now. It's just a little Gap Jean jumper than is unisex. We started doing this with either Gunner or Kelsi and all of our kids wear it and then we pass it back for the next kid to wear it. It is so special and sentimental. So far, at least 10 kids have worn this.
I am just smiley and happy like this ALL DAY EVERY DAY! Especially when I am being held.Phillipians 4:8
Hop on over to Stef's blog because she is a giving away a book about this challenging verse:
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
To me, this means that we constantly need to take our thoughts captive and replace the negative voices, images in our mind, grumbling, doubtfulness, etc... with the truth of God's word which is constantly right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praise-worthy. Of course, MUCH easier said than done. This verse also, to me, means that we need to be EXTREMELY careful what we let into our hearts and minds. What am I listening to? What am I watching? How am I speaking? Who am I hanging out with? Because if we are letting a bunch of garbage in, then guess what's going to come out - GARBAGE? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks! So the starting point is the mind...what you think, what you dwell on and what you allow in. I love that Phillipians is so specific as to what our minds need to focus on daily.
Check out Stef's place to enter to win a copy of this book - just make sure you send it to me after you read it IF you win!!! )
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
To me, this means that we constantly need to take our thoughts captive and replace the negative voices, images in our mind, grumbling, doubtfulness, etc... with the truth of God's word which is constantly right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praise-worthy. Of course, MUCH easier said than done. This verse also, to me, means that we need to be EXTREMELY careful what we let into our hearts and minds. What am I listening to? What am I watching? How am I speaking? Who am I hanging out with? Because if we are letting a bunch of garbage in, then guess what's going to come out - GARBAGE? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks! So the starting point is the mind...what you think, what you dwell on and what you allow in. I love that Phillipians is so specific as to what our minds need to focus on daily.
Check out Stef's place to enter to win a copy of this book - just make sure you send it to me after you read it IF you win!!! )
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Happy Birthday
Happy 8th Birthday to our sweet Allyson (Ally) Paige Pham.
We celebrated with our tradition of going to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. I made a homemade Carrot Cake for the entire elementary school (haha) as well as Lasagna since that is one of ALly's favorite dishes. And this evening I told Ally we could do ANYTHING she wanted and she chose to play bingo for candy. Sweet tooth much? Her birthday party will be March 20th, girls only, and will be butterfly themed.
I want to do a picture montage, but John is studying for seminary right now and he is on the computer with the pictures, so they will have to wait.
We celebrated with our tradition of going to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. I made a homemade Carrot Cake for the entire elementary school (haha) as well as Lasagna since that is one of ALly's favorite dishes. And this evening I told Ally we could do ANYTHING she wanted and she chose to play bingo for candy. Sweet tooth much? Her birthday party will be March 20th, girls only, and will be butterfly themed.
I want to do a picture montage, but John is studying for seminary right now and he is on the computer with the pictures, so they will have to wait.
But here are a few things that make our princess unique:
Gentle Spirit
Kind Hearted
Patient
Loving
Friendly
Adores Jesus
Gracious
Hospitable
Forgiving
Sensitive
Super Sweet
Quiet
Servant
Polite
A JOY to be around
Godly
I know that I am Ally's mom, so of course I am going to write great things about her. But if you asked me to write a list of negative things about her, I would be hard pressed to get past number one. She is not perfect by any means, but she is a gem and I can't praise God enough for giving us such a special little girl.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
"Wimpy theology makes wimpy women." John Piper
********************
If you get a chance, please check out today's message at http://www.reviveourhearts.com/ WOW! Powerful stuff!!
Our first mission team of the year will arrive on Friday. They are a group of college students from William and Carey College in Mississippi - not to be confused with William and Mary in Virginia. :)
They are helping us start a new work in an area called Santa Rosa/Gosen. We are hoping to impact the community while they are here and then be able to have a small Bible Study to be able to have the beginnings of a church. Will you join us in praying? The work begin on Saturday. Please pray for our family against Spiritual Warfare as it always comes on strong during times like these. Please pray for the missionaries who are coming here to help as well as the community. We are praying for strongholds to be lifted, chains to be broken and hearts to be given!
On the homefront:
I tried to make Gallo Pinto today. It's beans and rice from Costa Rica and if you ask me, I will tell you I make great Gallo Pinto. Well, today I learned that NOT all peppers are created equal. No sooner than finishing the entire dish, I took a bite to savor my creation, only to discover that the creation was made with the hottest hot peppers that a person can grow. I was wondering why these were smaller than normal green peppers and had black seeds in them. And now I know!And now we will be eating Peanut Butter and Jelly for supper. Oh well, I'm sure that has happened to Bobby Flay a time or two. Right?
********************
If you get a chance, please check out today's message at http://www.reviveourhearts.com/ WOW! Powerful stuff!!
Our first mission team of the year will arrive on Friday. They are a group of college students from William and Carey College in Mississippi - not to be confused with William and Mary in Virginia. :)
They are helping us start a new work in an area called Santa Rosa/Gosen. We are hoping to impact the community while they are here and then be able to have a small Bible Study to be able to have the beginnings of a church. Will you join us in praying? The work begin on Saturday. Please pray for our family against Spiritual Warfare as it always comes on strong during times like these. Please pray for the missionaries who are coming here to help as well as the community. We are praying for strongholds to be lifted, chains to be broken and hearts to be given!
On the homefront:
I tried to make Gallo Pinto today. It's beans and rice from Costa Rica and if you ask me, I will tell you I make great Gallo Pinto. Well, today I learned that NOT all peppers are created equal. No sooner than finishing the entire dish, I took a bite to savor my creation, only to discover that the creation was made with the hottest hot peppers that a person can grow. I was wondering why these were smaller than normal green peppers and had black seeds in them. And now I know!And now we will be eating Peanut Butter and Jelly for supper. Oh well, I'm sure that has happened to Bobby Flay a time or two. Right?
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