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Today our small group from church is doing a valentines project along with a group of kids from an economically challenged community. We are going to make valentines cards and take them to a retirement home for the seniors. I was asked to give a brief devotional about love. Rather than using the traditional message of Corinthians 13, I decided to speak from my own experience about the things and people I love. As I pondered this, I realized that when it comes to things I love, I often have to do without. They aren’t always available (like warm weather right now). Loving people is different. The pleasure I get there is more from what joy I can bring to them, and in a roundabout way that brings me happiness. The nice thing about that is that I don’t have to do without. I can always do things to love on someone.

Right now Dan, Dalaina and the kids are out in the jungle, so in some ways I am feeling like I have to do without them. It is true that I can’t just go over to their house, or even speak with them on the phone, but I can do things that will bring them joy, and in that convoluted way get enjoyment myself. I’m praying for them, and taking care of their business matters while they are not able to do that, and now I see those things in a different light. I think I’ll enjoy them more. Also, today as we make cards for the old folks, I think I’ll slip in a couple for my grandkids.

Lord, thank you for loving me so much that you are always doing things that bring me happiness. Please protect my family while they are out in Tsoroja, and give them good health. Bless them with good progress in learning the Caquinte language, and help them to build great friendships with the people there. Strengthen their marriage, and give them wisdom and grace in bringing up my grandkids. More than anything, please draw Danny and Dalaina into such a close and overtly fulfilling relationship with you that their kids, and the villagers will see their joy IN YOU, and want it for themselves!

Our time in town continues to be busy. Dan's surgery went well, and we are int he midst of dentist appointments, vaccinations, and a mountain of paperwork. We hope to head out  to Tsoroja in just a couple of weeks.
A couple of nights ago ended on a pretty sour note when our teammate left our house in tears after an argument that seemed to come out of nowhere. Wanting her to have a chance to talk over what had happened with her husband, Dan and I decided to wait until the next morning to talk. We went over to their house the next day, and her husband ended up taking the lead as mediator which worked well since he wasn't actually involved in the conflict. He opened the whole thing in prayer which impressed me as a wise and mature thing to do. Dan, our teammate, and I all had the opportunity to share what we felt had gone on. In the end, it seemed to be a big misunderstanding. She was operating from a very open relationship with me and felt she could just be blunt, but Dan took it as disrespectful to me and got protective. I was just mostly confused as to why each of them was so upset!
We were able to talk about it in depth, and I think came out understanding each other even better. I know I feel closer to my teammate as a result simply because she was able to express her love for me and appreciation of our relationship. After the whole thing was over, I am left thinking about how different conflict looks (or should look)in the life of a believer versus the life of someone who doesn't have Christ. Between the argument and its resolution all three of us were concerned for the others and could hardly stand not having it right between us. There was no defensiveness, just a genuine desire to understand what had happened. 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, talks abotu love not seeking its own and keeping no record of wrongs. I realize that love that hasn't experienced the grace of God is really and incomplete love and is unable to really do those things. It's because we have each experienced God's love that holds no record of our sins and loves us without the expectation of return that we were able to offer that kind of love to one another.
In all, I think we chose the right team...

 Dan is getting ready for surgery #3 after his un-romantic work injury a couple of years ago (he was moving a desk). The workers comp insurance is paying for it, but because we are getting it done in Peru, there are been about a million and a half red tape wrapped hoops we've had to jump through to make it happen. We got here late Sunday night and had his pre-op stuff scheduled for Monday and the surgery for Tuesday. It is Wednesday night, and he has still not had the operation. For the past two days we have been making numerous calls to the USA and been back and forth to the hospital too many times. The funny thing is that the insurance company has been awesome (and when does that EVER happen??). The woman handle Dan's claim has been bending over backwards and forwards to make this happen for us. Finally this morning, we decided to just pay for the hospital costs on our credit card and handle being reimbursed by the insurance company ourselves. I think the hospital was much happier with this arrangement, and we think that the insurance company will repay us quickly so we can pay off the bill. Anyway, the surgery got rescheduled once because we still didn't have our paperwork in order then again because the OR was needed for a 12 hour cardio surgery today. Supposedly the surgery will be tomorrow at 10, but I am not going to believe it until I see Dan in the recovery room.
On a happy note, we have had a marvelous vacation in between all the hospital stuff. We've eaten out, done a little shopping, taken several long walks, and today went to see a new movie in 3D. Our hotel is beautiful, and I haven't woken up before 9am in 3 days. The boys are staying with our teammates back at Pucallpa, and I think this non-kid trip was what the doctor ordered for me. Last night I asked Dan if he missed the boys. He said, "Nope. You?" Hmmm. No, can't say that I do. I think I am a better mommy when I get to be away from them. Anyway, tomorrow comes soon, so I should get some sleep. 
 
 

We got back yesterday and much has happened in the past few days. Moses is doing fine. He has an impressive battle scar down his face, but seemed otherwise unharmed. We have been trying to keep him from banging his head again, not a good idea after a concussion. It has not been easy on any of us. "Moses, don't jump, run, swing from the hammock, play tetherball, climb trees, or do anything that you are used to doing." He got sick of coloring and puzzles really fast.
On Sunday, the day after Moses' fall, we got word that Marvi was not planning to come to Pucallpa because she was too scared of getting a c-section. Nichole spoke to her and her husband at length, but it did not seem to do much good. I ended up having a 45 minute conversation (in Spanish obviously) with her mom about what was going on and why we wanted her to come back with us on Tuesday. I explained that a c-section might happen but not necessarily, that we would be paying for her flight and medical care, and that we would be with her at the hospital and she would be living with the Swifts while not in the hospital. Her mom said that she would talk to her on Monday. It was very frustrating feeling like she could be in a lot of danger and having no way to help her. We found her up and about (off bed rest) which told me that she eitehr didn't believe us or no longer cared. Likely, the fact that her feet are not very swollen any more makes her think that the danger is gone.
Our team went ahead and planned for her going with us even though we knew that it was likely that she would not come. This meant that Dan and I changed our flight to Tuesday instead of Friday, and Scott and Nichole changed their flight to Friday instead of next Tuesday. Poor Kenan was scrambling to get all of our supplies bought to be sent out. So Monday was a crazy day of packing up quickly.
Tuesday came with great weather, but Marvi did not get on the flight. I am hoping that this was just God's way of getting us home while the weather is good, and she will deliver safely out there - the best senario for all of us.
We are glad to be back and busy trying to get our ducks in a row before Christmas. I can't believe it is only a week away!