Blessed are the peacemakers

   The other month I saw a vivid picture of a peacemaker in Brazuto where we buy groceries.  It's an open air market, but not like the quaint farmers markets in the U.S. Suburbs. Here we enter the door of the market on a boat through a channel where, because Cartagena is at sea level, all the old buildings dump the sewage into the channel. You can imagine the smell of the black water, yes, the same smell as cleaning our your sewer back home.  The market streets are about the same. Lined with feces, rotten foods from vegetables to meat, and garbage from packages. Thousands of people go through this market daily. 50 foot tractor trailer loads of different foods are dropped then distributed to the different vendors there. Vendor storefronts range from concrete bodegas to four sticks with a piece of plastic over it and rickety table underneath.  It does have a little police station somewhere in the maze of alleys, it is so hard to find that is must be imaginary.

   That's why when I heard a bottle break I turned and looked. A small and wiry man broke a whiskey bottle on the edge of the curb, it crumbled so he reached into the trash to grab another. He broke it into something he could use as a knife. In front of me another man with a confident stride and a bit healthier build followed him across the street with a machete. In seconds bystanders started shouting with excitement, a fight with out having to buy tickets! They danced back in forth taking swings at each other, you could feel the tension rise from the crowd and the intensity of the men increased in seconds. There is an instinct in us that we either turn our heads for fear of what happens, or we stop and can't take our eyes of what is happening. At the climax of the face off, a large bus passes in front of me like the channel getting changed in the last seconds of the football game. After it passed the man with the whisky bottle had blood running out his arm, and the man with the machete is now in hot pursuit, when suddenly a man stepped in between them. The man looked ordinary, not particularly big or small, and instantly the fight de-escalated. A few more fake attempts at each other and both men melted away into the crowd. As I walked deeper into the market the only sign left that anything had happened was a bright red blood trail.

    Right then I saw a picture of a peacemaker, this other man may have saved the others life. But why did they both stop including the crowd? They all knew this man's character previous to the altercation. He carried with him some authority, not like the state as a police action, this man's authority must have been built up over time. Had I or another unknown stepped in between them perhaps they wouldn't have stopped, and there may have been more victims. The lesson was there is a history of character associated with the ability and right to exercise authority in this situation. Something that cannot be garnered in a day, and something that is known over time after it has been developed. Mature Christians should strive for this character and be ready to be available when the time of service comes. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God." Matthew 5:9
 Nate

Brethren and Strangers

If you look up the word hospitality, the meaning giving is a treatment of, reception, or disposition towards. Over the past nine months of living in Bocachica I am leaning that hospitality means more than just the fellowship with those I know and enjoy, it also means opening yourself to those you don't know or may not feel comfortable with (yet).  I am learning this as I have established friendships here on the island, shared in wonderful times of fellowship with team from Minnesota, and as I prepare my heart to say good bye to 3 special German girls who I have lived with for the past 9 months that if I did not allow myself to open up to give a certain disposition towards, I would not have these relationships in which I cherish. 

 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for the strangers. 3 John 5


                                                      House update!
Casi, casi as the locals would say...we are almost done! What's next? Well, windows are here and are waiting to be put in, We are waiting on more brick to finish the last wall in the bathroom and then to pour the concrete roof! So close! Please continue to pray for safety, strength, and speed as we do the            finishing touches.          
 This is Bethany, Tim, and Annie helping us acid wash the brick in the boy's bedroom. Behind them is the bathroom.
Front view of our house. Do you like our electrical poles??? Bocachican style ;)
On July 17th we celebrated Nate's 35th birthday....and with his strong disposition we thought a Pink Barbie party would be a way to say we love you! Everyone from Staff, to team members to friends came and participated!                                                                                                                       

Blessings to you and your families!
Thank you for your prayers for our family.
With love,
The Ariels

I can see God's hand in this

I am not one to "enjoy" a jigsaw puzzle. I will admit when someone is working on a puzzle I find myself sitting at the table trying to find the pieces that go together. I will sometimes look at the time and say...just one more piece, but then I find a piece that fits to the other pieces I was working on. That one missing piece brings a second wind that brings me to sit at the table longer. Now don't get me wrong, I have only done this a hand full of times,  But seeing how the picture comes together is exciting.

I feel as my time here in Bocachica is like that second wind. I can see God's hand in this. I have been seeing the picture become clearer as time goes on here. I see the Lord given us glimpses of how he has prepared us. Take the example of us building our house. We are building the whole thing ourselves.  From drawing up the plans, to putting in electrical, plumbing, laying the brick (not to mention lugging all 9,000 of them up the STEEP hill) to washing the brick to pouring the concrete. How blessed are we that the Lord has equipped Nate with the ability to do all of this. I am not sure how many people would feel comfortable building there house from the ground up. I take time during the day,while jointing up brick thanking the Lord for Him preparing us for building our house. I choose to think of this time as bonding time with my family watching them all help out. I have met many new people here in Bocachica as they come to look at the construction of our house. We had wonderful helpers who worked on 2 different occasions bringing up the brick with us, and not to mention Guillermo and Wildio who have worked laboring for us.

Exciting news from the Ariels:

Nate has had on his heart to do a bible study with some families here on the island. However, Nate's Spanish is not strong on Biblical terms. A man who translated for the medical team when they came in February, came to the mission a couple of weeks ago and asked Nate if he would work with him on his English. He said he needed opportunities to translate from English to Spanish. What a perfect way to do so. Nate mentioned what his desire was and they both agreed it was a great thing to get started. Nate and Deiver will begin on Monday.

The kids are still working hard on their Spanish. The girls have classes daily and Nate and I have class once a week. My kids can have full conversations with the locals here and are enjoying their new friends. I am amazed to see how quickly they can pick up a second language. Vincent even says commands in Spanish. 'Than and Patrick talk to each other while playing in Spanish.  :) It is fun to hear!

Thank you all for your continual prayers for our family!
Blessings to you and your families!

Nate and Tara, Valerie, Alicia, Jaiden, Kristen, Nathanael, Patrick, and Vincent.

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one time gift here's how:

Send checks to:
Antioch Community Church
P.O. Box 40
Elon, North Carolina

Please put "Colombia" in the memo line.
*remember all giving is tax deductible*

Oh, the things you will see

Dear family and friends,

The book from Dr. Seuss comes to mind when I write this blog. "Oh the places you will go" I think I should write a book titled "Oh the things you will see."

We just finished our fourth month here in Bocachica. I can honestly say, I have seen more things in the past four months to give me great topics to talk about for the next forty years.

     

•  I have seen a bull who was transported to the island to a new home. He got loose, and being distraught, he ran wild in front of the mission. He picked up a 5 year old girl with his horns and threw her. I saw panic break out on the island and watched my husband as he joined the locals to help detain him.

• I took part in enjoying a new delicacy of iguana.

• Though I have never run out of gas while driving a car in the states....4 different times now I have been on a boat and run out of gas.

• I have been with out electricity for days at a time....

• I walked a long ways away to help my husband and locals pick up coral rock and put it in sacks for our new house.
• I go in a boat to a dangerous part of town to get my groceries. I won't even tell you how awful it smells.

• I have seen my husband take on the role of animal control as he killed 2 possums with a machete that occupied our attic.

But more than just this I have seen how my outer shell is getting stronger. My mind is getting sharper and my heart is getting fuller.

I have learned in the past four months that being a missionary is not only about spreading the gospel. The biggest thing I have learned is the people here give you respect and know your heart through your relationship with them. Living among them like they live. Walking up a hill that is barely walk-able to get water to wash clothes.  To understand what they endure everyday, and then having a thankful heart on top of that. That is what speaks to them. Seeing how you can adapt to what they have become accustomed to.

What a gift to get. To have the joy of the Lord where you are and with what you have. I am blessed.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!




We are enjoying our new lives here and feel at home. Thank you all who pray for us, write to us and support us monthly. We are blessed to have you in our lives and share in our ministry.

With love,
Tara and the Ariel Family.

If you would like to support us monthly please make checks payable to Antioch Community Church. P.O. Box 40  Elon, NC. 27244 Write Colombia in the memo line. (Remember all giving     is tax deductible.)

Minnesota Medical Team

 Hello from Bocachica once again.

We have said good bye to the Minnesota team that has been here for the week. They are headed back to the cold weather of the far north. They got to use the Clinic building we have been working on the last few months, though it isn't perfect it was better than before. They got to see about 480 patients between the 3 doctors, a midwife, and 3 nurses. They also taught 2 classes on health issues. The team of 10 people were kept busy from about 8am to 6pm every day. Even with the full schedule everyone had good spirits the whole week, definitely God's grace was on everyone involved.

 The rooms that were concrete and sheet rock were all painted and tiled, and outfitted with desks and beds. (above is before below and after.)

 The first room was gynecology, the second was surgery, the third was general, and the fourth was general and pain. They're appointment times we close, but everyone seen was prayed with after each visit.

 the center receiving area before and after















One of the good stories this week is about a a man that needed surgery, but didn't have an appointment. He didn't one because he was from the next village over, and didn't hear about it in time to get one. On thursday he came to the clinic, and was told we couldn't see him. His wife persisted and asked that the doctor just look at the growth that needed to be removed. He was told he would have to wait and the doctor would see him when she got a chance.
 On the doctors break she took a look at, said she could do it no problem. They were overjoyed because the growth was about the size of a baseball on his lower back below his pant line. The wife said her husband had it for about 20 years. It hung from him by just a little bit of skin, so he had to wear pants that could adjust to this extra piece of flesh that was there. It also made it hard to sit normal. After a quick 15 minutes procedure he was free from his 20 year companion. He gave lots of hugs and was very grateful to everyone. It was a simple, but because of the money they never had it removed. This is one of the many blessings given during the week.
Check out the site below for additional pictures of the week
http://www.facebook.com/proyectolibertad.ywamcolombia

Once again thank all of you who pray and support us here
May the Lord bless and keep you!
the Ariels

Thankfulness

                                                        

Our loved ones

     It seems impossible to muster up enough courage to jump off a 20 ft. cliff. It is like a cycle: you run and freeze at the edge, you have to throw your shoes in and make a commitment, listen to your loved ones cheer you on and you jump. For that couple of seconds when you feel like you're flying! You let a scream of delight out! That moment ends as you hit the crystal clear water with a loud thud. "I did it" you think to yourself! You are full of pride. You hear the amazing Antioch team cheering you on

The cliffs
(in the back)  

           We did so much with our beloved Antioch team, so many new things I haven't done. We stayed up so late into the night that it made the next morning a little hard to wake up. We laughed so much. I couldn't have had a better week!  They brought us nine bins down.  One only had treats in it.  I have never appreciated peanut butter so much!  2nd Corinthians 9:12 says "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."  
        Thank you so much Antioch team for all you gave up for our family.  Thank you all for your prayers and support. We appreciate it so much!                                        
                                           Love,
                                                 Alicia and family

January

As we turn to a new calendar year, I reflect back on all that God has done in 2011. I never would have imagined that 13 years into marriage, 7 kids later, 2 business to close down, houses to have rented out that we would move out of the United States and move to Bocachica, Colombia. A friend of ours from church sent a link from 9 years ago, He and Nate took their first mission trip down here, and they built an apartment on the mission site and today.....9 years later we now call this home. I can look back over the 13 years of marriage and see how God placed certain things in our path to bring us to this point. From moving away from our family to a new state as we began marriage. My husband owning his own construction company. Having the desire to show others how to construct things properly and well. From homeschooling our children to placing us in a church that believes and supports us in what we are doing. How great is our God! It is nice to see how many years the Lord had this in his plan and we can see it come together.

  Life here has been busy! Nate works daily on the medical clinic that the mission hopes to open this spring. He is working with individuals in the community and teaching them how to do concrete and working with them on fixing the roof. I still teach the children their studies, and we have Spanish classes 3 days a week. I can see the kids use more and more of the language and must confess my 10 year old corrects me on my sentence structure.

 We have enjoyed making new friends here on the island. We have many people now whom we visit. We have enjoyed 'Than's 4th birthday and Christmas here with our new friends. We are busying helping with needs they may have and my kids now have the desire to bake for families they come in contact with. We are rubbing American food off on them. I have been asked by many women here on the island to have cooking classes for them.

Here is a family we have become close with. Guillermo and his wife Mary Lendi, and their three kids. Nate had known Guillermo from his mission trips here prior to us moving. He works with Nate on projects and any thing we need Guillermo is there to help us. His wife and I have become friends and she has started coming to Bible study here. Please pray for them, that they would all come to know the Lord.

Thank you for your prayers and support for us! We have been blessed to see Him working here in Bocachica. Please pray that a Doctor or Nurse would come to work here at the mission. That the construction on the medical clinic would be finished on time and pray that our presence here on the Island would show Christ's love!

Blessings to you and your families,
With love,
Nate and Tara and all the kids :)