A walk down memory lane

That’s what today was for me and some eighty folks who were able to attend my 50th birthday celebration held in Fellowship Hall of Memorial Park Church, Pittsburgh, PA.

Ann Thompson and Susie McCabe prepared a delightful program with refreshments provided by the renowned hospitality committee led by Shirley Sedlacek. Pastor Kevin Gourley brought us together reminding us of saints who have served in Memorial Park years gone by (Keith Brown, Dick Todd, Jay Passavant, Bobbie and George Anderson…) and then we began our walk with testimonies by friends who knew me when I was a little child and progressively through the decades. My mother’s name was mentioned frequently as was my father’s, which served to remind us all of the bountiful legacy I have inherited. My pastor from my junior high years until this day, Jay Passavant was present to add his perspective as were friends from my days in Youth Group (Betsy Meister Gourley). Chuck and Henri Doren brought a fresh perspective as they shared about the mutually beneficial investment short term missions teams have made in their partnership with me from 1999 until now. Charlie Beck clarified how I spell WORK TEAMS in capital letters, with an emphasis on WORK! My very own niece, Shannon Rose, shared as did Valerie and Victor and finally Alfredo which you will note in the video clip.

As I sat and looked at the faces of so many loved ones, tears filled my eyes and I thanked the Lord profusely for the privilege of being loved so unconditionally while present as well as far away. I observed how people lingered long after the formal program ended, just enjoying visiting dear brothers and sisters whose paths they haven’t crossed in a long time. There are few things I enjoy as much as watching people relate deeply and relating deeply to others myself. I watched my children be embraced by folks who spoke of having held them as babies and played with them on some long ago missions trip. They heard people speak endearingly of their Nana Anderson whom they long to meet in heaven. Valerie was amazed when one woman said: Your Nana Bobbie Anderson would have cried with joy had she seen you on stage speaking of your mom and singing her Happy birthday in Spanish, at which point, another woman chimed in: But dear Valerie, she is beaming with joy as she watches from the cloud of witnesses. Amen and amen.

This is the part of my world that my children and husband only taste and see when they are in Pittsburgh. These funny stories, warm embraces (Valerie observed that Americans hug when they greet versus Latins who kiss on the cheek), and reminiscing fill out what Alfredo calls those “30 years” he never knew me (we met when I was 30). I am known in Latin America from 22 years on so people in Pittsburgh have a historical perspective of my roots, my family and my growing up years which I savor each trip north. I have relished the opportunity to thoughtfully read through the cards and notes that were sent, appreciating the parenthesis people made in their lives to give expression to their love and affection for me.

My heart is filled to overflowing or as Victor would say: My love buckets are full. Indeed, mine are full for the next 50 years!

I invite you to enjoy this brief walk down memory lane by clicking on this link which will take you to a short video clip of the day’s events.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVZ5Moxu_2A

Chivalry is not dead..... a la Victor style

This is material for Family Circle!

Mom: Victor, are you being a gentleman to the girls in your class?

Victor: I don't need to.

Mom: Why's that son?

Victor: Because the doors are always open.

Long pause. LOL.

Mom: Yes dear, but there are other ways to be a gentleman than just opening doors. Being kind, sharing....

Church wedding of fellow CCI team member-Bessy Macotto

It was an honor to participate in the wedding of our dear friend and fellow CCI team member Bessy Macotto. We have had the pleasure to get to know her husband, Argentinan Tito Cofre. We all participated in their wedding ceremony, with Valerie carrying the Word of God and Victor the wedding rings.

The fact that Bessy found such a man of God who loves, cherishes and accepts her (and vice versa) is truly a gift from God. As you know, I met Alfredo as an older single, after I had started to wonder if the Lord was going to give me that gift so I can identify with Bessy's wonderful story and we have all shared their joy. They returned to Argentina last week and will serve together in CCI/Latin America until Bessy completes her three year term of service in South America and then they will return to Honduras to seek the Lord's guidance as to the next steps.

It has been a pleasure to meet Tito and appreciate his patience and strength and depth as a man of God. We share these photos to celebrate God's gift together with those who know and appreciate her as our dear friend and fellow missionary.
If you want to see more pics: click on this link:

Boda Religiosa Bessy y Tito

Camp Counselor Training (126 hours)

Starting in Feb. and ending this month of May, I have collaborated with CCI AL/Honduras in teaching 20 church leaders how to serve as counselors. One aspect of this particular group is that they all have camps planned within the next several months to put their newly formed skills into practice. There's nothing quite so practical as good theory and that's precisely what we like to see in those that take our CCI Latin America training courses.

As you see these pastors, youth group leaders, Sunday school teachers, Directors of Christian schools, join me in praying for God to:

• Remove any obstacles that would hinder them from implementing what they've learned, like "we've never done it this way before", or "if the kids look like they're having too much fun, it can't be spiritual".
• Give them a spirit of humility to approach others with new ideas and approaches to ministry.
• Strengthen them for the long haul, since this is not a sprint but a marathon and in order to make changes, it takes faith, prayer and strategic thinking and planning.
  

Training workshop for Ropes Course facilitators: Honduras

One of the events I look forward to the most are those where we develop facilitators of low ropes course initiatives. On the outside, being passed through a "spider's web of string" or falling into the arms of a group of people or climbing a wall, might look simple. One might think: Anyone can lead this activity. But in reality it's not as simple as it looks. Leading it well requires a lot of training in safety measures and most difficult of all is learning how to inductively lead the participants to gain insights into themselves, group process and related Biblical principles.
As you look at this picture, ask yourself, what type of feelings might I have if that was me?
This gives you some idea as to the level of skill the facilitator must have to draw out those feelings, discuss them within the group and make sense of them in light of scripture (learning to trust others is a key issue that causes difficulty for many).
That's why we invest over 48 hours of teaching and practice from Friday night to Monday afternoon. They are taught in small groups of 8 people with two trainers.


As you view the slideshow below, pray for the 40 facilitators who have been trained to use their new found skill to promote godly living and playing and pray for the team of 10 trainers to be given God's strength and wisdom as we teach others purpose-driven recreation.

If you have problems viewing the pictures below, you can go directly to this site to view them in picasawebalbums: http://picasaweb.google.com/lisaandersonumana/TallerDeAcertijiosNivel1CCIALHonduras2629DeMarzo2010?feat=directlink

Bessy Macotto's marriage to Tito Cofre

Bessy Macotto, a Honduran, is a fellow missionary with Latin America Mission, serving as the Director of Christian Camping International in South America. She has been a dear friend to our family, such that our children even call her "Tia" (Auntie) Bessy. She, like me, found her "Prince Charming" in a foreign country and who was also a student in one of CCI's counselor training courses, both of whom are older singles just like Alfredo and I . We rejoice with the gift God gave them in each other. Because they both traveled from Argentina to Honduras, Alfredo and I were able to attend the "Engagement Ceremony" where Tito Cofre, the gentleman she met while serving in Argentina, asked for her hand in marriage on March 29, 2010 while at her parents home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Acto de compromiso entre Bessy Macotto y Tito Cofre

Then, they performed their civil marriage ceremony, which in Latin America, is a separate ceremony performed by a notary lawyer. This ceremony took place on April 11, 2010, exactly two days before we celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.

Boda civil en casa Umana-Anderson By the way, today is Alfredo and I's 14th wedding anniversary!

Victor's award for God's glory!

Victor received an award this Sat. March 20, for the best athlete in men's gymnastics for 2009.

As Victor sat and listened to the numerous politicians give their speeches before the awards were given, he motioned to his father and asked:
Daddy, what are they saying? I can't understand anything!
(It appears politicians the world over have something in common!)
Thirty minutes later, Victor again motioned his father: Dad, they are only giving out awards to the people up on the stage, what about us athletes?
Finally, his patience was rewarded!