A long lapse of silence....watching life happen daily.

Since my last post end of May a world of events, life experiences, travel, and things have happened. The intensity of life over these past several months has left me literally without the energy to blog. A long list of these events would serve no purpose other than to justify my long lapse of silence but in the end I realize that the lives of most people are equally as full or more so. Now that the deadlines have been met for publishing all new leadership development materials for Christian Camping International, Latin America, and we have come and gone from our beloved city of Pittsburgh for a month, and we have gone and come back from a month of training in El Salvador, and Valerie and Victor are back in school, I am fully easing back into a delightful routine.

I watch life happen daily.

I watched one of our supervisors give a training on "Holy Play" to 4 new Sunday School teachers to teach our 5-7 year old Bible stories using wooden figures and a contemplative approach, inviting children to enter into the story, retell the story, and express their thoughts and feelings to God through art materials.

I watch our beautiful daughter Valerie grow from a child to a soon-to-be teenager (Dec. 21 she'll be 13). She loves to read!

I watch Victor deepen his love and appreciation for God's Word.

I watch my marriage with Alfredo grow and mature as we continue to struggle through our different temperaments and cultural backgrounds.

I have been out of a regular routine for so many months that I find myself delighting in those small, repetitive tasks like picking up the kids from school, taking them to their sports classes, helping them with homework, and "debriefing them on the High-Low of their day,"  having lunch with Alfredo when he's around, brushing the dog, etc.

I anticipate taking the time to unpack the wonderful lessons learned over these past months of business but at the same time, I am enjoying life happening daily.

What is one repetitive aspect of your life that you find yourself enjoying?
I'd love to hear about it! Tell me about it by posting your comments below.

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....

Victor's journey in gymnastics (2003-2009)

Here's a 3 min. video clip of Victor's participation in gymnastics since he was 3 years old. He started in Pittsburgh, attending one class per week and has persisted until now, with plans to continue. We rejoice with God's gift of excellent health for him and continue to pray with him that whether he wins or loses, all will be for God's glory!

Reflections on the children's baptisms....

Valerie reflecting on her baptism August 29th, 2009:
"I felt cold outside because of the water,
but warm on the inside because of Jesus."

Victor,
"I felt like if I was entering into a new world with God."





Enjoy the brief picture slideshow below!




Our reflections as parents:
We had the good fortune of our home being chosen to celebrate the quarterly baptisms.

Valerie had read about John the Baptist with her first grade teacher and came home one day, eager to follow suit. For two years, we had been hesitant to let Valerie get baptized, waiting to see if she persisted with this idea or it was a passing fad. Now, just having started fourth grade, she communicated that she was still eager to get baptized. Prior to baptism, our church leadership taught those ready to get baptized a lesson on it's meaning and role in the Christian life. We rejoice with her decision to demonstrate publicly her commitment to follow Jesus.
Victor, within the last 6 months or so had indicated he was wanting to get baptized so we supported him as well in his decision. By the way, both sacrificed attending a camp to stay home and get baptized.

Our hearts are filled with joy at how God's spirit is evident in their lives.

While Mom is away the kids are learning business sense--Selling coffee!

One day Alfredo went to his monthly Father-Son event with Victor where "the boys" learned how to change the oil of a car. Can you imagine seeing 12 pairs of shoes sticking out from under the car! What a scene!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, while Mom was in Costa Rica training trainers how to teach the Bible, Valerie was with Haidy (the babysitter) who happens to know the entire process of taking coffee beans directly from the bush to the cup!

Here is Valerie sharing with Mom on the phone: Mom, Haidy is very smart. She knows a lot. You do too, Mom. I am learning so much!
Over the next week, during each phone call the kids began to expound on their business and marketing plans.

• Valerie: We have no more coffee bushes at our house, but where we built ropes course stuff at the camp by our house has a whole forest full of coffee plants. We can buy their coffee beans and then sell the coffee to get our money back.
• Victor: Daddy, can you ask the computer for a good logo for our coffee... we want to call it: Haidy's Coffee (according to Victor one needs only to "ask the computer" and it will give you answers).
• Valerie: We want to sell the little bags of coffee at the small store up the road. We will give the money to Haidy since she is the one who taught us.
• Alfredo: The coffee, by the way, is delicious!

What a thrill it is for me to hear the daily reports of my family's adventures!

Umana-Anderson Family Prayer requests - April 2008

I welcome you to post your comments below!

Lisa
Pray for the team of CCI co-laborers in Tegucigalpa, who after having started the year off with great enthusiasm are now beginning to falter on commitment and consistency.
Pray for me as I seek to strengthen and encourage the core team of leaders, Blanca, Carlos, Cesar (and wife Kenia).

April 18-May 3—I travel to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for my second class this year, Cross-cultural leadership development, taught by my dear mentor and friend Jim Plueddemann (who happened to be my most influential professor at Wheaton in 1992-1993!)
Am I a happy camper with him and that class, or what?!
Pray for God to expand my understanding of leadership development in another culture.

Praise God for my mother-in-law’s help with the children while I’m gone.

Alfredo:
After focusing fully on starting a new business the last two years, he finally has the breathing room to return in the role of elder in the local church we attend. He’s thrilled to be back in active ministry and to serve with an outstanding team of brothers and sisters.

Valerie:
Pray for determination and resolve.
I’m not an Obama fan, but I often sing her the Yes we can song as she tends to give up in the face of hardship (i.e. learning to jog in track class, learning to solve math problems…)
Pray she’ll resolve to say: I can’t do it yet, but if I work hard, with God’s help, I’ll learn!

Victor:
Pray for humility.
We’re working to help him unlearn the “one-upmanship” game, you can only imagine the negative chemistry that ignites when he plays it with his sister!

Pray as well that God would protect him from some negative influence at school, unfortunately, he's being exposed to some very bad language on the playground.

Some updated family pictures: