It was 1991. Ken and I were in a three-month training course held by Wycliffe Bible Translators on a remote ranch in Texas and making trips into and eventually living in Mexico for one month. Our days were spent in classes learning about living overseas, taking Spanish lessons and doing long and then longer hikes every day. (Ken lost 15 pounds and I lost 7!)
Each day, the staff would do something to us to prepare us for living in another country. The electricity would be off, there would be no water, we’d have to evacuate camp in 20 minutes…that type of stuff. Afterwards, there would be a debriefing.
Our director always asked us to contemplate the following: “What if life turns out to be like this?”
In other words, what if this isn’t just for a short moment, but this is life? What if this is what it is? How will you cope? It was the best training we could ever have for living….well, anywhere. Sure, Mexico was different, Indonesia even more different, and while Germany was fantastic, it still was different from what we were used to! It’s a good question for any of us to ask ourselves each day actually!
Ken is back in that situation. electricity is on and off. Internet is sketchy. Food is very different. It’s hot. And the shower (bucket shower) is VERY COLD!
“But it’s just two weeks” you might say. Yes, but in that two weeks there is so much to be done. And when you are bombarded from all sides with “different” or “stress” it can be difficult to get your task done. And we all like to get our tasks done, don’t we?
Here are some much-needed prayer items from Ken:
“We will have a very full day. I worked on just three computers in nine hours yesterday! All three had major issues. In total, we completed about 7 or 8. Today, we’ll be inundated with another 20! So, pray for …
- a good internet connection. We haven’t been able to get our downloads on the USB stick working so we’ve had to use the Internet. It’s fairly costly and slow but we need to get them updated.
- good team work. We have things going everywhere, with many people in the room. I think I’ll ask people to stay outside of the room today unless we are working on their computer … or at least remain in the back of the room. Otherwise, we trip over them.
- patience.Some times, it’s just a challenge to figure out what the problem is. I had one that had a virus. It had AVG on it. But, the virus wouldn’t allow me to uninstall AVG. I finally used a 3rd party program to uninstall AVG and then installed Microsoft Security Essentials, an anti-virus program. Updating the database file took a long time because I had to do it through the Internet and now I have to scan the entire computer. That takes over an hour itself.”
Life isn’t bad…its just got it’s challenges. Thank you for standing with us THROUGH them!
The Haugh Herald 
Ken & Anne
November 1, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Janet, thank you for your prayers from afar. It is so wonderful to continue our relationship with our Brewster family. I was praying for you all during the storm. I posted a photo on FB from a storm just like that in 1987. We were still living in Carmel. Trees were down, no electricity for days, some folks had to live in hotels for quite some time. We ended staying with my brother who had electricity somehow. Sometimes those unexpected events can be very sweet. I remember enjoying the bedlam of two familiies in one home for the time!
Janet Ward
October 31, 2011 at 5:52 AM
Ken and Anne,
Thank you so much for your updates. We will be praying here in Brewster, NY. An update from the northeast, Saturday we had an incredible snow storm that dumped over 1 foot of heavy wet snow. The trees still had most of the leaves on them and there is extensive damage and electricity outages. It is incredible though how neighbors pull together and help each other. We also learn that all of our modern conveniences are not quite as important as we may think. As I was driving around yesterday it was incredibly beautiful with the white snow setting off the fall colors and the striking blue sky. Praying for you both for the sense of the steadiness of God’s provision and faithfulness.
Ken & Anne
October 31, 2011 at 7:51 AM
Thank you for your update too, Janet. I had read on the Internet that you were getting blasted and we without power. I’m sorry to hear that but I believe you are right, we have a tendency to take for granted that which we have until it is no longer available. I am experiencing the same in Nigeria right now.
God bless you. Give our love to the church.
Ken & Anne
October 31, 2011 at 7:54 AM
Thank you too, Janet, for your update. I heard you were getting blasted by snow. And yes, we have a tendency to take for granted that which we have on a daily basis. I am too, learning that right now as I type.
God bless you!