Christmas Carols In Spanish!!

This Christmas we were able to sing Christmas carols at an elderly day-home as well as a few other local ministry sites. This was great language practice and a beautiful opportunity to love and connect with the community. Georgia and Reese were both happily engaged and energized by the opportunity to connect in this way. We still have these new Christmas songs running through our heads and sung in our home -- well into February!

Whole chickens, bone soup, and muffins...oh my

My friend Sofia taught me how to cook chicken over an open fire.  But first, I had to learn to process a whole chicken. There were points of the process that I wished for a machete. Too much bone sawing just makes a stomach churn.  It's on my Christmas list!  Even the our local butcher is pleased as punch that this white lady buys whole chickens -- neck, feet, guts and all.  Keeping it real? I still have to pep-talk myself to process these deliciously fresh cluckers. But, I'm learning....

To the right you see a typical soup with bone and all.  The flavor is amazing but using fingers is a must!

On the left is Reese and her friend Amelie making something like blueberry muffins.  They don't grow blueberries here in Ecuador but we've found a small black-ish berry that works great!! Baking is a big part of each week because we have to make everything from scratch.  We love this because it's healthier and we are learning to organize our days to make time for this necessity.  In fact, the girls are becoming quite the little sous chefs!

Home...on the trail

A day at the river is just what the doctor ordered.  Shell is a small jungle town of about 3,000 people.  We could step out our door and walk about 10 minutes and be in the jungle.  But, this really wouldn't be wise as we are learning which plants are poisonous, which caterpillars will sting you and exactly where the hospital is located!!  So, you can imagine that this Colorado family was overjoyed when another missionary family invited us to hike down to the river with them and roast hot dogs.

The hike was beautiful and just long enough to make us sore the next day but not long enough to ensue groaning and moaning from the kiddos.  Glorious!

Then, we come upon the river and the other kids jumped in the river...like no big deal!  There are piranhas in Ecuador...but they quickly informed us that they live farther south of where we were. So, Georgia followed suit; without hesitation she jumped in the river and rode the current.  There were moments of stress -- flash to Tina screaming at Georgia to signal that she's okay as the river rushes over her head -- but we count it a win in our book.  That girl goes and gets it.

We are a family of hikers and having a trail like this near our house is a big life bonus.  We feel at home on the trail.  God's so faithful to give us pieces of home wherever we go.  What a  Mighty God we serve.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches and glory.  Philippians 4:19

Where in the world are the Ferry's?!?

Welp, we just transitioned off of one year spent in language school in Costa Rica to learn Spanish.  Are we fluent? Nope. Do we have a leg up in the transition to another country? Yep.  Thank. The. Lord.

Language learning was a trip.  We woke up early, twisted our brains, made fools out of ourselves constantly and learned to navigate everyday life in a Latin city.  We were trained up and taught.  It was a stretch of the will but we look back with gratitude for the opportunity.  Now as we are in Ecuador and we are able to slide in a bit easier because of our year in Costa Rica.

We are now settling into the house where we will be living until the beginning of January.  Our friends, who are also missionaries, will be vacating their house as they are back in the US for a 4 month trip and we have been tasked with animal care and house-sitting. We are thankful because this allows us time to look for our own home without pressure and displacement in a hotel as we search.  Yahoo!

Chris and I are busy learning the ropes of a new house and town.  There is no Yellow Pages here so we have to shadow and take notes.  Some of them read, "pay electric bill to Cynthia in the meat shop. closes from 1-2 for siesta." and, "neighbor across the street may yell at you for making noise.  he's just grumpy...don't worry about it." and, "bread costs 12 cents per roll. baking happens twice a day - 9am and 5pm." and, "everyone is talking about parasites. remember to ask further questions about detection and treatment."  The notes go on and on...

Georgia and Reese start school the 20th (their walk to school is pictured above). They are nervous but excited to settle into a little community.  Reese has 1 other little girl in her class and Georgia has 5 kids in her class and they both will have their first male teachers.  Lots of new!!

We will share more as we know more...  Already we have seen how there is a path leveled and readied before us. We are ready to settle in for the long haul of what God has planned.  Our foundation is the same although our location has changed.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Psalm 136

On the road again!

We flew from Costa Rica to Ecuador on two flights, in one afternoon.  All our bags arrived without any issues and we flew through customs despite our 'in process' status with our visa.

After touch down in Quito's new airport our friend, Remiro, took us to rest at the guest house.  We talked the entire hour-long ride -- in Spanish!!  This was so much fun after trying to communicate with him for 3 years with almost no language skills.

Three days in Quito were filled with government offices, shopping and logistic organizing for our transition to the small town of Shell.


On our way to Shell (a 4 hour drive from Quito) we took 3 days in a tourist town named Banos, to rest, reflect and pray as a family.  We did some swimming in the local hot springs and swung from a tree house overlooking the beauty that surrounds the area.  Although we didn't sleep well (our minds are just to busy these days to shut down), we did down-shift a bit and felt ready to transition to Shell on day 3.  

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? - the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. Psalm 18:31-32

Goodbye Little Blue House

Today we leave Costa Rica.  This house has been a haven in a huge transition.  It's blue cement walls, two palm trees in front, termites and cockroaches will be missed...well, at least some of it will be missed.  We didn't have matching plates or many comforts but it was our home.

Packed up are our 8 checked bags and 4 carry-ons.  We travel with the basics and will set up another home in Ecuador.  

It feels really nice to have so little with so much to look forward to.  

Patience Is A Virtue...

Visas are a reality of living abroad.  We received 1 out of 4 visas in Costa Rica. Each application was identical but 1 was approved and 3 denied.  Thankfully "being in process" is enough to stay in the country legally. This is how things go...  

Now, we are working to acquire our Ecuadorian visas and have an amazing lawyer to help with the process.  We did not want to hit any unnecessary glitches and lose time and money.  Still, much of our time as of late has been spent in government offices, on websites, phone calls and scanning and emailing document after document AND the process is expensive!

Even after all this, we charge ahead incredibly excited to have visas in Ecuador.  We are trusting His perfect timing for receipt of these visas (we can't leave Costa Rica until we have them in hand) and, in faith, have booked airline tickets for an August 3rd departure. 

Our last visit to a government office was to have our fingerprints taken.  This process took almost 5 hours!  Lots of waiting without explanation, paying for somethings that seemed a little "off" and PATIENCE.  It's amazing how this process is like a boot camp of holiness and dependency on God.  May we go deeper still in our trust in Him and live joyfully in the midst of the refining fire.

Nate Saint - A fixed part of our life from now on...

The Nate Saint School will be Georgia and Reese's school in the fall.  Before we visited Ecuador in 2012 the name Nate Saint was that of a missionary hero we read about in books and thought about infrequently but with utmost admiration. Beginning in August, as we walk through the town center of Shell a replica of his yellow airplane will hover over us. The girls will benefit from his vision of a school in Shell, Ecuador for missionary kids like ours. And, God willing, we will be working with leaders that have risen up because of Nate Saint's sacrifice to reach the lost at all costs, even death. 

God has the craziest way of bringing the imposible and unbelievable to reality.  Frequently we are caught in a daze wondering how in the world we ended up learning Spanish in Costa Rica to live in a jungle town in Ecuador.  Humbly we look forward knowing for darn sure that none of "our plan" is possible without God's providence (foreseeing care and direction) and provision.  

Exodus 14:14 - "God will fight for you, you need only be still."

We read the books...now we know they are right.

As of today we've completed 9 months of living abroad, submerged in Latin culture and away from the place we called home.

We have researched and prepared for this change of reality and cultural shock.  You can't prevent it, really, but it's served us well to be able to identify the struggles and growing pains as we weather them.

We are already processing that "home" is something we may never feel again. And, to be honest, we love this and we hate this.  The truth is if we are Believers we are aliens in this world. (I Peter 2:11-12) The sense of belonging we felt in the US very well could have been a product of complacency and distraction from how different we are as followers of Christ.

The flip side?  Now we talk with Georgia and Reese about our many "homes"; our many places that we feel comfortable and surrounded by people we love and that love us right back.  Now this list includes - Denver, Winter Park, Costa Rica...and soon to be added to the list, we are sure...Ecuador.

Shall we talk about money? And faith?

Lately I (Chris) have been overwhelmed with a feeling of encouragement knowing how many people are supporting us (both financially, prayerfully, and in moral support).  As a missionary, living far away from daily interaction with so many we love this is a HUGE encouragement.  I also have been thinking of the fact that this consistency is a symptom of our supporter's faith in God and desire to live sacrificially for Him.  This is just where we want to be and we are spurred on knowing that our supporters desire to be in this same place.  This is made evident by their consistent giving, praying and reaching out. 

Learning to live off the "support of others" is an act of faith for us.  It is truly counter-culture, as a man, to surrender one's provision for his family to faith.  I know this is what God wants of us (no matter if we are missionaries or not) but right now the rubber is meeting the road in my belief that God will provide for all our needs.  He IS providing and he IS building my faith in the process.  

So, as you are reading this I hope and pray that you see that stepping out in faith (in everything -- but finances is often the toughest surrender) is a step worth taking.  As God calls, He always provides and then builds our faith for the next, often bigger, step.

To our supporters - 
Whether you know it or not, you are part of our faith walk and an incredible encouragement to us.  Your constancy blows us away and makes us thankful for so many deep and significant relationships with each of you.  Please know you are valued and that we are together, desiring to live lives of sacrifice for God's glory and so that all the world will hear the name of Jesus and be discipled to walk in His ways. 

How Do I Feel? By golly I have no idea!!!

Lately, the question, "How are you doing?" or, "How do you feel?" has been the dreaded, unanswerable question.  You see, we have lived in Costa Rica for 8 months now and will be leaving to move to our final place of ministry, Ecuador, in August.  

Thus far we have adjusted well but are now entering the "end of the honeymoon" phase of living abroad while looking forward to another big change...moving to Ecuador!  

Emotions are running high in the Ferry house.  This exhibits in tears, frustration, fear, hope, grief, excitement, anger, a desire to withdraw oneself socially and much more.  

Each member of our family has been struggling to put words to and order these many emotions.  So, we posted a key to help us identify our current state and communicate said state with our understanding (and albeit often confused or bewildered) family members. 

Although this phase can be difficult we are increasingly thankful for this opportunity to dig deeper as a family and learn more together. We are learning more about daily walking in the Spirit, not allowing our emotions to rule our behaviours and extending grace at every opportunity.  

Philippians 1:6 ...he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion...

Work it out!

We've always been an active family but moving to a city in Costa Rica took some adjustment.  Our first 3 months in Costa Rica were during the peak of the rainy season so we took to having indoor dance parties, indoor jump roping contests and, true confession, gained a few pounds...

Chasing away the blues to day
the Davis family left CR

A little 6am snorkel action!

Then, we got our feet under us, the rain stopped dumping and we began to take on exercise in the city - Ferry style! Now we play soccer, basketball, go running, have dance and lip-sync competitions, jump rope and more...



We've become even more convinced that breaking a sweat can chase away the blues, bring clarity, stress relief and giggles. And, counting sit ups and push-ups in Spanish can really improve your numerical vocab...

You might be in Spanish language school if...

• you can't speak English or Spanish well
• you conjugate Spanish verbs in your sleep
• 5am is a late wake-up call and bedtime is your favorite time of day
• when listening to the radio you think a song is in English and then realize it's in Spanish
• almost everything in your house is labeled with the Spanish word - who says you can't memorize vocab in the shower!?!
• your favorite study chair has a permanent butt mark
• you find yourself deep-breathing over disordered flash-cards
• you start a question to your child in English and finish it in Spanish...and then they answer you...all in Spanish  
• family inside jokes are now in Spanish 
• your new shower-song is a Spanish ballad
• you pray more than ever