Candy Cane Outreach

One of the things that we do just about every year, is give some homemade sugar cookies in the shape of candy canes. WHY?? We also include the evangelistic story of the first candy cane that was ever made. Here it is along with a picture of some of the 114 cookies that I have made and frosted in the last 2 days. Now I just have to make up the cards, wait for the frosting to harden, and wrap them all up to deliver tomorrow.

The LEGEND of the Candy Cane

A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a
candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a
Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry,
and death of Jesus Christ.


He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the
virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid
rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.


The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of
Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".


The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a
large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his
life.


The candy became known as a Candy Cane - a decoration seen at Christmas
time. The meaning has faded, but still gives joy to children young and old, whom
Jesus loves and treasures.

Would you pray with us that this gospel message would change someone's life this season?

Caleb's Baptism

Today, Doug had the priviledge of baptizing Caleb. At first our Chilean pastor was hesitant about baptizing such a young man, but after Caleb and he talked, Pastor was impressed by his knowledge and the way he handles scripture. I told Doug LONG ago, that I'm a bit timid about raising Caleb because we think God has something special for him. I hope and pray that God works in his life, in spite of us!
There were 4 candidates for Baptism. Caleb was the first...

Interesting Moment

Where, are the grills? We had been looking for the grill section in the local "HomeDepot/Lowes" store when we decided to ask a tall mid 40's looking man. He answered us and we replied with the typical "Muchisimas Gracias!" that is the traditional and normal way throughout all of Latin America to say, "Thank you VERY much!"

What stopped us in our tracks was his reply. "Con mucho gusto!" This is how they say "You're welcome!" in Costa Rica and in Colombia. It litterally means "with much pleasure!"

Here in Chile and many other countries in Latin America the typical response is "De nada!", which litterally means, "It was nothing!"

Having been trained in the Spanish language in Costa Rica we still use "Con mucho gusto!", but we NEVER hear it spoken back to us, so today, when we heard that phrase, we stopped dead in our tracks and had to ask, "Jaime" why he chose to use that phrase rather than "De nada!"

We explained that we had studied in Costa Rica and he explained that he is from Colombia.

It just reminds us of how much the little comments and sentiments, behind what we say as Christians, mean to others. I would much rather reply with, "It was my pleasure!" Than "It was nothing!" To a Christian our sacrifice of serving others shouldn't be "of nothing" and it should be our pleasure to serve others and our God with happy hearts.

Friend Focus #1

Today, was an AMAZING DAY at ladies' Bible study. We are studying A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. It is WONDERFUL to see ladies who were never taught how to study God's word, but have been in the church for 10 plus years, grow and learn. We start each time together in prayer. First we share OUR requests, not requests for family, friends, neighbors, or as I say, the world. Requests like needing more spiritual growth, and needing to be a better wife and mother. Then each lady commits to pray for the person on her left to open our study and also to continue for the next 14 days until we meet again. Today was such a wonderful bonding of friends who are seeking to grow in the Lord together. I am the youngest, but for some reason God has chosen me to lead these ladies in this study.

Because these ladies are a HUGE part of my ministry and everyday life here, I thought I would share with you about each one. This way, you can picture and pray for my sisters here, all the while I miss my sisters there in the US!!

FRIEND FOCUS

Maria Georgina is a single lady, I’d guess in her late 60’s. She lives with her unsaved brother. He works during the day and on the weekends he is gone to his girlfriend’s home. Maria is faithful in prayer and she has to be the first PRAYER WARRIOR that I’ve ever known so well. She is faithful to be at church EVERY time the doors are open.

Today she shared that she is sick. None of this is life threatening per say, but at her age, anything and everything can be life threatening. She has glaucoma, and cateracts and just recently almost lost her sight. She has to have surgery in January, but she is hypertensive and they just discovered problems with some of her veins and arteries. Maria is like a grandma to my kids, and is VERY special to our WHOLE family. Please pray that God would do a miracle in her body, that even the doctors would marvel at, so that she can do what she is best at, besides prayer of course, which is to share the gospel with those around her.

My study of Esther

As I was reading in the book of Esther last night, I came across a phrase that I didn't understand, so I went to one of the commentaries that we own. On page 722 of The Bible Exposition Commentary in the volume of Old Testament History, I read this and was convicted and challenged. I hope it does the same for you!!

In June 1865, missionary to China, J. Hudson Taylor, had gone to stay with
friends at Brighton, a popular British resort city by the sea. He was weary and
ill and seeking the will of God for the future of his ministry. On Sunday, June
25, "unable to bear the sight of rejoicing multitudes in the house of God," he
went for a walk on the sands and wrestled with God in agony of soul. God met him
in a fresh way, and he trusted God to provide twenty-four workers to labor with
him in China. Two days later, he went to the London & County Bank and opened
an account in the name of the China Inland Mission! It was the beginning of a
miracle ministry that continues today.

The phrase in the account that
tugs at my heart is "unable to bear the sight of rejoicing multitudes in the
house of God." Certianly it's good to rejoice in the Lord and to do it in His
house, bur rejoicing must never be a substitues for responsibility. As a popular
Gospel song expresses it: "God's tables are full but His fields are empty." We
all want to enjoy the feast, but we don't want to shear the message. We don't
have to be hardened unbelievers like Haman to be apathetic and unconcerned about
the plight of the world's billions of lost souls.

November Prayer Letter Update

Ephesians 3:16-18
(16) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, (18) may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As we speed past Thanksgiving and move to Christmas, I pray that the above passage from Ephesians would be your prayer for us, as I know it is our prayer for you. A prayer that we would be awed by God’s incredible love, that we would be rooted in his love, and that we could begin to grasp just “how wide and long and high and deep in the love of Christ.” A life-long endeavor that will need an eternity to understand!!

First of all we want to say THANK YOU to each and every person that has been praying and supporting our family financially this past year. In spite of the very difficult circumstances in the U.S. this year, our supporters (you) have been so very faithful. Year-to-date, the finances that God has brought in have been at 97% of the committed monthly financial support. I find this amazing, and very humbling, that in-spite of the very difficult circumstances in the U.S., that all of you have been so very faithful in your giving. Thank-you so much!! Currently we stand at 95% (short $275 each month) of the required funds needed per ABWE. Please (1) praise God with us for the faithful monthly dedication of our supporters, and (2) pray that God will raise up for us the needed difference in the near future.

Secondly we wanted to update you on the various health issues. Heather is doing great!! She is completely off her Addison’s medication she was taking for the past year and a half, and thankfully her body has responded the way it needed to. The transition was very difficult coming off the medication, but she is doing wonderful now. Roughly 3 weeks ago she went to go see a heart doctor and he believes that the problems were caused by blood pressure issues. Heather has started some new medication and so far all has been going smoothly. Heather will return to see the doctor in a couple weeks to verify that everything is correct.

I (Doug) on the other hand have had another round with Basel cell cancer. Many of you remember that I had a biopsy last year in Costa Rica that was cancerous from my nose. Well the skin had started to dry and peel all over again so I went to the doctor to see what he thought. Three days later (17-Dec) they put me to sleep and did a little more invasive “surgery/biopsy.” The results were positive for cancer once again, but the Doctor is positive that they got all of the cancer. After the surgery I had twelve stitches in my nose (he pulled the skin to help cover the part he cut out), and the side of my face was covered in tape. I still have tape on my face, and stitches in my nose, but praising God that the cancer is out once again!! If you want pictures you can go to Heather’s blog to check them out – I figured not everybody would want to look at those in this letter!! (http://amundsonanthem.blogspot.com/)

“Good News Baptist” has been doing great and nearly every week we see new faces. We recently had a new family start attending (extended family of Pastor Contreras) who are Christians but have not been attending anywhere for some time. Heather’s ladies bible study has been doing well, and she has seen some really good results in her class with the teenage girls. Last week the group really opened up to each other and we praise God for the spiritual growth in these girls. I am still teaching through Ephesians in Sunday School, but thankfully Pastor has taught last week, and will teach again this week for me while I recover from my surgery. I have two more weeks to teach in early December and then Pastor will begin a different series while I begin work on what-ever I will teach again next year.

As we look to the future of ABWE here in Chile we certainly ask your prayers. Currently ABWE has a young man (to be married very soon) who is looking to start a camp ministry here in central Chile. This has been on the hearts of ABWE, and more importantly the national pastors, for quite some time. There will be a pastor’s meeting on December 15th at 9:30 to discuss this topic. Please pray that God’s leading would be more than evident as this is obviously a huge ministry opportunity in a city with more than 6 million people.

Thank you so much for your faithfulness, love, and encouraging notes during our first nine months here in Chile. We are looking forward, with God’s help, to the next 35 years!!

Doug, Heather, Caleb & Hannah

Praises

Continued growth in both the Sunday and Thursday services at our church.

Further clarification for Heather’s blood pressure problems

Successful cancer surgery for Doug

Prayer Requests

Money for keyboard for ministry.

Family Life balance between home-schooling, teaching at SCA, office work, and work at “Good News Baptist”

Good finish to Ephesians Sunday School Series

Heather’s teaching with the teenage girls and Ladies Bible study.

Discussions regarding ABWE starting a camp ministry here in Chile.

Doug's Surgery

It's been a week since Doug's surgery and had/has about 12 stitches. He some of those stitches removed on Monday but the doctor thought that some others needed more time to heal. Here's proof. (If you get sick at all at looking at blood don't look at the last 2 pictures.)

Doug's Surgery

Doug did well. The surgery was more extensive than they thought before, but they did get all the cancer (Basel Cells) The doctor says that Doug has bad skin, so we'll probably have to deal with this again in the future. Let's pray not!!!

Doug is hospitalized tonight and should be home sometime tomorrow (Wednesday). Thanks for praying!

Health Update

Dear family and friends,

We wanted to keep you updated on our health. As you know Heather was diagnosed with Addison’s Disease while we studied Spanish in Costa Rica. However, after further testing here in Chile, the doctors here have determined that she does NOT have Addison’s! YAHOO!! So what is it? The cardiologist that Heather saw on Tuesday thinks that Heather suffers from Disautonomy which is a condition that causes the veins of the legs and feet not to constrict when standing. Therefore Heather feels faint and her heart begins to beat rapidly to make up for the lower blood pressure and lack of oxygen to the brain. Heather has begun taking the medication that the doctor recommended and she will meet with her cardiologist again in one month.

Doug also has seen doctors recently. As many of you may recall, while in Costa Rica Doug was diagnosed with cancer on the skin of his left nostril. Well, after seeing a dermatologist and oncologist today, Doug will be having blood work tomorrow in preparation for another surgery next Tuesday to cut out the infected area and to make sure that the cancer hasn’t spread any further. The doctor had wanted to do the surgery sooner, but Doug has a cold and therefore is concerned about that clearing up first.

Please pray that Doug’s cold would clear up before Tuesday. Please be in prayer for Dr. Acevedo and the anesthesiologist as they operate at 1:00 pm (EST) next Tuesday. Please also pray that we would leave all things in God’s hands and trust HIM completely!!

We will keep you updated after the surgery!

We Have An Answer

Through this whole medical mystery, I've wondered, "If I don't have Addison's Disease, then why was the medication, especially the Florinef, helping me to live a normal life?" Well, yesterday I got my answer. Florinef helps Addison's patients to control their low blood pressure. When I was off the Florinef my blood pressure would drop and my heart would start to race causing attackacardia (a heart rate over 100). Once I reached 156 beats per minute with a normal blood pressure measurement. The reason for my blood pressure drop and attackacardia was not because of my addrenal glands, rather it is from my veins not constricting when I stand or do any kind of activity. This causes my circulation to slow causing my blood pressure to drop and my brain to call for more oxygen which makes me dizzy and then my heart tries to compensate by beating faster. This condition is called Disautonomy. (I think that's it in English. We did the whole doctor's visit in Spanish.) So now I'm on another drug that will help to constrict the veins in my feet and allow my blood pressure not to drop as far when I stand up. I'll see the doctor in another month, but for now I'm glad to have a viable diagnosis!

International Day at our House

A week ago Sunday, we had a sort of international dinner here at our house. This was unplanned and I really didn't think about it before we got here and Doug pointed it out. Our guests included Yvonne or Ibodne that we've mentioned in our prayer letter. She is from Ecuador. Hattie, a new friend we met through some fellow ABWE missionaries in China. Hattie is Chinese and is Seeking. She is here in Chile for 1 year and she has chosen to spend time with us at our church. We also have a friend and fellow missionary here in Chile to teach at our missionary kids' school. Jean or Gina as we call her, has been a missionary in Peru, Colombia, and a US church planter alongside her husband. Now she is here giving of her time once again to help our international students.

Hattie doesn't speak much Spanish. She knows some English, but it is rough. None of us speak Chinease and Yvonne speaks Spanish but now English. So, as you may have guessed our dinner was truly and international conversation. On top of all of that, I had made a Guatemalan dish made of chicken cooked in a tomato based sauce that my maid in Costa Rica taught me. However, I accidently used hot read peppers instead of sweet red peppers. OH WELL!! Live and learn!!! It all tasted GREAT, especially since all those present at dinner/lunch like a bit of spicy. Praise the Lord!

Hattie is continuing to come to church. We pray that she will understand enough in English and/or Spanish to come to know Christ as her personal saviour. Please pray that we, Gina and our family as well as other Christians she comes into contact with, will demonstrate what true faith in Jesus Christ is and that Hattie will come to know Jesus as her saviour.

PS - I took a picture of the 3 ladies on my couch, but due to our camera only taking video and our video camera only taking pictures it didn't come out. I guess it is time to get a new camera!

Amundson Anthem October 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. Psalm 125: 1-2

As many of you know from Heather’s blog, our family has been on a bit of a roller coaster since our last prayer but, praise be to God, things seem to be getting better, so we wanted to send out an “official” update to let you know what has been going on.

First – Heather’s health
During Sept. and early October Heather’s health was a roller-coaster. We have switched Dr.’s and hospitals and we feel like we are getting much better communication with our Dr (who also speaks English quite well). To try and summarize all that happened, we have been slowly lowering Heather’s medication which for the past three weeks really stopped all activity for Heather. The doctor did have her go off her medication for 48 hours in order to take “THE” test of all tests to confirm or deny Addison’s disease. The result is – Heather DOES NOT have Addison’s!! We certainly praise God for this result! However we also wonder what has been going on for the past year then. Due to the negative results the Dr. is taking Heather slowly off the medication she has been on the last year. She has been really tired, but thankfully, the last three days have been much better. We do not know what is going on yet, but praise God that “the LORD surrounds his people” and we can trust him. Keep praying!! We’ll let you know more as we know more.

Second – The Church
This whole month has been mission’s month at our church and we have had various missionaries come and speak at our church (this coming Sunday – 25-Oct, I will be preaching again), and it has been a blessing. This past Sunday we had just over 50 people at church, and over seven different countries represented!!! It is a pleasure to be serving with such a great pastor and group of believers!!! Please be praying as we continue to grow that we can keep this momentum, that we will grow in spiritual depth, and we can grow our ministries to the community. I (Doug) will be starting a Sunday school series on Ephesians this Sunday as well which should last the next 6 to 7 weeks. It seems incredible that 2 years ago I knew nothing in Spanish, and now I’ll be teaching about pre-destination in Spanish – kind of blows the mind!! Praise be to God once again!! Heather has had a break from the ladies Bible study this past month due to a one-day ladies conference that I drove the ladies to last Saturday, as well as another conference this coming week. Heather is still teaching the teenage girls Sunday school class though and that has been going well. Pray for transparency in this class and deep spiritual growth and fruit!!

Third – The future is always changing!!
With Heather feeling better, and an urgent need at SCA (Santiago Christian Academy), Heather will be stepping in again to help teach a science class at SCA

starting next Wednesday. The need is really bigger then just this class, but due to the conflicting home school/church/family schedules, and Heather’s still uncertain future of her health, we felt more than one class would be too much. Please be praying about this change, and that God would sustain Heather’s health as she fills in this need. She is good at what she does when teaching, but we also do not want her health to relapse again!!

Fourth – Misc. Items
We had a work day at church as we continue to change the appearance of our church. Hannah had a great time painting, Caleb worked with some of the teens, and Heather and another lady spent two days throwing out excess junk and cleaning up the teaching materials for the kids. This past month we have also slipped from winter into spring. Sept. was full of important dates. Sept 11th is the anniversary of the military coup – which today is nothing more than an excuse to burn tires and break windows. Sept 18th is the national Independence Day, which was followed by some version of “Armed Service Day” two days later. We had over 30 jet fighters and over 50 military helicopters fly directly over our house – it was pretty cool. We have also “sprung forward” in our time so we are now 1 hour ahead of EST, and when you “fall back” in November we will be 2 hours ahead of EST.

Keep praying –your prayers are being answered marvelously here in Chile!!!

I HAVE A DREAM...

"...That all pastors should have a nice bathroom to..." - Douglas

That all pastors should be taken care of by their flock.

That all pastors should be blessed for their sacrifices.

That all pastors' families should feel loved and "pampered."

These are all dreams and we can't change the whole world, but we can think upon our pastor and our church here in Chile.

We as missionaries struggle with a balance each day. We have a code of conduct with ABWE that mandates that nationals not become dependent upon foreigners or foreign money for their daily existence, however the blessings that come from outside of Chile can always be a one time gift or blessing.

In my dream our church, because it is in a nice part of town, would have a nice parsonage. Think of a nice neighborhood near where you live, or possibly where you live. Think of a church right in the middle of that neighborhood with a trailer in the back yard. Now there is NOTHING wrong with a trailer! However, in the middle of that upscale neighborhood, what are people going to think of that church and its provisions for their pastor.

As of right now, our pastor, his wife, and their 4 children ages 21, 17, 16, and 9 live in a house that is LESS than 900 square feet with one bathroom (moldy, with missing tiles, and OLD), a SMALL alley kitchen (with no closing cabinets, only shelves and a stove that only has ONE working burner!), and 3 SMALL bedrooms (one is the size of a walkin closet). All of the neighboring homes are 2 floors with much more space.

In my FULL dream we would have enough money to put a second floor on the house with 2 more bedrooms and another bathroom, but for now my dream is smaller.

World wide it is true that you teach people how to treat you. If we teach or show our neighborhood that we can't take care of our pastor, then what will they think? Regardless of others' opinions, what does God think?

A year ago there were 15 or so people in our church. There was no full time pastor. December 8, 2008 our church began anew as a totally new church. We've changed our name. We've instituted new ministries. We have a new pastor. We've grown to 40 - 50 people on any given Sunday. We are a new and growing church. Therefore we are still young and learning is slow going. Therefore our church is still learning how to honor our pastor. Meanwhile, our pastor and his family "suffers." They would NEVER complain of this! They are from a humble background and have NEVER ONCE COMPLAINED!

All that to say...

I have a dream that people from the US would help us in blessing our pastor with a new kitchen and bathroom.

Here is where my dream hits specifics. Money. It is MUCH cheaper to build down here, especially if the labor is free. Then, if we could have a team of 3 or 4 men to come and do the work that would be even better.

I have a dream. Do you have a dream? Can you help us with our dream? Can we help you with your dream?

We know what it's NOT

IT'S NOT ADDISON'S DISEASE!!! WOW! After over a year of taking these steroids and I don't/may not need them. So why did they help? We'll know more as we progress. The doctor says that there are many things that can make one feel faint, exhausted, and have the symptoms that I had/have sometimes. For now, we begin lowering my medicines even more and then when I'm totally off of those steroids then she'll run tests. She wants to wait so that we get the purest reading possible.

We'll update you as soon as we know anything more. God bless & Please keep praying!

Back in the amusement park

OK, so the Doctora called last night. She said that the results were normal and therefore, believes that I do not have Addison’s Disease. So now is the BIG question. What do I have? I tested positive while in Costa Rica for having been exposed to Epstein Barr (Mono), but not having an active virus of Mono. Therefore maybe this is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which sometimes results when Epstein Barr becomes chronic. We don’t know, these are all speculations! For right now, the doctora is having me stay on the low dosage of meds that I was on while she talks to another endocrinologist to get his opinion. Then more tests of various kinds. We’ll see!

Thanks for all the prayers! We’ll keep you updated as things progress!
Heather

Update on Heather

The doctor’s appointment with the new doctor went WONDERFULLY! The doctor is REALLY GOOD! She put it this way, in regards to doctors and bedside manners. There can be a beautiful ring that may be great, but if it doesn’t fit, what good is it? Exactly my thoughts. The former doctor was good, he knew what he was talking about, but he didn’t listen to me and therefore, I’m thankful to now have a doctor who is listening to me and is much more personable.

Anyway, she suspended my medicines Monday and Tuesday and this morning, Doug and I went to the laboratory to have the ACTH Stimulation test run. Once we got there, I was really weak and they finally put me in a wheel chair when I told them I couldn’t walk and thought I either might be sick or pass out. The test went well and I’ve retaken my medicines, including the VERY LOW DOSAGE of corisol that I’ve been taking. This will help to ward off passing out when standing, but won’t give me the energy to function on a regular basis. Therefore, after I finish this e-mail, I’m headed back to bed.

Praising God For…
Friends and Family who are praying for me and calling to check on me.
My ABWE family here in Chile that has and is providing some meals for us.
My Chilean sisters (Julie, Sandra, and Melissa) who have been coming to help me with cleaning the house and watching the kids so that Doug can still work and so that he can care for me.
A doctor who even gives me her home address to pick up the prescription to have the tests run. SHE IS AWESOME!!
AN AMAZING HUSBAND who loves and cares for me, even when I’m a blob.

Praying For…
Continued energy
A firm answer as to what is going on, especially if it isn’t Addison’s Disease!
Patience
Trust in God for all of our strength

Thank you again! Please check our blog for future updates. We will try to send out general e-mails, but the blog is easier to update.

Heather Amundson

THANKFUL to be OFF the Roller Coaster

God is SOOO GOOD! I received a response through a connection from one of our ABWE professional health staff members at home office. The ACTH test would be done very similarly to what has been proposed here. I AM IN GOOD HANDS right here in Chile! There would be only one VERY SLIGHT adjustment that I will talk over with the doctor and I'm sure she'll be willing to accomodate. I have peace that God is teaching me to trust, give Him back control, and rest in the fact that I am in the center of HIS will.

Thanks for praying and supporting me.

Which ride am I on now??

Overall, I just don't like amusement parks. I tend to get a headache from the beating sun, bad food, and rides that mess with ones body. So the answer to our questions is that I'm still on the roller coaster.

We had a WONDERFUL appointment with this new lady doctor today. She is willing and ready to listen to the patient who knows her body. She is personable. She gave me all of her contact info should I have an emergency. I really like her!

During the appointment she told me she'd still like to do the ACTH stimulus test, but that she'd admit me in the hospital to drop all of my med. There they could monitor me and then on the AM of the 3rd day, they'd do the test. She took my contact info and told me that she'd call me once she had everything set up. I was ok with this course of action until....

She called me about 5 hours later saying that she wouldn't be putting me in the hospital, but that she'd be in contact everyday I'm off meds. Instead of telling me what we were going to do, she told me to talk to my husband and think it over and she'd call again on Monday to find out my decision.

As of now, I don't know what to do. I may still be returning to the states, but I don't want to run "home" everytime there is something wrong. On the other side, as our regional administrator's wife put in a comment on Facebook, "Addison's is nothing to sneeze at!"

Tomorrow I will be contacting some doctors in the states to find out what the process is of retesting an addison's patient. If the docs in the states are going to do the same exact thing, then why pay the money to go back to the states to do it.

Please pray...

• That God would give Doug and I the certainty that we need in making this decision.
• That I would be able to find out the process that the doctors use there in the US. (Normally when diagnosing addison's, Doctors use the ACTH stimulus test BEFORE a patient in on any kind of medication. For me, I've been on these meds for over a year and so there needs to be some time meds free before the test is administered. )
• That IF I do go off my meds for the 2 days that God will be my great physician and that He would protect me.
• That God would teach me what I need to learn while I'm in this special amusement park of medicine.

Thanks for all of the support! It means SO MUCH!

ROLLER COASTER

I'm not a fan of roller coasters. I never have been. I HATE how my head jars from one side to the other. I HATE the headache that I get during and then that stays with me after the "fun." Well, I'm not liking this roller coaster that I'm on right now either!!!

Over the past week...
I've cried more times than I can count.
I've sat in bed watching reruns of different tv shows on-line.
I've talked to the National Addison's Disease Foundation's founder and director.
I've been in and out of bed long enough to do one activity and then sit/lay back down.
I've let my kids do what they want when they want.
I've opened frozen pizza boxes while sitting on the kitchen floor.
I've sat 2 feet from the sugar on the counter and cried because I couldn't get up to get it.
I've decided to return to the states in January to have testing.
I've decided to return to the states next week to have testing.
I've decided not to return to the states.
I've doubted my doctor here.
I've not wanted to burn a bridge with the doctor here, but I don't trust him.
I've decided to take the test that the doctor who continues to keep me on a life threateningly low dose, wants me to take on Monday of next week.
I've been praying.
I've spent hours upon hours with a phone attached to my ear getting opinions from other Addison's patients, our regional administrator, and parents. All those who I've spoken with have concerns about me going TOTALLY OFF the medication for 2 days.
I've made a 2nd opinion appointment down here in Chile for Monday.
I've had that appointment remade for tomorrow.
I've almost passed out twice in less than 20 minutes and ended up giving myself a shot.

Are you as sick as I've been on this roller coaster yet???

Here are the current decisions...
1. I've decided not to go off my medicines and I will NOT be taking the test on Monday!!
2. Doug and I are seeing a female endocrinologist at a different hospital tomorrow at 2:30 EST.
3. Depending upon that meeting, I may need to return to the states to have LOTS of testing.

Keep in mind, I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease and I have NO DOUBTS of my diagnosis. I just need a doctor here who has no doubts either!

Feeling Low Again

PLEASE PRAY!! I haven't blogged about this in a while because my Addison's Disease was under control. However...

In July of 2008, I caught a cold that my defenses couldn't fight. During the course of 10 days and NUMEROUS blood tests to determine what I was really fighting, I ran a low-grade fever, slept 20 hours of every 24, couldn't mentally think enough to just lay in bed and read, flipped channels, and felt like my head was a bowling ball ready to roll off of my head at any moment. At the end of those 10 days with no diagnosis and no change in the symptoms, the doctor at the language school where we were attending in Costa Rica, placed me in the hospital. It was there where after having a clue from my grandfather through my father, the doctors, including an endocrynologist, ran LOTS of tests. They determined that I had Addison's Disease.

Addison's is an autoimmune disease that basically means that the Adreanal Glands have shut down and have stopped or nearly stopped producing cortisol. SO WHAT?? Well, Cortisol gives ones body the energy to run, including your heart, lungs, and other vital organs. So what the doctors in Costa Rica surmised was that during those previous 10 days of a bad cold, my body had to virtually stop flowing energy to the "non-important" organs, in order to fight the cold. In other words, my adreanal glands weren't producing enough cortisol or energy to run my body as normal, AND fight off the common cold. Therefore it had to divert all energy it could muster to keep my body functioning, albeit at it's lowest possible level. That's why I couldn't even think well or concentrate on reading, and had to sleep virtually all the time, because my energy was diverted elsewhere.

After the diagnosis, I began taking 2 different types of medication. It took a while to build up in my system, but after a while, I got my normal energy level back. We went back to the US for 2 months on our "mini-furlough." I was fine during all of this time. I had noticed over 15 pounds of weight gain, but knew that in taking steroids that this would happen.

Once arriving in Chile, I met with another endocynologist at Clinica Las Condes, which is associated with John's Hopkins in the states, so it is arguably the best hospital here in Chile. There my doctor decided that he had doubts about my diagnosis and began running tests. I have no problem with the tests or being a guinea pig of sorts, but it's been almost 6 months now, and I'm getting tired!

We began by lowering one type of medication. Once I was completely off of that one, I crashed with little to no energy. Then he put me back on it. He then ran other tests. Now we are lowering my cortisol intake each day. I'm currently at half of the dosis that I took when I was home just 8 months ago. Next Thursday, I begin taking 1/4 of the dosis and then another test. A few days ago, I began crashing. This means that I wake up feeling EXHAUSTED and that all I want to do is sleep. This means that I have to support my head often whether with my hands, a pillow, or even the wall in church. Trying to function this way is virtually impossible being a wife, mother, and missionary.

Honesty, I want to end up back in the hospital, so that the doctors here can have no doubts about the diagnosis and/or if it's not Addison's Disease then they can determine what it really is.
Please pray for me to make it through the next 2 weeks before I have the next set of blood tests and that by lowering the medication dosis again next week, that I can still fulfill what GOD wants me to do.

The 18th of September

As I mentioned before in a previous post, we spent the 18th of September, or Independence Day at Word of Life's camp here in Chile. WOL sets up a presentation with many aspects of the Chilean culture. They block of "sites" where each church can have a "home base." Then you send some men off to borrow tables, benches, and a grill from near the kitchen area. These are just a few pics from our day there. What a blessing of spending time with fellow Christians from all over Santiago!!

The kites for sale along the side of the road. This is a typical sight this time of year.

Our "youth pastor," Alejandro with one of our youth, Diego

Hannah with her Daddy, enjoying WOL! She's still Daddy's little girl!!!

The presentation "stage" and our pastor grilling out at our "site."

NOT SO LITTLE & A LITTLE BIT OF CULTURE

Just the realization of a very proud and blessed mommy,

that my kids aren't so little anymore....

Last Friday was the 18th of September. Here in

Chile, that is independence day. They have many traditional dances, costumes, and foods that go along with this holiday.

One of those dances is the Cueca and this is a traditional dress worn by the "cow-girls" when they dance the Cueca or dance of the rooster.

The first dress for Hannah we bought when we were visiting Chile on our survey trip. She wore it for YEARS while we were on pre-field. Many of you may remember it. So, when I saw this one for only $10 I had to buy it for Hannah. My how she is growing into a little lady!

Cultural Difference?

I don't know if this is a cultural difference, or what, but it was definitely an interesting question.

As many of you know, Doug has taken up running. I'm not talking a little bit here, and a little bit there. I'm talking marathons. He hopes to run one here in the near future and that will mean he's run one in North American, Central America, and then South America. Well Doug needed some new running shoes.

On Tuesday, we were out on an afternoon "date" at o a little "mall" called Plaza Quilin. There we found a sports store. The prices were right and Doug found what he wanted so he asked to try on the shoes. The lady attendent went into the back, typical for us too in the US, but she only returned with ONE SHOE. Doug was about to try the one on when she asked if he wanted to try them both on. I thought, "Well, duh!" I know not very missionary like, but of course if one is going to buy running shoes, wouldn't one like to know for sure that they are going to fit? Doug answered yes and he tried them on, walked in them, and then we bought them.

Maybe someone who's here in Chile (Stephanie) can comment on this to let us know if this is typical here to only try on one shoe or just a quirk of this particular attendent.

September 11th from 2 Perspectives

September 11th - What do you think of when you see that date? For us as missionaries to Chile there are 2 different events that run through our heads.


As United Statesians I of course think of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York only 8 years ago. I remember being pregnant with Hannah and laying on the couch as usual with Caleb running around the apartment in diapers while I watched the news coverage. I thought of extended family that lived in NY. I thought of the families that lost daddies, husbands, sons, mommies, wives, and/or daughters. Wow! What pain!! It wasn't a day for attacking our own government and rioting, it was a day to unite within our boarders and look inward. Boarders were closed shutting some out and others in. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting to know if there were more attacks coming. Waiting to hear of missing loved ones.


September 11th for Chileans held LOTS of waiting too. In 1973 on September 11th the first socialist democratically elected government was thrown over by a military coop. This followed by MANY socialists being "gathered" together and held in Chile's National Stadium. From there many "disappeared." Many had to flee the country with their families seeking refuge from countries as far away as France, and possibly farther. Many of those families came from right here in Penalolen and in fact the school that bought the property across from our ABWE school is a socialist school. Families fought for their own under a repressive government and riots now mark September 11th in rememberance of that day, so long ago, but still felt by many here.

We will still experience riots here in Chile today. We, as Americans, have been told to stay home and just enjoy a night in with the family. We are close to the main street of rioting, so we'll probably hear various explosions and smell burning rubber from the many tires that will be set ablaze, but we should be safe in our house, on our closed street, in our safe neighborhood. However, there are others who live close to the "action" that we love SO much!!

Please pray today for safety for Pablo and Lisette. They are a young couple married since December and expecting their first little one, Sophia sometime early next year. They are both seminary students in the ABWE seminary that is right next door to the ABWE elementary and high schools. Pray that they will be safe tonight as they rest and enjoy the BRIGHT future that God has blessed them with!

Please pray for Tito, Julie, Gonzalo, and Kimberly! They are a special family to us!! Julie teaches our kids Spanish. Kimberly comes here 3 or 4 times a week to learn English and to help watch the kids so that Doug and I might get a moment to go out alone. Tito has helped us fix various things around the house and is currently without a job. Gonzalo works hard in his church and at the young age of 24 is a bright future leader and in leadership training at his church. They live on the other side of the school and have had a close relationship with many missionaries from ABWE. Please pray that they will all arrive safely home and that they will enjoy their time as a family.

Please also pray for Alejandro, our pastor's son! He works downtown and usually doesn't get home from work before 6 or 6:30. By this time much of the violence and demonstrations will be underway. Please pray that "Hano" will be home and arrive safe and sound to his family. He is a GREAT asset to our church and a blessing to our family in particular!

So, when you think of September 11th please remember those who gave their lives to defend the USA, and who died 8 years ago, but please also remember those who are serving overseas to defend and share of God's love!

August Prayer Letter Update

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Greetings once again from Chile!! This past month has seemingly gone extremely quickly for our family so we wanted to get you caught up with what has happened.

Since our last letter I have taught in our church Sunday school and preached for two weeks while our youth group went north to Iquique on a mission trip. We have spoken at two different youth mission camps, and Heather has been busy with kid and ladies ministries (discipling, Ladies Bible Study, kids’ English classes) in the church.

It has been a busy first six months here in Santiago, so two weeks ago we were thankful for the chance to celebrate our anniversary and go away for a short family vacation to a little cabin in a canyon not to far from Santiago. It was extremely enjoyable, especially as the mountains just above us got covered in almost two feet of snow, unfortunately we only had rain.

This month we wanted to give you a little more information about our church that we are working in so that you know better how to pray both for us and for the church. It is an exciting time for the church, and we believe that God is definitely working here in Chile.

The church is located in “La Reina,” on the east side of Santiago, and at the base of the Andean mountains. The official name of our church, which has changed recently, in English, would be “Good News Baptist.” The church has existed for over 30 years I believe, but in every sense of the meaning we are a completely new church. In the past 10 years the church had experienced several difficulties which really suffocated the church and was causing the church to slowly die. In December 2008, when Pastor Christian started at the church there were no more than 15 people, and maybe 2 people would show up for prayer meeting. Today we are consistently in the mid 40’s and we have roughly 17 attending prayer meeting on Wednesday. We have also had several new visitors in the past three weeks so please pray that God would continue to bring new people to the church to hear the Good News!!

We have been extremely blessed in the last month or so to have a new young couple, Daniel & Ibodne, become members of our church. Daniel is Peruvian, and Ibodne is from Ecuador. The blessing is that they have both graduated from the local ABWE seminary, and are a strong vibrant couple who want to be active and involved in the local church. As the church is still small, to have another biblically trained couple who can help carry the load is a tremendous blessing.

With their addition this will allow Heather and I to adjust some of our energies to possible future ministries. Daniel and I possibly may split some of the Sunday school teaching, while Ibodne and Heather work on the various kid and ladies ministries. Daniel also brings some musical depth to the church with his chimes, and I believe the guitar as well. In speaking with Pastor we would also like to get a keyboard for the church. If you would like to give to this please send the money to our ministry account at ABWE noting it is for a keyboard. We are also beginning to frame our discussions around starting a kids program similar to Joy Clubs or Awana in the future as well as a teaching English program to reach our community. La Reina is a working/business class community and there is an incredible educational push to learn English here in Chile, so this would be a great opportunity for the church.

Please continue to pray for us as we seek to diligently serve God in the church with our teaching, in the office, and in our family. Heather and I are thrilled to be here in Chile, and blessed by God to have our first term start in such a wonderful fashion. There is much to do – but we serve a GREAT GOD. Thanks for praying!!

Interesting Irony

Sitting in the full auditorium on a Sunday night while everyone else around me sang praises to our God, I could only cry. "Why, Lord? Why is it taking SOOO long??" We had been raising support for 4 years and we so wanted to be in Chile!

Sitting in a small, but full auditorium on a Sunday morning while pastor spoke about the difficulties of missionary life, I could only cry. "Lord, I miss my church in the US! I miss my friends, family, and heart language!"

God has taught me MANY lessons throughout this missions journey that has just begun, and some days are better than others. During our training at ABWE, we learned that right around the 6th month on the field, some people experience STRONG feelings of homesickness. I'm CERTIANLY not experiencing that much homesickness, but I do miss home every once in a while. Please don't get me wrong! I LOVE living and serving God here in Chile, I just wish I could bring all of my loved ones here with me!

Instead we are making new precious relationships here. Like the friendship that I have with our pastor's wife. Sandra and I try to meet once a week and talk often on the phone. She has had a tough job raising 4 kids from the ages of 9 to 21. Christian, her husband and our pastor, is a WONDERFUL man with patience for our Spanish and truly a heart that is TOTALLY sold out to God! There are others like, Patricia, Jessica, Vivianna, and Gloria. Each one has touched my heart and my life!

Thank you Lord for new experiences, your timing, and the support I need when I need it!!

Paintings CHEAP!

A few weeks ago we went to the feria (a kind of street market where everyone sells everything and anything you can think of) and then I returned today. On our first trip we purchased three paintings for our living room, two smaller ones and one larger. They make a wonderful addition and also a sort of memory for our future adopted kids from here. Get this the small ones cost us just under $4 each and the larger one was about $7.50. AMAZINGLY CHEAP, but BEAUTIFUL! The bigger center one over our couch
One smaller one

The second smaller one

Doug had expressed interest in a painting of the coastal town Valparaiso for his finance office at the school, so today I went back and bought it for him.

Vacation Part 2

So we arrived at El Rancho El Añil, where we settled in and went off to dinner in the dining area. The food was great all weekend! It was typical Chilean style food with cold veggies and empanadas. TO DIE FOR!!!
The main reason that we had chosen this “ranch motel” was because of the indoor heated pool. Since we arrived in Chile in February, Hannah asks almost everyday if we can go swimming. Well finally she got to swim!! Both she and Caleb are little fish. (I guess they take after my side of the family!-My uncle, cousin, sister and I were all on swim teams during junior high and high school, and some of us during college too.) Saturday the pool was a bit cooler, but by Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, the pool was actually hotter than the “hot tub!” It was truly GREAT!!
Saturday was all rainy so we spent our time between the pool, playing pool, and playing board games in our cabin. Games are something I grew up with as a kid and it has become a regular part of Amundson family time. Sunday it was wonderful to wake up to sunshine and of course breakfast brought to us in our cabin again! So nice to go on a vacation where I didn’t have to cook. Overall, it was a short but well needed break for our entire family! If you’re ever down here to visit, maybe you can enjoy breakfast in your cabin too!!

Hannah helping her daddy shave!

The other nice thing about El Rancho is that they have a whole outdoor pool set up, a kids' playground, tennis, and more. Since this place is only about 40 minutes outside the city and they have a swim during the day and have lunch there deal, maybe we'll be visiting for a day trip again soon!

Just one of the MANY wonderful views of the Andes Mountains that we get to see daily!

Vacation Part 1

This past Friday Doug took a vacation day and we headed out of the city. Our anniversary came and went on August 9th with no celebration, so we decided to get away, all 4 of us. We didn't go far. We went about 45 minutes out of the city to a small ranch style motel with a heated indoor pool. We had planned to go skiing on Friday before heading to the ranch, but the small ski "resort" where we were thinking about going, had very little snow and we were pressed for time on Friday to get out of the house in time to make it a worthwhile ski day. We left early afternoon on Friday to drive up to at least see the ski "resort" and enjoy the views.

After enjoying the MANY switchbacks to get up and back down the 8000 ft. above sealevel, we headed to our ranch motel.

Ladies' Meeting

This past Saturday we had a nice ladies' meeting here in our home. It was great to have 4 other ladies join me as I taught how to study the Bible. I'm using a pamphlet from here that teaches how to inductively study the Bible. Some of the ladies in our church have been attending for MANY years, some more than 10 and they don't even know what a devotional is. Sadly, many of those ladies didn't come.

From left to right, Maria Georgina, Sandra, Patricia, Sandra (the pastor's wife who I'm discipling on Tuesday mornings) and me.

On Sunday my friend, Patricia, was going around showing the ladies who weren't here the "gift" of the pamphlet. I then had one of the ladies that missed come to me and ask that I not punish her for not coming, but give her a pamphlet too! I am praying that the next meeting we have on the 22nd to finish going over the pamphlet will bring a MUCH larger group of ladies!

House Tour

Please keep in mind that this house tour is from LONG ago and therefore we've changed a few things!! However, ENJOY!!!

Day Out with Friends

Today we had a GREAT time out with fellow missionary friends. The Garcias who are serving with ABWE in the northern part of Chile, have come down for a bit of R&R and to renew some fingerprints for an adoption from Haiti. (To read more about their family you can go to http://www.garcias2chile.blogspot.com/.) Since they are here for a few days we decided to get to know them better and make sure that the kids got to spend some time together. There were 6 kids and 3 adults in all. 3 Garcia kids, Eva, Isabel, and Owen with their mom, Stephanie, 1 Rogers girl, Andrea with her mom, Ruth Ann, and 2 Amundson kids, Caleb & Hannah, with me. First we went to the GOLDEN ARCHES for lunch. This is always a hit whether it's in the states or here. Then we left for the children's museum. (Ruth Ann had other errands to run due to one of her other daughters having her impacted wisdom teeth removed today.) WOW! Was it BUSY! I guess not the best idea to go to the children's museum during winter break from school. Oh well, it was good anyway. After the museum we took the kids for ice cream and then came back to our house where we were joined by Doug and Pedro, Stephanie's husband, for pizza. It was a truly GREAT day. Each kid had a buddy of sorts to play with and everyone basically got along. Tomorrow another adventure with some new missionaries so they can get acquainted with the city. YEEEHAH!

Above - Caleb and Hannah working the Bubble station.

Left - Hannah with fast friend Eva

Below - Friends Isabel with Andrea

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Caleb and Owen riding the train on the way to the museum.
What HANDSOME DUDES!!!