Our first day together in 7 months.

Well I made it to Peru without any trouble. Thanks for your prayers. We have had a really good day together. We picked out our wedding cards, and did some other preparations for our wedding today. Last night I was tired, and when I met up with Eliana, it felt like I was having a good dream. We have waited so long for this, and it is so wonderful that it is here. Well it is late, and we need to get some sleep, but will post more later.

We are excited

The countdown clock is now less than 24 hours, and I am headed to Peru tomorrow. I should be arriving in Peru at about 10:50 p.m. central time. I don't know why, but I always worry a lot about my trip to Peru, and getting through customs. I think it is because I want so much to be there, and see Eliana. If you would, please pray for my travel to Peru, and that Eliana and I are together tomorrow night.
Thank you.

The long awaited answer

When it comes to finding things on the internet, Rhonda is the best I've seen. I was going to warn everyone about her, but I guess there was no need. Rhonda, I have to tell you that your answer was not correct, but the try was greatly appreciated.

To give her credit, Sucre is known as "the white city", the same as the city we are going to. But I said it is a "misti" city, and that is because this city lies at the foot of a big dormant volcano named "El Misti". And so congratulations to Terrie for getting it right, because Arequipa, Peru is the correct answer, and is where we are going for our honeymoon. The city is known as a white city because much of its buildings are built out of the white volcanic stone. I must say, that was fun, and I really should do another one of those in the future.

Eliana and I have decided where we are going for our honeymoon, and I think that we will have a really good time. And so instead of telling you, I thought it might be funner to write a clue, and see if anyone can guess it. So here it is:

This misti city is known for its whiteness.

Eliana y yo hemos decidido adonde vamos para nuestra luna de miel, y pienso que tendremos un tiempo muy bueno. Pero en vez de decirte, deseo escribir una pista, y veo si puedes conjeturar el lugar. Aquí está la pista:

Esta misti ciudad se conoce para su blancura.

If you scroll down a little, and on the right you see a pink countdown clock. Right now there is only a little more than 13 days before Eliana and I are together. Really we have waited a long time, and I wish that clock would move a bit faster.

Acontecimientos

I wished to have the opportunity and joy to write again in our blog. Sometimes it gets to be difficult for me to write in our blog because I do not have words to write. But today I feel it is different, and I have words to write and to comment on some things that have happened recently.

First: I started my classes in the university and my days are a little complicated, but thanks to God everything goes well and I am glad because the things in the company where I work are progressing and everyday I have more work to do. Really that is very good, although also I get to have more homework from the university and that gets to be difficult because the time is short for me, but I thank to God who always gives his aid.

Second: today I have an administration examination and was worried on that because yesterday I did not have the book that the teacher wants us to have and the examination will be of chapter 1 of the book. I was very worried on that, but thanks to God for Tim who helped me to trust, and give that to God, and also he prayed and asked God that he helps me with that and then I began to be calm and to have peace. I remembered yesterday that I had a document of the administration course that a friend from the university sent to me by email and is a summary of what the teacher has spoken about in the past days, and so I will study that, because what he spoke about was the first chapter of the book.

Third: this is something special because several days ago back I wrote about how sad and worried I was with not finding a place for our reception.Now, I am glad because God has provided us with that place for our reception. Its a pretty place and when I saw it I had joy in thinking that that would be the place of our reception, but did not yet know if it was available and how much it would cost. But thanks to God the 10 of November was not reserved by other people and the price was not expensive. It was really very special because I got a good price unlike the other place that I saw that was very pretty, but also very expensive. God is really good and helped us in a special way and used two very special people whom I appreciate very much.

Fourth: In these past days Tim and I saw cake photos, and they all looked pretty and delicious. But out of all of them we chose a cake for our marriage, and in the photo you see a cake with 3 levels, but we want it to have 4 levels, also we will have another cake that is chocolate with strawberries, because the 10 of November is the birthday of my sister Katherine, and we want my sister to have a cake for her birthday, and we are glad about that, because we will eat a piece of chocolate cake with strawberries.

Wedding preparations

Eliana and I are happy about the progress in our wedding preparations. Like I've said in a previous post, Elianas dress is being made. A pastor from Miami (a long time friend of Eliana and her family) is coming for our wedding, and will be marrying us. We now have a place for our reception, and is about 20 minutes from the church. Elianas cousin is a chef, and him and some others will be cooking the dinner at our reception. I am really excited for our wedding, and wishing for the day to finally arrive. Eliana and I were talking about wedding traditions. We were talking about how people throw rice, and that is also a tradition in Peru. But I told her that the people should throw something else, because birds eat the rice, and the rice expands in their stomach, and kills them. That was a surprise for Eliana, and then I read about it on the internet, and it turns out to be just a myth. So they can throw all the rice they want, and the birds can then fill their stomachs without worry. And as long as they are tossing the rice at me, I might as well open my mouth, and hope for a well aimed throw.

I had been to Jim Rittenhouse's house when I was little with my parents, but I don't think I met him again until 2002. My Dad and I went to the hospital because Jim and his wife Grace had been in a car accident. Jim was ok, but Grace was hurt. Jim was driving with his wife to his side, and Jim accidently pulled out in front of a fast moving semi truck. What I remember most about that day was Jim's attitude and how he was reacting to the situation. He knew that it was something that happened for a reason, and that God allowed that to happen for a purpose. I remember that I was going through a tough time, and I had a lot of questions, and while in the waiting room, Jim took the time to talk to me, and help me. Grace soon died in the hospital. Jim and Grace had been married for 62 years.
Months later I was also in a serious car accident, and it happened because I accidently pulled out in front of a fast moving suburban. That was really difficult for me, because I caused the accident. But soon I could see God in the middle of that situation, and how it happened for a reason, and one of the reasons is that God wanted to use that situation to help me. In my life, it is the difficult times when I turn to God. One thing in common between my accident and Jim & Grace's accident is that God wanted us to trust him with the situation, and know that He is in control.

When I was attending college at MidAmerica in Olathe, I had a history class, and one of the requirements was to do an oral interview with someone. I asked Jim, and I think I really surprised him, since we really didn't know each other. I told him if he wanted to do the interview, I would come to his house, and we could sit down together, and I would have a list of questions for him. And I would also have a voice recorder, so I could get it all on tape. And when we were finished, it would be typed out on a computer, and then put on an internet site that is run by the university. I can't remember if he said yes immediately, but I soon got a letter in the mail from him, and he said that he wanted to do the interview, and that it was an answer to his prayer. He also said he wanted to speak about God, and what God has done in his life. The interview was done on November 28, 2003 in his home. Jim was confident that God would help us to talk, and when I read the interview again, I can see Gods hands in it, and I think God told Jim exactly what to say. Here is a little bit from the interview:

My questions to Jim: "Jim, can you think of somebody that has really influenced your life?"

Jim's response: "You bet. That minister that preached that message about God's grace did me a favor. After that period of time I worshipped with a modern version of the church. Where, born again, Spirit filled, ministry of the Spirit and things of that kind were never even mentioned. It was more or less just a fellowship of people who felt that Christian faith was more involved in a person to person, you know. While we called it a social gospel, Tim, I followed it a long for about 30 years. I kept wondering a long time as I went along through that, how about Christ's sacrifice at Calvary's Cross?; how does it come that we are talking about personal relationships all the time and nobody was saying much about what Jesus did for Calvary? I really got confused about that and finally, the time came when I told the Lord I have to get this question resolved. I said "I don't believe I was saved because I have been good to somebody." I think I have been saved because Christ was good to me when He went to Calvary's cross. And so, I decided I was going to find the answer to that before I went any further. I was so confused about faith or works, I guess that is the way you could put it. So, I started a prayer time of my own, and a Bible study time of my own. Then, the Lord sent three men into my life that I can remember that were definately an influence in my life. I don't want to forget my wife, Gracie. She was a blessing to me all the way along. We just kind of helped each other, you know, grow in the Lord. She was just a real wonderful blessing to me. And, by the way, Tim, I want to mention to you and I know you are young like I was, about the same age. And one of the most wonderful blessings you can ever have in your life is a wife that loves the Lord like you do."

The interview lasted about an hour, and I was really glad with how it went. Then came the time to type the interview, and my Grandma Essie helped me. I would rewind, play, and pause the tape, and she did the typing. It took quite a while, but finally the interview was written out, and more than 12 pages long. I am really glad that I was given that assignment, because I think a lot of good came out of it.

Jim recently died, but I am happy for Jim, because I know that he was ready, and he was very excited about going to Heaven. Really I wish for what Jim has, and that God does something in my heart similar to what He did in Jim's heart.

Happy Birthday to my precious Niece.

Your long awaited birthday is almost over, but your new year is full of surprises and blessings. I hope you know that you are a blessing to all of us, and we are so glad that you are finally here with us.
Uncle Tim.

Un pequeño mensaje.

Today when I woke up, I thought about writing something in our blog, and to comment on what has been happening. I do not know if you have had an experience when you saw that God began to close doors. That really can get to be difficult and that is what I have been seeing God do lately.
There is only a little more than 2 months left before our marriage, and I realized that we have almost nothing ready. Only my dress that is being made, but we do not yet have a place where will be our reception after our wedding in the church. My sisters are helping me with that, and the places we have went we see that they are already reserved. Last week I went to a place that I liked but I could not find a person that I could ask about the cost of the reception. I only obtained a telephone number and I tried calling for 2 days, and when I was finally able to speak to him, he said that in the morning another person had reserved that place for a reception for the 10th of November. That made me sad but it was God who closed the door. Saturday I went to another place, and it was very big and pretty. And when my sisters and I arrived at that place I asked if it was available the 10th of November, and the person said ‘yes, it is available’. I was very excited and soon asked how much it costs to have the reception here. The price was very expensive, and I could feel that again God closed the door, and I returned to the house. My sisters encouraged me to continue looking for another place, but really we were tired, and we decided to go to the house.
Now I can see that it is very difficult when God begins to close doors, but I know that God does it because he wishes to say something to us and wishes that we trust him. I forgot about that during these days, and I felt that I was stubborn and tried to open the doors that were closed. I know that is not the correct way to act but that is something of our own nature and I know that God understands me when I am stubborn, and he then begins to seal the doors so that they are not opened. And I think that God does that because he has something better to give, but that is something that is difficult to understand.
But during those difficult days God used Tim to make me see that it is not with our own force that we can manage to reach something, and if we see that God is closing doors it is because He wishes that we trust him and we give the difficulty to Him, and we let God makes his work. Tim said to me that it is good to not continue looking for places for our reception, because God has reserved a special place for our reception, and we must wait for Him. Those words were very special for me because they gave me peace and tranquility, although to be honest per moments I forget those words and have desires to look for a place for our reception, but I know that God helps me not to be worried on that, and on many other things.
Saturday I was having supper with my family, and I said to them that I did not find a place for the reception, and that I was sad, and that it would be better to not have a reception. And my family listened, and was surprised and worried. I only said that because I was sad, and in fact I desire to have a reception for our guests and desire that they have a special time there.
Sunday I was in the bus with my father, and he said to me that God will be in our marriage, and that God would help us in everything, and that He would do it in a special way.
I think that God does not wish that we are worried on anything, and that He does not wish that we make things a lone, and that He is arranged and very eager to help us.
Really God is using the life of Tim and my father to help me trust God and to hope in Him. And I am wishing to see how God will make the things.

Well it has been a while since we have posted, but won't everyone be surprised tomorrow to see that we have a new post. I was able to buy my plane ticket to Peru, and we are very happy about that. I will be leaving on October 1, and arrive in Lima at about 11:00 p.m. That is on a Monday, which is good, because I think the airport will be less busy, and I can hopefully quickly get my luggage, and go through customs, and then the moment that Eliana and I have waited for for a long time, and thats when we are together. My parents also got their tickets to Peru. They will be flying up on November 9, the day before our wedding. We thought that Elianas father would be marrying us, but he will be walking her down the aisle, and instead I think that a pastor from Miami will be marrying us. I have met him, and actually was his roommate for several days while we were all at a conference in Lima. He is a friend of Elianas family. He speaks both English, and Spanish, and that is great.
I have had to get my birth certificate legalized for Peru. I had to send it to the Secretary of States office in Kansas, and then to a Peruvian Consulate in Denver. And now that I got it back from the Consulate, I will be sending it to Eliana. Some of you might have heard that there is a civil marriage process that we have to go through, and thats basicly doing the paperwork, and some other stuff. After that we are officially married according to the Peru government. We hope to have that all completed sometime in October, or the first days of November. And I am sending my birth certificate to Eliana, because then she can reserve a day for us to have our civil ceremony. And then on November 10 is our wedding. Some of you might be wondering when is our honeymoon, after the civil marriage, or wait until after the wedding in the church. We will be going on our honeymoon after our wedding in the church. Eliana had a picture of a beautiful wedding dress that she has liked for a long time, and its exciting, because that is being made just for her. It really is a very beautiful dress, and we will certainly post pictures after the wedding. Good night everyone!

Peru Earthquake

Probably most of you have seen on the news that a powerful earthquake hit in Peru, about 90 miles from Lima. I read about it on the internet, but was able to soon talk to Eliana, and her and her family are fine. Before today I have worried about her being in a powerful earthquake in Peru. Eliana said that her father made their home very strong, and I was glad to hear that. The earthquake was a 7.9, and they have been feeling some aftershocks. They had a tsunami warning, but that was cancelled. Eliana was in the 2nd floor of a store when it happened. Eliana said she saw windows cracking, but they did not shatter.
Mi amor, soy tan alegre que tu eres bien. Te amo mucho.

A SPECIAL TIME

Last night I got home from Kansas City. My family gave Eliana and I a wedding shower. Eliana was not able to be there, but they were able to meet Eliana through the webcam, and I helped to translate. It was really neat to see what all they did for us at the wedding shower. In the first photo, that is the shirt they wanted me to wear on Saturday. On the front of the shirt it says "Groom To Be". We had lots of deserts to eat, as you can see in the second photo. Notice the heart shaped ice in the punch. And the third photo is of the photo album that they gave us. My cousin Jamie M. put the album together, and we really like it. It also has a geneology that my Grandma Ford has made. It is both on the Ford and the Stinemetz side. On the Stinemetz side it goes all the way back to someone born in 1723.

We played games, including Jeopardy, and the categories included topics like "Peru", "Tim and Eliana", etc. They also sang a song, but it was a pretty old song, and I think from sometime in the early 1900's. It was good to see everyone again before I go to Peru. Thanks to everyone for doing that, and for giving us a special day.

Now, I also wish to add a few words to which my love wrote, it was my desire to be in that celebration that the family of Tim had for us, but trust that in Gods time I will be able to be united with Tims family. I am happy for being part of a so wonderful family and desire that that time can soon be. The day Saturday was very special, and I was really glad in seeing and greeting all the family who was reunited there celebrating with Tim. I saw all the things which they did, a beautiful cake, the candies, a beautiful album of photos and a picture where we are both, and also other things more and really each detail is special and very I am thankful for the love you expressed in each of the things you did for us. I really do not have many words to say how happy that I feel, and single I can say that desire that God blesses all of you very much.

7 Things You May Or May Not Know About Eliana.

1) Eliana has started a book company with some other people, and she is now working in that company. It has been amazing to see how God has provided everything to be able to start this company. The company is named "Bona Ius"

2) Eliana is studying administration at a university. She recently completed final examinations, and is on break, but will be starting more classes at the end of this month.

3) Elianas favorite soda is Inca Kola. Although Peru has a lot of the sodas that are also popular in the United States (Pepsi, Coke, Sprite, 7up, Crush, etc.), Inca Kola is definately the most popular there.

4) Eliana hopes that we can have a small dog as a pet someday.

5) Eliana likes to sing, and has a beautiful voice.

6) Eliana works with the adolescents in the church, and really enjoys her time at the church.

7) Eliana has 6 sisters, and 1 brother. She is the third youngest. She has a wonderful family, and I am so glad to be a part of it.