"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:7-11

Do I really want to know the power of his resurrection? Well, sure! Who doesn't?? We're talking about the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Oh, wait, that sentence didn't end there.... Do I really want to know the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death? Hmmmm. This is where I have to pause and think for a few minutes... each time I read through this passage. I do want all the glory, and the power, and the blessings. But do I really want the sufferings? Do I really want to take all those worldly things that I love and consider them rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord? Yes, I really do.

A friend recently said to me, "There are two kinds of missionaries... Those who have been robbed, and those who have not been robbed... yet".

I'm afraid I just joined the category of "those who have been robbed". I found myself in a dangerous part of town later than I had planned, so when I left the building it was dark outside. I went to hail a taxi quickly, but before I reached the corner of the block, someone spit water in my face (a commonly used tactic for distraction) and within 5 seconds I had been surrounded by 5 people and my change purse taken out of my fanny pack. I didn't feel a thing. One of the five was a woman who talked to me gently the entire time about how it was just water, not to worry, it was clean (yeah, right, out of someone's mouth!), etc. I was distracted by the water in my face, by her talking, and the next thing I knew they were gone and so was my money and bank card!

I'm glad it was a "gentle" robbery, but it was a violation none the less and it hit me hard for a few days. I am still looking over all 14 shoulders every time I head out with anything of significance in my pockets!

Ok, I do have to admit to you the funny part. Right before I was robbed, I was trying to hail a taxi very quickly, as I knew it was dark and I was not in a safe place. I saw a nice looking taxi and waved my hand to the driver, which is the usual signal that you want a taxi. He waved back (the usual signal that he is available), so I opened the door and hopped inside. "To Magesterio, please". The driver turned around and smiled. "I'm sorry, ma'am, this is not a taxi!" I had jumped into someone's private car!!! How embarrassing! We both had a good laugh and he let me out at the corner, and I was walking back to catch a "real" taxi, laughing to myself and thinking how I couldn't wait to tell the Becks about that episode, when I was robbed.

Our little church continues to grow as well as experience the pains of many new believers with few mature leaders. We have several Bible studies in the works, as we long to open up God's Word to them and help them see how he has revealed himself to us in his Word. We have a study for adolescents and youth, and are about to start one for the women. We are teaching the catechism series in our children's Sunday school and are learning the books of the Bible in order. We have made friends with the workers at the "supermercado" La Canasta (about the size of my apartment) where we shop for groceries. They are interested in English lessons. If they are serious about this, since they work 7 days a week (Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, and Sunday 8am-9pm), we might start English classes for them from 930-1030 pm on Sunday nights at the church! We'll have to see if that one pans out!

I'm afraid the news here is not good. Manuel had a one in a million chance that most street kids would give their right arm for... a chance for family, home, and education. Unfortunately, Manuel didn't want the rules or discipline that come with the love of a family. He has chosen to go back to the streets of Lima. We have all been deeply saddened by this, especially after all the hard work that was done to get him out of prison. Still, he was unjustly imprisoned, and even if he chooses the streets over family, I'm glad he is free. Please continue to pray for him. He needs your prayers now more than ever.

In light of this, it is wonderful to see Norman working, studying hard in school, and generally thriving in the Beck's family. He still has struggles, as any 19 year old young man does. Add to that years on the street with the lack of family and you can certainly understand that he wrestles with more than most. But he is a bright, loving young man who loves the Lord and whose life has been changed by grace. He has gone from a child alone, to a son and brother. We believe in the family model for these kids. Please pray with us as we continue to pray about street ministries here in Cusco.

On a more personal note, yet in this same light, it is often very hard for me as a single person to be on the mission field. I think I can safely say that for many reasons, this has been one of the hardest years of my life. Still, I would not have missed it for the world and continue to thank God for the privilege of being here, with all the good things as well as all the hard things. I do believe in the family model for street kids and more and more I believe that young girls and young women should NOT work with street boys who are teenagers. So, where does that leave me, a single woman in her 40's who has a desire to work with street kids?

Right now it leaves me in two places: with a desire to work with street GIRLS, and a desire to join with families as they minister to street boys. Right now I am a part of the Beck's family, and as much as I would love to have a family of my own, I am loved and welcomed into their family as one of THEIR own. I am very thankful at how God always provides.

As Peter works on team administration or prepares for a sermon (Yes! He is preaching regularly!) and I am listening to Kendi read me the latest book she has written and illustrated for homeschooling, the invasion starts. A Quechua worker who is building the Bible training center, the dream of our team leader, arrives asking for money for cement - he has already been to our house once today but hadn't thought about the cement the first time. The "foreman" then arrives to pick up money to pay the workers. A church elder stops by to discuss the land our team is purchasing and asks Peter to come sign at another round of papers. While Peter is out, the trucks begin to arrive, leaving crates of Inca Cola, folding chairs, and a super sound system at the "park" across the street. Our pastor, Jorge, drops by to print out a Bible study on our printer and we discuss the newest ideas for our church - that I teach English to the workers at the grocery store 5 blocks away and that I start a Bible study for women in the church. As he leaves, the party in the park begins at mega decibels and our house begins to vibrate. The phone rings... Can we pick up the Dutch missionaries from the airport tomorrow and host them for a week? Before I can hang up, the doorbell rings again. Kendi answers. It's our 3 adorable "bread kids"...ragged clothes, rotted teeth, and the most heartwarming smiles you could imagine. Kendi grabs a bag, fills it with fruit and bread, and reminds them about Sunday School. There is no time to read to them today and so we pick a few books for them to look at on our front porch. Kisses and hugs and I race to the basement to answer the church doorbell. Samuel has run out of pencils for school - Can he sit in the church and do his homework with our pencils? OH and his sister is thirsty! I am thankful when Peter finally arrives home... he's got the plumber with him (Is there ever a day that we don't have plumbing problems?)... The plumber informs me that sewer is stopped up again and that the water which is showering our hallway and stairs is rain coming through the roof which can't be fixed until the dry season. (That's what we were told last year but during the dry season, it wasn't a priority for our landlady.) Before lunch, a woman comes to borrow a dress of Kaylee's - her daughter's birthday is coming up; a friend calls to ask if we'll visit the man she just met in the hospital who is dying of AIDS and needs to hear the gospel; 3 kids from the young singles' group come to practice music, thus competing with the party now in full swing across the street; a friend drops by to see if we have any leads on a job for her; and 5 street vendors have stopped their sing-song calling in the street to ring both our doorbells. Norman arrives home in time to start "his shift" answering the door and the rest of us lock ourselves away to work. Tonight is prayer meeting. Three deaths break our hearts this week: (1) Kendi's closest Peruvian friend, an 8-year old, (2) our maid's daughter, the mother of 2 little girls, also friends of Kendi and Kaylee, and (3) a teenager, friend of several in our youth group. Problems related to poverty, the corrupt government, street kids, the latest robberies (our teammates' Laura and the Powlison family and our friend, Ruht Mery, were this week's victims), and family abuse consume our time of supplication. It has been another "normal" day.