the bounty of 2013

post by ~ Brin

I am not one for resolutions but today I do feel motivated to catch you all up on our year.  A  2013 Year in Review blog to make up for all the unwritten blogs this past year.

Occurrences and accomplishment of the past year:

• Opened a B&B
• Dropped a lot of jelly
• Added 2 new words to our vernacular 
• Gabriella experienced her 15 minutes of celestial fame
• Had a run-in with a pirate

Josh and I woke up this morning after dropping my mom and dad off at the airport and remarked that today is the first day since June that we do not have a guest in our home. So, ok, we do not have a B&B, mostly because many of our visitors were given a hammock to sleep in and some cases, like Josh's dad, actually prepared the breakfast. It started in March with Josie (a "blind date" who made such a lovely guest that it makes couch surfing seem like a charming idea) who came for a week to help with a VBS at the school, Andrés for an overnight when he had a flight check, Allison (from Altamira) was in and out twice for a total of 5 weeks. A team of 13 people from our home church in Tremont, with Hillary, my brother-in-law Dave Hillrich and his son Caleb staying for some extra time. Josh's parent came and brought with them Abi (niece) and Sarah, a short-termer from St. Louis who, while she had her own little home, gracefully breezed through our house throughout the day as if she were family. Sonya came in October to hug her daughter, and Connie who won't be left out (she traveled internationally 3 times in one year, that I know of) made a second trip.  And we were so thankful to have Christmas with my mom and dad. That is a lot of visitors and I am not even mentioning the snakes, scorpions and spiders.  It suits us well, because as it turns out Josh and I both love to disciple/ be discipled in one-on-one relationships- just living life next to others and deepening our walk with our Savior at the same time encouraging those around us to do the same. And while our "missionary job titles" may say we are in aviation/health/teaching ministry, we sense God working through and in us encouragingly in our B&B guests.

That team from Tremont gave us new eyes to see what God has called us to, since after 8 years what really is extraordinary through the years have blurred to the norm. Amazon mud under their nails (as Hillary put it) bonds each of those participants to us in a profound way and also gently reminds us that, as our sending church, God has us in this together.  Also, they brought a whopping dose of fun and some new words that have stuck. They named the one air conditioned room in our community the "situation room", a vague if not prestigious term that allows innumerable excuses for one to visit that place.  And a Portuguese word was added too. This morning over the breakfast table we got a lesson from friends Márcio and Keila on the many ways we can use the Portuguese word "curtir,"which we noted after spending 3 days with them they use profusely. It could mean "enjoy" or "take advantage of (in a positive sense)" and it is also used on Facebook Brasil as their LIKE button. We are blessed to have a home church that continues to encourage God's work in the Amazon and a few brave ones to see it first hand. And I profoundly recognize it is God's provision to have many friends with such open, gracious hearts and simply are the type of people to use positive words. Curtir!

The guys just before running off to the Situation Room.

The month of May was notable for Gabriella where she became the shinning star of the family and therefore forgiven that she let the jungle take over her bedroom. She gave a co-salutatorian speech for her 8th grade graduation, and then days later was baptized by Josh in the Amazon River right in front of the school. Within days she and I boarded the Asas boat for a week of health ministry in a village upriver where we worked together in a makeshift pharmacy (see blog post here). 

And about that jelly. Maybe I have been prideful about my good health in the past. I have often remarked that my strong back, fear of precious little and quest for adventure makes me the ideal jungle missionary. I had to reflect on that when the first week of June I was befuddled with pain and swelling in my fingers. Besides the pain, I also had weakness that strangely seemed to evidence itself when I was taking jam out of the refrigerator. At least 3 jars were casualties of what I now believe is osteoarthritis, and unlike other things I rinsed after a fall, you can't risk spreading tiny shards of glass on your toast so it just gets pitched.  I have a very hard time doing tasks that require use of my fingers. Which is a lot, obviously. At the height of my pain and frustration who shows up but Jesus in the form of Hillary. I did not ask for her to come. I want to shout this; God alone knew my need! She was my hands at the sink and laundry line and a huge boost to my faith that God sees me. And He graciously maneuvers His children to meet whatever their need. 

We still live at a New Tribes school right on the banks of the Amazon river and each day Josh commutes by boat to the Asas de Socorro hangar. Our girls love their school to understate it and often their evening prayers reflect genuine gratitude that God brought us here. While Josh works under the float planes I work at the front of the classroom. I teach math and science to younger kids but what I have really gotten into is the 9/10 Biology; a fantastic topic paired with fantastic students. Gabriella being one of them. 

Ava, we notice, is growing up and thrives with all the social activities the school offers, including dressing up as a pirate for Class Unity Day. But wait up, there is a reason I mention pirates and the word risk comes to mind. A few days ago I was out in the jungle with mom (who matches my enthusiasm for jungle hikes!) when I stepped right on a snake. I would not have even known had my mom not started shrieking and I turned to see a snake chasing her! It slithered into the jungle and we commented that the beauty, tranquility and simplicity of my jungle life sometimes hides huge risks. As it turns out, the most dangerous animals are humans. Pirates wielding guns and hand grenades have recently begun (again) to terrorize our little segment of the river keeping villagers in the area rather wary of traveling after sundown. Amongst teammates Josh asked a silly question about a guy murdered and his boat heisted a few weeks ago; "Did the police do anything?" "Pffffft," Joel responded; meaning the river is too big, the police resources too weak and the pirates too desperate and violent.  This is notable for us because Josh has recently traveled at least 4 times after sundown, in fact just last night.  We know it is a risk and we give our concerns to God, and when we arrived back home this morning (a different) Joel says, "Welcome back, we prayed for you last night." Our hearts are at peace and we try to live our lives demonstrating trust in God.

Josh sealing the inside of the wing
fuel tank after a leak was found.

The hangar where Josh works was consumed with inspections and painting a Cessna 172.  The average age of our fleet of Cessna 206 aircraft is about 33 years old.  While this is not necessarily old for an airplane, they were not built to be flown this long and require continual upkeep.  The manufacturer is now requiring a more thorough inspection (requiring major disassembly) that must be done before the end of the year. This year the guys performed 3 of these inspections.  Planning at the beginning of last year revealed that they would just have enough time to complete all of these projects. Due to unforeseen repairs the year ended and a couple of the planes still need work.

So reflecting on these things, what should I leave you with? I encourage you to bring your needs/hopes/dreams to God first and let Him rock your world.  Ask God to maneuver you so you can experience being His hands. Live life alongside others such that discipleship occurs naturally, and take a risk that forces reliance on God. I seriously pray one of these things resonates with someone reading this today.

Plans for the year ahead..... We get to see precious faces soon. Next week Cleny, Allison and Cleide and Clyde and Kelsie are meeting us halfway in a little corner of the Amazon called Alter do Chão.   Oooooh my heart just leaps! And in July we furlough in the US and have our "longing killed", as they say in Brazil. But as I write that I admit, us humans make our plans, but it is God who has the last word. Amen to that. 

Prayers:

• We are Senior Class Sponsors this year. Responsible for encouraging them, helping them fundraise (among tight-budgeted missionaries...not easy) and chaperoning their Senior Sneak. Also, weekly I am responsible for a spike in their glucose levels during their weekly meeting in our home.
• We lead a group of high school students in a bi-monthly outreach to kids in a nearby community.  Please pray that we are able to communicate the love of our Father to the kids and that our students understand His love for the lost. 
• As was mentioned, January will be a busy month as Josh and his co-workers wrap up inspections and repairs on two planes.  Pray that the parts arrive and the repairs are able to be finished soon.

Seniors discussing class motto, tortilla making, school t-shirts and giving the one student who always talks about fishing a hard time.

That is Gabriella and Abi playing games and ministering to some kids in a community upriver.

And while I have you here, I want to express our family's gratitude for many of you who have come alongside us in ministry. Maybe you visited, maybe you sent peanut butter along with those that visited, or medical supplies or aviation tools or kind notes. And many of you pray diligently. We thank God for you.

Aviation Ministry

The hangar this past year was consumed with inspections and painting a Cessna 172.  The average age of our fleet of Cessna 206 aircraft is about 33 years old.  While this is not necessarily old for an airplane, they were not built to be flown this long and require solid upkeep.  The manufacturer is now requiring a more thorough inspection (requiring major disassembly) that must be done before the end of the year. This year we performed 3 of these inspections.  Planning at the beginning of last year revealed that we would just have enough time to complete all of these projects. Due to unforeseen repairs the year ended and a couple of the planes still need work.

Unfortunately, sometimes unexpected surprises throw a wrench in our plans.  This time the wrench came in the form of a leaking fuel tank, requiring that we dismount a wing and reseal the fuel tank.  As a result, we have two airplanes that still need a significant amount of work.  We are hoping to get one of them flying by the end of January.

Josh and Joel referring to a manual while Victor works on the engine of one of our Cessna 206s.

Josh sealing the inside of the wing fuel tank after a leak was found.

Student Ministry

One of the benefits of living at an international school is the opportunity we have to get to know the students...

We were asked to be the senior class sponsors, we have enjoyed getting to know the 7 seniors that will be graduating this fall.  Some of you may have already contributed to some of our fundraising events that raises money for the much talked about "Senior Sneak", when the seniors (with their sponsors!), secretly leave on their senior trip. 

Twice a month we lead a group of 5 high school students to a needy community where we have a sunday school program for the local kids.  With our school being so secluded it is easy for the students (and us) to forget about our neighbors.  These outreach opportunities give the students a vision beyond the jungle walls of our school.

Brin stayed busy this past year as school nurse doling out medicine, giving medical advice and performing the occasional wound care.  This procedure done on a student quickly turned into a learning experience for his curious classmats.

Sights and sounds summer '13

Classes start for Brin and the girls in a little over a week.  We've had a crazy, but memorable summer with over 20 visitors spending time with our family.  Our latest visitors, Josh's parents Tom and Connie are leaving today.  In the midst of our activities blogging has not been at the top of our list, but that doesn't mean we haven't anything to share.  We've decided to take advantage of another guest blogger, this time Tom.  The following is a note he posted to his Facebook page...

One of the sure signs you're in a developing country is that, even in the middle of a city, you're going to be awakened by roosters crowing, anticipating the new day.  We spent a couple days this week in a town near the waterfalls a couple hours north of Manaus, where the morning greetings were so close and so piercing that we joked the hotel guy had hired his own personal rooster.

PQQ has its own signature night sounds, far less predictable and varied and untamed, at least to us as visitors.  I'm not jungle-wise enough to identity the hysterical cackling and chattering outside my window, but we are reminded early most mornings that we are not in Hazelwood anymore.

There is a pleasant rhythm of life at PQQ.  The heat and discomfort of the day mostly subsides during the night, and by morning we have pulled the sheet over us.  Even here, almost on the equator, there are sort of seasons--the relentless heat of October and November, the rainy season from December to May--and the rise and fall of the Amazon by 50-60 vertical feet through the year.

We are learning to read the signs and to anticipate what will happen next.  A gentle breeze blows suddenly through the house, and you know a rain shower is imminent and run to see if you have clothes on the line.  A barge steams by out in the middle of the river, and you know in five minutes you will have ocean-like waves breaking on your shore.  Better make sure your boat is securely tied.

Everyone here is anticipating the opening of school.  The girls are excited to have new tote bags, made by Grandma and Abi, which they have already filled with school supplies.  They are all talking about the classes and teachers they will have.  It's inevitable that sometimes they will be taught by their own parent.  This year Gabriella will take Biology with her mom.

Abi (our niece who is living with us for a semester), Gabriella, Ava and Sarah (a short-termer from St. Louis) showing off the bulletin board they helped make for Brin's science class.

Gabriella does not seem disappointed by this turn of events.  The Biology textbook, like most of the textbooks here are sadly out of date, but with jungle all around them and the availability of the Internet, this promises to be a rich experience.  Brin loves to lead visitors on long hikes in the jungle, pointing out unusual plants and signs of animal life.  We have seen deer, monkeys, sloth, and snakes in the wild, and discussed how the Indians made needles from thorns and transmitted messages by beating on the hollow flanges at the bases of rainforest trees.

Brin leading a jungle hike with Caleb and Dave, two of our visitors from earlier this summer.

It's an unorthodox school, to be sure.  Brin says last year the Terra Nova test, the seven-hour, standardized, school-wide test, which provides a significant measurement each year for both students and the school itself, was interrupted last year on one day by torrential rains and water leaking into classrooms and a second day by a snake loose in the school.  But, she says, the students just put aside their answer sheets for a few minutes to move buckets under the dripping places and to help corner and capture the snake, and then got back to their testing.

This is truly an international school, home to missionary kids whose parents come from all over the world, this year including Korea, Peru, and The Netherlands. Many of them have also lived part of their lives in the villages where their parents are working and speak the tribal language of the indigenous people who live there.  They have witnessed the Gospel imperative in action in their own parents.

The level of sacrifice some of these parents make is sobering.  I am thinking especially about a six year old boy who will live in the dorm and attend school here this year.  His parents work in a tribe where it's culturally acceptable for children to touch each other inappropriately.  They do not want him to grow up thinking that's normal and have come to the difficult decision that, at least at this point, it's not healthy for him to remain with them in the tribe. 

Tomorrow we will awaken to jungle sounds in the cool of the morning for the last time.  We'll say goodbye to our kids and grandkids and head back to our air-conditioned home in the suburbs, where roosters do not crow and where my life is considerably more pampered.  But the memories and impressions of this community will stay with me for a long time, as we continue to try to understand and to anticipate what God is doing in the world to draw people from every tribe and nation and tongue to himself.

Tom building a TV cart that will be used in a classroom.

The following are some other notes Tom posted on Facebook:

july-24-2013-winning-state

july-30-2013-generational-tension

NCF in the Amazon

With much gratefulness, Josh and I hosted a group from our home church, Northfield Christian Fellowship.  Fourteen people braved the heat, bugs, no electricity and spiders to participate in our lives, to see what God is doing in the Amazon and to deepen their connection to us by putting our dirt under their nails.

Let me introduce you to Hillary Shaull, who will guest blog and share her reflections....


Well to tell you a little bit about myself, I am a college student spending a month of the summer here with the Pflederer family. I came down with the team to get my hands dirty with them. The Lord called us and He brought us out of our element and set us in theirs to be used by Him. The week with the team was a week full of growth, sweat, and great fun.

Back row:  Josh, Sam Stuber, Paul Scherer, Dave Wolff, Dave Hillrich and Mark Scott
2nd row:  Rubber Man whose real name is Serverino, Hillary, Barb Scott, Gabriella, Hannah Scherer, Jen Scherer, Heather Scott and Caleb Hillrich and Greg Bolliger
Front row: Brin, Mia, Ava, Jacob Scherer, Dixon Wolff

At the beginning of the week we had  the Vacation Bible School day where we planned singing, a lesson and crafts. Before coming and even on arrival we were uncertain to where it was going to be held. The church in that area had flooded but Oh how the Lord provides! We held the VBS at a building that was being used as a church. This was one of the very many answered prayers throughout that week; it was open to the outside and just had the perfect amount of space to spread out and do the activities. Pass the cups was a big hit among everyone. We came prepared but had no idea what to expect but God had it all in His hands. Everything lined up so well; better than we could have imagined. What a blessing it was to see everything run smoothly and to be able connect with the kids and their families despite the language barrier.

Josh and Brin's teammates, Reginaldo and Andreia are leading some childrens songs.

After VBS was when the real work began. The men got started on the roof project and the expected time to finish was by the end of the trip. Amazingly they completed the roof in just two days. It was evident that God was at work with just the provisions of safety, weather and the different skills that each person could offer to the project. The rest of the time was spent working on the Pflederer's new and old house and then moving them in. I feel so blessed to have served with each and every single one of the team members. I was humbled to see a selfless love,...Christ's love, shinning within each of them. It was Christ dwelling with in His body, the church, and illuminating each of us from the inside out. But its not just in this time or place we can be reflections of Christ; its everyday and every place that we can show Christ to someone else. How in these everyday moments can we be a beacon for Christ and His Holy name?

Josh and Mark and the "moving truck."

One thing that was really fun that I must mention is the visit to the Rubber Man. Yes, I said the Rubber Man; we were just as curious and puzzled to what this meant. Josh was telling us that we would get the privilege to venture into the jungle and see this Rubber Man make rubber. When the time came we went on a short little boat ride and ended up in the Rubber Man's jungle collecting rubber sap from the rubber tree and eventually he formed a rubber ball. It was so neat to see, so if you ever come to visit in Brazil...put the Rubber Man on your list.

During high water season (as it is now), the river comes right up to Josh and Brin's house which provided Dave and Caleb some opportune fishing.


As we were taking the boat ride to the city we came upon the rivers Rio Solimões and Rio Negro. The Rio Negro is the largest blackwater river in the world. These two rivers flow side by side, then eventually join together to make the Amazon River. We swam in two different rivers at the same time; an experience I will never forget.    

 Ava, Brin, Dixon, Hillary and Jacob braved the rough waters where the two different rivers that make the Amazon River can be distinctly seen.

As we were swimming in the river Sam Stuber captured the dolphins that were giving them a great show just on the other side of the boat.

I was talking with Brin earlier that week and she was sharing with me in one of her recent Bible studies they were covering the stories of David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions den, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  How these men expressed remarkable qualities and over came by the power of Christ but without realizing we can value their character too highly. These men were just like you and me but they had the faith and trusted God no matter what the outcome.

Did they tremble?... Possibly 

Was it a struggle and stretching experience?... Yes

Would they do it all over again?... Of course, they experienced a miracle. God used them in an incredible way and by His grace He can use you and me in great ways as well, if not greater! I don't want to limit what God can do through me. Sure this trip has been stretching and difficult at moments but we experienced God moving and working through His people and I would have to say...

I would do it all over again! 

momentous moments on the river

Happy Summertime to all!

Like all teachers across the globe, we simultaneously take a deep breath in April and then exhale with great satisfaction on the last day.  And I have had so many memorable moments and wish the days could slow a bit so that I could savor them a little longer.

First motive for celebration: Ava! She completed 11 years just a few weeks ago; celebrating with a soggy night of camping with her friends. Even the graham crackers were soggy but still utterly enjoyed because they are an imported treat.

And a motive for thankfulness:  Gabriella! She started out her summer graduating from 8th grade, writing and giving a co-salutatorian speech, and then getting baptized by her father in the Amazon River right in front of the school. 

But she doesn't stop there....3 days after school got out Gabriella and I joined a medical team traveling by boat to villages upriver.

Our team was made up of people from all over the south of Brazil who came up to the Amazon Basin to give of their resources and love in the name of Jesus.  We started out by presenting ourselves to one another, which led to a spontaneous gifting of rather unoriginal nicknames. Riri for Rita, Roro for Ronaldo, Lulu for Zularte; these exotic bird-like sounds made me envision our boat turning into the aviary on Noah's ark. Pricilla (Prepre) and I (Bribri) must have been of a similar species. How very fitting for a boat trip in the midst of the Amazon jungle.  But I like human stories best so let me mention a few things that I found inspiring.

For one lady it was her 3rd trip. She shares about how on a previous trip there was no one to be a dental assistant, "I can do that", she admitted, and she went on to explain how she once had a horrendous 3 month job with a disagreeable dentist.  She quit, and brushed the dust (or should I say amalgam powder) from her hands and became a hairdresser having no idea that it was God who gave her that knowledge so that she could participate fruitfully in His work in a little village.  She also gave free haircuts in the village, many people sharing that it was the first time they had ever had a cut by a professional.  She does it because she loves Jesus and His love compels her to give of what she can.

Also participating was a lady who pastors a favela (slum areas in the city areas which are often governed by gangs and, until recently, avoided by police) church in the huge city of São Paulo. She ministers in a drug rehab facility and speaks fluent Portuguese ghetto. She and I were an inverse; I have complete serenity bathing in the river and using the jungle as my "facility" while she finds her comforts walking the slums and searching for drug dependent people needing help.  She admitted her fear of alligators would always keep her in the boat. So what was she doing in the jungle? She asked herself that same question before coming, and upon arrival in the Amazon found out that there is an outbreak of drug use (cocaine, i had no idea it was being made in the Amazon. It is.) among young people in the two villages we visited.  Some as young as 13.  Heart-breaking.  So that is why God sent her to the Amazon.  She is already making plans to come back to help out a local pastor.

Also, my own Gabriella.  She worked doing various things on this trip; dental hygiene teaching, boat clean-up, and participated in a rather unorthodox musical performance involving a rhythmic cup game during the service in which the favela pastor accompanied the beat with an original rap about which I am sure was God.  Her Portuguese stretched my abilities hugely.  Mostly Gabriella worked alongside me in the pharmacy until she could read the doctors scripts just as well as I.  During a quiet moment, she doodled the 5 most popular medications on her leg and we laughed that she now knows how to treat various different types of parasites.  Let's just see where God takes her with that!

The two villages we visited were similar to so many others that I have visited.  The men fished or worked in the manioc fields, bring in the last of the crop; still green so that they won't loose it as the river threatens to flood their fields. Mothers as young as 14 and no one blinks an eye.  I spoke with several women whose babies were born at home and had not seen a doctor (until we arrived) despite having what to me was an obvious syndrome of some sort and also a cleft lip.  Our first patient one morning was an 18 year old boy having a sever asthmatic exacerbation. The doctor told me to draw up some epi, but I couldn't because we were out of IV dilutant.  So we prayed and gave him some oral meds. He sat in my clinic two hours so I could watch him (technically listen). Another one of the young guys on the team sat with him, discussed life with asthma where there are no doctors and prayed for him.

The children watched while we turned this home into a temporary doctor's office.

One family brought Gabriella and I some abiu fruit from their yard. 

In the second village we were able to use a multi-room school for both triage, medical clinic, pharmacy and the dentist room.

Gabriella got to know the Asas stock of medication and how to say them in Portuguese. 

After going to triage, patients sat in this "waiting room."  Which makes for a good time to do oral hygiene teaching or just chat.

Everyone gets a little cup and toothbrush and a demonstration on how to brush properly.  Much needed teaching as evidenced by how many teeth get pulled.  One little 8 year old boy had 3 teeth pulled as he sat alone on a hard wooden bench. And with gauze still in his mouth, and with thankfulness to have his pain relieved, he climbed into his canoe and paddled back home all by himself.

The first village had a one-room school house that we turned into both a pharmacy and the dentist room.

A church served as the triage station and our team did games, songs and stories while the children waited with their families.

Gabriella organizing and chatting with an observer.

We bring large plastic barrels filled with everything we need for clinics; transportable dentist chairs, overhead lights, batteries, trays, medications, medical forms. 

In this picture, Luce is troubleshooting a problem with a piece of dental equipment. Luce is an RN and the missionary with Asas that coordinates all the medical trips into the interior.

I got such joy on the trip. Joy in serving alongside my daughter. Joy in having the privilege of being God's hands and feet and meeting such a basic need of healthcare. I delivered no babies, I saved no one's life and I often repeated myself several times when I give drug information because I know my Portuguese seems like another language to them and I really want them to understand.  Understand how to care for themselves and their family but also understand that it was the love of our Father that brought me to them and that when all accounts are settled, it is God who heals and God who cares.