Katie is finally home. She spent the last week in the hospital fighting a pretty serious dose of the Noro virus. We had people praying for us all over the globe. We both felt completely overwhelmed with the grace and peace that is only offered in Jesus. While spending a week in the hospital is bad, It is worse when it is in another country. When you don’t know the language, well it seems worse. The problem is only heightened when you have a twenty month old child that needs to be quarantined from her mother. Since Katie had two IVs, one in each wrist, she required my constant presence so I was unable to spend much time with Hannah throughout the week.

However, even though the situation sounds bad, I wanted to share with you how the Lord tenderly loved us through the ordeal. He is so faithful and loving. He did several things with perfect timing that reminded us of his care and provision.

Initially, we had planned on spending Saturday at La Paz waterfall and zoo. It is (I know from pictures of friends) a beautiful tropical zoo paradise about an hour and a half away from San Jose, CR. There were about forty students set to go on the excursion which the language school set up for us. We were so excited. I had the Go-Pro camera charged, bags packed, and we were set. After several weeks of seeing the city of San Jose both Katie and I felt we needed to see something pretty. Not that the city isn’t nice but it is the capital city. Everything changed about 3am. I woke up with severe stomach cramps and everything that went with it, I thought, La Paz may not happen. When I woke up two hours later throwing up, I thanked the Lord for bringing on the sickness an hour before we were set to leave for La Paz. I don’t have anything against the other students but I feel some things are best not shared!

Katie was so sweet and kind. She took missing La Paz like a trooper. She cared for me. She got Gatorade for me and even washed all the vegetables from the market. I laid in bed feeling horrible but cared for. At noon, Katie came in the room and said she wasn’t feeling the best. Two hours later, she was in full on sick mode. We asked our neighbors to watch Hannah and Katie and I laid in bed sick as dogs. At about 5pm, it was apparent Katie was not getting better.

The school has a doctor (Dr. Longworth) who keeps office hours at the school and at the best hospital in CR. His parents were missionaries here. He was born here but speaks perfect English. I spoke with him on the phone and he advised us to go to the ER. So we took our first solo taxi ride (first ride without someone speaking for us) and we drove to the ER. Dr. Longworth called ahead to the ER for us and within ten minutes Katie was seen, had blood drawn, and IV fluids had begun. She was still sick but in the right place.

The blood work came back and showed she had an infection and was dehydrated. After several hours, the ER doctor (who also spoke very good English) gave us his business card with his personal contact information on it, a host of medications, and set us on our way. When you go to check out of the hospital, they offer to fill your prescriptions at the pharmacy. Typically, the meds are a little bit more expensive but the convenience factor makes it completely worth it. While we were waiting for the scripts to get filled, the ER doctor called me back in and told me he called Dr. Longworth and that he wanted Katie admitted into the hospital. He said, “I do not know Dr. Longworth. My normal protocol for this type of sickness is to release you with these medicines.” So I was stuck deciding between two doctors opinions. After conferring with Katie, who still didn’t feel the best, I told him to admit her. If it were me, I would have probably gone home but since it was Katie I wanted to make sure she was ok.

We had to wait longer to get Katie to a room. We finally did around midnight. When we entered into the room, the nurses began checking her vitals. I asked one of them to take my temperature. I had a 100.5 degree fever. I didn’t feel good so I checked myself into the ER and had my blood drawn. While waiting for my results, I took a bag of IV fluids. My numbers came back showing I was fighting something but nothing to the same level of Katie. I was released with no medications. After a bag of fluids, I felt much better.

I got to Katie’s room about 2:30am. She had been throwing up or at least attempting to the entire time I was gone. I was so thankful for Dr. Longworth and giving us the wisdom to follow his advice over the other doctor.

It took a couple of days for Katie to feel better. We were hopeful she was going to be coming home on Tuesday. She was trying so hard to get released. The doctors gave her two goals: drink liquid and eat food. When she could do both and keep them down she would be able to go home. Well Monday night, she had an appetite. She ate some food and drank some Powerade. I went home preparing to come get her for discharge. She sent me a message early in the morning, she couldn’t keep anything down. On top of that, she had severe pain in her abdomen.

It was the grace of God for her to stay those extra days. During the extra days, the doctors found that fluid had formed around her bowel and in her lungs due to the severity of the sickness. They were also able to determine she had the Noro virus and not a bacterial infection as was initially expected. This discovery completely changed her medication. The medications and lack of antibiotic helped her be able to repair the damage done to her stomach and esophagus.

While we were there, the nurses were so kind. The doctors all seven of them were great. Dr. Longworth is known for being thorough. He made rounds at least one a day. He had another doctor come by twice a day, an infectious disease doctor, gastro doctor, surgeon, and a couple of doctors who ran tests. Here doctors run ultrasounds not techs. It is great because they give instant readings and diagnosis. Katie got several tests and each one was administered by a doctor with an attending nurse. Katie was in great care. I told her it was an all-inclusive stay. She was able to order anything she wanted, had people make her bed twice a day. Costa Ricans are very serious about showering in the morning and changing sheets. She had her sheets changed and turned down twice a day. Needless to say, she saw my statement as a joke. Oh they also serve a Hershey’s Kiss whenever you order a cup of coffee. I see the last point as a total positive thing for coffee shops in the US to adopt. 

While we were there, we had visitors from the school staff, a teacher, and plenty of students. We couldn’t have felt more loved by their visits. To top things off, some of the students have set meals up for us now that we are home.

Several of the hard things that happened to us. First, Katie got admitted to the hospital. But can you imagine if she wasn’t? What a mark of God’s kindness having her admitted! Second, Katie couldn’t keep food down on Monday. Keeping her several more days allowed the doctors to find out exactly what was wrong with her which kept her medicine count down. Now that she has been home and recovered, we could not be more pleased with her care. The last couple of days of her hospitalization allowed the doctors to do several different tests which completely changed the medication she was given. This medication change allowed her to return home and recover much quicker. So while we may not always know God’s plan or his timing, his plan is always good and he is always on time. 

We recently spent a week in Ecuador. Our trip down was quite memorable and by that I mean miserable. We started the trip out on very little sleep after having a two day long yard sale. Things got real interesting when the airline did not allow us to bring the car seat on the plane. For me (James) I was disheartened. On the other hand, Katie was in a six hour wrestling match. 

Right before take off. The last time Katie smiled until we landed. Hannah's look... well she is thinking, "They aren't strapping me in! I'm free!"

We made it to Ecuador. Katie's beautiful smile returns. Hannah was exhausted!

We had a layover in Panama where the air conditioning was not working in the airport. After lacing up the gloves again, we boarded the plane for Ecuador. We finally made it!

We landed in Guayaquil and drove several hours to Cuenca. Cuenca is a beautiful city located in the Andes.

Cuenca, Ecuador. 

 We stayed with the Sills family. They are great hosts, guides, and friends. After taking a day to rest, we traveled to Incapirca to visit the ruins. 

Incapirca, Ecuador

Incapirca, Ecuador on a very windy day!

When we left, we visited the training center in Tambo. When I walked into the church and training center, I saw both Pastor Felix and Manuel (a pastor who lives several hours away). They both greeted me with open arms, literally giving me a nice big hug. Right before we left, we met a Japanese lady, who knew Japanese, English, Spanish, and Quichua. She was a Jehovah’s Witness. We took a couple of minutes to share with her about the correct Jesus. We left that day, tired, overwhelmed with the need, but encouraged with all the work God is doing up in the mountains.

A blurry picture of Felix showing off a nice bed in the training center. 

The family at the training center in Tambo. 

We spent the rest of our time in Cuenca seeing the sights and sounds of the city. We went to the museum which doubles as a cultural center for the city with more Inca ruins. We went to the market to buy produce and I even went a got a cup of coffee! 

A nice cappuccino 

We went to the mall one day because their version of Wal-Mart is there. The store was like Wal-Mart in what they offer with less interesting people!

Before we came home, I was prepared with the required policies for car seats. The flights home were not as memorable. However, it was significantly better!

Beautiful smiles and straps the entire way!

A couple of funny things about our trip:

1.      1. We need a pressure cooker. It took us 4 days to cook black beans. That’s right 4 days. Because C2. Cuenca is almost two miles in the air, water boils at a lower temperature and things take longer to cook.

2.      2. We will be eating a lot of fresh produce. We bought $20 worth and it was all I could carry (and I’m incredibly strong, ok maybe not but we bought a bunch of stuff).

Wide angle lens required for $20 worth of produce.

3.      3. Ecuadorians love Hannah. Who doesn’t right? They loved seeing her and she loved them doting on her. My language was not good enough but I’m sure a couple of them talked about her chubby thighs. Thankfully she is only a year and half and those comments are still ok,

4.      4. We have much to learn. We need to learn language, culture, cooking methods, and relearn how to drive.

For all of you who have supported us, prayed for us, and even asked us how we are doing, thank you. We are setting final dates and times to leave for language school, mid-August but that is for another post.  

I know that tomorrow is such an exciting day for most of us.  We have so much to celebrate.   But for others, tomorrow is a very hard day.  If tomorrow will be hard for you, I hope these simple words of encouragement minister to you as you walk through tomorrow…

To the Hurting Mommy/Mommy to Be

        Maybe walking through Mother’s Day is one more reminder of your grief.  Maybe it’s one more reminder of hopeful plans that never panned out.  Maybe it’s one more reminder of an empty womb and empty arms.  Please know that if you feel alone tomorrow, you are not alone.  You are loved and you are prayed for.  My heart grieves with yours.  I can’t make your hurt or loss any better.  There is nothing I can say that will change what you are walking through.  In some ways I understand and in some ways I do not. But I do understand loss and waiting for God’s timing.  These are not easy things.  But God loves you and he is big enough to hold your tears.  He is big enough to carry your heart through this day.

 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

To the Mommy who is waiting…

My prayer for you is that tomorrow is filled with God’s grace for you.  I pray that as you encounter others that they bear the image of Christ to you.  I pray that you have hope in Christ.  He knows suffering and He is the great comforter of the heart.  God knows the plans He has for you and his timing is perfect even in the painful season of waiting.  My prayer for you is that you allow God to heal your heart in your season of waiting. My prayer for you is that you trust God in his timing and his plans for your life.  My prayer for you is that your hope is founded in Christ.  If you need to cry tomorrow, it’s okay.  But I pray that God refreshes you and gives you hope as you wait on him and his timing.  I pray that He brings you great joy and peace. 

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

To the Mommy who is grieving…

My prayer for you is that you feel God’s mercy being poured out on you throughout the day.  I pray that as you wake in the morning, God gives you peace.  I pray that God gives you happy memories.  As you think of those happy memories, I pray that you are reminded of a God who loves you unconditionally.  Please know that we live in a world of sorrow and of sin.  Death was never part of God’s original design for creation.  I’m so sorry that you are walking through grief.  My heart aches for you.  I pray that you are able to spend time tomorrow remembering your baby or child.  I pray that others will remember you and your grief.  I pray that God uses others to minister to you and love you.  I’m so sorry that this day that is so happy for most, is very sad for you.  But I pray that God carries you through tomorrow and at the end of the day, you are able to look back at our gracious God loving you, healing you, and leading you through the day. If you need to cry tomorrow, it’s okay.  You are a mommy who has loved and lost. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

To the Mommy who chose adoption for the child she birthed…

My prayer for you is that God gives you hope and peace.  I pray that you know the love of God.  I pray that you know how much he loves you and that he wants to adopt you into his family.  The choice that you made for your child is one of the most beautiful sacrificial pictures of love.  I pray that God can use this in your life to share God’s hope and peace with others.  I pray that as time passes, God heals your heart and gives you much joy.  My prayer is that you are reminded of the precious gift of life that you gave the child that you birthed.  You birthed a child and then put your child’s needs above your own.  You did a very hard thing because of your love for your child.  Your love for your child should never be questioned, but affirmed

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

If tomorrow will be hard for you, please know that God loves you.  Please know that other mothers have walked before you or are walking a similar path with you and understand your pain and suffering.  My prayer for you tomorrow is that you look to the God who created you and who loves you for hope, peace, and healing.  You are a beautiful, unique, exquisite woman created by God!  He loves you more than you can comprehend!  He is big enough to hold your tears.  He is big enough to hear your questions.  He is big enough to heal your heart.  He loves you! 

Lord, anything but my dogs.

Today is a hard day for my family. We have, for almost five years, enjoyed two great dogs. Sadie WalkerTexasRanger and Howitzer JackBowitzer whom we affectionately call, “Howie.” Sadie is a boxer and Howie is a Heinz 57 mutt. They are great, a little overweight, well trained, great with kids, the consummate guard dogs, big babies, and grocery destroyers. When Katie and I followed the Lord in our call to missions, we never knew all it would cost. We are giving away many of our goods, selling our house, and today, giving our dogs away.

Now some of you might go online and look at the requirements for bringing dogs overseas. Before you do, let me assure you, it is possible that Sadie and Howie come with us. However, we are not thrilled about them spending time in quarantine or living in an apartment. Even worse, would be putting them through this twice in one calendar year.

For us, our dogs served as children place holders. For several years, we were trying any avenue to have a child. While we were there waiting, Sadie and Howie were there. When we had multiple failed adoptions, Sadie was there trying to lick Katie’s tears away. Howie, well he is a special dog and is perfectly happy to just lay around and be pet or to just lay around. Now with Hannah they are no longer place holders but are child protection and friend. One of Hannah’s greatest joys after she is finished eating her food is to drop her food on the ground for her two patiently waiting friends. I saw it (and without attempting correction) yesterday and I have no idea how much food Hannah eats. I also know why Howie is overweight!

Things have not always been great with Sadie and Howie. A couple of years ago, they decided to make a break for it and take a vacation in the nature preserve. Howie came home after five days and Sadie eight (she is a bit more stubborn).

All in all, today is a sad day because we love those two dogs. They are going to a great home with new owners who love dogs and will have time for them. Today is tough because it is another loss we are experiencing as we follow Christ.

Paul writes to a church and recounts who he used to be and what he had and says, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:8–11).”

Today, we are experiencing another loss but we will gain more. It is incredibly sad to see these two dogs go. But we praise God for the time we had with them and for how He made them. God made animals, dogs especially, (the verdict is still out on cats), with an innate ability for love and relationship. This ability is how God created them and for that He is praise worthy. A dog is a man’s best friend. I prayed the other day and it ended with, “Lord anything but my dogs.” But I don’t want to settle for a “best friend” when I can have a Savior and Heavenly Father. When I see the love these dogs have, it is infinitely better in Jesus. These days make us focus on loving our Creator not his creation because what we love in creation is really what we love about him. It just hurts to see it sometimes.

 

Today is an important day, it is St. Patrick’s Day. Irish pubs will be full with drunkenness (not good). Savannah, GA will dye their river green (a little weird). Many people will wear green and get pinched if not wearing green (a bit odd). The lucky few will eat a meal with corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes (a favorite of mine). I like to joke that today is the day everyone pretends to be me.

St. Patrick was raised in a Christian home but in his teenage years was captured by Celtic pirates. He was enslaved, abused, and taunted by his captors. He was forced to tend sheep. He was lonely, often hungry. Finally, after six years, he escaped back to his family back in Britain.

He did not remain in Britain for long. He secured a license to return to Ireland as an evangelist. He went back to the very people who persecuted him. God changed his heart to love his captors. God used him to share the Gospel. Most people will talk about Patrick removing the snakes from Ireland, in a sense, this is true. Because of the cold climate, snakes are not found in Ireland. However, they were staunchly pagan in the fifth century, until Patrick came. Patrick came declaring the Gospel, that message which removes the Serpent, the snake from the Garden.

The Gospel is the message that Jesus came to crush the head of the serpent. Now the serpent bruised his heal but Christ crushed his head. When Patrick came to tell Ireland about Jesus, he was removing the power of the snake.

This message is not unique to me and my family. Several months ago, when my grandmother passed away, I read her testimony. My grandmother came to faith in Christ when an American missionary came to Ireland to preach the Gospel. I don’t know his name but I am so thankful for him. My grandmother had a huge impact on my coming to faith in Christ. My life is changed because someone, like Patrick, went to a land not his own and shared the good news of Jesus.

Katie and I are planning on going to a land not our own to share the good news of Jesus. Would you be willing to partner with us? Would you help send us and pray that God would use the Gospel to change a life, family, and nation? 

If you have any questions about partnering with us please email or call. You can visit here to financially partner with us. If you would like to be added to our email list email us at kerrfamily@reachingandteaching.org

When did your family change direction? We would love to hear who your "Patrick" is for your family!

Plodding Along

William Carey is called the Father of Modern Day Missions. He was one of the founders of the Baptist Mission Society. They were a group of pastors and theology students who committed to work together. They committed to collect funds together to send missionaries. John Thomas and William Carey were elected to go to India.

While there, William Carey suffered extreme hardships. There were fires that destroyed his translation, his wife lost her mind, he buried children, and he was kicked out of English controlled area forcing him into the Dutch controlled Serampore. To make things more plain concerning his hardships, it was over seven years before he baptized his first convert!

Can you imagine, working for seven years without anything to show? Let’s be clear, getting conversions is not the goal of missions – the glory of God is the goal. God is glorified if people are converted or not. But let’s also be clear – God is glorified when men who are dead are made alive, when spiritually blind men are given sight.

Carey received much fame for his work in Serampore. Even today his story inspires others to follow his famous saying, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” Don’t be fooled, Carey did amazing things. He was an absolute trailblazer. When he was reflecting on his life, he knew someone would one day write a biography about him. He told his nephew, “Eustace, if after my removal any one should think it worth his while to write my Life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If he give me credit for being a plodder he will describe me justly. Anything beyond this will be too much. I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.” What was the mark of Carey’s life? He persevered. Regardless of what difficulty came his way, he plodded through.

How could Carey plod through such difficulty? How could Carey keep his faith through trial after trial? Did he have amazing gifts? Maybe, but most linguists say he was not that gifted as a linguist. Was he a super duper Christian? Maybe, but the Holy Spirit living in him is the same in me and you. What was it?

In order for us to know the power behind Carey, we need to go look at the beginning of his mission work. Right after the forming of the Baptist Missionary Society, Carey went to each man involved and got them to commit to the work. Andrew Fuller remembers the moment this way,

“Our undertaking to India really appeared to me, on its commencement, to be somewhat like a few men, who were deliberating about the importance of penetrating into a deep mine, which had never before been explored. We had no one to guide us; and, while we were thus deliberating, Carey, as it were, said, ‘Well, I will go down if you will hold the rope.’ But, before he went down, he, as it seemed to me, took an oath from each of us at the mouth of the pit to this effect, that while we lived we should never let go the rope. You understand me. There was great responsibility attached to us who began the business.”

The strength to plodding hard ground is not in the exceptional qualities of the individual but on those petitioning God on behalf of the individual. Missions is never dependent on us. Missions is God’s work.

So seek Him. Hold the rope. If you are one of our “rope holders” thank you. If you want to become a rope holder, email us at kerrfamily@reachingandteaching.org

Greetings!

I hope everyone is doing well. We had a very busy January and we have been very busy so far this February.

We began the New Year by traveling to Panama City Beach, FL where I preached at a youth camp. The camp was a great time to preach to teenagers from the book of Philippians. After the camp, we spent several days with Katie’s family. We were blessed to celebrate Hannah’s first birthday with her family.

The next week I went to Louisville, KY for class and Katie remained in Mobile, AL with her family. I was challenged and encouraged by my classes on the history and theology of missions. The big take away from class is the term missio Dei, the mission of God. Missions is not man’s idea. In fact, before we ever thought of missions, God was already on mission (missio Dei) to redeem mankind for Himself. Being involved in missions is joining in the grand plan of God! What an encouragement!

As soon as class let out, I was on the road to Mobile, AL. I slept several hours before driving Katie and Hannah to Grand Isle, LA. I preached twice Sunday morning, once at First Baptist Grand Isle and then forty five minutes north at a Crosspoint Church. We really enjoyed our time on the Bayou. The people there may be difficult to understand as they mix English and Cajun but what is clear is the love they have for one another. Their love was evident to us as we were able to eat meals with them (genuine Cajun gumbo, it was absolutely delicious) and the support for those we were privileged to see several baptized at Crosspoint Church.

As a quick aside, let me say thank you for the encouragement we received in Louisiana. It is always encouraging to see people joining with God in the missio Dei. The great folks of FBC Grande Isle have a missional mindset and have helped to support the new church Crosspoint Church. God is working through the people of Crosspoint as they begin to share their faith with others on the Bayou!

After worshiping with both churches on Sunday, we got much needed sleep before heading back to Alabama. On the way, I was able to speak to several pastors at the Bayou Baptist Association. We shared about Reaching and Teaching and Ecuador. We are thankful for the opportunity to speak to them and look forward to working with several of the churches in the association. The pastors really have a heart to reach the Bayou for Jesus.

So our January ended with traveling over 3,000 miles, 6 sermons, 2 doctoral seminars, Hannah’s first birthday, and some really good gumbo! Speaking of Hannah, while we were gone, she began nodding her head “yes” and “no,” as well as signing “please” and “thank you.” She is a joy to watch grow up. I have hesitated sending this update letter out because she is just so close to walking! As I type this, she is using a walker and coming to me. And now… she is doing laps around the house!

February has been a great month meeting with several churches and people. We are well on our way to being fully funded. We are at this moment, a little over 60% funded for our monthly support! We are so thankful for everyone’s support.

If you would like to partner with us financially, all gifts are tax deductible. You can visit www.reachingandteaching.org/give and follow the prompts, just make sure you put “James and Erica Kerr” in the drop down menu (Erica is Katie’s legal name).

Here is a picture of Hannah is watching the monkey exhibit at the zoo. I would try to share a picture of her and the walker but she is going too fast!

I am a lifelong Patriots fan but we do have a sense of humor, Hannah is pictured with her very own air pump to make sure the footballs are just right :)