I'm still alive, 5!

Dear Not-So-Small-Small-Group: Thanks again for your prayer support during my trip to El Salvador. It’s been nearly 2 weeks since my return & I’ve been wanting to write you at the very least to thank you again and to explain why I’ve been seemingly MIA (“missing in action”). I’ve definitely been missing you guys and hoping to join you on Friday soon. I’m praying for your mom Helina and all around her. It was totally awesome for the small group to do the service project together with Love Mission Viejo, too! Besides catching up with work and home life, there were visits to see Jadon and my dad, as well as a short bout of food poisoning (thankfully unassociated with visiting family!), as well as hope-filled preparation of a gift to the children at the Shalom home in El Salvador. As I’m sure many of you have experienced with trips overseas, just as with previous mission experiences for me long ago, while I was abroad I felt a desire to be home (to be among the familiar, to serve people close to me), and now that I’m back, I feel a longing to be back in El Salvador (to join God in expanding His kingdom, to experience new things & learn from people outside my normal sphere of influence). I am so grateful to have been able to follow God on this trip, as it is so clear as always that He knows what I need and what I can handle. As some of you know, I didn’t know my work schedule before departing the US, and I had told them I was willing to serve in any medical capacity I could. Work turned out to be from 7am to 3pm, with the rest of the day open to spending time with the kids, exercising, reading, & relaxing. Work itself was a great deal of fun (I got to concentrate on my pediatric skills) and occurred at a pace that allowed plenty of time to talk with families about their needs. Clinic cases, while certainly stretching in terms of scope of practice (learning tropical diseases and monitoring malnourishment), were far from life-threatening or bleak, as opposed to some truly disheartening cases I remembered from Africa decades ago. Giving the talks to the school and home were challenging but fun putting my mind and mouth to express the truths of God’s world and word in new ways. Evenings I got to read two books that World Medical Mission gave me: a devotional by Billy Graham, as well as “Medical Missions: Get Ready! Get Set! Go!” by Dr. Bruce Steffes, as well as finally to get moving on 2 books I’d been slowly nibbling: Edward Welch’s “Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave” and Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death.” Saturdays were spent checking out different cultural or historical sites with staff and the other older, wiser missionary, which sparked a lot of inquiries into the history of El Salvador, Central America, and the world at large (I wish I paid more attention to history when I was younger!). Sundays were spent at church and back at the Home. As I’ve shared in past letters, of course, the highlight of the trip for me was spending time with the children at the orphanage, whether it was at mealtimes, helping with homework, watching them play violin (I didn’t let on that I play a little myself!) or outside playing soccer or tag together. I hope my taking an interest in their lives helped them to know how precious they are in the sight of God, which made me wonder how their emotions might be affected by the recurrent influx and outflux of short termers like myself, especially when some of the children undoubtedly deal with the pain of abuse or unexpected separation from loved ones. Dr. Bruce Steffes’ book encouraged building long term relationships with clinic/hospital sites for longer term fruitfulness, especially through supporting long-term missionary and national (Salvadoran) staff, which I think is a wonderful idea. Would you kindly pray with me for the following? 1. Is the Lord leading me back to El Salvador? If so, when and how? 2. How can I serve the Shalom clinic, school, and home while Stateside? I just bought a copy of “The Jesus Storybook Bible” in Spanish that I plan to mail their way once I finish recording it (for either fun listening or as a read-along literacy tool). I’m posting it on YouTube If you’re interested. 3. How can I be softer of heart for the needs of God’s kingdom here at work, among friends and family, & in the home? How can I be more faithful to “Mi Salvador” (my Savior) wherever He leads me? Many many thanks to all! I’ll be seeing some of you in a few hours… Sidney (el Dr. Esteban)

But Wait, There's More, 4!

(sorry for the hokey letter titles!) Dear Not-So-Small-Small-Group: Thanks a TON for your prayer and encouragement. It is now the last stretch of my two weeks here; I return to California this coming Sunday evening. I decided to speak to the school parents this afternoon about puberty because a few days ago in the clinic I had a patient with early development & thought it could be a helpful topic because puberty especially for girls has been starting earlier and earlier in the last decades (as in the U.S.). I did get a brief chance to share my testimony during the talk in the context of puberty being the season in which questions of faith and relationship with God frequently come to the fore. Overall, I believe the talk went well (my Spanish is truly being stretched as I had to look up a lot of words beforehand), and several parents asked questions both publicly and privately afterward about their own family concerns (“he only wants to be alone on the cellphone all the time,” “she’s seven and developing breasts already,” “is anxiety a normal part of puberty?”). Please pray that the talk would be of help both for the physical as well as the spiritual long-term well-being of the families represented there. One thing I would request your prayer for is guidance and humility in approaching the director of the Shalom Children’s Home about the consideration of changing the children’s plates and cups to either metal or ceramic/glass especially in the service of hot foods, given the implication of toxins in plastics with early puberty (among other health problems). I believe this place does wonders for the children who would otherwise be in destitute or horrendous home situations (besides the simple loving care, I just discovered the kids are learning violin here!), so I want to be sure to share the information in a nonjudgmental, grateful manner. Tomorrow is my last day at the clinic, & Saturday I’ll be visiting a local volcano & Mayan archaeological site with the other missionary. I’ve immensely enjoyed relating with Dr. David Fraser (the retired rheumatologist from North Carolina) as I have been able to bounce my own worries and questions about medicine, missions, and family with someone a few steps ahead of me in life. I hope the blessing has been mutual. Of course, this also means that these are my last few days here with the children, some of whom have felt free enough to walk up to me and hold my hand as we walk and talk together. (Makes me itch to be a Grandpa one day, though I certainly don’t want my two to rush, either!) I don’t ask the kids about their backgrounds directly, but I did hear some tough stories. Pray for the continued work of the Holy Spirit through the school and home staff, their Sunday school staff at the church, the clinic employees, as well as through visiting missionaries... perhaps including some of you in the future! Pray for the children’s healing, growth, health, and callings for the future. Pray that I will spend my last days here pointing to the One who is forever close to them. Thanks so much & see you soon! Sid (el Dr. Esteban)

from Me to Thee, 3

Good morning “Class” (Dear Not-So-Small-Small-Group)! It’s time for everybody’s favorite thing in life: a POP QUIZ! As mentioned in the last update, I’m having the fun challenge of typing notes on an American English keyboard but with Latin American formatting (ie: what’s physically on the keyboard isn’t always what comes out – probably as with many mission stations, a very kind American donation not totally fitting the context). Best guesses only (no looking it up online)! If your computers were suddenly flipped to Latin American formatting, where on your keyboards would you find the following punctuation? ?

without shift or with shift, or

without shift or with shift )

without shift or with shift, or

without shift or with shift ¡

without shift or with shift, or

without shift or with shift /

without shift or with shift, or

without shift or with shift $

without shift or with shift, or

without shift or with shift (Answers found at end.) THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRAYER! I’m feeling essentially 100% better, so aside from minor punctuation arguments with my keyboard at the clinic and a few itchy bites from critters that don’t mind the insect repellent spray I apply every day, I’m doing great. Thursday I gave those health talks to the Shalom home parents, where we talked about general topics like dental hygiene, healthy eating, and adequate sleep, along with being connected with our Heavenly Father who made us and knows how life works best. In hindsight, I felt I could have shared a little personal expression of thankfulness with the school parents for being here and the opportunity to serve. I believe the principal and school chaplain would have no problem with my sharing my testimony, especially as El Salvador from a population perspective (similar to the US 20 years ago) predominantly self-identifies as Christian (40% Catholic, 35% Evangelical, 20% non-religious). As a pastor’s kid (& pastor’s grandkid) who grew up in church, it would highlight the need for individual decisionmaking for Christ. I have another talk this Thursday at the school, so I’ll try to incorporate it there. Friday I saw patients at the clinic as usual and delivered the donated medical equipment, and Saturday the Home brought me to see historical town Suchitoto near the large man-made Lake Suchitlán created in 1973 for the generation of hydroelectric power – beautiful sights! Today, we went again to the 8AM service of the relatively large church where I felt I could understand more than last week (my listening skills are the most in need of improvement in Spanish), as they were celebrating Missionary Sunday, and a Salvadoran missionary to Romania preached from 1 Timothy 6. In between these activities, of course, was time spent with the kids, several of whom have felt comfortable enough to ask me to play with them (“Mika” is tag in El Salvador, holding the connotation “You’re it!”). Would you kindly pray for the following? 1. Continued health and safety 2. Effective medical care (that I’d diagnose problems correctly and offer the right therapy with the resources available) 3. Readiness of mind to learn 4. Readiness of heart to serve MUCHAS MUCHAS MUCHAS MUCHAS GRACIAS! El Dr. Wu ANSWER KEY: You would find… ? on the -/_ key with the shift, of course! ) on the 9/( key with the shift. Just close the parenthesis with the key that claims to open it! ¡ on the =/+ key without the shift; a tricky one! Rather than being a lower case “I”, this is the upside down exclamation point unique to Spanish which is used at the beginning of exclamatory sentences...a very useful signal for those reading aloud! / on the 7/& key with the shift. Totally intuitive! $ on the 4/$ key with the shift, exactly where we’d expect it! Had to throw in a curve ball in there! (tee-hee) Anyone get them all right?

From Wu to You, 2

Fellow Not-So-Small-Small-Group Members: Many, many thanks for all your prayers, encouraging words, and support! Monday I went to the clinic just down the street from the Children´s Home and met the staff there and got oriented to the building and the process of seeing patients. I learned that I´m solely playing the pediatrician here (I´m both an internist and a pediatrician) since there are enough practitioners who see adults already, which is totally fine with me since back home I don´t get to use my pediatric skills as much as I´d like). Well child checks are performed here more often than in the US because of the prevalence of malnutrition, and of course there are different infectious concerns as I had to look up treatment for Dengue fever and worm infestation. Labwork and imaging are available with nearby auxiliary services, but hardly used due to expense, so one has to rely more on clinical skill (& prayer!) After work I went back to the apartment to take a nap, enjoyed dinner with the kids, then started to feel tired with a headache and a tickle in my throat that turned into a fever overnight. I was grateful that Tuesday was a holiday (El Salvador’s Independence Day) so I didn´t miss any clinic time as I stayed in my apartment the entire day trying to rest and burn off the fever. After one last pang of fever and sweats around 2am, this morning I felt much, much better, so I ventured out with my mask and hand sanitizer. Today´s patient load was a bit lighter for some reason, so I take that as a grace from our Heavenly Father. To give you background on where I´m staying/working, Harvesting in Spanish (HIS) was founded in 1977 by American missionaries as a Christian literature ministry. HIS established the Shalom Children´s Home in 1984 for orphans of the brutal civil war (1980-1992), as well as for children with special medical/developmental needs, or those with complicated family situations (either affected by severe gang violence or the subsequent mass-lockup of gang members). The Amilat Christian School started in 1994 to educate the children at Shalom, but soon they opened their doors to the community where many parents wanted to give their children a Christian education. The Shalom Family Medical Center opened in 2015 to provide new opportunities for service and ministry in Jesus’ name in the community. What is so beautiful is that each of the workers I’ve gotten to know are very Gospel-minded folks who were captivated by God´s work here. For the remainder of my 2 weeks here, would you kindly pray for… 1. Brain plasticity (I´m learning to type my medical notes in Spanish… on keyboards that have totally different placement of punctuation keys!) 2. Complete recovery from this illness (I feel 95% better) 3. Effectiveness in ministry, both in the clinic as well as simply caring for the kids. Also, I´m giving a talk based on a Powerpoint put together by the local pediatrician for the dormitory "parents" as well as the schoolkids' parents about health that will include maintaining relationship with our Heavenly Father. 4. Softness of heart, that all of this would be done out of thankfulness to the One who rescued us. Many, many, many thanks again! Sidney PS: Kevin & Tricia: how are the grandbabies?

Wu's News: Unexpected Realizations

Hi Fellow Not-So-Small-Small-Group Members: It's been less than 24hours since arrival in El Salvador at the Shalom Children's Home where I'm staying on the same campus shared with a Christian school and medical clinic, & I've already learned two very profound spiritual truths: 1. it really hurts to have a soccer ball kicked into my shins! 2. I really like standing in the shade when it's hot! I landed in San Salvador last night almost 9pm and was grateful to get through the customs without any significant hitch given my luggage half full of medical supplies kindly donated by my workplace (World Medical Mission clearly has been doing this awhile and sent me a notarized letter explaining my need to carry medical supplies without my even asking for one). The director picked me up and drove me 25 minutes to the home where the guard handed me the keys to a very comfortable little furnished apartment. This morning started at 6:30AM for breakfast, & I met a recently retired rheumatologist on 6week assignment (his second time here, with previous experience in Kenya). Today being Sunday we joined the children and home staff in some packed vans to worship at an Evangelical church in the capital for the 8AM service (believe it or not it was the SECOND service; the first started at 6!). The pastor spoke from Romans and we sang some new & familiar tunes in Spanish of course... lots of tongue- & mind-stretching to do! We came back to campus to rest & have lunch, & I was able to meet with some boys Ernesto (13y/o wants to join the army, has been at the home "since I was little"), Ever, Victor, Fernando, & Roman. We had a lot of fun getting to know each other, these last 4 & I, especially as I was playfully trying to get them to finish their fruit for lunch (local small bananas -- yummy!) & trying to remember their names ("Victor el Comeplatano" = Victor the banana-eater). Their laughs and smiles were infectious! After lunch I walked around checking out the campus when the four boys (ranging in age from 5-8) ran out of their dormitories holding toys they wanted to show me (Transformers, Batman, & Spiderman) and puzzles they wanted to play with me, which we did right there on the sidewalk until one of them suggested going to the tables where we continued to play. Victor brought out a soccer ball and we started to play a 1-on-1/1-on-2/2-on-2 (depending on who wanted to join Victor & me at the moment) soccer game for the next hour or so on the concrete basketball/soccer court. That's when I rediscovered that it hurt to get the ball kicked into my shins! Don't worry -- I'll be fine, but it was a surprise I'll happily endure getting exercise and blessing these boys. The other discovery is that it's hot & sweaty in a tropical country during rainy season. Of course I knew that in my mind coming here, but the body took a bit to get used to it especially since I don't work out as often as I should. Whenever I got a teammate I found myself hanging back as goalie (in the shade). Hopefully that'll make me last longer out here physically while I do hope to venture out spiritually and physically to serve. Super grateful to be here and have your prayer support. Tomorrow I start the clinic work, which should be a Monday to Friday assignment with the spare time reading and spending time with the kids. Please do pray for health & safety for me as well as JJ & Evangelina, as well as a soft heart willing to be used however the Lord leads, & a flexible mind/tongue (I've learned new Salvadorean ways of saying things; for instance they call Sunday school/club "culto" which obviously connotes something very different in my mind!). My prayer is that the patients and the children here would sense more of their preciousness to God & His lovingkindness toward them by His work through me. Bendiciones (Blessings), Sidney (I go by Esteban/Stephen here since my middle name is easier to say/remember in Spanish) PS: praying for your family Mark PPS: I'm prohibited from sending photos of the children over the internet (some come from families with legal complications), but I can show you in person when I get back. Here’s a photo of that basketball/soccer court with cool goals formed as part of the basketball hoop posts

Blessed

As I was leaving his dorm after dropping him off, my son hugged me and told me, “Thanks for giving me a ride Dad. I love you.” I knew he meant it. As I drove home, I talked to my dad on the phone, and heard him say, “I love you too.” I knew he meant it. I am truly blessed.

Say what??!!

 The mind is a deep, deep labyrinth.  I was talking to Dad earlier today and he asked me in very clear words (but without clear context as I believe he was confused about where he was, possibly Taiwan?) about someone's "index of acculturation."  I looked it up and apparently there's a sociologic scale developed in Vancouver that measures immigrants alignment with American culture and values.  I don't ever remember hearing Dad mention those words in my life!