Bolivia flag

In honor of Ryan & Pam moving to Bolivia try the recipe for Bolivian Peanut Soup! Crisp fried potatoes sprinkled on top make it the best!

You might have just found your new favorite soup…

Bolivian Sopa de Mani (Peanut Soup)

Soak 2 cups of raw peanuts in water for at least 20 minutes. Drain the water. Put the peanuts in a blender and add fresh water to about 1 inch above the peanuts. Puree for 4 – 5 minutes, adding water as necessary to make about 6 cups of a medium peanut paste.

Heat 2 TBSP peanut oil in a large soup pan over low heat. Brown 8 chicken pieces (with or without skin, small breasts, thighs, legs – whatever you prefer) in oil for about 5 minutes. Set chicken aside.

Add 1 TBSP peanut oil to same pan and stir in:

1 onion, chopped

2 large carrots, cut into small pieces

2 stalks of celery

1 large tomato, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

½ green pepper, chopped

Sauté for a couple of minutes. Then add:

2 TBSP beef bouillon granules

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp seasoned salt

½ tsp pepper

pinch red pepper flakes

1 tsp paprika

blended peanuts

about 8 cups boiling water

Boil for 30 minutes.  Then add browned chicken and 1 cup peas or green beans. Cover and boil for another 20 minutes until chicken is done.

Meanwhile, fry cut julienned potatoes in hot oil until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Ladle soup into bowls and top with crisp fried potatoes and a sprinkling of minced parsley. Serves 8.

It’s a bit of work, but well worth it! Let us know what you think!

our precious granddaughter, Claire

Trust you enjoyed the holidays as much as we did! Time with family and friends is so special! We are absolutely loving being grandparents! 

We sent Reed and David (ages 3 and 2) one of those recordable books of the Christmas story. The other day they were listening to us “read” the story and Pam asked them who was talking. It was a page that Papa Jerry was reading and David reverently whispered, “God!”

Molly, age 4 has been asking when she can begin piano lessons with Grandma Joyce. Joyce told her that she would first need to know her letters. So later that day Molly took her Sunday school paper and wrote all the letters of the alphabet and gave it to David & Mari to show Grandma. Needless to say, Molly has now had two lessons and is doing great!

Grandma Joyce and little Amelia

She’s here! Amelia Grace McDaniels was born on August 16. She is absolutely beautiful and already adored by big sisters Molly and Claire! We praise God for this miracle with David & Mari. Papa Jerry & Grandma Joyce can’t get enough time holding their newest little love!

Our family actually increased by 2 this week! The adoption of Ryan & Pam’s little David (age 2 yrs) was also completed. David Bravery Parsons makes them a family of six!

For updated pictures on the family, go the the photo page and click on the album titled Family.

he's not old...he's vintage!

Jerry is now a certifiable antique person. Yep, he has turned 50! The kids helped me pull off a surprise birthday party with about 60 friends and family members. Check out pictures of how bad we were to him on our photo page under the family album.

Everyone asks, “When’s your next trip?” We are glad to report that we actually have several months without travels! We’ve taken on some huge projects and are thankful for some time at our desks to organize, write, and make materials available to the missionaries and consultants working in literacy. Trips are lining up for Panama and Africa later this year. We appreciate your prayers for wisdom and clarity as we work.

Reed and his "little lamb"

We enjoyed several days all together as a family! The grandkids, especially Reed & Molly were inseparable. Reed calls Molly his “wickle waam” (translated “little lamb”). 

But like always, the time went by too quickly and now we’re all back to our places. The noise is back down to a normal level, but we sure miss everyone!

Yep, it’s us, just a few decades back. Last weekend we celebrated another anniversary and honestly, it just keeps getting better! Who knew all the adventures and fun that God would have for us?

What one piece of advice would we give to younger couples?

Pray together every day…

If there is one thing you can do to improve your marriage, it would be to pray together. At first, it may seem awkward to pray out loud together. This is pretty normal. But be persistent until praying together every day becomes your habit.

Independent studies have reinforced this truth about good marriages. So why don’t more of us take full advantage of this tool God has given us to build intimacy and dependence on Him?

We triple-dog-dare you to join us in praying as a couple!

Let us know if you take the dare and how God blesses and encourages you. As you keep God the focus of your lives individually and then together, you will have the love and patience you need to not only to have a marriage that lasts, but one that keeps getting better!

Do you take the dare?

David (on left) and Reed

Pam & Ryan are blessed with several foster children in their home, one of whom is an adorable ten month old son named David. He was born with several problems with his heart and the doctors were hoping to wait until after his first birthday to do the inevitable surgery. But Baby David’s heart is showing signs that he needs the surgery now.

So we returned back to FL from our travels on Thursday and on Friday sent Grandma up to WV to care and love on the children while Pam and Ryan will be 2 ½ hours away at the hospital with David. Please pray for Baby David’s surgery early on Wednesday morning and for a good recovery.