Joel & Angela Ketcham Serving in Brazil, South America The Saga Continues…
So I’ve been waiting FOREVER to be able to write a post about something (Sorry for being gone so long!). But I realize now that it could be some time….so I decided I would share it with you anyway. This is our saga….
Joel’s parents have worked at PQQ for over 30 years. During those years they did the ministry that we are currently doing (supply buying). With all those years under their belts, they decided it would be SUPER helpful/beneficial to have a truck to use. (Currently we have to use the ‘mission vehicle’. Which means we have to get permission, return it, can only use it for so much time, etc….it’s what we have, so we do it, but it can be challenging at times.) So what does this have to do with us? Well, after a number of years raising the funds (it’s SUPER EXPENSIVE here!), they finally got ALL the money. But they are in the States right now. Being the wonderful parents that they are, they decided to let us go ahead and purchase the truck now so that we could go ahead and use it.
Okay. First step, get the money to Brazil. I won’t tell you all the details, but let me tell you…this was NOT as easy as it sounds. But it was done. Second, have the money given to the dealership so we can get the truck. NOT done. Currently some of the money is sitting in a bank. For some reason, which we can’t quite grasp, the bank can not give it to the dealership. So what to do? Send it all back to America of course! Okay, doesn’t sound too hard, right? Wrong. In order to get the money sent back, the dealership has to ‘release’ it by signing some special forms. Have they done that? Nope. And it’s already been a couple of weeks. And of course once the money gets back to America, we will once again have to get it back here…not sure how that will happen.
So that’s the saga. Got money, want to buy truck, can’t. Life sure does stay interesting on the mission field. 
The Truck
Off we go!
Our last weeks of break we spent with our co-workers from all over west Brazil. Many came from tribes, remote towns, and small villages. It was a privilege to get to hear about what God is doing in their ministries. And a privilege to hear them acknowledge how we are helping them accomplish that by us being here.
This week our students arrived. So off we go with another semester! We are excited to see what the Lord has for us this time. Joel is continuing to teach Bible classes and help with the maintenance around the campus. I’m still working on office type things and the veggie orders. And we are both still in charge of the buying.
Please Pray:
We have 9 new students…that they will adjust well & not have too much homesickness.
That we (Joel & I) will have time, wisdom & ability in helping with the annual banquet (this a VERY BIG DEAL! and we only have ONE junior…the juniors are always in charge of banquet) this semester.
For our family (as individuals as well) to grow closer to each other & to the Lord.
Thank you for your support! ~Angela for our family
Tags: New Tribes Mission, NTM
Rest & Refreshment
So it’s Christmas break. This of course means that the students who do not have parents here, have gone home to be with their families. Although we miss them, we also realize that this time is a good time to rest & get refreshed…as staff and as families.
Something our children have been wanting to do is go camping. Actually the boys have gone a couple of times, but there has not been any girl camping trips, nor have we all gone as a family. So that is what we did…we went on a camping trip.
We hiked for 45 min’s to get to our camping site. Thankfully we had a trail to follow in the jungle. This is us leaving PQQ.
Heading out to the jungle!
The kids & I slept in the tent & Joel slept in the hammock (under that blue tarp hanging up).
Our campsite.
Josiah loves to help with the fire. Thankfully the fire got going before the rain arrived.
Getting the fire started.
Yum! Hot Cocoa to keep us warm during the rain.
Hot Cocoa!
And here was our highlight…catching a Stingray. That’s right. Joel & the kids caught this right where the kids had been swimming all day. Once again we are reminded that we are being watched over even we don’t realize it.
Stingray