Interesting Conversations at the Dinner Table

We recently started a new tradition at our dinner table.

First off, I should say that our dinner table is a little different than most people’s – no surprise there. We speak Spanish, English and Spanglish, changing back and forth from one to another as fast as a flying hot potato. And beyond our core family (the four of us), we usually have sitting with us one or two of the young adults (Gaby and Ana) who live with us and one or both of my in-laws.

All this makes for some interesting dynamics. With that many adults at the table I was noticing that the kids were getting lost in the shuffle so I looked for a way to draw them back in and let their little voices (with big thoughts and real feelings) be heard. Some friends had sent us down some conversation starters called Family Table Topics, and we decided to dig in and see how they went.

We began asking one or two thought-provoking questions each night…and magic happened. Suddenly each person’s voice was heard. I got to hear things from my girls’ hearts that I didn’t even know was in there. We all began to get to know each other more, hear each other’s stories and be encouraged to think about topics that were funny, fascinating and challenging.

We’ve been doing it for about a month now, and each night Macy runs over to the cube that holds the cards and excitedly brings it to the table. I watch Gaby and Ana’s eyes light up and I feel a bubble of excitement myself.

Because it feels good to be heard. It feels good when someone listens to your story. Your thoughts. Your feelings. Your passions. I grew up with parents who listened and who always let us know they cared about what we cared about. And I want my kids to grow up with that same knowing – that what matters to them matters to us.

My challenge to you? Listen to someone today. Ask questions that matter. You’ll be surprised at what you discover. And the person you listen to will come alive at the attention.

Does your family have a dinner tradition?

The Inside of an Orphange: A Video Tour

We all have our images in our minds of what an orphanage looks like.

Maybe our concept of an orphanage comes from a movie we saw or a friend’s story or a children’s book. Or maybe some of you have more personal experience – you’ve actually visited or have adopted a child from an orphanage overseas.

Well, we’d love to give you a look inside an orphanage that is extremely close to our hearts, Casa Hogar Padre Martinho. This children’s home is different from many others in that it cares for children with multiple special needs – children with needs so severe that the government-run orphanages have turned them down.

We invite you into this home filled with children we have come to love so dearly. Learn a bit more about their stories and lives and see how people both in Peru and in the U.S. are making a difference in their lives.

Stephanie

 

Christmas Contrasts

I wanted to share with you some of my Peruvesotan observations on Christmas way, way down south. The contrasts at times are confusing, at times are frustrating, and at other times, are down-right hilarious. Here are a few of them:

• Listening to soft Christmas music playing in the house while the ice cream man blows his ear-splitting horn outside
• Hanging ornaments and paper snowflakes on the Christmas tree with the view out the window of flowering trees across the street
• Singing Winter Wonderland at the top of our lungs while dancing around the house in shorts
• Drinking hot chocolate while fanning our sweaty selves
• Pulling out from storage both our summer clothes and Christmas wrapping paper
• Reading stories about children making snowmen in the morning and taking my own children swimming in the afternoon
• Slathering sunscreen on Macy as she tries on her costume for her Christmas play, which includes a scarf and mittens
• Skyping with Mom & Dad as they sit in their sweatshirts while we sit in our tanks and shorts
• Blowing my nose that’s runny from spring allergies instead of from playing outside in the snow too long
• Seeing flip flops and sand buckets on sale at the store next to plush snowmen and Santas
• Smelling Christmas cookies baking in the oven inside and chicken on the grill outside
• Hearing my favorite song of all time, White Christmas, sung in Spanish…with white nowhere in sight
• Relishing our amazing new friends and family while aching for those we miss so deeply
• Watching fireworks explode at midnight on Christmas Eve and hoping that Santa already made his rounds through Peru, because otherwise, his sleigh is SO getting shot down out of the sky

But above all, knowing that wherever we celebrate our Christmas and whomever we celebrate it with, nothing will never change the reason for our gathering together. Jesus is present no matter where we are, and that thought is more comforting than any other.

Consider his life of contrasts:

King born in a barn

God becomes man

Spotless lamb crucified next to murderers

Perfection loaded down with the sins of the world

And the list goes on…

No matter what contrasts you might be feeling this Christmas (despair instead of hope, sadness instead of joy, lack instead of plenty), remember that you have a Savior who understands and who has been there.

From the contrasts spring new hope, spring fresh stories of God’s redemption, and spring a new beginning if we’ll invite Jesus into them.

Wishing you a Christmas filled with the joy that comes from knowing the One who came to earth to be born…for you.

Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad!

Love,

the Gs

Spanish With Sally May and Ethel 3

So, I know I’ve been a lame blogger lately. I like to wait for bolts of inspiration to hit me instead of just posting boringness for the sake of consistency. (Ok, I may have ignored a few of those bolts that I probably should have jumped on – sorry.)

But Macy and I did feel inspired to make another Spanish Words of the Day video. So, we share with you some more of our weirdness…we hope you enjoy.

This Shouldn’t Be Embarrassing…but it is

So, I’m the kid who when at school, they passed out Happenings Books and told us we had to sell them as a fundraiser, began to breathe rapidly and feel lightheaded, panicking at the thought of knocking on my neighbors’ door and hearing them say, “No thank you, honey.”

And if you think I’m kidding, I’m not. Ask my mom. Or my youngest brother, whom I would bribe with treats to get him to sell them for me. Same with selling candy bars, earning pledges for marathons, you name it. Just the thought begins to make my heart race at the memories.

You know how lots of non-profits have a job position of “Fundraiser” or “Fund Development” or something like that? That job would be my worst nightmare.

Oh, the irony. Because I’m a missionary. God has a great sense of humor for sure.

So my heart is racing as I type this post. And my palms are sweaty.

A number of people have asked us what we need and my normal response is an embarrassed, mumbly, “Umm…I don’t know.” But that’s not true. I do know what we need, I just don’t like saying it. Danny grew up a missionary kid, so he’s great at this; I’m the worst.

This is the part of being a missionary that I find most uncomfortable – even more than having to throw toilet paper in the trash. But it’s also a way that you can help us do what we do in Peru, so for that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Here goes.

There are a few physical ways you can help us out (because of course, you know we need prayer and lots of it):

1. Consider supporting us financially.

Every bit helps, and we appreciate it more than we can say. We live lean, earning half of what we need through my job and contracts, but we rely on contributions for the other half. We live on the third floor of my in-laws’ house (Good times They’re awesome people, though.) and make every dollar that comes in count. You allow us to pastor an amazing new church plant in Lima, so all of our congregation says a big Thank You.

You can give here: www.gsoverseas.org

2. Our Amazon Wish List

I decided to buck up and make our Amazon Wish List public. This list is a personal one with little things to big things, from things we need to things we would enjoy, from practical to random. (If you don’t like Anne of Green Gables or Bing Crosby, no judging. They rock my face off.)

So, deep breath, here it is: http://amzn.com/w/AKCVYMX68EZ4

3. Check out our Peruvian stash of goodies we’re bringing up.

At each of Danny’s speaking engagements and at our open houses, we’ll have a table full of awesome, handmade Peruvian things you can buy, if you’d like. They’ll be ridonkulously cheap, and the funds will help us raise support.

Ok, I did it. Thanks for reading and for loving us all so much. We love you all tons back. (I’m going to go drink some tea now and take some deep breaths.)

Big Peruvian hugs,

Stephanie

We’re Coming to Minnesota! (updated)

I’m excited to let you know that the Gutierrez family will soon be up in Minnesota for a visit! We’re crazy excited to get to spend time with friends and family and share about the awesome things God is doing down in Peru.

We know that our visit will fly by, and we’ll be spending quite a bit of time during the week with our family, so we’ve planned two open house events where you can stop by and say hello and we can give you big Peruvian hugs. Danny will also be ministering at several churches while we’re up, so we’d love to see you at one of the services!

Here are the events we have planned, and we hope to see you at one or several of them. Please keep our travels in your prayers. See you very, very soon!

Sunday, July 22:  The Fifth Service | Brooklyn Park. 6:30 pm Service.

Sunday, July 29: Bloom Church | St. Paul. 10:30 am Service.

Wednesday, August 1: Living Word Christian Center | Brooklyn Park. 7 pm Service AND Open House (in Fellowship Hall) before and after the service, beginning at 5 pm

Sunday, August 5: Authentic Life Church | Hopkins. 10 am service.

Wednesday, August 8: Open House @ Substance Church Operation Center | Roseville. 6 – 9pm (more details will be posted on our Facebook page)

And because a number of people have asked us what we need and my normal response is an embarrassed, mumbly, “Umm…I don’t know,” I decided to buck up and make our Amazon Wish List public. This is the part of being a missionary that I find most uncomfortable – even more than having to throw toilet paper in the trash. But it’s also a way that you can help us do what we do in Peru, so for that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

This list is a personal one with little things to big things, from things we need to things we would enjoy, from practical to random. (If you don’t like Donna Reed or Bing Crosby, no judging. They rock my face off.)

So, deep breath, here it is: http://amzn.com/w/AKCVYMX68EZ4

And thanks

The Gs Overseas

My Heart is Still Reeling…

This weekend, Danny and I and a team from our church, Vida en Surco, had the privilege of serving at an orphanage in our city for children with severe special needs. Because we have a child of our own with special needs, this was especially close to our hearts.

We spent time cleaning and playing with, feeding, doing physical therapy for, and just loving on these beautiful children, most of whom cannot walk, talk, feed themselves, or think clearly. We all vacillated between tears and smiles, heartbreak and deep joy. It hands-down one of my favorite days of the last year and a half in Peru, and we plan on visiting them at least once a month from here on out.

Danny put together a short video of our time spent with the kids. I hope you love it as much as I do.

You can also find these photos with more description of what we actually experienced on my Facebook page:  and on our family’s Facebook page . (If you want to request me as a Facebook friend, but we haven’t met, jot me a little message on there so I know who you are )

Love you all,

Stephanie

Matthew 25:37-40 MSG ”Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’”