Please note that our most urgent need is FERVENT PRAYER.
Please pray that we would have all the materials on site exactly when they are needed, with no delays. (Accomplishing this will be a miracle and indication of absolute divine intervention and WONDERFUL BLESSING. This is Puerto Rico after all.)
Please pray that the gaps in the schedule will be filled. Get the word out to your people to pray, and if the Lord moves someone to come help, have them contact us.. We will provide pick up and delivery at the airport, housing and meals. It ain't the Ritz, but at least the weather is nice.
Mon, 11 Feb 2002
Concrete poured on foundation today !
Wed, 27 Feb 2002
Subject: Give Thanks !!!
Cement is being poured at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Puerto Rico as we speak !!!
It is 8:30 a.m. and two trucks have already come. They needed to wet down the floor area and thought they would have to "borrow" water from the neighbor ( the one who had been so angry in the beginning has offered us light and water ! )
But after a two week drought, it rained lightly night before last and until about noon yesterday.
God is good.
Bud and Ruth Bivens ,
David and Connie Roy and crew:
Joey & Peggy Howeth
Lynn & Rose Pickle
Jerald & Virginia Mcrary
Earol Hill
Tony Freeman
An important update from Bud & Ruth!
This is from a recent e-mail update. "...After 7 months of promises and optimism from our engineer, we finally got word by way of the US Post Office (a letter) from the planning commission that they were going to hear our case on September 20. This is the first tangible date we have had. They have given us several dates, but changed each one of them and this time notified us by mail so we THINK we have the meeting the 20th."
"The letter says they will make a decision on that date. This will be a decision on whether or not we can build a church at that location, since it is in a residential area. The engineer says, "don't worry" but she has been saying that since day one. Pray that this will be a positive meeting and they will give us the ok. We can then pay the taxes (about 5% of the cost of the building) and they will give us (hopefully) a building permit so we can start construction. Once we finish the building we have to seek a permit to use the building."
"If we get the permission on Sept 20, we will start work on the land and the foundation immediately. Our workers will need to make plans to come down sometime after that. We will let you know three weeks in advance so you can keep the price of the ticket down.
Keep the faith!! We need you and your skills.
I will keep you updated.
Bud Bivens
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico "
From Bud about mid December
We have RECEIVED the LETTER OF APPROVAL (Insert Applause)!!
Bud can now pay the Worker's Comp insurance and taxes (about 5% of the cost on the building) . Then construction can begin.
One phrase in the letter states that the building "Must conform to all environmental laws." This sounds perfectly logical and probably refers to waste disposal but don't hold your breath (pun intended); keep praying!
Ruth writes at the first of the year ...
"Subject: Permit !!!
"Yes, we got it. Pop went in to the office on the 26th just to check and they had it there waiting to hand to him. It is a PACKET. I told him it probably took so long because it was hand lettered. Now when we get back in Feb. we will be able to start building. "
We have our walls almost up. We have 91 yards of concrete in our floor and footings. We have over 500 twenty foot pieces of re-bar in the floor and walls. We have used 10 cement trucks. We are on schedule building-wise and money-wise.
So far we have had these workers:
Wesley, Danny & Danielle Robertson from Woodcrest FWB in Tulsa
(Plumbers)
Joey and Peggy Howeth from Purcell 1st FWB in OK
(Blocklayer & Cook)
Jearl & Virginia McCrary from Woodcrest FWB in Tulsa
(Cement Finishers)
Lynn & Rose PIckle & Erol Hill from Calvary FWB in Norman OK
(Blocklayers & Helpers)
David Castro & Isaac Algarin from our church here
(Go-fers and Getters)
Projected Schedule:
March - Finish up walls and crown around top.
April 13 - Rev Buddy Seay and group from Conway SC arrive to work on trusses; pews; windows; doors, etc.
April 15 -Mark, Brenda and Mark JR Cole from Christ Chapel FWB in
Blanchard OK to put on roof (& help cook).
May 10 - Don & Nat Allen from Grace FWB in Broken Arrow, OK; Vicki & Craig Birchall from Broken Arrow; Jerry & Dean Kaase from Rejoice! FWB in Owasso OK (Electricians & Helpers)
May - Ivan and Dale Long from Calvary FWB in Claremore OK
(Electrician & Sheetrocker)
May - June Greg Cleveland, Pastor of Monett 1st FWB, Monett MO to lay floor tile
June - Landscaping, painting, set commodes and kitchen, etc. The FWB Foreign Missions E-TEAM 2002 will get in on some of this.
We have a good team here:Rusty Shanks; Tony Freeman; David Roy & myself (Plus our cook, Ruth)
Thanks to these folks we have had everything ready for the teams that
have come so far. All we lack is YOU.
If God is speaking to you to come and help us, let us know!
We provide pick up and delivery at the San Juan International (Louis Munoz Marin) Airport about 45 minutes from the house. The airport code is SJU. We provide room and board. Have you been to youth camp? Well, this not the Weston Rio Mar Beach Resort, but it is a place to shower and sleep. Get your ticket and come on down.
Please keep us in your prayers that we will have the health and strength to keep up this pace. The weather has cooperated so far. We thank and praise the Lord for the progress we see. Our little old Deacon, Brother Tomas Valentin is just bouncing around watching this miracle come to pass that he has prayed for for so long.
WE DEPEND ON YOUR PRAYER.
God bless you in your field of labor.
Bud and Ruth and the Crew.
.
Here are the links to the updates month by month. Click the month/year that you want to read or scroll down and read them all ! Building really picks up in February and May/June has a nice surprise.
We want you to share in the wonderful blessing of seeing God's building going up. Brother Buddy Seay and his crew of men from Conway SC arrived Saturday evening. They blessed our hearts before they left the airport when they stopped traffic to have a prayer meeting thanking God for their safe arrival.
Sunday both of the visiting pastors-Brother Allen Goodman and Brother Buddy Seay- preached, then we went to the building site for a picnic and prayer. They ministered in the nursing home with Bud Sunday afternoon and we had a worship service here at the house that night. What was to be a "brief devotion" turned into at least two hours of testimony, song, prayer and praise. What a wonderful blessing. Monday the fellows started driving nails shortly after six and by the end of the day had built 15 trusses and put up the two end trusses--in the rain!!! Monday evening Brother Mark Cole, wife Brenda, and their grown son Mark Jr. arrived from Blanchard OK.
Tuesday they built 18 trusses and by quitting time had 18 up - once again, in the rain. Today, Wednesday, the sun came out and Bud called me about 10 to say that they were fixing to put up the final truss. He was going to go get Brother Valentin and have him sign his name on it before they lifted it into place!
Brenda and I have been able to get them fed-breakfast at 5, and they tote a lunch with them when they leave, then a big, hearty supper when they get in. We are having revival here, just among us workers. God is blessing, and we are rejoicing.
We invite you to share in the rejoicing and thanksgiving with us. God is Good, All the time!
Ruth
Sun, 20 April 2002
Greetings from Puerto Rico!
I trust that God has been real to you today and that you have been made aware of His sweet presence and richest blessings. Bud and I want to bring you up to date with the building. We praise God that things are going well!
Saturday Bud and David took the 19 men from Conway, South Carolina back to the airport. What a blessed time we had with them.
In just four days they-along with our other helpers from Oklahoma : built and installed fifty-one 34 foot wide trusses, framed out the walls for the kitchen and two bathrooms, and built the platform for the stage in the sanctuary.
All of this took place in three out of four days of rain! Each piece of lumber has a scripture text written on it, every nail was prayed over. Each of us wrote prayer requests and names of loved ones and the faithful on slips of paper which were tacked to the rafters.
Brother Tomas Valentin and his wife Aleja came to see the final truss lifted into place. The men had both of them sign a small piece of wood which was tacked up on a cross beam and it turns out to be right over where the pulpit will stand.
Sat, 27 Apr 2002
Greetings from the island.
We just want to share our joy with as many as possible.
We really need your prayer since the spiritual battles seem to increase with the visible success with the building. Yesterday and today I have had much more pain in my left foot, have just kept it up most of that time, right when I need to be getting ready for the next crew who will arrive Monday the 29th. Bud ran errands for me and bought the essential groceries today. He is not used to that and it wore him out!
Please pray for me to be up and at'tem when the time comes.
We have electricians here right now working on the church. They are making quick progress, started pulling wire yesterday. Bud is delighted.
I even have a fellow here laying tile in my kitchen right this minute! Ruth is delighted!
Sat, 4 May 2002
Subject: Progress at the house.
Just wanted to let you know that the fellow who came down from Tulsa to work on the house here has made some wonderful progress. Yesterday, first thing, we made a trip to Home Depot. Then, he took out the old kitchen faucet and replaced it with a lovely new one with a spray nozzle - there was a hole for that attachment in the sink but since there was never anything there, I had glued a stopper over the hole to try to keep water out of the cabinet below.
Also, since the counter top had rotted loose from the sink on the right side, I kept a folded towel there and set my dish pans on top of it to try to keep water from running down under the sink when I washed dishes, stacking the clean dishes on two drain racks in the double sink. He repaired the counter top, fastened the sink down securely, and caulked around it and around the kitchen drain which also had started leaking. Since I had battled the other two places so long, I never even noticed a new source of water under the sink.
Then, that project finished, we tore up the old linoleum-pulled out the fridge and stove and other cabinet-across from the sink,counter: scraped up the small strips of glue that held it down. He cleaned the tile with vinegar and water then started laying the beautiful marble looking tile I had selected. It is clay to brown tones, to match the clay tile in the rest of the living area. It is really beautiful. We (he) finished up just about supper time. I kept having to lie down and take another nap. I have about run out of any reserve energy I had with all of this getting up at 4 a.m. to fix breakfast. With him here, we have just gone on working and I have not tried to get back to bed after the other guys left to get more rest.
I sent Tony down to the corner restaurant to pick up some Puerto Rican takeout-roast chicken and rice with chick peas. I opened some Puerto Rican beans, and heated some frozen, fried ripe plantains. I served Puerto Rican cheese and guava paste for dessert.
We had Bible study here after supper, and Isaac and Lilian stayed until MIDNIGHT!! Then, I had to get up again this morning at 4. I have not been sleeping well, so these past two days I have just made the required trip to Home Depot and then just come home and collapsed. Today Jack finished up the tile - he had miscalculated yesterday and we had to go back and get 12 more this morning. I have had him drive Robert's pickup which helped me out a lot too.
After finishing with the kitchen floor he and Tony started work out on the deck, repairing some places where the support beam under the floor had rotted out. They really did a nice job extending the usable level of the deck by about 24 inches. Then they went to work on some stairs that were loose or rotted out to make them safer.
So, I am delighted with the work done here at the house, and Jack will be leaving tomorrow - just came down Friday to do some Honey-do projects for me! Now, that is what I call a mission trip. The men were all cheering him on, declaring that with all the work crews that have come down to work, none had ever worked here at my house. So true, and not at all a priority with Bud, but certainly deeply appreciated by the house wife!
Don and the other guys have been pulling wire, and he thinks they can finish up Monday, so the two other men from Rejoice Free Will Baptist Church in Owasso will be going home Tues. I believe Don flies out Wed, then we have a young lady scheduled to come on Thursday for a week. I will put her to work helping me with paper work, etc. She is an old friend, and I am looking forward to having her here.
So, that is how things are going. Just wanted to let you know.
There are some complications with Bud's brother and his mom. The Lord will just have to work out things before we get back in July. I know HE is aware of all the twists and turns of these distractions and things will fall into place when it is time.
I had a nice visit with Maritza today. She used to always say, "Remember yesterday when ----" anything in the past was yesterday. Today she said, "Granny, remember, a long time ago, when you picked me up at school and we went to your house and made cookie cutters and it was so much fun?" I just almost felt a physical pain. She is growing up so fast and we are only getting glimpses of it. She knows we are coming in July and she is counting the days. Me too.
Tomorrow is another day, and even after Jack leaves in the afternoon, I will still have meals to plan and may have to pull a rabbit out of a hat for my Sunday School class because I did not make it to the print shop to copy pictures for my children to color. Take care, and keep us in your prayers.
Ruth
Thu, 9 May 2002
Please continue to pray for us as the construction moves along.
Don Allen, our favorite electrician from Bixby, OK went home yesterday; after a week of working with a crew he rounded up at Rejoice church. They bent and placed over 200 feet of metal conduit; strung over 5,000 feet of wire; and placed devices for 26 lights, 10 receptacles and several switches. They did not fool around!
And, Bud has happily spent an offering sent by Rejoice Free Will Baptist church and the Adult III class there in Owasso, OK. Jerry Kaase, Ken Hall and Jack Montooth came from that church to help Don (and me) and brought a check for $1390. Bud bought the security windows for $960, then went to a used building supply house and bought six beautiful solid wooden doors for $140. Back to Home Depot he bought the hinges, screws, door stops, thresholds, etc to install all six doors for $287.77. He is so pleased. Those purchases totaled $1387.77. Bud said he has $2.23 left to go toward the doorknobs.
God is Good, All the time! And, He has such good people lined up helping us! Pray for our sheet-rocker Brother Dale Long. Our tile crew is set to come July 2.
Ruth
Wed, 29 May, 2002
The surveyor came out to measure for the correct placement of our back fence and we have 60 feet more than we thought. So, things continue going forward slowly with some encouragement along the way. We are looking for cheap tickets to convention, and not much luck yet. Keep us in your prayers.
...and...
(taken from Ruth's column "From My Pointless View" seen
weekly in the Mayes County Banner)
May 28, 2002
...Holidays usually present a challenge. First there is the question of "What are we going to do?" Is the crew going to work or take the day off? The fellows took a vote and decided it would be anti-American to work on Memorial day. They all agreed that there is enough anti-American sentiment here without their participating in it. So, that presented another question. Since the crew is not going to work, is Hubby going to go to work anyway? He has been known to at times-most times in fact. This time, in light of the anti-American crack, he would stay at home.
So, what am I going to do with Hubby at home all day? I should not have given it a second thought. He was not underfoot all day-needing me to hand him a nail or hold the ladder. By the time he tended to all of his projects, he had spent most all day outside. He came in just before dark with a stalk of bananas, two chickens-live ones, three bread fruit, and a refrigerator that one our friends gave him for the church kitchen. He had prowled down on our "vacant" lot -which is far from vacant since it is so full of vegetation that one needs a machete to take a walk there.
He found a giant Mango tree and hauled me out with a camera to take our picture-mine with the tree - just before the sun went down. As the day closed, and we sat quietly enjoying the evening together, I realized that these are among some of those special memories to hold and keep.
...It seems to me that Memorial Day has grown to be more than just a time of remembering the fallen soldiers who have given their all for our country. It is a day of remembering our heroes, both in and out of uniform, who lived their lives for us all.
That is why it is so important to me to make memories along the way. We try to let our heroes know how we feel about them as we go along.
...I hope that as recovery from one more Oklahoma tragedy begins, we will all pay more attention to making lasting memories. Let your heroes know who they are now, and how much you appreciate what they have meant in your life. When their names are written in stone, only those left behind can read the kind words.
Did you know Ruth has a weekly column called "From My Pointless View" - above is a couple paragraphs from her Memorial Day piece. Hope you like it as much as I do -
the Mont'ster (blame me for the web typos)
Thu, 6 Jun 2002
I finally persuaded Bud to take a day off. I told him the kitchen was closed because of illness, I am sick of cooking!
We had a sweet time away - just not far enough away - if you know what I mean. But, this is June already. Now I can say that we will be going back to Texas next month. That grand-daughter just can't wait, neither can Granny.
Keep us in your prayers as we shift to high gear again Monday-I will be going shopping with Connie for the work crew that arrives Tuesday. We sat down last night and went over the schedule for the next six weeks or so. It will be a busy time here, besides getting ready for our trip to the National Convention and points west of there.
Ruth
Fri, 14 Jun 2002
The Sheet-rock crew arrived from Claremore OK and Greenville TN on Tuesday. Wednesday morning the Okies left here at 5 for breakfast down at David and Connie's house. She is cooking ;-) Bless her!!! I am only responsible for desserts.
I even had time to take my car to the shop to have the air conditioner repaired. It has only been ll months and 20 days since it broke down. Sure feels good.
The men were a bit discouraged when they came in Wednesday evening because they discovered that the sheet-rock is 1/2 to 3/4 inch off square! I accused them of stretching it. By last night they were more encouraged. They had the ceiling up, Brother Dale had most of it taped and mudded once, one bathroom was finished, and they were working on the class room walls.
Tony and Rusty are working on the wall around the property-Tony has really gotten hot working in the ditch in the humidity, and no breeze.
Bud hurt his back yesterday trying to get a bag of ice out of a case-seems they were all frozen together. So, things are going forward. Don't stop praying!
Ruth
Wed, 19 Jun 2002
We have finished the sheetrock! Thanks to Boyd, Daniel, Clark and Ron from the Greenville, Tennesse Childrens Home we have all the sheetrock in place. Thanks to Dale Long, Claremore, Oklahoma it is all taped and ready to paint.
Ivan Long, also from Claremore, finished the electrical and once we have painted the ceiling, we will attach the light fixtures.
Next week the E-team from Foreign Missions arrives and we will work on the landscaping and also probably do some painting.
July 2, Greg Cleveland and crew arrives to do the floor tile.
The major items left are: Air conditioning and parking lot. I also need to buy 25 more light fixtures.
Now comes the frustrating part: Once we get the certification on the water, electricity and the building itself, we can apply for the use permit. However, we have been waiting weeks for the water company to come out and connect the water. We have the hole dug at the edge of the street and we don't know when they will show up. Same on the electricity. Same on the building. Same on the city once we get the certifications. Anyway, back to the waiting game.
God is good to us. We are still on schedule, even if the city is not. As soon as we get the tile in, we will set the commodes and sinks and finish the kitchen.
Pray for us as we wrap things up and get ready to return to the States for the National Convention in Memphis.
We need to take care of some family business while we are home. Ruth will check in with her doctor in Texas and and may need some surgery on her wrists.
We will return to the island in August to finish up the church. Our people are encouraged at the progress. Please do keep us in your prayer.
Bud and Ruth Bivens
Mon, 8 Jul 2002
Greetings from Puerto Rico.
We are enjoying God's blessings here, and trust that things just as exciting are happening in your work. This is just a note to bring you up to date on our progress with the church building.
Brother Greg Cleveland, pastor of the 1st Free Will Baptist Church in Monett, MO, Chris Haynes a young man from Monett, and Bro. Bob Thompson, Promotional man from Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore,Oklahoma arrived Friday night. They went to work Sat. a.m. putting down the ceramic floor tile throughout the whole church. They are making great progress and hope to wrap that job up by Wednesday.
We still need to finish the air conditioning, bathroom-install commodes and sinks; kitchen cabinets and appliances; and hang the lights inside.
We need to finish painting with a second coat. Outside, we lack the parking lot.
We are waiting for the certification from the water department. That may be another month or longer in coming. We have the certification from the electric company. Once we receive the water certification, we can take it and the electric certification and apply for the Use Permit.
The Foreign Missions Dept. E-Team 2002 was here for two weeks (15 young people and Stan and Brenda Bunch from Panama). They just headed back home this afternoon. They did a great job. They painted the church, the pews and helped Tony put up the block wall on the East side of the church next to the neighbor's land. They also visited around the church and had a youth meeting Saturday with puppets, drama etc. Only eleven showed up, but four prayed to be saved and one young lady came to church with us on Sunday. We hated to see them leave today.
David and Connie Roy leave tomorrow ,the 9th, and we leave next Monday, the 15th, for the national convention in Memphis. We will all be back in the states for about a month and that leaves the little group here in a bit of a bind.
Pray for Rusty Shanks as he comes and helps by filling in while we are all gone. Brother Tomas Valentin, & Sister Maribel Rivera will be helping as usual, and Tony Freeman will be helping with pickup and delivery.
We continue to pray for needed staff for the work here to complete Sunday School staff, music and youth workers.
Pray for Ruth as she begins a new treatment next week, with a lot of hope in her heart. She has been pretty frustrated lately that she has not been able to keep up with this gang of kids.
We want to ask you to please remember to pray for Sister Wanda Carlson. Her trial begins July 15. Bro. David Carlson asks that we pray for her, for her lawyer, for the judge, and for the jury selection and for their family.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at our Puerto Rican booth in the display area at the convention.
Pray for the Roys as they travel and speak in churches throughout Florida, North Carolina, and Tennesse, before and after convention. We love you and rely on your prayer.
Greetings from the Bivens--back in our Puerto Rico home today. We made it home last night. My little old laptop did not accomplish all I had hoped as far as keeping up with e-mail but, at least I did get a little work done there and stored on disk.
Bud is back at the church-and running from one government office to another trying to get the Permit of Use. so he can get the Open the Street Permit. Then the water can be hooked up, the permanent electricity connected, and we can hang up the sign and start inviting people. So, we are encouraged with even some more progress.
Keep us in your prayers.
Ruth
Fri, 16 Aug 2002
Update on the building
Good morning! I trust that you are enjoying this sunny/rainy summer day. After coming back from the south Texas drought it feels strange to be dodging showers all morning. It must have rained six times already this morning.
Bud is encouraged with the work that Rusty and Tony finished while we were away. The ceiling is painted, the light fixtures installed; the kitchen tile is down and they will finish up the last of the grout today; the retaining wall only lacks a little of the poured cap; the basket ball court has been graded and leveled - ready soon to set the forms and get it poured.
We had a letter from Aquaducto when we arrived outlining the steps that need to be taken for the final permits. They have kept the deposit because we did not finish the job within six months-however, we have been waiting on this letter for over two months!! Welcome to Puerto Rico. The plumber should have given Bud a certificate showing that he inspected the plumbing and it is installed correctly. He took the certificate to some office and they have lost it - refuse to even look for it. So, Bud felt a bit frustrated about that last night.
Before we left for convention we received a $500 check from the ladies at the Airport Free Will Baptist Church in Tulsa. Bud was pleased that it would pay for half the price of the light fixtures. When we came back, there was another certified letter at the post office from a dear couple in Elizabethton, TN. They were unable to come help with the work so sent us a check for - guess how much - $500, the balance needed to pay the bill for the 26 light fixtures! God is so good.
I am so thankful for this new treatment. I am continuing to improve daily. Yesterday and today I walked down to the curve on the road down the mountain from our house - and back up!!! Brother Buddy, tell those men in Conway that I am aiming for that mountain top!
Thank you for your continued interest and encouragement. Keep us in your prayers.
Ruth Bivens
Updates on building and Howard Gage
Wed, 21 Aug 2002
Greetings from Puerto Rico, I trust that all is well at your house today. We are rejoicing in the blessing that we see heaped up and running over in the work here and in the lives of our family.
Bud arrived last night, as usual, soaking wet from sweat, and dragging in the door from shoveling gravel much of the day. However, he came in the door smiling from ear to ear. The work is really moving along. The fellows finished the 2nd coat of paint in the kitchen yesterday, and before Bud started shoveling he bought the kitchen cabinets and sink, and the commodes and sinks for the bathrooms. The first two loads of gravel for the parking and driveway were delivered and they all shoveled gravel until the end of the day. The last two loads will be delivered today.
Brother Mike Rhodes from New Testament church in Neosho, MO will be coming down, at the end of September with his father to install the air-conditioning. So, things are coming together.
Yesterday Bud finally laid his hands on the Certificate of Plumbing Installation - showing that the plumbing is installed and ready to hook on to city water. With that certificate and the one for the electricity the engineer will start the process to get the Permit of Use. Once in hand, that will give permission to hook up the water and sewer, disconnect the provisional electricity and hook up the permanent electricity.
We are so thankful to see these things slowly come to pass. Don't stop praying-until everything is finished and we can hang our sign out we will not be content.
My dad had surgery for a fractured right hip on Friday. The surgery went well, but he has run some fever and just did not "bounce" back as they expected he would. Yesterday they gave him two pints of blood and this morning he is much better. So, today he will be moved to the Meadow Brook Rehabilitation Unit at 31st and Sheridan in Tulsa. Mother will still be able to stay in the room with him. I am so thankful for that, and of course, that makes it easier on both of them.
We appreciate your continued prayer on their behalf, and all of the cards, calls, and visits. It is such an encouragement to Mother.
I am feeling so much better too. I started a new treatment on July 12 and after only 5 weeks, I know that the Lord has granted my petition to be well again. I had prayed and cried out in such hopelessness, and He answered me. Please praise the Lord and thank Him for His mercy and generosity toward me. I am walking up and down this mountain 30 minutes every day. I had failed so much in the past six months. Not long ago I had some days when I could not walk up the 8 stairs to our front door. I frequently asked the Lord if this was really how He wanted me to spend my time, sitting on the bed, in pain, with no strength to help in the work in any way.
So you can see how encouraged I am about this wonderful turn around. I am excited about being able to have a hand in the ministry again. God is good, all the time!
Keep us all in your prayer as we seek God's direction for each day.
Today was one of those days that I would rather have been shoveling gravel or mixing cement! I left Tony and David at the church at 9:00 am and headed toward downtown Carolina to see if I could get the elusive "Use Permit".
I went to Indira's office and she told me where to go in the Municipal building and what to ask for. I went to office no. 2 and waited in line (take a number!) for about 10 minutes. Being a little impatient, I asked the secretary if she could just hand me the form I needed to fill out requesting the "Use Permit". She looked annoyed that I hadn't taken a number and sat down with the rest of the people to wait my usual two hours. She reached over next to her desk and pulled out the form and handed it to me.
I took the form back to Indira's office and she showed me a list she had made of places I needed to go. First of all, I had to go down the street to the Collecturia (tax collector) and pay $60.00. Then I could go to the Fire Department and request an inspection of the church. Naturally I had to have the church tax number so I retreated back to Indira's office. Fortunately she had the number.
I returned to the Collecturia and stood in line again for several minutes. I paid the $60.00 and got the receipt then I headed for the Fire Department central office. I finally located it in another part of the city. (There are no street signs, of course. ) I found the man who does the inspections and explained what we needed. He said he would be out to do the inspection in about a week. (You know what that means!!)
Then I headed for the department of Health. (That would be the 8th office, counting returns. ) This office is located in Rio Piedras (a City inside San Juan). I finally found it at 11:45. Once again, I waited in line. When I finally reached the desk, I told the girl what I needed. You guessed it, she sent me to another building. When I got there, it was closed for lunch.
Parking in the city is absolutely unavailable most of the time. I had driven around several narrow streets looking for a place to park when I got there. I finally found a parking place big enough for our dodge van and did not plan to move from that spot until I finished my business. So, I just went back to the van, got in, and read the newspaper for an hour.
At one o'clock I went back to the office, took a number and waited. When my turn finally came, I paid the $35.00 fee for the inspection. It did not surprise me one bit when I was told I needed to take the receipt to another Health office in Hato Rey. (That is another city inside San Juan.)
I searched until I located the street in Hato Rey and spent another 15 minutes looking for the building and a parking place. I went in, took my place in line and listened for 15 minutes as a little old lady lambasted the guy at the desk. It seems he wouldn't give her a permit to be buried in her back yard. Finally my turn came. The fellow at the desk looked at my receipt and said "Around the corner".
I finally got everything on my list taken care of, then I realized I was no closer to my "Use Permit" than I had been at the beginning of the day. Our inspector is coming Friday to take the Certificate of Electricity; Certificate of Plumbing, and his Certificate of the Building and see what else he needs to do to get the Use Permit. After he has the Use Permit in hand he will take it and start the process to get the "Permit to dig a hole in the street to connect the water". I am glad it will be his turn to wait in line. I just hope I don't get a fine for having the hole already dug there - for the last 3 months (Optimism).
Greetings from my mountain top. I hope everything is right in your world this afternoon. It is raining right this minute, but it will be gone as soon as this little cloud floats over.
My dad is in the Meadow Brooks Rehabilitation Center in Tulsa, and seems to be making some progress. Yesterday they were working with him seated between parallel bars, learning how to use his arms to support himself as he stands and sits down. Mother is still staying with him and the rest of the clan running back and forth with wonderful support. It is so good to have such a precious family and dear friends to come along side us when times are hard.
Keep us in your prayers as Bud and Ivan, the engineer, try to get together and get the Use Permit finished up for the church. They missed each other by about five minutes today - Ivan called here, thinking this was Bud's cell phone. Wrong, try again tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I am really getting anxious to head out for Ashville for our women's National Retreat, Sept. 19; will be going to Oklahoma afterward and lay my eyes on the folks at home.
Ruth
Fri, 23 Aug 2002
Greetings from the mountain top. It is a cloudy, rainy day here, which is unusual. It normally rains without the sky being socked in like it is today. And the sound of thunder is extremely rare. The sun usually pops out in a matter of seconds creating the perpetual sauna we all know as the tropical climate.
Bud is back at the church with David, Tony, and Rusty. They spent the day yesterday spreading gravel again. The parking lot is completely graveled - they were proud to announce last night that now you can walk into the front or back door of the church without getting into the red clay mud.
Ivan, our engineer, should be there as we speak, picking up the papers he needs in order to get the Permit for Use, which will then lead to the Permit to Open The Street. Once that is in hand they can officially dig the hole down to the city water and sewer lines and hook on.
Bud understood the plumber to tell him to dig the hole three months ago - later the man denied saying that. He probably was giving Bud the run down of the long drawn out process until we get to that point and Bud heard - and understood "dig the hole". So, for three months the hole has been covered, and should be easy to access when the time is right. Bud is glad that it Ivan's turn to take papers in hand and go from one office to another - he spent a whole day doing that on Wed. So, progress is still being made, and every step forward is good news.
My dad was moved to Meadow Brook rehabilitation center on Wednesday. It is just of Memorial in Tulsa - I had been given the wrong information before and have been gone too long to remember. Mother feels that he is doing well. He has to be up in the wheel chair early to go down to the dining room and eat, and then the therapist takes him away for "work". Mother stays out of the way, it is difficult for her to watch, because if Daddy frowns or winces with any pain she wants to rescue him. The hope is that he will be up walking with a walker soon. Please keep both of them in your prayers.
I continue to have wonderful days of feeling like a human being again. I am delighted at the energy and strength I have after a hefty 30-45 minute hike every morning.
I am making plans to go to the retreat in Ashville and really looking forward to getting to go. I have dearly missed retreats since being here on the island.
Please keep all of us in your prayers. It is hard being so far from Mother and Daddy even though I know there is nothing I could do to contribute to his recovery.
God bless you as you make the most of this wonderful day.
Ruth
Mon, 9 Sep 2002
Because of a glitch in our e-mail this is going out a few days late. I tried to send it on Saturday, Sept 7.
I want to say "Thank You" to everyone who has prayed for my health. God has blessed me in a miraculous way. I had a wonderful day Saturday, hiking with my best friend, just like we used to do when we were kids. I told Bud, I believe it was my best day in Puerto Rico.
Saturday's message:
Just wanted to let you know that Bud and I climbed the mountain today. It was terrific. The climb is 2.4 miles to the top, El Yunque peak is 3490 ft above sea level. We drove to the end of the public access road then start hiking. The predicted time to hike to the top is 2 hours. I did not know that then, and it would not have impacted our speed.
We walked the Forest Service road about half way then took the mountain trail the rest of the way. That was farther than the trail all the way from the parking area. We did not know then that the trail at the parking area went on to the top because the sign pointed out a look out tower about half way up and we wanted to go to the peak.
We hiked 15 or 20 minutes, sat down and rested and drank some water, then took off again. And, we made the hike - going the long way - in one hour and 50 minutes. According to the park service the degree of difficulty is "Challenging". We came down the mountain trail the whole way and I was glad that we had taken the road half way because we had inclines, some flat stretches, and some down hill where we could catch our breath and rest - so to speak.
We came down the hiking trail the whole way, and it was that, down the whole way. There were no level places nor inclines. So, we took the longer way, but the easier way up, half way.
But, we made it, all the way to the peak, the first ones to reach it today, and it was worth the trip.
It was a beautiful hike the whole way, up and down, & scenery out of a fairy tale. I just prayed and wept and praised the Lord the whole way.
Praise Him with me!
Ruth
Thursday, 26 Sep 2002
We are getting down to the nitty-gritty. Tomorrow, I am 'supposed' to pick up the use permit. Officially, we have it, just not on paper yet.
So we are going ahead now and inviting people for Sunday and for our dedication on October 13.
We can now officially put out a sign since our application for a use permit was okayed after I finally got the fire department inspection (Yesterday) and the health department inspection.
NOW, if I get the permit for use tomorrow, I take all the paper work to the water dept and they will give me a date to come and hook up the water. I take it also to the Electric company and they will come (hopefully) and hook up permanent electricity. We have temporary electricity now.
This is a formal invitation to each of you and especially to those who came down and helped on the building to come to our dedication on Oct. 13th.
Pray for the permit to be issued. Mike Rhodes' father and son are coming down next week to put in the air conditioning.
I will be leaving October 14 for the Oklahoma State meeting, and then to the Indian Creek missionary conference in Missouri the first of November, and I will then return here to Puerto Rico on November 12 to finish up and put our house on the market.
First the good news: WE RECEIVED OUR PERMIT FOR USE TODAY !!
I just decided I would stay and wait for it and just play dumb. They had been telling me that it was on the director's desk, but he was always out to lunch, on break, busy, etc. and they would tell me to come back in two days (They are closed on Tuesday and Thursday).
So today, I just spoke English and acted dumb and after an hour or so they located the director and he signed off. Now all I have to do is go to the water co. and the electric company. Who knows how long that will take to get them hooked up.
The bad news is more personal: Last night just after I went to bed I got stung by a scorpion. I have been stung a couple of times by them before but only where I would have had to have a foot or hand chopped off, but this time he stung me on the neck below my right ear, and I was afraid of what they might chop off. My whole right side of my head immediately got numb and I got a bad headache and I stayed up all night, afraid to lay down.
The worst part was at 4 am when I decided I should take my blood pressure and it was 166/145 and that kinda scared me. I started to call Ruth at 4:30 am in Oklahoma and decided that:
first, she would tell me to immediately go to the emergency room,
second, that she was hopping on the next flight down, or
third, all of the above.
Since I have visited several of our church members in the emergency rooms here, I have no desire to go as a patient. So I took our air conditioner men, Charlie Rhodes and Earnie Rhodes from Neosho, Missouri to the church and they worked on the air conditioning with Tony and David while I laid in the van all day, except when I was waiting in the permits office.
My BP is starting to come down. Probably better not to mention this
to Ruth.
Keep praying for our water hook-up and that we get our Electricity so we can turn on the AC!
Editor's Note: The addition of this update was postponed until I could verify that Ruth knew about Bud getting stung. we dont want her to see it here first and I can't call and say 'So mom, heard about any good scorpion attacks lately ? ' Trust me, it just wouldn't work - monte
We traveled to Missouri for a missionary conference with the Indian Creek Association the first part of November. The association has purchased a church for us to use to begin a Hispanic work here in January 2003.
During the conference we made contact with 42 Hispanics and everyone of them is very positive about our coming. Bud believes he has already found his first deacon. (Go ye into all the world and every Wal-Mart, thats where most of the contacts were made) Bud will be returning to Puerto Rico to put a fence on the back side of the church property there.
We had thought that we would need to live right in town to be near the hispanic community in Monett. But, believe me they are all over. Monett and Purdy are about seven miles apart and we could live in either town that we picked and be right in the middle of Spanish speaking people.
We found a nice farm home about a 1/2 mile from the church that we're just tickled about.
After going to Puerto Rico, Bud will be coming back in December and then he and Ruth will be going to Mexico for the Mexican National Convention at the invitation of the Mexican national pastors.
We will be coming back to Monett to start the ministry here full blast the first week of January 2003.
Thank you for your prayers and
continued support,
Bud and Ruth Bivens
Click on the thumbnail image to see the full size picture.
First of all, let us thank you for your prayers and support this past year. You mean a lot to us and we thank God for friends like you.
On December 12 we had an early service and headed out on our way to the Mexican National Convention: We had a great convention in Altamira, Mexico. Over 600 Pastors, Delegates, and church members gathered for three days of
business, fellowship and good preaching. Brother Lynn Wood did an excellent job of preaching the three services and he preached to a combined crowd in the three services of over 1400 people. Ruth did a good job of translating for his
'down-home' preaching.
Ruth also was the feature speaker at the Mexican
National Women's Convention (WNAC). Speaking on the theme of Worship, she titled her talk "Let's Raise a Flag". The women received her very well.
We had a great time, driving the seven hours from Reynosa to Altamira with a great traveling team, including Brother and sister Wood, the group from the Bixby Free Will Baptist Church which included Don and Nat Allen, Brian and Lee Gibson, and Brian's sister Vicky. Lee is a student at Hillsdale FWB College in Moore, OK.
We stopped about half-way at our favorite restaurant - Chayo's Taco stand in the little town of Nuevo Padillo. Mark and Brenda Cole had stopped there with this same group last summer with others from Bixby. A man by the name of Arturo helped them fix a flat on their van. They witnessed to him but, he told them that he was not ready to accept the Lord. He asked them to look him up when they came back through. They did, and he did. (Accept the Lord). This trip, we stopped to eat and the owner of the taco stand (who we know pretty well by now) went and fetched Arturo. The group from Bixby presented him with a new bicycle. He was very appreciative. He then motioned to an older man across the road selling cracklin's (fried pigskins) and said, "That is my dad". We asked if he would bring him over. I also asked him if his dad was a Christian and he said "no". His dad (Pablo) was a very nice old man (one year younger than brother Lynn). He visited with us for a while. I witnessed to him & he also prayed to receive the Lord. We love to witness to people we meet, and rejoice when they accept the Lord, but worry that they will not be discipled. We definitely need a church in that town.
Back at the border we celebrated an early Christmas with our children and headed back to Missouri on the 23rd. We
pulled into the drive at 2 a.m. Friday the 24th, in time to take a nap and start visiting our people, getting ready for our Christmas service Saturday at 4 o'clock. Fifty-eight (58) attended the service, and we rejoiced. However, some seemed to think that took care of their worship for the weekend, since attendance was down Sunday morning.
We have plans to begin a tutoring program in January for our Hispanic students and it looks like 2005 is going to be every bit as busy as 2004. Please keep us in your prayers.
