Homer Simpson Fruit

Hi - One of the most hilarious stores in our neighborhood is called Fruteria Homero Simpson ...Whenever we drive past that place I always smile in thinking about how the negative stereotype of a dumb, passive, and irresponsible cartoon character from Springdale who loves drinking beer has been transformed in San Cristobal into a healthy-conscious fellow who eats fruit!

And even that - just to give you an example of how things are progressing in Venezuela - just in this short amount of time that we've been living in San Cristobal - the fruit store's mural has now been updated and improved to include the one and only Marge (who lovingly shares her fruit with her husband (but please don't confuse this image with the tragic story of the fall of Adam and Eve))...

Anyway, another really interesting picture is this one:

...I know that safety is somewhat important, but the roads in Venezuela aren't too conducive to people driving very fast anyway, and sometimes I feel like too many restrictions can stifle the excitement of just being alive... I feel like there's something really cool about seeing a group of kids with wind in their faces talking and having fun without any cell phones... Sometimes I wonder which is more dangerous - unlimited distraction from a cell phone, or riding in the back of a pick up?

Okay, so Alejandra and I don't let Jackson ride by himself in the back (or on the top or on the bumper) of a vehicle at his age

- but we do let him ride in the front with his mom without a child-safety seat (please don't judge us too harshly) ... And man, I tell you what - but Alejandra is such a trooper for being willing to go such long distances while taking such good care of Jackson...

Right now we're back in Duitama so that Alejandra can help as a dula for the birth of Lina and David's daughter,

but after that, we're heading back to Venezuela again without any plans of driving any long distances any time soon

And as for flying - the first direct commercial flight from the US to Venezuela in nearly 7 years departed at the end of April as another indication of improved relations between both nations

And as for improved relations, who knows? Maybe even John Peasland will include us in his missionary prayer handbook this next year as well... If he or anyone else receiving and reading this email would like to come visit us - we have a nice guest room available for you which you'd be welcome to stay in... You can even arrive at midnight! and if you do, I'll run out and and ask a neighbor for 3 loaves of bread to give you (Luke 11:5-8)... If you're lucky, I'll even run over to Fruteria Homero Simpson and fetch you some fruit.

...But yeah, the point of that parable is that in pleading to God for something, sometimes we should even be annoyingly intense about it. If in a human sense we pay attention to annoying beggars - so much more will God (v.9-10)... So thank you for praying for us and for the Torres family. They are doing well by the grace of God

Please also pray for the Guerrero family... They've always been our closest friends in Venezuela, and they're trying to finish building an extra room in their house

Please also pray for the new church we want to start. A couple weeks ago I spoke again with my good friend and the reataurant owner and man of peace Gino - and I'm really excited that he wants to endorse our vision and somehow be a part of it. I really hope that someday he will ask God to recieve the Holy Spirit.

Even evil me - if I know how to give good gifts to Jackson, how much more will our heavenly Father give us the greatest gift of all? (v.9-13).

Sam and Alejandra Killins Missionary Profile: