First, be sure to check out these bloggers who are leaving the field (though not leaving ministry).  There’s a lot of great stuff on their blogs, so head on over to:

• Copeland Ramblings (don’t miss Reflections from the kitchen sink…)
• Mercy Watch

In other news, check out this ecclectic group of posts from veteran bloggers around the world…

• El Peñol de Guatapé (Columbia) – An amazing rock, and some amazing history
• Guarding sound doctrine without hurting people (Mexico) – a teacher’s quandry
• PRAY FOR GABRIEL MUGISHA (Rwanda) – Faith and Prayer
• From death to life. (Burkina Faso) – Do you think God was involved?
• Speaking the Truth (Papua New Guinea) – What do you know about the Sursurunga people?  They might be more like you than you think…

Thanks to these bloggers who have faithfully shared with us over the years!

Don’t forget those who are preparing to return to the field, such as this family going to the Philippines.

And while we’re away from the field, check out a creative way to raise funds – Faso Five-O Finish (Burkina Faso).

And one more big issue while you’re off the field and trying to get back… visas!  VISA, VISA, and No VISAs will give you the low-down when it comes to Spain.

All right, so it’s just another fun way to discover new blogs!  I admit, I cheated a bit with X.  But the Rapp family has to get some kind of a prize for their creative use of that misunderstood letter.

I do believe I managed to have 26 different countries as well.

So enjoy this quick alphabetical tour of the world, and go leave a comment on a blog you’ve never commented on before! 

• aliens and strangers (Tanzania)
• Behind Palace Walls (Nepal)
• Children of Hope (Mexico)
• drumsticksandpaintbrushes (Australia)
• Ecuador Missions (Ecuador)
• Finding God in China (China)
• Gleanings from the Field (Thailand)
• He Says/She Says (Peru)
• In His Love (Russia)
• Jungle Abbotts (Cameroon)
• Kids’ Doc in Jos (Nigeria)
• Livin’ The Adventure (Argentina)
• Millions to Tell (Chile)
• New Every Morning (Taiwan)
• OUR JOURNEY (Philippines)
• Partnering with Parents (Niger)
• Quirey Life (Brazil)
• Rescue Iraq (Iraq)
• Sowers4Pastors (Honduras)
• Today’s Grace (El Salvador)
• Under the Marchegian Sun (Italy)
• Voice in the Desert (Burkina Faso)
• With Love from Ukraine (Ukraine)
• Rapp Family Aixtreme Life (France)
• The Yakubu Family (Ghana)
• Zach Attack (South Africa)

Hong Kong, China

So here are some recent posts from the bloggers who have been blogging the longest.  I especially focused on those that I haven’t written about in a while…

• One week’s wages to buy a book  The challenges of publishing in Africa (Burkina Faso)
• Talking about money again, Life in Hong Kong: city folks! (China)
• Christmas programs may be a little different here than what you’re used to – School Christmas Program (Christmas leftovers) (a video) (Mexico)
• And how about some Sledding during Summer Vacation? (Argentina)
• Would you go to a church under a death threat?  The Mission at Mission (Mexico)
• Neat, a free missionary book!  Check it out at Our Gift to You (Hungary)
• The unexpected benefits of eating in Columbia – Everybody’s Gotta Eat
• A weekend of encouragement  A weekend in the life of missionaries in France.
• How would you like to hear some singing in Romanian?  Here’s another video for you:  O Noapte Sfanta (O Holy Night in Romanian)
• Dental Equipment Arrived in Gorom-Gorom – if you’d hesitate to go to a dentist with only this equipment, imagine going to the dentist before she had any equipment!  (Burkina Faso)
• I love it when photos really give you a feel for an area.  Check out these fabulous shots (warning – the page will take a while to load, it’s graphics heavy):  Final photos from the cruise (Indonesia)

But, of course, those big numbers don’t say much about the families that have lost children, fathers, and mothers.  It doesn’t tell us about coworkers and friends who have been lost.

So, for the month of October, please read A Friend Has Passed and The fragility of life.

You might also want to check out PRAISE GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYER, and on a lighter note Charity, Beer, and Malaria in Burkina Faso.

How would you like to live and work in this place in Burkina Faso?

In many places security is a big deal – here’s one way they deal with it in South Africa.

And over in Uganda, a description of a house some new missionaries are moving into.  (Page was temporarily down when I wrote this – check back or try here if it still doesn’t work.)

Not specifically house related, but this post takes a good look at ministry and challenges to ministry in Mexico.  Also in the category of things missionaries see and deal with regularly, this post from Paraguay.

One last house picture, as a missionary family finds a place to live in Sudan.

By the way – do you want to introduce your children to houses around the world?  Try Imagine a House: A Journey to Fascinating Houses Around the World.  It was written by retired Peace Corps volunteer Angela Gustafson for kids.

Talk about people around the world, and pray for them today!

It’s time to congratulate those who have completed 5 years of blogging!  5 years is still a good old age for a blog – in fact, these blogs are still older than this site (which started in 2005).

I’ve done this in the past, but I’m not sure if I’ll do it again – the more time goes by the more blogs are celebrating!  But here it is, at least one more time – Happy Blogoversary!

• Adventures With God serving in South Africa
• Musings of a Missionary serving in Thailand
• The Boyds to Columbia serving in Columbia (their former blog is here)
• The Kautz Family serving in Columbia
• Itsara serving in Thailand
• Always an Adventure… serving in Taiwan
• Coxes Quarterly serving in Germany
• les Davey de France serving in France
• Simplicity serving in Taiwan
• Under the acacias serving in Burkina Faso
• Life of a Steward serving in the United Kingdom
• The Ramblings of Norm and Debra Copeland serving in Guinea/Senegal
• Kingsley Clan serving in Ireland
• Into Rwanda serving in Rwanda
• Ramble Zone serving in Guatemala (AAAHHH!  They’re having a baby right now!)
• Kurt, Johanna, Kassia and Luke Metzger serving in Papua New Guinea
• Reflections of Refinement serving in Japan
• garcias2chile serving in Chile
• The Roe’s Garden serving in Germany
• Nanana serving in Mexico
• The Journey serving in the Netherlands
• The Naine’s Cameroon Adventure serving in Cameroon

Sounds like a good sport for MKs to learn, right?  Or maybe just showing a little interest in kids playing fútbal could go a long way.

It’s great to go and watch a game together, like this one between Ecuador and Uruguay.  If you can’t go to the game, you can always watch it on TV – you’d be surprised what a community event it can be!

Here’s someone else using sports to reach out – maybe you can help.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is coming up!  There will no doubt be more and more football buzzzz in the weeks ahead – stay tuned!

• Uruguay:  "When I picture an Uruguayo (a Uruguayan person) in my mind it is an image of someone with a thermos of hot water under their arm and MATE in their hand walking down the street…"  Read MATE, Uruguayo-style!
• Swaziland:  "We have found the children’s HIV infection rate to be about 6% of those we have had tested.  That is tremendous news as we expected the infection rate to much higher.  For those 6%, CHIPS is the difference between life and death…"  Read May Update!
• Italy:  "A couple nights ago the class representative for our oldest’s class organized an end-of-the-year dinner.  It was your typical Italian feast with all of the courses (appetizer, two pastas, grilled meats, salad, dessert, and coffee)…"  Read Being the Outsider
• Greece:  ""A" is from Iran.   His wife and two teenage kids are still in Iran, waiting for money from "A" so that they can leave the country.  Because of a health problem that developed while sleeping on the streets, however, "A" has not been able to work for several months…"  Read A’s Testimony
• Austria:  "This past weekend was very eventful.  It started with my wife taking Tobi to Prague for a wedding that was to be on Saturday…"  Read Separate weekend . . . Betka in Prague with Tobi Brian at home in Wien . . .
• Burkina Faso:  "I got back to Djibo yesterday, with David and Robert who are here as part of a gap year programme.  Great to have them here…"  Read Studio Progress
• Czech Republic:  "I can’t think of any better way to fulfill my two job requirements than to spend an afternoon at the zoo with my son and my new friend Lucie…"  Read A great way to work!

There are a lot of interesting posts out there, as always!  Here are some to check out:

• Village Preaching:  Find out why we don’t need to give kids those dangerously sharp pencil sharpeners, and what cute furry animal was served on a platter in Huanipaca, Peru.
• Things we take for granted:  Not iPods or paperback novels – food.  Find out what they ate before and after here in Kenya.
• Earth-quake!! Do you think God is trying to make a point about Belgium (or about Himself)?
• Village Funeral:  This one out of Mali.  A very different kind of shake-up, but even more powerful.  Find out what made one man say,”Now I’ve heard everything!”
• preparing to celebrate Christmas among the Fulani of Burkina Faso:  Remember, duroowo yari yarnaay, domka muudum heddi.  Amen!
• Young Warriors:  You just never know who’s going to pass by in Kenya.  Maybe they’d like some bananas?