A personal update

It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly two months since we’ve returned.  It has been great reconnecting with friends, settling into life here and getting back into a routine.  Therefore, since we have had so much change and transition from life earlier in the summer I wanted to give a bit more of a personal update this week.

Since we have moved into our home we have managed to discipline ourselves to push through home projects as quickly as possible.  Of the 7 different places we have lived since being married I think this home may be the one we have settled into the quickest.  When we first rented it Scott went straight to work getting permission to move in.  Every foreigner here has to register with the local security so that they can approve our location so as to aid in keeping an eye out for us.  However, this process can sometimes take awhile.  Scott managed to get it done in one day (for more details on that particular adventure check out Scott’s previous blog entry here).  He also got right to work on the house with painting, fixing electrical and water issues as well as getting our personal belongings out of storage and into our new home.  At this point progress slowed down a bit because all of our stuff was chewed up by rodents and covered in excrement.  I know, it sounds gross and sort of overwhelming, but we had sort of suspected that this outcome might be possible.  There are no good options for safe storage here so we took a chance in order to learn that no one should, in fact, ever store their belongings in a garage ever again!  We feel like we sort of took one for the team so that that lesson could be learned!  Anyhow, amazingly, the only things we actually lost were our mattresses.  We had thought we might need to replace more things, but praise God, after some major cleaning and elbow grease we were finally getting things put together and into place in our new home.  We were able to move in about two weeks after arriving in country.

what many pieces of furniture looked like from the dust and rodents

they ate our furniture!

my favorite room in the house!!!

 The kids have all done great settling back in here.  We were blessed to have friends come around us and help with everything from cleaning to moving to childcare those early weeks of being here.  Getting over jet lag was a little rough this time due to having an 11-month old as part of our family, but after getting through it the kids were great and back at having good attitudes and having fun.  This last week both Ethan and Zeke started school.  Ethan is attending a preschool at a homeschool coop that was started here just over two years ago.  Zeke went there for preschool as well.  We are realizing that Ethan has always piggy-backed off of Zeke’s friendships, so this new environment is challenging him to come into his own and make his own friends.  It’s been fun to hear him describe his school day.  His favorite parts are recess and the songs they sing.  A couple days ago he came home with a toothbrush that he had gotten after learning a song about brushing your teeth.  He proceeded to carry that toothbrush around with him for the rest of the day, including taking it to bed with him for his nap! Eliza goes with Ethan two days a week for a program called “moms day out.”  It is an awesome blessing for all of us as I get a kid-free chance to get things done and Eliza gets to play with other kids.  She continues to be a very laid-back kid who laughs easily and is very curious about the things around her.  Just today she made one tiny attempt at walking by taking two little steps towards me.  If any of her other milestones are evidence of her progression it won’t be long now before she will have mastered walking!  Zeke started at a local kindergarten where he is entirely immersed in the local language.  He was pretty nervous to start, but we had prepared him all year for this so he had accepted that it would be different and was ready to walk into this new experience.  We have been so proud of how brave he has been.  The director has given us a little update each day and says that each time he has come he is mixing more and more with the other kids.  They serve lunch there and he came home one day telling us that he had a plate of rice that was “as high as the ceiling!”  Good thing he likes rice!  We have been giving him small phrases to test out and motivating him with small rewards to step out of his comfort zone and interact with the kids in the local language instead of either avoiding them or just talking in English.  So far that is working well for him and we are so relieved with how well it is going.

our happy little girl

the first day of school

the boys making their own adventure

We are also into week two of classes at our center.  Scott is really enjoying being back with students and teaching again.  I got to pinch hit for a class last night and was reminded of how much I enjoy teaching as well.  Tomorrow is our second “coffee shop” night where students can come and practice what they have been learning.  It’s a fun night to get to know our students better and for our kids to be greatly loved on!

So thanks for sticking with this extra long update!  We are excited about how things have been going and have much to continue to look forward to.  Thanks for walking this journey with us.  You are all a part of us and a part of what happens here.  As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:4 “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”  

when our Father speaks

I have had a number of conversations over the years with people who wonder how to know when God is speaking to them; I have asked this question as well; my children now ask this question. Some of the obvious answers are through scripture, through prayer and through other people. However, the obviousness of those answers doesn't lessen the complexity we bring to this arena when trying to sort out the distractions and other input we add to the mix.

In my own walk of faith I have seen a pattern of my father God speaking in both obvious as well as more intimate and private ways. Scott and I are together this week with some colleagues and having the opportunity to sit under some wonderful teaching. One of the themes has been on God speaking. This has caused me to reflect on recent days. On that same theme I want to reflect on some things I am thankful for in how I believe that God, the loving Father, is personally speaking to me, personally loving on me.

This transition over the past 6 weeks is one that should send me and my children into a massive tailspin. It hasn't. Not because we are ultra strong people, but because God has been with us and gone before us.  We have been able to accomplish many things in a short period of time. God provided a beautiful home for us. Wonderful friends have come around us to help and encourage, both those here with us and those abroad. God has provided everything we need and even lavished some extra love on us. An example of how He has gone above and beyond is the park across the street from us. I had hoped to find a house with a courtyard that the boys could ride bikes around in and maybe even have room for a kiddie pool. Our house has a beautiful courtyard big enough for this, PLUS right across our street is a beautiful, green park. One thing I miss about the states when we are here is the green of the trees and grass. Well, now we have a green park with lots of trees in it that is cared for all year long and always kept beautiful. Everywhere else around us is barren and brown. God is so good to us! We have also been blessed to be able to reconnect with old friends as if we never left. We also find ourselves in the midst of exciting times here. There is a sense of anticipation. We can't wait to see what God is going to do here!

All this to say that we believe that we are right where God wants us to be and are SO grateful for His provision. We are also extremely thankful for the many of you that pray for us. It is evident that God is moving through those prayers! To Him be all the glory!

the park across the street from our house

Same song, second verse...

Scott here, giving my 2 cents.  Life here is composed of what the West considers horrendous inefficiency.  For us it’s a fine line between a playful shake of the head, and a downward spiral in to cynicism.  Things don’t surprise us as much anymore.  We have learned to take each day in stride with changed expectations of what a “success” is.  Over the past few years I have shared this lesson God teaches me—that He is NOT in a hurry—and I think to reinforce patience as a lifelong lesson, he put my hurry-up personality in this slow-down culture. 

Here’s what I mean.  We arrived in one piece with all our bags and kids in tow, and immediately had to start looking for a house to rent.  We always want to be in a neighborhood to be directly among the people. After looking at several places we found our house, right across the street from a beautiful park and a 5 minute walk from our Center.  Once you find a place you have to get permission from the local police, then you can actually sign the contract.  So I went to the station with the requisite documents, and was sent with another document in an envelope to meet an officer who would give clearance. I got the officer’s phone number and he told me to find him in a park a mile away!  He was just hanging out there with a buddy and so I joined them as he did a brief interview sitting on the grass.  He consented to our living in the house, but found the envelope didn’t have the paper to sign!  The initial officer who prepped it had put it in the wrong envelope.  So the officer in the park sent me back and told me to have the station call him and he’d agree.  That worked out upon my return, but to finish the process they needed my “code.”  This is a number attached to your file, so they can track your housing arrangements if you end up moving within the city.  My code was on a piece of paper tucked inside an elusive purple binder somewhere in our storage garage.  To find it I needed to move into the house, but I couldn’t move until I had the code!  I didn’t think I’d need it, or that at least it’d be in their database if I did.  They sent me to another station in another district in where I had initially received my code to get it from their database, as stations are not networked across the city.  I arrived there only to find that, unsurprisingly, it had moved.  This happens about every year, and the station responsible for a certain neighborhood may be nowhere near it.  Fortunately, a friend is the chief of that station.  When I called he explained in general where it moved to.  After 45 minutes of traffic and asking specific directions, I found it, went inside to their database office, and was told they could not find my code.  I had to return to the initial office in charge of my new neighborhood to do a new interview to get a new code!  Upon returning, the officer thought of one more thing; we could check their own database.  By a miracle the woman working that office recognized me from having entered my data 5 years ago when they went digital.  Still her search came up empty until she had the idea to search by passport number.  Voila!  My info popped up!  She had entered my name in the database in the local alphabet instead of Latin letters, but the searches were all done by Latin script.  What would have been 20 minutes turned into 3 hours, and 20 miles of driving!

Things here just take time.  You can fight it, but you’ll always end up frustrated.  Patience is a lesson thrust upon us on a daily basis.  It’s a good thing too, as the Kingdom grows in this way.  You cannot rush anyone along; you have to go with the speed of God’s current.  Better to pay attention to and synchronize with that, than to try to paddle ahead.

"As we begin our descent into..."

Those who know me well know that flying is not one of my favorite pastimes. However, in our life it is a necessity I must face regularly, so one of my favorite things is when I hear the pilot's voice come over the PA saying "as we begin our descent..." This brief announcement tells me our long journey is nearing its end. 

We have had a lot of transition over this last month, so when I  heard the captain of the flight of our final leg of our journey say these anticipated words I felt free to finally let the tears come. I have a sweet friend that I have had the privilege if spending a lot of time with this past year who grew up in an overseas context. One of the things I love hearing her talk about is her childhood and the way she refers to the local culture as "my people."  As I contemplated the many emotions I was feeling in those last moments on the plane while listening to those around me speaking a foreign, yet familiar, language around me I suddenly understood my friend's sentiments: these were my people. 

Being away from here for an entire year didn't seem like all that long as we were enjoying our time with family and appreciating a context we innately understood. However, as we approached our city the extent of our time away began to weigh on me. As we have driven around the last couple days and as we have reunited with friends I have realized just how much I have missed this place and even more these people. Time away has the effect of melting away cynicism and  negativity and leaving what matters: anticipation and hope for what our time here will bring and a renewed love and appreciation of the people. 

We have a lot we need to accomplish in these early days back. However, I want to keep my enthusiasm and hope for many days to come. I know there will be a time in the not-too-distant future where I will need a short break from this context. However, for this time I am enjoying being back. Another friend of mine who serves overseas when asked how she felt about returning to her own context responded: "resolute." I totally understand that response. In the moments when we are frustrated with how it takes great periods of time to accomplish one task, we are resolute; when I am rocking a very restless infant at 3am whose body is telling her it is an appropriate time to be wide awake, we are resolute; when we feel ill and tired as our bodies adjust back to this time zone and the food here, we are resolute. 

However, as we reconnect with our friends and re-ingrain ourselves in this place and in our purpose, that is where we find joy. I am so thankful to be back here. As I was saying goodbye to friends and family and packing up our life in America (once again) I was a little fearful and hesitant. Now I do not feel that way at all. Now I greatly anticipate all that God has for us and find joy and contentment in whatever may lie before us. As the apostle Paul said in his letter to the Philippians "I know what is to be in need and to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Naw Roz 2012: Part 2

The next big part of the new year here is the commencement of picnic season.  On March 21^st the city here turns into a ghost town as everyone heads out into the mountains to find a nice spot to enjoy the weather, time together and lots and lots of food!

For our spot we went about 45 minutes west of the city.  We turned off onto a side road that was backed up for miles with cars.  Most spots the local people like are packed full with other picnickers.  The spot we chose was no different!  After waiting in line for more than an hour we took this small, hillside road that was only wide enough for one car.  My first thought was how we might get back out!  Somehow it always works out, so I have learned to trust our friends here.  We chose a spot that was nestled into a shallow hillside alongside a slow moving stream.  It was a bit rocky, but we were able to find a nice place where we all could settle in and be comfortable.  The challenge for this pregnant lady was that anywhere I walked was practically hiking, and worse…there was no obvious place of privacy to make work as a bathroom facility!  At one point I hiked up a steep hill with Scott to find some refuge from the crowds behind a large rock.  Let it suffice to say that the process was not preferable!  However, everything else was wonderful.  We enjoyed some wonderful food, dancing and even playing in the water.  The boys got incredibly dirty, but had a great time doing it.

 

At one point in the day we found ourselves suddenly surrounded by sheep!  A shepherd was guiding his flock through the hillside and they completely engulfed us.  The kids thought it was so cool!  I was a bit nervous because my city upbringing did not inform me as to whether they bite, would charge us, etc, so I watched our friends closely and just followed their lead.  One of our friends picked up a baby lamb and let the boys pet it.  Although surreal, it was a really cool experience.  The shepherd was kind of a trip too!  I often find myself saying “what a life we live!”  We headed home early evening through less traffic than we had encountered at the beginning.  It was a beautiful way to celebrate such a special cultural day!

The rest of this spring continues with picnics almost every Friday.  We have discovered that Ethan loves to dance!  Pictured below is him keeping  up with a big group of guys from our center picnic last week.  He loves to get right in there and get jostled around to the music.  What a kid!  I love that my kids can have these kinds of experiences.  I am sure these next 6 weeks will bring with them a few more picnics before we head back to the states.  The springtime here is my absolute favorite and I will do all that I can to help it not go by too quickly!  Enjoy a few more pictures from our day...

Naw Roz 2012: Part 1

The traditional new year of this people group is a very special time of the year.  It’s one of the few remaining cultural holiday that is celebrated and distinctly them.  We love all the excitement and activity around two specific days: March 20 and 21.  The 20^th is new year’s eve.  There is a major road here that gets completely shut down and blocked off.  Starting mid afternoon people start to come out in mass, all dressed up in traditional clothing.  Everyone is in a great mood and the our boys get dozens of pictures taken of them.  Scott even made it on the news this year!

 

It is beautiful to see a sea of color going down as far as the eye can see.  We were blessed this year with perfect weather.  It had been raining for several days before, but by Tuesday it had cleared up and the sun was out.  The street was all decorated and there were music groups, artists, poets and actors all displaying their skills along about a mile stretch of the road.  As the day goes on you end up almost shoulder to shoulder with people as you push through the crowds.  At one point this year one of my biggest fears was realized when Zeke disappeared on us for a few minutes.  We were crossing over a median where Zeke went first.  When we turned to lift Ethan’s stroller over it we turned back and Zeke had continued on.  There were so many people I wasn’t sure how to find him.  I prayed as 4 of us looked frantically for him.  However, after about 5 minutes he just showed back up where Ethan and friend of ours were waiting.  I don’t think he ever even realized anything was wrong!  So after our heart rates calmed back down we continued on walking and enjoyed our afternoon. 

Into the early evening they light big fires here which is part of the historical tradition of the holiday.  We often only make it a couple hours because the kids are tired and hungry, but we know that some year we’ll be able to go for more than a few hours so we can enjoy that aspect.  The neighbors by our former house used to light their own fire, but the street we live on now doesn’t get into the festivities in quite the same way!  The 21^st is the day that everyone heads out of the city for a big, all day picnic.  I will write about that in part 2, so stay tuned for more pictures and stories of our new year’s adventure!

the unshakable One

We experienced a tragedy this week that has rocked our entire community.  To be honest, of all the terrible scenarios  I have allowed myself to imagine could happen here, this was never one of them.  If you follow the news you are aware of the unique and tragic event that occurred in my city and among some of our friends here.  I don’t want to focus on the details of the event itself, as those details have been playing over and over in the news, in friends conversations and in my mind enough already.  However, I do want to focus on some of the aftershock of this event.

Everyone grieves and deals with loss in their own, personal way.  Many of our local friends who are not even connected to the man who was killed have been thrown into a time of questioning.  Death is something that can be confusing for all, but it seems to be particularly hard on people here.  Many people are wanting to blame someone, unfortunately most  of which seems to be primarily falling on the family of the boy, at this time.  We keep telling our friends that blaming doesn’t help.  Dozens of our friends have called us to offer condolences and to tell us how much the event abhors them.  We love how the people here come together in a time of mourning.  We are feeling very loved and supported and hope that those closest to the man and the boy do as well.

The whole thing has been surreal to me.  I find myself thinking a lot about the fragility of life; how this man, who was only in his early 30’s, I’m sure woke up as usual that day, got ready and went to school with thoughts of what the day would hold and maybe even plans for the coming days and into the future.  However, within a few moments everything was over.  His story on this earth was finished.  These thoughts are fortunately overshadowed by the realization that he isn’t just in the cliché “better place,” but that he is resting right now in the presence of our glorious Savior.  It is a weird feeling to both grieve over the loss of someone who was investing in the people here in such beautiful and meaningful ways, but to rejoice with him that he is in a place where the challenges and pain of this world can no longer touch him.  I hurt, however, for the many people I know here who don’t know that they can rejoice with him, but who grieve for him as over something that is lost to them forever.  I hurt for a way to help them heal….

I wish I had a firm direction to take this blog.  My brain has been in a place of stupor these past few days as I struggle with the event that occurred and how to process it.  This is part of the experiences we have on this earth; this is real life in action that cannot be avoided or ignored.  A friend the other day read this passage from Hebrews 12:  See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’  The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”  So we are finding peace in knowing that through this God is shaking the things in this life that can fall away, but that HE, the unshakable, remains with us and will use this for His glory.