Learning to Read

Here is an encouraging video depicting what reading God's Word can do in
a village.
As part of my job I get the privilege of approving, consulting and
sharing videos that my team do to help get the stories out.

This one was done by the newest member of our team, and I found
encouragement in the story. It is helpful as someone who does support
work, to be reminded why they are supporting Bible translation.

Graduation is over

So my daughter is now a senior in high school. My son a 10th grader.
As is our way of life, in 1 year's time from now, my daughter will be
leaving home.

Part of our culture here is that seniors have to leave soon after they
graduate for visa reasons. So, you can imagine in a single month's time
(4 Saturdays)

-a banquet/prom

-awards ceremony

-a graduation

-a graduation party/reception

-all the 'lasts' ... saying goodbyes, etc.

-moving out for 6 months to a year as you go on furlough (or shorter)

-a child moving out of the house.

They say stress levels on normal people range up to 12 on some scale of
stress that someone smarter than me figured out. 12 being complete
meltdown/burnout. A survey done last year said that missionaries live
at a constant 13 which they have become accustomed to. Thus feeling
stress at peaks to 16. This June was 15. Next June will be 18.

We've one year left with our daughter to equip her for the real world.
1 very short year. To teach her everything left that we can. Cram it
all in.

That isn't a whole lot of time.

We sure could use some prayer. I have this feeling that the next year is
going to pass by like a blink.

THIS year we were incredibly busy, next year will be insane.

As a father, I don't even like thinking about this, but it is time.

Movin' On Up

Exams are over, by Weds we'll have a 10th grader and a high school
senior in the family!

Today as I was leaving for work, my daughter the only one left behind I
began to shout out to her,

"Bye, don't do anything I wouldn't do." but then I thought 'wait, that's
WAY too permissive. I'm a 42 year old man, there are plenty of things I
would do that I don't want my 16 yr old daughter doing.

So I modified it to

"Do the things I would do." but then I thought 'wait, that's the same
thing!"

so I changed it to

"Don't do some of the things I would do." and then I realized that
sounded odd. Plus I breath and walk, and talk, and I would want her to
do those things, so.... again it changed to

"Do some of the things I wouldn't do and some of the things I would do
but..." that didn't work so again I changed it.

and just started to say "Do the things YOU would do, I trust you." at
which point the salutation was completely pointless. I mean, do I really
need to tell someone to do the things they would do?


What my daughter eventually heard (or didn't hear as she was in a
different room) was her dad walking out the door shouting

"Duh, but.. suh.. doo.. love..bye."

Adjusting to having a senior in the house is gonna be entertaining.