My mom taught me at a young age something I'll never forget but I've since put it into my own words, "if God is after you to learn something, you best learn it quick and cause yourself less trouble."
One lesson God has been driving home to me specifically in the last 2 weeks has been service. You would think that being a missionary, that the idea of service comes with the territory. I have found it interesting how you can easily segment off what areas of life you are willing to be servants in and which you may find yourself not servants in.
For example, helping people with computers. This is an area I've always tried to be a servant. I've tried to serve my wife, and my children. Friends even. But strangers? I was surprised at the fact that I do not have an instinct of service to strangers.
Perhaps the thing I admire most about Cameron Townsend in the reading of one of his biographies, is that he had an instinct to serve people.
We're reading a few books on this topic, and I have since decided this is the area where God is working in my heart to create a discipline to react with an attitude of service in ALL aspects of my life.
I've tried to instill this in my kids, and in many ways they understand it, and in many ways they are still selfish like kids are. In fact one of the significant factors of maturity that I notice, is servanthood. Selfishness is perhaps the loudest indicator of one's maturity, and I have asked God to shine a light on my own selfishness wherever it may crop up.
One such place has been these visas. I have been asking people to help so much with these visas, and we have been calling the embassy for so long, but not once did I ever ask "how can I serve THESE people?" instead I was expecting them to serve me. Provide ME with MY visas. After all I had filled out all the paperwork in advanced, did all the things they required of me, jumped through multiple hoops repeatedly, why could they not supply my visas in time?
And then we realized the visas would not come no matter how much we pushed. That God had to do it. So we turned to Him in prayer.
And we prayed for a long time. And God began working in my heart about service.
Two days ago, I woke up, did my devotions, and a thought came to me "find someone to serve today."
At 10am, I called the embassy to ask about the visas, but as the phone rang I thought "perhaps I can serve this person today?"
and so instead of asking about the visas first this is how the conversation went:
"Hello, this is Chad Owens, I've called many times before. But before I ask you the question I'm sure you're anticipating, could I ask you... how can I help make your job easier today?"
the person on the other end of the phone paused, and was silent.....
so I offered up "I know that a lot of people are anticipating our visas and may be calling you a lot."
she responded "well, it would help a lot if you could appoint one person to call a day."
"I will do that, I will be the one to call, and I'll instruct everyone else not to call. Thank you."
"your visa letters aren't in today Mr. Owens."
"thank you very much. I look forward to calling you tomorrow. I expect they'll be in by then."
And that was our conversation. Approaching people with an attitude of service not only changes the entire tone of the relationship, but it is disarming, it avoids conflicts, it does so many wonderful things, that you'd almost expect Christ knew what He was talking about! (-;
He did, He knew what a wonderful interpersonal skill an attitude of servanthood would have, and how people would respond to that positively, and how it reflects on the body.
I had assumed the embassy was a business with many people, but I soon realized it was the same person answering the phone every day. Had I started off with an attitude of service months ago, perhaps an opportunity to share Christ with this woman would have arisen over the phone.
I do not believe in coincidence. So what does it tell you when 24 hours after I applied what God was putting on my heart in a new way, that our visa letters came in.
The next day when I called, the letters had arrived, I didn't even have to ask the question she was so enthusiastic to tell me.
Not only that, the visas are now safe at home. We have them.
God is teaching us. As missionaries and people we are not perfect. We are having our faith perfected by God. Isn't it wonderful that He cares enough about us personally to disciple us through His Word and through others?!!
Who am I to know the mind of the Lord? I don't claim that the visas were held up because I needed to learn a lesson. That would be making this faith about me... it isn't about me, or us... it is about being blessed to be a blessing, about reflecting God and His glory.
Our prayer is that God would be glorified, that people who do not believe WOULD believe, and that our relationship with Christ would be such that we do not let our nature get in the way of what God would do through us.
3/08/2007
3/07/2007
God did it
We expect our visas in 2 days time now!!!
The doubt is gone, the part that has been on hold for nearly 6 months has been passed through, with a week to spare.
God has answered the prayers of His people! God is so faithful.
This is where I sing His praises and dance up and down, except Moses and his sister Miriam did it a lot better than we could:
Exodus 15
The Song of Moses and Miriam
2 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.
6 "Your right hand, O LORD,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, O LORD,
shattered the enemy.
9 "The enemy boasted,
'I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.'
10 But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand
and the earth swallowed them.
13 "In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.
18 The LORD will reign
for ever and ever."
On a different note, as if that wasn't enough to give us unending excitement and exhiliration, our cargo is passing through Panama Canal right now.
GEEK MOMENT:
I assumed that there had to be some site out there that would track ships at sea and that if I could get the call sign of our ship carrying our belongings to PNG that I could get geographic coordinates of the ship on a daily basis. This would go above and beyond the shipment tracking information that I was supplied with. SO, finding the ship's name I came across a site that gave the coords, and then plugged those into google earth, and the ship came up in Panama Canal. GOOGLE is fun.
END GEEK MOMENT:
This means, that our cargo will arrive in the beginning of April or end of March! That is amazing and here is why.
Originally we were told that our cargo would take up to 6 months door to door, but that information is less than 4 months, which is near perfect timing for us to get there, get established, move into the rental home they have assigned us, and unpack our 6 boxes, and make a few new friends!
Over a year ago when we first set out to follow God's guidance, we put everything to Him in prayer. All our obstacles, all our concerns. We have developed a habit of presenting YOU our prayer partners with those concerns as well.
GOD has been faithful in every single one. I shall list a few to boast in the Lord:
-we prayed for faster internet service - Supplied 3 months ago
-we prayed for the training schedule to change so we could arrive in PNG in time - God supplied a new schedule for us indicating the precise time He'd like us to leave for PNG
-we prayed for an understanding situation at my work - God provided a new manager who understands the concept of missions work and has been very helpful
-we prayed that somehow our stuff would arrive sooner than 6 months - shipping estimate is 3.5 months
-we prayed for our visas to arrive on time - God has sent them TODAY!
the list is very long, and each time we've gone to Him it has been a situation where it required God to do it. Not to help us do it, but for GOD to do it because it required moving obstacles that we could not move.
God is great, His answer to your prayers and our prayers have been astounding!
We will let you know when those visas are in our hands, in 2 days!
3/02/2007
visa status
The situation:
We sent in our visa applications months ago for the family along with our passports which they affix the visas to. The process is the entity where we will be GOING writes a letter to the government in PNG and they then write a letter to the embassy in the United States. Originally the letter from the entity didn't mention we had kids (somehow they were unaware), so the PNG gov't sent our approval the the United States and we received 2 visas and 2 passports. To fix the mistake, we had to reapply for our kids visas. A situation which hasn't happened apparently, and people have been scrambling graciously to help us out. Currently we're still waiting on the PNG gov't. to send approval to the United States. Once this happens we're told a rush on it would get it done in two weeks. Tomorrow is the two week point from when we leave. We are now considering formulating a plan B.
The history:
We know last minute visa stories are very common and so we submitted ours well in advanced, scanned every signed paper we submitted and put it on multiple hard drives in case we should be asked again to submit, which we were. We have prayed over the visas and the submission prior to submitting. We have recruited many people to pray through the process, and we have pretty much done every bit of urging we can do. When we originally booked our flights we considered travel insurance, but the price nearly doubled our tickets, so we figured a cancellation fee would be more acceptable should something come up. We also prayed carefully over the date on which we'd depart because of many variables, God answered some huge prayers and moved obstacles and indicated this was the right date to us.
So now we sit, two weeks away with no visas for our children. It is a daily struggle to avoid worry and stress.
Here is the struggle.
It seems that God definitely made this date, March 17, the one we were to target. We prayed over it and large doors had to be opened for this date to work, so we prayed and the doors opened. As is our practice we step through the doors when we see them open and we bought the tickets.
The tickets cost around $5,000 for all of us, one way.
We're unsure of the cancellation policy/rescheduling but we are investigating that now.
How much do we have faith that March 17th is the day and that God will supply the visas in time, and how much do we acknowledge the God is sovereign and whatever He is doing He's doing for His glory?
Completely.
We have faith that God has guided us properly. We have faith that God is sovereign. Our chief aim is that God is glorified in whatever we're doing. If we're waiting at the bus stop, God be glorified. If we're riding on the bus, God be glorified.
This is no mistake. There is a possibility that the enemy is holding the paperwork up, and so we pray against that. But if his purpose was to get us to blame God or doubt God, he made a huge strategical error.
We trust God completely that He is doing His will here. And we look with anticipation to what glory He might be getting through it.
So, if you will, join us in prayer, pray:
-that the enemy would not have power in this situation
-that God would be glorified in our response when people ask about our Visas
-that God would be glorified should a plan B be put in place, that we recognize every opportunity to glorify Him that comes our way.
We're excited about it, and we use that to choke down the stress and the worry. If we stay in California for few more weeks, sure the kids will be out of school for a long time, but on the flip side, we may run into people that God wants us to meet and share with. Or He simply may be glorified in the fact that we are taking captive the thoughts that lead to doubt, and acknowledging that God is in control.
He is!
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," Jer. 29:11-14a
We know that God can deliver those visas today and it would be a miracle. We know that they might not come for a very long time. God has proven to be faithful to us in so many ways, this is simply another opportunity for us to put aside worry, put aside our desire and passion to arrive in PNG according to our schedule, and wait on God.
The biggest part of the challenge is that we are so enthusiastic about getting to PNG. All the preparation, all the work, all the training, all the prayer, all the study, coming to fruition when we arrive, and yet, as we see, coming to fruition wherever we are, whatever we're doing.
2/22/2007
Hunter Gatherers
ICC is over. I think to summarized what we learned there I could simply recommend a book: "Cross Cultural Servanthood". Truly learning to be servants in any context is hard enough, but learning to be servants in a different culture will be a challenge. God will help us to do it, with His grace it'll get done!
To celebrate the end of this leg of training, we went geocaching. This is our family hobby, or at least one of them. The other is making fun home movies. My daughter is holding up a stone with the coordinates for the next part of the find. We spent the Saturday hiking through Cane Creek and exploring the trails and the sites. It is a very pretty park although it seemed we were the only ones there because it was 44 degrees outside.
It is Thurs now, and Chad has been in I.T. training all week. There are two more weeks of it to go, and then we head back home to CA. Yesterday Chad got to play with Satellite telephony and email. He (I) really enjoyed playing with new (to me) technology. Although pricey, I can see how the satellite technology is useful in retrieving important email and such for translators in the jungle.
In some places email is done with a thumb drive and a helicopter. Other places with a satellite phone. The technical support team here really puts a lot of effort into finding ways that the translators can get their work done while finding new and creative ways to reduce the cost to everyone involved.
Technology is amazing. The people God puts in place to come up with ways to help the translation of God's Word is also amazing. There is a software they use here called UUplus which was designed by a christian man with the intent of increasing communication and lowering the cost of satellite fees for missionaries. It works too. A typical satellite call (using a sat phone as a modem) to do 1 email took 2:04 minutes. But using the same phone and the UUplus software, it took 30 seconds. When you're paying per minute for satellite usage, that's a dramatic cost savings over time. Also, to reduce the price of sat phones, they buy older models, used on EBAY to keep the cost down. So you may not be using the latest and the greatest, but you're still doing EMAIL in the middle of the jungle with NO electrical outlet in your hut! Isn't that amazing!
2/16/2007
A good testimony
Yesterday in class we heard a testimony from Nard Pugyao. It was a very inspiring and moving testimony. Back in the 1950's one of _our_translators had gone to the phillipines to share the Gospel and translate the Bible starting with the book of Mark.
It was something along the lines of a very long flight, a canoe trip up the river, and an 8 hour hike to get to Nard's village. He was a young boy at the time. His village was tired of serving the spirit world. They would have to consult certain birds to walk safely. The witch doctor would consult evil spirits who proved time and time again to be angry and unpredictable. Nard's daughter was killed at the request of a spirit.
The people were ready for a new God, a more powerful God, and so they listened to the missionary. He told them about God and they loved it. But then, Nard got to the point of Mark where God sent His only son to die and he got mad and threw the book. What a powerless person God must be if He could not protect His only son.
He struggled with that and then God gave him a realization that Christ died for Nard, for him. He picked the book back up and then read that Christ rose from the dead. No one his Nard's imagination had ever done that! What power! What LOVE!
Nard devoted his life to Christ. His dad told him one day he was 7 years old and that he should go to first grade. There was a school a few miles away. He said "dad you don't know when I was born." and his dad said, "reach over your head and touch your ear....see you're 7." So Nard went, but he hated school and he cut school for months. And then, the translator had delivered to school some primers for learning to read, in the language of Nard's people, and he loved the books, and he loved learning to read.
Nard is a helicopter pilot for _us_ now. He had gone back to his tribe several times to assist in the translation work there. He has a strong memory of the scripture, you should see his copy of Mark, worn and torn, and held together by staples, but it's his treasure.
The part of the story he shared at the end, was that the week that the translator who originally came to his village was scheduled to fly out of San Francisco, CA. Was the week that the news hit the presses about Jim Elliot and his friend being massacred.
The translator could have changed his mind, and not gone. There are a lot of what if's in life. What if he didn't go? Nard wouldn't be standing there yesterday telling us of his story.
God has planned good works for us to do. God has put things in place. God has crafted us to be who we are. His provision for us is amazing when you look back and see how it all comes together. And knowing that we have the awesome opportunity to affect people for God's kingdom is overwhelmingly inspiring. After hearing Nard's testimony so many of us were charged up and ready to go yet again. God continually brings us the energy required for this job. Continually fills us up with inspiration. And this ICC training has equipped us in many ways to be prepared for what lies ahead, spiritually and mentally.
Thank you for sending us to training! It ends today, and then in the next 3 weeks Chad (me) will be in I.T. training.
It was something along the lines of a very long flight, a canoe trip up the river, and an 8 hour hike to get to Nard's village. He was a young boy at the time. His village was tired of serving the spirit world. They would have to consult certain birds to walk safely. The witch doctor would consult evil spirits who proved time and time again to be angry and unpredictable. Nard's daughter was killed at the request of a spirit.
The people were ready for a new God, a more powerful God, and so they listened to the missionary. He told them about God and they loved it. But then, Nard got to the point of Mark where God sent His only son to die and he got mad and threw the book. What a powerless person God must be if He could not protect His only son.
He struggled with that and then God gave him a realization that Christ died for Nard, for him. He picked the book back up and then read that Christ rose from the dead. No one his Nard's imagination had ever done that! What power! What LOVE!
Nard devoted his life to Christ. His dad told him one day he was 7 years old and that he should go to first grade. There was a school a few miles away. He said "dad you don't know when I was born." and his dad said, "reach over your head and touch your ear....see you're 7." So Nard went, but he hated school and he cut school for months. And then, the translator had delivered to school some primers for learning to read, in the language of Nard's people, and he loved the books, and he loved learning to read.
Nard is a helicopter pilot for _us_ now. He had gone back to his tribe several times to assist in the translation work there. He has a strong memory of the scripture, you should see his copy of Mark, worn and torn, and held together by staples, but it's his treasure.
The part of the story he shared at the end, was that the week that the translator who originally came to his village was scheduled to fly out of San Francisco, CA. Was the week that the news hit the presses about Jim Elliot and his friend being massacred.
The translator could have changed his mind, and not gone. There are a lot of what if's in life. What if he didn't go? Nard wouldn't be standing there yesterday telling us of his story.
God has planned good works for us to do. God has put things in place. God has crafted us to be who we are. His provision for us is amazing when you look back and see how it all comes together. And knowing that we have the awesome opportunity to affect people for God's kingdom is overwhelmingly inspiring. After hearing Nard's testimony so many of us were charged up and ready to go yet again. God continually brings us the energy required for this job. Continually fills us up with inspiration. And this ICC training has equipped us in many ways to be prepared for what lies ahead, spiritually and mentally.
Thank you for sending us to training! It ends today, and then in the next 3 weeks Chad (me) will be in I.T. training.
2/13/2007
The Battle
God has blessed our family immeasurably.
Recently we've had some friends stand up and say "we're going to sponsor your newsletter". Which means we can now mail out newsletters at no cost to ourselves other than time! God is great!
You should be seeing the new one very soon. It'll also be online at www.gimpel.tv/newsletter..
God has blessed us so much, but at the same time, He is preparing us to do battle with the enemy.
Ephesians mentions that God has appointed us to do the good works which He has planned for us to do. And we are going about that task. Who knows what works those will be day to day, but we go with a heart of submission to minister to everyone we can, and are in turn ministered to by the Spirit.
There are certain topics in Christian culture which are hard to broach. One of them is spiritual warfare.
The key ingredient in spiritual warfare is knowing your identity in Christ. (Eph 1:1-14). There really isn't a formula or a technique, because it isn't our power that defeats the enemy but it is God's truth. It isn't a power encounter it is a truth encounter.
In knowing this, we have been teaching our kids who they are in Christ and as a comfort to us, they really already know much of the promises they have in God. They know God loves them, made them, and protects them. For this we are thankful.
The other night, around 2am, our cell phone rang. As is our practice I answer the phones after hours, but my wife had woken up first and answered, confusedly and then hung up. The phone rang again and then I answered.
It was obviously a wrong number, and the caller was inebriated, and was saying lewd things. I hung up and turned off the cell phone.
If we do not have eyes to see, and recognize that there are spiritual aspects to life, then we could simply see this as a minor annoyance. Another possibility is that it was the enemy trying to fatigue us. If we fail to recognize that, in the morning we could be grumpy, bicker with each other, etc, which would completely distract us from glorifying God which is our chief aim.
There is a great sermon on this issue from Andy Stanley from Northpoint.org called "exposing the matrix". It is a series of well done dramas and sermons that expose the plans of the enemy. (unfortunately I can't find the link to it jsut yet, I think they took it down)
So I found myself at 2am, simply praying and praising God so that my thoughts would not stray into the arena of anything other than focusing on God, because that, is the goal of the enemy.
This is why you, as prayer partners become so important to us. That you would pray for our protection, for our strength. That we would not fail in this mission together, that as those going we would not fall victim to the many snares and would instead glorify God in whatever means He has planned for us.
We covet your prayers. Sincerely, we thank you for praying for us.
Please pray that the enemy would not hinder our visas. That the paperwork would flow and our visas would arrive in good time so that we would not have to reschedule flights.
thank you.
Recently we've had some friends stand up and say "we're going to sponsor your newsletter". Which means we can now mail out newsletters at no cost to ourselves other than time! God is great!
You should be seeing the new one very soon. It'll also be online at www.gimpel.tv/newsletter..
God has blessed us so much, but at the same time, He is preparing us to do battle with the enemy.
Ephesians mentions that God has appointed us to do the good works which He has planned for us to do. And we are going about that task. Who knows what works those will be day to day, but we go with a heart of submission to minister to everyone we can, and are in turn ministered to by the Spirit.
There are certain topics in Christian culture which are hard to broach. One of them is spiritual warfare.
The key ingredient in spiritual warfare is knowing your identity in Christ. (Eph 1:1-14). There really isn't a formula or a technique, because it isn't our power that defeats the enemy but it is God's truth. It isn't a power encounter it is a truth encounter.
In knowing this, we have been teaching our kids who they are in Christ and as a comfort to us, they really already know much of the promises they have in God. They know God loves them, made them, and protects them. For this we are thankful.
The other night, around 2am, our cell phone rang. As is our practice I answer the phones after hours, but my wife had woken up first and answered, confusedly and then hung up. The phone rang again and then I answered.
It was obviously a wrong number, and the caller was inebriated, and was saying lewd things. I hung up and turned off the cell phone.
If we do not have eyes to see, and recognize that there are spiritual aspects to life, then we could simply see this as a minor annoyance. Another possibility is that it was the enemy trying to fatigue us. If we fail to recognize that, in the morning we could be grumpy, bicker with each other, etc, which would completely distract us from glorifying God which is our chief aim.
There is a great sermon on this issue from Andy Stanley from Northpoint.org called "exposing the matrix". It is a series of well done dramas and sermons that expose the plans of the enemy. (unfortunately I can't find the link to it jsut yet, I think they took it down)
So I found myself at 2am, simply praying and praising God so that my thoughts would not stray into the arena of anything other than focusing on God, because that, is the goal of the enemy.
This is why you, as prayer partners become so important to us. That you would pray for our protection, for our strength. That we would not fail in this mission together, that as those going we would not fall victim to the many snares and would instead glorify God in whatever means He has planned for us.
We covet your prayers. Sincerely, we thank you for praying for us.
Please pray that the enemy would not hinder our visas. That the paperwork would flow and our visas would arrive in good time so that we would not have to reschedule flights.
thank you.
2/10/2007
family fun day
Since we've all been so well behaved in class lately, today we decided to have a family fun day. Everything is at least a 30 minute drive from here, and we found a place called Zuma that had batting cages, go karts, mini golf, bumper boats, slides, pizza and games.
We decided to attend on a budget. We explained to the kids "we have to make choices, and can't do everything. So this is what we can do.. and you can choose."
And so we ended up putting the kids on 1 round of mini karts.
They'd never been on them before and they LOVED them. It was one of those things that was as much fun for us as parents to watch as it was for them to drive the karts.
Our daughter drove very carefully, not wanting to bump into anything. Whereas our son drive full throttle and lapped her several times. They had smiles on so wide it was making us laugh and smile simply watching them.
We took pictures.
It might be worth saying that mini golf was a blast too, as we all got holes in one at least once, which is a family first.
We have a family tradition called a family 5. It starts when one member of the family declares "family five!" and gives a high five to someone else, who then passes it on. A few years ago at the first family five, one of the kids mentioned "but there is only four of us, so the last one to get the five should give it up to God!" So we do. It has become our little cheesy family tradition to celebrate when we've all accomplished something together as well as remembering to thank God for it.
Today the kids called a family five after completing the golf course.
One of the things we've been learning during our spiritual warfare course is that the enemy may attack your children if and so you need to pray for them and equip them with who they are in Christ.
Their schooling has provided a perfect opportunity for us to do that as they have a tradition of a book called "The important thing about ______ is ________." At the end of my son's recent book his own entry reads: "The important thing about Calvin is God made me."
Truly finding our identity in Christ, and believing that God made us as we is something that every struggles with even through adulthood. The longer car rides have afforded our family some great conversations the last few weeks.
We decided to attend on a budget. We explained to the kids "we have to make choices, and can't do everything. So this is what we can do.. and you can choose."
And so we ended up putting the kids on 1 round of mini karts.
They'd never been on them before and they LOVED them. It was one of those things that was as much fun for us as parents to watch as it was for them to drive the karts.
Our daughter drove very carefully, not wanting to bump into anything. Whereas our son drive full throttle and lapped her several times. They had smiles on so wide it was making us laugh and smile simply watching them.
We took pictures.
It might be worth saying that mini golf was a blast too, as we all got holes in one at least once, which is a family first.
We have a family tradition called a family 5. It starts when one member of the family declares "family five!" and gives a high five to someone else, who then passes it on. A few years ago at the first family five, one of the kids mentioned "but there is only four of us, so the last one to get the five should give it up to God!" So we do. It has become our little cheesy family tradition to celebrate when we've all accomplished something together as well as remembering to thank God for it.
Today the kids called a family five after completing the golf course.
One of the things we've been learning during our spiritual warfare course is that the enemy may attack your children if and so you need to pray for them and equip them with who they are in Christ.
Their schooling has provided a perfect opportunity for us to do that as they have a tradition of a book called "The important thing about ______ is ________." At the end of my son's recent book his own entry reads: "The important thing about Calvin is God made me."
Truly finding our identity in Christ, and believing that God made us as we is something that every struggles with even through adulthood. The longer car rides have afforded our family some great conversations the last few weeks.
2/05/2007
11th
feb 2 was our 11th wedding anniversary.
My wife and I have a little tradition, she plans the odd years, I plan the evens, unless it's a big year then I usually plan it.
So this year she planned our anniversary, which is no small feat when you're in a place you don't know a LOT of people, and you need to be resourceful.
She arranged baby sitting, and found a place nearby that did a little dinner theatre. It was nice to get away and spend some time laughing together. We really do laugh a lot when we're together.
The next day, the 3rd, we have some neighbors who have really quite the saga regarding their house. They've had nothing but hard times regarding the preparation of this home, battling a caved roof, legal issues, mold, etc. Many of us pitched in on Saturday to help with what we could. It was really neat to see 15 guys and gals pulling together to bring this house into repair. Of course no one saturday can do all the work, but the couple seemed very thankful at what got done.
God has us doing ministry in every aspect of our lives, and our eyes try to be open to each one.
Friday afternoon we were taking a four wheel driving course. Part of the preparation to go to the field is to train missionaries how to drive off road. It's a neat story how that class came to be, but anyway, my wife did well, and that made me very proud.
We are definitely learning a lot here. We are studying some very deep issues of spiritual vitality, interpersonal skills, and spiritual warfare.
Thank you for your prayers.
My wife and I have a little tradition, she plans the odd years, I plan the evens, unless it's a big year then I usually plan it.
So this year she planned our anniversary, which is no small feat when you're in a place you don't know a LOT of people, and you need to be resourceful.
She arranged baby sitting, and found a place nearby that did a little dinner theatre. It was nice to get away and spend some time laughing together. We really do laugh a lot when we're together.
The next day, the 3rd, we have some neighbors who have really quite the saga regarding their house. They've had nothing but hard times regarding the preparation of this home, battling a caved roof, legal issues, mold, etc. Many of us pitched in on Saturday to help with what we could. It was really neat to see 15 guys and gals pulling together to bring this house into repair. Of course no one saturday can do all the work, but the couple seemed very thankful at what got done.
God has us doing ministry in every aspect of our lives, and our eyes try to be open to each one.
Friday afternoon we were taking a four wheel driving course. Part of the preparation to go to the field is to train missionaries how to drive off road. It's a neat story how that class came to be, but anyway, my wife did well, and that made me very proud.
We are definitely learning a lot here. We are studying some very deep issues of spiritual vitality, interpersonal skills, and spiritual warfare.
Thank you for your prayers.
1/25/2007
Laughing in Class
I've been assigned the front seat in our class this week.
The speaker for the past several days wanted to use me as an example. He had me stand up. I was expecting the typical response when someone sees me standing close to them for the first time. It came.
His head went up, and back as he tried to match my eyes.
"Woah, you are a big boy aintcha!"
The class chuckled.
He asked me to shake his hand. Now I've been raised to shake hands with a firm grip. And that's what I did. He mentioned "you see Chad has a firm grip, it shows he's a manly man. It communicates in our greeting something."
"Now what if I did this?" he said,
he reached over, and we bumped and rubbed foreheads.
"Or this"
he held my hand and walked with me.
"Or this"
his hand briefly touched my palm.
"or this"
and we interlocked two knuckles and then snapped.
Apparently no snapping sound is the same as a weak handshake in America.
The class sort of laughed each time he did different things which may or may not have been embarrassing.
Honestly, the funny thing to me, was that none of it was embarrassing. In fact, for a while now I've been considering the fact that I feel often like hugging people, and the only reason I don't is because I feel it might make them uncomfortable to have a man my size, hug them.
It was a good class. Challenging, but good.
Before walking into this entire calling, I really felt as if I didn't have a lot of experience. I consider myself naive.
But my prayer to God during this training has been that He would help my heart and my head learn the things He has to teach me.
Each day, when I'm grappling with a hard issue or thought, an example from my life comes to mind, it jsut sort of pops in there, and I see it in a whole new light.
It is amazing to me, that a memory long since forgotten, can surface, to teach your heart the truth of something the teacher is trying to express. IT is doubly impressive when you realize you hadn't thought of that experience in that way before and you gain a new insight.
I boast in the Lord here, because it isn't mean recalling these memories but it is instead the Holy Spirit who brings these to mind, and it is very encouraging to know that God is taking a personal interest in our training in a daily way.
Take Care!
thanks again
The speaker for the past several days wanted to use me as an example. He had me stand up. I was expecting the typical response when someone sees me standing close to them for the first time. It came.
His head went up, and back as he tried to match my eyes.
"Woah, you are a big boy aintcha!"
The class chuckled.
He asked me to shake his hand. Now I've been raised to shake hands with a firm grip. And that's what I did. He mentioned "you see Chad has a firm grip, it shows he's a manly man. It communicates in our greeting something."
"Now what if I did this?" he said,
he reached over, and we bumped and rubbed foreheads.
"Or this"
he held my hand and walked with me.
"Or this"
his hand briefly touched my palm.
"or this"
and we interlocked two knuckles and then snapped.
Apparently no snapping sound is the same as a weak handshake in America.
The class sort of laughed each time he did different things which may or may not have been embarrassing.
Honestly, the funny thing to me, was that none of it was embarrassing. In fact, for a while now I've been considering the fact that I feel often like hugging people, and the only reason I don't is because I feel it might make them uncomfortable to have a man my size, hug them.
It was a good class. Challenging, but good.
Before walking into this entire calling, I really felt as if I didn't have a lot of experience. I consider myself naive.
But my prayer to God during this training has been that He would help my heart and my head learn the things He has to teach me.
Each day, when I'm grappling with a hard issue or thought, an example from my life comes to mind, it jsut sort of pops in there, and I see it in a whole new light.
It is amazing to me, that a memory long since forgotten, can surface, to teach your heart the truth of something the teacher is trying to express. IT is doubly impressive when you realize you hadn't thought of that experience in that way before and you gain a new insight.
I boast in the Lord here, because it isn't mean recalling these memories but it is instead the Holy Spirit who brings these to mind, and it is very encouraging to know that God is taking a personal interest in our training in a daily way.
Take Care!
thanks again
Mana
Training is going well. There are a lot of issues and concepts required as preparation to go and be quality representives of Christ and America. I'm grateful that we have this training available to us and it's really shaping us and challenging us, preparing us and encouraging us.
I'm specifically not going into detail about what is being taught for the primary reason that some of it requires deep processing, which doesn't lend itself to a blog format.
One of the interesting quirks of this campus is that people donate things. When people donate, they donate whatever their heart tells them to, and so these odds emails pop up from time to time.
For example, every day there is a table that has free, day old bread on it. We've had some very good bagles and sourdough the past few days because someone(s) keep donating bread. It's great!
There is a boutique where you can pick up free items. It is very much like a thrift store, used shoes, and clothing. Items which are very useful when you have a need.
Acclimating to this culture of supply is one of the fun unexpected quirks of living this lifestyle.
The most interesting email I've gotten recently read:
I gotta say, I didn't even know there was such a thing, but I'll be very interested in attending if my schedule permits!
I'm specifically not going into detail about what is being taught for the primary reason that some of it requires deep processing, which doesn't lend itself to a blog format.
One of the interesting quirks of this campus is that people donate things. When people donate, they donate whatever their heart tells them to, and so these odds emails pop up from time to time.
For example, every day there is a table that has free, day old bread on it. We've had some very good bagles and sourdough the past few days because someone(s) keep donating bread. It's great!
There is a boutique where you can pick up free items. It is very much like a thrift store, used shoes, and clothing. Items which are very useful when you have a need.
Acclimating to this culture of supply is one of the fun unexpected quirks of living this lifestyle.
The most interesting email I've gotten recently read:
Come enjoy a program by Phyllis Heil from Hickory, NC
International Whistling Entertainer of the year 2005 & 2006
I gotta say, I didn't even know there was such a thing, but I'll be very interested in attending if my schedule permits!
1/21/2007
Going To Church
one of our assignments during our intercultural training, is to attend an "ethnic" church. Our family assignment was a local Baptist church. We entered as the only white skinned people in the church.
I should start by saying, I absolutely loved it!
The approach I am taking to developing a relationship would be first, to be seen, to be known, and to participate. I entered the church with my family with the attitude of being involved, and I believe a smile, a good attitude and humility can go a long way to fitting in. I didn't approach with the idea that I knew anything, and that I would suspect judgement on everything I saw until I could come to a conclusion with enough data on it. I greeted people I met with a smile, and if they offered their hand I shook it. I found it a welcoming place and I enjoyed the service greatly.
I was looking for ways to serve the church specifically during announcements. Honestly I didn't see any multimedia involved and therefore instantly realized my technical skills would not be helpful in serving. So I listened for other areas. One announcement was that there was a canned food drive coming up and they would appreciate contributions. That is a very easy way that I can demonstrate my desire to serve. Until I find out their need though, it'll be hard to find a deeper way to serve.
I observed many things using the attitude that my learning is my responsibility. I noticed the women wore very decorative hats. This is something that I am not used to and I found it very pleasant. I think my new favorite word is "glory" as pronounced by the Reverend Johnson. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire service. It has been a long while since I've enjoyed going to church that immensely. I enjoyed the flow of the service, the way that singing, praising, worship, thankfulness and prayer intermingled in a community sharing way. It was all I could do to keep from embarrassing myself by belting out an Amen here or there. I felt controlling myself until I got the flow of the service was the best idea, but by the end I was quietly muttering my "Amen"s.
I enjoyed how the reverend took the time to pray before his sermon quietly as the choir led us in song. Regardless of the pomp, I felt he had the time to truly seek out what the Spirit would have him say. Ironically, the two main themes of the sermon were seemingly directed at me. The symbolic theme of "shoes" was humorous since I had forgotten my nice dress shoes and socks and was thinking "I was hoping this whole morning no one would look down at my shoes". The second "faithfulness" echoes something I had recently blogged, and that is "God is faithful to us, but He asks us to be faithful to Him." At a time when I feel God's faithfulness is at an all time high to my family, and I've been encouraged to be faithful in return by my personal study, I realize, that the emotional approach to this service gave me an experience that will fortify me to stand strong for God in the near future.
There was one brief moment of culture shock and that was it. When we sat down, my daughter said "why is everyone wearing black?" And then my son said, in earshot of everyone near us "black is the worst color." My thoughts were, "oh please son, they're gonna think you got that from your daddy." Graciously God allowed him to continue, "because it covers up all the other colors they're wearing." The lady in front of us turned around and said to my children, "See honey, I'm wearing green underneath." It was a good moment. In California, everyone is very worried about being politically correct. But in this church, one lady took an innocent comment as jsut that, an innocent comment. My children don't see skin color, and she knew it. They saw coat color. They saw they were in red and white and pink and no one else was. God bless them. Between my shoes and that comment I could have been very nervous, but I wasn't, and that's because I felt the Spirit of God in that place.
After the service we shared our observations. My wife noted that in some ways the church was more formal than our Calvary home, in other ways less. For example, everyone wore suits, and the Reverend wore a robe, people were only permitted to enter during certain breaks if they were late. But on the other hand, people could sing out songs as they felt led, people could stand, sit, shout Amen, and hold hands during prayer.
My daughter asked "I didn't understand why they said "Amen" at the end of every sentence." I told her, "Amen" means I agree and that when the pastor ends a sentence with "AMEN?" he is inviting us to agree with him out loud about what he jsut said. He's saying "God is good, do you agree with me?" "AMEN! Yes we agree with you!"
She turned to my mom "hey mom, tonight we should have spaghetti, Amen?"
and my son replied "Tomorrow we should have pizza for dinner amen?"
At one point in the service, one of our co-visitors little boy wandered free up the isle, up in front of the reverend around towards the side and off into a corner. It was hilarious. A single little white child 4 years old wandering free, feeling no nervousness or lack of fitting in.
They called the children up so the Rev. could speak with them. My kids went up with only a small amount of prodding and then were guided off after the talk to their children's thing. They made friends in there pretty easily.
We were definitely aware that we didn't quite fit in completely, but we felt as if we belonged. It will take a few weeks to learn the traditions, but we'll get there. As we plan to return. The church was very friendly, and I think that feeling was much more not knowing the traditions of the church and much less the color of our skin.
I should start by saying, I absolutely loved it!
The approach I am taking to developing a relationship would be first, to be seen, to be known, and to participate. I entered the church with my family with the attitude of being involved, and I believe a smile, a good attitude and humility can go a long way to fitting in. I didn't approach with the idea that I knew anything, and that I would suspect judgement on everything I saw until I could come to a conclusion with enough data on it. I greeted people I met with a smile, and if they offered their hand I shook it. I found it a welcoming place and I enjoyed the service greatly.
I was looking for ways to serve the church specifically during announcements. Honestly I didn't see any multimedia involved and therefore instantly realized my technical skills would not be helpful in serving. So I listened for other areas. One announcement was that there was a canned food drive coming up and they would appreciate contributions. That is a very easy way that I can demonstrate my desire to serve. Until I find out their need though, it'll be hard to find a deeper way to serve.
I observed many things using the attitude that my learning is my responsibility. I noticed the women wore very decorative hats. This is something that I am not used to and I found it very pleasant. I think my new favorite word is "glory" as pronounced by the Reverend Johnson. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire service. It has been a long while since I've enjoyed going to church that immensely. I enjoyed the flow of the service, the way that singing, praising, worship, thankfulness and prayer intermingled in a community sharing way. It was all I could do to keep from embarrassing myself by belting out an Amen here or there. I felt controlling myself until I got the flow of the service was the best idea, but by the end I was quietly muttering my "Amen"s.
I enjoyed how the reverend took the time to pray before his sermon quietly as the choir led us in song. Regardless of the pomp, I felt he had the time to truly seek out what the Spirit would have him say. Ironically, the two main themes of the sermon were seemingly directed at me. The symbolic theme of "shoes" was humorous since I had forgotten my nice dress shoes and socks and was thinking "I was hoping this whole morning no one would look down at my shoes". The second "faithfulness" echoes something I had recently blogged, and that is "God is faithful to us, but He asks us to be faithful to Him." At a time when I feel God's faithfulness is at an all time high to my family, and I've been encouraged to be faithful in return by my personal study, I realize, that the emotional approach to this service gave me an experience that will fortify me to stand strong for God in the near future.
There was one brief moment of culture shock and that was it. When we sat down, my daughter said "why is everyone wearing black?" And then my son said, in earshot of everyone near us "black is the worst color." My thoughts were, "oh please son, they're gonna think you got that from your daddy." Graciously God allowed him to continue, "because it covers up all the other colors they're wearing." The lady in front of us turned around and said to my children, "See honey, I'm wearing green underneath." It was a good moment. In California, everyone is very worried about being politically correct. But in this church, one lady took an innocent comment as jsut that, an innocent comment. My children don't see skin color, and she knew it. They saw coat color. They saw they were in red and white and pink and no one else was. God bless them. Between my shoes and that comment I could have been very nervous, but I wasn't, and that's because I felt the Spirit of God in that place.
After the service we shared our observations. My wife noted that in some ways the church was more formal than our Calvary home, in other ways less. For example, everyone wore suits, and the Reverend wore a robe, people were only permitted to enter during certain breaks if they were late. But on the other hand, people could sing out songs as they felt led, people could stand, sit, shout Amen, and hold hands during prayer.
My daughter asked "I didn't understand why they said "Amen" at the end of every sentence." I told her, "Amen" means I agree and that when the pastor ends a sentence with "AMEN?" he is inviting us to agree with him out loud about what he jsut said. He's saying "God is good, do you agree with me?" "AMEN! Yes we agree with you!"
She turned to my mom "hey mom, tonight we should have spaghetti, Amen?"
and my son replied "Tomorrow we should have pizza for dinner amen?"
At one point in the service, one of our co-visitors little boy wandered free up the isle, up in front of the reverend around towards the side and off into a corner. It was hilarious. A single little white child 4 years old wandering free, feeling no nervousness or lack of fitting in.
They called the children up so the Rev. could speak with them. My kids went up with only a small amount of prodding and then were guided off after the talk to their children's thing. They made friends in there pretty easily.
We were definitely aware that we didn't quite fit in completely, but we felt as if we belonged. It will take a few weeks to learn the traditions, but we'll get there. As we plan to return. The church was very friendly, and I think that feeling was much more not knowing the traditions of the church and much less the color of our skin.
1/18/2007
Training Progress
yesterday training was very interesting. We were given the assignment of making up rules for our cultures, simulating those cultures as small groups, and then visiting other cultures and hosting other cultures.
It taught us a lot of about how easy it is to view differences as negatives.
In some ways we didn't fall prey to the negative impressions but in other ways we did. Honestly this exercise encouraged us more that we're prepared for this than it did to discouraged us that we are not mentally prepared for culture differences.
This morning, the kids waited at the bus stop in the freezing cold for 20 minutes, until we realized "perhaps the bus isn't coming"
We called the school, "sir, the school is closed today" in a polite southern drawl.
What now? We still have class to go to. This never happens in the silicon valley.
So today we're attempting to juggle watching the kids with both of us in class and giving our 8 minute oral presentations.
The phone jsut rang, grown-up school is starting an hour late, but they are working on something for the school age kids. So that is good.
Another day, another way to remain flexible.
Being flexible takes different amounts of energy for different personality types. Probably the most important part of being a missionary is to remain flexible. You come across and live in tight quarters with people from all over the U.S. here, and all over the World in PNG.
It taught us a lot of about how easy it is to view differences as negatives.
In some ways we didn't fall prey to the negative impressions but in other ways we did. Honestly this exercise encouraged us more that we're prepared for this than it did to discouraged us that we are not mentally prepared for culture differences.
This morning, the kids waited at the bus stop in the freezing cold for 20 minutes, until we realized "perhaps the bus isn't coming"
We called the school, "sir, the school is closed today" in a polite southern drawl.
What now? We still have class to go to. This never happens in the silicon valley.
So today we're attempting to juggle watching the kids with both of us in class and giving our 8 minute oral presentations.
The phone jsut rang, grown-up school is starting an hour late, but they are working on something for the school age kids. So that is good.
Another day, another way to remain flexible.
Being flexible takes different amounts of energy for different personality types. Probably the most important part of being a missionary is to remain flexible. You come across and live in tight quarters with people from all over the U.S. here, and all over the World in PNG.
1/14/2007
We're in N.C.
We made it to North Carolina!
We're about to head out and try and get oriented, but thus far the view is beautiful (we came in at night).
We've moved out of California successfully thanks to the help and prayers of you all.
We have a small 2 bedroom apartment that we're acclimating to and unpacking into.
Thus far this place feels like a little cabin in the woods, Arnold, CA or perhaps even up in Oregon.
The trip here was guided by God the whole way.
When we pulled up to the airport at 8:30am, nearly 2 hours early for our flight, we found out our flight was cancelled.
We were able to book passage with seats near each other on another flight leaving 15 minutes later. Within 20 minutes that flight was empty. Had we not arrived earlier than expected, we'd have missed our connection.
In Dallas we had to rush to our connecting gate, but we made it in time to board, and in enough time to buy some food for what our kids dubbed as "linner" which we later ate on the plane.
As we were boarding I noticed my daughter's boarding pass had the wrong name on it, we were stopped at the gate, but luckily this was remedied in under a minute, and we got on. My daughter was slightly confused when I jokingly said to her "for the next ten minutes your name is Rachel Estrada."
On the plane the kids did great. The next mishap was the flight attendant spilling hot coffee all over my leg. Apparently her pitcher was leaky. I kindly informed her that I don't drink coffee, and requested the next spillage be decaf. (-;
Once off the plane we made our way to the luggage area and found that our ride was there and had already picked up our bags and put them on a cart. We loaded it up into a suburban with a trailer, they had cool water in a chest in the truck waiting for us, and they took us to our new apartment.
What a great greeting! One of our luggage boxes was damaged but nothing was missing.
Overall, it was a good trip. What makes it good, is our attitudes. What makes our attitudes is the knowledge that these trivial things don't matter a whole bunch, but how you react to them does.
Thanks for praying for us.
God is faithful, very very faithful.
We're about to head out and try and get oriented, but thus far the view is beautiful (we came in at night).
We've moved out of California successfully thanks to the help and prayers of you all.
We have a small 2 bedroom apartment that we're acclimating to and unpacking into.
Thus far this place feels like a little cabin in the woods, Arnold, CA or perhaps even up in Oregon.
The trip here was guided by God the whole way.
When we pulled up to the airport at 8:30am, nearly 2 hours early for our flight, we found out our flight was cancelled.
We were able to book passage with seats near each other on another flight leaving 15 minutes later. Within 20 minutes that flight was empty. Had we not arrived earlier than expected, we'd have missed our connection.
In Dallas we had to rush to our connecting gate, but we made it in time to board, and in enough time to buy some food for what our kids dubbed as "linner" which we later ate on the plane.
As we were boarding I noticed my daughter's boarding pass had the wrong name on it, we were stopped at the gate, but luckily this was remedied in under a minute, and we got on. My daughter was slightly confused when I jokingly said to her "for the next ten minutes your name is Rachel Estrada."
On the plane the kids did great. The next mishap was the flight attendant spilling hot coffee all over my leg. Apparently her pitcher was leaky. I kindly informed her that I don't drink coffee, and requested the next spillage be decaf. (-;
Once off the plane we made our way to the luggage area and found that our ride was there and had already picked up our bags and put them on a cart. We loaded it up into a suburban with a trailer, they had cool water in a chest in the truck waiting for us, and they took us to our new apartment.
What a great greeting! One of our luggage boxes was damaged but nothing was missing.
Overall, it was a good trip. What makes it good, is our attitudes. What makes our attitudes is the knowledge that these trivial things don't matter a whole bunch, but how you react to them does.
Thanks for praying for us.
God is faithful, very very faithful.
1/10/2007
Movin' Out
wow, what a crazy 24 hours.
we've moved out of the house after a decent bit of energy.
Remaining to do:
-ship our belongings to PNG
-clean up our garage
-final walkthrough with our landlord
PLEASE pray that the trucking company arrives in time. Weather has already made them miss their schedule by 2 days. They are scheduled to arrive at 9am friday, and that is about the absolute latest they can arrive.
One of the things we have to do before leaving for PNG is sell my car.
My car has been a reliable little Ford, but I have been treating it like what it was, a temporary stop gap. I've put new tires on it, new radiator, refreshed the A/C, kept fluids in it, but did the bare minimum that I could.
IT is a 1998 Ford Contour with 70k miles on it. Not my favorite car. But it was cheap.
Tomorrow I intended to sell it to a used car lot, but alas that shall never be.
I had a doctor appointment this morning, and last night I noticed the battery light was on. I had replaced the battery in the summer of this year so I assumed I could fix the problem later, perhaps with a trickle charge.
I went to the doctor's and my ipod kept cutting out.
Then after the doctor's (an appointment which was completely unecessary) I drove towards work.
I say towards because I didn't make it.
My ipod wasn't dying out, it was my stereo. On the highway, my electrical started blinking in and out and I suddenly lost all RPM's. I wasn't accelerating even though my foot was all the way down on the gas. So I tried to get off the highway. Feeling it unwise to cut off a big rig without having any way to speed up, but seeing a hill coming up and knowing I had to get to the shoulder, I did my best, and got to an "okay" spot. I stopped and hit my hazards, which apparently weren't showing because the electrical was failing. Smoke proceeded from under the hood.
Guessing the battery died while I was driving, meant that my alternator wasn't working. I called AAA.
WE had a premium membership for many years, two of them in fact, until I realized that I never used mine. So we renewed only 1 this year under my wife's name. I kept her expired card, she kept her original. Thankfully AAA was benevolent and towed me for free.. within 5 miles of where I work.
"Transmission's out." said the driver who arrived surprisingly fast. I doubted his diagnoses.
We were already driving, getting on the highway, and the driver says "where to within 5 miles or else I have to charge you."
I replied " a junk yard." he explained he couldn't do that. Given all of a whole ten seconds to think, I defaulted to "My dad's work." Knowing full well that he'd say yes without even thinking, and be the most helpful person in this situation. I gave a moment's thought to the burden I might be posing on him, and that was it. I knew he wouldn't mind at all, if anything I minded giving him yet another thing to have to deal with today. That's how my dad is, he'd drop anything he was doing to help family.
So, 10 seconds from his parking lot, I call him on the cell, which was choppy, and all he heard was "coming by your work....in a towtruck." and he replied "okay, yes." I'm rather sure he didn't know what he was saying yes to, and I'm sure it didn't matter.
The driver was very helpful, and talkative, and soon left.
Here I was a 33 year old man, about to embark on this huge task which will take me away from my dad, and yet, I was coming to him much like I had when I was 16 and I wrecked his truck. Relying on dad again to help me with a vehicle.
It felt good to know I had that safety net. It felt scary to know I would soon be without that safety net nearby.
He lent me his truck to get into work, and as I drove off the song on the radio lyric said,
" Daddy's always been there for me,
From T-Ball to touchdowns.
Fixed my car an' fixed my heart,
When they've been broken down"
(the rest of the song didn't really apply but it was Trent Tomlinson's 'One Wing in the Fire')
And I thought to myself about how this day could have gone, how worse it could have been. Really I'm not put out or upset or anything.
We have a lot of things to do this week, and today, final details to handle. And yes, this threw a monkey wrench into the works.
Finally the day had worn down, and we got into bed.
PHEW! we did it... and then... our daughter began throwing up at midnight.
BUT praise God, we're in our hotel room, with only smaller little things left to do before our plane flight out.
During this time of stress God has somehow protected us from feeling overwhelmed, and has enabled us to get everything done.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
we've moved out of the house after a decent bit of energy.
Remaining to do:
-ship our belongings to PNG
-clean up our garage
-final walkthrough with our landlord
PLEASE pray that the trucking company arrives in time. Weather has already made them miss their schedule by 2 days. They are scheduled to arrive at 9am friday, and that is about the absolute latest they can arrive.
One of the things we have to do before leaving for PNG is sell my car.
My car has been a reliable little Ford, but I have been treating it like what it was, a temporary stop gap. I've put new tires on it, new radiator, refreshed the A/C, kept fluids in it, but did the bare minimum that I could.
IT is a 1998 Ford Contour with 70k miles on it. Not my favorite car. But it was cheap.
Tomorrow I intended to sell it to a used car lot, but alas that shall never be.
I had a doctor appointment this morning, and last night I noticed the battery light was on. I had replaced the battery in the summer of this year so I assumed I could fix the problem later, perhaps with a trickle charge.
I went to the doctor's and my ipod kept cutting out.
Then after the doctor's (an appointment which was completely unecessary) I drove towards work.
I say towards because I didn't make it.
My ipod wasn't dying out, it was my stereo. On the highway, my electrical started blinking in and out and I suddenly lost all RPM's. I wasn't accelerating even though my foot was all the way down on the gas. So I tried to get off the highway. Feeling it unwise to cut off a big rig without having any way to speed up, but seeing a hill coming up and knowing I had to get to the shoulder, I did my best, and got to an "okay" spot. I stopped and hit my hazards, which apparently weren't showing because the electrical was failing. Smoke proceeded from under the hood.
Guessing the battery died while I was driving, meant that my alternator wasn't working. I called AAA.
WE had a premium membership for many years, two of them in fact, until I realized that I never used mine. So we renewed only 1 this year under my wife's name. I kept her expired card, she kept her original. Thankfully AAA was benevolent and towed me for free.. within 5 miles of where I work.
"Transmission's out." said the driver who arrived surprisingly fast. I doubted his diagnoses.
We were already driving, getting on the highway, and the driver says "where to within 5 miles or else I have to charge you."
I replied " a junk yard." he explained he couldn't do that. Given all of a whole ten seconds to think, I defaulted to "My dad's work." Knowing full well that he'd say yes without even thinking, and be the most helpful person in this situation. I gave a moment's thought to the burden I might be posing on him, and that was it. I knew he wouldn't mind at all, if anything I minded giving him yet another thing to have to deal with today. That's how my dad is, he'd drop anything he was doing to help family.
So, 10 seconds from his parking lot, I call him on the cell, which was choppy, and all he heard was "coming by your work....in a towtruck." and he replied "okay, yes." I'm rather sure he didn't know what he was saying yes to, and I'm sure it didn't matter.
The driver was very helpful, and talkative, and soon left.
Here I was a 33 year old man, about to embark on this huge task which will take me away from my dad, and yet, I was coming to him much like I had when I was 16 and I wrecked his truck. Relying on dad again to help me with a vehicle.
It felt good to know I had that safety net. It felt scary to know I would soon be without that safety net nearby.
He lent me his truck to get into work, and as I drove off the song on the radio lyric said,
" Daddy's always been there for me,
From T-Ball to touchdowns.
Fixed my car an' fixed my heart,
When they've been broken down"
(the rest of the song didn't really apply but it was Trent Tomlinson's 'One Wing in the Fire')
And I thought to myself about how this day could have gone, how worse it could have been. Really I'm not put out or upset or anything.
We have a lot of things to do this week, and today, final details to handle. And yes, this threw a monkey wrench into the works.
Finally the day had worn down, and we got into bed.
PHEW! we did it... and then... our daughter began throwing up at midnight.
BUT praise God, we're in our hotel room, with only smaller little things left to do before our plane flight out.
During this time of stress God has somehow protected us from feeling overwhelmed, and has enabled us to get everything done.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
1/05/2007
Going Away Party
Our adult congregation hosted a nice little "going away party" for us tonight. I can tell you I was really hoping it wouldn't be a tear jerking kind of time. And it wasn't. It was a good night of fellowshiping, talking, and trying to tell people how truly excited we are about what God is having us do.
There is something very faith building when you know that God has called you to do something. You have no idea of your immediate future but you know you're where God wants.
Thankfully no one asked me to do a speech. Although, if they had, this is the speech I would have done, impromptu of course (-;. Here is the abridged version, sans the jokes that would only work in person.
--Ten years ago, my wife suggested we attend an "adult congregation" class. I replied "Sunday school is for kids. Why would I want to go?" But I went because she made good sense and I was hoping it would be a way to make common friendships as she was new to the Bay Area.
Over the years there have been a lot of good times together. The better part of my character has been shaped there in large part by the experiences I've had with people in this room. Looking back I can see how God intended me to walk through those doors into this class and how He has used it to His glory.
The interesting thing, is that jsut as God planned for us to come through those doors to join you, He also planned way back when, for us to walk out those doors to leave you.
It could seem like a sad thing. It does feel sad to realize you won't be spending as much time face to face as you're used to, but our eyes are set on God's kingdom. And that's why this isn't a goodbye party, it's a going away party. We're going away, but it's not goodbye.
Everyone here has contributed to God's glory in the very fact that we've spent time with you and seen God through you in some way or another and have been inspired to give back to God because of that.
This is fellowship, this is what God intended for all of us to do. To lift each other up.
We're excited about the stories we're going to share that God is doing in our lives. And we're very excited to hear the praises everyone of you have and will lift up to God for the rest of our lives together.
There is something very faith building when you know that God has called you to do something. You have no idea of your immediate future but you know you're where God wants.
Thankfully no one asked me to do a speech. Although, if they had, this is the speech I would have done, impromptu of course (-;. Here is the abridged version, sans the jokes that would only work in person.
--Ten years ago, my wife suggested we attend an "adult congregation" class. I replied "Sunday school is for kids. Why would I want to go?" But I went because she made good sense and I was hoping it would be a way to make common friendships as she was new to the Bay Area.
Over the years there have been a lot of good times together. The better part of my character has been shaped there in large part by the experiences I've had with people in this room. Looking back I can see how God intended me to walk through those doors into this class and how He has used it to His glory.
The interesting thing, is that jsut as God planned for us to come through those doors to join you, He also planned way back when, for us to walk out those doors to leave you.
It could seem like a sad thing. It does feel sad to realize you won't be spending as much time face to face as you're used to, but our eyes are set on God's kingdom. And that's why this isn't a goodbye party, it's a going away party. We're going away, but it's not goodbye.
Everyone here has contributed to God's glory in the very fact that we've spent time with you and seen God through you in some way or another and have been inspired to give back to God because of that.
This is fellowship, this is what God intended for all of us to do. To lift each other up.
We're excited about the stories we're going to share that God is doing in our lives. And we're very excited to hear the praises everyone of you have and will lift up to God for the rest of our lives together.
1/04/2007
Happy New Year
if you're not on our email list and want to be, email owens@gimpel.tv
check out http://www.gimpel.tv/newsletter
Today we added a google earth movie and a PNG F.A.Q/Stats that I threw together for Kendal who is going to present to our childrens' classes next week.
Well we're packing. For weeks we've been packing but now we're in the: furniture leaving, boxes everywhere, stage. It's great! WOW there's THAT much dust back there? hehe.
Last night we came across a really nice lady who's a bit down on her luck financially and happened to be looking for precisely what we were giving away. Couches, dining room table, and a computer desk.
(yes it is true, in the silicon valley, down-on-your-luck means that you own a cell phone, and a computer, but no couch. (-: )
The shipping company is supposed to come on Jan 10 to pick up our belongings going to PNG. From there, each member of this family will be living out of 2 suitcases each until we see our stuff again.
WE fly on Jan 13 to Waxhaw, North Carolina
We train to learn some intercultural and technical skills.
We fly to PNG on March 17!
There are so many things to do between now and then that we have to keep a clipboard jsut to keep track of them.
In the middle of it, we're trying to make time to spend with the kids and with family and friends to help everyone ease into the transition.
Please pray for a smooth transition for everyone.
We are seeing the kids needing a little more attention and care right now, they don't realize it, but we can see they need an extra hug or cuddle time or lego making time or whatever and it's because they see things going into boxes. They really are brave and resilient. Please pray for their emotional state as they transition. Especially Calvin he's very sensitive at 5.
Right now, we need coverage in prayer, it's very easy to get stressed out with the packing, then get saddened at the goodbyes and be emotionally spent right around the time our kids will need us most.
We believe that our kids will respond to any situation with the same attitude and energy that we exude, they reflect us. So we need to avoid the temptation of short tempers, avoid the desire to do all those things that one does when you get pressured.
Thank you very much for your prayer.
I'm hoping to keep the blog up while in North Carolina and I am attempting to make a photo/video travel log.
check out http://www.gimpel.tv/newsletter
Today we added a google earth movie and a PNG F.A.Q/Stats that I threw together for Kendal who is going to present to our childrens' classes next week.
Well we're packing. For weeks we've been packing but now we're in the: furniture leaving, boxes everywhere, stage. It's great! WOW there's THAT much dust back there? hehe.
Last night we came across a really nice lady who's a bit down on her luck financially and happened to be looking for precisely what we were giving away. Couches, dining room table, and a computer desk.
(yes it is true, in the silicon valley, down-on-your-luck means that you own a cell phone, and a computer, but no couch. (-: )
The shipping company is supposed to come on Jan 10 to pick up our belongings going to PNG. From there, each member of this family will be living out of 2 suitcases each until we see our stuff again.
WE fly on Jan 13 to Waxhaw, North Carolina
We train to learn some intercultural and technical skills.
We fly to PNG on March 17!
There are so many things to do between now and then that we have to keep a clipboard jsut to keep track of them.
In the middle of it, we're trying to make time to spend with the kids and with family and friends to help everyone ease into the transition.
Please pray for a smooth transition for everyone.
We are seeing the kids needing a little more attention and care right now, they don't realize it, but we can see they need an extra hug or cuddle time or lego making time or whatever and it's because they see things going into boxes. They really are brave and resilient. Please pray for their emotional state as they transition. Especially Calvin he's very sensitive at 5.
Right now, we need coverage in prayer, it's very easy to get stressed out with the packing, then get saddened at the goodbyes and be emotionally spent right around the time our kids will need us most.
We believe that our kids will respond to any situation with the same attitude and energy that we exude, they reflect us. So we need to avoid the temptation of short tempers, avoid the desire to do all those things that one does when you get pressured.
Thank you very much for your prayer.
I'm hoping to keep the blog up while in North Carolina and I am attempting to make a photo/video travel log.
12/26/2006
Merry Christmas
What a great Christmas we had! We were able to see a lot of friends and family and host a full house for several days in the midst of packing everything up.
You can't really ask for a better "last christmas in the States (for a while)".
Thanks to everyone here and more, we are currently at 101% of funding! What a great Christmas present.
Our PNG plane tickets arrived in the mail.
We are expecting the shipping company to arrive January 10th, to haul our belongings to Papua New Guinea.
We are moving out January 13.
We have tickets in hand for Waxhaw, North Carolina for 8 weeks of training and then we're leaving for PNG in March.
101% sounds like an exciting number, and it is! But there are numbers and then there are numbers.
I am cautioned when sharing the "inner workings of mission finances" and I'm not sure really why. I've heard the advice, and honestly if I get in trouble I'll probably get more cautious in what I share.
But again, my intention here is to demystify missions. I've been raised in the church and I've held many of the same misconceptions about missions as many people have. This entire process is a huge eye opener to me.
See even though we're told "you can go once you get 100% of support" the truth is, you really should be higher than 100% of "promised commitment". There is the promise, and then there is the actual. People are people and they sometimes forget, or their circumstances change and the funding you planned on doesn't come in.
A true miracle would be if we received 100% of the commitment. 100% equals the budget it takes for us to live in PNG and it's a very stripped down budget. The common question is "what happens to the extra?" 100% means that we've reached 100% of the comitted support required by our budget. In a perfect world any extra would go towards unexpected costs, towards immediate needs, or into savings for future needs (such as vehicles and gas, which we have not budgeted for since we do not own a vehicle over there yet). However in a realist's world, sometimes accounts dip under 100% support on a month by month basis. Sometimes the funds didn't come in, and sometimes emergencies required straying from the budget. Missionaries tend to play a lot of catchup, which is why working for an organization who can afford to allow you to play catchup. They have been burned in the past by this though, which is why they require 100% before being allowed to go to the field these days.
If one dips too low, to often, they are encouraged to return and do more partnership development (fund raising).
So we gleefully tell you, we're at 101%, and we wouldn't shy away from being at 110% before we depart, the extra money will go to cover the eventual loss we expect over time. We do expect to see a few drop offs as churches change and people age.
Glory to God, this is all in His hands. And miraculously, it's been chiefly through individuals. That's unheard of really. Most missionaries depend on churches. In our scenario, each and every person is a major player in getting and keeping us in PNG.
So Thank YOU! and Merry Christmas to your house!
Christ the Lord be glorified forever and ever!
You can't really ask for a better "last christmas in the States (for a while)".
Thanks to everyone here and more, we are currently at 101% of funding! What a great Christmas present.
Our PNG plane tickets arrived in the mail.
We are expecting the shipping company to arrive January 10th, to haul our belongings to Papua New Guinea.
We are moving out January 13.
We have tickets in hand for Waxhaw, North Carolina for 8 weeks of training and then we're leaving for PNG in March.
101% sounds like an exciting number, and it is! But there are numbers and then there are numbers.
I am cautioned when sharing the "inner workings of mission finances" and I'm not sure really why. I've heard the advice, and honestly if I get in trouble I'll probably get more cautious in what I share.
But again, my intention here is to demystify missions. I've been raised in the church and I've held many of the same misconceptions about missions as many people have. This entire process is a huge eye opener to me.
See even though we're told "you can go once you get 100% of support" the truth is, you really should be higher than 100% of "promised commitment". There is the promise, and then there is the actual. People are people and they sometimes forget, or their circumstances change and the funding you planned on doesn't come in.
A true miracle would be if we received 100% of the commitment. 100% equals the budget it takes for us to live in PNG and it's a very stripped down budget. The common question is "what happens to the extra?" 100% means that we've reached 100% of the comitted support required by our budget. In a perfect world any extra would go towards unexpected costs, towards immediate needs, or into savings for future needs (such as vehicles and gas, which we have not budgeted for since we do not own a vehicle over there yet). However in a realist's world, sometimes accounts dip under 100% support on a month by month basis. Sometimes the funds didn't come in, and sometimes emergencies required straying from the budget. Missionaries tend to play a lot of catchup, which is why working for an organization who can afford to allow you to play catchup. They have been burned in the past by this though, which is why they require 100% before being allowed to go to the field these days.
If one dips too low, to often, they are encouraged to return and do more partnership development (fund raising).
So we gleefully tell you, we're at 101%, and we wouldn't shy away from being at 110% before we depart, the extra money will go to cover the eventual loss we expect over time. We do expect to see a few drop offs as churches change and people age.
Glory to God, this is all in His hands. And miraculously, it's been chiefly through individuals. That's unheard of really. Most missionaries depend on churches. In our scenario, each and every person is a major player in getting and keeping us in PNG.
So Thank YOU! and Merry Christmas to your house!
Christ the Lord be glorified forever and ever!
12/16/2006
Health Update
For those that have been praying.
My son had tubes put in his ears, and his adenoids removed yesterday around 1pm. The procedure went smoothly. His adenoids were very large.
He's almost back to his normal self, except he's been unable to hold down solids but he's working through it. What a trooper, was calm the whole time.
We got great care. This had God's hands on it from start to finish:
-we needed him in quick, the doctor got him in 3 days later because he was sympathetic to our cause.
-the anesthesiologist (sp?) had done several volunteer global short term trips himself and even was able to compare notes with my wife on certain places. He was GREAT with kids, a very pleasing bedside manner.
-that time of day the recovery room was empty so we got focussed attention.
-after we got home, my wife, who wasn't feeling great, finally took a moment to realize she had strep. We were able to get the oncall doctor to write a scrip for drugs for her without a visit and she's feeling a TON better today. That almost NEVER happens.
God had his hand on this family through this entire process, I'm sure there is more but I'm pretty tired from taking care of sickies all night.
Thanks God!
Side note:
Yesterday was the first time I ever had to see my kid attached to an I.V., with breathing mask and everything. I admire the strength of so many of my friends who have had to do that for prolongued periods of time during their child's infancy. Ear tubes and adenoid surgery is a cake walk compared to some of that stuff. And through it all, somehow my little son, with his bravery and calmness, facing his own nerves, made me respect him and proud and thankful to God all at the same time.
It is amazing what God will help us get through.
Prior to the surgery I was talking and walking with him. We spoke about bravery.
"Son, bravery is when you do something you need to, even though it scares you to do it. Can you think of an example?"
without hesitation he responds
"yeah, like I'm scared to go to Papua New Guinea, but I'm gonna go."
From a child's mouth, at any moment, without warning can come silliness, or poignancy.
My son had tubes put in his ears, and his adenoids removed yesterday around 1pm. The procedure went smoothly. His adenoids were very large.
He's almost back to his normal self, except he's been unable to hold down solids but he's working through it. What a trooper, was calm the whole time.
We got great care. This had God's hands on it from start to finish:
-we needed him in quick, the doctor got him in 3 days later because he was sympathetic to our cause.
-the anesthesiologist (sp?) had done several volunteer global short term trips himself and even was able to compare notes with my wife on certain places. He was GREAT with kids, a very pleasing bedside manner.
-that time of day the recovery room was empty so we got focussed attention.
-after we got home, my wife, who wasn't feeling great, finally took a moment to realize she had strep. We were able to get the oncall doctor to write a scrip for drugs for her without a visit and she's feeling a TON better today. That almost NEVER happens.
God had his hand on this family through this entire process, I'm sure there is more but I'm pretty tired from taking care of sickies all night.
Thanks God!
Side note:
Yesterday was the first time I ever had to see my kid attached to an I.V., with breathing mask and everything. I admire the strength of so many of my friends who have had to do that for prolongued periods of time during their child's infancy. Ear tubes and adenoid surgery is a cake walk compared to some of that stuff. And through it all, somehow my little son, with his bravery and calmness, facing his own nerves, made me respect him and proud and thankful to God all at the same time.
It is amazing what God will help us get through.
Prior to the surgery I was talking and walking with him. We spoke about bravery.
"Son, bravery is when you do something you need to, even though it scares you to do it. Can you think of an example?"
without hesitation he responds
"yeah, like I'm scared to go to Papua New Guinea, but I'm gonna go."
From a child's mouth, at any moment, without warning can come silliness, or poignancy.
12/13/2006
Quick Prayer
We saw the specialist.
He said that our son has fluid in his ears, and recommended implanting tubes. At age 5 when chronic fluid is prsent, they usually take a look at the adnoids and possibly remove them. A procedure akin to removing tonsils.
PRAISE GOD:
-this will enable him to fly without pain (with tubes)
-this procedure lasts long enough to not require constant checkups (1 a few weeks later then maybe a year later)
-it could resolve his hearing issue and not have permanent loss.
-his current hearing loss, should it be permanent, isn't enough to affect his speech or learning or functioning. (not strong enough to require a hearing aid), and isn't progressive if we treat it now.
Because of our timeline the doctor was able to fit us in this Friday. Which is another huge answer to prayer. Being fit into our insurance plan AND his schedule 2 days after seeing him?
It's not because it was an emergency but because the doctor would like to check up on him before we left for N. Carolina!
THank you for praying.
Continue to pray :
that the procedure goes smoothly
that there be no permanent hearing loss (the doctor was avoiding my "worst case scenario" questions, but the bottom line is, he may never get better, or he may get entirely better, but he shouldn't get worse)
also throw in a side prayer that our visas come through soon.
thank you! PRAISE GOD, that's a load off our minds.
He said that our son has fluid in his ears, and recommended implanting tubes. At age 5 when chronic fluid is prsent, they usually take a look at the adnoids and possibly remove them. A procedure akin to removing tonsils.
PRAISE GOD:
-this will enable him to fly without pain (with tubes)
-this procedure lasts long enough to not require constant checkups (1 a few weeks later then maybe a year later)
-it could resolve his hearing issue and not have permanent loss.
-his current hearing loss, should it be permanent, isn't enough to affect his speech or learning or functioning. (not strong enough to require a hearing aid), and isn't progressive if we treat it now.
Because of our timeline the doctor was able to fit us in this Friday. Which is another huge answer to prayer. Being fit into our insurance plan AND his schedule 2 days after seeing him?
It's not because it was an emergency but because the doctor would like to check up on him before we left for N. Carolina!
THank you for praying.
Continue to pray :
that the procedure goes smoothly
that there be no permanent hearing loss (the doctor was avoiding my "worst case scenario" questions, but the bottom line is, he may never get better, or he may get entirely better, but he shouldn't get worse)
also throw in a side prayer that our visas come through soon.
thank you! PRAISE GOD, that's a load off our minds.
12/07/2006
a Lot is going on
There is more going on than I can even blog but the energy is very high around here. We're very very excited. I tend to use that word a LOT these days.
We're going!
Funding wise, we haven't technically reached 100% yet, we still need some more monthly committments and partners. However we have reached 100% if you look at it another way.
(it's funny how finances can be viewed in multiple ways) So we're cleared to leave the country! We're hopeful that by the time we actually leave we'll be at 100% EVERY way you look at it, but 1 way is good enough for us for now.
The nature of support they say:
1 - you'll never be higher support wise, than you are when you first leave.
why? - because people won't feel your presence anymore, won't see your energy, won't experience your enthusiasm, and will forget your face over time.
2 - your support raising will never be over
why? - because people will stop sending for various reasons, or forget to start.
So, by no means are we intending to stop, for multiple reasons.
We're very excited to actually start creating experiences to write you all about.
Pictures! New stories! The good stuff! The exciting stuff... what God is doing over there stuff!
Well we've begun packing too. Giving away furniture, selling stuff on craig's list, donating to the neighbors, hauling away junk, putting stuff in boxes, and trying to find people who'll store a box or two for us here and there.
We have many piles: TO PNG, TO STORAGE #1, TO STORAGE #2, TO DUMP, TO DONATE
It is quite the logistical puzzle to craft moving, when to get rid of what furniture, when to sell/donate cars, when to quit work, and when to pack up... say.. your computer equipment, etc.
We have our tickets!
All signs are pointing to GO... but there are a few more obstacles God has to clear.
Before that though,
our itenerary:
January 13 - we fly to Waxhaw, North Carolina to live in an apartment for 8 weeks.
During those 8 weeks we will undergo cultural sensitivity training and technical training while our kids attend a local school.
March 10, we return from NC to stay in the Bay area for 1 week, visiting, saying goodbye, and tieing up loose ends.
March 17, we begin to fly to PNG.
March 20, we arrive at our destination in Ukarumpa, PNG. (I can detail the flight more later)
Obstacles:
- visas. while the adult's have been approved, there was confusion with the kid's and while were confident it'll be resolved quickly, it still needs resolution. The embassy needs a letter, which we're told was sent, but they haven't received, etc. and so forth. Clerical stuff. God'll work it out
- packing. Logistics of getting it all done.
- holidays. We're hosting Christmas, and it'll be a very full house, with family from both sides attending. IT promises to be a mixture of the stress of moving, the emotional stress of leaving, the logistic stress of having visitors stay in our home, and the christmas commotion of all the goings on. It's a perfect storm, and everyone is going to feel the pressure. But, the reason for it all is love. Folks want to be around us during this time, even if part of them are upset at us for taking away the grandkids, they love us. Pray that all of us can be kind and sincere during this time.
-our son's hearing. This is a very personal issue and one that we share not to embarrass our son. He's 5yrs old, and the doctor's are telling us we might expect some percentage of permanent hearing loss. A few weeks ago, I noticed something odd about his hearing and didn't dismiss it as a young child being stubborn. We did an impromptu hearing test and he didn't do so well. So we went to his pediatrician. She said she suspected fluid, and because we were leaving the country in 3 months, put him on aggressive anti-biotics.
Aggressive anti-biotics is a bit scary of a thought because I had heard of children being deaf because of this type of treatment for ear infections. In fact memory serves that one year our son had 2 infections and the dr. said a third would require tubes instead of anti-biotics.
The treatment possibly cleared up the fluid but a tympanogram proved no movement of his tympanic membrane. So we went to an audiologist who said there might be "some" fluid but they suspect a percentage of permanent loss.
So on Tuesday we see a specialist. What are they going to tell us? We don't know yet. We have many questions.
We need more data on his situation first. As you would guess, there are a lot of questions, and a lot of prayer needed about this right now.
As always, Pray that God would envelop us in a pocket of God's presence. That we would defer all decisions to Him, that we would submit gladly to His will and recognize it.
thank you for reading and praying!
We're going!
Funding wise, we haven't technically reached 100% yet, we still need some more monthly committments and partners. However we have reached 100% if you look at it another way.
(it's funny how finances can be viewed in multiple ways) So we're cleared to leave the country! We're hopeful that by the time we actually leave we'll be at 100% EVERY way you look at it, but 1 way is good enough for us for now.
The nature of support they say:
1 - you'll never be higher support wise, than you are when you first leave.
why? - because people won't feel your presence anymore, won't see your energy, won't experience your enthusiasm, and will forget your face over time.
2 - your support raising will never be over
why? - because people will stop sending for various reasons, or forget to start.
So, by no means are we intending to stop, for multiple reasons.
We're very excited to actually start creating experiences to write you all about.
Pictures! New stories! The good stuff! The exciting stuff... what God is doing over there stuff!
Well we've begun packing too. Giving away furniture, selling stuff on craig's list, donating to the neighbors, hauling away junk, putting stuff in boxes, and trying to find people who'll store a box or two for us here and there.
We have many piles: TO PNG, TO STORAGE #1, TO STORAGE #2, TO DUMP, TO DONATE
It is quite the logistical puzzle to craft moving, when to get rid of what furniture, when to sell/donate cars, when to quit work, and when to pack up... say.. your computer equipment, etc.
We have our tickets!
All signs are pointing to GO... but there are a few more obstacles God has to clear.
Before that though,
our itenerary:
January 13 - we fly to Waxhaw, North Carolina to live in an apartment for 8 weeks.
During those 8 weeks we will undergo cultural sensitivity training and technical training while our kids attend a local school.
March 10, we return from NC to stay in the Bay area for 1 week, visiting, saying goodbye, and tieing up loose ends.
March 17, we begin to fly to PNG.
March 20, we arrive at our destination in Ukarumpa, PNG. (I can detail the flight more later)
Obstacles:
- visas. while the adult's have been approved, there was confusion with the kid's and while were confident it'll be resolved quickly, it still needs resolution. The embassy needs a letter, which we're told was sent, but they haven't received, etc. and so forth. Clerical stuff. God'll work it out
- packing. Logistics of getting it all done.
- holidays. We're hosting Christmas, and it'll be a very full house, with family from both sides attending. IT promises to be a mixture of the stress of moving, the emotional stress of leaving, the logistic stress of having visitors stay in our home, and the christmas commotion of all the goings on. It's a perfect storm, and everyone is going to feel the pressure. But, the reason for it all is love. Folks want to be around us during this time, even if part of them are upset at us for taking away the grandkids, they love us. Pray that all of us can be kind and sincere during this time.
-our son's hearing. This is a very personal issue and one that we share not to embarrass our son. He's 5yrs old, and the doctor's are telling us we might expect some percentage of permanent hearing loss. A few weeks ago, I noticed something odd about his hearing and didn't dismiss it as a young child being stubborn. We did an impromptu hearing test and he didn't do so well. So we went to his pediatrician. She said she suspected fluid, and because we were leaving the country in 3 months, put him on aggressive anti-biotics.
Aggressive anti-biotics is a bit scary of a thought because I had heard of children being deaf because of this type of treatment for ear infections. In fact memory serves that one year our son had 2 infections and the dr. said a third would require tubes instead of anti-biotics.
The treatment possibly cleared up the fluid but a tympanogram proved no movement of his tympanic membrane. So we went to an audiologist who said there might be "some" fluid but they suspect a percentage of permanent loss.
So on Tuesday we see a specialist. What are they going to tell us? We don't know yet. We have many questions.
We need more data on his situation first. As you would guess, there are a lot of questions, and a lot of prayer needed about this right now.
As always, Pray that God would envelop us in a pocket of God's presence. That we would defer all decisions to Him, that we would submit gladly to His will and recognize it.
thank you for reading and praying!
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