Translation

Thursday, August 30, 2012

That's Different: Vol 1

Jill and I were sitting around discussing our bag of milk today when we decided that the world should know about it; or at least the tiny fraction of the world who may read this blog.  Then, we realized that there would probably be things that strike us as "different" while we are here in Quebec and finally in the DR Congo.  The "That's Different" posts in this blog will be an attempt to share some of those quirky, silly, or even frustrating things with you on a regular basis.

So without any further a due, here is installment number one of "That's Different."

Yes, this is milk.
Yes, it comes in a bag.
Yes, you have to buy a special pitcher for your milk bag.
Yes, you have to keep it clipped so that it doesn't spill all over the place.
And Yes, it costs $5.75 a gallon.




That's Different!





Monday, August 27, 2012

All Things New...


“I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

To be honest, I have always loved this prayer of Paul’s, but this week it became even more so. God has been at work long before we arrived in Canada. It has been evident in every detail since our arrival.

Last Tuesday afternoon we arrived at our apartment in Sherbrooke, not having heard any details about who would meet us or if we could even get in. We were given an address and that was about it. As we pulled up in front of the apartment a couple came out the doors, greeted us and took us to sign our lease, then handed us the keys. They had been waiting for us! About half an hour later, a woman from our language school met us at our apartment and took us to the school. Once we arrived, we were met by three other missionary families (who had been studying at the school since January), all headed to Africa, two of them to the DRC (and one will be living in Lubumbashi). To say we were blown away, ecstatic and overwhelmed with joy would be an understatement.  We can’t wait to meet the other families coming in this week to join our class.

Since we enrolled in the language school in June, there were no on campus apartments available. To find the apartment we have off campus and to get a 4-month lease is almost unheard of. And, you generally have to bring in all your appliances and furniture. Gavin and I left all of this in God’s hands before coming, knowing we couldn’t worry about the details. We knew we would have to figure out something once we arrived. But, again, God had been working out all the details. Our landlord brought in an oven and stove, refrigerator and microwave for us to borrow. While at the language school we were taken to an old farmhouse FULL of furniture and told we could borrow almost anything. We have not had to buy any furniture since we arrived. God has provided it all.

Throughout this week, we have also met two of our neighbors in our apartment building who are from…the DRC. We can’t wait to talk with them more.

Through it all, and it is just the beginning, we know that God has given us strength through His spirit. I know we will never grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is, but if we give Him all we have, trust in His Word and follow His leading, He will provide. His love has been overwhelming and amazing! To God be all the glory and praise. 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

From One Border to the Next


In the last week and a half we have driven 2,600 miles and been in the car for 38 hours. Honestly, it hasn't been too bad. Not only have we had great conversations as a family, but we've been able to connect with friends along the way. It never ceases to amaze us, that even after months or years of not seeing good friends, it's like you were never apart. God has brought us all on an amazing journey and for a brief moment we are able to catch up and share in each other's lives again. What a blessing!


 
Last Sunday morning, we had the opportunity to speak in Jill's home town of Kingfisher, OK. The Kingfisher Church of the Nazarene was the church that came alongside Jill, encouraged her call and gave her opportunities to thrive a teenage Christian. This family will always hold a special place in her heart. In the evening, we spoke at Edmond First Church of the Nazarene, where Jill's family currently attends. Their love and support were overwhelming. We are grateful for a church that gives so freely to missions and believes in it's missionaries. 


 
From El Paso to Edmond, OK, to Kansas City to St. Louis. From Columbus, OH to Harrisburg, PA and now in Hartford, CT, we can't wait to arrive "on the other side". Five hours from us lies our future of language study in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Five hours from us is Macy's first class in a French Kindergarten. Five hours from us is the beginning of something new. 

Saturday, August 11, 2012

The Journey Continues...




Today, I am writing this post from a hotel in Big Spring, TX.  "Why Big Spring," you ask?  Because it is a fork in the road.  For us, it is the place where God has brought us and allowed us to serve him in a new way.  It is half way between our old home in El Paso (ministering in the US and Mexico) and our new home in Africa (via speaking engagements and language study).  We have officially left our old assignment behind and endeavored to journey down the path that the Lord has made before us.

Yesterday the moving company came and a flood of emotions rushed over us as everything left that we own in the world was packed into a 7x7x4 foot crate.  It is both liberating and nerve-wrecking to see all of your things fit into such a small space.  It is liberating because you know that you have so little worldly possessions to cling to.  It is nerve-wrecking because one small disaster on a truck or boat could take it all away.  Either way, the Lord hasn't failed us yet.


Today was a whole new range of emotions.  We still are not sure that our children fully understand what is in store for us as we spend the next two weeks on the road, the following four months in language school, and then finally move to Africa.  Then again, we probably aren't as well.  Here are some reflections on what we will miss the most.

So long El Paso.  So long border life; with your intricacies and peculiarities that we were only just discovering.  So long Papa Burger: home to the world's greatest hamburger.  So long Spanish; we were just becoming such close friends.  So long pugs; it's been a good seven year run. So long green chilies; and your ability to make it into any dish.  So long only home that my children have ever known.  So long amigos, hermanos, compaƱeros.  We will miss you deeply.

Hey there new path.  Hey there being like children again; in cultural understanding and speaking the language.  Hey there opportunities to try new things and meet new people.  Hey there French;  we're sure this will be a fruitful relationship...and long lasting.  Hey there new, exciting place that our children will one day call home...and hopefully us too.  Hey there God's faithfulness; its good to see you again...though you never really left.  Hey there call, burden, and yearning for Africa; you are about to be fulfilled!

Praise God.