Moving Update

Guess what?!? We received the official "OK" to move to campus at the end of this term (April 24th)! So, instead of living in an apartment where less than 10% of the inhabitants speak French, we are going to live on campus with French speaking Bible students. God is good and He truly answers prayers! This is such a blessing for us to have that extra time to listen to French and learn as much as possible.
There was an opening for the on campus housing and as of April 26th, we will begin our move. That being said, I have to say a temporary "Au Revoir" to you guys.These next few weeks are going to be full! This week is our last week of classes and the beginning of next week will be our finals for Intermediate French. The end of next week will begin our moving process. We only have one weekend and one car to move all our things to campus. The week after will be our first week of our conversation class plus continuing to move out anything leftover and clean up the empty apartment. The first week of classes will be us adjusting to a new schedule.
So, let us say "Catch you on the flip side",  and enjoy your break from us! :-) I leave you with an adorable picture of Adah the MK helping us stuff boxes!

Sick Week

(Warning! What you are about to read may contain graphic details of illness and references to the behaviors associated with being sick. Please read at your own discretion. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)

Two sick babies and one pre-sick mommy

It all started last Monday. My class was cancelled due to a death in the family of the teacher. Daddy had just come home from class and we had all enjoyed lunch together as a family. I remember thinking about all the things I had to get done over the next few days and was going to take advantage of the extra time. I went to rock baby to prepare her for her nap when the unthinkable happened...she vomited...all over us both!

I called for Daddy to come help us. He stripped down the baby and changed her while I did the same. Daddy attempted to rock her to sleep, trying to keep her calm, when it happened again! Once doesn't really concern us, it could have been anything, but twice? Uh oh....poor kiddo. The rest of the day continued with messiness as we watched our normally energetic child turn into a whiney mess, who did nothing but cling to us.

After a worrisome 24 hours, she began to drink fluids steadily and was beginning to nurse again. We thought the worst was over! But late Tuesday afternoon as I was nursing her, I noticed she felt warm...very warm. She had a fever of 102.4! We stripped her down to nothing and gave her a cool bath. Poor baby just sat there, like a zombie. We decided to keep her in a diaper after that. With every attempt to give her Tylenol, she would send it right back up.

The next day, Wednesday, is normally chapel. Daddy went alone while Adah and I laid in our bed together. We watched French cartoons and drank as much water as I could forced on her. When daddy came home from class, he made a beeline for the bathroom. After what felt like forever, poor daddy came out looking pretty green. He put on some sweats and dragged himself into bed with Adah. I decided to eat while daddy and Adah took a mini-nap break together. But soon after eating, I felt it too. Tummy troubles! Oh no! If Adah was sick, and daddy, and now mommy, who will take care of us?

I know what you parents out there are thinking...you have been there...done that...dead of winter...in the middle of nowhere...20 kids... Well, this was our first time folks!

What followed can only be described as torture: 3 people with tummy troubles, and every possible outcome associated with tummy troubles, with ONE bathroom! What about the kitchen sink? Filled with dirty dishes. What about the kitchen trash can? Filled with trash. Let's just say that we got pretty creative.

After 24 hours of dehydration and misery, we were left exhausted, weak, and in pain. After hours of stomach churning and spasming, we felt like we had been hit with a load of bricks! Daddy and I kept saying over and over, "I wish I was in the hospital!" But, we toughed it out and took care of ourselves and the baby.

And we were even blessed by other missionary families who made food drop offs at our doors after the worst of the battle was over! Thank goodness, because we had no "sick people" food and cooking was out of the question!

By Saturday, Adah's fever had officially broke (but she does have a fever rash that is still present). By Sunday, we were all eating normal food again.

So here we are a week later. We are working on getting back to our schedule and we are working on catching up on the homework we missed out on last week. This is the last week of school, so we are WAY behind. Please pray that we can catch us and continue to regain our strength.

A Spiritual Saturday

                Friday evening, Kevin and I prepared our MAF presentation. We were to speak at an end of the year breakfast celebration for a Boy’s Club in Lennoxville, QC (where they speak English). We were told that we needed to take up 20 minutes including our videos. We worked late into the evening fine tuning our presentation down to the second, perfecting it specifically for the younger audience. 

                Saturday morning was met head-on. We woke up early, got dressed quickly, and were able to leave on time (a miracle in itself!).  Once we arrived at the church, we were met by many eager faces as we tried to get everything ready. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to go accordingly. Kevin was setting up the table and all of our prayer letters had managed to become very well shuffled and required separation. (He was also very distracted by all the remote control airplanes set up everywhere.) I worked with the audio visual tech guy to try to see why our video was not playing. Adah began crawling everywhere, dirtying herself. But we were encouraged by all the friendly banter and smiling faces. Breakfast was soon ready and I quickly found a high chair to use for Adah so that we could eat our breakfast with the kids. This was going to be fun!

                Unfortunately, my normally hungry baby decided to be picky with her food. She began throwing her strawberries onto the floor (which were cut up into tiny pieces, so they stuck to the floor). Then the minister stood up to do the prayer. A man followed him up there. As the minister began to bless our food, the man translated. Hmmm. We were not told anything about a translator and he was certainly not translating into French. It was Nepalese. Well, maybe the translator was just there for the prayer? I didn't have too much time to think about this as I was busy cleaning up the floor. Finally, we were able to distract Adah with some of the food from our plates so we could eat what was left.

                Then, someone stood up to give a quick intro for a summer youth camp. As I listened, my face turned to one of panic as I realized the translator was translating everything that was being said. “Well,” I thought, “maybe this was just for this guy”.

                At this point, Adah had been sitting in one place long enough; she was ready to let out some energy. I slipped “quietly” into the nursery so she could play.

                The first presenter stood up to talk about his RC airplanes and how God had used those planes in his life. This was going to be interesting! Unfortunately, Adah decided mama was not playing with her enough and required most of my attention. But in between these distractions, I noticed again, the translator was assisting the second speaker.

                As I watched Adah destroy play in the nursery, I began to have a moment of panic. We were told to speak for 20 minutes with videos. If we needed a translator, our perfectly timed 20 minute speech will have to be cut into 1/3 at least (give or take some time for two people to be translated, plus mistakes and awkward pauses.) Fortunately, we have had experience with the flow of speaking and translating, but I still decided that I needed to converse with Kevin over what we were going to cut (even though we had placed our speech on the podium that was currently occupied).  

I walked out the nursery and sat back down next to Kevin to go over our game plan. Our lovely daughter, however, decided that playtime was not over. While Kevin and I began to whisper about what to do, Adah attempted to play with an overly shy child at the table behind us. His sudden outburst of screams only added to our stress.

                Our turn came and we stood up in front of the crowd. As we started, we realized some of our wording was not matching up to the language, so a lot of things had to be modified quickly. We also began to realize 1/3 of our speech was still going to be too much. Since we were not following the script, the tech guy was not able to keep up with us in the presentation. As Kevin spoke his part, I pointed and nodded to the tech guy to turn the page, and Adah decided she had eaten too much food and promptly spit up….in front of God and everybody.

                When our first video came up, Kevin helped me clean her off. After our video, our PowerPoint was supposed to advance the slides without prompting. Unfortunately, our PowerPoint (2010) that was saved with the 2003-2007 version was not being read correctly on their system. The slides were not advancing and the tech guy kept trying to get my attention on what to do…while I was speaking. We must have looked funny with Adah trying to grab the microphone, all the spit up, the PowerPoint not working, our modified speech, and a translator who kept asking what some of the words we were saying meant.

                I decided enough was enough! I said a silent prayer asking God for help and I walked away…during the speech. Kevin kept going like nothing was wrong while I walked into the kitchen and found a sweet lady to hold Adah. I walked back up to the mic right on cue and continued my very highly modified speech. I can't remember what I said, but I saw many solemn nods as I spoke. I could tell they were listening and understanding what we were saying. At the end of the speech, Kevin told everyone that what we needed the most right now was prayers. I went to grab Adah and walked up in time for their leaders to lay hands on us.

                What an encouragement! Just because nothing in your day goes as planned doesn't mean God won't still use what you are saying to get the attention of the people around you. And right on cue, after the prayer had ended, Adah cooed into the microphone!  Everyone laughed at her version of “Amen” and she won over the crowd. 

La Ferme de la Pâque

The other day, Kevin and I took Adah to the "shopping mall" to visit Toys R Us. We needed to buy her some pajamas and some shoes. While at the mall, there was a cute little farm with animals that are often associated with the holiday season. Here are some of the pictures.

Misty Maples Syrup Farm

I love field trip days! It is a day I get to practice French, not be stuck in a classroom all day, be around friends, and get to be a tourist...all in one event! The coveted trip of the year? The syrup farm or "cabane à sucre."

We got to "tour" a Maple Syrup farm and learn all about the process of making syrup (in French). I would like to share with you a little about the process.

A hole is drilled into a maple tree that is at least 30 years old. Then, a tap is placed into the hole to allow the tree's water to drip out. The nectar gathers into buckets attached to the tree. The buckets have covers to prevent anything from contaminating the liquid. Unfortunately for us maple syrup lovers, syrup gathering is only available in certain temperatures and only for a few weeks during the year. This is why it is so expensive!

We were allowed to drink some of the water. It tasted like refreshing water, with a hint of sweetness.

How much water does it take to make syrup? Forty (40) gallons of maple water equals one gallon of syrup! The syrup at this farm just happens to be boiled by hand on site.

Depending on how long the water is boiled will yield a different grade. The darker the grade, the thicker the syrup. Which is better quality? Well, it all depends on the person. Some like it thick and dark, while others like it thin, clearer, and runny.

The highlight of the day? A traditional Canadian candy: Tire Sur La Neige (maple taffy on snow). Hot maple taffy is poured on the snow. Using sticks, you roll the syrup up on a stick and eat (with or without peanuts)! Yum!

Pouring the candy

Rolling the candy

Mmmm! 

Kevin is enjoying his with peanuts

What If...?

Everyone has thought of a “what if” moment before. You know, what if I had done something different in my life? What if I had not said that stupid thing that my friends overheard? What if I had completed my graduate degree before getting married? What if I had not bought a house right before getting married? What if I had not changed jobs? What if I had children earlier in life? What if…?

In Janis Joplin’s song “Bobby McGee” she says that she would “trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday.” What if…? What if you could go back and change one of your “what if” moments? Growing up I used to think about that very scenario. As a child, I wanted desperately to change the past. I wanted to go back and say the right words that would have convinced my father to not commit suicide. But as I grew older and became a Christian, I began to realize what I would have to trade in order for this scenario to come true. I would have to give up my baby brother, who was born four years after my father’s death. Would I give him up? Could I give him up? It was then that I began to understand the “Butterfly Effect” of life. In order to change one scenario, you cannot have the present stay the same.

Today, as I was rocking my sweet little girl to sleep, I thought to myself “what if?” Here I am, in my 30s, married, with a 9 month old daughter, a missionary in language school, soon to be in Africa. But what if…?  And it was then I realized I don’t really want to know. I cannot possibly imagine a life without my soul mate, the man of my dreams who completes me as a person. I would never want to picture my life without my precious baby. I don’t think I would be the same person I am today without the things that have happened to me in the past, in the order they happened, both good and bad. Many times we have curious thoughts, thinking “what if?” But you know what? I no longer care about “what if” because I am content where I am.

In class the other day, we read Psalms 139 (in French) and talked about why it was important to us (in French). Although my lack of knowledge of the right words (in French) might have prevented me from truly expressing myself, I still managed to get my point across: This verse helped me when I was pregnant by knowing that even if the baby was not to be, God had a plan.

God made us, He knows us, nothing is hidden from him, we cannot depart from his presence, and as impure and imperfect as we are, we can always delight in Him when we follow His will. Why spend time wondering what could have been, when instead we can praise God for what could be!

139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
…. For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

Blast From the Past Part 4

Here is the last of the re-caps of our Technical Evaluation. Some of the friends we met during this process have become much closer friends, who we would spend a lot of time with at Candidacy and the Ministry Partnership seminar. Enjoy!

               Friday morning came and I was certain we would have to go back to East TN needing to do more training before we would be accepted. Glory and grace to God, the instructor said I actually did very well. There were a few things he said I needed to work on, but I knew about theses areas, mainly navigating with only compass, map and clock. At no point in the cross country was I lost, I knew where I was all the time (although the one “airport” was a different story-but I never lost sight of obvious landmarks), but I relied very heavily on only one method of navigation called pilotage, and all but ignored another method called Deduced Reckoning.  Hey, I was recommended technically for the next step, I was tickled to death. Scott said a prayer, we took some pictures and I went back to the apartment to wait until our next meeting with the head of Ministry Partnership. We met with him for an hour and he talked about all that was required for fundraising. We have a book to read and a bible study to do, and come up with a list of 200 people and as many churches as possible so that MAF can send information regarding Ministry partnership (i.e. prayer and financial support)

               After the Ministry Partnership meeting, we met with the candidate committee for the second time. They asked us how our two weeks had been, what we had seen and learned, how Tasha was feeling and spent some time getting to know us a little better. They asked more specifically about how our meeting with Dr. Bennet went. He had actually not given them his report yet, but after telling them what he talked about, they felt there would be no issues. We were accepted to the next step with MAF, which is candidacy. This will begin July 11 and will last roughly 5 weeks. The first two weeks will be Candidacy, where we learn more about MAF as an organization, the ministry opportunities available, where they go, what they do, who they are, and things like that. At that point we sign on the dotted line and begin. It is then we will have officially quit our jobs (Our last day will be July 8th, 2011) and upon official acceptance (98% of families that get as far as we have are accepted) we will be on the MAF payroll and insurance.

     Then we will go through a two week fund raising seminar.  We also found out our new friends who came to the TE at the same time we did, Pete and Joy Neal, also got accepted. That night we joined several other families for a pizza party and movie. We packed that night and left for the airport at 3:30 AM the next morning. On the flight back, I reflected about all the families we met there preparing just as we are to go overseas and serve. It is truly amazing to see how God has prepared these families all over the United States with so many different backgrounds, and brought them together just because of one man two thousand years ago. As exciting as the process is, it is sobering to think that our job is necessary because a group of people needs our help so desperately and humanity truly cannot take care of itself without a God that truly loves us.

          It was an amazing two weeks. We were both put under stress many couples do not go through together. They do this for several reasons. One is so they can see how we behave under stress, and how we behave long term, rather than just a one day interview. Two, they do this so we can learn about ourselves and lean on each other and God. We both relied on each other heavily for support, strength and encouragement.  Tasha was such a blessing to me the entire time. Even with nausea, she gave me the courage and motivation to keep going and do my best. We both learned how crucial trust in each other is, and more importantly, trust in the Lord. Through this experience He has solidified and re-enforced our calling to missions.

     The bar is set high with MAF, and they require a very complete set of skills for the job, not just in the pilot and mechanic, but in the wife too. I know for sure I wouldn't be here without Tasha supporting and pushing me to do my best and keep going. I am even more confident I would not have even been accepted (much less even thought about going to the interview) without a loving wife, and the grace, mercy and love of Our Lord. We are confident that these are the good works that Paul talks about in Ephesians 2:10 "for We are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". From our perspective, we can see how God has led us through different struggles and situations to allow us to grow and gain abilities that have taken us to this point. It is nothing to do with us or who we are, but it has everything to do with God and who He was, is and will be.

    We are so grateful for all of the prayers on our behalf and give thanks to God for everyone who prayed for us. Please continue to pray as we have much to do and little time to do it before we leave again in July. Pray that our child continues to grow, and that mother and child will be healthy when it gets here. Tasha is about 10 weeks along and is due December 14th. God's timing is perfect once again. We will be able to be together throughout the whole pregnancy and birth and will get some time to raise the baby stateside with the help of the family for about 6 months.

  (Editors Note: we suffered a miscarriage shortly after this, but God is faithful.  He gave us another not long after and she got to spend her first 3 months with both sets of grandparents after them. The miscarriage was not easy, but actually cleared our minds about some decisions we needed to make and we praise God for his care over us) 

They say fundraising takes about 13 months, which puts our time to ship out for language school in our country-probably Indonesia- around August of 2012. 

(Editors Note: Because we were in fact assigned to the Democratic Republic of Congo, we still “shipped out” in August 2012, but instead of going to our assigned country, our language school was actually in Canada. We are looking at entering active field service in October of 2013. Our friends who did go to Indonesia are going through language school now and will enter active field service about the same time)

For more information, or entertainment, on MAF visit www.MAF.org  http://www.maf.org/   or  http://www.youtube.com/  and search for Mission Aviation Fellowship.  There are hours of video of jungle flying, landings at remote airstrips, and people reached more efficiently and safely because of Gods work through MAF.

Pray that Gods will be done through us and that we will see clearly where He leads us.

Praise Him in all things. His love endures forever!