TCK PFO

I recently found myself spending two weeks in a remote part of central NY with 65 strangers.  Of those 65 at least four nationalities were represented and our destinations included over ten countries on four continents. It almost sounds like the makings of a reality TV show except our purpose was not to win a cash prize (although for those of us fund raising that would have been a blessing :)). Our purpose was to become better equipped to follow the calling God has put on our lives. Every year the Association of Christian Schools International hosts a two week long Third Culture Kid (TCK) Pre-Field Orientation (PFO) for those heading overseas to teach.  The staff had well over 100 years of experience between them, having served (and serving) in schools in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Romania, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Ecuador and Ch*na.  The sessions covered everything from transition, culture shock, resiliency, international classrooms, third-culture kids, mentoring, purity, personality profiles and language acquisition to name a few. 

We represented Europe and Central Asia

What a blessing and encouragement it was to be surrounded by those who had also chosen this life.  A life filled with blessings and privileges but also a life of challenges, transition and goodbyes.  On our last evening together we were treated to an international banquet with food from the different countries represented.  It happened to fall on July 4^th.  I felt a sense of awe as we sang our national anthem together.  At my table alone people were headed to Colombia, Ch*na, Central Asia, Hungary, and of course Germany.  I am thankful for a country that was founded on Biblical principles and that has historically been the leading force behind missions.  While there are many things today about our country that need repentance and prayer this is one area that is worth celebrating.  I am thankful for those who have gone before and for those willing to still go and share the Good News with students all over the world.  I am thankful for those who are willing to help train and equip me and others so that we can be better Christian educators. I am thankful for those who are sending and praying so that I (and others) can follow the Lord’s leading and serve missionary kids and their families.  As I look ahead to the coming weeks of packing, travel and saying goodbyes and hellos. I feel thankful for the privilege of living this life. 

Relationally rich

I laughed as I heard myself say: “Well, tomorrow I am driving through TN and connecting with one friend from Germany and one friend from MS.”  Doesn't everyone have friends from MS and Germany who now live in TN? :) Having grown up overseas my world has always been fairly big, but it just continues to get bigger.  There are parts of that reality that are overwhelming and the lack of roots is hard but even on the worst day I wouldn't trade it.  The places that I have had the privilege of calling “home” and the amazing people that the Lord has put in my life make me realize how rich I am.  We are not made to be alone.  The image of God is seen clearly in our desire and longing for community and fellowship.  As I have traveled I have been reminded of the blessings of the relationships that Jesus has given me.   

In April I was able to attend two retreats.  At the first retreat I was able to reconnect with some sweet ladies that I met 7.5 years ago at a retreat where we “happened” to sit at the same table.  The Lord knit our hearts together in a special way that I don’t think any of us imagined.   

Me, Arla and Stephanie. We missed you Kerri, Amy and Susan!

At the second retreat I was asked to share my testimony and was blessed by this sweet group of women. 

I have also recently reconnected with a couple of people from my days at Wesley Biblical Seminary. I thank the Lord for my years there and the relationships that He formed that had also been very special to me. It was encouraging to see how the Lord was using them in their places of ministry.  I was also able to reconnect with a dear friend from BFA who is now living in TN. What a blessing to see someone from that world on this side of the ocean.

I am blessed to belong to a fairly large extended family.  I have 22 first cousins. While it has been wonderful to spend time over the last two years with my European cousins, (who live/serve in France, Albania and Hungary) I have enjoyed spending some time with my American cousins and family.  What fun to be in Wilmore with cousins, an aunt and uncle and my grandfather.  And I am now within driving distance of my GA grandparents and family.  Two weeks ago I had the privilege of being at the wedding of my cousin, Lydia.  It was a beautiful Jesus filled wedding. What a treat to get to spend a long weekend with my grandparents!

My cousin Lydia and her new husband Josh

My sweet grandparents

 

As I start preparing to return to Germany at the end of the summer I pray that the Lord will continue to build on already existing relationships and lead me to the new ones that He has for me. 

He is Risen!

There is nothing quite like Holy Week to help put everything into perspective. I don't serve a God who is far off and is not interested in His people. I serve a God who loves me SO much that He was willing to send His Son to take on flesh and to die for me. By conquering death and the grave, He set me free! And the best news of all, is that this glorious Easter message is not only for me but for the WHOLE WORLD!! He died and rose again so that the world would know true life, hope and victory in Him!

I recently had the privilege of hearing The Seven Last Words of Christ, a sacred cantata by a Frenchman Theodore Dubois. The music and words took me straight to the foot of the cross. The closing chorus has stayed with me all week.

Christ, we do all adore Thee, and we do praise Thee forever; 
For on the holy cross has Thou the world from sin redeemed.

His death and resurrection redeemed the world! Our Redeemer LIVES! What a glorious message we have to share with the world.  

This following video, I believe, is a preview of heaven. When every tribe, every nation, every tongue will worship His holy Name, who triumphed over death and the grave and LIVES so that we may have life everlasting through Him! How great is our God!

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Courage

How can it be the middle of March already? The last few weeks have flown by.  

Here are just a few of the events of the last 6 weeks:

• Packed up our belongings, said goodbye to NY and headed south.
•  Worked tirelessly on unpacking boxes and getting settled.
•  Took an online education class and was able to finish well in spite of the craziness of life.
•  Enjoyed attending part of Avon Park Campmeeting in FL. What a blessing to be in a place with so many world changers and to reconnect with some old friends.

TEAM Appointees

• Spent a week at TEAM headquarters with some amazing people who are following Jesus whole-heartedly!
• Spent a wonderful week in NJ speaking at two different churches. Blessed beyond measure to reconnect with precious friends and make many new friends.  I spoke five different times and the Lord was so faithful to give me what I needed right as I needed it. What a blessing to be around those who are serving Jesus faithfully right where He has called them.  

New friends and old friends

In the midst of boxes, goodbyes, travel, family health scares, etc. I asked Jesus for a word or a verse for this new year.  He was so gracious and gave me a word immediately: COURAGE. What a gift! How grateful I am for a God who meets us in the midst of the craziness and emotions of life.  And it has proven to be a wonderful word.

Maybe it is the transition, maybe it is not knowing what the next day will hold OR maybe it is knowing all too well what the coming months will hold in terms of more transition, packing and goodbyes.  But for whatever reason I have needed courage in a new way this year.  I am so thankful that the Lord gave me that moment of hearing Him whisper in my ear that He was asking me to be courageous this year.  He knew what I needed!  As always He is faithful!

I admit to feeling like I imagine the Israelites felt once they arrived on the other side of the Red Sea. God had worked miraculously, delivering them from slavery and from Pharaoh’s army.  But as I recently watched the story re-enacted on the mini-series The Bible I was struck anew by the story.  

What must it have felt like in those moments, hours, days after the Red Sea?   

Yes, God had delivered them.   

Yes, God had performed miracles.   

Yes, God had given them great promises for the future.   

But what now? What were their days to look like on the other side?  What did God have in mind for their immediate future?

Parting of the Red Sea from The Ten Commandments (1956)

The last few months have been filled with hard days, many times it seemed as if we were standing on the shores of the Red Sea waiting for God to act and time and again He did!  He delivered, He provided, He got us through.  And here we are on the other side of the Red Sea, saying OK Jesus what now?  I have found myself asking Him for courage to face these days.  

Courage to face the known and the unknown.

Courage to do the things that I like to do and the things that I don’t like to do.  

Courage to raise support.

Courage to trust Him more. 

Courage to live by faith.  

Courage to continue to say Yes to Jesus in all areas of my life.  

And yet, just as He made a way in the wilderness and provided for the Israelites every step of the way I know He will do the same for all His children. including me.  He is the God who delivers, directs and provides! What a gift, what a promise! O for grace to trust Him more!

 

Saying Goodbye

One would think that after being raised as a missionary kid and moving more times than I can count I would be good at this. 

Surely after 15+ moves I would be good at the packing up, saying goodbye, transition, etc.

And yet…

I find myself at a loss once again. 

How does one say goodbye to a place where I have a history (something that I have never really had)?

How does one say goodbye to people who have known and loved me and my family for 18+ years?

How does one say goodbye to an area of the country that you have grown to love?

How does one say goodbye to a church and a home?

The reality is there is no good way to say goodbye.  And honestly, if I have learned anything from all my moves it is that you actually can’t fully say goodbye in the moment. 

It is impossible to fully absorb all that is happening in the moment.

Impossible to know what life will look like after.

Impossible to know the void. 

Impossible to know the joys that await.

Everytime I say goodbye I realize how inadequately I do it.  Although I am not sure there is a “right” way.  You learn early on some of the things that help you.  I have learned to relish the last weeks/ days.  The drives, the services, loved ones stopping by, favorite spots, etc.   Because if you wait until the very end life is too crazy and emotions are too high, so soak in the last “normal” days before the craziness hits.  And yet, it still always takes me by surprise. 

As I walk through this again and prepare to do it once more this summer as I return to Germany, I ask Jesus again for His grace and strength to walk this road well.  I have found myself asking Him to keep my heart tender even though at times it seems easier to harden.  While there is grief there is also hope and the many comforts He provides along the way.  Goodbyes remind me that I was not made for this earth.  We were not created to say goodbyes.  Our true home is with Him.  And while my humanity is crying out for a home, a place to settle, a place to call my own, I am thankful for the reminder that this world is not my home.  We are supposed to be “homesick.”  So as I say goodbyes again, I am thankful to the One who holds all my tomorrows.  I am thankful for the reminder that I belong to Him.  And that while following Him is not always easy, there is no better place to be.    

From the ends of the earth

Following Jesus is an adventure.  At times the adventures are difficult, at times exciting, and at times it feels like He just spoils us with His goodness.  Jesus provided an amazing opportunity to meet up with my cousins (who serve in Uganda) for two weeks in South Africa.  I had not seen them in over two years and had not even met my one year old twin cousins.  It was my first time in Africa, a place that holds a very special place in the hearts of many that I love.  What a joy to be there, to be with my cousins and their sweet girls and to glory in the beauty of God’s creation. 

Picnic in Hermanus

Chloe

Sophie

Picnic with Elsie and Lucy

 

Words fail in attempting to describe the beauty of His creation.  What a creative God we serve.  The beauty that He created for us to enjoy even on this fallen earth seems to point ever so clearly to Him.  It leaves me trying to imagine the beauty of a world free from sin and the fall. 

 As I stood at the southernmost tip of Africa less than two weeks before Christmas, I was struck at the vastness of the world and of the amazing expression of God's love for it.   I started my day at the tip of Africa and then flew across the entire continent of Africa.   Our pilot treated us to an amazing view of Cape Town as we ascended.  Several hours later I felt the Lord prompt me to look out my window and I realized that I was looking at the northern border of the continent of Africa.  What a view and what a privilege to get to pray over this continent.  As I prayed over Africa and looked down on places that are in desperate need of the Gospel I couldn’t help but thank Jesus for entering into our world.  Unlike me, who was merely looking from above, Jesus came down to us, He entered our mess, got dirty and walked with and among us!  And by doing so, by coming to us and entering into and taking on our sin, He saved us!  What a Savior!

 He didn’t come to save His people from Rome, He didn’t come to save us from our circumstances. He didn’t even come to save us from our pain.  He came to save us from our sins.  He came to save and deliver us from the sin that resides in each one of our hearts. He came to redeem and restore.  All we have to do is say Yes to Him.  Say Yes to the One who emptied Himself and entered into our mess so that we could know Him, know salvation and know true Life and Love.

I can think of only one response to a God like that – total and complete devotion and surrender.  This is a God I want to serve, love and obey whole heartedly.  This is a God worthy of my worship. 

This Christmas may we all be reminded of the Savior.  The Savior who came to us as a baby, who loved us enough to enter into our messy world and offer redemption, and who continues to come to us each and every day. 

Merry Christmas!

The last few months...

Day trip to the Adirondacks

Life goes by at a frightening pace sometimes. It has been months since I have posted and once it gets long enough I find myself not even knowing where to begin.  So here is a very brief recap of the last few months.

KY family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June -  Visited family in MI and KY and celebrated my grandfather's 90th birthday.

Celebrating the birthday boy!

July - On July 28th my baby sister got married.  It was a beautiful and blessed day.  I was so thankful to get to be a part of this special day.

Sisters

 

 

August - Finished my summer travels (5400 miles and 15 states) by visiting family and friends.  Was able to spend some special time in the Smoky Mountains with my other grandparents and one of my aunts.  Visited my college roommate and her family in AL and spent time with my nephew.

Wonderful weekend with my college roommate and her family

At Lake Michigan with my favorite 8 year old

September - My parents announced to our church that they feel the Lord leading them on to the next step.  After 18 years at Loudonville Community Church we all feel a mixture of emotions at the thought of leaving.  LCC has played a huge role in our family and we will truly miss this place and the people here.  I have been blessed to be here this fall to say goodbye and to watch my parents step out into the unknown, by faith, trusting the Lord for His timing and provision for their next step in ministry.  Their courage to step out in faith has given me courage to continue to step out in faith as I seek to return to BFA next fall. 

Here is a link to my Dad's blog about their leaving if you are interested:
http://pastorkeynotes.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/better-is-the-end-of-a-thing-than-its-beginning-ecclesiastes-78/

October - Celebrated my parents birthdays with them for the first time in years. Soaked in the fall colors and beauty of the northeast.  Blessed to be a part of LCC's  week long Missions Conference.  Put my parents' home on the market.

LCC Missionaries

Our front yard

I found it quite appropriate that my last entry was titled "Transition." This fall has not been like I had envisioned and yet through each season of life, each transition, Jesus remains faithful and does not change.  So as the leaves fall and we say goodbye as a family to NY and to LCC we anticipate the next season for all of us. And while we do not know what the next few months will look like we know that a new season will come and that as long as we stay in His hands it will be good.