More Good-Byes

Today, camp ends and we must say good-bye, again. We have had a great week of renewal, rest and encouragement. It is wonderful to see the kids make friends, learn many new things about missions, different cultures and be able to explore issues that MKs experience. We are grateful to be apart of such a wonderful organization that invests in its people and places such a high priority on family. We are sad to say good-bye to our new friends, but are looking forward to seeing Granny!!!

Family Festival

Today was filled with train rides, snow cones, a petting zoo, cotton candy, races, popcorn, inflatable slides, mazes and a Survivor meets King of the Hill game with oversized weapons used to knock your opponent off the target, a huge, wobbly saucer. Keith and the kids had a blast beating each other up, while I rested in the shade, catching-up with a friend. By the time the afternoon had come to an end, the kids were completely disgusting, drenched in sweat and covered in sugar and syrup, but we all had a blast!

Day 7

Day 6

Lottie Moon, George Washington, holidays, emotions, countries, cultures are a few of the things the kids had opportunities to learn about, explore and discuss this week. Gideon passed this picture and said, "Look, its Lottie Moon!" We are so grateful for the wonderful teachers that invest in the lives of our kids, teaching them so many important things, helping them identify emotions and better understand issues related to MKs. Thank you Mrs. Becky and Mrs. Cindy for a fabulous week!!!

ME bent down today and said, "What is this?"
I said, "It is the ground."
She said, "No, what is this?!?"
It took me a few minutes to realize she was pointing to her shadow!

An Afternoon of Silence and Solitude

One of my favorite afternoons was a result of a strange and rather difficult assignment to spend 3 hours in silence and solitude listening to God. Silence, only listening. Not praising God for who He is or thanking Him for what He has done...but silent, only listening.

OK, I spent the first half of my 3 hours napping, some time snacking and finally, I did stop and just listen. I initially wanted to resort to my usual routine of sharing my thoughts, needs and desires and asking God to bless them or flipping through the Bible, looking for a word of encouragement...something I wanted to hear and claiming it as a "Word from the Lord."

After my mind finally stopped racing and I was still, silent and ready to listen...I became a little scared and embarrassed. I even wanted to try to hide or think of things to say that would fill up this awkward silence. Even though I believe the Lord is always with me, nothing I have done is unknown to Him, not my thoughts, feelings or deepest, darkest secrets, I still felt vulnerable. Being still, silent, alone with the Lord was difficult, revealing and amazing. During this time, I felt the Lord's presence, experienced peace, joy and forgiveness and I did hear from the Lord! It was an amazing afternoon!

Be still and know that I am God! Psalms 46:10

DAY 5

Aren't kids funny...and frustrating!?! Today the kids wanted to skip breakfast and go straight to school!!! All through breakfast they both kept asking, "Is it time to go to school yet?!?" I am so thankful that the tears have stopped and they both are loving their classes...at least today!!! They each have one good friend in their class...the only other boy in Gideon's class, Jack, and the only other girl in ME's class, Hope.

Gideon had been determined to climb the swing set, after seeing one of the bigger kids do it. The first attempt required daddy's help and resulted in lots of frustration, but the following day required only daddy's encouragement!!! Way to go Gideon!!! We our proud of your determination!!!

Many Memories

Six and a half years ago, we arrived at this very camp as newly appointed missionaries, with a fresh vision and strong call on our lives to go to Russia. For five weeks, Gideon swung on this very swing, played in the nursery with his new friends and Mrs. Ealier, a sweet lady, who has dedicated her life to carrying for our new babies, while we studied, attended seminars and shared mutual desires with our new colleagues of how we were going to change the people in our perspective countries that soon we would be immersed into.

I remember the emotions I felt as I handed Gideon to Mrs. Ealier. I was the first mom to arrive and the last one to leave. I had thought through and wrote out Gideon’s needs, skills he had mastered and important goals he needed to be working on, while he was in class. I did not find comfort in the fact that Gideon was only three months old or that Mrs. Ealier was a mother, a grandmother and had been working at this very camp, in that very class for over 20 years! I cried as I waved good-bye to my little baby and would return to check on him at least a million times a day.

During those five weeks, we discussed strategies, read books and listened to veteran missionary stories of how they shared the love of Christ with their people, all the while dreaming about what life would soon be like for us. “In Russia” was the main focus, idea and topic of conversation for Keith and I for the vast majority of our relationship and soon our dream would be a reality.

While studying, contemplating our future and running back and forth to check on Gideon, we dealt with lots of illness. Gideon became ill with RSV, which resulted in several trips to a pediatrician, Gideon and I being quarantined in our room for over a week and lots and lots of worry, tears and frustration. My dad was also in Arkansas, undergoing treatment for cancer. In our final week at camp and in the states, he developed a serious infection sending him into ICU, while the doctors searched for the source and sought to eradicate it with numerous high powered antibiotics. Even though our focus was on going to Russia, my heart longed to be with my dad. I feared I would leave for Russia and never see him again. During our last weekend, a fellow colleague gave us free airline tickets to fly to Arkansas and say good-bye to my dad. The day we left for Russia, my dad’s fever broke and he was soon moved from ICU and put on the long road to recovery.

On March 1, 2002, we left camp, receiving our visas at 11:45 AM, got on a shuttle to the airport at noon with ten pieces of luggage (700 pounds of stuff!!!), a stroller, car seat and 3 carry-on bags. After checking in, having each and every bag searched, going through three security checks, we finally boarded the plane and were headed to Russia!!!

It has been an adventure, rough and bumpy ride filled with my trials, a few triumphs and an ocean full of tears, but I do not regret it nor would I want to change it…but neither would I want to relive it!!!

Day 3

No more tears!!! Today, after a brief moment of hesitation, ME decided that she wanted to go to school!!! I am so greatful that both kids are doing well in their classes and Keith and I are having a great time with fellow missionaries. I love the fact that I can enjoy the meetings and fellowship times without having to worry about the kiddos. This is my first time to be here that I have not had to leave the meetings or skip the breaks to go and care for one of our babies...since they are no longer babies!!!

Day 2

After more than 12 hours of sleep and a quick bowl of cereal, we headed to our classes. Today was a repeat of yesterday…Gideon did great and ME did not. ME is so strong willed and wants to feel in control. When we told her that she had to go to school, she began whining and crying. If Keith is carrying her, she wants me; if I am carrying her, she wants her daddy. Daddy was the chosen one today. They made it half way to school, when the deafening screams turned into whines… “Will you stay with me? Rock me. Will you be right back?” Daddy rocked her for a few minutes and then she decided that she was ready for school…and off she went!!! Please continue to pray for adjustment to their new classes and that God would use this time in there lives.

A Refreshing Week

We are having a great time at camp! The IMB host a conference, camp to the kiddos, for all the missionaries, while they are on stateside assignment or furlough. It is a great time of reflecting on the experiences we have had, reconnecting with other missionaries all over the World and renewing our minds and our hearts.

I am always nervous when I have to leave the kids, especially in a new situation. I was especially nervous about leaving Gideon, when I discovered they had placed him in a group of kids ages 6 and 7. He is 6, but is the youngest in his class and he has never been in a formal school setting. I expressed my concerns to the teacher, Mrs. Becky, but both the teacher and Keith agreed that they should let stay in this class. We spent the afternoon preparing Gideon and ME about how much fun they would have, all the new friends they would make and that they would get to have pizza!!! I also told them that I would get them a special treat if they went to school every day without tears or complaints. I was shocked when we dropped Gideon off with no drama!!! He walked in to his class, greeted his teacher and gave me a hug and waved bye!!! When we went to pick him up, he was having a great time and the teacher said that he did great!!! Way to go Gideon!!! Please pray that Gideon would have a great week, fall in love with school and make lots of friends!!!

ME, however, was a totally different story. ME is usually very outgoing, loves kids and preschool. So, I never dreamed that we would carry her across the campus screaming, “I don’t want to go! Don’t leave me!” I carried her into the class, only to have to go chase her as she ran out of the classroom!!! I finally deferred to Keith, who calmly swept her up, handed her off to the teacher and waved good-bye! Thankfully, she was having a great time when we returned and her teacher, Cinderella, said that she only cried for a few minutes and then did great. Please pray that ME would adjust quickly to her new routine and would learn to be a good friend.

This is our third trip this camp and I always look forward to this time. It is fun to think about the many memories we have made coming here and the great fellowship and family times we experience. One thing I love about being here is the sense of peace I have here and the like mindedness we experience with other missionaries. No matter where you live around the World, the struggles, temptations and triumphs are very similar. It has been so encouraging to be able to share our current struggles with families whose response is… “We know what you are going through” and share their struggles all with great wisdom, insight and understanding. Please pray that the Lord would speak to us during this time and guide us daily in the steps we should take and the decisions that need to be made.