Wow, it's already been a week since we boarded a plane in Omaha, NE and began our trek over-seas. It's been a good week though full of lots of changes and introductions... So, here are some of the highlights...
*We were blessed by a great trip schedule... OMA-ATL-MOW...about 13 hours of flight with only a two hour lay-over!! We had very little traffic to our friend's place and were greated warmly by them. We freshened up and headed out immediately to have a "shashlik" picnic at the park. This was a great time to see some of their work and the fresh air helped us and the boys stay awake!! We managed to make it to bedtime before crashing. We had a blissful Sunday with our friends and then headed back to the airport on Monday for a smooth flight southward... We were a little worried about our extra baggage but it all worked out! Praise Him!
* We've arrived! We were greeted with open arms full graciousness! We were met at the airport by a couple we had never met, to take us to the apt of a family who we've never met who is out of country where we will stay till we find our own apt. The fridge had been stocked by our friends here and Andy headed out to take care of our registration with the aide of another couple that lives here!!
* The generosity, graciousness, hospitality, camaraderie and community of the expats here has just blown us away this week. We have been blessed as we make this transition. I've also made some "fun" discoveries---discoveries that ease this "city-girl's" mind! :-) There is a mall that has just opened!!! :-) While still over half-empty, there will be a movie theater to go along with the arcade, mini-market, bowling alley and a fast-food chicken place!! :-) I know that it's silly, but I'm so excited to find a bit of "city" in this place!! :-)
*We've also discovered that it really does rain about half of the time here so we already went and got MJ & NL little boy umbrellas!! :-)
*Another discovery which makes us all that more thankful for our temp residence is that finding an apt is a slow going process! We just keep praying for clear guidance on our future home...
*It's also been nice to find more smiles here...the Russian culture has always been such a stark contrast from the Latin one I was raised in so it's been so refreshing to find that life here is a little more laid back with a few more smiles!
*We've got so much to do in the next few months that at times it can be so overwhelming, but what has made an even bigger impression is already seeing His love among His workers just completely knocking over political and denominational boundaries with a passion to see Him glorified!
So, that's a bit of what's been going through my mind the last few days and my first impressions...
Friday, September 17, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Not loosing sight -- Phil 1:12-20
Recently my heart has weighed heavily for the situation in the country where we are serving and in particular for the plight of 3 famlies there. After leaving their homeland to come and serve, after working hard to adapt to a less-than-friendly environment, after countless hours of language learning, their service has come to an abrupt halt. The situation has forced them to pack-up and move back. They join the other 9 families we have seen leave that city in the last two years for similar reasons. Some had served for eight or more years; others had been there little more than a year. That's not counting those whose mission was forced to relocate their people to a more neutral and centralized location or those blessed to simply finish their langauge time and move on to their final destination as planned...but that's off point. My thoughts & prayers have been focused on those whose plans, thoughts, and dreams have been abruptly changed.
This situation coupled with our experience back in the US has deinitely given more depth of meaning to the word sacrifice. So many times we were thanked, admired, and applaudded for our "sacrifice," for doing what others couldn't (or wouldn't) and all the while I sat there uncomfortable with the praise.
"Sacrifice' has an underlying shade of pain & saddness, struggle and reluctance. Those are all words I think we have all lived through in our area of ministry, but then again, all who live and breath have or will experience these feelings regardless of their situation. So, what makes sacrifice more than just these sad, dark, desolate feelings for what's been given up or denied? I think it's finding the purpose in the pain--the "pay-off", if you would.
That brings me to another question we've been asked a lot..."Do you like it there?" I really don't like that one! :-) On one hand it makes me sound either critical or forces me to be unreal if I respond to it. It also downplays the sacrifice of it all. We've been called and try to find the joy in it despite the struggle. However, if I lived doing only what I "like", what's comfortable, then I wouldn't be there.
His call is about more than what makes us happy, though we may find happiness in it. More often than not, though, true joy, fullfillment, purpose and "like" are the by-product of having come through the struggle, having fought the good fight, and having pressed fwd towards the goal.
The goal or purpose are coupled with the pain, the struggle, the saddness, etc to bring about the meaning or significance of the sacrifice... However, I can now see that deeper in all of this sacrifice takes on a more positive shade. The shade that was making me uncomfortable with all the thanks and appreciation. Why was I being singled-out, thanked and applauded for the privilege of serving Him?! Why, when so many more qualified and mature were having to leave? Why was the privilege mine for now? That last question has really been challenging me to get my act together, to pick-up the baton, to begin enjoying the call while I can--while I have the privilege. For now, while the struggle and pain remain and await us upon our return, they are still our privilege!
To those of you have come before, thank you for your work, thank you for your example and thank you for your sacrifice.
Blessed in His Service,
Jen
This situation coupled with our experience back in the US has deinitely given more depth of meaning to the word sacrifice. So many times we were thanked, admired, and applaudded for our "sacrifice," for doing what others couldn't (or wouldn't) and all the while I sat there uncomfortable with the praise.
"Sacrifice' has an underlying shade of pain & saddness, struggle and reluctance. Those are all words I think we have all lived through in our area of ministry, but then again, all who live and breath have or will experience these feelings regardless of their situation. So, what makes sacrifice more than just these sad, dark, desolate feelings for what's been given up or denied? I think it's finding the purpose in the pain--the "pay-off", if you would.
That brings me to another question we've been asked a lot..."Do you like it there?" I really don't like that one! :-) On one hand it makes me sound either critical or forces me to be unreal if I respond to it. It also downplays the sacrifice of it all. We've been called and try to find the joy in it despite the struggle. However, if I lived doing only what I "like", what's comfortable, then I wouldn't be there.
His call is about more than what makes us happy, though we may find happiness in it. More often than not, though, true joy, fullfillment, purpose and "like" are the by-product of having come through the struggle, having fought the good fight, and having pressed fwd towards the goal.
The goal or purpose are coupled with the pain, the struggle, the saddness, etc to bring about the meaning or significance of the sacrifice... However, I can now see that deeper in all of this sacrifice takes on a more positive shade. The shade that was making me uncomfortable with all the thanks and appreciation. Why was I being singled-out, thanked and applauded for the privilege of serving Him?! Why, when so many more qualified and mature were having to leave? Why was the privilege mine for now? That last question has really been challenging me to get my act together, to pick-up the baton, to begin enjoying the call while I can--while I have the privilege. For now, while the struggle and pain remain and await us upon our return, they are still our privilege!
To those of you have come before, thank you for your work, thank you for your example and thank you for your sacrifice.
Blessed in His Service,
Jen
Monday, January 4, 2010
Moving, moving, moved?...almost
Boxes stacked and ready to go, we woke up this morning and with in the hour were ready to start moving ours and our teamates possessions into storage. I was so blessed today by all the help we received today. A big thanks to all of you! :-) So, we got home around noon, hung out with some friends for a bit, played games and then rested some. Now, it's time to refocus. Lots of odds and ends to finish up, but not really busy at all and that's a first in a long time! Not exactly sure what to do with myself! It's one of those odd feelings, where you just kind of sit glazed after one big task has been completed, and you know you have work still to do, but not really sure what to focus on...
Over the next few days, we'll say a few more good-byes, I'll take MJ tomorrow to a church Christmas thing, last minute packing and helping Andy on presentations before we fly out on Thurs...wow, maybe we are still busy? :-)
Over the next few days, we'll say a few more good-byes, I'll take MJ tomorrow to a church Christmas thing, last minute packing and helping Andy on presentations before we fly out on Thurs...wow, maybe we are still busy? :-)
Friday, January 1, 2010
And so the New Year begins...
It's 2 am and I can't get to sleep. Been thinking about trying to blog more for months, might as well start now...Some of me has long ago given up on New Year's resolutions, but I do always look fwd to new beginnings and the chance at a fresh start--something that I'm grateful He gives us everyday! So, with that in mind, why not start the year with a new blog post in hopes of more to come...There will certainly be much to process these coming months... There was much finality to our 2009--December was full of good-byes and lasts.
We finished language school. After studying for 2 1/2 yrs, it was time for our last lesson, our last class get together, and many farewells. The school is actually closing it's doors after many years of faithfully teaching other M's and we all are going on our separate ways.
We had a wonderful final get-to-gether at our place with our Russian homegroup on Christmas Day. The next day, MJ went to his final gymnastics class/end of the year party and that afternoon we went to our last English service followed on Sunday by our last get-to-gether with Andy's students...
So on Monday, it was time to start packing. The tree came down, the kitchen stuff got packed away and by New Years, our living room was full of boxes! It's the 2nd now (well, I guess the 3rd since it's 2 am) and things are beginning to sink in. We've have had so much going on all the month of December, so many surprises and changes in the last 6 weeks and so much to get ready for, I can't believe all that happend in such a short time, but now,....now, is the lull before the storm.
A few more things to pack, a few more good-byes and then...and then we begin the year with many changes ahead of us--a year of firsts and new beginnings.
Our first furlough--Andy has been amazing trying to get all our dates set up for the coming months. We fly to Moscow on the 7th and then PA, USA on the 10th and NE on the 18th then down to OK on the 22/23 of this month, and that's just the beginning. We will be doing lots of traveling through May, visiting with churches, friends, and family. Before going down to Ecuador due to some techinical issues with insurance and not being able to get back to Russia till classes start in our new city in Aug/Sept. Then things get a bit vague...New home, new school, new city, new friends, all things new once again. It's exciting, terrifying and nerve-wracking all at once. It's bitter sweet, knowing that after 2 1/2 yrs here, I'm finally getting used to life, making friends, talking a bit more and being understood. That's encouraging. What's discouraging is knowing that in the Fall, I'll be starting the whole process again and hoping that this time it might not take as long, but it probabl will. Friendships are formed over time, but this time will be different, at least I hope so...This time we get to do it without a time limit. Lord, willing, we will be there for the long haul...after 10 years of moving around, I might finally get to settle down! It seems almost unreal! So, is it any wonder I can't sleep. My mind is spinning between reminiscing about what was, trying to figure out what all needs to be done in the next 6 days and wondering/dreaming about what's to come! The coming year is sure to be a full one and while visiting with all our loved ones, sharing our passion and call and enjoying our home-culture will be nice, I yearn for the Fall, for a new chance, a first in our married life, a first for my children, to actually settle down, a chance to carve out for ourselves a home, a chance once again to bloom where He's replanting!
We finished language school. After studying for 2 1/2 yrs, it was time for our last lesson, our last class get together, and many farewells. The school is actually closing it's doors after many years of faithfully teaching other M's and we all are going on our separate ways.
We had a wonderful final get-to-gether at our place with our Russian homegroup on Christmas Day. The next day, MJ went to his final gymnastics class/end of the year party and that afternoon we went to our last English service followed on Sunday by our last get-to-gether with Andy's students...
So on Monday, it was time to start packing. The tree came down, the kitchen stuff got packed away and by New Years, our living room was full of boxes! It's the 2nd now (well, I guess the 3rd since it's 2 am) and things are beginning to sink in. We've have had so much going on all the month of December, so many surprises and changes in the last 6 weeks and so much to get ready for, I can't believe all that happend in such a short time, but now,....now, is the lull before the storm.
A few more things to pack, a few more good-byes and then...and then we begin the year with many changes ahead of us--a year of firsts and new beginnings.
Our first furlough--Andy has been amazing trying to get all our dates set up for the coming months. We fly to Moscow on the 7th and then PA, USA on the 10th and NE on the 18th then down to OK on the 22/23 of this month, and that's just the beginning. We will be doing lots of traveling through May, visiting with churches, friends, and family. Before going down to Ecuador due to some techinical issues with insurance and not being able to get back to Russia till classes start in our new city in Aug/Sept. Then things get a bit vague...New home, new school, new city, new friends, all things new once again. It's exciting, terrifying and nerve-wracking all at once. It's bitter sweet, knowing that after 2 1/2 yrs here, I'm finally getting used to life, making friends, talking a bit more and being understood. That's encouraging. What's discouraging is knowing that in the Fall, I'll be starting the whole process again and hoping that this time it might not take as long, but it probabl will. Friendships are formed over time, but this time will be different, at least I hope so...This time we get to do it without a time limit. Lord, willing, we will be there for the long haul...after 10 years of moving around, I might finally get to settle down! It seems almost unreal! So, is it any wonder I can't sleep. My mind is spinning between reminiscing about what was, trying to figure out what all needs to be done in the next 6 days and wondering/dreaming about what's to come! The coming year is sure to be a full one and while visiting with all our loved ones, sharing our passion and call and enjoying our home-culture will be nice, I yearn for the Fall, for a new chance, a first in our married life, a first for my children, to actually settle down, a chance to carve out for ourselves a home, a chance once again to bloom where He's replanting!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)