March 2018

Far from home

When we left the states at the end of furlough, a few people asked me to put up more pictures, so I decided to do a picture a day on Instigram.  Unfortunately, not everyone who wanted to see those pictures use Instagram or Facebook.  Fortunately, I can still write here. But I haven’t. Not for a long time.  Life has been full and busy and internet not so good, so not much writing!

This year, 2018, I made 2 resolutions.  The first is to write my prayer partners more often. I was fairly successful until my internet provider stopped providing good service.  Today as I write, I still have no internet at home after 3 1/2 weeks of communication that there is no connection.  Servicemen came Monday, but they have no idea what is wrong.  My oldest child is the most frustrated by this because he can’t do his on-line Latin work. Nor can he do research for his AP class. It’s not all bad – we have played our instruments more, talked more, and the kids are being creative.  But it is very frustrating.  We have a back up internet, but it is limited.

The second is wrapped up in the word cherish.  When we got married, Chris and I promised to cherish each other, but somewhere along the way, the idea of cherishing each other was forgotten. Annoyances became cause for anger.  Frustrations and differences did too.  BUT if I am to cherish him, my attitude shifts.  I concentrate on the good things, pray for the other things – pray for him, constantly.  Now when he travels, I miss him. SO MUCH.  And that’s a good thing (and a bad thing as he is traveling now!) I’m trying to cherish my kids, my days – to be content in every situation.  It is still hot here, humid, crawling with ants in the change of season, mosquito infested, shopping challenged, far-from-home place.  But if I can find one thing to cherish each day, all of life is better.  Philippians 4:8 reminds us, “⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” 

Life is better.  Being far from home and home merge and contentment becomes reality.

And as I begin to pray for aid with my thoughts, wanting to cherish, wanting contentment, I find myself wanting: I am not just able to pull myself up by my bootstraps.  I need the Holy Spirit to help.  I’m running out of things from the US – ziplocks and chocolate chips, Craisins and nuts, York peppermint patties, and good school supplies.  I miss driving, and shopping, and AC, and winter.  I miss friends and family.  But when I am in America, I miss things from here.  To be content in every situation – that is a gift from God and one I desire.

Chris is traveling a lot this semester- to villages and other countries.  The kids are doing okay in school.  Kristin and Noah are in the play in May.  Kristin played soccer this season.  I’m still working in the library at RFIS and teaching on Fridays (we still need teachers for next year!  Pray and spread the news!).  Life is plodding along. 

We received a gift to go on vacation as a family.  Se still need to pick a when and where.  Chris has interns coming this summer from the end of May until the first of August.  He’s traveling to England in July (I’d love to go!) to teach a course and to Kenya in August for a conference.

I am home now.  The cool air of the early rainy season is pleasantly breezing into my room.  The children are at school.  Chris is traveling, to return tomorrow.  The sounds of traffic and chickens and children talking in French as they walk to school are all familiar sounds. I’m headed out to the dreaded downtown for our monthly shopping trip to buy meat from the French butcher shop and other necessities for the westerner living in Africa.  The servicemen have not returned to fix our internet. This too is just part of life here.  So I will post first with out pictures and try to upload a few at a time!

Please pray for Chris's work.  That the Scriptures he uses to teach would pierce the heart of those who hear.  Pray that the music that was written at workshops will have an everlasting impact transforming hearers from the inside out.  

Pray that we cherish each other, the place we live and work, and find contentment in every situation.

Pray that the children mature in their faith, in their work habits, and are a blessing to those around them.  

Pray for our internet to work! For good health and safety while traveling.

Pray for the interns who are coming this summer and all the details that come with it.

Pray for our branch conferences that begin March 26 with Spiritual Emphasis and end in April with meetings and workshops.  

Pray for teachers for next year at RFIS and the Greenhouse, and a branch nurse and many other unfilled positions.

Thanks for praying!