Lessons Learned when Packing Up to Move

(Not necessarily in order of importance or in order of realization.)

1. When multiple animals (green and red monkeys, green and blue birds, snake, and fox) that you often see show up in places that you normally don't, it can feel like the country is bidding you farewell.
2. Keep your drill handy to take stuff off the walls and dismantle.
3. While the US has not yet embraced the metric system, we do have Philips head screws which are better than flatheads.
4. No matter how old you get, you are still your mother's baby. When I went to visit my friend recently widowed, her mother in law (at least eighty years old) threw her arms around my neck and wept for her son (at least sixty years old). She cried out, "My baby, my baby died." That was heart wrenching.
5. A house that has been open but not lived in for eight months has a lot of dust, especially in the dry season with harmattan winds.
6. If you feel a cold coming on in the days before you go pack and then spend time in said dust, you will feel like you are going to cough up a lung.
7. All those papers that you think would be great to keep that your kids do in home school are really not all that great. Weed them out! Plus the people selling bread and street side table sandwiches can use them to wrap the bread when purchased.
8. When you are visiting your friend that was recently widowed, you try to share with her words of comfort and not confrontation, so you choose something from the Psalms of David. Instead it still incites confrontation, because they believe you cannot express frustration or hurt to God. I am so thankful that my God is big enough to handle my emotions!
9. Spiders and tiny roaches think they can take over the garage and kitchen when you are gone from the house for an extended period of time.
10. You know you have true friendship with a West African man when tears are streaming down his face when you are telling him goodbye.
11. When a flammable can accidentally gets put in the trash to be burned, sparks will fly!
12. After the eighty year old mother cries on your shoulder, she will tell you to smile and endure because it is the will of God, thus just accept it.
13. No matter how much you weed through, there is still more stuff. Even what you throw out will be treasured by someone. Minimize!
14. All those papers you thought you needed for work just become dust collectors. Make copies and toss them out and move on.
15. Either get a notebook for the small appliance manuals or throw away before the mice use them to make a nest.
16. That China cabinet that took way too long for the carpenter to finish and did not come out with the right measurements will still be a piece you want to keep with you.
17. When packing to move and you have limited time to do so, it is better to say goodbyes sooner, rip the bandaid off, and get back to work.
18. Those bunk beds that you got built before the mattresses arrived so the mattresses were too big for it will not be a piece you will worry about keeping.
19. Keep all linens (tablecloths, sheets, etc.) in sealed trunk to prevent mice pooping in them.
20. Slush Magic cups are really not a great idea here. Mickey Mouse popsicle holders on the other hand are.
21. Even the house helper's younger sister cries when you are leaving because you have been so good for her sister.
22. When staying at a newly opened hotel, do make sure they have the wifi installed and plenty of parking, so you can still park inside their walls even when they have a big meeting.
23. Do go ahead and stay at said new hotel so that you can have a break from the packing and be clean and let them cook dinner for you.
24. Fancy security door stoppers do not work on outward opening doors.
25. Command Hooks are awesome, super easy to remove. Just make sure you have more adhesive for when you get to your new place.
26. Do make sure to take down solar lights and their panels. Do let someone else clean the outside of the BBQ grill for you.
27. When you remove the garden wall decor from the wall after rainy season, you will find places where the mold did not grow.
28. Do find the books that someone let you borrow so that you can return them and grab a few of those toys your children have outgrown to give the family for the boys they are adopting.
29. A gas stove left unused will clog up and need to be opened before lunch can be made.
30. Don't bother taking the time to take self-adhesive wall art down. It takes too much time and tears easily so it cannot be reused anyway. Before putting up said art in the first place, think if you will be able to remove it if you are pressed for time to move.
31. Baking soda has a really long shelf life. Keep it when you are tossing all the other stuff so you have healthy cleaner when you get to new place.
32. Overall this is a great time to weed out, clean out what you do not truly need.
33. It was worth it to bring stuff over in contico trunks each time you came back from the states and taking up the space to store them because you were able to pack almost everything in them.
34. It was good to not bring the children, because they would have gotten bored quickly. Plus their friends next door are no longer there, so they would not have had them to play with. (Plus the kids can stop thinking if we were here, they could share more with them.)
35. Plan to take all curtains down so that they can be washed before they are packed.
36. Choose carefully who you will leave your children with while you go pack your house. Here is no shortage of people who have had to leave quickly for one reason or another. Our children were able to be at a house with boys and girls for ours to relate to, yet a different family as well to learn how they do things. They also got to experience attending a deaf church and hopefully learn some sign language.
37. No, the girls do not need a million little purses to take with us, so weed those out too.
38. This house, for all the things we wished we could change about it, holds a lot of memories for our family. Our children have grown up here. Lots of lessons, some good and some hard, have been learned here. It is hard to say good bye to all those memories.
39. Thankful for Facebook On This Day to remind me of some of those memories.
40. No, the work here is not finished. There are still many more left to hear. However, He has clearly called us to a new work. So as hard as it is to leave things unfinished, our work here is done. May those who come behind us find us faithful, and may the believers here take the Gospel farther than we ever could armed with the Word and the Holy Spirit.
41. You can tell which way is north, i.e. the desert, because the harmattan wind pushes the bushes toward the south, much like at the beach.
42. The toll road is fantastic!

How Much to Share?

The other day, as most days, I tried to squeeze too much in to too little time. I had a quiet time and exercised. I got ready and had breakfast. On the way out the door, I said good byes to the kids and could not resist teaching a little as well. However, then I was late to gather with the other ladies to go out prayer walking.

I showed up to our gathering place. I was not the first to arrive, but I was also not last. We sang a couple of praise songs in the dominant local language and then prayed together before heading out. Though the three ladies that gathered with me were almost half my age, it was a blessing to call them sisters.



One of the ladies, who has lived in the capital a year and speaks the dominant local language, had come across a household that really wanted to communicate in another local language, of which I speak a dialect. The young lady took the group of us to meet the house hold. The other ladies in our group consisted of a semester volunteer and a former semester volunteer who recently came back to work in the capital.

After a stroll, we arrived at the desired household. We all greeted and were introduced. One of the matrons of the house shared that her knees were aching, due to what I guess is arthritis. I asked if we could pray and share a story. The semester volunteer shared the story of the four friends that brought the paralytic to Jesus, while I translated. After the story and more conversation, I felt prompted to tell the story of Creation to Christ with the two ladies who were still there with us. I felt bad that I could not story and translate for the rest of my group at the same time, but it worked out. My group gathered where we were in the story. Once I was done, I went back to translating.

I asked what the ladies liked or had problems with in the story. They understood my language, which concerned me the most. The matron shared that the Way I shared was different from what they believed. I affirmed that it was good to know we are sinners and need to be saved, because there are so many in the states that do not even know that. However, only one road can be the Way, and we can only walk one path though we have two feet.

The matrons were less than embracing of what I shared, but they were still open to visiting. The sun was taking over more of the court yard, so we all moved into a shaded area of the courtyard. Our original contact asked to be able to make tea for all  of us, which was encouraging that she wanted to continue the visit. She also had fun joking around with the young lady who recently returned to the capital.



After three rounds of tea, it was time to go. The original contact wanted to know where the young ladies live, so that she could visit them some time.

I hated the idea of leaving and not sharing enough, but I was also well aware that the relationship might get shut down once the Truth was shared. Thankfully, we can rest knowing that the Truth was introduced in that household, and the doors of relationship were still open. Praying that the seed of faith will be watered and one day produce much fruit.

Amy's Story

Amy grew up in a home with parents of two different people groups but both Cousins. She was forced into an arranged marriage at a young age. Life for her was difficult. In 2005, she got a job helping the wife of a missionary couple learn the language. One of their religious duties is to pray five times a day. Amy was confused when the young missionary wanted to pray all the time. The young lady wanted to pray before beginning language class and when they ended and any time the Spirit lead her in between. It was the young missionary's love for Jesus and praying that lead Amy to want to follow Jesus too. Amy's husband divorced her and kept the children when Amy's choice was known.

Amy then taught herself English so that she could go out to translate for volunteer teams. She has been out with teams and gone to follow up even when teams were not around. She has supported her family and tried to help mentor young believers to grow in the Word and provide for themselves. Eventually all of her daughters came to live with her as well as her mother, who is still a Cousin.

In April, while out at a village where Amy had shared many times before, she was attacked, beaten, and left for dead. Thankfully others saw her and brought her into town where she could get treated at a hospital. The first hospital was unaware of her diabetes and so complications with her treatment arose. She was transferred to another hospital which worked in conjunction with a larger facility to give her the treatment she needed over the next two months. During this time, the local pastor and others from the Family went often to pray with and over Amy.

Amidst Amy's recovery, a man proposed to her. In July, they were married. Jennifer and the local pastor's wife attended the wedding, helped with food preparation, and prayed for the couple.

As August came to a close, Jennifer called Amy to see about gathering together to study. If that were not praise enough in an area where brothers and sisters have not always gathered without help from an outsider, Amy was back out in the village. Not only was she out, but she was in the village where she had been beaten. What a testimony and challenge to see her perseverance!

Jennifer Sows the Seed

As you may remember, "Jennifer" completed her time of mourning for her husband shortly after we left our home five months ago. She was so looking forward to her freedom to go study and gather with the Body. Without us there, the Body was left without an outside force to encourage and teach. So we prayed that they would indeed be the Body.

As August began, I shared with some that Jennifer had requested prayer that the Brothers and Sisters would continue to grow in their faith. A week later, as we made a quick trip to our house to retrieve home school materials, I was able to give her an SD card with stories from the Word, the Way of Righteousness, as well as sing and pray with her.

When she called last week, I asked her if she was listening to the stories and if anyone was listening with her. She told me that she is listening and that a friend was coming the next day to listen. She proceeded to remind me that she had tried to get me to have time to visit this friend, but our schedules had not worked out. Now the friend was going to bring another friend to listen to the Word with Jennifer.

Jennifer also told me that she had called "Amy", a sister for over ten years, to get together to study the Word for mutual encouragement. Amy had agreed to do so once she got back from the village. Just having sisters taking initiative to meet together was worth getting excited about, since rarely has the Body gotten together without the initiation of the outsiders.

This week I called to ask Jennifer how things had gone the week before. She was excited to say that the friends had come over and enjoyed hearing the Word. Her friend actually wanted her younger sibling to also hear, so Jennifer was going to their house yesterday to share, after going to visit with Amy. Then Jennifer asked for something. She knew I had some copies of the Word at our house and asked if she could get some to take to give to her friends. I gladly gave permission. Much better for her to give them away than have them sit collecting dust.

A local proverb here says, "Pray to God, but work your fields." Jennifer asked for prayer that the Body would continue to grow and is working toward that end. Ask that the Father will continue to bless the times that the Body gathers and the times that the Body is out sowing the Seed.

Where We Are by Rich

Here is the latest news on us and our situation. Some have asked exactly what is going on and what took place, so I am including a short summary of things as well.

- April: Our world and work came to a screeching halt as we received a threat against our family from someone who had been in our home often and we trusted. Not sure how much to believe the words coming from him, we knew the history of anger issues in his family.  In light of this, we grabbed our pre-packed carry-ons, packed up some homeschool stuff, and headed the next morning up to the capital. We reported this to our embassy and the local government, who has been looking for the guy, but he left his village.

- April - July: We have been sitting up in the capital after not feeling safe to return to our home. A friend and I were able to make a quick 3 day run down to the house to get some needed supplies, but we are still living out of trunks for the most part. The kids resumed homeschool and we both found some work with our company to do in the capital. Meanwhile, our supervisors started looking for a new place and position for us to move to for work. We are hoping to stay on the continent of Africa if possible.

- July: We took a break and went to a conference in Germany. While there we took extra time to have a family vacation in Germany, the homeland of my mother.

 We were looking at a position in July and felt lead to pursue it, but we have heard recently that job assignment was given to someone else.  This, as you can imagine, has been a bit of a heartache to find out.  After 4 months of being “on hold” and displaced from our home, we were hoping that we saw a light at the end of this tunnel.  If we were in our home, with all our stuff, sleeping in our beds and had our ministry to do, this would not have been a big deal.  But the fact is, we are NOT in our own home, we are NOT in our own beds and we are finding ministry opportunities here where we are, but they are not with our people.   

                So, where does that leave us you ask?  That is a good question, and one which we have been asking of God as well.  We are talking with our supervisors and praying about some possibilities.  Rather than just putting us someplace and squeezing us in, they are wanting to put us in OUR place.  With all the recent changes in our organizations, there are many openings across the continent and our supervisors/close friends are looking for THE spot that God has for us.  In 1 Cor 12:18we are told “But our bodies have different parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it.”  We know God has a place He wants to put us, and it will be the best place for us based on our gifting’s and abilities.  Our supervisors also know that and that is why they are taking a little time to find that place rather than just try to fit us into a place for now.  

 At this point though, it is looking like a possibility that we could be leaving West Africa in the future.  This is due to a combination of the security situation we find ourselves still in the middle of, as well as medical concerns of learning to live with the “new normal” of Cancer we will have for the rest of our lives.  While we want to be able to go wherever, right now, that wherever needs to have access to good medical care so Lisa can have her testing done 3-4 times a year as well as take care of any possible medical needs, especially in light of Lisa falling on her left arm 12 hours away from the capital back at Easter.  

                Recently, we as a family were able to make a quick 3 day run down to the house.  This was helpful for the kids, since it allowed them to officially say good-bye to the house and our house helper, who is more like family.  This is the only place Lydia-Ann has ever known as home and the place the older kids have grown up.  When we left in April, we did not tell the kids what was going on, as we did not want them to be scared or feel afraid.  We waited until we were in the safety of the capital to tell them and to let them know that we would not be returning to our home.  They have dealt with all this at times better than Lisa and I have.  Their biggest sadness so far has been over not being able to say good-bye to their friends down south.  Fortunately, should we have to leave our region, the kids have been able to see all of their TCK friends over the last month or two.  This coupled with being able to say good-bye to the house recently has allowed them to have some form of closure during the midst of the waiting chaos in which we find ourselves.

                This much we know.  God was not taken by surprise by any or all of this.  He is STILL in control and He has shown us that He is not done with us here yet.  We both have spent the last couple of months going back to the basics with Him and He is showing us His love in some real ways.  While we may not be in our own beds, using our own pots and pans, He has provided a place for us to rest and surrounded us with loving, supportive friends both here in West Africa and around the world.  While we are hoping and praying to see a light at the end of this tunnel, we know that either way, God has this!  The last couple of years our family has been through a LOT, but we know that this world is not our home and we are just passing through.

Future Direction

Ok, so in traveling, things do not always go my way. I can become a little, ok sometimes a lot, frustrated over it. Then God sometimes shows me why things do not go my way.

Last week, we did lots of touring around Germany. We did not make it to everything I wanted, but we did a lot. We did so much that my family collapsed on the benches of the Marketplatz in Frankfurt. (There are worse places that I could have been taking in the view as they rested.) Subsequently, the following day as we had a layover in Madrid, my family was not up for rushing out for a quick view of the city. I was a little downcast, but I knew fighting it would not be worth it.

As we passed our time in the airport, we spent time with another family we know that was traveling our same route. It was a blessing for me to have extra time with this wonderful mentoring woman. She asked if we had heard anything yet on our future position.

I told her that we had not heard anything from those making the decision, but we had heard from God through others that this is indeed the direction to which we are to move. It almost felt strange to be so assured of His direction, almost prideful, but not in ourselves. It is hard for us to conceive that this would not be the direction we would go, with so much confirmation from others, but we are also aware that God can surprise us. If the direction we are going is not the direction that others agree with, then we know He has something even greater. It will not be greater for us, so much as greater for His purposes and His glory.

In talking with her, she put what I was feeling into words. "If this is the direction, God has this. If it is not, also, God has this."

Then she encouraged me to be praying that the position we go into would be the most fulfilling place for my husband, especially as he goes into mid-life. Men in mid-life, as she shared, want to know their lives count and to be doing what they love and about which they are passionate.  Once again, more confirmation to the direction we have sensed. Nonetheless, it is more clear direction in praying for wherever we go next.

We hope to hear soon about our future plans, so please be praying for wisdom on behalf of all involved.

"The Ball Cannot Obey."

Yesterday, while getting some exercise outside, my girls were bouncing a soccer ball back and forth. The little one was getting frustrated because she had trouble catching the ball when it was bounced to her. She grumbled to her sister, "The ball is just obeying you." I continued walking but in a matter of fact way retorted, "Balls cannot obey because they cannot make choices. They go wherever they are kicked or pushed. Obedience requires a choice."

As I kept walking, I began thinking about the statement I had made. Was what I said true? Can it still be obedience if there is not a choice? The dictionary defines obedience as, "The act of obeying rules, laws, or requests. The state of being obedient." Obedient is defined as, "Wiling to obey." Obey is defined as, "To carry out or comply with (a request, an order, a law)."

So, does obedience require a choice?

Jesus told the story of a man with two sons. He asked both of his sons to go work in the field. One son said, "Yes," and the other said, "No." In the end, it was the son who said, "No," that ultimately went to the field. So sometimes, it is not the presence of many options, but a choice merely of yes or no.

Wait, is there more to it than that, even?

How did it define "obedient?" "Willing to obey." Willing is defined as, "Disposed or inclined; prepared. Acting or ready to act gladly. Done, given, accepted, or borne voluntarily or ungrudgingly." By that definition, being obedient is more than just action, but rather it is a matter of the heart. It is an attitude of gladly and ungrudgingly doing what we have been asked. It is ready to act even before the request is made.

Two weeks ago, we asked you to pray for wisdom as we and our supervisors begin to seek our next steps. Three days later, we got an email with a list of possible job opportunities. One immediately jumped out at us. The next day Rich sent an email to supervisors requesting more information regarding the email we had received. We expressed that we felt this was the way the Lord was leading us, but somewhere in my mind I wondered if it was really what we were supposed to be doing or just the absence of other choices. Then we were asked to pray about another possibility. It had lots of positive things about it, but the more we prayed between the options, the more sure we were of the original position. Out of obedience to our supervisors, we kept praying about the second option. It was no longer a matter of not having other options but rather indeed being convinced that this was where the Lord was guiding us. (We have talked with our supervisors and things will move forward in the process.). When it came to being asked to consider the other option, we were willing to obey.

On the way home last night from dinner, we were driving through the neighborhood. It was after the time of breaking the fast and people were praying at their gathering place before eating their big meal of the day. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Many of them would say that we are Christians because we were born into Christian homes. (We know that we are Christians because we have chosen to follow Jesus in all areas of our lives.) Many of them would say they are their religion because they were born into it. Being born into it does not make it obedience, because it is not a choice. Many of them do not even know that there is a choice to be made. Please ask that God would reveal to those that are earnestly seeking Him that there is a choice and what the options are. Pray that they will choose the Way of Truth and that they will be wholly committed to it.

Obedience then could be defined as "The state of being prepared to obey gladly and ungrudgingly." So, no, Lydia-Ann, balls cannot obey.

Out of Place

Displaced and out of place are not the same thing. As I have shared, we have been displaced for the last two months, however we are certain thus far we have not been out of place. We have seen several times why we are here at such a time as this, including, but not limited to, my being in close proximity to working on a project that has been needed for years but had no one with the time and proximity to accomplish the task. However, as we begin to seek out what the next step is and where the Father would send us, we are ever conscious of not wanting to be out of place.

Joseph, in Genesis, is sold into slavery by his brothers and arrives in Egypt. When the day comes that he is reunited with his brothers. Joseph consoles them that what they meant for evil, God meant for good. Joseph had been displaced but not out of place.

Exodus once again speaks volumes. (I know, "Exodus, again?") Moses and Aaron spoke to Pharaoh to secure the release of the Israelites. After much pain and suffering for the Egyptians and God's protection over the Israelites, Pharaoh releases them. The Israelites cross the Sea on dry ground. They grumble for food and God provides manna. God tells Moses to get the people ready to hear from Him and then to bring Aaron up the mountain with him. Moses prepares the people. God speaks. The people ask Moses to meet with God and then tell them what He says. Moses goes back up but leaves Aaron behind. A few chapters later God tells Moses to bring elders up to meet on the mountain but Moses only ascend to the top. At what point did God decide to leave Aaron down with the people? Did He intend for Aaron to get left behind this time or did He just let Moses and Aaron decide where Aaron was to go? Eight chapters later, we see that Aaron succumbed to pressure from the people to provide an idol for them to worship. It had been less than forty days, and already the people had forgotten their commitment to obey the Lord completely. Had the Lord intended for Aaron to be on the mountain and by being out of place, he facilitated the idol worship? Had the Lord changed His mind and intended for Aaron to stay to keep the people focused on the Lord, which he failed to do? Who decided for Aaron to stay? Was Aaron out of place?

Another beloved man of God is seen years later out of place and goes down sin's slippery slope. In 2 Samuel 11, David sent out his generals and army, but he himself stayed behind. Because he was not away "at the time when the kings go out to battle," he beheld a beautiful woman and has her brought to him, and then she conceives his child. As if that were not enough, he then conspires to cover up his sin and then conspires to have her husband killed when his first plan to conceal falls through. Then heartbreak comes when the child of this unholy union dies. Because David was out of place, sin and heart break were compounded.

When the Messiah was born, the reigning king was jealous. He determined to kill any child that could possibly be the age of this King. God sent an angel to warn Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and escape to Egypt. They were displaced but obviously not out of place.

The Word is bursting with examples of those who were both out of place and those displaced. We do not want to be out of place, though we are displaced. Pray for wisdom for us as well as our supervisors to know where we are to be and what we are to be doing there. James 1:5 promises, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and much wisdom will be needed in the days to come.

Feast Day

Cancer stinks, to put it mildly. It just does. I watched my brother fight a nine month battle, but he never lost his joy. I have known many who were diagnosed and were told they were clear following treatment only to have it return with more force later. A sweet seven year old boy has been fighting this battle hard most of his life, but his family was told this week that the treatments are not effective. He has lived life to the fullest and they are enjoying the days they have with him. A friend here went to a funeral yesterday for a friend of her son. The friend had been suffering with cancer for a while. Many here assume no one dies in America from cancer because of better medical care, but we all know that is not accurate.

Almost two years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. Treatment was not easy. Eight rounds of chemotherapy. A very intense surgery, from which I will forever bear scars. Thirty sessions of radiation. Some have certainly been through more, but it was my road to walk. Then after all of that was done, we waited three months to do a scan to look for cancer in the body. The scan came up empty. A year ago tomorrow, I was declared cancer free. Praises filled our hearts.

That was not the end of the road though. I still had another surgery. I will be taking a drug to prevent its return for the next several years. I will probably take vitamins for the rest of my life, which is not such a bad idea anyway.  I have to see the doctor often to make sure the cancer has not returned. Some have endured far more. Once again, it is my journey.

When I look at Exodus, I see that God ordained feast days for His people to remind them of His deliverance and His faithfulness. In Exodus 13:3, Moses says to the people, "Remember this day...for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place." They were to observe the feast days as they journeyed through the wilderness as well as the Promised Land. Whether in hard times or in places of "milk and honey," we must remember how the Lord has provided for us.

Two months ago yesterday, we were displaced. Since then, we have been encouraged as we look back on God's provision and faithfulness throughout the cancer journey. Though we are wandering, we will hold our feast day and remember His provision.
Happy June 10th!

Heart Check

The words of Scripture become so much more alive when you look at them in parallel to one's life. As I read in Exodus 15 and 16 these last few days, I was both encouraged and convicted about my attitude.

For those that do not know, we have been temporarily displaced. We are not currently where we had been living and where all of our "stuff" is, but we are also not where we will be. At times, we relate very well to the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land. In spite of our displacement, we have been blessed to see the provision of the Lord.

Unfortunately, I begin to understand more than I would like about the grumbling of the Israelites. As they approached the fifteenth day of the second month since their deliverance, they grumbled for water and food. Last week marked the fifteenth day of the second month since we have been displaced, not misplaced.

The Lord has made some parts of Exodus 16 jump out at me the last couple of days.
1. In verse 4, the Lord was going to give them daily bread to test the people, whether or not they would walk in His instruction. Heart check: am I going to walk in His instruction or rely on my own wisdom and self-reliance?
2. In verse 10, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. Heart check: am I looking to see His glory revealed?
3. In verse 18, each who gathered would have no lack nor excess. Heart check: am I content with what I really need?
4. In verse 20, why did some of the people leave some of the bread until morning? It was already stated that it was not an excess. Did they not trust God to provide the next day? Heart check: am I trusting the Lord to provide daily all I need?
5. In verse 21, they were to gather morning by morning. Later, the writer of Lamentations would write that the Lord's compassions are new every morning Jesus would teach His followers to pray for daily bread. We need spiritual bread every day. Heart check: am I coming to Him every morning for the sustenance that I need for today rather than hoping to rely on yesterday's provision?
6. In verse 23, the Lord gives instructions to provide for the people on the Sabbath. Some of the Israelites relied on their experience rather than the instructions of the Lord? Heart check: am I listening to His instructions daily or am I relying on my experience, even my past experience with Him?
7. In verse 32, Moses tells that they are to put some of the manna into a jar to keep to remind of His provision for His people. Heart check: what do I need to put in a jar to remind me later of His provision during this time?

"Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

Once again, I learn so much from a story that I think I know so well. Reading back in Exodus of God calling Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and how it actually plays out is fascinating.

When God began to call Moses in chapter 3, Moses asks why him. God tells him all that He will do and tells him it will not be easy. Since Moses' other attempts had not worked, he tried to give the excuse of not being an eloquent speaker, but God provided an answer to that as well. God who made man's mouth would enable him to speak. Moses once again asks that God send the message by whomever He would send. Was he deaf too? God was sending him. God was angered by Moses' excuses but was set upon His plan, so He permitted Aaron to be Moses' mouthpiece.

Moses and Aaron went to speak to Pharoah. Rather than receiving the message with open arms, Pharoah increased the workload of the Israelites. He would keep them too busy to worship. (Do you find yourself like that sometimes? That is not God.) So the people got mad at Moses and did not appreciate what he was there to do. Sometimes we can get distracted and blame the wrong person. It was Pharoah who had increased their work load, not Moses.

Then Moses goes back to God to make sure he is really doing what God commands. When we are weary because life does not go like we plan or the promise does not come fast enough, we can go back to God for assurance, but we must be ready for His answer.

God reminds Moses who He is and why he was sent. "I am the Lord." It was not about Moses. It was not really even about the Israelites or the Egyptians. It was about God being worshipped and glorified.

Moses goes to deliver God's message to the Israelites, who are less than receptive. Moses once again gives excuses as to why he could not speak before Pharoah. If the Israelites would not listen, why would Pharoah? Once again, God reminded Moses, "I am the Lord."

How many times was Moses going to give excuses about not being able to speak? Had God not already made His point? How many times would Moses make excuses? How many times would he allow his own inadequacies to distract him from what God was doing?
How often do I?

Married Versus Unmarried Man

I have always been grateful for my husband, well most always. I have repented for the times I have not. Due to the times that we have been apart for work or medical, I am grateful that I am not a single parent and have increased respect for those that are.

Monday morning, I was awakened with a new appreciation for him and the burden he carries as my husband and the father of our children. In case you have not known me long, I confess that I can be slow sometimes.

I had often heard the concerns of Paul in 1 Corinthians 7 of a married man versus an unmarried one. In verse 32, the unmarried man is able to be free of concern and rather able to focus on things Above. On the other hand, the married man in verse 33 is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife (and subsequently his children). I have struggled in the past over and yet found comfort in verse 34 as a wife and mother. While I have wanted to be busy about the Work, my husband and children are my work.

As I thought over those verses again, I was impressed even more as to what those verses mean. Not only does my husband not get to be doing the Work with abandon. Not only does he have to be worried about how to please me. :) He also must be concerned about my safety and that of our children.

When we first returned back in September, I struggled through October adjusting to life here, the heat, and the responsibilities of home school. It was a challenge for my post cancer body. Rich would be hesitant to go to the village or be anxious to return. I tried to tell him numerous times to not worry about me, because we needed to be about the Work that we are here to do. Looking again at these verses, it was not for me to tell him about what he should or should not be worried.  His interests were naturally going to be divided.

Once again, this week those verses came alive, new and afresh. Then this morning, as we met together with others, the leader taught from Acts 16:22-40. The teacher was pointing out how Paul and Silas responded to difficult times. Despite being imprisoned, they responded with prayer and singing of praises, and people were drawn to the Truth.

While it was not the focus of the teaching, I noticed there was no wife or children in the situation for Paul and Silas to be concerned. They were able to be fully dedicated to the Work. We know Jesus too was single. As far as we know, the other disciples were all single when they were called to follow Him.

Yes, being married, a man's interests are divided. The weight he carries on his shoulders though, being responsible for wife and children is great. Thankful for my husband once again and the load he carries on our behalf. I felt impressed too to reiterate to our son of the load he takes on in the event that he does get married one day, a commitment and responsibility not to be taken lightly.

Thank you, love, for how you care and provide for us!

Wedding Day

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a local wedding. Everyone wears their very best, trying to outdo everyone but the bride. The celebration is almost completely women. So yes, truly fashion is a competition between women, men are not really a factor.

I wore my newest outfit, my homage to Mardi Gras. I drove over to the wedding, so I would not mess up my shoes. I was not sure where to go to greet first, so I was thrilled to see Jennifer's sister sitting at the edge of the group. She and Jamie took me in to greet and then found a place for me to sit.

The women sat in a large circle with the giant speakers to one side. The bride makes her appearance with her closest friends attending her. The bride goes around the circle greeting every one in attendance.

Rather than serve the dinner in bowls for everyone to share, at this wedding, they put individual servings of the food into foil boxes to send home with everyone. This was a new experience for me, but it was not the greatest observation I made.

After I arrived and was seated, despite the fact that music was playing, almost no one was dancing. One or two of the ladies serving as hostesses would dance as they went about their serving, but still it was not much. Then a lady walked into the group that did not look like she belonged. She did not seem to know anyone and was not taken in to greet like I was. While all the other women dressed in their finest, this woman was dressed in rags. I am not even sure if she was wearing shoes at all. No one told her to leave but she was obviously not welcomed either. It reminded me of a certain story.

Jesus taught what the kingdom of God was like in Matthew 22. A king invited all to his son's wedding feast. None that were invited came. So the man told his servants to go invite anyone they found on the road. The wedding hall was filled. However one that came in was not dressed properly. The king addressed the man improperly dressed, for "many are called but few are chosen."

Once again, life here makes the Bible come to life so much more. Will we be ready when the time comes? Will those on the highways of life around us be ready?

Not a Given

Life has been a lot about goodbyes lately. We said goodbye to those who voluntarily retired in November. We said goodbye last week to some who raised their hands to return to the states. We also take our leaves from people who temporarily live in the capital, not knowing if we will see them again before they move.

When we left in July 2014, not knowing when or if we would return, we said goodbyes at least in our hearts. When Rich and the kids left our guest house to join me in the states, two good friends who are very much like family cried and said, "that is one family we will never see back here."  One of those women shared that with me last week. It was a reminder that our return here was not a given. Thirteen months later we said goodbyes to family back in the states to return here.

Goodbyes are part of our lives. That means hellos are too. Hellos can be so sweet and we make relationships here. Other expats here become family to us. It can be tempting to begin to feel at home here. Then life happens and we are reminded that here is not our home.

Not just Africa, not just America, but this earth is not our real home. We will never be fully at home because this is not where we belong. We can find joy and we can weep over the sorrows, but we will never fully be all that the Father has planned for us until we see Him face to face. "Face to Face" is one of my favorite Mandisa songs.

Reading lately in Exodus, I have read how Moses asked to see God's glory.  It was not possible, for no one could look on the face of God and live. Even seeing the back of God and being in His presence was enough to make Moses glow. Moses was unaware of the glow, but everyone else saw it. Can people tell I have been in the presence of the Father?

One of my favorite Family Force 5 songs is, "Glow in the Dark." Do I glow so much that people ask me to cover it a bit?

Heaven is most characterized by His presence. Am I preparing myself for Heaven by getting used to being in His presence now?

Spending the Day in "Boston"

My Day Out in the Village

I had been wanting to go out to my friend's village, Boston. However, when there was time, I did not feel well. When the village had some event, I seemed to have guests or some other program. As one week began to come to a close, I saw that I would not have much in the way of plans for Saturday, allowing me to rest, before Sunday, when we could go. I went on Friday to ask her if that was possible. She and her husband agreed that it would be a good time to go. Knowing it would take us almost an hour to get there, I said we should leave around 9am.

Sunday 9am came. I was not worried about running out the door, because people generally do not start getting ready until the start time anyway. So I took my time to eat breakfast and headed out the door around 9:30. As I suspected, my friend was not ready yet. She noticed I had forgotten my earrings, so I called to ask William to bring them over to me. She got ready and the two of us along with two of her children loaded up and headed down the road.

Just outside of town, we were stopped by a policeman. He was checking on our paperwork and where we were going. When he did not speak my current local language, I switched to the trade language. He smiled and let us go.

We talked about an issue she has with one of her children, about which she was planning on discussing with her stepfather at the village. With all of our talking, I almost completely passed up the chance to help a lady get to her village. After we passed the lady, I asked my friend if we could stop to pick her up. My friend agreed. It turned out that the lady knows my friend's mother and has an association with her stepfather. Bonus is that she also has my same last name.

We went on to my friend's village, Boston, where we greeted. After greeting, I drove the lady along with my friend out to the lady's village, Salem. We greeted. The lady was so grateful that she went to gather a huge bag of local rice, still in the bundle, for us. We visited. We talked about how great it is to care for one another. I shared the story of the Good Samaritan. I asked if we could pray before we left. She called her son over who prayed in their religious language. I then asked for permission to pray, which I did in their mother tongue. The lady promised to bring us local palm oil once it was ready. We thanked them and headed back to Boston.

Upon arriving at Boston, we were escorted to one of the huts. It had a bed and a mat that laid on the floor. It also had its own "private" bathing area behind the hut. It was much more convenient to taking care of one's business. We were brought peanuts and oranges on which to snack. My friend made tea for us to drink. I laid down to rest a bit, but my mind could not.

I was bothered by an event that happened in the greeting time before heading to Salem. A young lady sat at the entrance to the compound. She was dressed and seemingly in her right mind. However, as we greeted, she began wailing for a few minutes. Throughout the day, she randomly repeated the wailing. My friend said the young lady has been like that since she was pregnant with her little girl.  As I rested in the hut with my friend, I began reading in my local translation of the Word. I wanted to find some story to share to encourage my friend's family. I asked my friend if they had taken her to see doctors or religious leaders. She said they had taken her to everyone. The money was gone, but she was no better.

The stepfather came by the hut. He was embarrassed because they had no vegetables. I tried to reassure that there was no need for embarassment. They did not need to do anything more for me than they would for my friend. I kept studying the Word. Lunch came. It was a sauce made with chicken over rice with a green "condiment" sauce on the side. After lunch, I stepped outside just in time to see the young lady's daughter, barely two, uncovering the lunch for her mother.  It was precious and sad all at the same time. My friend and I moved outside of the hut and under a tree to have another round of tea.

My friend and the husband of the young lady were talking. They went back and forth on various subjects. I almost missed it as they talked briefly about his wife. He indicated that it was Satan that was tiring his wife, and my friend affirmed it. I asked for permission to share a story with them.

I read the story of Jesus healing the demon possessed in Mark 1. I then asked to pray for the wife. Not sure if it was a lack of faith or disbelief that I would want to pray for her, but the man laughed. I responded, "What could it hurt? You have taken her to doctors and religious leaders, and they could not help. If I pray and nothing happens, you are no worse off. If I pray and she is even a little better, then you can praise God." I proceeded to pray for healing in her life. (Please pray with me that healing will come in her life and that the Word will be received with power.)

My friend and I went around to the other compounds to say goodbye before leaving. Also gathered for us were grapefruits and oranges. It was an opportunity to thank them and share nuggets of truth amidst the goodbyes. I did not realize how long it had been since I was last there, most likely in 2012. No wonder I missed it so much.

We headed home. It was a good time. We made a quick stop to greet some family members on our way back to town. We drove quickly to make it back in time to see her son, who had come to town for the day. We divided up the rice and fruit. She went on to visit her family. I went to greet Jennifer quickly before heading home.

As a side note, because I had been exercising the week before, I was able to get up the next morning and exercise again before a full day of school and life here. My friend said she did not get out of bed until 5pm because her body ached from the travel out to the village. I was encouraged that it was not just my body that ached but also that the exercise was helping. While the actually time in the village is restful, the road to get there is not. Grateful for time with my friend and to reconnect with her family.

A Widow's Grieving

No, I have never been a widow. It must be hard, no matter where in the world you live.

I can only imagine how hard it is to lose my mate and have all my dreams of growing old together shattered or the person I have spent a lifetime with no longer be with me. I have known some really amazing widows. Some watched their husbands battle difficult illnesses, only to one day succumb to the enemy of the body. Some had their husbands, still young, die suddenly while in the course of every day life. Some struggled to make sense of a husband's suicide. Some were young and just starting out in life. Some were in the midst of raising a young family, so they were left as a single parent. Some had lived a lifetime with the love of their life, and then they had to learn to live life without that person by their side day in and day out.

Watching Jennifer has given me a whole new level of admiration for widows in general and pity for the women here. The customary mourning by a widow lasts no less than forty days, at which time there is another day of remembrance for the dead. Some of the people groups will then consider the time of mourning over. Other people groups will extend the widow's mourning for a total of four months and ten days. I have heard of one widow who mourned for ten months. As I understand from other widows, the grieving process never really ends, as with most issues of loss, but the mourning process I speak of is very specific.

The widow will sit for the entire time. She might lay down at times during the day and will do so at night, but otherwise she is sitting. She sits against a wall, never crossing the doorway. In villages where she only has one room, she will sit in that one room. In town, where she might also have a living area, she sits in the living room and has some freedom to move about from the living room to the bed room as necessary, but otherwise, she sits. She sits with back against the wall and legs straight out in front of her. She sits.

No going to the store.
No seeing the sun.
No seeing the moon and stars.
No visiting a friend.
No working.
Sitting.

Either someone from her family or her husband's will always be with her. Other customs apply and may vary between peoples, such as a relative coming to wash the widow once or twice a week throughout the period of mourning. After the 40 days, often the husband's family will divide up his clothes among the family members.

Otherwise, sitting.

Not all bad, though, as I have observed. When people come to greet the widow, particularly those who were unable to make it during the first week, they tell their story about how they heard about the death and why they were unable to come earlier. Then the widow recounts the days leading up to the death, particularly if it was the result of an illness. People do not rush her. She is able to tell her story and they listen. While that must get terribly difficult to retell at times, I am more aware of how little our culture listens. We often do not want them to have to retell because of fear of bringing up the pain, but deep within we also do not want to take the time to listen or imagine that it was our loved one. They do not have grief counsellors. They have family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

Tuesday will be day 40 since Jennifer's husband died. She hopes to be able to request to at least move to sit at her mother's home. Pray that she will have wisdom to know how and when to ask permission and that she will find favor with with her husband's family. Jennifer is sitting.

Blending Home and Host Cultures

Today's devotional really started in 2014. At a training time, I was struck by how many things in our host culture and in the Bible revolve around forty days. Last year, I began reflecting on it again amidst recovering from surgery, but then dropped the study once I was well and busy with life again. With the new year, I am revisiting that study. Some points are longer and will require a lot more time. Today's passage was shorter than others and yet full of food for thought.

Often as expats overseas, we wage a battle within ourselves. How much do we become a part of the host culture and how much do we hang on to our passport country. Some forfeit their home culture completely, while others never embrace their host culture.  Our children are called Third Culture Kids because they take some of both to make their own new. One young man, who grew up a third culture kid in East Africa, entered our home one day and declared that it felt like home, the mix of the two. It was one of the greatest compliments I have ever received.
Though I feel like we do a good job of balancing the two, I often wonder.

In today's study of Genesis 50, I was able to see how Joseph found a balance between the two cultures. When his father, Israel aka Jacob, died, he wept over him. Then Joseph commanded the Egyptian physicians to embalm the body, which required forty days. As far as we know, this had not yet been a practice for the Israelites but Joseph does it here. After the proper period for Egyptian mourning was past, Joseph asked Pharoah's permission to take Israel to be buried, as his father made him promise.

Not only did Joseph and his brothers take their father to be buried. They were accompanied by Pharoah's servants, the elders of Egypt, as well as chariots and horsemen. They then mourned a sorrowful lamentation for Israel according to their own customs. What a testimony it must have been to all the Egyptians as well as the Canaanites living in the land at that time.

Likewise, when Joseph was dying, he made the sons of Israel promise to carry his bones up to the Promised Land when the time came. Additionally, when he died, he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt. A mummy?? Once again both cultures were to be honored in the observance of death.

This Joseph that had been sold into slavery by his brothers had become so much like the host culture that he was unable to be recognized by his brothers. He spoke the language of his new culture so clearly and dressed like them. However, when his family came to Egypt for food, his heart was touched. He had not forgotten his family, not brushed them aside. They were still near to his heart, such that he facilitated their moving into his host culture. He blended both his home culture and his host culture even in his death.

When we are in our host culture, we miss parts of our home culture. When in our home culture, we miss parts of our host culture. In the last year, I have come to realize that neither is going to ever completely fulfill my need for home. May I be able to find such a balance as Joseph in my life as an expat.