"If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared - most of all - to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself....then truth will not be withheld from you." Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love
A few years ago I started reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love and it quickly became clear why it was one of the top selling books that year (although not the best movie). The book revolves around one woman's "truth-seeking journey" after a total and complete meltdown in her "American dream" life. Which I believe anyone no matter where they are physically and mentally, can relate to.
Without immediately making the connections, a light clicked on while recently watching the movie. The quote (above) was the last line in the movie and I instantly related it to my purpose for this period of life. When we first moved to Northern Ireland I found the hardest part was losing ones identity in a community. No job, no friends, no car, no immediate way to "show off" ones talents and gifts. At that moment, the advice that helped me the most was to "take a learning posture". Learn from everyone around you. Learn about yourself. Learn about God. Learn about your family. Just let everything teach you. Press into every moment as if it is giving you a clue to truth. This does of course mean confronting realities about yourself, your family, your God, that arise in times of discomfort. I have found that when taking a learning posture, people are more open to learn from you. And this is helpful in furthering the Kingdom.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
SUMMER...NOT WHAT I HAD IN MIND.
By the looks on our summer calendar, it doesn't seem like summer at all. I can say the same for the weather. Our calendar has been packed since Chloe's last day of school right up to her first day of school in P2.
Our family has just returned from almost three weeks in the Czech Republic. We served alongside the youth group from our church here in NI. The journey leading up to stepping on the plane was a whirlwind at best. I had made up my mind that I didn't want to go and had a strong feeling that we shouldn't. I usually follow my instincts because they are usually right. So after being talked into it and releasing my inhibitions we began the training journey. A few days before the trip when my mind was put at ease about the whole thing, Joaquin decided he wanted to spend some time in the hospital.
Joaquin woke up abruptly from a nap screaming in pain and grunting every breath. After about an hour of this we decided to call 999 for an ambulance. A few ultrasounds, blood tests, x-rays, and painful screams later, Joaquin was admitted into the hospital for the night with the diagnosis of a chest infection. This diagnosis did not settle well with me, but the pain eased overnight and we left the next evening with plenty of antibiotics. After hearing that we would not be near a hospital in Czech and travel insurance would not cover Joaquin, we were ready to unpack our bags. I decided to take him into the local clinic just to see what the doctor had to say about the trip and he provided a much clearer diagnosis and a green light to travel. The doctor said that what he thinks Joaquin was going through was pain in his bowel. A cramping or twisting of the bowel that causes so much pain, children begin to hyperventilate. This is what the first inclination was at the hospital as well. It is something that corrected itself and should not happen again. Amen. Thankfully, Joaquin was back to his normal self for the entire trip and has had no pain since.
I could not have been more proud of our kids on this trip. They were lugged all over Czech by planes, cars, buses, trains, and people. They were little troopers. Chloe made many friends as usual and walked many many miles on the cobblestone streets of Prague. They ate all their Czech food without too much moaning and groaning and slept well in the many beds they were deposited into after long days.
I found my niche in lesson planning and teaching university students again. We were supposed to be teaching conversational English, but our students were so advanced that having deeper discussions about life seemed more appropriate than learning American holidays or food groups. We came away from English camp with a great sense of renewing and refreshing. The new relationships Carlos and I made were rejuvenating and the new relationships made between Czech students and Jesus was breathtaking. We will forever be thankful for our experience in Czech. We have many stories that we would love to share about Czech and will continue to pray for that part of the world.
This week we are back serving at VBS in our home church. We have had a lot of fun with about 100 kids from our community. I have come to know two truths about myself while hanging out with the VBS kids:
1. I don't think my calling was ever elementary education. Which is perfect since this is what my Masters is in.
2. My children are amazingly unique. The things that get them in the most trouble now, will be the things that God will use to greatly influence people for His Kingdom later. I just have to keep reminding myself of this truth.
Next week we are off to Hungary to conference with our CA family. We are excited to reunite with many friends, particularly Linda and Brian. We are anticipating the things that God has for our family at this years European Connect.
Our family has just returned from almost three weeks in the Czech Republic. We served alongside the youth group from our church here in NI. The journey leading up to stepping on the plane was a whirlwind at best. I had made up my mind that I didn't want to go and had a strong feeling that we shouldn't. I usually follow my instincts because they are usually right. So after being talked into it and releasing my inhibitions we began the training journey. A few days before the trip when my mind was put at ease about the whole thing, Joaquin decided he wanted to spend some time in the hospital.
Joaquin woke up abruptly from a nap screaming in pain and grunting every breath. After about an hour of this we decided to call 999 for an ambulance. A few ultrasounds, blood tests, x-rays, and painful screams later, Joaquin was admitted into the hospital for the night with the diagnosis of a chest infection. This diagnosis did not settle well with me, but the pain eased overnight and we left the next evening with plenty of antibiotics. After hearing that we would not be near a hospital in Czech and travel insurance would not cover Joaquin, we were ready to unpack our bags. I decided to take him into the local clinic just to see what the doctor had to say about the trip and he provided a much clearer diagnosis and a green light to travel. The doctor said that what he thinks Joaquin was going through was pain in his bowel. A cramping or twisting of the bowel that causes so much pain, children begin to hyperventilate. This is what the first inclination was at the hospital as well. It is something that corrected itself and should not happen again. Amen. Thankfully, Joaquin was back to his normal self for the entire trip and has had no pain since.
I could not have been more proud of our kids on this trip. They were lugged all over Czech by planes, cars, buses, trains, and people. They were little troopers. Chloe made many friends as usual and walked many many miles on the cobblestone streets of Prague. They ate all their Czech food without too much moaning and groaning and slept well in the many beds they were deposited into after long days.
I found my niche in lesson planning and teaching university students again. We were supposed to be teaching conversational English, but our students were so advanced that having deeper discussions about life seemed more appropriate than learning American holidays or food groups. We came away from English camp with a great sense of renewing and refreshing. The new relationships Carlos and I made were rejuvenating and the new relationships made between Czech students and Jesus was breathtaking. We will forever be thankful for our experience in Czech. We have many stories that we would love to share about Czech and will continue to pray for that part of the world.
This week we are back serving at VBS in our home church. We have had a lot of fun with about 100 kids from our community. I have come to know two truths about myself while hanging out with the VBS kids:
1. I don't think my calling was ever elementary education. Which is perfect since this is what my Masters is in.
2. My children are amazingly unique. The things that get them in the most trouble now, will be the things that God will use to greatly influence people for His Kingdom later. I just have to keep reminding myself of this truth.
Next week we are off to Hungary to conference with our CA family. We are excited to reunite with many friends, particularly Linda and Brian. We are anticipating the things that God has for our family at this years European Connect.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Today it hailed for about 15 minutes straight. Yesterday I wore my winter coat outside and hoodie and fuzzy slippers inside. On Sunday we took the kids to Belfast for lunch and got drenched. Joaquin had to ride home half naked. There has been a handful of sunny days in May and June which is taking a lot of getting used to for the Californians up in here. Serious lack of vitamin D equals serious mood dips.
Our moods however are picked up by the warmth of the people here. We are consistently having dinner get togethers and tea and coffee chats. Which by the way, if you are not looking you will consume 4 cups of coffee and 2 cups of tea in one day...easily. I am volunteering in the Mission Shop (church thrift shop) which proves to be great craic and a good lesson in Irish History.
Joaquin managed to have his first broken bone in his right arm. He fell down the stairs in our home. I am sure he was trying to do a trick or two on the way down. We didn't decide to go to the doctor until four days after...poor kid. He got a small cast which he removed himself two days later right before mommy and daddy were going out. Not frustrating at all. Especially because the hospital is about 30min away and we have no car. So Joaquin is now in a full arm cast for 2 weeks. I am positive this will not be the last. By the way, a big thank you to the UK health system. The only money spent on the arm was bribing Joaquin with treats to let the nurses (about 4) put his arm in the cast.
Chloe will be turning five in about two weeks. I had to convince her not to have a princess party because 90% of the party guests are older boys. We settled on a beach theme with a pinata and treasure hunt. Maybe a beach themed party will hold off the rain. In our minds at least. Today she told me I was mean and that she didn't want me anymore because I was making her put on her school uniform instead of watching Peppa Pig. I am bracing myself for the tween years.
I have experienced most emotions that new missionaries experience in the first three months of relocation: excitement, sadness, regret, joy, frustration, what the heck did we do, peace and many more. The training by our CA family is thankfully normalizing most of the fears.
Our family will be traveling to Czech Republic for three weeks to teach at an English camp in July, Hungary for 1 week of CA training in August, and eventually home for 4 weeks in the Fall. I am going to start loading up on airplane snacks and toys now.
All in all, four months has flown by and we continue on with open minds and hearts for what God has for us today and in the future.
Our moods however are picked up by the warmth of the people here. We are consistently having dinner get togethers and tea and coffee chats. Which by the way, if you are not looking you will consume 4 cups of coffee and 2 cups of tea in one day...easily. I am volunteering in the Mission Shop (church thrift shop) which proves to be great craic and a good lesson in Irish History.
Joaquin managed to have his first broken bone in his right arm. He fell down the stairs in our home. I am sure he was trying to do a trick or two on the way down. We didn't decide to go to the doctor until four days after...poor kid. He got a small cast which he removed himself two days later right before mommy and daddy were going out. Not frustrating at all. Especially because the hospital is about 30min away and we have no car. So Joaquin is now in a full arm cast for 2 weeks. I am positive this will not be the last. By the way, a big thank you to the UK health system. The only money spent on the arm was bribing Joaquin with treats to let the nurses (about 4) put his arm in the cast.
Chloe will be turning five in about two weeks. I had to convince her not to have a princess party because 90% of the party guests are older boys. We settled on a beach theme with a pinata and treasure hunt. Maybe a beach themed party will hold off the rain. In our minds at least. Today she told me I was mean and that she didn't want me anymore because I was making her put on her school uniform instead of watching Peppa Pig. I am bracing myself for the tween years.
I have experienced most emotions that new missionaries experience in the first three months of relocation: excitement, sadness, regret, joy, frustration, what the heck did we do, peace and many more. The training by our CA family is thankfully normalizing most of the fears.
Our family will be traveling to Czech Republic for three weeks to teach at an English camp in July, Hungary for 1 week of CA training in August, and eventually home for 4 weeks in the Fall. I am going to start loading up on airplane snacks and toys now.
All in all, four months has flown by and we continue on with open minds and hearts for what God has for us today and in the future.
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