Letting Go

My green, pot-bellied teapot with knitted cozy has journeyed from the “Give Away” box to the “Take to PNG” bin and back, with only a brief visit to the “Keep for Later” pile.  Ahhh!  What do I do with it?  I know…put it back on the frig and decide later.

We’ve done this soooo many times now, it ought to be getting easier.  Our house has been on the market for over a year, and we were prepared for its impending sale.  We wanted to make the transition easy, and got by with what we had whenever possible  We didn’t spend money on things that wouldn’t follow us to PNG.  We even told family not to give us stuff they hoped we’d hang onto for years.  It just can’t happen in this lifestyle and sometimes it hurts.

Like now….  Claire’s set of English tea cups from Great Grandma just isn’t going to survive the boat ride across the Pacific.  Isaiah’s bag of homemade Lincoln logs from Grandpa would fare very nicely, but they would probably never come home again—not with the new restrictions on importing wood into the US.  Yes, these are the thoughts that weigh heavily on my brain right now!

There are a number of factors to weigh in each decision:

• “Who gave it to me and how will they feel if I give it away?”
• “If I keep it will it just become a burden?”
• “Is it practical for use in PNG, or just another item that emphasizes our differences with the local people?”
• “If I save it for ‘later’ will later ever come, and in the meantime, how long will it burden someone else?”
• “Will my children be emotionally damaged if they aren’t allowed to keep it?”

After agonizing over many a decision, I often default to giving it away.  My rational is that it will hopefully go to someone who can truly maximize its potential.  <grin>  Besides, God gave us everything we have, and has always provided for our every need.  Why not share the blessing!  But if I sound a wee bit off my rocker, send up a prayer for this slightly frazzled missionary wife and mother who is learning to let go again.  And maybe you’ll want to think twice about giving that set of heirloom, hand-painted anvils to your friend who just joined “Way-Out-in-the-Middle-of-Nowhere Mission”.  <big grin>

PS—If you were holding out for the tea cups or Lincoln logs, they’re permanently assigned to the small but critical “Save for Later” pile.

A Step in the Right Direction

We got some good news yesterday….  We have a buyer for our house!  Hallelujah!  Even our realtor acknowledges God’s hand in this contract, and told us that a recent wind storm convinced the buyers that they needed a home on a permanent foundation!  The closing is scheduled for March 31.  We are very excited, and so grateful to our partners for their “persistent widow” prayers! 

Upon hearing the news from our realtor, I went from being ecstatic to overwhelmed in a matter of minutes.  There’s a lot to do in the coming weeks and at the moment I’m not sure where to begin.  We knew (or hoped) this transition was coming but it’s difficult to prepare for it.  Keep praying through the closing, because we know that things can still fall through.  And please pray for us as we begin packing, and making plans to move…somewhere.  We have options—we’re just not sure where we’ll be going next.  It’s always an adventure, isn’t it?

So the waiting is done for the time being.  Good thing I’ve finished that sweater!  <wink>

Did the Thermometer Drop?

If you’ve been checking in with us from time to time, you might have noticed that our little financial partnership thermometer has dropped since January.  As disappointing as it is, we’re grateful that it does NOT mean our partners are bailing on us.  <wink>

What it actually means is that we have just celebrated the anniversary of our membership with Wycliffe.  And as is the case for all members, part of the celebration is reviewing our ministry budget for the next year.  <I saw you cringe, when you read the word “budget”!>

We have some input when making this budget, but mostly it’s put together by our very wise (and patient) finance people.  When figuring how much we’ll need monthly to live in Papua New Guinea during the next year, they take into account increasing airfare, rises in energy costs, the increasing cost of health care and insurance,  and among other things, the current devaluing of the US Dollar.  I don’t envy them their jobs, especially these days when they must deliver a lot of disappointing news.  We are, however, extremely grateful for their assistance!

It would be easy to blame the economy for the delay in completing our team of financial partners, but in reality our God isn’t affected by the economy.  He’s so much bigger than that.  If he wanted, he could arrange for us to win the lottery, or drop a gazillion euros in our laps or something equally spectacular.  It is pretty amazing that he usually allows his Church to be part of the miracle!  Whatever method he chooses, it will be in his perfect time and to his own glory--as it should be!

Waiting…

I’m just being honest here….  Sometimes the waiting is really hard.  And in general, I think I’m pretty good at waiting.  Just give me a book, or better yet, my knitting and I can wait indefinitely.  Well, maybe not indefinitely, but at least until I feel like I’m wasting time.  Ha!

I mean…we pray like crazy.  We send out newsletters.  We travel all over the country, and make the most of every opportunity share about Bible translation.  Hey, we even write a blog!  <grin>  But still we wait.

We wait for our house to sell.  We wait for our financial partnership to reach 100% so we can leave for Papua New Guinea.  We wait for those “cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:1) to become dollars in our “launching fund” account.  But nothing seems to happen…and we wait.  My sweater is growing, but I confess, I’m starting to get impatient and wonder if we’re wasting time and resources.

God has his ways of reminding us, however, that his ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8)  We know God has a wise and loving purpose for keeping us here.  And there is always work we can do for others—if only to love, serve and pray.  We thank him for the opportunities he’s already brought our way.  In the meantime, we will continue to trust in God’s perfect timing and wait.

The following hymn by Bradford Torrey says it better than I can.

Not so in haste my heart!
Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He linger long,
He never comes too late.

He never cometh late;
He knoweth what is best;
Vex not thyself in vain;
Until He cometh, rest.

Until He cometh, rest,
Nor grudge the hours that roll;
The feet that wait for God
Are soonest at the goal.

Are soonest at the goal
That is not gained with speed;
Then hold thee still, my heart,
For I shall wait His lead.

My God Is So Big

When we put Claire and Isaiah to bed at night, we often sing a familiar chorus to them. “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do!”  Simple words but, oh, so powerful!  When we felt the Lord leading us back into Wycliffe in the beginning of 2010 it was a huge step of faith for us.  We are in awe of his amazing provision for us, yet not surprised that he’d keep his promise so perfectly.  We have traveled many thousands of miles, and have had many opportunities to share about what God is doing in our lives and through Bible translation.  We thank God that we can look back on 2010 and see example after example of God’s love and faithfulness.

Christmas Eve saw the dedication of the Takuu New Testament on Mortlock Island in eastern PNG making it the 9th New Testament dedication for 2010. Last year, Tom Puaria, translator for the Takuu language (pictured right), told some people in training as translators, “I want to see all those people overseas who helped make it possible, and thank them! These people have never seen us, but have given money and prayer so that we could have God’s Word! Just look at the love of God shown through them…Let’s thank God.”* And he did. And so do we, because you and your partnership with us help make Bible translation in PNG possible. Thank you!

*Quote from: The Word is Life

Our Twelve Days of Christmas

12 Christmas wreaths

11 chocolate yummies

10 sticky fingers

9 funny faces

8 snow angels

7 snowball fights

6 toboggan rides

5 late night Christmas videos

4 parade watchers

3 hungry kids

2 trips to the mall

and 1 perfect Christmas tree!

The Butterfly and the Cocoon

written and illustrated by Claire (age 6)

Barbie the caterpillar went to bed one night in her warm cocoon.  In the morning, the sun came up, but Barbie didn’t want to come out of her cocoon.  She said, “It’s too cozy in this cocoon with my Buddy.  I just want to sleep some more.”

But her mom and dad said, “If you don’t come out of your cocoon you won’t go to the restaurant with us.”

“OK, I’ll come out,” said Barbie.  “But first I have to straighten my cocoon.”

When she was done, she came out and realized that she had pretty pink and purple wings.  Then she went to the restaurant with her mom and dad and had mashed potatoes and peas.

The End