I'm an Aunt!

When I was a little girl living on the mission field in Colombia I quickly realized the other missionaries were not just my parents co-workers, they were family. As a MK (missionary kid) we would decide which adults we would give the title "aunt" and "uncle". We decided this on how well we knew the person, how much they were apart of our lives, and how fun they were!

If they were our parents good friends they usually earned the title.
If they were really cool and took us to cool places.
If they listened to us, mentored us, or basically were given responsibility of us like our parents.
If they attended our events, dramas, and other special events in our lives.
If they were there for us in hard times in our lives and still loved us....they were given the title.

Even today I still have a few people that I call "uncle" and "aunt". It gets a little trickier seeing as I am also a missionary with Wycliffe now, but some titles just stick.

When I was attending my training camp here (POC) I ran into a couple who were both MKs in Peru. It has been fun getting to know them and their two little kiddos. As we started talking I realized that they gave the title "aunt" and "uncle" to everyone on the Peru mission center. They said their center was small and everyone that is older, any adult, was given this title. I thought that was pretty interesting!

We thought about what their kids should call me. Should it be, Aunt Amanda or just Miss Amanda? Which would mean more to me and to them? We settled on Aunt Amanda. I am thrilled!

Though I have 5 biological nieces (2 on the way) and 2 nephews there is just something different about being a "missionary" aunt. They will never be on the same level but I am honored.

I am now a missionary aunt to three families here and take great pride in it. It's like they are welcoming me into their family!

So if you ever see a missionary being called "aunt" or "uncle" and you know they aren't related to that person you will know that it's because we have shared this bond, this special experience that is almost like family.

Christmas in August!

In January I decided to send some of my belonging in a shipment. The items were packed up in boxes and put on a ship headed for PNG. I was informed that it would arrive in May, possibly beating me to Ukarumpa. I was thrilled and went along packing, moving, saying goodbye, and so forth.

In May I arrived here and realized my shipment had not arrived. Though a little disappointed I realized this was not uncommon. I though of all the reasons why it could be delayed and relaxed. Many months went by and to my own dismay I began to realize I had put certain things on the shipment that I should have taken on the airplane with me. Discouragement began to creep up on me.

People kept saying it would be here this weekend or or this Friday and I decided not to listen. It would come when it was suppose to come. With this kind of thinking you can imagine my surprise when I went to the store this Friday and actually SAW my shipment. Faith without seeing just didn't work after being let down so many times. There it was and it was beautiful! I am thankful for all the hard work the shipping department did. I can't imagine it being easy to work with so many different countries. I am thankful for my "Christmas" in August!

On Friday night my roommate made cookies while I showed her everything I had brought! I think she is excited to "share" my things! I feel like I can begin to nest now and create a home for myself.