1. You get a box of Pop Tarts for your birthday and you can’t stop smiling.
2. You are watching a murder mystery and make a comment that one of the murder weapons
must not be from the country you are living in because it wouldn't be good quality.
3. You don’t think twice about fill your 1980 van with water before driving it.
4. You comment on how clean your feet and toes are while spending a holiday in a 1st world country
5. You have three back up clothes lines in case it rains on washing day
6. You come home from work and decide to make a “quick” meal that only takes an hour.
7. You notice that people in movies don’t take their shoes off when they come inside a house.
8. You carry an umbrella even on sunny days
9. You are use to falling asleep to insect, pigs, rain, and village music.
10. You can spot another missionary by what they are wearing.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Old Friends, New Friends
Have you ever read the book by Dr. Seuss entitled One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish? My title makes me think of that book! Haha. But this blog entry is not about rhyming.
It is, however, about friends.
I am experiencing for the first time, as an adult at least, being left behind by friends. This is a very common event in the life of missionaries and their children, so I was not oblivious to this happening. I don’t think there is a way to prepare for it. I have been through this many times as a child but I think it is much different as an adult. As a child I gave my whole self to a friend without caution. I didn’t believe that goodbye was forever and was often hurt by my lack of goodbyes. We adults seem to put up more walls, some that prevent us from building deep relationships, some that help us grow slowly in relationships, others that prevent us from have relationships at all. In my time on the mission field (1 year as an adult) I have witnesses all three walls. I am sure I have even put up one of each. Being aware of the walls is probably the only way we can “prepare” for someone leaving. I find that my mentality is, “once a friend always a friend”. There have been friendships that have just kind of dwindled due to growing up, changing of interest, or it was just not a deep friendship to begin with.
I am experiencing for the first time, as an adult at least, being left behind by friends. This is a very common event in the life of missionaries and their children, so I was not oblivious to this happening. I don’t think there is a way to prepare for it. I have been through this many times as a child but I think it is much different as an adult. As a child I gave my whole self to a friend without caution. I didn’t believe that goodbye was forever and was often hurt by my lack of goodbyes. We adults seem to put up more walls, some that prevent us from building deep relationships, some that help us grow slowly in relationships, others that prevent us from have relationships at all. In my time on the mission field (1 year as an adult) I have witnesses all three walls. I am sure I have even put up one of each. Being aware of the walls is probably the only way we can “prepare” for someone leaving. I find that my mentality is, “once a friend always a friend”. There have been friendships that have just kind of dwindled due to growing up, changing of interest, or it was just not a deep friendship to begin with.
I don’t think that’s bad. I think it’s life.
We all change. We all move on.
We should allow others to change and move on as well.
Before coming on the mission field I attended a cultural training program. One of the sessions was about struggles that Missionary Kids face. Since this cultural training program was designed specifically for teachers, we approached in with that in mind. At one point I noticed my heart begin to bound, I became self conscious of who I was and even doubted why I was putting myself through this. The instructor was defining a missionary kid…he was defining ME! I looked around to catch the eyes of the other two adult missionary kids and they later told me they were feeling the same way. When we got together we all broke down in tears! Our question to each other was, “What are we doing to ourselves by CHOOSING this again? We didn’t have a choice before!” We all knew this is where God wanted us, but it didn’t mean it would be any easier. We took comfort in knowing that we were not alone.
In the last year I have made many good friends. Three of them have recently left. One left to go finish (not returning to PNG), another went home to care for an ailing family member, and the third (who will return in a few months) went to teach at our Pacific Orientation Course (that I attended last January). I will and do miss these three ladies very much, but I have decided to continue to make new friends. There are few new ladies here that I would like to get to know a little better and spend some time with.
This little tune came to mind when I was thinking about writing this blog. Do you know it?
Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver
And the others gold
Not sure who wrote that…but I like it! I am sure my mentality will change after 3 or 5 years on the mission field, but here I sit writing with 1 year down. I do not desire to loose my “old” friendships but know I will go NUTS if I don’t make new friends.
All I can ask is for God to make me strong, to keep me hospitable, loving and friendly.
In the last year I have made many good friends. Three of them have recently left. One left to go finish (not returning to PNG), another went home to care for an ailing family member, and the third (who will return in a few months) went to teach at our Pacific Orientation Course (that I attended last January). I will and do miss these three ladies very much, but I have decided to continue to make new friends. There are few new ladies here that I would like to get to know a little better and spend some time with.
This little tune came to mind when I was thinking about writing this blog. Do you know it?
Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver
And the others gold
Not sure who wrote that…but I like it! I am sure my mentality will change after 3 or 5 years on the mission field, but here I sit writing with 1 year down. I do not desire to loose my “old” friendships but know I will go NUTS if I don’t make new friends.
All I can ask is for God to make me strong, to keep me hospitable, loving and friendly.
The new people will also need friends.
May the new be welcomed and the old be cherished!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Happy Birthday!
Thursday was my birthday. January 5th! I feel so spoiled with all that I have been able to do the last few weeks! A few days after school ended I went on vacation to Australia. Vacation time is encouraged for everyone who works here and I don’t think I have taken one in nearly a year and a half. My sister was expecting a baby and she told me I should come see the b
aby born. I didn’t think I would be able to until a friend gave me a large donation. IT WAS WONDERFUL! Two of my friends decided to join me on the trip. We was able to rest, go out to a restaurant, drive on smooth roads (what a concept! Though I did have to constantly say to myself "driver in the middle. Keep left!"), shop, go swimming, and meet my beautiful niece Gwennie! I am so thankful for that time away.
Our flight home was the day before my birthday. My roommate, Mandy, had planned a small party for me on Friday so I was looking forward to that. Before I left for Australia I asked two ladies (one who is Colombian and the other worked there for many years) if they would be willing to make me a Colombian meal (it has become a tradition the last few years). They said they would and thankfully it worked out.
Jenny and Johanna busily worked on preparing Ajiaco for me and their families as well as another family that are good friends of mine. The smell of ajiaco filled the room and many fond memories of growing up in the jungles of Colombia and the bustling city of Bogota filled my mind. The taste was even better than the smell! The soup was served with avocado slices, rice, cream, and capers. Jenny made sweet tea with chai, which was amazing!
It was followed by peach cobbler and coffee….which probably kept me up that night but I didn’t care. The kids were so excited to share it with me that they each made a card. Later I found out that two of them wanted their cards back! The cobbler was adorned with 27 candles. I could feel the heat when I held it!
Picture of cobbler
The next day was the party Mandy organized. Two days of birthday celebration…what more could a girl ask for! Mandy invited a few of my friends over and we played games, had finger foods and carrot cake (my favorite!), and they each shared a Bible verse with me. I have to admit, I had to hold back the tears. The future is unknown to me but not to God. I’m not sure I could handle what the future looks like even if I did know it. These are a few verses that were shared last night.
This one was repeated a few times:
Romans 15:13
“May the God of HOPE, fill you with all JOY and PEACE
As you TRUST in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW with HOPE
By the POWER of the Spirit”
Colossians 1:9-13
“For this reason…we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of Hi will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life WORTHY of the Lord and may PLEASE Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in KNOWLEDGE of God being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, so that you may have great ENDURANCE and PATIENCE, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.
Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
“for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and fine me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you”
I may not know what this year will look like, what I will do, think, and feel but I do know that God is in control. I hope that this year I will learn to find Joy in the Lord, that I will submit to his will even if the future or reasons are unclear to me.
This birthday was very special and I will never forget it! Thanks to everyone who participated!
aby born. I didn’t think I would be able to until a friend gave me a large donation. IT WAS WONDERFUL! Two of my friends decided to join me on the trip. We was able to rest, go out to a restaurant, drive on smooth roads (what a concept! Though I did have to constantly say to myself "driver in the middle. Keep left!"), shop, go swimming, and meet my beautiful niece Gwennie! I am so thankful for that time away.Our flight home was the day before my birthday. My roommate, Mandy, had planned a small party for me on Friday so I was looking forward to that. Before I left for Australia I asked two ladies (one who is Colombian and the other worked there for many years) if they would be willing to make me a Colombian meal (it has become a tradition the last few years). They said they would and thankfully it worked out.
Jenny and Johanna busily worked on preparing Ajiaco for me and their families as well as another family that are good friends of mine. The smell of ajiaco filled the room and many fond memories of growing up in the jungles of Colombia and the bustling city of Bogota filled my mind. The taste was even better than the smell! The soup was served with avocado slices, rice, cream, and capers. Jenny made sweet tea with chai, which was amazing!It was followed by peach cobbler and coffee….which probably kept me up that night but I didn’t care. The kids were so excited to share it with me that they each made a card. Later I found out that two of them wanted their cards back! The cobbler was adorned with 27 candles. I could feel the heat when I held it!
Picture of cobbler
The next day was the party Mandy organized. Two days of birthday celebration…what more could a girl ask for! Mandy invited a few of my friends over and we played games, had finger foods and carrot cake (my favorite!), and they each shared a Bible verse with me. I have to admit, I had to hold back the tears. The future is unknown to me but not to God. I’m not sure I could handle what the future looks like even if I did know it. These are a few verses that were shared last night.
This one was repeated a few times:
Romans 15:13
“May the God of HOPE, fill you with all JOY and PEACE
As you TRUST in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW with HOPE
By the POWER of the Spirit”
Colossians 1:9-13
“For this reason…we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of Hi will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life WORTHY of the Lord and may PLEASE Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in KNOWLEDGE of God being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, so that you may have great ENDURANCE and PATIENCE, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.
Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
“for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and fine me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you”
I may not know what this year will look like, what I will do, think, and feel but I do know that God is in control. I hope that this year I will learn to find Joy in the Lord, that I will submit to his will even if the future or reasons are unclear to me.
This birthday was very special and I will never forget it! Thanks to everyone who participated!
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