And completely unrelated to the parade- just because I think it's beautiful:
Monday, March 19, 2012
St. Patty's Day
Friday evening Abby came into Denver to spend the night with me. The next morning we walked into Downtown Denver to experience the crowded fun of the Sy. Patrick's Day parade. I don't go to parades very often because they're so crowded, but it was a lot of fun. Afterwards we wandered around for a while looking in shops, got lunch and coffee, and got ourselves temporarily trapped in a parking garage. Being the daughters of a building operations manager, however, we knew there had to be other ways out and finally found our way out into a back alley. =-D We then headed back to Roggen for the rest of the weekend, where I had a funny experience last night with the young father of three kids that Abby takes to church. Hey Mom, you wanted more grandchildren soon, right?? =-D
Dogs of the day- in skirts!
I really, really like this one!
And completely unrelated to the parade- just because I think it's beautiful:
And completely unrelated to the parade- just because I think it's beautiful:
Sunday, March 18, 2012
It's a Zoo Around Here!
After a long three weeks of travel, I decided to take a "Me" day in Denver before meeting up with my sister. My big plans? A day at the Denver Zoo. It was a gorgeous, unseasonably warm day(around 73F) and the perfect weather to spend hours looking at all of the animals. I have so many great pictures from that day and it's super hard for me to choose, but here are a few:
Ok, I know that that was a few more than a few, but there were so many great pictures and it was so hard to choose. And really, that was me paring it down drastically. =-D
And one final picture-my favorite animal of the day....
Antoine the Anteater! Isn't he great?? I stood there and watched him pace and pace and pace for at least 20 minutes. So now you all know what you can get me for my birthday in June. And no, I never said that I was "normal."
And one final picture-my favorite animal of the day....
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Back in Libby
After three years, I'm back in Libby, MT, the home of the MMTC(Mountainside Missionary Training Center), the training center which all IM missionaries from N. America are required to go through before heading overseas. I'm here to spend a week with the students and the new directors(in training). Coming from rather young groups of predominantly unmarried students at the center in Odessa, it's quite a change to spend time with this group. It's made up of two couples in their mid 30's(I'm not saying they're old, they're just older than the Odessa center students), with eight children between the two couples. Eight! So, it's kind of active and noisy at all times here. Children are running around barking, crying, chasing the director's dog, playing dress-up, watching cartoons, doing homework. It's very different from my class of five single females, but lots of fun! And when you add in the two sons of the new directors in training, that adds up to a total of 10 children under the ages of twelve. They're 1,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12. =-D
A mixture of rain and snow started late yesterday afternoon and has been promised for the rest of my time here, so I spent a couple of hours at one of my favorite places here- Kootenai Falls. It's just so beautiful there and I love seeing God's amazing creation out here in gorgeous Montana. The snow is almost entirely melted and it's pretty muddy, but it was well worth the muddy trek.
A mixture of rain and snow started late yesterday afternoon and has been promised for the rest of my time here, so I spent a couple of hours at one of my favorite places here- Kootenai Falls. It's just so beautiful there and I love seeing God's amazing creation out here in gorgeous Montana. The snow is almost entirely melted and it's pretty muddy, but it was well worth the muddy trek.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
You Know You're A Missionary When.....pt. 2
And now a light hearted finish to the week at DAR:
You Know You're a Missionary When....
*You believe that to be able to converse in several languages is valuable, but to be able to hold your tongue in one is priceless
*You tell someone where you're from and they reply, "My, your English is very good!"
*You can easily convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
*All the dictionaries in your house are bilingual
*You've heard way too many people ask, "Which do you like better, this country or the other one?"
*You view laws as helpful guidelines that need interpretation depending on the situation
*You can type in more than one language on your keyboard
*Your alphabet has more than 26 letters
*You ask your host if you can drink the water from the tap
*You ask your host if they flush after each use
*You hear people complaining about potholes in the roads, and you can't see any
*You can come up with a substitute for any- or even all- ingredients in a recipe
*You tell the clerk at a shoe store that your shoe size is 38...and don't realize at first why he is laughing
*You buy your clothes based on their packability- how small can they fold down without coming out wrinkled?
*In the US, you get a strange feeling because there is no one walking down the street
*You're used to constantly calculating exchange rates
*You get lost in a Wal-Mart or Target
*A 24 hour train ride doesn't seem like such a long time
*You tell people where you're from and then have to spend the next few minutes explaining where that is
*You have strong opinions about public transportation
*You keep up with foreign exchange rates
*You get marriage proposals from nationals who see you as a walking green card
*You have the irresistable urge to bag your own groceries at the store
*You enjoy hearing a sermon in two languages, because the interpretor oftens adds an interesting new perspective
*You describe Americans as if you were not one yourself
*You talk in more than one language in your sleep
You Know You're a Missionary When....
*You believe that to be able to converse in several languages is valuable, but to be able to hold your tongue in one is priceless
*You tell someone where you're from and they reply, "My, your English is very good!"
*You can easily convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
*All the dictionaries in your house are bilingual
*You've heard way too many people ask, "Which do you like better, this country or the other one?"
*You view laws as helpful guidelines that need interpretation depending on the situation
*You can type in more than one language on your keyboard
*Your alphabet has more than 26 letters
*You ask your host if you can drink the water from the tap
*You ask your host if they flush after each use
*You hear people complaining about potholes in the roads, and you can't see any
*You can come up with a substitute for any- or even all- ingredients in a recipe
*You tell the clerk at a shoe store that your shoe size is 38...and don't realize at first why he is laughing
*You buy your clothes based on their packability- how small can they fold down without coming out wrinkled?
*In the US, you get a strange feeling because there is no one walking down the street
*You're used to constantly calculating exchange rates
*You get lost in a Wal-Mart or Target
*A 24 hour train ride doesn't seem like such a long time
*You tell people where you're from and then have to spend the next few minutes explaining where that is
*You have strong opinions about public transportation
*You keep up with foreign exchange rates
*You get marriage proposals from nationals who see you as a walking green card
*You have the irresistable urge to bag your own groceries at the store
*You enjoy hearing a sermon in two languages, because the interpretor oftens adds an interesting new perspective
*You describe Americans as if you were not one yourself
*You talk in more than one language in your sleep
Monday, March 5, 2012
DAR, final day
Day 5 was really just a few hours of saying goodbyes and discussing moving on and how to be better servants.
Our final devotion was just as powerful as the others that we had done each morning, reading about Peter's betrayal of Christ. Peter was so proud of his relationship to Christ and swore that he would never, couldn't possibly EVER deny Christ. And yet He did. He failed and then followed and watched as His Savior was beaten, rejected, shamed, cursed at, vilified, and finally, crucified. Think about how Peter must have felt, how he must have despised and loathed himself.
But thankfully, that's not the end of Peter's story. He became one of the most important people in the history of the church, going on to a great and powerful ministry.
Have you ever thought of what kind of ministry Peter might have had if he hadn't failed and fallen down and had to go through trememdous shame and rejection? Instead of being, "Peter, the Rock on which I will build my church," he might have been, "Peter, the Proud." If he hadn't experienced brokenness and learned to serve out of it, what kind of leader would he have been?
Our leader's challenge to us was to learn to serve out of the brokenness that we have experienced in ministry and to use it for God's greater good. I've heard it over and over again now, "A broken missionary makes a better missionary. I pray that you never have to serve alongside of or under a leader who hasn't wept bitter tears, because that person will only know how to serve out of pride and self-worth. Once a person has been broken and then healed, he becomes a much more powerful tool for Christ."
I'm thankful for the breaking that God has allowed in my life and pray that in His time, He will use it to bless and encourage others. I pray for my continued healing and for the healing of others who have served faithfully and who continue to serve faithfully. It was a blessing to me to sit in a room of broken people without any pretensions. But not only was it a room of broken, non-pretentious people, it was a room almost entirely free of bitterness- which was a tremendous thing to see. Broken, bitterfree people, looking for continued healing and looking to continue in service to their great and mighty God. What a testimony to His goodness, faithfulness and love!
The beautiful view of Pike's Peak, looking out the window of our retreat center. Such a wonderful place to be!
The wonderful group that blessed me so much, with our MTI facilitators. This is only my group- half of the overall participants.
Our final devotion was just as powerful as the others that we had done each morning, reading about Peter's betrayal of Christ. Peter was so proud of his relationship to Christ and swore that he would never, couldn't possibly EVER deny Christ. And yet He did. He failed and then followed and watched as His Savior was beaten, rejected, shamed, cursed at, vilified, and finally, crucified. Think about how Peter must have felt, how he must have despised and loathed himself.
But thankfully, that's not the end of Peter's story. He became one of the most important people in the history of the church, going on to a great and powerful ministry.
Have you ever thought of what kind of ministry Peter might have had if he hadn't failed and fallen down and had to go through trememdous shame and rejection? Instead of being, "Peter, the Rock on which I will build my church," he might have been, "Peter, the Proud." If he hadn't experienced brokenness and learned to serve out of it, what kind of leader would he have been?
Our leader's challenge to us was to learn to serve out of the brokenness that we have experienced in ministry and to use it for God's greater good. I've heard it over and over again now, "A broken missionary makes a better missionary. I pray that you never have to serve alongside of or under a leader who hasn't wept bitter tears, because that person will only know how to serve out of pride and self-worth. Once a person has been broken and then healed, he becomes a much more powerful tool for Christ."
I'm thankful for the breaking that God has allowed in my life and pray that in His time, He will use it to bless and encourage others. I pray for my continued healing and for the healing of others who have served faithfully and who continue to serve faithfully. It was a blessing to me to sit in a room of broken people without any pretensions. But not only was it a room of broken, non-pretentious people, it was a room almost entirely free of bitterness- which was a tremendous thing to see. Broken, bitterfree people, looking for continued healing and looking to continue in service to their great and mighty God. What a testimony to His goodness, faithfulness and love!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
DAR, Day 4
Sooo, now that we're fully cognizant of the fact that we're all basket cases and that it's perfectly normal, where do we go from here??
SOUL CARE- Looking Forward: Seeking Balance and Rhythm in Life
CAUTION- I'm about to say something that might seem shocking to "the church"!!
*The vast majority of missionaries are operating out of spiritual dryness, due to the things that were mentioned in the last three posts.
We MUST learn to take better care of ourselves, to live in the unforced rhythm of GRACE
Instead, we live out THE GREAT OMISSION(forgetting to live as Jesus lived)
What prevents us from living in the rhythm of grace?
*Mandates, Expectations, Self drivenness, Desire to please, Needs all around us, Ignorance from our Christian culture; False guilt(I don't have time); Lack of permission
"Christianeese" tells us that we must go, go, go and do, do, do. We must give all we have, lay it all down, leave it all behind, run the race. After all, we can do all through Christ who strengthens us, right??
Wrong. Very, very wrong. That is the Great Omission. If we're going to equate running a race with the Christian life, what about the training part? The building of muscles? The eating properly? The replacing of lost liquids? The resting when you know your muscles are inflamed? The healing when you do damage to yourself? What about the PREVENTATIVE care?? A runner doesn't just run and run and run and not take care of himself. And neither, by the way, did Jesus.
Jesus practiced the following rhythms in his ministry: solitude/ministry/solitude. He withdrew from the crowds. And not only does it say that He withdrew from them, it says that He did it OFTEN!
"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness to pray." Luke 5:16
Look at the following verses for more examples of his rhythm: Luke 4:31-42a; Luke 5:15-16; Luke 6:12-19
Things that were extremely good for me to hear:
1)It's ok for us to walk away from needs. Jesus did.
2)It is a legitimate thing to put my concerns and needs first in order to keep myself healthy.(I assure you, this is NOT taught in the mission community)
3)I can best serve others when I am healthy. I can best love others when I am healthy.
4)Learn to live in the unforced rhythms of GRACE
Jesus said, "Are you tired and worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matt. 11:28-29, The Message
Isn't that beautiful?? "Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace."
SOUL CARE- Looking Forward: Seeking Balance and Rhythm in Life
CAUTION- I'm about to say something that might seem shocking to "the church"!!
*The vast majority of missionaries are operating out of spiritual dryness, due to the things that were mentioned in the last three posts.
We MUST learn to take better care of ourselves, to live in the unforced rhythm of GRACE
Instead, we live out THE GREAT OMISSION(forgetting to live as Jesus lived)
What prevents us from living in the rhythm of grace?
*Mandates, Expectations, Self drivenness, Desire to please, Needs all around us, Ignorance from our Christian culture; False guilt(I don't have time); Lack of permission
"Christianeese" tells us that we must go, go, go and do, do, do. We must give all we have, lay it all down, leave it all behind, run the race. After all, we can do all through Christ who strengthens us, right??
Wrong. Very, very wrong. That is the Great Omission. If we're going to equate running a race with the Christian life, what about the training part? The building of muscles? The eating properly? The replacing of lost liquids? The resting when you know your muscles are inflamed? The healing when you do damage to yourself? What about the PREVENTATIVE care?? A runner doesn't just run and run and run and not take care of himself. And neither, by the way, did Jesus.
Jesus practiced the following rhythms in his ministry: solitude/ministry/solitude. He withdrew from the crowds. And not only does it say that He withdrew from them, it says that He did it OFTEN!
"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness to pray." Luke 5:16
Look at the following verses for more examples of his rhythm: Luke 4:31-42a; Luke 5:15-16; Luke 6:12-19
Things that were extremely good for me to hear:
1)It's ok for us to walk away from needs. Jesus did.
2)It is a legitimate thing to put my concerns and needs first in order to keep myself healthy.(I assure you, this is NOT taught in the mission community)
3)I can best serve others when I am healthy. I can best love others when I am healthy.
4)Learn to live in the unforced rhythms of GRACE
Jesus said, "Are you tired and worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matt. 11:28-29, The Message
Isn't that beautiful?? "Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace."
Saturday, March 3, 2012
DAR, Day 3
Day 3, The Transition Experience- A Normal Process
On Day 3 we discussed transition from one country to another, and as I noted in one of yesterday's lists, the fact that transition is in the Traumatic Category for almost all missionaries.
The 5 Stages of Transition and how you know you're in each one
Stage 1- Settled(in your adopted country):you have guests over; you know how to get around; you know where to shop and how to cook with what is available; you're set up; you have a rhythm of daily life; you know the local greetings; know how to get stuff; know how to pay bills; have plants; have decorations; have a work station; have pets; clothes are in drawers, not suitcases; you've learned foods and customs; you can communicate
Stage 2- Unsettling(beginning the moving process again): pulling up roots; saying many goodbyes; explaining over and over; packing, choosing, shipping, giving away, throwing away; closing everything down; nice things are said about you; joy and sorrow in the decision; sensing deadlines; quite drained; lots of decisions; having a foot in two boats; can't share your joy and sorrow with many people; split personality; pushing through
Stage 3- CHAOS! (re-entering your passport country): cloudy; in a fog; clinging to order; emotional roller coaster; I don't know how I'm doing!; emotionally detached; mind blank/dull/numb; profoundly disoriented; don't know cultural norms./vocab/standards/how to do things; others assume they know what you need or feel; great misunderstanding and expectations of you; overwhelmed
**This is the stage where all of us are right now- somewhere between Chaos and the beginnings of Re-Settling
Stage 4- Re-settling: confusion; purchasing clothing; buying stuff you got rid of; figuring out cell phone contracts; sorting of values; trying to get resettled; reorientation; where to get things/who to ask; going to church; feeling stupid when you can't come up with an English word; not having enough answers for people; trying to make plans while still struggling
Stage 5- Settled:(the stage we want to get to): integrated; accept that I don't totally "fit"; feel at home, but in a new way
In a study done with missionaries, the average said that it took them between 2-4 years to get from Stage 3(chaos) to Stage 5(re-settled). Two to four years!!
I have two tasks right now:
1. Give myself time to find the new norm
2. Learn to be ok with the fact that I'm different and how I can function well out of that difference
Remember this?
No, it's not the world. It's me! The different me- with lots of American bits and some Ukrainian bits and they're no longer seperable. They're just me.
On Day 3 we discussed transition from one country to another, and as I noted in one of yesterday's lists, the fact that transition is in the Traumatic Category for almost all missionaries.
Stage 1- Settled(in your adopted country):you have guests over; you know how to get around; you know where to shop and how to cook with what is available; you're set up; you have a rhythm of daily life; you know the local greetings; know how to get stuff; know how to pay bills; have plants; have decorations; have a work station; have pets; clothes are in drawers, not suitcases; you've learned foods and customs; you can communicate
Stage 2- Unsettling(beginning the moving process again): pulling up roots; saying many goodbyes; explaining over and over; packing, choosing, shipping, giving away, throwing away; closing everything down; nice things are said about you; joy and sorrow in the decision; sensing deadlines; quite drained; lots of decisions; having a foot in two boats; can't share your joy and sorrow with many people; split personality; pushing through
Stage 3- CHAOS! (re-entering your passport country): cloudy; in a fog; clinging to order; emotional roller coaster; I don't know how I'm doing!; emotionally detached; mind blank/dull/numb; profoundly disoriented; don't know cultural norms./vocab/standards/how to do things; others assume they know what you need or feel; great misunderstanding and expectations of you; overwhelmed
**This is the stage where all of us are right now- somewhere between Chaos and the beginnings of Re-Settling
Stage 4- Re-settling: confusion; purchasing clothing; buying stuff you got rid of; figuring out cell phone contracts; sorting of values; trying to get resettled; reorientation; where to get things/who to ask; going to church; feeling stupid when you can't come up with an English word; not having enough answers for people; trying to make plans while still struggling
Stage 5- Settled:(the stage we want to get to): integrated; accept that I don't totally "fit"; feel at home, but in a new way
In a study done with missionaries, the average said that it took them between 2-4 years to get from Stage 3(chaos) to Stage 5(re-settled). Two to four years!!
I have two tasks right now:
1. Give myself time to find the new norm
2. Learn to be ok with the fact that I'm different and how I can function well out of that difference
Remember this?
No, it's not the world. It's me! The different me- with lots of American bits and some Ukrainian bits and they're no longer seperable. They're just me.
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