July Newsletter

Missionary Kids from Ukarumpa

You know you’re an MK (Missionary Kid) when...

1.       You can't answer the question, "Where are you from?"

2.       You speak two languages, but can't spell either.

3.       You flew before you could walk.

4.       The U.S. is a foreign country.

5.       You embarrass yourself by asking what swear words mean.

6.       You watch National Geographic specials and recognize someone.

7.       You consider a city 500 miles away to be "very close."

8.       Your life story uses the phrase "Then we went to..." five times.

9.       You sort your friends by continent.

      10.   Furlough means that you are stuffed every night... and have to eat it all to seem polite.

http://www.members.kconline.com/kerr/mk.htm 

Missionary Kids at Recess

 The students I will be teaching in PNG are called MKs (Missionary Kids) or TCKs (Third Culture Kids). The list above describes just a glimpse of the complicated life these children lead. While each one has a very different story, I am learning just how much I can identify with these precious students.

Missionary family communicating through radio

MKs say a lot of goodbyes. Their lives are constantly changing. This leaves many MKs feeling at a loss for identity and security. I have been experiencing a similar feeling of grief in my own life. Moving from Salem, OR to Kennewick, WA forced me to say “goodbye” to a city that I love, my role as a substitute teacher, my home church of Salem Heights, and even my dear roommates. This transition was not easy for me.

Through the Word of God and His church, I am finding comfort during this change. Leaving the United States for two years is a bigger step of faith than I’ve ever taken before. In my moments of deepest weakness, God has been faithful to encourage me with just the right verse or friend. It is these life-giving verses that I desire to bring to the people of Papua New Guinea when I go there to teach.

Posing with Diane and Terry Bassett

How are things really going?

Many of you have been asking about how are things really going as I seek partners and get ready to leave for two years? To be honest, it’s hard. It’s scary. In fact, sometimes I don’t want to go.

On the other hand, I have been greatly encouraged at the response from so many of you over the past two months as I’ve shared about my financial and prayer needs. My partnership team is growing even as my deadlines are fast approaching. (I’m scheduled to leave August 16^th) To those of you who have joined, THANK YOU.

Me and My Roommates!

Saying goodbye to Bruce Wood

So here’s where I’m at: I will be given the O.K. to purchase my ticket to Papua New Guinea when I reach 95% of my monthly budget. Many of you have given generous one-time gifts and I really appreciate it. Because of you, I have enough to purchase my plane ticket and get set up in PNG. However, until I receive 100% monthly support, I cannot get on the plane. If you have already prayed about joining my team, would you please tell me? You can communicate this desire by visiting http://www.wycli­e.org/Partnership.aspx?mid=EA6FDA or you can e-mail me for a PDF version. If you are already on my partnership team, please pray that I will reach my monthly budget soon.

I will leave you with a quote that has challenged me immensely.

“There are only three kinds of Christians when it comes to world missions: zealous goers, zealous senders, and the disobedient...The Bible does not assume that everyone goes. But it does assume that the ones who do not go care about goers and support goers and pray for goers and hold the rope of the goers.”

– John Piper

Praises:

·         I have my visa!!!

·         My graduate classes finished well

·         I enjoyed Wycliffe teacher training in Dallas, TX

Requests:

·         That I will reach 100% monthly budget by August

·         That I will cope well with goodbyes

·         That time with family this summer will be sweet

A Bad Blow

I've had fairly peppy posts up until now. This one won't be. So if you are in the mood for something happy, stop reading and go get a coffee.

I found out today that my monthly budget needs for PNG are being raised by $281. This means that I will need an another $281 each month to live in PNG. This also means that I am not as far along in my partnership as I had hoped. My spirits are down today because of what this might do to my plans.

I cannot buy a ticket to leave for PNG until I am 95% funded. I am nowhere close to that goal and my departure date (August 16th) is only four and a half weeks away.

Now I know God can do miracles, and He has already done many along this journey. Perhaps He is just pulling away any last hope I had in accomplishing this on my own. Perhaps He doesn't want me there in August...I don't know.

The picture I keep getting in my head is of my little cousin Samantha when her parents or I tell her she cannot have something she really wants. She rarely puts up a fight but instead will look up at you with pain in her eyes and ask, "But why?" This is what I feel like I am experiencing with my Heavenly Father right now. My disappointment does not negate my trust, it only reminds me that I trust in a Person, not a situation. If you have a second, would you mind praying for me today? Thanks.

Blessings

God delights to give His children good gifts. I have found this to be true in my life this week.

First, I returned safely from Dallas, TX where I attended Wycliffe teacher training. Many friends called to wish me happy birthday and even more filled my facebook with comments. I flew back into the Tri-Cities on my birthday with enough time to chat with my parents and have a wonderful nap. Then, I woke up to my precious extended family and a few friends. We spent the evening chatting, eating wonderful BBQ, and playing cards. Oh, and the best part? My cousin Katlyn and her husband Devan made me a llama cake!!!

The next day was the Fourth of July. Again, I was able to spend time with family. On the downside, my computer crashed. :( But guess what?! God knew it was going to happen. He had my wonderful cousin David create a backup of almost all of my hardrive the day before. AND it looks as though the computer might be save-able too! Wow!

Today, the fifth, was a more low-key day. I said a sad goodbye to a handful of family members whom I will not see again before I leave. Then, I took another nap and woke up to go kayaking with mom and dad. It was serene and relaxing. God just seems to know exactly how to take care of me. What a loving Heavenly Father I serve.