Fresh Perspective

The longer I am a “missionary” the harder I grapple with “Romance”in the field.  Please don’t get me wrong.  I am not dissatisfied with my spouse of 20 years.  But honestly, dating and being romantic, in a third world country is daunting.  It’s not that we haven’t made valiant attempts at it, but drunk men on the road with long knives, a very long tiring drive to a decent restaurant (3 hours round trip), the lack of easy safe places to go, just take it out of us.  We won’t mention (or maybe we will) the hot weather, constant non stop demands and pressures, and the spiritual warfare that is never ending.  UGH!  Romance?! On our summer trip to America, a church friend asked, “What is the biggest challenge you are facing in the field right now?”  Never good at hiding my honest feelings I blurted, “Romance!”  That got a few passer-by eyebrows raising.  Hopefully it got a few more saints praying!!!!!  ha ha A few days after that fantas...

I’m not sure why the word, “Messy”, keeps coming to mind???!  Other than, that is what missions seems at best.  Messy.  Nothing is clear cut.  Simple.  The way planned.  Or easy.  Well maybe I shouldn’t say, “nothing”.  Yet, messy, best describes how I feel after just finishing week #1 back in the mission land. Mind you, it is hard enough to land in 3rd world country, Papua, with 5 men/boys pulling me along.  Trying to get them settled, in a routine, unpacked, fed, listened too.  There are groceries to buy and veggies and fruit to soak in bleach water.  Gone are the nicely packaged pre rinsed 3 times, organic power greens, to make that amazing salad in 5 minutes flat.  And where did this mold come from that is lining all the bathroom drawers?  Yikes, one car would not start……  Yes, mind you, all of that was enough to make me think MESSY, MESSY, MESSY…..but we also landed with 3 young adult girls in tow. Please don’t...

As we finish our third week in America today, we are reminded daily of how generous Americans are.  They have opened up their homes to us and fed us.  They have gifted us with a week away for Darron and I.  And very practical things like deodorant and Taco bell sauce!!! : ) Yet, many of you are still asking:, “How can we help?” We have medical items that are needed.  This is the link.  You can click and purchase whatever you feel led to give. https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/13BG4CELV2KMT/ref=cm_wl_list_o_3    For some reason when people click on this link out is wanting to mail to them.  Our mailing address is: 1052 Mount Pleasant Rd.  Cookeville, TN. 38506. In more detail these items are needed because this year at our aviation program we intend to target 5 villages (remote and unreached) and along with Indonesian doctors and nurses focus on bringing health to them.  Our goal is to visit each village 9 to 10 times throug...

Numbers shouldn’t define who we are.  In nursing school we were often talked to about knowing the patient name, not just their room number.  Yet numbers have crept into the very depth of my soul.  We are a family of SIX.  We have FOUR boys.  We have now been missionaries for FIVE years.  We will soon be married for TWENTY years.  Numbers remind us of passing time and changing seasons.  As only THREE people sat at our dinner table tonight, I thought maybe you would enjoy an update on this summer season we are in.  Currently our TWO airplanes cannot fly.  Please pray about that.  While this has been discouraging, I have admired what Gary has been doing with his on ground time.  SEVEN HUNDRED PLUS truck loads of gravel have been added to our grass runway so that when it rains it is not so soft and muddy.  Also a drainage ditch is being added.  This has been a huge project to manage and have vision for.  Also Gary ...

“We just had all the kinks worked out and our system down (this took several weeks) when Mandy became very ill.  Her husband was out of town, so this added to our concern for her.  In less than 24 hours she was diagnosed with malaria, however, things began to look more despairing when Mandy did not improve even after finishing all the malaria medicine”.     The town of Sentani has almost no street signs.  As long as the store or place you are going to are on the main street,or near major land marks……. it’s not to hard to find where you want to go.  We describe things by certain restaurants, by bridges and main intersecting roads.  However once you turn off the main road and especially if you need to find someone’s house, it can quickly become confusing and difficult.   What appears to be only a few houses from the main street can turn into mazes of homes, with narrow streets and deep ditches, that are not very nice to try and turn around in...

My concentration was shattered at language school this Friday a.m., as a text pinged in from Darron.  "Fever.  Respirations 42.  Having to lie down." As my language teacher explained the meaning of new words and expounded on the topic of the week, Alcohol, my mind struggled to stay focused.  I was out of Pulsa, in other words I had run out of money on my phone allowing me to text or call.  My mind was willing and praying that Andrew would hurry and do this chore for me. Meanwhile the clock ticked.  I tried to focus on the discussion at hand.  Selly was telling me about all the different ways alcohol can be made locally here.  From the coconut tree to rats, baby deer and a few other special ingredients.  Augh!!!!  Really?  It's called "cap tikus". We read a whole article about it.   An hour and 15 minutes into language school, I couldn't focus anymore   What if Darron needed me to go get him?  He was 1.5 hours aw...

It's Just Monday???! Friday I was so excited to see Jacob choose to go with his Dad to build 2 jungle chapel churches at 2 drive in locations.  As the  other boys geared up for finals week.  Surely building chapels out of aluminum would be more educational than sitting at home with Mom and doing Math?!?  As they pulled out of the driveway I felt a bit giddy.......a full week of kids in school all day and other than language school and a big presentation due about HIV and AIDS in Indonesian...... My slate was clear. The morning dissolved into language learning.  The afternoon disappeared into providing support to missionaries interior who were messaging me, needing medical help.  At 5 my neighbor showed with stomach ulcer like symptoms, that has already been treated with medicine but had returned.  After working with the Roberts to help her the evening had arrived.  As I fell into bed by 8:00/p.m.  Darron had texted me to say that the car h...