School Daze

Going to a new school can be a little intimidating no matter what country you live in, but going to a new school in a new country with a different culture, a different language and different ways of doing things can be really challenging.
Zoë and Miá are beginning a new school term this week at an international school in the city where we live. I've been so proud of them for their positive attitudes throughout continual adjustments to Southeast Asia, but my pride has surged to new levels in these days as I've watched them prepare for this new school attendance. They both have gone above and beyond by being flexible and maintaining their outgoing demeanor and confident spirit.
We have been continually impressed with this school - their facilities, their staff and their programs. When we first visited several months ago we were awed by the elementary and middle school principals. Both had great rapport with the students and they seemed to have a genuine care for the children's education and well-being. Both principals also took time to talk with our girls and really listen to their thoughts, concerns and questions. With over 1200 students attending the school, they've surely got their hands full, but you would never know it.

I.S.M. is a very big school with separate elementary, middle school and high school buildings all located within a couple blocks of each other. Miá's building is a tall contemporary structure. It's a brand new building with construction just recently being completed and it even has an elevator!
Zoë's building has been recently updated. It has a nice library, a large computer lab and warm, comfortable classrooms.
The school is made up of about half local students and half foreign students, although Zoë and Miá are among only a handful of white faces. The girls have made friends with kids from places like China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. The teachers at the school, however, are mostly native English speakers and the classes are all taught in English. Miá's teacher is a sweet lady from California and Zoë has a band teacher that received her Masters degree from the University of Southern Mississippi - go figure!

Both girls are excited to participate on the school's sports teams. The school mascot is a dragon - makes sense for an Asian country, right? They also plan to be involved in clubs and other extra-curricular activities.

Overall, they are super excited about school, but still desire your yarps for friendship building, culture understanding and plain 'ole good grades. :)

The day before school we got to go down and find their classes,
get their schedule, meet the teachers, buy their uniforms, etc.

All dressed up and ready to go.

This is Miá's building, seen through the rain on our car window.

Another view of Miá's building from the road.

This is Miá's classroom.

Checking out her schedule.

Miá's building is 5 stories, but she's only on the third floor.

Miá's outdoor dining area. There's no cafeteria or microwave.
The kids either bring their lunch or buy from street vendors nearby.

The playground has grass!
(You don't know how little grass we see around here.)

This is one of Zoë's classrooms. 

Her locker - what a great number: 111

The gym - it's an open air building, although the dining
hall (behind the goal) is an air-conditioned room.

First day of third grade!
(She had to wear a separate P.E. uniform today.)

7th grade - here we come!

Pretty girls -  inside and out.

In the car, on the way there...

This is the middle school building.

Zoë was a little nervous walking into the building,
but she's still wearing her smile! :)

This is now after school, leaving the building. She still has
a smile on her face. She said her day was "AWESOME!"

Picking up Miá. She also said she can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Now it's time to go home and do homework!

You don't know what you've got until it's gone

Have you ever lost something that’s really important to you? It doesn’t have to be something that’s really expensive. Maybe it’s something with sentimental value or something that you use every day.
Well, that’s what happened to me last week.
I lost my Bible.
It was a Sunday and I was on the praise team at our gathering place for that morning. After the service was over, the guest speaker wanted to continue a time of yarping with individuals desiring that, so he asked the praise team to continue to sing and play softly while he did so. The congregation as a whole left quietly while some stayed behind.
As my family slipped out the back door, I noticed that Mia had grabbed my purse and other belongings I left sitting in the pew. They were talking with friends outside while they waited for me and I noticed she had put my purse in the car before we left that day.
 
Here is where I should probably explain how important my morning quiet times have become to me.
Even since I was much younger, I always tried to make it a priority to get up earlier than I normally would to spend some time with Father. I have used lots of workbooks and other daily devotionals in these times, but about a year ago, I really developed this insatiable appetite for just reading the Word.
It was something I requested from Him actually. I asked Father if He would give me a desire for His Word in a new way, and that’s exactly what He did. Now I have a hard time putting my Book down, and I so look forward to my mornings spent with Him in prayer and reading His Word.
 
Going back to my story, that next Monday morning I woke up with eager anticipation of my quiet time. I made my coffee and went to my favorite chair where I spend this time every morning only to discover my Book wasn’t there.
“Oh yeah,” I remembered. “I took it with me yesterday, but I don’t remember getting it out of the car. It must still be there.”
It was early morning and it was pouring rain outside, but I made the trek down to the parking garage to where our vehicle was parked sure to find my Good Book in the backseat. Only it wasn’t there.
“Maybe one of my girls brought it in with their stuff yesterday,” I thought to myself.
Back in our apartment, I tried to search through their bedrooms in the dark without waking them up to see if I could maybe find my Book there. Still, no dice.
After much consternation, I eventually resorted to using a version of the Good Book on my computer. But it just wasn’t the same.
My Book has all my notes in it. It’s highlighted in places where Father has revealed certain things relevant to my life. My memorization cards are stuck in certain places as well as pictures of a few people that I’m yarping for specifically these days.
Later that morning I asked CJ if he had noticed my Book in the car or around the apartment. He said he did not recall picking up my Book from our gathering place. When I asked Zoe and Mia about it next, neither of them remembered getting it either.
“Oh that’s not good,” I thought.
The building where we hold our gathering place is an annex of a local hotel. It’s used throughout the week for different groups and meetings. It’s also where CJ and others teach English classes at a school using those same rooms. In other words, there are lots of people coming and going from that place continuously over the course of a week and in that moment, I feared I had lost my Good Book forever.
I sent a message to a friend who works down there and made a desperate plea for her to see if she could find my Book.
Normally, I would have just gone down there myself to get it, but this building is downtown. It takes us almost an hour to get there. Not to mention, I can’t drive yet in this city and we have language school and other responsibilities that prevented me from having the time to go down there.
All week long, I wondered about my Good Book. I missed it like a good friend that I haven’t seen in a long time. I’m sure I was griping about it all week to CJ and whoever would listen.
Then on the following Friday morning, CJ told me he was going down there to do some work before the new term started of his English classes. I asked if I could come along so that I could search for my Book.
After what seemed like forever, when we arrived at the building, I made a beeline for the office where I was told the best news. The office manager had found my Book!
Oh, what sweet relief. I was so excited to finally have my Book back in my hands. I went to a quiet place in that building and knelt down to thank Father for returning my Book. I also vowed at that time to never take His Book for granted. After all, His Book is one of the ways He communicates with me. It’s often where I find direction, encouragement, reprimands and joy for my days. I can’t imagine how anyone who is Father’s child builds their relationship with Him without spending time daily in His book.
 
I recently heard some statistics about the Good Book that were a little disquieting. With over 6 BILLION copies printed, it is the best-selling book of all time. It is said to be the most influential and the most popular book in history. (I believe it!) It is both a piece of religious literature but it is also a work of art including poetry, recipes, marital advice, laws, prophecy and so much more. All of that was great to hear!
The disturbing part: only 18% of people who call themselves born-again believers read the Good Book at least once a week. 18%!?! But hearing this next part almost made me cry – 23% of those likewise professing people never read the Good Book AT ALL!
How can that be? How can people who say that they are in relationship with Father never read about Him or His words? His commandments, His promises, His sacrifice, His love – it’s all in there, but almost ¼ of so-called believers will never know.
It really makes me very sad.
It would be like me being married to CJ, but never talking to him or never listening to him. What kind of relationship would that be?
Now I know all the excuses. I’ve made them myself a time or two.
“There’s just not enough time.”
“It’s too hard to understand.”
“I’ll do it later.” Unfortunately, later never seems to come.
 
I started thinking recently about things that take up my time and where my priorities lay.
As I was standing in front of the mirror putting on makeup one day, I wondered to myself, “Do I spend more time putting on my makeup and fixing my hair than I do reading His word?” What would that say about my priorities? Not to mention that I can learn how to attain true beauty by reading in His word.
Do I spend more time watching mindless TV shows than reading His Book? There are more stories of adventure, mystery and reality found in the Good Book than could ever be watched on TV.
Spend more time on Facebook than reading His Word? There is more “news” to be found in the Book. Not to mention, how cool is it to be “friends” with Paul, Peter, John? How about the Son? Be friends with Him!
Spend time sleeping in? Read the Book to find true rest!
Go to the spa, but never read the Book? In the Book you’ll discover true peace!
Spend time trying to make your body healthy but never read the Good Book? The Book can help you heal your ETERNAL soul!
There are 1,440 minutes in every day. Could you not spare 20-30 of those with Him? It could really change your life.
It’s changed mine.
I’ve recently set a goal for myself that before I do anything in the mornings (check my email, turn on the news, shower, exercise, make breakfast, etc.) I spend time in His Word. I want my time with Him to be my top priority. (I do turn on the coffee pot and pour a cup, but that doesn’t count. I don’t think…)
 
I would love to know that maybe along with some friends, we could change those negative Good Book statistics. Would you commit with me to make time with Him a top priority every day? Devotional books and commentaries are good, but most important is His Word. It’s His message to you. He loves you and wants to tell you just how much.
 
That old saying is true, you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone. And let me tell you from experience, you don’t want to lose His Word.
 
“He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” Isaiah 50:4

It was out of my hands

I was laying in bed the night before we would leave to go on vacation. You know how it is before you go on a trip – your mind is racing, thinking of things you need to do. Did you pack everything, are you forgetting anything, don’t forget to turn off the coffee pot, etc.

It was going to be just Miá and I on our own on our flights because CJ and Zoë had flown out the week before to go to youth summer camp. I was a little nervous knowing I would have to go through immigration, customs and just the whole process without CJ, but I reminded myself that Father was with me and everything would be ok.

It was with these thoughts that I began thinking about some girls I had recently met who worked at a shop near where we live. At the time I met them, they had been reading a book about Buddha. Because my language abilities are so limited, I hadn’t been sure exactly what to say to them, except to say that I was a Christian and I believed in J.C.

As I was lying in bed that night kinda half-praying/half-thinking, I realized that I should’ve taken those girls one of the tracts we have in their language. It’s more than a tract actually. It’s a small book that explains salvation and the sacrifice that J.C. made for all people. It’s explains how we attain a relationship with Him and what happens after death for those who believe.  It dawned on me that I could take this book to those girls, and at that moment, I promised Father that I would do that as soon as we returned from vacation. After all, Miá and I were leaving very early the next morning and there would be no time to take them the book before we left. Right?

Miá and I were so excited the next morning, not just to go on vacation, but also to see CJ and Zoë. We missed them so much over the last few days while they were gone.

Our ride picked us up and we arrived at the airport to find short lines and smooth sailing. That is, until we reached the immigration office.

Let me make a very long story short by saying, the immigration officer decided I should have to go downtown to the headquarters to get approval to leave the country and his mind could not and would not be changed. (This was a Sunday and the downtown office was closed til the next day, of course.)

Distraught is an understatement compared to what I was feeling when I realized Miá and I would not be flying out that day. Not to mention that I didn’t know where to go downtown or what I would need to do once there. How would I communicate with the people who worked in that office and how much is this all going to cost me?

Walking back in the door to our apartment after being denied departure that day was devastating. I wanted to just sit down in the middle of the floor and cry, but I tried to put on a brave face for Miá. I didn’t want to upset her anymore, but I felt lost and helpless and alone – it was horrible. I didn’t know what to do except cry out to Father.

I wasn’t expecting His answer…

“Take those girls the Book,” He said.

“Huh? No, Sir, I was asking what should I do about this situation I’m in?”

“Yes, I know,” came another reply. “Take those girls that Book and I’ll take care of your situation.”

“You HAVE GOT to be KIDDING ME!” I may have even said those words out loud. “Really?!?”

Now, I don’t know if Father allowed Miá and I not to be able to fly out that day so that I would go talk to those girls about Him, but He sure did turn a bad situation into something worthwhile. And honestly, I wasn’t very happy about the Romans 8:28 verse that kept playing in my head at that moment.

But I acquiesced.

“If this is what you want, then I’ll do it,” I thought.

And I did.

After much practice and word for word memorization of what I needed to say, I searched out those girls and gave them the Book. Miraculously I was even able to share with them my short testimony in their language.

And just like He promised, Father worked out my immigration problems. A relative of a co-worker of a friend of a friend showed up at the office downtown the next day to walk me through every step of a long process.

All I can say is it was absolutely divine intervention that he came and took care of everything – every piece of paperwork, every phone call, every discussion that was required to allow Miá and I to go. This man was an angel in disguise who showed up completely out of the blue because without him, I would never have been able to accomplish what he did.

Miá and I were even able to make the last flight out of our city that night. Unfortunately, our connecting flight was late so the two of us had to spend an unexpected night in Bangkok, but we eventually made it to our final destination and into the arms of loved ones.

And, let me tell ya, our vacation was SWEET!

We soaked up every single minute with love and laughter and togetherness. It was great!

Most importantly, we returned to our home city refreshed and with a new vigor for the work He has called us to do.

On a sidenote: one of the girls that I took a Book to that day when we were held up is no longer working at that store. I discovered when we returned that she was gone and I will likely never see her again. If I had waited to take her that Book after we got back, she would not have gotten it. I’m so thankful now that I had that opportunity to share. His ways ARE perfect!

Here's a few snapshots from our vacation in the beautiful mountains of Northern Thailand...

On our drive through the mountains,
we frequently stopped to enjoy the view.

Miá's favorite hangout spot!

We rode bareback.

How did they get a comfy seat?

One of the bathrooms at the cottage where we stayed. :)

Climbing, hiking & trekking were some of our favorite activities.

Rafting on a few pieces of bamboo tied together with rope.

We'll definitely come back to this place!

Always time to stop and chat with the locals, especially such sweet kids!

Zipline in the trees!

Several boxes of goodies were waiting on us at the post office in Bangkok before heading home. :)

Get ready to die

What is your most embarrassing moment?

We all have them – those experiences that cause us to humiliate ourselves in front of others.

I always think back to one of my very first jobs working at an advertising agency in New Orleans when I fell over in my chair in front of the president of the company (wearing a skirt, no less.)

It’s inevitable. Everyone, at some point in his or her life, is completely humbled.

“Humbled” is also how I frequently feel throughout this process of moving to another country, learning the language and becoming settled in its culture.

When CJ and I and our girls left the States, we were on top of our game. We both had great jobs that we dearly loved. We had a home that was warm and full and brought us much joy. We had family and friends, and, overall, life was good. On top of that we got to do all kinds of ministry, and we both felt that we had strong, active and thriving relationships with J.C. So when it was undeniable that Father was calling us to serve Him on foreign soil, we knew we had to go.

Jump ahead to the current time and we are now living and working to do what He wants of us in Southeast Asia. But we have been completely humbled.

It’s like being a baby all over again. We can’t speak the language, we are dependent on others around us to help us and it’s a huge struggle. The jobs where we found much of our identity are gone, our family is left behind and the ease with which life flowed before has now transitioned into something more like climbing up a steep mountain without a rope.

It’s hard and sometimes it hurts.

In spite of all this, lately, I’ve been having some amazing devotional times. I’ve really been feeling Father speak to me in those quiet moments we spend together in the mornings, and I know He is working in my life.

I was explaining all this to a good friend recently saying I knew He was humbling me for a reason, I just wasn’t sure yet how or why. I was still waiting to receive that divine understanding…

This past week we attended some meetings for company personnel working throughout this area. It was a great time of refreshment and renewal and a much needed break from the stresses of our jobs. It was also at these meetings when I felt the Master speaking to me through the words of our company president.

He was talking about “dying to self” as found in a passage in the book of John, chapter 12 verse 24 which says: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

This great orator painted a picture with his words of a seed of wheat. As it germinates from seed to stalk, it stretches upward toward the sky growing higher and higher everyday. It basks in the light of warmth of the sun, til one day when it reaches maturity the stalk is cut down. The grain (if it had mind of its own) would surely be thinking, “No! Don’t cut me down! I love standing tall above the rest of the world, swaying in the breeze and savoring the light.” But that’s not what it is meant for. That grain has a different purpose.

The speaker said, “The Father does not intend for us to just grow to spiritual maturity. Sometimes we have to be broken to provide food for others.” Just like that grain of wheat that is cut down so that it may produce many other seeds, so must we.

Wow.

Tears started spilling down my cheeks at that moment. I knew this message was for me.

See, I think all this time, whenever I read this passage in John before, I felt like I had already died to self. I had given up everything in my life that was comfortable and satisfying. I gave up my own selfish desires of wanting what I want. I was doing what Father wanted, right?

So why is He continuing to break me and humble me completely?

It’s because He wants to use me.

At that moment I felt both sorrowful for my own ignorance and exhilarated to know that I get to be a part of His work.

He’s breaking me so that I can become less of me and more of Him.

He’s breaking me so that He can use me.

He’s breaking me so that He can work in the lives of the people of Southeast Asia.

Dying to self is painful. But what other choice do we have?

Withering up? No thanks. I think I’d rather fulfill my life’s purpose.

As I was listening to this message, I couldn’t help thinking, “I wish my friends and family at home could hear this message. It’s so powerful. It might change their life just like it’s changed mine.”

That’s when I heard the Father say, “They can hear this message. You must share it with them.”

I think Father may be calling some of you to be cut down. Aren’t you tired of just swaying in the breeze? Don’t you want to be useful for His kingdom’s growth even if it means being dying to self?

My pr’yer is that you do.

Seek ye first His kingdom, and He will do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.