Hope

Last night I was realizing how many things that I am thankful for regarding hope:

• hope for teachers
• hope for physical healing
  
• hope for friendships
• hope for strength
• hope for salvation of others
  
• hope for heaven--that this world is not all there is, that we have eternity ahead
• hope in Jesus Christ--the author and perfecter of our faith

hope

Ready For MN

It's hard to believe I am headed across the ocean in only a few days!

Because my visa expires in November, I have been working with my landlords (who live in Holland) to try and get the documentation I need to renew it. Today I went with her brother to the division for Sector 2. I had blocked off my entire morning to stand in line, go get copies, sign documents, and deal with whatever else came up. Because I have two landlords, the woman who was helping us needed a document from the second saying she was okay with renting the apartment to me. So, instead of coming back, her brother wrote the statement and signed it right there in front of the woman. I guess it's just a formality... But, it only took an hour. Think of all the extra time I have.

I have a woman coming to stay with me for a few nights who will be raising support to come and teach at BCA. So as I was walking home, I thought about buying flowers. The stands here are so beautifully arranged that they grab me:) After asking how much some were, I told the woman that I wanted 5 red gladiolas. She grabbed a bunch of red and a bunch of pink. I politely told her that I only wanted the red ones. She put the pink back and then picked up a few white ones to go with the bunch of red ones. Again I stated that I only wanted 5 red glads. She put a few back and then explained to me that I was getting a deal. But I only wanted the red ones. She started wrapping up the red and white ones and that's when I finally gave up and walked away. I guess I really didn't want flowers today.

The sidewalk in front of my building is torn up. Tram lines are no longer functioning as they undergo maintenance. It's hot (upwards of 90 already) and icky which means any type of public transportation is packed and even hotter.

I know I'm 'whining', but I'm ready to be in MN.

Reality Check

I really am looking forward to spending some time in the US this summer, but I realize that there are a few things that haven't quite been accepted into my reality:
-my sister is a mom! I know Abigail is here, but it will still be a shock to see my sister as a mother for the first time.
-my grandpa is in a recovering from an accident--I've heard the detailed reports and updates on his condition, but until I see him in his 'rehab' I don't think that will sink in
-my cousin graduated--for some reason when I am on the other side of the ocean, I feel like things are supposed to freeze in MN. I'm excited for her, but it will be another reality check!

Time flies no matter what side of the ocean you live on!

Carpet Stains

I have a large area rug in my living room. It started out a cream color and I recently noticed that it was becoming spotted with other colors. I decided to buy some carpet cleaner and tackle cleaning it. Yesterday I spent a chunk of time on my hands and knees scrubbing away--and yes, my sore hands and rug-burned knuckles can prove it. My carpet looks great! As I scrubbed away, I was amazed at how dirty it really was. I suppose two years of accumulated Bucharest dust is enough to make anything dirty.

My carpet is a little bit like my life. What starts out bright and clean is easily dirtied by thoughts and ideas that the world throws my way. If I am not careful, it can easily feel normal to allow those to seep into and lodge in my mind and heart. It takes intentionality to stay clean, and often turning back to my creator and asking him to wash me clean once again.

How exciting that one day we will be able to stand spotless before the Lamb of God!

Field Day Fun :)

Field day (last Thurs) was a great time of playing together as a school! It is also special to see our kids having the freedom to run and yell in a big space!




























Go Elite Eleven! Although we didn't win any prizes, we sure had fun!
Atsushi, Shinsuke, Ji Hye, Rachael, Jaime, Chloe, Eliana, Jim, Amy, and Israel.

We played with a parachute with the younger kids. It brought back distant memories of elementary school :)

The Happy Sad Day

Growing up my family worked with a crisis pregnancy center and we had foster babies in our home. Usually they stayed with us for 2 months. Some were only with us for a few days, and some much longer. I remember being really attached to these lives that so deeply impacted my own. When it was time to say good-bye, my heart ached. I sometimes took pictures of them to bed with me. Often the final moments with these dear children were filled with tears even though I was happy that they were going to be with their family (birth mother or adoptive family). A friend of our family wrote a story that I think was titled The Happy Sad Day. We each (the 3 kids) got a copy and illustrated it.

As I was saying goodbyes this past week, that same idea came to me. It is so painful to say bunches of good-byes at one time. Knowing it is good and right that seniors graduate and leave BCA doesn't seem to make it any easier. Knowing that God is working in the lives of families headed to the states for a semester or a more permanent transition doesn't ease the pain of saying good-byes either. Their departure still leaves a gaping hole in our community.

At graduation Friday, one of our kindergarten kids (now a first grader) asked if I had noticed her missing tooth (and then continued to show me how the one beside it was loose--I didn't deal too well with that). So, she has a gaping hole in her mouth right now, but in a short time, another tooth will come and fill that space--part of God's design.

Again, my analogies aren't perfect, but as I say good-byes, it is good to remember that God's design is perfect, that others will come to fill those holes. And while they might not be permanent (like we hope our teeth are), or exactly the same as those who have left, there are others that God is bringing into my life. A new group of seniors will step up in the fall and God will provide the teachers that BCA needs.

I think there's the illusion that life gets easier as you get older, that somehow you figure things out and it isn't as painful. I'm glad that hasn't happened, that I still feel pain when I say good-byes and ache in the parting of friends. And yet, as I get older, I can hopefully trust God's plan a bit more in each season of transition and remember that my tears don't go unseen.