Expectations

Well for one thing ... I expected to be in bed before now!  We leave for our Intercultural Missionary Training tomorrow -- well, in 4 short minutes it'll be "today!"  I expect to be inspired, challenged, stretched, and better prepared for mission service there.  And I expect to meet some great new friends -- more brothers and sisters in Christ.
I expected to be way more emotional departing my job.  Thankfully my last day was a "different" sort of day at an all day training seminar with an uplifting, funny, inspirational speaker, Dale Henry, who encouraged us about servanthood and serving others.  Very apro po for this next chapter in our lives!  The main book we had to read for our upcoming training was all about Servanthood.  I expect to be very challenged as I try and live out servanthood especially in another country and culture.  Those who know me best know that I can tend towards being "the Queen" and enjoy BEING served!!  (But then again -- can't we all if we're living in our fleshly nature?! That's one reason we're so desperate for the Holy Spirit to infiltrate our lives.)
I did not expect my boss' boss to pray for me at lunch time on my last day of "work" work.  What a delightfully serendipitous occasion that was! I am sad that I have not had more opportunity to know him better.
I expect things at work to pile up on my poor supervisor and co-worker.  I'm bummed that I was not able to get more caught up with things before leaving.  They were so sweet and understanding about it though. That's kind of the nature of the beast at Social Services though.  If you read this and are a pray-er -- pray for them!
I expected to nail the "hard part" of my prelude this a.m.  I didn't.  Rat finks & bummer.
I expected a great time in worship today -- with the singing, playing and praising, and the Bible teaching and fellowship.  That was "spot on!" I so enjoy the fellowship we have together in the body of Christ!  Thank you, Gayton Baptist Church and Pastor Phil!!  I expect to miss you guys over these next few weeks!
I expected Germany to win the World Cup of Futbol today and they did!!  Woot woot!!  (I did not expect to see such rough playing -- nor so much blood - or for that matter, ANY blood!!  Mercy!)
I am learning to hold expectations loosely.  Notice I say 'learning.'  And at that, I often feel like I'm in the kindergarten class of this school of training!!
It's hard.  We all have expectations -- voiced or unvoiced.  Known or unknown. When things get switched up and go along another track, it's often hard to adjust and go down that different path.  I expect that's some of the kind of training that we'll be faced with in these next few weeks!!  Lord keep us open and yielded!
I expect I'd better put the clothes into the dryer now and go to bed.
It's now "today!"
I expect you all are ready for this blurb about expectations to be over!!  I am happy to fulfill those expectations!!  Good night!

Staving off panic

Well, this has been an eventful week.
Our airline tickets have been purchased.  One Way tickets!!  Wow.  That is different! Sort of sobering.
One way.
We depart Sept 22 for Peru.
As the reality of everything begins to "hit home" more and more my thoughts begin to get all jumbled together.
This week is my last week at work -- at the County of Henrico in the Dept of Social Services working in the Child Care Unit.  It's been a great job.  My co-workers are wonderful. I have so enjoyed this team of fine ladies!
I have felt panic arise as my time of trying to get "caught up" (so as not to leave behind a mess, or a huge burden for my fellow co-workers) is coming to a close.  In fact, tomorrow is my last day of actual work as we have a mandatory all day staff meeting on Friday.  We began a big new project recently for one part of our program that was mostly my responsibility and I've been trying to get that well underway even if everything else is not caught up -- which it is not . But, as my Supervisor reminded me today -- that is kind of the "nature of the beast!"  In our type of work, one doesn't really get caught up! It's like laundry!!
Earlier in the week, as I was realizing that I probably wouldn't be caught up by week's end, I began to feel anxious and I could feel myself getting more and more stressed about it.
Just as at work, I was also feeling a sense of needing to get everything "under control," and "planned for," and "thought of" and "taken care of" in our family before we leave for our training time, and before departing the country.
My boss reminded me that I was stressing over things some of which weren't going to happen until next year!!  (ie. next summer's plans for our kids when they are on summer break from college, etc..)
God is so perfect in His timing reminding us of truths in His Word -- this morning's devotional reading was from Philippians 4:6-7 about not being anxious for anything, but praying and thanking Him about everything, and the peace, which passes understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  What a perfect and timely reminder that I needed today!!  (Now if I could just put it into practice!!)
Tonight was also my last night of playing piano for the choir at Gayton Baptist Church for awhile!!  I have so enjoyed that opportunity at our church!
This time next week we will be about to begin our intercultural training classes.  Part of the intent, I understand, is to take one out of their "comfort zone."  Hmmm.... what is that going to look and feel like?! I'm trying not to "panic" about that too!  I enjoy new experiences and all, but I also enjoy my comfort!!
Well, I can see that I'm kind of rambling.  Apro po for my recent state of mind!!
But I thought I would give a bit of an update of my mental "goings on" as others may wonder how we're doing in that realm!
Thankfully, the "panic" has indeed been staved off -- for now!  And I believe I'll sleep in sweet peace tonight!  It's late, so ... Goodnight!

BEGINNINGS

Well...this has been an adventure!!  Just trying to get this "blog" started -- as I thought it would be helpful to give some personal thoughts about our Peruvian missionary under-taking!  So, here is the beginning of a blog -- that I hope will be informative and helpful to share more specifics and give greater understanding of things that we're going through.

For those of you who need a good laugh regarding some other "beginnings" for me, I am joining the 21st century and biting the technology bullet -- in my own small way!  I got my first laptop!!  I just downloaded some songs from iTunes (for the 1st time!!) woot, woot!  (My first download was Parrell Williams' song
"Happy.") and I created a Facebook page for our missions ministry!  (Thanks for your help, son!)
However, we still have flip phones (someone laughed at me at VCU orientation this week!) and I'm still using an mp3 player to listen to songs on the go!!  But hey!  Baby steps -- and it's all working well for us for now!  (Although my phone -- a TracFone -- did not work on the VCU campus.  I had to get way far away from the buildings for it to work.  So we're going to have to think about that one!!)

A side note about all this technology --- I cannot put my finger on it, but ...there is something amiss about this computer age.  I notice that most people are on their computers nearly all day.  What in the world did people do to spend their 'down time' before computers and iPods and iPads existed or were so readily prevalent?  We are so tied to them now.  People are connected to a machine rather than to each other.  Hmmm...maybe more on this later if I can put my thoughts/feelings about it into words.

As I said earlier -- I went to VCU orientation w/ our youngest this week. More beginnings!  She got word that the dorm she is assigned to is not at all to her liking.  It's not even on the main VCU campus.  It's on their sister campus more in the downtown area!  What?!?  They're hoping to go to VCU tomorrow and straighten that out.  But I am so thrilled at her change of heart about it.  The news was at first very disheartening and frustrating.  But today, she mentioned at church that if it ends up being that way, it's meant to be.  I am so pleased at that mature attitude coming from my daughter.  But I too hope that it can be re-arranged. It just doesn't seem ideal at all.  Lord -- we are trusting that You've "got this!"

It is beginning to hit me more and more about how our obedience to follow God's leadership to Peru is going to change so much in our lives.  Not being present with our children -- to hold them, and hug them, and kiss their cheeks is going to be SO weird.  That would have happened whether we were going to Peru or not b/c of their stages of life. Such is the "empty nest" phase of life.  I have to say, I don't think that I will handle it very well at all, BUT I am so thankful that God has given us this new chapter in our own lives to fill our minds and hearts with so much new stuff to learn and deal with and get accustomed to, that the time for moping about missing the children will be greatly diminished.  And, thank God for this age of Skype and e-mail! (I downloaded Skype onto my new laptop last week!  I'm getting prepared!!  :D )  I feel so blessed that He called us to "go" to the mission field in this day and age!!  Those missionaries who followed His call to go years ago -- and even not so many years ago -- lived way more sacrificially than I feel like we'll have to.  When they left family and friends, they left and had no chance to "see" them regularly, or even connect with them on a frequent basis.  We are so fortunate to be going to the mission field in this technological age!!  We'll be able to "see" family and friends and "connect" on holidays and such!!  What a blessing that will be!

The stress is beginning to rise as our time here in the States in diminishing.  It feels like there is SO MUCH to do and to get done before we leave.  We are also trying to prepare for our month long intercultural training in South Carolina.  I will leave my job in 3 weeks.  I'm beginning to get sad about that.  I really like my job and my co-workers.  They are great!  It is been a great blessing to me.  Rick and I put together a "calendar map" this week as dates are beginning to crash together with regard to the things we need to get done.  (ie. we end our mission training class and the very next day is E.'s "move in" date for college!)  We also hope to travel and see family and friends before leaving - so that we can give those hugs and kiss cheeks!!  Dotting all of our i's and crossing all of our t's is going to take some concerted planning and preparing.  Thank God He has our backs and continues to give us direction -- and remind us of things that need to get done.  First and foremost we must remember to be with Him daily.  I was reminded afresh of that imperative when I read Luke 10:38-42 yesterday --  Esp. vs. 40  "...but Martha was distracted with all her preparations;..."  And vs. 42: "...But only a few things are necessary, really only one ..."

So ... I'm beginning to see that this first blog post is getting pretty long -- and wordy!  (But those of you who know me know that is probably going to be typical!)  So I will end it -- and hopefully get it posted!
But do know that I am also beginning to get very excited as this expectation and call of serving the Lord in Peru is becoming more and more of a reality.  It is really happening!  Plane tickets are being bought.  (One way this time!!!  Wow....)  Papers for language schooling are being submitted.  The ball is beginning to roll more and more quickly down the hill towards departure!  These "beginnings" have been a long time in coming, but .... they're here now!  These are exciting and BUSY beginnings!

Hasta la proxima!  (Until next time.      [I think!]  :D )