An old proverb goes a little something like this, "It takes a village to raise a child." I must admit I was always one of those women who didn't think she needed the village. Wouldn't ask for the help. Couldn't possibly impose on someone else for something that she should be able to do herself.
But being a mom, being a wife, being a "missionary"... I've learned a lot about the village it takes.
The village of supporters.
The village of surrogate families.
The village of helpers for Cade.
The village of friends and encouragers.
All who truly care, desire to help, enjoy rejoicing with us and express their deepest sympathy when we mourn. The village of people with whom we do life.
Over the past year our village has been in Georgia, with our blood relatives, Pete's parents, my parents, Pete's sister and her family, my best friend and her wonderful husband, the amazing amount of people who have come alongside us in ministry and in life... to help us raise Cade... to help raise us.
Right now our village is in Nampa, at MAF headquarters. It consists of amazing home staff who love seeing how big Cade has become, who help as we prepare for our big move, who want to form memories we can hold onto and relationships we can return to in four years. It consists of four wonderful, rowdy, older boys who love to show Cade the ropes, ask him for a fist bump every time he see's them, and teach him new games with the ball. And it consists of other MAF families preparing for their big moves. Some going to Indonesia, like us, others to Africa, all of us mourning the distance we are about to put between us and our villages here, yet eager to go to the land God has shown us.
In a matter of months our village will change again. And we can't wait to see who the Lord allows us to encounter, the village of people He will put us in, the ways He will grow us and raise us in Indonesia, and the people who will come alongside us to help raise our son into the man God desires him to be.
It takes a village to raise a child... to raise a family... to raise missionaries... It takes a village and we couldn't be more privileged for the village God has provided!
Friday, August 17, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Nesting
Many of you know that on Saturday Pete, Cade and I flew out to Nampa, ID for MAF's Standardization and Orientation. (When Pete learns how to operate safely and within MAF guidelines both flying and maintaining the planes and when we both learn how to integrate into a new culture.)
Due to a good-sized crew up here for Candidacy (what Pete and I did a year ago - learning about MAF, receiving our assignment, and preparing to raise support), field staff home on furlough, and Technical Evaluations (what Pete and I did 2 years ago - the two week long job interview when the MAF flight and maintenance staff see if you have what it takes to fly for MAF overseas), we were put up at a local hotel. The hotel was nice, had a pool and hot tub, with a restaurant just out the door. Cade enjoyed playing in the lobby, finding things in the room that were "no, no's," and walking across the parking lot for lunch.
But, today was move-in day at the apartments. And boy did we live it up. All the bags are unpacked and clothes, toiletries, etc. put away. Groceries are purchased and ready to become delicious meals. Toys are out of the closet and in a Cade-friendly place for easy accessibility, without being constantly under-foot. But the best by far - the playground, outdoor toys, and luscious green grass is just out our front door. Ahh, we are seriously blessed!
I've always been one to not feel settled until everything was unpacked and all was in its place. And today was no different. As soon as all the bags were unpacked and put away, I hunkered down for a good nap - in fact, Pete came home from work (which is just a short walk away) to me snoozing on the couch. My nesting complete, our home - for now - prepared.
Nesting today reminded me that in a few short months I will be nesting again, setting up home, preparing to begin language school, figuring out the lay of the land, but this time on the other side of the globe, in a country I've only dreamed of! I look forward to sharing with you how our move goes and what the Lord teaches us as we move around the world for Him!
Due to a good-sized crew up here for Candidacy (what Pete and I did a year ago - learning about MAF, receiving our assignment, and preparing to raise support), field staff home on furlough, and Technical Evaluations (what Pete and I did 2 years ago - the two week long job interview when the MAF flight and maintenance staff see if you have what it takes to fly for MAF overseas), we were put up at a local hotel. The hotel was nice, had a pool and hot tub, with a restaurant just out the door. Cade enjoyed playing in the lobby, finding things in the room that were "no, no's," and walking across the parking lot for lunch.
But, today was move-in day at the apartments. And boy did we live it up. All the bags are unpacked and clothes, toiletries, etc. put away. Groceries are purchased and ready to become delicious meals. Toys are out of the closet and in a Cade-friendly place for easy accessibility, without being constantly under-foot. But the best by far - the playground, outdoor toys, and luscious green grass is just out our front door. Ahh, we are seriously blessed!
I've always been one to not feel settled until everything was unpacked and all was in its place. And today was no different. As soon as all the bags were unpacked and put away, I hunkered down for a good nap - in fact, Pete came home from work (which is just a short walk away) to me snoozing on the couch. My nesting complete, our home - for now - prepared.
Nesting today reminded me that in a few short months I will be nesting again, setting up home, preparing to begin language school, figuring out the lay of the land, but this time on the other side of the globe, in a country I've only dreamed of! I look forward to sharing with you how our move goes and what the Lord teaches us as we move around the world for Him!
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