Our Family Circus

We are now home but I have a heart full of blog posts and I can include pictures this go around. Our last hotel was not blogger friendly. The government attempted a block on Facebook and Satan stepped in to stop the blogging. I truly believe it was warfare with our church checking up and praying on us from our blog posts. While in Vnam, we took a modern day ricksaw ride. When talking about going, I called it a "rick a saw." Not until it was brought to my attention, did I realize I had added the syllable. The team got a kick that I could make even a "rick-a-saw" a little bit Kentucky. I was sure to point out to them that Vnam people even have KY plastered across the United States on the map so there is no need to downplay the effects of Kentucky on the planet! We were a parade of about 9 folks on the ricksaw ride. We got quite a bit of attention. People stared to see the line of white folks going down the street. I would wave as if it were a parade and the...

Our team member Sam, has a story she tells of a family she knows. Their grandmother was in the hospital and the family gathered. Sam describes them as being dramatic in that if it is good-it is very good and if it is bad-it is tragic! Grandmother was about to have an operation and the family members were mourning and weeping in the waiting area sure that Grandmother would die. When Grandmother was fine, there was loud rejoicing! The daughter went into her mother's room and began loudly praising God, much to the alarm of the hospital staff. When the staff asked for the "preacher woman" to leave she turned to them and said, "It has long been my prayer that God would restore that which the locust had eaten!" (found it in Joel 2:25) We have to be careful in using scripture in context but over the last couple of days with my stomach ruling my actions and diet I now feel as if my prayer is "for God to restore that which the locust have eaten!"

The last post I mentioned the 2 temperatures of water in Vnam . I shared my observation with our group. The ladies all laughed and the men looked at me funny. They informed us that hot water was provided with a flip of a switch, the switch we had all played with but did not know what it did. We are in a new hotel now but last night we ladies enjoyed our first HOT shower! Before heading to Vnam , God began to deal with me on some baggage in my past. I asked Him again and again why are you asking me to deal with that now? I was hoping He would instead choose to prepare me for this trip. I knew He was speaking to my heart but did not know what He wanted me to do with the baggage. I was certain God would show me after I returned home from Vnam . We were to go to the training center to meet with the pastors and their wives again. I was truly looking forward to it this time unlike the day before. These women were so heavy on my heart for what they faced each day for the gospel of Christ. I w...

It is 4:30 am here and I lay awake in my bed. My head is too full to sleep. Waking and praying is part of the sleep routine here. My heart is heavy for the pastor's wives. I am looking forward to spending time with them today and pray that I will be less hesitant to attempt to communicate with them. My heart is there, but the ME gets in the way. One young wife, is small, has darker skin, is a tribal minister's wife, and her husband was an orphan. She is heavy on my heart. I hope to give her a gift today as a promise that I will be praying for her. She is one of those I wish to bring home and lavish her with love and the wealth of the states. I noticed her searching through her Bible and tried to help her. I then realized she can not read. I have multiple Bibles-my study Bible, a Bible in our children's classroom and I even have a bathroom Bible! Those are only my Bibles not the other family membes. How often I take for the granted the gift I have to read them. Yesterday, we...

God's calling for me to come on this trip was through children! I wanted to spend everyday at the orphanages. Today was the day to go to the one I wanted to visit most. My training is in special education. I was eager to play - therapeutically - with some dark skinned, dark eyed darlins '! My "preschool whisper" friend Fay was also armed and ready! We brought balloons, beach balls and bubbles! Oh, yeah we brought rag dolls, blankies , and stuffed cars that a lady of our church made and toothbrushes and paste that another sent. I took a picture of my suitcase filled with goodies but did not bring my computer so pictures will have to wait until the states. Most folks are unsure in such a setting. The kids look different and their medical needs can be intimidating . I was eager to get on the floor and play! Some of them had shaved heads probably due to lice. The center was very clean, the workers were kind and loving and seemed very dedicated to their jobs. T...

Yesterday was Sunday. We visited a "House Church." The directions to the church included, "turn off the paved road." We drove to another providence about 2 and 1/2 hours away to attend this church. Our group of 12 took up a great deal of space in the church. We left home with 11 and ended up with 12, when Amy, a member of a church in Washington knew we were here. She is visiting family here and has joined us everyday. She is such a joy and a blessing. She helps us with our money and communication. She ordered lunch for us yesterday since known of us could read the menu. She obviously, has become part of our team and our jokes. Amy joined us at the house church as well. We unloaded our bus to look for a place to use the restroom-tissue and " han -a- tizer " (as Dolly calls it) in hand. We walked to the back and were lead to a little building. It has tile floor and was wet. There was no toilet-which I expected-but there was no hole either. We learned it was ...

After approximately 28 hours of flying....THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!! We were welcomed to Vnam by 2 pastors and Grace our interpreter and a bundle of beautiful flowers. Folks were gathered outside the airport as if waiting for a celebrity. Apparently, there is no waiting inside the airport. No, they were not waiting for us but it still felt like a red carpet event-minus the cheers and photographers. First lesson I learned in Vnam: Laughter and Hallelujah are universal! We were warned that sharing our faith and praying aloud may not be welcome. We pulled our luggage aside to get in the taxi. The taxi is a mini bus that plays Happy Birthday when it backs up. Not just this one, but many of them. Returning to the original thought....we gathered together to pray. Pastor "Smiley" raised his hands and loudly prayed thanking God. I was surprised by his boldness but could not help but say "Amen" as he spoke even though I could not understand a single word. I did not g...

Our Dolly turned 6 today! It still seems like she is 4 and as the years go by, I forget more and more of what the children were like when they were younger. Seems sad, BUT I am SO thankful for healthy, thriving children. As part of the celebration, Dolly got her nails done. She got to pick out the color and they painted her fingers and toes. She even got to sit under the dryer. Our neighbor camped out at our house while B. napped so we could enjoy this event together. We are so blessed by our friends living right on our street. Not just this family but several. I think it should make the property value go up-just sayin '! Billy went with us. It really was not painful for him, silly boy! When I went to pay for Dolly's fancy nails, I realized I did not have any money. I was a bit panicked. The only collateral I have is the children and I was NOT leaving them! They allowed me to leave and come back since the amount was so small. I picked up B. and headed back out ...

We have just left that stage in our lives where you chance going anywhere! You never know when or where you will be when it breaks loose! Yes, we are exiting.... the " Potty Training Zone ." We have used jelly beans, stickers, Skittles, and Tootsie Rolls to reinforce our children's potty usage. We paired these with the winning ticket-verbal reinforcement. It was our cheers of "Good Job!" and "Way to Go!" that meant the most to each of the children. In fact, with our youngest, she announces to everyone in the house about her "performance" so that she can hear the approval again and again. If you do not respond, no problem, she will repeat herself! She may even announce it as she runs through the eatery you are dining in...eager to hear words of approval. Galatians 1:10 says, Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Just like our 2 ye...

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart! Psalm 37:4 I have a brown coat that I love! I love that it is brown, it has a hood, works for dress or play and it was FREE! I love that old coat but I noticed it is looking just that, old! Sometimes love is blind even when it comes to coats! I emailed my sister to see what she had hanging in her closet. It is pay backs for all of those times we shared a room and my clothes disappeared! She had nothing but said she would keep an eye out for a good deal on a ski jacket....it gets cold here! I needed a white shirt to serve at a banquet being held at the church. I invited Dolly to ride with me to the donation center. We went by the ATM-that would not work. Dolly asked how much the shirt was and then told me she could pay for it cause of course she had her wallet! I took her up on it! I took the shirts to the dressing room and did the lift and bend test-you know, lift your arms up and bend over to insur...