Beautiful Boy

Zechariah Job brings us so much joy! Every day and every night I snuggle him, talk to him, make him laugh, and pray for him. He is just full to the brim with smiles and curiosity.

Some MTI pictures to help you understand.

So here are some photos to illustrate some of the things Heidi talked about in our newsletter. The picture below is another way of looking at the process of bridging two cultures. It shows a missionary being transplanted. 

I tried to transplant a pine tree in our yard. It died, but I learned some things about being transplanted. Roots go deep, and a lot of them get cut. A plant begins to die immediately after it is uprooted. It takes copious and consistent watering for a long time for a plant to re-root itself in a new location. 

This happens in some way ever time a missionary leaves. 

You can imagine how much this helped our children understand what they are headed for. We were able to have some good discussions with them at MTI.

Drew dives right in to new situations. His personality is shy, but he is emotionally eager to be a part of other peoples lives. The hurt of leaving and transitioning catches him by surprise. 

Joe sees it coming a little more, and he's a little less likely to attach himself emotionally. He says he knows the places we're going "aren't home."

Below is the bridge illustration. It starts with those sturdy, firm chairs. Next comes rocking office chairs.

After the shaky office chairs came exercise balls held together with Saran Wrap. This guy (Isaac Barnes) actually made it all the way across (He's an MK). 

After Isaac they had 4 people cross together, and they were all linked together with climbing gear to represent family bonds. No one was on the same stage of the bridge at the same time, and they were able to help each other make it across without falling off. They told us not to expect everybody to be experiencing the same thing during transition, but to help each other at each stage.  

$13 Away From Our Goal!!!

Okay... sorry, that could be a misleading and coercive title, but Heidi and I are very excited by the fact that if each person on our mailing list (minus the people that already give) committed to give $13 a month... we'd be completely supported for full-time ministry in Mali, West Africa!!
Heidi and I support several missionaries to the tune of $10 a month. It felt insignificant at first, but we knew what a blessing it is to have someone commit to help you accomplish what God has called you to, and honestly, it has kept us connected to those missionaries over the years and over the miles.
So we're praying that you won't be afraid to be the little guy. POWER TO THE PEOPLE. CLICK HERE to make a commitment to us on-line.
If you don't get our snail mail, send us your address, and we'll add you to our super cool mailing list where you'll receive the coolest quarterly up-dates ever.

Mission Training International

While we were at MTI in Palmer Lake, CO for five weeks this summer we received fantastic training that we're so eager to use when we move over seas. In fact, the things they taught us have already helped in out ministry and communications here in the States. The language learning tools haven't helped much yet, but we're so ready to buckle down and learn a new language.
CLICK HERE for a link to a short video I did for MTI. The people that work there have to raise support too, so I was more than happy to use my video camera to help communicate what they do.

Time to catch up!

My best blog reader, Christine, sent me this forward, and I figured it's a quick way to catch people up since I haven't posted in a while.
 
 1.         What is your occupation right now?
 
I'm a support-raising missionary. We expect God to provide for all our needs, like He promised (Luke 12  27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!)
So I see the biggest part of my job right now to be encouraging the American church to live like Christ called them to live.
 
 2.         What color are your socks right now? 
            bare feet

 
 3.         What are you listening to right now?
  A John Piper sermon about what the Bible says about husbands... It's called Lionhearted and Lamblike 


 4.      What was the last thing that you ate?
A bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats (Honey Roasted)


 
 5.       Can you drive a stick shift?
Like Speedracer...


 
 6.      Last person you spoke to on the phone?
  My dad, telling him I was on the way home from vacation with my boys.


 
 7.      Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Despite the fact that this question makes me feel like I'm in Jr. High, I do like the person who sent this to me. Christine lives like I want to live. She is a phenomenal example of a wife and mother the scripture honors. Plus, she is definitely the most likely person to comment on my blog.
 

8.      How old are you today?
  31
 
 
 9.      What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? 
  American Gladiator (at least back in the day) and the sports section of America's Funniest Home Videos     

 
 10.     What is your favorite drink?
  A big fat glass of milk

 
 11.    Have you ever bleached your hair?
Thanks to my girlfriend (now wife) I unwittingly put henna in my hair. The results made me look like a runway beacon.

 
 12.    Favorite food?
I've been waiting for someone to ask me this question for a while because I always forget to say communion. I love communion. I really savor it on every level. I can't get enough of it!!!
 

 13.    What is the last movie you watched?
  Night at the Museum

  
 14.    Favorite day of the year?
I've gotta say Christmas. I've always loved Christmas.
 
 15.    How do you vent anger?
Worst case scenario: yell at people I love or hide
Best case scenario: pray or go for a run
 
 16.    What was your favorite toy as a child?
I guess I'd have to say I was a Legos guy. I took some time to make a little wooden model airplane with my boys the other day. That was pretty great.  
 
 17.    What is your favorite season?
  Spring (though winter and fall are close behind) I love to see things grow, and (because we don't get much) I love rainy days.
 
 18.    Cherries or Blueberries?
ehh... I guess Cherries. Joe has been saying he wants some cherries.

 19.    Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
  Getting a good e-mail can be the highlight of my day.
 
22.     Living arrangements?
There is a house and a studio at my parents place. The six of us live with my grandma in the main house, and my mom and dad live in the studio.
 
 23.    When was the last time you cried?
I got a little teary-eyed on the communion question, but I'm having a little trouble remembering the last time I really cried. I almost always cry during worship at our church. So I don't know if that really counts.

 24.    What is on the floor of your closet?
A pair of rollerblades, camera equipment, mailing boxes, about 1/3 of my clothes, shoes, and our DVDs... big closet.
 
 25.     Who is the friend you have had the longest that you  are sending to?
  I guess this doesn't really apply, but it's good timing because I was just looking at pictures from our wedding, and there was Cindy (Smedley) Garcia. I was thinking how wonderful it was that she flew out to Michigan for my wedding. She is my longest friend, and she's been a great one.
 
 26.    What did you do last night?
  I got home from a long vacation just with my boys. So Heidi and I spent most of the night getting reacquainted.
 
 27.    What are you most afraid of? 
Someone got bent out of shape the last time I answered this way, but basically, the worst thing I can imagine is to have one of my kids not fall in love with God.
 
 28.    Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburger
Definitely not plain, I like lots of stuff on my burger.
 
 29.    Favorite dog breed?
Australian Shepherd, they have been the best dogs in our family history.
 
 30.    Favorite day of the week?
Today
 
 31.    How many states have you lived in?
  4 states, 3 countries
 
 32.    Diamonds or pearls?
  Now I feel gay for answering this survey without reading all they way through it.
 
 33.    What is your favorite flower?
  I actually have a favorite flower, Ranunculi.

They are my family's business on my dad's side of the family.

My grandfather was instrumental in changing ranunculi from this...


to this.