Changing locations....

After staying a week at our wonderful bed and breakfast, we changed locations and went to Coranado, the beach. We found an amazing condo located on the 14th floor less than 1km from the Pacific Ocean. Getting here we needed the extra gift of God's patience. In the morning Marc went to pick up a car for us to use the week. He brought it back as so that we didn't have to lug bags through the bus stations. As the kids loaded into the back seats they couldn't find seatbelts.  We know that it is not law to use seatbelts in the back seats of cars but to not be able to find them. That was a new one on us. So we thought maybe they got stuck, or pushed down. Marc and I unloaded and dug. We found a surprise. The buckles had been cut. Cut off. No way at attach the two pieces together. Phone calls were made. We could change the car but not until the afternoon. Ok plans changed. We saw something else in the city. Had lunch. The power went out. Afternoon arrived and traffic increased. We made it change out the car. We were laughed at as though we were silly for wanting seatbelts. The manager came out. Not believing that they had been cut. He had kids of his own and he states that he always has them in belts because he feels much better with that plan. After some more time. We had a new car. (This was a 3 hour process) We were off to the beach. Driving through the mountains, Mikayla lost her lunch. The ride on Panamanian roads over the low mountain range was enough. A quick stop at the grocery store and we arrived. We saw the ocean. We saw the empty swimming pool. We also saw the super fast internet, dishwasher, and laundry in the condo. Mom was happy. Laundry got done. Kids talked with Aunts and Grandparents. The evening ended with kids in bed... We had used all of the gifts for the day. The day was done or so I thought until the clouds cleared... 

Small steps

This week has been amazing. Full of visiting old friend, meeting new people and new places. My children have quickly adapted to doing and having less.  There are no requests for using the iPad.  Tv is also kept to a minimum (although fun to watch in Spanish.) They have made new friends and played on playgrounds that look like only sticks and poles. They have adapted to hopping on and off busses. They have shared their needs in both languages. We are blessed beyond measure. 

Yesterday our kids played. All day running around with friends. While they did that I had the chance to sit and talk with friends. Catch up on what ten years of life looks like.  What does being an adult now look like? What does life look like when you make 2.10 per hour at your job? How about when you support 4 people on that? Most of our friends are doing well. They had a hand up because they weren't afraid to practice English and now have good stable jobs in the tourist industry. That isn't to say that there are not struggles.  Faith is still young with many outside influences. Jobs prevent people from going to church and how does the church respond.  Each place is different and yet the struggles are the same.  Those that read or have the bible available in their native language have an advantage to read and study on their own. As Americans do we see that as an advantage or do we just squander the opportunity? Today I am blessed to have the bible written in languages that I can understand. 

How long does it take????

This afternoon, I sit and refect as my children soak up a little afternoon quiet time. We had adventures this morning. The fish market, the park, shaved ice, frozen fruit drinks, Old Panama, and probably 2 miles of walking in 90* temperatures and 100% humidity. (It was a warm one today).  But do you know what I remember. Not once did my kids ask to go to the bathroom. Before this trip I might not have thought to much about it. As we planned and put together our budget, the bathroom was not what I accounted for.  I remembered that the bathrooms would not always have toilet paper, so I brought some toilet paper so we would have it as soon as we got off the plane, but in our budget I forgot the bathroom. There are no public bathrooms, each one can cost 25-50 cents per person. Well for a family of 4 that can add up. The sit down restaurants will have a bathroom but we did not plan on eating every time someone needed to use one. Nor was every meal planned eating at a restaurants. The second day here was interesting because we found that there were often not bathrooms conviently located when we needed them. Our children where used to bathrooms being available. Our family constantly uses the bathroom before we leave the house. It was a normal part life. 

Before all the grandparents out there flip out thinking that the kids are dehydrated, I am not saying that they are going to the bathroom less.  What has happened is that the behavior has changed.  When a bathroom is available they go. While stopping for some air conditioning and fruit smoothies, there was a bathroom and it was utilized twice by our children. Upon arrival back to the B&B the bathroom was the first place they headed.  Within 3 days they now understand what it means to use the bathroom when it is available, and even if you just went 1/2 hour ago you might want to try again while there is one available.  

In 3 days my children can change their behavior. With a change in environment, support from others, the behavior changed. There will be times and places where we are going to be looking for the bathroom. But how true it is for all of us in life. We desire to make a change. We pull people and environments around us to support us, and still we slip up.  We are so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who is there to help us change and then forgives us when we slip up. 

Thought from the kiddos

These are Mikayla's thoughts:

Hola! Como Estas? Bien o No Bien? Este dia esta lluviendo muy rapido.  La primera día de las adventuras en Panamá. Yo estoy en un avión con mi papa, mi hermano y mi mama. Este momento voy a despegar. Yo estoy en un otra avión. Otros personas se ponen gasolina en el avión. La avión vuele arriba de los nubes, y pueden ver muchos colores, y pueden ver unos carros y casas y mucho cielo. Yo estoy en Panamá. Después del aeropuerto vamos a la casa de una persona. El próximo día fuimos al causeway Amador. El próximo día voy al exclusas. Yo veo tres botes en las exclusas. El día que viene después. En el jardín yo veo unos tres ñecas, una es bebe, uno mama y uno papa.

These are Jacob's thoughts:

My name is Jacob and today we went to see the buildings that the French people built while they were making the canal. Some of their buildings are being redone. They have very many details. The main color of the buildings is white. We went to a smoothie shop and got something to eat. I had a mango smoothie and a hot dog. After that we went to go see some of the other things that they are making. We also went to see the sculpture that represented all of the French people that died while making the canal. It was a very big sculpture and there was a hen on top. I will do more research to find out why a hen. Then we went home in a taxi and we watched TV. The End! 

Connections between people and cultures....

Have you ever seen the look on a Mom's face as they watch someone else's child do something that their child does also.  Have you seen that look cross culturally?  Oh the blessing to see it.

As parents we watch our kids do many things.  We see them act shy around someone that they do not know. The child who was very talkative now with no words. Or maybe it is a behavior, an act of defiance. In any form, we can all relate.  Do these thing look the same around the world?  Many of us would say yes. However as missionaries, locally or globally we frequently take the position of telling others that life is the same. Babies demand the same things, children must also be taught the same skills all over the globe that is a fact. I saw the problem of TELLING others today. God showed me again what doors can be opened when we show. 

We had the blessing of joining a friend in her home for dinner. Our true to herself daughter had a million questions. Her mind was swimming, and she asked, frequently alternating between English and Spanish. The women in the house understood. They were patient and gracious answering question after question. We conversed later about how children learn. How children must often experience to understand. There were many smiles and nods. Our daughter opened the door. She showed them that life was the same. There was point where our worlds connected. My language skills are holding up, conversations are flowing. But it is these small moments where the slow work of God gets done. It is the point where Romans 1:11-12 put it so nicely. “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans‬ ‭1:11-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬. Oh has my heart longed to see friends again, to see the kids who were 8 when I left now be 18, to see faith grow, and to be strengthened in my own by watching the work that God is doing. I thank God for the opportunity to break down walls and share bread together. 

Windmills and Yachts that Went Around the World

  

Today, courtesy of the Panama Canal, we met two types of travelers. One was a reluctant passenger going wherever the destination was that was chosen for them, the other a spirited traveler, knowing their destination, but going the way the wind takes them and using everything at their core to stay alive and get there. Both had stories, both had origins and both had destinations, but the way they went from A to B was completely different. One a passive participant in its own life just chugging along. One an active member in the life it was given. Taking the wind that was moving it and using it to get the most miles every day. Racing around the world they use the wind to spirit them to the ends of the Earth, sounds familiar right? God has put us in our world and moves us with His spirit. We all get from Point A (birth) to Point B (death), but how will we follow and dig in to the spirit that God filled us with in our baptism? Will we just rely on the wims of other forces and be driven around by the engines of the world, or will we be active participants following where the lord leads us, but making the most of every little thing that he has provided us- The calm, the storm, the steady breeze, the headwind, the tailwind- All are gifts from God and push us to pursue what he has in store for us- God leads us in many and various way, in the Old Testament he lead his people with a pillar of cloud and fire, In the time of the apostles He sent His only Son and also then the Holy Spirit and the gift of baptism. In our day He uses scripture and loving action in our lives. He tells us to Go make disciples, how we do that is up to the wind and our keen use of the sails he provides us.

A Friend at an Unexpected Time

 Yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting somewhere none of us had ever been, The Biodiversity Museum in Panama. This was of interest to Cheryl and I because all we had ever seen of this museum was pillars in the ground. The whole year we lived in Panama we never saw any work done, never saw workers on the project and never expected the thing to be built at all. But now, sitting in front of me was a giant colorful museum full of information and people! Looking back, I think that is kind of how God works. God has a plan and a vision in place and then the hard work, the slow work takes place. The work that causes us to have to rethink how we go about what he is calling us to do. The foundation is visible, it seems not to change at all, but all along God is working some of His unique attributes to the situation. He's letting your purpose settle in, so that when the whole plan gets I acted on top of your foundation cracks don't appear, and the whole thing doesn't collapse on itself. He is preparing the road before you. Chances are, knowing Panama, there were many permits that may have slowed down the process of building the museum. I didn't see them, but for anything to move forward all that leg work must be taken care of, all of the hard work, the slow work. Sometimes we get impatient waiting for God's plan to happen in our lives. Sometimes we may perceive that as God not caring or God's plan being boring. Sometimes we may think we have it all figured out, and that God must not have any greater plans than what we currently see, but God knows better. He says this in Jeremiah (Every 5th kids confirmation verse) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God has great plans for us, even in those times when we can't see anything but some rebar sticking out of the mud. In those times though, stick your feet deeper in the mud, get set for what is going to happen, for God's plan is greater than we can imagine. My title talked about a friend at an unexpected time, well walking through this gigantic museum in the middle of Panama, after ten years of wondering what would be inside, my family saw a friend we hadn't see in many years. We had known Jazmin from Loma Coba and our learning time spent there, she is a bright vision of what God does with the clay and foundations. At that moment sitting in a museum under the shadow of a giant sloth (extinct 15-20 foot tall sloth) we caught up, talked about life a bit and were reminded that even in the randomness, God does his stuff. Sometimes in the randomness, God can even do His best stuff.

Early mornings.

I have amazing children.  Our flight for Panama left Ohare at 5am.   That meant a 2 am wake up for our international flight.  Our children are used to sleeping 10-11 hours a night.  Does 3 in the afternoon sound like a bed time to a 6 and 7 year old?  How about 5pm? Could you fall asleep then?  The night before we left for Panama we drove to Chicago. During the drive our children wanted to do the good thing and fall asleep. We encouraged them to stay awake. And they did. After a quick dip in the swimming pool it was off to bed. We pulled the curtains shut. We dimmed the lights and got kids all settled into bed. Did I say that it was now 4pm?  We set the alarms and fell into bed as well. It was now 4:30pm.  Non of us were all that tired and the kids were tossing and turning.  Cheryl went to lay down with them, within 10 minutes you heard nothing but snoring. It was now 4:45 and everyone was asleep. The alarm when off at 1:30 am and our kids were up and dressed within 10 minutes.  I couldn't have been prouder. The morning continued with standing in lines, waiting, quickly getting on airplanes after walking "miles" to find girls bathrooms. The kids showed us their excitement as they explored the airplane for what they remember as the first time. We answered the questions, walked through all of the safety features and took off. Watching Chicago grow tiny from the air. Chicago became the tiny town. Cars and trains quickly went out of sight. After a short stopover in Houston, we were off for Panama.  It was a 4 hour flight and knowing what was to come we asked the kids to close there eyes and take a nap.  Not 10 minutes later both kids were again, sound asleep. I don't know what I have done to be so blessed to have kids that within 24 hours went to sleep whenever we asked.

When accidents happen....

Three people I know have had major car accidents while undergoing a major transition in their lives.  Do these happen because you are more stressed, a little sleep deprived, or a way for satan to try to distract you from the task at hand?  In our case last week it appeared to be totally number three.  The stress was going down.  We had all had plenty of sleep. Once the initial shock of the situation cleared we realized that this couldn't have happened at a better time.  God was right there.  1. A group of teenage boys stopped to talk to the police about what they saw.  (A guy running a red light). 2. Cheryl's father was less than 5 minutes away. 3. Nobody was hurt. 4. It was not the vehicle we were going to use frequently this summer.  5. We only need one vehicle this summer.   

God was there. When do teenagers stop? When is help so close? When does a run red light result in no injury? All of these things point us to the living hand of God our father.  The final results of the car are yet to be determined, but for us we keep seeing God working in the little things. 

The moments...

We have had the privilege of living in the parsonage for the last 4 years.  We can be honest and real that parsonage living takes the right kind of person. However, there were many blessings that came with living so close to the church. The commute was short. It was easy to stop by and say hello or participate in a weekday bible study. I often did not have to be ready for church until 15 minutes before. We also had help when things broke or didn't work right. The school system was also great and our kids loved being a part of the action both with the local school and the ones they attended. All this being said it was hard to say goodbye.

On Saturday morning after everything was packed, we saw God at work again.  The kids were both playing and we were just about to call them, when my son asked to pray. He wanted us all to pray together as we left this place, so standing in the cold Chicago wind outside of the parsonage all huddled together for warmth, we prayed. Each one of us took a turn thanking God for what he let us be a part of. Thanking God for what he has done in our lives and what he is going to do in the future. We said goodbye to the parsonage and blessed it for whomever is next to reside there.

Later that night after the dust from our days traveled had settled I thanked God one more time. I thanked him for showing us how much our children love and trust him. I thanked him helping my children to know the power of prayer.

Never underestimate the little things…

 These past two weeks have been full.  Overflowing with with laughter, tears and prayers. Some of you may know that last week we loaded up a U-haul truck and put its contents into storage. Not an easy task. Not one we could do alone and we give thanks for all those who have helped us. God was with us as we packed and moved. There were no injuries of people or things. During transport nothing moved, God was with us. It is the little things.  

 We didn’t plan on packing up last week, the time-line was not ours but God’s. We have been living without our material possessions this week. We have the basics and each other. The creativity our children have shown is amazing. It is so much easier to keep things clean. We have more time to spend in relationship. It is the little things.

Last week our neighbors saw us moving. They didn’t get a warning letter in the mail. There wasn’t an e-mail blast sent. They didn’t see it posted on Facebook. They saw the truck. Our family likes to be in community, to be a good neighbor. So this week we have had knocks on the door, people wondering and asking what is next for us. Where are we going?  Without our material possessions we have had time to be in relationships. We have had time for God moments and opportunities to share our faith. We have enjoyed coffee together, laughing over broken snow blowers and ice covered driveways. We mourned the loss of babysitters. We thanked God for each other and the blessings we have received. It is though these relationships that we have been able to share the love of God. Some have had their faith strengthened. Others have met the loving God for the first time. Each has a unique story to share and we thank God for this opportunity to breath in his goodness and celebrate all he has done in and through us. One little thing at a time.

Many of you have asked for a blog, a way to keep up with us as we take this next step following God’s lead. During the next few months we hope to share with you how we see God working in the here and now.