Archive for August, 2007

More Bug Stuff

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

As much as all the bugs here can be a source of anxiety, annoyance and yes, sometimes fear, we have been finding some very interesting things that make us sigh in awe and wonder at the detail and care God has designed in even these small creatures. That sigh comes right before we wipe that column of ants away with no mercy or smash a cockroach of course! :)

Driving home the other day, something smashed against my windshield hard enough to make me start.

It was a beetle with an irridescent shell. It hung onto the windshield wiper until I arrived at home, and then I summoned Zach to come and get it. Just because it was sort of pretty, I still did not want to touch it! :)

zach holding shiny bug
I know this one is a bit fuzzy, but you can see how big the creature is in Zach’s hand

We found that, upon impact, it had truly, busted its gut. No matter to this brave guy. Having been provided by the Creator with three sets of legs, it grabbed its broken belly with the middle pair, holding himself together and walked away with the other four.

shiny bug

One night this last week, Greg and I stayed up to watch a movie and had a treat, something like an otter pop, but with lovely tropical flavors like lychee and mango. Mmmm! Anyway, we oh so foolishly left one of the plastic skins on the coffee table and Leah found it swarming with ants in the morning.

True to her duty, she filled it water to drown them all before throwing it away. She found that most of the ants died almost instantly, however, one particularly resourceful ant quickly gathered the dead bodies of his comrades together as a raft and climbed on. She shook it up, breaking up his raft, and he did it again. Amazing!

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JV Volleyball

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

Leah is going to have a busy year this year, we can tell already! She has adjusted well to the life of a junior higher, and has not lost her way or arrived in the wrong class once! :)

This year, as a 7th grader, she is eligible, for the first time, to play volleyball. She and a friend bravely went out for the team, trying out among the more experienced players of 8-12 graders. There were so many girls who wanted to play this year, that not everyone would be able to on the team. Leah and her friend Allison realized that as 7th graders, they probably did not stand much of a chance to make the cut, and so decided that if they did not make it, they would join the swim team instead.

swimming in rain storm
Zach loves swim team, even in the middle of a rain storm. But what can you expect during rainy season, and hey, he was getting wet anyway, right?

Their attitudes were much better than mine. I so wanted Leah to have the chance to play volleyball, and was getting frustrated that these girls, who had never had a chance to play before would have to try out for the same spots as the older, more experienced girls. I found myself getting more and more frustrated for them, although they seemed content to just switch to swimming if need be.

Results of volleyball tryout was to be posted last Monday, and as the day approached, I found myself feeling more and more snipy about it. I had to go to the Lord and ask Him to take this upset from me. Isn’t that silly? I did not even know the results, but was feeling put out and slighted for my daughter anyway. I had to confess my self-centered desires to the Lord and asked for a contentement in whatever the results would be, both in my heart and Leah’s.

Monday morning came, and Leah packed her swimsuit and towel to take to school, ready to join the swim team. But when I arrived to pick up Ema, Leah and Allison came running around the corner to tell me that they had made the volleyball team! Oh were they excited!

warming up

I was too, and a bit sheepish at my attitude the previous week. I find I am prone to that sort of thing. Worrying ahead of time, and fussing over details. I suppose it comes down to a lack of trust and faith, not that God will give me what I want, or work things out the way I think they should be, but a trust that He has only good in mind for me and my family. That His decisions are always better than my own, and that I can trust Him for the small details like volleyball, as well as the big ones, like my salvation.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will direct your paths. Prob 3:5-6

in the game

Leah has been having a great time on the team! She may not play alot during the games, but she is learning alot and enjoying herself too. Thank you God for caring about the desires of our hearts and being gracious even when we are not.

serving practice

Next up? Leah is running for Student Council! Go for it Leah!

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First Day of School

Tuesday, August 14th, 2007

Today is the first day of school! There was great excitement around our house as the kids woke up eagerly, yes, eagerly and got ready for school.
Zach is begining 4th grade, with the same teacher Ema had last year.
Ema is in 5th grade, and Leah, our first born is starting junior high!

off to school

You will notice in the pictures that Leah is wearing khaki colored shorts. The uniform at Grace for the elementary consists of polos shirt, available in 5 stylish colors, and shorts or pants in navy blue. But for the secondary students, of which Leah is now a member of their ranks, there is a choice of khaki for the pants and the girls can also wear skirts in either color.

There was much debate this morning whether Leah should wear the old standby navy shorts, or her new khaki ones to the first day of school. Yes, even with uniforms apparently there is still the angst of what to wear to school!

She was a bit nervous today, as she headed off for her first day of junior high, complete with class switching and lockers, but as we all prayed together in the car for peace, fun, friends and good attention, (OK, that was mostly for Zachary :) ), they all hurried to meet their new teachers and reconnect with friends.

Off we go on another school year!

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Sweet Ministry

Friday, August 10th, 2007

The other week at church, as I was sitting with a small group of ladies, they were having a conversation about serving God. One was concerned that she is just a maebaan, she just cooks and cleans. She said that she enjoys cooking, but was worried that she was not serving God.

lunch at church
The lady who was asking this question regularly makes lunch for the church, serving many with her talents.

How does one serve God?
“And what ever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men” Col 3:23

Up to this point, I had merely been listening, fairly confident I was understanding what they were saying. But then they turned to me and asked me what I thought. I told them that Peter’s mother served our Lord by providing food and accomodations. I said that anyone who loves the Lord can serve by doing their work for Him. (At least I am pretty sure I said that!) :)
I think this is one of the great things about our God. He does not ask us to do anything else other than what He puts in front of us each day, and calls it service to Him. We have a dear friend who is a mailman. He sees his job as an avenue daily into the lives of others and uses each opportunity presented to Him to glorify the Lord and make Him known. His ministry is not one that would come to the minds of most people when they think about what ministry options are available, but it is a vibrant one none the less.

As we are here studying Thai, sometimes we get frustrated that we are not ‘ministering’ in the way we would like. We are not teaching Sunday School, leading Bible studies, discipling new believers. Our language is not up to that yet.
Our Gracious God, using what gifts He has given us, readily presents us with chances to serve Him and minister.
In a land where many people do not have ovens, my love of baking has given many chances to minister. Our neighbors have come for several baking lessons, giving us chances to talk and share why we are here. And this past Sunday I made a birthday cake for the family that ran the small house church we were attending.

birthday cake
My first attempt at lettering a cake in Thai!

Sometimes, when we struggle to find words to build a relationship or chit chat to make friendly conversation, a gift of cookies or brownies goes a long way! :)

mmmmm

At my friend Kathy’s blog, she talked of her husband’s blend ministry. He enoys making blends and giving them away, thereby spreading joy and brain freezes. He tongue in cheek calls it ministry, but I do in sincerity. When you are able to let the joy of Lord flow out of you, whether through a Smoothie 2000 machine or a chocolate cake, and it gives those around you a chance to see the love of the Lord, your service is sweet both to the Lord and others!

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