Hard-pressed on every side...but not crushed! 2 Corinthians 4:8

The Truman Show is an old movie now, from 1998, but there's a scene I've been thinking of during our three-month delay.  Truman is trying to escape the island and is faced with increasingly outrageous deterrents:  no flights departing for a month, a forest fire, and a leak at the nuclear plant.

We have faced a number of difficult obstacles during this time:  a complicated but workable way to keep Bruce's retirement plan in place fell apart at the last minute, sickness, a family crisis which tested our faith, even a car driving the wrong way in our lane!

We could look at these things in a few different ways.  We're seeing them as Satan's attempt at derailing us.  But, "What [Satan] meant for evil, God intended for good." (Genesis 50:20)  At every turn, we've been supported by the prayers of friends and strangers.  Important healing and growth has taken place during this delay.  We've been given extra time with extended family, including celebrating Christmas together.  Friends graciously let us live with them.  Other options for health care and retirement became available. 

The list of ways the Lord has cared for us during this delay goes on and on, ways He has used potentially frustrating events to bring about His good purposes.  We're grateful for His provision, and grateful to now be able to step into the new season ahead of us!

Delayed!

Our original date of departure had been Oct. 8...thought we would have everything ready by that time.  Various things cropped up that delayed us - more preparation needed, and setbacks with business - and now the real moving date:  Dec. 30th.

As Rob, the Robin's Nest Board president stated:  "Merry Christmas and a Happy Nest Year!"
And brother-in-law Tom's comment:  "Minneapolis temperature, 1*; Montego Bay temperature, 86*; seems like a good decision."

Six days and counting...

Caleb

 

We recently met this young man at a church where we did a presentation about Robin’s Nest.  Afterwards, Caleb signed his Confirmation song for us (“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”) and then spoke the three words he can say:  go, God, good.

I’ve been thinking about those three words ever since.  Three words with great meaning for us as we prepare for our mission work in Jamaica, and encouragement for every Christian…

“Go with God, and He will make it good.”

“Go, because God is good.”

We’re profoundly grateful to have been ministered to by Caleb.   

Please pray for his complete recovery from a recent surgery, and for his dedicated parents, Ken and Ruthie.

 

 

 

 

Public Service Announcement

 

Our move out of the parsonage, after living there for 14 years, was a move like no other. 

Bruce and I have moved nine times in our marriage, and each move has generally followed the same pattern:  you’re pretty well organized when you start packing and by the end you have way too many boxes marked “Miscellaneous”.  The deal is that you know you’ll be able to figure it out at the new place. 

Not so if you’re moving out of the country.  We needed to look at every item and piece of paper and decide what to do with it once and for all:  give away, put into storage, take along.  I was faced with a lot of decisions, a lot of emotions, and a lot of unfinished projects!  So…

I’m using my recent experience to make a public service announcement:  Finish your sewing projects now!  Label your photographs now!  Take the old oil that’s in your garage to the hazardous waste place now!  Cut your losses, skip having a garage sale, and drive to the Salvation Army donation center now!  Go to Flylady.net and get rid of your clutter now!

And, when I return from Jamaica, remind me about this post.  I’m a minimalist from here on out! 

 

 

Friends in Memphis

In July, we went to Memphis for missionary training at the Orphanos office.  Orphanos is the organization which will receive our donations, do a lot of bookkeeping for us, and wire us our funds.  They do this for missionaries around the world who are caring for orphans.  They also maintain a website which includes missionary blogs, take groups to serve at the orphanages, and they are prayer WARRIORS on behalf of the missionaries.  This blog could not be long enough to say enough great things about the gracious, helpful, encouraging people on the Orphanos staff.  So, go to the Orphanos website!  Click on the link and learn about all that they do.

David Frazier and Wayne Sneed

One of the main things we talked about in training was cultural awareness.  For example, apparently I wasn't being culturally aware when I told Bethany (staff member) that she was wrong for putting salt on her watermelon.  I mean, who does that?  And when Bruce (a northerner) asked for "regular" tea, they would have served him "sweet tea".  We have a lot to learn...

P.S.  We did not see Elvis.
P.P.S.  There really is such a thing as southern hospitality.
P.P.P.S.  Eat at Corky's if you go to Memphis.  Or, they will ship their barbequed ribs to you.  1-800-9-CORKYS.  Seriously.   

Documents!

 

Here's Kathy at the Plato, MN post office, 2,138 miles away from Kingston, Jamaica, holding the documents we've been waiting for!  This packet contains our letter from the Jamaican government, stating that we've been approved for a work permit exemption. 
We sent in piles and piles of documents (notarized and in triplicate) which assured the government that we 1.) aren't moving to Jamaica to take a paying job, 2.) have college and seminary degrees, and 3.) aren't criminals!
This letter will allow us to get our visa and breeze through customs and immigration when we move.  OK, breeze might be a little too optimistic, but we're one step closer.    

 

Thank you, Lands' End!

I've worn a red Lands' End parka ever since we moved back to Minnesota in 1994, and I made it through many years of winter recess duty (and we go out for recess unless it's below zero!)
It was pretty hard to put my jacket in the recycling box, because my brain can't quite believe that I really am leaving snow, sleet, ice, flurries, blizzards, and white-out conditions behind.  It goes against everything I've known!
Our son, Andy, thinks I should get a red Lands' End rain jacket, to see me through hurricane season in Jamaica.  I'll check their catalog...

It Takes a Village, Part 2

Ron, Marty, Paul, Justin, and pork chops on-a-stick
 

Barnabas was an early Christian who, among other things, did missionary work with the Apostle Paul.  "Barnabas" means "son of help" or "son of encouragement".  There is a "Barnabas" group at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Watertown, MN and that's what they do:  help and encourage.  They offer free community meals and take meals to homeless shelters, and are ready and willing to help whenever needed. 
The Barnabas group hosted a fundraiser for us in May.  It featured fabulous food* and gave us the chance to visit with lots and lots of people.  The event did exactly what Barnabas was called to do:  help and encourage.
We're grateful for this group which is enabling us to do the same thing:  help and encourage the children and staff at Robin's Nest.  

*If you ever see an event serving "Uncle Neddy's Famous Pork Chops On a Stick", go to it!  Steve and Diane Neddermeyer have a heart for service, a heart for Robin's Nest, and they prepare perhaps the world's best pork chops.  You'll go back for seconds!  

FAQs

What about your dog?

What's not to love about this face?  (Dora after a dip in the lake.)
 

Put yourself in this position:  You're a teacher, and some students bring in a box of adorable puppies - and they're giving them away!  Free puppies!  What else is there to do but take one?

Four years ago, I was teaching at Christ Community Lutheran School in Watertown, MN.  The Houser family brought puppies for show-and-tell, and - just like that - our family gained a Border Collie/Husky/Chow/etc. mutt whom we named "Dora".

Saying that a puppy is free is a misnomer, what with dog food, vet bills, training and dog-sitter costs.  She chewed the kitchen cupboards and numerous socks and, of course, threw up in bad places.  She sheds a lot and takes up most of the bed.  She was put into "time out" at dog-training.  She's made quite a name for herself around town, and everyone knows Dora (in one way or another!)  

And yet, what an amazing experience to witness her faithfulness to us!  Her face is at the front window when we pull in the driveway, and then she dashes to the door to greet us.  As a herding dog, she checks up on us, hates to see us leave, and she's not content until she has us all back in one place.  If you want to picture God's unconditional love for His people, get a dog!

So, when Bruce announced  at church that we would be moving to Jamaica, the very first question asked was, "What's going to happen to Dora?"  And that question has been asked many times since.

Answer:  Dora belongs to our son Andy.  Andy belongs to Dora.  He's not sure where he'll be living once we move, but Dora will be with him.  They've already had some extreme adventures together, and they'll have more in the future.  Their loyalty to each other goes deep.

There is a dog at Robin's Nest, and she and I are pals, sort of. 

But I will miss Dora. 

 

 

 

This is NOT a "Hoarders" Episode

I actually like watching "Hoarders".  I used to watch it on Monday evenings, and then clean a lot on Tuesdays. 
Here is a picture of our living room, which looks like it could be in a "Hoarders" episode.  However, this is the pile of things labeled "Probably", meaning these things have made it through the first round of sorting and we will likely ship them to Jamaica. 
We're in the middle of the LONG process of sorting through every single item and piece of paper in our house, and deciding whether it goes to Goodwill, goes on the garage sale, gets thrown away or given to someone we know, goes in the burn barrel or recycling bin, gets shipped to Jamaica, or makes the final cut and goes into storage.  After a while, my mind goes numb and I can't make any more decisions.  My default activity at that point:  baking.
Somewhere in this "Probably" pile are sewing supplies, math games, milking pails (for the future Robin's Nest dairy goats), a special Nativity set, and my accordion. I mean, really, what says "Jamaica" more than an accordion? 

 
       

Back to the Future, or, My First Trip to Robin's Nest

My great friend Chris Krentz had taken her church youth group to Robin's Nest twice, in 2004 and 2007.  Each time, one of her sons was in the group.  By the time her daughter was old enough, Chris wasn't leading the youth group anymore, but wanted her daughter to have the opportunity to serve at Robin's Nest.  So, she planned a trip, asked me if I wanted to go, and in 2010 we went:  Chris, her daughter Jennifer, Jennifer's best friend Sarah, and I.

2010, at Robin's Nest

2013, at the fundraising dinner Chris planned for us

When I talk about that first trip, I usually use the words "captivating" and "compelling".  The children and staff at Robin's Nest pulled me in and I haven't been the same ever since.  The Lord began calling me to Jamaica, and now, three years later, I'm packing to move.
There's much more to the story, of course, so, to be continued...

It Takes a Village, Part 1

OK, maybe it's an over-used phrase and idea, that many people are needed to 'raise a child'.  But it really fits this process of us getting ready to move to Jamaica.  We'll need the help of a lot of people in order to move to Robin's Nest, live there, and care for the children.

Here's a picture of some of the first people to join us in this adventure:  the Junior Youth Group at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Watertown, MN.  They hosted a Pancake Extravaganza fundraiser for us in April, and later presented us with a giant check.  God is working in the hearts of these kids, moving them to reach out to the children at Robin's Nest.
It's our prayer that we will represent Christ, and this youth group, well as we serve in Jamaica. 

"Why is this called Babs and Labs?"

It goes w-a-y back to our college days, at Concordia College in St. Paul, MN.  Bruce and I met there in choir, and then for a year and a half, we were in a singing group called "Glad Sound".  The group sang in churches in the 5-state area, and did PR for the school.  In future blogs, you'll hear more about Glad Sound, because there's a lot to tell.  For now, here's a picture of the back of our Glad Sound t-shirts.  I've never really gone by "Babs", and our last name isn't pronounced "Labs" (it actually sounds like Lobs) but someone discovered we could make rhyming nicknames, and we're still sticking with them.

Even bigger questions, though, would be, "Why do I still have t-shirts from 35 years ago?" and, "Will I keep these in storage while we're in Jamaica, or will I finally part with them?"  I have no answers!