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.