Real Life

Yesterday, while reading the blog of a self proclaimed horrible missionary*, I came across something that inspired me.  In this particular post Jamie was recounting their family's first day on the mission field and the culture shock that ensued.  Sure, they were in a country that was not their own, surrounded by people who spoke a different language, yet, she speaks of the biggest culture shock being how to speak missionary.

 On our adventures we have met amazing people who are still active in ministry all over the world.  Reading how God is showing up and showing out through the globe is one of my favorite things to do!  (I may, or may not, be living vicariously through these people.)

Jamie's blog really hit home for me.  Sometimes being a missionary isn't glamorous.  There will be days where you feel like you're standing still.  I know when we were overseas I found myself tempted to only write home about the amazing and awe-inspiring things that were going on.  I knew that only my mom and grandmother would care that all I did one week was manage to home school the kids for a few hours every day. (Granted, I DID teach Cooper to read during those 5 months!)

My biggest fear was that people wouldn't want to support a family that seems to be doing nothing more than surviving.

I want people to know what is going on in our lives.  I want then to know when God is doing an amazing work, but I also want people to know that there are times when keeping my family fed/alive/in clean clothes will be all that we can muster.

Another of Jamie's entries talks about the drama that the church seeks in missions.  The missions that we pour our money into are the ones that seems the most intriguing, the coolest, the most dangerous.
What we fail to realize is that "drama steals a missionary away from the good and important things they should be doing."

She goes on to say "Every missionary's well-being depends on a trustworthy relationship with their supporters, and the ability to express their struggles, defeats, and failures without fear of losing their resources."


It is that single statement that encouraged me to write again.
Sure, God has moved, and provided, and spoken through pastors, and songs, and sweet friends.
But the day to day has been....well...day to day.

In an effort to make/maintain trustworthy relationships with those who have been fervent to pray us through our struggles, defeats, failures, and seasons of rest and growth this is what is going on in our lives:


Mark: Mark is a full time student at Liberty University.  He is studying to complete his Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies.  Most of his days are spent curled up on the couch reading volumes and volumes of literature that further cement his biblical knowledge.  At 3 pm every day he takes a break from his studies and puts on his SUPER DAD cape.  He picks the kiddos up from school.  His afternoons are filled with spelling words, math problems, reading, Legos, Wii games, and board games.  Every now and then he likes to relax with a good game of Call of Duty on the XBox. (And we like to laugh at the noises he makes!)

Kim: Kim is working full time as a Customer Service Rep/ Dispatcher at AirCon, a local HVAC repair company.  She is also making delicious sweets through her home bakery, SweetMama's Cakery.  In addition to all of that she is also attending Liberty University full time finishing her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.  At this moment she is waiting to hear back from a surgeon to schedule back surgery.  Three herniated discs in her lower back cause a great deal of pain for her daily.

Camber: Camber is in the 5th grade at Bay Area Charter School.  She was SUPER excited to find out that her teacher has room pets this year.  They have a very large bunny rabbit as well as some zebra finches that come to visit.  She loves math and science and is looking forward to going away with the other 5th graders to a science based camp this fall.  This is her 2nd year in ballet and she loves every second of it.  She dances at a Christian studio and we are very thankful for their lessons on modesty and worship.  This year she joined Grace Community Church's NOIZE academy.  They are a worship focused group that teaches children about being a positive influence in their communities.  They sing songs, learn about the meaning behind the songs, and dance their guts out for 2 hours every Saturday.

Cooper: Cooper is in the 3rd grade at Bay Area Charter School.  He likes school, but tends to get done with his work quicker than the other students, so we are working with him on appropriate uses of time when others are still working.  He loves to read!!  He also likes Legos and playing games on the Wii or Minecraft on the XBox.  We are looking into extra curricular activities for him now.  One of the girls at church teaches swim and he has expressed an interest there.  Mark has suggested fencing, but that seems like the worst plan ever to me.  We still have a flyer on the fridge for Cub Scouts that we really need to check into for him.

We are all involved in our local church, OneLife.  We have made amazing friends that have come along side of us, laughed with us, cried with us, and challenged us to really seek God's face.

We had seen this period as "hurry up and wait," but a wise friend showed us that this is a "safe place for us to grow."
We have grasped onto this and are taking every opportunity to learn how to be leaders in our church and community.  We want to be an open book.  We want people to know what is going on in our lives and what our day to day looks like!

Right now, for us, life looks like....life. 



*I am pretty sure i love the heart behind Jamie's blog.  I think that a real, unfiltered account of the life of a missionary needs to be spoken about.  I, in no way, shape, or form, condone some of the things that she says or the way she says them.  Just to clear that up.