ca01

Typical Day "at the office"

It’s 7am when my alarm sounds—announcing the beginning of yet another day here in CA. I peak my nose out from under the warmth and shelter of my 5 heavy blankets and flannel sheets that I’ve been nuzzled under all night, and I wonder when and how it became so cold in my room. Building a fire in my wood burning stove takes too much effort to worry about in the morning, so I know that once again, I will just have to brave the freezing temperatures and get moving with my day.

“Where to start?,” I ask myself. I run through my “To Do” list in my head and it only takes a few minutes before I realize how desperately I will need His strength and wisdom for this new day. I have learned that I can’t do this on my own and so I start this morning by pursuing the One who can.

As usual, I am running late (no surprise for those of you who know me), so I must hurry to get ready. I quickly run downstairs to heat up some day-old coffee and bread to get me going, and I am then on my way. On this particular morning, my teammate and I head over to the office to check email and afterwards I will then be helping at our project.

Our office and project work are in the same building and only a few blocks away, but we bundle up in our long winter coats and tightly wrap our warmest chadors around our heads. (In this season, I don’t mind the fact that I am literally covered from head to toe!)

We greet our guards with the traditional, as well as lengthy, greeting, then tell them where we are headed as we scurry out the gate. The brisk, morning air chills our hands and face and our feet slip and slide as we make our way through the slushy, muddy streets. Even though we walk with our faces down, I always manage to catch a glimpse of the majestic snow-covered mountains that surround us. ( I don’t think this Illinois girl will ever get used to that sight!)

We arrive at the project and I quickly check email to see if anyone from home has written. Receiving emails from family and friends is a huge source of encouragement—no matter what the day may bring. A few minutes left and I head down the stairs to greet locally-based friends and we quickly dive into the project work. Their smiles warm my heart and our conversations will be great stories to share with my teammates later that evening.

After my time is finished I head back home for lunch and a team meeting. Again I am greeted by the children and ladies on the street—some wanting to shake my hand or ask me for a pencil or money, some inviting me in for tea, and some too shy to say anything but the thousands of words which are communicated through their eyes.

I eat lunch with my team and then we open our business meeting asking for our Father’s wisdom and guidance. We schedule this time once a week to discuss the week’s activities, house matters, and long-term planning and goals. Even though we spend most of our time together these days, this meeting is still a welcomed time for focused conversations and preparations.

At about 2:30pm I head over to a neighborhood not too far from home for some language study. At this point in time I am spending about two afternoons a week at my tutor’s home. She has taught for 30 years, lived in a neighboring country for the last 15 of those years, and has now returned to help rebuild this nation. Right now, I appreciate the fact that she is teaching me the simple basics of reading and writing. We talk, laugh, and encourage each other. I am blessed beyond measure to have found someone as special as her.

Well, the hours pass quickly here and soon the night sets in. I walk back home and then help with dinner preparations. I often long for the days of fast-food, or at least convenient mixes, but instead we have to soak all the vegetables in bleach water and prepare everything from scratch. At first this was a daunting task, but now it seems like just another part of life.

Once the food is ready, we light the lanterns and head upstairs to the room that we have chosen to heat for the night. Our team, along with several interns, gather around the wood burning stove and enjoy our meal as we discuss the days events. Afterwards we sometimes play games, watch a movie, or have a time of pr. and wrshp.

Then it’s off to bed. We gather wood from downstairs, build a fire in the stoves in our rooms, heat up water to wash our faces, and make sure the doors are locked and the lanterns are blown out.
Finally, I snuggle under my covers for a time of reading and reflection. I thank our Father for another day in this place. Another day full of His presence at work in my life and in those around me...for His strength that sustained me...and for His mercies that are new every morning. Yes, soon it will be morning, but tonight...I fall asleep—tired and grateful.

Warmer Weather!

Hello all,

It's been such a blessing these last couple of weeks to have warmer weather! Of course the sun is shining most days, as usual, but no longer are the long johns necessary and last night we were even able to have a wiener roast outside with a nice little bon fire under the stars. Want to come for the next one?! Spring is definitely here and now time for some spring cleaning!

That's exciting enough, but there's so much more! The school is going so well as three more students are trying out the classes this week? ... He is definitely blessing this project and we're looking forward to how this will continue. We have numerous meetings and negotiations ahead of us on this, so thanks for your continued prs for wisdom and direction in how to proceed. As I've expressed before, the school has huge potential to be a significant contributor to the educational system in this country, so we will continue to press forward and keep looking for those open doors.

And there's more!!!! Another outreach starts up again in the next couple of weeks and until then we're busy with planning and creating what we'd like to do there. In this outreach, we can do just about anything, and I'm one that enjoys those kinds of parameters! I've got plenty of dreams of how we could do things, but now it's down to being practical and realistic as to what we can actually pull off. We've got a meeting this morning which will hopefully clear some questions up for us and then after that we can move forward with specific lesson plans. I'll let you know how it goes and will fill in more details for you as well! Thanks for your part!

A teammate

Still serving...

Hey Everybody! ....

Greetings once again from CA! Yes, I'm still here...

Spring has arrived here and the warmer weather has been welcomed by all. Although everything is still pretty much the same color--brown, tan, or another shade of brown--the warmer temperatures have at least renewed our spirits and reminded us that He is making all things new once again.

As I write, our well has been broken for over three weeks. That means no running water, no flushing toilets, no bathing, etc. I could pretend to be superwoman and act like it's not big deal, but that would not really be true. While some days are more bothersome than others, I am grateful to have the privilege of drinking deeply from the Well that never runs dry. It is THAT water that sustains me.

Besides broken wells, the last few months have been busy with other, more exciting things. March 21st begins the New Year here in CA and with that, comes the opportunity to begin some new projects. Two of our team members are planning to teach English at the University. They will teach an entire *level* in conversational english (over 200 students) and have their work cut out for them. (FYI--If there is anyone out there who would be interested in joining them in this work, we would love to have you!)

I have also been working towards some new projects. This week I have visited with the publication that I wrote about in an earlier email. They are welcoming my help with their English articles, but at the moment they currently have run out of funds to continue publishing. Yesterday I helped proof a proposal for funds that they are sending to some possible sources for funding. We will see what results in all of it. They will be contacting me soon about setting up a schedule for editing and writing with them. It should be fun!

And as many of you know, my heart has always been to work with children, and that is another project that is in the works. At this point in time it seems a bit overwhelming. Starting something from scratch is always a bit scary, but I've been reminded that we walk by faith and not by sight. I still have so many questions--How many kids do we start with? Where will we have the program? Is my language good enough? etc. SO, I would appreciate your prs in this area. Ask Dad for wisdom and discernment...ask Him to show me open doors of opportunity....ask Him to give me the boldness and strength that I need to make things happen...and ask HIm for creativity in how we implement the program. Thanks!

Well, I don't want to write a book and I really need to run, so I'll save more for later. I hope all is well for each of you. I look forward to hearing from you soon...

Love,

a team member
(edited for use on the web)

Firsthand Visit: The Team is Great!

[Edited for posting on the web]
My wife and I just returned from a quick trip to K-town where we met with the "K-Team" ... . Our primary purposes were to see firsthand how the team was doing (especially in their winter environment), to offer a bit of encouragement, to deliver some 'goodies', and to visit their work. The team is doing great, we did manage to deliver some items they can use and enjoy, we visited their work and talked with the couple from the partner group that is helping them. Surprisingly, as it turned out, the team was encouraging to us. To all who support these workers, I applaud you. Nothing you do, say, or send is wasted. I am in fairly regular contact with them all, and didn't know until we arrived that two of them have not had running water for almost two weeks since their well collapsed. When we left, they still didn't know when a new one would be dug.

Using wood (sparingly) and propane (again, sparingly) to heat and cook leaves a sooty residue on just about everything. Of course, with no running water, just washing your hands, not to mention your clothes, is nearly impossible; and the simple matter (at least to us here in the states) of flushing a toilet becomes something you have to plan ahead for. They deal with bureaucracy, language barriers, cultural issues, prejudice, and procedural issues that none of us will ever fully understand. On top of lack of electricity (and running water), they have maintenance problems to face every day on not just one, but two houses in a place that hasn't heard of Home Depot or Wal Mart. But to their credit, they never complain or begrudge their situation. I commend each for their dedication, attitude, and commitment. I have sent this to them asking they include it in their next update. I know they will do so with great reservation, but this only attests to the humble spirit they each possess.

Most sincerely,
Name withheld because of the web

Update from Central Asia

Dear treasured support team,

Well, here I am starting my eighth month in this land and the honeymoon stage is definitely over. People talk about cultural adjustment going in stages, with the first being the honeymoon, where you just love you new home and find everything so interesting. The next stage would be often called culture shock. I don't know if I like that term very much because it doesn't feel like shock or a huge crisis but rather just a gradual, underlying frustration or irritation (at least that is how it is for me). Lately I have found myself day dreaming about the states or anywhere that would have some creature comforts like electricity, fast food or central heat. I don't quite know what to do with these feelings at times. But, I just ask Dad to see me through it and to draw me deeper into this place and these people. I have many things that I have wanted to tell you about lately but I don't want to bore you with a huge long email. So, I will try to highlight some things.

1. Language: I finished language school last week. I didn't personally like the style of learning that is set up in the school here but I did learn quite a bit and now have a good base to keep learning. Today I met with a lady who is a Sr. in the English dept. at the Univ. and she agreed to be my tutor. So, we will meet together three days a week to practice. I am excited about this new friendship! Pray that it is deep and fruitful!

2. Teaching at the University: My teammate and I are going to be able to teach English here! Wow, I am excited, but, we have lots of prep work to do before that to get ready! Pray that we would have wisdom on how to best teach and that we would make some great friends!

Two of my teammates are in the states right now: One has been in the states for a few months. ... She has had some major tests run; ... pray for her health. Please Pray that she would be strengthened in spirit and in body! The other made an emergency trip back to be with her Dad who is to have a triple bypass this week. Pray that He would be healed and that she would find comfort and rest! Also that she would be full of wisdom as she seeks how to continue her involvement in projects over here.

Security and Holidays: This week is one of their biggest holidays here so for the next four days things shut down and people spend lots of time visiting and drinking tea. We hope to have blessed time with local friends this week. You may have heard about some of the situations over here lately. I just heard of some of it today. We heard that this week there are different plans to try to disrupt peace here. Please know that we are trying to be wise and stay out of public places. Pray that these evil will all fall apart and that there will be peace and safety around here!

Thanks soooo much for all of your encouraging letters and notes and packages! It is wonderful to have such a great support team! I don't think I would be able to last here if I didn't have you lifting me up and blessing me like you do. Please keep it up. :)

Blessings,

Anonymous team member

Pray for Victims of Bombing

Hello all,

Don't know if you heard about the sad news of the suicide bombing? They are just way too common these days. We haven't heard the final results of how many were injured or killed, but it seems that at least one Canadian was killed as a result of the bomb hidden in the vest of a local man who gave his life to take another. Still hard to understand such thinking and thankfully, most of the people around us feel the same way as they are so grateful for our presence and the presence of the military forces that are keeping this country together. While it still feels like we're in a country still in the ICU of a hospital, there is so much progress that often never makes the news and encourages us to just keep on serving and asking for Him to make a difference. Thanks so much for your prayers concerning our safety as about everyday I think of that factor and am grateful for the One who daily knows even the sparrows that don't make it through a day. Thanks again for your part in this venture; it's truly appreciated and necessary!

Anonymous

Survivor

Precious Friends and Co-Laborers,

Amongst my team members, we have often joked that living here in CA is like playing a game of "Survivor." We eat strange foods?try to survive without electricity we rarely bathe ourselves...we get worms (yes, the kind that eat the food in our stomachs before we do!), the vegetarian has to eat meat, we run obstacle courses on the streets on a daily basis -- from dodging herds of sheep to hurdling streams of sewage and the list could go on.

Our sending organization recommends that our first term on the field should be between 18 months to two years in order for us to go through all the cultural adjustment cycles and truly make this place "home" before we head back to the comforts of our former life. Yet, somehow, for our team this seems to be a very difficult assignment. Strangely though, it is not due to the obstacles listed above. Oh sure, with each of those things we have a love/hate relationship --but none of which are reason enough for us to blow out our tikki torches and go home.

On the other hand, what IS enough to send us home before those 18 months doesn't always depend on the tangible, everyday obstacles, but rather the battle that is raging against us in the heavenly realms. And, My Friends, there IS a battle! And so today, I'm drawn to my knees and employing the troops (that means YOU) to fight with me.

At this moment, my teammate ... found out that her father is having triple bypass surgery. He was supposed to have already had the surgery but he caught a cold and it has been postponed for the following week or so. When the doctors ran further tests this week, they also discovered that all of his arteries leading to his heart are clogged by 90% and he has an artery in his neck that is clogged as well. Obviously this is all very serious and after much knee-work, my teammate has decided to head home to be with her family. ... Would you please remember my teammate and her family in your thoughts over these next few weeks?

*** Ask the Lord for His peace that surpasses understanding to fill their hearts and minds.
*** Ask for smooth connecting flights as the journey back to the US is long and this is a particularly popular month to travel in this part of the world due to the hajj.
*** Ask for quick healing from the cold for her dad so he can have the surgery soon.
*** Ask for wisdom and discernment for the doctors as they figure out what is best at this time.
*** Ask that our Father would be glorified in this whole situation.

Another of our workers here is not being tested to determine whether or not she has a very serious illness. This, too, is a serious diagnosis and plays a part in her return. So, would you also please join me in remembering her in your thoughts?

*** Ask for wisdom and clarity for the doctors as they finish running tests and make an accurate diagnosis of her health.
*** Ask for His presence and peace to fill her and her family at this time.
*** Ask for protection from the lies of the Enemy as we all seek our Father's truth in the varying circumstances regarding our team and His plans and purposes.
*** Ask for His healing in each of our lives and for true reconciliation to permeate our relationships.

So -- I may not get a "Survivor" t-shirt or a million dollars for keeping my torch lit, but I'm not really in this for the earthly prizes anyway. My crown will come later. But as I watch so many people come and go from this land and I realize my own weaknesses more and more, I ask also for your thoughts for me. And in the midst of the battle, I rest in knowing that I'm not in this alone. I can't tell you enough how very grateful I am to have each of you alongside of me. I will say this again--You are precious warriors for the Kingdom and a precious fellowship of the heart to me. May He continue to unite us in Spirit and Truth as we battle together...

Much Love,

A worker in Central Asia