Advent Devotion #4: Joy

Here we are…it is Christmas week! In the final, fourth chapter of Ruth, we see the Joy that results from Faith, Hope and Love. Making good on his promise to Ruth, Boaz meets with a nearer kinsman and offers him the right of redemption. When the man realizes that marrying Ruth is part of the deal, he declines. He is afraid that the union will jeopardize his own inheritance. One commentator said, “God did Boaz the honor to bring him into the line of the Messiah, while the kinsman, who was afraid of lessening himself, and marring his inheritance, has his name, family, and inheritance forgotten.”
Next, Boaz and Ruth are married. It is a household of joy, blessed with the birth of a son. Naomi, once despondent, depressed, hopeless, now busies herself caring for her grandbaby. At one time she told the other women her name was “Mara” (bitterness). Now the women make a prophetic statement to her: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age….” (Ruth 4:14,15) In the story of Ruth, we see that faith, hope, love and joy set in changed the course of history: “to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz Obed, and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.” (Ruth 4:21, 22) These four qualities can do the same for us…they can be the road to changing the course of my history. This week, amid the shopping, wrapping, cooking, visiting, mailing, calling, and other doing, I hope that faith, hope, love and joy invade your life in a new and intimately personal way. Merry Christmas!
In closing, there are some thoughts I had in studying the Book of Ruth that I think are worth sharing.
• The Holy Spirit uses situations of hardship, difficulty, and losses in our lives to expose and/or exercise our faith.
• The Lord can use anyone to accomplish His purposes. There is no ethnic or social pedigree for a humble and trusting heart.
• Even a little faith, if we will act on it, is enough to make a huge difference.
• The blessing and provision of God is not dependent upon the culture around us.
• Clinging in fear to the past or the present may rob us of a future blessing.
• Entrusted to Jesus’ loving hands, even the most bitter of sorrows can be turned to joy.

May your Christmas find your heart at the scene of a manger in Bethlehem, where the King of glory laid aside His prestige and power and entered our world as a tiny baby. Together, I hope we rediscover the wonder of this miraculous event and celebrate in a new way the glorious gift of Jesus, the Savior, Messiah, and Kinsman Redeemer. Joy to the world! The Lord is come!

Advent, Week 3: Love

In this third week of Advent, our focus is love. In Ruth 3, we learn that not only does Boaz have compassion for Ruth; he loves her. Following the instructions of Naomi, Ruth lays at the feet of the sleeping Boaz. There is nothing sordid here. Because he is a close relative, Naomi is within her rights to ask that he become the kinsman redeemer for her. The reaction of Boaz shows that he does not act out of obligation, his heart has embraced this industrious, principled woman of excellence. He takes quick action to become the kinsman redeemer.
The idea of “redemption” in the Old Testament conveys these principles:
1. Redemption is simply deliverance from some sort of bondage, a release of someone or something from an alien power that has a claim on it.
2. The biblical idea of redemption also involves the deliverer and what he must do to effect the deliverance.
3. What he must do, or the price he must pay, is known as the redemption price or ransom.
4. Release from the claim must be effected by someone who, for whatever reason, has a prior or more fundamental claim toward what is to be delivered.
Further, the law required that the Kinsman Redeemer must fulfill four qualifications. He must:
1. Be related by blood to those he redeems.
2. Be able to pay the price of redemption.
3. Be willing to redeem.
4. Be free himself (in other words, a slave could not redeem another slave).
What a heart-rending picture of who Jesus is and what He has done for us! He has released us from the bondage and power of sin by paying our ransom. Because He is the Lord of all, He has the right to do so—He has a “prior claim” over Satan! He is able and willing to redeem us, and because of His sinless, perfect life, He is free to redeem us to Himself! Like Boaz, Jesus loves His bride. The price of redemption is costly, but it has been paid in full.
Think on it… “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are.” 1 John 3:1 (The Message).
This week, there are no introspective questions. Take some time each day to pause and think of His great love for you. Jesus loves you with an everlasting, all-consuming, tender, redeeming and perfecting love. If you seek Him, you will find Him—if you seek Him with all your heart.
What a gift we are offered! There is no appropriate response other than adoration to the One who lavishes such love upon us! His love covers every sin, every hurt, every doubt, every shortcoming, every mistake, every fear.
Tell Him every day how much you love Him. Think about Him as you go through your days. The delight of His presence is His kiss upon your head.
Your Kinsman Redeemer has come!

Jillian's 11th Birthday

Dad and Jillian at Bread of Life for Birthday Breakfast

"It's a blender!"

A jacket for a young lady.

Jillian is delighted with Chau's gift: a Dove chocolate bar!
Hello, all-
I wanted to record some details of Jillian's 11th birthday, which was
yesterday, December 9. Eleven! I can hardly believe it! She is quite a
young lady now. Part child, part pre-teen, part Yoda; part little girl,
part pop star, part Einstein. I am in awe to be her mother. Thank you,
Lord.

About the gifts. Tony and I gave her a certificate to attend a cooking
class in the ancient city of Hoi An with me. It is a 5-hour experience
with a boat ride, visit to the local market, and two hours of cooking,
culminating with lunch.

From Grandmom, a lovely brown jacket and scarf. It looks great on her!

From Faith and Joy: A small "brief case" that she admired at a local
bookstore. I had to talk them into it, and as a compromise, I let them
each choose a smaller gift. Joy got a little plastic music box with
flowers that spin as a song plays. It lights up. Joy thinks it is so
beautiful. Faith had her heart set on getting Jillian a teddy bear. We
found a small one with pants and a shirt on. Faith likes it so much she
has requested one for her birthday (which is this coming Wednesday, Dec.
16).

From Anna Mei and Elizabeth: A blender. It may sound odd, but Jillian
has wanted one forever. They had to pool their money to do it. I am so
proud of them. They talked for quite awhile about what to get their older
sister, but they were so excited when they came upon the blender idea.
Needless to say, several milkshakes have been enjoyed by all.

Breakfast with Dad: Like last year, Tony is treating the girls to a
birthday breakfast at a western restaurant called Bread Of Life. It is
owned by our pastor and his wife. Bread Of Life employs deaf Vietnamese
teenagers and young adults. It is a great place with great food.

Cooking with Bee: Jillian's party was a family/staff affair at lunch. The
menu was all Vietnamese, except for the cake I made with the girls. For
dinner, Jillian had requested hamburgers and french fries. Bee had never
made hamburgers, so we cooked them together. As we started to make the
patties, she coated her hands with cooking oil. I followed suit, but I
was glad to use just a small bit...not long before, Bee had used that oil
to make the french fries. It was still quite hot! One funny thing: I
had asked Bee to pick up some ketchup at the store. When we were setting
the table, I could not find it. Bee looked perplexed and then pointed to
a bottle of red sauce..."Chili sauce." I showed her the picture of
tomatoes on the nearly empty ketchup bottle we had, then the picture of
the small red chilies on the new bottle. Bee's mouth dropped open.
Apparently, she shops only by color. The name of the sauce was in
English, both sauces are red and she didn't pay attention to the pictures.
Interestingly, I had also wanted onions for the burgers. Bee came home
without them...Big C (one of the biggest grocery stores in Danang) had
none.

A few other gifts: Jillian received clothes from Duc and Linh; some small
electric lanterns for her room from Enoch and Mariss; a beautiful handmade
card from Quyen; a genuine Dove chocolate bar from Chau; and from Bee,
underclothes. True to her practical joking nature, Bee had wrapped the
underwear in a box that once contained a clock. My unsuspecting,
mortified 11 year-old almost showed the unmentionables at the table in
mixed company. Bee, of course, was chuckling the whole time.

What a privilege to see this little girl grow into a loving young lady. I
could not be more proud of her. We are blessed too know that so many of
you join us in praying for her!

Grace and peace!

Hope

The workmen rebuild a wall. Notice the helmet "hardhat."
The front courtyard. Workers use a rope and bucket to move sand and other materials.

This will soon be a laundry area.

Hello, all--
A couple of things have happened this week that have made me think more
about the relationship between faith and hope.
The first is the renovation work on the new orphanage here in Danang that
we hope to see in operation by January. I wish I could describe it to
you. It is a blessing from God! There are four buildings in the
compound. One building will house the Orphan Voice offices. The second
has rooms for the residential staff, the boys and a study
room/library/computer room. The third building includes the kitchen,
cafeteria and boys bathrooms and showers downstairs, with the girls'
rooms, a caregiver's room and their showers/bathrooms. The last building
is mostly a gymnasium, with a storage area. There are two courtyard
areas, one with a brick floor, the other with grass. It is going to be
welcoming, cozy and pretty. To see it today, that is a statement of
faith. Right now, the paint is chipped, dirty and mismatched (we ordered
paint today). Broken bricks, debris and trash are everywhere. The trees
in the courtyard are sparse from damage left by Typhoon Ketsana. But
faith gives us a vision of what it can be--what in fact it is becoming day
by day as a crew works (wearing motorbike helmets for hardhats!). Faith
has the ability to look past the current circumstance and surroundings and
understand "becoming."
The second incident that really got me thinking happened yesterday. I had
taken Anna Mei and Elizabeth to the Big C shopping center so they could
get Jillian a birthday present (she turned 11 today!). On our way to the
check out, Anna Mei spotted a pair of roller blades--the item on the top
of her Christmas wish list. She was at the point of tears. She does not
have enough money from her allowance to buy them. The store has one pair.
What she does not know is that another pair is here, safely hidden for
her to unwrap on Christmas morning. She was so distraught it was very
hard for me not to tell her. (I was so glad that we had not told
Elizabeth about Anna Mei's gift--I know she would have HAD to tell her!)
Finally, I told Anna Mei to trust in the love of her mom and dad for her
to provide good things. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me. That is exactly
what He asks of me. When the desires of my heart seem unattainable, faith
in His unfailing love will cause hope to blossom that whatever He has for
me is good.
May your faith-full relationship with the Lord give rise to unshakeable
hope. You and I have a heavenly Father who knows how to give good gifts
to His children. If we ask Him for bread, can we really think that He
will give us a stone...or a snake?

Years ago, a friend of mine sang a song at our church in Virginia. After more than a dozen years, I remember one line in particular: "When you can't see His hand, trust His heart."

Grace and peace!

PS Someone sent us a link to the website for CBN Worldreach. They have
an article about their involvement in partnering with other ministries to
provide typhoon relief in Vietnam. We are one of those "others" and the
picture in the article shows our staff member Duc delivering aid. If you
would like to take a look at the article, the link is
http://www.cbn.com/worldreach/articles/article_typhoon_vietnam_dec09.aspx

Advent, Week 2: Hope

For this second week of Advent, we will focus on the quality of Hope. At the beginning of chapter 2, we find Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem. The outlook had to be a bit frightening for the two women. But, faith has kindled hope. Ruth decides to look for work “gleaning” in the fields. Gleaning was a way that the Lord had instructed Israel to allow the poor to get food. A portion of the harvest was to be left, easily accessible to the poor. It was not a career. In fact, laws prevented gleaners from taking extra food to store. Gleaning was considered humiliating. For a young, single woman at this time, it was also dangerous. Yet Ruth does not despair. She does not scheme to devise a way to engage in more “honorable” work. She goes in hope. And she is not disappointed. One writer wisely pointed out, “Sin is a thing below us, but we must not think anything else so, to which Providence call us.”
The Lord leads Ruth to a field belonging to a wealthy man named Boaz, who just happens to be a close relative of Naomi. He takes note of Ruth and learns of her situation. As a result, he provides for Ruth’s safety and success in her work. The kindness of Boaz is noteworthy in its own right. I couldn’t help but wonder if his compassion for a courageous woman of questionable background was learned as a child from his mother, another courageous woman of questionable background. Her name was Rahab.
When Naomi learns of all that has happened, her own hope is rekindled. When she and Ruth first returned to Israel, she told the other women that the Lord had witnessed against her. Now, she recognizes that the Lord has not withdrawn His kindness from her.
Hope was Ruth’s response to hardship. Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes, “It is not affliction itself, but affliction rightly borne, that does us good.”
This week, as we think about hope and what it means for our own lives, here are some questions to reflect upon…
• How do I respond to the hard situations in my life right now? Is my “affliction rightly borne”?
• Have I let faith ignite hope in me?
• Am I being asked to do something that I consider to be “beneath” me?
• Am I jealous or resentful over the position, accomplishments, or abilities of someone else?
Hope is a great sustainer in times of hardship and dark uncertainty. The faithfulness of God tells us that hope is not stubborn foolishness. We have experiential evidence that God will not abandon us, will not allow us to suffer more than we can endure. The Psalmist knew it well when he wrote,
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. (Ps. 42:5)
As we approach Christmas, let’s hope in God with confidence in His great love. We have every reason to expect that, like Ruth, we will not be disappointed.
Grace and peace!

Advent, Week 1, Faith

Welcome to the season of Advent! Where I sit, it is a balmy 70 degrees. It looks like anything but Christmas. The large department stores are displaying holiday decorations and playing “Jingle Bells”, but from street to street, there is not a hint of the Yuletide. Still, I know it is coming! Experience has bolstered my faith. More than faith in the mere fact that a date on the calendar is coming (and with it all the holiday decorations and traditions) I have faith that I will experience Christmas in my heart. How about you?

In the first chapter of Ruth, we find a foundation of faith. An Israelite man named Elimelech moves with his wife, Naomi, and two sons to Moab. They are driven by hunger, for Israel is experiencing a famine. In Moab, Elimelech dies. Both his sons marry Moabite women; one is named Orpah, the other, Ruth. When both men die, Naomi, Orpah and Ruth are left to fend for themselves. They are hungry again. But this time, their hunger is not the only thing driving them on...Naomi has heard that in Israel, ”the Lord had visited His people in giving them food” (Ruth 1:6). Faith, though perhaps small, rises in her heart and she decides to return to Israel. Orpah and Ruth love Naomi, and both set out with her. She discourages them, giving them no promise of a better life or future husbands. Reluctantly, Orpah eventually bids a tearful good-bye and returns to Moab. Ruth, however, clings to Naomi. Faith has somehow become her own. With no promise from outside of her own heart, she presses on with her mother-in-law. Faith strengthens and motivates Ruth to leave her culture, her language and her people.

Faith is the vessel of courage. Just read the great “Faith Hall of Fame”in Hebrews 11: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samuel and more…”who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, become mighty in battle, and put armiesto flight” (Hebrews 11:33, 34). Faith, it seems, is powerful stuff.

During this initial week of preparing our hearts to receive Christ-mas anew, this first chapter of Ruth brings us to some important questions to consider:
1. What am I hungry—really hungry-- for?
2. What situations are driving my thinking, my attitudes, my decisionsright now?
3. Where is God at work? Am I moving toward that place?
4. Have I made faith my own, independent of the faith of others around me, or my heritage, or my culture?
5. How does “faith” respond to the difficulties I am currently facing? Am I willing to do whatever it takes, leave whatever should be left, let go of the past (good or bad), and go forward, perhaps to an uncertain outcome?

May the Holy Spirit grant us faith to let Him examine our lives, and may faith give rise to courage to surrender everything to Him!

Grace and peace!

Advent and the Book of Ruth: An Introduction

On our recent trip to the US, one of the first things that grabbed my attention was the rapid speed of daily life. Most of the time I found it tiring, at times annoying. On one occasion, Jillian and I found it humourous.We had only been in the States for a couple of days and we were driving with the twins early in the morning. We decided to renew our acquaintance with an important reality of American culture: the McDonald’s drive-through. I pulled up to the miked ordering screen where a voice greeted me withwords that flew out like fire from an automatic weapon:
“WelcometoMcDonaldscanItakeyourorderplease?”
“Yes. I would like 3 small orange ju…”
“OK” The answer interrupted me before I could get out the whole word. Hmmm…
“A small cof…”
“Cream and sugar? Do you want to put it in yourself, or do you want us todo it?" The voice sounded almost annoyed, like an adult who is hurried and doesn’twant to take time to listen to the elongated story of a toddler.

I finally got the order out. When I pulled around the corner of thebuilding, I could see the two windows, the first to pay, the second to receive the food. As I approached the first window, the view ahead made me want to by-pass payment and step on the gas. There, from the first window, emerged a bodiless hand, precariously clutching between two fingers and a thumb, the neatly folded golden-arched, white paper bag that held our food! It hung in the breeze with a taunting little swing. Only partly in jest, it threatened, “Hurry up or your breakfast is road slop!”

Alas, one person’s efficiency is another person’s high-pressured breakfastexperience.

It is easy for us to live at an ever-increasing pace. Perhaps that’s one reason I love the “seasons” so much. Not only the seasons of wind and weather, but the seasons of our Christian calendar. In a world where text messaging reduces the spelling of words to single letters, and where new technologies give us our food, news, and email at the touch of a button, God’s priorities and methods seem at odds. Here is One who is never in a hurry—who created the earth and everything in it in a step bystep orderly fashion; who set history in motion with generations of babies, youngsters, adults and the aged; whose years pass with the regularity of seasons.

We all know the Scriptural truth: “Man’s ways are not God’s ways…” Nowhere is that more evident than with the events of Christmas. I have a feeling that if it were up to me and you, the events at Bethlehem would have been recorded in Genesis 4, and Genesis 5 would be renamed“Revelation.” But the will, the ways and the works of God cannot be rushed. His plan will unfold as He ordains, no matter how we desire to rush it on more quickly. Sunday, November 29, is the beginning of the Advent Season. The word“advent” means “coming” and these four weeks of Christmas are an annual opportunity to focus upon the coming of the Son of God to our world. If we will let Him, the Holy Spirit will take us all on a journey toBethlehem to wonder and celebrate in a new way the glorious gift of Jesus, the Savior, Messiah, Redeemer. Just think of the years of longing, looking, hoping, seeking…that were fulfilled in that Holy Night. Many tried to “hurry” that up, too. Israel was always looking for a leader, or a prophet, or a king, or a judge that would be THE Son of David. No matter how much they hoped, or how good a king might be, the peoplewere disappointed again and again. It seemed as if the true Son of David would never come.

And then, He did. Sixteen times throughout the Gospels, Jesus is recognized, hailed, and implored as “The Son of David.” Apparently,the people who reached out in faith to Jesus for every kind of need had no trouble surmising that He was indeed, the long-awaited Son of David. Matthew’s Gospel begins with these words…”The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Some may think that Matthew’s record of the ancestry of Jesus is chauvinistic—tracing the Savior’s line through Joseph. Luke’s record traces the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Mary. Remarkably,though, Matthew’s account mentions five women in the ancestral line of Jesus (Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, Ruth and Mary), while Luke’s mentions none, not even Mary herself. The story of one of the women named by Matthew is found in the Old Testament Book that bears her name, the Bookof Ruth.

In Ruth we read a beautiful story of growing faith, of hope dashed and rekindled, of love lost and found, of joy thought out of reach, then fulfilled beyond measure. It is a rich, challenging story of spiritual truth. Ruth paints a picture of Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer. It is a perfect story for the season of Advent. Ruth’s four chapters fit neatly into the four weeks of Advent. But more than the number, the book can be anchored in four themes that can strengthen our relationship with the Savior: faith, hope, love and joy.

Welcome to this Advent journey in the Book of Ruth.

Grace and peace!

We're Baaaaack!

Elizabeth enjoys reading to a dog at the library's "Paws to Read" event.
Jillian sports a "mohawk hat" in Massachusetts!

The girls loved ice skating with Aurora!

Tony's first speaking invitation was at the church where he received Christ.

Our girls in traditional Vietnamese dress for church.

Faith and Joy in the pumpkin patch!

Getting autographs backstage with "Go Fish."

Anna Mei pitches a rubber chicken at a "Chicken Chuckin'" booth at a fall festival.

The fam with our friend, Mickey.

After about 8 weeks in the United States, we have returned home to Vietnam. It is a quite Tuesday night in Danang...at least at our house. We arrived home on Sunday night at about 10:30 pm local time. This is the first time I have felt like I could sit at the computer without falling asleep, so I thought I should take advantage and give a brief update about our trip to the US.

First of all, it was a wonderful, blessed trip. We had a great time. It was incredibly busy, but we came home with some lifelong memories.

So, how did we spend our 8 weeks?

...traveling to 12 states

...sharing our work with at least 19 different churches and groups

...keeping 30 medical, dental, and eye exam appointments

...visiting with so many people we love

...obtaining items to bring back to make our house a little more like home

...a week of family vacation and a 2-day session with our board

Predominant emotion now that we are back...Gratitude

It took a small army of people to give us such a wonderful trip! Everywhere we turned we received blessing. Amazing acts of kindness, thoughtfulness, and sacrifice...like

...all those who provided housing for one or seven of us. You made us feel at home.

...rides to and from the airport (we arrived at 10 pm and departed for the airport at 4:30 am, so transporting us definitely meant a labor of love and a loss of sleep!)

...food: hmmm...8 weeks at 3 meals a day for 7 people--that's 168 meals, many of them provided by dear friends. In Kentucky tradition, I must say, "We ate good."

...a van provided to us for the duration of our stay! And it had a working DVD player (happy dance)

...a week at a Florida resort so we could have some family time at the start of the trip

...tickets and invitations to so many wonderful experiences--a "Go Fish" concert, a hayride and huge corn maze, a natural history museum, and a couple of festivals and farms....

gift cards and shopping trips for the girls and me (and my first "mani-pedi").

First time I heard "When will we get there?" Before we ever left the Danang airport, from Elizabeth.

Funniest statement: Also from Elizabeth. I overheard her talking to Anna Mei in the ladies room at the beautiful Hong Kong airport: "I PROMISE. I did NOT touch one thing, and it flushed!"

And, lastly, a story from our return trip under the category of "And not a jury in the world would convict me...."
Many of you know that our family traveled in two groups for some of the flights to and from the US. Here is the background: Coming back, Tony, Anna Mei and Elizabeth had a day of flying from Lexington to San Fransisco, then on to Hong Kong and Saigon the next day. Jillian, Faith, Joy and I left Lexington at 6 am to Chicago, then after a 6-hour layover, on to Hong Kong (where we joined the rest of the family for flights to Saigon and Danang). We were, as my mother would say, "loaded for bear." We took advantage of the 2 suitcase/2 carry-on rules, so we had a total of 28 bags between us. With my 8 large bags checked, we still had 8 carry-ons of various weights. So I was glad that we got a luggage cart when we arrived in Chicago. After breakfast, we discovered that one of the twins had left a small purse on the plane. Not a big loss...nothing in it of value. But, we had about five more hours to fill, so I asked an airline employee if there was a place we might check about it.

She directed us to "Lost and Found." It was about a 20-minute walk she said, but you have the cart and the girls will enjoy seeing the airport, she assured me with a smile. So off we went. At "Lost and Found", I was told that items didn't arrive there for 2-3 days, but I could check back at the gate where we landed. By the time we headed in that direction, I had a stunning, heart-sinking realization..at some point we had left the secured section of the airport and we would now have to go through the security check all over again. So, off with the jackets, shoes and jewelry, out with the cell phones and computer, run all the bags through the x-ray machinery...you get the picture. My "never-make-a scene" 10-year-old queried, "If you see that lady again, you're not going to say anything are you?" I decided to have a little fun..."You'll know when I see her, Jillian. My top lip will curl at one side. My tired, red eyes will widen as my eyebrows raise in recognition. My knuckles will turn white as I grip the handle of the luggage cart to keep them off of her neck, and a gutteral, emotion-charged greeting will emit from my lips, 'Yooouuuu!'"

Actually, it wasn't so bad. We did enjoy the airport. And they let us keep the cart at security, walking it through separately after unloading. We arrived back at our departure gate without the purse, but no worse for wear. And I have a story that makes me smile...

The Lord has blessed us immeasureably. My heart is peaceful tonight overall, a little sad to say good-bye, but content with fond memories of so many expressions of love.
I wish you the same. Grace and peace!

Signs

As our trip to the US draws very near, I wanted to tell you a few observations I have made about life here in Vietnam and what applications I am making to my own life...

First, it's often the little things that trip us up. If I say "bugs", you may think "big." And, we do have them, big roaches, big spiders, etc. But to me, the most pesky, frustrating and difficult to deal with of all of them is...the teeny-tiniest of ants. They are everywhere, numbering in the tens of billions (I am sure). They are difficult to see because the travel in cracks and crevices: where the door frame connects to the wall; in the lines where floor tiles meet; at the bottom of baseboards. By the time they are seen, they are covering a cup, a plate, a table. Moving the cup means that they run to your hand. It is an odd sensation; it feels like a thin, moving glove. In my life, I sometimes miss the little things that are, well, amiss. Little frustrations allowed to grow; slight discontent coddled; "insignificant", private criticisms enjoyed as personal entertainment... things small, unseen to most people, pests that run rampant and become visible when left alone. I'm asking the Lord to shine His light and reveal these pests wherever they lurk. Every thought captive. Every motive pure. Every high and lofty thing that would exalt itself against my Lord vanquished and subjugated.

Second, I've been thinking about heaven. With our trip to the US just days away, I've been looking to what lies ahead. I imagine the sights and, perhaps more, the smells. I want to stand in a beauty salon, close my eyes and breathe deep...and the Yankee candle store...and the cosmetic counters at Dillards or Lazarus. There are many spectacular sights in Vietnam...the ocean view, mountains that look as if clouds are resting on their peaks, night-time river views with lights reflecting across the water. So what makes the images of my mind so wondrously beautiful? They are home. Is that how I will feel about heaven: will it be like stepping into vivid technicolor? Will every smell, sound and sight feel like home? I think so. And thinking about it has helped me catch hold a little more of Paul's words about heaven being far more desireable.

Third, the signs. In the US, when special days are coming, the stores signal, announce and trumpet it with decorations, cards, and seasonal home decor. My first clue to the arrival of some of the holidays here is the smell of incense. To honor, remember, include the ancestors, incense is burned on little home altars, and offerings of fruit or other favorite food is placed there (one had a small bag of Skittles candy on it!). No matter how big or small the holiday, incense is always one of my clues to its arrival.

And, lastly, I have been pondering the "God-shaped hole" in every heart that makes us long for eternity. Recently I learned that when someone becomes elderly here, they become known as "the mother of John" or "the father of Jane"...the name used is that of the oldest child. So, for example, years from now, I will be known as "Me Jillian" (pronounced "may Jillian) for "mother of Jilllian. I think it is a cultural way of wanting to express that "life goes on" and the parent will live through succeeding generations. Linh told me that she did not know her grandfather's given name until he died when she was 14 years old, because the only name she had ever heard him called was "father of Quyen" (her father's name). Eternity beats within the heart of every person. We long for it. This life is short, at best. We may know the elation of many joys and privileges, but we may experience gut-wrenching heartache, excruciating pain, fear, sorrow and despair. There is more! Somewhere deep within, we know it. We hope for it.

So, these random thoughts have been occupying the space between my ears and churning in my heart. I know this message is a bit long, but I wanted to share with you while it is fresh on my mind. I don't know if I will have the opportunity to post many messages before we leave for the US.

This week, I hope you, too, will have some time to ponder the things around you. God is speaking! He reveals Himself daily and brings His Word to greater understanding as we let Him apply it to our daily lives.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

The Week In Pictures

Saturday: Joy lost a front tooth. "Look, Mom! Now I can eat pasghetti!"

Sunday: We returned from church to find this lizard waiting patiently for a ride in a bicycle basket with Apple the Bear. He really surprised us!

Monday: Dat and Ut returned home, after visiting for a few days while Ut had follow-up medical visits. Dat's haircut was our last preparation for him to begin the school year!

Tuesday: A couple of homeschool stories. Jillian (above) celebrates a perfect score on her history test! Earlier that morning, the girls were talking about putting on a "Plymouth Play." Jillian had assigned parts for Samoset, Squanto and Massasoit. Playfully, Dad said, "I'll be John Smith." Jillian rolled her eyes, "You can't, Dad. John Smith was at Jamestown, not at Plymouth. You'll have to be Miles Standish." (Mom's "teacher heart" was dancing!)

In another history lesson, Anna Mei was taking notes about Plymouth. The text said, "In selecting Plymouth as the site for their settlement, the Pilgrims looked for a place with fresh drinking water, a good harbor, and the freedom from unfriendly Indians." Anna Mei's notes said: "Good water, good harbor, good Indians."

During a fast-paced game of "Name That World Landmark", I showed the girls a picture of the Suez Canal. "It's a canal!" cried Jillian. Wanting to be the first to name the site, Anna Mei (below) blurted, "I know! I know! Root Canal!"

Wednesday: Faith shows Joy that she too, has now lost her right front tooth. We can't tell who is more excited! Twins in everything!

I can't leave Elizabeth out! She has finished two reading books this year. Keeping her busy is a challenge...she almost always finishes every subject by 11:00 am!

Dreams

At different times in my life, I've dreamed of what might come to pass in the future. Who I might marry (that one came true), what vocation I would follow, how many children, where we would live, etc., etc., etc.

Some were fanciful, some were funny, some foolish. Recently twoexperiences made me consider the "dreams" of my life with a newappreciation for so many blessings.

"When I see you with your daughters, I dream." That's what a 20-year-old said as I waved the good-bye to the twins on a swim outing with their Dad. She lives at home with 3 siblings, grandparents and parents. She works, bringing the money home to the household. "My mother doesn't love me like that," she said quietly. I tried to reassure her. Cultures are very different. Someday, she can be the kind of mother she herself has longed for.

Another woman, seriously ill, dreams of seeing her child reach adulthood. It appears unlikely, from a human standpoint. Still, she dreams of what he will become. The education he will attain. The job he will hold. The family he will raise. Her eyes study his frame while he plays. Possibilities dance in her stedfast gaze, drawing up tears of longing.

Dreams are powerful. It is a wonderful gift that God grants us to reach out and up for something bigger than ourselves...something greater, something gallant, beautiful, life-giving, noble.

May my dreaming be worthy of the One who has dreamed up a future and hope for me. Father, keep me from consuming Your goodness only on myself. Open the portals of my heart wide and deep to the world around me. And let me dream...

Grace and peace!

Bittersweet

Dat and his new bike!

Dat receives a back pack from Enoch and Marissa. Ut is on the left.

Dat gets his first piece of birthday cake ever!

Birthday boy in with decorations. Joy colored the cake picture above the balloons.

Life in Vietnam seems to move at an ever increasing pace. Here are some hightlights from the past week or so...

...we celebrated Dat's birth and life last Friday night. He had never had a party before, so he was very happy with the balloons, flag banners, cake, ice cream, special meal and presents. Duc and Linh, Enoch and Marissa, and Bee celebrated with us. Dat received some more school supplies from Duc and Linh, a back pack from Enoch and Marissa (filled with art supplies), and a bike from the Brewer clan. We had a chance to share with Dat that his life is no accident. He has a great purpose designed from His Heavenly Father. We celebrated not only the past event of his birth, but the anticipation of a bright future. Ut and Dat both expressed heartfelt gratitude. Hard to believe that four months ago, Ut was not expected to survive through September.

...on Saturday, Ut and Dat returned home to Hiep Duc. If there has been a time in Vietnam when we smiled through tears, this was it. Tony, all the girls, Duc, Linh and Sally, and Enoch and Marissa accompanied them. (I stayed at the house to work on lesson plans for the week.) Before he left, Dat followed me to the kitchen. He caught my hand and said simply, "Mommy, you will not forget me?" I assured him that would be impossible. Tony and the group got them to their home, and stocked with food. We will see them again in a couple of weeks.

...Anna Mei had a mishap at an indoor playground and chipped a front tooth. Thankfully, the gum does not appear damaged and it is not causing her pain. Also, we are glad to have an upcoming opportunity to visit our dentist in the US!

...We made a working compass in science class using a sewing needle and a bar magnet. It reminded me of the internal compass God provides that points us to Him--the Holy Spirit. Like the needle, we don't have to strive or work to be pointed in the right direction--we simply need to surrender and follow where He points us.

...We celebrated Marissa's birthday yesterday. How wonderful to share life in Vietnam with great friends! Marissa and Enoch are making a difference in the lives of children and poor families. They are a blessing to our family also.

...because of the time to order and have materials delivered, we have just scored achievement tests from last year. We praise God for good results!

All in all, it's been a great week. God is good. His mercy endures forever! Grace and peace!

A New Day

Our twin sword fish!
First day with uniforms.

The first day of school.

Elizabeth reads to Faith in the book corner.

We officially have the first week of the new homeschool year under our belt! It feels good, but it has been a busy and tiring week. The girls are off to a great start!

Here are some updates from our home...

Ut arrived this week from the hospital. She is gaining strength daily. Last night I went to sit with her for awhile. She speaks no English, so beyond greetings, I just sit on the side of her bed and hold her hand. Last night she started crying. I thought she might be in pain, so I called Linh. Linh talked to her on the phone, then told me, "She is not in pain. She said that no one has ever shown love to her like this--ever. It makes her cry for joy that all of you care for her and Dat." Then, Ut wasn't the only one crying...

Bee was clearly frustrated and unhappy. And, if the cook ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. :) Turns out she was unable to keep up with kitchen duties, as well as helping in the house. So, in exchange for a reduced salary, she is now only working in the kitchen. Quinn (age 20) has joined us to help with laundry and housework, especially during the school year. Quinn is a believer and speaks some English. Bee is happy again. Quinn has been a blessing. This week, Quinn's 14-year-old brother, Ung, has been with us while his parents attend training at their church. He has been a good friend for Dat and Jillian to play cards and ride bikes.

The girls asked if they could wear uniforms this year. So...after the first day of school, we did a little shopping. The "normal" uniform here is navy skirt/pants with a white shirt/blouse. We wear uniforms Mon, Wed and Fri. Tues and Thurs are "street clothes" days. That way, one uniform each does everyone. Sally wanted to match, so she got a uniform also. Cute!

I was privileged to share the Word at the international church last Sunday. I spoke on Psalm 84: The Life That Worships. Worship that is rooted in relationship (v.1-4), resolute in suffering (v.5-7) and radiant with confidence of God's provision and presence (v. 8-12). Charles Spurgeon called Ps. 84 "The Pearl of the Psalms."

Have faced some personal disappointments, but we look to Jesus as our source for everything. He is faithful. I just want my heart to remain soft, teachable, and ever pointed to Home. I was reminded of God's "built-in compass" that draws us to Him today when we made a compass in our science class--amazing.

I pray that you find also that, whatever we face, God is good, His love endures forever. Sing praise...
Grace and peace!

Reminders

Jillian with Dat.

As you can imagine in our work here there are many daily details to attend to. Plans to be made; arrangements for translators, drivers, etc.; contacts to be made; schedules to outline--with all their details from bathroom breaks to food to driving time to ... on and on it goes. Sometimes the children themselves can get pushed to the background. Then, mercifully, the Lord gives us a reminder.

Today at lunch, I asked Dat when is his birthday. He didn't bat an eye. He just said simply, "I don't know." I tried not to visibly flinch, but my heart was pierced with the weight of what he was saying.

Dat is 14. Yet thoughts of cake, ice cream, games, presents, a gathering of family and friends--they are nowhere in his memory bank. His mother loves him--but in their struggle to provide her son with food, shelter and education, all made more difficult by her own debilitating illness, there is no room for balloons or songs.

Dat is not an isolated case. Most of the children we have contact with would say the same.

Our hearts long to tell them they are specially made, lovingly handcrafted by a Heavenly Father who has created them with worth, dignity and destiny. They are important enough to be fed well, to have clothing and education provided. They are valued enough that it matters if they have a safe home, a comfortable bed, curtains at the window, and a place to hang their hat.

For me, that sums it up. They are why I am here. I want them all to know that they are not outcasts. They are not the bottom, they are not less, they are not alone.

So every outing, every activity, every provision, every renovation--it is all worth it. At the end of it all are children who may have no inkling that they are loved by anyone.

So thank you, Lord, and thank you, Dat, for reminding me today. The work is important. The details matter. They are sending a message. Pray that it will be received.

Grace and peace!

Thankful

Marissa and Enoch at the western medical clinic following the bike accident.

With Joy's leg healing so well; Ut regaining strength after a successful surgery; and all but one box of our homeschool material here at the house, I have been counting blessings today.

Last week, Marissa and Enoch had a mishap on the motorbike. Swerving to miss a bicycle, while in a patch of gravel, (returning from Dai Loc) the bike slid and both went skidding on the pavement. The result: some ugly scrapes on shins, hands, feet and forearms; a couple of gaping wounds; sprained wrists; sore bodies. But, thankfully...the cyclist was not injured, all wounds are healing, strength is returning. Without a doubt, it could have been so much worse.

Life is precious, friends are dear, the Lord is near. So much for which to be thankful.

Grace and peace!

Motoring Message

Take a good look at what's in the baskets!

There is something about riding the motorbike that makes me think about this journey of life.

Today I was out with Chau, riding to the bookstore to look at materials for the girls to study Vietnamese as part of our school day this coming year. It was very hot (well over 100), but a beautiful day, and not bad with the wind as we rode.

Driving in Danang is always an adventure. The traffic is ever unpredictable. There is always something new to see--animals strapped, tied, or put in baskets lashed to a motorbike, furniture deliveries using bicycles with carts tied to them for delivery trucks, large water cooler bottles strapped in every possible configuration to a motorbike... Still, whatever the weather, whatever the view, we motor on towards a destination, taking it all in, marveling at the ingenuity or grimacing at the danger of it all.

It is a bird's eye view of this life with Jesus, I think. In peace or peril; unnerving or uneventful; filled with fun, frustration or fear; with the wind to your back or sand flying in your face; still, we keep moving on.

This morning in our staff devotion time, I was thinking about the journey of this past year. It's been quite a ride. At times exhilharating, other times exhausting...always an experience. :) It has been where "the rubber meets the road" for me spiritually--facing things that I never thought I could or would; finding so much joy in the midst of the heat, the rain, the language barriers, cultural differences, medical emergencies, and a host of other situations that I would have shuttered to face in my imagination. But, like riding on the back of the motorbike, sometimes you just have to hang on, trust that the driver knows what he's doing and enjoy the ride.

Sir Winston Churchill said, "Success is not final, Failure not fatal. It is the courage to continue that really counts."

May the Lord provide the courage you need to continue the journey...and enjoy it as you go!

Grace and peace!

The Now and The Not Yet

I had some time alone yesterday--a rarity. While motoring around Danang,I was chuckling to myself about the incongruities that are everywhere...

...the beautiful, glass-enclosed restaurants with pressed white linens,chair skirts tied with fanciful ribbons--and a silver tray of square papers in the center of the table that are the...napkins.

...the full-time ladies' restroom attendant who vigilantly maintains shining tile floors, and spotless mirrors--and then neatly hangs her rubber gloves, cleaning rags and supplies on the hardware under the sink--in full view of the patrons.

...the ground breaking of a new apartment house where 30 management-type folk all wore yellow or white hardhats to watch the bulldozer dig, while down the street, a makeshift platform loaded with bricks swung precariously from a rope while two shirtless, barefoot workers struggled to pull it up to them on the second story, where they stood on homemade scaffolding.

...the "Big C Supercenter" that now has hairspray, hot glue guns, and whipping cream, but has only 4 colors of nail polish: green, gold, purple and red.

In the midst of my gentle chuckling. I felt the Lord nudge me with the thought that that's the way He sees me. Making progress in some areas, still coming up pitifully, and perhaps humorously, short in others. I am a person of the now and the not yet. I love Him more today than last month or last year; I understand more; I hear His voice better; my faith and obedience have grown. And yet...I live, too, in the "not yet"...there is so much room for improvement, for more peace, for more victory.

Admitting this about myself, and embracing it, can be a source of grace to extend to others. To celebrate growth and victories in the now, to be patient, forgiving and understanding in the instances of the "not yet."

Father, pour Your grace through me. Put a smile in my heart, as well as on my lips. Let me be to others what You are to me...kind, respectful, tender, understanding, loving, wise.

May you experience the presence of the One who knows you best as you walk through the Now and the Not Yet of your own life today!

Grace and peace!

Accidents Do Happen

Joy made this butterfly crown.
She learned to make the dress from Anna Mei, using a yard of fabric.

The stitches.

Last week Anna Mei, Elizabeth, Faith and Joy went swimming with Linh, her daughter Sally, and Chau. (Jillian was making a short trip with her Dad.) They had planned to make a day of it, so I was surprised to hear them comethrough the door in just a couple of hours. I could tell by their faces that something was wrong. Anna Mei and Elizabeth burst into tears. Linh said, "Joy is at the hospital." I grabbed my motorbike helmet and purse so Linh could take me to Joy. More of the story began to unfold.

Joy was jumping into the pool, and fell hitting her shin bone squarely onthe edge of a step. The gash revealed the bone. Linh and Chau both had cell phones with them, but here all cell phones are prepaid, and they were both out of minutes. So, they couldn't call me. Chau took Joy to the nearest hospital (which, honestly, I am just as glad that I cannotdescribe--it would probably make me worry). By the time Linh and I reached her, she was eating porridge at a restaurant. She has four or five long stitches in her leg. They gave her antibiotics and something like tylenol to take. As is customary here, they said we could come to the hospital every day to have the dressing changed. They did x-rays to make sure the bone itself was fine (it was).

Of all the things we have done in our time here, I think navigating healthcare is the most stressful. It is unsettling to me to speak todoctors through translators, and try to anticipate and decide about treatment options.Still, tonight I am thankful. Joy is doing well. Her leg is sore, but she is content. All the girls have rallied around her. Jillian has returnedand brought a gift for her injured sister. Joy has loved having her daddy pray for her leg. At every opportunity, she reminds him--as if he wouldever forget. :)

May you face every challenge secure in the knowledge that you are neveralone!

Our Father's Day

Girls in their new hats!
Shopping for hats at the market.

Group picture at the movie--the whole crew, other than photographers Enoch and Marissa!

Our second Father's Day in Vietnam was completely different from the first! Last year, we had just arrived in Danang. Everyone was still jet lagged and a bit "out of it." We missed acknowledging the day altogether. Just trying to get our "land legs" back. This year was packed with activity! Of course, we worshiped at the international church; then, we brought a group of 10 young ladies from theDai Loc orphanage to Danang to see the Hannah Montana movie on the big screen. For most of them, it was their first theater experience, completewith popcorn and soda. The movies here are shown in English with Vietnamese subtitles. (This was the first "movie trip" for the Dai Loc kids--we will continue with small groups until all have had the same experience!)

A couple weeks ago, when the coat trees were delivered to the orphanage(one per room), we told the girls that now they each had a place to hangtheir hats. Everyone here wears a hat in the sun. One of the girls said, "In our room, only one of the four of us has a hat." So, after the movie, we took the girls across the street to a market so each one could choose a new hat for the summer. What fun!

After the outing, we returned home for supper. The girls had made cards for Tony, and bought him a tie--his first here in Vietnam! Before we had left for church, we had made a peanut butter pie. We had to improvise a little. We used a round cake pan. The recipe called for corn syrup. After searching two large grocery stores and coming out empty-handed, I decided to use pancake syrup. The result tasted good, but I would call it a "pancake pie" since that is what it tasted like to me--pancakes with peanut butter and syrup.

I couldn't help but think what a blessing to share a great dad, for at least one day, with kids that do not have a father's arms on a regular basis. It was a wonderful way to celebrate, and honor Tony, as well as the Father of us all!

With all the activities in out in the heat, we were all worn out by the end of the day. But, the weariness felt good. I felt like we had planted seeds that will take root. Here's wishing you a fruitful garden, too!

Grace and peace!

Visit to Hue

Jillian didn't enjoy the swinging boat as much as Elizabeth did!

Anna Mei and Faith on the roller coaster.

Faith and Joy loved swinging and rode it 4 times!

Elizabeth, Anna Mei and Dat on a roller coaster.

Another Friday morning here in sunny Vietnam! We may really have a couple of days as a family coming up now--yippee!

I mentioned in my last message that we had a group here from CBN last weekend, and during their visit we met Ut, a single mother of 14-year-old Dat. Ut has some serious health problems and we took her to the town of Hue ("whay") earlier this week to be evaluated and hopefully treated at a hospital that is supposed to be one of the best here. It is the hospital affiliated with the medical college, so offers many more specialties and experienced staff with surgeries, etc.



The hospital is overcrowded. In fact, Ut is sharing a bed with another patient--a man. Our co-worker Chau has been staying in Hue to help Ut, getting her water, etc. Tony and Duc stayed a couple of days there this week to talk to the staff, pay for tests, etc. We have heard that it is common for hospital stays to be 30 days or more.



Dat, Ut's son, has stayed with me and the girls. They have taken him in as a brother and the six of them have had a great time overall. Of course, Dat misses his mother and we have to work at communication since he speaks no English (although he can count to ten). They have ridden bikes, gone swimming, and been to the movies together. He and Jillian enjoy playing catch in the hall upstairs, or if Elizabeth and Anna Mei join in, a game of "Keep Away."


The day Ut was admitted to the hospital, we all went to Hue. There was park with a few rides across from the hospital. The girls and Dat enjoyed it immensely, although the only ride Dat really liked was some cars--the others were too fast or high for his taste.


That's been our week. Tony returned last night from Hue, and we are going to have some family time today and tomorrow.



Please remember Ut. Her condition is very serious--all the possibilities mentioned so far are either terminal or at least life-threatening. Our friends have shared the hope of the ages with her. I am reminded of a quote from Corrie ten Boom: "There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still."


Grace and peace!

A Happy Anniversary

Duc and Linh surprised us with this cake!

Well, it's official...we've been in Vietnam for a year! So, I've beensitting here tonight thinking about what I have learned...how I'vechanged...what difference this year has made in me.

Here is my top 10...I've learned that...
...there is hot, and there is HOT
....a "bad hair day" has nothing on "helmet hair."
...chopsticks can be used to repair a variety of household appliances.
...it's best to laugh: Thanksgiving, 16 coming for lunch, no electricity.
...central Vietnam does get cold, at least for a couple of weeks.
...a loving smile needs no translation.
...it is possible for the heart to be broken...and broken again...andbroken again...for sweet children in dire need.
...I love riding a motorbike!
...the safest, happiest, most comforting place to be is in the will of God.
...we're all in this together...one plants, another waters, but it is Godwho gives the growth.

One more note about our recent activities. We had a small team from the US come visit. It has been a whirlwind! We visited some families in need. One mother we met has an emergency need for surgery because ofabdominal tumors. She and her son are with us tonight; we leave first thing in the morning for a hospital in a town 50 miles from here that has the specialists she needs. Her 14-year-old son is with her. The girls have been a blessing to him...they rode bikes tonight, and watched a movie. Now they are playing "keep away" in the hall. He speaks no English, but they have managed just fine. Please pray for his mother. Her condition is serious. There are no other family members.

Grace and peace!

Toss me another brick!

Elizabeth and Anna Mei at the brick pile.
One of the staff members at Dai Loc throws me a brick.

A busy week as we have been preparing for a small team from CBN to comevisit our work and gain an update since they were last here in the fall. At Dai Loc, we have been busy painting everything in the children's rooms that doesn't move. There are now colorful pictures on the walls--small murals of hearts, butterflies, puppies, fish, tigers, pandas--every room has something different. New furnishings, new curtains--it is really taking shape!





Yesterday I was at Dai Loc helping with some of the clean up. There was a large pile of bricks left from one of the building projects. I'm not particularly skilled at many things, but I can stack bricks. So, the girls and I began to stack them. It wasn't long until a couple of the orphanage staff joined us. Then, kids began to wander over. Before long,we had a crew of about a dozen. We started out each picking up two bricks at a time and carrying them to the neat stacks. Soon, a couple of the boys started to work together, one carefully tossing a brick to his buddy,who then simply turned and put it on the stack. Soon, we had several lines going, tossing bricks from the shrinking pile and placing them neatly on the stack. The work went so fast. And it was fun. We didn't need a translator, or instruction--we just did it. If someone would ever have suggested that I would enjoy stacking bricks in 100-degree-plus weather, I would have scoffed. :)





Tony shared the sweetest story with me. He was at Dai Loc a few days ago. The normal schedule in the Vietnamese culture is to take a rest time immediately after lunch, much like a siesta. So, Tony found an empty room at Dai Loc and stretched out on the wooden bed frame. It wasn't long till one of the young boys came in the room and laid down beside him. He put his head on Tony's arm, and his own arm stretched across Tony's chest, and went to sleep. I'm sure he felt comforted, safe, and peaceful. Bless him, Lord.





It has been a joy and privilege to get to know the children and staffbetter at Dai Loc. Thank You, Lord, for these experiences! And, I thank the Lord for all those who have partnered with us in prayer and in financial giving to make the way for us to do this work. Every prayer and every gift is like throwing us another brick to work with. Because of you, a pile of hardships is being removed. A heap of chaos is finding order. Lives are being built with materials of hope, kindness,and affirmation.





So...thanks for the bricks...





Grace and peace!

Kids and Critters

Linh holds a squid head, part of the menu.
Anna Mei does a back flip on the moonwalk.

Me with two of the teenage girls.

A crowd gathered for Keith's balloon sculptures.

The lizard.

Whew! I had thought that things would slow down when school was out. Wrong! After a clean up day on Friday, on Saturday, we headed out of Danang in a van to Hiep Duc, about 2 hours away, to look at possible sites for an orphanage. There were 14 of us--our family; Marissa and Enoch; Duc, Linh and Sally; Chau and Bee. It was a great day, but lots of driving.

Sunday was a whirlwind. It was raining, so we took a taxi to church. I was privileged to share the message (I shared from Exodus 33:14,14), "Show Me Your Ways." In the afternoon, the girls were invited to a birthday party, so we were out again.

Now, about the "kids" in the title of this note...
Monday was International Children's Day in Vietnam. We were asked to do something fun with the children at Dai Loc. Yea! We were able to take a large "moonwalk" castle for the kids. Also, we had activities like face painting, balloon sculpture, juggling, bubbles and an impromptu "nail salon" for the older girls. Bee supervised a special meal like she did at Christmas, and then we finished the evening with a showing of the movie "Bolt."

The kids were so happy! Our group of 14 was joined by Keith, an English teacher here from Michigan; and two friends of the girls--Lucia, from New Zealand, and Hannah, a dual citizen of Vietnam and the US (we celebrated Hannah's 5th birthday with her on Sunday).
Even though it was hot, hot, hot, the kids didn't seem to mind. They laughed and played, and lined up for balloons and face painting. They enjoyed watching Keith and Enoch juggle, and some of the kids tried their hand with Marissa at face painting. Anna Mei and Jillian started out painting nails, but the girls quickly got into the spirit of it all and started painting each other's nails.

After dinner, one of the younger boys (about 9 years old) came up to Duc and said, "This food was SO good! I ate and ate and ate!"

We shared a little about friends and encouragement before the movie. Planting seeds, always planting.

We passed out snacks during the movie. Afterwards, we hit the road for Danang, arriving home a tired, dusty crew. Then showers and to bed... except for the excitement of a creepy crawly critter...

When we got a home, we discovered a large spider in the entry way at the house. Actually, the girls spotted it. I had walked next door to Doe's cafe to get a cold Sprite. I could hear screaming, and I wondered why Tony wasn't calming everyone down. When I walked in the door, the girls were in a far corner huddled together. Tony, Duc, Enoch, and Keith each had a large shoe in their hands, doing battle with the long-legged beast. It was a hard-fought battle with intermittant jumping, squealing, and shivers--and that was from the men. :) In the end, Keith and Enoch chased it out, Duc stunned and clobbered it, and Tony finished it off.

The other critter story happened on Friday. Marissa came into the office and said that a large iguana had followed her into our house. With camera in hand, we all went downstairs to see the varmint. Tony said on the way down the stairs that he needed to see the size of the creature to tell if this was a job for him or for Bee. I learned later that he was thinking if it was large, he would wait for Bee!

Our large iguana turned out to be a healthy gecko (I think). Although not impressively large, he was quick enough to make Duc dance, sending us all into fits of laughter. We finally chased him out. The dogs, Caphe and Basille, were safely locked inside, since the Bo's were not home. So, the creature lived to see another day.

Today, motoring toward Dai Loc in the 106 degree heat, I had to laugh. A few years ago, I would never have imagined myself in some of these situations...and loving it!

God is good...all the time!
Grace and peace.