Happy Birthday, Anna Mei!
Servicing the air conditionerHmmm, where to begin? Writing has been one of those things that I mean to get around to, then run out of steam and leave for tomorrow. Of course, with each passing day, a few grains of regret pile on, too. So, today I am breaking the cycle. Let’s catch up!
Orphan Voice has been busy! We’ve had a couple different groups of teams or individuals spend some time with us. Some have been our guests at the house. We have been blessed by each one. What a joy to share our work with visitors and partners! Seeing the children firsthand has changed all our lives.
School is marching right along. This past week, the girls surpassed their cumulative reading goal for the year of 8,000 pages. We currently stand at just under 8,200. We may make it beyond 10,000 pages by the time we finish our work for the year. Awesome! I am busy ordering next year’s curriculum because of the gracious generosity of a team from Massachusetts. They will save our family several hundred dollars in shipping charges by bringing the books with them this summer. The abundant kindness of our friends is touching, humbling and inspiring.
Two weeks ago I had the privilege again to share the message at the Danang International Fellowship. My title was “The Forgotten 50”—focusing on the days between the Resurrection and Pentecost. I will attach some notes in a separate email, so this won’t get too long. I did want to say that we feel a genuine, fresh move of the presence of the HS. Our fellowship together is sweeter, more anticipated, more dynamic, more tender, than ever before.
Tony, Jillian, Anna Mei and I are all officially studying Vietnamese. We take classes at a language center here in Danang. The girls and I study there four hours per week. Tony, Marissa and Enoch, along with a new Orphan Voice staffer, Audrey, study about 9 hours per week. It is very challenging.
Last Sunday we celebrated Anna Mei’s 10th birthday. It was also Mother’s Day. What a special reminder of God’s gift to our family! Anna Mei is a smart, creative, beautiful bundle of energy. Recently, Jillian got a skate board. Anna Mei attacked the art of rolling in a circle with the determination of a Gold medal athlete. She was undaunted by slips, spills, bobbles and mishaps. Before long, she was rolling along at a surprising clip, turning on a dime and continuing on. That spirit of perseverance is a wonderful thing to behold. And, when Anna Mei repeatedly expressed an interest in learning to play the flute, we decided to make that her birthday gift.
It was a household affair. Linh started the search in Danang for a flute. Not only could she not find one, stores that carried trumpets and saxophones told her that they knew of no place in the entire city where we could find a flute. Then Marissa and Linh started looking on line. A store in Danang said they could order a “flute”, but when Marissa (an accomplished flautist) went to look at it, it wasn’t a flute at all. Then we thought of Quyen (“Quinn”). Quyen helps us with household chores. Her boyfriend is a music major at a university in Hue (“whay”), which is about 3 hours away by motorbike. After a few calls, Marissa and Linh drove to Hue and were able to purchase a good quality beginner’s flute. Anna Mei began lessons with Marissa this week!
The Birthday Party was at a local pool/resort. We invited some friends, enjoyed swimming, and cake, ice cream and presents. It was a great time.
Monday morning, we were back to school. Our schedule has been a little relaxed. Our helper Chau had a motorbike accident last week. Nothing terribly serious, but she has some nasty scrapes. We’ve tried to accommodate her healing by going a little slower, giving her more opportunities to sit, etc.
Yesterday we had the air conditioners serviced. Like in the US, filters need to be changed/cleaned, and sometimes Freon added. For about $15, a repairman serviced 5 units. There is no such thing as central air here—every room has its own air conditioning unit, usually mounted at the top of a wall. The fellow who came stood on tables, chairs and desks. In the school room, he climbed the iron scroll work on the windows that is there for security purposes. As a last resort, he brought a ladder, borrowed from Mr. Bo. Afterall, how can you carry your ladder when you travel by motorbike?
We are thankful for protection and health. This past week, someone on a motorbike whizzed past Enoch and Marissa as they were driving and tried to grab the strap of Marissa’s purse out of her hand. (Wisely, she had the purse between her and Enoch on the bike.) Instinctively, she jerked back on the strap and was able to keep her bag. We are told this is not uncommon, and that sometimes people will try to pull off necklaces and bracelets as you drive as well.
Of course, the summer is upon us as well. We have seen a noticeable upturn in temperatures over the past couple of weeks. The peak is still ahead of us.
Our hearts’ desire is that we would faithfully fulfill everything He has put in our hands. Good things are happening here in the lives of our family, co-workers, and the children we endeavor to help.
May you, too, experience the deep joy that comes from a never-ending need to depend upon the One who never fails!
Grace and peace!
Orphan Voice has been busy! We’ve had a couple different groups of teams or individuals spend some time with us. Some have been our guests at the house. We have been blessed by each one. What a joy to share our work with visitors and partners! Seeing the children firsthand has changed all our lives.
School is marching right along. This past week, the girls surpassed their cumulative reading goal for the year of 8,000 pages. We currently stand at just under 8,200. We may make it beyond 10,000 pages by the time we finish our work for the year. Awesome! I am busy ordering next year’s curriculum because of the gracious generosity of a team from Massachusetts. They will save our family several hundred dollars in shipping charges by bringing the books with them this summer. The abundant kindness of our friends is touching, humbling and inspiring.
Two weeks ago I had the privilege again to share the message at the Danang International Fellowship. My title was “The Forgotten 50”—focusing on the days between the Resurrection and Pentecost. I will attach some notes in a separate email, so this won’t get too long. I did want to say that we feel a genuine, fresh move of the presence of the HS. Our fellowship together is sweeter, more anticipated, more dynamic, more tender, than ever before.
Tony, Jillian, Anna Mei and I are all officially studying Vietnamese. We take classes at a language center here in Danang. The girls and I study there four hours per week. Tony, Marissa and Enoch, along with a new Orphan Voice staffer, Audrey, study about 9 hours per week. It is very challenging.
Last Sunday we celebrated Anna Mei’s 10th birthday. It was also Mother’s Day. What a special reminder of God’s gift to our family! Anna Mei is a smart, creative, beautiful bundle of energy. Recently, Jillian got a skate board. Anna Mei attacked the art of rolling in a circle with the determination of a Gold medal athlete. She was undaunted by slips, spills, bobbles and mishaps. Before long, she was rolling along at a surprising clip, turning on a dime and continuing on. That spirit of perseverance is a wonderful thing to behold. And, when Anna Mei repeatedly expressed an interest in learning to play the flute, we decided to make that her birthday gift.
It was a household affair. Linh started the search in Danang for a flute. Not only could she not find one, stores that carried trumpets and saxophones told her that they knew of no place in the entire city where we could find a flute. Then Marissa and Linh started looking on line. A store in Danang said they could order a “flute”, but when Marissa (an accomplished flautist) went to look at it, it wasn’t a flute at all. Then we thought of Quyen (“Quinn”). Quyen helps us with household chores. Her boyfriend is a music major at a university in Hue (“whay”), which is about 3 hours away by motorbike. After a few calls, Marissa and Linh drove to Hue and were able to purchase a good quality beginner’s flute. Anna Mei began lessons with Marissa this week!
The Birthday Party was at a local pool/resort. We invited some friends, enjoyed swimming, and cake, ice cream and presents. It was a great time.
Monday morning, we were back to school. Our schedule has been a little relaxed. Our helper Chau had a motorbike accident last week. Nothing terribly serious, but she has some nasty scrapes. We’ve tried to accommodate her healing by going a little slower, giving her more opportunities to sit, etc.
Yesterday we had the air conditioners serviced. Like in the US, filters need to be changed/cleaned, and sometimes Freon added. For about $15, a repairman serviced 5 units. There is no such thing as central air here—every room has its own air conditioning unit, usually mounted at the top of a wall. The fellow who came stood on tables, chairs and desks. In the school room, he climbed the iron scroll work on the windows that is there for security purposes. As a last resort, he brought a ladder, borrowed from Mr. Bo. Afterall, how can you carry your ladder when you travel by motorbike?
We are thankful for protection and health. This past week, someone on a motorbike whizzed past Enoch and Marissa as they were driving and tried to grab the strap of Marissa’s purse out of her hand. (Wisely, she had the purse between her and Enoch on the bike.) Instinctively, she jerked back on the strap and was able to keep her bag. We are told this is not uncommon, and that sometimes people will try to pull off necklaces and bracelets as you drive as well.
Of course, the summer is upon us as well. We have seen a noticeable upturn in temperatures over the past couple of weeks. The peak is still ahead of us.
Our hearts’ desire is that we would faithfully fulfill everything He has put in our hands. Good things are happening here in the lives of our family, co-workers, and the children we endeavor to help.
May you, too, experience the deep joy that comes from a never-ending need to depend upon the One who never fails!
Grace and peace!
