Fears and Disappointments
Have you ever had one of those weeks that just didn't go like you planned it? I guess in life, most weeks kind of go that way. But this past week has REALLY been one of those weeks. We have been quite excited for some time now to get back to America and see family and friends and reconnect with them all, and being with a lot of our family over the last few weeks has been wonderful.
However, one of the main things we'd really been looking forward to was getting back to our home church, Johnston Chapel Baptist, and experiencing the joy of being with that body of believers again. Well...last Sunday, our services were canceled due to bad weather. Of course, as a side note, our kids loved the bad weather. :) Anytime they get to play in snow will be a good time. But we didn't get to go to church, and we'd been looking forward to that for almost three years. Then, Claire and I started getting sick with a cold, and that cold has lasted all week. As you know, we've been doing AWANA with our kids at home to keep them up to date with their books so that when we got here, they'd be good to go. I think Kate and Claire are more excited to go to Sparks and Cubbies than most anything else right now. Well...Claire was too sick this past Wednesday to go, so we stayed home, again. Then, Ben got sick with the same cold later in the week. Now it is early Sunday morning. I think Claire is well enough to go. The plan is to head to church and just keep the kids with us to avoid exposing other kids to Ben's cold. Kate's prayer the last few days has been that we can go to church, and I think that is just finally going to happen. WE CAN'T WAIT! Not being in an English speaking church for several years just takes its toll. Not being around the family of believers that supports us in so many ways besides just financially takes its toll. Now we finally get to experience it. I'm so excited that I could hardly sleep and have been up since 5 thinking about it. :)
As for the rest of our crazy week... There have been some good moments and some really tough ones too. Our mini van that we stored while we were in PNG seems to be acting up a bit, so we may need to get a new one. That was not fun news. My computer, where we do the majority of our work and correspondence, crashed the other night. That was also a bit discouraging.
Because the last time we came to the states, things really didn't go as we planned, I have had some major fears about coming again this time. I really had to learn to give those fears over to God before we ever stepped on the first plane. But when things started to go bad this past week with the kids being sick and with our car acting up and with the computer crashing, I must say that those fears quickly crept back in. I know that God is in control of all things, but that doesn't mean that I always like those things that He has allowed in the past. In hindsight, I can always see His leading and some of His purposes and how He changes me through the trials. It is just a daily trust issue with me. I daily must give my fears over to Him and trust Him. Thanks for your prayers for me and for our family in this area. I'm so thankful that I serve a God that loves me as a Father and only wants the very best for me.
When we went to PNG for the first time back in 2006, we definitely experienced culture shock. Adjusting to life in a third-world country was not easy. It never will be. But I don't think I ever dreamed that I'd be experiencing that same kind of culture shock when we came back here. However, after living in America for the last several weeks, I can definitely say that I am just floored by the modernness, the choices, the convenience, the technology and the fast-paced lifestyle in this country. There is nothing wrong with it all. It is just new to me all over again, and I think it is going to take some getting used to. I think I break out into a cold sweat every time I go into Walmart and try to pick something out or every time I get to a restaurant and try to order something from a menu with a thousand choices. :)
Our kids too are just completely overwhelmed by it all. Please pray for their adjustment to life here. They are loving it, but it is just harder than we thought it would be. A few days ago, Kate told me, "Mommy, you know how I told you that I wanted to go to America before I went to Heaven. Well, now I think that I was wrong. I just want to go to Heaven." Please pray for our family over this next week. Love you all!
USA Reality Check: When we got into the toy section of the store yesterday, Ben just flipped out. He was instantly screaming and trying to grab everything in sight. I think it was just a little too much visual stimulation for my little guy. :)
However, one of the main things we'd really been looking forward to was getting back to our home church, Johnston Chapel Baptist, and experiencing the joy of being with that body of believers again. Well...last Sunday, our services were canceled due to bad weather. Of course, as a side note, our kids loved the bad weather. :) Anytime they get to play in snow will be a good time. But we didn't get to go to church, and we'd been looking forward to that for almost three years. Then, Claire and I started getting sick with a cold, and that cold has lasted all week. As you know, we've been doing AWANA with our kids at home to keep them up to date with their books so that when we got here, they'd be good to go. I think Kate and Claire are more excited to go to Sparks and Cubbies than most anything else right now. Well...Claire was too sick this past Wednesday to go, so we stayed home, again. Then, Ben got sick with the same cold later in the week. Now it is early Sunday morning. I think Claire is well enough to go. The plan is to head to church and just keep the kids with us to avoid exposing other kids to Ben's cold. Kate's prayer the last few days has been that we can go to church, and I think that is just finally going to happen. WE CAN'T WAIT! Not being in an English speaking church for several years just takes its toll. Not being around the family of believers that supports us in so many ways besides just financially takes its toll. Now we finally get to experience it. I'm so excited that I could hardly sleep and have been up since 5 thinking about it. :)
As for the rest of our crazy week... There have been some good moments and some really tough ones too. Our mini van that we stored while we were in PNG seems to be acting up a bit, so we may need to get a new one. That was not fun news. My computer, where we do the majority of our work and correspondence, crashed the other night. That was also a bit discouraging.
Because the last time we came to the states, things really didn't go as we planned, I have had some major fears about coming again this time. I really had to learn to give those fears over to God before we ever stepped on the first plane. But when things started to go bad this past week with the kids being sick and with our car acting up and with the computer crashing, I must say that those fears quickly crept back in. I know that God is in control of all things, but that doesn't mean that I always like those things that He has allowed in the past. In hindsight, I can always see His leading and some of His purposes and how He changes me through the trials. It is just a daily trust issue with me. I daily must give my fears over to Him and trust Him. Thanks for your prayers for me and for our family in this area. I'm so thankful that I serve a God that loves me as a Father and only wants the very best for me.
When we went to PNG for the first time back in 2006, we definitely experienced culture shock. Adjusting to life in a third-world country was not easy. It never will be. But I don't think I ever dreamed that I'd be experiencing that same kind of culture shock when we came back here. However, after living in America for the last several weeks, I can definitely say that I am just floored by the modernness, the choices, the convenience, the technology and the fast-paced lifestyle in this country. There is nothing wrong with it all. It is just new to me all over again, and I think it is going to take some getting used to. I think I break out into a cold sweat every time I go into Walmart and try to pick something out or every time I get to a restaurant and try to order something from a menu with a thousand choices. :)
Our kids too are just completely overwhelmed by it all. Please pray for their adjustment to life here. They are loving it, but it is just harder than we thought it would be. A few days ago, Kate told me, "Mommy, you know how I told you that I wanted to go to America before I went to Heaven. Well, now I think that I was wrong. I just want to go to Heaven." Please pray for our family over this next week. Love you all!
USA Reality Check: When we got into the toy section of the store yesterday, Ben just flipped out. He was instantly screaming and trying to grab everything in sight. I think it was just a little too much visual stimulation for my little guy. :)
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regina terry February 19, 2012
About the time you get used to the selections at WalMart, and the culture shock has settled down, it will be time to go back and experience extreme changes again. BUT i LOVED seeing you all in church today. Was so glad you had your little ones in the service, and much enjoyed hearing their sweet additions to the children of the world's singing. :-D SO GLAD to have you guys here!!!
Dave and Dennise February 20, 2012
Totally know what you mean. Still struggle with too many choices. I actually found a small Grocery Outlet to do my grocery shopping. I think I feel less overwhelmed there because it is about thLe same size as Bintangor. We love you guys and we are praying for you!
Stephanie Garcia February 20, 2012
We, too, just returned for furlough. We live a small city overseas so perhaps the shock wasn't quite as strong, but even so our kids have been overwhelmed at times. Praying for you today!
Sarah February 21, 2012
It is always hard when reality is different from out expectations. We do have a crazy lot of choices and convenience here in the States and pretty much take it for granted. Long lingering colds seem to be the story of the season - but it is colder down there, it sounds like. I heard it was because there wasn't frost to kill the germs. Praying for you all.