Kowal Family Adventures

Health class update

2011-03-30T13:41:00.001+08:00

Just an update about the health class I am co-teaching for 3 weeks - we are 3 days in and the class is going so well! I always start off the class by letting them know that they're going to be faced with scientifically proven facts (however simple) that may directly contradict what they have been taught or accepted as fact because of cultural tradition. Already some of them are realizing some misconceptions they have had that don't line up with the facts. Sooooo cool to see that happening!

So far we have covered a basic intro and our hopes for the course, an overview of 'what does it mean to be sick, and what makes you sick', and today we talked about ways we can prevent illness and accidents from happening. Tomorrow's lesson is on food groups and healthy eating, and Friday we'll talk about fever and dehydration. That's week one already! Week two is focused on evaluating and caring for the sick, some case studies, and an overview of common medicines; week 3 we'll show them some basic first aid stuff (DH helps with that - so glad!). That's it! Wish we had 3 months instead of 3 weeks... I feel like there's so much so fast that's so new... when something comes up they often go right back to what they know instead of thinking through what they've learned first. 3 weeks sure doesn't feel like enough time to really prepare them to make this a part of their outreach in the future.

The ironic thing is that I have been SICK all week... since Sunday I've had a low-grade fever and sore throat, cough... today my stomach hurts, and tomorrow I'm anticipating some other 'discomfort'... sigh... but I'm cutting back other activities as I can, and resting when I can, too. All shall be well....

Just wanted to share!! Here's a little project Emma made for fun the other day...! She is so good at making something out of nothing. :)

Sorry for being so quiet over here! I'll try to get caught up on older news soon. :)

dorm project begins!

2011-02-10T10:24:00.004+08:00

Just a quick picture to show the site where our new dorm will be built - we began clearing trees from the site last week. This picture is taken from our porch, and since I took it that large tree behind the coconut trunk you can see in the center is also down, along with a few others. The building in the background is our childcare center.

a new year

2011-02-01T10:16:00.000+08:00

We are back into our routine now after a long and relaxing break. We often find ourselves so busy during the academic year here that some things we’d like to have time for get pushed to the side. A few things we enjoyed over the last month: Russ found a way to watch football games live on his computer... I had time to create sample cards for an upcoming craft industry trade show and do a little extra design work (even had a card accepted for publication in a paper crafting magazine)...!We also were able to get away to spend a few nights at a hotel as a family, and had a nice break from homeschooling, too.

We are one week into our new semester now. Russ is teaching 2 classes now – Christian Living and Ephesians. Please pray for him as he prepares his lessons and carries the bulk of the teaching load. Topics have already come up in these classes that have challenged some students’ deep-set thinking, so please pray for the students - and all of us - to be equipped and able to test all things against the standard of Scripture. I will be teaching the health class to our Missions 1 class in April (March 28 – April 21)… soon we’ll begin evaluating last year’s class and what might need revising, so please pray for clear vision.

The Lord continues to provide creatively for us… one huge blessing recently has been the campus garden – there has been lots of eggplant to go around!

After a few tweaks in the plans, we as a staff are ready to go ahead with our dorm building project. It has been encouraging to see supplies and funds come in for this venture, and we are trusting the Lord to continue providing for us. We will need the dorm to be up and ready for new students by the end of July.

The last time I wrote, Russ and Evan had been in an accident on the motorcycle – all their scrapes and bruises are healed up, but Russ continues to have pain and stiffness in his left arm. Not sure if there was further damage, or if he just needs some physical therapy exercises to restore his range of motion... anyway, pray for wisdom for that situation.

Turning over the calendar to a new year has our thoughts on our upcoming furlough in December… we have already begun some planning and scheduling, and our feelings have ranged from excitement to worry with an occasional pinch of dread... It’s easy to get distracted by what is coming… especially with thoughts about unknowns, displacement, finances, changes, etc. Many friends have chosen a word to focus on throughout the year, and I decided my word for the year is TODAY. Please pray that we will be able to keep our minds on what God has for us today, here and now, and to trust the Lord to direct us and our steps in His timing.

accident

2010-12-15T12:06:00.002+08:00

Just about 3 hours after I posted the last update, Russ and Evan went out on the motorcycle and ended up getting in an accident! Both are a bit banged up and sore – Russ hit his shoulder pretty hard, and is pretty sore through his hip and knee as well, and possibly has a broken toe….I think I got all their scrapes cleaned out… sigh… Evan's leg...
There is a potato chip commercial here in which the slogan claims…..”Life… is never flat.” True in our case, for sure! We are soooooo thankful for the Lord’s protection, and that things weren’t worse. Thank you for praying for us!!

December update

2010-12-14T08:16:00.000+08:00

Wow! Just sitting here recalling the things that have happened since we wrote to you last – these have been busy weeks but so full of blessings.

Russ’ collarbone:
I think the last time we wrote, we asked for prayer for Russ as he had broken his collarbone – at his last checkup the bone had healed and the doctor gave clearance to begin resuming normal activity. He’s still dealing with some soreness in the area, but has been able to drive the car a few times. Although Russ’ injury was unexpected (does that go without saying?), it proved to be a huge challenge and blessing to our students… it even became the topic of a chapel discussion, as the students watched him continue to teach and be a blessing despite his injury. Many of them even came and thanked him for his example, and told how he had encouraged them to press on.

Care Packages:
We received two big care packages from one of our Florida churches – one full of Koolaid, and one full of Pepperoni! Bet that confused the customs agents… but what a blessing! Thanks for enabling our Saturday pizza nights!!

Surprise!
One huge blessing that we watched the Lord work out was Russ being able to take a whirlwind trip to the States to surprise his Mom for Thanksgiving and her 70th birthday! The Lord used some of you to help him get there, and we’re so thankful for that. Here’s a link to the video of their surprise reunion – I think he pulled it off, don’t you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp7QmLN3HN4&feature=email In addition to spending time with family, Russ was also able to share our ministry in a church in the Sacramento area, and visit with the missions pastor from our home church in Bakersfield.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:
The kids and I were on our own for 2 weeks, but we had a great time and found lots of ways to stay busy. The kids put the Christmas tree up themselves, helped with other decorating, and worked really hard to get ahead on their schoolwork a few days so we could take a Thanksgiving break. We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our home for our American co-workers (and a few Aussies as well… J) and really enjoyed that time of fellowship together. Here are photos if you’re curious what Thanksgiving looks like in Indonesia! http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamadini/sets/72157625340042739/

Moving on:
This last week we had a special service to commission and congratulate 15 students (4 families and 7 single men) who have finished their first phase of training, known as “Firm Foundations”. The Firm Foundations course gives students a foundation in the gospel message threaded through the entire Bible, as well as in-depth study of the books of the New Testament. These students will spend the next semester interning and building relationships with their sending churches. We are so excited to see how they have grown since they first arrived last August… God’s word does change lives! One friend who is going home asked prayer that they will be a blessing while they are home, and that their vision will remain alive to come back to continue the missions training. Would you pray this for all of them?

As usual, many of our students will be going home for Christmas, which involves some interesting and looooong travel routes… While the Firm Foundations class will be remaining at home for their practicum, our Missions 2 students will be preparing for a different kind of practicum. They will spend about 3 months next semester studying language and culture in a tribal location. It’s looking like Russ may be involved in consulting and encouraging that class from time to time while they are away… another adventure awaits!

Christmas:
We’ll be spending Christmas break here at the campus, doing some baking, enjoying our friends, catching up on lots of projects, and maybe a little shopping?! Traffic in town is crazy… but we have the tallest Christmas tree in Indonesia in town… and a new McDonalds! We’d love to hear about your plans as well!

Dina

P.S. We have a new family prayer card – if you haven’t received one in the mail or gotten one from your church, you can download it from this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamadini/5259278962/sizes/l/in/photostream/

market

2010-12-04T09:59:00.003+08:00

Usually Russ is the one who goes to the market to buy meat (pork, and chicken (without the head, thank you) and the veggies we need (the ones that will keep in the fridge for a longer amount of time, like carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, etc)... but some friends invited both of us to come along to a market a little further from home. Here are some special pictures I took while we were there... ha! These actually and the pictures I thought - "For some reason, this doesn't phase me now, but what would my friends at home think!" So enjoy...... fish heads, fish heads.......

...dried fish...

fresh eggs (this is my sweet coworker, Otarie, choosing hers)... about 11 cents apiece for the large ones, covered in chicken poop....

and....... some rats! Now this day we didn't buy any of the things pictured here, but actually these rats are a delicacy... (these, as we are told, are not city rats, but jungle rats, which eat roots and bugs, not trash, and they have white tails, not black.)

Quick check-in......

2010-10-27T06:42:00.001+08:00

Thanks to those of you who have checked in on us after hearing Indonesia mentioned several times on the news in the last few days! We are fine and far away from the disaster areas. We appreciate you thinking of us!

accidents happen...

2010-10-16T09:37:00.001+08:00

Just a quick note to ask for your prayers for our family – Russ and Elliot took a tumble on the motorbike yesterday. Thankfully they were on the soccer field at the time, and not on the road – we are grateful to the Lord that things weren’t much worse. Elliot bumped his head a little and scraped his elbow, but is fine and was off playing a few minutes later. Russ took the weight of the fall on his left shoulder, and suffered a broken collarbone. He is pretty tough when it comes to pain, but needs to limit his activity and give himself time to heal – several weeks at least, maybe several months. Please pray for all of us as we adjust to his needs. He was supposed to preach this Sunday, but that has been canceled… He’s also scheduled for a language evaluation this next week – so we’ll see how things are going at that time. We so appreciate your constant prayers for us, for safety, grace, flexibility…. Praise God that nothing takes Him by surprise!

October already?

2010-10-01T17:22:00.000+08:00

Not sure where September went! Did it slip by you too? For us it was a very busy month, with lots of ups and downs and unexpected happenings… how grateful we are for your faithful prayers, and for the faithfulness of our great God – so thankful He is never in a hurry, and nothing takes Him by surprise!

Here’s what our September looked like:

SURPRISE… Your visa’s up! The expiration date on our 1-year visas fell during a holiday weekend (celebrating the end of the Fasting Month). Because of extended holidays in Jakarta, at the time that date rolled by, we were still missing a letter necessary to process our new visas completely. Thankfully, grace was extended to us, and our visas were granted, even with the letter still pending at the time. We’re thankful for permission to stay and serve another year!

GUESS WHAT! It’s an emergency! Normally we are working as a team with another family to handle campus health issues, but that family is on another island helping one of our tribal churches through some problems. This leaves us with the added responsibility of getting students to the doctor when the need arises. In mid-September, the 10-year-old son of one of our students ended up needing emergency surgery. Russ ended up having to take care of all their communication and logistics, as the parents were very overwhelmed by the whole situation. All is well now, praise the Lord! We appreciate your prayers for us as we do our best to help our students and co-workers with medical questions – we are doing the best we can with the resources available to us, and are thankful for the trust that is building between the students and us.

SIGH… it’s Fall… Seems that Fall is the hardest time of year for us to be away from home. The changing leaves, the crispness in the air, flannels and jeans, football season… all these things have had us a little down during these first few weeks of the new season. Pray for us! We know without a doubt that this is where the Lord wants us, but there do come times that we miss the States.

OH MY… it’s time! Last Saturday another student came over in the early morning to tell me his wife was in labor… there were some issues I needed more information on, so I went to consult my nurse friends on Facebook, and sent him home to time her contractions. 20 minutes later, he returned to tell me that her contractions were 1 minute apart! Russ was still in bed at the time, but I woke him up and things moved rather quickly from that point, as we figured out which hospital would be best for her delivery (she was 2 weeks overdue). Everything progressed in the Lord’s timing, and the newest campus resident is a healthy baby girl.

UMMM… it’s how much? We ended up needing lots of repairs done on our car engine this month too, and though our car is a real asset to our ministry… the cost of the repairs was not exactly a blessing! :)

WHOOPS… out of meds….. Last week one of Russ’ prescription meds for his fibromyalgia ran out, and the pharmacy was late getting the order in. Because of the timing and some research he had been doing, Russ decided this was as good a time as any to start weaning off the medications he has been on for these last two years, and start trying some more natural methods of managing his condition and symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms have been strong, and it hasn’t been an easy transition, but we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Please pray as his body adjusts, and pray for grace in all directions. :)

In other news, Russ continues to enjoy his interaction with the students in the classroom. We’re approaching the mid-semester mark, and he will continue teaching but with a different teammate, teaching ‘How to Study the Bible’ and the book of John. Dina’s been working with the student ladies on a card-making project – this is a fundraising effort, as well as teaching the ladies some handiwork skills. It’s been a big time investment, but an enjoyable time as well.

So it goes….. just another month in the life of the Kowal family…! (whew!)

classes

2010-08-21T17:13:00.002+08:00

I had some time yesterday to take pictures in our classes. Here are some of our first semester students... This is the 3rd semester Firm Foundations class. After this semester they'll return home for a time of ministry in their local churches.

Russ is teaching in the Missions 1 class.

Finally, our Missions 2 class (1 couple was missing this day...). They're learning principles of culture and language study.

Thanks for being a part of this!

Merdeka!

2010-08-21T16:46:00.002+08:00

Free! Tuesday we celebrated Indonesia's 65 years of independence. The community gathered at our campus for the first time. That's our house back in the corner! The groups on the field represent different schools and government offices. Token picture with a foreigner... this is the team that was responsible for raising the flag.

You can't see Russ, but he's sitting in the booth with other important guests. Heh...

Elliot and his new friends.....

Raising the flag.

Ladies' meeting

2010-08-16T21:57:00.000+08:00

My turn came this past Sunday to host the church's ladies' meeting, and they asked me to teach a practical skill rather than teaching something from the Bible... so I showed them how to make 2 kinds of paper flowers (the roses I made for a wedding in May, some scrunchy flowers made from mini muffin papers), and some simple paper baskets - here are a couple of pictures, and you can see our projects in process! I think there were about 20 ladies altogether, from 2 different churches. Fun stuff... I always enjoy showing them things they can make with simple supplies that are available here.
Tuesday is Indonesian Independence Day, and all the area ceremonies and games are going to be held at our campus... yesterday they came and erected a flagpole at the edge of our soccer field... anyway, should be a crazy but fun day. Hopefully safe and happy too - never know with so many people in one place, especially in our area! Hee hee... I'll see if I can avoid the karaoke... our family and our Australian coworkers almost had to sit up in front and judge all the parades and presentation of colors, but thankfully that plan was changed. Whew! Surely it would have been an honor, but still... from my perspective it seems a little odd to put the foreigners in that position on your own independence day. Just sayin'.

Gearing up.......

2010-08-08T19:47:00.002+08:00

We are settled in for a new semester - we have 45 students (23 new ones!) which is another all-time high. Orientation week has passed and classes begin tomorrow. Russ is team-teaching a doctrine class and family class. The increased work load will be an adjustment, but he's excited to finally be able to teach after working his language up to an acceptable level.

The kids start school tomorrow, though it will be a lighter day since we're still waiting on workbooks, etc. that are at the copy shop. I'm not really feeling super ready, but ready or not - we need to get started! Next week we'll already be taking some days off - Aug. 17th is Indonesia's independence day and our immediate community will be converging on the campus for a ceremony and all kinds of games... the rest of the week the kids will be having a VBS with a church team that is coming from CA.

I don't have pictures yet of any of the students - I will take some time next week when the kids are busy to take some pics in class. Thanks for praying for us, even when we don't check in with you!

Graduation pictures

2010-07-01T09:16:00.003+08:00

So far behind....sorry!

Here are some pictures from our recent (ahem) graduation. 12 students finished their missions training courses - we are so proud of them! The man in uniform that you see in the back row is a licensed pilot, and will be supporting our tribal missionaries through a ministry of aviation. Others will be entering support roles, some are preparing for tribal ministry, still others will be joining us here as temporary staff for a year.

Some of my sweet co-workers.........graduates and staff.......just a couple of the graduates that we consider family.

my week.....

2010-05-24T21:14:00.001+08:00

Here's a little view into my week...

Six of the twelve cakes being baked for graduation....half way there...! ...certificates rolled and ready to pass out at graduation...

...and wedding favors waiting to be filled with chocolate.

Alrighty, back at it......

out to lunch

2010-05-22T16:46:00.003+08:00

We took our discipleship group out to lunch for our final class time...this is one of our favorite places to eat out - a 'food house' that sells Coto Makassar, which is a kind of rich brothy beef soup with toppings. The rice is in these little bundles in the foreground - they are called 'ketupat'. You can also add lime, salt, sweet soy sauce, chili paste, and boiled egg. Of course I forgot to take a picture of the actual soup before we ate it! These are some of our co-workers... Cenny, Wanda & Michael.

Two of our students - Rofina and Elly. We attended Elly and Jessy's wedding over Christmas break (Jessy is in the following picture, next to Russ). Rofina is in the Missions 1 class, and Ellly and Jessy are in Missions 2 - they'll graduate next week.

There's Russ, enjoying a few last precious bites. Jessy is next to him, and another 1st year student, Yanus.

Russ learned before that at this restaurant, they make 1000 of those little rice bundles a day!

Appreciate your prayers as we head through a very busy two weeks. tomorrow is Evan's 9th birthday, and he has invited a bunch of friends to celebrate with a hotdog dinner and whatever else we come up with. I'm in the middle of making cake for 300 graduation guests. Wednesday we'll be welcoming a house guest who will be staying with us for a week (field leadership). Thursday is our graduation, and 12 students will be finishing their training and preparing for ministry. For 2 days following graduation there will be all-day meetings at our house between staff and board members of our sponsoring organization... a rest Sunday... Monday there will be a wedding on campus, 2 of our Missions students...Tuesday and Wednesday more meetings at our house. Wednesday night there is a big send-off party for our co-workers who will not be returning to this location after their furlough. They leave on Friday. We still have school to finish up and life in general as we know it will be trying to fit in between all these other big and emotional events...! Thanks so much for supporting us in all we do here!

what I've learned about myself this week...

2010-05-12T21:25:00.004+08:00

an insider's view of the outsider.......

That we have a lot of stuff.

That we only eat bread.

That missionaries, especially foreign ones, are perfect and exalted, and can do no wrong. Or that we think we are perfect and exalted and can do no wrong.

That we think we are better than they are and know more than they do.

That they will always feel second rate to us, either because of personal feelings or because they've feel they've been treated that way.

.........and I want to cry.

Bridges

2010-05-11T06:27:00.003+08:00

Friends of ours who work interior just hiked out for some time of rest and supply buying in town - they shared this picture of a bridge they have to cross during their hike. They commented at how nice it was to cross this new bridge - you can see the old bridge below it.

Words fail.

Another busy week for us but 'good busy' - foremost in my mind this week is planning a lesson for Friday's ladies' chapel - we have spent several weeks discussing the role of a Christian wife, and felt as staff that some students are still seeing that 'role' as merely who washes the dishes and cooks the meals... that 'submission' only happens when they disagree with their husbands. We're going deeper this week, so pray for us!

Dina

Spontaneous.

2010-05-09T11:51:00.003+08:00

Russ made it home yesterday from his time teaching... He had told me to have the kids ready to go when he pulled in and we'd take them to see Iron Man 2 - so in order to get them ready without telling them what was up, I told them when dad pulled up WE were going to kidnap HIM. They agreed, and said we should make him take us to the store closeby and buy us ice cream. We played along until we got to the turn for that store, passed and said, "WHOOPS! We passed it, guess we'll just have to go to town..."

Got to the theater and ended up having 1-1/2 hours to wait, so we thought we'd check out the new frozen yogurt place in the mall - not bad... just one flavor choice though, and some out-of-the-ordinary toppings to choose from (big 'pass' on the red beans for me...thanks though... just not a flavor match with strawberry...). Normally I carry a camera to town, but it was still in Russ' stuff, so I just had my phone to snap these pictures. Mmmm....

posting

2010-05-05T14:04:00.007+08:00

Sorry for these sporadic posts...I always intend to post more day-to-day things here, then life happens and I end up posting our monthly newsletter just to fill in.

Here are a few pictures I took this morning around the house. This is the plant they call "mother-in-law tongue" - I never knew that it bloomed! It sort of self-propagates so I thought that was it. How fun to see this open up yesterday!

This is one of the squashes growing in our garden... I'm not sure what kind of squash it is, but the seeds came from the tribe we visited over Christmas break. We have been hand-pollinating the poor things, and so far I think we have 5 so far that have made it.

Russ went along last week with our Missions 2 class to a church in town that has been very supportive of our school lately. Their gifts especially helped fund this class' trip interior for their language/culture learning practicum, and helped provide some computers and recorders for them to use in their studies.

That's it for now!

April update

2010-05-05T14:01:00.001+08:00

April was a busy month………..we have so many things to catch you up on!

RUSS’ LANGUAGE EVALUATION

Thank you for praying us through this! Russ and our mission’s language consultants were encouraged by his progress, and his recent evaluation showed that, though he has some areas that still need work, he has reached a level of fluency that is acceptable for teaching. He will continue studying language daily as he has been, but beginning in July will begin to focus more on lesson planning for the Fall. At that time he will begin team teaching 1 hour a day, using prepared and checked notes. The hope and plan is for him to continue increasing his teaching time as he continues to progress.

DINA’S HEALTH CLASS

Along with another staff lady, I taught a 4-week health class to our Missions 1 class. For both of us teachers, this class is a stretch, as neither of us are ‘up front classroom people’, and though we have learned a great deal from studying books and internet resources together, neither of us have a medical background… but Praise God for the strength he gives! The class covered the very basics, germ theory, disease prevention, basics of medicine, dehydration, some common illnesses and their treatments, and first aid. The purpose of the class is to prepare the students or at least make them aware of things they may encounter as they set up a medical station in a tribal location, but in many cases the class content is new information for our students as well, as they compare some of their traditional views of sickness with scientific fact. Russ came and helped with the first aid portion so the students could do some hands-on training. Thanks so much for praying us through these 4 busy weeks!

HOMESCHOOL

We have about 4 weeks worth of curriculum to finish… I’d love to be able to finish up in 3 weeks, as our campus schedule gets a bit crazy at the end of May, but we’ll see…! I’m looking at ordering Evan’s books for the Fall here shortly… since there isn’t anyone coming to Manado soon that could carry them over, we’re looking at having them shipped directly, though cringing at the cost of shipping and the inevitable handling and customs fees. If anyone’s interested in helping out with those costs, please let us know. J

THIS MONTH’S ACTIVITIES

--May 4-8: Russ was given the opportunity to teach at a week-long seminar at a denominational church-planting institute up the mountain from us (about 1½ - 2 hours away). The director of the school recently learned about the “Creation-to-Christ” Chronological approach to presenting the Gospel that we use and teach here, and saw how this method of teaching could make such a difference in the foundation of new churches and the understanding of new believers. Russ will be taking 2 other men with him to assist him with language and to help carry the teaching load. The seminar is 5 days long, 8 hours a day. Pray for the team going (Russ, James, & Hengky), and for the rest of the family as we stay behind and try to maintain “normal” here at home.

--May 27th is graduation day at the campus – the class which is graduating this year is the class who began their training the year we came on staff here at the national training center. We’re very close to them! I have been assigned a few tasks to help out with the celebration – making cakes, designing a banner which will be hung in the auditorium, and working with the music team.

--May 28th is our 10th anniversary! Not sure when we will get a chance to celebrate, but we thank God for these 10 years and all that we have learned and experienced together.

--May 28-29 & June 1-3 we will be hosting meetings at our house, involving our staff and representatives from our sponsoring board here in Indonesia.

--May 31st we will witness the wedding of 2 of our students – the wedding will be held here on campus. As usual, I’ve been helping out with all things paper… the invitations are done and we will be making favors soon.

As always, we can’t thank you enough for the part you play in our ministries each day, as you encourage us through your notes and emails, and as you lift us up in prayer.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T13:27:00.003+08:00

Russ preached this morning at our church, talking about the death of Jesus - what made it such a horrible way to die, and what that meant... to bring home the intensity of the scene, he made a cross and did a mock scourging and crucifixion of one of our students. He stressed that Jesus' death wasn't the end of the story, and not the end of the Gospel, as 'a dead savior is no savior' - Jesus took his life up again and rose from the dead. I read in 1 Cor. 15 this morning and saw a chain from verse 14 to verse 20 to verse 58 that encouraged me, as it must have the Corinthians at the time:

(14) If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.....
(20) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead...
(58) Therefore my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

This is the reason we are here, doing what we are doing. Thanks so much for your part in what we do!! He is risen indeed!

lunch

2010-03-27T21:34:00.002+08:00

Just a quick tour of our lunch table yesterday (except for my place - I was behind the camera...)! Not sure what this means......

(pulled out a tooth the other day...)

(note her THREE missing teeth...)

something Spiderman-ish...

So lunch was pork fritters, stir-fried veggies, bean soup, and rice. So thankful for our Stephanie who cooks and cleans for us so we can do our ministries here.

What did you have for lunch today?

wedding invitation pics

2010-03-20T22:34:00.003+08:00

I spent some time this afternoon taking pictures with one of our student couples, who will be getting married May 31st. Anskar and Stelda are in their 1st year of missions training, with 1 more year to go. They've been dating for a little over a year. They've asked me to make their wedding invitations, so this is the picture we chose to go inside (in case you're into card making, the invitation will be a standard size gate-folded card, with their picture in the center behind a vellum overlay. The card will have a watercolored image that covers the central opening of the card, and tie on the side with an organza bow. Please pray for Anskar and Eda as they finish up the semester and plan their campus wedding! They are a quiet but growing and gifted couple, with a heart for ministry and desire to serve the Lord.

AAAAaaaAAAAaaaAAAaaa

2010-03-15T12:06:00.001+08:00

Not posting pictures here, just need to emote........... this morning I went to make banana muffins with some ripe bananas that were cut around campus -

full.
of.
larva.
Ew.

Next I noticed a wasp making a mud nest in one of my silicone baking pans, and knocked it off outside...when it shattered out fell some big gross wasp grubs, and a bunch of big freaky spiders. Not sure why or how they got in there... just glad they were dead, and the ants carried them off right away.

Finished school with the kids and as I was sitting the office I heard a scream -------- dead rat in the bathroom (I put out poison on a trap last night - I figured since the rats are just eating food right off the traps, that was the best place to put the poison - guess I called that one right... I've been jumpy since I got up this morning, just sure it was going to have died sprawled across my laptop or on my desk or next to one of the sleeping kids... !!! I'm pretty sure there is a larger one still on the loose -

Seems 'stuff' usually happens when husbands are away! So I'm not surprised. Thanks for praying for us!!

March chit chat

2010-03-04T22:31:00.000+08:00

Greetings from our sunny corner of the campus….! It’s a typical Wednesday….me catching up on projects in the office while Russ is at an afternoon staff meeting, kids quietly watching a movie. All is calm. I like calm. :)

Sports time starts in a little while, and today will be a little different than usual – instead of our routine soccer and volleyball matches, all the families will be playing Capture the Flag. It’s our second time to play all together – it’s a lot of fun and a nice change once in a while.

We’ve been a little quiet over here…sorry for not getting an update out last month! Things have just been pretty ‘normal’, I guess. I’ve been preparing notes and rechecking for typos in the health book as I get ready to team-teach the health class to our Missions 1 students. The class begins March 29th, and will run for 4 weeks. The teaching load will be shared this time instead of me handling it all, so pray also for my Indonesian partner as she prepares to present some of the materials too. Her name is Deyke (DAY-kuh).

We’re enjoying our campus health ministry. Pray with us that we will be able to use this too as a tool for encouraging and discipling the students. Another of our ministries with the students is a weekly discipleship group. Right now we’re discussing teamwork and healthy team relationships.

Russ has been faithfully studying Indonesian, and has been getting some language help from a 3rd friend now – sure keeps him busy but he is encouraged at his progress, and hopes to go for another language evaluation next weekend (He’ll be gone March 13-17). One of his language helpers (James) will be accompanying him to observe the eval and also give some insight to language patterns that might be more typical to the area we live in.

Kids are doing well – we are 2/3 through our school year, and everyone is making good progress. Benny is counting down to his 6th birthday this month! He’s been reminding me for nearly a year that he would like a Banana Split cake for his birthday. Anyone have a good recipe?

We made a video project last month to be used during the missions conference at Laurelglen Bible Church (one of our sending churches in CA) – we would have loved to attend, but this was a nice alternative. We were even able to have a booth set up with pictures, prayer cards and information – many thanks to Kathy L., who arranged everything for us! We’re also so thankful for donations that were sent from several churches in Florida towards a generator for our campus.

It’s been such an encouragement to see the Lord working in our students’ lives, and to see them growing up in Him. Please pray that we will continue to be faithful, with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Let us know how we can pray for you. We love to hear from you!

Wiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-25T15:55:00.002+08:00

The Lord allowed us to purchase a Wii while on furlough, and it continues to be a source of entertainment for us as well as an avenue for our students to come over and play, try something new, and laugh at each other. This is one of our student couples...they are from one of our tribal churches. We've been getting to know them a little more this semester, over sick kids and pizza dinners. Please pray for them as they trust the Lord for their needs each month, and as they make an effort each day to keep up in classes that are taught in Indonesian. They are in their second semester of training here.

2010-01-12T15:53:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to let you know that we arrived safely home Saturday from our trip to C. Sulawesi. We had such a wonderful time – lots of new friends, insights, experiences – lots to process…

One of these days we’ll make time to sit down and tell you all about the things we’ve seen – for today, we just wanted to connect, thank you for your prayers, wish you a happy and blessed New Year, and look forward with you to what the Lord has for each of us!

As far as our ministry goes, Russ will continue full-force in language study, and I’ll begin preparing for the health class, which will be taught again this year towards the end of March. Students will be returning from break over the next couple weeks, with classes starting on the 25th. Our Missions 2 class (the class we are closest with, as they started at the same time we came on staff) will be leaving Jan. 20th for a 9-week culture/language practicum in a tribal location. Continue to pray that our family will be a blessing here, and our home a safe haven for those who come our way.

Pictures from our family/ministry trip to Central Sulawesi

2010-01-09T20:52:00.000+08:00

Some pics from our Christmas

2009-12-25T20:12:00.000+08:00

Christmas greetings

2009-12-23T16:00:00.001+08:00

Just a quick email to thank you for praying us through our end-of-semester activities…how exciting to see 5 students finish their first phase of training and be commissioned to a semester of service and partnership with their local churches. We also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the national training center here. God is so good, and His work continues through faithful Indonesian servants who are willing to let Him lead them. We are blessed and humbled to be a part of their training here and a part of their ministries as they are sent out.

Christmas is a busy time here, as we know it is where you are. We’re looking forward to a quiet Christmas Eve get-together with our NTM friends – a few families are away (one in the tribe, one in the States), and others of us are feeling the distance between us and “home.” So thankful for the bond we have together here, and that at times when it’s hard to be away from you all, we are strengthened and encouraged by the team and ‘family’ around us. We’ll have a quiet, simple Christmas day, a few presents, nice dinner, visits from friends and neighbors…then cleaning and packing! We leave for Central Sulawesi December 26th in the early morning along with another close friend, and will have a 2 day car-trip (pray specifically for settled stomachs, especially Emma’s), then an overnight in the NTM guesthouse in Palu. The next morning (28th) we’ll fly up to the Wana tribe in the helicopter (two trips, since there are only 4 passenger seats). We will be there 5 nights, and return to Palu January 2nd. While we’re there, Russ will have several opportunities to share, and we’ll enjoy visiting with friends there and graduates from our training center. Our main purpose in going is to attend the wedding of some of our students and dear friends, Jessy and Elli, on the 31st. I’ll spend my 35th birthday in the tribe, too! Guess I will have to postpone my traditional spaghetti and cheesecake dinner…. :)

We can never express enough………….how precious each of you is to us – how blessed we have been by your prayers throughout this past year – how privileged we are to be representing you here – how thankful we are for your love and encouragement – and how unspeakably great our God is! May you know His presence and His love more fully, richly, and deeply in the year to come.

December Update

2009-12-01T15:57:00.000+08:00

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement, even when you don’t hear from us! Here are some specific things you can pray for with us over the next few weeks:

1. Homeschool Christmas “gala” – Dec. 5. All our homeschool families will be getting together for a variety show – we just appreciate your prayers for our practices, and for the show to be fun and glorifying to the Lord. Emmaleigh will be reading the story of the Wisemen, Benjamin wants to perform an original song (!), and the kids have a presentation together about Christmas decorations and their meanings.

2. Campus Christmas celebration – Dec. 10. Dina’s involved with decorations and theme design, and with music. We’ll be honoring 5 students who have finished their first phase of training (3 semesters of Biblical studies), celebrating Christmas, and also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the national training center.

3. Premarital Counseling - We’ve had the opportunity to go through some premarital counseling with one of our student couples who plan to marry Dec. 31. We have just a few more sessions left with them. Please pray for Jesse and Ellie as they prepare to marry, finish their training (1 more semester, which includes a language/culture-learning practicum), and join a new ministry team. Theirs is an amazing testimony of patience and faith, and it’s been exciting to see the Lord work.

4. Trip interior – We will be attending the wedding I mentioned! Jesse and Ellie are from a tribal area in Central Sulawesi, the Wana tribe. We’ll be leaving Manado on Dec. 26th and driving down to Central Sulawesi, then flying up to their village via helicopter. Russ has some opportunities to share several different churches while we are away. We’ll probably be gone for about 2 weeks…we appreciate your prayers as there will surely be lots of ‘firsts’ for us all!

5. Ministry partners - We’re so grateful for those who have continued to support us, even in spite of hard times. Please pray for more to join our monthly support team. We’re currently at about half the support level recommended for our family.

May God draw you frequently and quietly away to Himself as we head into this season of busy-ness…!

Blessed,
Russ & Dina Kowal

P.S. Remember to look us up on Facebook – that is the easiest way to see pictures and get a peek into our everyday life here. Also, we have a new prayer card – if you didn’t get one at church (we sent a packet of them to each of our supporting churches) and would like it emailed to you (.jpg file), please let us know!

campus pictures

2009-10-28T06:22:00.003+08:00

Here are a few pictures I took the other day during class time - this is the heart of our training, as students are given tools to understand, teach, and translate the Bible. Our Missions 2 class is just beginning to learn principles of hearing, transcribing, and learning another language via phonetic sounds...pray for them as these concepts are vital to learning another language and speaking it well - they're a little overwhelmed right now at the technical side of it! Praise the Lord for his provision of computers for each single and family to use during this time of training.

Update on Joe

2009-10-28T06:21:00.001+08:00

Some of you may remember me asking for prayer for a family on our field, whose son Joe was sick with a rare blood parasite...we got this update yesterday from another friend:

"BJ and Joe were in Jakarta for more tests, on Monday, the 26th. Joe’s blood has not been clotting, and Drs were beginning to think something more might be going on than just the parasite problem, as the medicines he’s been on haven’t made any improvement. BJ called me yesterday afternoon to let me know that the Drs have pretty much concluded that Joe has a rare form of leukemia. Ken was getting ready to join her and Joe in Jakarta, and the other 5 kids were going to stay at home with their Christian house-helper taking care of them. This morning (27th), Ken, BJ, and Joe were going to fly to Singapore so that Joe can undergo a bone aspiration test, to confirm if it is leukemia."

Please continue to pray for them!

local doctors come to campus

2009-10-18T12:49:00.004+08:00

For the last few months a relationship has been growing between our training center and a church in town. This is the same church where Russ and I were able to share back about missions in the family in June. They have taken a real interest in our campus and students, and have expressed a desire to help by giving and serving in practical ways. Last week we presented a need for computers, recorders, and digital cameras for our graduates to use in their language study interior, and a group from the church came to tour the campus and learn more about our ministry here. The church runs a clinic, and Saturday a group from the clinic came to serve our students by giving free consultations and medicine. Several that need follow-up work will be going to the dentist in groups throughout the coming weeks. Here are a few pictures from Saturday!

2009-10-18T12:48:00.000+08:00

Just a few fun pictures from yesterday - little slice of life on a good day worth remembering. :)

Our ladies have been challenged by an outside soccer team twice now, and this time I got to fill in. Orange...ahem....not my color really, but I did my best anyway. Blocked a lot of balls and Russ said I had a good game - so I can't complain.

Last night was our turn to host the staff fellowship...we wanted to do something different so after announcements and prayer requests we split up and each shared what we love to do to relax in our spare time - the men played Wii and the ladies made cards. I love how open ladies become when their hands are busy - when we were in mission training we used to have a weekly craft night where ladies - whoever wanted to - would bring whatever project we were working on and just be together. I wonder if that would work here? Hm.

Everyone loves to have extra cards to give, and everyone was happy with their creations. The important thing was being together, and just enjoying each other's company without any agenda or expectation. So these are the lovely ladies I serve with each day!

And some action from the other side.....a little boxing match...All in a day's work!

life stuff

2009-10-14T21:02:00.003+08:00

Just a couple of pictures of some of the fruit we have been enjoying here lately. Our campus has enjoyed a bumper crop of rambutan this year, and we were fortunate to share the fruit of one of the trees with another family. (rambut=hair - see how they're hairy?) I have blisters on my hands from opening so many yesterday - we had 4 huge bags plus a big tub full, so we decided to turn one bag into popsicles, and I ended up opening all those....ow...

The other fruit here is called durian...it's often referred to by foreigners as the "stinky fruit" but I've actually (yes, I admit it) grown to like it...sort of a sweet onion-y smell (google "durian smells like" for more colorful descriptions...). Yes, those spikes (duri=spike or thorn) are really sharp!! I was told when we first came here that you have to eat it 6 times before you're allowed to say you like it or you don't - I can't remember if today was my 5th or 6th time eating it, but my tastes have gone Asian on this one - I like it...though the creamy texture of it sometimes still gets me a bit.

Still wearing my soccer clothes...as part of our campus routine and extension of teaching/discipleship, we play sports as a campus 3x a week, and Wednesday is the ladies' turn to play soccer. DH has been reffing for us and he told me I had a good game, which makes me feel good...I'm waiting for my granola to finish baking....so many blessings in one day!

One more picture - not even sure what happened to inspire this, but Evan decided today to 'style' his and his brothers' hair...a little wet comb action...anyway, their goofy grins gave me a laugh. :)

October update

2009-10-04T21:06:00.003+08:00

I think I begin each month’s news wondering where the last month has gone…September went waaaaaay too fast for me, but in wonderful ways. Here is a quick summary of the highlights……

1. LANGUAGE EVAL
Russ spent a few days in Salatiga working with friends and coworkers to evaluate his language level. Praise the Lord he was able to see progress in his language skills, and was very encouraged by the counsel given him as to how to work forward from here, continuing to improve. He was also able to meet up with some old friends, including our pastor and house helper, and also get to know some of our new coworkers who are presently studying language there.

2. TEACHING
Twice a month, Russ has been teaching at his language helper’s church, meeting with the elders every other Sunday afternoon to discuss Biblical Counseling. They have had a variety of other questions as well, and he’s enjoyed the opportunity to challenge their thinking in a many areas. He also was able to teach at our church this month.

3. HELPERS
About a month ago, our house helper stopped coming to work due to a death in her family. For about 4 weeks I did my best to keep things running on my own, which was difficult. During the national week-long holiday for the end of the fasting month, I had a little time to look for and train a new helper. A few options came up and didn’t work out, but at the end of the week, two teenagers who we know from town decided they’d like to try working together as our helpers. We have had them coming in for about a week now. The kids love them, and they are quick learners, too, which helps me.

4. HOUSE GUEST
We converted Emma’s room into a guest room for a week to accommodate Aldi Lasso, a Christian Indonesian recording artist – one of our students is a friend of his and had arranged for some concerts and activities for him during our break. We immediately fell in love with Aldi and his wife, and were so blessed by their genuineness and passion for life and the Lord. He gave a concert at the campus, and Russ was able to attend another of his concerts in town. Russ also enjoyed snorkeling with Aldi and a few other friends at Bunaken, which he refers to as “suffering for Jesus”. *wink!* Of course we kept him well-fed…as well as several of the students who felt it necessary to keep him company while he ate. LOL

5. VEHICLE!
We were finally able to find and purchase a vehicle! Russ has gotten to know a man who is in an auto club, whose hobby is finding used cars. He was able to find us a great deal on a 1996 Toyota Kijang Super. We’ll post pictures on our blog later in the week. http://kowals.blogspot.com/

6. AWAY
Thanks to one of our students, we were able to take a night away in town without the kids. We realized as we thought about it that it had been just about a year since we were away alone (except for shopping trips) and at that time we were in the hospital. It has been just a year since Russ experienced his initial acute signs of fibromyalgia, which were at first interpreted as a stroke. Over this last week I have had so many thoughts and memories pop up from that time a year ago…just amazed at what the Lord brought us through, our adjustment to Russ’ new condition, what we have learned and how we have grown as a family and in the Lord. It’s been hard – but we have experienced God in such a new way, and seen Him work through this situation, through us, and in others because of what we have gone through and continue to face daily.

Wow – that was a lot of busy-ness – no wonder September went so quickly! During the month of October, we will be taking full responsibility for the campus health ministry – we normally share the load with another family, but our co-worker recently spent some time in the hospital with typhoid and he needs to take some time to rest and recover.

We thank you for your partnership with us – as we face busy days and challenges of ministry and life, we are keenly and desperately aware that our strength is not our own. We are so thankful to know that you are remembering us and holding us up in prayer. To God be the glory -

Dina for the Kowal family

His grace

2009-09-08T17:05:00.002+08:00

I made this card to send out to a missionary family on our field whose 11-year-old son was just diagnosed with a rare parasite that is essentially paralyzing his white blood cells and causing all kinds of other problems in his body - here are some excerpts from their update, and I'm sure they would value your prayers.

"...Joe has been sick since late May/early June. He has had symptoms ranging from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lung issues, fatigue, bruises and the list could go on. We have made several trips to Jakarta in an attempt to seek treatment for Joe. As of this week, we finally have an answer. Joseph has a very rare parasite that is causing all of his symptoms. What does this mean for Joe? This means a long journey where God will guide us each step of the way. The shortest amount of time a child has struggled with this is a year and a half - the longest 3-4 years. He will need to take medicines for two weeks at a time and then retest. Eventually the parasite no longer shows up in the stool - and yet is still present in the body and unable to be seen except for the nasty damage and symptoms it causes. The biggest complications with this parasite are lung, heart, and bleeding issues. Joe has already showed lung issues but those are under control today (could change tomorrow). He will be unable to play PE, soccer, or wrestle with his brothers due to the bleeding issues. If he hits his head he could bleed internally. Ok, so those are the facts of where we are, but now I would like to share with you how God has carried our family in the last week.

When [we] got to Jakarta this last time, we were told that there were two options for diagnosis and both were fatal.... But, during the next 24 hours, I watched as God provided peace to an 11 year old. A peace that many adults have no idea how to access. One night when we were talking I asked Joe how he was doing and this was his response: "when I die you can put me in a box and bury my bones wherever you please, you can cry and wail but it ain't gonna bother me cause I'll be a long time gone to a bright happy home, celebrating and singing, worshipping round my heavenly Father's throne." For those of you who do not know, these are lines to a song by Buddy Greene that we play in our house often. I can't tell you how humbled, convicted, excited...and whatever else, by that short little section of a song. God had given Joe peace, the kind that only He could give. Over the next few days Joe would need to go to the university and see the professors there have more blood drawn... God provided three doctors in Jakarta who are in a small group of Christian doctors. Very, very caring men who would not charge us when they saw us....The Lord had prepared one of the doctors ahead of time – about a month ago he was reading up on some medical articles, and one of them “happened” to be about this rare parasite, which he had never heard of before! Because of that, he knew what tests to do to see if that’s what it was.

There have been thousands of people praying for our family; please know that God not only hears your prayers but He answers. Maybe not always the way we want but the way that is best for us. We believe it is those prayers that are carrying our family. Thank you..."

(Stamp credits: dkdesigns at Our Daily Bread designs)

Thursday

2009-08-20T06:03:00.003+08:00

If you're interested in reading the campus "Bulletin" you can download it here:
http://www.4shared.com/file/125810452/96c00ae1/PPMMP_Bulletin_Aug_2009_-_English.html
Just an introduction to our student body, with lots of pictures. Usually falls to me to translate it into English, since I speak that language... :)

On the 17th we celebrated Indonesia's Independence with a family game time...pictures to come...

This week we saw another student's child spend time in the hospital, weakened and dehydrated by several days of diarrhea...pray for us as we try to determine what the root of the problem actually is....if it is a problem of lack of understanding regarding water and a healthy, varied diet, or if the understanding is there but just not the means? This is the 2nd child to go to the hospital, both from the same family. I was talking with the lady I work closely with on the health team yesterday, wondering if there was some way we could supplement some of the families that are struggling with this, if there were extra funds - with milk or maybe vitamins, etc. Obviously we have a responsibility to come alongside and teach them about the importance of drinking water, and the benefit of a varied, nutritious diet. Anyway, pray with us as we try to figure out logistics.

Russ' ear seems to be feeling better......I think the rest of us are finally healthy, and it's good to see the kids back to 'themselves' again, out playing with their friends.

2009-08-17T07:26:00.000+08:00

From our field chairman:
"Once again, we have a small project of subsidizing the cost of digital voice recorders which we teach our students to use in the culture and language acquisition course. If anyone would like to contribute to this, you can send a contribution to New Tribes Mission and designate for "Indonesia training center dv recorders". The students learn how to use them and then as they move into ministry, these become a useful tool for them. The Lord has already provided for small durable computers which we also teach them to use. Praise Him."

tidbits

2009-08-16T15:16:00.002+08:00

NTM ran this article on their home page today about our training campus:
http://www.ntm.org/indonesia/news_details.php?news_id=9897

Friday Russ took a blow to the side of the head in the soccer goal, and ended up with a burst ear drum...he is enduring the effects of that, and I imagine he'll go to the doctor on Tuesday to get it checked out (Monday is a national holiday here). I turned wrong or something on my knee playing volleyball, and that could definitely be worse, but it's a bit uncomfortable for now.

My helper didn't show up on Saturday....I should, I suppose, give her the benefit of the doubt that she does have a sick child at home...but more likely this is a bit of a 'protest' since I didn't allow her to take our leftovers home on Friday. I just didn't want to set a precedent, or have her expect to take them home every day, or even make too much food to ensure there would be leftovers for her...when it was food we were going to eat. Sigh... She has asked to borrow money too, and I told her sorry...our ministry is to the students and since we live on donations, not a wage, we feel responsible to use our money to help the students, not loan out to 'outsiders'. Guess I am not fitting into her worldview so well. ;)

Evan spent the day with a friend yesterday, exploring a batcave for his friend's birthday adventure, then spent the night there as well. Fun day!

Monday is a holiday - Independence day! Campus game day is planned, and not sure what else...we'll have to see how we are feeling in the AM. Trying to make this day a catch-up day!

Blessings.........

ugh........

2009-08-13T05:48:00.002+08:00

The flu bug we had is now going around the mens' dorms. Yesterday I think at least 5 of them were down, + one other married student... Each sick person has to come to our house before class time to get a letter excusing them from class, which adds variety to our already busy mornings! We also have a 'store' of OTC meds that they can purchase here instead of having to go off-campus (meds like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, multi-symptom flu relief, vitamin C, charcoal tabs, Mylanta, Amoxicillin, etc).

campus needs

2009-08-09T07:34:00.003+08:00

DRINKING WATER
.......normally many of the students filter or boil well water to drink, but we are in dry season and the water in the wells is very low and cloudy. They are able to get filtered water in the large "Culligan" type bottles for about 35 cents per refill, but the initial cost of the bottle is $8.50. One family came to borrow one of our bottles to get refills, and said they'd like to buy a bottle but the cost would use up all their food money for the month.
$8.50 @ 1 bottle per dorm (14) = $119.

CELL PHONE
......one of our Indonesian co-workers is in need of a cell phone for ministry purposes. They currently have just one for their family, so if her husband is in town she is without. It's on my heart because she is my 'teammate' in the campus health ministry, and I'd love to be able to check in with her daily about who's sick and who's come to check in with me. Yesterday she took a lady with her daughter to the hospital and didn't have any way to communicate, and that is what started me thinking. Cost would be at least $50.

life stuff......

2009-08-08T10:25:00.002+08:00

Couple of pictures I snapped on the porch this morning - the pink-flowered plant is called "9 o'clock" here, as that's when the blossoms open for the day. There are dark blossoms, light ones, and variegated ones. It's doing great in this pot - I'm wondering if it would work well as a ground cover in one area in the front, or if it gets too much sun right there. Not that you care!The other plant is called duck-something - I didn't catch the name - but isn't it interesting...see the teeny leaves growing around the edge of those leaves in the center? Apparently - those baby plants will fall and root, and that is how it propagates itself. That is pretty cool, I think!

Evan has a fever/cough now, so the flu has officially affected our entire family... I feel mostly over it, but still have some sinus pressure and occasional low-grade fever. Still moving forward, though, with planning to start school with the kids on Monday, and serving as campus "nurse" and consultant for our sick students and their families. Pray as one little girl is being taken to the hospital as I write - she has been unwell since they left their home in Kalimantan several weeks ago, and needs labs run...she was undernourished when they got here after a 1 week+ trip by ship, then immediately got the flu in a weakened condition - this week she was running a fever again and complaining of pain in her joints, which makes me wonder about dengue, but we'll see. Hopefully we'll have some answers soon. Her mom is sick as well, and being from a tribal area has limited and skewed understanding of medical concepts, rest, etc. Pray for me as part of my ministry now is helping our students to have a correct understanding of their bodies, sickness, medicine, care, hygiene, prevention, etc.

Where'd we go?!

2009-08-04T14:50:00.003+08:00

We have been sick with the flu at our house - Elliot got it last Wednesday... Russ on Thursday, and me on Friday, then Benny and Emma on Sunday.
Evan is the only healthy one, and he's proud of himself...stinker - is it horrible of me to hope he gets it, just for spite? We have all had a high fever, headache, and cough, but a few other random things as well, and the fever seems to hold on. It's affecting quite a few of our students (who started orientation yesterday) and their kids as well. Please pray it will move on soon!

Our phone line and internet went out on Thursday, and yesterday our power went out and has never come back on again (internal problem, just affecting our house and the dorm next to us) - Please pray for a quick resolution to those problems~!

Here's a picture of Russ in his new ministry as men's sports coordinator. :) Even though he was still sick, he went out to help set up the soccer teams. Still can't believe how many students are here! PTL!

(Goodness, can you even see him? There are 2 guys facing all the students, who are seated - he is in the hat, grey shirt, and blue shorts.)

a new school year begins.........

2009-07-31T08:34:00.002+08:00

It’s exciting to see the campus now fuller than ever! 42 students will be involved in 4 courses here this year at the Indonesian National Training Center:

--Some are just beginning their training, and their first class, Firm Foundations, will focus on the chronological approach of teaching through the Bible.

--Another group of students will be finishing their 3rd semester in the Firm Foundations course, and preparing for a semester of ministry with their local church.

--Students just returning from church ministry will be entering the Missions course, which is a 2-year program, focused on tribal church planting.

-Our second-year missionary candidates will be focusing on culture and language acquisition, and preparing for a ‘splash-down’ in a tribal area in January.

This is a really diverse group – this year we have students from the Indonesian islands of Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, the Maluku Islands, and Papua, including students from 5 tribal churches (it is so exciting to see these churches sending out their own missionaries!!). Our campus itself is a practical training ground for learning to adapt to other cultures! Please pray for our students as they adjust – several families that have traveled a long way are sick and weakened physically, and there are a couple of viruses that have been working their way around the campus as well.

Pray for our staff too – we had a 3-day staff in-service to discuss the topics of leadership and counseling, in addition to some other issues that affect us as a whole. We have a huge responsibility and beautiful opportunity to be used by the Lord to shape and guide and direct these students – and each other – to be conformed to the image of Christ. It’s clear that our Enemy doesn’t want to see this happen. As we were talking last night we realized that every year that we have been on campus, our staff has faced spiritual warfare before the new school year begins. This year is no different.

Orientation begins August 3rd…I’ve been getting things together slowly to begin our home school year on August 10th. The Lord provided a helper for us – thank you for praying! She lives close to the campus, and her husband recently lost his job in town. We are definitely different in many ways – personality, culture, work style…but I trust that the Lord brought her to us for a reason, and regardless of style…the house is getting cleaned and I am not the one doing it, which frees my hands up to teach the kids, get out of the house to visit with the students, attend classes, and continue work on health course materials.

Russ’ doctor adjusted his meds which seems to be making a difference, though fibromyalgia is an unpredictable beast. He has been helping with some course material for next semester (subjects he taught at the Missionary Training Center in the States) and has an upcoming opportunity to teach a small group at his language helper’s church. Please pray as he prepares to share in the Sunday service there again on Aug. 9th.
As a family we've been sharing a virus that's making it's way around the campus - Elliot got it first and now Russ and I have it - Russ has it the worst, as the aches of flu and coughing set off his fibro. He has a fever as well. Elliot's on the upswing but still coughing. I have what feels like more of a bad head cold, but a low-grade fever as well. Appreciate your prayers!

June update

2009-07-06T16:15:00.002+08:00

Here’s a quick review of June:

1. Regional Conference
Our campus was the location for a 3-day regional conference for our NTM co-workers, Indonesian co-workers, and church leaders from each of the 6 tribal works in our Central Indonesian region (Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands). All that attended were encouraged at the opportunity to come together with believers from other tribal areas, fellowship and share common experiences, and worship the Lord together. Every night we heard songs and testimonies from each area – at least 8 different languages. Just a little piece of heaven, where people from every nation, tribe, and tongue will praise the Lord as one. So cool! (pictures are below)

2. Speaking Opportunity
Russ continues to meet twice a week with his language helper, and in mid-June we were invited to take part in a Sunday morning service at his church. Russ brought the sermon, and Dina sang a special with another co-worker. We look forward to visiting this church again – Russ will be adding a Saturday morning study to his language study routine, meeting with some of the church leaders. (Speaking of Russ’ language helper, please pray for his wife – she was diagnosed last week with breast cancer, and because of her recent stroke she is unable to undergo an operation, so they will be pursuing an alternative treatment.)

3. Australian Team & other guests
We have had quite a few Western visitors to the campus in the last few weeks. Several NTM co-workers who are still studying language came up to visit during their summer break, and others spent a few days here as they passed through to their new ministry location. The area we are in is a popular tourist location, so they were able to see some of the sights of the area, in addition to seeing a tribal work and finding out more about the training center here. The campus here has also been a host location for a team from Australia who have come to see what missionary life is all about. They are currently visiting one of our tribal works, and will be back this week for a few days of debriefing before returning to Australia. We hope that this experience will be life-changing for them, and that the Lord will challenge some of them to be involved in missions as a result!

4. Workshop
Dina was invited to teach a card-making workshop last week at a Baptist Youth Camp up the mountain – we had to quickly improvise, as 52 campers signed up for the 20 available spots! We had brought a few extra kits, so 28 students crammed into a tent to make an envelope book, and everyone ended up with a project they could use and be proud of. It felt good to be recognized by Christians from the Manado area and beyond – the camp was in a mountain village we have been to before (the hometown of one of our former house girls) so many people recognized us, especially the kids!

5. Language Class
Though the training center is on summer break, there are several families on campus right now. We have had several tribal families register for the upcoming semester, and many of them have a need to expand their Indonesian language skills and adjust to life in Manado before classes begin. We are looking forward to another full campus this coming school year! Please pray for our students as more prepare to move to the campus in the coming weeks. Pray also for the staff here as the men prepare to teach 4 different classes beginning in August. Pray for our family too, that we will continue to find ways to connect with the students and to be a blessing here on campus and in the community.

6. Family stuff…
Emmaleigh finished Kindergarten with flying colors, and Evan has just one more subject to finish up in 2nd grade. He is working through standardized testing this week. Elliot is potty training and making progress every day. Benjamin is happy to have new glasses – his last ones had gotten broken and we were finally able to replace them. Dina’s been enjoying the opportunity to wind down a bit after several busy months. She was able to send stamped card samples that will be displayed at the national Craft & Hobby Association convention in Orlando at the end of the month. We were able to revise the health books, and the Lord provided for 30 copies to be handed out to national missionaries and church leaders at the conference. Her next project will be to compile a complete set of health course teaching notes and materials. Russ has been supervising the building of a carport behind our house, and waiting on a friend who is looking for a car for us. After the summer break, prices will be more reasonable.

Guess that’s all the news from our corner of the campus…

Counting our blessings,
Russ & Dina

C. Indo Regional Conference

2009-06-06T15:39:00.000+08:00

Here are just a few pictures from the recent regional conference held here in June. Team Tugutil shares some of their experiences in church ministry, outreach and development

Attendees from the Wana tribe share a song in their tribal language. (If I remember right, it was "In the Sweet By-and-By", and I could hear people singing along around (with) me in 4 different languages - very cool - little piece of heaven.)

One afternoon was spent in a fun game time.

I was able to share a song in my own tribal language on the last night - American!

The Buru team meets for break-out discussion.

May runs right into June...

2009-06-01T06:56:00.001+08:00

Another month flew by – I think I just need to accept that as a reality of life for us! During the month of May, we:

1. finished up teaching the health course to 2 classes of missions students…

This 3 week course packed in a lot of information, but hopefully will be a good starting place for these students as they prepare to serve in locations where there is no doctor. The text book we were able to provide them gives a lot of general information that will help them identify diseases and either medicate them intelligently, or discern when they need to seek help. Russ was able to give some hands-on instructions on first-aid, which was really a big help (especially on the things that I got light-headed just reading about!). The Lord provided for us to be able to make the text books available to all our national missionaries, and we’re thankful for that too!

2. worked with the graduation committee to honor 2 families who have completed their training as tribal church planters…

The 2 families that have finished our course are true and beautiful testimonies to the process of indigenous church planting – both families come from a church plant in the Wana tribe that was started by NTM missionaries. How amazing to be able to train tribal believers as church planters, and to see their desire to reach out to other tribes with the same Good News that changed them!! As far as their graduation, I played the piano for worship, and saw to it that all printing-related things were in order (certificates, theme banner, invitations). Russ created a power-point slide show that showcased the graduating families’ training, mixed in with pictures of tribal people from around the world. Twice during the presentation, a voice boomed out the verse from Isaiah: "Whom shall I send, and who shall go for us?" and in response each family shot up their hands and said, "We will!" as they went to the front (I get goosebumps still just thinking about it!).

3. both spoke on separate occasions at a church in town, during their month of missions emphasis…

A large Chinese church in town organized a month-long missions conference, and invited missionaries from our campus team to participate. I was privileged to speak to the ladies’ group on the 27th, and Russ spoke to the men’s group on the 28th. The topic they provided for both of was “Families on a Mission”, and we were able to challenge both groups with the fact that missions begins with a strong relationship with the Lord, knowing who He is, and loving what He loves. We look forward to seeing how the Lord will use this time to strengthen our relationships in the community, and this church’s vision for missions.

4. put our minds towards helping to organize a regional conference with our NTM and national co-workers…
From June 3-5, our campus will be hosting missionaries (from NTM and our Indonesian sponsoring board) and tribal church leaders from our region (Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands). We look forward to the fellowship, and updates from each work! Our Central Sulawesi base team has been building up again, after several years of inactivity due to religious unrest. Now that our flight program is reopening, possibilities for discipleship in existing tribal works and opening of new tribal works are the topics of much discussion. Our part in the conference is “documentation” – we know that involves taking lots of pictures, but beyond that…we’re not quite sure yet!

On the home front….

--The kids are getting close to finishing up their school year. Both Evan and Emmaleigh have worked very hard, despite all the interruptions to our routine!

--Our house helper left us unexpectedly, so once life settles down (?!?!!?) we’ll be looking for a replacement. Pray for a good ‘fit’ for our family, possibly someone who just comes in during the day, rather than a live-in.

--Evan turned 8, and Emmaleigh lost her first tooth!

--We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary at a nice hotel restaurant in town.

--We transferred funds we’d invested in the States to our bank here with the intention of purchasing a vehicle soon!

As always, we appreciate your prayers for us as we seek to walk with the Lord each day. We know that our days look very different from yours, but we also know that the God whom we serve here is the same God you serve where you are, and we thank Him for the unity we have with you, in Him and because of Him.

Pondering.

2009-05-10T19:59:00.003+08:00

"Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal, since in this world you will have trouble. You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth.

"Begin each day anticipating problems, asking Me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter. The best equipping is My living presence. My hand that never lets go of yours. Discuss everything with Me. Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle. Remember that I am on your side, and that I have overcome the world." (Jesus Calling, Sarah Young)

* * *

I used to have a pondering/venting blog, but I don't now. Is it ok if I ponder here? I'll apologize in advance for the randomness...

The reading above wasn't today's, but caught my attention as it seemed to address a struggle I have been having lately. After a couple of months of revamping curriculum and mad preparation for the health class at every possible moment, I find myself to be in self-preservation mode. For 2 months, I feel like I've hardly gone out of the house except when it was required of me (ladies' staff meetings, classes that I've committed to go to). I don't really remember what normal feels like, but it seems at some point before, I had a life...! The class is over, but life rages on - graduation is fast approaching, and the following week Russ and I will be sharing (separately) at some missions focus meetings at a church in town, then our campus team is hosting a regional conference the week after that. With all these things there will be preparation, practices surely, studying, projects, while keeping our homeschool schedule moving (we have had a lot of setbacks, so are behind where we'd like to be...sigh).

I will be dropping one of my outside commitments at the end of June in an effort to keep things more flexible. There are things I'll miss about it but also am thankful for the freedom to let it go.

I'm an introvert by nature. Not that I'm shy really, but it's been said that introverts are drained by excessive interaction with people, while extroverts thrive on it. I am in a ministry which requires that I interact with people. When I'm stressed I tend to 'burrow' and avoid...I need to work on better time management too, planning ahead, working on things little bits at a time. When I get stressed I tend to block those things out.

Around Christmas time someone donated a keyboard to our church, and I am one of 2 people that know how to play. For some reason it is overwhelming to me to have the pastor rely on me to be available to play. I think...I am afraid to be a disappointment? *Gasp* - a missionary hesitant to help? Afraid to say no? I know very few of the new songs they have been singing (from a new book), so playing weekly would require time to practice with someone else to even learn the songs, and also comes with the expectation that I will be there every week. I can't promise that. And I think the anticipation of the stressful situation (or the disappointment) is just as tiring as the situation itself. And it's not the small thing they think to 'just teach someone else how to play'!

So.............................since I suppose it's not realistic for me to ask the rest of my life to please not stress me out................I guess the key is here: "The best equipping is My living presence." Think I need to camp there for a while - soak in His living presence. Read and reread Psalm 139...and pray for wisdom. Still not sure what to do about the piano thing. I feel that my ministry priorities need to lie here at the campus, and since I have been busy working on course materials I haven't spent the time out of the house that I need to, visiting with the ladies, other staff, etc. I feel like I need to rebuild those connections first.

Appreciate your prayers and thoughts as I try to find my footing again - that my strength would come from time soaking in the truth and each decision would be made with prayer and wisdom...that after a time of running that the Lord would provide a time of 'walking and not fainting', of refreshing as I trust and walk with Him.

pictures from health class

2009-05-07T20:31:00.002+08:00

Just a few pics to share from the last 3 weeks as Dina team taught the health course here. Students try to diagnose a sick person (Dina's teaching partner, acting as a tribal person)...

Practicing first response help for an unconscious person...

A local doctor came to answer questions and give some first aid tips (made me feel good that we had already covered most of what she went over, and the students already knew it!).
Thanks for praying as we passed on what we could to help equip these dear friends with skills and information that will be a huge part of their future ministry!

April highlights

2009-04-29T20:30:00.000+08:00

Just 4 weeks ago we were separated as a family on opposite sides of Jakarta – me with the 3 younger kids at our mission home, and Russ with Evan at the hospital, recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Evan has done an awesome job resting and easing back into normal activity. He’s really doing great! Tomorrow he will go for a follow-up appointment with a local specialist. Now he’s counting down the days to his 8th birthday…

The night Evan had his surgery, one of our national missionaries was lost at sea in a tragic accident. He has never been found, and we find peace in knowing Petrus is with the Lord. Please continue to pray for his family and co-workers.

While we were in Jakarta we were able to get all the kids’ passports renewed, and we have them in hand now. Soon our local government rep will begin processing the annual renewal of our visas.

Elliot turned 3 on April 8th, the day after we returned home from Jakarta. We celebrated with chocolate cupcakes, topped with some hoarded fudge frosting from home…and you can bet there were sprinkles on top!

Dina sprained her thumb playing volleyball, and that has slowed her down a little, but life goes on…

Russ continues to study language twice a week with Pak George – he is such a delightful little man, and such a blessing to our family.

Health class began April 20th and has been going well. So far we have covered the basics of disease, with a heavy focus on prevention, and this week our focus has been on medicine – use, dosage, and safety. Next week Russ will help out with some first aid basics. It has been neat to see the students’ desire to learn these basic concepts, understanding how it will impact their future ministries – 1) in taking simple measures to stay healthy so they are physically able to handle the challenges of ministry, and 2) as an avenue of outreach to the people around them.

Our missions students (3 families) returned from their 3-month practicum interior. They were encouraged by their progress in culture and language acquisition in such a short time. It’s so nice to have them back! They will graduate from the Missions program May 23rd.

Busy month, lots of little tidbits…yet fingerprints of God in each one. May He bless you as you seek His best today!

2009-03-31T11:18:00.001+08:00

Just a quick update on Evan – I went and spent a few hours at the hospital today, hung out with the guys, and brought some things so Russ could take a shower. Evan is recovering well – he was able to keep water and milk down today, and the surgeon said it’s fine for him to start trying to sit up and walk around a little bit. He was supposed to get some rice to eat for dinner. They are in a Class 1 room, which is nice, shared with one other girl who has Dengue Fever. Russ has to share Evan’s bed, and he’s tired of Cartoon Network, but he’s holding up ok.

I heard yesterday and shared with some of you that one of our Indonesian Manado-based coworkers was returning to his family and ministry location Sunday night (probably around the time of Evan’s surgery), and was lost at sea when the boat he was on collided with another larger boat. The boat was able to limp to a nearby island after the accident with its passengers, but our friend was unaccounted for. It’s thought that he was thrown overboard. Other co-workers spent the day in a helicopter searching for him and found nothing. Pak Petrus was a graduate of the National Training Center where we serve, and had been an instrumental part of outreach and discipleship ministry in the Taliabu work. He was returning to his 4 children, and his wife Yuhana, who is due with their 5th child any day. Please pray for the family, their ministry team, and our greater mission family as we look to the Lord in this difficult situation.

Monday

2009-03-30T11:17:00.000+08:00

As soon as we got to Jakarta we took Evan in to the closest hospital. They confirmed appendicitis, and called their best surgeon. After all was said and done, Evan had undergone a 2-hour appendectomy surgery, complicated by his appendix (which was slightly perforated) being stuck up behind his intestines. He is resting now and they would like to keep him at the hospital 5 days for observation. Thanks for praying for him.

The other kids and I are at a mission guest house in town, and I am feeling really overwhelmed…we have some decisions to make as to handle our travel plans, where and how long to stay, our business at the embassy, etc. I have a few contacts to make and am not really used to doing this all by myself, especially far from home in such a big and unfamiliar city. We know that we are covered in prayer and that gives us comfort. We’ll keep you updated as we can.

update on Evan

2009-03-29T11:16:00.000+08:00

Evan’s fever was high through the night (103+ F)...with weighing the options of
1) waiting here until tomorrow to have him assessed, or
2) continuing with our travel plans to Jakarta and having him assessed on arrival there…

…we feel we should go ahead with our plans.

Earlier I explained to Evan what could be happening in his body (what appendicitis means) and he completely freaked out – of all our kids he is the least tolerant of pain and new experiences…so please pray for peace in his heart, whatever the problem may be, an opportunity for him to learn to trust the Lord. We still need to contact our co-workers in Jakarta for their help with arrangements – clearly at some point our family will be split up somehow, whether that means one of us with Evan and one with the other kids, or both of us with Evan while co-workers watch the others.

Flexibility, patience, peace, trust……thank you for praying! It’s already been a long week and we’re going into this pretty tired.

travel with a twist

2009-03-28T11:15:00.000+08:00

Just a quick note to ask for prayer – we are headed to Jakarta tomorrow (Sunday) to apply for new passports for the kids. We have about a 3-4 hour flight, and will be staying at another mission’s guest house. Our plan is to return home Wednesday.

The added twist is…Evan is sick. We actually ended up taking him to “emergency” (I use the term loosely) as he’s has a fever (up to 102.5 F) and lower right abdominal pain since yesterday. Earlier this afternoon he started in with chills, so we thought we'd better get him checked out. They ruled out typhoid and malaria but the blood test also showed high white cell count, so at this point we know 'something's infected'. They wanted to do an ultrasound but won't have a tech there until Monday. They gave the ok to go ahead and travel, and if he doesn’t improve with the antibiotics we will get him checked there…so many things it could be with pain in that area.

Thanks for always standing around us…we love and appreciate you!

snippets from March

2009-03-24T10:54:00.003+08:00

Thanks for your prayers for us, even when we miss the chance to send you specific prayer needs…this has been a busy month!

We celebrated Russ’ birthday on March 21st and then Benjamin’s on the 23rd – that made for a blessed and busy weekend, with lots of food and friends! Benny and the other kids helped decorate a ‘dirt cake,’ complete with construction vehicles and gummi worms. Fun stuff.

From our house…we’ve been passing around a stomach virus, so that’s had us down one at a time over the last few weeks….we have a little ‘rat problem’ so that has kept us on our toes (*shudder*)…we have a new house helper since we wrote last, and she is working out very well here – a good fit for our family and on campus too – a real answer to prayer.

Russ has been studying language in earnest again, with Pak George as his language helper – what a sweet and genuine servant that man is! Russ is adjusting pretty well to his new meds, though sometimes they make it hard for him to sleep at night. He notices a difference in how he feels when he is faithful to take his medication at a consistent time, and stays well-hydrated.

I’ve been spending lots of hours working on revising and updating the health course here at the National Training Center, and putting together a practical health ‘handbook’ for our students and national missionaries. The current course book has not been updated for 12 years, so I started by translating its broad outline into English and asking for input from some nurse friends who have experience in overseas medical work. They gave me some good ideas of what needed more (or less) emphasis, and I’ve been working with that information, in addition to other resources I have here that are already translated (“Where There Is No Doctor”, some Australian resources online, books (translated from English) that I found in town, and some brochures from the hospital). The class is for all the students, runs from April 20th through May 8th (1 hour per day), and I will be team-teaching with another staff lady. There are a lot of deep-set traditions and misconceptions regarding health and hygiene here, so pray that what we present will be embraced by our students, with their families now, and later when they enter their ministries. Ironically…since I started working on this material – I have been sick with one thing after another!

We’ll all need to take a quick trip to Jakarta in the next couple of weeks to update all the kiddos’ passports – all will expire within a year, and will need to be renewed in order to apply for our new visas (renewed yearly). Please pray for the Lord’s provision for those things…travel, passports, visas…all part of living in another country! Pray too as we look ahead to purchasing a family vehicle.

Our Missions 2 class still has a few more weeks of tribal culture/language practicum…pray for their relationships as a team. We look forward to having these 3 families back on campus soon!

Time to start the day here…thanks again for ‘being there’ – we appreciate you!

Spinning...

2009-03-06T10:51:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to ask for your prayers for some busy weeks ahead…

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I might be involved in teaching the health unit here for our Bible and missionary students. That is a go, and the class will run from April 20th - May 8th. I have been studying and taking notes from “Where There Is No Doctor” (WTIND), which is a village medical manual widely used by health workers in tribal locations. On Tuesday I got a look at the “text book” which the students have used in the past. It is in need of revision and has not been updated in 12 years. It’s also more of a reader and not very practical as a handbook for someone who might be called on to assess medical conditions. So……..you know me – I have taken that on. WTIND is available in Indonesian and there are a couple copies on campus but I couldn’t find my own in town. I may end up having someone else’s copy photocopied so I have one I can mark up. I did find a couple other resources yesterday in town, and will begin compiling them in earnest with the goal of producing a handbook that will really be useful to our students in their families and their future ministries. Big job. One other Indonesian lady will be working with me, but I need to get all my information in order first before we can work with it in Indonesian.

My stamping/design team work is not a priority over ministry, and is manageable under normal circumstances, but this month all 3 of my companies are planning a big new release. I’m able to work ahead, and I do put more pressure on myself than is expected of me. Please just pray that I will keep that whole area of my life in perspective. It has been a blessing that 2 of the companies allow me to keep my cards to use or sell – I love sending birthday cards to our co-workers here (the ladies, on their birthdays) so that helps keep my box stocked.

I started getting a scratchy throat on Tuesday, and that has progressed to a cough and laryngitis. Lovely. Elliot started with the same symptoms at the same time, but yesterday he got a fever and threw up twice while we were in town. His fever remained high till the end of the day. Today his temperature seems fine but he has a fine rash. He is eating and drinking and playing like nothing is wrong. We just are keeping a very careful eye on him, remembering Benjamin’s round with Dengue Fever a couple of years ago which started in about the same way. Thankfully we know the signs to watch for now, BUT my tendency to worry is besting me right now, remembering the details of Benny’s situation, hospital stay, etc. which was very traumatic to us. All those emotions and mental pictures and fears are still there in an instant. Please pray that I will be wise and calm, and trust in the Lord’s control of all things.

Feb. news

2009-02-21T10:47:00.002+08:00

Sigh…everyone from the campus is gone off to the beach…everyone but me, and 2 single guys who are sick in the dorm (one with chicken pox, and one with malaria)…ugh, see my eye? It doesn’t feel sandy and itchy like pinkeye, just swollen and watery. What is that?

The last couple of weeks have been busy in a good way, and it feels good to feel ‘normal’ again. My new helper is doing really well – I’ve been pleased so far. She is young (14!) and sweet and shy, but coming out of her shell, conscientious and methodical, and a quick, willing learner. The kids like her too, which is a huge plus. A few of the single girls (students) have befriended her and I’m really happy about that…not only do they know me very well, but they are a good influence and a good help in showing her campus life, etc.

There’s a possibility I may be involved soon in helping with a 3-week-long health/hygiene class, so I’m pulling some things together for that “just in case”…if anything it will be good language study for me. There is so much misinformation and ignorance here about medicine & health issues, mixed with culture and tradition…which is often frustrating to us as Westerners. Hopefully some of the local doctors will take part in teaching as well – that really would be good…I think!

Singapore Update

2009-01-18T07:05:00.001+08:00

Thanks for your prayers as we made our quick trip to Singapore! We were able to make all the contacts we intended, so an update on those:

--Dina was able to see a dentist, and got a favorable report on her gum condition. There are a couple areas the specialist would like to monitor, so we hope to be able to go back in June or July for a follow-up. She also has a tooth that has some ‘history’ and is in poor condition (it had been moved forward orthodontically years ago – it was originally going to grow backwards in the middle of the roof of her mouth) – that will need to be removed at some point, and a bone graft may be required where structure has been lost. Evan also got a quick check-up and cleaning while we were there.

--Russ had a spot checked on his arm that we were concerned about – it turned out to be just a viral wart, which was easily removed.

--Russ’ visit with the neurologist revealed that his condition has progressed to fibromyalgia, evidenced by the number of trigger points that were sensitive (before, only 9 of 18 – this time 15). Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia are on a continuum, with the MPS characterized by more specific/localized pain and Fibromyalgia more generalized. The meds that he was given the last time were going to cost over $700 for a 6 month supply (last time our evac insurance covered everything), so the doctor prescribed some alternate meds that hopefully will be available here in Indonesia and for a much lower price. Pray for those meds to be available, and for his adjustment to new medication. He had been off any medication for 2 weeks and was having withdrawal symptoms – no fun either!

We’re back on the National Training Center campus (PPMMP) as are most of the returning students (one more is still on her way). The Missions 2 class left early this morning for the tribal area where they’ll be doing their practicum for the next 3 months. Classes begin Monday (1/19) – we are looking forward to the new semester, and continuing relationships and spiritual growth in us and in our students. Thanks for being a part!

Quick Trip

2009-01-11T07:05:00.000+08:00

Appreciate your prayers as we take a quick trip up to Singapore for some doctor appointments…Russ is out of the medication he has been taking to help manage his Myofascial Pain, and it is unavailable in Indonesia. He has a consultation planned with the neurologist again as well. I’ve been having problems with my gums for some time, so will be visiting a dentist/periodontist while we are there as well. We’re bringing Evan along with us just for fun – we will be taking a different route through Malaysia (it was about half the cost and gives us a scenic bus ride through Malaysia to Singapore) so he’s looking forward to that. Emmaleigh will be staying with friends off campus, and the little boys will be at our house with our student friends and our helper.

On the PPMMP campus – the Firm Foundations and Missions 1 students will be arriving this week, as their 2nd semester begins the 19th. Pray as they trust the Lord for the funds they need to return to campus – quite an expense for some traveling from other islands. Missions 2 students are beginning to prepare for their time of practicum interior. They will be leaving on Saturday and will spend 11 weeks in a tribal location practicing language and culture acquisition, and experiencing tribal church function first hand. There are 3 families going – 2 of them are actually from the neighboring tribe. Pray for them as they will all be leaving school-age children behind with other staff members here during this time.

Thanks for standing with us! God bless –

snowman craft

2008-12-22T17:31:00.004+08:00

I've been collecting Fanta bottles for weeks to make these cutie snowmen with the Indonesian kids here on the campus - yesterday the power went out and several of them were at the house, so we had a spontaneous craft time. It was really fun, and I think everyone was happy with their creations! They turned out really cute...I'm sure you could use any kind of bottle, but the 1 liter Fanta bottles were especially cute because they have a little built-in head shape. I cut off the top of the bottle, and their hats are toddler socks. I happened to have some Christmas fabric so that became the scarves. Fun, huh?

Haircut!

2008-12-22T17:28:00.001+08:00

I got brave yesterday and cut and layered Emma's hair - the style works really well with her curls. Like it?

Happy Birthday Emmaleigh!

2008-12-21T07:30:00.003+08:00

Emmaleigh turned 6 on the 19th. The 20th we had some friends over to do crafts and have lunch together. Here's the result of their first craft time....

......then some serious concentration on the 2nd craft.All listened while Russ told his famous "eyeball story..."

Make a wish.....!

And of course the presents!

2008-12-18T06:55:00.001+08:00

We had our campus Christmas program last night, combined with a commissioning of 7 students who have finished the first course of the missions training program here. I was involved in pretty much anything that involved practicing, music, printing, or graphic design, so it was sweet to see things all come together and run very smoothly.
The 2 of us below sang a special together, but the photo op was missed...it was sort of the 'call to order' so the camera was still outside. Oh well!

One of our co-workers brought a challenge related to the theme of the night - Mary's words, "I am your servant - let your will be done." Here's a picture of our extended family - students we consider "our kids"....I'm going to miss them when they go away for break! But at the same time.............................really thankful for the break. Fellow staff ladies, close friends. :) All that had been involved in the planning of the evening were wound so tight that when it was finally over we had at one moment a feeling of relief, followed immediately by the realization that students would be leaving over the next few days! The students that finished the first 3-semester course will be returning to their churches for a time of relationship-building. There are 7 of them, all singles. The Missions 2 class will be entering a 9-week time of practicum, language/culture learning in a tribal area in C. Sulawesi. So after our month-long break, we'll have a cozier community here on campus.

Thanks for your prayers for us!

life's little adventures.....

2008-12-07T12:33:00.003+08:00

I saw this little game on several blogs this past weekend and thought I would see how I do. If you would like to play along, just copy the list and highlight or underline those things you have done! The ones I have done are PINK! :) -----Dina

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (does a bus count?)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Fostered a rescue animal (adopted)

I think that was 48 things...how about you?

Thanksgiving celebration

2008-12-01T06:23:00.003+08:00

Just wanted to share a few pics from our Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday! We were able to celebrate with all the trimmings - even a pecan pie! (Thanks mom!)
Grab, root, and growl!

Ready to eat.....

One of our "adopted kids", Jessy - he got a late start eating as he had the opportunity to work during the day.

Elliot asked for the leg - and he finished the whole thing!

OK, so, um......what is this....?

All in all, we ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin casserole, rolls, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie. What a blessing to be able to enjoy all the trimmings - and celebrate with our closest Indonesian friends. We have so much to be thankful for!

2008-11-30T08:59:00.000+08:00

Wow, the end of November snuck up on us! Hard to believe we are running right into December already. Our last few weeks have been busy – which actually, after weeks and several cycles of sickness and recovery…. feels good. We’re nearing the end of the semester, so planning and practicing have begun for several Christmas programs. Soon 7 of our students will be recognized for completing the 3-semester Firm Foundations course here at the National Training Center (PPMMP), and will be commissioned for a time of involvement in their sending churches.

Earlier in the month I experienced severe abdominal pain in my lower right quadrant, accompanied by fever…of course I immediately was concerned about my appendix, but it seemed too high for that. After a couple trips to the clinic and lab in town, a specialist diagnosed the cause as kidney stones. He gave me an antibiotic and a natural kidney stone dissolver, and ordered me to drink 3 liters of water a day! So far so good…but 3 liters is a LOT!

I had the opportunity to lead the staff ladies’ meeting and ladies’ chapel (staff/students) this last week. I just praise God for the timing of His words through me, as I shared with the staff ladies about God drawing us out from danger, fear, and sin into a “spacious place” (Psalm 18:19, 31:8, 118:5, and a few others); in the ladies’ chapel, we read some verses about the power and right we have to encourage and build each other up, and then took turns encouraging one another. The last few weeks have been hard for all of us here as we’ve dealt with some serious issues with a couple of our students – so to be reminded again of the power and freedom we have in our Lord was so sweet.

Russ continues to have good days and bad days with his Myofascial Pain Syndrome, but no day is without some pain, and his bad days seem to last longer with pain progressively more intense. He’s been able to meet a few times with his language tutor, and we continue to have students over to the house for fellowship and discipling. Please pray that he will know his limitations, and that we will continue to be a blessing here. He is able to consult with the neurologist in Singapore via email, and the doctor suggested increasing the dose of one of his medications, so he’s trying that this week, and adjusting again to the effects.

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday with our closest Indonesian friends – with all the trimmings. We truly have so much to be thankful for this year, in spite of the difficulties we have faced. While you’re at our blog – feel free to download our new prayer card to print and post as a reminder to pray for us here. We sooooooooo appreciate your partnership with us, and thank you for your part in our ministry here in Indonesia!

New prayer card

2008-11-26T21:59:00.002+08:00

We designed a new prayer card today - we'll be sending some to our supporting churches soon - feel free to download this one to print if you want! Click on the image to get a larger/higher res image to save.

life and stuff

2008-11-24T21:35:00.003+08:00

Sorry for being so quiet here...the last couple weeks have been getting busier as we begin planning for various Christmas activities and other stuff...I'm involved with music for the school Christmas 'thing'/graduation (worship team, accompanying ladies' special music), then we have a kids' program that we are putting together with the homeschooling kids that they will perform for our co-workers and Indonesian staff, also a Christmas dinner/party with just our western co-workers....lots going on there!

...a couple weeks ago I spent about 24 hours down with severe lower right abdominal pain - I had tests run and it turned out (after urine, blood tests, ultrasound, and a follow-up with an internist) to be kidney stones...so I've been drinking 2-1/2 - 3 liters of water a day since, in hopes of dissolving whatever might be lurking 'down there'.

...we had quite an emotionally draining this last week as we as a staff dealt with issues involving some students, and with heavy hearts asked one of our senior students to step out for a time....

...this week it was my turn to lead the staff ladies' weekly meeting, which went well and I hope was a blessing...shared about something the Lord had been showing me in the Psalms and other places, especially in Psalm 18 where David was in distress and the Lord lifted him out and set him in a 'spacious place'...I'll share more of my notes later...

...Friday I have my turn to lead the ladies' chapel, and with this past week I think we all need some encouragement, so I have an idea that we used to do back in the day in the high school group - where we take turns encouraging others in kind of a chain (like I will start and toss a ball or something to one of the ladies and say something encouraging to her or something that encourages me about her, then it's her turn to choose someone else to encourage, and it goes like that)....I hope it will 'work' here, and not be too embarrassing for them....

...Saturday we are 'doing' Thanksgiving!
turkey
stuffing
gravy
cranberry sauce
green beans
mashed potatoes
pumpkin casserole
rolls
pumpkin pie (2)
pecan pie (thanks Mom!!!)

apple pie

How cool that we can have all these things here?! So excited. Our co-workers are having a big American get-together on Thursday, but we decided again to save our own celebration till Saturday and share our traditions with our Indonesian friends - they have shared so much with us.

Guess that's all for now ---------------------
Dina

cool lizard pics.........

2008-11-24T19:38:00.003+08:00

This is a draco volans, Flying Lizard, that we saw on the coconut tree in front of our house this morning...there were 2 of them actually, can you see both in the 2nd picture? - not sure if they were male and female, or what. Both looked the same to me.....I had a fast lens but on the wrong setting, so I missed the good wing shot...you can still see them though - isn't he cool?

earthquake

2008-11-18T17:03:00.001+08:00

Thanks to those who expressed concern for us after hearing about the earthquake in Sulawesi on Sunday - the epicenter was about 190 miles west of us, and we were unaffected...though if we'd been awake we might have felt something!

Still do!

2008-10-31T08:19:00.001+08:00

We had a little celebration at our house last night...remember a couple months ago Russ lost his wedding ring while playing soccer? I was able to save up money from a digital side-business to purchase a replacement ring, and yesterday it arrived here, hand-carried by one of our itinerant co-workers. We didn't do anything incredibly cheesy, but it was fun to share a special time with friends. And some super yum, super rich peanut butter cream cheese brownies...!

(Benny thought Dad was wearing an earring in this picture - he's not really! I have some candle jars up there and the flash hit one just right.......! funny though!)

October update

2008-10-31T08:18:00.001+08:00

It’s hard to believe that October has come and gone already…! In quick review, we began the month in a Manado hospital, with Russ being treated for stroke-like symptoms. A week later we were able to take advantage of emergency evacuation insurance to transfer Russ to a Singapore hospital. There it was determined that he had not had a stroke at all; what he had experienced was an acute attack of Myofascial Pain Syndrome. This condition is a chronic muscle condition that affects the fascia, or thin white tissue that wraps around muscles, organs, etc. The nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain caused by trigger points in the muscles. He was given some medication to help manage pain and muscle tightness, along with the natural anxiety that accompanies pain. We’re still not sure what caused his symptoms to be so severe, but the fact is that this is a condition that Russ will have to learn to recognize and manage daily, for as long as the symptoms are active.

We returned home to the PPMMP campus on October 11th, after 2 weeks away from home. Co-workers had lovingly arranged for our kids, but they were glad to be back with us and together again. (Elliot had stayed on campus with Indonesian co-workers, and reportedly he asked every night, “My mommy? My house?”) As with any major family event, we all were feeling a little shell-shocked after the whole experience, and our team graciously brought us meals and has given us time to rest, recover and regroup. The kids seemed to need to ‘do school’ for the sake of familiarity, so we’ve done our best. After a few days, though, I came down with intestinal problems that turned out to be parasites…we happened to have the right medication for that, but after a few days on an antibiotic I was down again with the flu. Both sicknesses back-to-back really sapped my energy. The kids have taken turns with stomach bugs as well. Needless to say, it’s taken us a little longer than expected to get back on our feet.

Russ has been able to rest quite a lot, and has also been able to get out and visit with the guys. It really helps his spirits to be with friends. He actually played soccer for about 15 minutes this week. The meds he is on do help, but also cause his thinking to be a little more distracted and foggy, and he finds that frustrating.

Please continue to pray for the students here. There are 33 of them in classes daily, and we are so proud of them. They have about 7 more weeks before the end of the semester. Some will finish the first course and return to their home churches for a time of relationship building. Others will be preparing for a time of practical culture/language learning in a tribal setting. The rest will be returning to continue their studies here in the new year. It’s a blessing to see them learn and desire to grow in the Lord and in their ministries, and a precious reminder of why we have come here to Indonesia, and why we are staying in spite of hard times.

We’ve been holding on to the character and defensive passion of God in Psalm 18, and I’ll share these verses as I close:

(16,18b-19) He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.…
In the day of my disaster…the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

God bless you today as we remember together that He is for us!

costume party

2008-10-27T19:54:00.003+08:00

Here's a pic of the boys before a costume party they attended on Saturday.....in true missionary fashion, their costumes were...free. Evan's wearing my shirt and the tie from my pants, and his light saber is made from an aquarium tube and a broken flashlight. Elliot's wearing his pajamas (not sure why the helmet...Superman in training?), and Benny is a turtle, with a shell made from a broken fan. It's been a long couple of weeks....I've been sick with parasites and then the flu, now the after-effects of taking an antibiotic, plus some nausea and just weakness as a result of being sick for 2 weeks. Russ is still adjusting and finding his balance of activity and rest. He tends to over-push himself then feel uncomfortable later, rather than pacing himself. Guess that's just his style, huh?

Evan took a pretty good fall today - he and a friend were playing on a building on campus still under construction - he was hanging/Spiderman-crawling along one wall and it started to give way - he dropped down, but didn't get out of the way in time and a section of the wall fell on him. Thankfully he's just a bit scraped and bruised...definitely could have been worse.

haircuts and lost teeth

2008-10-21T06:32:00.000+08:00

My Utmost for His Highest, Oct. 21

2008-10-21T06:28:00.002+08:00

We do not need the grace of God to stand crises, human nature and pride are sufficient, we can face the strain magnificently; but it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours in every day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a disciple, to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes.

Oswald Chambers

2008-10-18T10:40:00.003+08:00

"Bring The Rain"
Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

We are home!

2008-10-12T17:27:00.001+08:00

Thanks for your continued prayers…We arrived home yesterday afternoon, and had a quiet surprise reunion with the kids. Emmaleigh’s first question was, “Are you going to leave again?” :) We appreciate your prayers as we readjust. Though we are so grateful that Russ’ condition is manageable and that he did not have a stroke as had originally been diagnosed….we have been through an exhausting and emotional couple of weeks, and we are feeling quite shell-shocked as a result.

Pray….

--that we’ll have wisdom in pacing ourselves as we find our new ‘normal’ (again!)…and that those around us, our co-workers and students, will be understanding if we keep our distance for a little while.

--that we will all reconnect emotionally with each other, as we’ve all detached somewhat to cope with this stressful situation…

--for the kids as they get used to us again, and rebuild their assurance that we’re staying this time!

--for Russ as he finds his limits – how much activity is too much, what causes anxiety and how to deal with it, etc.

We’re so blessed to be in a community that is ready with helping hands at a moment’s notice…and so grateful for thousands of people like you who have held us up in prayer over these last few weeks. What a ride…!

outta here.......

2008-10-07T12:18:00.001+08:00

Just a quick one to let you know that the Dr. here has given Russ the go-ahead to leave the hospital. He’d like to see us for a follow-up on Friday, so we could be home as early as Saturday if all goes well this week. Pray as we reconnect and adjust to this new condition. Thank you!!

update from Singapore

2008-10-06T15:26:00.001+08:00

Thanks for your prayers and patience as you waited for word from us! This has been quite an adventure, and we have felt the Lord carrying us through each and every step.

Back to our last update…..the neurologist in Manado was pleased with Russ’ recovery and ready to release him Friday morning. As he was filling out appropriate paperwork, a call came in to the hospital from the States. We have an emergency evacuation insurance that had been notified about Russ’ situation and wanted to assess the seriousness of his condition with an American doctor’s help. As they talked with the Indonesian doctor, a notation on his ECG came into question, that caused them concern about his heart. Because of their concern, things were put into motion to send an air ambulance from Singapore to transport Russ from the Manado hospital directly to Singapore, where further testing could be done. We were told that we would be notified when the transport was on its way. I went home to pack, then returned to the hospital a few hours later with the kids, so they could see Dad before we left. Before I left the house, I called the insurance for an update on the transport, and they hadn’t heard anything, but assured me I would be contacted directly as soon as they had information. We live just minutes from the airport, so I went to bed around 9:00 with my phone next to my head.

At 9:40 I got a call from Russ, who said he’d just been contacted at the hospital, and the plane would be landing at the airport in 20 minutes! Time had already passed since then…I contacted our local leadership and one co-worker went directly to the airport to meet the pilots and doctor that had come. Others came and picked me up, and we were at the airport in a matter of minutes. The transport arranged was a fully-equipped Lear Jet 35a air ambulance. A doctor and nurse were sent, and monitored Russ the entire 3-hour flight.

Soon after we arrived at the Singapore hospital Russ was seen by a neurologist who was updated on his situation and reviewed the records sent from Manado. He ordered an MRI for Saturday afternoon. In the morning he did some checks of Russ’ pressure points. Oddly, they seemed more sensitive on the side that had been affected by his episode last Sunday. Before leaving, the doctor said, “I’m not so sure you’ve had a stroke.” Saturday evening Russ experienced some burning pain across his upper chest and left shoulder – the nurses checked his vitals and assured him everything was fine, saying “the doctor says your MRI is normal, so this isn’t being caused by anything in your brain.” Muscle relaxants and sedatives were given so he could sleep.

Sunday morning, the doctor confirmed his suspicion – “You have not had a stroke.” Apparently the symptoms that had mimicked a stroke were caused by acute myofascial pain syndrome, which is a hypersensitivity of the nervous system to muscle pain, and can be caused by stress (among other things). He was taken off any meds that had been prescribed as stroke therapy. We were curious if there was some relation to Russ’ existing neck condition (several bulging discs), so another MRI was ordered Monday morning. The discs are still bulging, and one is touching the spinal cord, but not indenting it. Otherwise, the MRI was normal.

He’s prescribed a couple meds for Russ that will help him deal with the muscle/nerve pain and stress – hopefully those will help stabilize things. He is still experiencing some weakness on his left side, and headaches as his body adjusts to the medication. We’ll ask more about therapy and follow-up tomorrow morning before Russ is discharged from the hospital. We’re planning on spending a couple extra days here in Singapore just to rest and debrief before returning to Manado.

The Lord continues to keep us encouraged…a friend sent me 1 Peter 5:7-11, which was such a comfort it brought me to tears again… “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you…be self-controlled and alert…standing firm in the faith…and the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever.”

Praise: that Russ did not have a stroke, and that we have an answer as to what is going on his body.
Pray: that he will be faithful with the medications and whatever therapy the doctor suggests. Also, I expect that he may have some post-trauma anxiety as he adjusts to this condition…pray for peace in his heart as he learns to recognize and manage symptoms.

We’ll continue to update you as we can. Thanks again for walking through this situation with us.

Dina for us all
"The truest thing about you is the truth that you are HIS." --Debbie Alsdorf

Thursday

2008-10-03T08:17:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to check in briefly. We will be consulting with Russ’ doctor here this morning regarding his condition and release. The last couple days he has been relaxed and in good spirits, blood pressure in normal range, etc. I’ve gone in each morning with 1-3 others, to sit with him, ask questions, and help communicate…Pending the doctor’s approval, our plan is to head to Singapore either Saturday or Monday, for a more modern and thorough evaluation and follow-up plan. There is an agency in the States that is helping with travel planning and medical costs, and they are ready to move forward as soon as they hear the word. Other co-workers here as well as co-workers and doctors in Singapore are making arrangements for us too. I feel literally ‘carried’ by all of them, and all of you. Thank you!!

Tuesday

2008-10-01T06:41:00.001+08:00

Russ was in good spirits yesterday, except when given his meds……..they were giving two “nerve medicine” shots through his IV, and he said for about 25 minutes afterwards he would feel dizzy and numb on his left side again. I told the nurses and after consulting with the doctor they discontinued one of them, but apparently the other one also has the same effect. The friends that were watching him when I left last night said they would be sure to keep checking with the nurses to see if that was normal for that period of time, or possibly a reaction to the medication. He was willing to still take it if it really did have some benefit after the initial reaction, but wasn’t especially keen on the feeling it gave him.

We were able to see his scan – there was evidence of the location of the stroke, but otherwise the effect appeared extremely minimal. Thankful for that. He is still experiencing a line of numbness down his left side, but is able to lift his legs again with good control.

I’m feeling better…all my labs came back normal, which didn’t surprise me. J Just feeling nauseous from a new med they gave me to keep lowering my cholesterol. Will go back to sit with Russ at the hospital today. Today and tomorrow are holidays marking the end of Ramadan, so the specialist will be taking a couple days off. He told Russ that he would evaluate him again on Friday and hoped to be able to send him home. Pray as we consider going to Singapore once Russ is stable, for a full check-up and consultation with a doctor there regarding follow-up and therapy, etc.

Monday update

2008-09-30T06:38:00.003+08:00

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away,
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.

Tears again as I looked at the other verses of the song the Lord sent me through the ER doctor early Sunday morning. What a good good God we have.

I spent the day with Russ yesterday – he is in very good spirits and seems to have better and better muscle control in his legs. Still, just a little bit of activity makes him dizzy but surely that’s to be expected. He was taken to an outside lab for a CT scan yesterday, so we should hear the results of that this morning when the doctor comes. He was able to get up in the front seat of the ambulance with only a little steadying (he said the ride in the back was too rough – the driver was a maniac and the stretcher didn’t lock…) I’ll go back today to be with him. Our co-workers have been taking care of a rotating schedule for people to go and sit with Russ…really, we’re so thankful for the immediate support system we have here, in addition to the literally thousands of people that are praying for us around the world. I just copied 8 pages of emails to take for Russ to read, and that wasn’t near all of them.

Not surprisingly, really, the blood and urine tests I had done yesterday turned up nothing at all…so…as it has before, the stress of the situation is manifesting itself in other physical ways for me. Just a matter of realizing it and managing it, experiencing the physical symptoms without panicking about them…until this passes. I’m going to get a few more labs run today, since the doctor offered. J Last night I fell asleep listening to my ipod, a mixture of calming music (worship music and Il Divo)…and was able to sleep very well through the night (I’ll admit…I also borrowed Elliot’s teddy bear…LOL!)

Thanks again for your love and support – we will continue to keep you updated!

update on us

2008-09-29T06:15:00.000+08:00

I talked to Russ last night and he seemed to be encouraged and feeling some improvement. Hopefully he was able to rest through the night. I think the plan is for me to go be with him today…I’m thankful for co-workers who are able to help schedule shifts and help me make decisions...we have such a wonderful team and support system here! The doctor had planned for Russ to be taken for a CT scan today – that will mean an ambulance ride to a lab in another part of town.

My fever and back pain seem to have mostly subsided, thanks to the 2 gallons of water I drank yesterday afternoon…! Probably will still try get to the lab in case there’s something going on with my kidneys. But I have the tendency to wear stress physically, and last night my blood pressure started to creep up. I had forgotten to take my medication in the morning (obviously)…I don’t normally have high blood pressure but I take a beta-blocker to give me a lower baseline, so that my blood pressure doesn’t get too elevated when I have feelings of anxiety/panic. So stress causes my blood pressure to rise…then I stress about my blood pressure rising, and it continues to rise…I also yesterday had some nerve pain in my hands, and I read that when blood pressure is high, sometimes our veins swell to accommodate the higher flow, and bump into nerves around them. So there’s that too.

Sooooooo many of you have expressed your love and concern for us, and told us that you’re praying – I can’t begin to tell you how much that means to us. We know that people all over the world are praying for us – not just from our support team, but from our co-workers’ support teams, churches, etc.

Thank you!

oh, apparently...............

2008-09-28T18:08:00.001+08:00

After I came home I realized that I had a fever of 99.6 and a dull ache in my central lower back. Kidneys? Going to drink lots of water and rest, and see what happens…and trust God with the timing of this too! My goodness……..

It was decided that I should stay home and rest tonight since Russ seemed pretty stable and the kids are all farmed out. Our 2 "adopted sons", Indonesian single guys, will stay with Russ tonight.

2008-09-28T13:39:00.001+08:00

Looks like I will be away for the computer for some time, but wanted to be able to pass on an urgent prayer request from our family……

Early this morning Russ woke up in a cold sweat, numbness down his left side, blurred vision.....I went and woke up a friend to come stay with our 4 kids, and called a co-worker to take us to the hospital (Russ is pretty stubborn when it comes to sickness, so when he told me to call someone I knew it was serious)...when we arrived at the hospital his BP was 160/120, and while he was laying down after we first got there, he seemed to have two more small 'aftershocks'. The doctor feels sure that he had a mild stroke.

Friends came to be with us and help with hospital proceedings (suffice it to say it's different here, so pray that we can act proactively yet appropriately to the culture, without always comparing, "In American hospitals they...." He's doing better, resting, his BP has been within the normal range - thoughts and speech are clear, but his body is weak and maybe a little in shock. Since it’s Sunday, labs are closed, so we’ll have to wait until tomorrow for him to be taken for a CT scan. Not sure beyond that what the plan of action will be. Appreciate your prayers for wisdom.

We both talked earlier about unrelated things that had come up this week that seemed to be the Lord quietly calling our attention…situations where we had to pull back and proceed with understanding and knowledge, and patiently…I can see where these things were preparing our hearts for this situation. I found it interesting too, as we were waiting in the admitting area, that the doctor on call began singing (in English, no less) – “A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, a wonderful Savior to me…He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock where visions of pleasure I see. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry thirsty land…He hideth my life in the depths of His love and covers me there with His hand…” Tears come typing those words – not at the stress of the situation but at the beautiful, sheltering love of our Lord.

Several of our co-workers and some of the students who are off classes this week have offered to care for the kids, such a blessing not to have to worry about them at this time. They are in loving hands. Others will be taking turns helping and sitting with us at the hospital.

OK – need to get a shower and get some things ready to take back with me…while we wait for a private room to open, we are sharing a room with an older stroke patient (and his wife and their son…) and while they’re lovely people, we’d really rather have the privacy (and I would appreciate not sleeping on the floor with them!). Times like these we definitely feel and thank you for your prayers.

new growth

2008-08-23T12:17:00.003+08:00

We've been doing some work in our front flower bed and on the side of our house to pretty things up, and to start a garden of sorts. A friend of ours in CA (Thanks Glenn!) gave us some hybrid seeds to try, and we made a deal with the married students that we would 'share crop' with them and share the veggies when they come! It's been fun to watch the seeds pop up, and the kids have had fun watching a few they planted themselves. In the front we planted marigolds, which are starting to pop up now, plus some cuttings that some of the students gave me to play with. honeydew

tomatoes

zucchini
cuttings in the front

tomatoes (front) and honeydew (back)

Merdeka!

2008-08-21T22:00:00.004+08:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures from our Indonesian Independence Day celebration on Monday. The actual holiday was Sunday, Aug.17, but we celebrated the 18th with a free day, meal together, and of course some silly games. Enjoy!

Yesterday

2008-08-13T05:33:00.004+08:00

We were so encouraged at the end of the day yesterday to know that so many of you are praying for us, for our strength and encouragement. Really, at the end of yesterday, it was truly obviously and only by the Lord's power that we were able to keep praising Him. Wow, what a good God we have.

Wanda's sister Kristin passed away on Monday morning. Yesterday, Michael and Wanda returned home with Kristin's 2 children, a 6 year old girl and a newborn boy, and we went with several friends to meet them at the airport. When they arrived here, the girl still had not been told about her mother's passing. Last night as Michael and Wanda drove to the family's hometown to prepare for the funeral, they were planning to tell her. Haven't heard yet how that went. The funeral will be today. A bus has been rented for all of us (staff and students - so about 50 of us) to go and support the family. Their town is about 1-1/2 hours away.

Yesterday we also said goodbye to one of our sweet single guys, who has spent the last few years guarding our mission's hangar at the airport. We're no longer renting a hangar here, so he'll be looking for a ministry in another city on our island, possibly even watching the new hangar we are renting there, in hopes of the helicopter coming soon. Rasul is the sweetest, humblest, shyest boy we know, and so faithful. I've never seen anyone run as fast or effortlessly on the soccer field either! When we heard he was leaving and no one was doing anything in his honor, we felt soooooo strongly that we should have something at the house for him, and I'm so glad we did. We sang, and someone shared from the Word, then person after person shared what a blessing he had been, what they had learned from him, how he had encouraged them. He was truly touched, and speechless. We're really going to miss him!

Also yesterday, one of our new students was taken to the hospital with Dengue fever - that's hard in itself...also heavy for us is the fact that the guy that went with him to help with whatever needs he may have there is one of "our boys", who spent a week with us in the hospital when Benny had Dengue fever last year. Before we went to bed we got a text message from him, "Mom, keep praying for us - there's another guy in the room with us, and the person who was watching him left and asked me to watch him too." Sweet faithful boy - but what a burden. It's plenty to keep up with the needs of one person, calling nurses if needed, purchasing supplies and medicine as needs arise, etc. Hopefully soon there will be someone to replace him today. That is the plan anyway.

So there's a little glimpse into our week...other than that we are running orientation this week, so Monday was another full day (for me) - orientation all morning, came home to cook (still training my helper), went out to the corner store, then had a ladies meeting from 3-4, sports from 4-6, then had to come and cook again! Today off to the funeral so we will be gone all day, I suppose. Tomorrow and Friday we still have orientation but I think I may skip out, for the sake of my kids and my own personal sanity...! Thank you so much for standing beside us.

prayer request

2008-08-10T08:13:00.008+08:00

Please be praying for our Indonesian co-workers Michael and Wanda...(Wanda is pictured to the left)

Wanda's sister in Jakarta gave birth via C-section 2 weeks ago, due to pre-eclampsia. 5 days after the baby was born, Kristin began convulsing and was taken to the hospital unconscious. Later tests revealed a cerebral hemhorrage, a recognized risk of eclampsia. She has remained unconscious and right now her heart is only functioning on life support. Wanda has been in Jakarta for a week now, caring for the new baby and his 6 year old sister, which has been very stressful for her. This is also the first time she's been away from her family, alone and in a big city. Michael was able to go be with her yesterday, after word from the doctor that Kristin's heart would probably not last through yesterday. We don't have an update today...the last word was that she was only alive because of the machines. The family has many decisions to make - one big change will be Michael and Wanda taking responsibility for the 2 children. Wanda's mother passed away in February, so the family is still mourning that loss - now this. Tough times...

settling in....

2008-08-05T21:42:00.004+08:00

Just a few pictures from this afternoon - fun to see the new students getting settled and enjoying being out together. The returning students start work detail tomorrow (I have the job of feeding them on break), and orientation starts Monday.

we're here..........

2008-07-27T06:09:00.003+08:00

Sorry for the lack of posting - we've still been struggling with our internet connection, and no one appears to be in a hurry to fix it. Thank God for wireless, and kind co-workers who share. :) We're feeling pretty settled in - most stuff is at least in the general area where it belongs...kids are still getting used to keeping their things corralled in one place, sleeping in their beds, and managing their time........they are so happy to have new Western friends here - between 4 families there are 7 boys and 7 girls, and when they all get together they are quite the little gang. Pray that they'll understand the importance of including their Indonesian friends in their play time as well. There are a few other staff kids that are school age and their school runs year-round, so they're not around during the day when our kids are out playing. Hopefully we'll get in a routine soon with school days and the new semester of training beginning. Classes start Aug 11, so maybe I should set that as a goal. Just a matter of getting organized and getting a lot of copies made....

My helper's here on campus, but she and her friends had a looooooooong bus ride (2 days) to get here so they'll probably just rest today and I'll have her come in Monday. I'm totally trusting her friends and Aunt who sent her to me - don't know anything about her at all! I figure though, she knows what she's getting into, and she came all this way - she must be alright!

Benny's forgotten almost all his Indonesian, which makes me sad, and I think confuses him too - when we first got here he thought everyone was speaking Spanish (thank you Dora and Diego). He does still understand some things...but when I asked him if he remembered when he could speak Indonesian, he said, "Like this?: 'ya.' " Hm. Elliot repeats everything so I think he will come back into it quickly.

We had our first pizza night last night - invited a couple single guys and one other family that we're really close to, and 4 pizzas was just enough for us all. 2 pieces left.

Russell's in the middle of trying to build his computer - what he thought would be easy is turning into a bit of a nightmare, I think, so you can keep that in your prayers...especially since it's taking up half the office right now...

OK - better get off the computer - we'll try to catch the public van to church this morning. Emmaleigh's off at a sleepover birthday party but should be home in time.

Thanks for checking in!

Sampai ketemu lagi......

2008-07-14T17:46:00.001+08:00

……………until we meet again! We are flying out of Orlando this morning, on our multi-leg trip back to our ministry home. (Orlando – Detroit – Tokyo – Singapore – Manado). We have quite a lot of luggage, with extra weight and extra pieces, so we are praying for mercy at check-in, on-time flights (our layovers are not very long), patient and attentive kids, and some quiet moments on the plane so we can gather our minds and thoughts and allow the Lord to prepare our hearts for another term of ministry.

We’re thankful for the time we’ve had here in the States, and for being able to visit with so many of you along the way. We love you and cherish your partnership with us!

Glasses!

2008-07-08T03:28:00.003+08:00

Isn't he cute? He was so proud, and is doing really well.

sweet Benjamin........

2008-07-01T03:54:00.002+08:00

..........was such a good boy at the eye doctor today! ...the doctor confirmed that he is very far-sighted (weird since all my family is near-sighted). They had to order frames for him that were a bit shorter than what they had in stock, so we will pick up his little and very cute glasses next week. Cuts it close with our departure date, but I'm happy that we were able to realize a problem, and that he will see so much more clearly soon! It's funny to think that he probably doesn't realize that he doesn't see well, because that's all he's ever known. Maybe he will listen better when he can see us up close? I've been afraid since he was born that he would have to wear glasses, because his little ears are square-ish, and angled down instead of up...I'll post pictures when he gets them!

a Kodiak may be coming to your area........

2008-07-01T02:23:00.002+08:00

The Maluku Islands, also known as the Spice Islands, are an archipelago in Indonesia lying east of Sulawesi Island and west of Papua. The Maluku islands are now divided into 2 provinces, made up of 1000 islands in an area of 475,000 square miles and with a population of 2,000,000. There are approximately 145 ethnic groups living on these islands which are separated by vast expanses of ocean water making each island in itself very isolated. New Tribes Mission is currently working on 3 of these islands with a vision to see the gospel expand to the many other still unreached ethnic groups.

Geographic isolation and the dangerous ocean waters is a key obstacle in taking the gospel to this region. Aircraft cut travel time from days to hours or even minutes. We believe that the time is right for a "Kodiak". No this is not a bear, but rather an airplane designed specifically by Quest Aviation for this type of flying. Our field of Indonesia is now trusting the Lord for one of these aircraft with plans to bring one into service in the near future.

At this time we would like to announce that this aircraft will soon be making an appearance in many cities across the United States. If you would like to become more aware of this project and how this aircraft can be used to help expand the reach of the gospel in areas like the Maluku Islands we would like to invite you to attend this event. Please find an attached file listing the places, dates, and times of a possible showing in your area.

New Tribes Mission, Indonesia

July 10-16, Thur-Wed
Muskegon MI, Muskegon County Airport MKG 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM

July 17, Thur
Lowell MI, Lowell City Airport 24C
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

July 17, Thur
Berrien Springs MI, Andrews University Airport C20 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

July 18, Fri
Lansing IL, Lansing Municipal Airport IGQ 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

July 18, Fri
Elkhart IN, Elkhart Municipal Airport EKM 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

July 19, Sat
Kokomo IN, Kokomo Municipal Airport OKK
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM

July 20, Sunday
Kokomo IN Glenndale Airport, 8I3
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

July 21, Mon
Dayton OH, Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport MGY 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

July 22, Tue
Columbus OH, Bolton Field Airport TZR
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

July 23, Wed
Mansfield OH, Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport MFD 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

July 24, Thur
Ashland OH, Ashland County Airport 3G4
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

July 24, Thur
Coshocton OH, Richard Downing Airport I40 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

July 25, Fri
Coshocton OH, Richard Downing Airport I40 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM

July 25, Fri
Kidron OH, Stoltzfus Airfield OH22
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

July 26, Sat
Akron OH, Akron-Canton Regional Airport CAK 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

July 27-Aug 3, Sun-Sun
Oshkosh WI, Wittman Regional Airport OSH 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM

Aug 4, Mon
Decatur AL, Pryor Field Regional Airport DCU 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Aug 5, Tue
Decatur AL, Pryor Field Regional Airport DCU 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Aug 5, Tue
Birmingham AL, Bessemer Airport EKY
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Aug 6, Wed
Birmingham AL, Bessemer Airport EKY
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Aug 7, Thur
Sanford FL, Orlando Sanford International Airport SFB 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Aug 8, Fri
Knoxville TN, Knoxville Downtown Island Airport DKX 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Aug 9-10, Sat-Sun
Elizabethton TN, Elizabethton Municipal Airport 0A9 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Aug 11, Mon
Winston Salem, NC, Sugar Valley Airport 31A 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Aug 12 Tue
Lynchburg VA, Falwell Airport W24
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Aug 13, Wed
Bridgewater VA, Bridgewater Air Park VBW 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Aug 14, Thur
Leesburg VA, Leesburg Executive Airport JYO 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Aug 15, Fri
Lock Haven PA, William T. Piper Memorial Airport LHV 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Aug 16-17, Sat-Sun
Reedsville PA, Mifflin County Airport RVL 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM

Aug 18, Mon
Rochester (Brockport) NY, Ledgedale Airpark 7G0 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Aug 19, Tue
Schenectady NY, Schenectady County Airport SCH 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Aug 20, Wed
Westerlo NY, Westerlo Airport NY33
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Aug 21, Thur
Ft Washington PA, Wings Field Airport LOM 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Aug 22 Fri
Ft Washington PA, Wings Field Airport LOM 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Aug 23-24, Sat-Sun
Lancaster PA Smoketown Airport S37
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM

Aug 25, Mon
Butler PA, Butler County Airport BTP
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Aug 26, Tue
Butler PA, Butler County Airport BTP
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Aug 27, Wed
Frankfort KY, Capitol City Airport FFT
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Aug 28-29, Thur-Fri
Camdenton MO , Camdenton Memorial Airport H21 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM

Aug 30, Sat
Oklahoma City OK, Sundance Airpark HSD
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Aug 31, Sun
Wichita KS, Colonel James Jabara Airport AAO 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Sep 1, Mon
Omaha, NE, Council Bluffs Municipal Airport CBF 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Sep 2, Mon
Wenatchee WA, Pangborn Memorial AirportEAT 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

2008 Summer Tour-Kodiak Places, Dates, and times click on airport name for map or identifier for airport information Dates, times, and locations are subject to change without notice due to weather conditions or availability of Aircraft. Updated information will be available at www.spokaneturbinecenter.com

helloooooooooooo................

2008-06-23T07:47:00.002+08:00

We're still around.....! Things have just been draining with all our traveling, and now the busy-ness of sorting and packing. Our countdown is down to 3 weeks. We have a few scattered doctor appointments, speaking engagements left, and we have a scheduled family trip to Orlando this week (we have a few days left on our Disney tickets, then Grandma will be coming to get the kids so we can go to a stamp convention on Saturday), but otherwise we'll be turning our attention to packing and preparing to go home! We're tired, and we're ready. That's it. :)

Just wanted to share how the Lord provided for us today......over the last week we've been experimenting with packing.......when we came back to the States, each of us was allowed 2 suitcases at 70# each.....since we've been home they've changed the allowance to 50# per suitcase. With 6 of us, that's 240# of stuff that we brought over with us that we have to pay to take back. We're also taking back 3 years of school books, which weigh about 200#. We can overpack up to 70# at $50 per suitcase, or add extra baggage at $130 per suitcase. We figured on taking a few heavy pieces, and taking at least 4 extra pieces of luggage. There's just no way around it.

We had a barbecue/open house this weekend, and a money tree was mentioned in the invitation....both of us prayed separately that the donations would cover our extra luggage costs. At the end of the day, there was $275 in the basket. Enough for 2 extra pieces of luggage. OK Lord........

This morning we spoke at one of our supporting churches - it wasn't the church we were originally scheduled to speak at but we switched weeks to ease up our schedule. We had the Sunday School hour to share about our ministry and enjoyed that privilege. After Sunday School, a man came up to Russ and said, "I don't know what I can do to help you, but I can just give you what I have in my wallet." Russ thanked him and shoved the money in his pocket without looking at it.

When we got home, I was reading a letter from one of our students and Russ stopped me - "Dina, that man gave us over $1100!" I started counting it and started crying...I told him in Indonesian - "Kurang iman kita....." - my faith is too small. Wow.

The sermon this morning was on storms in our lives, and before speaking the pastor showed a clip from the movie Twister - as the storm of the century blows through a farming area, a couple are running for their lives - they escape destruction several times then find themselves in a barn. Finding pipes that are anchored 30 feet in the ground, they tether themselves securely, and though their bodies are being sucked up into the eye of the twister, they are anchored firmly to a safe and unmoving place. Thank you Lord - I needed that word picture - though we are tired and weary and ready to go home - you are our stronghold. We also sang the song "You are my Hiding Place". The line "let the weak say 'I am strong in the strength of the Lord'" also stuck out to me. Amen!

The kids got their typhoid shots last week - Evan was old enough to take the oral vaccine, so he is working on that (4 pills every other day - 2 to go). Elliot checked out fine on Friday, and Benny goes for an eye exam next Monday.

Guess that's all for now. Thanks for your faithfulness to pray for us. We are so grateful!

weather!

2008-05-23T01:13:00.001+08:00

Thanks to all of you who are praying for our safety as we travel… Yesterday we started out in a snowstorm, drove through mixed snow and rain for most of the day, then found ourselves heading toward the storm that did so much damage through Colorado/SE Wyoming...had to change hotels because the one where we had a reservation had been hit by a tornado...found a different hotel down the road (after more rain/snow/hail), and then ended up all sitting in the hallway for a while under a tornado warning! We’re so thankful to the Lord for protecting us, especially after passing so many overturned vehicles (there was even a boat on the road!). We will continue on from Cheyenne WY today, heading towards Missouri. We should be in Kansas City on Saturday, Lord willing!

Since we left California, we have covered a lot of territory….we’ve been able to visit with Russ’ aunts in Stockton, Dina’s aunt in SW Oregon, Dina’s parents and grandmother in Idaho and E. Washington, and sweet friends who pastor a church in NE Montana. We enjoyed God’s creation at Yellowstone, and the kids loved seeing all the animals (even though we didn’t see a bear). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be visiting furloughing co-workers, sharing with new friends at a church in the KC area, attending a seminar for missionary training staff and reconnecting with our friends and coworkers in Missouri, spending some time with our church family in Mississippi, and then heading back down to Florida, for our final preparation for returning to Indonesia. Our countdown has passed the 8-week mark, and we are more and more anxious to get back home. Be praying for our Indonesian missions students as they finish up the semester on Monday and prepare to head home or to other ministries for the summer.

Thank you again for standing alongside us as we continue our adventures…even through some scary moments yesterday we were so aware of God’s presence through your prayers, and are humbled daily by your involvement in our lives and in our ministry.