The Countdown has Begun

Well I am less than 48 hours from departure now! So much running through my head - some good, some hard and lots of tears. In the good news, I finally got my visa on Friday morning! This visa will allow me to stay several months, but I will need to leave the country at some point when the visa that will last a year is issued.

I was blessed this weekend by two of my sisters (who I had thought I had already said goodbye to) coming down early on Saturday morning. Our whole family was able to be together for this weekend before I left. I got several gifts from them including a fun PowerPoint and several small ducks, one for each of my sisters.

This morning I was also commissioned by my church in Hood River, Oregon. It was such a joy to share in a time of prayer with everyone. I was surrounded by family and friends. My Regional Mission Director from WorldVenture, Doug Hazen, was also able to come. Also joining us, were Bob and Liz Long, past missionaries at Bethesda Hospital.

Six and half years ago, on my last Sunday in Indonesia, I folded up the bulletin from church and tucked it in my Bible. I have carried it in my Bible since, as a reminder to pray for Indonesia. At the time I didn't know if I would ever return to serve there. Now I am less than 2 days from departure! I am excited about the ministry the Lord has planned for me, but leaving is also very hard. I will miss my family and friends here a lot!

A Time of Transition

Life is full of a lot of "lasts" right now. For example, the last time to see my Grandparents and other extended family for several years. Last time to visit places like Lost Lake. 

With my Grandparents in Wenatchee, WA 

Saying goodbye is hard to do, but my eyes are also on all the "firsts" that are soon to come. This is a big transition. A hard transition. We talked a lot about the process of this transition during a couple of my trainings. It helps to know that what I am experiencing is normal and also to know that no matter how hard the stage I am in right now, that it won't last forever.

This might not be the first time you have seen the picture and information below and it won't be the last either. That is because I think it is important for you to understand not just the what is happening with me physically but also emotionally and spiritually. I am currently in that first transition stage and I am quickly headed into the chaos stage!

A bridge in Indonesia and a perfect example of this transition

Settled: Life is normal with stable relationships, a secure work environment and known routine. You are on solid ground!

Transition: Focus is shifting to destination. It is time say goodbye to people, places, pets, and possessions. You have started down the side of the bridge - the way ahead looks long and a bit scary but you are excited about what is on the other side. It is however, hard to leave the settled feeling of this side and say all those goodbyes. 

Chaos: Life is full of unknowns and ambiguity from how to communicate to how to get to the grocery store. Anxiety and exhaustion are frequent emotions. You are in the middle of the bridge and awfully close to some fast rushing water!

Transition: You are learning the language, becoming comfortable with a new routine and role. You are headed up to solid ground but not there yet!

Re-Settled: Different but stable relationships, work environment, and known routine. The new normal - you are on solid ground again!

The following was also shared at one my trainings. It is I Corinthians 13 adapted for the missionary. It is my prayer that in those hard moments, the Lord will fill me with love for Indonesia and her people. I hope that is your prayer for me as well, as I once again adapt to Indonesian language and culture...

If I speak with the tongue of a national but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

If I wear the national dress and understand the culture and all forms of etiquette and if I copy all mannerisms so that I could pass for a national but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all that I possess to the poor and if I spend all my energy without reserve but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love endures long hours of language study, is kind to those who mock her accent; love does not envy those who stayed home; love does not exalt her home culture, is not proud of her national reputation.

Does not boast about the way we do it back home, does not seek her own ways, is not easily provoked into telling about the beauty of her home country, does not think evil about this culture.

Love bears all criticism about her home culture, believes all good things about this new culture, confidently anticipates being at home in this place, endures all inconveniences.

Love never fails, but where there is cultural anthropology, it will fail; where there is contextualization, it will cease; where there is linguistics, it will vanish.

For we know only part of the culture and we minister to only part.

But when Christ is reproduced in this culture, then our inadequacies will be insignificant.

When I was in America, I spoke as an American, I understood as an American, I thought as an American but when I left America I became a learner of a new culture!

Now we adapt to this culture awkwardly, but He will live in it intimately. Now I speak with a strange accent but He will speak to the heart.

And now these three remain: cultural adaptation, language acquisition and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

Going with "Plan B" for my Visa

We found out last week that the language learning visa I had applied for is not going to be available in time for me to start language school on July 5th. There are blessings though, even in this. For example, we only found out because one of my teammates happened to go by the school to start the visa process for someone else. At least we know now and can go with plan B. 

Plan B is actually easier, at least at first and doesn't require me to go to the consulate in San Francisco to pick-up the visa. Now I will be applying for a visitor's visa. There are still a few hoops to jump through and it will take some time but hopefully it will be done in time for me to depart on June 25th as planned. Not having the original type of visa will probably cause some bumps on the other side as the original visa would have given me more of a residency permit. I will also need to travel out to Singapore when that visa is done, but hopefully I can do that during one of the school breaks. 

Please be praying that everything goes smoothly from here on out! 

Busy Days and Hard Moments

200 pounds shipped - done. A 12-hour shopping marathon in Portland - done. Doctor appointment, dentist appointment, and eye doctor appointment - done. Write will - done. But that is just the beginning...

Teaching tools, birth equipment, some special foods, dishes, clothes, and pictures for the walls all packed up... 

... And ready to ship, so they can be included in a container to the hospital. 

Well the to do list is full and the days are busy with so much to do before I leave. It is easy to get overwhelmed! I am determined though to do as much as I can as early as I can because then my focus can be on people in the days before I leave.

One of the hardest moments of this transition so far, came today when I had to put my cat Missy to sleep. She has been a faithful friend for almost 10 years now. I have never been a cat lover, so when I originally got her in Indonesia she was mainly to help keep the rat population in my house under control. Somehow though she became so much more. In those 10 years she has moved 6 times with me - once all the way across the ocean :) She was always there to greet me when I came home from a long shift at work. Naps on my shoulder or lap were a favorite pastime. And she rarely failed to get me out of the house on our daily walk to the mailbox or to have some fun with her toys. I wish I would have been able to take her back to Indonesia with me but her kidney disease had become too severe. She has been a precious addition to my life and she will be greatly missed!

The day she arrived - she would eventually grow into those ears but at a top weight of six and half pounds she was always tiny. 

A recent nap time on her heated window bed. She never did adjust to the cold of the Northwest :)

My Mentor

Marcia, Jan, Anne, and Beth... These are just a few of the mentors the Lord has blessed me with through my life. Women who have spoken truth into my life and shared their wisdom with me.

Marcia and Jan were nurses and women of faith in my community when I was growing up. Both helped support my dream of becoming a nurse and gave me practical advice on my career options. Anne was one of my teachers during nursing school at Seattle Pacific University. Her smile and joyful attitude were such a big encouragement during some of the long days. She was the one who first told me I would be a good teacher because I was naturally doing it already. I laughed at the time! Turns out she was right - I love to teach and combine that with my skills as a nurse and midwife.

When WorldVenture told me I would need to choose a mentor to walk with me through the journey from appointment to departure, I had no idea who to pick. My first thought turned to someone at home in the Hood River area. I was living up in Everett at the time though and really wanted somehow close by who I could meet with regularly. I had done a couple of Women's Bible Studies with my pastor's wife Beth and had really appreciated her wisdom, so I decided to approach her.

That was the beginning of beautiful relationship. One I know will not end with departure! She made the trip out to the WorldVenture Home Office for training with me and for my commissioning service. While I was still living in Everett, at least once a month you could find us at an IHOP or Starbucks talking and praying until one of us realized how late it had gotten. She has been one of those who I have gone to when the emotions and the fears seem overwhelming and it felt like I was never going to be able to depart. She has an in-depth knowledge of the Word and seems to know exactly the verse I needed to hear. Her prayers have been filled with knowledge and wisdom. I am hopeful that she will be able to come out and visit me in Indonesia sometime in the future. This will take a small miracle though as she is afraid of flying :)

I wish I had a better picture of her :( In this picture she is teaching during a Be Still Retreat

Meet my RopeHolder

When you are on a dirt road out in the country on a dark night, trying to find a place you have never been before, it is awfully nice to have your cell phone and know you can call a friend who has driven there before.  And when you are new parents and the baby develops a mysterious rash, it sure helps to call a sister with 5 healthy kids and know you’ll get good advice without condescension. In that first year on the field, should you feel lonely or discouraged, wouldn’t it be nice to Skype, call or e-mail someone who has “been there before” and will understand you.

 RopeHolders is a new program developed by The Paraclete Center at WorldVenture. They are veteran, retired WorldVenture missionaries who have successfully navigated multiple transitions and cross cultural adjustments, and who are willing to serve as long-distance confidants to new missionaries.  RopeHolders have been screened and trained by The Paraclete Centre staff in how to “hold the ropes” from the U.S. for our new missionaries in their first term of service.

That is how the RopeHolders program was described to me by WorldVenture. The picture above was taken during Pre-Departure Training when I first met Pat, my RopeHolder. She served for several decades in India. We had a lot of fun talking and learning more about each other. I am looking forward to get getting to know her better as I head to the field. It is also nice to know I have a resource who has "been there done that" as they say.  

Celebrating 100%

From our time of celebration during Pre-Departure Training

Sometimes I think God loves to surprise us and to fill our days with joy. He did that for me yesterday! Just 18 days ago I was at 86% support. I had been there for over a month and was feeling stuck with few leads to follow.

I had decided April would be dedicated to a special 30 Days of Prayer and was looking forward to praying through the month with several committed friends. Shortly after we started praying God started moving. The support started to climb steadily. Halfway through the month I needed just 5% more and then a few days later 4%. And then yesterday I got notified that a supporter had called and wanted to give enough to get me the rest of the way to 100%.

It is so exciting and such a blessing to see the Lord working. Thank you to all who have supported me in prayer and financially!

Time for the next phase of this adventure to begin! My final departure clearance will be issued when my International Ministry Director returns from a trip and I will then start shopping for plane tickets. Please be praying that my visa, which is being processed right now, would be approved quickly. There is some doubt whether it will be done in time for a late June departure as I had hoped.