Scrapbook Backpack

As I mentioned in our newsletter, Elijah has been wearing this Curious George backpack everywhere since we arrived in the US.  It actually has settled down a bit recently since we have been spending the month at my sister's house, but at the beginning of our travels it was literally nonstop.  He even wanted to wear it when he was in his carseat in the car.  When we spent the weekend at the Christian conference center, Keswick, he wore it every single moment...while making crafts in the children's program, while eating in the dining room, while presenting on stage even!  Even now, though he takes it off at home, he still brings it with him into every home we visit or at the very least has it in the car!

So, what's up with the backpack?  As I shared in the newsletter, it clearly has a lot to do with bringing him stability in these months of nonstop change.  When we were home in Brazil, we told him he could pack it with a few of his favorite things and so it makes sense that he would carry those items around to make him feel secure in the midst of every changing circumstances and places we have faced.  But the backpack story has gotten even more fun recently.  

As I was going through some things we've accumulated, I took a minute to open up his backpack to organize it.  Something I haven't done since we first packed it leaving Brazil.  What I found inside took me completely by surprise, yet at the same time it make perfect sense.  

Inside the backpack was not just the items packed from Brazil, but little souvenirs that Elijah has added each stop we have made along the way.

- A shell from the Jamestown River where we spent the day with his cousin

- A sticker book from a garage sale we went to

- A craft from a children's program

- A colored pencil from our flight on Southwest

- A lego from his cousin's house

- A bracelet from camp

- A monster truck from a happy meal we got in McDonald's the day we broke down and spent 4 hours in the play zone

And much more.  Each item had a story and was a little reminder of the stops we have made along the way from a kid's perspective.  Now suddenly it also made sense why the other day when we were eating pita chips with my sister, he asked me if we could wrap up the leftover chips in the bottom of the basket in a napkin to take to Brazil...in his backpack I'm now assuming!  

What a fun scrapbook of furlough adventures he's been carrying around!  No wonder he doesn't want to put it down!!

A Break Down

After our wonderful time in Virginia, we hopped in our borrowed minivan and headed on our road trip to New Jersey where we were going to be the speakers over the Labor Day weekend.  About 2 hours into the trip, Jeyson suddenly noticed that something was wrong with the car and pulled over immediately into the nearest parking lot...which just happened to be into a 7-11.  

In my mechanical ignorance, I hoped for the best as Jeyson got out and opened the hood.  My hope began fading as I could see some smoke coming out from the opened hood. I got out of the car to get an update from Jeyson and my hope became a distant memory when I came around to the front the car and saw Jeyson holding a loose long belt, which he knew was just a symptom of the problem!  Without tools, parts, and a lift he kew there was nothing he could do about it.  And in this small town with pressure to make it to Keswick on time to speak, how would this all resolve?!?  Things were looking ROUGH!  But even in this rough moment God took care of every detail and make his provision so clear to us.

1. Not only did we have our break down in "civilization", unlike the many desolate areas we drove through, but we also had a Advanced Auto Parts within walking distance of where we randomly had immediately pulled over.

2. While Jeyson walked to Advanced Auto Parts to try to find out where the nearest mechanic stop was, the worker in 7-11, where we had pulled over, gave me and the kids free slushies since it was so hot out as we waited. A nice, totally unnecessary reminder of God's care in the small things. 

3. At the auto parts store, Jeyson was given the numbers for a towing company and a shop two miles away and quickly arranged for the car to be towed to the shop and worked on today.  We later found out that the shop is usually swamped with work, so it was incredible that they would even take us that day.

4. Within walking distance from the 7-11 was a McDonalds with a huge play place.  Later I found out from my friend who knows well the area where we broke down, that play places are very rare in the area so she was amazed that we broke down by one.  The kids and I walked to the McDonalds and settled in while Jeyson went with the tow truck to the shop.

5. About an hour later, Jeyson called me at McDonalds saying that the mechanic found the problem...the water pump...and the part was easy to access and they would work on it right away!  This was a huge answer to prayer as I was imaging us having to stay in a hotel, cancel plans at Keswick, and who knows what else for even a few days until the car was fixed! What a relief!

6. At McDonalds the kids were amazingly patient and had constant kids to play with...for almost 4 hours!

7.  The mechanic generously lent Jeyson a car so he could spend part of the afternoon with us as we waited at McDonald's (by that time I was about 2 1/2 hours into my wait, smelling like french fries and greatly in need of relief and adult conversation!)

8. Only 4 hours later, the car was ready and we were on our way!  

So of course no one wants to break down, but as we drove off, truly we weren't lamenting the break down.  We were talking over and over about how God worked out all of the little details of the break down to happen so smoothly.  Things could have been SO, SO much worse!  We couldn't believe that rather than having to cancel our weekend plans as speakers at Keswick, and who knows what else, we were on our way just 4 hours later!  Not to mention Elijah fulfilled his "lifetime" dream of seeing a tow truck in action...he has always just loved tow trucks and was pumped about it!

On the way up to Keswick we stopped at my old college roommate's house.  I could fill a whole blog post about that visit, but I'll leave it at this...we were stopping there just for a quick one hour hello on the way, but in the end we left our one hour visit with hearts full of encouragement, being prayed over, completely renewed and refreshed in our thinking, challenged with new ideas to mull over...what an awesome visit!  I wish every hour could be so awesomely meaningful!  Phew!  What a full, full day!

Family Fun in Williamsburg

We had a wonderful time in Virginia enjoying the historical sights of Williamsburg and spending time with my sister, brother-in-law and their daughter, Charlotte.  

 One of our side hopes during this furlough is to get to expose Elijah to some of the cultural experiences that are different in the US.  Everything from libraries to outdoor classical concerts...if it's free (or very cheap!) we're enjoying it!  One of the most fun free US experiences so far was the archeological dig for kids that we did in Williamsburg while we were visiting my sister.  The dig was of an old colonial store and the kids Elijah's age and up actually got trowels and helped dig up dirt and material and sifted through for historical artifacts!

Audrey's age just got to play in sandboxes :)

The digging underway

This activity was exactly Elijah's idea of fun!  He dug nonstop for almost the entire time we were allowed. 

Meanwhile, the girl cousins enjoyed the easier sand sifting!

 Afterwards, we got to sit down with an actual archeologist and ask her questions about what we dug!  A pipe, oyster shells, and more.  It was such a blast to enjoy these community events that we don't have access to overseas. 

 The highlight of my week was getting to spend time with my sister, Danielle, who is expecting baby Violet any day.  I even got to give her and her husband a mini birth preparation class, the first time I have done that for family.  I just wish it would have worked out to meet baby Violet.  That is one of the harder parts of missions, knowing it could be several years until we meet this little one :(

Williamsburg is just a beautiful city to walk around in.  We even got to enjoy a much needed date night to a movie in the park one evening.   

 And a day at Jamestown River was also a hit.

 Ah...what can I say, such an awesome few days with family doing normal, everyday life.

 Charlotte wanted to dress up like Audrey one day. I'm not sure how the little zebra felt about it in this first picture!

 Lots of fun every day and lots of stories together each night.  Elijah got really into Clifford books, or "Clipper" as Elijah kept calling him.

Adam, Danielle, and Charlotte - Thanks for all of the fun memories!  We will miss you guys!

Unexpected Furlough Provision

Our big two month nomadic furlough trip to the eastern US is underway!

To kick off the trip, Jeyson flew to Chicago, where we he picked up a minivan that was generously lent to us.  He then road-tripped down to Virginia.  

Meanwhile, the kids and I flew straight to Virginia and we met up at my sister's house.

Months ago as we planned this route, we knew it was best plan in order to avoid the 14+hour trip to Chicago to Virginia with the kids.  But at the same time, I knew it meant flying along with the kids...something I dreaded from the moment we bought the tickets, since it would mean a flight alone with the kids.  Well actually, two flights alone and a several hour layover in Atlanta.  It might not seem like an intimidating trip to you, but for some reason it did to me.  

Maybe it was the idea of  slugging 4 heavy bags on my own,  or maybe because it would mean juggling two kiddos at 30,000 feet or maybe it was that I knew I wouldn't even be able to make a bathroom stop without bringing them both in the stall with me.  More likely however, it was just knowing this was the first step to TWO MONTHS of nonstop traveling and lack of routine.  For whatever reason, somehow I was convinced this trip alone was going to be one of the hardest parts of furlough...and truly it had potential to be!  

But by the time we landed in Richmond, I was amazed that God provided everything we needed and more, from beginning to end of the journey.  

At 5 am in the Phoenix airport, I decided I couldn't make it through this day without a cup of coffee.  In fact, I hadn't even yet enjoyed the unmistakeable taste of a Starbucks coffee since arriving in the US a month before.  So, I decided to wait in the LONG line for a cup o' joe with both kids before we had to board.  The kids waited patiently with me in the line for about 15 minutes and then, every parents' dread happened.  Yep, when we had about only three customers ahead of us in line, Elijah announced he had to go potty.  Total bummer!  I knew I had no choice but to give up my spot in line, but then God gave me a real treat.  

The lady behind me, who worked with Southwest, overheard the situation and insisted that I tell her my order so she could order it for me while I took the kids to the bathroom.  By the time we got back, she had not only gotten me my drink, upgraded me to the largest size, but also insisted I not pay her back!  What a totally, unnecessary, unexpected blessing and reminder that God is taking care of us on this nomadic journey!  

Then, to top it off, on our first flight, right behind us was a family of parents and two grown daughters who were headed also to Richmond (on both of our same flights) to see their other daughter and family off as missionaries to Asia!  They took me and the kids under their wing during the whole journey.    Helping watch one or both of the kids whenever we needed a bathroom trip, entertaining the children, sharing in tons of encouraging conversation, and even treating us to lunch at Chick-Fil-A on the layover! 

Another totally amazing and unexpected reminder of God's care and provision!

We arrived in Richmond a little tired and smelly from a long day of travel, but filled with encouragement from the people we met and the clear care from God in the most unexpected ways on this trip.  My heart was truly full and encouraged!

The next days we enjoyed time with my sister and her family, and then after saying goodbye,

followed was another wonderful reminder of God's provision...to follow in the next post!