Today.

Hello all-
This may sound strange, but today Indonesia is real. A lot of days Indonesia feels far away, really distant both physically and in terms of time- like we are having some sort of elaborate dream that we're preparing to move across the world. But today, today Indonesia feels like it's really close, it's real and it won't be that long until the dream is a reality we can see and hear, and smell and touch.





There are a couple of reasons I think that Indonesia feels closer today- one is, it's Thanksgiving tomorrow! And if all goes according to plan, this will be our last Thanksgiving on American soil for a while. So I'm a little emotional about making sure we enjoy every moment with family this weekend- soaking it all in and taking lots and lots of pictures.


(Maybe in a few years, this will be our Thanksgiving table!)

The other is that we have some friends that are within 48 hours of leaving. We've been following their progress, praying for them as they've walked this journey and now the time has come! I keep putting myself in their shoes, wondering about saying good-bye to friends and family, making final decisions on what their family will need for the next year, all that stuff. It makes Indonesia feel a little more real, but still completely mysterious and unknown. Would you pray for them the next few days as they travel and say good-byes? They've got at least 27 hours of flying with two kids under 5 and lots of emotions zinging around for everyone. This time is the culmination of years of work, but making the leap from goal to reality can be challenging. It won't be long 'til it's our turn- crazy!!!



Well, I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving- hug your family, treasure the time you have with them, make beautiful memories! -amy

PS- Hope you enjoyed these photos from around Indonesia!

"Who Will Love Me for Me"

Walking around the house this morning trying to compose myself for yet another day. The noise starts early I open my eyes and begin to hear the drone and hum of the sounds of just another day. My little boy charges into the room, dying for my attention, the news is on casting just a little more distraction over the morning. In my mind I'm reviewing the events of yesterday, toiling over what I did or should have done, and I start my routine. We are at best creatures of routine aren't we? Then something catches my attention, a small voice on the radio...asking "who will love me for me? Not for what I have done or what I will become?"



We don't love well, we don't really play nice with each other. Our mothers would be disappointed. In this machine we chew up and spit out, we use for our purposes and then just as easily as we finish we throw away the parts that remain.
In part I think this is why Christ wept in Luke 19:41-44:

"If you, even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes. The day will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side..."

I know that this is Jesus weeping over the city because of its ignorance, but how often are we in the same situation. Many times I have been guilty of walking around like a wounded animal seeking a refuge, lashing out in defense because of my pain. In these times we lash out at everybody, seeking for someone to supply a remedy, looking for peace... and the Lord weeps.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
~Matthew 11:28

We are offered peace, we are offered a love that goes beyond our comprehension, beyond even our own sense of justice. I don't know where you are today, I don't know what the events of yesterday held, but I do know the He is standing there offering His love, His peace. His love that sees "you for you, not for what you have done or what you will become".

I hope you find this freeing.

Catching up...and the zoo

We have been busy the last few weeks, speaking the last two Sundays in two different churches here in the Baltimore area. It's been wonderful to meet new people, catch up with a few that Jon knew in high school and spend time with our Baltimore family. Can I tell you how humbling it is to have people we've never met welcome us with such open arms and be excited for us as we follow the Lord's leading? It has been really refreshing to talk with people both in large group and individual settings and we are excited to see where these partnerships will go as we continue on in this journey.
Last weekend (the 6th-7th) was Jon's sister's birthday so there was a surprise party at a crab shack, fulfilling Jon's craving for fresh seafood that we can't get in Charlotte. She was really surprised (until she recognized a car in the parking lot!), up to that point kind of thinking it was a dud for a birthday!



It was great to see and catch up with family. Seems strange that we've been in Baltimore for the last 6 weeks or so and have only been able to see the extended family that once! The only thing that Jon's mom told us she wanted to make sure we did together while we were in Baltimore was to take Ethan to the zoo, so we finally did it yesterday!



It was a little chilly, in the upper 50's and overcast which made all the fall colors stand out. Look at this tree- isn't it gorgeous? It was right at the entrance to the exhibits.



Ethan had a grand time seeing the animals and calling out their names, "Zebra! Rhino! Elphant! Giraffe!" Mom and I were the zoo tour guides and Jonathan documented so here are a few of my favorites from yesterday-






They also had a little train that of course we HAD to ride. Of all of it, I honestly think that might have been E's favorite, even though it doesn't look like it in the bottom photo.





The Maryland Zoo has beautiful scenery (beyond the animals, of course) and we had a fabulous time. Hope all of you are having a great fall! -a

Humbled...

Often as we go through this process we find ourselves kind of on the outside. It seems odd that surrounded by so many people we can feel this way. It's not that there is not a strong connection to those that we're around; it's just that we are displaced from where our hearts are and where our goal has been set. We can forget that everyday as the sun rises and sets there are people out there serving in a manner that our hearts long for. It's easy to get one dimensional in the task of building a team to partner with "us" out there. We can get very "us" focused and forget about the God that is spinning out His great plan, conducting a unified and glorious symphony. Lately, there has been too much "us"... and as I was thumbing through the "latest and greatest" of those already serving in Indonesia, it hit me right between the eyes. The following excerpt is from a recent newsletter:



How selfish of me, how narrow-minded, to think that this journey was a plan that we had for ourselves and our family! How dare we think that we were in some way manufacturing this adventure on our own time and our own strength. How foolish to think that all of those months ago as we were going about our day-to-day with a lack of peace, praying for a neon sign and an arrow that said "Go here", that we were alone. In God's time and in His place He moves!

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts." ~Zechariah 4:6

Little did we know that the lack of peace we were experiencing this time last year appears to have been the working of the Spirit. Answering the silent prayers of a multitude of people that we may never know, to move us from our rusty comfort, into the middle of this adventure for His glory! Because of this I stand before the King of Kings, humbled.

Bits and Pieces...

Well, this is going to be a "bits and pieces" post. That's kind of where it feels like we've been the last week and a half or so... As Jonathan talked about in our last post- we've been all over the northeast since two Fridays ago. We got back in Baltimore on Thursday evening and I have to admit, it's really nice to be in one spot for a little while. As you can see, driving around 2000 miles in one week began to make us a little stir crazy- Ethan especially. This was the last 20 miles or so driving back to Baltimore on Thursday- he'd had enough! :D


Then on Saturday some friends here in Baltimore had a cider pressing party! Basically they bought a pallet of apples and have an old fashioned cider press. So... everyone pitched in, feeding the apples into the press, cranking the press to chop the apples, then actually pressing the juice. It was really cool, so creative and fun to relax and catch up with people here. And to top it all off- the cider was AMAZING and each family got to take some home! Yay!! Thanks Cindy and Chris!




You know, this trip (the whole trip-Baltimore, Cape Cod-Boston, New York-and back)has been eye-opening for me... It's funny how we all get in our little rut, our own sphere of life and think that's how it is everywhere. I should know better! I've had the privilege of traveling to a number of different countries, and lived in different regions of the US- Midwest, South, etc. Yet, I came here, thinking that life in Baltimore would look like life in Charlotte. Turns out- it's a different culture. It's been really good, and occasionally frustrating, preparation for Indonesia- which will be a different culture to the Nth degree! So... here are some of the ways I've noticed life is different.
~People go to the ocean- not the beach.
~Seafood is a staple and fresh crab is almost everywhere, relatively cheap.
~The accent-obvious, right? But I mean the Baltimore accent (yes, my Baltimore friends, you have an accent!) The easiest to define is the letter "o"- as in "ocean" or "home" A Baltimore accent emphasizes the "o"- so pronounce the word "owe" including the "w" and you get a Baltimore accent- "We're going to the owe-cean."
~This is probably specific to the house we're in, but you can't put outgoing mail in the mailbox! I wrote some thank you notes, sealed, stamped them and then drove around for a week looking for a blue mailbox to send them out! Grr... So, if you're waiting for a thank-you note, I'm probably still looking for a mailbox! :D
~The fall colors really are so much more vivid here, it is a GORGEOUS time to be in the mid-Atlantic/New England. Beautiful!
~No Super Wal-Mart! I know! My Charlotte friends (some of you) are gasping, where would we grocery shop? I feel your pain, acutely actually. We've been here for a month and I've only been to Wal-Mart once!! Which leads me into...
~Food is WAY more expensive here. Almost twice as expensive, I have been to five different grocery stores and I think I just found one that has comparable prices to Harris Teeter. I'm going back there this week.
~Cider- okay, I know this is a weird observation, but cider is huge here. In North Carolina, you can find maybe one brand for a few weeks. But here, everyone has cider everywhere (ok, maybe not, but it sure feels like it for this Carolina girl!). And it is fresh and sweet and really flavorful. I love it!
~National ______- being so close to Washington DC provides lots of opportunities. Lots of people work for different aspects of the government, whether as independent contractors or full-time employees. Then there are all sorts of museums, etc. The National Aquarium (Jon's sister works there and got us tickets to the dolphin show- Ethan is still talking about it!), the Baltimore Zoo, the Maryland Science Center, the list goes on. Not to mention close and beautiful hiking and bike trails like Gunpowder Falls.

Ok, I'm sure there are more things, but I really don't want you dozing off in your chair at work, that wouldn't look good at all. :D Hope you all have a fantastic Tuesday! -a