Rejoice Always

 Today’s blog comes in the midst of packing.  Our flight leaves tomorrow (Tuesday) so today is dedicated to rounding up all the odds and ends and hoping they will all fit into our allotted luggage allowance.  It’s never a fun time.  We always manage, but there is something against nature to shove everything you have into a bag or a box.  It takes time and always feels rather stressful.

Back in our old VT stomping grounds

So we thought, in the midst of that, we could take the time to be thankful for all the ways, big and small God has blessed us over our last six weeks.  Some of these things may seem mundane or even silly, but sometimes it’s the little things that count:

• We are thankful for getting to see so many friends in such a short time, and yet generally not feeling overwhelmed.  You have all been so gracious and understanding in giving your time or making time for us.  We’ve been able to visit in person or zoom with friends from MA, ME, NH, OH, NC, DC, PA, and CA.  You have been a great encouragement to us.  Thank you so much!
• We are thankful for the Lord working out the timing so that we could attend the wedding of our teammate and friend—which even included getting to see Dr.  and Mrs. Komo from the islands!  What a special time.
• We’ve gotten to do some fun things this summer like help with a VBS in the Boston area, see the sites of London, get caught in a thunder storm in NC, see the Statue of Liberty, go on rides at the Santa Cruz board walk, ride the waves of Hampton Beach and pick blueberries. 
  

  

  Beautiful weather to see sites
  

• A little thing, but one we appreciate—we had quite a bit of domestic airplane travel.  It went extremely well and easy—few delays and no cancellations and kind flight attendants.
• Related to that has been the weather.  We’ve had so many beautiful days—even when it was scheduled to rain on us—like when we went to Hampton Beach, VT, and NYC, the rains miraculously held off long enough for us to really enjoy the beauty of the places we saw and often rained only after we had moved inside.
• In the midst of joy, there is always sorrow and in sorrow there is often something to be thankful for.  We are still learning about our daughter’s arthritis diagnosis, but we are thankful for the ability to see the rheumatologists at Boston Children’s Hospital.  (Not something to take for granted when waiting to see a specialist can sometimes take months)  They were kind, informative and helpful.  Their understanding of both the disease and our international situation was a great comfort.
• Here’s a funny one, but still something we thank the Lord for—finding the right luggage.  We wanted to buy some new luggage and had a plan to buy some, but on our way to VT, stopping to get gas in NH, we had some time and went into the chain store there only to find the luggage we wanted with better colors and a better price!
• We are thankful for rest when we needed it.  Six weeks is not a long time to be in the US and do all the things we want to do.  We’ve had to say “no” or “next time” to a lot things.  But we are thankful that in the midst of our busy schedule there were times of rest, times to just be a family, times to sleep in and have fun.  
• We are thankful that life goes on without us.  Before we left the islands we handed over most of our duties.  Others have carried out those responsibilities well allowing us to concentrate on our time here with the reassurance that things were in good hands.
• We are thankful for the reminder from friends here, even as we shared about our struggles and pains on the islands, times of loss and saying goodbye to many friends and fellow workers—that God has been at work on the islands and there is much to rejoice about!
• We are thankful for J.R.R. Tolkien, whose books have made our car rides quite enjoyable—even something to anticipate!  What will happen to Frodo?  Will the fellowship stay together?

Enjoying the cold water on a lovely day

Lest this sound like we have had the perfect time, let us say that it hasn’t always been good.  There has been pain—especially for our daughter—, and stress—from packing and preparation and sharing with large groups.  There is loss, knowing that there were still many we did not get to visit with and many whom we may not see again for 2 years or more.  There are friends who are sick or grieving here and we have only been able to walk alongside them for a moment, which is not enough.  But the Word says to rejoice always, and trust that even in the pain, there is hope.  So rejoice with us for the Lord’s goodness and be encouraged, no matter what the circumstances.  

PRAYERS ANSWERED
As you see above, we have so many answers to prayers and things to rejoice in. God is good. Our trips to VT and ME went well, with good conversations and chances to reconnect. We also had some nice time with family and friends in the Boston area when we weren’t traveling. The teammate for the medical team arrived safely to Clove Island. Another family that has been waiting to move to the big island for months, is finally on their way (the final member arriving on Sep 3rd). Dr. Komo and his wife made it safely to France on their way back to the islands.  

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that our packing could get completed without stress. Pray that our travels would go smoothly and that all our bags would make it. We have an appointment with our daughter’s rheumatologist the morning after we arrive in Africa and we hope to discuss a new treatment plan for her at that time. Pray that we aren’t exhausted for that appointment and that she could start a treatment that will stop the disease without side effects! Pray for us as this coming weekend we will have to say goodbye to our oldest two kids at boarding school. Pray for our hearts and our transition as a family to being apart again. Pray for the medical team back on Clove Island— pray that electricity would be fixed at the team leaders house and for the homestay experience of their new member. Continue to pray for the islanders— there is currently a taxi strike and continues to be rice shortages.

Islanders in the US

 It is an experience that we have never dealt with, despite living on the islands for 15 years and coming back to the US several times for extended visits. We’ve never met an island friend in the US. We’ve actually only have a handful of island contacts that have gone to the US during our 15 years and never when we were also in the US.

For most islanders, going to the US is unattainable on two fronts— the possibility of getting a visa with an island passport and the possibility of finding the funds to finance such a trip. Both of these are out of reach for most islanders.

Megan & daughter with Mrs. Komo at wedding

But for our friend, Dr. Komo, both of those were not an issue. He is a wealthy man, so buying tickets is no issue, and he has French nationality, so he can get a visa to visit the US for up to 3 months easily. So that is how, in very island fashion (with last minute planning and highly valuing wedding attendance), he was able to decide with less than a week’s notice to attend our teammate’s wedding in the US.

Tom picked them up from the bus station near the rural wedding location. “Why would you want to live in the islands when everything here is so beautiful?” Mrs. Komo asked him.  We sat with them through the wedding and reception.  “It’s just like you see in the movies!  Very different from a French wedding.  And just one day—so different from the islands!  This is better—so much cheaper.” The day after the wedding we picked them up at the hotel, walked around a park and took them to the bus for their onward journey.  They had lots they still planned to see:  Washington DC, Montreal, Boston and New York City.

But, our walk around the park was enlightening. Rural coal-country PA is not an area we know well, but we know a bit of its history.  So we tried to explain to Dr. Komo and his wife about the nature of coal and the ups and downs the industry has seen historically. All around us were reminders of the industry that had brought so many to this part of the country at one time.  The very park we wandered through was established over an old coal mine, with coal cars and rails still running through it.  There is no coal on the islands, and learning about this energy industry was obviously new information to our friends. Despite being well educated and well-traveled, their experience is primarily France, Senegal and the islands, so they had never heard of a rock that you could burn for fuel and marveled to see an old mine shaft and to read the memorial about the miners who died there. It was a part of the world and of history that had never been on their radar.

Tom & Dr. Komo

On the flip-side, as we walked around, our island friends were passed by Americans who have no exposure to the islands and no concept of the life and culture there. Both the islands and coal-country in rural PA represent centuries of history with lots of ups and downs, but they will know nothing of each other unless by chance their spheres intersect. In this unlikely situation, these two pockets of humanity get to learn and marvel at a world previously unknown to them.

All it took this time was a wedding and an island friend with the ability to attend.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Thank God that we were able to connect with Dr. Komo and his wife while they were in the US— may it deepen our relationship with them when we meet again on the islands. This past week’s rheumatologist appointment brought better clarity on our daughter’s condition and was overall encouraging. She has had less pain the past couple weeks which has been nice. We had a full week and got to reconnect with several friends and groups of people. We also got to complete some pressing, time-sensitive parts of our to-do list. The country where our older kids go to school opened up a 5 yr multi-entry permit (rather than having to apply for a single entry every time) that will make life a lot nicer for our travel back and forth. We are thankful for our anniversary this past week and our 21 years of marriage (and family that could be with our kids for an evening).

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for our final week in the US— we have visits to VT and ME to make and still some items on our to-do list. Pray that it would still be an encouraging time and that we wouldn’t feel tired leaving the States. We have heard that rice shortages continue to plague Clove Island— pray for this staple to come back in abundance to the island so that the prices can go down and the poor no longer suffer.  Pray for the settling in and orientation of the new teammate to the medical team this week. One of our island friends just lost his brother and reached out to us in his grief— pray that we could speak words of comfort to him. Continue to pray for our daughter’s health and healing, and for us as communicate with the rheumatologist in Africa and her school health staff about her continuing care and the recommendations from the US doctors.

Small Airports around the World

We recently flew out of a small airport here in the US—one terminal, six gates, three airlines.  Having a lot of experience with small airports on the islands,  we thought it might be fun to compare the experience of small airport travel in the two countries.

Maximizing carry-ons for travel

Similarities:

• Cancellations and delays:  It may be just me, but it seems like cancellations and delays are more common in small airports.  Perhaps smaller planes are more susceptible to weather conditions?  (I’ll have to ask my pilot friends if this is the case.)  We were thankful that our flight was not cancelled and only delayed, but it seemed like every flight there was affected.
• Flight information boards:  A few years ago they put up flight information monitors in our little island airport.  They aren’t very helpful.  Often they are just blue screens or carry the wrong information.  To our chagrin, the little US airport had lots of working monitors to look at, but they either didn’t carry the right flight information or held contradictory information.  One monitor said we were leaving from gate 4 (which was correct) but the monitor over gate 4 was from another airline announcing a delayed flight to TX (not our destination).
• Boarding: You would think that when the airport is small and there is only one runway for planes to take off from, that boarding times could be staggered to reflect that, as a simultaneous boarding time could confuse passengers.  But, perhaps confusing passengers is part of what brings excitement to the day!  Last week, as passengers to Atlanta and Houston were boarding through the same door at the same time, they were careful to check our tickets before we hit the tarmac, sending some of us left and the others right—that felt just like the islands.  
• Passenger camaraderie:  Something about these peculiarities of small airports draws the passengers together.  You find yourself giving total strangers advice on which counter to go to or sharing a bit of information you may have learned.

Differences:

• Food and water:  In US airports there is always food and water.  The food may be expensive, but it is available—and there are water fountains!  What a luxury a water fountain is!  There is rarely food available at the island airports and what there is is scant.  On occasion you can buy water, but they remove the lids (as a security measure?!?) and there are no water fountains.
• Bathrooms:  US airports seem to always have nice bathrooms.  They are clean, and well stocked.  You hardly have to touch anything as almost everything is automated and motion activated.  Island airport bathrooms…let’s just say you’re lucky if the toilets flush and you always carry your own toilet paper.
• Information sharing:  On the islands, if a flight is delayed or cancelled, you will rarely be told by airport staff the reason for the delay or cancellation.  Apparently this is not information that needs to be shared.  How different from the US!  The announcer shared with us details like, “The plane is currently being cleaned and the cleaning crew will be exiting the aircraft in the next five minutes” or “One of the flight crew has not arrived yet as she has a connecting flight from Dallas which should be arriving in 6 minutes.”  I found the level of detail simply wonderful (but maybe that’s just my culture—we Americans like to know things, right?)

Our 12 yr old with a birthday treat

Having lived in the islands so long, we’ve grown accustomed to the need for patience and flexibility when it comes to travel.  In our memory, US travel was streamlined, shiny, automated ease.  So it’s funny to be hit with the reality, “Oh yeah, things don’t always go to plan here either.”  And some things, perhaps small airports, have a culture all their own, no matter where you live.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful that storms didn’t not bother our travel this past week and that we made it safely back to the east coast. We are thankful that we got to celebrate our youngest son’s 12th birthday and that we got to participate in the wedding of our dear teammate and friend. It made for a full week with many blessings. The wedding was a beautiful, God-honoring event. The couple from the islands also made it to the wedding and with the help of several different people they were able to find transport and enjoy the wedding. It was nice to see them and share that experience with them. Our teammate made it safely back to Clove Island!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Tomorrow we have an appointment for our daughter with a rheumatologist in Boston— pray that this appointment could bring clarity in how to proceed with her treatment, and continue to pray for full remission! We only have 2 weeks left in the US, but it still seems like we have a lot of people to see and things to do. Pray that we would enjoy the rest of our time, use our time well, and not become too tired. Pray for the medical team on Clove Island as they prepare to welcome a new teammate— pray for a smooth transition for the teammate and the whole team!

Ready or Not!

 “That was the most stressful thing I’ve ever done!”

Driving in after the first driving lesson

Our daughter had just finished her first driving lesson. She is 16 years old. It is a rite of passage. And while it was stressful as a parent teaching her, those were her words.

Really, if it was up to her, she wouldn’t be interested in driving yet. But here we are in the US for the summer, an opportunity to get her permit. On the islands we don’t own a car, and it’s possible we won’t be back in the US until she is 18, so it seemed that ready or not, it’s a good time to expose her to driving basics.

Another opportunity that being in the US has presented is visiting colleges. Really if it was up to us, we’d prefer not thinking of that looming prospect of our daughter being old enough for university and potentially being on a different continent as us, but ready or not! We’re looking at a few schools (just dabbling really), and hearing the sales-pitches from admissions reps and tour guides talking about an imagined future where our daughter is a starting freshman at their school.  Sometimes time moves too fast and the next stage is upon us before we know it.

Caught in a sudden thunderstorm

Our youngest son turns 12 this week, the age where, for our other two kids, we have begun a rite of passage into young adulthood. Is it really true that we could have 3 young adults in our family? Ready or not!

Granted, we still have time to come to terms with these changes. Our son’s rite of passage process will probably take a year or two for him to complete. Our daughter still has two years of high school left. Other things have come faster with no time to process, like our daughter’s diagnosis just a couple months ago. We’ll still processing what it means for her to have a chronic medical condition, but we’re living with the reality of it ready or not.

As we have been in the US, the time in various locations and with various people has been short. We’ve had to transition from hellos to goodbyes ready or not.

Ultimately we are reminded that we lay our plans in God’s hands and even if we don’t feel ready, He is always ready for what is next.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our landlord on the islands sent pictures of our house (on the islands) with a new cement roof! It is possible that the inside is still full of rubble, but we are very excited to see that work got completed even with us not being there putting pressure on. We are thankful that we can continue in that house. We made it safely to California and had a wonderful time on Sunday reconnecting with people here.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We have more travels this coming week that will end in us being at our teammate’s wedding. Pray for all the wedding logistics for her and that it could be a blessed time. Pray especially as just today a wealthy islander has suddenly decided to travel to the US for the wedding— pray that this doesn’t create too much unneeded stress, but can turn into a blessing. The medical team leader’s new house has a number of repairs needed (toilet, fridge, electricity)— pray that these repairs would happen quickly and that she could move and settle in before their new teammate arrives. Pray for our teammate as she returns to Clove Island this week and settles back into life and work there after a few months away. Pray for our youngest son as he celebrates his 12th birthday in the midst of our travels, may he feel loved and celebrated in spite of the busyness.