Packing

Megan and the boys leave for Africa this evening.  Their plane departs in just a few hours.  My daughter and I (Tom) will hang around the Boston area for another week before getting her settled in at college in Minnesota.  So today we spent most of the day packing.

Megan and boys at the airport

We are packing for 5 people going to 3 final destinations.  My own travels will take me from Boston to Minnesota to Africa to the islands.  Not an easy thing to pack for.  Between us we have 8 bags not including carry ons.  The process took most of the day.

At one point when we were taking a break for lunch my sister (we’re staying at her house) looked over at me and said, “You guys don’t seem too stressed.  I guess that comes from doing it a lot.”  As I thought about it, I think she is right.

Most people seem to find packing very stressful.  I can remember a time when I would have said, “I hate packing.”  But after so many years of learning to pack our things and unpack our things, it has become easier.   Not that I love it—it’s simply a part of life—like doing the dishes or driving a car.  You come to accept it, you learn how to do it and you might even learn how to do it well.  I don’t know if we “pack well” these days.  But I think practice and experience means we do okay.

I has become less stressful.   Why?  Is it because we worry less about our stuff? Is it because we don’t need to take as much stuff as before?  Are we better at not forgetting things?  Maybe.  Or maybe we’ve just learned that bags get packed, things sometimes get forgotten, most things are replaceable, and wherever we put whatever it was we were looking for, it’s somewhere.

Tom and our daughter

But there’s the other side to packing—the acknowledgement that our time in this place is coming to an end.  It means it is time to say goodbye again.  It means separation and pain.  Packing my bags means “I’m leaving.”  And inevitably that means leaving loved ones behind.  I don’t know if that has gotten any easier.  Sometimes the packing itself is a distraction.  I’m so busy packing, I don’t have time to be sad.  But it doesn’t really work.  Behind all the shuffling and weighing and reorganizing things—the ache of the coming goodbye is still there. But even that has gotten a little easier.  When you say goodbye a lot, for better or worse, it generally does get a little easier.  

Because of the strange configuration of our travels, I packed my bag today only to unpack it this evening (we needed to know how much Megan and the boys needed to take in their bags versus what I’d be able to bring). I’m not actually going anywhere yet.  And yet, part of me is off with Megan and the boys, even as I stay here—a strange feeling.

The pastor this past Sunday looked at the passage when Paul says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” He spoke to the fact that we can find contentment despite our circumstances.  That in want, in plenty, in good times and bad—it is possible to learn to be content.  But it has to be learned through experience. Perhaps that’s part of it too.  We’ve had many opportunities to learn.  Perhaps we’ve learned a thing or two.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We have had another full but nice week connecting with family, groups, and old friends. The time in the US has been full but we are so thankful for all the people we’ve been able to see. Both our older kids have had chances to practice driving and our daughter is growing in confidence (she’ll attempt the road test on Friday!). We are thankful for groups in mainland Africa showing growing interest in reaching out to the islands and sending people there. Our youngest son finished his rite of passage challenges-- we are proud of all he's learned. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
After some delayed flights and figuring out logistics at the location, all the participants for the translation meetings have made it to the big island location— everyone agrees that the training will be very helpful— pray for good health, focus and communication and that they would have a wonderful and fruitful time together. Megan and the boys are beginning their travels back to mainland Africa. Pray for safe travels and easy transition to the time zone and for any pre-school errands that need to happen before boarding school orientation on Friday. Tom and our daughter have another week with family in the Boston area. Pray that we can get our daughter’s medications—there has been very little progress this past week despite repeated messages and phone calls. Pray for quick responses and for the medication to be in-hand soon. Pray that our daughter would not have any flare-ups of symptoms in spite of this interruption in her treatment. 

Everywhere Has Its Pros and Cons

 Being in the US, there are constant reminders of the similarities and differences between here and the islands and even mainland East Africa.  One of those areas is healthcare. It can be easy for everyone- Americans, mainland East Africans and islanders— to be down on their own healthcare systems for different valid reasons.  

Learning to Drive in the US

Once when we told an East African that we often came to his country for our healthcare, he was absolutely shocked! His impression was that the healthcare in his country was either poor quality or too expensive (if not both). We let him know that compared to the islands the quality is very good and compared the the US the costs were inexpensive.  Sometimes comparison changes your perspective. 

This week we have been reflecting specifically on getting prescription meds.

No one can deny that the US has a huge number of highly trained doctors and specialists. In the US, there is the best, cutting-edge care of the world.  But access, wait times and cost are concerns.  Also, the system of medical insurance is known for its fine print and run-arounds. We experienced it this week as we spent a great deal of time on the phone and computer— on hold, being forwarded to new people, being asked to call new numbers, sending messages through online portals, receiving denials and trying again. We still don’t have our daughter’s new medication— even though it was prescribed three weeks ago. 

In comparison, East Africa has a growing number of specialists and some good quality care— but it is generally in private hospitals that are too expensive for most local people (though cheaper than the US). Some medications, treatments or specialists are not available. Access is less of an issue.  Our daughter was able to see a specialist right away and started a good treatment plan. Payment for meds is pretty straight forward there.  We front the money and are usually reimbursed by insurance in a relatively quick time. But every time we had to get the meds from the pharmacy it was a pain. The medications being specialized, meant the pharmacy had to do special orders which meant included longer waits and more hassle than promised. Then when it was time to try a new treatment— the options weren’t as good— the depth of treatment options couldn’t compare with the US. But at least there were some options— on the islands neither specialists nor medications would have been available at all. 

The islands don’t have much. The healthcare system is improving, but there are still many types of specialists, even basic types of diagnostics, treatments and medications that are completely unavailable. Funding and maintenance of hospitals is lacking and medical staff often go without pay. On the flip side, access is much quicker and easier, if you have the money and know what you want/need.  There are fewer hoops and approvals required on the islands.  Normally, you can show up at a private clinic and just ask for the test or appointment you want and have it done immediately. You don’t necessarily need a prescription for meds either.  As long as you know the name of the medication and the amount that you want, most pharmacies will give you what you ask for—no questions asked. The problem is not permission but availability.  Several times we have walked around the capital to different pharmacies with the name of a medication written on scrap of paper, asking at each one if they have it.  If the medication is not common, more often than not we won’t be able to find it. But in those cases when we can, normally the price will be a small fraction of the cost of what you would pay for the same meds in the US—without insurance!

Each place has ways in which their medical systems could improve. We are so thankful for those on the islands trying to improve the healthcare there.  We are thankful for all the treatments, procedures and diagnostics we’ve been able to get in East Africa.  And now we are thankful that our daughter has access to the specialists and treatments that she couldn’t find elsewhere… and we’ll be even more thankful once the insurance approves and pays for her new treatment!

Anniversary Hike

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made a huge dent in our to-do list this week— we are thankful that what is left feels a lot less daunting. We are thankful for reconnecting with family and old friends in the Boston area, including a fellowship on Sunday. Our two older kids successfully passed their permit tests and got their driving permits and have had some beginning driving lessons with Tom. We are thankful for our 23 years of marriage and getting some time to take a little hike for our anniversary. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We have had repeated difficulties navigating the speciality pharmacies and insurance to get Grace’s new medication. Please pray that it can be sorted soon with the three parts: doctor, insurance and pharmacy so she can start her new treatment soon. She has now finished the meds we brought from East Africa, so we need to figure something out this week. Megan and the boys leave in just one week and it will be a full one— pray for our continuing stamina and good use of time. Tom and our daughter have two weeks before they head to MN for her college orientation. She would like to get her full license before then— pray that she can have good chances to practice driving and get more comfortable behind the wheel. The islands are preparing for a major meeting at the end of the month of the translation projects from all three islands— pray for the planning and logistics of that gathering and for those traveling from abroad. 

Bringing Stuff

 Part of being a good friend in Island culture is bringing gifts for people when you return from your travels.  In the past we’ve tried to think of small gifts that we could give to multiple people— t-shirts, flashlights, candy—Small gifts (so as to avoid too much added weight to our luggage) and not too expensive (as we usually needed a lot of them).  

Catching a soccer game on West Coast

But that has changed over the years.  As our friendships have deepened, the expectations have deepened.  Some friends expect better gifts, others might not ask us to spend more, but to facilitate their spending.  What do our top gift requests look like these days?

Medicines:  Medicines are a funny thing.  There are many medicines we can get in the island for a fraction of the price of what we would pay in the States.  But there are other medicines that cost a great deal more and are often very hard to get.  We currently have requests for diabetic blood testing strips, topical pain medications, and fixadent (the stuff for dentures).  The medicines can be an expensive gift, but most of the time, we are happy to get them.  We know there is a need for them, so it feels like we are really helping out.  Medicines also tend to be small, which is nice for packing.

Phones:  I would say the number one thing we get asked to bring people is phones.  Most of these are hoping to get a smart phone as a gift.  The funny thing is, they don’t like iPhones.  Apple products aren’t very compatible on the islands where everything is android.  We always do our best to bring back at least a few phones for friends (often used), but if new phones an expensive gift and we wonder about the precedent we are starting.  But it’s true that the quality and price for phones in the US is much less than what people would pay on the islands, so it is not an unreasonable request.

No one asked for a puzzle

Tablets:  This has been the surprise request this time around.  Not only that we’ve had so many people request them, but that a number of people have said they will pay for them themselves.  They are simply asking us to be the middlemen—to help them find a good product at a good price and deliver it to the islands.  So this time around we find ourselves playing the role of Amazon delivery services!  Why all the excitement about tablets?  Sadly, we think they are mostly coveted as child-minding devices.  All the people that have requested tablets have young kids and have requested the durable ones that can show kid cartoons.  Though we don’t mind helping out a few friends—especially if they are willing to pay for it, a tablet is not an easy thing to travel with as it has to come with us in carry-on luggage, and at some point it starts to look a bit suspicious.  We’ve set a limit to the first 3 who asked for them.

So part of our limited luggage allowance will be given over to these gifts.  In case you were interested, some other requests we’ve had both presently and in the past include:  an xbox, a power wheels (yes, like one of those cars that toddlers drive around in!!!), reading glasses, purses, a hair cutting kit, dictionaries, cameras, water bottles, big screen tvs, backpacks, shoes, boots, uniforms, rain gear, seeds, luggage, and laptops.  Some people have better sense of what is easily transported on an airplane and what isn’t.  We know that we are sure to disappoint a good number of people, but we’ll try to have something for them.  “Sorry, I didn’t get you that big screen tv you wanted, but here’s a T-shirt.” 

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made it safely back to the East Coast— we are thankful for the wonderful week on the West coast. Megan’s lip and leg are mostly healed now— we are thankful that the injury was not serious. Our younger son turned 14— we are very proud of all the ways he is growing and for the fun and loving young man he is. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We’ve had news that an island brother (and good friend) lost some family members to a boating accident when a group was going to another part of the island for a picnic. One of those lost was a child. Pray for this family in their grief and that our friend might be able to be a light and comfort to his extended family. Megan and our boys only have two weeks in the US— pray that they could get our to-do list done while also having rest and good time with family. Pray for our daughter and older son as they both have appointments to get driver’s permit. There was a taxi strike on the islands this past week— the strike appears to be over for the moment but things still seem volatile on the islands. Our colleague has been struggling with her solar system (a recurring and exhausting problem)— pray that she can get the right advice and parts so that she can have consistent power. 

Like Limes

 
pedagogy |  noun (plural pedagogies): the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.

A lot of my (Tom’s) work these days in the area of ESL involves training English teachers.  The training consists of 8 classes about an hour and a half each with lots of practice.  The members of the class (between 10-16 members) are all required to practice teaching their fellow classmates in every class.  The lessons may seem very basic to a Westerner, but for many islanders these classes are often surprising, strange and unorthodox. 

Tom with teachers training class

A few months ago I was conducting the training in a village about 2 hours away from the capital.  The ones organizing the training were able to procure a classroom from a public elementary school.  The training would start near the end of the day, but not before classes got out, so there were always a pile of kids peeking into our classroom to see “the foreigner.”

Working with English programs, I rarely go into public schools.  It was a reminder of what education looks like for a lot of islanders.  As I walked into the building I witnessed one teacher hitting a 10 year old girl multiple times with a piece of electrical cord for tardiness.  As I passed down the hall and looked in the individual classrooms I noticed that every teacher held a switch and in one case was actively using it.  I have been told by many islanders that corporal punishment is ubiquitous in islands schools, but it was a little disconcerting to see it in action.  Corporal punishment is not only administered for bad behavior but for incorrect answers.  Answer a math question wrong, get a swat on the palms or shins. 

How different to then sit down with my class and tell them to absolutely NOT beat their students, insult their students, or make their students afraid.  Instead we talk about how to make the classroom a safe space, where we lower stress, stimulate speaking, accepting and encouraging mistakes and trying to make it fun.  These ideas are nothing short of revolutionary!

I think that’s what I love so much about teacher training: not only are we giving them better ways to teach English, but we are giving them better ways to teach.  Many of the teachers I am training are young, and they catch on quickly.  They’ve also experienced learning in this new way and have seen its effectiveness and enjoyed the atmosphere. (Most of the teachers we train have already gone through all of our English classes with teachers trained in our pedagogy.)  But for older teachers it can be hard to accept.  Even some younger teachers who already have some teaching experience using the island pedagogy will struggle with this positive approach.  

Enjoying bike ride in US

That was the case with one of the teachers I was training in the village school.  Though only in his late 20’s he was already a seasoned teacher and as I was teaching about encouraging mistakes, and making the classroom safe, he raised his hand and said, a bit sheepishly,

“Teacher, you know it’s very different here…What you are saying is very different…We have a saying here…among the teachers… ‘Students are like limes.  They need to be squeezed.’”  As he said it, he made the gesture of a squeezing, downward thrusting fist.

The picture is vivid.  Squeezing the juice out of a lime takes strength and pressure.  The result is perhaps a teaspoon of juice.  The rest of the lime, the peel and the broken capillaries are of no use and discarded.  I thought of a teacher thinking about a student in that way.  As if there is only a little bit of intelligence or useful thought inside the student’s mind and that the only way to get it out is to squeeze and beat them.

How differently I view students.  If I were to create my own proverb, I would say, “Students are like plants, they need time and attention, sunlight, watering and pruning, but with patience you will get an abundance of fruit.”

As a final reflection on our ‘revolutionary’ teaching pedagogy: Where did it come from?  People may argue about it but I’m inclined to think it comes from the teacher who said, “A farmer went out to sow his seeds…and some fell on good soil” and “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit” and “Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”  Even in English teacher training course, the great teacher has lesson for us.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are very thankful that we made it safely to the west coast and have had a good weekend reconnecting with family and friends here and sharing some about the work on the islands. We are thankful for technology that allows us to stay connected with our friends and colleagues back on the islands. 



PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that education on the islands would improve and that all would have the opportunity to learn and thrive. Pray for the island economy— many finish school but still are not able to find paying jobs. Hashiri continues to message Megan regularly— she is coming to the end of an unpaid internship which rarely lead to paying jobs, pray that she could find good and regular employment. We have heard reports of increased crime on the islands— pray that this pattern would stop. We are still working on getting our daughter’s specialty meds— the process being complicated by all our travels. We have time, but pray that we can get it all figured out without too much stress. Pray for Megan’s healing after a scooter accident left her with a badly bruised leg and a fat lip. Praying that our remaining days with Megan’s family would be a fun and restful time. 

Sachets

 Islanders love their sachet (pronounced sa-shay). An event isn’t a good event without a sachet.

Getting organized for sachet filling

Sachet is the word most commonly used for plastic bag in the island language.  But in the context of events, it takes on the meaning of ‘goody bag’.  No good island ceremony with the exception of funerals can be completed without sachets.  Whether a wedding, circumcision, coming of age celebration, birthday party, or religious ritual, there is the expectation that everyone will receive a goody bag— a sachet.  

What goes in the sachet does not vary a whole lot.  Normally you’ll find a drink (juice or soda), some kind of baked good (locally made or highly processed snack cakes), a chocolate bar (or something to that effect), and some hard candies.  This being an opportunity to show off wealth, the quality of the items in the sachet will vary.  A poor host’s sachets will be a simple plastic bag, and the cheapest versions of all of the above. A rich host’s sachets will be a decorated paper bag, brand-name soda, and boxed baked goods from a local bakery, etc. 

Since, every person who attends the ceremony is expected to receive a sachet, this becomes both a big job and an expensive part of hosting an event.  On occasion, we’ve been asked to help out with the preparation of the sachets, like we did a couple months ago when our friend’s daughter was to have her coming-of-age party.  Since our home is conveniently located near downtown, they gathered everything at our house and we stuffed sachets together.  We made an assembly line, one person opening the little plastic bags, one person stuffing the drink, another adding the cakes and candies and another adding the chocolate bar and tying the top.  This event was small but we still did more than 125 bags.  For a wedding, it could be in the from 500-700 sachets, maybe more.  It’s monotonous but not hard work and it is fun working together.

At the same time I felt somewhat dismayed by all the trash we were creating.  Everything we were putting into the plastic bag was individually wrapped and then going into yet another plastic bag.  Any foreigner who goes to the beach in our town is appalled to see the plastic bottles that clutter the shore.  In some places the trash is so thick that you can’t see the sand.  Where does it all come from?  I had my answer as I stuffed another bottle of cheap soda into another plastic bag.  Think of all the ceremonies happening all the time; the thousands of empty bottles being discarded; the thousands and thousands of plastic bags and wrappers discarded every day!

It made me wonder what things were like before— in the years and generations before all this plastic and processed products came to the islands.  Did they pass around a jug for the drink?  Did they wrap things in a banana leaf?  The sachet may be a modern innovation but I have asked and no one seems to know what was done before and if there was a time when people didn’t expect to receive a sachet. 

Pile of finished sachets

If it is a modern innovation, it is one that has become firmly grounded in island culture.  It is seen as the greatest shame if not everyone at the event receives a sachet.  When sachets are given out, people take it very seriously, demanding that they receive their share and getting angry if they are accidentally passed over.  Sometimes there is even a rush on the ones handing out the sachets. They have to hold the container of sachets far over their head to keep people from grabbing the sachets willy-nilly.  If you know the host well, they may give you a second sachet as an extra honor.  On occasion I’ve been given 4 extra sachets—one for each member of the family.  

Whatever the history, an event isn’t over until the sachets are given out.  At one of the men’s wedding events, many will leave as soon as they are handed a sachet even if it is in the middle of a prayer. Even if the organizer yells at people to sit down, he can not often stop the mass exodus.  They got what they came for—their sachet—so it’s time to leave!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our road trip has gone really well (only one day remains).  We have been blessed to see so many friends and family and even to make some new friends.  We’re especially thankful to see some friends and family we didn’t expect to see.  What a gift!  Despite what looks like a hectic schedule on paper, the pace has not been too bad.  We feel like we’ve gotten to have lots of good quality time with people (although we could always wish for more) and there have been moments of rest within the travel—like one new place we stayed where they had a swimming pond out back!  Our daughter got her phone back (the one she had left on the plane).  We got to visit her college and see the doctor, all of which went very well and was very reassuring.


PRAYERS REQUESTED
Please do keep us in prayer as our whirlwind tour of the US continues.  We’ll finish our road trip tomorrow and fly off to California a couple days later.  Pray that we can get needed rest and restoration in the times between travels.   It is wedding season in the islands and we’ve already heard from one good friend that he has gotten married (sachets and all).  We pray that he will have a good marriage and be a loving husband and father.  We pray for transformation for him and his wife.  Ma Nadjma let us know that she hopes to be married again soon— pray for her and her kids in this transition— pray for a healthy marriage and family and that they all might embrace and follow truth together.  Our daughter will be starting a new treatment— the medication will have to come via a specialty pharmacy— pray that we can figure out the logistics of getting the meds not only now but also once she’s at college. 

Thoughtful Transition

 When we come to mainland Africa we tend to stay at the same place and if we are there on a Sunday we tend to fellowship with the same congregation.  The longer we’ve gone there, the more we’ve grown to appreciate their community—especially their thoughtfulness. 

African services are as diverse as any you might find in the States, with each congregation being unique.   This place is much more traditional.  A small band plays a mix of contemporary songs and hymns in multiple languages.  Most weeks the choir stands and sings a song in 4 part harmony.  The speaker speaks slowly and never strays far from his text.  His words are always thoughtful. 

We love the fact that before they send the children out for their classes, all of them are invited up to the front of the congregation where they pull on the speaker’s clothes to tell him about upcoming birthdays.  He bends down and listens and then announces each birthday to the congregation.  The children are comfortable with him and he takes his time with them.  Then we all sing a birthday blessing and send the kids off to their classes.  It is a small but thoughtful way to include the children and we love it.  It takes a bit of time.  But this congregation values thoughtfulness over time.

This past visit we were impressed by the thoughtfulness of the group again.  Unbeknownst to us, we had come on the Sunday when they were inducting a new associate-leader into their congregation.  The speaker warned us early on, “For those of you looking at your watches this morning, forget it.  We are going to take our time.” 

The induction service began by acknowledging all of the people from the new leader’s previous congregation—which included most of the elders, his parents and his grandparents, all of who had traveled to attend the service.  One of the elders from the previous congregation got up and testified to the new leader’s character.  He spoke about their sadness at saying goodbye to their leader and their joy at him being received into this new community.  We also learned that the previous Sunday the leader and elders of this new congregation had visited the old congregation to, in their way, receive the leader from his previous congregation.  

Next the speaker brought the man and his wife up to the front and asked them a number of questions and commitments—much like you might hear at a wedding ceremony.  “Do you promise to…?”  At the end of which he asked the members of the congregation to stand up and make some commitments as well.  

After this he called the elders of the former congregation up.  Then he called up the family members of the new leader.  Then the elders of the new congregation. Then representatives from the different committees and groups of the new congregation.  Finally he called up some of the children from the new congregation.  By the end, more people were up front surrounding this man and his family than sitting in the audience.  Hands were laid, prayers were said.  And then everyone at the front took a turn to each shake the hands of the leader and his wife before sitting down. It took time, but we did not begrudge it. 

Heading out on road trip

In the end, this new leader was not even required to teach or give a speech that day.  He was only welcomed.  After the service there was a great big meal and everyone was invited.  We (Tom & Megan) were both struck that we had never seen a leader so thoughtfully inducted into a congregation before, nor with such care and connection with the previous congregation.  It took a long time, but we had stopped looking at our watches because it was beautiful.   

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made it safely to the US. Our daughter lost her cell phone but thankfully it was recovered by the airline and sent to the US for us. We have adjusted quickly to the time zone and are already well into a road trip that has allowed us to connect with several friends and extended family members that we haven’t seen in several years. Hashiri says that she studied with others this past week. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
The community on the small island are lamenting the sudden loss of a dear sister— pray for comfort for her husband and those grieving and that they’d find ways to celebrate her life together.  One island sister is welcoming her son that has been gone for several years and will only visit the islands for a short time— pray that she can make the most of his visit. Continue to pray for our teammate still on Clove Island that she would be encouraged, especially during the busyness of wedding season and at work.  Pray for us as we get to know the area where our daughter will go to college and try to prepare her for living there, including an initial appointment with a rheumatologist. Pray that we use our time well and that the continuation of our road trip at the end of the week goes smoothly (we will have one very long day of driving so pray we stay safe on the road). 

Transitions Underway

 When we first came to the islands in 2009, our daughter was only 9 months old.  We knew that decisions about schooling would come but they were far away. When we started homeschooling combined with local island school for pre-school/kindergarten, we knew that we’d eventually have to do something different and consider more serious homeschool or boarding school, but again that decision was far off.  As she started boarding school, some people would ask about thoughts for after high school, but we had a few years before we needed to think about that. Each point has been a hinge, a transition point for both our daughter and us, and we faced and made each decision with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. 

Our graduate!

Our daughter has now finished four years of boarding school and graduated from high school today! 

It has been a full time and the looming transitions both to college and also to life in the US can seem daunting. She has a US passport, but a majority of her life has been spent in Africa. There is a lot about American life to which she hasn’t been exposed. 

As we prepare to take our daughter to the US and then to return to Africa without her, it is with that same mix of trepidation and excitement.  We are excited for her— for the opportunities that she will have at college and the ways that she will continue to grow and learn. We know that times will be tough and if boarding school was far away, the US is even farther and our ability to help will be less. But this is where we get to relearn a lesson we’ve faced many times— God loves our children, they are His. We can trust Him with them. 

We know it isn’t the last time we’ll need to be reminded of that— our older son is going to start thinking about college this summer and our youngest is preparing to start boarding school at the end of August. Lord, help us to remember at each hinge point, each transition, that You go with us wherever we go and You carry our children in Your hands!

So proud of her!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Tom was able to get an emergency passport for our travels to the US and will be able to collect his long-term passport when we return to Africa. Both our son and daughter finished the school year strong. Our daughter graduated from high school— we are very proud of her and it was a wonderful celebration for her class. The brothers had their monthly men’s gathering on Wednesday. Hashiri made a plan to study with others (instead of just studying alone at home) and has been confiding in others besides Megan, including a local sister— these are encouraging changes. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We are traveling back to the US tonight (we’re posting this from the airport). Pray for safe travels and for a smooth transition to the US time zone. Pray also that Grace’s refrigerated meds travel okay and that we are able to keep them in the needed temperature range. One of our colleagues on the islands is heading into a hard week— pray for the peace that passes understanding to surround her and fill her. We will hit the ground running in the US—pray that we would use our time well and have wisdom as we make plans. Megan exchanged some messages with island sisters this week and one asked for strength and perseverance in the midst of persecution— let us pray with her that they could shine brightly even in dark and difficult situations. We pray for more workers on the islands— a group of short termers are just finishing a month, pray that they might be inspired towards long term work!