Category Archives: Transitions

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OUR FIRST HOME

Transitions: You Cannot Always Expect Teammates to Understand

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Philippians 2:1-2 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (ESV)

Our team leader and his wife, who had arrived in the Philippines just one year before us, were kind enough to set up a home for us. After traveling for a whole month around the island leading a short-term singing and drama team, Jim and I looked forward to getting settled into our temporary new home. There was another missionary couple who would be living with us, who had just arrived as well. Until one of us could figure out another place to live, we would both use the same house.  

The home was furnished, very big and spacious; However,  it didn’t have any air condition or much ventilation, causing it to be very warm to live in. In due time, Jim and I learned to acclimate to the heat of the Filipino weather rather quickly because of it. Even to this day we get cold easily.

The other couple lived on one side of the house and we lived on the other, but we both shared the kitchen, which proved to be interesting! (more…)

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FOOD GOES BAD

God Cares

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Matthew 6:25,33: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?…33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you  (ESV)”

When we first went to the Philippines we couldn’t work and receive any money from the country itself. All of our finances had to come from the USA, our home country. We shared our vision with churches and individuals who then partnered with us financially. However, we ended up going to the Philippines under supported.  

After getting paid once a month, I would go shopping. Of course, we had only so much money to spend. I felt rich at the beginning of the month and poor at the end.

What would you do if you had only a little or no more money left to even buy food at the end of each month? How might it make you feel? How might it make you think about God’s concern and care for you?  (more…)

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Who Me? Moving Again?

Home is Where the Heart is

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Psalm 91:1 -2 says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust.”

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Due to the nature of our mission work Jim and I have moved 22 times in our 35 years of marriage. How many times have you moved?

I don’t know about you but transitions can be very unsettling! Each place I have had to learn to make it a home where we could dwell. However, I have felt my heart is in two different places. The location I lived before and grown to love and the present home that is before me.

  • One way I have handled the emotions of moving is to convince myself, “As long  as my family is there, (where I thought my heart needed to be), any place can become home.”

However is family enough? What about a person not married, a widow, or a mom whose kids leave the nest or maybe they don’t even have kids? (more…)

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WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

God can use our personal needs to open doors for us to connect

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Hebrew 13:2  “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (ESV).

Like many of you, after many months of raising support, much reading, planning and prayer, we looked with anticipation and mixed emotions to the day when we would say our goodbyes to family and life as we knew it. We would soon be leaving America and proceed to a new place of calling in Asia, the Philippines. Did we mention we were also exhausted?!

THE WHIRLWIND:

  • We were  married in December 1980
  • I graduated the next May 1981
  • We spent the entire  summer with 40 something young people in Philadelphia doing inner-city work
  • During the month of August we joined a singing group and started  traveling with the group in September. At the same time we began our deputation (raising support and building partnerships) before leaving for the Philippines the following year.

20160222132419514_0003Jim, my husband, lead this singing group of young people, where they would sing and he would preach. Our plan was that we would minister in various churches during the year and then all of us would finish up with a trip to the Philippines in May of 1982. I was only 23 at the time, with no kids. Jim was 25 and we had only been married for about a year and a half. Most of the students on the team traveling with us were only a few years younger than we were at that time.  

After arriving in Asia, our plan was to do a month of mission work with the team. Jim and I would then stay, making our new home and career as missionaries in the Bohol, Philippines,  while the young people made their way back to the States.   (more…)

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COCKROACHES! YUCK!

How God can use cultureshock to deepen our dependence on Him and confirm our call?

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“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is Faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13)

During my first days in the Philippines I soon learned that mosquitos love white skin whether in the home or outside. The veteran missionaries were fortunate to have found a nice and spacious house already furnished for us. It was screened in to keep bugs out, which isn’t always a given in many Filipino homes.  If a home isn’t screened, the Filipinos in Bohol may sleep under mosquito nets at night. So what do mosquitos have to do with cockroaches?

The first night that we were alone in the house we went to bed as usual. What seemed a few minutes later, but was really in the middle of the night,  Jim turned on the light, saying “Did you hear that?” “No, What?” I said.  “That buzzing noise”,  “No, you’re dreaming, go back to sleep!” I impatiently responded, though I did take time to look around. Upon finding nothing we went back to bed. (more…)