A "Normal" Day in the Life of a Missionary Wife

“Small things may be where He [chooses] to leave us because we’d crumble under the weight of something bigger. But small things are just as important to God as the big things.” (http://stephanieshott.com/2013/05/do-you-despise-small-things/)

This blog was written last week, so the actual day I am talking about is Wednesday, May 16. Yesterday was one of those full days. I woke at 5:30 a.m. since I didn’t hear Rod’s alarm at 5 a.m.

  We have been able to find sales on cereal lately bringing a box down to less than $6 so we have enjoyed that luxury for a while.   I made lunches and Rod got the bowls out for breakfast.
  Once Rod was out the door by 6:30 a.m. I wanted to have some quiet time.  I set the timer to force myself to focus.  By 7 a.m. I  hadn’t checked e-mail or Facebook and there would be no connections for the day while I was at work so I took my fifteen minutes to indulge.  Lydia was chomping at the bit and wanted to get to school quickly to talk to a teacher about making up a test and to turn in a science project.  I wanted to return camping equipment to the mission guest house on the way.  Well Lydia won the argument and we got her to school early. 

Arman working on a Square Tile Puzzle!

After I dropped her off I took the first period of school to exercise.  Since the classes are shorter on Wednesday I cut my walk and exercise time to 40 minutes.

I got to class on time and my student wasn’t there but the French teacher next door had just had him in class, so he must have had to go to his locker. He arrived thinking he should be grumpy for the day.  Victory was mine because by the end of the first block we were laughing and enjoying each others company and learning about bar graphs. 

His tutor who also teaches him English and math hadn’t show up by the normal time so I checked to see if he had texted (is that really a verb now?) me.  I discovered that my phone was missing.  I decided to blame that on being rushed out the door even though I tend to forget my phone around 20% of the time anyway. . I guess that isn’t a very godly attitude, is it?   Rod says I forget it more often than that. Christian, the tutor, did show up about 10 minutes late but my student and I were going strong so we continued on.Christian's son was sick and they had to take him to the hospital.

We had a break in class to do a photo session

For lunch I chose to stay in my classroom since we decided I would teach the rest of the day to make up for a day I missed when I was at the retreat three weeks ago.  Lunch went fairly quickly but I was able to get word forms set up, square tile puzzles and the math meeting strip ready as well as eat a tuna sandwich and play a game on the computer to rest my brain for a moment. Arman returned with a great attitude and we had a great afternoon.

Lydia ended up taking her test after school so J. D. and I hung out.  I talked with another teacher for a while so by the time I got back to my truck and realized the camping equipment was still in it, it was five minutes until it was time for us to go.  I quickly drove to the MPH guest house  and dropped off the camping equipment. I left the equipment by the manager’s apartment door inside the building.  I met up with J.D. and Lydia just in time.  On the way home I remembered I needed hamburger for supper.  So after dropping J.D. off I ran to the grocery store and picked up enough meat so I would not run out again soon. 

Ammielle and Acharchelle: The Bloggers

We drove into the driveway to find my twin students and their sister sitting on the front porch.  I had confused them on our meeting time and they had arrived 1/2 and hour earlier than I expected.  I unloaded all the “stuff” included groceries quickly, and we began our  learning therapy session for the day.  Acharchelle did a blog and Ammielle did regular therapy.  You can read their blogs here: http://brooklyntwinsincongo.blogspot.com/.  During the session Rod arrived and stepped in to say hi and began his exercise routine for the day. When the twins and I were finished I went to the kitchen and began making Enchiladas. 

 Pete and Cindy Ekstrand were coming from Gemena and would stay the night with us before going on to the US for a year of furlough.  We also invited our neighbor to join us since her husband was away.  Lydia helped me out by mixing up some brownies for dessert and I was very happy to have plenty of vegetables for the salad.  We discovered that the bell peppers were not bell peppers when Lydia snatched one on the way by.  Her lips and tongue started burning immediately.  So I need to make myself an omelet sometime with some hot peppers in it. 

It is always fun to have friends from up country or out in the bush of Congo over for supper.  We get reports on how the other missionaries are doing and how the church is doing.  We also hear about “new” mission strategies and what is being done to encourage the church or help that is being given to try to boost the economic situation.  The Ekstrands were excited about a recent trip to Kenya to encourage several African Churches that are all connected in some way to the efforts of the Swedish Covenant Church.  The long history of outreach and church planting was interesting and exciting.  The purpose of the conference was to help people in the church to see Biblical Truth vs Cultural Traditions. 

After our visit my eyes were ready to close, so we all caught up a little on correspondence via computer.  Then we were all very happy to go to bed. 

Running for the Prize

My dad and his prize after a marathon.

We just had a 5K at TASOK, The American School of Kinshasa and I am excited about exercising.  So here is an attempt at a blog:
I grew up with a dad who got into running when he was about 40 years old.  He didn't just get into running, he ran marathons!  As a result of his running I began challenging myself to be able to run 1 mile.  This progressed to a point of running farther.  With a high school friend I began a tradition of running 5 miles every Thanksgiving.  Then in college, after gaining the Freshman 5 I started running 5 miles every Saturday.  Of course these exercise routines went up and down over the years.  But running has been a part of my life off and on since High School.  Never a team sport person, I find running to be a great exercise for me because I can challenge myself.

My friend Marilyn and I after we ran a 10K down Boulivard 30 Juin

As a result of this recreational running I also have found scripture parallels.  The Apostle Paul liked to relate the Christian Life to running.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27 shares "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." (NASB)  Paul was extremely diligent in his training.  Whether he was actually doing the physical exercise is a question but the fact that he took his spiritual exercise seriously is very clear.  I want to be like that!  Paul never gave up.  Even in a last letter that he wrote he once again referred to life's race.  In his last recorded letter to Timothy he writes: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." II Timothy 4:7-8 (NASB)

Austin and I ran "Run for Congo Women" the last of his senior year

About 2008 I joined a Boot Camp exercise group in Kinshasa.  I had thought I was just going to start losing shape as I got older, but I started working out with this group and discovered I could get in better shape than ever.  As a result I was able to make a new tradition with a friend and for about three years we ran a 10K just before School Summer Break down Boulevard 30 Juin in Kinshasa.
The last couple of years I have been dealing with some re-occurring pain.  So I am having to slow down my running and I am learning what fast pace walking is.  I am a little jealous of those people who get out there and run hard and I wish I could join them.  But I have decided that for now my pace is walking until these joint problems get better.  So even though I am told half way through the run that people have already come in to the finish line, I am going to rejoice that I have not given up.  Yes, I "run" for the prize but not the prize that is given today.  I run for the prize for my life.

The last three years running at TASOK

Reading Paul's words there is a much more important prize I need to aim for.  That is the prize that God has for us.  James 1:12 "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."  There are trials that come and go and I am under a couple today.  God has challenged me to persevere.  I would rather crawl into my room but that isn't what God calls us too.  So I write to you and encourage you to "throw off every encumbrance" and "set our eyes on the prize before us".   
When the Bible speaks of the prize and the crown of life I envision the Greek Olympic winners with their Laurel Wreaths crowning their heads.  God has that kind of prize for us in heaven.  Are we persevering under trial?  Are we seeking to pray continuously through those trials?  Are we seeking to be Jesus to those who don't know Him around us?

Retreat, Retreat

Our second night of worship with Glen!

Sunday Morning worship with a very innovative drum set.

I just spent the last two weekends with the Youth in our church here in Congo, The International Protestant Church of Kinshasa (IPCK).  I feel privileged that I get to be involved in their lives and enjoy these times with them.  The High School had a desire to go beyond just having a retreat and actually doing more of a mission outreach.  One of the High School students took this on as her project saying that she felt a little jealous of the students in America who get to go on short term mission trips.  So she asked Mission Aviation Fellowship if there was a way that we could charter the plane for a weekend and take a trip to a mission station in the interior of Congo and mingle with the people that live there.  What was amazing was how this was the students' vision and they did most of the planning.  There were many complications and delays but we were finally able to make this mission trip as I shared in my last blog.
Glen Chapman, the missionary at Kikongo was our speaker and he shared with us the theme, "Light to the Nations".  The first speaking opportunity was to take us at night down a dark path that led to a hut by the river.  He shared the contrast of cultures.  The obvious clash in cultures is between Western thought and African thought. But there is also the clash between Christian thought and the World's thought.  We are a light in the darkness to those who do not know Jesus.

Meeting the Delegation from the Village on the other side.

I loved the way he shared how we can reach out to others and our ministries become a safe haven to others.  Kikongo was built out of the African jungle but is becoming a settlement where people can go for safety.  He gave us a LOT of food for thought during those very quick three days. 

We also had opportunities to reach out to the community around us in Kikongo although I felt often that they were reaching out to us.  There is a pastoral school  and a hospital and the people there know how to serve God in a very difficult time and place.
 It wasn't all work though, we had time to go swimming in the river and hiking on the other side of the river to a falls where we met the chief and others from the village on that side of the river.

The Streets near my own home in Kinshasa.

The second retreat I was involved in was with the Middle School Retreat which had the theme of "Outreach".  Jean Senga was our speaker and he spoke on reaching out to others in love.  One thing that really stuck with us is that if we do any kind of ministry or great sacrifice but do not have love we are like a clanging cymbal or noisy gong. I Corinthians 13
After a night of heavy rains in our tents we got up to make sandwiches for the traffic police at one station here in our neighborhood.  Traffic police are not well loved here in Kinshasa so we were all reaching beyond our comfort zone.  Jean had emphasized that loving usually costs us something.  We were going beyond those that we found easy to love and reaching out to those beyond.

Jean's son, Micah leading and teaching Sunday School

On Sunday Morning we visited Jean Senga's church, Source de Vie (Source of Life).  One of our students, Sam, dressed in a Lion Costume and he and a couple other boys rode in a truck around the neighborhood to invite children to Sunday School.  Our students also were able to share through singing during the service.

Our Middle School Team with Leo the Lion of Judah (Sam)

That morning I was doing my normal Bible Study but the passage became very real to me.  It spoke of the people gathering for the feast of booths and living in tents for one week out of the year.  I felt very much like I was living that study.  Then it also spoke of them opening the scriptures and translating it into different languages so they could all understand.  During the church service Jean spoke in French and had a Lingala translator and then Deborah, Jean's wife stood up and translated that into English.  I don't know why but God wanted me to live the Feast of Booths over this time.  I love it when God orchestrates living lessons for me.

Bucket Lists

Every since I watched the movie "Bucket List" I have thought I should make one.  Then as I was studying my Bible one day I felt convicted about the goals I was making in my life.  When we make bucket lists, suddenly the goal becomes to save money or all resources to fulfill that bucket list.  Do we ask, "Is this what God has for me?"  I see mountain climbers and sky divers who work jobs until they have money to conquer the next mountain or the next dive and then they are off again to add another feat to their list.  Is this the way God wants us to use our talents?  Possibly it is for some believers out there.  For me I have been convicted that God wants me to follow Psalm 37: 4 "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart."
This past weekend I was asked to join our High School Youth on a retreat/mission trip to Kikongo village.  There we experienced the village life to a certain extent (I shelled peanuts and pounded pondu), petted a duiker and held bunnies, worshiped with the Congolese people, hiked the trails both night and day, swam in the river, and listened to great teaching from Glen Chapman.  If I had a bucket list, I would put that on it.  But I don't and God gave me the desire of my heart. I love visiting Kikongo and Rita's menagerie and seeing the Congolese people from the Bible school who have a heart for God.  I love floating down the river on my back and realizing what beautiful scenery is passing me by or I am passing by or grabbing branches of overhanging trees so I can stop and look around for a moment longer.  When I set goals for this year, was this on my list?  No, but God put the desire in my heart to work with youth and God put the desire in their hearts to do a mission trip to Kikongo.  I got the blessings from all three desires.
This is not the only time I have been blessed so much.  I watched the movie "Up" and feel guilty because I married the right man, went on an adventure with him, had children and continue to have adventures. That poor couple didn't get any of those things except the house.
I want to praise God for His great blessing in my life and the great adventures He has given me!