For Grandma Barbara, I'm sorry it's late, but We love you and miss you!

 This is the letter that I wrote for my Grandmother's funeral.  My Step Dad, Timothy read it in our absence.  We love and miss you Gma!

Good morning all.  First we would like to send our apologies for not being present today, but know that at this moment we are sending our love from Hong Kong. 

Being the oldest grandson, I wanted to take time to write out some memories and stories of Grandma Barbara.  As her condition started to get worse, I began to reflect on the past 26 years and how she has impacted my life. 

Some of the earliest memories of Grandma were of two things: manners and gifts.  First manners.  I distinctly remember grandma making sure to teach me each time I was to go into a building that I needed to hold the door open for the people behind me, especially if they were a female.  I remember her reminding me how to chew, how to eat, and of course, how to hug…always cheek to cheek. 

Now when I came to gifts, grandma was always the best at getting the stuff that a little boy would love.  This was of course a long time ago, but I am almost positive that Grandma was the one who gave me my very first nerf gun.  She would also have little things for us each time she saw us including a book called “the dangerous book for boys”.  Grandma was a gift giver and of course as a little child, and even an adult, I loved it.

One of the favorite events that happened when I was a boy, all the way up to around middle school was a weekend night at grandma’s house.  I would like to walk through this event step by step.  Grandma would come and pick me up from home in her Subaru wagon.  Brown, white, blue, she loved the Subaru.  After all of our stuff was loaded up we would drive, very fast, to dinner.  I remember multiple times being in the passengers seat, and seeing grandma become anxious when she passed a police officer, hoping they wouldn’t pull her over.   The menu for dinner was typically McDonalds, or some form of fast food.  I vividly remember when I was around ten and I ordered the Mutumbo triple cheese burger and fries from McDonalds and grandma and the cashier looking at this ten year old boy in awe.  What can I say, I was a chubby kid back then! 

           

After dinner we would go to a movie, or rent a movie.  If we went out, it was typically the most recent Disney release, or something similar.  If we rented a movie, it was typically my choice what we got.  I remember having two favorites… Earnest movies, such as Earnest goes to Jail, or Earnest Scared Stupid, or Look Whos Talking  a movie starring John Travolta and Kerstin Alley centering around the birth of a baby who can talk and add commentary to the situation that it was in.  As I look back on that movie now, I think, what was grandma thinking!  But she did have a love for educating her family members in all areas.

I also remember how proud Grandma was of us.  She was always at band concerts, plays, basketball games, tennis matches, youth Sundays, speeches, graduations, or any other major event that happened in our lives.   Always positive, always encouraging, always excited to see us succeed.

Along that same thought, I think Grandma was on a covert plan to bring more culture into her grandson’s lives.  Grandma was always taking us to different plays and musicals downtown, or to the country dinner play house, she loved taking us to theater events.

We all know that Grandma Barbara wasn’t much of a cook, but I have to share the epitome of stories for a meal.  We were over at Grandma’s for Christmas morning just 4 years ago.  Grandma comes out with wonderful fruits and jellys and for the main course breakfast burritos!  I was very impressed because they were neatly wrapped in foil, not from a restaurant!  As I unwrapped the burrito, I was still really confused, had Grandma learned how to cook while I was in Texas?  Then I bit into the burrito, and the memories started to flow.  This was not a home-made burrito, this was the same burrito that I would get around midnight at Baylor from McDonalds!!  Of course being the polite one, I leaned over to Timothy and whispered very discreetly, “these aren’t homemade, they are from McDonalds.”  On the other side of the table though, my brother called grandma out. “Where are these from? He asked…”are these from burger king”.  Grandma then came clean that she had purchased breakfast burritos and then re-wrapped them for us.  She was so thoughtful and caring, and always was able to laugh at what was going on around  her. 

I would like to take a moment from this letter to break to promote in honor of grandma, total toddy.  Honestly I have no idea what it was supposed to do, but I do know that Grandma swore by it.  Whether we were not feeling good, had a lack of energy, or we were just board, the answer would be total toddy.  That beautiful brown sludge that went down so badly was the remedy to all ailments! 

The reality is, is that Barbara Dalberg was a wonderful woman, and an even better grandma.  She was always worried about others before herself.  Always asking about girlfriends, relationships, and my feelings about stuff that was happening in my life.  I knew that I could always give her a call to talk, and she would be ready to listen.   I remember when I introduced Stacia to Grandma for the first time.  Stacia excused herself to use the ladies room and, along with Uncle D and Aunt Cheri, grandma offered her approval of how great Stacia was, and each time after when I would talk to her, she would continue to be so excited that we had found each other  Grandma approved, so I figured it would be okay.

Grandma I am going to miss the long conversations at your house about life, the stories about past clients, the breakfasts at black eyed pea and the dinners at poppies.  I will miss calling you with a celebration of the day, or asking for advice about a new issue at my job.  I will miss squeezing into your Subaru, getting magazine subscriptions from you, watching your super old tv, exploring your creepy basement, field trips to IMAX, the Denver Mint, and both musems and enjoying the days with you at the cabin.  I will miss your encouraging words, your thoughtful cards, your world religions calendar each Christmas and the ability to know that no matter what was happening you would be there with a hug and a smile.  

In closing I wanted to share a quote that grandma would send me often from mahatmas Gandhi  which said “be the change you want to see in the world”.  I know that my grandmother embraced that quote until the day that she left us.  Stacia and my prayers are with all of you, and we look forward to re-connecting with you next summer. 

Let's dust off this blog and let the people know what's going on!

Good morning, all!  Let me apologize for not being more of a blogger!  I have been absent for a while, taking a slight break trying to reassemble my jumbled brain.  Now I am coming to you rejumbled and excited to be a couple of things: a resident of Hong Kong, China, the proud holder of a Hong Kong ID card, and the biggest fan of BBQ Steamed Pork Buns!  Anyway, we were looking at one of our cameras, and it seems that the lost archives of the past month and a half have been found! So come with me on a journey as we revisit how we got to this point!

 Here is the last sunset we viewed from the little White house at PEPC.  It was always my favorite in late June and July because the field was lush and green and the thunder storms were always amazing to watch from the deck!

 Goodbye White House!

 On the plane to Hong Kong from San Francisco.  We had found out prior to our departure that our new friend Lauren Waymire would be on the same flight!  Low and behold God is good and she was one seat behind us! We were able to trade with the person next to us and have Lauren join our little band of hooligans! 

 WE MADE IT! Kinda.  Step one.  Find all 8 bags.  IF they don't make it, what do we need to go buy?  Thankfully, all bags were accounted for and we could check that step off our list!

 Here is my beautiful bride after our 14 hour plane ride, looking as beautiful as ever!

 I on the other hand, needed to stretch out.  In a grip of thankfulness, I laid myself at the mercy of the Lord on our altar of luggage, and prayed for energy as we tried to cart all of our stuff out of the airport!

 Not only were we new to Hong Kong.  But 11 other families as well!  We packed out the bus!

 Welcome home, 703, so close to the beginning of our new lives!

 Except the key hasn't arrived yet, so we sit in the hallway!

 As you can see from this picture we did make it into our apartment and this is our first morning after our travels. 

 Our kitchen, complete with cook top (on the right hand side) and our oven/microwave/steamer (in the middle)

 Our bathroom, great size, warm seat (my wife is currently frowning at the thought that I would include this detail...)

 Our bedroom after the first night pre-Ikea trip.  Let's call it cozy, but we love it.

 On the bus to IKEA, the bank, and other wonders of our new home!

 JETLAGGG!!

 Mall number 1.  Known as New Town Plaza.  Did you know, it is possible to travel hundreds of miles in Hong Kong, going shopping, groceries, sporting goods, clothes, etc. and never go outside!?  Nuts.

 Yum Yum Dim Sum! 

 Steamed buns, tea, and greens, really good!

 Some of our new colleges and friends.  From right to left, Wanda, Daniel, Sophia, and Rachel

 Welcome to the MTR.  Our primary form of transportation.  Or is it more like Cattle shoots?

 I WANT TO BE PART OF THE LEGEND! if only i knew Chinese and could read how :(

 This is our school and our home.  Who knew that we could live closer to our jobs than the white house!  We are on the 7th floor, my room is on the 4th, Stacia's is on the 3rd.

 The Shek Mun MTR station.  If you find yourselves in Hong Kong and can make it to this station, you are almost to our place!

 My wife, excited about her first kitchen purchase from the Japanese Home Store!

 Our first dinner at home with a little tv on the computer.  Since then we have gotten cable tv, an hdmi cable to plug our computer into our tv, and we have rearranged the living room as well!

Our mighty score of $3 dvd's.  Love it!

 

Here is our new view of the sun rise.  Thank you for welcoming us home Lord.  We love you!

Here I stand, in a brave new world, with a pit in my stomach the size of China...

Only in recent weeks, even days, have I started to think about the action heros, or movie athletes that stand on the brink of impossible disaster, what might be going through their heads.  Because here I am a mere 36 hours from my debut as an actual teacher, and I have a pit in my stomach.  Now over the past two weeks, my wonderful wife has helped me talk through my "career-shock," but there are some moments in the day when my stomach feels like the Smurfs are jumping up and down with soccer cleats on.  Why does it happen?  Why in those moments of change, newness, or 'first-timedness' do we get that pit?

I think back to the day I asked Stacia to marry me.  We were on beautiful Huntington Beach, sun was shining, I had just bought a skim board, and I knew 2 things: there was a ring in my backpack, and that she WOULD say yes.  Yet there it was again.  That pit.  Low and behold she did say yes, and that day the skim board tried to make me into a 6'3" pretzel on the beach, but that is besides the point.  I had a huge pit, eventhough I knew what was going to happen.

I think that this is where faith comes in.  I am starting a bible study that is covering 52 men of the bible.  This week's is about Noah.  The author described the scene leading up to the flood.  The boat was not made in a day, but rather in years.  Imagine years and years of building something larger than a football field, and having the most corrupt, mean, dis-likeable people mocking you every single day.  (And a majority of those people are your family!)


Noah was in a moment of faith, where there was nothing else but his wife, his kids, and his God.  Now for those of you who are curious, we are not building a boat on our balcony, but we are about to embrace a flood of newness unlike anything we have ever had before.  For me this is an opportunity to follow God in his call.  The 8th grade team leader asked all of us to share what brought us into teaching.  I thought in my mind, it was a means for getting Stacia and me to Hong Kong! But the reality is, this is an act of faith.  There is a lot that I am confident in when it comes to TEACHING 8th grade bible, in fact, that's not the part that is feeding my pit.  The transformation into a TEACHER feeds my pit.  Gradebooks, discipline, Powerteacher, Eclass, and SO MANY MEETINGS! (That unfortunately don't happen at McDonalds, Chipotle, or Fika Coffee).


2 Timothy 3:10-11 says "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra, (Hong Kong!)-which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. "  Yet in all of my "stuff" that is happening, God is going to guide me, teach me, mold me and rescue me...even if that means rescuing me from myself!

All for now, I'll let you know how it goes this week!

Tdub

Hong Kong...Welcome Home!

Okay people!  Here we are, one week in from arriving in HK.  

Expectations:

-things would be new

-things would be different

-we will eat a lot of rice

-we are going to meet new people

-it's going to be hot

-we are not in parker any more

Realities:

-things are very new and very cool

-things are very different (working for a school rather than a church is VERY different!)

-we have eaten a lot of rice and noodles, so much that when we at american food, we kind of got an upset stomach

-we have met a great group of people, we have made some great friends and look forward to the new relationships

-it is very hot and humid, but getting nicer each day

-we are for sure not in parker any more and that is and okay thing

Overall, this past week has been one of orientation to the new apartment, the new job, the new town, the new city, and the new culture.  It has been an interesting ride so far, filled with the ups and downs both emotionally and physically...and it's not done yet. This is a great place, a holy place, where God is doing amazing things.  This school is centered completely on Christ's love and teaching. Student's don't have to be christians when they enter this place.  Some don't become Christians while they are here, but they are at least having the seed planted.  

I am (and we are as a couple) in a place right now of transition, learning everything new, trying not to forget where we came from.  It is a strange chaos to be in.  I refer to it as chaos because when you are in chaos at one moment you feel out of control, and in the next you are at total peace.   I know, at the end of this path of chaos is my God, cheering me on, reaching his hand out to me.  Like Peter, when he stepped out of the boat to walk on water toward's Jesus, it will be very VERY easy to look at the waves around me, but with the support of my beautiful wife, and the reminder to stay centered and focused on Christ, I know that I will be able to grow and accept this place as my own.

Prayer request:  That in the next week, my comfort level in becoming a teacher becomes better.  It's so crazy how much teachers do, and how much different Pastoring and Teaching is...on the other hand, they are SO similar, I am feeling at home in this new place in that sense.  Who needs curriculum right!?! :)

All for now, hopefully our internet and cell phones (iphone 4 by the way) will be up and we will be able to frequent Facebook and email better.  My prayers are with our family and friends in the states, can't wait to Skype soon!

-Tdub

The Precise Q-tip countdown...

When Stacia and I got married, we moved her out of her apartment and into the little white house.  When we combined our stuff, I noticed one thing.  We would never run out of Q-tips.  We had three packages full of 750 soft ear mops each for our cleaning pleasure.  Fast forward from January 2010 to July 2011.  Today was our last day in the white house.  Last week we moved our furniture and other stuff to the storage unit.  We had reaped the benefit of living in a church house, experiencing staff and other volunteers coming to help clean out, trash out, and prepare the house for its next tenants.  However, I noticed one thing this morning.  Our once abundant cash of q-tips was now a small pile of 15.  Stacia and I were finishing up in the bathroom, cleaning out the rest of the stuff so I took the remaining 15 and placed them into a sandwich bag, and into one of our many tubs that is going to HK.

When I think about the q-tips, I think about how God gives us timers.  Sometimes they are evident, and other times they are not.  When we moved Stacia into the white house, I was dumbfounded by the amount of q-tips in our house, not knowing that it was our timer.  So many people question God's timing.  Why are we moving now? Why did they die then?  Why was his job eliminated?  We want to control God's time.   We have a want to be God and hold onto that hourglass of life and keep it running full.  But that's the unfortunate part, we are not God.


Our timing sucks.  Period.  Let's just get that out of the way right now.

God knew that tomorrow, July 23, 2011 we would be changing everything, and moving our entire existance to Hong Kong to serve him.  Did I know that when I saw the abundance of Q-tips coming into that little white house?  Nope.  But now that I am sitting here in an airport hotel, preparing for a new adventure, I smile.  God's timing is so great, and to be able to fully trust in that timing is the most freeing feeling one can experience.

The next post that comes from me will be from HK!

Be Blessed

Faith in the storm

Mark 4:37-40 says, "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

Tonight was the epitome of understanding what it means to have a faith that is "unshakeable."

To start though, I'll visit the mindset of the disciples.  They have been following this rabbi around that is talking against the laws that have been taught and re-taught for hundreds of years before.  The crowds are so big that Jesus tells the disciples to get on a boat and cross the sea.  

Then the storm comes, the disciples freak out, and lose faith; Jesus jumps in and saves the day.

So here's what happened.   It's only 11 days until we move to Hong Kong.  We are packing the house, saying goodbye to friends, having the last lunch break with students, the last boot camp, last staff meeting, canceling dish network, internet, changing banks, and cleaning out my office to get ready for the new change.  On top of all of this, we find out that the car won't start at Chipotle.  We were able to jump the car, get it started, and drive it back to the house with the plan to work on it after I finished stuff at work. 

After our last minute boot camp decision, we worked out, came home and started packing the bathroom (my wonderful wife has done an AMAZING job getting us organized and packed up).  Packing led to more packing and we looked up at 8pm and remembered Auto zone closed at 9!  We ate a real quick dinner, jumped the battery and drove to Auto zone.  We got the battery tested and low and behold, it was a bad battery.  

We bought a new battery and took the company's offer to install our new battery.  Have I mentioned that there is a HUGE thunderstorm moving closer and closer with each minute?!  I was standing next to our 'mighty battery installer,' holding my cell phone flashlight over the battery as he worked on removing the old one and installing the new. 

It seemed that everything that could make the process go longer, did.  He had issues getting the right bit for his ratchet, the bolt holding the battery down was huge, the rain started coming, he removeed the battery, put the grease on the components, dropped the battery felt, tightened the connection, realized the felt dropped, undid the battery, put on the felt, and reconnected the battery.

FLASH, FLASH, FLASH, FLASH  -- The lightning is all around us, but the thunder is still a good distance away.  The rain though, starts to pour.  

Finally, the battery is installed, the downpour begins, and the lightning is flashing like another 4th of July celebration.

As this all is happening, Stacia was sitting nervously in the car.  With each flash of lightning, she jumped and covered her face.  She was worried that we were going to be struck by lightning.  She was on the brink of calling off the repair and moving it till the next day, but we kept going.

As I was standing in the lightning and rain, I watched as my cell phone battery was flashing at me saying "I'm tired, turn me off, or plug me in," I felt like my faith was being pushed.  The cell phone could have died, the rain could have been hail, the lightning could have been on top of us, and so many other things could have caused me to stop the process, or not allow us to finish. 

Todd Agnew sings a great song called "This Fragile Breath".  The chorus of the song says:

     " You speak with thunder and lightning
        Your voice shakes the mountains
        The foundations of the earth
        All I can offer is this fragile breath
        With each one I'll praise You
      With each one I'll praise You more"  (take a listen)

Like the disciples, standing in the storms of the world, God tells us to be calm, and trust him.  Most times, our human-ness gets in our way and we balk on our faith.

I am starting to understand more and more that faith is going to be the key for us as we enter into this move to our new home.  The thunder and lightning are all around:  Will I be able to teach? Will the kids respect me?  Will I be able to dress like an adult?  These are all thoughts that Satan wants me to believe, but God reminds me that we are walking with Him in our move.  I don't know what is going to happen, but I know that we are boarding the boat, the storm is going to rock us, and Jesus is going to remind us of how powerful He truly is!

"Follow Me..."

“Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him." 

                        -Matthew 9:9

I can't imagine.  The Savior of the world, the Messiah, the fulfillment of of the prophecy of the Old Testament is standing in front of me saying "follow me".  Drop everything, forget it all and follow.  We know from reading other stories that Jesus stood in front of a few men and challenged them to follow Him.  Unlike Matthew they asked Jesus to say goodbye to their families, and to bury their dead father and Jesus said no.  

On one level that is where I see Stacia and me...

Yesterday culminated the last of the "big things" to take off of our list of things to do before moving to HK.  Last week we sold the car and were able to pay out of the loan.  Goodbye Car.

After the car was sold, we decided to sell our desks, printer (still available), book shelf (still available), LCD Tv, sound system, and whatever else we could find.  All of those things were just things.  Even the car, it was easy to sell, we don't have a need for the car, or the loan, any more.  But it seemed that the realization of our move became real yesterday.  Yesterday, we took our Boxer, Nooma, to her new home.  The family that we have given her to is great.  She is going to have a great yard, kids to play with (ages 13, 16, 18), and overall a home full of love.  Though we had the love, the yard was much more than we could offer her with a 600 sq. ft. apartment on the 7th floor of a tall building.  She would have been miserable with us.  But the challenge of leaving became real yesterday.  Are we doing the right thing?  Is this what we are supposed to do?

As Stacia and I discussed it, I thought about Jesus' call on his disciples.  "Follow me."  Simple.  When we started this journey, applying, getting our documents together, figuring out which schools to apply, which to skip, we had a prayer (which I think I described in a former post) that we would both have jobs, that it would be in a school that would be welcoming, challenging and the easiest possible transition into a foreign culture.  Enter ICS-HK.  The email comes, we have jobs.

  

Follow me...

When Jesus calls us into anything, something is being sacrificed.  But is it a sacrifice or preparation?  While I was sitting with a great friend last night, he said, "I believe that everything that happens prepares us for something more." God constantly puts us into situations where He is challenging us, forming us into a new self.  

Look back at Matthew.  He said yes.  Left his tax collecting (which was a HATED profession, he probably saw following Jesus as a way to be better liked), left his wealth, left his friends, sacrificed his reputation, to follow Jesus.  

Even though we are roughly 2000 years after that event, I believe that Jesus is telling Stacia and me to follow him to HK.  We don't know what's in store, we don't know how life is going to be, but we have each other and we have Jesus.  Anything else that comes up, will only be gifts from God, forming us into the disciples that he wants us to be.

All for now,

T.

One thing I will miss about the whitehouse...

Today I realized one thing that I will miss about this small little farm house that we have called home. It has been a blessing to live on 35 acres for the past 2 and 1/2 years. Deer greet us in the morning, chipmunks eat our trash, bunnies provoke our dog, and the AMAZING Sunsets. (as seen by this amazing picture taken by my wife :) )

But today I just realized a new thing I will miss.

I recently got our moped running again and thought, "I wonder if Nooma (our boxer) would chase after me?"

So we tested it. Ultimate success. She stayed right behind me, and what normally takes about an hour to do, we did in 15 minuets. She is now laying on the couch tired and relaxed.

I will miss the mopeding-dog-chasing-game, but I know that HK is going to bring some more awesome moped experiences!

All for now!

Illustrations of change...a Michael Scott joint

Here we are...95 days until we move to Hong Kong.  Wow. 

Last night we spent youth group with the High School students talking about God's Calling on our lives.  More specifically, I talked about Stacia and I's journey to today, a mere 95 days until we leave.

I shared with the students the ups and downs of finding schools we liked, being rejected by those schools, and then being accepted by a school that wasn't even on our radar.  We talked about all of the intracacies that God places into our own journeys, and how each moment is written by God.

We finally talked about being patient, understanding that if God is calling us to do something big, it's not going to happen tomorrow and in taking those baby steps, we find out how strong we really are.

I was taken back by the most recent episode of the Office this past week.  It is no secret that Steve Carrell is leaving the Office, and so Michael Scott's final episodes are upon us (Here is the episode if you would like to watch it)






Michael is training his replacement, the new Manager of Dunder Mifflin Sabre. I was able to relate to Michael in this episode as I started to think about the new person coming into PEPC Student Ministries. I have grown so much over the past three years and the community of PEPC has watched that happen. I have also watched a great group of kids grow up in front of my eyes as well.

Toward the end of the episode Deangelo Vickers (played by Will asks Michael how to do meetings and they have a "tender" moment where the baton has been passed and Vickers tells Michael to "Enjoy this time, you have worked so hard, get your senioritis on."

This has been a great time. And in the next 95 days I look forward to mission trips and paintball excursions, Youth Sunday, breakfasts and lunches, Popsicles at the skate park, and so much more, and I am also so excited for this next step in Stacia and I's journey.

Hopefully I will be getting more blogging done!

A weekend to reflect and prepare...

What a great weekend it was!  Stacia and I were able to go to Glenwood Springs and enjoy the hot springs and the small mountain town.  We needed it!  Since we arrived back from China in January and told everyone our plans to move, we have not stopped.  Winter camps, school projects, tests, CSAPs, planning meetings, and so much more have been pulling us in different directions we didn't have a chance to relax just the two of us. 

As we spent time enjoying the hot springs, going on a day trip to walk around Aspen, and eating at random restaurants throughout the town, we got back into the discussions of what is coming...the move!

It can be an overwhelming feat what we are about to do, but we know that God has a great plan for us and that we are going to be embarking on something that will bring us closer to Him!  We talked about some of the things we are going to miss when we move over there (one being Chipotle!) and the stuff we are looking forward to (like living near a beach!). 

We also started to look at the next 4 months and preliminarily plan how we will be attacking this moving beast.  Spring break is our starting point, with the end of May being our goal date.  End of May?  You don't leave until July!?  The point of that is June and July are quickly becoming more packed than we had ever thought and we want to have all of the moving stuff that we can done by May so that in July we can enjoy family and friends before we leave. 

I am excited about this trip...no move.  I am excited to taste new foods, to experience a new culture, to worship Jesus in a different place, to see how He wants Stacia and I to serve him as we are over there, and most of all I am excited about growing closer with my wife.

I know that without a doubt Stacia and I are #1 supposed to be together and #2 are supposed to go on this journey with each other.  We perfectly complement each other in every way and I find as I sit here and write this blog that I am falling more and more in love with her.  The beautiful part is that my reasons for loving her are ours, but the purpose of our love and our marriage is one thing...to glorify God as we walk together on this Journey!

God is so good and I wish that I had better words to express my excitment for that!

Be Blessed

T. 

In the midst of chaos...is there peace?

What a month it has been!  I have been away from the blog for multiple weeks now and I feel like I am behind!

Over the past month I was sick, went to a great winter camp, continued with school at the seminary and got moving on the process of the relocation to HK! 

Stacia and I were blessed to also receive the Rosetta Stone to learn Mandarin.  Below is a short video of Stacia flying through lesson one!

 

As we get closer and closer to the date, small milestones are happening that are slowly making the move become more real.  Stacia was asked for a letter of resignation from Mesa Middle School.  This was a humbling moment for her i think, realizing that she would not be with her sweet kids next year.  I think it was also a moment of excitement for her because of this new adventure we have in front of us!

Another small milestone is the search for the newest director of student ministries at PEPC.  God has brought together a great search committee that will be used in a mighty way in discerning who God wants to lead the SM.

Another milestone is that ministry is happening as usual.  Mission Trips are being planned, lessons are being taught, worship is screaming out of the student center, we are non stop.  On top of that, I was asked by Pastor Doug to preach in "big church" which was a great experience.  If you want to listen to the sermon you can click on the link below.  Once on the page click on the little play button next to "United with Christ"

http://parkerevangelicalpresbyterianchurch.org/listen-online/

So in this month of chaos I believe that we have found peace in the busyness.  We are not purposely making ourselves busy, but God is calling us in this month to be moving, preparing for what he has planned next, and it is awesome. 

Overall at this moment, the last day of February, God is working, excitment is in the air, and I have only shared a few events of our life!  More to come, hopefully sooner this time!

Be Blessed

"...pray without ceasing"

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full...And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words"

-Matthew 6: 5&7

I have gotten into the habit recently of reading multiple books all at the same time.  Currently these are the three books I am working through:

 

Deep reading I know.  One is for Seminary, one is for staff development at the church, and one is for me and my curiosity when it comes to "christian living" especially in the faith context of my generation.  

Today I was reading the Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel.  This is a really cool book. Very easy to read and to relate to.  I was reading the chapter called "When you Believe in God but Not in Prayer".  This chapter really hit me because I have been one who puts prayer last.  I'll find myself on a prayer high, really starting those conversations with God, and then others where I'll go weeks without praying.  This is the quote that got me, "But even when you don't see the results of your prayrs around you, you may still sense Go's loving presence as you grow to know him.  I've learned that any genuine communication to God may or may not change what God does, but your prayer will often change your heart or perspective.  Prayer reminds you that you're not in control and keeps you close to the one who is".

I am not in control.  I am not in control of where Stacia and I will be in 2 years after our contract in HK is up.  I am not in control of what is going to happen at HS winter camp in a week.  I am not in control of who will win the Super Bowl.  As much as I'd like to be, I'm not in control of what is going to happen tomorrow.  I have an idea of what might happen tomorrow, but in reality only God does.  

How many times have I sit and prayed and not received anything?  Yet I am still coming back to this God that holds my heart so close.  In November, Stacia was to be interviewed by another school in china.  This was an exciting time, the first interview at a school we were familiar with, and had contacts with.  In praying over the interview, I felt the overwhelming feeling that we weren't going to be working at that school.  I prayed that it would be the right fit, so all of the stress and anxioty would go away.  2 weeks after the interview they said that Stacia was great, but they went with someone else.  3 weeks after that we visited the school and some of the staff and God confirmed why we weren't supposed to be there.   

I was trying to convince myself that the voice in my heart was wrong.  Trying to hide the feeling of not getting that position deep within me so that we would receive the position.  I prayed that the message God was sending me was worng.  I prayed to God that God would be wrong.  God was right, and we are headed to the place we are called.  

Groeschel says, "Admittedly, when prayer becomes an empty, meaningless ritual, it is boring.  but when you remember who you're talking to when you acknowledge that the God of the universe is honestly, truly excited to hear from you that truth alone will change your attitude toward prayer.  Move the focus from yourself onto God. That's the beginning of making prayer fresh and exciting.  Even fun!  Then prayer is like talking to a close friend with whom you can share your heart, your fears and your dreams.  Then, suddenly, instead of a lifeless one way conversation, prayer with the Father becomes exhilarating."

I was praying with a focus on me, not on God.  

huh. 

It's Actually Going to Happen!

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

He will establish your plans."

Proverbs 16:3

As one of the coldest days that I have ever experienced, today was a special day.  Today we finished the first part of our paper work for ICS-HK. This is quite a day!  Even though we had already accepted the positions, signing the contracts, copying all of our documents, and rounding up transcripts and letters into one big pile was quite a feat.  After all of the copying and writing then we had to send it!  $75 to get it there in less than a week.  Totally worth it though.  We want to get everything in as soon as we can, making that good impression on our new employers.  

Here's a picture of our sending in our contracts day celebration.  Stacia went to B&N and picked up some books on Cantonese and Manderin along with a map of downtown Hong Kong!

Not only was today a day of celebration, but it was also a weird day.  I have been catching myself forgetting what is coming.  Today was one of those days.  It was quiet at the church, but I had a lot to do today.  It hit me when one of the guys at boot camp asked me when I was leaving and when pastor Doug told me hey had received a resume for my position.  This is getting real.

I placed Proverbs 16:3 at the top of my entry today because it is such a true statement with what we are doing.  God is in everything that we are preparing for, everything that we are doing.  Minus our crazy puppy.  She is restless and crazy!  But God is the center of this plan.  What we are about to embark on is laid out because of Him.  I also know that we will be leaning on Him and His strength through the transition that is coming!

What a great FREEZING day it was today! 

Taylor

Humility through the Celebration

 "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace."

-Ephesians 4:2-3

Last semester at Denver Seminary, I took the Intro to Intercultural Ministry class.  Through this class I was shown again how I know God has a sense of humor and prepares each of us for what he has planned next.  For the class I had to read a book by Paul Heibert titled Anthropological Insights for Missionaries.  As I read the book I found it very interesting, long, and overall more of a burden than an enjoyable read.  That is except for the chapter on culture shock.  Heibert wrote about these different stages that missionaries go through and how culture shock starts at home. When I read this chapter I knew that Stacia and I needed to remember this, AND that we needed to remember to re-read this chapter as we prepare for our current adventure.

As last week and finally yesterday passed, a feeling of culture shock beginning has not left me.  This was a great week, an emotional week of sharing our news with everyone.  We love our family in Parker, and can't wait to come back and share stories with them about our travels.  On one level, both Stacia and I are feeling like High School Graduates again rather than adults changing jobs!  But this feeling still looms me.  With so many people excited for us, I am overwhelmed by the love and support.  So overwhelmed that I find myself liking the support.  I am starting to almost expect with the excitement of a child on Christmas the questions from people who know what we are about to do. "What will you be doing? When will you be leaving? Are you sure this is where you are supposed to go?"  The questions are great to answer, and I love sharing the story, but I have to humble myself and regulate my feeling. 

Hiebert described this time as a time of celebration.  People around us are celebrating on many levels Stacia and my call and decision to go to Hong Kong.  The funny piece is, if we fall too much into that feeling, we are doomed to experience culture shock.  The unfortunate reality would be that we would soon be focused more on our new found fame and less on the God that has provided us this opportunity. 

What happens when the questions stop?  What happens when we arrive in Hong Kong and are no longer the couple leaving for Hong Kong?  The thought/feeling/comfort that we depended on for so long is now gone and we are left to fend for ourselves without anyone cheering for us!  This is what we are trying to change, to prepare ourselves differently.  I know that we will experience culture shock, but by embracing our time here, staying focused in God, we will be able to experience His world in Hong Kong as well. 

Paul writes in Ephesians " Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."  If we were to give all of ourselves to the feeling that we get from this news, we will not be living for God and expressing His love through us.  Our prayer is that we are able to stay humble in the coming months, that we may embrace the next 5 1/2 months as a great blessing, and be prepared for whats to come next! 

Blessings for now, off to read for my Acts and Gospels class!

Taylor

Goal 1: Keep all deadlines that are set before us

A few days ago we received a packet from ICS-HK.  It seems with each day we have more and more to do to get ready for this transition!  A few weeks ago I was able to speak to the headmaster Ben.  He was very helpful and wanted to answer any questions that we might have.  He also gave very specific advice.  Stay up with all the dates and deadlines that HR gives you.  So that is what we are doing.  This week we have been sending out requests, searching through filing cabinets for documents in order to send a fedex back to Hong Kong by this coming Tuesday. 
Here is our list:
Signed contracts
Declaration of Moral Integrity
Work Visa Application
3 copies of each of our passports
3 copies of each transcript that we have (including HS, College, and Masters)
Reference letters
Marrige licence copy
HKCAAVQ Application

Needless to say we are at the mercy of the USPS.  All requests are out for transcripts now we wait.

Now for a little break, this is where we are moving:

If i am correct, we should be up over the mountains to the left.


More tomorrow!

Taylor

There's a Bug in our soup...

Think about a time when you were so hungry for soup.  I'm not talking about watery, barely anything in it soup.  I'm talking think full soup, maybe even a really good chili.    You are so hungry for this soup that when you go to the restaurant with your friends all you want to do is eat.  No small talk, no conversations, just order and pray that the waiter/waitress is very efficient at their job.  Then finally out comes the food.  Everybody gets theirs and they place the big bowl in front of you.  Your eyes are wide with hunger, you know that if you don't get this food into you soon you will pass out and cause a scene that would never be forgotten by your friends. The bowl is placed in front of you and you survey which suculant spoon full you will eat first.  As you look down you see it.  Staring up at you, lifeless and lost.

A Bug.

You tell the waiter about the bug, and he apologizes and says that unfortunately that was the last bowl of the soup, you are going to have to order something different.   Everything that you were expecting, hoping and ready for has changed.  It seems that your whole eating experience will never be as good as it could have been.  And so you move on and pick something else and to your surprise it is even better than you thought the soup would have been.

That is where my wife Stacia and I are at.  A "bug" has been placed in our soup of life, and God is asking us to move onto something different. 

In early January we were offered positions within the International Christian School in Hong Kong. (Check out their website: http://www.ics.edu.hk/ )  WHAT A BUG IN OUR SOUP!  Though this is something we have been praying for, exploring options and thinking is this really what God wants us to do, we still have the shock of the change that is coming. 

So here we are.  in 5 months and 28 days (ish) Stacia will take most of what we have and move overseas.

Now we are not doing this without sadness.  We are in such an amazing church community with PEPC having been the Director for the past 3 years.  I feel that I have grown up before the church's eyes.  Professionally the experience that I have received has been a vital part in shaping me today.  Personally the church walked with Stacia and I as we started dating and then got married.  The relationships that we have built with the community will not be replaced, forgotten or left behind.  We are so excited to continue to walk with the PEPC community from a distance, growing with them in a different side of the world.


In Genesis 12 God calls Abram (who God will change his name to Abraham) to pack up and leave his country.  Abram packs up his wife, nephew and home and leaves on God's word that he will be blessed and be able to bless those in this new land.  Abram is being called by God to do something greater than himself. 

Now let me be honest, we are not close to Abraham.  But I know that through this process of getting to this point, Stacia and I are called to leave.  To move to Hong Kong to continue spreading the word of God.

Here's our Bug.  Our new meal is Hong Kong and we are SO EXCITED to see what God has planned.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says "¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

So here's my blog.  I will be chronocaling our ministry in the next 6 months in parker, and then sharing our experiences as we make this life changing move!  Please ask questions, I would love to answer them and have you join in our journey with us!

Be Blessed

Taylor