The Task of Healing

It's been over a month since my last post.  We've had an unexpected last few weeks, beginning with a Sunday morning trip to the emergency room for me.  We were so grateful for two friends who dropped everything that morning and afternoon and took shifts caring for our kids.  I was experiencing severe pain and was quite nervous about what may be wrong.  It turned out to (just?) be a herniated disc in my lower back, not due to a specific injury but the culmination of genetic (hyper-mobility) and occupational (motherhood) issues.  Apparently, it was inevitable for me.

What has this meant for us?  Until I heal, it means drastic life change.  I can not pick up Eva.  I can't play on the ground with the kids for more than a couple minutes.  Sitting for longer than a few minutes is uncomfortable and means pain later.  Walking more than 10-15 minutes is difficult.  The bending and lifting that goes with normal life tasks (grocery shopping, using the dishwasher, making a bed, etc.) is not advisable.  As you can imagine, Gregory dropped everything for nine days to care for the kids and me until my mother could arrive to help.  The two of them have made an amazing team, and I have been able to rest and recover well thus far.

I admit that I am a bit nervous about how I'll do while my mom is gone for two weeks.  (She and my dad return in early December for a couple weeks here, a trip they'd planned months ago!)  I am sure it will be a humbling and stretching couple weeks; I wonder what the Lord has in store for us.

Headed to Holland

Our last family was a large group of seven:  Young parents, Ahmet and Riva, with a five-month-old son, Hamudi, and two-year-old daughter, Canan.  The mom's sister, Rama.  The dad's brother and his pregnant wife, Samer and Omay.

From what we could piece together in their broken Turkish, two of them had been in Istanbul for quite some time, very likely working to save money for the trip to Europe, and all of them had been traveling from Turkey for about a month.  They were incredibly grateful for showers and beds and blankets, for privacy.  For undergarments and socks.  For lotion and soap and deodorant and razors.  Of course, for food as well.

The three ladies and I sat around the table late at night sharing social media profiles, smiling at photos, and just connecting as women.  When Gregory went to bed, they took off their scarves and relaxed.  One of the women showed me a picture of her in Syria and pointed out her nice long coat in the photo; I think she was a bit embarrassed about the shorter coat she was wearing out of necessity (a donation from the train station).

I spent about an hour with them back at the train station the next morning, helping them get medical care for the little ones.  Once again, the clinic was impressive.  I was thankful.

I got to stay with little Hamudi while his sister and parents were in the clinic.

They were all headed to Holland, they thought.  From what I can see on Facebook, I think they may still be in Germany.  I can't help but wonder how their story has continued to unfold.  And I wonder if they have continued reading the books we gave them...  They are in our thoughts and prayers.

More Refugees Welcome

The week before last we hosted two more families fleeing their homes and lives in Syria.  The first family was small, and their story was slightly different than the others we have encountered.

The father, Semih, had been living in Austria as an asylum seeker for three months already, having fled Syria with his brother.  His wife, Bayan (23!) made the journey from Turkey alone with her 1.5-year-old son, Hamudi, and ten-year-old nephew, Haman!  I cannot fathom what stories she must have from the last few weeks...

They had just been reunited that afternoon, and although their son was ill, they were clearly happy to be together and safe.  We hosted them on a Friday night, so our families sat down for a Saturday morning breakfast together.

At breakfast after praying, they asked about our faith, and we shared what little we were able to communicate in words.  (Semih already knew a tiny bit of German from living in Austria for three months.)  We were thankfully able to get Hamudi some medical attention back at the train station.  The medical clinic there had doctors available, and they gave them some medication to take on their journey.

I wished they were staying in Austria, but they had decided that night to continue on to Germany.  Another family.  Another opportunity to share the love of Jesus in actions and words.  Another difficult goodbye.

Blessed to be a Blessing

As I sit down to write this morning, I am overwhelmed with a sense of responsibility to tell this story well.  Running errands this morning after dropping off my children at Kindergarten, I couldn't stop thinking and praying about this family.  I wondered if Rasha, the two-year-old girl who drew our attention at the train station on Sunday night, slept any last night at the station.  Has her fever subsided?  Did her four-months-pregnant mother eat well last night?  Did her uncle get ahold of his wife and six children who are still in Turkey?  How is her aunt doing, not knowing when she'll be able to join her husband in Germany?  As I entered our elevator, I thought about those who have ridden the elevator with us in the last week, their faces, their stories, their needs.  And I cried, again.

We attempted to find a family to host on Saturday night, but sufficient housing options had been created for refugees to stay overnight before continuing on by train the next morning.  We continued to prepare our home for guests, not knowing if the window had closed for us to host any more, but praying for more opportunities to meet needs and show love.  On Sunday afternoon, we read that Germany would be closing its border to refugees in the evening between Salzburg and Munich (for those traveling without the proper visas).  We received a call from the non-profit at our main train station asking if we could still host that night.  After putting our children to bed, I took some donations to the station and checked in to gather a family.

We said we could take five.  A family was found.  "Are six okay?  One is a child."  We agreed.  They hesitated and spoke with the translator with great concern.  The translator informed me that they had lost tens of thousands of Euro to smugglers along the way; they were rightfully concerned.  The translator assured them of our desire to help without any cost to them; they were stunned and relieved.  A little bit of confusion ensued, and we had a family of six adults and one child to take home.  They said they were okay with one sleeping on the floor, so we grabbed a tram home.  One man, Nazim, spoke some English.  He asked on the tram if the train had no driver; I pointed out the window at the front behind which the tram driver sat.  He explained to the others, and they all were full of wonder on their first tram ride.

At our home, they took turns showering.  I was able to help Dilan bathe her two-year-old, Rasha.  I wondered if it was the first time in a month...Rasha was enthralled with our children's bath toys and giggled through half of the bath.  As each person came out of the bathroom, they smiled.  They were clean and wore clean clothes given to them at the station.  I think they must have felt as if they'd gained back a piece of honor, to show outwardly that they still matter.  They are human.  They are valued.  It was humbling to watch the transformation and honoring to be able to be a part of it.

The men had tea and snacks and smoked and talked on the balcony while the women prepared for bed, and we had the honor of playing with Rasha.  They openly offered small pieces of their story throughout the evening and morning.  We learned about their spouses and children in other countries.  They shared that they had been on the road from Turkey now for 25 days.  A brother-in-law had been killed by Assad, leaving a wife and two young children.  They showed us a picture of the fatherless children.  Nazim had served in the military in Syria, but he left to fight against Assad until realizing he needed to take his family and flee.

The night was quiet.  They slept "deeply" and "peacefully". We were all thankful.

In the morning, we made multiple pots of Turkish tea and offered them a breakfast familiar to their culture.  Gregory ate with the men and had a mini Arabic lesson.  We pulled out an atlas and shared home towns with each other.  They gifted us with a laminated card with a chapter from the Koran, and we spoke with each other about our faiths.  They asked to see a New Testament, asked if we had one in Arabic.  We shared some online resources, and they sat around the table listening to some verses from the Book of John in Arabic.

We gave them what we could -- access to internet for an evening and morning, a backpack, children's medicine, a small doll and stuffed animal for Rasha, a coloring book and colors, snacks to to take along, a bib, a cell phone charger, use of soaps and combs and razors, food and clothing...  At the train station, we bought them a SIM Card and minutes for their phone, to be able to be in touch with their family in Turkey and Germany (a huge need for many of the refugees here).  We exchanged contact information and pictures taken and told them we would be praying for them.  Goodbyes were again difficult.  Rasha didn't want us to leave.  Nor did we.

Later that afternoon, Gregory stopped by the train station to see if they were still there, bringing them another gift, serving them strudel, and spending an hour being together.  They were confused, receiving conflicting information from people and not sure what was going on.  He helped translate some articles for them to know the current news and tried to find another place for them to stay that night, but they wanted to stay at the train station.  We think they were hopeful the situation would change, and they didn't want to miss an opportunity.  When Gregory had to leave, Rasha cried.  Gregory swallowed down his own tears, and Nazim walked him out of the station.

Last night, as Gregory and I debriefed the experience, he shared a few potent thoughts and feelings with me.  We spoke about how blessed we felt in attempting to bless others.  We spoke about the joy (and humorous blunders) of attempting to show hospitality to these people in a way that conforms to their culture.  We spoke about how blessed we are to have so much.  We couldn't stop thinking of two-year-old Rasha sitting on the floor in the train station.  We feel such a deep sense of gratitude to God that their story hasn't been our story thus far.  We haven't known war and suffering like this.  Our kids haven't had to live through it, other than now being a part of blessing those who have.

Despite the excited and loud greetings he received from our children when returning back home from the station this evening, Gregory quietly said something that really touched me, something that I too had felt while cleaning and doing laundry all day.  "Our house feels empty."  These dear people who filled our home with needs and life and blessing are greatly missed.  Bring them hope, Jesus.  And bring us more people to love.

Read our story. Enter into yours.

Many have been asking about our experience hosting Syrian refugees, how it came about, and how you can be involved.  This post is intended to provide information and encourage you to action.  If you are reading this, I truly believe God has a role for you in giving of yourself sacrificially to love these people.  Ask Him what it is.  Gather information.  And act boldly and in faith that our God will use your sacrifices to bring love and hope to these people who have lost everything.  Ultimately, my heart's longing is that they know Christ and have eternal life in Him.  I trust that the small part we are able to play here in Vienna is a part of their story of Hope, that the Spirit is using our interactions to draw them to God.  Psalm 23 keeps running through my head, both for myself and my family and for those we host.  May the Lord be their Shepherd...their everything.  Only through Jesus.

Pieces of our Story

This was not a spur of the moment thing, choosing to take in refugees.  Gregory and I have been seriously considering and praying about offering our guest room via http://www.fluechtlinge-willkommen.at/ as a mid-term home for a woman and child.  On Sunday, we returned from an eleven day holiday in Turkey, and this question of what can we do was screaming at us from all sides.  I did a bit of research and lots of reading on Monday about the site above, http://www.refugees-welcome.net/ in English, as I remembered seeing it on Facebook a few weeks back.  After searching online for more information about hosting refugees for short and mid-term needs, I connected via Facebook with this group, helping refugees in Vienna who are changing trains either for a view minutes or overnight.  This connected me with this non-profit organization, working at the main train station that is a 15-20 minute walk from our home.  I read about urgent needs for supplies and medicine, food and clothing, etc.  I knew God wanted us to do something, and so I kept updated on the needs and kept asking, "What should we do, Lord?"

Last night, after climbing in bed around 11pm, I checked the Facebook page and saw an urgent request for blankets and portable beds for a large group of refugees who had just arrived and were cold and needed sleep.  As I read through comments, I saw other people offering their homes and asking what to do.  The organization couldn't handle the logistics of arranging private housing, but I was drawn to one lady's post.  She wrote how her husband simply drove to the station, spoke with the volunteers to let them know he could take a family home with him right then and there, and as she wrote, two women, two children, and a grandpa were sleeping in their home.  She posted that the scene at Hauptbahnhof was truly alarming.  The people were cold and exhausted and trying to sleep on the cold floors wherever they could find space.  I knew this was the time to act.

A safe room for families to sleep

The volunteer center

The volunteers at the station last night at 12:30am were amazing.  They were grateful and helpful and caring.  I admire them hugely.  They said the need is great every night.  No question.  At that time of night, most of the families were bigger than five people (what we had determined to be our max this time), and they weren't sure they'd find any for us to house this time, but after a five minute wait, they did.  A volunteer guided me through the crowd of dirty, tired humanity, weaving between sleeping families and lines of men waiting for the toilets.  On one side of the station corridor were volunteers handing out warm food; another section housed donations of supplies and clothes.  I was introduced to a young Syrian university student who spoke beautiful English (but no German!) and translated for us.  She introduced us -- a husband and wife and their nephew, answered questions, and communicated when they'd need to be back.  She mentioned that the husband spoke a bit of English, and I mentioned that I speak Turkish if that's helpful. The wife's eyes lit up, and she said in Turkish that she lived in Turkey for a few years and speaks a little.  What an amazing God-send.  We were able to communicate.

On the walk home, it started to rain.  They were cold, wearing no socks and flip-flops, yet smiling and pointing and talking excitedly about this different place.  They were beautiful and amazingly hopeful and happy, despite their exhaustion and recent experiences.  Piecing together their story, they fled their home (in a large city in west-central Syria) by car, crossed into Turkey and then took a boat from there to Greece.  That experience sounded quite traumatic, too many people, including children, crammed onto a small boat...  We didn't ask too much more, and they understandably stopped sharing about the journey at that point.  They arrived yesterday evening from Hungary with only the light summer clothes on their bodies.  Tired.  Cold.  Hungry.  Dirty.  But grateful to have made it this far.  They had already received food and some warmer clothing at the station.

Our home was likely their first night in a bed since they left their own homes.  We were able to feed them a small breakfast this morning and send them off with socks and a backpack and a couple fresh headscarves.  It was so little, but I know each little bit helps.  On the trip back to the train station, the wife asked me about the cross-walk signs.  They were trying to take it all in.  Everything is different.  We had no Arabic Bibles to give, but we gave them our contact information and a Turkish New Testament and trust that God will lead them onward in this journey to Him.

Embrace your role

As I said goodbye at the train station this morning, the wife and I embraced, and we wished each other well with tears in our eyes.  We are praying about when to do this again.  It will not be the last.  The need is overwhelmingly huge.  We each have a part to play.  Now you have read our story.  Ask God what yours may be, and then walk forward in obedience.  God will care for you and provide for you as you lay down your life for those in need.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

A sidenote:  If you have questions about hosting and interacting with Muslims in your home and are interested in special considerations to make, please email me.  I'd be happy to give some tips and insight from our experience and our few years in Turkey.

A Happy Heart

"He has a normal and healthy heart."

What wonderful words to hear from the cardiologist today after multiple tests on Nathanael's heart.  We are grateful and honestly relieved.

I was so proud of Nathanael and how well he behaved in the midst of the new and unknown and strange environments today.  He had his almost-five-year-old moments (like when he was screaming and stomping while we were walking along a crazy windy promenade on the way to the appointments), but I was proud of how he pulled it together at different points where it was clear he was uncomfortable.  I love this little guy so much.

Nathanael and I took the afternoon to be together yesterday after church.  We had pastries at a cafe, took the train outside of Vienna, attended a musical about the story of the Prodigal Son from the Gospels (his friend, Jonathan, was in the choir), and concluded with another train ride and stop at Subway for sandwiches and CHIPS!  What special memories we made.  Have I mentioned how much I love this little guy?  I can't believe he'll be FIVE in a week!

 

 

A real heart check

We'd love your prayers for us on Monday.  Nathanael will have his first EKG.  He saw his pediatrician about a month ago for an infection, and she noticed some abnormalities in his heartbeat.  She saw him again a couple weeks ago, hopeful that it would have normalized with his infection gone, but it remained.  She made no speculations but simply pointed us to a specialist for an EKG.  I personally feel a combination of gratitude and mild anxiety, gratitude that God led us to discover this, whatever it may or may not be, and mild anxiety because tests like these often lead to multiple other tests and doctor's appointments to determine if something is going on that needs addressed.  I am not the biggest fan of lots of doctor's appointments.

Thanks for praying for us, however the Lord leads.

Nathanael's adjustment at Kindergarten

An email from my sister-in-law yesterday reminded me that I need to update you all on Nathanael's progress at Kindergarten.  We put out a "call for prayer" of sorts at the end of October, due to a few uncharacteristic behavioral issues, and then we never updated you all.  So here goes.

A bit of background.  In September, Nathanael was moved from the youngest group at the Kindergarten to the oldest group, basically the equivalent of "Kindergarten" in the US.  He and one other boy, who is also four, are the youngest, with most kids being five and many already turning six.  He has seemed to take really well to the transition, even thrive with the higher level of expectations.  Of course, the teacher has commented to me about how he struggles to sit still during their morning circle time, but that worried me not one bit!  What did she expect when she asked to bring a four-year-old boy into her class?! ;)

Still, as October was winding down, we knew something was wrong.  Out of respect for the little guy, I'll spare you the details.  But a handful of things were occurring that are simply not our Nathanael.  We asked for prayer from many of you, not knowing how serious the impetus for this behavior would be, and a couple days later, out of seemingly nowhere, Nathanael opened up to me.

In German, he said, "Mom, some children call me a baby in Kindergarten."  I stayed with him in German, and we talked about who and how often (it was a lot!).  We talked about why they may be saying this, addressing him being the youngest but also talking about how they may have been called the same thing when they joined the older group, not that that makes it right.  And then, we spoke about what to do when other people say mean things about us.  It was such an amazing, teachable moment.  By the end of the conversation, my brave four-year-old felt ready to tackle whatever may be said to him, because he knows that he is loved by God, and by his family.  And I think he better understood what it may look like for him to "love his enemies" with the love of Jesus.  We prayed together, and then I think he probably said something random and seemingly shallow and silly as a transition out of the conversation.  Four-year-olds.

We celebrate God's clear answer to our prayers.  He led Nathanael to speak with us, and He gave me wisdom to stay with Nathanael in German, to allow him to express this heart issue in the language it most affects him.  And in the end, God used it to bless Nathanael and hopefully other children in his Kindergarten group.

Look who's free!

Praise God!  Look at our Evangeline, finally FREE from the hip brace!

We are so thankful to have this journey through hip dysplasia treatment behind us.  The appointments almost every week, the explanations to strangers, the added consideration for almost all usually-normal baby care...  I praise God that He has brought this to an end.  She will have regular check-ups for a while, but nothing like before.  And now she can learn how to sit and use her legs to move!

Let's fix those hips!

We had a bit of a surprise at the end of August at a thought-to-be routine examination of Evangeline's hips.  It turns out she has a mild case of hip dysplacia, requiring her to wear a brace night and day to aid in the development of her hips.  The brace is kind of cute, to be honest, but it makes it quite awkward to hold her and cuddle her and nurse her.  We have been learning new ways of doing a lot!  We would appreciate your prayers as we navigate this, mostly that the medical device would work well and quickly and that we would have patience and endurance with all the appointments and caring for Evangeline through this treatment.

This first picture is from her first few minutes with the brace, completely unaffected (thankfully!).

Attempting tummy-time wearing the brace

Women's Retreat in Italy

Gregory blessed me in March by making it possible for me to attend a Women's Retreat through our organization.  I was gone five days, flew to Rome, took the train to a lake a couple hours away, and spent the entire time gaining physical and spiritual refreshment and rest.  Oh, and the food was absolutely amazing.  And I didn't have to make it or clean it up!  Nathanael and Gregory held down the fort back in Vienna.  I'm so thankful for this gift!

The timing was a gift from God, as it allowed me a few days to think about, pray about, and prepare myself for the coming changes with the end of pregnancy and welcoming another child into our family.  Through the unique, reflective format of the retreat, God led me through addressing a handful of fears and anxieties that will likely continue to surface with the upcoming stresses and changes, especially my limitations in them.  And He gave me a sentence prayer to "breathe" to remind me of who I am in Him and His promise to carry me through:  I rest in Your embrace, free to be Yours, Elohim, my Everything.  This prayer is packed full of meaning for me, from Scripture and experiences that have been impressionable over decades.  I am excited to have this tool to use to claim Truth and center my heart and mind on Christ.

Choosing Contentment or Complaint?

The past month or so, at the recommendation of a like-hearted friend who recently moved with her family to Spain, I picked up Elisabeth Elliot's book, Keep a Quiet Heart.  What a blessing this has been to read and pray over in the mornings.  I feel as if I am sitting across the table from a wise and godly woman who is not afraid to say difficult things to me.  And I am so thankful for the mentor she is to me right now.

One key area that God has used her words to encourage me is in the area of contentment, as opposed to complaining.  God had been prompting me to choose to be content with our last few weeks in the home we're in, before moving into our apartment in August (which He abundantly showed us at the beginning of July!).  I began praying regularly towards this, and the Spirit has clearly checked my attitude and corrected me when I would begin to give in to discontentment and/or a poor perspective of this waiting time.

Mrs. Elliot brought my attention to a few verses to this end that have consistently been an encouragement in my life.  I am so grateful.

Verses like these from Psalm 73, "You hold me by my right hand... There is nothing on earth that I desire besides You... God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...  But for me, the nearness of God is my good..."  And these from Psalm 16, "The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, You have made my lot secure... The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance... I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices... You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 

And then some that took on new meaning, like James 1:2 (Phillips' translation), "When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends."  And Matthew 16:25, "Whoever loses his life for Me will find it."

Speaking with both Gregory and a friend last week, I was telling them how God has been leading me to proactively resist the temptation to complain.  We're still in the honeymoon phase of culture shock.  The differences are fascinating and intriguing and even quaint.  Soon, I know, some of these differences will become sore, glaring, unwelcome reminders that, "I am a foreigner here," and I so deeply want to honor God in the midst of those feelings.  I want to choose to be content in what He has given, to rejoice in these trials and even thank Him for them, not to give in to complaint and discontentment.  I believe that our God is good, and that in Him, I have great grounds for rejoicing.  I long to choose to do just that.

At the inspiration of two others who have done this before, I accepted a challenge to 14 days of absolutely no complaining.  Though cracked and broken, I believe the Spirit is bringing about beautiful, everlasting fruit in this pot of clay.

The news we've been waiting for

So much to share here!  Firstly, and probably most importantly, last week we received an invitation to pick up our 2012 Austrian Residence Permits!!!  We had a crazy couple weeks of ups and downs with our residence permits, but then on Wednesday morning, May 30th, Gregory received an email with a letter inviting us to come in on June 12th and pick up our residence permits!  We were and still are overjoyed!  It is amazing how God continues to make a way for us to serve Him here in Vienna.  He has indeed called us to this place, and we are loving watching and waiting as He puts all the pieces together in a way that brings great glory to His Name!

We have also found a great apartment that we're hoping to have.  In the midst of the residence permit drama, thinking we may be silly in even doing so, we visited this apartment and were quite impressed.  The location is better than we could have even asked for, both in terms of nearby amenities and situation in a strategic community.  The apartment is just the right size we were praying for, even right down to the room sizes and layout!  The cost is fair for the market and almost exactly what we have budgeted, slightly under even.  So now we wait to see if God has it for us.  We have no way of knowing who the neighbors are and how God is working in their hearts, so we're thankful that He knows if these are the people among whom He wants us to live and share life.  We hope to know something by the end of next week!

Language learning continues to progress.  Gregory and I are both quite encouraged by our understanding thus far.  We've come a long way in just a month!  But we are still at the very beginning stages of learning this language, and that means lots of misunderstandings and miscommunications and blank stares.  :)  And is typical in language learning, we are so limited in our ability to say much.  Fortunately, we've been through this before, so I think we're able to laugh at ourselves and be a little more patient in the process than before when we were learning Turkish.  I recently started reading my morning devotions in German (with the help of an English translation as well), and that's been such an encouraging source of both linguistic and spiritual growth.

I'm really excited to see how God moves us forward in the next month, in so many areas.  Have I mentioned before that I'm really ready to settle into our own place?  Well, August is looking to be an incredible month!  I hope!

Sabbath Afternoon Musings

No residence permits yet.  I guess our sovereign God has a different plan than I do.  Imagine that! ;)  We continue to ask Him to make a way for us to stay here in Austria past the end of July, but we also know He may desire us to spend some time in Turkey in the interim.  Still, I am asking, daily, that this would be the day we receive our letter of confirmation (excluding Sundays and holidays without mail, of course).  I feel very ready, for so many reasons, to rent a place and make it our own...to truly settle here in Vienna...  I wonder if that's what God has for us...

I find myself sitting down to write a blog post but with little knowledge of what I will write.  Sunday afternoons are quickly becoming one of many favorite points in the week.  On Sunday afternoon, I set aside all work, all studying, all household duties, and I simply rest.  Today I picked up Pride and Prejudice and read a few chapters.  It was utterly entertaining.

And shortly I will take some time to journal and reflect on the last month or so and how we have seen God among us during this time.  For Nathanael's first Christmas, as Gregory and I were thinking and praying over what Christmas traditions we wanted to begin, we decided to gift our children every year with an Immanuel Journal -- a recollection of ways we have seen God working among and through our family over the past year.  We've only been keeping it for a year and a half now, but it truly is a blessing to take some time every other month or so and reflect on God's evident work.  We pray God will use this family tradition to give all of us a greater aptitude to see Him in our lives and look for Him and speak about Him.

Finally, I must briefly post about our yesterday.  We headed out in the morning to the Danube Island and had a long Saturday family walk, with a brief stop at a large playground.  At points we almost felt we were walking along Memorial Drive in Boston.  Almost.  Our new city continues to delight us with its appreciation for natural recreation.  And we can't wait for our container to come someday along with our bikes!  This city is such a biking city, and we're anxious to explore together by bike!

Tomorrow begins another week of language study.  I'm excited to see what God has for me to learn this week.  Last week, I learned how to make statements with "because", "that" clauses, and "if/then" sentences!  Do you realize how much of a difference that makes in my ability to communicate with someone?!  It's huge!  I completely remember discovering each of those grammatical forms in Turkish and the growth in friendships that resulted from being able to take one step further in our depth of communication.  "Thank you, God, for slowly, yet truly, giving us the ability to communicate in a new language."  Now maybe I should go study my vocabulary a bit more...

Awaiting a long-term home

Our church retreat a week ago focused on prayer.  One of the points the speaker made was regarding being specific with our prayers.  I am praying specifically that our residence permits will be granted this next week.  Just thought I'd let you know...

Looking for an apartment

I have a list of desires for our first apartment in Vienna.  I pray over it quite regularly.  I think about it a lot.  When we were in Vienna back in November, I found an apartment that seemed to fit almost every desire on my list.  I remember saying to Gregory, "This place is such an amazing fit for us!  I know I have to just give it to God and trust He has something for us."  And I did.  I mean, what are the chances that a place that was available in November would still be available in July or August of the next year?!

I randomly did a quick apartment search two days ago.  My dream apartment was still listed!  I couldn't believe it.  So this time, I did a little more digging, found the real estate site that's listing the rental, looked into the neighborhood, measured distances to our church and grocery store and library, thought about how furniture would fit, etc.  And I love it even more.  And here I am again, back at that place where I say to Gregory once again, "This place is such an amazing fit for us!  I have to just give it to God and trust He has something for us, whether or not this is it."  Our God is so good.  I am excited to see how He leads us in the next few months, and what He determines to be the right fit for us.

I am so ready for our "home" to be back in Vienna.

A Word from Colorado

Where have we been for the last four weeks?  Here are three of my favorite stories:
 
Applying for our Austrian Residence Permits?
Austria has more restrictive immigration policies than you might have guessed, and we definitely experienced the truth of this in January.  In order to be within the first 60 people to submit their residence permit applications, we anticipated cuing up at the visa office in Vienna around 6am on Monday, January 2.  Mid-afternoon on January 1, a colleague received a tip from a friend (what a blessing!) that a line had already formed.  A hectic hour later, Gregory was standing on the sidewalk with two colleagues (and around 30 other expats), where they spent the next 15 hours!  Thankfully, the rain ceased as they arrived, and the temperatures, though chilly (mid 30s), could have been so much colder.  Another wife and I joined the men in line at 4am.  By around 10:30am, we had successfully submitted our applications, just barely within the 60 person limit for the year!  We now await word from the government as to whether our permits will be granted or denied this year.

From Vienna to Emporia, Kansas
After 12 weeks in Vienna, we had to say goodbye to our new colleagues and friends, language, and beloved city.  But it was an exciting goodbye as we eagerly anticipate our return to Vienna before summer!  We flew out on January 7, almost missing our connecting flight in DC due to lines in border control and customs.  Nathanael was amazing and entertained quite a few passengers by his countless walks/runs up and down the aisles.  The most entertaining part of the flight for me was Nathanael's reaction upon our arrival into Kansas City.  My parents (with whom we've been living mostly for the past year and a half) met us at the gate, and as we were walking down the jetway, Gregory and I finally spilled the news to Nathanael that his Grandpa and Grandma were waiting for him down the hallway.  Running full-speed out of the jetway in his Superman pajamas, Nathanael emerged from the gate, saw his grandparents, and began barking exuberantly in their faces.  Everyone around was laughing at this entertaining and unexpected scene!  Apparently, Nathanael thought his Grandpa and Grandma should have brought their black labrador retriever to the airport as well.  He did get over that disappointment quite quickly though, and the evening was full of grandparent/grandson hugs.

Training near Colorado Springs
A week after returning to the States, we packed up again and drove out to Colorado Springs for five weeks of cross-cultural and linguistic training.  We were able to see some of my family in Western Kansas on the way out here, and that was a huge blessing in the midst of the craziness of travels.  We have now completed the first three weeks which were focused on cross-cultural training.  It was completely different from what I expected, especially after having gone through similar trainings in the past.  This one was much more focused on self-discovery and relational health -- what an incredible opportunity to spend three weeks delving into these areas!  The timing was great for us as we were able to "debrief" our twelve weeks in Vienna (how we responded to various stressors, conflict styles with each other and colleagues, healthy and unhealthy patterns of work and rest, etc.) and make some practical plans as to how we will proceed when we return to Vienna.  We're thankful for God's sovereignty in the timing of this training; He knows -- so much better than we do -- our needs.

Colorado pictures will come later, as I apparently forgot the camera cord.  Ugh!

And We're Off!

We're off to Vienna tomorrow.  I'm hopeful to share some pictures and stories over the next 12 weeks, but only when I'm taking a brief break from language study!  In just over eight weeks, we take our German proficiency exams which will allow us (assuming we reach A1 level) to apply for our residence permits on January 2.  When I think about the next two months, I have some anxiety related to my own abilities to learn what I need while also caring for myself and our family.  But I know our God is big enough to do this, and I believe that He will!  We'd love your prayers for us as we adjust and learn over the next eight weeks!

In other news, Nathanael will be 18 months old at the end of the week!  What an exciting journey parenting is!  I feel I must comment about how well he has been doing in the church nursery for the past couple months, lest I forget this stage of adjustment.  The last few weeks, he has practically climbed out of our arms to go into the nursery, no fuss what-so-ever when we leave.  What a change from last year!  I expect he'll struggle more in the coming months with the different places, people, and language, but I know he (we) will eventually adjust.

Here we are all serious-like and ready for our residence permits.  haha  These pictures just make me laugh.

Now, I must get back to packing and decide what toys to take for this little guy.  I'm thankful Austria has plentiful rocks and sticks!

Waiting expectantly

A friend recently brought this verse to my attention.  (Thanks, E!)

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me."

It is from Micah 7, verse 7.

During Ramadan, as I pray for my Muslim friends for the eleventh year, I find myself asking, pleading, "How long, oh Lord?  How long will they remain in darkness?  Bring forth your light!"  Something about this statement from Micah -- in the midst of the dark and desolated, seemingly hopeless lives around him -- something about his words gives me great strength.  I know that I am not alone in my pleas.  Many others join with me in crying out for God to bring His light into their lives.  I am determined to press on -- as Micah did -- in faith and wait for God to show Himself as only He can -- worthy of all glory and honor and praise, worthy of their lives.  And I trust that my friends will one day see and believe and intimately know this all glorious God.

source: http://faithsteps.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/not-constantinople/istanbul-sunrise/

How to Pray When Disaster Strikes

My friend Audrey Eusey linked to this article - How to Pray When Disaster Strikes - on Facebook today. I found it an extremely thoughtful guide, one I will most definitely be using in the days ahead. Audrey and her husband and one month old son will be moving to northern Japan in August. Please pray for them as they prepare to plant their lives among these people whose lives have been forever changed by today's events.

Here are the main points from the article:

1. Pray for those in need of rescue that it will come swiftly.
2. Pray for the rescuers – safety, rest, encouragement, in the midst of horror and unrelenting pain.
3. Pray for families that have witnessed the unthinkable, are worried about loved ones, and fearful for their own safety.
4. Pray for children who need comfort and safety, hugs and reassurance – even if they are physically “fine.”
5. Pray for governments and authorities that all red tape would disappear and corruption would cease.
6. Pray for relief agencies to have wisdom and compassion to make a lasting difference.
7. Pray for those around you that they would respond not just with what they can do, but with their heart.
8. Pray for yourself that you would have a heart of compassion – start now and it will grow.

I would add one more: Pray that people would turn to the only One who will truly complete the work of restoration and healing.