January 8, 1956

At four-thirty sharp Marj Saint eagerly switched on the radio receiver in Shell Mera. This was the moment when the big news would come. Had the men been invited to follow the Aucas to their houses? What further developments would Nate be able to report?

She looked at her watch again. No sound from Palm Beach. She and Olive hunched close to the radio. The atmosphere was not giving any interference. Perhaps Nate's watch had run a little slow.

In Arajuno, Marilou and Barbara had their radio on, too. Silence. They waited a few minutes, then called Shell Mera.

"Aranjuno calling Shell Mera. Arajuno standing by for Shell Mera. Any word from Palm Beach, Marj? Over."

"Shell Mera standing by. No, no word as yet. We'll be standing by."

Not a crackle broke the silence. *

This scene unfolded fifty-four years ago today in the jungles of Ecuador. Five men, spurred by a passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ, ventured deep into the Ecuadorian jungle in an effort to reach an isolated tribe known to attack all strangers: the Aucas.

At an agreed-upon time, their five young wives sat by their radios, waiting for a message that never came* ... for all five men had been savagely speared to death.

Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the murdered martyrs, Jim Elliot, wrote out the story of unconditional love and complete obedience to God in Through Gates of Splendor. It became the best-selling and most powerful missionary story of the 20th century.

It is one of my favorite books, and I cannot believe that my local Christian bookstore gives so little shelf space to Elliot's writings. She is an incredible woman of God, wife, mother, and author.

If you've never picked up Through Gates of Splendor, do it. Read it, read it, read it!

* from Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot.

Elisabeth Elliot today (from http://www.elisabethelliot.org/)

I've arrived

Hubby and I are planning a date night tomorrow, so I checked the movie listings.

me: "The Blind Side" is playing here in town, so let's go tomorrow, then go to dinner.

him: Sounds good!

me: The matinee is $4, unless you're 55 or over, then it's $4 for all shows.

him: So, the most it'll cost us is $8.

me: No, $10, because I'd be $6 and you'd be $4.

him: No .... you just turned 55, so you'd be $4 too.

me: Oh.

[See, there are perks to being a senior citizen living in a small town!]

thank you

Thank you, friends. I love reading about your grandparents, their nicknames and how they evolved.

It's interesting how different topics elicit more responses from readers.

Grandparents can hold a child's heart for life and be a great and positive influence. I hope I have that privilege!

and she shall be called...

Goodness, I never dreamed coming up with my grandmother title would be so difficult. In fact, I thought it was the grandchild's job, not mine! But the pressure's on: not only from the new parents, but from friends and family as well.

In four days I'll hold my new granddaughter, Ari, for the first time: my first GRANDCHILD, that is. And if I don't come up with a name soon, we might just never bond.

Pat Snyder, a local columnist, wrote a funny piece on this topic recently. She asserts that according to Maridel Bowes, author of Who Are You Calling Grandma?: True Confessions of a Baby Boomer's Passage, the term "Grandma" is considered passe among baby boomers. Ack. I certainly don't want to be uncool. I mean, I'm still wearing jeans and tennis shoes and riding a bike!

My own grandmothers had odd nicknames: My dad's mom was Memaw (which rhymes with seesaw, and my sister and I used to perform a silly gymnastic feat using these words. No, thanks.) And we called my maternal grandmother by her real name, Dorothy. I don't know how it ever started and she detested it. She was a fabulous grandma nonetheless.

The name "Baba" occurred to me: this is what our first-born called me when he heard Bill call me Barbara. When I researched Googled 'Baba,' I discovered it does indeed mean 'grandmother' in Serbian. So why not?

Then (can you believe this?) I came across a quiz to determine a fitting grandmother name ... here are the results:

You are a modern, active, no-nonsense grandmother. Your children may get frustrated that you're not often home to babysit, but your grandchildren will appreciate your energy and enthusiasm. They may not appreciate it when you beat them at tennis. You love sports (what??), either as a spectator or as a participant, or even both. People say that you don't look like a grandmother. Nan, Gran, Grandmom, Nina or Mema suit your grandmothering style.

Ari's other grandma is well settled with her name, Grammy, since this is her third grandchild. It'll be a relief when the subsequent grandkids arrive and I'll already be named. Honestly, I don't care what I'm called, as the saying goes: just so they call me, hug and kiss me.

So, what do you think? If you have a good and (note to my sons) appropriate grandma nickname for me to consider, please get it to me quick. Within four days!

Lighthouse 2010

Over 100 college students rang in the new year by packing off to seven countries around the world. They comprise the Lighthouse '10 teams of Taylor University. At least four of my daughter Katie's friends are on these teams, recently arrived in places such as India and Ecuador.

While their classmates are back on the frigid Upland, Indiana campus for "J-term" (a 3-week January term), the Lighthouse teams are encountering other cultures and serving as God's hands and feet.

Our sons David and Dan also joined Lighthouse teams in past years. David's Thailand trip took him all over the country, and a highlight was working in a mission school in northern Thailand. His homestay with a local family was ... interesting.

Dan's trip to Poland coincided with a record-cold January as the team ministered to young people and paid an emotional visit to Auschwitz.

It's inspiring to me to see college students travel and serve others. Click on the link above and follow their progress!

a son becomes a father

Tenderness.

Awe. 

A mighty love.

A son becomes a father,

protector of his new daughter, Ari.

That's about all I can say about this image,

captured this morning.

Thanks, God.

welcome new year, new decade, new granddaughter!

It's 3:55 a.m. in a brand-new decade: January 1, 2010. She's here! Baby girl Haller got to the New Year's Eve party a little late! Born to Jenny and Dan Haller at 3:05 a.m. 6 lbs, 15 oz, 20 inches long. "So cute!" her dad texted.

And now for a little sleep. I pray my beautiful new granddaughter and her parents can get a little sleep, too!