welcome home, Katie!

with a special friend: Herodia

From across the parking lot Katie waved her arms quickly, almost frantically: apart from the cool demeanor that is our daughter. She motioned us to park and hugged us both. 

The hot Paraguayan summer had kissed Katie's face and styled her hair into the curls I so love. She showed no signs of the 10-hour flight and couldn't stop smiling. She helped her teammates pull hand-carved, 7-foot arrows from a plastic tube and presented one to Bill. "Happy birthday, Dad!" A missionary is born.

Over the weekend Katie introduced us to her three-week missionary journey. The extreme heat, incredible insects, unusual foods and camp-like living conditions didn't discourage Katie from embracing her purpose: to bring the love of Jesus to the Ache people. It appears that she and her team served with a love that only God can provide, one that ignores physical discomfort and lack of American culture and convenience.

Herodia, an 11-year-old beauty, stole Katie's heart. They giggled together every day. Little Chuchugi, a boy of about five, showed up each day for VBS, eager for the games and lessons.

Many children memorized and recited scripture in the barn-like church of Chupapou. The team rewarded them with small prizes, but God's Word is hidden now in their hearts.

The missionary who led the team, Viktor Gomez and his wife Christina, inspired Katie by their tireless dedication to the Ache people. Viktor spent six years learning their language in order to speak God's love into them.

It's good to have you home, Katie. But I'm certain you left a piece of your heart in Chupapou, Paraguay.

a favorite little boy: Chuchugi

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.

Habakkuk 1:5

Tomorrow, another of my girls who's now home!



been sick

Sorry 'bout that. I've been under the weather. A little tickle in the throat last week turned sore and scratchy. By Friday morning I was dragging, and dragged myself out to Indiana to greet our Katie, just in from Paraguay. No way was I gonna miss that!

Friday night and into Saturday, I felt H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E. Between blowing my nose and drinking hot tea, I felt like such a big baby over a COLD. I think my mother did me no service by dubbing me "healthy as a horse" all my growing up years. I'm just no good at being sick and doing nothing.
Much better now. Head clearing, less coughing and looking at my calendar. Funny how when you're sick, you just ignore your calendar?

Whew. Good to be back. Tomorrow: welcome home!

landed!

We just talked with Katie ... her mission team has landed in Detroit! The flight from Brazil was uncrowded, allowing the kids space to spread out and sleep.

We'll see her this afternoon and bring her home for the weekend. When she isn't sleeping, it'll be wonderful to hear of her three weeks of ministry.

So thankful!

happy birthday, Dan-the-man!

Twenty-seven years ago our son Dan joined us on a snowy January night in Defiance, Ohio. We'd only lived there a month and knew almost no one. A kind next-door neighbor kept David all day on January 26. Once home, I settled in for a couple of frigid months, caring for two babies while Bill got his business started. Intense!

As he grew, we nicknamed him Dan-the-Man. What little boy isn't eager to become a man? He had spunk: life was never dull with Dan around!


not-quite-the-man 1986



It's a funny parallel: Dan's starting in the very same business now, with a wife and two babies counting on him. He's Dan-the-Man alright. And a fine husband, dad, son and brother, too.

Wishing you a very happy birthday, Dan, with love!



Dan with his girls



the four winds



Glacier National Park, Montana, 1998

 About the time this photo was taken, 13 years ago, I began wondering what life would be like when the kids were grown. "Oh," I'd joke, "they'll probably live in four different corners of the country!" And while that isn't quite the case, it sometimes nearly feels like it. I held an unrealistic expectation that Bill and I would fly here and there and visit the kids on a whim. Completely naive, I didn't take into account that sometimes, with four kids (now six, with the daughters-in-love) and two parents, the math just won't work.

Take February, for example. Our third grandchild is due during the first week of the month, so we're for sure sticking close to home for that. David, our oldest, just bought his first house in Florida, and we'd love to go help him with settling in. But that's on a time crunch, since his job takes him away for spring training, beginning the third week in February. And don'tcha know, no sooner would we board a plane for Florida ... Jill would go into labor!

Then during the last weekend in February, Katie has her senior photography show in Indiana, which we wouldn't miss for the world. Also that weekend, Dan's in a wedding here, so we'll want to be around to visit with him a bit.

If you've been reading this month, you know our Katie's in Paraguay, mission-ing to her heart's content. People have asked me: "Don't you want your kids closer to you?" Why yes, I do. Quick lunches after church and more frequent time with granddaughters would be wonderful.

But raising children is like trying to tame the wind, you know? It blows where it will, coming and going. We chose to have four children and we encourage their independence and opportunities. They "blow where they may" and that means we don't see them as often as we'd like.
But when at last the reunions happen, how incredibly sweet!

souvenirs

Moved. That's what I am. In reading the posts from other Lighthouse mission teams, I am moved to witness transformed hearts. What joy to see college kids serving others joyfully, tirelessly. The Ethiopia team, working alongside Project Mercy, heads home today. One of its members wrote this:

“I have started thinking about how I will be or want to be different when I get home. The thing that hit me last night was that my needs are smaller here, and I hope they stay smaller when I get home. Simple things like food I am seeing from a different perspective. At the DC [dining commons on campus], we are offered so much. We waste much of it, but the thing that hit me is how much we eat beyond what we need. There is nothing wrong with enjoying what you eat and eating your fill, but our concept of “full” is skewed. Thinking through needs, especially with food, brings up the idea of “enough” in my mind. In America, at home, at school, we have enough. Even when we look at the food we are blessed to have on our shelves and say, “There is nothing to eat,” because it doesn’t happen to be what we want, we still have enough.”

As I read posts from the various teams, I am humbled. These 20 and 21-year-olds are God's hands and feet, and especially His heart. They have been affirmed of God's absolute goodness and provision. As they find their place in the world, they are examining their motivations and passions as young believers. It's pretty darned exciting if you ask me.

I'm getting excited to see our Katie this Friday, and what she's brought home from Paraguay. Not in her suitcase, but in her heart.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

on the home stretch in Chupapou, Paraguay

While Katie's mission team had a one-night break in a neighboring town this week (hotel cost: a whopping $10 per night!), we received a short e-mail from Katie, but also the team leader has updated us as she can. From two days ago:

Team leader Taylor Ehrhard called a little while ago and said that the team is doing well! The team has been busy in the Aché community of Chupapou building bathrooms and getting to know the people there. She also mentioned that a family who is visiting the community is recording some of the Aché’s music, so a few of the more “musically-gifted” team members are helping out with the music project. What an unexpected and unique service opportunity that will have a lasting impact on the culture there!

I'm curious to know whether or not Katie joined the music project. She does have musical gifts, but doesn't always let others know it. God wants us to "open" our gifts, I always told my kids!

It's very hot in Paraguay ... it will take some adjustment for the team to come home to temps that are 80-plus degrees colder! They might even miss the bugs and sleeping on the floor.

But more challenging, I imagine, will be that they must leave new friends among the Aché they have grown to love. I'm praying these final days will be full with the richness of serving God in Paraguay.

(Check out updates from all the Taylor University Lighthouse teams here.)